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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 19, 2009 6:43:31 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1159620&format=textCeltics do a bang-up job Outlast Dwayne Wade-less Heat By Mark Murphy | Thursday, March 19, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics  Photo by Matt Stone Shortly before gametime last night Dwyane Wade made a startling announcement. The Miami Heat’s MVP candidate, apparently with inside information on the state of the locker room across the hall at the Garden, decided the time was right to sit out and rest a sore hip flexor. The Celtics [team stats], now missing Ray Allen to a hyperextended elbow and Leon Powe for possibly two weeks to a right knee strain, started Stephon Marbury and the reactivated but rusty Glen Davis. Emergency rooms don’t have this much gurney traffic. But just as Allen and Powe were wheeled down the hallway, the Celtics created their own encouraging news with a 112-108 overtime win. With the victory, the defending NBA champions clinched the Atlantic Division title. Kendrick Perkins [stats] blocked Miami rookie Michael Beasley on the first play of overtime, and the Celtics followed by finally finding fifth gear. Paul Pierce [stats] followed up a 16-point fourth quarter with a five-point OT, and the captain finished with 36 points (14-for-23 shooting), 11 rebounds and five assists. Rajon Rondo [stats], who took extra time after the game for treatment on his tender right ankle, certainly wasn’t inhibited on the floor, as evidenced by his 27-point, 10-assist double-double. The win snapped a two-game losing streak, and also stopped a hideous stretch in which the C’s had lost four of their previous five games. The Celts remain tied with Orlando, a big winner last night in Milwaukee, for second place in the Eastern Conference. “We just needed a win any way we could get it with bodies going down left and right to get our spirits back up,” Pierce said. “We know that we are injured, we know that we are losing guys every other day, but just to get back into a winning mindset is big for us, especially when we’re going to San Antonio a couple of days later. “Hopefully on this road trip (a two-gamer through San Antonio and Memphis) we get a few bodies back. If not, we continue to grind these games out until the guys get better.” But even with these hardships, the C’s have been remarkably buoyant, according to the Celtics captain. “That’s the one great thing about this team,” Pierce said. “We’ve never been down, we’ve never looked at one another and pointed a finger at one another. . . . We just have to put our hard hats on and our work boots on and continue to work regardless of who’s there.” Eddie House opened overtime with an open 3-pointer for a 103-100 lead, and the next time down Pierce calmly stepped back with a defender running out for the C’s second straight trey and a six-point lead. The Heat missed their first six shots in OT, a slide that Mario Chalmers ended on a trey with 1:54 left. Glen Davis fouled out on an offensive infraction, but Miami’s Jermaine O’Neal missed a 15-footer, paving the way for a Perkins free throw that was good for a 109-103 lead with a minute left. Chalmers close the gap to 109-106 with his second 3-pointer of the period, but with 12 seconds left House hit the first of two free throws for a 110-106 lead. Daequan Cook rimmed out a 3-point attempt, and Pierce salted the night away with two free throws. “We want to try and get through this stretch and hold on to that second (conference) spot, but this is a very confident team,” coach Doc Rivers said. “We believe in what we think we can do. So we understand the injury problem. “Obviously it’s nice to win, but if it didn’t happen, it wouldn’t have shaken our confidence at all.”
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 19, 2009 6:46:20 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1159647&format=textBaby step back to health One down, more to go By Steve Buckley | Thursday, March 19, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics  Photo by Matt Stone It no longer is about getting the best record in the Eastern Conference for the Celtics [team stats]. And while getting the second-best mark in the East would be nice, it’s really not about that, either. It’s about getting injured players back on the floor. This is why the people from Comcast Sports Net, in addition to running the score at the top of the screen, should come up with some kind of injury toteboard, with a little comment listed beside each player’s name about when he will be back in good health. Which brings us to the Celtics’ game against the Miami Heat last night at the Garden. Celts fans might recall a game from last season when the Heat visited Causeway Street with a collection of wide-eyed D-League kids on their roster. There was a little of that kind of feeling last night, what with Dwyane Wade injured for Miami and Kevin Garnett, among others, out for the Celtics. And so it was a different kind of game with a not-so-different outcome: Though it took an overtime session to get everything in order, the Celtics emerged with a 112-108 victory. On a different level, the Celtics could claim victory before the game even began. To make our point, let’s go to the injury toteboard: Glen “Big Baby” Davis was back in the lineup, logging 40 minutes and scoring eight points in the victory. If you’re keeping score at home, make that one down - rather, one up - and about six to go. Big Baby offered a bit of self-diagnosis after the game, saying, “I felt good. I didn’t feel as winded as I thought I was going to feel. I didn’t feel laterally quick, but all in all I felt good. “I went up and down a couple of times and got into a rhythm, hit my first shot, hit my second shot.” The guessing here was that after hitting that first shot, Davis said to himself, “I’m back!” The guessing was wrong. “No,” he said. “But when I hit the second one, I said, ‘OK, here we go.’ ” Sitting at his locker after the game, he didn’t look all that good. His ankle might be fine, thus allowing him back into the lineup, but his left hand was wrapped up and being supported by his right. Hello? Something we should know about here? “Some of the injuries you don’t see,” he said. “I did this way back, and I re-sprained it a little bit.” Will he be OK for the Celtics’ next game? “Yeah,” he said, answering with a little roll of the eyes that said, “Of course I will be playing.” And if the wrapped-up hand wasn’t enough, there also was a big ol’ scrape on his left shin that from a distance looked a lot worse, like something the makeup people come up with for one of those B-rate slasher movies. Get in a little closer and it still was bright red, but it didn’t look to be deep. “That’s from Jermaine O’Neal’s knee brace,” Davis said, taking us into the grinding, hard-hitting world of the NBA. “Just a bad scrape. It’ll be OK.” To sum up: Right ankle injury: That’s in the past. Left hand: It’s an old injury, aggravated last night, but not enough to keep him out of the lineup. Scrape on left shin: The cost of doing business in the rough-and-tumble arena of professional basketball. Mark down Big Baby as a go for the playoffs. Next up on the injury toteboard: Ray Allen and his hyperextended right elbow.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 19, 2009 6:51:06 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1159648&format=textIt’s a full house in trainer’s room By Mark Murphy / Celtics Notebook | Thursday, March 19, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics There are nights when athletes are known to hide in the trainer’s room before a game, but last night wasn’t one of them. There was a painfully long list of reasons for the mob under the care of Celtics [team stats] trainer Ed Lacerte before the Celtics’ 112-108 overtime win over Miami. “Oh man, it’s like M*A*S*H,” said Glen Davis, who then started humming the TV series theme song to show he knew what he was talking about. At least Davis had something to look forward to. After missing four games with a right ankle sprain, Big Baby started and played just under 41 minutes, getting eight points and seven rebounds. Leon Powe and Ray Allen, both scratched last night, weren’t as fortunate. Though Allen’s condition with a hyperextended elbow has been listed as day-to-day, coach Doc Rivers said the guard could quite possibly not play at all during a road swing through San Antonio (tomorrow) and Memphis (Saturday). Powe, a veteran of two knee surgeries before he left college, had never had a knee injury as a pro prior to the one that could keep him out a while. “He’ll be out for a couple of weeks, most likely,” Rivers said of the strained left knee injury that Powe suffered a night earlier against Chicago. On Allen, Rivers said: “He’s day-to-day, but he could miss the whole trip.” Rajon Rondo [stats], on the other hand, started last night despite aggravating a right ankle sprain against the Bulls. He played 47 minutes, scoring 27 points and dishing out 10 assists. “He can get it better when April comes,” Rivers said of his guard. “He’s moving very well.” Still on hold Though evaluations during team shootarounds were expected to play a role in Kevin Garnett’s return from a strained right knee, the opportunity hasn’t exactly been there. Rivers, for example, called off plans for a shootaround yesterday due to lack of healthy bodies. As a result, don’t be surprised if Garnett doesn’t play in San Antonio or Memphis, despite traveling with the team. . . . The NBA is investigating Tuesday night’s encounter between Rivers and referee Bill Kennedy. Kennedy ejected Rivers with his second technical foul late in the game with the Celtics trailing by five points with 28 seconds left. Rivers later singled out Kennedy with some excoriating comments, claiming that the official baited him into an ejection. The league is now investigating the merit of the call, as well as whether Rivers should be fined for his criticism of an official. Title time The Celtics clinched the Atlantic Division with last night’s win, and the achievement drew a predictably blase response. “It really doesn’t mean anything to the Boston Celtics,” said Paul Pierce [stats]. “They don’t put that banner up. Maybe in other arenas they put that banner up, but here it really doesn’t mean a thing.” . . . A happy Brian Scalabrine said last night that he has been given the go-ahead to start working out again, sooner than he thought. . . . Tony Allen, who recently had the cast removed from his left thumb, said he should resume practice in 2-to-3 weeks.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 19, 2009 7:02:13 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/03/19/gain_to_go_with_pain?mode=PFGain to go with pain Injury-riddled Celtics beat Heat By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff | March 19, 2009 The Celtics have been losing the battle of attrition. But though the roster numbers deteriorated to absurd levels this week, the situation seems to be improving. The Celtics (51-18) displayed remarkable resourcefulness in a 112-108 overtime win over the Heat last night, following the lead of Paul Pierce (36 points) and Rajon Rondo (27) in clinching the Atlantic Division title for the third time in five seasons. Though Ray Allen (hyperextended right elbow) and Leon Powe (sprained right knee) missed their first games of the season, Glen Davis confirmed his return from a right ankle sprain with 41 minutes of playing time, and newcomers Stephon Marbury and Mikki Moore displayed improvement. And when the Celtics visit San Antonio tomorrow, Kevin Garnett (right knee strain) will rejoin the team for the first time since Feb. 19. "We just needed a win any way we can get it right now to get our spirits back up," said Pierce. "We know that we are injured, we know that we are losing guys every other day. But just to get back on the winning mind-frame is big for us." Pierce, the only Celtic to participate in all 69 games, scored 12 points in the first quarter and 16 in the fourth, missing a chance to win the game at the end of regulation. But Eddie House and Pierce converted 3-pointers, and Rondo a drive, as the Celtics scored the first 8 points in overtime. Kendrick Perkins set the tone by blocking Michael Beasley's drive on the opening overtime possession. Then House (with 4:20 remaining) broke the tie and Pierce (3:32) hit a step-back three before Rondo (2:51) connected on a runner in the lane with a second on the shot