News 1/3

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1142733&format=text

Washington Wizards wash out for Celtics
Bury Wiz at home

By Mark Murphy | Saturday, January 3, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Stuart Cahill
At least the Wizards understood they had drawn the short straw.

“We’re aware they’re going to be in a bad mood,” Washington coach Ed Tapscott said of last night’s foregone result - a 108-83 win for the Celtics [team stats], who returned to the Garden after a rather humbling 1-3 road trip out west.

Taxes aren’t this inevitable.

The C’s, in need of some home warmth and a friendly crowd, shot 60 percent from the field through the first three quarters and achieved the equally important goal of finding their road-weary starters some lengthy rest.

The Wizards could see the wave coming and remained tied to their moorings.

“They came off the West Coast trip,” Wizards forward Caron Butler said. “They didn’t get the results they wanted, but they definitely came home and really handed it to us. They played great on both ends of the floor. Paul Pierce [stats] was aggressive early on just getting easy buckets. They just fed off his energy.”

Pierce indeed personified the short work. The Celtics captain scored 26 points in 26 minutes, finally missing on the last shot of what ultimately was a 9-for-10 performance that was one of the most efficient of his career. Much of it came from deep, as evidenced by his 5-for-6 production from downtown.

Rajon Rondo [stats] was also surgical, with 10 points and 14 assists in 28 minutes.

The Wizards, wracked by attrition that has kept the injured Gilbert Arenas and Brendan Haywood off the floor, and last night had Butler playing on a sprained ankle, were in no condition to stop a Celtics team that was attempting to pay back the entire West Coast in one brutally effective night.

“We just needed to execute well, and I thought we did,” coach Doc Rivers said. “We made extra passes, and I thought defensively we were really active.

“We had lots of deflections. That was more like we’ve been playing, instead of the way we’ve played over the last four or five games.”

The only red flag was another bad turnover night, this time with 18. The Celtics are the worst in the league with a 16.7 turnover average - a true oddity for the team that also has the most wins in the NBA.

But even Rivers wasn’t in the mood to nitpick - not after his team shot 60 percent (12-of-20) from downtown and limited yet another opponent, this time to 38.3 percent shooting.

By the time Rondo hit only his sixth 3-pointer of the season for the Celtics’ first 30-point lead (73-43) with 5:34 left in the third quarter, the Celtics were ready to start working on their bench.

Garnett sat down for good during the next timeout with a modest (for him) 10 points and eight rebounds in 25 minutes.

Pierce and Kendrick Perkins [stats] followed him to the bench with 48 seconds left in the third - the former with 26 minutes and the latter with 27.

Ray Allen and Rondo finished the quarter but never came back for the fourth - Allen with 32 minutes and Rondo with 28.

Rivers’ R & R program for his starters was in full swing.

Garnett’s only fourth quarter concern was when the entertainment crew would finally put up the dancing Gino video on the Jumbotron. He received his wish with 5:38 left.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1142770&format=text
Start keeps lid on Kevin Garnett’s minutes

By Mark Murphy / Celtics Notebook | Saturday, January 3, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Stuart Cahill
Doc Rivers must occasionally surprise himself.

The Celtics [team stats] coach had talked of paying more attention to the management of Kevin Garnett’s playing time and voila, the Celtics forward was needed for only 26 minutes in last night’s 108-83 win over the Wizards.

“Our focus is starting games at a high level,” Garnett said when asked about getting more rest for the starters. Last night, Ray Allen (31 minutes) was the only Celtics starter to break 30 minutes.

“I guess that’s the value of good defense and coming out hard, coming out strong, setting the tone early,” he said. “If you look at the minutes I played (26), Paul (Pierce) played 26, Ray played (31). That’s the reward from coming out and setting the tone defensively.”

Pierce near miss

In missing his last shot, a 3-pointer, Pierce fell one trey short of tying Danny Ainge’s team record (6-for-6) for making 3-pointers in a single game without a miss.

Pierce, who wasn’t aware such a record existed, said of the significance of the mark, “I’ve got to think about it. Records and Danny Ainge? I guess (it must be), because I know he doesn’t hold many records.”

Rivers had some advice for his captain when he said, “I’d be smart if I was Paul. He might have to renegotiate some time.”

Help up front

Even if nothing comes of all the trade rumors currently hitting the sports wire, one thing remains apparent.

The Celtics need help, especially in the spot occupied last spring by forward/center P.J. Brown.

How else to explain Garnett’s decision to try and coach Patrick O’Bryant toward legitimacy as an NBA big man following Thursday’s practice.

Despite all of the talk about the Celtics being a target of Stephon Marbury, backcourt help is not the team’s greatest need.

Backup frontcourt length holds that distinction.

Rivers believes Brown is missed not only because of the mentoring he provided Leon Powe and Glen Davis, but also the competition both players engaged in when forced to compete for minutes.

Said competition doesn’t exist at the moment.

“Our improvement has to come from within, right now,” Rivers said of potential changes. “Leon and Baby are inconsistent, but they’re getting better, too.

“Sometimes they push each other with all they’ve got,” he said. “The other players used to laugh, because they pushed each other so much. So there’s a little void there right now.”

There doesn’t appear to be much chance of O’Bryant plugging that hole anytime soon, either.

“They all want Patrick to do well,” said Rivers. “But he’s just not there yet.”

