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FLCeltsFan
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News 3/26 Mar 26, 2009 6:32:43 GMT -5

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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 26, 2009 6:32:43 GMT -5

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1161212&format=text
Celtics lose, but leave a Magical impression
Late rally falls short in Orlando

By Steve Bulpett | Thursday, March 26, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by AP
ORLANDO - When is a loss not entirely a loss? When you get to mess with the mind of a potential playoff opponent.

The Celtics [team stats] did just that last night, taking the Magic to the wire before succumbing, 84-82.

Staring at a 16-point deficit when Kevin Garnett departed for the evening with 3:54 left in the third quarter, the Celts came back to give Orlando a little something to think about.

“I thought it was great,” said coach Doc Rivers. “It was a great game. For us to come back with Kevin on the bench the whole fourth quarter and have several opportunities to win the game, we’ll take that.”

Still down eight after two Rashard Lewis free throws with 5:39 to go, Paul Pierce [stats] hit a pair of jumpers in a 9-2 run that made it 83-82 with 1:27 left. After two misses by the Magic and one of their own, the Celts got the ball to Pierce, whose drive was summarily rejected by Dwight Howard with 4.5 seconds left.

Was it a foul?

“I drove to the hole,” Pierce said. “The way the game was being called, I wasn’t fouled. I should have just taken the short jumper, but that’s the breaks of the game. You learn from your mistakes and you move on. Dwight made a great play on the ball. It put us in a bind after that.”

But the C’s got another chance when Hedo Turkoglu was fouled at 3.8 and made just one free throw.

The Magic had a foul to give and Turkoglu got Pierce with 1.6 on the clock. The Celts then inbounded to Pierce, who had 19 of his 26 points in the second half. But the captain aired out a desperation trey from the right corner as the city of Orlando exhaled.

“I already know about this team,” said Pierce. “It shouldn’t say nothing that people don’t already know. We’re going to fight to the end regardless.”

It was a step back in the standings for the Celts, as the defeat dropped them into third place behind Orlando by .006 percentage points in the Eastern Conference seeding. However, with nine games left for the Bostonians, there is still time to retake second and earn homecourt advantage should the teams meet in the postseason - but Orlando does own two games in hand.

Pulling the trigger last night for Orlando was Howard, Dwight Howard. There wasn’t much arguing with his Superman persona as he went for 24 points and 21 rebounds, collecting a double-double before the end of the first quarter.

In their three previous meetings, the Celts had held the Magic center to 18, 11 and 14 points - below his 21.0 point average. They weren’t so lucky last night.

“It was more our breakdowns,” said Rivers. “We were really frustrated defensively, because we had some breakdowns that allowed Dwight (to score). The way we look at Dwight is that if you’re going to let him be an athlete, he’s going to be the best player on the floor. And we allowed him to use his athleticism by getting running starts to the rim, and you can’t allow that.

“I thought (Kendrick Perkins [stats], who had 11 points and 11 rebounds) one-on-one was great all night on him. I just felt sorry for Perk because he was helping (to stop) dribble penetration all night. If you allow their guards to get in the paint, we tell our bigs to help. Now you’re releasing Dwight Howard.”

And perhaps setting up an interesting postseason duel between two very good clubs.

“Our guys don’t care,” said Rivers. “We want to get healthy. And when we get healthy, we’re willing to lace them up against anybody.”

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News 3/26 Mar 26, 2009 6:34:20 GMT -5

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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 26, 2009 6:34:20 GMT -5

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1161254&format=text
More time coming for Kevin Garnett

By Steve Bulpett | Thursday, March 26, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics
ORLANDO - If all goes according to plan, Kevin Garnett’s next step forward in terms of playing time will come next week.

Celtics [team stats] coach Doc Rivers said he plans to keep KG to 7-8 minutes at the start of each half until then, and he wasn’t thinking much about extra minutes after watching Garnett go for four points and eight rebounds in 16:31 during last night’s 84-82 loss to the Magic.

“We can’t play him any more,” Rivers said of Garnett’s current time restriction. “You can see that right now. It’s just a tough one. I didn’t think he had the same lift.”

Garnett concurred.

“Tonight I didn’t look as good as the previous games,” he said. “You go into it knowing you’ve got to do certain things to impact the game. With those things said, from the standpoint of being a presence I still thought I did a good job of being active. But playing against Rashard Lewis, one of the premier players in this league, it’s just what it is. No disrespect to anyone I played previous, but this is the high caliber of players.”

The plan should be changing for Garnett soon.

“We hope by next week we can increase his minutes and see if he can play a stint and then come back in that same half and play,” Rivers said. “But right now it’s just not the time to do that.”

The additional time, according to Rivers, will amount to another four minutes each half.

“Once he gets through that, then he’s good,” Rivers said. “Obviously playing Orlando (last night) and Atlanta Friday we would love to (play him longer), but it’s not worth it. It really isn’t.”

Garnett is ready for the increased workload.

“That’s fine,” he said. “I’m with whatever the program calls for. At this point it’s about getting better and getting healthier. We’re still a work in progress.”

Tony Allen on board

Tony Allen, out since early February with a left thumb injury, made the trip.

