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Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 3, 2008 7:42:08 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1136424&format=textCeltics have revenge on mind By Steve Bulpett | Wednesday, December 3, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by Herald File We’ve seen quite a bit through more than a month of this Celtics [team stats] season, but tonight will be a first: a revenge game. Considering the Celts have just two losses in 19 outings, these are rare occurrences indeed. But back on Nov. 1 in Indianapolis, the Pacers planted a 95-79 shellacking on the Shamrocks kisser. Indiana visits the Garden tonight. The C’s shot a listless 34.6 percent and turned the ball over 24 times in that game. It was ugly stuff. “We definitely want to try to make a statement in this game that the last game in Indiana wasn’t us and we’re going to be a better team come (tonight),” said Paul Pierce [stats], who shot 3-of-15 from the floor with four turnovers in that loss. “We definitely want to play better than we did the first time. And of course when you’re playing in the Eastern Conference you want to win as many series as you can.” Doc Rivers chuckled at the revenge angle, adding, “I don’t know if it’s that, but we do know they beat us and they beat us well. I thought they played better than us that night. We absolutely struggled against them on both ends of the floor.” Indiana took a 6-10 record into last night’s game against the Lakers, but five of those losses have come by four or fewer points. When last they met, the Celts were the ones on the second night of a back-to-back, and they were just a few days removed from a banner raising. Playing at 8 against Chicago in Boston the evening before was a factor. “I thought that was the tough part,” said Rivers. “It’s tough whenever you have one of those TV games the first game of a back-to-back. That half-hour doesn’t seem like a big difference but it is, especially when you have what turns out to be a three-hour (trip) and you’re landing places at 4 in the morning. Every team goes through it. It’s not just us, but that makes it tough.” Celtics notes It’s quite possible the Celtics will be without Tony Allen tonight. Allen sprained his right ankle in the second quarter of Monday’s win over Orlando and returned to play well, but there were some issues afterward. “He’s probably probable at best,” said Rivers. “It swelled up. It got pretty big after the game, so there’s probably a very good chance he may not go (against Indiana). But he may.” . . . Gabe Pruitt was back at practice after missing the last three games because of a virus. The Celts didn’t go through much of a workout, but a skinnier Pruitt went through some shooting drills. “He looked thinner than he did before, so he’s now down to an atom or a molecule,” said Rivers. “It was a virus. We just didn’t want him around the team spreading his disease.” . . . Heading into last night’s games, the Celtics led the NBA with 25 technicals (21 for players, four for coaches). Phoenix was second with 11. Kendrick Perkins [stats] is the individual leader with nine technicals. The Suns’ Amare Stoudemire is well back in second with five. Rivers would like to see his team pick its spots better, but added, “The one thing I don’t want to legislate on my team is part of our makeup is our energy. We’re not going to stop being that. We’re an emotional team. That’s part of our makeup.” In particular, he said that when the officials tell a player to back off, he should do so.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 3, 2008 7:47:53 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1136390&format=textCeltics’ Rajon Rondo to try on Nikes By Donna Goodison | Wednesday, December 3, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by Ted Fitzgerald Boston Celtics [team stats] point guard Rajon Rondo [stats] has parted ways with Reebok and will sign a five-year endorsement deal with Nike. A Nike announcement is expected in January. Rondo will endorse the No. 1 athletic footwear maker’s products on and off court and may shoot a couple of commercials, he told the Herald yesterday at the launch of Shaw’s Supermarkets’ ninth Spirit of Giving Food Drive. The third-year Celtic, who already switched to wearing Nike sneakers this season, just came off a two-year contract with Canton-based Reebok, which had been negotiating to re-sign him. “The contract had ended, and both parties decided to go in a different direction,” spokesman Dan Sarro said. Nike said it doesn’t comment on marketing deals. “I can tell you that Rajon Rondo is not under contract with Nike at this time,” spokesman KeJuan Wilkins said. Ilana Nunn, Rondo’s publicist at BDA Sports Management, deferred to Nike due to the “sensitivity of the contract change at this point.” Rondo has a sports memorabilia deal with New England Pictures, but most of his other off-court opportunities have been one-time deals, Nunn said. Still, Rondo is a rising star with a 2008 NBA Championship under his belt. He’s not on the level of the Celtics’ Big Three, but his “stock has certainly shot up over the past year-plus,” said Jim Delaney of Boston-based Activate Sports & Entertainment. “From a marketing standpoint, championships are gold,” Delaney said. “Being part of a superstar team that gets a lot more nationally televised attention and being a leader on the court for a player of his stature can translate into much bigger dollars off the court.” Rondo is this year’s celebrity spokesman for the Spirit of Giving Food Drive benefiting eight New England food banks. At a Shaw’s in Mansfield yesterday, he launched the drive and filmed a public service announcement. “It’s a great cause and a way for me to give back to the community,” he said.