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1142765&format=text
Odds slim on Celtics acquiring Stephon Marbury
But team has interest

By Steve Bulpett / Celtics Beat | Saturday, January 3, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Stuart Cahill
Don’t go ordering your green and white Stephon Marbury jerseys just yet.

There is still much negotiation and paperwork to be done before he can free himself from the Knicks and even become a possibility for the Celtics [team stats] and others. Also, sources insist that Boston wouldn’t be Marbury’s first choice.

His priority would be finding a contender that would allow him a sizable role, and he’d be backing up Rajon Rondo [stats] here. (Marbury is impressed with the Celts starter, and he knows Doc Rivers isn’t about to turn his rotation inside out to accommodate him.)

So where are the Celtics on all this? First of all, they can’t say anything. Second of all, there is serious doubt whether the Knicks and Marbury will ever get together on a buyout. The Knicks would like to save some money in the transaction, and the player isn’t so willing to accept less because he believes the team is killing his season.

But, yes, sources say the Celts see Marbury as a fit. Put it this way: They think he’ll be a better Sam Cassell than Sam Cassell was last year - quicker and more athletic. Rivers went heavily with Cassell down the stretch until he realized it just wasn’t happening and that he missed what Eddie House was providing.

For Marbury to play here, he’d have to do so with House in the same backcourt for different stretches. And before the Celtics even get to think heavily about Marbury, you may be seeing more of Gabe Pruitt. In brief meaningful opportunities (read: not garbage time), Pruitt has shown he can score. And his defense has caught the eye of those who took his shooting for granted.

If the Celts want to expect anything from the second-year guy later on this season, then they’ll have to start working him in soon. Even though Marbury is ahead of Pruitt on the food chain - Celtic types were impressed with what they saw of him in the preseason - how well Pruitt does if given a chance soon could have an impact on how much they’re willing to promise a newcomer.

The assurances Marbury would be looking for would be mainly in playing time. And if things do get worked out in New York and he does somehow find his way into Green - and we can’t stress enough the size of those ifs - he and the C’s would already have dealt with the minutes issue. You wouldn’t be getting an angry Stephon Marbury who’d spray graffiti all over the shamrock and Ubuntu.

He’d know the score before he walks through the door. And the guy can still play, which at least is the belief of the people who would have to sign off on him.

Marbury was in Minnesota yesterday to see his cousin Sebastian Telfair [stats]. He was saying nice things about the Celtics.

“If the world champions have interest, how can I not?” he told the New York Post. “I would be honored to put on the white and green. The team that I am on has said they don’t want me. I want to move on with my career. And they should want to move on. It shouldn’t matter what team I play for because they said they had the team that would put them in the playoffs.”

Clearly, Marbury isn’t burning any bridges but the one that leads to Madison Square Garden. And he thinks the Knicks poured the gasoline on that structure.

The Celtics, meanwhile, are open to a move or two, but the main desire is someone with height. If the C’s could get a guard that would move Tony Allen off the ball, they might take that, too. But it’s also important to note that Danny Ainge likes his young guys, and he’d have to lose someone to make room for Marbury or whomever.

Ainge was in Utah yesterday working with Bill Walker and J.R. Giddens. He wasn’t in the mood to discuss another team’s property and open himself up to league penalty. Doc Rivers was singing a similar tune here.

“I can’t talk about it,” he said, “so I’m in the best position in the world right now.”

The Celts aren’t necessarily satisfied with their roster, but they’re in a pretty good position, too - with or without Stephon Marbury.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/01/03/wonderful_wizards?mode=PF
Wonderful Wizards
Washington exactly what Celtics needed
By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff | January 3, 2009

The Celtics' regular season is far from over. But a league-record start has launched them into a race for home-court advantage in the postseason. And the significance of their Causeway Street court and a supportive crowd was apparent last night, as the Celtics recovered from a difficult road trip for a 108-83 win over the Washington Wizards, their 13th successive victory at TD Banknorth Garden.

After concluding 2008 with three losses in four games in California and Oregon, the Celtics (29-5) were back to their old selves in their first game of the new year.

Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce sat out nearly half the game, and the bench players did their part in preserving the advantage, allowing everyone to rest up for tomorrow's visit to New York.

"It's strange to go out West, you come home, unpack, and then go back out on the road," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "The guarantee is everybody is going to play 82 [games]."

Pierce (26 points in 26 minutes) converted his first nine shots before missing a trey late in the third quarter, shortly before going to the bench for the night. Pierce hit his first five 3-pointers, one fewer than the team record without a miss, set by Danny Ainge at Utah Jan. 4, 1988, and tied by Walter McCarty at Toronto Nov. 2, 1999.

This game had the makings of a blowout early, and the Celtics' starters confirmed that early in the second half. Rajon Rondo extended the lead to 30 points, sinking a 3-pointer with :02 on the shot clock for a 73-43 advantage.

"Recharge is always good, but for the most part our focus is starting games," Garnett said. "Our biggest key is starting games, finishing games, finishing quarters off, being consistent with defense, and I thought we did that. That's the value in coming out strong. That's the reward for coming out and setting the tone defensively."

After a 27-2 start, the best record in NBA history through 29 games, the Celtics faltered against the Lakers, Golden State, and Portland. But they are clearly coasting in the East, as they are 21-1 against Eastern Conference foes.

