|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 6, 2008 8:24:22 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1137136&format=textCeltics’ all-around play too much for Portland Blazed and confused By Mark Murphy | Saturday, December 6, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by Stuart Cahill The Celtics [team stats] might not want to think about what this matchup could become in two or three years. But for now, no amount of talented youth is going to fly against the team that extended its NBA-best win streak to 11 games last night. Those curious about Portland’s Greg Oden will have to wait another year, unless these teams somehow hook up in the Finals. The rookie center fell into foul trouble at precisely the same time the Celtics were applying the accelerator in last night’s 93-78 win at the Garden. The Celtics (19-2) matched the franchise record for best start through 21 games. Two teams (1963-64 and 2007-08) have gone 20-2. None has gone 21-2. Though Kevin Garnett (14 points, 11 rebounds) and Kendrick Perkins [stats] (12, 12) each put up their second straight double-doubles, and Ray Allen hit for 19 points, this game was about overall power triggered by stinginess. Despite his lowest assist total (seven) in the last five games, point guard Rajon Rondo [stats] (16 points, eight boards) still drove the Blazers into dust. “Rondo’s playing excellent - he’s creating shots for everybody, he’s on the board, he’s active,” Garnett said. “It makes our jobs a little easier.” The Celtics turned a one-point second quarter deficit (36-35) into a 20-point lead (56-36) with a 21-0 run that bridged the halftime break. The Blazers shot 31.6 percent (6-for-19) from the field in the second quarter and dipped to 29.4 percent (5-17) in the third. Garnett said he wasn’t aware of the numbers but was keenly aware of what that surge did to the Blazers. “We’re going off feel out there - their facial expressions,” he said. “When you make a run, you can actually see the energy come out of them.” More often than not, the Celtics knocked that energy out of Portland thanks not only to the interior tandem of Garnett and Perkins, but also reserves Leon Powe (14 points) and Glen Davis. “They’re the world champions - they can do a lot of that stuff,” said Oden, who finished with as many fouls (six) as rebounds and fewer points (five). “When you try to get aggressive back, you don’t get the same calls as they do. That’s what we’re trying to get - to that point of respect because then you get respect from the refs, too.” Beyond a 12-point night from Brandon Roy that started a lot better than it ended, there was little Portland could do to earn respect. Still, the Blazers fought their way out of garbage time with a 16-2 fourth-quarter run that cut their deficit to 80-69. Doc Rivers wasn’t happy he had to put back in his starters. “We forced ourselves to put our starters back in the game,” the Celtics coach said. “I’m not even going to get into it about our bench right now.” Dunks from Garnett and Perkins finally slowed down the Blazers, and Oden fouled out when he was called for a charge with 3:46 left. Perkins then pushed the C’s back out to a 13-point lead (86-73) on two free throws 14 seconds later. By the time Garnett converted his nightly alley-oop connection with Rondo, the Celtics were out of harm’s way up 89-74 with 1:57 to go. “I think we played pretty good, but we can get better, man,” Powe said. “I don’t really think we played our best basketball - as far as talking about both units as one - so I think we can get better in that.”
|
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 6, 2008 8:25:15 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1137153&format=textGreg Oden strong, but has lots to learn All facets on display By Mark Murphy / Celtics Notebook | Saturday, December 6, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by Stuart Cahill First impressions were fairly predictable. Greg Oden arrived as advertised last night - raw, with great strength and unlimited potential. But for now, the player who fouled out with five points and six rebounds probably has a long way to go. “I thought his matchup (against Kendrick Perkins [stats]) was pretty good,” Kevin Garnett said after the Celtics [team stats]’ 93-78 win over Oden’s Portland Trail Blazers. “I don’t see him as being very skillful, but he is powerful and strong.” Oden, who picked up his first technical foul of the season for swinging on the rim after a dunk, clearly has further to go when the ball is in his hands. “He’s all right,” Perkins said after playing a particularly physical game against the rookie. “If he worries more about finishing than trying to dunk every time, then he’ll be a great player.” The key, according to Doc Rivers, is patience - lots of patience. “I love him,” said the Celtics coach. “He just got in foul trouble. But he’s going to be good - he really is. It’s just going to take time. “I think everybody just gets so caught up in his offense and his numbers,” said Rivers. “It’s just going to take time. You miss a whole year, you play one game and then you sit out a bunch of games, you’re going to fall behind, even if you’re a veteran. He’s going to be good. “I’ll tell you this much - I was glad to see him off the floor (in foul trouble) in the first quarter, because he really affects the game.” No one knows what Rivers is talking about better than Oden, obviously. “I have been patient with myself,” he said. “Young guys sometimes feel that they have to speed themselves up to fit in. That’s hard, because the game is a faster game.” Based on last night’s encounter with Perkins, it’s also a lot more physical. “With Oden just being young in the league, I think Perk got the best of him,” said Ray Allen. “That was just from the standpoint of foul trouble, knowing when to go and when not to. Perk did his work early, and kept him from getting around the basket.” Ring him up It appears that James Posey will be getting his Garden ring ceremony, after all. The former Celtics swingman, who signed a four-year contract with the Hornets last summer, will be honored in some form of pregame ceremony when New Orleans comes to town next Friday. Posey, who missed both the team’s summer visit to the White House and the season opening festivities, is expected to receive his ring at that time. Group gathering Ray and Shannon Allen hosted a group of 50 people last night - all of them family members attached to a diabetes support group from the Allens’ neighborhood. “At the time we joined the group, there were 10 or 11 people in the group, so a lot of these people we haven’t met yet,” said Allen. A private function room was reserved for the group, all of whom come from families with members who suffer from diabetes. “For a lot of them, they get to meet Walker for the first time,” Allen said of his 22-month-old son, who was diagnosed with Type-1 diabetes during the NBA Finals. “It’s the first time we’ll be meeting a lot of them.”
