News 12/15

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1139090&format=text
Paul Pierce shapes up
Captain focused on eating right

By Mark Murphy | Monday, December 15, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Stuart Cahill
Paul Pierce was at the center of another photo shoot before yesterday’s practice, this time proudly posing with his shirt off as part of a promotion for an in-depth interview with ESPN’s Tom Rinaldi.

That piece, and a recent story by Sports Illustrated’s S.L. Price, prove the Celtics [team stats] captain is receiving the most national exposure of his career.

So what better time to showcase his new fitness regimen, highlighted by his ability to lose approximately 10 pounds between the end of the NBA Finals and the start of training camp?

Pierce, through his foundation P2, plans to launch a children’s health and nutrition initiative next summer.

“I thought it would be a good idea because of what I’ve done with my own eating habits,” he said. “You hear about diseases like diabetes on the rise that affect young children.

“It’s great to get something like this going - it’s great to affect people’s lives.”

The basis, of course, is Pierce’s own fitness journey.

“I can’t keep eating a lot of meat,” he said. “I don’t eat as much steak, especially. There’s not as much pasta, too, though I love pasta. There’s a lot of great Italian restaurants in Boston.”

There’s also a great place to eat in Los Angeles - his mother’s kitchen.

“Damn, Mexican food, man - I grew up on Mexican food,” Pierce said of another kind of cuisine he’s had to give up. “My mom makes the best chicken enchiladas.”

And then there’s those sumptuous postgame spreads.

“It’s hard, especially when you go to Dallas and Mark Cuban puts all of that food out there,” said Pierce.

Though this is the age of personal trainers and professional nutritionists, Pierce said he did much of his own research.

“You always want to improve,” he said. “I’m at the stage when I’m not getting any younger, and it just makes sense to do this now.”

Though he contemplated hiring a personal chef several years ago, Pierce instead decided to develop his own culinary skills.

“I have a rotisserie,” he said. “I can put anything in there, which I like. Just set it and forget it.”

Celtics notes

Utah, tonight’s opponent, holds a special distinction for the Celtics.

“That’s the one game I can really remember because they really beat us,” Pierce said of Utah’s 110-92 win at the Garden last year. “They outplayed us and outhustled us.” . . .

Pierce was in anguish yesterday over UMass’ win against his old school, on the road, no less. Pierce is particularly proud of the fact that he never lost at home as a Jayhawk.

“My record at home was 60-0, something like that,” he said.

Reminded that the Minutemen also came within three points of winning at Kansas during Pierce’s junior year with players like Monty Mack and Jonathan DePina, he said, “They gave us a scare. But I never lost at home. The only place where I couldn’t win was at Missouri.” . . .

The Celtics hosted a party for approximately 90 children from the New England Home for Little Wanderers and the RFK Action Corps yesterday.

Every member of the team and coaching staff led the kids through a series of table games and shooting on the practice court.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view/2008_12_15_Utah_Jazz_Scouting_report/
Utah Jazz Scouting report
By Herald Staff
Monday, December 15, 2008 - Added 7h ago


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Jazz at Celtics [team stats]

TONIGHT - 7:30, TD Banknorth Garden. TV - CSN, TNT. Radio - WEEI-AM (850).

THE NUMBERS

110-92: Score of Utah’s win at the Garden last season.

14: Games in C’s current winning streak.

1-1: Last season’s series between the teams.
WHO’S HURT

For the C’s, there are no injuries to report. For the Jazz, Carlos Boozer (left quad) and Jarron Collins (elbow) are out.

WHO’S HOT

For the C’s, Kevin Garnett had a 19-point, 10-rebound double-double in Friday night’s home win against New Orleans. For the Jazz, Paul Millsap is riding a string of nine straight double-doubles.

WHO’S NOT

For the C’s, Rajon Rondo [stats] had 10 points and two assists vs. the Hornets. For the Jazz, Morris Almond finished Saturday’s 103-94 home loss to Orlando with five points on 2-for-8 shooting from the field and an 0-for-2 effort from the line.