"We approach each game individually, we don't keep up with the standings," Garnett said. "Obviously, we want to establish home court, we want to gain home-court advantage. But we take one game at a time."

The Wizards (6-25) were playing without Gilbert Arenas (knee), DeShawn Stevenson (back strain), and Brendan Haywood (wrist), but the Celtics did not consider their absences, and the expected less-than-full-speed status of Caron Butler (ankle) to be good omens.

In their loss to Golden State, the Warriors played without Corey Maggette and Portland was able to beat the Green without star guard Brandon Roy.

But the Celtics set the tone, Rondo choreographing the offense. The Wizards, who lost Andray Blatche to a knee strain in the first quarter, concentrated on Ray Allen, who essentially played the role of decoy, taking only three shots as the Celtics took a 58-34 halftime lead.

Pierce finally missed, launching an unguarded 3-pointer, but Kendrick Perkins's putback gave the Celtics an 81-53 lead with 1:20 remaining in the third. Rondo's play in the final 30 seconds of the quarter increased the lead to 31 points: a dunk followed by a behind-the-back assist to Allen for a 3-pointer with 3.4 seconds to go to make it 86-55. That would be enough to clinch the result, as the reserves took over after that.

"You want to gain home court, because this is where we play well, this is where we are comfortable," Pierce said. "We can play on the road, but home court was very valuable to us last year on our run, so it's definitely important for us to try and establish home court. But we control our destiny. It's all about taking it one game at a time and not worrying about what Cleveland and Orlando are doing."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/01/03/pierce_proves_nearly_perfect?mode=PF
Pierce proves nearly perfect
By Monique Walker, Globe Staff | January 3, 2009

Being perfect was the only thing that could have been better for Paul Pierce last night. Overall, Pierce was the definition of efficient, as he scored a game-high 26 points in 26 minutes of the 108-83 victory over the Washington Wizards at TD Banknorth Garden.

Pierce converted 9 of 10 field goals, including 5 of 6 3-pointers, and 3 of 4 free throws, spending the fourth quarter on the bench with the rest of the Celtics' starters, waiting for the blowout to end.

"I was just playing in the flow of the game, getting shots that were there," Pierce said. "I got a lot of open looks because of the way we moved the ball. [Rajon Rondo] got into the lane penetrating and that really opened things up. I just took the open shots that were given to me."

Pierce was perfect in the first half and didn't miss until his sixth 3-point attempt, with 1:20 remaining in the third quarter. His shot bounced off the rim and into the hands of Kendrick Perkins for the putback, which extended the Celtics' lead to 81-53.

If the shot had fallen, Pierce would have tied a franchise record for 3-pointers without a miss shared by Danny Ainge and Walter McCarty.

When asked if the chance to take the record away from Ainge would have been significant, Pierce joked, "I guess so, because I know he doesn't hold many records. It would have been nice to erase his name. I'm just messing with you, Danny."

Pierce's night ended when Tony Allen replaced him with 48.2 seconds left in the third quarter.

Since the Celtics' 19-game winning streak ended with a 92-83 loss to the Lakers Christmas Day, Pierce has increased his scoring production. He dropped 20 points on the Lakers in 38:17, 21 on Golden State in 42:08, and 28 against Portland in 39:46.

Coach Doc Rivers said Pierce is being more aggressive and it is allowing him to contribute more offensively.

"I think we're doing a much better job of getting him the ball in the right spots," Rivers said. "I thought he was almost fine with moving the ball for a while, and we needed him to be as aggressive as he normally is because it kind of throws you out of rhythm sometimes when he just wants to be a passer."

Rivers added that Pierce provides balance as a scorer, but "it's nice that he feels he can do other things because of the guys he has on the floor." Last night, however, Pierce had just one assist and one rebound, instead concentrating on his own scoring opportunities.

From the first quarter, Washington's Caron Butler said he could see the Celtics were feeding off Pierce's energy, and the Wizards could not respond. At the half, Pierce was 6 of 6 from the floor, including four 3-pointers.

"Paul was terrific," said Wizards coach Ed Tapscott. "He's a quality player, a quality competitor. You've got to respect everything he does on the floor, as you would with the rest of the team. They are a very good team, they share the ball, they don't seem to care who scores. I credit them and the coaching staff. There is a reason why they are champions."

Monique Walker can be reached at [e-mail].

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/01/03/a_smooth_transition_team?mode=PF

A smooth transition team
Starters, reserves hone sharing skills
By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff | January 3, 2009

A key to the Celtics' success this season has been turning games into relay races.

The reserves have dropped the baton a few times, but the handoff went smoothly during a 108-83 win over the Washington Wizards last night.

The second unit kept the margin comfortable, despite some uneven moments in the final quarter. Eddie House's direction and Tony Allen and Leon Powe's aggressiveness led the way.

"I think the big thing is we were sharing the basketball," said House (11 points). "We take the mind-set of playing defense first and let the offense take care of itself. If you don't have a shot, you have to move the ball and get the open shot. That's what we did, we moved the ball and got open looks, and that's when we're at our best."

The Celtics were 12 for 20 on 3-pointers, the starters going 8 for 10.


