News 1/9

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1144150&format=text
Cavaliers keep keen eye on Celtics

By Mark Murphy | Friday, January 9, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by AP
The Celtics [team stats], by nature, can be taciturn to the point of absurdity when it comes to the dreaded admission of “looking ahead.”

Bill Belichick would love them for their tunnel vision.

Not so in Cleveland. As on many other nights this season when a Celtics game was on television, the Cavaliers lingered in the locker room following their win Wednesday against Charlotte to watch the Rockets finish off the C’s.

LeBron James was bundled up, already in his overcoat, but the NBA’s most likely player to win this season’s MVP simply was another link in the semicircle around the locker room TV.

Then he said something you’ll rarely hear from the Celtics side.

“It’s not just some other game,” James said.

And he was speaking from a position of power.

The Cavaliers, now 28-6, moved into first place in the Eastern Conference on Tuesday night, as the 29-8 Celtics were falling to yet another losing team in Charlotte.

Though the Celtics have religiously adhered to the rule of not looking ahead, they have had due cause to talk about holding onto homecourt advantage.

They would not have reached the NBA Finals without that edge last year.

“Well obviously, this is the team we put out of the playoffs,” Paul Pierce [stats] said of tonight’s resumption of a burgeoning rivalry that, for the Celtics, is now second only to their long-distance fight with the Lakers.

“They are the best home team in all of basketball, so they have been looking forward to this. We’re going to get their best punch. We got a chance to play them in our home opener. When you play in a game like this, teams like us want to try to find the edge because we know somewhere down the road we’re going to see them in the playoffs.

“We have got to be ready for their best shot. The way they have been playing at home (18-0) has been unbelievable, but the way we are playing, this is a great way to get back on track.”

Indeed, the Celtics have lost six of their last eight games, including three straight and 5-of-6 on the road. They have already fallen the length of a city block from that 19-game winning streak.

James has followed every game as if it involved his own team. Asked before the Celtics’ loss at the Lakers on Christmas about the C’s schedule, James responded by reciting the slate between then and tonight’s game at Quicken Loans Arena.

Following yesterday’s practice, James reiterated just how important this game has become for him.

“We know it is not just another game,” he said. “We’re looking forward to the challenge.”

Part of that anticipation comes from the Celtics’ win against Cleveland in the hours following their opening night ring ceremony.

But the hurt and need for revenge, naturally, goes back much further.

“It’s still in the back of our mind, but you’ve got to move on,” James said of last year’s eventual loss to the Celtics in the conference semifinals.

“You can’t harp on last year in this league.”

For now, that’s exactly how Mike Brown would like to leave it.

“Some people may say it is, but I don’t think it’s a statement game,” the Cavs coach said. “Would it be a good win? Yeah. Would you feel good about it? Yeah. If they win (tonight), what do they get? Media attention, a pat on the back and a win. If we win what do we get? Media attention, a pat on the back and a win.”

Celtics notes

Tony Allen, still suffering from a right ankle sprain that has kept him out of the last two games, was ruled out for tonight and Sunday (at Toronto).

As a result, rookies Bill Walker and J.R. Giddens were recalled from the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1144202&format=text
Cavaliers’ home streak on the line against Celtics

By George M. Thomas / Akron Beacon Journal | Friday, January 9, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by AP (File)
INDEPENDENCE, Ohio — The Cavaliers and Boston Celtics [team stats] are seemingly going in different directions.

The teams have the top two records in the Eastern Conference, but the Celtics (29-8) will attempt to end the Cavs’ 18-game home winning streak at Quicken Loans Arena on Friday night.

The Celtics have lost three in a row and six of their past eight to allow the Cavs (28-6) to take over the top spot in the East.

Add to the mix a little bad blood that’s existed since the Celtics’ Paul Pierce [stats] spit in the direction of the Cavs’ bench during an exhibition game a few years back and a heated seven-game Eastern Conference semifinals series last season, and you have the makings of a drama suitable for prime time. And ESPN will be there.

"You have a lot of competitors on the Boston side. You’ve got a lot of competitors on our side," Cavs forward LeBron James said when asked about the intensity associated with playing the Celtics. "When you have that type of competitive nature and no one wants to lose the game, it can look more intense sometimes and it looks like you don’t really care for that next person across from you."

That person is Pierce.

James said there are no hard feelings on his part with respect to the Celtics forward, who lives to play the Cavs.

"I think we respect each other’s game," James said. "We respect what we do as individuals and try to help our team win basketball games."

When they last faced off in the opening game of the season, Pierce got the better of the Cavs and James, scoring 27 points to James’ 22 in a 90-85 Celtics’ victory. The Cavs hope to reverse that result at home on Friday night.

