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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 10, 2008 8:02:27 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1131215&format=textCeltics rock in Motown ‘D’ locks up Pistons in Allen Iverson’s Palace debut By Steve Bulpett | Monday, November 10, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by AP AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Last night’s game was being billed around here as an early look at what could again be the Eastern Conference finals matchup. Well, the Pistons had better hope not. The Celtics [team stats] lived up to their championship rings, beating host Detroit, 88-76. The C’s led by as many as 23 before the Pistons put some deodorant on the blowout with some late meaningless hoops. Certainly they’re still trying to assimilate Allen Iverson [stats] into their mix, but that doesn’t fully explain the disparity between these clubs last night. The crowd was duly pumped for Iverson’s first home game, but by halftime the Palace throng was wishing Joe Dumars had traded the rest of the Pistons with Chauncey Billups. Many of them chose to deal with the snow flurries outside rather than watch this abuse. “Don’t put this on the trade with Allen,” Detroit coach Michael Curry said. “This is a team that gets up into you. Boston is a really good defensive team.” Tony Allen led the Celts with 23 points off the bench, and Ray Allen scored 17. But with Kevin Garnett scoring eight points and Paul Pierce [stats] adding just seven, the C’s made their statement at the other end of the court, holding the hosts to 34.7 percent shooting. “It was terrific,” coach Doc Rivers said. “Best defense of the year for us by far. Active hands, physical, got up into bodies - it was really neat to see. It was nice.” Garnett said the defense saved the Celts after an opening quarter in which they scored 17 points on 23.8 percent shooting. “We look forward to playing Detroit,” Garnett said. “This is one of the teams we pattern ourselves after.” The Celtics were simply stifling in the second quarter, holding Detroit without a made field goal for the last 7:33. The Pistons missed their last 10 shots and turned the ball over five times, making 4-of-8 free throws. They shot 18.8 percent from the floor in the frame. Using their defense as a catapult, the Celts scored 30 points in that session, taking an 18-point lead and producing more in a quarter than Detroit had in the entire half (29). And they did it with Pierce pinned to the pine after picking up his third foul on a tough call. “Coach said basically just attack when there’s a lane, and I did that,” Tony Allen (12 second-quarter points) said. “We came out a little slow as a team, but once we got it together we came hard.” Said Rivers: “TA was tremendous, and we needed him. Paul gets the phantom third foul, so he has to sit the entire (second quarter), and we needed (Allen’s) help.” While Iverson (10 points) was still a bit tentative with his new mates, seemingly unwilling to fly solo even when they needed him to, it was the lack of offense from others that stopped the Pistons. Rasheed Wallace had 10 points on 4-of-17 shooting, missing his first eight from the floor before scoring on a dunk 4:17 into the third period. And Richard Hamilton went 0-for-8 for the evening, getting all three of his points from the line. It didn’t help the Detroit cause that Rodney Stuckey was unavailable for the second half. According to the club, the second-year guard experienced symptoms of dizziness and felt lightheaded at the end of the first half. He remained on the bench and medical personnel were seen taking his pulse. Stuckey eventually went to the dressing room, and was held out thereafter. The Pistons were held out of their offense pretty much all night.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 10, 2008 8:04:01 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1131271&format=textBig Red’ Dave Cowens can’t help bleeding Green By Steve Bulpett / Celtics Notebook | Monday, November 10, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by AP AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Dave Cowens is an assistant coach for the Pistons, and it’s been 28 years since he wore a Celtics [team stats] uniform. But - bless him - he’s still Dave Cowens. So he was able to quickly shed his disappointment after Detroit fell to the Celts in the Eastern Conference finals last year. The seven-time All-Star and former MVP was firmly on the side of his old club during The Finals. “Oh, sure,” Cowens said. “Especially when they’re playing the Fakers.” The big man also very much appreciated the way the Celtics played - and still play. “I thought they deserved it from start to finish,” Cowens said before the Celts proved his point with an 88-76 win last night. “They were the ones who set the pace for the whole league. And pretty much they’ve come out of the blocks trying to play the same way. “They bully people, they play really physical . . . and I like it. I think that’s the way you should do it.” That is, of course, the way Cowens