News 12/17

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1139590&format=text
Celtics wary of Hawks
But Paul Pierce should play

By Steve Bulpett | Wednesday, December 17, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Matt Stone
The Celtics [team stats] likely will have Paul Pierce [stats] when they take the floor in Atlanta tonight. The larger question is whether they will have their heads and games in proper sync.

Lack of same was a large part of what cost them three games at Philips Arena during last year’s playoffs. And those three outcomes served to embolden a young group of Hawks who now are playing significantly better.

And these guys apparently are not frightened of winning streaks. The Atlantans ended Cleveland’s 11-game run last Saturday, and now they get a crack at the Celts’ 15-gamer.

“Oh, for sure we know they’re better,” said Kendrick Perkins [stats] of the Hawks. “I saw them knock off Cleveland’s winning streak, so we know we’ve got our hands full. They’re a great team.”

The Celtics, owners of the best record in the NBA at 23-2, aren’t too shabby either. And it was looking yesterday as if they’d have their starting lineup intact. Pierce suffered a left knee contusion when Mehmet Okur rolled into him late in Monday’s win over the Utah Jazz, but the captain reported afterward he was feeling better.

The word is, while Pierce still was feeling some tenderness in the area yesterday, the problem was not severe enough to require an MRI. Pierce was on the team charter in the afternoon and a more definitive word will be rendered at this morning’s shootaround. The team did not practice yesterday.

Without Pierce, the Celts would have suffered a third loss this season and it would have been to the Hawks. His 20-footer with a half-second left gave the C’s a 103-102 win Nov. 12 at the Garden.

After Monday’s game, Pierce looked ahead to the rematch.

“This is going to be a whole different ballclub than we saw last year during the regular season,” Pierce said. “It’s going to be more like the team we saw in the playoffs. We have to come with our ‘A’ game or we won’t be walking out of there with a win. The way they’re playing at home (9-1), they’re playing at a high level.”

The key, according to Perkins, will be above the shoulders.

“We’ve just got to go in there and stay focused and do our job,” he said. “The rest will take care of itself. I just think we’ve got to go in and play team ball and we should come out with the win. It’s just focus.”

Asked if the Celtics had that quality in the needed quantity in the three playoff games in Atlanta, Perkins didn’t hesitate.

“No, I don’t think so,” Perkins said. “We were night and day from the way we were at home. I think our mental focus has to be better.”

The Celtics certainly are saying the right things. But they did that last April, too.

And if those meetings and the first duel this season didn’t get the C’s attention, Atlanta’s win over the Cavaliers would have done the trick.

“They just beat Cleveland at home, so they’re pretty confident right now,” Rajon Rondo [stats] said. “I’m sure they’re waiting on us, so it’ll be a tough game. We’ve got to go in there and focus and try to get one on the road in Atlanta. We didn’t do it last year except in the regular season, but I’m sure this will be like a playoff-type of game - very physical. It’ll probably go down to the wire.”

For his part, coach Doc Rivers wants to leave the past behind and stick with what his team has done well this season.

“We’re just going to be ready to play,” Rivers said. “We always believe it’s about what we do. We can’t worry about anything from last year or any of that.”

Celtics notes

Eddie House is expected to be with the team in Atlanta. He missed Monday’s game to attend his aunt’s funeral.

Gabe Pruitt did well with a career-high eight points in nine minutes in House’s absence, but he impressed his coaches even more on defense. Pruitt made two strong plays on Deron Williams in one brief period and looked as if he might be able to be a factor off the bench in his second season.

“I use Leon (Powe’s) situation last year as my motivation,” Pruitt said. “He didn’t play until the second half of the season, and he progressed from there. Ever since then he never looked back. I look at myself in the same situation. I try to stay patient and not let myself get down. Whenever my number’s called, I just have to perform and do good things.”

