Celtics Blog & CSL

Daily Links 3/21

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 14:06 GMT

Herald Celtics step up in Texas
Haiti trip transforms Celtics physician
Seeing no difference
Donnie Walsh: Larry Bird did boss job
Derrick Rose, Bulls finally better
NBA Calendar New Bobcats owner Michael Jordan carefully reveals optimism
Globe The Road ...
Doc praises the Butler deal
Celtics 102, Mavericks 93 Celtics 102, Mavericks 93
For starters
Team finds next gear on the road
Finally coming into their own
Celtics deep-six the Mavericks

CelticsBlog   Are We Back?
Celtics Stuff Live: Chris Forsberg
Celtics Green    Comments from the Other Side - Mavericks 3/20
Dallas News   Celtics pull away from Mavericks late, 102-93
Mavs big men have fumbleitis
Metro West Daily News   Courtside View: Time to be a focused group
Celtics.com   Ford Keys to the Game: Celtics at Mavericks
ESPN    NBA Million Dollar Mistakes
Riding the bench
Retribution? 'Sheed just needs to play well
First impressions: Celtics 102, Mavericks 93
Celtics get it done in Dallas
Postgame notes: Confident Pierce
Red's Army    T-Mobile Recap: Crunch time domination
Your Morning Dump... Where last night was nice, but...
Enemy Chatter: The Celtics are defensive zombies hungry for brains
Celtics Hub    Two Straight: C’s 102, Mavs 93
Sunday Notebook: Cautious Optimism, Terrible Jokes From Cleveland, Vintage Truth
ProJo    NBA Power Rankings: Celtics climbing back up the charts, but Cavs clearly the best
Suddenly surging Celtics give complete effort to beat Mavs
North Station Sports   Celtics Pull Past Los Mavs 102-93
The Truth Is On A Mission
CT News    Old Celtics Beat Mavericks: 102-93
Celtics Town   Highlight Reel: Gerald Green, James White in Russian dunk contest
Celtics run win streak to four against Mavericks
Morning Walkthrough: The team we’ve longed to see
Maine Faces Their Nemesis One Last Time
Antoine Walker and his money, gambling problems
Donnie Walsh: Larry Bird was a great coach
Highlight Reel: Ali Farokhmanesh hits ballsy three
Hardwood Houdini   Celtics Bench We Expected Has Arrived
Red Claws Aim To Take Season Series From Springfield
Lex Nihil Novi    Fast Eddie Felson Still has Believers
Knock, Knock. KG, are You Still There?
CelticsLife     C's defeat Mavs; Things looking bright for the Green
Celtics 102, Mavs 93 Highlights
While You Were Sleeping (on the Celtics)
Today's Video: Steve Nash stars in "Balls Talk"
Banner 18?   The Truth is alive and kicking...
Gino's Jungle   Celtics Making A Statement
It Has Really Gotten To A Point Where.....
Celtics Stuff Live   Celtics Stuff Live: Chris Forsberg
Celtics 17   Boston Starts and Finishes the Weekend With a Loud Win in Texas
Dead Spin   Orlando Unhealthily Obsessed With Dwight Howard's Technicals
Bleacher Report   The Boston Celtics Search for "C"
The 10 best Jayhawks of all time.
NBA.com   Celtics' bench depth is key to strong season finish
NESN   Celtics Live Blog: Paul Pierce Carries C's to Texas Road Sweep
Paul Pierce Paces Celtics to Tough 102-93 Victory Over Mavericks
J.R. Giddens Finds His Opportunity With the Knicks
Telegram   NBA: For starters, Celtics’ reserves have struggled
Can't Stop the Bleeding   A Eulogy For Brian Scalabrine(’s Career In Boston)
Green Street    Fast Break: Celtics-Mavericks
Inside Hoops    NBA Rumors: Sunday, March 21
CSN-NE   Live from America Airlines Arena
Celtics notes: C's regain fourth-quarter swagger
Enterprise   Celtics start to find their game
Cleveland.com   Believe it or not, aging Celtics are slip-sliding away: Bud Shaw's Sunday Sports Spin
Mavs Blog   NCAA Tournament fever (and shock) grips Celtics locker room
WEEI     The Three-Pointer: The Big Three Returns For Celtics
Examiner   Claws crush T-Birds with spread-out scoring

Antoine Walker - Outside The Lines

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 12:31 GMT

Antoine Walker - Outside The Lines

"I'm not going to sugarcoat it. I led a very expensive lifestyle," Walker said. "I took care of my family. I was very generous to my family and my friends."