did do it. And he was impressed, in particular, by the C’s defense. “I watched a lot of tape on them all year long,” he said, “and I just thought defensively we were good but they were just a little more consistent in terms of executing defensively what they wanted.” Back to Detroit The Celtics still plan to make a move on Antonio McDyess when he clears waivers, but it’s probably a longshot. Sources indicate McDyess, dealt by the Pistons in the Allen Iverson [stats]-Chauncey Billups transaction, will be returning to Detroit. Other sources noted, however, that nothing is certain and that some around the Pistons are concerned another suitor could catch McDyess’ eye. But others are saying there was an understanding when the trade was made that he would be back. In that such arrangements are illegal - though not uncommon - the Celtics hope to at least be able to make their pitch. Good Answer? The Celtics believe the Pistons will be better down the line after their big trade, but, said Kevin Garnett, “The harmony didn’t look the same with this team. I’m not taking away from AI. Great player, and you put him in here. But when a team’s cohesive, man, and they are joined as one, it’s different. It’s very different.” Said coach Doc Rivers: “I think they’ll be a much better team later. You get a new player - especially a new player that’s going to have the ball in his hands - it probably takes away 75 percent of their offensive stuff. “We had training camp and (Pistons coach) Michael (Curry) does not. That’s tough. I don’t know what I would have done if they’d made that trade in the middle of last year with our guys. I don’t think the fans understand how tough it is when it’s a point guard you change. You change a 2, 3, 4 or 5, they don’t actually have the ball in their hands. The point guard has to come down there and call the play, a number. Well, if he doesn’t know any of the numbers, it’s very difficult for you to run stuff.” AI fires up Pistons The trade for Iverson had positive effects even before he took the floor. It was a lock that people would be in the seats for last night’s conference finals rematch, but there had been a number of no-shows of late. Those contests were officially sellouts because the tickets were sold, but the club was concerned nonetheless. “When you have no-shows, you are headed toward no-sales,” Pistons president and CEO Tom Wilson was quoted as saying. “It might not come until next year, but that’s where you’re headed.”
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 10, 2008 8:10:06 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1131311&format=textDelonte West is tearing up the court for Cavaliers By George M. Thomas / Akron Beacon Journal | Monday, November 10, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | NBA Coverage Photo by AP CLEVELAND — The jokes and laughter come more easily these days for Delonte West. Just this past week, the Cavaliers shooting guard showed up for a game with a cleanly shaven face and tight braids. The next day, a crimson Afro replaced the braids. "You need to get a day when Andy Varejao, Ben Wallace and I blow it out," he said. "You ain’t seen this blown out. It’s got a bit of volumez. It’s French for volume." What hasn’t been a joke lately is how West has almost seamlessly fit into his role as the Cavs’ starting shooting guard. Before Saturday’s game against the Chicago Bulls, the veteran guard from St. Joseph’s had been on a tear offensively, averaging more than 13.5 points per game. He’s shooting 53 percent from the floor overall and 50 percent from the 3-point line, and displays an uncanny confidence when he launches a jump shot. "That’s what this game is about — confidence," he said. "You can shoot a thousand shots a day, but when game time comes and you’re not shooting with confidence, you’re going to miss it every time. I’ve been a shooter my entire career, so I have to say my confidence is pretty high." So is his comfort level at his position. While he played lots of shooting guard in college, he has primarily worked from the point in the NBA. "The past five years, I’ve been performing at lead guard in this league," he said. "There’s a difference, and anyone who says there’s not, they’d be telling a fib. I’m getting comfortable. "When the ball comes to me, I’m looking for my shot, whereas during the summer, I was working on getting someone else’s shot first. It was a minor adjustment, but I’m getting back into things." One of the few questions that surrounded the Cavs when they began training camp was who would occupy the guard spot — especially when West took time away from the team to deal with depression and mood disorders. Coach Mike Brown never named a starter at that position. A common-sense guess would be that he wanted West in that spot all along. "Delonte’s a basketball player and he’s playing very well," Brown said. "Obviously in that starting group, we have three big-time scorers in Z, LeBron and Mo, and you got to have some pieces that are glue pieces. You look at Ben as a glue piece. You look at Delonte as a glue piece because you have to