News 12/28

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1141609&format=text

Doc Rivers not afraid of rocky Celtics

By Steve Bulpett | Sunday, December 28, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Faith Ninivaggi
SACRAMENTO, Calif. - Get nervous all you want about the Celtics [team stats]’ two-game losing streak, but please excuse them if they don’t join you.

Doc Rivers has no special plans or sermons following losses to the Lakers and Golden State to open this four-game trip.

“We don’t do anything,” said the coach, who followed through on that with a day off for the players yesterday. “We just approach it like we’ve approached all our wins. You know, we keep talking about getting better as a basketball team. That’s about it.

“We weren’t worried when we were winning 19 in a row, and we don’t worry when we lose two in a row. Our thing is by playoffs to be the best team we can possibly be. That’s what we think about every day.”

And obviously it’s easier to speak that way when you’re taking the short ride from San Francisco to Sacramento with a 27-4 record. It also helps to know that while the Celts won a championship last season, the ride also included a three-game losing streak in February (Denver, Golden State and Phoenix) when Kevin Garnett returned from injury.

“We just don’t get down,” said Paul Pierce [stats]. “We’re a veteran team. We stay together. We had that losing streak of three games last year, so hopefully it can come to an end (now). We’ve just got to gather ourselves and understand what we do when we win and what we do when we lose.

“We’re a defensive team first and we have to get back to that. And we feel Sacramento is better than Golden State, so if we come in and play the way we played (Friday) it’s going to be the same result. We have to get our stuff together right now.”

First they’d like to get their lineup together, and Kendrick Perkins [stats] is hopeful of returning against the Kings tonight from the left shoulder strain that kept him out Friday. He will get more treatment today before a final decision is made.

But even with a full complement, Rivers’ talk about the Celtics’ shortcomings during the 19-game winning streak now looks prophetic. The problems of which he spoke are now having an effect on the bottom line.

“It catches up to you on the road,” he said. “It does because down the stretch, if you haven’t played well - if you haven’t executed well - then all of a sudden you start missing shots and you start pressing. And I thought in both games we did that.”

The fourth quarters have become crunched time for the Celts out on the West Coast. They scored just 16 points in the last quarter in Los Angeles, and they posted a mere 17 on 30 percent shooting in the final period against the Warriors.

The Celtics went 1-for-7 while getting outscored 13-2 in the last 3:38 by the Lakers, and they went 4-for-14 with four turnovers while getting outscored 25-11 in the last seven minutes by Golden State.

“That shouldn’t happen with this ballclub,” Pierce said. “We shouldn’t rest on our laurels. I don’t think we were really fazed by the winning streak and we can’t change things because of this. We won’t.

“You know, we’ve just got to keep our composure. I thought the last couple of games we just lost our composure and didn’t execute like we wanted to defensively or offensively. But we’ll get it together. I mean, as a veteran group we’ll talk about it, see what we’re doing wrong and try to turn these last two games around before we go home.”

Ray Allen, too, pointed to the final period problems.

“In three of the games we lost - Denver, this game and the Lakers - there’s a point in the fourth quarter where we’re at that moment where we can win the game,” he said. “There’s a critical junction in that fourth quarter where we just end up losing the game. We didn’t get stops and we didn’t score.

“But you just deal with it. It’s nothing that we haven’t seen before. It’s the adversity that teams deal with that ultimately takes them to the places they want to go by the end of the season.”

Rajon Rondo [stats] came within one assist of a triple double (11 points, 10 rebounds) Friday, but he obviously wasn’t happy with the more important numbers.

“Teams have been beating us the last two games on the hustle points,” he said. “It’s nothing in the water. There’s no problem with the California water. I’m sure we’ll bounce back from it. Great teams do.”

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1141620&format=text

Celtic green must wipe calendar clean

By Associated Press / NBA Notes | Sunday, December 28, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | NBA Coverage
By winning one championship and getting off to a terrific head start toward another, the Celtics [team stats] have obviously enjoyed a good year.

It could finish as one of the best in NBA history.

But after having their franchise-record, 19-game winning streak snapped with back-to-back losses, Christmas Day at the Los Angeles Lakers and Friday at Golden State, they no longer have a chance to win 70 games in 2008.

Even after the streak-busting loss at Los Angeles, victories at Golden State, Sacramento and Portland would have given the Celts a 70-16 record and an .814 winning percentage for the calendar year, which would have ranked fourth-best for a team playing a minimum of 80 games, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

The best calendar year belongs to the Chicago Bulls, who went 74-11 (.871) from Jan. 1-Dec. 31, 1996, fueled by their NBA-record 72-win season in 1995-96. And though the C’s went 66-16 last season and won 27 of their first 31 games of the 2008-09 campaign, the potential 69-17 mark (assuming wins at Sacramento and Portland) wouldn’t even rank as the Celtics’ best calendar year ever.