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1139601&format=text
Start of something big

By Mark Daniels | Wednesday, December 17, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics
At 23-2, the Celtics [team stats] are off to the best start in franchise history and are currently riding a 15-game winning streak - the fourth best mark among Celtics teams. Here is a look at the three Celtics teams with better winning streaks, and the three NBA teams that have done as good or better than these C’s to start a season:

CELTICS STREAKS

1981-82 Celtics: 18 games

Leaders: Larry Bird (22.9 ppg, 10.9 rpg), Robert Parish (19.9, 10.8 rpg)

Duration: Feb. 24-March 26.

Next Loss: Celts lost at home to Philadelphia, 116-98, on March 28.

Finish: Won Atlantic Division (63-19), but lost to 76ers in Eastern Conference finals.

1959-60 Celtics: 17 games

Leaders: Tommy Heinsohn (21.7 ppg, 10.6 rpg), Bill Russell (18.2 ppg, 24.0 rpg), Bob Cousy (19.4 ppg, 9.5 apg.)

Duration: Nov. 28-Dec. 30.

Next Loss: Celts lost on neutral court (Detroit) to the Cincinnati Royals, 128-115, on Jan. 1.

Finish: Won Eastern Division (59-16), and beat St. Louis Hawks for their second NBA title.

1964-65 Celtics: 16 games

Leaders: Sam Jones (25.9 ppg), John Havlicek (18.3 ppg), Bill Russell (14.1 ppg, 24.1 rpg).

Duration: Dec. 19-Jan. 22.

Next Loss: Celts lost on neutral court (Syracuse, N.Y.) to the Philadelphia 76ers [team stats], 104-100, on Jan. 23.

Finish: Won Eastern Division (62-18), and beat Los Angeles Lakers for seventh straight NBA crown.

NBA STARTS

1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers: 26-2

Leaders: Wilt Chamberlain (24.1 ppg, 24.2 rpg), Hal Greer (22.1 ppg).

Next loss: Lost at the Celtics, 117-103, on Dec. 11.

Finish: Sixers set NBA record for wins (68), beat the Celtics in the Eastern Division finals, and beat the San Francisco Warriors for the NBA title.

1969-70 New York Knicks: 26-2

Leaders: Willis Reed (21.7 ppg, 13.9 rpg), Walt Frazier (20.9 ppg).

Next loss: Lost at home to Cincinnati Royals, 103-101, on Dec. 9.

Finish: Knicks fashioned an 18-game win streak in their start en route to a 60-22 record - best mark in team history. They beat the LA Lakers for the NBA title.

1995-96 Chicago Bulls: 23-2

Leaders: Michael Jordan (30.4 ppg), Scottie Pippen (19.4 ppg).

Next loss: Lost at Indiana Pacers, 103-97, on Dec. 26.

Finish: Bulls followed their third loss with 18 straight wins for a 41-3 start. They finished with an NBA-record 72 wins and won the championship over Seattle.

[FLCeltsFan]

Scouting report: Celtics at Hawks

By Herald staff | Wednesday, December 17, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics
TONIGHT - 7, Philips Arena, Atlanta. TV - CSN. Radio - WEEI-AM (850).

THE NUMBERS 15: Consecutive games won by the Celtics [team stats].

3: Games the C’s lost in Atlanta during last year’s playoffs.

WHO’S HOT

For the Celtics, Rajon Rondo [stats] had a career-high 25 points against the Jazz on Monday.

WHO’S NOT

For the C’s, Tony Allen has made 1-of-7 shots and scored a total of four points in the last two games.

WHO’S HURT

For the Celtics, Paul Pierce [stats] (left knee contusion) is probable. For the Hawks, Speedy Claxton (left knee) is out.

BOTTOM LINE

As was the case during last year’s postseason, the Celtics can hurt the Hawks by getting the ball inside. If C’s insist on shooting jumpers, Atlanta and its collection of young and lively bodies could get an edge.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1139619&format=text
Stephon Marbury watches courtside as Knicks lose a close one to Lakers

By Alan Hahn / Newsday | Wednesday, December 17, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | NBA Coverage

Photo by AP
LOS ANGELES — There were stars and there was Starbury. Both came out to see the Knicks and Lakers on Tuesday night at Staples Center and all of them — from Stefani to Stephon — had one thing in common: a front row seat and no chance of playing in what was a 116-114 loss to the Lakers.