|
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 6, 2008 8:26:38 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1137173&format=textLakers give up another double-digit lead, but hold on to win this time By McClatchy Newspapers | Saturday, December 6, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | NBA Coverage Photo by AP WASHINGTON — What determines when an NBA game is actually over? A) Your impressive won-lost record. B) Your big lead on the scoreboard. C) The game clock. Torn between wrong answers A and B to that seemingly simple question, the Lakers barely held on for a 106-104 victory over the Washington Wizards on Friday night. With all due respect to Sasha Vujacic and his nickname, the Lakers — especially that second unit on which Vujacic plays — have not been a "machine" lately. They have been pulling their own plug way too early. The Lakers led by 19 points with 7:27 to play Friday night. Then they let up to the point that Caron Butler’s 3-point shot could have won the game for Washington at the buzzer. Lakers coach Phil Jackson went into the locker room and wrote on the board a list of six games in the past 3�½ weeks in which the Lakers have had double-digit leads and then lost focus, largely because of the immaturity of the second unit. Jackson also wrote — in a blue marker so everyone would notice — "BOSTON FINALS 24" ... and circled it. In case anyone in the locker room had forgotten, the Lakers cataclysmically lost focus in Game 4 of the NBA Finals against Boston last season, blowing a 24-point lead for the worst recorded collapse in the league’s championship series history. "Obviously it does bother us that we’re giving up leads on a consistent basis," Pau Gasol said. "We’re not very happy." A team with the game’s most heralded terminator in Kobe Bryant is not displaying a killer’s instinct. So Jackson is prepared to give the ball back to his closer, Bryant, in the fourth quarter until reserves Trevor Ariza, Jordan Farmar, Lamar Odom and Vujacic prove they can finish as well as they did in this season’s opening games. "Poor coaching is what it is," Jackson said. "Putting too much trust and faith in a younger group, a second unit that perhaps can’t hold it on the road, that can’t withstand the fury or the intensity of the fourth quarter." Jackson suggested he will bring in the second unit earlier in third quarters before replacing those players with veterans for the final eight minutes of games. Had Jackson done that Tuesday night in Indiana, the Lakers likely would not have blown their 16-point lead and lost on Troy Murphy’s buzzer-beating tip-in. Although Jackson called the some Lakers relaxing with big leads "impulses of youth," Odom is supposed to be the veteran anchor of that unit. He and Jackson butted heads yet again Friday night. Jackson benched Odom with 9:50 to play after his lackadaisical post-entry pass was stolen earlier. Jackson stood up to address Odom as he came off the court, but Odom argued that he had not lost focus. This led leading Bryant to intercede and offer Odom encouragement that lasted long after Odom reached the bench. Sensing Odom’s ongoing unhappiness with not playing, Jackson went to Odom in the ensuing timeout, put an arm around Odom’s waist, tried anew to explain things and patted Odom on the back. Jackson did give Odom another chance in the final 5:41 — meaning Bynum didn’t get to play the stretch run for the third consecutive game, something he has been wanting to do — when Bryant and Gasol re-entered with the Lakers’ lead down to 99-90. With 2:30 left, Bryant set up Odom for two foul shots; Odom missed both. "He didn’t have a night where he was involved in the game," Jackson said of Odom, who had three points, one assist, two turnovers and four fouls in 19:43 of play. "I thought he wasn’t playing with enough intensity." Meanwhile, center Andrew Bynum certainly noticed he didn’t play late even though he had 10 rebounds to address Jackson’s complaint about him from last game. Bynum made a postgame comment detailing what he delivered "right before I came out." All that said, here’s one more easy question to clarify why Lakers fans need not worry that this boat is rocking a bit with a crew that has sailed to 16-2 ... Which constitutes an actual problem for an NBA team? A) Gifted players wanting to contribute more. B) Having huge leads entering fourth quarters. C) There being a 16-2 team that you aren’t going to catch in the standings.
