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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 27, 2008 7:42:49 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1135212&format=textCeltics gobble up win thanks to Rajon Rondo By Steve Bulpett | Thursday, November 27, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by Matt Stone The Celtics [team stats] came within one Rajon Rondo [stats] of having their turkey about half a day earlier than desired. They went into a tryptophan coma in the second quarter, getting outscored by 20 points, but when their little guy came up big after the break, the Celts were able to avoid a holiday embarrassment with a 119-111 victory last night. Rondo had 22 points and the Celtics were a plus-17 with him on the court. Ray Allen led with 25 points, while Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce [stats] added 21 apiece. The C’s scored 100 points in quarters one, three and four combined and held Golden State to 44 points in the second half after letting the guests get 39 in the second period alone. Rondo came back into the game with a bit more than six minutes left. The Celts had just taken back the lead on a Tony Allen three-point play, and Rondo was a key in making sure they didn’t lose the edge again. He didn’t win a jump ball with Ronny Turiaf, but he deserves a little something for tying up a guy whose bicep is bigger than Rondo’s torso. After a Garnett inside three-point trip, Rondo rebounded a Pierce miss and gave the C’s a 108-102 advantage. Rondo brought the Celts back from the edge with 16 points and six rebounds in the third quarter, scoring on a series of aggressive moves to the bucket and making his presence felt at the other end, too (he had two steals). And his team certainly needed every drop of his energy. The Celtics didn’t just take a break at the half, they had to take a standing eight count. The Warriors wailed on them with 39 points, easily surpassing the C’s opponent high for a frame (34 in the fourth by the Bucks on Nov. 15). Golden State more than doubled the Celts’ 19 points, hitting 12 of its 19 field goals and 14 of its 17 free throws. The vaunted Shamrocks defense allowed the visitors to score on 12 straight possessions near the end of the frame. The Celts fell back by 14 points early in the third period, and things were looking even worse when Pierce turned and threw a pass to front row season ticket-holder Marty Joyce (there were no teammates in the same zip code). But with the margin at 12 and a bit less than seven minutes left in the quarter, the Celtics found their groove - again. They began with eight straight points and a 12-1 run that got them within 77-76. After two exchanges, Pierce took a Kendrick Perkins [stats] feed and scored inside for an 82-81 Celtics lead. Pierce and Rondo scored in the final minute to get the lead to 86-83 heading into the last quarter. The Celtics got what they wanted out of the first quarter. They were pushing the ball up the floor and getting good looks at the hoop as a result. It didn’t hurt that the Warriors had no matchup answer for Garnett. Second-year pro Brandan Wright opened on KG, and it was clear from the first few possessions that this was not a great idea for the guests. Wright was soon out of the game, replaced by Anthony Randolph. But the rookie picked up two fouls in a 23-second span and went back to the pine. But it was Ray Allen who was doing the most damage for the Celts in the first few minutes. Allen hit four shots in the quarter, and he assisted on three of the Green’s first four buckets. Playing against an offensive minded backcourt, Allen was more than willing to put his foes to the test at the other end of the court. Allen and Garnett each finished the first quarter with 10 points as the Celts took a 35-28 lead.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 27, 2008 7:42:43 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1135216&format=text‘Redhead’ Helen Heinsohn bled Celtic Green By Steve Buckley | Thursday, November 27, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by Matt Stone Helen Heinsohn was a regular presence in the media dining room before every Celtics [team stats] home game. She was a lady who enjoyed a little spice with her meal: She had an opinion on just about every topic, which she’d be only too happy to share. But then she would get up, excuse herself, and walk down the hallway, past the Bruins [team stats]’ locked-up locker room, and take a right at the entrance to one of those smallish auxiliary locker rooms that for the most part have two purposes: For high school teams participating in tournament games, and for the Celtics’ pregame chapel