guard Delonte, and if you don’t guard Delonte, he’ll make you pay. You can go to him, too." Teammate LeBron James agreed. "He’s the X-factor of our team, and if he plays well, like he’s doing consistently right now, we’re a very tough team to beat," James said. "He’s just been focused. He’s excited to be playing the game of basketball, which he loves again, at a high level, at a fun level." Even if he’s not hitting the points, however, West has displayed his worth on the court. Take Saturday night’s win against the Bulls, a game in which he scored only two points. Flashing those point guard skills, West dribbled to the lane, luring a Bulls player into believing he was going to the hoop. Instead, West tossed a no-look pass to forward Varejao for an easy layup. He credits the cohesion among Cavs players for helping to elevate his game. But did dealing with his personal issues help? "Yes, definitely, just to try to get things off my chest, not allowing it to weigh me down, feeling like I had to go through that by myself," he said. "With the support of lots of fans, family members and definitely the team, it shows there are people out here who care for you, who want to see you smile. That works for me." So far, it’s working for the Cavaliers as well and that certainly is no joke. It’s the defense The Cavaliers struggled for three quarters against the Bulls, yet managed to pull out a win. Other than James, who scored 41 for the second time this season against the Bulls, the Cavs can thank their team defense, which held the Bulls to 37 percent shooting in the fourth quarter. They also got to the free-throw line 14 times (hitting 12) in that quarter. QUICK SHOT The 111-107 win over the Bulls marked the fourth time that the Cavs scored 100 or more points this season — James’ 41 points represented the 26th time he hit the 40-point mark in his career. The team is 21-5 when that happens.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 10, 2008 8:19:47 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/11/10/iverson_pumps_no_life_into_the_pistons?mode=PFIverson pumps no life into the Pistons By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | November 10, 2008 AUBURN HILLS, Mich. - Pistons newcomer Allen Iverson recently said he wanted to "send a message" to the defending champions. The Celtics sent their own message, loud and clear, with their defense last night, en route to easily handling their Eastern Conference rival and spoiling Iverson's home debut. Led by a smothering defense, the Celtics were ahead by as many as 23 points before defeating the Pistons, 88-76, at a sold-out Palace of Auburn Hills. Boston improved to 6-1, 3-1 on the road. The Pistons (4-2) are 0-2 since acquiring Iverson via trade from Denver a week ago. Reserve guard Tony Allen scored a team-high 23 points for Boston while Ray Allen added 17. "The best defense of the year, by far, all game, until the fourth quarter when we turned it down a little bit," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "Active hands. Physical. Got up in [their] bodies. It was really neat to see. It was nice. "We've been good defensively all year. But tonight was our best." The Celtics limited the Pistons to 34.7 percent shooting and scored 23 points off 17 Detroit turnovers. Boston also limited Detroit to an opponent season-low 10 points and 18.8 percent shooting in the second quarter. "Defensively, we were very sound," said Celtics forward Kevin Garnett, who had 8 points and 12 rebounds. "I thought we were communicating. Tonight was one of those nights where your offense looks [terrible]. This is when you know what your team is supposed to do. "Defensively, we were very sound. Very in the flow. And that's what carried us." Detroit guard Rip Hamilton, who missed all eight field goal attempts, said, "Boston just played great defensively. I thought we could have played better, but it was just one of those games." Video of Iverson's introductory news conference was shown before the game, with the perennial All-Star talking about bringing the franchise a championship. Iverson also received a loud welcome when he was announced, but it went downhill from there, as he finished with 10 points on 4-of-11 shooting and four assists in 31 minutes. "Obviously, it's going to take time because it's a different look," Iverson said. "It's a different flow. I'm a totally different player than they're used to playing with and we are just going to have to get used to each other." Garnett viewed the Pistons as a much different team than the one run by his good friend, Chauncey Billups, who led Detroit to an NBA title in 2004 but was sent to Denver in the Iverson deal. "The armory doesn't look the same on this team," Garnett said. "I'm not taking anything away from AI. He's a great player. Put him in. But when a team is cohesive and is joined as one, you know it's different. It's very different." The Celtics trailed, 19-17, at the end of the first quarter. With Paul Pierce picking up three quick fouls in the quarter, Tony Allen gave Boston a spark. With Pierce on the bench, the Celtics went on