|
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 6, 2008 8:30:35 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/12/06/celtics_light_up_blazers?mode=PFCeltics light up Blazers Starters return to finish the job By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff | December 6, 2008 Usually, only nitpickers would detect negatives in a 15-point victory over the second-best team in the Western Conference. But Celtics coach Doc Rivers went into near no-comment mode regarding the reserves following a 93-78 win over the Portland Trail Blazers last night. And Kevin Garnett went into a high-volume scolding of the second-teamers. The Celtics got into the blowout spirit early in the second half, then got rid of Portland center Greg Oden after 18 minutes of playing time. But Rivers had to snuff out the victory cigar and reinsert the starters late. "We forced us to put our starters back in," Rivers said of the Celtics' play. "I'm not going to even get into our bench right now. But I'm just going to say [the reserves] had a lot to do with [the Trail Blazers'] made shots. We had a lot to do with it." Except for that 6 1/2-minute siesta, the Celtics (19-2) maintained the form that has led to an 11-game winning streak. They can tie a team record for best start to a season at Indiana tomorrow, set in 1963-64 and matched last season. The Celtics led by as many as 25 points in the final quarter, but the second unit stumbled in surrendering a 16-2 run. The starters returned to close things out, a Garnett dunk off a Rajon Rondo lob the exclamation point with 1:57 remaining. "I loved their defensive effort, I loved their energy," Rivers said of the Celtics' play in the second and third quarters. Portland tried to establish an inside presence in the early going. But the Celtics matched the Trail Blazers' strength and turned the tables on their offensive-board aggressiveness. "Once we stopped turning the ball over," Rivers said, "and started dominating the glass, which was the key - I mean, they're not a good offensive rebounding team, they're the best in the league." The Blazers had six offensive rebounds (and 34 missed field goal attempts) through three quarters. After the reserves pumped the advantage to 25 points on Leon Powe's layup nine seconds into the final quarter, the Celtics seemed free to start preparing for the Pacers. In fact, Paul Pierce's 15-footer, which gave the Celtics an 80-61 advantage with 7:22 to play, would suffice for the victory, but only because the starters would return to cut off the Blazers' scoring supply. "Our theory was, if they're a great offensive-rebounding team, that means they have numbers on the glass," Rivers said. "And if we can rebound, that means we should have numbers in the fast break." It helped the Celtics' cause that Oden had more fouls than points (5) for Portland (14-7). The Celtics concluded the first half with a 49-36 lead, Garnett the driving force during a 14-0 rally, extended to 21-0 over both halves. Garnett concluded a 3-point, 55-second possession (kept alive by Kendrick Perkins and Garnett rebounds), giving the Celtics a 38-36 lead they would not relinquish, with 2:59 remaining. The Celtics continued their vise-like defending in the second half, Portland's scoreless drought reaching 6:57 before Brandon Roy's drive cut the deficit to 56-39 with 7:01 remaining in the third quarter. Oden's fourth personal resulted in two Pierce foul shots and a 56-36 Celtics lead 2:27 into the second half. Garnett went to the bench with 2:24 remaining in the third, purportedly for the night, and Ray Allen (19 points) converted his final field goal with 1:37 left in the quarter, which concluded with a Rondo buzzer 3-pointer for a 74-51 advantage. Rondo followed his first triple-double with 16 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists. But the Trail Blazers did not concede. The Celtics starters returned following a Channing Frye 3-pointer, which cut the Portland deficit to 80-67 with 6:05 left. Travis Outlaw continued a 16-2 Portland run with a jumper with 5:35 to go. But dunks by Garnett and Perkins reasserted the Celtics' inside game, then Oden fouled out with 3:46 to go, battling Perkins off a Portland miss. "Our strength right now is the defense," Garnett said. "We've embraced it and that's what we hang our hat on every night. We know that in order for us to be the team we want to be, we have to play that. It's definitely our foundation right now."
|
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 6, 2008 8:31:53 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/12/06/perkins_comes_up_big_vs_oden?mode=PFPerkins comes up big vs. Oden By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff | December 6, 2008 Same building. Same fans. Same wildly talented, widely adored player. Much different reception. The same Celtics fans who two years ago chanted, "We want Oden," in the hopes of landing the draft rights to Greg Oden, last night rained mocking "OOO-Den" chants on the Portland rookie big man during a 93-78 Boston demolition at TD Banknorth Garden. In a turn of events that would have been unimaginable two years ago, Oden finished the game on the bench, having picked up his sixth foul with 3:46 remaining. And when he sat down, the player who deserved most of the credit for sidelining the would-be Celtics savior, Kendrick Perkins, stood on the court and held one finger in the air for a second or two, relishing a hard night's work. "He did a good job," Oden said. "He's a good rebounder and he does what he's supposed to do. That's all you can ask for." The battle of the big men began on the Trail Blazers' first offensive possession when Oden threw down a hook shot over Perkins. But playing with a chip on his shoulder, Perkins seemed intent on challenging Oden for the rest of the night. The Celtics center drew a foul on Oden less than three minutes into the game, and Perkins forced the Blazers big man to the bench with two fouls just over halfway through the first quarter. By halftime, Perkins had attempted six free throws and collected eight rebounds, while Oden was a spectator for much of the first half because of foul trouble. "Those two guys are pretty physical," Celtics guard Ray Allen said. "But Oden's just young. I think [Perkins] got the best of him in terms of foul trouble, knowing when to go and when not to. Perkins did his work early." That early work helped stake the Celtics to a 28-16 first-half advantage on points in the paint, and prompted a fan to turn to his buddy and say, "He's getting more KG in him." A little Kevin Garnett, of course, means a lot of defense, and that's exactly what Perkins provided. Oden came into the game averaging 8 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks in 21 minutes per game. Perkins held him below those numbers in each category (5 points, 6 rebounds, 1 block) and, more important, drew three of Oden's six fouls. The most aggressive of those plays came at 11:07 of the third quarter, when Perkins took it right to the rim for a dunk attempt on Oden and drew the foul. Two minutes later, Oden caught the ball on the left block against Perkins, but Perkins's defense was so tight that Oden threw up an airball. "[Perkins] understands his role, and he just does it," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "He does it to the fullest." Perkins (12 points, 12 rebounds) finished with his third double-double of the season. "I thought the matchup was pretty good," Garnett said. "[Oden] is powerful, very strong. He does finish at the basket. I thought [Perkins] did a good job of being subtle, knew when to take his fouls. I thought he did a good job of taking it to him on the offensive end." Despite the result, Celtics fans likely wouldn't balk at an Oden-for-Perkins trade. It's important to remember that this is the sixth NBA season for Perkins, who came to the league directly from high school. When Perkins was 20 (Oden's age), he was averaging 2.5 points and 2.9 rebounds and playing behind Raef LaFrentz and Mark Blount. "[Oden is] going to be terrific," said Rivers. "He's going to be a dominant player in this league sooner than people think. I believe that. I think it's difficult when you sit out a year [as Oden did last season because of knee surgery] and then you play one game and get injured and now you're starting off behind again. But you can see each game he's catching up quickly."