services. “As a matter of fact she usually sat right where you’re sitting,” the Rev. Robert Gray of Bethel AME Church of Jamaica Plain was saying last night, before the Celtics game against the Golden State Warriors. “This isn’t a place where people generally have opinions,” he said, relaxing at an empty stall in his locker room/chapel. “It’s a place where people try to find some peace and make some sense out of life. “And,” he added, “for people to use the strength of the people around them. That’s why she was here.” Helen J. (Weiss) Heinsohn, the Redhead from Needham, the beloved wife of Celtics legend Tommy Heinsohn, died Monday. Many Celtics fans were aware she had fought cancer for some seven years, fought it hard, fought it to win. And in many respects she did win: It was a long, long time ago that the doctors told her she might only have several months to live. And there she was this past spring, watching the Celtics step past the Hawks, Cavaliers, Pistons and Lakers en route to banner No. 17. “After she was diagnosed,” Rev. Gray said, “we had a long talk. We talked about the importance of spiritual strength. And one day she just showed up at chapel. And she was here ever since. “Whenever she wasn’t here, I knew something was wrong. I’d later hear she’d been in the hospital or something like that.” Helen was as spirited a Celtics fan as you’d find. If you thought the late, great Johnny Most was a homer . . . if you thought Tommy himself is a homer (“These guys are ree-dic-u-lous,” he once famously said, referring to the referees), then you should know that Helen had them both beat. The only difference was that she didn’t do her cheering in front of a microphone. Did she ever use chapel services to request a prayer for a Celts win? “No,” said the reverend. “I always let people know we’re not praying for a win or a loss. We’re praying for people’s lot in life. We’re praying for people’s health. We’re praying for people’s growth. Usually when she had something to say, she would ask for prayer for people.” And so chapel went on as scheduled before last night’s game. And you probably don’t need to be told that, while Helen surely was missed, her presence was surely felt. “She was a fighter,” said the reverend. “She was a fiery fighter who was determined to show that life was not going to beat her down. She was going to win. They gave her a couple of years to live, and that was years ago.” Before the game began, a moment of silence was observed in memory of Tommy’s wife. Appropriately, she was referred to as the Redhead from Needham, a beaming picture of her gracing the Jumbotron. Tommy was in the building. Accompanied by his sons, he stood in a runway, out of sight, watching the pregame tribute, his eyes glistening. The Rev. Robert Gray, too, watched the tribute. “Every time she would have an episode,” he said, “she would take some time off and come back strong. She made good use of her resources, and I believe she got extra time in her life because of that. And that’s her gift to us all.”
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 27, 2008 7:49:48 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1135244&format=textCeltics worry about the ‘D’ Green allow100 again By Steve Bulpett / Celtics Notebook | Thursday, November 27, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by Matt Stone The Celtics [team stats] came into last night’s game against Golden State as the best defensive team in the NBA in both points allowed and field goal percentage. They left in the same position, but surrendering 111 points to the Warriors a game after letting Toronto go for 103 had Doc Rivers thinking. Victories in those two games - 119-111 last night - will allow the coach to sleep, but he’s paid to worry. “We had to rely on offense tonight,” he said. “That’s two games in a row.” On the strength of their 39-point second quarter, the Warriors shot 49.4 percent for the night, far better than the 39.7 percent the C’s were allowing before this one tipped off. And they came in allowing just 89.9 points a night. “I’m disappointed with the way we won,” said Paul Pierce [stats]. “We win with our defense because we’re a defensive team first.” Another DNP Patrick O’Bryant got a chance to go against his former team last night, but the prospects for him making a big mark on the Celtics effort were certainly minimal. The center was a DNP and has played just 22 minutes this season. When word came out early that the Celts were hoping for a more concerted effort from O’Bryant, it’s fair to say the Warriors weren’t completely surprised. “He’s an interesting guy because he’s 7-1 and he’s got all the skills you need in basketball,” said Golden