While it was initially said when he had his surgery that he would not return until the start of the playoffs, the Celts are now thinking he could be back by the April 8 game against New Jersey.

“He’s getting closer, so whenever guys get closer to returning we try to bring them on the trip to integrate them back into the team and watch our stuff,” Rivers said. “Like I said the other day, and people were surprised, he’s the closest to returning of the three that are out. Leon (Powe) and Scal (Brian Scalabrine), they’re going to be out for a while.

“If we can play (Allen) that last week, that would be great.”

Allen will see a specialist on Monday, and if things go well then he could be cleared for contact.

“I’m just going to attack it once they tell me,” he said.

Powe was supposed to be out 2-3 weeks after bruising his right knee on March 17 in Chicago, but it’s possible he will miss the remainder of the current schedule.

“I’m more concerned about getting Leon back for Game 1 of the playoffs,” Rivers said.

A plan to be back

The C’s will be making it back to Orlando one way or the other. The club plans to play in the summer league here, ending its run with the Las Vegas summer league.

The C’s didn’t send a team anywhere last summer because, according to Danny Ainge, they didn’t have enough young guys to warrant it. . . .

You would think the prospect of a Celtic-Magic series is a big topic around the Rivers home just north of town here.

“Not really,” said the coach. “Actually zero. It hasn’t come up.”

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News 3/26 Mar 26, 2009 6:41:41 GMT -5

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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 26, 2009 6:41:41 GMT -5

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/03/26/celtics_cant_make_deficit_disappear?mode=PF
Celtics can't make deficit disappear
Spirited run in fourth denied by the Magic
By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | March 26, 2009

ORLANDO, Fla. - Celtics guard Rajon Rondo told a locker room attendant before departing to the team bus last night, "We should see you in a couple of weeks."

A Celtics-Magic second-round playoff matchup is certainly a possibility. Which team would have home-court advantage, however, remains to be seen.

With the Celtics' 84-82 loss at Amway Arena, the Magic are percentage points ahead of Boston for the No. 2 spot in the Eastern Conference.

"It was an important game," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "And obviously, if we could have won the game, it would have helped us. If they could win it, it could help them. So in that way, it's important. But our guys didn't put that much into that as far as [winning]. But every game's important. And they are far more important during it than afterward, you start thinking, 'Well, you have to play the next one.' But it was important in that way."

The season series ended, 2-2, with both teams winning one game on the road. A tiebreaker for the No. 2 spot could come down to divisional won-lost percentage.

The Celtics have six home games remaining, two against teams with winning records, and three road games, all against winning teams. Orlando has six home games remaining, one against a winning team, and five road games, two against winning teams.

"Obviously, we want to get into the second-place spot," said Magic forward Rashard Lewis, who had 21 points, including four 3-pointers. "It would be good for us, and it would be good to have home court. But regardless, you have to win on the road to win an NBA championship. You just can't win at home. The good teams go out on the road and win games."

Said Celtics forward Paul Pierce, who scored a game-high 26 points, "We are still right there [for the No. 2 spot]. The series is tied, 2-2. We just have to play better, especially on the road. We are still right there and both teams are neck and neck."

Boston scored only 18 points in the second quarter on its way to trailing, 47-39, at halftime. Orlando center Dwight Howard had 13 points and 12 rebounds by intermission, and Lewis added 15 points. The Celtics were down 16 points in the third quarter before finishing it behind, 70-62.

"For 30 minutes, the first 2 1/2 quarters, that was the best offensive basketball we've played against one of the top defensive teams in the league," said Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy.

The Celtics finally got it going offensively in the fourth quarter as Ray Allen's 3-pointer brought them within 81-78 with 3:30 left. Pierce's 13-foot jumper made it 83-82 with 1:27 remaining. Pierce missed a potential go-ahead jumper with 47 seconds left.

After Orlando's Hedo Turkoglu missed a 3-pointer with 22.9 seconds left, Allen got the rebound. Boston called a timeout with 15.1 seconds left to set up a play.

With 4.9 seconds left, Pierce took the ball strong to the basket. Howard, however, blocked the shot, and made contact with Pierce. Turkoglu got the ball and was fouled with 3.8 seconds left.

"I drove to the hole. The way the game was being called, I wasn't fouled," Pierce said. "I should have taken the short jumper. Dwight made a great play on the ball. It just put us in a bind after that."

Turkoglu made 1 of 2 free throws to give Orlando an 84-82 lead. The Celtics had one last chance. After getting the ball, Pierce was fouled by Turkoglu with 1.6 seconds remaining. Since Orlando had a foul to give, Pierce didn't earn free throws. Pierce ended up shooting a wild 3-pointer from the corner that missed badly.

Boston outscored Orlando, 20-14, in the fourth quarter, holding the Magic to 16.7 percent shooting.

"Our defense gave us a chance to win the game," Rivers said.

"This means a lot," said Howard, who had 24 points, 21 rebounds, and 4 blocks. "We came out and played very hard from the beginning of the game. That's what it's going to take if we're going to be a championship-contending team."