The 1973 version would rank second to Chicago at 68-14 (.829), followed by the 1966 Philadelphia 76ers [team stats] (69-15, .821).

Thanks to the Celtics’ loss to Golden State, the 1985 Lakers (65-15, .813) and 1971 Milwaukee Bucks (65-16, .812) will maintain their positions in the top five.

Chicago and Utah both would have ranked high on the list for their winning percentages in 1998, but didn’t play enough games to qualify since the 1999 season was delayed because of the lockout.

All LeBron, all day

NBA TV is dedicating 24 hours to celebrating 24 years of LeBron James.

Cleveland’s All-Star forward turns 24 on Tuesday, and the channel is using the occasion to show some of James’ most memorable moments on the court.

Coverage begins tomorrow at 1 p.m. with the airing of his first NBA game, a visit to Sacramento on Oct. 29, 2003. Also scheduled are a pair of Cleveland playoff games, along with a couple of documentaries or special programs focused on James.

Tuesday features a replay of his first nationally televised high school game, followed by his 48-point performance in the Cavs’ victory over Detroit in Game 5 of the 2007 Eastern Conference finals. The marathon ends with a live showing of Cleveland’s game at Miami.

Magic men

The Celtics had a 19-game winning streak. The Cavaliers won 11 in a row at one point.

Yet neither has been able to run away and hide in the Eastern Conference, because the Orlando Magic have been nearly as good, just not nearly as noticeable.

The Magic were 23-6 after their Christmas Day rout of New Orleans, not far behind the 27-3 Celtics or 25-4 Cavaliers.

“First is the good place to be, but if we can’t be first and can’t be second, I guess I would rather be third,” Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy said before the weekend. “I think the good thing is, I look at it this way: The Celtics have the best start in the history of the NBA and we are only four games back.

“I look at it as a positive. I would like to say they can’t keep doing what they are doing all year, but maybe they can. They haven’t shown any signs of letting up. We are still right there. We are two back of Cleveland, we are four back of them, so we are holding our own right now.”

Still, the Magic don’t get nearly the attention of the Celtics and Cavaliers, who are widely expected to meet in the Eastern Conference finals. It’s almost impossible not to notice Orlando now with some of its recent wins.

The Magic won at Utah before home victories over San Antonio, the Lakers and Hornets gave them a six-game winning streak. Suddenly, Van Gundy was being asked if his team was winning too much, too soon.

“I’ve never understood that anyway, people say, ‘Oh, you’re peaking too early,’ ” Van Gundy said. “So as a coach, (do you expect me to say), ‘OK guys, don’t play as well today, we really don’t want to play well right now?’ That whole mentality I’ve never understood.

“I don’t also understand why you can’t play well all year and well in the playoffs. As a matter of fact, that is what the better teams have always done. I mean, the Chicago Bulls won 72 and then won it, and I can’t imagine them going 72-10 that they didn’t peak pretty early in that year then just kept it going. Seriously, I’ve just never understood that. If it were true, I would ask them not to play as well.”

Though team recognition may come slowly, the Magic are getting some as individuals. Jameer Nelson is the reigning Eastern Conference Player of the Week, and Dwight Howard was the leading vote-getter when the second set of returns were announced Thursday for the All-Star Game.

Van Gundy could end up joining his center in Phoenix. Since the Celtics’ Doc Rivers is ineligible because he coached last year, the race to lead the East will come down to Cleveland’s Mike Brown or Van Gundy.

The Magic say they aren’t worried about anything too far ahead.

“We want to be one of the best teams going into the playoffs,” Howard said, “so we just have to stay focused.”

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/12/28/celtics_a_few_worries?mode=PF
Celtics: A few worries
By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | December 28, 2008

OAKLAND, Calif. - The Celtics' recent 19-game winning streak and 27-2 start were historic, but also deceptive.

No Celtics team had won that many games in a row and no NBA team had started that strongly. One would expect that with such achievements, Boston would have earned major breathing room over its main Eastern Conference challengers. But all that winning only kept the Celtics slightly ahead, as Cleveland entered yesterday just one game back in the East, while Orlando was a mere three.

"Everyone was talking about the Lakers," said coach Doc Rivers. "I'm not worried about the Lakers. If we play the Lakers again after March, we'll all take that right now. But I couldn't care less about the Lakers. We are worried about Cleveland, Orlando, and Detroit. They're on our heels.

"If you think about it, we won 19 games in a row and we gained one game on Cleveland. That tells you how well Cleveland is playing. We gained [three] on Orlando. So, we didn't gain anything."

