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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 6, 2008 8:27:41 GMT -5
www.telegram.com/article/20080306/NEWS/803060703/1009/SPORTSCelts are beasts of East By Bill Doyle TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF wdoyle@telegram.com BOSTON— It’s too bad, isn’t it, that the Celtics played the Pistons last night for the third and final time this regular season. Their matchups have been so much fun. Last night, Kevin Garnett scored a season-high 31 points as the Celtics held off the Pistons, 90-78, before the usual sellout at the Garden in what many expect to be a preview of the Eastern Conference finals. The Celtics captured the season series, 2-1, and own the tiebreaker in case the two teams finish with the same record. The Celtics also pushed their lead over Detroit for the NBA’s best record to four games, five in the loss column. Boston is 47-12 with 23 games left. “It was a huge game for us and we knew that from day one,” Garnett said. “We put something on their minds coming into the postseason,” Ray Allen said. The Celtics have won six in a row overall and nine straight at the Garden. Detroit lost for only the fourth time in its last 19 games. The Celtics clinched their first playoff spot in three years, but they have their sights set higher than a year ago when they finished 24-58. “Last year there would have been a parade,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers joked. The Pistons handed the Celtics their first home loss, 87-85, on Dec. 19 when Chauncey Billups sank two foul shots with one-tenth of a second left. The Celtics ended the Pistons’ 11-game winning streak on Jan. 4, beating them, 92-85, in Detroit. Kendrick Perkins collected 10 points and a career-high 20 rebounds — 10 of them in the fourth quarter — to post a double-double in back-to-back games for the first time this season. “I’m exhausted right now, man,” Perkins said. “I just want to go home and lay down. I guess that’s how you should feel after every game. Leave it all out on the court.” Paul Pierce had only 15 points, but he pumped in three 3-pointers, none bigger than the one that put Boston up, 81-77, with 5:11 left and ignited a 12-0 run. “I pretty much just closed my eyes and the ball slipped out of my hands and it went in,” Pierce joked before turning serious. “The shot clock was winding down and Kevin got me the ball and set a nice screen. I saw nothing but daylight, so I took the shot and it went in.” Ray Allen made just 1 of 9 shots, but contributed 8 rebounds and 5 assists and chased Rip Hamilton all over the court, limiting him to 15 points. “You can’t rest,” Allen said. “When you stop, he keeps on going.” “Rip is exhausting to guard,” Rivers said, “and Ray was the guy. I thought he did a phenomenal job of it.” Rajon Rondo was overpowered for most of the 18 points Billups scored in the third quarter, but didn’t back down and finished with 16 points and 5 assists. The game was physical and Rondo got knocked to the floor quite a few times. “Well, he weighs a buck 20,” Rivers joked, “so he’s going to hit the deck a lot, but he got up.” Billups and Rasheed Wallace each scored 23 for Detroit. Detroit is supposed to have the better bench, but the Celtics subs outscored their Pistons counterparts, 15-5. The Celtics led by as many as 14 in the first half, but Detroit pulled even early in the fourth quarter, 69-69, on Tayshaun Prince’s put-back. Garnett then drew Wallace’s fourth and fifth fouls to send him to the bench, and he scored five straight points to give the Celtics the lead for good. Detroit tops the NBA in scoring defense (90.2 ppg) and Boston is third (90.6), but the Celtics played the better defense last night. The Celtics shot 46.1 percent and limited Detroit to 36.4 percent, including just 22.2 percent (4 of 18) in the fourth quarter. “Part of the problem I have,” Detroit coach Flip Saunders said, “is that when things start going south our guys think they can do it better themselves. We don’t have those types of players.” Billups made only 1 of 7 shots and scored just 5 points while the Celtics took a 55-43 lead early in the second half. Then the Eastern Conference’s best point guard shifted into a higher gear, scoring 18 points — including 11 for 11 at the foul line — in the rest of the quarter to pull Detroit within 69-67 entering the fourth. The crowd was raring to go and so were the Celtics early on. Pierce’s 3-pointer put the Celtics up, 15-3, with 7:39 left in the opening quarter. The Pistons had played at home Tuesday night — rallying to win after falling behind by 15. It was nearly 4 a.m. yesterday before they arrived at their hotel and they looked tired in the first quarter.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 6, 2008 8:29:05 GMT -5