"Oh yeah, I miss this a lot," Marbury said of his exile from the Knicks. "This is the closest I’m going to get to the game right now."

Marbury bought a ticket and was sitting courtside. It was a scene that drew grins and chuckles from the Knicks’ players and head shakes from just about everyone else.

"It’s no big deal," Mike D’Antoni said. "About 19,000 people will be here tonight, so if he wants to see a good game, that’s great."

And he, along with the rest of the sellout crowd, certainly did. In the second game of a tough back-to-back, which included a hard-fought and, for D’Antoni, emotional, loss to the Suns in Phoenix, the Knicks came out Tuesday night shooting. They made 11 three-pointers in the first half to jump out to a surprising 65-50 lead at halftime.

The hot shooting cooled in the second half and the Lakers chipped away at the lead. After Kobe Bryant nailed a pull-up with 1:38 to go to give the Lakers a 111-109 lead, Nate Robinson answered with a corner three with 1:18 left to put the Knicks ahead, 112-111. On the ensuing possession, Al Harrington had a chance to tip away a pass to Lamar Odom, but Odom managed to get the ball and fed Trevor Ariza for an alley-oop with 1:03 left to put the Lakers back in front, 113-112. Harrington then missed on a drive and Ariza missed an open three-pointer that would have been a dagger with 27.9 seconds to go.

Robinson drove the lane for what would have been another go-ahead basket, but his layup fell short with 11.9 seconds left. Derek Fisher hit two free throws with 6.4 seconds left to make it a three-point lead for the Lakers. Fisher then pulled a veteran move when he fouled Robinson before he could attempt a potential game-tying three. Robinson, who was 12- for-12 from the line in the game, hit both with 3.8 seconds left. Fisher hit just one of two from the line with 2.7 seconds left, which gave the Knicks one more shot at the win. But Chris Duhon’s desperation try from halfcourt sailed wide at the buzzer.

Robinson finished with 33 points and David Lee added 18 points and 14 rebounds for the Knicks (11-14). Bryant led the Lakers (21-3) with 28 points.

Marbury, who is in town to check on his Hollywood condo and check up on matters related to his Starbury brand, sat alone in the courtside seat in the far corner of the floor, across from the Lakers bench. He was greeted by Spike Lee and Chris Rock before the game and at halftime, with the Knicks ahead 65-50 after an impressive first half. Marbury talked as if he wasn’t in any hurry to get back to the negotiating table to complete his buyout talks with the Knicks. He even said he called off Hal Biagas, the NBA players’ association associate counsel who was representing him in the talks with Knicks president Donnie Walsh.

"I basically told him don’t even worry about it," Marbury said. "Let them do what they’re going to do and make a decision when they’re ready to make a decision."

Asked if he was prepared to sit out the entire season, Marbury replied, "I’m getting healthy. This is going to save two or three years of my career. This has been great for me . . . I didn’t create this, so I don’t regret a thing. This is all their doing."

Marbury, who has been given permission to seek interest from other teams, says he has been in touch with a few already and isn’t concerned about how his extended exile — and everything involving it — appears to other teams around the NBA.

"Only thing I got to do is get free," he said. "The team that I’m going to go to, I think a lot of people will be shocked."

Notes & quotes: Jared Jeffries did not play because of soreness in his left leg. Jeffries, who did not play in the second half against the Suns, had an X-ray taken on his left leg — he suffered a fractured tibia during training camp — after the game. The results were negative . . . Lakers big man Pau Gasol sat out because of strep throat.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/12/17/adding_web_of_intrigue?mode=PF
Adding web of intrigue
Celtics clicking, and so are Hawks
By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | December 17, 2008

Hawks.com currently offers a chance to watch highlights from last season's Celtics-Hawks playoff series. The video describes tonight's game in Atlanta as a "renewed rivalry." If you didn't know better, you would have thought the Hawks won the first-round matchup.