The Celtics are in the midst of their toughest challenge thus far this season after losing back-to-back games to the Lakers on Christmas night and the struggling Warriors Friday night. Boston (27-4) has a prime opportunity to get back to its winning ways tonight at Pacific Division cellar-dweller Sacramento (7-23), which has lost five straight.

But if the Celtics were to lose again tonight and the Cavaliers were to beat visiting Miami, Cleveland would lead Boston by percentage points (.023). And with the importance of home-court advantage in the playoffs, the Celtics are definitely concerned about winning the top spot in the conference.

"That just shows how tough the competition is," said Celtics guard Rajon Rondo. "We have a three-game lead over Orlando [entering last night]. To win 19 games in a row and only be up one game [on Cleveland] is crazy. A lot of people are talking about us, but a lot of teams are right behind us.

"I'm not concerned, really. We just have to take care of our business. We are in control of our own destiny. If [our East foes] are rolling, we just have to make sure that we are rolling."

While the Celtics didn't get too high while they were winning 19 straight, they aren't getting too low now, either.

"We just have to think about how we can improve for the future," said guard Ray Allen.

Said guard Eddie House, "It's two losses straight. Hey, [stuff] happens. We just have to go back to the drawing board and figure out what we need to do."

So, what's wrong with the Celtics now after so much went right? Fatigue is a factor. Entering last night, Boston was the only Eastern Conference team to have played more than 30 games. Center Kendrick Perkins sprained his surgically repaired left shoulder in the first quarter against the Lakers and missed his first game of the season against Golden State. Although the games against the Lakers and Warriors were day-night, back to back, with a short plane ride from Los Angeles to San Francisco, Rivers believes it took its toll on his players, so he gave them yesterday off.

"I would have rather had the day off [Friday]," Rivers said. "[The Lakers game] was a hard-fought, emotional game. We didn't play very well. But it was still hard-fought. It was one of those rare games during the regular season where guys have a lot of emotions invested into the game. I would have much rather had a day off.

"I'm not worried about us, psyche-wise. I'd just like more rest. I'd like to have a practice to [get back on the right page]. We need a practice. But we may not have one this entire West Coast trip. We may squeeze one in, in Portland [where the Celtics face the Blazers Tuesday]. But everyone goes through these schedules and these types of things."

The Celtics also weren't themselves offensively in the two losses. After averaging 102.3 points in their first 29 games, the Celtics scored just 83 points against the Lakers and 89 against the Warriors. The Celtics are 3-4 when they score 89 or fewer points. Allen was averaging 18.7 points entering the game against the Lakers but has averaged just 10.5 points in the last two games. The Celtics also were outscored in the fourth quarter, 21-16, by the Lakers and, 35-17, by the Warriors.

"Three of the games we lost, Denver, [Golden State], and the Lakers, there is a point in the fourth quarter where we could win the game or go up a couple points and there is a certain junction where we just end up losing the game or we didn't stop or we didn't score," Allen said.

Said House, "Offensively, our flow is off at times."

Perkins said Friday he expects to play tonight against the Kings . . . Celtics president Danny Ainge said all is quiet on the trade and free agent fronts.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/articles/2008/12/28/no_buzz_for_this_hornet?mode=PF

No buzz for this Hornet
By Marc J. Spears | December 28, 2008

There were 11 names revealed on Christmas Day in the second returns of All-Star fan balloting for Western Conference forwards, but not his. The only endorsement the 2008 All-Star has is Nike, but that's not saying much since many NBA players do, too. And outside of New Orleans, most people wouldn't recognize him.

Such is the life of Hornets forward David West, the NBA's least-known All-Star - and he wouldn't want it any other way.

"I would rather people just see a tall dude and keep it moving," West said. "I'm glad I don't have to deal with that."

Lost in the hype surrounding LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Chris Bosh, and Carmelo Anthony, West entered the NBA with no fanfare as the 18th overall selection by the Hornets in 2003. It wasn't until point guard Chris Paul arrived in New Orleans two years later that West started becoming noticed.

West is not a vocal guy and doesn't appear to be the friendliest, either. But looks can be deceiving as the 6-foot-9-inch, 240-pounder is cooperative with the media, approachable, and known to give it to you straight. And the New Jersey native's effective yet non-descript post and perimeter games won't make him a regular on "SportsCenter." While West is one of four Hornets shown on the side of New Orleans Arena, Paul is the true face of the Hornets. West says he has passed on more publicity and some endorsements and would rather just lace them up.

"It's not something that I miss," said West, about the lack of endorsements and attention. "I'd rather just play ball. It's not really something that really affects me or bothers me.

