News 12/1

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1135953&format=text
Paul Pierce a special closer
In end, Truth comes out

By Mark Murphy | Monday, December 1, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Matt Stone
Though he’s only in his third NBA season, Rajon Rondo [stats] has learned to catalogue his teammates.

Even on the Cadillac of a team he now runs, the point guard understands many are willing to take the last shot, but only a few are worthy.

And none, as recent history has shown, are more worthy than Paul Pierce [stats] in the last four minutes of a game. Ray Allen certainly comes close, especially from deep. But the Celtics [team stats] captain has a truly rare ability - not just a desire - once the clock becomes a factor.

“Gimme the ball,” Rondo said in an attempt to describe Pierce’s late-game aura. “He just has it. Everyone wants the ball, but not everyone can get it and do what they want with it. He just plays that way. As long as I’ve known him, he’s always been calm in those situations.”

Witness Pierce’s ability to turn his deadly switch on Saturday night in Charlotte, N.C. He had averaged just 11.3 points in the previous five games, cracking 20 points only once (21 points on Nov. 26 against Golden State), and after three quarters had 11 against the Bobcats.

But this was a recent rarity for the C’s - a close game. The switch thrown on, Pierce calmly demanded the ball and scored eight points in the last four minutes. First, the C’s captain victimized Jason Richardson with a pair of soft jumpers in the lane, then he drove and posted up to make three trips to the free throw line.

Pierce didn’t cause as much as will those calls, and the referees complied.

Back in the old days, when Pierce was the Celts’ only hope, the result was often a forced shot or a flagrant flop in an attempt to get the call.

But Pierce is now riding in luxury. His minutes are down, and he claims to feel the most rested of his entire career.

As of yesterday he was 25th in the league with an average of 36.4 minutes per game. That’s a far cry from the time when Pierce and then-Celtic Antoine Walker routinely inhabited two of the top five positions in the league in terms of minutes played.

“It’s definitely a luxury,” Pierce said not only of the reduction in the minutes load, but also in the scoring load.

Pierce, who has averaged an even 13 points in the last six games, never would have been allowed to hit such a low scoring ebb and still have the team survive two years ago, let alone win by the big margins that have driven the team’s 16-2 record of late.

“When I get the chance to sit in all of these fourth quarters, it’s definitely luxurious,” he said. “My whole deal is better. This is definitely the most rested I have felt since I’ve been in the league. (Coach Doc Rivers) has done a great job with our minutes.

“It’s a marathon, not a sprint.”

That said, the demand for Pierce’s late-game ability isn’t going to diminish as long as this team remains a contender.cw0

“He’s Paul Pierce,” Rivers said. “The great players can miss 15 straight shots and think the odds are about to change in their favor. An average player will miss 15 straight shots and lose confidence.

“Paul’s just been in these games so much. You know he’ll get the shot off. Nothing is going to stop him. All of our guys are that way, sometimes to a fault. But when all three of our (stars) are hot, nothing is going to get in the way. I’ll take that.”

So will Pierce, even when he doesn’t end up with the ball.

“I never think about my shots,” said Pierce, who wouldn’t have been caught saying that two years ago. “That’s the beauty of our team. I’m not concerned. We’ve won eight games in a row. Why try to change it? I know what I’m capable of.”

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1135968&format=text
Attack on Paul Pierce gave Tony Battie perspective on his life

By Brian Schmitz / The Orlando Sentinel | Monday, December 1, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by AP (File)
BOSTON — Sometimes, teammates are forever teammates.

No matter if a trade or a transaction separates them and sends them to different cities, some bonds are unbreakable.

There are a lot of reasons why Orlando Magic center/forward Tony Battie is so happy for Boston forward Paul Pierce [stats], who led the Celtics [team stats] to a title and was named MVP of the NBA Finals in June.

And the most important ones go beyond basketball.

Eight years ago, in the wee hours of Sept. 25, Battie was driving at breakneck speed to a Boston hospital.

Pierce, his Celtics teammate, was lying in his car, drenched in blood.

Battie was imploring him to hang on.

Pierce, Battie and Battie’s brother, Derrick, had been at a nightclub where Pierce was jumped by three men, stabbed 11 times, punched and kicked repeatedly and hit over the head with a champagne bottle. He was carried to Battie’s car by security personnel after the fight.