Oops
The Celtics committed turnovers at key stages in the late going of a 91-86 loss to Portland Tuesday. Since taking a 122-88 victory over the Wizards Dec. 11, the Celtics have scored fewer than 90 points in all but one road contest (a 108-63 victory at Sacramento Dec. 28).

Asked if some turnovers resulted from the Celtics attempting to make an extra pass, coach Doc Rivers replied, "A lot of it is from making the extra bad pass. Trying for the home run pass instead of the next pass. We're trying to make the scoring pass too much."


Now he gets in for free
Washington's Ed Tapscott made his debut as a head coach at TD Banknorth Garden. But he made dozens of appearances at Boston Garden as a pre-law student at Tufts University in the early 1970s. Then, the Celtics charged players from local collegiate teams $1 to attend games in the standing-room section.

"My grades took a turn for the worse," Tapscott said. "But it was a great deal."

Tapscott has been impressed with the Celtics, who are 21-1 against Eastern Conference opposition.

"You can't be perfect," Tapscott said. "But they were pretty close to perfect at the start of the season. In any season you are going to have many ups and downs. And we're aware they might be in a bad mood."


It was a good year
The Celtics concluded the 2008 calendar year with a 68-18 regular-season record (84-28 in all games). The Celtics' best previous calendar year win totals were in 1984 (79-26) and 1986 (79-20).


Arenas optimistic
Injured Wizards guard Gilbert Arenas expects to play this season, but he has no clue when.

Arenas had his third surgery on his left knee in August, and the Wizards are being cautious about his return. Arenas said he doesn't know when he will begin practicing but needs "a month and a half" of practice before he plays in a game. Despite no timetable, he is confident he will be in uniform for the Wizards at some point this season.

Arenas came to TD Banknorth Garden at about 4 p.m. yesterday to do some drill work and conditioning while testing the knee.

"I want to get some type of rhythm going into next season so I'll have a good summer under my belt," said Arenas, who missed 69 games last season. "We just don't want to rush it this time. We already went out there twice [early]. I don't want no third problem. I just want to make sure it's 100 percent before I get back on the basketball floor."

On missing out on playing in one of his favorite venues in Boston, Arenas said, "I love the crowd. I love buildings that enjoy basketball, all-around basketball. Boston is one of those cities that love basketball."


Marbury wants in?
In the latest rumor surrounding Knicks guard Stephon Marbury and the Celtics, ESPN.com reported yesterday his preferred destination is Boston. The Globe reported recently that Celtics ownership, management, coaching staff, and stars Kevin Garnett, Pierce, and Ray Allen would have to be on the same page to pursue Marbury. Also, the suspended Marbury, who doesn't have an agent, has yet to work out a buyout of the $20 million remaining in the final year of his contract. Rivers and Celtics president Danny Ainge declined comment yesterday.

Knicks president Donnie Walsh told the New York media yesterday, "I plan to talk to [Marbury and players' union lawyer Hal Biagas] next week. I don't know anything about teams that made offers as reported today at all. If there is, then that would seem to be motivation to talk."


Erden sighting
Celtics fans can watch 2008 second-round draft pick Semih Erden tomorrow at 1 p.m. on NBA TV's Euroleague Game of the Week. Erden's Fenerbahce Ulker will face DKV Joventut, which features NBA point guard prospect Ricky Rubio.

[FLCeltsFan]

There are videos on the page if you follow the link:

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/

House stresses importance of each win
Link|Comments (2) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff January 2, 2009 10:38 PM


TD BANKNORTH GARDEN -- The Wizards (6-25) are a bad team, but Celtics guard Eddie House (11 points) didn't diminish the importance of tonight's win.

"It's important to try to take care of homecourt advantage," said House. "If you don't take care of home during the regular season it's pretty tough to take care of home throughout the playoffs."

Celtics forward Brian Scalabrine, who had 5 points in 10 minutes of play, said the Celtics never look at the quality of their opponent.

"I don't think it really matters," Scalabrine said. "Doc [Rivers] said at the beginning of the year that he wanted to make a schedule up, and every single game that we had was going to be a signal of the Boston Celtics, meaning we play against ourselves. Every night we play, it's us that we lose to or it's us that we beat. Really, it's all about us."

Quote machine
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff January 2, 2009 10:37 PM
A smattering of quotes from the Celtics and Wizards locker rooms, courtesy of the Celtics PR staff:

-- CARON BUTLER ON BOSTON'S PERFORMANCE

“They came off the West Coast trip. They didn’t get the results that they wanted, but they definitely came home and really handed it to us. They played great on both ends of the floor. Paul Pierce was aggressive early on just getting easy buckets. They just fed off his energy.”

-- DOC RIVERS ON THE WEST COAST ROAD TRIP

"I asked a lot of guys this morning and they said they just couldn’t fall asleep. So I was concerned with the start...We always talk about things like being more mental, and they fought through and they were great. So that was good. We've got a ton of games coming up again, this little stretch, so you know, we just gotta get through it.”

-- RIVERS ON THE GETTING THE TOP SEED IN THE EAST

“Well that is the goal. You know that’s not the next one, that is the goal. That’s the only goal right now... We’re in the dog fight with Orlando and Cleveland. You know, like I said when we had the 19-game streak, we gained one game, we won 19 in a row and we gained one game. You know, that’s how tough it is."