"He became addicted to gambling," she explained, "and he ran through millions taking care of more than 50 people who are nowhere to be found now that he needs the help."

Celtics Stuff Live: Chris Forsberg

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 07:37 GMT

Join us tonight from 9-10pm when Chris Forsberg of ESPN Boston. Chris had an interesting take on the Celtics road record being a strong indicator of playoff success:

Yet, something about the road brings out the best in Boston.

"The road is hostile," forward Kevin Garnett said after Friday's win. "You expect the worst, and that's what it is. Maybe we're too confident at home."

Road success is often a quality indicator of playoff success. The Celtics put together an NBA-best 31-10 mark on the road during the 2007-08 campaign, the year they brought home banner No. 17. The second-best road team that year? The Los Angeles Lakers, the team that Boston beat in the NBA Finals, had a road mark of 27-14.

The team with the best road record in the NBA in 2008-09? The world champion Lakers at 29-12. Boston, Orlando and Cleveland all tied with 27-14 road marks, but it was the Magic that won a crucial Game 7 at the TD Garden (then stole Game 1 in Cleveland) to help them advance to the Finals.

Listen To The Show | 1-866-751-9649 | CSL@CelticsStuffLive.net

Are We Back?

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 06:24 GMT

More photos » Danny Bollinger - NBAE/Getty Images

Get 'em Paul.

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Things are starting to look good for the boys in green and people are starting to notice. Is this the team we've all been waiting for? We can only hope.

Are the Celtics "back"? - ProBasketballTalk - Basketball - NBC Sports

It's been four games since the Cavaliers outran the Boston Celtics, since the "When are they going to turn it on?" panic button hit its zenith. Four games. Four wins. The last two actually matter, road games against two Texas teams, including a come from behind win over a Mavericks team at full strength Saturday night. The Celtics said that they were just "bored" and that they still hadn't really begun to play. The question now is, are we seeing the "real" Celtics?

Finally coming into their own - The Boston Globe

So . . . this is the team we have longed to see. The Celtics who are the aggressors, who don’t blame fatigue and injury, and who relish the tougher parts of their schedule. Consecutive games at Houston and Dallas are a difficult stretch for any NBA team but the Celtics spent the past two nights sending a clear message to the rest of the league. They have a lot of basketball left and there are 13 games before the playoffs to tighten up the weaknesses.

Old Celtics Beat Mavericks: 102-93 - Celtics Central - Connecticut News

For a team that has been called old and has looked old for parts of this season, old again is the theme as in…they looked like the old Celtics. You know, the Celtics that comeback and win games in the 4th quarter against tough teams with a combination of good defense and offense. They came back from 7 down in the 4th quarter to beat the Dallas Mavericks, a team that had won 14 of their last 15 games, and are now being considered a legitimate threat in the west.

Green Street » Fast Break: Celtics-Mavericks

Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo combined for 70 points on 26-for-45 shooting, 16 rebounds and 14 assists. It was the Celtics’ fourth straight win and their fifth in the last six games. It was also their most significant win since beating the Lakers and Portland back-to-back in February

Celtics and Mavericks Square Off in 'Big D'

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 16:20 GMT

Charles Krupa - AP

The Celtics and Mavericks will square off tonight. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)

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Boston Celtics (record) at Dallas Mavericks (record)

Saturday, March 20, 2009

9:00pm

TV: Comcast SportsNet; Radio: WEEI

Venue:

Game Thread [] Chat Room

The Boston Celtics aim for their fourth straight win on the second night of a back-to-back against the Dallas Mavericks tonight at 9:00pm.