|
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 6, 2008 8:36:01 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/12/06/garnett_chastises_davis_fellow_subs?mode=PFGarnett chastises Davis, fellow subs By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff | December 6, 2008 Kevin Garnett had strong words for the Celtics' reserves after they squandered most of a 25-point advantage in the final quarter of a 93-78 victory over Portland last night. Garnett was especially emphatic with second-year forward Glen Davis, grabbing him by the arm during a huddle before the starters returned to the game with 6:04 remaining. After the conflict, Davis sat on the bench with a towel over his head, television close-ups portraying him as near tears. "I'll probably get real deep with him," Garnett said. "Try to understand what he's going through right now, research the problem. But Baby is frustrated a little bit with some of what we are doing. He just has to understand his role and not come outside of it." The Celtics' reserves increased the advantage to 78-53 on Leon Powe's layup seven seconds into the final quarter, but they could not maintain the momentum. After two minutes of an Eddie House-Patrick O'Bryant-Paul Pierce-Powe-Brian Scalabrine combination, coach Doc Rivers returned to the first-teamers. Rondo revving up Rajon Rondo could be just getting started. After compiling a triple-double (16 points, 13 rebounds, 17 assists) against Indiana Wednesday and rolling up 16 points, 8 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals last night, Rondo is averaging 14.1 points and 8.8 assists in the Celtics' last 10 games. In the first 11, he averaged 7.1 points and 6.8 assists. "He still has better days coming; he's not as good as he can be," Rivers said. "I'm on him a lot. I coach him to where he can be someday, not where he's at right now." Rondo's game seemed to kick into gear Nov. 18 as the Celtics defeated New York, 110-101. "The biggest change is, the first six or seven games I thought his mind-set was wrong," Rivers said. "He was trying to prove to people he can shoot instead of just trying to prove he can make plays. The second thing is the biggest, and that's mental focus - his preparation has changed with each game, that's the biggest thing. It's game to game, where in the past there were days when he would come in and just show up for the game. But he was not just absolutely focused mentally, and to be a good player in our league - the great ones are mentally focused every night, no matter what the distractions are around their lives or anything. They are able to click in for 48 minutes. It sounds so easy but it's very difficult to do. "It's maturity, it just takes time, it's a matter of just getting better at it. Because you do it for five games doesn't mean you can do it for 20. It's difficult for young guys to focus - ask any parent. Sometimes it just happens, but you've still got to have the mind-set to do it. He's done it before, but what he hasn't done is do it over and over and every night." Tony Allen doubtful Rivers said guard Tony Allen (sprained right ankle) is doubtful for tomorrow against the Pacers. "He hasn't done anything, so I doubt even Sunday," Rivers said. "If he's not 100 percent, or really close to it, I look at it as - we play Sunday and we have three days off, so he would have to be very well for me to play him on Sunday." Said Allen, "My ankle feels all right. It's a little sore, but I'm going to get through it. Sunday, that's what it looks like. Calf raises, a lot of foot exercises. A lot of massage and ice. I haven't done anything on the court. I jumped on it and whatever. [Today] will be the day where I finally shoot some shots. The swelling has gone down a lot. "There is nothing good about missing a game. But I can sit back and see some of the mistakes that we do as a team. And when I come back, I can look at those mistakes, and when I'm in those situations, I can do the opposite." Better late than never The Celtics will present a championship ring to the Hornets' James Posey before next Friday's game. Posey signed a free agent contract after last season . . . The Celtics attended super featherweight Manny Pacquiao's last fight in Las Vegas and will be in his corner, in spirit, when he meets Oscar De La Hoya tonight. "He's a Celtics fan and we're his fans," Kendrick Perkins said. "He gave us tickets to his fight [against David Diaz] and we were in the locker room and met him. We're going to make it a priority [tonight]. I think he'll win."
|
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 6, 2008 8:41:12 GMT -5
www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/pros_and_colleges/x1775422439/Celtics-93-Trail-Blazers-78-Cs-wear-down-PortlandCeltics 93, Trail Blazers 78: C's wear down Portland -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loading multimedia... Photos -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Charles Krupa/Associated Press Kevin Garnett tips in a rebound over Portland center Joel Przybilla on Friday night. By Scott Souza/Daily News staff MetroWest Daily News Posted Dec 06, 2008 @ 12:23 AM Last update Dec 06, 2008 @ 12:27 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOSTON — With each passing minute, and each successive missed basket or turnover, the Celtics could sense the mounting strain on the upstart Trail Blazers. It went on for seven minutes without a point and nearly nine without a basket as the Celtics sucked the will out of the fledgling challenger during a torturous stretch of the second and third quarters in last night's 93-78 victory at the TD Banknorth Garden. Portland went the final 3:54 of the first half and the first 3:02 of the second without a point as the Celtics reeled off 21 in a row. It would be 8:53 between Portland buckets as part of a 33-8 onslaught over a 12:27 stretch. "When you are in the midst of making a run like that," said Kevin Garnett, "it's all flow. It's all feel. You can actually see the energy coming out of the other team. For the most part, we were just locked in." The young Blazers entered the night with the second-best record in the Western Conference at 14-6 (fourth best in the NBA) and managed to frustrate the Celtics for most of the first half and a painfully slow fourth. But the defending champs more than made up for their struggles during the brow-beating middle of the game for their 11th straight victory. "I thought the second (half) of the second and the third quarter were phenomenal," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "I thought that was the difference in the game. I loved their defensive effort. I loved their energy." Ray Allen had a game-high 19 points, Rajon Rondo followed up his first career triple-double with 16 points (on 6-of-8 shooting), eight rebounds and seven assists, while Garnett (14 points, 11 rebounds) and Kendrick Perkins (12 points, 12 rebounds) both had double-doubles in the disjointed triumph. Perkins also more than met the match of his one-time supposed replacement as he helped make sure 2007 No. 1 overall pick Greg Oden was saddled with as many fouls (6) as he had points (5) and rebounds (6) in 18 minutes before his disqualification. "We wanted to keep the pressure on them," Perkins said. "I thought our defense was great tonight. We helped the helper, we protected the paint, and the key was we kept them off the offensive rebounds. They were No. 1 in the league in offense rebounds and I think we did a good job." The Celtics had a 43-31 rebounding edge on the night, including a 17-9 advantage in