clock. Miami missed its first six shots in overtime, Beasley clanging a follow dunk, before Mario Chalmers hit two threes, one off an inbounds pass, the other after Perkins and Bill Walker bobbled a defensive rebound out of bounds. Five Celtics were on the injured list, then Moore (6:59 remaining in regulation) and Davis (1:31 left in overtime) fouled out. That left the Celtics with eight eligible players, a night after finishing a 127-121 loss at Chicago with nine eligible players. Miami (36-31) lost Dwyane Wade (hip flexor) shortly before tipoff. "It almost came down to the fact that we had Paul and they didn't have Wade," Doc Rivers said. "Our confidence hasn't left. We just don't have a lot of bodies. We'd like to win games, but we also understand that we're going through a tough stretch with all the injuries. "We want to try to get through this stretch and hold onto that second spot [in the conference], if we can. But this is a very confident team. We know what we're capable of, we believe what we think we can do. Obviously, it's nice to win, but if it didn't happen, it wouldn't have shaken our confidence at all." The Celtics snapped a two-game losing streak and avoided a fifth loss in six games. Of the 10 Celtics active last night, only six were with the team during a 2-7 slump from Dec. 25-Jan. 9. But the three remaining regular starters - Pierce, Perkins, and Rondo - plus Davis and House, were able to hold off a Heat rally. Miami scored 7 straight points over a 59-second span, Jermaine O'Neal providing a 93-90 lead with 3:56 remaining in regulation. But House and Pierce converted 3-pointers for a 96-95 Celtics edge. Pierce made it 100-99 with 1:23 left, then Chalmers tied the score on a free throw with 20.7 seconds to go. Pierce went left against a double team, missing just before the buzzer. "When Paul was making all the shots, I thought that last shot he took was in, too," Rivers said. Marbury had five assists in the opening quarter and showed he is regaining leg strength with a hang-in-the-air, driving 3-point play, and a block of a Daequan Cook jumper early in the second half. "You can see it slowly coming," Rivers said of Marbury's play. "And I keep telling him the shot's going to be the last thing that comes. That's what frustrates him the most - he feels good, they're just not going in. He's really frustrated by that and we just tell him every day that it looks good - just keep doing what you're doing and eventually it will fall."
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 19, 2009 7:04:13 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/03/19/pierce_takes_charge?mode=PFPierce takes charge Captain steers teammates home By Gary Dzen, Globe Staff | March 19, 2009 It's been a while. But Paul Pierce hasn't forgotten how to fly a solo mission. Playing without Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett last night, Pierce had 36 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists as the Celtics outlasted the Miami Heat, 112-108, in overtime. The Big Three was down to one, and one was enough on this occasion. "It almost came down to the fact that we had Paul and they didn't have [Dwyane] Wade," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "Paul was making all the shots. I thought that last shot he took [in regulation] was in, too." That last shot came with the game tied at 100 as the clock wound down. Rivers elected to keep the ball in Pierce's hands for the final play. Miami expected Pierce to take the final shot, but not even a double team could prevent the Celtics captain from driving left and putting up a clean look from the elbow. That miss at the buzzer was one of the lone blemishes on a 16-point fourth quarter for Pierce. "Pierce really made it tough," said Miami coach Erik Spoelstra. "He was scoring on every one of our matchups. Before we could even come over to help, he was shooting the pull-up jump shot, one dribble over the top." Pierce scored 10 of the last 13 points for the Celtics in regulation, matching Miami young gunner Mario Chalmers (19 points overall) down the stretch to keep the Celtics in contention. Playing without Wade, the Heat simply had no answer for Pierce's dominance. "We were battling," said Spoelstra. "We started doubling and running the guys at him. It was opening up some drives and things . . . We just couldn't get it done." There was a time in the not-so-distant past when Pierce was expected to be the guy. But the additions of Allen and Garnett before last season changed the Celtics' approach and lessened the pressure on Pierce. One All-Star became three. Live-and-die-by-Pierce became "Ubuntu." A team that went through several losing seasons since drafting the Kansas star became NBA champions. Without the luxury of his veteran brethren last night, and with Brian Scalabrine, Leon Powe, and Tony Allen also injured, Pierce was forced into flashback mode. He took control of the game immediately, scoring the Celtics' first 6 points on his way to 12 in the first quarter. "When he comes out in attack mode, somebody is in trouble," said Celtics center Kendrick Perkins. "He carried us tonight." Pierce's 47 minutes 16 seconds and 23 attempts were game highs. "In the second half, I told him that it was a TV game," said Rivers. "There's a hundred timeouts. I might have to keep him in, and he was fine with it . . . there will be nights where we have to up his minutes, and this was one of those nights, without Ray and all the guys. And he was prepared for it."
The Garden staff put even more pressure on Pierce before the final play of regulation, playing the "Superman" theme while flashing a close-up of Pierce on the Jumbotron. If the Heat didn't know Pierce was going to take the last shot before that point, that bit of marketing surely clued them in. Still, Pierce made it look easy in getting off a clean look.
"I've been watching him since college," said newly acquired guard Stephon Marbury. "He's basically played the same way. He's a killer. He's a killer. He does what's needed at the end of the game to win."
While he didn't close out the game in regulation, Pierce scored 5 points in overtime to help put the game away. He coaxed in a pair of free throws to chants of "M-V-P" from the Garden crowd for the final points of the game.