-- PAUL PIERCE ON HIS 9-FOR-10 SHOOTING

“I was just playing in the flow of the game, getting the shots that were there. I got a lot of open looks because of the way we moved the ball. Rondo got into the lane penetrating and that really opened things up. I just took the open shots that were given to me.”

-- KEVIN GARNETT ON MINUTES

"If you look at the minutes, I played 25, Paul played 26, Ray played 30. That’s the reward in coming out and setting the tone defensively.”

Ball movement the key
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff January 2, 2009 10:00 PM
This Celtics team is built on defense. Example A: The Wizards shot 38 percent from the field tonight. But sometimes even the most conservative of teams need to break out of their shells.

"Defense is our mainstay," Ray Allen said after the game. "It's what holds it down. But there are times where we haven't scored, where we're not moving the ball. And it does make it tougher on the defense to have more energy."

The Celtics moved the ball to the tune of 31 assists on 41 field goals tonight. They scored 108 points despite the bench playing most of the fourth quarter.

"I think the biggest thing today is that we passed the ball so well," said Brian Scalabrine. "And when we do that we're going to win a lot of games."

FINAL: Celtics 108, Wizards 83
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff January 2, 2009 09:54 PM
The Celtics made this one look easy, returning home after a 1-3 road trip to blow out the Wizards, 108-83. Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 26 points on 9-of-10 shooting.

Stay tuned for news and notes from the locker rooms.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dwyre3-2009jan03,0,4246106,print.column

It's all about June for Lakers
Everything is leading up to playoff run.
Bill Dwyre

January 3, 2009

It is Jan. 2, a Friday night at Staples Center. The Lakers are playing the Utah Jazz, and we all know what that means.

Another dress rehearsal for June 18.

That would be, of course, the most likely date for Game 7 of the NBA Finals.

It could be a few days earlier, of course, but that's the last possible day listed and the NBA seems to have mastered the art of stretching things out. More games, more drama-building, more TV market share. David Stern doesn't make all that money for nothing.

Sometimes, you feel like the people most understanding of that are his referees, but that's another story for another day.

Suffice to say that, since Vegas has action for everything else, rob the piggy bank and get as much down as you can on Game 7 being June 18.

In other seasons, of course, a Lakers-Utah matchup would mean different things, varying story lines. New players to test. New offenses to run. A sulking veteran here. An unruly rookie there. Jerry Sloan's rigid defense against Phil Jackson's triangle.

Less so this season. This is the winter-spring of our Lakers tinkering for the playoffs. More specifically, for the Boston Celtics.

In the East, the hated, dreaded leprechauns are off and running at 29-5 and only Cleveland, at 27-5, and Orlando at 26-7, seem interested in disrupting the inevitable. If anything, this season's Celtics are better than last season's, and that group sent the Lakers home and humbled in a Game 6 rout.

In the West, after Friday night's 113-100 successful tinkering against the Jazz, the Lakers, at 26-5, are starting to look like Jeff Gordon, about to lap the field.

To be sure, the Lakers can't consciously treat the rest of the regular season like that, even if they know, deep down, that a spot in the Finals, and probably a Game 7, is all but scripted for them. They are a marvelous team. So are the Celtics.

Lakers Coach Phil Jackson talked Friday about the need to play well at home now, because the March schedule is packed with tough road games. He talked about the East, and how LeBron James' Cavaliers and the Magic have shown their stuff.

The implication was that lots of things can still happen to disrupt that Lakers-Celtics destiny.

He has to say that, probably has to believe it.

But barring broken legs or national famine, this season looks, smells and feels like a Lakers-Celtics grand finale. Yes, another one.

It also looks, smells and feels like it will take the full seven games to settle it, since the Lakers are just that much better than last season. Simply the addition of Andrew Bynum is enough to see that.

The regular-season hors d'oeuvres are tasty, but limited. The Lakers beat the Celtics on Christmas Day in Staples. And the Celtics get to play host to them on Feb. 5.

That one's like the Vegas bet on a Game 7 final. Bet the house on the Celtics -- for no other reason than that seems to be the natural order of things this season.

The Lakers led the Jazz by 20 points much of the first half and went into the locker room ahead, 57-43.

The Jazz is missing star forward Carlos Boozer with a knee injury, but this is still a playoff team, coached by the hard-nosed Sloan in his 21st season on the bench. One of the great stats that Sloan carries is that, since he took over as coach of the Jazz in December of 1988, there have been 225 coaching changes in the NBA, including 11 by the Lakers.

Sloan, now 66, had an outstanding career as a player, mostly with the Chicago Bulls during Jackson's era with the New York Knicks.

"I've got lots of stories about him, but I'm not gonna tell any," Jackson said. "One thing for sure, you had to watch carefully, because if you'd drive, he'd be right there to take a charge."

Sloan's innate stubbornness was in evidence in the third period, as his team disrupted the ease of the Lakers' playoff tinkering with a run that cut the lead to 67-64.

But soon, it was back to Kobe Bryant floating and slashing and Pau Gasol sniping away. Bryant had 12 points in the period to rouse his lifeless team, and Gasol added six. The Lakers went from bored to bouncy.

Same thing in the last period. The Jazz went on a run to cut it to 87-79. Back in came Kobe and Pau, and with a Bryant basket and two free throws, it was back to 91-81. It even got to 97-93, but Gasol dropped in two free throws and Trevor Ariza finished things off with a steal and three-point play and a then scrambling rebound basket.