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 3, 2008 7:49:56 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1136445&format=textPacers stun Lakers By Herald Wire Services | Wednesday, December 3, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | NBA Coverage Photo by AP Danny Granger scored 32 points and led Indiana back from a 15-point fourth-quarter deficit, and Troy Murphy tipped in a missed shot at the buzzer to complete an improbable 118-117 victory over the Los Angeles Lakers last night in Indianapolis. The Pacers, who play the Celtics [team stats] at the Garden tonight, fought back from a 101-86 deficit with an incredible defensive performance. Murphy finished with 16 points and 17 rebounds, and T.J. Ford added 17 points as all five Indiana starters scored at least 16. Kobe Bryant had 28 points for the Lakers. Pistons 89, Spurs 77 - Rasheed Wallace made three 3-pointers in the fourth quarter and scored 19 points as Detroit rallied from 10 points down to beat host San Antonio, despite the return of Manu Ginobili to the Spurs’ starting lineup. Allen Iverson [stats] also scored 19 and Richard Hamilton added 16 for Detroit (11-6), which has won two of three. The Spurs (9-8), who have dropped two straight after winning four in a row, were led by Tim Duncan’s 23 points, but just one in the fourth quarter. Ginobili scored 13 in his first start after missing the first 12 games because of offseason ankle surgery. Mavericks 100, Clippers 98 - Former Northeastern star Jose Barea hit the go-ahead 3-pointer in the final minute, Dirk Nowitzki scored 29 points and host Dallas rallied from a 15-point deficit to beat Los Angeles. Jason Terry scord 26 points for the Mavericks, who moved over .500 for the first time this season. Barea chipped in with a season-high 15 points. Trail Blazers 104, Knicks 97 - Brandon Roy scored 23 points, and Portland dominated the fourth quarter to beat New York at Madison Square Garden for the Trail Blazers’ fifth straight victory. Rudy Fernandez made a pair of 3-pointers early in the final period and scored 18 for the Trail Blazers. Jazz 99, Kings 94 - Paul Milsap had 13 points and 11 rebounds to lift Utah past host Sacramento. 76ers 103, Bulls 95 - Andre Miller scored nine of his season-high 28 points in overtime and Philadelphia ended its four-game skid by winning in Chicago. Nuggets 132, Raptors 93 - Chauncey Billups had 24 points and 14 assists to lead Denver’s rout of visiting Toronto in a game that was out of reach by halftime. Carmelo Anthony finished with 23 points despite an ailing right elbow. Wizards 108, Nets 88 - Caron Butler had 22 points and 10 assists to lead Washington to an easy victory over New Jersey in East Rutherford, N.J., for the Wizards’ first road win. Elsewhere in the NBA - Houston guard Tracy McGrady will miss three weeks to rehabilitate his sore left knee.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 3, 2008 7:52:00 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/12/03/pacers_proved_no_pushovers?mode=PFPacers proved no pushovers Rivers recalls early thumping By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff | December 3, 2008 WALTHAM - The Celtics might not have drawn a red circle around the date on their calendars. But there is a heightened sense of awareness that tonight's opponent, Indiana, is the only team that has defeated them convincingly this season. On Nov. 1, the Pacers took a 95-79 victory, providing a discouraging end to an extraordinary week for the Celtics, who had raised their 17th NBA championship banner and won twice in previous days. But that defeat also signaled a wake-up call for the Celtics (17-2), who have gone 15-1 since and have a nine-game winning streak, best in the league this season. "We do know they beat us, and I thought they played better than us," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said yesterday. "We struggled on both ends of the floor. Give them credit. If you look at their losses, they've lost more games at the buzzer than any team in the league. "For us, we've got to play our game and we can't worry as much about what other teams are doing. We've got to keep trying to correct what we are not doing better." The Celtics had taken a 96-80 victory over Chicago the previous night, then arrived at their Indianapolis hotel at 4 a.m. "The tough part is having TV games when they are the first of a back-to-back," Rivers