WHO’S NOT

The Jazz beat the Celtics at the Garden like no other opponent during the regular season last year. But Utah is also suffering from the absence of Boozer, as well as an on-the-mend Deron Williams. The Jazz lost to Orlando without Dwight Howard on the floor for the Magic. Inside play could be the Celts’ road to a 15th straight win.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/12/15/beating_was_hard_to_forget/
Home / Sports / Basketball / Celtics Celtics Notebook

Beating was hard to forget
Utah's last visit left impression
Utah's Jerry Sloan has an affinity for the Celtics' work ethic. (file/douglas c. pizac/Associated Press)
By Frank Dell'Apa
Globe Staff / December 15, 2008
Email| Print| Single Page| Yahoo! Buzz| ShareThisText size – + WALTHAM - The Celtics' worst loss in the last 106 regular-season games was an 18-point home defeat against the Utah Jazz March 14.

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"They didn't win the game," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said yesterday, "they destroyed us. There's a difference."

The Celtics (22-2) have a 37-5 mark in regular-season games since that 110-92 loss to the Jazz, their opponents tonight.

"That's one game I remember they really beat us," captain Paul Pierce said. "Out of all of our losses, a lot of the losses we had a chance to win, but we just had no chance. That was one game they outplayed us, they outhustled us, they outexecuted us. We have our work cut out for us. They are a disciplined team, well coached."

Guard Deron Williams (32 points) led the way and Carlos Boozer, who is doubtful tonight with a left quad problem, added 17 points and 12 rebounds.

"Deron Williams shot 18 free throws in that game," Rivers said. "Whether he made them or not, that tells you he dominated us in that game. They are a good team, one of those teams if you don't play well they are very difficult to beat."

There have been few times the Celtics, who have a 14-game winning streak, were not in contention in games in the last two seasons. The Celtics rallied for a 94-82 victory over New Orleans Friday, took Saturday off, then practiced yesterday.

"I don't know if we played bad, or we were tired, or it was [the Hornets]," Rivers said. "Probably a combination of all those things. The good thing is, we're still winning games under those circumstances. I asked the team what our record was and half of them knew and half of them didn't know, and that was good. It doesn't matter what the record is, it's about us getting better. We could care less about the record, it has nothing to do with us and the mind-set we have to have, through Game 82."

Continuity is a part of Utah's formula, as Jerry Sloan is in his 21st season as coach.

"It's amazing, for a change, that management was patient enough to allow him to do his job," Rivers said. "And it shows in the results.

"What happens when you have one coach for that long, you know what to look for. It makes scouting so much better. They win every year and, yet, they improve through the draft every year, and they draft guys you say, 'Who was that?' And the following year you're like, 'Why didn't anyone else see him?' It's not whether they are a good player or not, it's the player fits the system and, because they have had a coach for 20 years they know exactly the type of player that fits their system.

"That's what I've said for years - not on my behalf, but on all coaches' behalf - you become a better team in that way, because now you know a system, you know the type of players to look for."

Likes what he sees
Sloan has been impressed with the Celtics this season.

"Everyone appreciates how they play," Sloan said. "They play hard. Defensively, that's what gives them a chance every day. Every coach likes to play that way, but it takes a while. With their three best players being older guys, they come in and teach that philosophy for the coach.

"Coaches can preach all they want, but sometimes it doesn't come across until you get the type of players that are going to do that."

Mark the calendar
The Los Angeles Lakers are already considering their Dec. 25 home game against the Celtics, according to the Los Angeles Times. The Lakers visit Miami Friday, the start of a four-game road trip that concludes in New Orleans Dec. 23.

"We get back at 2 o'clock or 3 o'clock in the morning and to practice on the 24th is almost unfair after four games in five days," Lakers coach Phil Jackson said. "Preparing for the game is even difficult for us. Obviously, we have something to draw from last June, but that's six months out."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/pros_and_colleges/x1475135948/Celtics-Jazz-a-unique-opponent
Celtics: Jazz a unique opponent
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By Mike Fine/Gatehouse News Service
MetroWest Daily News
Posted Dec 14, 2008 @ 10:00 PM

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WALTHAM — Mo Cheeks was relieved of his duties with the Sixers on Saturday, bring the number of NBA coaches who've received pink slips this season to five. And it's only December.

Meanwhile, Jerry Sloan keeps at it with the Utah Jazz. And it's only been 20 years.

"It's amazing," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers, now in his fifth season with the Celtics, "because in some ways it's amazing, for a change, that management is patient enough for a coach to do his job, and they have, and it shows the results now."