"There’s a comfort level there, not only with the players but to the coaching staff to the players and vice versa," Cavs coach Mike Brown said.

In the first game, the Cavs still had no idea how their new roster would work out.

General Manager Danny Ferry had added point guard Mo Williams to a roster of still new players that included Ben Wallace, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West.

After that first Celtics game, it became clearer.

Williams appears to be that reliable No. 2 that James has needed. West has added defense and, when needed, offense at shooting guard. Wallace intimidates defensively and, although he’s endured a couple of injuries, Szczerbiak has, at times, been effective off the bench.

The biggest difference between the first game at TD Banknorth Garden back in October and now is the chemistry the Cavs have developed.

It’s reminiscent of the potent charisma the Celtics displayed on their way to the NBA title last season.

When asked if the Cavs were trying to emulate the Celtics in that respect, James said there’s no way to manufacture chemistry. It’s either there or it’s not.

"We just learned so much being together. The first game was just the first rendition of what we thought we could become," he said. "What we have going on here is special. We have a family-oriented team and we all care for each other and protect each other on the court and off the court."

It might be that chemistry that has kept the Cavs from enduring the type of prolonged funk the Celtics currently are experiencing.

Pierce realizes there’s a lot at stake in this game.

"They are the best home team in all of basketball, so they’ve been looking forward to this," he told the Boston Herald. "We’re going to get their best punch. The way they’ve been playing at home has been unbelievable, but the way we’re playing, this is a great way to get back on track."

Brown refuses to get caught up in the hype surrounding the game and that just might be the best way to deal with it.

"If they win, what do they get? Media attention, a pat on the back, a win. If we win what do we get? Media attention, a pat on the back and the win," Brown said. "And the next day we can go out and lose to the Washington Wizards. That win doesn’t mean anything."

James said the Cavs shouldn’t get more or less excited for this one even if it’s not just another game.

"We’re looking forward to the challenge," he said. "It’s a very good team coming into our building, so it’s going to be a good one."

Head-to-head at home

The Cavs are 9-0 against the Celtics at home dating back to the 2004-05 season. The Cavs have won by an average of 10.6 points and held the Celtics to 42 percent shooting and have shot close to 46 percent.

By the numbers

The Cavs have an .824 winning percentage and the Celtics a .784 mark. The last time two teams met with at least a .784 winning percentage and at least 34 games into the season was March 2, 2006, when the San Antonio Spurs and Dallas Mavericks met on March 2, 2006. This is the first time the Cavs have been involved in such a game.

___

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/01/09/summit_meeting_tonight?mode=PF
Summit meeting tonight
Cavaliers hoping to show who's boss
By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | January 9, 2009

CLEVELAND - As Cavaliers star LeBron James's media session wound down after a blowout win over Charlotte Wednesday, the climax of the Celtics' game against Houston was being shown on three flat-screen televisions in Cleveland's locker room. Once James answered his last question, which involved tonight's showdown against Boston, he walked directly in front of the TV closest to his locker and became transfixed with the Celtics' 89-85 loss. He openly rooted against the Celtics, as did teammates Daniel Gibson and ex-Celtic Delonte West.

And when Yao Ming's putback lay-in with 12 seconds left sealed Boston's second home loss, a smiling James exclaimed, "Oh!" while West yelled, "It's over." Cheers from the Cavaliers' training room, where the game also was being shown, could be heard. And after the buzzer sounded, center Ben Wallace walked into the locker room from the showers and jokingly said, "Code 10. Definitely a man-down situation."

While the Cavaliers (28-6) aren't feeling sorry for the struggling Celtics (29-8), there isn't a team they respect more than the champs and they openly expressed excitement about tonight's matchup.

"We look forward to the challenge," said James, who is averaging 27.4 points. "If you want to be one of the best teams, you got to beat the best. Boston is the best."

Said coach Mike Brown, "They're NBA champs. We want what they have and we're not going to get it in the regular season. But we can definitely get better and work on trying to get to where we need to get to for the postseason. When you do talk about NBA champion, when you do talk about trying to attain a certain level, the team that does come to mind is the Celtics because they did it last year and they're the current NBA champions."


A lofty perch
While this is a tough time for the Celtics, losers of three straight and six of eight, these are memorable times for the Cavaliers.

Before Wednesday morning's shootaround, media relations intern Jeff Schaefer changed the NBA standings in the locker room, reflecting more significance than had been evident in a long time. The Cavs had leapfrogged Boston to hold the top spot in the East by a half-game. It's the first time Cleveland has been atop the conference this late in the season since March 21, 1989. The Cavaliers have lost only once since Dec. 13 and triumphed in 27 of their last 31 games.

But just like the Celtics when they were hot, winning 19 straight games, the Cavs aren't getting overly excited about their success.

