News 10/31

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1129031&format=text
Celtics are game for ‘regular’ season

By Steve Bulpett / Celtics Notebook | Friday, October 31, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by AP
The commissioner won’t be at the Garden tonight. No legends will be walking to center court to deliver hardware. After the grand production of opening night, the Celtics [team stats] will dive headlong into just basketball.

Just 81 more to go before the playoffs.

“Amen,” said coach Doc Rivers, whose team will host Chicago this evening. “Now the season starts. It was worth it, though. Like I said, we earned it. We deserved it. But now it’s about the games. It’s about each night us performing and seeing what we have.

“I jokingly said I would have rather had it like in high school where you pick your homecoming opponent - and I definitely wouldn’t have picked Cleveland. In retrospect, probably playing Cleveland (in the season-opening win) was the best thing for us, because they get you going, and that’s probably what we needed.”

The games are already running together, but the Celts are bent on maintaining their perch.

“After playing the Lakers (in the Finals), thinking about this summer was a blink,” Ray Allen said. “Now we’re playing again, so it almost seems like we were off for two or three weeks. Being here on the floor now, you just pick right back up where you left off.

“We’re not in the business of mediocrity. We know that it’s a long season and we know that this team enjoyed what we all experienced in June. We enjoyed what we experienced in the first game. Now there’s a level of excellence here that we expect. We see it every day when we practice.”

For a guy like Paul Pierce [stats], who truly enjoys being in the gym, there are no dog days.

“We understand it’s a long season and it’s good to get that one behind us,” he said. “Now we can really concentrate on the ’08-’09 season and defending the title. Now we can tone it down a little bit and settle in to just focusing on the game and basketball and not ceremonies. Hopefully we can play better basketball than we did opening night.”

Rose-y look

The Bulls arrive with top overall draft pick Derrick Rose starting at the point and new coach Vinny Del Negro running the show.

“I like them,” Chicago native Rivers said. “I think they’re going to be one of the tough teams in our league. They’re playing with a great spirit; you can see that.

“Rose gives them a purpose. For a rookie guard, it’s amazing how hard he plays, and he plays for the wins. I know that sounds stupid, but a lot of the young guys come in to play for the show and to show what they can do. He’s got a style of his own, and sometimes it looks flashy, but there’s not any reaction to it from him.”

Phillies fan

Allen was tuned in when the Phillies wrapped up the World Series on Wednesday night.

“I love watching any team when they win championships,” he said. “When the last strike was made, the network went through every player almost and showed their emotion. That moment with the guys realizing they had won the whole thing, no matter what sport it is it’s the best feeling - whether you’re there or whether you’re watching on TV.”

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1129059&format=text
Cavaliers’ road to a title has a major bump in Boston

By Patrick McManamon / Akron Beacon Journal | Friday, October 31, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | NBA Coverage

Photo by AP
In May, the Cavaliers lost Game 7 in Boston by five points.

In the offseason, the Boston Celtics [team stats] subtracted James Posey and P.J. Brown, and the Cavs added Mo Williams.

The result in the season opener Tuesday?

A five-point Cavs loss.

This might not be a bad sign -- the planets do not seem misaligned -- but it is a sign that the Cavs have to get over this Boston hump. The good thing is they have the benefit of time to do it.

In that regard, the Cavs might want to pay better attention to the regular season and homecourt advantage. They’ve lost eight in a row at Boston (counting playoffs), but the Celtics did not beat the Cavs in Cleveland in the playoffs last season.

Every regular-season game matters, and that homecourt edge might be crucial come April and May.

On the plus side, what stood out Tuesday night was the play of forward Anderson Varejao. Coach Mike Brown said Varejao almost single-handedly kept the Cavs in the game in the fourth quarter.

He was right. And most of the plays that came from Varejao were hustle plays, working for rebounds, playing defense on Kevin Garnett, that kind of thing.

This provides a very good sign.

Varejao’s head was a mess last season, because of his contract holdout and his injuries and the acquisition of Joe Smith, which took his minutes. That led him to try to do things he should not have been trying to do.

If Varejao is back to his old self, the Cavs will benefit.

That being said, the Cavs might be one big guy short. That’s because they traded Smith for Williams, a move to add a point guard. It was a move that needed to be made but did hurt, because losing Smith is not insignificant.