To say that Sloan, who'll lead his Jazz against the Celtics tonight at the Garden, has gotten results is an understatement. The 66-year-old has only three losing seasons to show for his effort, and two of them came during his three early years coaching the Bulls. In his 20 seasons since taking over for the popular Frank Layden, Sloan has one losing season in Utah, going 26-56 in 2004-05, which was two seasons after John Stockton retired, one year after Karl Malone.

That, said Rivers, is the beauty of having one guy in charge for so many years. That turned out to be a one-and-done situation. The Jazz broke even the next season and won 105 games over the following two.

"What happens when you have one coach that long, they know the type of players to look for, it makes scouting so much better," Rivers said. "That's why they're so good every year in scouting. They win every year, yet they improve through the draft every year. They draft guys that people say, 'Who is that?' And then the following year you say, 'Why didn't anyone else see him?' It's not whether he's a good player or not, it's a player that fits their system and because they've had a coach for 20 years they know exactly the type of player that fits the system.

"I've said for years - not on my behalf but on all coaches' behalf - when you're patient with a coach ... you know the type of player to look for, you know how to build a team, and Utah has built their team every year."

Sloan is now a man with an NBA-record 1,104 coaching wins (Red Auerbach had 823 in the NBA), a man who's been around through 223 coaching changes league-wide.

Tonight, the Jazz come to Boston at 15-10, which is another feather in Sloan's cap because it's a team that relies on power forward Carlos Boozer, yet has played 13 games without him because of injury. He's not expected to be in uniform for this game, either, which is a real blow for Utah. Last Dec. 29 the Celtics knocked off the Jazz at Energy Solutions Arena, where they held the best home record in the NBA. When they met up again on Mar. 14, the Jazz smoked the Celts, 114-92.

Boozer had 17 points and 12 rebounds in that game, but the story was point guard Deron Williams, who scored 32 points, hitting 17 of 18 free throws. The Jazz outscored the Celts, 31-18, in the fourth quarter.

"They didn't win the game, they destroyed us," Rivers said. "They're a good team. Deron Williams had 18 free throws in that game. Whether he made the free throws or not, that tells you he was totally dominant. He dominated us in that game and we've gotta do better. They're a good team and they're one of those teams if you don't play well they're very difficult to beat."

"That was the one game that I can remember that they really, really beat us," said Paul Pierce, who scored eight points on 1-for-7 shooting that night. "A lot of losses were bad and we had a chance to win, but we just had no chance versus Utah. They outplayed us, they outhustled us, they outexecuted us, so we've got our work cut out for us. They're a very disciplined team, well coached with some great players."

Who knew in 1988 that Sloan would get to this point, becoming a stern, no-nonsense and supremely competent leader?

"That's a testament to him to be around that long," said Boozer, who was seven when Sloan took over. "That's crazy. Jerry doesn't care about stuff like that. But it's a huge accomplishment and we're all glad to be a part of it."

********

The Celts practiced yesterday despite a water problem at their facility that closed the adjacent Boston Sports Club for the day. Water was restored by the time practice had ended. They were forced to cancel an open practice for a corporate group but met with a youth group afterwards. ...

Rajon Rondo once again said he's not so much concerned with stopping Williams, but doing it as a team. ...

Pierce spoke of his 10-pound weight loss over the summer and said the teammate Kendrick Perkins was actually an inspiration. "Just seeing the way he was from day one. I watched him from a kid to now and if you look at his pictures from his rookie year you're like, man, who was that?" ...

Asked if he thought the current Celts could beat the '85-86 edition, Pierce said, "If we win again then that could be a topic for debate. Right now we're not in that class yet, but maybe if we win again we can start talking about it." He did make one concession: "Right now I know I match up with Danny (Ainge) very well."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081215/SPORTS/812150347/-1/SPORTS

Tim Weisberg
FREE THROWS: Posey's return brings back many memories
December 15, 2008 6:00 AM


While the New England sports pages were filled with stories about whether or not Randy Moss wanted to stick it to the Oakland Raiders on Sunday, precious little space was devoted to James Posey's return to Boston with his new team, the New Orleans Hornets.


After winning a championship with the Celtics, free agent Posey rejected Boston's offer to sign a longer, more lucrative deal — four years, $25 million — with the Hornets, another title contender.