"It's good because we've been playing that type of basketball where we feel we are one of the best teams in this league," James said. "It's too early in this season, so we can't get content or get complacent about being up there on top of the standings because teams are getting better and we're getting better also. It's good to see it, but it doesn't matter if you don't continue to work hard."

Said Wallace, "We really haven't passed [the Celtics]. We still need to take care of business and do what we do. They're still the team to beat. If we beat them [in the playoffs], then I'll say maybe we passed them.

"Until someone else hoists that trophy up, they are still going to be known as the champs. If they dismantled the league, they would be the last NBA champions. You don't like it, but you got to respect it."

Celtics president Danny Ainge still respects his team and has not hit the panic button. Ainge said no trades or free agent signings are imminent.

"We're obviously not playing on all cylinders," he said in a phone interview yesterday. "We're not making shots down the stretch. We're having a tough time scoring in the fourth quarter. I'm not panicking; they're still that same team that won the championship. I feel no different about the team now than I did three weeks ago."


It's a big deal
While it's good for bragging rights to have the best conference record now, it will be a major factor by season's end in terms of home-court advantage. Boston and Cleveland can certainly second that notion after the playoffs last season.

Boston lost only one home game during the postseason, winning Game 7s against Atlanta in the first round and Cleveland in the second at TD Banknorth Garden. Cleveland believes it would have won the series against the Celtics if it had home court.

"As you see, all the wins that either team got was on their home court," said Wallace. "They had four to our three, with the last game on their home floor. It's very important."

The Cavaliers are the only NBA team with a perfect home record (18-0). Cleveland hasn't lost a home game since Washington won Game 5 of a first-round playoff series April 30. The Cavaliers are averaging 105.4 points on 49.4 percent shooting from the field at home. Boston has lost six straight regular-season games in Cleveland, its last win here Dec. 15, 2005.

When asked what the keys were to home success this season, James said, "Our fan support is unbelievable. Two, our intensity when we come out to games has been really high. We control tempo throughout most of the games. We get better every game."


A big difference
Behind 27 points from Paul Pierce, the Celtics defeated the Cavaliers, 90-85, in the season opener Oct. 28, when Boston received its championship rings. James had 28 points, and center Zydrunas Ilgauskas added 15 points and eight rebounds. The Cavs, however, will be without Ilgauskas tonight for the fourth straight game because of a left ankle injury; he could return in February. Celtics guard Tony Allen will miss his third straight game with a right ankle strain and didn't make the trip that concludes at Toronto Sunday.

Following practice in Independence yesterday, James said the Cavs have improved dramatically since the opener.

"We are much better," he said. "We are much better defensively. Much better offensively. We just learned so much from being together. It was the first little rendition of what we thought we could become. The first game going to Boston on ring night was definitely a tough challenge.

"We're a much better team. But we did have [Ilgauskas], and [tonight] we will see how guys step up, which guys have been able to do. But losing [Ilgauskas] definitely is going to hurt us a little bit."

When asked if tonight's is a statement game, Brown quickly retorted, "For whom?"

Considering Boston's recent struggles and long stretch without a regular-season win in Cleveland, it definitely seems to be more of a statement game for the Celtics, even though they are the respected champs.

"It's something I can't worry about," said James of the Celtics' struggles. "I'm not a part of their franchise. I'm not a part of the Boston team. I don't know how it is up there. I'm not in their locker room."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/01/09/giddens_walker_recalled_from_utah?mode=PF
Giddens, Walker recalled from Utah
By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | January 9, 2009

While the Celtics have recalled their two rookies from the NBA Development League, neither is expected to be on hand for tonight's showdown in Cleveland.

The Celtics announced yesterday that they have recalled guard J.R. Giddens and forward Bill Walker from the Utah Flash. Giddens and Walker said in phone interviews that they were slated to be back in Boston last night. While Celtics president Danny Ainge expressed satisfaction with the play of both in Utah, he said they will stay in Boston for the time being to recover from injuries and work with development coaches.

"I feel good about it," Giddens said. "I'm anxious to get back up there and see how we do."

Said Walker, "I'm excited about getting back up there and getting acclimated with the team."

Giddens appeared in 13 games for the Flash, averaging 17.3 points on 53.5 percent shooting from the field, 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 1.5 steals, and a team-high 1.5 blocks in a team-high 37.6 minutes per game. The 6-foot-5-inch, 215-pounder has been hampered by a sprained right wrist that has affected his jump shot and he expects to get the injury evaluated in Boston.

"I feel like I played solid," Giddens said. "I feel like I played hard and I was efficient."

Walker appeared in 15 games for the Flash, averaging a team-high 18.7 points on 55.7 percent shooting, 5.3 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and 1.3 steals in 30.5 minutes. Ainge said Walker is recovering from a hip pointer.