"We just needed a win," said Pierce. "Right now, at this point, it just seems like bodies are going down left and right . . . this was a big game for us."
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 19, 2009 7:05:14 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/03/19/rivers_time_to_look_out_for_no_2?mode=PFRivers: Time to look out for No. 2 By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff | March 19, 2009 The Celtics have 13 games left in the regular season, but coach Doc Rivers has conceded the top seed in the Eastern Conference to Cleveland. Rivers said the Celtics, 51-18 after a 112-108 overtime win over Miami last night, are concentrating on the No. 2 spot. "We've earned the record that we have right now," he said. "We're not going to catch Cleveland, but we still have a chance to hold onto the second part of that. The bottom line is these are not injuries where guys are not going to come back - they are going to come back - and we have time to put the pieces together. We know the picture of the puzzle, we just don't have the pieces in place. We'll get them together, it's just going to take time." Kevin Garnett (right knee strain) will travel to San Antonio (tomorrow) and Memphis (Saturday) but might not play, Rivers said. Asked about being granted an injury exception by the NBA, Rivers said, "I don't think we can get it, honestly. They are very difficult to get. We couldn't get one with Grant Hill when I was in Orlando. Kind of gun-shy asking - we were turned down twice with him. But it's not like these guys are going to be out for long, so I don't think we would get it, anyway. "If we can get through this week, somehow, and still be within striking distance for the second seed, it would be great." Lone ranger Captain Paul Pierce became the only Celtic to play in all 69 games, scoring 36 points last night. Ray Allen (hyperextended right elbow) and Leon Powe (right knee sprain) missed a game for the first time this season. Allen is expected to join the Celtics on the upcoming road trip but Powe will be out for at least a week. Glen Davis (right ankle sprain), injured against Orlando March 8, returned to the starting lineup and had 8 points in 41 minutes. Rajon Rondo (right ankle sprain) also started. Tony Allen (thumb) said he would return to practice in two or three weeks. "It's still sore, but it's fine," said Rondo, who had 27 points in 47 minutes. "I can still run. The last time I couldn't run at all or cut. I had the ankle wrapped and I got taped tonight. It felt like I had on a cast, but I could still move." Wade sidelined Miami guard Dwyane Wade missed last night's game with a hip flexor, the determination made about an hour before tipoff. "Of course, I want to play at all times but with the streak we've got coming up ahead, you know, New Jersey, Chicago, Indiana, teams like that, I think it's more important I feel as best I can when we play those games," he said. "Very tough [decision]. "I've been resting for the last couple of days. I haven't practiced . . . I want to get my body back right. I feel better but today might just set me right back and there's no time for a setback. I don't know [about missing more games]. "Every game is important because you want to win, but certain ones are more important when you're fighting for a playoff berth." The injury occurred a while ago, he said. "It's been hurting for a while but the game where it really flared up was the game [against the Celtics in Miami March 11]." Under review Rivers was charged with a technical foul and ejected with 28 seconds remaining in the Celtics' 127-121 loss to the Bulls Tuesday, and the league announced the incident was under review. "I'm not talking about [Tuesday] night anymore," Rivers said. "I've moved on. It's over with, nothing I can do about it now." Moving forward Forward Brian Scalabrine (concussion) started a 12-day rehabilitation program that includes bicycling, treadmill work, and weightlifting. He then will be reevaluated and hopes to begin practicing. "I got some good news today," said Scalabrine, who has suffered three concussions this season.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 19, 2009 7:09:39 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/Pierce stars in leading role Link|Comments (1) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 19, 2009 12:05 AM It’s been a while. But Paul Pierce hasn’t forgotten how to fly a solo mission. Playing without Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett tonight, Pierce had 36 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists as the Celtics outlasted the Miami Heat, 112-108, in overtime. The Big Three was down to one, and one was enough on this occasion. “It almost came down to the fact that we had Paul and they didn’t have [Dwyane] Wade,” said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. “Paul was making all the shots. I thought that last shot he took [in regulation] was in, too.” That last shot came with the game tied at 100 as the clock wound down in regulation. Rivers elected to keep the ball in Pierce’s hands for the final play. Miami expected Pierce to take the final shot, but not even a double-team could prevent the Celtics captain from driving left and putting up a clean look from the elbow. That miss at the buzzer was one of the lone blemishes on a 16-point fourth quarter for Pierce. “Pierce really made it tough,” said Miami coach Eric Spoelstra. “He was scoring on every one of our matchups. Before we could even come over to help he was shooting the pull up jump shot, one dribble over the top.” Pierce scored 10 of the last 13 points for the Celtics in regulation, matching Miami’s young gunner Mario Chalmers (19 points) down the stretch to keep the Celtics in contention. Playing without Wade, the Heat simply had no answer for Pierce’s individual dominance. “We were battling,” said Spoelstra. “We started doubling and running the guys at him. It was opening up some drives and things…We just couldn’t get it done.” There was a time in the not-so-distant past when Pierce was expected to be the guy. But the additions of Allen and Garnett before last season changed the Celtics’ approach and lessened the pressure on Pierce. One All-Star became three. Live-and-die-by-Pierce became “Ubuntu”. A team that went through several losing-seasons since drafting the Kansas star became NBA champions. Without the luxury of his veteran brethren tonight, and with Brian Scalabrine, Leon Powe, and Tony Allen also injured for Boston, Pierce was forced into flashback mode. He took the control of the game immediately, scoring the first six points for the Celtics on his way to 12 points in the first quarter. “When he comes out in attack mode somebody is in trouble,” said Celtics center Kendrick Perkins. “He carried us tonight.” Pierce’s 48 minutes played and 23 shot-attempts were both game highs. “In the second half I told him that it was a TV game,” said Rivers. “There’s a hundred timeouts. I might have to keep him in, and he was fine with it…there will be nights where we have to up his minutes, and this was one of those nights, without Ray and all the guys. And he was prepared for it.”