The C's are coming off a solid, 94-87 win over the Houston Rockets last night, led by Paul Pierce's 26 points. The C's also received 19 points from Ray Allen and 15 points from Kevin Garnett. However, given it's the second night of a back-to-back, the C's will need noteworthy performances from not only their starters, but also their bench. Glen Davis gave great energy, Nate Robinson scored two vital baskets late in the third quarter, and Rasheed Wallace hauled in nine rebounds against Houston last night, and it will be pivotal that those three players, along with Marquis Daniels and Michael Finley, all make their mark against Dallas' second unit.

The Mavericks have been on a tear of late, winners of 14 of their last 15 games, and are just two games removed from an impressive 13-game win streak. The blockbuster-ish trade that brought Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood to Dallas has certainly paid off thus far, as Dallas managed to add two more dynamic players to an already potent starting unit. The Mavs have averaged 103.4 points per game since the deal, and should very much be in the hunt for the Western Conference crown come playoff time.

But first they must deal with the Celtics, whose impressive play of late does not seem to be reliant upon playing some of the worst teams in the league. Also, given the physical ailments that have hindered the likes of Pierce and Garnett, it will be interesting to see how they respond to the second night of a difficult back-to-back.

Projected Starters:

Celtics: Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins

Mavericks: Jason Kidd, Caron Butler, Shawn Marion, Dirk Nowitzki, Brendan Haywood

Health Check: The Celtics are healthy.

For the Mavericks, point guard Jose Juan Barea (illness) is listed as questionable, while forward Tim Thomas (personal reasons) is out.

Keep It In Mind: The Mavericks are 14-2 since they acquired Caron Butler and Brendan Haywood via trade.

Who's Hot: For the Celtics, Paul Pierce scored 26 points against the Houston Rockets last night.

For the Mavericks, Dirk Nowitzki and Caron Butler combined for 53 points against the Bulls last Wednesday.

Who's Not: For the Celtics, Marquis Daniels was held scoreless in nearly 20 minutes of action last night.

For the Mavericks, Jason Kidd shot 0-5 against the Bulls on Wednesday, scoring no points in the process.

Key Matchup: Kevin Garnett vs. Dirk Nowitzki

Honorable Mention: Ray Allen vs. Caron Butler

Skinny: The Mavericks are athletic enough to break the game open in the full court, but poised enough to execute their halfcourt sets. Rajon Rondo should have his hands full with the savvy Jason Kidd, who trails Rajon for fourth in the league in assists by .5 dimes per game. Kidd's also shooting 41.9 percent from three-point nation, should Rondo needs to be weary of him along the perimeter.

The Mavericks are also a very capable rebounding team as they average just under 42 per game. Haywood's athletic enough to give Kendrick Perkins fits under the rim, so a big onus falls on Rasheed Wallace to step his game up on the glass, much like he did last night against Houston's (undersized) front line. Keep an eye on Pierce and Garnett, and see how they respond in one of the toughest back-to-backs of the season. KG will obviously have his plate full going up against Nowitzki, and Pierce will need to deal with the athletic Shawn Marion, who could also pose problems for him on the defensive end.

Daily Links 3/20

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 09:07 GMT

Herald Boom! Celtics KO Rockets
Won more for road
Kendrick Perkins on familiar turf
LeBron James scores big, Cavs beat Bulls
Globe Celtics 94, Rockets 87
Winning with savvy
Stingy Rondo throws Brooks off his game
Stingy Rondo throws Brooks off his game
An old formula works to perfection
Tough road ahead for Celtics
Pierce, Allen lead Celtics past Rockets