a 14-3 run, capped by two free throws by Rajon Rondo (13 points) with 3:31 left in the second quarter to take a 37-25 lead. Tony Allen had 8 points during that run. The Celtics went into halftime with a commanding 47-29 lead while the Pistons fans booed. "It was about keeping a hand up and keeping the body in front of them," said Ray Allen. "Also, the rotations were good and everyone was where they were supposed to be." Tony Allen made 11 of 16 shots and one free throw, and added two steals and one block in 27 minutes. The 6-foot-4-inch, 213-pounder has averaged 18 points the past two games. The bench also accounted for nearly half of Boston's points, with 43. "Offensively, I just took advantage of what the defense gave me," Allen said. "Basically, just attacked the lanes." Said Rivers, "[Tony] was tremendous and we needed him. Paul gets the phantom third foul and he had to sit the entire time. But we needed [Allen's] help, and he was terrific." The Celtics went ahead by 22 (60-38) after a 3-pointer by Ray Allen with 4:21 remaining in the third quarter. Boston finished the quarter ahead, 69-49, and Detroit never got closer than 12 the rest of the way. The game was Boston's first at Detroit since clinching the Eastern Conference title here last season. "We look forward to playing Detroit," Garnett said. "This is one of those teams that we pattern ourselves after." Considering that Iverson didn't have a training camp with the Pistons under his belt, the Celtics expect Detroit to be a lot better down the stretch. "They'll be a much better team later," Rivers said. "If you get a new player, especially a new player that needs the ball in his hands, it probably takes away 75 percent of their offensive stuff, and we knew that going into the game." Said Iverson, "We weren't playing scrubs. These guys are world champions. So we have a ways to go, but I think that we'll get it sooner rather than later."
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 10, 2008 8:26:25 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/11/10/suitors_waiting_on_mcdyess?mode=PFSuitors waiting on McDyess By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | November 10, 2008 AUBURN HILLS, MICH. - Pistons coach Michael Curry sighed deeply before acknowledging it was a concern when asked whether he was worried about the possibility of Antonio McDyess going to Boston. A week after McDyess, Chauncey Billups, and Cheikh Samb were dealt to Denver for Allen Iverson, McDyess is expected to be bought out of the two years remaining on his contract today. Assuming the 2001 All-Star is not claimed on waivers, he would become an unrestricted free agent Wednesday. The Celtics are expected to be among the long list of teams interested and can offer a $2.3 million mid-level exception - although being defending champs does give the franchise a feather in its cap. "I saw that Boston and Cleveland were interested," said Curry before the Celtics beat the Pistons, 88-76, last night at the Palace of Auburn Hills. "It's always a concern that those guys can pick him up. They're great teams, teams we have to compete against here in the East. "The reality of it is that I've always thought you should approach coaching the way college coaches do. Whatever roster you have, that's what you have. The college coaches go into a season with injuries and poor play and can't sign any other players. You got to find a way with your roster to get it done. That's where all my energy and focus is." Despite reports that McDyess is expected to return to Detroit, 30 days must pass before he can re-sign. Also, the most Detroit can offer him is $1.5 million. "If Dice is bought out of his contract, we'd love to have him back," Pistons president Joe Dumars said. The Celtics' bench has center Patrick O'Bryant and big men Leon Powe and Glen Davis. Boston, however, hasn't replaced the veteran shoes of 6-foot-11-inch P.J. Brown. Acquiring McDyess could fill that role, which would be a welcome move by the players. Still, to sign McDyess, the Celtics either would have to waive or trade a player to open a spot on their 15-man roster. Neither McDyess nor his agent, Andy Miller, could be reached for comment. "[McDyess] would definitely help us out" said Celtics guard Ray Allen. "I've been a big fan of his for as long as he's been in the league. I wouldn't mind playing with him." McDyess and Celtics forward Kevin Garnett share the same agent in Miller. Garnett said he would "root for" McDyess becoming a Celtic. "[McDyess] has been one of the premier players in our league for a while," Garnett said. "He can definitely help this team. I definitely wouldn't be away from it. I would definitely root for it, if anything. "Dice and I are very cool. Obviously, we're competitors. We don't spend a lot of time [together]. But when I do see Dice, I make it my business to speak. I consider him family with Andy and all of us. [Miller's clients are] tight-knit. We're family . . . I do consider him family and I always worry about his well-being." When asked if he was confident McDyess would return to Detroit, Curry said: "I wish I was confident. It would make my life a lot easier. But I don't know what is going to happen with the situation." Stuckey sidelined Pistons guard Rodney Stuckey experienced dizziness and felt lightheaded at the end of the first half and didn't return . . . Comcast analyst Donny Marshall was not at the game because of a family matter and WEEI radio analyst Cedric Maxwell replaced him.