said. "The 8 o'clock start - a half-hour doesn't seem big, but it is, especially when you have a 2 1/2- or three-hour flight. But everyone goes through that, not just us. "Indiana is very good. I think they will be a playoff team. They've just lost heartbreaking games, and eventually the basketball gods will turn their way. And when that happens, they'll be a good team." Danny Granger sparked the Pacers (7-10) against the Celtics, scoring 20 points and displaying defensive tenacity; he had two teeth broken while contesting a loose ball with Pierce. "Granger has turned out to be a star," Rivers said. "In the draft, he was the pick in front of us and we were cheering as he was falling towards us. But he never made it. We knew he would be good but we didn't know he would be this good this quick." Technically speaking The Celtics were assessed five technical fouls by referee Bob Delaney's crew against Orlando, bringing their season total to 39. "I am concerned because we are at 39 and the next team is at 25," Rivers said. "I don't know what it is but somehow we've got to do a better job." Rivers said the Celtics' spirited play and support from the reserves has gained the attention of officials. "Part of our makeup is our energy, and we're not going to stop being that," said Rivers. "We're an emotional team, that's part of our makeup. We can't get it to the point where we're getting techs, but you can't legislate guys having energy and having fun with each other. We're having refs, before games, now tell our guys to sit down, or stop standing up. And I'm thinking, that's a good image. When you are looking at a game and you see a team cheering and standing up, and then you look at another bench and they are all sitting down, which image would you want? So, I don't get that whole thing. So, I'm not going to legislate that." The Celtics reserves have been standing until the team converts its first field goal. "It's a big thing every night," Rivers said. "And it's not an act - that's who they are. We have lively guys on the bench. They are cheering for their teammates and not yelling things at the other team - they may be, but not a lot." Against Orlando, Sam Cassell was ejected from the bench; Kevin Garnett was involved in a double-technical call with Orlando's Dwight Howard; Kendrick Perkins received his ninth technical of the season; and Rajon Rondo received the second technical of his three-year career. "Rajon didn't deserve it for what he said," said Rivers. "But we have to have a better feeling about the game. I saw Bob Delaney say, 'Get away from him [another official].' And Rajon walks up and says, 'Can I ask you one question?' That's all he said, and he gets a technical. But if they are saying get away from him, then get away." Allen probable Guard Tony Allen sustained a sprained right ankle after driving into the lane early in the second quarter against Orlando Monday, then returned to action. He is probable for tonight. "There is a very good chance he may not be able to go," Rivers said. "But he may." . . . Guard Gabe Pruitt (virus) returned to practice and will be available.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 3, 2008 7:58:28 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/12/03/pacers_thumbnails/Pacers thumbnails December 3, 2008 Email| Print| Single Page| Yahoo! Buzz| ShareThisText size – + Discuss COMMENTS (0) When, where: Tonight, 7:30, at TD Banknorth Garden. TV, radio: CSN, WEEI (850). Scoring: Danny Granger 24.7, Marquis Daniels 16.1, T.J. Ford 14.9. Rebounds: Troy Murphy 11.2, Daniels 6.2, Jeff Foster 6.1. Assists: Ford 5.2, Rasho Nesterovic 3.3, Jarrett Jack 3.0. Head to head: This is the second of four meetings. Indiana won the first, 95-79, Nov. 1. Miscellany: Indiana has given up 110 more free throws than it has attempted . . . Granger ranks ninth in the NBA in turnovers (53) . . . The Pacers are only 7-10 but have beaten the league's top two teams, the Celtics and the Lakers, whom they shocked, 118-117, last night . . . Indiana is facing its sixth set of back-to-back games; it has gone 2-3 in the second.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 3, 2008 8:02:01 GMT -5
www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/pros_and_colleges/x1090904680/Celtics-need-tech-supportCeltics need tech support -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Scott Souza/Daily News staff MetroWest Daily News Posted Dec 02, 2008 @ 11:20 PM Last update Dec 02, 2008 @ 11:31 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WALTHAM — The Celtics talked all preseason about how they would have a target on their backs as the defending NBA champions. They probably didn't think the guys in stripes would have their collective scopes set on them too. After being hit with five more technical fouls Monday night in a 107-88 victory over the Magic - including two on Sam Cassell, who hasn't played a minute all season - the Celtics now have an astounding 39 techs in 19 games. The Suns are the next closest team in the league at 25, and only four other teams even have half as many. The Spurs and Jazz have only