"I think it has a lot to do with personalities and the way some guys are. I'm just not out there selling myself like that because I don't choose to do that. I'd rather be the way I am. Play in some shoes and call it a day."

But after averaging more than 17 points and 7 rebounds for three straight seasons entering this one, there is no question he is one of the premier power forwards in the NBA. West averaged career bests of 20.6 points and 8.9 rebounds last season and is averaging 19.5 points and 7.1 rebounds through 21 games this season.

"I don't do anything flashy," West said. "I don't try to focus as much on what I can't do. I focus more on what I can do and just try to do that well. That formula has been working for me and that's what I will continue to do."

Last season, West was not among the top 11 vote-getters in All-Star fan balloting. But the Western Conference coaches gave West the ultimate respect by naming him as a reserve.

"I felt like it was something that I put a lot of work into in the game of basketball," said West of his first All-Star appearance. "To be recognized was huge. I felt proud."

Last February's All-Star Game was in New Orleans, and Paul and Hornets coach Byron Scott seemed to be the toast of the weekend. But West did what was asked of him and scored 6 points in the game.

With all due respect to Reggie Bush and the Saints, there is no athlete more popular in the Big Easy than Paul, who was on the gold medal-winning US Olympic team in Beijing. As for West, he can still go shopping without being bothered and live the life of the average tall man despite being an above-average NBA player. The thought of it brings a smile to his face.

"The NBA is a lifestyle where it's kind of hard to stay under wraps," West said. "I prefer to try to remain as close to that as possible. I just like being that way. I like going in and out of the grocery store and people not knowing who I am. Go out to eat. Go walk in the mall. Things like that.

"I would rather not be identified. I don't know where it comes from. I'm just comfortable in that space."


UConn center told the cons

Rukia Thabeet turned to a fellow African, Dikembe Mutombo, last spring when looking for advice as to whether her son, University of Connecticut center Hasheem Thabeet, should go to the NBA after his sophomore season. Mutombo told her Hasheem should put in at least another year with the Huskies before going pro because he wasn't a definite lottery draft pick. The native of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, followed the advice and now seems poised to be a high selection in the 2009 NBA draft if he decides to leave after his junior year.

"I talked to his mom when he was considering going from college to the NBA this year," said Mutombo, a native of the Democratic Republic of Congo and current NBA free agent who has drawn some interest from the Celtics. "Any African kid that wants advice from me I will give it to them. I want to see more African kids come into the NBA.

"I told him to wait. His family passed the message on to him. During the last draft he would not have been drafted high. But now the door is open for him to possibly be the No. 1 draft pick."

The 7-foot-2-inch, 261-pound Mutombo averaged 15.2 points, 12.2 rebounds, and 4.7 blocks per game as a senior at Georgetown before being the fourth overall pick (by the Nuggets) in the 1991 NBA draft. Through the first 10 games this season, the 7-3, 265-pound Thabeet averaged 14.3 points, 11.1 rebounds, and 3.5 blocks.

"[Thabeet] can block shots like me," Mutombo said. "He reminds me of myself. I want him to be the next great shot-blocker from Africa. First Hakeem Olajuwon, then me, and then [Thabeet]."


Wounded Warrior
A Monta Ellis sighting on the JumboTron in the first quarter of Golden State's 99-89 win over the Celtics Friday night brought cheers from the sellout crowd. While seeing Ellis on the bench for the first time this season added optimism about his return from an offseason injury, there is no timetable for when he will even practice.

"I don't think he'll be ready to play in a game for a month still," said Warriors coach Don Nelson. "And that could be even when he starts to practice. I don't know. I'm really not sure."

Ellis was expected to take over for Baron Davis (who left for the Clippers in free agency) at point guard for the Warriors after signing a six-year, $66 million contract in the offseason. The 6-foot-3-inch, 180-pounder seemed deserving after averaging a career-high 20.2 points, 5 rebounds, 3.9 assists, and 1.5 steals, while shooting 53.1 percent last season.

But the Jackson, Miss., native has been sidelined since having surgery for a Grade 3 left ankle sprain he suffered Aug. 21 in a moped accident, about which he initially lied to the Warriors. The Warriors suspended the 23-year-old Ellis Oct. 11 for 30 games without pay for violating the terms of his new contract.

Warriors executive vice president of basketball operations Chris Mullin said Ellis's recovery is going smoothly.

"There is a healing process on both sides, mentally and physically," Mullin said. "The key is having him totally healthy. When that happens, it will be smooth sailing. Trying to come back early physically is not a smart thing to do. When [he returns], we'll wait and see. But I don't think you can deny that there is a process on both sides."