Rookie forward J.J. Hickson played a lot in the preseason but didn’t play at all in the opener. Those minutes went to Lorenzen Wright. Perhaps one game is too early to judge Wright, but he did not provide the offense from the short-range jump shot that Smith did.

The trade for Williams took some time because Brown did not want to lose Smith and kept looking for a way to make the deal without involving him.

But the Oklahoma City Thunder insisted.

Which leaves the Cavs with Ben Wallace and Varejao, who are not offensive players, behind center Zydrunas Ilgauskas. They need Wright to be better, or they need Hickson to blossom.

Williams showed why he was so welcome, though. He pushed the ball and led LeBron James to a thunderous dunk in the fourth quarter on the break.

He’s also a very good shooter.

Williams will help, as will the re-signing of Delonte West, a hard-nosed, tough, tough guard.

But Brown cautioned that he wants his team to be "opportunistic" when pushing the ball and that he does not want the game to become a "rat race."

This might sound like a coach trying to exert control, which would really be no surprise, given most coaches like control. But Brown believes firmly that teams that run like greyhounds (such as the Phoenix Suns the past few years) won’t win in the playoffs. They might be pretty, but the coach does not believe they are championship caliber.

The Cavs had some turnovers from their rat-race pace in the fourth quarter, and it will take time for the team to adjust to Williams and the new emphasis.

They also missed free throws in the fourth quarter, especially James. And they missed 3-pointers in the game -- the only player to make a one was Williams.

Daniel Gibson will make those shots in the regular season, as will James, who was not upset about the way his team played. His logic: We missed some good shots. Hard to argue that point, too.

But at some point, it has to be more than this, that or the other thing. A team has to unseat its rival, to win on the other team’s homecourt, if it wants to be a championship team. If at season’s end, it’s the same story, there’s only one conclusion: The Celtics are simply better.

There is no reason not to believe that James will benefit from Williams’ presence and the Cavs’ faster "opportunistic" pace.

Remember, a year ago the Cavs had turmoil leaving training camp and James looked bad in a bad opening-game loss to the Dallas Mavericks.

He rebounded in Game 2 with an outstanding game and was outstanding the rest of the season.

A year ago he said he would not allow his team to play poorly.

He didn’t.

This season he doesn’t need to have that mantra, because the Cavs’ talent should keep them from playing poorly.

They just need to get over the Boston hump.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/10/31/pierce_now_belongs_with_the_greatest?mode=PF
Pierce now belongs with the greatest
By Dan Shaughnessy, Globe Columnist | October 31, 2008

It was the night black high-tops walked with hip-hop. It was the night Paul Pierce finally joined the club.

There was great symmetry in the ring/banner-raising ceremony Wednesday night at the New Garden. Following the steps of trophy-wielding John Havlicek, Bob Cousy and Tom Heinsohn strode across the parquet floorboards they made famous when all this first happened in 1957.

Cooz, Heinsohn, and Hondo were there to connect Pierce and friends to the old generation of Celtic greatness. The trophy, the rings, the banner, and the presence of the old men signified that Pierce now belongs. An incomplete player no more, Pierce becomes part of the discussion every time we assemble our imaginary, one-game-for-the-ages, ultimate Celtics team.

Small wonder Pierce cried. And cried. Then cried some more. He cried me a Doc Rivers.

It was relief and recognition for the captain. After 10 years, 732 games, 16,945 points, and 1 playoff MVP award, Pierce finally joined the club. He was allowed to pass through the green gates of Celtic Heaven.

His résumé was incomplete until the championship was won. Sure, Pierce ranked in the franchise's top 10 in games, minutes, field goals made, shots attempted, free throws made, points, and assists. His 23.1-points-per-game average put him second all time behind Larry Bird.

But he was never in the discussion of All-Time Celtic Greats because there was not enough winning and there were too many bonehead moves. Pierce was often immature. He lost his composure. He sometimes put self ahead of team. There was the weird night he put the bandage on his head in Indiana. There was the unfortunate quote about being a great player on a bad team. There was the rift with Rivers and obvious pout. There was the diss by international basketball and his well-earned reputation as a spoiled scorer. Even at the beginning of the 2008 playoffs, the old stuff dogged Pierce when he was fined for flashing a gang sign.

