Despite what my last post said, inre: the Nets being pushovers, tonights game proved other wise. Vince Carter as well as Devin Harris were relentless in their offense, and the Nets just would not go away.
The remaining big 2 were rather quiet, Pierce with 10 and Allen with 12. The big story was Rajon Rondo.
Rondo continued to impress, exposing all the other NBA point guards as either lazy or totally naive to his abilities. His constant slashing to the basket, ability to find the open man, and his scoring overall has become a full arsenal of all that makes a solid point guard of championship caliber.
He played 32 minutes, putting up 31 points, 9 rebounds and 5 assists. Marbury has also started to come into his role on the team, and while he won't be seeing as much playing time as Rondo, he is a wonderful compliment to the work that young Rajon is doing.
Glen Davis, still starting in KG's absense played just under 32 minutes with only 8 points and 3 rebounds. Not one of his best games, but he is getting quality minutes that he will undoubtably benefit from come the playoffs. He will certainly need to step up his game Friday when Miami comes to town, but I have full confidence he is evolving into a great big time ball player.
It was a nail-biter, and the Nets managed to come within 2 with 20 seconds left. After a missed shot by Carter the Nets maintained possession giving the ball up to Harris who missed a long two. Allen pulled down the loose ball as time wound down.
Celtics win 106-104
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Celtics host Nets, 2nd seed hangs in the balance
New Jersey heads into Boston tonight, for the first of [the Celtics] last five games before the playoffs kick off. With the Celts vying for the second seed, they are at the helm of a 4-game win streak and looking to make it five. New Jersey is nowhere to be seen in the playoff race, and should, hopefully, be a cakewalk, and if nothing else some good practice for a lot of the young guys.
The C's, in their closing games, will face off against Miami in Boston, then the Cavs in Cleveland, 76ers in Philadelphia, then back home to close the regular season against the Wizards. Each game should be tantamount to playoff caliber, as 3 out of the five are all a 6th seed or higher (Phillie, Cleveland and Miami).
Second place now hangs in the balance, with the Magic nipping at our heels (The Celts are 4 games back, Magic 5) and with Dwight Howard playing at full bore, tonight's game means a lot more than it usually would.
The Nets haven't been a contender all season, with a record of 32-45 they clocked in at the 11th spot in the Eastern Conference. It's no surprise the Nets are so far behind, with nobody to carry the team accept for Vince Carter, but they should not be taken lightly. With nothing to lose, they could easily try to spoil our attempt to clench second place.
Tonight the Magic host Memphis, 12 behind in the Western Conference with a record of 22-55. In the remaining games the Magic will see New York, New Jersey, Milwaukee, and finally Charlotte. Their schedule is easier than ours by leaps and bounds, but what the hell? Complaining will get us nowhere.
All we can hope for now, in the wake of Garnett sitting for the remainder of the season, is that the team can come together as a whole, a tough it out for 2 more weeks. The 2nd seed is something we should put on the back burner, while it is important, we have little to no chance at first and that's all that really matters. The Celtics shouldn't play for second, they should simply play to win. The important thing is to finish out strong before gearing up for the playoffs.
The C's, in their closing games, will face off against Miami in Boston, then the Cavs in Cleveland, 76ers in Philadelphia, then back home to close the regular season against the Wizards. Each game should be tantamount to playoff caliber, as 3 out of the five are all a 6th seed or higher (Phillie, Cleveland and Miami).
Second place now hangs in the balance, with the Magic nipping at our heels (The Celts are 4 games back, Magic 5) and with Dwight Howard playing at full bore, tonight's game means a lot more than it usually would.
The Nets haven't been a contender all season, with a record of 32-45 they clocked in at the 11th spot in the Eastern Conference. It's no surprise the Nets are so far behind, with nobody to carry the team accept for Vince Carter, but they should not be taken lightly. With nothing to lose, they could easily try to spoil our attempt to clench second place.
Tonight the Magic host Memphis, 12 behind in the Western Conference with a record of 22-55. In the remaining games the Magic will see New York, New Jersey, Milwaukee, and finally Charlotte. Their schedule is easier than ours by leaps and bounds, but what the hell? Complaining will get us nowhere.
All we can hope for now, in the wake of Garnett sitting for the remainder of the season, is that the team can come together as a whole, a tough it out for 2 more weeks. The 2nd seed is something we should put on the back burner, while it is important, we have little to no chance at first and that's all that really matters. The Celtics shouldn't play for second, they should simply play to win. The important thing is to finish out strong before gearing up for the playoffs.
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Bobcats go down with a fight
If you missed this game, you may have very well missed the most exciting game of the season. Most people, including myself, may have looked on the Bobcats as just some no-name expansion team with nothing to prove, but tonight was another story.
The Bobcats came off a 10 point win against the Lakers last night, and certainly gave the Celt's a run for their money tonight. In a game that ended in a double overtime, it was nothing less than invigorating.
I guess I don't know where to begin, other than saying I can't really focus on how well the young guys did. The game itself was just too much to deal with or worry about stats and role-playing.
Boston played more or less like garbage in the first half, with 10+ turnovers, as well as what appeared to be a complete lack of chemistry, dispite going into the second half with the lead.
They proceeded to open up the third by taking a nine point lead, but it was quickly washed away when Charolette went on a 21-3 run. Yes, we played that bad. Boston just couldn't seem to get anything going, turning the ball over like crazy, missing shots and playing, overall, sloppy basketball.
The fourth quarter was no better, but they managed to shape up enough to come back to tie it and send it into overtime. Remember, we're playing Charolette, an expansion team that has been in existance for 3, 4 maybe 5 years? I'm too lazy to look it up right now. But I'll be damned if the Bobcats don't mean business.