Dallas News    Boston Celtics at Dallas Mavericks preview
CelticsBlog    SB Nation Survey + Chance to donate $500 to a charity of this community's choice
Now We're Talking
Paul Pierce Finishes What Ray Allen Started
Bostonist   Sports Redux: Does A Win Mean Anything?
Sporting News    Celtics-Mavericks Preview
Celtics.com   Ford Keys to the Game: Celtics at Rockets
Red's Army   Elitist Attitudes
T-Mobile Recap: Cs defense grounds Rockets
Your Morning Dump... Where Sheed contributes
Celtics Hub A Team I Recognize: C’s 94, Rockets 87
NESN   Celtics Live Blog: Big Three Make Bold Opening Statement in Texas With Win Over Rockets
Paul Pierce Leads Celtics Past Rockets 94-87
North Station Sports    Boston Celtics Defense, Blows Up the Athletic Rockets
Big Baby-- The Big Difference For the Celtics?
Celtics Town    Celtics pierce Rockets, 94-87
Morning Walkthrough: Team of old, not old team
Lex Nihil Novi   The Sherman Douglas Shoe Saga (Part 3)
1984 NBA Finals Game 1 (the Video)
CelticsLife    Celts Hold off Rockets, 94-87
Celtics/Rockets Post Game Videos
Celtics 94, Rockets 87 Highlights
Stats Don't Lie, NBA Games 3/19/10
Today's Video: "More than a Game" Documentary
Gino's Jungle    The Four Games That Can Silence the Doubters
Fourth Step Back to Perfection in Houston
ESPN    Celtics chat: Friday at 2 p.m.
Which way?
Hawkeyes
Boomshakalaka
View for afar: Road warriors
The Boston Celtics' road-game dominance this season could boost their playoff run
Pasadena Star News    Lakers clinch playoff spot, but Bynum hurt
The Score   Sir, Your Tattoos Are Terrible: Marquis Daniels
Rhymes With Hondo   Boston 94, Houston 87
Yahoo    Wall or Turner? Ask LeBron, Kobe
Dimemag   Joe Johnson, LeBron ruin Michael Jordan’s night; plus more March Madness
Off the Dribble   Updating the Status of Labor Talks
Hoopsworld    Andrew Bynum Strains Achilles
Green Street    Fast Break: Celtics - Rockets
CSN-NE   Celtics start road trip with a blast
NBC Sports   Celtics bring Rockets back to earth
Chron.com   Rockets' offense stifled by Celtics as win streak ends
Dallas News   "Retribution" from Rasheed Wallace? Mavericks not concerned
Orlando Sentinel Magic all-star Dwight Howard takes over the league-lead in technical fouls, passing Boston Celtics center Kendrick Perkins.
CBS Sports    Players respond to Stern: Owners' financial losses oversold
Pro Basketball Talk    Nate Robinson still does not like D'Antoni
Covers.com   Who Is The Best Backcourt Duo In The NBA?
Orlando Sentinel    Dwight Howard technical fouls draws sympathy from Skip Bayless
Scout.com     Sneak Peek: May Issue Cover
Detroit News    Celtics garner respect but fall short of earning it
Mass Live Doc Rivers thinks about playoff matchups, Kevin Garnett can't do it alone and more
FanHouse   Dwight Howard Picks Up 15th Technical Foul, One More Is a Suspension
4 Sport Boston   A Celtics Fan's Goonie Approach
A Stern Warning   Paparazzi photos of Pau Gasol released!

Paul Pierce Finishes What Ray Allen Started

Sat, 20 Mar 2010 06:46 GMT

More photos » David J. Phillip - AP

Paul Pierce dissected Houston's interior defense in the fourth quarter last night. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

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The Celtics carried a 50-41 lead into halftime last night against the Rockets, only to see a Trevor Ariza three-pointer with 7:53 left in the third frame cap off an 11-2 Houston run, which knotted the score up at 52 apiece. Fortunately, Boston refused to roll over, which hasn't always been the case this season. Rather than suffer through another demoralizing third quarter collapse, the C's responded in convincing fashion.

Ray Allen buried a three-pointer with 7:06 to play in the third, giving Boston a 57-52 edge. Less than two minutes later, a Kendrick Perkins block led to a Rajon Rondo feed to Allen, who promptly responded with another three-point bomb, which kept the Celtics' lead at five (60-55). Allen wasn't done though, as he responded to a Kevin Martin fast break layup with his third three of the frame, making it 65-60 with 3:37 left in the third. Nate Robinson then got in on the scoring act, putting in a three-pointer of his own and following it up 30 seconds later with a baseline jumper, pushing the Celtics' lead to eight (70-62).