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 10, 2008 8:33:32 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/11/09/early_preview_of_playoffs?mode=PFEarly preview of playoffs? Iverson's Pistons a new challenge By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff | November 9, 2008 WALTHAM - The NBA season is young, but by the end of the month the Celtics will have completed more than 20 percent of their schedule. And today's visit to Detroit could provide an early preview of the playoffs. The Pistons' Rasheed Wallace, for one, fully expects the teams to be rematched in the Eastern Conference finals. "We took it on the chin," Wallace said recently. "We lost [in six games last season]. But that didn't discourage us. That just made us more focused to the things we had to do this year. "Not to knock Cleveland. Cleveland's a good ball club. But too many young guys. I don't think they're ready yet. When the smoke settles, who is always there? It's always us against another team. "We took Indiana down [in recent years]. We took New Jersey down. We took a lot of these 'picks' and 'powers' down. Our next challenge now is Boston. "Right now, you have to give them their respect because they're sitting on top of the mountain. So they're going to have everybody gunning at them and they're going to be our next series." Allen Iverson is directing Detroit's offense in place of Chauncey Billups, following the trade last week, and will make his home debut against the Celtics tonight. The Pistons lost at New Jersey, 103-96, in his first game Friday night. "The next two weeks are going to be a big test for us," said Celtic Ray Allen. "Playing Detroit on the road, then coming back home and playing Toronto, then we see Atlanta. Those teams are going to be gunning for us. "[The Pistons] have a lot of talent, they have veteran players on the squad, they have guys who know exactly what they do, what they do well, and how they do it well with each other. That's always tough for us. "[Iverson] is one of the all-time best at what he does, but we don't know how that's going to incorporate into the mix. It'll be interesting to watch. But it's even tougher for us because now we have to get to know a different Detroit team." Iverson was especially happy about being traded to the Pistons because he believes he fits the city and franchise's blue-collar reputation. "I want to be around toughness," he said Thursday. "I want to be around guys that are tough, committed to win, guys that want to win as bad as I do. I believe that I'm in the right place. "[The Pistons] have won 50 games six years in a row. Obviously, they care about winning and they're dedicated to winning. Being at the end of my career, that's what I'm all about is winning. "We're tough as hell. Tough. That's it. You can talk about how well Rip [Hamilton] can play and how well 'Sheed [Wallace] can play and [Jason] Maxiell, you can talk about Tayshaun [Prince]. I'm talking about toughness, man. "I just want to be around tough-minded players and tough players, physically. These guys, their mentality is toughness. Their mental aspect in games when games are tight, you never see them choke up or anything like that. They're up for a challenge and they understand things are not going to be easy around here. They're going to get it done." Asked if he can fit in with the Pistons, Iverson replied, "When I went to Denver, they said it wouldn't work. When we got Chris Webber, they said it wouldn't work in Philadelphia. But that's on us as a team. We are the only ones that can make it work and we want to make it work. So, it's going to work." Allen's start to the season has been uneven, his shot attempts ranging from nine to 17. "I like to try to find a flow out there," he said yesterday, after an open practice before about 300 people affiliated with New England Baptist Hospital. "Every game is different, every team is going to play me a different way. "I like to try to find shots in the flow, and the focus is to try to get to the free throw line, and try and get to the hole, and get midrange shots. I like to try to build some rhythm in there. "I don't worry about it. As long as defensively we're playing as a team, and we're playing the right way, I think the sacrifices are worth it, just looking at these banners. "Last year was tough because I had to adjust to it. Now I understand. I'm out there and I make adjustments to it. "Winning games is the ultimate objective. I've been there when I've had 25-30 shots a game and scored 40 points and at the end of the game sitting on a loss."
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 10, 2008 10:54:29 GMT -5
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