It all went away in the Finals. Pierce did what Russell and Bird and Hondo and the Cooz did. He willed his team to a championship. He was the best player on the court in a series that included Kobe Bryant and Kevin Garnett. He played ferocious defense. He won a championship, and when he said he was the best player in the world, nobody blinked.

So now he's in the discussion. Best Celtics Starting Five of All Time. Top Celtics team of all time. It's a popular parlor game whenever two or more Celtics fans gather around a table of green beer. The estimable Bob Ryan (wish he wasn't so shy on TV) remembers conducting a Globe reader poll on the subject in 1973 when Larry Siegfried was part of the discussion.

Sorry, Siggy, you're out of the mix. But Pierce is now trying out for a spot on the All-Time Celtics starting five - which is akin to joining Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, and Mickey Mantle in Yankee lore.

Russell, Bird, Havlicek, and Cousy always get the nod. And please don't go all Comcast on us and try to bump Cooz from the starting five just because he was only 6 feet 1 inch and retired in 1963. Cousy was the face of the NBA for 13 seasons. He was Mr. Basketball. He's still the franchise's all-time assist king and he's top five in points, games, and minutes. Cooz never made a three, but that shouldn't work against him.

Pierce could be the fifth starter on this team - unless you'd rather go with Kevin McHale and move Havlicek to the backcourt.

McHale is one of the most interesting names in this argument. He's among the most underrated players in NBA history. Given his unique skills, there are some who would put McHale on a list of the top 12 players in NBA history, but that's a discussion for another day. For today, we'll let you choose between Pierce and McHale as the starter on the Celtics Dream Team.

The other six spots are easier than you think. How do you like Robert Parish, Dave Cowens, Heinsohn, Bill Sharman, Sam Jones, and JoJo White? This would leave out Frank Ramsey, Ed Macauley, Dennis Johnson, K.C. Jones, Satch Sanders, and Cedric Maxwell - all worthies, all good arguments. Paul Silas wasn't here quite long enough. Reggie Lewis died too young. Garnett certainly goes down as one of the most talented individuals to wear the green, but he played 12 seasons before coming to Boston. And no Antoine Walker e-mails, please.

Red Auerbach was always the last word on these contrived rosters. He was careful not to offend anyone and tended to favor his guys from the 1950s and '60s. But something tells me even Red would be ready to put Pierce in his starting five.

It's a significant step for the captain. It took 10 long years. But now he belongs. No wonder the guy was crying.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/10/31/planning_a_defense?mode=PF
Planning a defense
Celtics want to be stingy from start
By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff | October 31, 2008

WALTHAM - The hangover from the Celtics' banner-raising celebration lasted about 1 hour 5 minutes - the length it took for the first half to be completed. Then the Celtics made a statement, confirming their identity as a defense-first team in their 90-85 victory over the Cavaliers Tuesday night.

Now, the Celtics' plan is to get into the defending mode from the start against the Chicago Bulls tonight.

"The first half, we were awful, they should have had 70 points," coach Doc Rivers said after practice yesterday. "We weren't awful; we just didn't guard the ball at all in the first half. In the second half we did. I don't know what it says for the season, but we are a defensive team."

The Celtics limited the Cavaliers to 35 second-half points.

"We finally got back to Celtic basketball, regardless of our offense," said Paul Pierce, who had a game-high 27 points in the opener. "At halftime, we said 50 points was too much for us to give up as a team. So, hopefully we can continue to play the type of defense we played in the second half and carry it over against the Bulls.

"We gave up too many layups and uncontested shots. They got a lot of loose balls. Hopefully, we don't turn the ball over as much. But it's going to be a process for us, finding a way to get better and finding the consistency like we did by the end of [last] year."

Momentum shifted in the third quarter, the Celtics outscoring the Cavaliers, 24-13. The Celtics committed only four personal fouls and grabbed all 10 defensive rebounds in the quarter.

"We didn't make any adjustments," Rivers said. "People would be amazed at how little adjustments, both defensively and offensively, we make at halftime. We correct what we should be doing. It's, 'Guys, this is what we're not doing.' Obviously, there are times when we make a change, but it's rare. After the first half, we said, 'We've got to guard the ball.' Once we did that, the game changed."