Green with envy

When asked if he still hated the Celtics after being part of a Christmas win over them, Lakers guard Sasha Vujacic said, "More than that. I can't even imagine what more than hate is. You have to go to vocabulary and find out." Vujacic has refused to wear anything green since the Celtics beat the Lakers in last spring's Finals . . . Without going into detail, Celtics president Danny Ainge said, "There is a lot of [trade] discussion throughout the league, which can mean something or nothing." . . . The Hornets lost to the Lakers and Magic last week. When asked what New Orleans needs to do to get to the next level, Hornets forward James Posey said, "We just have to keep working. We can't get bored with the process. We have to continue to get better. It's a mind-set, as well. It's a way you approach the season. It's a way you approach every game."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-heisler28-2008dec28,0,3603442,print.column


The worst 27-4 team ever
The Celtics are always going to play hard, but they're not as tall and they might not be as talented as the cruise-control Lakers.
Mark Heisler

December 28, 2008

They came, they saw, for once they didn't conquer.

By the time the Celtics arrived last week, the Lakers had worked themselves into such a state of indignation, complaints included not only Boston fans' rocking their bus in the playoffs, but Ray Allen's ringing insult as he accepted the team's ESPY at the summer awards show here:

"Another win in L.A!"

If that was an insult, the Lakers are lucky to ever make it out of town anywhere they go, with Phil Jackson zinging everyone in sight, like last spring's lighthearted jibe at Paul Pierce's dramatic return in the NBA Finals after leaving the court in a wheelchair.

"We were just having a good time," Allen said before the Christmas game. "It wasn't trash talking. It wasn't anything.

"The game is going to be the game for what it is today. They're a good team, they're one of the best teams in the NBA, we're one of the best teams in the NBA.

"I don't think they, nor we, need motivation to play this game."

That's how different the teams are.

Motivation, a given for the Celtics, had been the central issue for the Lakers, who proceeded to show how good they could be when not in cruise control.

Everyone then agreed this was only a game in December, including media people, who hyped it (hello), and Lakers players, who talked about it for weeks.

Indeed, December games don't settle anything, but they reveal and highlight some things.

If anyone forgot, as almost everyone did, the Lakers' size, depth and athleticism are far superior to the Celtics'. If the Lakers played as hard as the Celtics, and defended as well, they really would win 70.

The Lakers can be expected to dial up their effort (can't they?) but still have only a dim idea of what they're supposed to be doing in their new Boston-style, man-to-man-with-zone-principles-or-vice-versa scheme.

The Lakers' scheme is actually harder to play, with players spread out, trying to funnel opponents where they want them to go.

The Celtics, meanwhile, sag to protect the lane so breakdowns aren't as likely to open a freeway to the basket.

Boston's defense is anchored by long, mobile Kevin Garnett, whose high-voltage intensity takes their whole team to a new level.

The Lakers, meanwhile, were waiting to get the ball back, blaming ritual targets for breakdowns -- point guards allowing penetration, Andrew Bynum getting in foul trouble -- as if they just have to straighten a few people out.

Actually, the point guards are often funneling their man to a big man who hasn't rotated over. It's possible that even if the Lakers try, this scheme may be too hard for them.

Of course, the Lakers won Thursday, suggesting the Celtics, who were in the midst of the deification process, might still have an issue or two themselves. Their stunning loss the following night at Golden State only underscored the point.

With one Celtics loss from Nov. 14 to Christmas, the Boston Globe's Bob Ryan ranked them the No. 2 team in the franchise's history, behind the 1985-86 Celtics with their Larry Bird-Kevin McHale-Robert Parish-Bill Walton front line.

Another Globe story on the Celtics noted, "The overwhelming feeling is that they can't get much better."

That had better not be true, for the Celtics' sake.

Celtics players dismissed the impact of Bynum's return, as if he were a 7-foot equipment manager who had wandered on the court.

The alternative would have been to say, "His mere size changes everything. Even if we can still beat them, we're going to get cricks in our necks looking up at them."

The Celtics are very short for such a physical, defense-oriented team, with Garnett their only rotation player over 6-9 in bare feet.

Tough as he is, Kendrick Perkins, who's listed at 6-10, looks 6-8 1/2 , at most. (I saw him next to the Globe's Marc Spears, who's 6-6. Perkins looked an inch or so taller.)

Glen Davis, listed at 6-9, looks about 6-7 1/2 . Leon Powe, listed at 6-8, looks 6-6 1/2 .

Then there's their bench, as in, what bench?

Powe and Tony Allen might or might not break into the Lakers' nine-man rotation. Davis and Eddie House, no shot. If the Celtics' endurance has yet to be tested, that loss Friday in Golden State wasn't a good sign.