offensive boards. After going down as many as 24 in the third quarter, the Blazers were able to annoy the Celtics into putting the starters back in for about four minutes of the fourth quarter, but there they again flexed their muscles to bring home their 19th victory in 21 games this season. A rather mundane first 20 minutes of mostly halfcourt ball took a dramatic turn in Boston's favor during a 14-0 run over the final four minutes of the half. Stifling defense and spirited rebounding work from Garnett and Perkins powered the spurt that sent the C's to the break up 49-36. The run reached 19-0 over a 5:51 span with a Paul Pierce (13 points) baseline bucket drawing a Portland timeout early in the third. The Celtics wound up scoring the 21 straight points over a stretch of 6:59 before a Brandon Roy (12 points on 3-of-11 shooting) free throw made it 56-37. It wasn't until Roy's layup with 7:01 left in the third that Portland scored another basket - ending the remarkable 8:53 stretch of futility. "That's the thing with them being young," Perkins said. "It's all mental. They quit moving the ball. Then it's a lot of (isolations). Really that's what we want." Allen quickly answered the bucket with a 3-pointer, and Rondo's drive made it 61-39. The Celtics went up 68-44 on another Rondo layup, and the quarter ended with the C's up 74-51 on Rondo's buzzer-beating 3-pointer. "He's just been terrific," Rivers said. "He's playing the role of a point guard. Speed is a factor every night right now, and that's important." The Blazers took advantage of some ragged play to chip within 78-61 into a timeout with 8:19 remaining in the game. Channing Frye's 3-pointer then cut the C's lead to 80-67 as Rivers reluctantly summoned Garnett, Allen, Rondo and Perkins from the bench to join Pierce back on the floor. A Travis Outlaw bucket made it an 11-point game before Garnett slammed home a feed from Perkins with 5:22 to go. The Blazers got within 11 twice more before Garnett and Rondo ended any upset hopes when they connected on an alley-oop for an 89-74 lead with just under two minutes on the clock.
|
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 6, 2008 8:42:44 GMT -5
www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/pros_and_colleges/x1430919643/Megliola-For-Oden-its-been-about-growing-painsFor Oden, it's been about growing pains -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Lenny Megliola/Daily News staff MetroWest Daily News Posted Dec 05, 2008 @ 11:35 PM Last update Dec 05, 2008 @ 11:39 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOSTON — Greg Oden watched a lot of games last year. In fact, he watched them all. Not exactly what the Portland Trail Blazers were looking for from the number one pick in the entire NBA draft. In September, Oden had knee surgery. The Trail Blazers weren't going to take any chances. His rookie season was a wash before it began. And so he watched, in street clothes, from the end of the bench. And watched and watched. "You notice a lot of things, but the way you learn is to be out there," said Oden before last night's game against the Celtics. "You think you know something, then you get out there and it's a different story." Case in point: well, last night. Oden looked more like a middle second-round pick in Boston's breezy 93-78 win. The way Kendrick Perkins worked him over, Oden must have thought he was matched up against Wilt Chamberlain. Only 5:36 went by in the first quarter before Oden picked up his second foul. He sat the rest of the half. He wound up fouling out with five points and six rebounds in 18 minutes. The education continues. Last season everybody wanted to see this 20-year-old phenom who could pass for 35. Well, he could. I'll bet if Oden wanted a beer when he was 16, no bartender would've carded him. Remember when Celtics fans thought they had a good shot of seeing Oden in green? The franchise needed something good to happen, after its skid row 24-win season two years ago. But the Ping-Pong balls teased the Celtics again. The Trail Blazers were the lucky ones. Interest in Oden started at the top, in commissioner David Stern's office. Oden seemed like a nice kid, respectful, thoughtful and, for all his youth, wise for his age. Stern knows the NBA needs more young players like this, stars who the league can hang its hat on, someone who's not calling his lawyer while handcuffed outside of a strip joint at 2:30 in the morning. The process of Oden brightening the league's image was supposed to begin last October, but a knee injury forced him to miss the entire season. If there was a glimpse of the big fella at courtside, it was of Oden shuffling his 290 pounds very slowly, a disillusioned man-child aching to play. The wait for Oden the player instead of the spectator became a tantalizing game. His coming out party backed up a year. He was good to go, finally, in a game against the Lakers Nov. 28. The network suits weren't going to give him a period of adjustment. The game was nationally televised. They didn't have to hype Kobe Bryant. Everybody wanted to see Oden, you know, actually play. They did, for a few minutes. Oden sprained his foot in the first quarter and missed the next six games. People were beginning to think "What's up with this guy? Is he jinxed? Is he soft? Brittle? How long is he going to be sidelined this time?" Oden wasn't buying any of that junk, although he could see why his coach and teammates would be concerned. First the knee, now the foot. Not to worry. "I was walking on it," said Oden, "so I knew it wasn't that bad. I knew it'd be a couple of days, a couple of games and I'd be back there." And he was. Now he's playing, and every night coach Nate McMillian holds his breath. Oden may be the Blazers' ticket-seller, but McMillian isn't rushing the process. There's a fine line between expecting Oden to contribute every game while taking into account he's very much a rookie. Sort of. He's learning, and he has to stay healthy. His numbers going into last night's game were modest: eight points, 7.8 rebounds, 1.6 blocks per game. The most important number: the 22 minutes a night he's been logging. Oden will have some 30-point nights and a whole of games when he'll score in the twenties. But for now, that's not even a consideration. Oden can grab the boards, be a defensive presence down on the blocks and let Brandon Roy, averaging 21 points, and LaMarcus Aldridge, good for 16 per game, take responsibility for the offense. "With this system, it's great," said Oden. "I can come in and do what I'm good at, rebound and defending." It was suggested to Oden that a Portland version of a Big 3, he, Roy and Aldridge, might be in the making. Oden squelched that. "It's 'Big 2.' I still have things to learn. There are always things you can improve on." So it all worked out. The Celtics' draft disappointment - no Oden, no Kevin Durant - got swept away by a 17th championship. And Oden, instead of trying to live up to being Boston's next big thing, gets to adjust to the pro life at a relatively pressure-free pace with Portland. Celtics fans can look at is as a Kevin Garnett for Oden "trade," one seven-footer for another. Garnett was the backbone of Boston's championship. But that's in the short run. What's he got left, maybe three good years? In the long run, fulfillment of Oden's upside could mean a splendid career lasting a dozen seasons. The Blazers might win a championship or two, if Oden isn't star-crossed by injuries. For now, the big guy's playing. That's good news for the Portland Trail Blazers, and for the NBA.