While all of this was happening, Paul Pierce was stuck on the bench with four personal fouls. After putting in 11 first half points, Pierce was called for a charge just 24 seconds into the third quarter, forcing the captain to the pine. The 12-minute break was not enough to derail Pierce for the remainder of the evening, however, as he finished up what his teammates started once the fourth quarter got under way.

Less than four minutes into the final quarter (just as I was starting to think Allen's hot hand was needed back on the floor), Pierce lost the ball under the basket, hung around the paint, and was rewarded as a failed attempt to save the ball on Houston's part ended up right back in Paul's hands, and he laid it in for a 75-68 lead. And boy, was he just getting going. Pierce scored 15 of his game-high 26 points in the fourth quarter, picking the Rockets apart from practically every spot on the floor. He flat out owned Houston throughout the gut of the final frame, first by snaring his own miss and laying it back in with 7:54 to play, giving Boston a 77-71 edge.

Then, with 7:23 remaining, in classic Paul Pierce fashion, he stuck his head down and bulled his way to the hoop, where he got fouled and sunk both free throws, putting Boston up, 79-71. The next drive though, which came 28 seconds later, visibly demoralized Houston's players, particularly Louis Scola, and Pierce hit one of two from the free throw line, keeping the lead at a respectable seven points (80-73).

Exactly a minute later Pierce ditched the paint in preference to the perimeter, as he caught a Rajon Rondo pass and drilled a three-pointer, giving the C's a 10-point edge (85-75) with 5:55 left. His next bucket appeared to be the dagger in Houston's heart, as he connected on another three-pointer (off another Rondo feed), which put Boston up 11 with just under five minutes left. A jubilant Pierce stormed back to the huddle as the Rockets called timeout - he was STOKED.

The Rockets did respond, albeit briefly, as Jordan Hill scored inside with a minute left to pull the Rockets within five. Only Pierce and Kevin Garnett had other plans. After curling around a Ray Allen screen, Pierce caught a sharp pass from KG, rose up, and calmly flushed it for the final points of the game. Pierce finished with 26 points in 27 minutes, and scored the majority of them when the C's needed it most.

While I'm giving Pierce most of the credit, I could just as easily point out the superior efforts of several other players. Glen Davis played with great energy again last night, and while his execution inside was flimsy at times, he's routinely out-hustling his opponents these days. I gotta credit Rondo for his control over last night's game. Despite only taking five shots, he did a great job of dictating the pace whenever he had the ball and handed out 10 assists for good measure, with a fair amount of them coming in the midst of Allen and Pierce's scoring bursts. Loved his white shoes, too.

I also want to give credit to Rasheed Wallace, whose nine rebounds were a breath of fresh air from the big man. He only scored seven points, but he deferred to the paint on a number of occasions, and if he continues to initiate his offense down low, good things should happen for this team.

Let's keep it rolling tonight against Dallas. Pierce seems to be getting into a good groove. It's great to see, especially considering wins seem to be a part of the package.

Now We're Talking

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 20:58 GMT

More photos » David J. Phillip - AP

Defense reigns

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Beating up on the dregs of the league is all well and good, but it is nice to see a good, solid win over a good, solid team like the Rockets. Stacking up the rosters, the Celtics win out on talent and reputation, but we know all too well that reputation doesn't win ballgames. The Rockets have made a living out of overachieving and getting the most out of their roster. The Celtics stepped up the defense and got contributions from the usual suspects and a little help from the bench (which keyed a couple of runs).

Every once in a while, the Celtics live up to their reputations, and it is fun to see.