The video also says rapper Ludacris is performing at halftime, features a picture of Kevin Garnett, and has a reminder that tickets are still available. All this before entering the website.

Although the hype might have caught the Celtics by surprise, they understand why tonight's game is such a big deal to the Hawks.

"We were talking about [the website]," Ray Allen said. "I'm sure it's been up there for a couple of days. We are really looking forward to it. Atlanta is ready and waiting and they've been promoting this for a while. The building is going to be a playoff atmosphere so we need to go down there with a different mind-set."

Said Hawks guard Mike Bibby: "I don't know if you call it a rivalry. But they probably don't like us and we probably don't like them. And you can go all the way down the line and know it's going to be a battle every time we see each other."

The Celtics dominated the three regular-season games last season and won the first two games of the playoff series in Boston. The Celtics had the best regular-season record while the Hawks had the worst record among playoff teams.

But sparked by All-Star Joe Johnson, budding stars Josh Smith and Al Horford, and a wild and energized sold-out crowd, the Hawks won all three playoff games in Atlanta to force Game 7. Although the Hawks were blown out at the Garden, they went home with renewed hope for the future after years of struggle.

"We had a little lapse in focus," said Rajon Rondo of the playoff games in Atlanta. "Once you give a team confidence, it's hard to turn them off. That's what we did against the Hawks last year. They're very confident at home."

Said Hawks forward Marvin Williams: "All season we hadn't won in Boston and all series we hadn't won in Boston. We obviously knew we could play with them, though. The series was tied at 3-3. I just think in Game 7 we weren't ready to play . . .

"The only thing that leaves a bad taste in my mouth is how we played for six games and then in Game 7 we really don't even show up. They put the hammer down us on early."

The Celtics enter with an NBA-best 23-2 record, a 15-game winning streak, and a nine-game streak on the road.

The Hawks (15-9) have won three straight, including one over Eastern Conference power Cleveland. Atlanta is 9-1 at Philips Arena and Smith has rejoined the team after missing 12 games because of an ankle sprain. The Celtics needed a fallaway jumper by Paul Pierce with 0.5 seconds left to beat the Smith-less Hawks, 103-102, Nov. 12 in Boston.

"This is going to be a whole different ball club than we saw last year during the regular season," Pierce said. "It's going to be more like the team we saw in the playoffs. We have to come with our 'A game' or we won't be walking out of there with a win. The way they're playing at home, they're playing at a high level."

Said Williams: "It might be impossible not to get too hyped up for this game. We played them as well as we ever played them in Boston earlier this year. Now we come back here. They're playing well and we're playing well at home. Something's got to give."

The Hawks are motivated, and so are the Celtics, who have recently avenged a couple of their rare letdowns from last season.


The Celtics hammered the Wizards, 122-88, last Thursday. Washington took last season's series vs. the Celtics, 3-1.


The Celtics knocked off the Jazz, 100-91, Monday at home. Last season, Utah dropped an 18-point beating on the Celtics at the Garden.

"It's another chance to get a win against a quality opponent," Allen said. "They are playing a lot better. Over the summer I said I'd be disappointed if they didn't play better basketball this year and they are."

Said Smith: "They know they can't take us lightly. They play their hardest when they step out on the court with us. And we do the same. It's like a respect level but also competitive nature that we're going to win this game and they feel the same way."

Pierce, listed as day to day after suffering a right knee contusion Monday night, is expected to play against the Hawks. He was reexamined yesterday, and an MRI or X-ray was not needed, according to team spokesman Jeff Twiss . . . Eddie House is expected to meet the team in Atlanta and play tonight. He missed Monday's game because of the death of his aunt. With House back, guard Sam Cassell will likely return to the inactive list.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.patriotledger.com/sports/x1900939925/Celtics-face-a-tough-test-against-Hawks?view=print

Celtics face a tough test against Hawks
By MIKE FINE
The Patriot Ledger
Posted Dec 17, 2008 @ 06:46 AM


People laugh when they hear Doc Rivers critique what he calls the inconsistent, often poor play of his Boston Celtics, who are 23-2, off to the best start in team history and one of the top three starts in NBA history.