The game was all Paul Pierce and Ray Allen; Pierce with 32 points and Allen with 22. However none of Allen's points counted more than in the overtimes. He once again displayed his prolific skill and clutch mentality, hitting, what would be the game winning 3 pointer, leaving 2 seconds and change left on the clock.
I guess I'm too happy to get into any detail; Rondo as always played great, Davis did all right as well. But the point that matters here is the win, so maybe if the next game doesn't cause me to have a heart attack, I'll have more information.
Celt's win in double OT 111-109.
The Bobcats came off a 10 point win against the Lakers last night, and certainly gave the Celt's a run for their money tonight. In a game that ended in a double overtime, it was nothing less than invigorating.
I guess I don't know where to begin, other than saying I can't really focus on how well the young guys did. The game itself was just too much to deal with or worry about stats and role-playing.
Boston played more or less like garbage in the first half, with 10+ turnovers, as well as what appeared to be a complete lack of chemistry, dispite going into the second half with the lead.
They proceeded to open up the third by taking a nine point lead, but it was quickly washed away when Charolette went on a 21-3 run. Yes, we played that bad. Boston just couldn't seem to get anything going, turning the ball over like crazy, missing shots and playing, overall, sloppy basketball.
The fourth quarter was no better, but they managed to shape up enough to come back to tie it and send it into overtime. Remember, we're playing Charolette, an expansion team that has been in existance for 3, 4 maybe 5 years? I'm too lazy to look it up right now. But I'll be damned if the Bobcats don't mean business.
The game was all Paul Pierce and Ray Allen; Pierce with 32 points and Allen with 22. However none of Allen's points counted more than in the overtimes. He once again displayed his prolific skill and clutch mentality, hitting, what would be the game winning 3 pointer, leaving 2 seconds and change left on the clock.
I guess I'm too happy to get into any detail; Rondo as always played great, Davis did all right as well. But the point that matters here is the win, so maybe if the next game doesn't cause me to have a heart attack, I'll have more information.
Celt's win in double OT 111-109.
Glen Davis not such a baby anymore
No Garnett, No Powe, No problem.
The biggest surprise this season, aside from the Marbury pickup, has been the ability of Glen Davis to not only play better than last season, but completely step up his game to a higher and better level, stepping in to relieve the Celt's with two big men down. On second thought, Scalabrine is still out too.
Davis' progression is evident through his durability, toughness, maturity and his 18-ft jump shot, which looks prettier every time. For a big man-and big as in bulky- his shot has improved so much that I am confident on any given night he'll hit it 95% of the time, and he doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon.
In Sunday's game Davis got his, as Celt's spokesman Jeff Twiss put it, "first, unofficial triple-double in [his] career: 19 points, 10 rebounds - and 10 stitches. For the game summary see http://www.nba.com/games/20090329/OKCBOS/recap.html
In the closing minutes of the third quarter, Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant came down on Davis' head with an elbow, unintentionally, while scrambling for a rebound. Davis, as stated above, received 10 stitches, but not before gushing blood. He would return at the end of the quarter, donning a giant bandage on his head.
Upon his return, he scored 8 of the Celtics 10 points on one run, on a second, 13 of 18, and at one point scored 11 consecutive points, breaking the game open similarly to his head.
This was Davis' breakthrough game; he was playing extraordinarily hard and well all season, but Sunday's game was a real testament to how much not only he has matured as a player but as a person, and he is ready and willing to take on all the baggage that comes with being the Celtics last real hope for a power forward who can make a significant different.
The biggest surprise this season, aside from the Marbury pickup, has been the ability of Glen Davis to not only play better than last season, but completely step up his game to a higher and better level, stepping in to relieve the Celt's with two big men down. On second thought, Scalabrine is still out too.
Davis' progression is evident through his durability, toughness, maturity and his 18-ft jump shot, which looks prettier every time. For a big man-and big as in bulky- his shot has improved so much that I am confident on any given night he'll hit it 95% of the time, and he doesn't seem to be letting up anytime soon.
In Sunday's game Davis got his, as Celt's spokesman Jeff Twiss put it, "first, unofficial triple-double in [his] career: 19 points, 10 rebounds - and 10 stitches. For the game summary see http://www.nba.com/games/20090329/OKCBOS/recap.html
In the closing minutes of the third quarter, Oklahoma City forward Kevin Durant came down on Davis' head with an elbow, unintentionally, while scrambling for a rebound. Davis, as stated above, received 10 stitches, but not before gushing blood. He would return at the end of the quarter, donning a giant bandage on his head.
Upon his return, he scored 8 of the Celtics 10 points on one run, on a second, 13 of 18, and at one point scored 11 consecutive points, breaking the game open similarly to his head.
This was Davis' breakthrough game; he was playing extraordinarily hard and well all season, but Sunday's game was a real testament to how much not only he has matured as a player but as a person, and he is ready and willing to take on all the baggage that comes with being the Celtics last real hope for a power forward who can make a significant different.
Powe out with injury
Well, it's been a while since there's been an update, due to serious procrastination and PCP abuse, but I should be reliable from here on out. Leon Powe has since gone down with a knee injury, which happened a while ago I know...I think about a week and a half ago, and he was reported to return within two weeks of that time. Whether or not 1) I am right and 2) he will be back within a few games, is a huge upset regardless, as the C's have seriously missed his offensive prowess, defensive skills and all around tenacity on the court. So far this season, Powe has put up 7.5 points per game, and 4.8 rebounds per game, but what the stats won't show you is how hard he performs every game. His ability to always find blue sky under the basket and take charges are unmatched by nearly anybody else on the team. With luck, and with the recent sidelining of KG due to recurring injury, Powe will be back to hold down the boards for the Celt's, and hopefully be considered for the 6th man award, because as of right now, if he doesn't earn it for the league he certainly has for Boston.
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