In the end, Bryant had 40 points, Gasol 21 with 11 rebounds and six assists and the Lakers with a perfect night of keeping things rolling toward that NBA final.

When it really matters, the lessons learned, the tinkering done, on a Friday night in January, against a tough-skinned Utah team coached by a touch-skinned guy, will be invaluable.

On June 18.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.nypost.com/php/pfriendly/print.php?url=http://www.nypost.com/seven/01032009/sports/knicks/marbury_denies_report_hes_decided_on_bos_147040.htm

MARBURY DENIES REPORT HE'S DECIDED ON BOSTON
By MARC BERMAN


January 3, 2009 --
When Boston visits the Garden tomorrow, Stephon Marbury won't be wearing Celtics green.

The banished Marbury said he would be "honored" to play for the Celtics, admitted they are on his short list, but denied an ESPN.com report he has made a decision to join Boston if he gets released by the Knicks.

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Marbury said Boston has not made an offer. A source close to the situation said the Celtics wouldn't be Marbury's No. 1 choice either because of the limited role, backing up emerging point guard Rajon Rondo.

Another source said Celtics president Danny Ainge has interest in Marbury, as has been reported here since the summer, but Ainge wonders if a buyout will ever be worked out. Marbury prefers to join a playoff-caliber team in a starting role, though the Celtics could be the pick if his only options require coming off the bench.

Marbury threw bouquets the Celtics' way yesterday.

"If the world champions have interest, how can I not?" Marbury told The Post in a phone interview from Minneapolis, where he visited his cousin, Sebastian Telfair. "I would be honored to put on the white and green. The team that I am on has said they don't want me. I want to move on with my career. And they should want to move on."

Nevertheless, Marbury said it's "nonsense" to discuss teams he might sign with, considering he is not close to being out of his deal.

Marbury expressed displeasure the Knicks continue to drag this out. Knicks president Donnie Walsh had said he would resolve the Marbury issue after Jan. 1. Marbury thought he would hear something yesterday, but last night Walsh said he plans to restart buyout talks next week when the Players Association officials return from vacation.

On the Boston report, Walsh said, "If there is an offer out there, maybe there's motivation (for Marbury) to do something."

Marbury said he is disappointed because he feels the Knicks have held him hostage because they don't want him to play in the East with either Boston or Miami. A source said Walsh and owner James Dolan did not want to buy out Marbury before training camp because they feared he would sign with either of those rivals.

"It shouldn't matter what team I play for because they said they had the team that would put them in the playoffs," Marbury said. "They don't want me anyway and (supposedly) I'm a cancer. It doesn't matter if I go to Boston, Orlando, Miami or the Lakers."

Walsh denied he doesn't want Marbury to sign with Boston, but admitted the Knicks prefer he doesn't go to a team they are competing with for the eighth seed. "Boston? No, I really don't mind Boston," Walsh said.

Asked about Miami, Walsh said, "That would be different."

The Knicks gave union attorney Hal Biagas permission to talk to teams on Marbury's behalf and Marbury gave him a list. Biagas has reached out to the Celtics, among others.

Marbury still defends his decision to decline coach Mike D'Antoni's offer Thanksgiving Eve to become the team's starting shooting guard. Marbury said he felt D'Antoni asked him to play only out of desperation following the trades. He didn't want to commit to a coach who does not believe in him. The Knicks still lack a backup point guard to Chris Duhon.

"We talk about this being a marathon, not a sprint," Marbury said. "You can't substitute the runner after the race started."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=11110

Celtics Would Be Crazy to Add Marbury

By: Tommy Beer Last Updated: 1/3/09 6:52 AM ET | 472 times read



Adjust font size:
"Unbuntu"

As has been well-documented, that's the phrase the Celtics have chanted when breaking huddles since the start of training camp last season. It's difficult to pin down an exact translation but essentially it embodies the philosophy - "I am who I am because of those around me." ESPN asserts: "Ubuntu," from the African Bantu language, stresses collective success over individual achievement." Per Wikipedia, an attempt at a longer definition has been made by Archbishop Desmond Tutu (1999): "A person with Ubuntu is open and available to others, affirming of others, does not feel threatened that others are able and good, for he or she has a proper self-assurance that comes from knowing that he or she belongs in a greater whole and is diminished when others are humiliated or diminished."

While Unbuntu may be difficult to define precisely; it's likely much easier to explicate the term essence by stating clearly what it isn't. For instance, if you type "antithesis of Unbuntu" into a Google search or look for "antonyms of Unbuntu" on dictionary.com, Stephon Marbury should be the first thing that pops up.

***

2008 brought us some wild, unbelievable headlines; but 2009 already has early front-runner for craziest headline of the year. For my money, Marc Stein's report that Stephon Marbury is bound for Boston (if he is able to reach a buyout agreement with the Knicks) is the clubhouse leader as most ridiculous story of the year.

First and foremost, let me state that I'd place the chances of Marbury joining the Celtics this season somewhere between slim and none. I'd say it's probably about as likely as Eric Mangini and Bill Belichick ringing in the New Year together with a kiss at midnight.