On Friday, he gave the Celtics a taste of what they were missing when he scored seven points and had seven rebounds in 28 minutes of Boston's 94-82 win.


"Didn't like it," Rivers said when asked about seeing Posey in a different uniform. "He's up to those same tricks. You know, it's funny, last year I loved what he did — setting flops, charges, grabbing, holding, getting away with hitting on the arm. (Against New Orleans), I think I complained about Pose the entire game. He's a pain in the butt, he really is, and now I know why I loved him on my team."


He also drew two key charges from former Celtics benchmates Tony Allen and Leon Powe.


"I said there goes James Posey again, then he got another charge on Leon, and I was just like, there goes James Posey again," Allen said. "It's just the little intangibles that he does, and it just makes him."


"Oh man I knew what he was going to do," Powe said. "I tried to slow up, but you know, he's a good actor, so he sold that, he sold it to the refs so you know they called it on me. But I was mad at myself for falling for that."


But as the Celtics got off to the best start in franchise history this season and are once again sitting atop the NBA standings, do they really need Posey? His role on this team, in addition to what he brought to the court, was to remind his teammates what it takes to win championships, something of which they are now well aware. So although he's missed personally — from his pre-game man-hugs to his constant encouragement and support — is he missed basketball-wise?


The Garden fans sure didn't think so. After Posey nailed a first-quarter 3-pointer, the same fans who cheered him during a pregame ring ceremony immediately showered him with the type of boos reserved for those who scorn New England for another team.


That pain is something that carried over to the Celtics themselves.


"The hardest thing is seeing a personal friend and an ex-teammate that was a part of something. We will always be forever linked," Kevin Garnett said.


"I think we're just happy for him. I understand it's a business," Paul Pierce said. "Posey moved on but it was good to finally see him get his ring and congratulate him, knowing he was a part of something special. But once the game starts and we tip off we're trying to get a win."


The bench certainly isn't nearly as stable as it was last season, with Posey as its unofficial leader. The Celtics reserves have been inconsistent, but against their old friend, they came through on Friday night doing much of the same things Posey used to.


"The second unit was terrific. They just did all the little things," Rivers said. "They didn't do any one thing that was great. They did a lot of good things. They got all the loose balls. They made all the tough plays."


So maybe Posey taught them a few things after all.


MUTOMBO TO BOSTON?


While lamenting the bench player who's no longer here, the Celtics may have a shot at adding a legendary player to their reserves in the coming weeks.


As reported by Marc J. Spears in The Boston Globe, 42-year-old Dikembe Mutombo is interested in coming back into the NBA after Christmas, and the Celtics are on his short list, along with the Spurs and the Heat.


"The way Boston is playing right now with (Kevin Garnett), Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, the team is heading in a direction toward winning another championship," Mutombo told Spears. "It will be interesting if I made the decision to go there. It would be very good. I've been to the Finals twice. I got close, but I walked away empty-handed. Maybe going to Boston would give me a chance to win."


And that's a move not even KG could wag a finger at.


HOT


MELO'S BIG QUARTER


It was expected Carmelo Anthony would become even more high profile in Denver without high-scoring Allen Iverson demanding the ball. Anthony's 33-point third quarter against Minnesota last Wednesday proved that, and that he's one of the game's elite scorers.


BACK IN MOTOWN


Life's good if you're Antonio McDyess. After being traded to Denver as part of the Iverson deal and subsequently waived, Dice had a nice month-long vacation while teams threw offers at him. He chose to re-sign with the Pistons, who he'll hopefully help turn out of the downward spiral they've been in since acquiring AI.


BOBCATS GROW UP


First, the Charlotte Bobcats addressed their need for a veteran presence when they traded to get Raja Bell, Boris Diaw and Sean Singletary from Phoenix. Then, they signed 35-year-old forward Juwan Howard. With a more experienced team, Larry Brown might just lead them into the playoffs.


NOT


MCHALE DEMOTED


It's no surprise that Minnesota decided to fire coach Randy Wittman, or even that they asked Kevin McHale to step behind the bench. But stripping McHale of GM duties? Long overdue, but still a shock.


FIRING LINE


Five coaches have already been fired, and it's not even Christmas yet. P.J. Carlesimo (OKC), Eddie Jordan (Washington), Sam Mitchell (Toronto), Wittman and Maurice Cheeks (Philly) are all gone after starting the season a combined 13-60.