|
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 6, 2008 9:23:58 GMT -5
Ageless Alan
On Pro Basketball
Alan Siegel
December 06, 2008 02:06 am
—
BOSTON — Ray Allen doesn't get down on all fours before games like Kevin Garnett. He doesn't scream at the crowd like Paul Pierce. He doesn't do histrionics. That's just not his thing.
Instead he settles for simple fist pumps. They're quick, smooth and effective; kind of like Allen.
He scored 19 points (7 of 16 shooting) to lead the Celtics over the Portland Trail Blazers, 93-78, last night at TD Banknorth Garden.
"Ray, he just plays," Blazers guard Brandon Roy said. "He doesn't do a lot of talking. He just plays his game, takes his shots. He's a professional. It's no secret."
The 6-foot-5 guard is in the midst of perhaps his best stretch of basketball in a Boston uniform. He's averaging 22.1 points over his last seven games, all victories. The Celtics have won 11 straight overall.
Whether he was draining a 3-pointer from the wing to tie the score at 19 late in the first quarter (that was the only time he pulled out the fist pump) or rushing up the floor to score the first points of the second half on an uncontested layup, the 13-year veteran looked like the Allen of old.
"He did a good job of leaking out, getting behind the defense," said Roy, who Allen helped hold to 12 points, 9.1 below his average. "He just played a good game. Ray's a good player. I've always watched Ray Allen."
It's as if the 33-year-old Allen wound back the odometer on his surgically repaired ankles. He is averaging 35.5 minutes a night, which may affect him down the stretch, but he seems fresh on the court.
At 19-2, the Celtics need one more win to match last year's sensational start. When asked if this is the best Boston has played since he's been here, Allen paused for a moment, and delivered a typically measured response. He's not about to make emotional proclamations.
"I'm definitely not counting or taking a survey," said the second-year Celtic. "I just know that we want to continue to get better. Find(ing) ways to get each individual player better makes the team better."
Defense again propelled the Celtics, who went on a 21-0 run spanning the second and third quarters. That opened up a 56-36 Boston lead 2:30 into the second half and essentially put the game out of reach.
"We can get five stops in a row and (if) on the sixth possession they score a bucket, we'll all be disappointed because it's something we knew we could've taken away," Allen said. "We're trying to build each possession. You don't have to give up anything if you don't have to."
Celtics coach Doc Rivers complimented Allen's defense on Roy. The 6-6 Roy, one of the league's top young guards, burned Allen for a baseline dunk in the first quarter, but was kept in check for most of the evening.
"I thought Paul (Pierce) did a pretty good job in the one stretch denying him. Ray got up into him," Rivers said. "(Roy's) not a good player; he's a great player."
Roy called Allen a "better team defender" than people give him credit for.
"At this level, it's hard to be a great individual defender, especially when you're such a good scorer like Ray," Roy said. "But I think he does a great job defensively."
Commitment to defense wasn't the only thing that took getting used to in Boston. Joining a three-star constellation was hard on Allen, who on his former teams was usually the first scoring option.
"I think Ray over everyone, it was the biggest change for him," Rivers said of the New Big 3 (Allen, Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce). "You watch his games in Seattle. He had the ball for 21 seconds. He dribbled it around, he did what he wanted. Then he came here and (Rajon) Rondo had the ball and he threw it to Ray when he needed him to shoot. That's totally different. And he didn't get the ball as much."
Allen averaged 17.4 points per game last season, his lowest output since averaging 17.1 in 1998-99, his third year in the league. Still, he grew as a player. He shook off three difficult playoff series to come up huge in the NBA finals, when he averaged 20.3 points per game. In Boston's dramatic comeback win over the Lakers in Game 4, he played all 48 minutes and scored 19 points.
"The average player would've melted," Rivers said.
Not much has changed since he lit up L.A.
"He's in the same place really," Rivers said.