The team’s arena staff put even more pressure on Pierce before the final play of regulation, playing the Superman theme while flashing a close-up of Pierce on the Jumbotron. If the Heat didn’t know Pierce was going to take the last shot before that point, that bit of marketing surely clued them in. Still, Pierce made it look easy in getting off a clean look.
“I’ve been watching him since college,” said newly-acquired Celtics guard Stephon Marbury. “He’s basically played the same way. He’s a killer. He’s a killer. He does what’s needed at the end of the game to win.”
While he didn’t close out the game in regulation, Pierce scored five points in overtime to help put the game away. He coaxed in a pair of free throws to chants of “M-V-P” from the Garden crowd for the final points of the game.
“We just needed a win,” said Pierce. “Right now at this point, it just seems like bodies are going down left and right…this was a big game for us.”
Division doesn't add up to much
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 19, 2009 12:01 AM
The Celtics won the Atlantic Division tonight. Time to pop the champagne?
“It really doesn’t mean anything to the Boston Celtics," said Paul Pierce. "They don’t put that banner up. Maybe in other arenas they put that banner up, but here, it really doesn’t mean a thing.”
OK, so the coach must be excited at least.
“Not really," said Doc Rivers. "We’ve done that. We’ve done that 3 of the 5 times I've been here…not here. I don’t think anywhere really. We definitely don’t hang division banners. It’s nice to have, but no, I guess not.”
FINAL: Celtics 112, Heat 108 (OT)
Link|Comments (2) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 18, 2009 09:57 PM
Paul Pierce had 36 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 assists as the Celtics clinched the Atlantic Division with a 112-108 win over the Miami Heat tonight at TD Banknorth Garden.
Stay tuned for updates from the locker rooms.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 19, 2009 7:11:11 GMT -5
www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/x1555728845/Celtics-112-Heat-108-OT-Boston-sews-up-AtlanticCeltics 112, Heat 108 (OT): Boston sews up Atlantic -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loading multimedia... Photos -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Elise Amendola/Associated Press Paul Pierce (34) changes direction on Heat forward Udonis Haslem during the first half of last night's Celtics win. By Scott Souza/Daily News staff The MetroWest Daily News Posted Mar 19, 2009 @ 12:11 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOSTON — For perhaps the first time since last year's playoffs, the Celtics had the feel of a desperate team last night. Losers of two in a row, with Celtics coach Doc Rivers declaring before the game that the goal for the rest of the regular season is to merely survive the next few weeks, a strong effort at home against the Heat was a necessity. With Paul Pierce (36 points, 11 rebounds) and Rajon Rondo (27 points, 10 assists) leading the way on a night when Ray Allen (hyperextended elbow) and Leon Powe (knee sprain) joined Kevin Garnett (knee strain) on the shelf, the Celtics willed themselves to a 112-108, overtime victory to clinch the Atlantic Division. "It was big tonight," said Kendrick Perkins (13 points, 9 rebounds, 4 blocks). "We scrapped it out. We were a little shorthanded, but we came out good. The most important thing was we got the win in the end." It took a huge effort from the captain and a couple of big shots from Eddie House (16 points in 28 minutes) off the bench to get it done. Pierce scored 16 on 7-of-10 shots in the fourth quarter, then added five more in the overtime. Perkins got the Celtics going with a block as the shot clock expired on Miami's first possession of the overtime, then House rained down a 3-pointer for a lead at 4:14. The Celtics forced Miami into a second straight miss, then it was Pierce drilling the corner trey from Rondo for a 106-100 lead at 3:30. Rondo's basket off a broken play as the shot clock expired made it an 8-0 run to start the OT. The Heat were within three with the ball in the final 30 seconds, but the Celtics defended the possession in the paint and closed out the game from the line. "That's the one great thing about this team," Pierce said. "We've never been down, we've never looked at one another, pointed the finger at one another, and we understand that we have to keep working. "The situation is what it is and we have to go out there and put our hard hats on, and our work boots, and continue to work regardless of who is out there." After Rondo found Perkins for a jam and a 90-88 Celtics lead with 4:33 left in regulation, the Heat answered with five straight and a 93-90 edge at 3:52. House knocked down a 3-pointer out of a timeout for the tie, then Pierce tried putting the team on his back with seven straight Celtics points over the next two minutes. Pierce's third straight make gave the Celtics a 100-99 lead at the 1:23 mark. "When he does that, it's ... unbelievable," Perkins said. "He was hitting crazy shots. When he comes out tonight like that, and he's in attack mode, I was thinking that somebody was in trouble tonight. He carried us tonight, he and Rondo." Mario Chalmers had a chance to put Miami ahead at 20.7, but hit only one out of two for another tie at 100-100. Pierce had a shot to win it at the end of regulation, but his off-balance jumper rimmed out at the buzzer. "It's tough right now," Perkins said. "We were on a two-game losing streak. There were a few games we should have won. It happens. I feel that when we get healthy that's when guys have to watch out." Despite the flood of bad injury news for the Celtics, they got some good news right before tipoff when they learned Dwyane Wade would miss the game with a strained hip. In the first quarter, they took full advantage, jumping out to a 26-11 lead. The Celtics led 34-21 at the end of the first quarter. But everything that went well in the first quarter went to pieces in the second as the Heat outscored Boston 33-15, including a 17-4 run over the final 6:27, for a 54-49 lead at the half. Down as many as eight early in the third, the Celtics got seven points from Rondo in a 9-3 run for a 68-65 lead with 4:35 left in the quarter. But much like the first half, the momentum didn't last as the Heat rattled off 11 of the next 14 for a 76-71 lead at the 1:25 mark. A hustle play on the glass by Glen Davis (8 points, 7 rebounds) gained the Celtics possession out of the timeout. Consecutive drives from Rondo and House brought them within a point through three frames.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 19, 2009 7:12:56 GMT -5