www.telegram.com/article/20080306/NEWS/803060619/1009/SPORTSCassell will cover Billups CELTICS NOTES By Bill Doyle TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF wdoyle@telegram.com BOSTON— The Celtics signed point guard Sam Cassell on Tuesday in large part to give them a bigger, more experienced alternative to Rajon Rondo to go head-to-head against Detroit’s Chauncey Billups. Cassell will be ready for a possible playoff series against Detroit, but he missed the Celtics’ final regular-season meeting with the Pistons last night to attend a family funeral in Baltimore. But was it a blessing in disguise for Rondo that Cassell didn’t play because he didn’t have to worry about the veteran guard replacing him if he didn’t play well? “No, I don’t care,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “I really don’t. I don’t think Rajon’s going to look over his shoulder anyway. I’ve heard all the different theories: ‘Well, it’s good that Sam’s not playing because Detroit won’t see him.’ He’s been in the league for 1,000 years, so it’s not like they haven’t seen him play before. “I wish he was playing. I wish he was ready and he’s not.” Ray Allen isn’t sure how long it will take Cassell, his former teammate in Milwaukee, to fit in with the Celtics. “I know Sam is a smart individual,” Allen said. “He picks things up fast. He has a high basketball IQ.” Allen thinks it will be good for Rondo to hear advice from a veteran point guard, not just Rivers. Cassell will wear No. 28. Brown in uniform Forward P.J. Brown suited up for the first time since the Celtics signed him last week and he replaced center Scot Pollard on the active list. “Sam has played all year,” Rivers said, “so he’s obviously in better basketball shape and with timing and everything else. But P.J. hasn’t. He’s been in New Orleans eating gumbo and coming out of retirement, so it’s going to take him some time.” Rivers said he planned to play rookie Glen Davis and second-year forward Leon Powe before turning to Brown. “I do think games like this are probably more important for them than for P.J.,” Rivers said. Pollard hasn’t played since Feb. 24, and has played in only 22 games all season, because of a sprained ankle and sore back. Cassell and Brown should work well on the pick-and-roll. “It’ll be nice to run a pick-and-roll where P.J. pops and Kevin Garnett can duck in,” Rivers said. “We really can’t do that right now unless (James) Posey is at the four (spot).” Bad blood brewing? Billups has said he believes he and Rip Hamilton form the NBA’s best backcourt. Allen isn’t bothered by that. “I don’t get caught up in those little battles, those games,” Allen said, “because I want to have the best 12 guys. Whatever they want to say, whatever they think, I’m happy for them. Our goal is to win the game.” Asked what he thought of Detroit’s backcourt, Allen replied: “Nothing. I don’t think anything of them.” After Allen scored 28 points in the All-Star game to help the Eastern Conference win, Detroit’s Rasheed Wallace approached him. “Rasheed told me,” Allen recalled, “ ‘Way to play hard, thanks for getting me the money that you got me for winning the game, but now you guys can all kiss where the sun don’t shine basically.’ They don’t like Boston and we don’t like Detroit. Playoff position is starting to take place and we don’t like anybody. We like ourselves.” Home court at stake? Last night was the third and final regular-season game between Boston and Detroit. The teams split the first two games, so the tiebreaker was at stake in case the two teams finish with the same record. “We try to downplay it,” Rivers said, “but that part is important, the tiebreaker and home court.” Allen did try to downplay last night’s game. “What is this?” he asked. “Game 59 for us? It’s business as usual.” Home court could be more important to the Celtics because Detroit has far more playoff experience. “It would make sense,” Rivers said, “but I don’t know if that’s true or not.” Ratliff now a Piston The Pistons this week signed veteran center Theo Ratliff, who was a Celtic last season but played in only two games because of a bad back. “Theo fits right in to what they do — another low-post, shot-blocking distraction,” Rivers said. “He’ll be tremendous for them. He was a great pick-up for them.”