Last night's performance confirmed that assessment. With 2:44 remaining in the fourth quarter, Eddie House entered the game for a straight-faced Allen. There was no wild celebration from him — not even a fist pump — just a high five for every teammate on the bench.
|
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 6, 2008 9:24:50 GMT -5
www.telegram.com/article/20081206/NEWS/812060449/1009/SPORTSDominating Super Celts rack up 11th By Bill Doyle TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF wdoyle@telegram.com Add a comment Celtics center Kendrick Perkins tries to drive through traffic during the first half. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS) Enlarge photo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Celtics' Kevin Garnett tips in a rebound over the Trail Blazers' Joel Przybilla during the first half. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS) Enlarge photo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOSTON— The 19-2 Celtics own the NBA’s best record and their 93-78 conquest of the Blazers last night at the Garden was their 11th consecutive victory. Celtics fans couldn’t ask for anything more. Well, there could be one small request. Can the NBA playoffs start right away instead of waiting until April? The Celtics certainly look primed right now to repeat as champions. Over the past five days, the Celtics beat Southeast Division leader Orlando, avenged their only road loss by blowing away Indiana and dominated Northwest Division leader Portland. If the Celtics win at Indiana tomorrow, they’ll match their 20-2 start of last season. They’ve never gone 21-2. So don’t the Celtics wish the playoffs started now? “Not really,” Rajon Rondo said, “because I think we can only get better.” Last year’s title proved that the Celtics were better off acquiring Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen than winning the 2007 NBA Lottery and drafting Greg Oden. Last night was simply another reminder. Oden made his Garden debut for Portland after knee surgery sidelined him all of last season and he finished with more fouls (6) than points (5). Oden also pulled down only 6 rebounds in 18 minutes before fouling out with 3:46 to go. “I think he’s just raw right now,” Paul Pierce said. “He’s going to get better.” All five Celtics scored in double figures for the second game in a row. Allen continued his recent red-hot play by pouring in a game-high 19 points. Rajon Rondo followed his first career triple-double by collecting 16 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists. Garnett scored 14 points and grabbed 11 rebounds. Kendrick Perkins not only played tough defense on Oden, he grabbed a game-high 12 boards, reaching double digits in rebounds for the fourth consecutive game, and scored 12 points. “He’s ducking in at the perfect times now so you have to guard him under the basket,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said of Perkins, “and he’s finishing better. Defensively, he and Kevin are so in tune to each other. “It’s just really nice when you have a role player who really understands his role and plays his role so well that he’s better than a role player and that’s what Perk is doing.” Pierce scored 13 and Leon Powe had 14 off the bench as the Celtics won 11 in a row for the first time since they captured 14 straight from March 11-April 4, 1986. LaMarcus Aldridge and Travis Outlaw each scored 13 for Portland. Pierce helped limit Brandon Roy to only 12 points, 9 below his average, and 3-of-11 shooting. “I just wanted to be physical with him,” Pierce said, “and run him into our help. I thought we did a good job collapsing on him.” The Celtics outscored Portland, 25-15, in each of the middle two quarters and limited the Blazers to 11-of-36 shooting (30.6 percent) during that time. Rondo hit a 3-pointer, a rarity for him, at the third-quarter horn to put the Celtics ahead, 74-51. The Celtics led by as many as 25 early in the fourth. Portland pulled within 11 three times later in the quarter so Rivers had to put his starters back in to finish the job. The Celtics are so hot, their biggest challenge is to learn how to maintain a big lead. “The biggest problem is,” Perkins said, “when we have a lead, I feel we have to learn how to build on it. We can’t just slack off. I think sometimes we let our guard down.” Only the Celtics entered last night hotter than the Blazers. They had won six in a row and were 7-0 against the Eastern Conference, but they lost to Boston for the seventh time in a row. The Celtics limited the Blazers to 42.6 percent shooting and their fewest points since they lost to the Lakers, 96-76, in L.A. on opening night. The Blazers entered the night with the NBA’s second-best 3-point shooting percentage (41.5), but they made only 2 of their 11 treys last night. “Our strength right now is the defense,” Garnett said. “We’ve embraced it and that’s what we hang our hat on every night.” The Celtics scored the final 14 points of the first half and the first 7 of the second to take a commanding 56-36 lead. Pierce scored 5 points during the first-half run and capped the second-half spurt by hitting a 15-foot, turn-around jumper and sinking a pair of free throws. Portland went 8:53 without scoring a basket before Roy finally scored on a drive with 7:01 left in the third quarter. Allen answered by hitting a 3-pointer to push Boston’s lead to 59-39. “That’s the thing about being young,” Perkins said of the Blazers. “It’s all mental. They quit moving the ball and there’s a lot of isos. Really that’s what we want.”