The first obvious obstacle preventing a glorious Starbury-KG reunion in New England is Marbury freeing himself from New York. Stephon and Knicks GM Donnie Walsh are still millions of dollars (not even taking into the account the grudges and bad blood) away from a compromised buyout that would allow Marbury to become a free-agent. Steph has continued to insist that he won't accept "a penny less" than his exorbitant contract stipulates he is owed. In fact, Marbury is now threatening to file a lawsuit to recoup the $400,000 the Knicks fined him for refusing to suit-up after Mike D'Antoni asked him to play earlier this season.

With Knicks owner James Dolan still paying off Larry Brown and Isiah Thomas, word is Dolan is hesitant to sign off a buyout for Marbury unless Steph is willing to budge and give New York a slight discount. And up until this point, despite countless, wild distractions from Mr. Marbury, Donnie Walsh has stood firm and refused to blink. Now, with word leaking that Stephon may wind up with division-rival Boston if granted his release, it is safe to assume Walsh is less-motivated than ever to reach a compromise.

Nonetheless, while it seems unlikely that Walsh and Marbury reach an agreement anytime soon, it seems even more ridiculously far-fetched to imagine that the Celtics would sign Stephon if he ever did actually become a free-agent.

To me, Boston even considering such a drastic maneuver is nearly incomprehensible. I was under the assumption that these Celtics had figured it out. I mean, these aren't Bob Whitsitt's JailBlazers or Jerry Jones' Cowboys.

After seeing an actual team, as opposed to a collection of egotistical individuals, bring championship glory back to Beantown, they get it, don't they!? This current Celtics squad's cohesiveness and perfectly-formulated chemistry is legendary. And while Boston's talent level is undeniably impressive, most everyone agrees that the Celtics unselfishness, unity, and other indefinable intangibles played in absolutely essential role in their run towards the Larry O'Brien Trophy.

The beauty of the Celtics success has been their commitment to selfless teamwork. Their best players, the much-heralded Big 3, are unconcerned with personal stats and/or individual accomplishments. This ethos seeps down to the roots of the organization, as well as the bottom of the roster. Last June, the experiment produced the ultimate prize. And the C's are back at it again this season, sporting the league's best record, aided in large part by an extremely impressive 19-game winning streak.

The Celtics remarkable ability to put egos aside and make winning a championship their sole goal was arguably the most memorable storyline of the 2007-2008 NBA season. In fact, Ian Thomnsen of Sports Illustrated nominated the entire C's squad for the Sportsmen of the Year award. Thomnsen explained: "The 2007-08 Celtics are my Sportsmen of the Year because they embraced the least respected and most valuable quality of NBA millionaires: humility. This has become such an empty cliché in pro sports that it needs repeating — Garnett, Pierce and Allen each pursued an agenda that reduced their individual stats on the faith that it would help the team."

On the other end of the spectrum, and on the other side of basketball-karma universe, you have Stephon Marbury. If there has been one constant in Marbury's storied NBA career, it has been the divisiveness, controversy, and turmoil that has trailed him to each team he has been a part of.

Remarkably, Marbury has been able to consistently alienate teammates, coaches, and management wherever he gone. While his skills and athletic ability were always undeniably top-notch, his teams rarely won. To this day, Marbury has never won a single playoff series. During his four-year tenure with the Knicks, with Marbury in the lineup, the Knicks were 88-151, for a .368 winning percentage. For while he always racked up points and assists, Starbury could also always be counted on to add dissension and animosity to a locker room. From demanding a trade out of Minnesota (and a divorce from KG), to writing "All Alone" on his kicks in New Jersey, and abandoning his teammates in New York, Marbury continually found a way to discover discontentment. Inevitably, his team gets dragged down and becomes enveloped in a Starbury-based saga of some form or fashion.

Not coincidentally, his former teams always improve once they jettison the cantankerous point guard. The results are staggeringly consistent; just ask the T-Wolves, Nets, or the Suns.

Now, I understand that the Celtics are concerned about their lack of depth and are looking for veteran firepower to bring off the bench, but Marbury is not the answer. Boston needs to acquire a team-orientated role player that will be content with limited minutes off the pine. Just as important as talent, they need a player that is willing to buy into the culture created and cultivated by KG, Doc Rivers, Paul Pierce, et al. Marbury is the anti-P.J. Brown/James Posey. Signing Stephon would be subtraction by addition.

For a point of comparison, turn on any Boston game and watch how quickly each teammate helps up a fellow Celtic who has fallen down. Or focus on how the bench encourages, embraces, and supports their brethren from the sidelines. Then look back at tape of Marbury sulking on the bench with a towel on his head or scowling at his teammates after a dropped pass. (Marbury is infamous for boasting that he considered himself the "best point guard in the NBA." Contrast that to KG's response when questioned about his MVP candidacy last season. When pressed for an answer, Garnett would humbly reply that he thought Paul Pierce deserved the award.)

Starbury the Chemistry-Killer and the unselfish Celtics just don't mix. There hasn't been a marriage this doomed and destined for disaster from the start since Heidi and Spencer tied the knot in Mexico. Boston fans - speak now or forever hold your peace!