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 6, 2008 8:35:58 GMT -5
www.enterprisenews.com/sports/x1468888042Perkins has game — and shows it -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Jim Fenton ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER Posted Mar 06, 2008 @ 12:41 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOSTON — Kendrick Perkins has made a conscious effort in recent days to be a more reliable player for the Boston Celtics. “My biggest thing is, I think I’ve been up and down this season,” said Perkins. “So I’m just trying to stay consistent.” In the past three games, the Celtics’ center has taken a step in that direction by playing some of the best basketball of his career. After getting 11 points and 12 rebounds in last Sunday’s win over the Atlanta Hawks, Perkins contributed a career-high 20 rebounds and 10 points in a 90-78 victory over the Detroit Pistons Wednesday night. Those two efforts came after Perkins just missed a double-double (19 points, nine rebounds) against the Charlotte Bobcats last week. “I’m trying to go out and know that I’m going to give you this every night,” said Perkins. “My goal every night is to get 10 rebounds or more from here throughout the playoffs. I figure the more I go after, the more I can get.” Said Kevin Garnett, “Perk’s been in a zone. He’s been in a zone for two weeks now. It’s good. He’s playing good basketball.” The improved play of Perkins has come after he missed time prior to the All-Star break due to a shoulder injury. There’s still soreness to deal with, but Perkins hasn’t let it hamper him in the past week, giving the Celtics a strong presence inside. “Perk was phenomenal,” said Coach Doc Rivers. “It was not just his rebounding and his defense. He did what he does. He did his job. “He rebounds, plays defense, blocks shots, he’s starting to make nice passes in the interior. That’s who he is, and he stayed within his game. That was a dominant game for him.” Garnett has been lending Perkins a hand with advice and encouragement since training camp, and it has paid off. “He’s helped me a lot,” said Perkins. “He’s been a blessing, just how he helps me with everything. He makes me work that much harder, tells me to work on my craft and keep going, keep pushing. He says not to look at the stats or the media, just keep going.” The best rebounding effort of Perkins’ career was needed in one of the most important games the Celtics will play this regular season. “It’s big,” said Perkins. “It was a playoff-type game. I think it was a good game for myself, but most importantly, I just went out there and did my role tonight. But I can’t get caught up in one game.” Dunk for Rondo: Point guard Rajon Rondo had the highlight play of the game, dunking over Jason Maxiell after driving past Richard Hamilton from the backcourt in the third quarter. “Rondo had a helluva dunk that brought the roof off the place and got us rejuvenated,” said Garnett. Throughout the second half, Rondo was running more than usual, trying to make Chauncey Billups work harder on defense. “I wanted to be aggressive,” said Rondo. “I didn’t want to give him a night off by passing it and not being aggressive.” Said Paul Pierce, “Rondo is a confident player. He doesn’t get discouraged. He’s confident against Chauncey. He’s growing up each and every game. This was one of the biggest games of the season and he stayed poised and that’s hard to do for a guy in his second year.” Praise for Allen: Even though Ray Allen made 1 of 9 shots and scored just three points, Rivers signaled him out for having a sensational game. Allen had to chase Hamilton around from start to finish and limited him to 15 points. “Clearly, it took some offense away from him,” said Rivers. “We needed someone to chase Rip. Ray was the guy and did a phenomenal job.” … P.J. Brown suited up for the first time but didn’t play. Scot Pollard was placed on the inactive list. … James Posey played 18 minutes but didn’t attempt a shot. … Glen Davis had a strong outing with seven points and four rebounds. … The five-game homestand ends Friday against the Chicago Bulls.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 6, 2008 9:12:36 GMT -5
www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080306/SPORTS/803060369AT THE GARDEN: Rondo fights to the finish March 06, 2008 6:00 AM BOSTON — The lengthy pregame video package on the CelticVision scoreboard relived all the rough-and-tumble moments of the longtime Boston-Detroit rivalry in glorious high definition. But in actual definition, the show was just as intense and emotional, with the Celtics emerging as the victors in round three of the heavyweight clash. And it was the scrappy little cruiserweight that delivered the knockout blow. With the 90-78 win, the Celtics become the first team in the NBA to clinch a playoff spot, and also notch the season series with Detroit. Considering how closely these two teams could finish down the stretch, that could make all the difference for home-court advantage. "Well, that's not what we want," head coach Doc Rivers said of being content with just making the playoffs. "Last year, it would've been a parade." No matter who looms on the playoff calendar for these Boston Celtics, there's no more anticipated series than the inevitable showdown with the Pistons. And if that seven-game series (and make no mistake, it will go seven) is anything close to the three-game regular-season one, it will be a postseason showdown for the ages. If these regular-season battles have shown us anything, it's that there's no