State coach (and former Celtic) Don Nelson. He’s got a brain. . . . “We were intrigued with him, too, for a while. I still think he’ll make it some day. But anyway, it’s not my problem.” When Rivers was asked before the game by a Warrior beat writer where O’Bryant is figuratively, the coach pointed to the dressing room and deadpanned, “He’s in there.” Added Rivers on a more serious note: “He’s coming along. Him and (assistant coach) Clifford Ray have been together far more than Patrick probably would like to. But it’s been great for him, and in the few practices we’ve had, you can see the improvement. He’s just got to keep working.” Go to the video After challenging a few of Kendrick Perkins [stats]’ technicals by sending some video to the league, the Celtics are still waiting on a reply. But they’re looking more down the line with their move. “When you send film, they never really respond unless they’re going to do something,” said Rivers, who added that he doesn’t expect any of Perkins’ eight technicals to be rescinded. “We’re just trying to notify them that when it does happen to watch it more for the future than the past.” But the Celts would still like to have a tech or two knocked off to push Perkins away from the 16-technical threshold that carries an automatic one-game suspension. “Yeah,” said Rivers, “keep hope alive.” Turkey treat The Celtics will take Thanksgiving off, with Rivers flying down to Orlando after last night’s game to spend the holiday with his family. “It’s my favorite holiday,” he said. “I think it’s a good family holiday. No gifts. There’s no greed involved - except for with your fork and knife.” What’s the coach’s favorite dish? “Dressing,” he said, gaining some odd looks with the response. “Stuffing, dressing. We say dressing in Chicago. Sausage is in it. Other than that I have no clue what my mom actually puts in it. I just know it’s nice and fattening for sure.” . . . The Celts just saw Jamal Crawford in a New York Knicks uniform, and they got to face him again last night due to his trade west for Al Harrington last Friday. He finished with 18 points, but was just 5-for-17 shooting from the floor, and added six rebounds and six assists. “He fits right in,” said Rivers. “I think he’s one of the best on-the-ball scorers in the league, and that’s what (the Warriors) do. It just makes him more dangerous.”
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 27, 2008 7:50:11 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1135246&format=textRajon Rondo stands in Guard takes star turn with 3rd-quarter burst By Steve Buckley | Thursday, November 27, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by Matt Stone Rajon Rondo was only a half-step out of the trainer’s room last night at the Garden when he was approached by a gathering of reporters delivering important information: Paul Pierce [stats] had just issued a postgame proclamation announcing that Rondo should be an NBA All-Star. Based on what took place in the third quarter of the Celtics [team stats]’ 119-111 victory over the Golden State Warriors, it would be hard to argue with Pierce. For here was yet another game in which the Celtics fell behind by a ton of points in the early going - the Warriors jumped out to a 14-3 lead - before storming back to win. This time it was Rondo who led the comeback. Trailing 67-54 halftime, the C’s outscored the Warriors 32-16 in the third quarter, the same 12 minutes in which Rondo scored 16 of his 22 points. Thus began Pierce’s Rajon Rondo [stats] All-Star campaign. “I sure appreciate it,” Rondo said, “but I just go out there and try to win. As long as we win, that’s what it’s all about. And I’m sure the more we win, the more votes I get. But my biggest concern right now is to try and get the win.” Rondo explained his third-quarter uprising in simple terms. “We got misses, that was the key,” he said. “We got a lot of missed shots in the third and I tried to use my speed to my advantage and get in the paint and create shots, but the shots were (there) for me tonight. I took a lot of shots in the paint and put a lot of pressure on the defense. “My last couple of games I’ve been trying to go out there and attack. I’m trying to continue to be aggressive, but also find my guys when they’re open.” It wasn’t so much a lack of aggressiveness in previous games, Rondo said, but, rather, a situation in which he was “trying to play unselfishly. I always think of team first. I just want to make guys better. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to shoot the ball.” Instead, it’s that he knows his role.cw0 “My job sometimes is to be aggressive and be the scorer. But I’m the point guard and I run the show.”