"It was frantic," recalled Tony. "We didn’t know how badly injured he was at the time. I guess it was probably better not knowing."

Pierce has said that he asked emergency-room doctors if he was going to die, given the amount of blood he lost from his face, neck and back.

After he underwent lung surgery, a physician told him that the heavy leather jacket he was wearing might have softened the blows, sparing his life.

Three men were charged in the attack, with two serving time in prison for assault while the other was acquitted at trial.

"I was there (at the nightclub), but I didn’t visually see what had happened," Battie said. "It was very challenging, a life-changing experience for him. But knowing his character, if anybody could pull through something like that, Paul would be the guy."

Battie said he was in the establishment’s bathroom when Pierce was attacked. He felt guilty for some time because he didn’t have his teammate’s back.

"It affected me for the simple fact that he was my teammate. I’m there with him, and something like that was happening and I wasn’t there to help him," Battie said. "It weighed on me pretty good.

"I was a little mentally depressed about it for a while, but as Paul recovered, so did I."

Pierce recovered from his wounds in time to start the 2000-01 season. He said his thoughts drifted back to that harrowing night after the Celtics won the title this summer.

Celtics Coach Doc Rivers said, "I was watching him hold that trophy, and I was thinking to myself, ’Paul Pierce was not just almost out the league. He was almost dead.’

"And now he is the Finals MVP. You tell me. Who else has had a turnaround like that?"

For Battie, the brutal attack on Pierce made him prioritize his life while also opening his eyes.

"We’re all people before we’re players. This is what we do; this is not really who we are. Outside the bright lights and jerseys and screaming fans, we’re fathers, we’re brothers, we’re sons. We’re just regular people, but something like that does put things in perspective. For some reason, . . . somebody wants to do you bodily harm, whether you’re a celebrity or a regular Joe," he said.

"It made me be more aware of my surroundings."

Battie was traded by the Celtics in December of 2003 to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs dealt him to Orlando the following season. Even though Battie only had been in the NBA one more season than Pierce, he had taken him under his wing in Boston.

Battie will see his old friend Monday night when the Magic face the Celtics, glad to see that Paul Pierce’s story has hit a happy crescendo.

"That’s the best part about it," Battie said. "I’m just happy for him. He was my rookie. I showed him the ropes. He was like my little brother and still is."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1135972&format=text
Report: Stephon Marbury lashes out at teammates, coach

By Associated Press | Monday, December 1, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | NBA Coverage

Photo by AP (File)
NEW YORK — With his career in New York seemingly finished, Knicks guard Stephon Marbury lashed out at teammates and coach Mike D’Antoni a day before he was to meet with team president Donnie Walsh about a possible buyout, the New York Post reported in Monday’s edition.

Walsh suspended Marbury for Saturday’s game against Golden State because the Knicks said Marbury refused to play Wednesday night in a loss at Detroit. The Knicks also docked his pay from that night, with the penalties costing Marbury nearly $400,000.

"I sat there for three weeks and didn’t say one word," Marbury told The Post. "I didn’t hear one of my teammates say, ’Why isn’t Stephon Marbury playing? This is a good system for him, even to play with the second unit and bring more firepower.’

"When things got bad and then worse, guys like Quentin Richardson say, ’I don’t consider him a teammate. He let his teammates out to dry.’ He didn’t care I was his teammate when I was banished. They left me out for dead. It’s like we’re in a foxhole and I’m facing the other way. If I got shot in the head, at least you want to get shot by the enemy. I got shot in the head by my own guys in my foxhole. And they didn’t even give me an honorable death."

Marbury isn’t part of D’Antoni’s plans and has been on the inactive list most of the season. However, D’Antoni twice asked Marbury if he would play when the Knicks were undermanned.

"Mike had no intentions of me playing basketball here," Marbury said. "He gave me straight disrespect. It was beyond disrespect. He put in (Danilo) Gallinari, whose back is messed up and (who) didn’t participate at all in training camp ahead of me (in the season opener). ... That’s saying, ’I’m letting you have it right now.’ He was sticking it to me."