Point guard Rajon Rondo, now touted as an All-Star, is a dynamic defender, rebounder and penetrator . . . but still can't shoot, allowing opponents to leave him, as Kobe Bryant did Thursday.

It's a tribute to Coach Doc Rivers' direction, Garnett's fury, Pierce's clutch play, Allen's shooting ability, assistant coach Tom Thibodeau's defense and everyone's professionalism that the Celtics function at the level they do.

Adding a reserve or two would help, with the possibility they could get P.J. Brown, 39, out of retirement again and Dikembe Mutombo, 42, too.

No Celtics official will comment on the possibility they're the team New York's exiled Stephon Marbury talks about joining, as if it's a done deal. With Marbury on his best behavior as his contract runs out, the Celtics might win 70.

It's only December, after all. The ancient rivals have a long way to go.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/x24204282/Courtside-View-Celtics-far-from-perfect
Courtside View: Celtics far from perfect
After consecutive losses in California, Boston must regroup tonight

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Dino Vournas/Associated Press
Celtics forward Kevin Garnett has a word with the referee after being called for traveling in the first half of Friday night's loss to the Warriors.

By Scott Souza/Daily News staff
GHS
Posted Dec 27, 2008 @ 11:41 PM

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The comparisons to the best teams in the history of the NBA suddenly seem a bit premature.

With 19 victories in a row, and the best 29-game start in league history, it was easy to get carried away. Most of the games during the streak weren't all that close, and the majority of the ones that were only seemed to be because the Celtics had lost focus for a stretch. Once they regained it - usually when the starters all came back in the game - the team seemed unbeatable.

Yet the ones who may be giving out the most "I told you so's" this weekend are the C's players and coaches. They were the ones who shrugged and sighed each time the media asked its obligatory questions about the streak and its significance. Now we know why.

The back-to-back losses to the Lakers and Warriors confirmed the words of Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett that this team still has room to improve and isn't yet where it needs to be. The defeats also affirm the notions of those who saw signs of cracks in the green-plated armor (the inability of the bench to hold leads, the lack of a legitimate backup center behind Kendrick Perkins, and the alarming turnover rate among them) that were difficult to get too worked up about on a team that hadn't lost in six weeks.

But now that the wounds are fresh and still have that little sting about them, it is a good time to look at what went wrong this week and what the C's have to do to fix it.

A lingering concern through much of last year was that the two main backup big men are on the shy side of 6-foot-8. Though Leon Powe and Glen Davis both have played reasonably well - Powe more consistently than Davis - it seemed a matchup exploitation waiting to happen.

Both Powe and Davis can be exceedingly effective again taller opposing centers with their energy and low centers of gravity, but while that can work to the C's advantage on many nights, opposing teams can also attack the matchup whenever there is time to game plan (as Phil Jackson apparently did for LA's all-important Christmas NBA Finals rematch).

The chess game is what caused P.J. Brown to go from afterthought heading into last year's playoffs to perhaps the top center option off the bench at their conclusion. The acknowledgement of the weakness is what has kept Brown's number in the cell phones of Rivers and others through the first three months of this season.

If Brown is content in retirement, it will be interesting to see what other options C's president of basketball operations Danny Ainge explores. We have already heard about Antonio McDyess and Dikembe Mutombo - with McDyess off the market and Mutombo apparently heading there - and the next big name on the big-man list could be buyout candidate Joe Smith of Oklahoma City.

A bolder move could be a play for Sacramento's Brad Miller, OKC's Chris Wilcox or the Clippers' Marcus Camby. All would require some work in terms of players and salaries given up, as well as draft choices, but are also close enough to the end of their respective contracts to make ownership at least consider taking another big luxury-tax hit.

Of course, if Rivers had any confidence in Patrick O'Bryant to fill the void, the point might be moot. But if the coach wasn't going to go with him against his former team with Perkins sidelined with a shoulder strain Friday night, you have to wonder if he would be willing to do it at any time this season.

Another concern has to be the way the C's have finished the two losses. Over the first month of the season, they learned how to absorb the initial burst of energy from opponents. Though they fell behind in the first quarter in nine of the first 11 games, they made up the deficits time after time.

Over the past two games, however, the final push was what knocked the C's over the edge. What is supposed to be their strength - poise, defensive discipline and the ability to execute when it counts - abandoned them twice in 36 hours.

The two road games ultimately had a great deal of resemblance to the somewhat-inexplicable road struggles the Celtics endured in the first two rounds of last year's playoffs.

The good news is they eventually adapted and went on to win a championship. This time they have a lot more time to round into form.

Ainge said prior to the season that even as he brought back most of last year's title squad, every team is different and the measure of its greatness is its ability to handle adversity.