Last season, the Celtics had the NBA's best points-against average until the final days of the season; they finished second to Detroit. The Celtics were not among the league leaders in blocked shots or steals, but were first in defensive field goal percentage (.419), ahead of Houston (.433).

"As the game evolved, we adapted to what they were doing to us," Ray Allen said. "We pushed them further away from basket. Early, we had allowed them to pick and choose their ways. We fouled them a lot early in the first half, so we stopped the fouling and put pressure on their offense to score on us."

The Celtics' inside play was effective, even without a blocked shot. And, after Kendrick Perkins fouled out with 3:33 to play, the Celtics gave up only two field goals - a LeBron James dunk and a Mo Williams 3-pointer.

"Perk took a charge, so you figure he's a shot blocker and instead of a blocked shot he takes a charge," Allen said. "And he ended up fouling out. If the guards aren't doing the job, if we are allowing more penetration, that puts more pressure on the bigs. For the most part, early in third and fourth quarters we kept the guards in front of us."

The defensive focus against Chicago will be point guard Derrick Rose, who had 11 points and nine assists in a 108-95 win over Milwaukee in the Bulls' opener Wednesday night.

"For a rookie guard, it's how hard he plays, and he plays for the wins," Rivers said. "A lot of young guys come in and play for the show. They want to show what they can do. He's got a style of his own. He made a beautiful play the other night and he had no reaction, just got back on defense. He's a tough kid."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2008/10/you_might_recal.html
Setting picks
Email|Link|Comments (1) Posted by Chad Finn, Globe Staff October 30, 2008 01:16 PM
You might recall the mini-controversy that brewed around here last June when nine of 10 ESPN NBA "experts" predicted that the Lakers would defeat the Celtics in the Finals. For the record, Tim Legler was the lone wolf who picked a Boston victory.

For the eventual champs, it was a convenient and ready-made "we-get-no-respect" angle -- assuming, of course, that the Celtics even pay attention to such things as the barely considered predictions of sportswriters.

We're pointing this out now only because, based on this season's predictions, it seems the Celtics have won a few friends and influenced at least a couple of people among the ESPN staffers . . . though still not the majority.

Of their 18 experts, seven pick the Lakers to win it all this season, while five (Maurice Brooks, John Hollinger, Chris Sheridan, Dr. Jack Ramsay, and Legler) think the Celtics will repeat. Hey, it's progress.

All 18 have the Celtics winning the Atlantic Division, and 13 have them repeating as Eastern Conference champions.

Three quick conclusions here:

1) ESPN acquired a lot more "experts" in the offseason, which to us might suggest that the suits in Bristol realized that the holdover experts' primary "expertise" was in being spectacularly wrong. (Or so we like to think.)

2) A number of them believe a healthy Andrew Bynum will make the difference for the Lakers this season . . . and might have in the Finals as well.

3) If Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and the rest of the Celtics have anything to say about it, Legler will again be the smartest man in the room come season's end.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/pros_and_colleges/x473392642/Celtics-return-to-normalcy
Celtics return to normalcy
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By Scott Souza/Daily News staff
MetroWest Daily News
Posted Oct 30, 2008 @ 09:48 PM

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WALTHAM — It could be argued that the season really starts for the Celtics tonight.

Although Tuesday's 90-85 victory over the Cavaliers was officially Game 1 of the 2008-09 campaign, the evening was much more throwback to last year than the beginning of something new. There was the banner, the rings and the tears of a captain. Then there was the opponent that made the atmosphere and energy more reminiscent of the spring playoff run than an early-season contest.

"I was saying before that I would rather have it be like your homecoming game in high school where you get to pick the opponent," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "But, in retrospect, maybe it was better that it was Cleveland because Cleveland gets you motivated."

Tonight's game at the TD Banknorth Garden against the young and promising Bulls - including No. 1 overall draft pick Derrick Rose - could turn out to be the first real test of how the defending champions act when it doesn't feel like the future of mankind (or, at least, all of New England) is hanging in the balance. Without the weight of the world on their shoulders, the Celtics must show they can still rise to the occasion for just another regular season game.