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 27, 2008 7:53:02 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/11/27/celtics_keep_up_frantic_pace?mode=PFCeltics keep up frantic pace They abandon defense, score at will on Warriors By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff | November 27, 2008 Before the Celtics met the Warriors last night, statisticians made certain reference books were in place and the Elias Sports Bureau's telephone number was handy. They did not have to wait long to start researching and making calls, the Warriors' up-tempo style and lack of defense contributing to a fast start. First, the Celtics' superlatives. They set season highs for first-quarter scoring (35 points) and for a game in a 119-111 victory. They also had several lows: surrendering the most points in a half (67) since the Warriors scored 69 in a 119-117 win Feb. 20; allowing the most points in an opening half since Charlotte scored 68 March 14, 2005; allowing the most points in a quarter (39) since Jan. 20, 2007 at Washington. The Warriors accelerated the pace to a greater extent than the Celtics (14-2, six successive wins) are used to. The Celtics set a season high for first-quarter points (32) in a 118-103 win at Toronto Sunday, but that was slow-motion compared with last night's opening quarter. And it wasn't until after halftime that the Celtics gained control, Rajon Rondo scoring half their points in a 32-16 third quarter. "We had six deflections in the first half, we had 17 in the second half," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "Same team - it's amazing. I thought it started with Rondo picking it up, picking up ball pressure, just attacking, using his speed." The Celtics faltered after the starters began departing late in the first quarter. Rondo left after giving the Celtics a 34-24 lead with 1:53 to go - the Celtics then went almost eight minutes without a field goal. The Warriors took a 67-54 halftime lead - topping the season high for a Celtic opponent for points in a half (55) and a quarter (34) set by Milwaukee Nov. 15. "I thought we started out the game great, the first six or eight minutes," Rivers said. "Then, I thought we got infatuated with scoring, and it became a scoring contest. I thought our bench came in and had that feeling. Our bench has been phenomenal all year; [last] night, I thought they came in with the thought they were going to try to score. "And that's when Golden State got going." Corey Maggette (32 points) and Stephen Jackson (30) led the way for the Warriors, becoming the first opposing players to score 30-plus points against the Celtics this season. Rondo sparked the Celtics' to a 65-44 second-half advantage. But the Celtics did not take control until late in the third quarter. Paul Pierce's flip in the lane capped a 28-14 Celtic run as they regained the lead, 82-81, with 1:40 left. Rondo's foul shot stretched the advantage to 86-83 with 0.4 seconds left. The Warriors, though, continued to launch from long distance, taking a 91-90 lead in the final quarter after a Maggette 3-pointer with 10:47 left. The Celtics' bench provided only four field goals, the first on a Glen Davis 3-point play with 8:51 remaining. That was followed by Jackson and Jamal Crawford (18 points) 3-pointers in the next 54 seconds, providing Golden State with a 101-97 advantage with 7:57 to play. In the next 1:04, Ray Allen (25 points) hit a 3-pointer and Tony Allen followed a Kevin Garnett airball with a 3-point play and a 103-102 lead the Celtics would not relinquish. "When you get that team going, it's tough to shut them off," Rivers said. "They are free as a bird, they're shooting jumpers all over the place, they're driving, they spread the floor. Once that happened, I knew it would be a dogfight the rest of the game - because when you get scorers feeling good about themselves, there's no defense that's going to turn them off. "So, we had to rely offensively. But it's a good lesson for us - you can't, that offensive stuff. I thought our bench was just sitting there watching the starters score. But what they missed was the starters were getting stops first to score. It was a good lesson."