The first adversity of the season hit the C's this week. It will be enough to keep many around here up until all hours of the night tonight (at Sacramento) and Tuesday (at Portland) to see what kind of response they can muster.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.telegram.com/article/20081228/COLUMN08/812280508/1009/SPORTS

For starters, Boston bench may need help

At home on the road...

BILL DOYLE’S NBA NOTES

Bill Doyle NBA
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After losing their last two games, the Celtics have fallen a game behind last season’s pace, but are they better than, equal to or worse than the team that captured the franchise’s NBA 17 championship a year ago?

That question won’t fully be answered until June, but it’s clear that the Celtics’ starting five is better even though the faces haven’t changed. The bench, however, isn’t as strong without James Posey.

“Go through the league,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “How many starting lineups are the same as last year? Maybe four, maybe not that many. That has helped us a ton.”


Ray Allen’s ankles are much healthier than last season when he was coming off surgery on both, and he’s finally adjusted to playing with two other superstars. Allen entered the weekend shooting a career-high 49.4 percent to make up for Paul Pierce shooting 42.1 percent, the second lowest of his career.

The Celtics’ bench, however, needs help. Tony Allen (8.1 ppg) is scoring slightly more than Posey (7.4 ppg) did, but he shoots only 16.7 percent from threeland compared to the 38 percent Posey shot last season, so he can’t stretch a defense the same way. Posey averaged five more minutes a game than Tony Allen, showing how much confidence Rivers had in him. On Christmas Day, the subs were outscored by nine, the margin of the Celtics’ 92-83 loss to the Lakers. During a shocking loss at Golden State Friday, the bench couldn’t compensate for Kendrick Perkins sitting out with a sprained left shoulder, and the Celtics fell to 27-4. They went 29-3 last season before suffering their fourth loss.

To successfully defend their title, the Celtics must add to their bench as effectively as they did last season. They have time to do so. P.J. Brown didn’t come out of retirement to play for them last season until March 7, and Sam Cassell didn’t make his Celtics debut until March 10. The Lakers, by the way, make their only regular-season trip to Boston on Feb. 5.

Dikembe Mutombo had been mentioned as a possible free agent signing. Mutombo is 42 years old, but he’s also 7 feet, 2 inches tall. If he could duplicate the 3 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.2 blocks and 15.9 minutes he averaged in 39 games last season for Houston, he would be worth signing. But Rivers said this week he didn’t think that would happen. Brown, who may come out of retirement again, and Joe Smith, who may be bought out by Oklahoma City, are other possibilities. Cassell has yet to play for the Celtics this season, but he continues to practice with them in case he’s needed down the stretch and in the playoffs.

Before losing to the Lakers, the Celtics raced to a 27-2 start, the best record with two losses in NBA history, for two main reasons — not only did they benefit from nearly a year and a half of learning how to play with one another, but Rajon Rondo and Perkins both matured to the point that they are no longer just spare parts.

Playing in the shadow of the Big Three, Rondo may not get voted by the fans or selected by the coaches to play in the NBA All-Star Game in February, but in his third year he has blossomed into one of the league’s most versatile point guards.

Rondo ranks third in the NBA in steals (2.35 per game), seventh in assist-turnover ratio (3.19-1), eighth overall and third among Eastern Conference guards in assists (7.6), second among guards in field goal percentage (52.7) and seventh among guards in rebounding (5.1). Rondo also averages a career-high 11.4 points.

Let’s compare Rondo’s 11.4 points, 7.6 assists, 5.1 rebounds, 2.35 steals and 52.7 percent shooting in his third NBA season to the third-year performances of some highly regarded NBA point guards of the past.

Gary Payton, who questioned Rondo’s ability on television recently, averaged 13.5 points, 4.9 assists, 3.4 rebounds and 2.15 steals and shot 49.4 percent in his third year. Dennis Johnson averaged 15.9 points, 3.5 assists, 4.7 rebounds and 1.25 steals and shot 43.4 percent. He was also voted NBA Finals MVP with Seattle his third year.

John Stockton averaged 7.9 points, 8.2 assists, 1.8 rebounds and 2.15 steals and shot 49.9 percent. Rod Strickland averaged 13.8 points, 8 assists, 3.8 rebounds and 2.01 steals and shot 48.2 percent. Mark Jackson averaged 9.9 points, 7.4 assists, 3.9 rebounds and 1.33 steals and shot 43.7 percent.

If the 6-foot-1 Rondo ends up with a career rivaling those five, he should have no complaints. The Celtics certainly aren’t complaining about his play so far this season even if he did make only 3 of 11 shots against the Lakers and turn the ball over seven times against Golden State. He is so much more comfortable and confident than a year ago when he was thrown into the starting lineup in only his second year in the league.