“We haven’t played in long stretches great,” Rivers said. “And when we’ve played poorly, we’ve been able to figure out a way of winning games. We’ve had great quarters, we’ve had great halves. It’s a good sign in a lot of ways, in that way, because to me, we have not played to a stretch where as a coach you would say, ‘We’ve hit our stride.’ We clearly have not done that. But we’re winning games, and that’s important – that’s what you’re trying to do, you’re trying to win as many as you can.


“I mean, we’re laughing; as well as we play we’ve got a one-game lead on Cleveland, or two or one, I don’t even know what it is (it’s 21/2 games in the Eastern Conference), so it’s not a lot. And the Lakers are even closer (1 games behind). So you’re trying to play for home court, that’s what you’re trying to do.”


When Rivers talks of his team’s inability to play consistently superior basketball, he’s probably thinking no more than a day ahead, to the Atlanta Hawks. The Hawks, who’ll host the Celtics tonight, are one of a bakers’ dozen of teams that have had the Celtics up against the wall, only to allow them to escape. It’s one thing for the Celtics to feel they can wriggle out of any situation, but they probably had little business beating the Hawks in the Nov. 12 meeting at the Garden.


The Celtics had fallen behind by 16 points in the first half, only to fight back steadily, yet with 7.4 seconds left forward Marvin Williams hit the 3-pointer that gave his team a one-point lead. With five-tenths of a second left Paul Pierce hit the jumper over 6-10 Al Horford to give the Celtics their eighth win and hand the Hawks their first in seven games.


It’s not like the Celtics didn’t know what was coming. Though they’ve beaten Atlanta in three straight games, the Hawks came out of nowhere last season to not only make the playoffs for the first time since 1998-99, but also to win each of their three games in Atlanta during the Eastern Conference first round against the Celts. Forced to play a seventh game (a 99-65 blowout win), the Celtics nearly spit the bit after their dominant 66-win regular season.


For those reasons, plus the fact that the Hawks are 15-9 this season, the Celtics know they have their hands full at a time when, as Rivers says, they haven’t quite gotten themselves together.


“This is going to be a whole different ballclub that we saw last year during the regular season,” said Pierce, who had 35 points in the November game, with Kevin Garnett adding 25. “It’s going to be more like the team we saw in the playoffs. We have to come with our ‘A’ game or we won’t be walking out of there with a win.’’


Oh, and one other thing: the Hawks, who are 9-1 at home (seven straight wins), knocked off the Cleveland Cavaliers Saturday night. The Cavs had won 11 straight and had been rolling over nearly every opponent they played.


“They just beat Cleveland at home so they’re pretty confident right now,” said Rajon Rondo, who had five points but 10 assists going against Mike Bibby (16 points, three assists) in November.


Rondo says the reason the Hawks were so successful against the Celtics in the playoffs (after going 0-3 against them in the regular season) was “a little lack of focus.


“Once you give a team confidence, it’s hard to turn them off, and that’s what we did against the Hawks last year. They were very confident at home. We handled business here at home; that’s why we got the homecourt advantage, but other than that, they’re a confident team at home. I think everyone is, but they’re tough. They have great players at each position, they’re a very athletic, young team.”


In that November game, while Joe Johnson was scoring 28 points, reserves Maurice Evans and Flip Murray were adding a combined 27; the Hawks bench outscored the Celtics’, 30-13.


Compounding the problem is a new phenomenon in Atlanta: the crowd. The Hawks are averaging 16,227 this season, and while that’s only 20th best in the NBA, they averaged a league-low 13,798 only five years ago.