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 27, 2008 7:54:14 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/11/27/fun_to_watch_shooting_stars?mode=PFFun to watch shooting stars Rondo's streak gets attention By Adam Kilgore, Globe Staff | November 27, 2008 Rajon Rondo grabbed an inbounds pass early in the third quarter and slammed the ball to the court with enough strength that it bounced several feet over his head. He had just allowed his man to score, and he'd had enough. "I was frustrated on the defensive end," Rondo said. "It was a defensive mind-set." Rondo, though, willed the Celtics in the second half with his offense, which has blossomed to the point that Paul Pierce suggested after the Celtics' 119-111 victory over the Warriors last night that Rondo might be an All-Star. Rondo sparked the Celtics' comeback by scoring 16 of his season-high 22 points in the third quarter, taking it upon himself to extricate the Celtics from their second-quarter malaise and erase a 13-point halftime deficit. Rondo continued his emergence as a consistent offensive force. He has scored at least 13 points in five straight games, upping his season scoring average to 10.1. Rondo's streak owes to enhanced aggression, and one prominent teammate believes it makes him one of the league's elite players. "I wouldn't be surprised if he made the All-Star team this year," Pierce said. "He really changed the game. When he's on like he was on tonight, we're unbeatable. "With me, Kevin [Garnett], and Ray [Allen] on a night-in, night-out basis, Rajon is now starting to develop that consistency as a player. He's starting to establish himself as one of the best point guards in the NBA." Rondo understands the All-Stars correlation. "I sure appreciate it," Rondo said. "I just go out there and try to win. I'm sure the more we win, the more votes I'll get." Rondo's ascension toward the league's elite has coincided with his vow to be more aggressive. He has been attacking defenses, zipping his way into the paint, and then, rather than looking to find open teammates, trying to use his speed to blow all the way to the basket. "As of late, I'm not passing up any jumpers," Rondo said before the game. "I'm just trying to keep the defense honest. I'm probably more comfortable now. Last year, people said I could get to the basket, get to the rim. But now I really feel that way, especially in transition." Trying to be unselfish, Rondo sometimes hurt the Celtics. He would think, coming down the court, "Ray hasn't shot the ball in three possessions. I'm going to get him a shot." His teammates implored him not to pass solely out of a devotion to sharing. Coach Doc Rivers showed him something that made him take notice: Rondo has scored just 2 points only twice this season; Boston lost both games, their only defeats of the year. "The biggest thing with him isn't knocking down shots," Allen said. "It's him being aggressive. He's really attacking the defense, which means a great deal for all of us because now they decide where to bring [defensive] help from." And, besides, Rondo has taken his more prominent scoring role without sacrificing assists, distributing seven last night (with no turnovers) and maintaining his season assist average at 6.5. Rondo also snared eight rebounds (four on offense), made two steals, and deflected several passes. Rondo became most aggressive when the Celtics most needed it. He electrified TD Banknorth Garden in the third quarter, grabbing rebounds and creating his own fast breaks. He made a driving, fast-break bank shot over Stephen Jackson to pull the Celtics within a basket. In the fourth quarter, he corralled a loose rebound and snuck the ball back in, under the arm of 6-foot-11-inch Andris Biedrins. "The key to them winning this game was Rondo," Jackson said. "Rondo had a hell of a game. He made a lot of big shots and a lot of big defensive plays."