www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/x1555728755/Megliola-Win-a-tonic-for-hurting-CelticsMegliola: Win a tonic for hurting Celtics -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Lenny Megliola/Daily News staff The MetroWest Daily News Posted Mar 18, 2009 @ 11:30 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOSTON — The Celtics really needed a win last night. It's not like they'd fallen off the map or anything, and it's not like they were beholden to win 66 games again. Nothing like that. It's just that they've been a patchwork team for over a month. Players were going down faster than your portfolio figures. Teams that could only dream of beating the Celtics now were taking advantage of them. No, there wasn't any panic setting in. "Our confidence hasn't left, we just don't have a lot of bodies," said coach Doc Rivers. Celtics fans figured once Kevin Garnett returned, followed by the long line of injured teammates, all would be well with the world again. Still, beating Miami, even with its incandescent heat-producer Dwyane Wade sidelined, would have been good for the Celtics' souls. The Celtics had to go into overtime to get it, 112-108. They weren't complaining, but if Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo sleep on the entire flight to San Antonio, nobody will dare nudge them. They both played 47 minutes and combined for 63 points (36 for the captain) and 15 assists (10 for Rondo). Pierce had 16 in the fourth quarter, practically willing the Celtics to the OT, when he had five more. "It almost came down to we had Paul and they didn't have Wade, when Paul was making all those shots," said Rivers. Pierce keeps taking the high road regarding when asked about all the injuries. "We never point a finger at one another. We have to put our hard hats and working boots on." As far as when the injured all return, Pierce said, "I think we'll click right away, especially when we get Kevin back out there." Everybody knew the heady days of winning without Garnett had an expiration date. Last year, the Celtics were able to pull it off without the Big Ticket. Not this time, because it wasn't just KG the Celtics were without. The luckless Tony Allen went down again. Brian Scalabrine went a little flighty after a concussion or two. Glen Davis got injured. The invaluable Kendrick Perkins missed some games. Rondo and Leon Powe were hopping around on a gimpy ankle and knee, respectively, in a Tuesday loss at Chicago. Stephon Marbury is having a hard time getting adjusted to his new life. The dam had to burst. Davis returned last night and started. But there was more bad news. Powe's going to be out a couple of weeks. Ray Allen is out indefinitely with a balky elbow. Tom Heinsohn brought his sneakers and No. 15 jersey just in case. The injuries have been mind-boggling. It wasn't on Rivers' daily planner to play J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker in the fourth quarter of tight games. What's the world come to when the Celtics can't even win on St. Paddy's Day? The meaning of all this can be read in the standings. The Celtics have fallen too far behind the Cavaliers. With Boston's growing injury list, with LeBron James playing out of his mind, and with Mo Williams a terrific new sidekick for LeBron, it wasn't a fair fight any more. "We're not going to catch Cleveland," said Rivers. So if the Celts and Cavs are destined to meet again in the playoffs, the series will begin in Cleveland where the home team might have lost just once all season, to the Lakers. Without Garnett, teams have taken liberties scoring down low on the blocks. No Garnett, no fear. Point guards and wing players were taking it to the rack without a second thought. But, without Garnett, you had to expect this. "His presence means so much to us," said Pierce. "He's basically everything for our defense. There's only one Kevin Garnett." Garnett suffered a right knee sprain Feb. 19 against the Jazz. Earlier in the week, Rivers thought there was a chance Garnett might play in San Antonio tomorrow night. Last night, Rivers doused that hope. "We'll see, but I wouldn't count on it." If nothing else, a door has been opened for a guy like the rookie Walker. "I think Billy's been terrific," said Rivers. Walker played 12 minutes last night and Rivers, because guys were fouling out, used Walker in the overtime. What Walker lacks in experience he makes up with in confidence. "My mentality is that I could play in this league when my number is called. I'd love to be starting right now. But I have to wait in line and earn my stripes." That starts at practice. "It's not hard to be welcomed on a team when you work hard," said Walker. Make no mistake, this is a hard-working team. "We needed a win any way we can get it," said Pierce. "It seems like bodies are going down left and right." Bottom line: "We got to get healthy," he said.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 19, 2009 7:19:33 GMT -5