THE WORLD'S A STAGE?


FIBA is starting an annual club championship beginning in October 2010 featuring eight teams "” the five FIBA continental champions, the runner-up from the Americas and Europe, and a team invited by the host city. Yet the NBA, so focused on global growth, has chosen not to send a team.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.sltrib.com/jazz/ci_11235836
Utah Jazz: Green monsters await Jazz in Boston
By Ross Siler
The Salt Lake Tribune
Updated: 12/15/2008 01:35:09 AM MST


Click photo to enlargeUtah Jazz guard Deron Williams (8) poses for his portrait... (Douglas C. Pizac/The Associated Press)«1»BOSTON - As often as the Boston Celtics have played on national television this season, Deron Williams has had an easy time keeping tabs on the defending champions during their 22-2 start and current 14-game winning streak.
"They've been on TV every day," Williams said. "They're definitely tough. Three great players and then a bunch of guys who are up-and-coming. [Rajon] Rondo's been playing great all year, offensively, defensively. They've been pretty much unstoppable."
With their last loss coming Nov. 14 to Denver, the Celtics now have gone more than a month without dropping a game. They've matched the best start in NBA history through 24 games and are on pace to finish 75-7 this season.
Unlike a typical defending champion, the Celtics have looked anything but bored by the monotony of the 82-game regular season. Even the Jazz admit winning tonight's game would appear to be a tall order.
"That's true, but the game has to be played," Jazz coach Jerry Sloan said. "That's what makes this business so interesting. It's not like you just go show up. You've got to compete, play against them, do the best you can. And you find out who you are."
The Jazz also aren't opening this trip on their best foot, coming off Saturday's 103-94 loss to Orlando, which might have been the season's most deflating so far.
Before leaving for this
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five-game trip, the Jazz watched a 10-point halftime lead vanish as Orlando opened the third quarter with a 16-1 run. Playing without Dwight Howard, the Magic still handled the Jazz in the second half.
The Jazz struggled through a dismal 1-4 trip last month - including Williams' premature return from a sprained left ankle for two games - and can't afford a repeat heading east this time. Sloan, however, wasn't about to call this a make-or-break trip.
"We're not out of the playoffs yet, are we?" Sloan said. "I'm not complaining. We've had guys out, and it'll be a little bit of a mess probably when we get everybody back, but that's part of it. Hopefully, we can play through it and get it solved as quick as possible."
The Jazz won't have Carlos Boozer back tonight, with the All-Star forward missing his 14th game with a strained left quadriceps tendon. Boozer wants to go through a full practice before returning, with the Jazz's next opportunity coming Tuesday in Boston.
Sloan also acknowledged that Williams is still struggling almost three weeks after returning for good from the sprained ankle. Williams is shooting 38.8 percent for the season, down from 50.7 percent last season.
"Deron is not Deron Williams who we knew before he got hurt," Sloan said. "I can't do anything about that, except play him, let him get himself better. Obviously, everybody knows we need him to play at an extremely high level and he's struggling and we'll struggle some."
There is hope for the Jazz in having beaten the Celtics in Boston in March. The Jazz's 110-92 victory - Williams finished with 32 points and eight assists - ended a 10-game winning streak by the Celtics and also represented their worst loss of the season to that point.
"I think we can match up [with] anybody," Andrei Kirilenko said. "Last year, we showed them, we beat them there, and we played pretty good.
"It doesn't mean right now we're going to win. No. We should come with the right set of mind and play for the win. That's the main thing. As long as we playing hustle and active on the floor, we're good."
The Celtics are holding teams to 90.5 points on 41.3 percent shooting. Their big three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are averaging 54.0 points a game. Rondo, their third-year point guard, had a 16-point, 13-rebound, 17-assist triple-double this month.
Asked about squandering momentum entering the trip, Williams said: "We definitely had a chance to go in with a win streak, separate ourself from Portland a little bit. It's another bad home loss."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.enterprisenews.com/sports/x225998300/Celtics-need-five-more-wins-to-set-team-record-for-the-longest-winning-streak
Celtics need five more wins to set team record for the longest winning streak
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The Associated Press
Paul Pierce of the Boston Celtics defends former teammate James Posey, now with the New Orleans Hornets.