Walsh has said he’s opposed to buyouts and agreed that it’s difficult to trade Marbury because of his salary of approximately $21 million.

"He (D’Antoni) knew I was in my contract year and did everything they asked me to do. He’s not trying to help me. He’s trying to hurt me," Marbury said.

Marbury agreed to suit up last Friday night in Milwaukee so the Knicks would have the league-mandated eight players in uniform, but declined D’Antoni’s offer before the game to take some available minutes.

D’Antoni and Walsh didn’t feel that was insubordination, but Walsh believed he had to act this time, when Marbury turned D’Antoni down after guards Nate Robinson and Cuttino Mobley were unavailable in the second game of a back-to-back.

"He suspended me without hearing both sides," Marbury said. "That wasn’t fair. He took it upon himself to fine me without even speaking to me."

The players’ association plans to file a grievance because Marbury insists he never refused to play.

"Mike gave the option to play," he said. "He couldn’t come to me man to man and say, ’You have to play.’ It was an option."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/12/01/a_win_win_situation?mode=PF
A win-win situation
Pierce scoring some rest with Celtics rolling along
By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff | December 1, 2008

The games are piling up for the Celtics, and so are the victories.

Paul Pierce realized the Celtics had not lost for some time, noting after an 89-84 win at Charlotte Saturday: "We've won six, seven in a row."

Make that eight, by an average of 12.5 points going into tonight's game against Orlando at TD Banknorth Garden.

But who's counting?

The Celtics seem disconnected from most statistics, almost purely concerned with their quality of play and preserving themselves for another long ride.

The last week and a half has illustrated how greatly Pierce's role has changed since last season's arrival of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Instead of having to carry the Celtics on offense, Pierce has been dishing off, acting as a high-profile decoy, or resting on the bench. He shot 6 for 14 and had 19 points against the Bobcats, only the second time in six games his field goal attempts have been in double digits. Before Saturday's game, Pierce averaged 11.8 points in five victories, the Celtics winning by 18, 17, 15, 8, and 24. Then, Pierce was called on for a late-game salvation project, producing 8 points and an assist in the final 3:56 of Saturday's victory.

So, a different go-to guy every night?

"It's working for us," Pierce said. "We've been playing well, why change up? I know what I'm capable of any given night, so I'm a constant threat on the floor. If I get a chance to sit for a quarter and the bench can close out games, or play 25 minutes and we can win the game, that's definitely luxurious. Because, earlier in my career I played 40-45 minutes for the team to even have a chance. Hopefully, this will extend my career."

Pierce was composed and confident as the pace turned hectic against the Bobcats, the Celtic starters reunited for a 14-11 run in the final 5:25. It also helped that Pierce had a 6-inch height advantage in mismatches against Bobcat guards; he simply took the ball as close to the lane as possible and forced them to either back away or foul. And that was a strategic advantage for the Celtics, since Pierce has shot only 2 for 16 on 3-pointers in the last six games.

"One thing you know with Paul, he's going to get his shot off," coach Doc Rivers said. "Nothing is going to excite him, he's going to take his time. That's just who he is - he has great composure and tempo. I think all of our guys are that way, sometimes to a fault. If Paul and Ray have it going, Kevin kind of defers; the other two, the other one defers."

Pierce played a team-high 38 minutes against the Bobcats, only the third time he has played more than 28 minutes in the last six contests.

"Doc's [controlling] our minutes," Pierce said. "He's doing a great job of giving us days off, because we're not getting any younger and it's important, after a long season last year, we get our rest. Because we understand it's a marathon, not a sprint.

"We're going to get better. We tried to figure each other out a year ago, and we kind of learned on the fly. We know each other a lot better now. And we don't care who gets the credit, as long as we win the game. Hopefully, we can stay healthy, that's going to be huge. Last year we had healthy bodies going into the playoffs."

[FLCeltsFan]

celticsgreen.proboards18.com/index.cgi?board=bchistorian&action=post&thread=5059&page=1
Celtics: Celts picking up the defense
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Mike Fine/Gatehouse News Service
MetroWest Daily News
Posted Nov 30, 2008 @ 10:44 PM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Somewhere along the way, every NBA team is going to make a defensive stand that stands out. The Celtics might be in one of those periods right now, having limited the Sixers to 78 points and the Bobcats to 84 over the last two games.