SB Nation Survey + Chance to donate $500 to a charity of this community's choice

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 18:47 GMT

>> Take SB Nation Survey

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Celtics Start Tough Stretch With Game in Houston

Fri, 19 Mar 2010 13:30 GMT

at

Boston Celtics (43-24) at Houston Rockets (35-31)
Friday, March 19
8:30 PM ET
Game #68, Road Game #35
TV: NBA-TV, RTV, FSH, CSN-NE
Radio: WEEI, KILT
Toyota Center

Referees: Joe De Rosa, Leon Wood, Greg Willard

Game Thread l Chat

The Celtics begin on a very tough stretch of games starting with this game in Houston. This is the first of back to back games with the second in Dallas on Saturday. This stretch includes 3 games in 4 nights and starting with this game, the Celtics face 8 straight Western Conference teams including two games against this Rockets team. The 9th game in this stretch is the final meeting between the Celtics and Cavaliers. Only one team in the next 9 games has a losing record, and that is the young and athletic Kings team that will present its own set of challenges.

This is the first meeting between the Celtics and Rockets. The Rockets have struggled with injuries this season but are healthy except for Yao Ming, who has been out all season. They helped themselves at the trade deadline by swapping Tracy McGrady for Kevin Martin and are now making a run at the playoffs. They currently sit 9th in the West, 4.5 games behind the Portland Trailblazers and are just half a game ahead of the Grizzlies who are in the 10th spot.

The Rockets are 20-14 at home and 6-4 in their last 10 games, but have won 4 in a row. The Celtics are 22-12 on the road and 7-3 in their last 10 games. The Celtics have won 2 in a row and 3 of their last 4 games. They have had 3 blowouts in their last 4 games but all against lottery teams. This next stretch of games will be a very important barometer to tell us where the Celtics really are going into the playoffs. A win against Houston would be a great first step.

Probable Starting Matchups
Point Guard
vs
Rajon Rondo vs Aaron Brooks

Shooting Guard
   vs
Ray Allen vs Kevin Martin

Small Forward
vs
Paul Pierce vs Trevor Ariza

Power Forward
vs
Kevin Garnett vs Louis Scola

Center
vs
Kendrick Perkins vs Chuck Hayes

Key Matchups
vs
Rajon Rondo vs Aaron Brooks
Aaron Brooks is averaging over 20 points and 5 assists per game in his 3rd season with the Rockets. Rondo will need to stay in front of Brooks on defense and try to limit his shots. He also needs to continue to look to distribute the ball and get the other starters involved early.

vs
Ray Allen vs Kevin Martin
Before the trade deadline, there was a lot of talk of the Celtics trading Ray for Kevin Martin. Instead, Martin went to the Rockets and Ray stayed a Celtic. Both have been shooting the ball well and Ray will need to play defense along with hitting his shots since Martin has been averaging over 20 points per game.

Honorable Mention
Kevin Garnett vs Louis Scola
KG has been getting closer to the KG of old and he will need to bring his defense to keep Scola from getting easy baskets inside. KG also has a height advantage over Scola and should be able to get his shot off over him.

Keys to the Game
Defense - In order to win in the playoffs especially, the Celtics need to get back to the shut down defense that they played in their championship season. They need to amp up their defense now in order to get there for the playoffs.

Rebounding - The Celtics have got to put out more effort on the boards. They have done better in recent games, but they have to do it on a consistent basis. By allowing other teams to out-rebound them, they give up second chance points and allow too many fast break baskets.

Ball Movement - When the Celtics move the ball and find the open man, the offense flows smoothly and the Celtics are hard to beat. On the other hand, when the ball stops moving, we get games like the loss to the Nets.

Be Aggressive - Players have got to be aggressive, especially in going to the basket, grabbing rebounds and going after loose balls. They have to be the aggressors and set the tone for the game.

Play 48 Minutes - The starters have to come out strong and finish strong while the bench must come in and do their part to keep or grow the lead established by the starters.   There can't be any sluggish starts or let downs.   If they lose focus against any of their next 9 opponents, things will end badly.

X-Factor
On the Road Again
The Celtics have played better on the road this season than at home. However, their last 3 home games have been won in blowouts. Let's hope that home success hasn't reversed their earlier ability to win on the road.