|
|
|
|
Post by FLCeltsFan on Dec 6, 2008 9:48:27 GMT -5
Herald www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1137136&format=textCeltics’ all-around play too much for Portland www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1137153&format=textGreg Oden strong, but has lots to learn www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1137173&format=textLakers give up another double-digit lead, but hold on to win this time Globe www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/12/06/celtics_light_up_blazers?mode=PFCeltics light up Blazers www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/12/06/perkins_comes_up_big_vs_oden?mode=PFPerkins comes up big vs. Oden www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/12/06/garnett_chastises_davis_fellow_subs?mode=PFGarnett chastises Davis, fellow subs www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/Various posts in Globe Celtics blog MetroWest Daily www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/pros_and_colleges/x1775422439/Celtics-93-Trail-Blazers-78-Cs-wear-down-PortlandCeltics 93, Trail Blazers 78: C's wear down Portland www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/pros_and_colleges/x1430919643/Megliola-For-Oden-its-been-about-growing-painsFor Oden, it's been about growing pains Celtics.com www.nba.com/celtics/news/blog/postups-notebook-2008-09.htmlPostups Notebook: Live from courtside CelticsBlog www.celticsblog.com/2008/12/5/683089/celtics-roll-to-11-straighCeltics roll to 11th straight www.celticsblog.com/2008/12/6/683168/celtics-stuff-live-sundayCSL Sunday postgame with Scott Souza LOY's Place celticsgreen.blogspot.com/2008/12/comments-from-other-side-trailblazers.htmlComments from the other side - Trailblazers celticsgreen.blogspot.com/2008/12/flash-roll-to-101-81-win-over-bighorns.htmlFlash roll to 101-81 win over Bighorns celticsgreen.blogspot.com/2008/12/player-of-game-kendrick-perkins.htmlPlayer of the Game - Kendrick Perkins celticsgreen.blogspot.com/2008/12/blazers-at-celtics-in-pictures-125.htmlBlazers at Celtics in pictures 12/5 ESPN sports.espn.go.com/nba/columns/story?columnist=hollinger_john&page=Perdiem-081205Per diem: Can the Celtics win 72? sports.espn.go.com/nba/features/bestCeltics and Lakers vs the 95-96 Bulls scores.espn.go.com/nba/recap?gameId=281205002Celtics end Portland's 6 game streak with convincing win Celtics 24/7 celtics247.com/?p=920C's cruise past Portland, extend streak to 11 Red's Army redsarmy.wordpress.com/2008/12/05/not-ready-for-primetime/Not ready for prime time redsarmy.wordpress.com/2008/12/05/wheres-rondo/Where's Rondo Perkisabeast perkisabeast.com/blog/?p=1847But this one goes to 11: Celtics blaze team Oden 93-78 Bostonist bostonist.com/2008/12/06/sports_redux_celtics_go_up_to_eleve.phpCeltics go up to eleven Madden Tips www.maddentips.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1172262006 draft redo Eagle Tribune www.eagletribune.com/pusports/local_story_341020614.html/resources_printstoryAgeless Alan Worcester Telegram www.telegram.com/article/20081206/NEWS/812060449/1009/SPORTSDominating www.telegram.com/article/20081206/NEWS/812060457/1009/SPORTSBoston starts fast again Connecticut Post forum.connpost.com/celticscentral/2008/12/celtics_shut_down_blazers_for_11th_straight_win_.html#trackbacksCeltics shut down Blazers for 11th straight win forum.connpost.com/celticscentral/2008/12/an_east_coast_thumping.html#trackbacksAn East coast thumping The Inquisitr www.inquisitr.com/10911/glen-davis-cries-on-the-bench/Big Baby Davis now Cry Baby Davis Black Athlete blackathlete.net/artman2/publish/Basketball_6/The_League_is_getting_Rondo-ed.shtmlThe league is getting Rondo'd Blazers Edge www.blazersedge.com/2008/12/5/683186/game-21-recap-blazers-notBlazers not enough, Celtics too much WEEI blogs.weei.com/jessicacamerato/2008/12/05/scals-new-pals/Scal's new pals Mansfield News www.wickedlocal.com/mansfield/sports/high_school/x1049845340/Celtic-point-guard-dishes-out-assistsCeltic point guard dishes out assists ProJo www.projo.com/celtics/content/sp_bkn_celtics_journal06_12-06-08_FTCHU98_v6.39e1cb0.htmlCeltics' Cassell keeps his mind on the court www.projo.com/celtics/content/sp_bkn_boston_celtics06_12-06-08_7KCHSR7_v15.3e319db.htmlCeltics find quick path to clobber Blazers sportsblog.projo.com/2008/12/rajon-rondo-is.htmlRajon Rondo is making Gary Payton eat his words sportsblog.projo.com/2008/12/sam-cassell-is.htmlSam Cassell is enjoying his role with the Celtics Sports of Boston www.sportsofboston.com/2008/12/06/celtics-dominate-first-match-against-oden/Celtics dominate first match against Oden Comcast SportsNet newengland.comcastsportsnet.com/wickedgoodsports/celtics/postgame-podcap-125-celtics-vs-blazers/Postgame podcap Celtics vs Blazers 12/5 Fernsten's Follies mvn.com/fernstensfollies/2008/12/reading-the-tea-leaves.htmlReading the tea leaves SI.com sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/basketball/nba/wires/12/05/2030.ap.bkn.nba.notes.adv06.1607/After talk with Doc, dis from Glove, Rondo rolling Fox Sports community.foxsports.com/blogs/nba%20is%20the%20worst/2008/12/04/CELTICS_LISTEN_TO_HEINSOHN_TOO_MUCH_END_UP_LEADING_THE_LEAGUE_IN_TECHNICAL_FOULSCeltics listen to Heinsohn too much Oregon Live blog.oregonlive.com/behindblazersbeat/2008/12/blazers_hungry_for_payback_aga.htmlBlazers hungry for payback against Boston blog.oregonlive.com/blazers/2008/12/boston_doesnt_care_about_your.htmlBoston doesn't care about your streak, Blazers Enterprise www.enterprisenews.com/sports/x1775422347/CELTICS-NOTES-Oden-makes-his-Boston-debutOden makes his Boston debut Lex Nihil Novi lexnihilnovi.blogspot.com/2008/12/rondo-does-his-best-imitation-of-bird.htmlRondo does his best imitation of Bird lexnihilnovi.blogspot.com/2008/12/another-link-between-new-big-3-and-old.htmlAnother link between the new big 3 and the old lexnihilnovi.blogspot.com/2008/12/bynum-not-diggin-da-zen.htmlBynum not digging da Zen? |
|