"It seems like now is when it starts," said Ray Allen. "Everything is official, and we've got to get to the grind and do our job for the rest of the year."

It's not like the Celtics will suddenly be playing in half-filled arenas and local radio broadcast only - ESPN will be in town for tonight's contest. But while it was easy to get charged up to face the team that gave the Celtics the biggest fits of any playoff foe, they will have to match that drive against every opponent this season.

"When you are the champs everyone is gunning for you," said Paul Pierce. "Everyone is going to try to find an edge. You have to be ready to take everyone's punch.

"The atmosphere (for the opener) was crazy," he added. "Now we can tone it down a bit and concentrate on basketball. Maybe play better than we did the other night."

Though clearly proud of themselves for fighting back the emotion enough to overcome the team that may be the sternest challenger to their crown, the Celtics were honest about their level of play in the first half Tuesday. The Cavaliers put up 50 points, shot nearly 50 percent and paraded to the line 22 times in the opening 24 minutes in building a seven-point lead. Boston then held Cleveland to only 35 points in the second half - including just 13 in the third quarter when the Celtics turned the game around with a 24-13 edge in points, 12-5 edge in rebounds and 6-2 edge in assists.

"As the game evolved, we just adapted to what they were doing to us and pushed them farther away from the basket," Allen said. "Early, we allowed them to kind of pick and choose their way. Offensively, we weren't great. But as the game went along we grinded it out. We also fouled them a lot in the first half. When we stopped the fouling, we put pressure on their offense to score on us."

While the rotation was short, the reserve corps of Tony Allen, Glen Davis, Eddie House and Leon Powe also responded better in its third quarter shift than it did in the first half when House and Powe were rushed into the game early due to the foul trouble of Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins.

"I thought the second unit in the first half played as an individual group," Rivers judged. "In the second half, they played as a team group. That was good growth inside of one game."

Pierce talked throughout last year about "the process" and said he doesn't expect that process to stall this season during times when all of the NBA isn't focused on Boston's every move.

"There are no dog days around here," he assured. "We understand it's a long season. It was good to get (the ceremony and Cavs reunion) behind us. Now we can get going on the '08-09 season."

"We're not in the business of mediocrity," Ray Allen declared. "We know that it's a long season. We all enjoyed what we experienced in June. We enjoyed what we experienced in the first game. So now there's a level of excellence here that we expect and we see it every day when we practice."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.enterprisenews.com/sports/x2081380385/Celtics-rise-to-the-defense
Celtics rise to the defense
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Associated Press
Kevin Garnett defends against the Cavaliers' Anderson Varejao during the Celtics' 95-90 victory on Monday night.

By Jim Fenton
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
Posted Oct 31, 2008 @ 01:22 AM
Last update Oct 31, 2008 @ 01:58 AM

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BOSTON — Their rise from near the bottom of the NBA to the championship was accomplished in large part by a commitment to defense.

In 108 regular-season and playoff games from early November to mid-June, the Boston Celtics allowed only 23 opponents to reach 100 points.

The Celtics finished first in field-goal percentage allowed (41.9) and were second to the Detroit Pistons in points surrendered per game (90.3).

Defense is what the Celtics were known for, even with the presence of offensive weapons Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

In order to contend for a second consecutive title, the Celtics are going to need that same kind of defensive focus, with Garnett leading the way.

During the first half of their season opener against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Tuesday night, though, the defense the Celtics were noted for a year ago was not apparent.

They allowed the Cavaliers to score 50 points, and the aggressiveness the Celtics displayed so often was lacking.

Perhaps it was a result of thepregame ceremony in which championship banner No. 17 was raised to the rafters and the rings were handed out.

Whatever the case, the Celtics readjusted at halftime and looked like their old selves after the break. They limited Cleveland to 13 third-quarter points, 35 in the entire second half, and rallied for a 90-85 victory.

“Our mindset is defense first, offense second,’’ said Garnett. “We got away from it a little bit (in the first half). The second half was better, once we settled in.

“When teams come in here, they’ve got to know that we’re very prepared. The defense will be up to par and it will be a great effort. That’s what we hang our hats on every night.’’