Now he drives to the basket at will, but remains more concerned about getting the ball to his teammates. If he ever develops a consistent outside shot, he’ll be unstoppable.

In his 11 NBA seasons, Pierce hasn’t seen another point guard as versatile as Rondo.

“It’s a combination,” Pierce said, “of Jason Williams the way he goes around his back, Tony Parker the way he shoots the floater and Gary Payton the way he plays defense. He’s a rare combination of speed, athleticism with tremendously long arms, toughness and the way he rebounds at his size is like Jason Kidd at the point guard. It’s rare to see a guy like Rondo, especially at his size.”

If Rondo continues to improve, Bob Cousy’s franchise records of 715 assists in one season and a 9.5 assist average for a season could be in jeopardy. Cousy set those records in the 1959-60 season, when the Celtics played only 75 games. Rondo would need to average 8.72 assists a game over the current 82-game schedule to break Cousy’s record for most assists in a season.

Perkins rarely played in his first two years in the NBA after he joined the Celtics out of his high school in Beaumont, Texas. But he worked hard at losing weight and gaining skills. He has developed into one of the better role players in the league, averaging close to a double-double — 9.1 points and 8.5 rebounds — while tying for fifth in the NBA in blocks. Perkins has cut down, but not eliminated, his annoying habit of bringing the ball down to his knees and exposing it to enemy hands before dunking or laying it in.

The 6-foot-10, 280-pound center is one of the strongest and toughest players in the league, and he isn’t afraid to throw his weight around. He’s fifth in the league in personal fouls. Fortunately, he has stopped harping at the referees and hasn’t picked up a technical foul since Dec. 1. Detroit’s Rasheed Wallace has overtaken Perkins to regain his usual lead in technical fouls with 11, two more than Perkins.

The best part of Perkins’ game is his defense. Very few centers score many points against him. But his sprained shoulder is a concern. It’s the same shoulder that was dislocated during the NBA Finals, and he underwent surgery for the second time last summer. If Perkins’ shoulder pops out again, the Celtics won’t be able to wait to acquire another big man. But whoever they get won’t be the defensive force that Perkins is.

Rondo, 22, and Perkins, 24, are still young with plenty of time to improve. They’ve obviously benefited from playing with the Big Three. Rondo can drive to the basket because the defense must guard Pierce, Garnett and Allen.

“I don’t lose sight of that,” Rivers said. “He’s playing phenomenal, but there’s a reason, too. No. 1, he’s playing well. No. 2, it’s very difficult to help off when you’ve got three guys on the floor that you can’t leave, and then you’ve got another guy with the ball.”

The same goes for Perkins. Defenses aren’t geared to stop him so his teammates find him for easy dunks and layups, and they’re glad to do it.

“He is a very emotional player,” Garnett said. “I love that about him. He plays with a lot of fire. At the same time, he’s put a lot of poise in his game. He’s actually under control in a lot of situations. Perk works, too. He comes in on off days. Him and Paul will be in the gym at 10 at night working on their games. He’s worried about his body and what he eats. You see it, and it’s good to see it pay off in games. You root for guys who really put the hours in.”

Pierce, Garnett and Allen are all in their 30s so as they grow older and slower, the Celtics will need to rely on Rondo and Perkins more. It helps that Rondo and Perkins are best friends and work out together.

During their franchise-record, 19-game winning streak, the Celtics played 12 games at home and only 7 on the road. Of their 19 victories, just five came against teams that currently have winning records and three of those five, Orlando, New Orleans and Utah, were missing key starters. Only one of their 19 victories came on the road against a team with a winning record, Dec. 17 at Atlanta.

That’s why the next several weeks will be so important for the Celtics. Their Christmas Day showdown in L.A. began a stretch in which they’ll play 20 of their next 30 games on the road. During that stretch, they’ll play some of the NBA’s toughest teams, Cleveland, Orlando, Detroit, New Orleans, Dallas, Utah, Phoenix and Denver. Then again, every team gives the Celtics its best shot because they’re the defending champions.

“I think it’s been good for us,” Rivers insisted. “We talked about this before the year. It was something we have to prepare ourselves for, and if we handle it right, it’ll only make us better by the end of the year. Part of the driving force is getting attacked every night. That’s part of the process of making us a better team by the end of the year. I think it’s been a good situation for us. On your worse night you find a way to win a game, and we’ve done that several nights.”

Masked men?
The winning streak masked two problem areas for the Celtics. They lead the league in turnovers and rank fifth in personal fouls. They are the only team with a winning record among the top seven in fouls. The turnovers and fouls caught up to them in the past two losses and must be addressed starting with tonight’s game at Sacramento.