The fact of the matter, though, is that the Celtics remain the best defensive team in the NBA, so this is just a heightened response to what's already been a superb performance.

"I thought last year defensively, it was fresh, it was new," said Kevin Garnett, who'll lead the Celtics against another tough defensive team, the Orlando Magic, tonight at the Garden (CSN, 7:30 p.m.). "This year, we know what to expect. We know rotations. I can look at Paul (Pierce) and know that him and I are about to switch on a specific play. I think we're more in tune with each other, but last year's defense was something else.

"Hopefully we can get in that stride. We're just finding our rhythm right now. Our defense is definitely ahead of our offense. Last year's defense was beautiful to watch. Hopefully we can get back to that."

The Celtics' defense has allowed a league-low 90.1 points and .4076 field goal percentage. Moreover, the Celtics have had a way of stiffening, especially in the second half of several games they've won. That's a comfort, knowing that they'll be facing one of the better teams in the league, the Southeast Division-leading Magic, with Indiana and Portland coming to town Wednesday and Friday.

"I think we're starting to hit our stride as of late," Pierce said. "On both ends of the court, I think probably the last five games offensively we've really come around and I think our defense has been there from day one and will continue to get better, and like we continue to say, it's a process to try to build and get better each and every game."

Perhaps the best thing about the defense is that it's leading to superb offense. The Celts have topped 100 points in five of the last eight games, averaging 113 points in three games leading into Charlotte (when they scored 89). They rank 14th in the league in scoring, at 98.2 points per game.

"I think it's mainly our defense," said Eddie House. "Our defense is creating turnovers. "We're able to run in the open floor. I think it all starts with our defense, and once our defense gets to clicking, offensively we can execute, make the extra pass, and work the offense to our second or third option. We can get whatever we want."

Certainly, these principles will come into effect against the Magic, who aren't exactly defensive slouches themselves. They rank 10th in points against (94.2), fifth in field goal defense (.4289), and second in blocks (7.0), although the Celtics have the upper hand in most categories. For instance, the C's force a fourth-best 16.3 turnovers per game, the Magic a 17th-best 14.5. The C's make a sixth-best 8.7 steals per game, the Magic an 18th-best 7.2.

The Magic also have something the Celtics haven't faced this season - the best center in the league. Dwight Howard is averaging 21.8 points and league bests of 13.9 rebounds and 3.9 blocks. Even backup Tony Battie has shown something, he's coming off a 20-point effort against Philadelphia Wednesday. Howard, though is a load. Only three players - Bill Walton, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Ben Wallace - have led the league in rebounding and blocks since blocked shots became an official stat.

An all-defensive second-teamer last year, Howard became the first player since Wilt Chamberlain to have three 20-point/20-rebound games in a playoff series. He credits a conversation with Hall of Fame center Patrick Ewing for turning him on to defense.

"I love when somebody says I can't do something," Howard said. "It makes me want to go out and do it. After last year he would say stuff like 'You can't block that many shots.' So it was like, 'OK let's go show Pat that I can do it."'

Joining the all-time greats as a defensive standout, he said, would please him greatly.

"It would be a great accomplishment," Howard said. "It's one of the goals that I wrote down at the beginning of the year. And I'm gonna keep pushing to get it. I know the season just started but if I stay focused and committed to the task at hand, then I believe I can lead the league in blocks and rebounding."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081201/SPORTS/812010354
Despite bull's-eye, Celtics strong out of gate again
December 01, 2008 6:00 AM
For the past two seasons, the first month of the season has been more than a getting-to-know-you experience for the Boston Celtics and more than a initial run of feeling out the current NBA climate. After going a combined 24-7 in the last two Octobers, they've had Novembers to remember.

Last November, the Celtics were still coming together as a team under the umbrella of "ubuntu." Getting off to one of the best starts in NBA history, they defeated eventual playoff teams Denver, the Lakers, Washington, Toronto and Atlanta and finished the month at 13-2.

This year, they're a well-established defending champion. They've had trouble putting together consistently good defensive and offensive games, but they've still defeated five playoff teams from last season — including Cleveland, Houston and Atlanta — and have two wins each over Detroit and Toronto. The Celtics went 14-2 this past November to reach 16-2 on the season.