Around the rim


Paul Pierce is listed as day-to-day after his collision with Utah’s Mehmet Okur late in Monday’s game. Pierce did not have an MRI or X-Ray on his left knee Tuesday and is expected to play Wednesday … Eddie House, who missed the Monday game after the death of his aunt, will rejoin the team in Atlanta.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/pros_and_colleges/x522137264/Celtics-Pruitt-proves-worthy?view=print

Celtics: Pruitt proves worthy
By Scott Souza/Daily News staff
MetroWest Daily News
Posted Dec 16, 2008 @ 10:05 PM


Second-year Celtics guard Gabe Pruitt took a big leap from the roster bubble to the active unit during what appeared to be a breakout preseason. Yet once the regular season started, he did a lot of the same sitting and watching on game nights he did during his rookie year.


Being the 11th man on most teams means opportunity will come your way one of these days. But being the 11th man on a remarkably healthy defending champion meant few chances for Pruitt to show off his improvement. That all changed on Monday night after 24 games of sit-and-watch.


That's when he got the call to be Rajon Rondo's main backup with Eddie House unavailable due to a death in his family. Pruitt made the most of the chance with eight points and a big pickpocket of Utah's star point guard Deron Williams in the second half of a 100-91 Boston victory.


"At the beginning, it felt like I was doing everything in a rush," he said. "I felt like I needed to slow down. I was kind of anxious so the jitters were there. In the second half, I felt I settled down, took more shots when they were open, and had more poise."


Poise is something Pruitt had to convince the coaching staff he could have at this level. On the few occasions he saw the court during his 95 minutes of game action last year, Pruitt showed he had a nice handle and a smooth jumper. But he rarely showed he could command a team. In the rare instance the subject of Gabe Pruitt came up, Celtics coach and Doc Rivers noted his promise, athleticism and attitude, but lamented that he never actually ran a play.


Pruitt clearly took note during a summer of hard work in which he got bigger, more vocal and more confident that he belonged in the mix with the champs.


"I felt last year I was still trying to get the feel for this lifestyle and being on the court with these guys," he said. "There was a lot of nervousness last year. This year, being with the team out on the court every day, I feel more comfortable."


Rivers may now feel a little more comfortable with what Pruitt can provide on both ends of the floor as chances to upgrade the backcourt come up around the trading deadline.


"Gabe was absolutely fantastic," the coach said of Monday's effort. "Forget the 3s, Gabe played good defense. To me, that was far more important than if he could make a shot. We know he can shoot."


Pruitt knows he can shoot as well. He also knows that - given that elusive chance - he can help the Celtics defend a title. He is just waiting for the opportunity. For inspiration of how to seize that chance, all he has to do is look across the locker room to Leon Powe, who played less than a minute in 25 of the first 37 games last year before becoming a key contributor in the playoffs.


"I use Leon's situation last year as my motivation," he said. "He didn't play until the second half of the season and then he progressed from there. Since then, he never looked back. I look at myself in the same situation. I can't get down. Whenever my number's called, I have to perform and do good things."


********


Showing your sensitive side can be a tricky thing in the macho world of professional sports. When you are Paul Pierce breaking down after receiving the first championship ring of a 10-year career, you get a pass. When you are Glen Davis covering your face with a towel on the bench after being on the wrong end of a Kevin Garnett tirade Dec. 5 vs. Portland, you get 23 YouTube posts of the incident with more than 2.5 million views.


Davis said it is all part of the Big Baby package even if he feels the situation was misrepresented as Garnett reprimanding him specifically.


"It was never Kevin telling me something that I did," he sought to clarify. "It was Kevin telling the whole team something. I am just real hard on myself. I feel I didn't play my best and I got upset about it. Sometimes when I get mad that's what I do."


Davis has bounced back well from an uneven stretch that included the Garnett lecture and 1-for-11 shooting over five games. He had nine points, on 4-of-5 shooting, with seven rebounds against the Wizards last Thursday and had another nice night on Monday with four points and five rebounds against the Jazz.


He was especially strong on the offensive glass while playing for a foul-endangered Kendrick Perkins late in the third and early in the fourth qu arter.