The next opportunity for that comes tonight when the Celtics face the Chicago Bulls at the TD Banknorth Garden (8:05; TV: Comcast SportsNet and ESPN; radio: WEEI-850 AM).

“You’ve got to give them credit,’’ said Cavs guard Delonte West, who began his career in Boston. “They are the champs. They played great defense (in the second half). They turned the defensive pressure up on us.’’

That is what the Celtics did best a year ago, especially at home, as opponents were forced into offensive ruts.

Garnett is once again anchoring things, and Tony Allen is being asked to lead the charge the off the bench with his one-on-one defense.

“We are a defensive team,’’ said Pierce. “We didn’t play our game (in the first half). It’s going to be a process. We’re going to learn from this game and move forward.’’

The Celtics will be playing the Bulls without the pregame hoopla that was there for the opener. They will settle in right away and go against a team that also won its opener, 108-95, over the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday.

“Now I’m glad we can concentrate on basketball,’’ said Coach Doc Rivers. “I’m very happy it’s over, but not in a negative sense. I’m glad, obviously, that the night came. I told them we deserve this night. We worked for this night. We earned this night.’’

With 13 of the first 21 games at home, the Celtics are looking to establish themselves on the parquet floor just like last season, when they were 35-6 at the Garden during the regular season and lost only once in the playoffs.

“It’s nice to come back home and feel like this is a tough place to play in,’’ said Rivers, whose team has a three-game road trip starting Saturday. “This is the building people don’t win in, only us. That’s how you feel. It took a long time to get that feeling.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=247050

Celtics big early test for Bulls
By Mike McGraw | Daily Herald Staff
Published: 10/31/2008 12:03 AM
One simple accomplishment tonight in Boston can prove whether the Bulls are serious about being a good team this season.

If the Celtics' starters still are on the floor when "Gino" starts dancing, the Bulls are for real.

The defending champs might have the league's best timeout ritual. At least they did last season. No reason to think it wouldn't continue.

Early in the fourth quarter, they play a video of vintage disco dancing from "American Bandstand." Fans at the Garden go crazy over the frequent appearances of a bearded man who grooves while wearing a tight shirt with the word "Gino" across the front.

The shirt was identified as an authentic Gino Vannelli concert T-shirt, and many Celtics fans wear replicas to the games. Just search YouTube to find several examples of the video.

As a sad side note, The Wall Street Journal identified the actual dancer as California native Joe Massoni and reported that he died of pneumonia in 1990.

Here's how this piece of timeout entertainment relates to the Bulls: Last season they lost two games in Boston by a combined 48 points and were even less competitive than the results indicated.

During a 107-82 Beantown blowout last Dec. 21, Kevin Garnett punctuated the victory by spending most of the fourth quarter standing on the sideline yelling fake instructions to the Celtics' scrubs finishing up the game, then doubling over in laughter with teammate Paul Pierce.

Needless to say, a competitive effort in Boston would be a step in the right direction for the Bulls.

"Last year there were a lot of teams we didn't compete against," forward Luol Deng said. "It's a new year. I think we have to go out there and compete."

"You always want to see how you match up with the world champs," center Drew Gooden added. "It's going to be a fight. We're using this as a measuring stick."

Of course, the Celtics could serve as an inspiration of sorts for the Bulls. Boston was the worst team in the Eastern Conference in 2006-07, then improved by 42 wins after trading for Garnett and Ray Allen.

The Bulls have only one new player on the active roster right now, but he's a good one. This game will be an interesting test for No. 1 draft pick Derrick Rose, who will match up against another young and athletic point guard in Rajon Rondo.

"It's going to be fun, more than anything," Rose said following Thursday's practice at the Berto Center. "We're just going to go out and try to compete with them. You never know what can happen in a game. As long as we play our type of basketball, which is an up-tempo game, we've got a chance."

One thing Rose thinks he has learned from eight preseason games and the opening victory over Milwaukee on Tuesday is to always be on the attack.

"When I'm aggressive I tend to get people open a lot or something good happens," he said. "As long as I'm attacking the basket and getting my teammates to knock down open shots, we have a chance."

This contest also will test the Bulls' ability to play with a small front line. Gooden and Tyrus Thomas will have to battle the 6-foot-11 Garnett and 6-10 Kendrick Perkins, who did a nice job last season of taking advantage when teams keyed on the "Big Three."