four. While technical foul talk has quickly become an exasperating topic - just ask Kendrick Perkins (league-leading 9 techs, including one Monday night for reacting to a call that actually went in his favor) - it has been a persistent, and bizarre, chain around the ankles of the conference's best team (17-2) which is now riding the league's longest winning streak at nine games. "I don't know what it is," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers, at a loss as he tiptoed the line between accountability for his team and unspoken frustration with the officials, following a short workout yesterday. "We just somehow have to do a better job ... (Monday) night was just ... anyway." What clearly bothers Rivers and the Celtics is that - through the officials' intention or not - they are being penalized, in part, for showing precisely the passion that they preach to their players. As a team with a reputation for great emotion on the court and on the bench, there is concern that frequent whistles are a preemptive effort to tone down the enthusiasm. "Part of our makeup is our energy," Rivers said. "We're not going to stop being that. We're an emotional team. We can't let it get to the point where we're getting techs. But you can't legislate guys having energy and having fun with each other. We're having refs before games now telling our guys to sit down, or stop standing (on the bench), and I'm thinking, 'That's a good image.' "When you're looking at a game, and you see a team cheering and standing up, then you look at another bench and they're all sitting down, which image would you want?" With Eddie House and Tony Allen, and later Cassell, leading the vocal charge, the Celtics have made venturing into the 3-point corner near the back end of the Boston bench an uncomfortable place for opposing players for the better part of two seasons. When Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce are out of the game, it can be even more daunting. "It's not an act," Rivers said. "That's who they are. They're lively guys on the bench who are cheering for their teammates. They're not yelling anything to the other team." Actually, that's not completely accurate. "OK, they may be, but not a lot," he allowed. "They are saying stuff like 'Don't leave Ray Allen!' ... Then their guys start saying something to our bench. Well, the guy on our bench was right." Rivers said Celtics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge and managing partner Wyc Grousbeck have contacted the league about the treatment, but he doesn't get involved much with a situation he can't change after the fact. What he hopes his players will change, given the ongoing Boston T Party, is how they read and react to the officials. "One thing I did tell our guys is that when the refs are starting to call them, and when they're saying to get away from them, get away from them," Rivers said. "Like (Rajon) Rondo's (on Monday), even though he didn't deserve the tech with what he said, he's got to have a better feeling of how the game's going. "I saw Bob Delaney say, 'Get away from me.' Then Rondo walks up to him, 'Can I ask you one question?' That's all he said, and he got a tech for it. Well, just get away from him." *** Tonight's game against the Pacers at the TD Banknorth Garden (CSN, 7:30 p.m.) will mark the first time this season the Celtics have had a chance to avenge a loss. Indiana beat Boston on the road, 95-79, in the third game of the year. "We just didn't come in with focus that game," determined Rondo. "I'm sure that won't be a problem (tonight)." ... Tony Allen's sprained right ankle swelled overnight after Monday's game and Rivers called him "probably probable at best" for tonight. Gabe Pruitt returned to practice after four days away from the team after he fell ill prior to Friday night's victory over the Sixers.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 3, 2008 8:24:22 GMT -5
www.patriotledger.com/sports/x1105058412/Battie-is-witness-to-Pierce-s-hell-and-heaven?view=printBattie is witness to Pierce’s hell and heaven -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Jim Fenton ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER Posted Dec 03, 2008 @ 01:44 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOSTON — As he watched the emotion pour out of Paul Pierce last June, Tony Battie knew better than most where the Boston Celtics captain was coming from. Pierce reached the pinnacle of his career last spring when he was named the Most Valuable Player of the NBA Finals, leading the Celtics to their first championship in 22 years. It had been a long and difficult climb to the top for Pierce, who had played on six losing teams in his first nine seasons, and he was emotional when the Celtics finally won it all. Battie was sitting home watching the scene unfold as the Celtics routed the Los Angeles Lakers in Game 6. He felt a connection with Pierce since they were teammates for five-plus seasons in Boston. Battie and Pierce, though, are more than just ex-teammates who joined the franchise at the same time in the lockout-shortened 1998-99 