love lost between the two point guards, Boston's Rajon Rondo and Billups. That was certainly clear early in the game, when Rondo followed up a made basket with a little jawing at Billups. The former Celtics' draft pick responded by giving his younger counterpart a little shove on the back unseen by the officials, but thus began round three of the slugfest between the duo. When the two teams first met here in December, Rondo watched from the bench as Tony Allen bit on a Billups pump-fake, and Chauncey's two subsequent free throws gave Detroit the 87-85 win. He struggled again in Boston's 92-85 win in Detroit on Jan. 5, scoring just three points and posting no assists. Again, he watched the closing moments from the sideline. In fact, it was Rondo's play against Billups that fueled belief that the Celtics needed to acquire a veteran point guard as "insurance" before the postseason. But if there's any indication as to how much Rondo has grown this season, it's that head coach Doc Rivers trusted his second-year point guard enough to keep him in the game through the fourth quarter of the rubber match. "I thought Rondo is one of the most improved players in the league," Detroit coach Flip Saunders said. Perhaps it was the impending arrival of No. 28 — Sam Cassell, in Baltimore following the death of his great-grandmother, is expected to join the team for Friday's game against Chicago — but Rondo has been proving game after game that he is the starting point guard for the Celtics, now and going forward into the playoffs. First came his authoritative driving slam dunk in the third quarter, one of the Celtics' few answers to Billups' 18 points in the quarter as the Pistons clawed back into the game. "Rondo had a hell of a dunk that I thought brought the roof off the place and it got us rejuvenated and we never looked back," Kevin Garnett said. Then, with 1:59 left in the game, Rondo hit a fade-away jumper over Billups and drew the foul, completing the 3-point play and giving the Celtics an 88-77 lead. "(Rondo's) confident against Chauncey, he knows he's played well against him and he's growing up each and every game right before our eyes," Paul Pierce said. "The way he controls the game, this was a big game, this is one of the biggest games of the season and he stayed poised That's hard to do for a guy in his second year." And he used his speed and finesse to handle a bigger, stronger point guard, instead of trying to out-muscle him as he did in their previous meetings. "Well, he ways a buck-twenty (actually 171 pounds), so he's going to hit the deck a lot. But he got up," Rivers said. "That was the key for us, to get back up. And he did." "I wanted to be aggressive," Rondo said. "I didn't want to give (Billups) a night off by passing it and not being aggressive." The Pistons certainly aren't down for the count, and the Boston-Detroit rivalry is picking up its second wind as it heads into the later rounds of the season. And the best part is, as the fight between the two teams continues to wage, you won't have to shell out $50 on pay-per-view to see the eventual K.O.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 6, 2008 9:13:56 GMT -5
www.enterprisenews.com/sports/pros/x52041689Celtics are East beast against Pistons Boston flexes its muscle with an Eastern Conference thumping of Detroit. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Jim Fenton ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER Posted Mar 06, 2008 @ 12:35 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOSTON — Before they can possibly get together again, there are six weeks of the regular season and two rounds of the playoffs to get through. Too bad there is no fast-forward button to hit in order to land in late May. An extra-special three-game season series between the Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons has whetted the appetite for their potential Eastern Conference finals matchup. Barring any upsets by the LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Orlando Magic, the TD Banknorth Garden and The Palace of Auburn Hills will be rocking in the spring. That was the only conclusion that could be drawn after watching the Celtics stop the Pistons, 90-78, Wednesday night in a playoff-like atmosphere to take the series, 2-1. “It would be very intense,” said Celtics center Kendrick Perkins after grabbing a career-high 20 rebounds to go with 10 points. “This is the type of stuff you look for. These games are fun, more than anything. You look for these types of games. You like the crowd, the buildup, the intensity. “I’m exhausted right now. I just want to go home and lie down. I guess that’s how you should feel after every game when you leave it all on the court.” The Celtics (47-12), who clinched a playoff spot, opened a five-game lead over the Pistons (44-17) in the race for the best record with 23 games remaining. They are now in possession of the tiebreaker after the latest win. Boston took advantage of the fact that Detroit played at home the night before, jumping out to an early lead, then pulling away down the stretch. The Celtics had emotion on their side as well with the usual capacity crowd creating an extra buzz before the starting lineups were even introduced. “This was a big game for us,” said Kevin Garnett after scoring a season-high 31 points to go with six rebounds. “It had everything written around it, just a huge game for us. “We knew that the East is going to be won by (one of) three teams and this is one of them. Statement? You could say that, but it was an important game for