In building that November record, the Celtics played six sets of back-to-back games. Last season, they had only three sets of back-to-backs in the first month of the season, going 6-0. They've persevered in the back-to-backs this season to the tune of 10-2, including 5-1 on the back end.

"I love what we did," Doc Rivers told reporters. "We were tired. You could see jump shots hitting the front of the rim. But we figured out how to get it done."

Part of their success has been the one thing that was lacking last November: familiarity.

"This year, we know what to expect," Kevin Garnett said. "I think we're more in tune with each other."

And even though they've struggled in certain areas — especially on the offensive end — thriving through those growing pains certainly bodes well.

"We're just finding our rhythm right now. Our defense is definitely ahead of our offense," Garnett said. "Last year's defense was beautiful to watch. Hopefully, we can get back to that."

In the meantime, they'll continue taking on all comers.

"We know everybody wants to beat us," Ray Allen said. "When they do beat us, they want to use that to turn their season around and prove how good they are by beating us. We don't want to hold that distinction of getting a team going. We have to protect what we have every night. Being the defending champions, that's a responsibility for all of us."



BUYOUT COMING FOR MARBURY?
The Starbury Era could officially be over in New York. Knicks president Donnie Walsh will meet with guard Stephon Marbury and Marbury's attorney today to discuss how to move forward.

Marbury is clearly not part of new coach Mike D'Antoni's plans, and has been on the bench all season. He reportedly refused to play when two trades left the Knicks shorthanded, and then refused again this past week. That second time led to a suspension by the team. Both sides need to reach some sort of agreement for the whole affair to end. Each needs to move on from the other, and Marbury should be willing to take whatever the Knicks are offering to allow him to do that.

Marbury has publicly stated that he wouldn't accept "one penny less" than the $20.86 million he's owed this season, although reports indicate he told the team he would take 95 percent — what a guy. Since being the league's second-highest (and most overpaid) player makes him virtually untradeable, it appears the only other solution is a season of riding the pine.

After the way last season shook out with then-coach Isiah Thomas, another season of sitting would severely lessen the offers on the table for Marbury this summer.

"I'm going to leave it open. There are going to be options out there, but I think we've come down a long road here, and we have to direct ourselves to where we are now," Walsh told reporters. "Everything is on the table. We'll talk about probably a lot of different options."

Walsh also told reporters about the situation which led to Marbury's suspension.

"I can only tell you the way it was presented to me, the one in Milwaukee was more like a suggestion: 'Hey, I can get you some minutes tonight, you get an opportunity to play, it might be good for you,' and Steph said, 'Maybe you should keep going in the same direction you're going in,'" Walsh said. "My understanding of this conversation was that Mike was far more definite: 'I want you to play tonight,' and Stephon said he wasn't going to play. That's the way I took it. "¦ And I believe Mike."

Well, at least Marbury will have that endorsement deal from Steve and Barry's to fall back on, right?

Tim Weisberg covers the NBA for The Standard-Times. Contact him at [e-mail]



HOT
TOMMY POINTS FOR TOMMY

Kudos to Celtics broadcaster Tommy Heinsohn for what must have been one of the hardest performances of his life. His beloved wife Helen passed away from cancer on Monday, and Heinsohn was back on Comcast SportsNet by Friday. He would have been justified in taking as long as he wanted, but Tommy knew that when one family is hurting, his other family is there for the healing.

DURABLE DURANT

Once he became the interim coach of the Thunder, Scott Brooks moved his best player, Kevin Durant, to his natural small-forward position. Durant spent his first 92 NBA games as a shooting guard and the original plan was to save him from going up against more punishing forwards, but Brooks feels his second-year player is ready to take it.

FINALLY SAYING GOODBYE

According to their agent Aaron Goodwin, both Chris Webber and Gary Payton have filed the paperwork to formally retire. They have 14 All-Star appearances between them, but neither man ever won a championship. They'll be Hall of Fame eligible in 2013.

NOT

HE DOESN'T LIKE VISTA, EITHER

We're still a little less than two years away from LeBron James hitting free agency, but it seems like everywhere he goes he's talking about 2010. But before he leaves the Cavs, he's already left one of his endorsement deals. James ended his partnership with Microsoft, which has led to the shutdown of LeBronJames.com.