"They're a big team," Gooden said. "But coach says, just like we've got to guard them, they've got to guard us. I think that's the mentality we're going to have to carry the whole season."

Rose (thigh bruise) and Thomas (sprained ankle) returned to practice Thursday after getting a day off to rest their injuries.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/chi-31-bulls-bits-chicagooct31,0,6464248,print.story
Del Negro gets advice from Rivers
By K.C. Johnson

Tribune staff reporter

10:01 PM CDT, October 30, 2008

Shortly after landing the Bulls' job, coach Vinny Del Negro sat in his Berto Center office with a long list of basketball luminaries on his call-back list.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers, with whom Del Negro played two seasons in San Antonio from 1994-96, happened to be near the top of the list.

Rivers won the NBA Coach of the Year Award after Orlando finished 41-41 in 1999-2000.

Rivers achieved this feat as he made the same transition Del Negro is making now — coaching with no previous experience.

"Doc's a good friend," Del Negro said. "We've known each other a long time and talked a lot. He has been very helpful and supportive."

Now Rivers is coach of the reigning NBA world champions.

"Doc gave me some advice, but it's more between me and him," Del Negro said. "He knows what it's like. Those are the people I talked to a lot and sought out. He was kind enough to give me some helpful information."

Appetizing advice: Asked if he shared any pointers for Derrick Rose in advance of the rookie's first NBA regular-season road game, Springfield, Mass., native Del Negro cracked wise.

"Enjoy the seafood — it's great," Del Negro said. "The clam chowder is excellent. They have some great spots there."

As the No. 1 pick, Rose isn't worried about being the fans' target on the road.

"I can block things out," he said. "I'm not looking at the crowd. I'm not looking at signs. I'm not hearing what's going on. I just go out there and play."

Public forum: When Kevin Garnett won the Tribune's Mr. Basketball award in April 1995, Rose was 6.

Rose's Simeon team faced Garnett's Farragut alma mater several times. But Friday will mark the first time the two Public League luminaries face each other.

"He's like a legend, so of course you're going to hear about him," Rose said. "It's going to be fun."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.patriotledger.com/sports/x473392690/Maturing-Powe-bodes-well-for-Celtics-future
Maturing Powe bodes well for Celtics future
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By Mike Fine
The Patriot Ledger
Posted Oct 30, 2008 @ 11:21 PM

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WALTHAM — Practice had ended and Leon Powe, seated by the far baseline, suddenly rose and approached new teammate Patrick O’Bryant and started demonstrating a defensive technique.

At this time last year, the only person Powe might have dared to instruct was the ballboy.

“If I see something I’ll help everybody out,” Powe said after the Thursday practice. “When I came in, the players that were already here helped me out. It’s stuff that’ll make me better, and I just noticed the way he was guarding me, it was wrong, so I tried to tell him what the proper position is.”

Yes, this is the same Leon Powe who for most of his first two years averaged about 12 minutes before suddenly blossoming into a terror on the low post. This is the Powe who could barely remember if he was supposed to screen for this guy or roll for that guy during his rookie season.

After his 23-minute, 13-point performance in the opener Tuesday, it’s beginning to look more and more like the third-year forward has become an integral part of coach Doc Rivers’ rotation.

“I’m comfortable with the offense and the defense, my teammates, the coaches,” he said. “It’s the team concept, where to be in your spots. Now I’m more comfortable on the floor, stuff is coming easier.”

“He’s been terrific,” Rivers said. “He had a pretty good camp. He works hard every day. He knows who he is and what he does. Defensively he’s taken a step forward. He knows the rotations better. That’s a big step.”

It’s a lot easier to take, too, now that Powe is a champion who made a strong contribution to the title run, and now that he knows he’s in the mix.

“You get much better sleep at night,” he said, “but you know what you’ve gotta do, what kind of minutes you’re going to play. It helps you prepare for the teams and mentally for the game because you know you’re gonna get out there.”

This is also a more relaxed Powe, but the beauty of this 24-year-old is that never for a second will his head get swollen with the aura that surrounds a champion. Nor will he ever suffer from the loss of the hunger to succeed, which might strike other younger players.