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Related Links Sloan still has Jazz in tune, faces a test against high Cs (12/15/08)
By Jim Fenton
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
Posted Dec 15, 2008 @ 03:56 AM
Last update Dec 15, 2008 @ 08:01 AM

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BOSTON — They are within striking distance of the longest winning streak in the history of the franchise.

With five more victories, the Boston Celtics will surpass the 18-game run that the 1981-82 team went on between Feb. 24-March 26 of that season.

The current 14-game streak began following a loss to the Denver Nuggets on Nov. 14, and the Celtics have gone unbeaten for 30 days.

Eight of the victories have been at home, six on the road. Ten of the wins have been against Eastern Conference teams, four against opponents from the Western Conference.

The winning streak matches the fourth longest in team history, equaling 14-game sprees that the 1985-86 and 1957-58 Celtics went on.

Next on the list is a 16-game streak the 1964-65 team had, and a 17-game streak by the 1959-60 team is just above that.

The Celtics, off to a franchise-best 22-2 start, maintain the early-season winning streak means little, no matter how high it grows.

“Nothing, really. I mean, honestly, not a thing,’’ said Coach Doc Rivers when asked about the significance of all the consecutive wins. “I don’t think anybody even mentioned the winning streak.

“Like I said before, we don’t get anything for it. So (it means) nothing. It’s great. I mean, I’m sure some other time it will be nice to know we had a streak like this, but that’s about it.’’

Kevin Garnett says he has no idea about the company the Celtics are keeping in team history with their 14-game run.

“I didn’t even know about the streak,’’ said Garnett on Friday night after the New Orleans Hornets became the latest victims. “I haven’t even thought about our record. We’re preparing for teams individually. That’s what we say every night. That’s what we do.

“Doc said in the locker room our ultimate goal is to try to win that championship. (Along) the way, you accomplish other things. I think we’re playing decent basketball right now. There’s always room for improvement. The ultimate goal is the trophy.’’

Can the Celtics add five more wins to their streak and set the team record with 19 consecutive victories?

The two biggest obstacles will come this week when the Celtics face the Utah Jazz tonight at the TD Banknorth Garden (7:35; TV: Comcast SportsNet; radio: WEEI-850 AM) and on Wednesday night when they travel to Atlanta to face the Hawks.

If the Celtics can get by those two teams, they have a three-game homestand against sub-.500 teams — the Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers

Here’s a look at the five teams that stand in the way of the Celtics’ breaking the team record of 18 straight wins:

UTAH JAZZ (15-10):

The Jazz have been without leading scorer and rebounder Carlos Boozer (20.5 points, 11.7 rebounds) the last 13 games due to a strained left quad.

Utah is just 7-6 without Boozer, and the Jazz begin a five-game road trip with a 5-6 record away from Salt Lake City.

Point guard Deron Williams will present a challenge for Rajon Rondo. Williams, who missed 13 games with an injury, is averaging 12.3 points and 10.3 assists.

The Jazz were one of six teams to win at the Garden last season, pinning a 110-92 loss on the Celtics in March.

ATLANTA HAWKS (14-9):

The Celtics needed a Paul Pierce shot with less than a second remaining to beat the Hawks, 103-102, in Boston on Nov. 12.

The eighth-seeded Hawks surprised the Celtics by going the full seven games in the opening round of the playoffs last spring. Boston dropped all three games in Atlanta during the postseason.

The Hawks ended the Cleveland Cavaliers’ 11-game winning streak on Saturday night, 97-92, and they are 8-1 at home.

CHICAGO BULLS (11-12):

Chicago makes its second and final trip to Boston on Friday night. The Bulls were overmatched on Halloween, shooting 30 percent from the floor in a 96-80 loss.

NEW YORK KNICKS ( 11-12):

The Knicks will also be making their last trip to Boston this season on Sunday night. They lost, 110-101, on Nov. 18 in the previous visit to the Garden.

The Celtics won that night without Garnett, who was serving a one-game NBA suspension. The game features plenty of trash-talking, and next week should be no different.

PHILADELPHIA 76ERS (10-14):

The Sixers have been one of the disappointing teams in the first quarter of the season after acquiring Elton Brand via free agency.

The slow start cost Coach Maurice Cheeks his job over the weekend.

The Sixers were humiliated by the Celtics on the night after Thanksgiving at the Garden, 102-78.