CUBAN/NELSON

Mark Cuban is still withholding $7.1 million in back pay he owes former coach Don Nelson. Nelson's lawyer John O'Connor said it makes Cuban look petty. "When you see this pattern of conduct, you wonder why any baseball owner would even consider associating with this guy," he said.

TECHNICALLY, NOT GOOD

Kendrick Perkins has committed eight technical fouls in 15 games, halfway to the number which triggers league-mandated one-game suspensions for that 16th technical and each one thereafter. Sure, Perk wants to be more aggressive, but that aggression comes with a price if it's not utilized smartly.

undefined

[FLCeltsFan]

www.enterprisenews.com/sports/x1707303545/Celts-Allen-finds-his-groove
Celts’ Allen finds his groove
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Jim Fenton
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
Posted Nov 30, 2008 @ 11:06 PM

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOSTON — He went through the entire 2007-08 season without leading the Boston Celtics in scoring for three consecutive games.

Ray Allen needed only the first month of this season to accomplish that, topping the Celtics’ offense in three straight games last week.

The 33-year-old guard went through an adjustment process on the way to winning an NBA championship a year ago, and his offensive production dipped.

Allen, the first choice when he was with the Seattle SuperSonics, found himself surrounded by other options like Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Shots that Allen would have in the past weren’t always available.

The University of Connecticut product adapted to the role, and he has appeared much more comfortable in the Celtics’ offense through the first 18 games.

Allen led Boston in scoring during wins over the Toronto Raptors (21 points), Golden State Warriors (25) and Philadelphia 76ers (23) last week. He made 28 of 42 shots, hitting 13 of 19 attempts from 3-point range.

The Celtics (16-2) will attempt to extend their eight-game winning streak when they host the Orlando Magic tonight at the TD Banknorth Garden (7:35; TV: Comcast SportsNet; radio: WEEI-850).

Allen averaged 17.4 points last season (his lowest figure since 17.1 in the lockout-shortened 1999 season) on 44.5 percent shooting, including 39.8 percent on 3-pointers.

In the postseason, Allen was shut down by the Cleveland Cavaliers before finally getting it going against the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers.

The offensive adjustment Allen had to make was hampered by the fact he was coming off double ankle surgery, but now he’s finding a groove.

“We’re setting better picks for him,’’ said Coach Doc Rivers. “We realize that to get Ray shots, we have to get him open, and I think our guys have done a better job. We have more sets for him, obviously, this year as well.

“And it’s nice being able to know if Paul is playing well or not playing well, or Kevin, you’ve got three options now that have enough in our offensive system that you can always call one of the three’s number and hope you get something good out of him.’’

Allen is averaging 17.6 points, second to Pierce, on 48 percent shooting, including 35 percent from long distance.

The Celtics are finding Allen in better spots on the floor, something that was quite evident last week when he was getting plenty of open looks.

“We try to feed the guy who has it going, and Ray’s been shooting lights out,’’ said Pierce. “He’s knocking shots down. If we see an advantage on the offense end, that’s what we try to do.’’

Allen is benefiting from the improved play of young point guard Rajon Rondo, who is making things happen by pushing the ball.

Rondo had assists on all six of Allen’s third-quarter baskets during Friday night’s rout of the 76ers.

“I told him, ‘When you play like that, we are a beast to contend with,’” said Allen. “And he said, ‘When you play like that …’ And I told him I feed off him whenever he pushes the ball like that in transition.

“I just try to get ahead and play along with what he’s doing because he’s putting so much pressure on the defense. I’m just trying to find a spot and keep moving because that’s tough to guard and it’s so unpredictable.’’

Homestand opens:
The Celtics play three home games in five nights this week with the Indiana Pacers and Portland Trail Blazers following the Magic in. … Orlando has quietly gotten off to a 13-4 start to lead the Southeast Division with monster Dwight Howard (21.8 points on 60 percent shooting, 13.9 rebounds and 3.9 blocks) leading the way. … The Magic, who are 6-1 on the road, and the Washington Wizards were the only teams to take a season series from the Celtics a year ago, Orlando winning two of three games.