"I was going out there playing hard," Walker said. "I tried to learn on defense and play efficient. I think I did that."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2009/01/secrets_out_on.html
Secret's out on Miles
Email|Link|Comments (2) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff January 8, 2009 03:08 PM
The six preseason games Darius Miles played for the Celtics in October count toward the 10 games Miles needs to play to receive $18 million -- split evenly between this season and next season -- from the Portland Trailblazers, Yahoo! Sports' Adrian Wojnarowski has learned. Miles played two regular season games for the Memphis Grizzlies this season before Memphis waived him on Tuesday night, bringing his total number of games played to eight.

What this means for the Blazers is that if a team picks up Miles for as little as a 10-day contract and plays him for two games, Portland is on the hook for that $18 million. That money would push Portland into the luxury tax, and would give teams who are under the tax an additional $250,000 of revenue sharing from Portland (The Celtics are already in the tax and would not qualify).

Adding to the intrigue of this story, Wojnarowski reports that Blazers GM Kevin Pritchard has known for some time that the six preseason games counted toward the 10-game total for Miles, but was keeping it a secret in hopes that other teams would not find out. With the cat out of the bag, however, it is likely that some team picks up Miles for a trial run, if for no other reason than to stick it to the up-and-coming Blazers.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/pros_and_colleges/x1840651458/Celtics-come-in-as-underdog
Celtics come in as underdog

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By Mike Fine/Gateouse News Service
GHS
Posted Jan 09, 2009 @ 12:38 AM

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What's about to happen in Cleveland tonight is something that hasn't happened to the Celtics at any point to date this season. As the Celtics head for a showdown with what might now be their biggest Eastern Conference rival, practically nobody expects them to win.

That's what happens, even to a champion that set a league record for best start (27-2) and won 19 straight wins. Yet, even as they headed for Los Angeles and the eventual loss to their Finals rival Lakers, there wasn't such widespread pessimism over their chances. Not so now in the wake of six losses in eight games, including three straight, which is something that happened only once last season, largely as a result of Kevin Garnett's absence with an oblique strain.

While the general populace might not be giving the Celtics much of a shot against the league's only undefeated (18-0) home team, the team that's tied with the Lakers for the league's best record (28-6), the principals aren't exactly looking at it that way.

"We're looking forward to the challenge," said the Cavs' LeBron James, whose team lost by five points to the Celtics on banner-raising night in Boston last Oct. 28. "If we want to become one of the best teams in the league, we have to beat the best. Boston is the best.

"I can't sit here and say it's just another game because of the implications of trying to have homecourt throughout the playoffs," James said. "To sit here and say it's just another game, I'd be lying to you."

That's something the Celtics have preached incessantly: securing the homecourt advantage. It worked for them as they wiped out the Hawks in Game 7 of the first round of the playoffs last spring, and it certainly helped them as they took the Cavs to Game 7, also winning at the Garden.

"Well obviously, this is a team we put out of the playoffs," said Paul Pierce. "They are the best home team in all of basketball, so they have been looking forward to this. We're going to get their best punch. We got a chance to play them in our home opener. When you play in a game like this, teams like us want to try to find the edge because we know somewhere down the road we're going to see them in the playoffs. We have got to be ready for their best shot. The way they have been playing at home has been unbelievable, but the way we are playing, this is a great way to get back on track."

"That's not a bad test for us," said Celts coach Doc Rivers, who'll face a Zydrunas Ilgauskas-less (fractured left ankle) Cavs team. "It's going to be a tough game. They're playing unbelievable basketball ... best record, or tied. So it'll be a good test for us. Maybe it'll be something to get us going. Who knows? They have the ultimate confidence."

Yet, despite their recent travails, so do the Celtics. "Everything is heading in the right direction," said Glen Davis, now the first big man off the bench, who's coming off a terrific effort against the Rockets' Yao Ming. "We've just gotta get a piece here and a piece there to make sure we finish the deal."

Davis says he doesn't exactly know what it is that's broken, "but there's things we can clean up, things we can do to put ourselves in a better situation at the end of the game. The coaches are doing a great job of finding out and letting us know what it is and the team is coming together and trying to make everything work. It's not falling well for us right now. We just have to keep our heads up."

Especially in Cleveland. "No doubt we have be ready to play," Davis said. "If somebody has to get you up to play this game, you shouldn't be there. As competitors we're going to be ready to play and Cleveland's going to be ready to play. Our veterans are going to keep us focused and our coaching staff's going to keep us focused in order to win the ballgame.

"Every game's like a Game 7. The atmosphere is great. It's NBA basketball."

It's just another big game for a champion in the unusual position of trying to find its way.