www.nba.com/celtics/news/notes/notebook031809-division.htmlNotebook: C�s Clinch Division, But Eye The Real Banner Couper Moorhead March 18, 2009 Celtics.com With five players out and at least two playing on sprained ankles, the Boston Celtics still found a way to beat the Dwyane-Wade less Miami Heat, 112-108, in overtime Wednesday night. The Celtics clinched the Atlantic Division title, a feat which doesn't carry a ton of weight with this franchise. "It doesn't really mean anything to the Boston Celtics," Paul Pierce said. "They don't put that banner up. Maybe in other arenas they put that banner up, but here, it doesn't really mean a thing." To nobody's surprise, with Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett out of the lineup, Pierce donned the cape and played the hero, fighting through double teams to score 21 of his 36 points after the third quarter. Pierce's performance followed a 37-point showing against the Chicago Bulls Tuesday night. This is nothing new for Pierce, so much so that it was shocking that The Truth's buzzer beater didn't fall at the end of regulation. "He is a killer and he does what he needs to do at the end of the game in order to win the game," Stephon Marbury said. Though he put up just four points on 1-of-3 shooting, Marbury enjoyed the best night of his short Celtics career, dishing six assists in 31 minutes as the replacement for Allen in the starting lineup. But it was Marbury's backcourt mate, Rajon Rondo, who paced the Celtics until Pierce took over in the fourth, adding 10 assists to his 27 points (five short of his career high). With the division in pocket, the Celtics held on to a half-game lead over the Orlando Magic for second-place in the Eastern Conference. Boston is four games behind Cleveland -- Doc Rivers conceded before the game that they aren't catching the Cavs -- and they can ill-afford many more health-related setbacks if they hope to maintain a couple playoff rounds worth of home court. You won't hear any whining from this crew. Glen Davis, sitting by his locker during postgame with a bloody gash on his right shin, compared his team to the old TV show M.A.S.H. "We're a team that doesn't make excuses, that doesn't cry over spilled milk," Pierce said. "The situation is what it is and we have to go out there and put our hard hats on and our work boots on and continue to work regardless of who's out there." That rule also applies to injured players. While many injured Celtics choose to watch home games from the locker room, Ray Allen turned in a "disappointing" performance sitting courtside in a suit. "Ray wanted to sit close to the coaching staff so he could give us some suggestions and he never did so I was very disappointed in him tonight," Rivers said. "Kevin is nuts and we probably don't want Kevin sitting on the bench. "I look at it, if Sam Cassell can get a technical from the bench, I'm positive Garnett can get a tech from the bench, so it's probably safe having him back there."
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 19, 2009 8:05:11 GMT -5
www.patriotledger.com/sports/x1555728915/It-s-obvious-what-s-missing-from-the-CelticsIt’s obvious what’s missing from the Celtics -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Loading multimedia... Photos -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Associated Press Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce, top, fouls Miami Heat's Jermaine O'Neal (7) while heading to the basket in the second quarter of an NBA basketball game in Miami, Wednesday, March 11, 2009. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- More related photos Loading content... Related Links Ho, hum: Celtics wrap up Atlantic Division with win over Heat (03/19/09) By Mike Fine The Patriot Ledger Posted Mar 19, 2009 @ 04:14 AM Last update Mar 19, 2009 @ 08:40 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Watching them try to guard people the last two nights has been torturous. The Boston Celtics, frankly, haven’t looked a whole lot better than any lower-echelon team in the NBA. In Chicago Tuesday, the Bulls were running and the Celts were like matadors, waving their capes. The hosts scored 58 points in the paint. Against the Dwyane Wade-less Miami Heat Wednesday night at the Garden, the Celtics busted their rumps to do the right thing, fouling out Mikki Moore and Glen Davis, while Kendrick Perkins came down the stretch with five personals. The Celtics allowed the Heat to shoot 47.8 percent – most of their opponents are shooting around 42.9. Not surprisingly, the Celtics are without Kevin Garnett and a cast of hundreds, and Wednesday night Ray Allen was forced to sit out with a hyperextended right elbow. To say that the Celtics looked ordinary with some rather uncomfortable playing combinations is obvious. This team is pretty much out of sync. “It’s like training camp, really,” said Paul Pierce, whose 36 points and 11 rebounds paced an often-hard-to-watch 112-108 overtime win, “even this year, even with the starting five. The first day things are a little sloppy. The second day it gets better and it’s going to get better over time, so it’s nothing I’m going to worry about. We’ve still got games to work it out.” Pierce, though, is talking about working this thing out with lineups that don’t include Eddie House, Stephon Marbury, Moore, Davis and Gabe Pruitt playing together. It’s blatantly obvious that this team, 10-9 over the last 19 games, is missing its critical link: Garnett. Get him back and perhaps the final 13 games will be a lot easier to digest. “Just having his presence out there means so much for the defense,” Pierce said, “the way he covers the floor, the way he yells and talks on each possession. I mean, Kevin is basically everything for our defense – the Defensive Player of the Year– one of the greatest players to ever play the game, and when you lose a piece like that, of course you’re going to lose something defensively. But the guys that are in there have to make up for it. There’s only one Kevin Garnett so these guys have to do the best they can.” Well, they are doing the best they can, but it hasn’t been enough. Although they clinched the Atlantic Division with this win over Miami, the Celts are now four games behind the Cavs in the Eastern Conference race, and only a half a game ahead of Orlando, and coach Doc Rivers all but conceded the East to the Cavs. “We’re tied for second in the East,” he