That said, if I am LeBron James or Dwight Howard, I am doing all I can to nurture this potential hookup. LBJ should ask Jay-Z to host a party at the 40/40 Club and try to get everyone (Ainge, Walsh, Starbury, etc.) into the V.I.P., start ordering Long Island Iced Tea's, and hope they all get liquored and start making some bad decisions. If the money issue between Marbury and the Knicks is the final stumbling block (and I do understand that times are tough financially right now), but if I am King James, I'd gladly foot the bill and cover the difference. The credit markets may be frozen but LeBron shouldn't have a problem securing a loan if need be. Or Dan Gilbert could take out a second mortgage on the Quicken Loans Arena if that's what it takes…

In all seriousness, the Cavs and Magic, or any team that considers itself a contender in the East for that matter, should be salivating at the idea of Marbury joining the Celtics. LeBron should gas up his Bentley and offer to drive Marbury to Beantown, and personally deliver the Trojan Horse to the doorstep of the Boston Garden.

Point is, there is no doubt in my mind that the Celtics instantly become a worse team and hurt their chances to repeat as NBA Champs if they make the dim-witted decision to add Stephon Marbury to their roster.

Mr. Danny Ainge, you're the reigning NBA Executive of the Year; you're smarter than this.

Bottom line: If your Unbuntu ain't broke, don't fix it.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.telegram.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20090103&Category=NEWS&ArtNo=901030438&SectionCat=RSS01&Template=printart

C’s looking for height


Powe, Davis are solid players, but not too tall


CELTICS NOTES


By Bill Doyle TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
[e-mail]




BOSTON — The Celtics will have to look elsewhere to add a big man now that P.J. Brown insists he plans to stay retired and Dikembe Mutombo has re-signed with Houston, but center Kendrick Perkins wouldn’t mind if they kept searching.


“It would probably be best for the team,” Perkins said. “Just make sure that nobody takes it personal and knows that we’re doing what’s best for the team.”


Leon Powe and Glen Davis provide hustle and heart off the bench, but not height. Powe is listed at 6-foot-8 and Davis at 6-9, but they may not even be that tall.




Powe and Davis have combined to average 10.6 points and 6.8 rebounds this season, but in a 91-86 loss at Portland Tuesday they totaled only one rebound. Last night they combined for 10 points and nine rebounds. Powe insists he feels he’s at no disadvantage going up against taller foes.


“I still do what I want to do — play defense,” he said. “Nobody has really given me much of a matchup problem because I play defensive angles and I do my work early. But whatever this team feels they need or they want, they’re going to go get. You’ve got to be on board with it because it’s a business and whoever comes in here we’re going to welcome them like a family member.”


Perkins refused to blame fatigue for the Celtics losing three out of four on their West Coast road trip.


“We were probably just too relaxed,” Perkins said before last night’s game. “We took things for granted. I don’t think we’ve been ourselves lately, competing at a high level of intensity. We’ve just got to get back to being hungry again.”


“We came off an emotional loss to the Lakers,” Powe said, “but I’m not blaming it on that. I think we have to be more focused starting games and after getting leads and keep our foot on the pedal and not let up, not even an inch to give the other team confidence. If a team gets confidence, you probably can’t turn them off late in the game.”


“We just didn’t play well,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “We’re probably not as good as 19 in a row, but we’re not as bad as 1-3, that’s for sure.”


The Wizards realized that the Celtics would try to take our their frustrations on them last night.


“We’re aware that they might be in a bad mood,” Washington coach Ed Tapscott said.


No comment on Marbury
Rivers refused to comment on an ESPN.com report that Stephon Marbury’s preference would be to sign with the Celtics if the Knicks release him. Marbury, 31, hasn’t played since last January but he can’t come to an agreement on a buyout of the $20.8 million the Knicks owe him for the final year of his contract.


“I can’t talk about it,” Rivers said.


First visit
Tapscott visited the Garden for the first time since he replaced the fired Eddie Jordan as head coach of the Wizards in November. When Tapscott played for Tom Penders at Tufts University in nearby Medford in the 1970s, he attended a lot of Celtics games at the old Garden because college players could purchase standing room tickets for $1 a game.


“I spent far too many evenings down at the Boston Garden and not enough at the library,” Tapscott said. “So my grades took a turn for the worst. My old man wrote me and asked me what’s up.”


Tapscott went to Tufts with the intention of becoming a lawyer, which he did after graduating from the Washington College of Law at American University. He never expected to become an NBA head coach.


“Life takes strange turns for you,” Tapscott said. “I did manage to get to be a lawyer, just a non-practicing one.”


As far as Tapscott knows, he’s the only NBA head coach to have graduated from Tufts. His picture hangs in Tufts’ gym.


“My daughter saw it this summer,” Tapscott said. “She was impressed.”


Turnover issues
The Celtics lead the league in turnovers and Rivers isn’t happy about it.


“Instead of just making the next pass,” he said, “we try to make the scoring pass a little too much.”


The Celtics rank second in the league in points per possession so turnovers are very costly to them.


The Celtics reserves average more turnovers (6.2) than assists (5.1).


“Our second unit has to do a better job with the ball,” Rivers said.


The Celtics also turned the ball over a lot last year, but less in the playoffs. Rivers attributed the dropoff in part to the postseason’s slower pace and shorter rotation.


Butler returns
Forward Caron Butler, Washington’s leading scorer, returned to the lineup after missing the previous three games with a sprained ankle, but Wizards guard DeShawn Stevenson didn’t play because of a lower back strain.