“Oh, man, just remembering where I come from in Oakland, it was so hard just to get to college (California), just to get on a team (he was drafted by Denver and immediately traded to the Celtics for a second-round pick). I just came a long ways and that’s what keeps me going every day – my family, my friends, my motivation, my city. I’ve gotta keep going.

“When I went home (for the summer) I’m all about family, so I just took all my family on a trip (Bahamas), all expenses paid for, everything. They didn’t have to spend any money. I just cleared my head and came back to work.”

Powe said he knows all about the Celtics tradition of the sixth man, and he could be trending toward those levels of production, but it’s not something over which he stresses.

“Whoever you bring off the bench,” he said. “Sometimes it’s me. Sometimes it’s Tony Allen. I’m going to go in there and give 110 percent no matter what.”

Mostly, though, Powe has become a team guy, not just a fringe guy who is leery about speaking to the big boys.

“If I see something, I’ll try to speak out a little bit and guys listen to me,” he said, “but it’s up to everybody to hold each other accountable. That’s what we do on the bench and as a team. If I see something, if Eddie House sees something, he ain’t gonna be afraid to say it. We take criticism and move on.”

Thick skin, you see, is something that Powe developed long ago, and he expects it’ll serve him well tonight against the Chicago Bulls. When he was a kid, he said, thinking about Halloween, “I was a Ninja Turtle. That’s why I don’t wear costumes any more, because of that. All my friends teased me. Those were tough times. It’s better now.”

[FLCeltsFan]

emuss.blogspot.com/2008/10/point-guard-lists-nbas-best-point.html

A point guard lists the NBA's best point guards
Dave D'Alessandro asked Devin Harris (pictured here) to name which NBA point guards were the best in several categories.

Here's an excerpt of their exchange and a couple of quotes from the story:

Who's the best point guard in the NBA nowadays?

"I think you have to give it to Chris Paul," Devin Harris said, almost instantaneously.

The best shooter among point guards?

"Steve Nash."

Best penetrator?

"Tony Parker. Slight edge over CP."

Best passer off the dribble?

"That would be CP."

Best point guard on the break?

"Probably Deron Williams."

Quickest first step?

"Tony. But Rajon Rondo isn't far behind."

Best handle?

"We can include (Allen) Iverson, right? Then it's A.I. (Jose) Calderon never turns it over, but he keeps it real basic. He doesn't take the same chances other guys do."

What is the one quality that a great point guard needs, anyway?

"The most important thing is respect of his peers and coaching staff," Harris said. "If you don't have that, you don't have anything. You have to work for that. Work to get it, and work to keep it."

Who's the best point guard at getting his own shot?

"Dwyane Wade, if we can count him. You can't pick Gilbert (Arenas), because he just launches from 30 sometimes. That's not hard."

Who's the best at keeping his dribble against a blitz and making a play?

"Nash."

Who runs the best screen-roll?

"It depends. On the side, it's Deron. On top, it's CP."

Quickest hands?

"Rondo, hands down. Brevin Knight, too, but Rondo's hands are so big."

Best defender?

"It's really about team defenses now - you don't go into it dreading anybody. But I'll go with Chauncey (Billups). And Baron (Davis) is a major pain when he's motivated."

Best one-on-one point guard?

"That would be Gilbert."

Best catch-and-shoot guy off the ball?

"My pick would be Mo Williams."

Last one: Who's the most underrated point guard?

This time, he paused.

"Devin Harris," Devin Harris said.

[Nets coach Lawrence] Frank likens it to a relationship between a football coach and his quarterback.


"It's an interesting dichotomy. You have to give trust, yet you hold him the most accountable. He has to feel that the coach is behind him, yet feel that he's held to a higher standard because he's responsible for the other four guys. And it doesn't matter if it's fair or unfair.

The tradeoff is that he has the opportunity to be fearless in his approach, and he gets to carry the torch on the court and in the locker room, set the tone and determine how we'll play."

Don't you need an ego to do this job properly?


"Oh, absolutely," Harris said. "You have to have one, because you're going against very tough guys every night, guys who are coming for your throat. You have to have a swagger, and come in thinking, 'I'm running this team, we have to do it my way.' Absolutely, you have to think that way, and think you're the best one out there."