us and we knew that from day one. This is not an easy matchup. We knew we had to be ready to play.” While Garnett (13 of 22 from the floor) and Perkins put up big numbers, the Celtics got sensational play from Rajon Rondo (16 points, five assists), clutch shooting from Paul Pierce (15) and strong defense from Ray Allen against Richard Hamilton. They needed every aspect after letting a 14-point lead slip away and being in a tie game in the early stages of the fourth quarter. Rondo, who will be getting help from newcomer Sam Cassell soon, did not back down from Chuancey Billups (23 points, seven assists) and used his speed to offset the strength of the Detroit point guard. “I was so proud of him in the stretch where Chauncey tried to take the game over, and he was taking the game over,” said Coach Doc Rivers. “Rondo went coast to coast, did it again. It was almost like, you have advantage on me, (Billups is) stronger and more physical, then you use your advantage — speed — and that’s what he did. I was really, really proud.” Garnett, who had his best offensive game with the Celtics, starting making shots early and took advantage of single coverage throughout. “I’ve been trying to get back in the rhythm,” said Garnett. “My teammates found me early. I had some easy shots and a couple went down early. When I had shots, I took them. I didn’t think about too much. I was in a flow early and never looked back.” The Celtics did their best to downplay the significance of what they accomplished, knowing there is a long way to go. “This is just a great matchup,” said Pierce. “It says we can play them at home and on the road. Even when you look at the game we lost at home, we still had chances to win. “But you don’t want to get too overconfident against them. I remember 2002, we were 3-1 against the New Jersey Nets and lost to them in the Eastern Conference finals.” While the Pistons present matchup problems for the Celtics, Garnett, Pierce, Allen and Rondo figure to give them fits as well, meaning a postseason series will be something special. “It’s very physical (against the Celtics),” said Billups. “We like to play that type of basketball. That’s great. I wish all games could be like that. “It’s going to be a grind, man, every time. It’s great basketball. They’re not going to surprise us and we’re not going to surprise them. It will be nice (in the playoffs). It will be nice.”
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 6, 2008 9:21:24 GMT -5
www.gloucestertimes.com/pusports/local_story_066062403.htmlAn NBA rivalry is reborn Bill Burt BOSTON — It became official last night, amid the phony-baloney, 21st century new-wave circus at pro sporting events these days, which included cheerleaders, dancers, the mascot named Lucky, fireworks (yes, real fireworks) and corny chants of "Dee-fense! Dee-fense! We have a bona fide rivalry. The Boston Celtics and Detroit Pistons don't like each other. Well, that's not entirely true. They each want the same thing, an Eastern Conference championship, and they are willing to fight for it. It took less than seven minutes before a Detroit Piston was lying on the floor playing dead, reminiscent of Bill Lamibeer via a Robert Parish blind-side right cross. The 2008 version was Richard Hamilton after being shoved by Ray Allen, who has never been confused for an aggressor. Hamilton appeared to be knocked out. Of course, he got up as if nothing happened. Where was Johnny Most, the late, great Celtics homer play-by-play man who termed those kinds of fake falls the "Stanislofsky flop," when we needed him? This game had "edge" to it coming in, as you probably read or heard. Not only are they No. 1 and 2 in the entire league, but losing teams whined that other celebrated too much the last two times these two crossed paths. Even Celtics coach Doc Rivers laughed at that one. "That's pretty funny," said Rivers. "I think that tells you there is a little something to this. I like it, to be honest." Like it? Where the heck has "it" been the last decade and a half? Last night's clash featured bumps (Chauncey Billups shoving an in-his-face Rajon Rondo), trips (Rasheed Wallace putting his knee out on Rondo) and a jump ball that took 20 seconds to start because the referee didn't like the placement of Kevin Garnett's feet. It wasn't pretty, but rivalries aren't supposed to be. The teams combined for 36 points in the first quarter, which resembled heavyweights shadow boxing for a few rounds before the real stuff started. Every call by the officials was met with disdain from the alleged offender. The only problem for the Pistons was 18,000 New Englanders added fuel to Celtics' disdain. What was interesting, as least from the Celtics perspective, was how Rondo would react to his first regular-season game that meant something. Rondo was going against one of the toughest players in the league, Billups, who single-handedly got the Pistons back in the game with 13 points, 3 rebounds and 2 assists in the third quarter. Well, Rondo obviously didn't win the battle, but he didn't really lose it either. Rondo's thunderous — and I mean thunderous — dunk at 5:07 of the third quarter was the play of the year for the Celtics. He started his drive at half court with Hamilton by his side and sent the Garden into a frenzy as he laid on the floor after being fouled. Trailing for most of the game by double digits, the Pistons did what they always do and made it a game. From start to finish, good basketball or not, this was worth the wait and buildup.
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