said. “We’re not gonna catch Cleveland. The bottom line is that we have guys who are going to come back. We have time to put the pieces together. “If we get through this week and we’re in striking distance for the second seed, that would be great.” To do that, though, he knows he needs Garnett back. “I just think he’s our leader on the floor and we miss his leadership, his verbal leadership. I think he’s the one guy that holds everybody accountable defensively. We’ve won games, but they’ve been offensive games. You look at some of the numbers we’ve put up … it’s fool’s gold and you don’t win that way. You have to get stops, and we’re not getting that right now. We’re giving up 30-point quarters, 37-point quarters. That doesn’t happen when he’s on the floor.” It seems like the Celtics just aren’t very satisfied – with their defense, with their overall play, even with winning the division. “It really doesn’t mean anything to the Boston Celtics,” Pierce said. “They don’t put that banner up. Maybe in other arenas they put that banner up, but here, it really doesn’t mean a thing.” The beauty of this, though, is that while the Celtics have taken a 180 from where they were a year ago, they are not discouraged. The pre-game trainer’s room was abuzz with trash-talking and laughter, and when the door opened, Garnett could be seen running his mouth and laughing. During the game, Allen was on the bench with a big smile. “That’s the one great thing about this team,” Pierce said. “We’ve never been down, we never look at one another, point the finger at one another, and we understand that we just have to keep working. We’re a team that doesn’t make excuses, that doesn’t cry over spilled milk. The situation is what it is and we have to go out there and put our hard hats on and our work boots on and continue to work regardless of who’s out there.”
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 19, 2009 8:17:24 GMT -5
www.enterprisenews.com/sports/x1555728865/CELTICS-NOTEBOOK-Banged-up-and-battered-but-they-ll-be-backBanged up and battered, but they’ll be back Celtics’ walking wounded should return for playoffs -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Glen Farley ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER Posted Mar 19, 2009 @ 01:18 AM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- BOSTON — As you may have heard, the season’s a marathon, not a sprint. So here’s the good news. Even with all their injuries, the Celtics expect to have everyone back before the running of the Boston Marathon — which, give or take a day or two, happens to coincide with the start of the NBA playoffs. “The bottom line,” C’s coach Doc Rivers said prior to Wednesday night’s 112-108 overtime win over the Miami Heat at the TD Banknorth Garden, “is they’re not injuries where guys are not going to come back. They are going to come back and we have time to put the pieces together.” The Celtics’ broken pieces at the moment include: Tony Allen — out since he tore ligaments in his left thumb during the team’s practice on Feb. 10; Kevin Garnett — out since he sprained his right knee during the team’s 90-85 loss at Utah on Feb. 19; “We’ll see,” Rivers said in speaking of Garnett, “but I wouldn’t count on (him playing) this weekend (at San Antonio on Friday night, at Memphis on Saturday night);” Brian Scalabrine — out with post-concussion syndrome he suffered during the team’s 114-76 win at Denver on Feb. 23; Leon Powe — out with a sprained right knee he suffered during the team’s 127-121 loss at Chicago on Tuesday night; “We don’t know (how long he’ll be out),” said Rivers, “but it’s probably going to be a couple of weeks.” Ray Allen — out with a hyperextended right elbow suffered during Tuesday night’s loss; “Day to day,” said Rivers, “but he could miss this whole trip.” Rajon Rondo started at point guard despite the right ankle he re-sprained on Tuesday night. Glen Davis was back in action, starting at power forward, returning from the right ankle sprain he suffered during the team’s 86-79 loss to Orlando on March 8. Moving right along: Already staring at a potential fine from the NBA, Rivers had little to say about a report that the league is investigating his postgame comments and the incident that sparked them in Chicago on Tuesday night. “I’m not talking about (Tuesday) night anymore,” said Rivers. “I’ve moved on, if you don’t mind. (It would) just get me upset again. I’m in a great mind. I see you guys (in the media). I’m happy again. I’ve heard that, but it’s over with. Nothing I can do about it now.” Rivers became incensed when Bill Kennedy slapped him with his second technical foul in the game, leading to his ejection with 29.8 seconds to play and a post-game tirade against the referee. Rivers claimed that Kennedy “stood there and goaded me and goaded me and goaded me and stared at me,” leading to the “T” the coach called “the most unprofessional tech I’ve ever had.” “I’ve talked to some people,” Rivers acknowledged. The coach then quickly added: “(It) could be my money manager, but I have talked to some people. I’d actually rather talk to the NBA right now than my money managers.” March-ing along: The Celtics truly are in the midst of a prolonged March toward the end of the regular season. A month that will see them play 15 games — eight on the road, seven at home — continues with Friday night’s stop in San Antonio for an 8:30 start followed by a visit to Memphis for a 9 p.m. tipoff with the Grizzlies on Saturday. By the time the month is through, the Celtics’ itinerary will have included stops in New Jersey, Miami, Milwaukee, Chicago, San Antonio, Memphis, Orlando (March 25) and Atlanta (March 27) and home games with Detroit, Cleveland, Orlando, Memphis, Miami, the Los Angeles Clippers (March 23) and Oklahoma City (March 29). The regular season will conclude with seven games — five at home, two on the road — from April 1-15.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 19, 2009 9:02:15 GMT -5
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