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 27, 2008 7:57:28 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/11/27/theres_no_east_coast_bias_in_this_assessment?mode=PFThere's no East Coast bias in this assessment By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff | November 27, 2008 The Celtics have matched last season's pace by winning 14 of their first 16 games. Now, the Celtics are preparing for more predictable opposition - they play host to Philadelphia tomorrow - following a 119-111 win over Golden State last night. "Philly's more power ball," Celtic coach Doc Rivers said. "They're athletic as heck, they have Elton Brand now. And they're going to go down low and play pick and roll." The Warriors simply free-lanced. And they scored more points than any Celtic opponent this season. But the Warriors have surrendered 243 points in a 24-hour period, following their 124-100 loss to Washington Tuesday. "We knew that [Tuesday] night they played, but it was a tough game for us to gauge because they missed a lot of shots," Ray Allen said. "It ended up being a blowout and we knew that wasn't who they were as a team. We said they were going to score, take a lot of shots, unpredictable shots, and they did that. Doc said that, specifically, don't let them catch a string of shots, but I think there was a moment there in the second quarter where they got that." In fact, the Warriors' 39-19 second quarter was the highest-scoring total for a Celtics opponent at TD Banknorth Garden since Atlanta scored 43 April 14, 2004. Center of attention The Celtics have sent a package of plays to the NBA highlighting Kendrick Perkins's involvement in receiving eight technical fouls. "We're just trying to notify them, when it does happen, to watch - more for the future than for the past," Rivers said. "It helps, sometimes." Rondo on roll The Celtics' winning margin was 13.8 points in the last five games, thanks partly to point guard Rajon Rondo's play. Rondo scored 15, 18, 13, 15, and 22 points in those games, after averaging 7.1 points in the first 11 games of the season. "He's got to keep doing it every night," Rivers said. "Three good games don't make a career. You have to do it three, four, five years in a row - now you've established yourself." "He is a throwback, in some ways," Rivers said. "He uses his speed and his mind-set is to set up teammates. He's young, but forget about their age with Rondo and [Glen Davis] - you have to push them every day and you have to understand they are young and they will grow." Worth the effort Before the season, the Warriors signed coach Don Nelson to a contract extension. Nelson, 68, has 1,285 wins in 30 seasons, trailing only Lenny Wilkens in career victories (1,332). When asked if he is surprised Nelson is still coaching, Rivers said: "No. He's a lifer . . . Every time I talk to him, he talks about retiring. I'm like, 'No way.' He'll retire for a year and then he'll be back. He's Joe Paterno. They'll have to will Don off the floor before he quits." Asked why he continues to coach, Nelson replied: "Cold cash, baby, cold cash. I guess I like it." Nelson was impressed with the Celtics. "They're the [NBA] champs, they're terrific," Nelson said. "They may have nights like this more often than they would want but, anyway, compared to our last game, we played about as well as we can." Minor improvements Celtic draft choices J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker are adjusting to life in the NBA Development League. "Instead of sitting in street clothes doing nothing, they're playing basketball games," Celtic president of basketball operations Danny Ainge said. "You can't develop completely without playing basketball." The Utah Flash visit Austin tomorrow in their regular-season opener. "They want them to have playing time and they want them to learn the pro basketball game," Utah coach Brad Jones said. "But, at the same time, they want them to be held accountable to a set of standards. What they're scared of is these guys come down here and me, as a coach, say, 'Oh, I've got these two Celtics guys. I'm going to let them do whatever they want.' That's what they do not want. They want them to be held to a set of rules." Julian Benbow and Marc J. Spears of the Globe staff contributed to this report.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 27, 2008 8:16:52 GMT -5
www.telegram.com/article/20081127/NEWS/811270560/1120/RSS01&source=rssHoliday dishes on Celts’ menu CELTICS NOTES By Bill Doyle TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF wdoyle@telegram.com Add a comment BOSTON— Doc Rivers planned to fly to Orlando after last night’s game to spend Thanksgiving with his family. His favorite dish today will be his mother’s meat dressing. “Sausage is in it,” he said. “Other than that, I have no clue what my mom actually puts in it. But I like it. It’s nice and fattening, I’m sure.” Thanksgiving is Rivers’ favorite holiday. “It’s everyone’s favorite holiday, I think,” Rivers said. “It’s a family holiday so it’s a good one. No gifts. No greed involved except your fork and knife. That’s always pretty good.” Ray Allen so loved the chili beans his mother prepared for Thanksgiving, he made sure his wife