As for the slump, he attributed that to tentative instead of instinctive play - notably when it came to pulling the trigger on his 18-foot jumper.


"I'm trying to play my role without thinking," he said. "As a young player, you don't always know what the coach is going to say. One day, he says he wants you to shoot it, one day he wants you to pass it."


Despite the mixed signals, Davis is happy Rivers and the staff stuck with him.


"It gave my confidence and got me to feel good about myself," he said. "I was able to mess up a bit and they still had faith in me."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081217/SPORTS/812170326/-1/NEWS01
INSIDE THE CELTICS: Ainge's patience with Rivers paid off
December 17, 2008 6:00 AM
Six NBA coaches have already lost their jobs this season, and it has nothing to do with a slumping economy and everything to do with slumping performances.

It started with P.J. Carlesimo in Oklahoma City after the Thunder started 1-12. Eddie Jordan was canned by Washington after a 1-10 start. While OKC wasn't supposed to be a world-beater, the Wiz were expected to be a decent team, and Jordan had led them to the playoffs in each of the past four seasons.

From there, it didn't take long for more axes to fall. It's understandable that Randy Wittman was let go with Minnesota at 4-15. Same with Reggie Theus by Sacramento (6-18) on Monday, but the firing of Mo Cheeks in Philadelphia (9-14) and former Coach of the Year Sam Mitchell in Toronto (8-9) were surprises since each team was expected to be in the hunt for a playoff spot, even with the slow starts.

That's 20 percent of the league's head coaches unemployed before Christmas. That makes the relationship between Celtics head coach Doc Rivers and GM Danny Ainge that much more of an anomaly in today's NBA.

Two years ago, the Celtics endured a horrendous 24-58 season. By December, the "Fire Doc" whispers that had surrounded the team since missing the previous year's playoffs had risen into all-out chants filling TD Banknorth Garden. Ainge ignored them, instead rewarding Rivers with both a contract extension and the possibility of coaching the likes of Greg Oden or Kevin Durant via a high pick in the 2007 draft.

That had been Rivers' main job with Boston: developing young talent as the Celtics hoped to someday compete with the big boys. Although he hit some rough patches in that mentor role — especially with young point guards Marcus Banks and Sebastian Telfair — Rivers was generally regarded as the right man for that job.

When the draft lottery didn't pan out and Ainge turned his attention to acquiring Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett, once again there was outcry that Rivers had to go. The knock became he was nothing more than a babysitter, ill-equipped to handle the pressure of coaching a veteran-laden team. There were rumors of a return to television, and that Paul Westphal, Dave Cowens or even Ainge himself might take over behind the bench.

It never happened. Rivers arrived at training camp with the philosophy of "ubuntu" for his new team — "I am because we are," essentially, from the Bantu languages of Southern Africa. The Celtics embraced it — as well as Rivers' new dedication to defense — to the tune of a championship and a subsequent three-year Rivers extension prior to the start of this season.

What would have happened if Rivers had gotten the "plenty of free time for Christmas shopping" treatment? Going down with the 2006-07 ship would've sunk his coaching career for sure, but what about the Celtics? Rivers' oversight of the development of Al Jefferson and, to a lesser degree Ryan Gomes, was instrumental in Minnesota pulling the trigger on the Garnett deal. Even if Ainge acquired Allen and Garnett without Doc, what about the hand he played in bringing late-season free agents P.J. Brown and Sam Cassell into the mix?

The relationship between the front office and the head coach stretches long in Boston, to the days when Ainge and Rivers didn't just go head-to-head as players, but were locker-mates at the 1988 All-Star Game. From the start, Rivers bought into Ainge's plan to restore the Celtics to glory. It became their singular vision, and one might not have seen it to fruition without the other.

That type of faith is apparently rare in the NBA. The Celtics were rewarded for that faith and patience with an NBA championship, followed by the best start in the history of the storied franchise.

Maybe these other guys wouldn't have succeeded as Rivers has, but those teams will never know.