season. They are friends who were together in the early hours of Sept. 25, 2000, when Pierce nearly lost his life in a nightclub altercation. Pierce, about to enter his third season with the Celtics, was stabbed 11 times at the Buzz Club, which was located in the theatre district. Battie, who was accompanied by his brother, Derrick, rushed the wounded Pierce to the nearby New England Medical Center where he underwent lung surgery and amazingly made it back for the start of the 2000-01 season. That scary scene was a long way from where Pierce was in June, celebrating a title as the MVP of the Finals. Battie, now a backup frontcourt player for the Orlando Magic, went against Pierce on Monday night when the Celtics won their ninth straight game. “I really don’t like talking about it,’’ said Battie before the game of the incident that occurred more than eight years ago. “I comment on it from time to time, out of respect for him. “I hate for our friendship to play out in the media or to be based solely around that when it’s more than that. “It was a bad night. I’m glad he came through it, and look where he’s at now.’’ In an interview with the Orlando Sentinel earlier this week, Battie said he had been in the bathroom of the club when Pierce was attacked and that he felt guilty. “I’m there with him and something like that was happening and I wasn’t there to help him,’’ Battie told the newspaper. “It weighed on me pretty good. “It was frantic (that night). We didn’t know how badly injured he was at the time. I guess it was probably better not knowing.’’ Battie was traded to the Cleveland Cavaliers in December 2003 and has been with the Magic since 2004. Before facing the Celtics on Monday night, Battie said he is not surprised Pierce rebounded for the stabbing to become one of the NBA’s best players. “I was happy for him,’’ said Battie. “I’ve said before if you expected anyone to pull through like that, it’s him. Ever since I’ve known him, he’s been a competitive guy. “It doesn’t surprise me. I’m very proud and very happy for him. It was just meant to be for him. You couldn’t write it any better. “I was just happy to see over the years when they cleaned house, Paul was the mainstay. He was able to dedicate his whole career and bring a title back to Boston. The fans here deserved it.’’ The Celtics, who take a 17-2 record into tonight’s home game against the Indiana Pacers, kept Pierce in a Boston uniform when it looked like he might be dealt away, and they were both rewarded last June. “You go through the ups and you go through the downs,’’ said Battie. “I think he stuck by the team and also the team stuck by him and everything just came together. “It was a great trade by Danny Ainge (to get Kevin Garnett), and it all came together. Who would have written the script of the bottom falling out one year and then top of the mountain the next year?’’
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 3, 2008 8:37:33 GMT -5
www.patriotledger.com/sports/x1090904656/Celtics-remember-earlier-loss-to-IndianaCeltics remember earlier loss to Indiana -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Mike Fine The Patriot Ledger Posted Dec 02, 2008 @ 11:15 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WALTHAM — The Boston Celtics went through their emotional ring ceremony on Oct. 27, and a couple of days later were playing a nationally-televised game against the Chicago Bulls at the TD BankNorth Garden. Before they knew it, they were being whisked away to Indiana for a game the following night, and they got their heads handed to them. The only gratification for the Celtics is that their 95-79 early-season loss was the first of only two thus far. They’re 17-2, hosting the Pacers tonight and feeling a whole lot better about themselves. “That was the tough part,” said coach Doc Rivers, admitting that a crazy week just got the best of his team that night. “It’s tough whenever you have one of those TV games as the first game of a back-to-back. The half hour (late 8 p.m. start) doesn’t seem like a big difference, but it is, especially when you have a two-and-a-half-hour flight. You’re landing at 4 in the morning. Every team goes through it. It’s not just us, but that makes it tough.” So the Pacers, for whom the Celtics say they have a lot of respect, just took it to them, limiting the Celts to 34.8 percent shooting, keeping Paul Pierce to 3-for-15 shooting, shutting out Kendrick Perkins and limiting Rajon Rondo to only two points. Not a single aspect of the Celtics’ game was positive. “Just everywhere,” Rivers said. “Really. Me and Tibs (assistant Tom Thibodeau) and Armond (assistant Hill), our offensive and defensive guys, we were saying (Monday) night how we played with great balance (against Orlando). I said, ‘Well against Indiana we had great balance, also. We were awful at both ends.’ We just have to play better, and we have to do a better job defensively on them as well.” “I just remember we didn’t play too well,” Pierce said. “It was their home opener. We didn’t shoot the ball well, we didn’t make the hustle plays we were supposed to make, and they really stuck it to us.” So it might be obvious that the Celtics, with nine straight victories, would be looking for revenge for the first time this season, but that’s not necessarily the case. “I don’t know if it’s that,” Rivers said, “but we do know they beat us and they beat us well. I thought they played better than us that night. We struggled against them at both ends of the floor. Gotta give them credit.” Pierce also doesn’t subscribe to the revenge theory. “We definitely want to play better than we did the first time and, of course, when you’re playing in the Eastern Conference you want to win as many series as you can, so definitely, this is an important stretch for us. They’ve had their stretches where they’ve played well. They’ve had a couple of losses … I don’t think their record (7-10) really indicates how good they really are so we definitely want to try to make a statement in this game that that last game wasn’t us, and we can be a better team come tomorrow.” The one player the Celtics will have to stop is Danny Granger, a fourth-year forward who has become a potent scorer. He scored 20 in the first game and was averaging 24.2 points per game. If he wasn’t that well known before, he is now that he signed a contract that could earn him $60 million over five years. “In the (2005) draft he was the pick in front of us,” Rivers said. “I can tell you that because we were cheering his falling towards us.” But the Pacers chose him at No. 17. The Celtics chose Gerald Green at 18. “He never made it to us, so we knew about him but no one knew he was going to be this good this quick, but I think with any young guy you just have to wait and he’s one of the young guys who’s figured it out early.” Around the rim Rivers is upset about the technicals assessed to his team over the early part of the season. The Celtics have 39 techs this season, 14 more than the Phoenix Suns. Kendrick Perkins leads the league with nine; the Suns’ Amare Stoudemire is next with five. “We’re an emotional team. That’s part of our makeup. We can’t get to the point where we’re getting techs but you can’t legislate guys having energy and having fun with each other.” … After spraining his right ankle Monday, Tony Allen is listed as “Probably probable at best,” according to the coach … Gabe Pruitt is back after suffering with a virus that kept him out of two games.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 3, 2008 9:25:49 GMT -5
Tony Allen may sit tomorrow
Posted on December 2, 2008 by Scott Souza
Filed Under Uncategorized | 1 Comment
WALTHAM - Though Tony Allen bounced back quickly from a sprained ankle during last night’s game against the Magic, he wasn’t so bouncy today after his ankle swelled up a bit overnight.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers, who held a brief, mostly shootaround workout yesterday before a Player’s Association meeting, said the backup shooting guard/small forward may sit out tomorrow’s game against the Pacers.
“He’s probably probable at best,” Rivers initially determined before elaborating just a bit. “It got pretty big last night after the game so there’s probably a very good chance he may not go tomorrow.”
Love all those qualifiers, but in the coach’s defense, Allen has been very unpredictable with injuries in his career - remember the “miracle” recovery from an Achilles injury in last year’s NBA Finals?
Despite initial fears when he went down, the injury is not related to any of his past knee problems.
Gabe Pruitt - who left early on Friday and missed the past two games while dealing with what Rivers termed “a virus” - was back at practice today and did a little extra shooting after most of the team had adjourned.
“Gabe was moving around, looked thinner than he did a few days before,” Rivers said. “We just didn’t want him around the team, spreading his diseases.”
So in Pruitt’s place, Sam Cassell dressed the past three games, and was thrown off the bench with two technicals last night. …
The Rajon Rondo All-Star bandwagon is apparently picking up patrons by the day. Better late than never because it was a little lonely there for the bulk of October.
After last night’s game, both Ray Allen and Kendrick Perkins talked about the point guard’s worthiness, and Rondo expressed his appreciation yesterday - saying he was using assistes (actually, he said “dimes”) to bribe Perkins for his support.
“I do want to be a top point guard in the league,” he said. “If I can win another ring or two, I will be in an elite class.” …
Much of the talk today was about Pacers emerging star Danny Granger (24.2 ppg) and how close he came to becoming a member of the Celtics.
“In the draft, he was the pick in front of us, I can tell you that,” Rivers said, “because we were cheering him falling toward us. He never made it to us. We knew about him, but no one knew he would be this good, this quick.”
Granger went to the Pacers with the 17th pick of the 2005 draft. The Celtics selected Gerald Green with the next pick.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 3, 2008 9:26:00 GMT -5
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