learned to cook them. Before Allen met his wife, she didn’t cook at all. Now she’s so good in the kitchen, she filmed a pilot this fall for a cooking show. The Allens are trying to find a network to pick up the show. “She’s somewhere along the lines of Rachel Ray,” Allen said. Rajon Rondo was looking forward to eating Sara Lee Dutch apple pie. “It’s the only dish I can make,” Rondo said. “I don’t really make it, but I put it in the oven.” Nelson proud of old squad Warriors coach Don Nelson hasn’t played for the Celtics in 33 years and he has coached against them nearly every year since, but he still was thrilled when they won the NBA championship last June. “I was very proud of them,” Nelson said. “I wish I could have been here, but it wouldn’t have looked good probably.” Nelson is in his third season of his second stint as coach of the Warriors. He said he no longer glances at his retired No. 19 in the Garden rafters, but he remains a Celtic at heart. “You’re always part of this franchise if you’ve played here,” he said. “That’s the beauty of being a Celtic. It’ll never change. I’ll root for them when we’re not playing them and I was one of their biggest fans.” No word on appeal The Celtics haven’t heard back from league headquarters about their appeal of two of the eight technical fouls called on Kendrick Perkins this season. They don’t expect their appeal to be upheld. “When you send film, they never really respond unless they’re going to do something,” Rivers said. The Celtics thought Perkins was penalized for reacting to the antics of opposing players. Rivers said the Celtics sent film of the two technical fouls in question to the league more to prevent Perkins from getting whistled for future technicals than to get them overturned. Perkins was called for eight technicals in Boston’s first 15 games. If he picks up a 16th technical foul, he’ll be suspended a game. He’ll be suspended another game for every two technicals after that. Players also are fined $1,000 for each of their first five technicals, $1,500 for each of their next five, $2,000 for each of their next five, and $2,500 for each one thereafter. Heinsohn’s wife honored A moment of silence was held before tipoff in memory of Helen J. (Weiss) Heinsohn, who died Monday after a six-year battle with cancer. Her funeral was yesterday. She was the wife of Celtics broadcaster Tommy Heinsohn, who affectionately called her “the redhead from Needham” during broadcasts. Heinsohn was on hand for the moment of silence, but Donny Marshall filled in for him on last night’s broadcast and also will take his place at tomorrow night’s home game against Philadelphia. Crawford suits up Guard Jamal Crawford played in his second game last night since the Warriors acquired him from New York for forward Al Harrington last Friday. “He fits right in,” Rivers said. “I think he’s one of the best on-the-ball dribblers, scorers in the league, and that’s what they do. It just makes them more dangerous. It’s going to take him some time to fit in and play, but not much time. He plays exactly the way they play. I think it’s a really good move for them.” The Warriors needed help in the backcourt after Monta Ellis tore ligaments in his left ankle in a moped accident in August. Because riding a moped violated the terms of Ellis’ contract, the Warriors suspended him without pay for the first 30 regular-season games. Ellis isn’t expected back until January at the earliest. He averaged 20.2 points a game last season. Crawford averaged 19.6 points this season for New York.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 27, 2008 8:20:10 GMT -5
www.sltrib.com/ci_11086327Giddens will get chance to shine Celtics rookie isn't disappointed to be sent to D-League team By Steve Luhm The Salt Lake Tribune Updated: 11/27/2008 12:56:07 AM MST Click photo to enlargeJ.R. Giddens Celtics' first-round draft pick was assigned to Utah Flash«1»OREM - When the Celtics play Philadelphia in Boston on Friday night, first-round draft pick J.R. Giddens won't be there. Instead, Giddens will be in Texas, where the Utah Flash open their NBA Developmental League season against the Austin Toros. If he's disappointed about playing in the D-League, however, Giddens doesn't show it. "Up there, I'm not going to get the opportunity to show what I can do because, obviously, our depth chart is strong," Giddens said. "We have a very deep team and I haven't been able to crack that lineup, so coming down here and playing is better than sitting up there. . . . Down here, I can grow. I already feel like it's helping me." If Giddens' name sounds familiar, it's probably because he played his final two collegiate seasons at New Mexico - Mountain Western Conference rivals of BYU and Utah. After averaging 16.3 points, 8.8 rebounds and 3.1 assists as a senior, Giddens was projected to go in the second round of the NBA Draft. But Celtic boss Danny Ainge took him with the 30th pick, making him the last first-rounder. "It was one of the highlights of my life," Giddens said. "You always dream about having your name called in the NBA Draft. It was the first round, too. So I was just very blessed that the Celtics gave me an opportunity to further my playing career." What did Ainge tell him when Giddens -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Advertisement -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- was assigned to the Flash? "Well," Giddens said, "I wasn't getting any playing time and I want to become a better player, so he said, 'Go there and play. Work hard and get better.' "When you're not playing at all, you develop rust on your game. You need to fine-tune things. So I'm here to fine-tune my game, get my rhythm back, catch my mojo a little and get my swag going." Flash coach Brad Jones is thrilled to have Giddens, who started his college career at Kansas before transferring to New Mexico. "I expect great things from J.R.," Jones said. "He's a talented guy. A terrific defender. He's got a great body. Offensively, he can really rise up above people and make shots, which you have to do at the NBA level." Besides giving him a chance to develop and help the Flash win games - "That's what it's all about," he said - Giddens' D-League assignment will help him learn what it takes to play a grueling six-month schedule. Said Jones: "One of the things that we've seen in some NBA guys assigned to us is, one night they're great and one night you think, 'Wow, where are they?' So that's a focus with J.R., too. Hopefully, he'll be able to compete on a consistent level." Travel in the D-League can also show an NBA team how well a young player takes care of himself and whether he is committed to his craft. This weekend, for example, the Flash play back-to-back at Austin and Rio Grande Valley. Unlike teams in the NBA, D-Leaguers travel on commercial flights and stay in comfortable but not luxurious hotels. "We've got a 7 a.m. flight on Saturday," Jones said. "That's means about a 4 a.m. wake-up call. We get to Rio Grande about 1 in the afternoon and we play at 7. "That's part of the reason the Celtics wanted J.R. here early. They looked at our schedule and saw some back-to-backs and wanted to see how he would respond - if he could be consistent." luhm@sltrib.com Giddens stats J.R. Giddens' college career: Season G FG 3s FT FT% Reb Ast Pts 2003-04 Kansas 33 141-297 74-182 18-27 .667 3.6 0.8 11.3 2004-05 Kansas 30 111-275 63-187 17-25 .680 3.8 1.4 10.1 2006-07 New Mexico 26 156-354 41-136 59-100 .590 6.5 2.3 15.8 2007-08 New Mexico 33 201-407 25-75 92-157 .586 8.8 3.1 16.3 Utah Flash 2008-09 schedule November 28-at Austin 29-at Rio Grand Valley December 1-vs. Bakersfield 5-vs. Reno 6-at Bakersfield 12-vs. Dakota 13-at Idaho 15-vs. Reno 19-vs. Bakersfield 21-at Anaheim 26-at Colorado 28-at Iowa 30-at Tulsa. January 2-vs. Austin 6-vs. Anaheim (D-League Showcase) 8-vs. Los Angeles (D-League Showcase) 9-at Los Angeles 13-at Sioux Falls 15-at Dakota 17-at Reno 20-vs. Los Angeles 23-vs. Tulsa 26-vs. Fort Wayne 30-at Reno 31-at Reno February 3-at Bakersfield 6-vs. Los Angeles 9-at Erie 10-at Fort Wayne 20-at Anaheim 21-vs. Iowa 27-at Idaho 28-at Idaho. March 6-at Albuquerque 9-vs. Idaho 13-vs. Bakersfield 14-vs. Sioux Falls 16-vs. Idaho 18-vs. Reno 20-vs. Erie 27-vs. Anaheim 28-vs. Anaheim 31-at Bakersfield. April 1-vs. Rio Grand Valley 3-vs. Albuquerque 5-at Los Angeles 7-vs. Los Angeles 8-at Anaheim 10-vs. Colorado 11-vs. Idaho Ticket information * Single-game tickets are available at the Flash ticket office at the McKay Events Center, at any Smithstix location or on-line at smithstix.com. Tickets cost $150, $75, $24, $17, $10 and $7. * Group tickets must be purchased in advance by calling 801-434-4667. In the lower bowl, each seat costs $10 for groups of 25-49 persons and $8 for groups of 50-499 persons. In the upper bowl, each seat costs $5 for groups of 25-49 persons and $4 for groups of 50-499 persons. * Season tickets are still available. Prices are $1,824, $984, $456, $312, $168 and $96.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 27, 2008 8:29:19 GMT -5
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