The Magic's wins over the Celtics this season come with sidelights. Orlando won, 86-79, March 8 in Boston, with the Celtics playing without Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett because of injuries.

Last night, Garnett was still on restricted minutes. He finished with 4 points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes, sitting out the second and fourth quarters.

"We have played them pretty well this season," said Allen, who had 16 points. "We look forward to playing them in the playoffs."

FLCeltsFan
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News 3/26 Mar 26, 2009 6:42:48 GMT -5

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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 26, 2009 6:42:48 GMT -5

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/03/26/rivers_to_hike_minutes?mode=PF
Rivers to hike minutes
Garnett is excited for new workload
By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | March 26, 2009

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Celtics hope to see about eight more minutes of Kevin Garnett per game next week.

Garnett has been relegated to about eight minutes each in the first and third quarters since returning against San Antonio March 20. Celtics coach Doc Rivers, however, said next week the All-Star will begin receiving four additional minutes each in the second and fourth quarters. Rivers called the added minutes "the second stage" and a positive sign that Garnett is back completely. Garnett missed 13 games with a sprained right knee suffered at Utah Feb. 19.

"We're really trying to work to the next step for him," Rivers said before last night's 84-82 loss to the Magic. "Obviously, playing Orlando and playing Atlanta [tomorrow], we'd love to. But it's not worth it."

In his fourth game since returning from knee injury, Garnett had 4 points on 2-of-5 shooting, 8 rebounds, and 1 block in 17 minutes. It was the first time since his return that Garnett failed to reached double digits in points.

"Tonight, I didn't look as good as the previous games," Garnett said. "You go into it knowing you got to be warm and you got to do certain things to impact the game. Those things said, from a standpoint of being a presence, I thought I did a very good job of doing that and being active given the circumstances."

Garnett said he's looking forward to the added workload next week.

"That's fine. I'm with whatever the program calls for. At this point it's about getting better and getting healthier," he said. "I think Doc is worried about my wind a little bit. I told him I'm like wolverine, I adjust quickly. They're trying to put the reins on me and I want to go, I want to go, I want to go a little bit. They just want to make sure that come playoff time I'm more than solid so everything's a precautionary mechanism."

The Celtics are five games behind first-place Cleveland in the Eastern Conference and in a virtual tie with the Magic. With his team's injury concerns in mind, Rivers said he was more worried about Garnett being healthy than about playoff seeding.

"If he were ready to play 30 minutes, we'd give it to him," Rivers said. "We just don't think he is yet. We realize that we don't have a lot of practices. If we had a ton of practice time, we probably wouldn't play him in some ways. But we're using this for him as his spring training and for everyone else it's a big game."

Guard Tony Allen, who missed his 19th straight game after left thumb surgery (non-shooting hand), made the two-game road trip. Rivers is hopeful Allen could return to game action in two weeks. Allen said he will see a doctor Monday in hopes of getting a new brace that will allow him to do more basketball-wise, but right now he can't catch a hard pass.

"[Allen] is getting closer," Rivers said. "Whenever a guy is getting closer we try to bring him on a trip to integrate him back onto the team and watch our stuff."

Rivers said he is more concerned about getting Leon Powe, who is out with a right knee strain suffered at Chicago March 17, ready for the playoffs. Brian Scalabrine has been out since because of concussions and it's uncertain when he will return.

Said Rivers, "[Allen's] the closest to returning with the other three that are out. Leon and Scal are going to be out for a while."

More health woes
Rajon Rondo sprained his left ankle after Orlando center Dwight Howard stepped on it during a first-quarter layup. Rondo eventually got up, made the free throw, and played the rest of the game. After the game, Rondo was walking gingerly but still felt positive he would play tomorrow. He recently missed two games with a sprained left ankle.

"I feel bad. It hurts," Rondo said. "I played on adrenaline really. When I first got up I was cool and I wanted to make the free throw and I just keep playing. It's both ankles now. What's killing me is it seems like I just step on somebody's shoe or someone steps on my foot. It's not like someone is coming at me spraining my ankles.

"I plan on playing [against Atlanta]. I have a long day to rest [today]. I will ice both of them when I get there tomorrow and stay off my heat."

Summer in Florida
Celtics president Danny Ainge said his team will take part in the Orlando Summer League, tentatively scheduled from July 6-10 at the Magic's practice courts at the RDV Sportsplex. The teams - likely six - will play games that are closed to the public. The Celtics did not have a summer league team last year. Boston rookies J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker would be expected to play.

"I just think our guys could use the summer league experience," Ainge said. "Last year, Billy was hurt and with J.R. we were negotiating his contract during the summer. That kind of set them back a little bit. Summer league is important."

Home for playoffs
Rivers could get a chance to spend some extra time in his offseason home if the Celtics and Magic play in the second round of the playoffs, as projected. When asked if his family has mentioned that possibility, Rivers joked: "They probably want me to be somewhere else, probably. It could happen and it would be great. I'd get to sleep in my own bed. I'm all for it." . . . Eddie House and his 7-year-old son, Jaelen, will be the first father-son duo to appear in the newly created Cartoon Network short-form series, "My Dad's A Pro," which will follow the child's day-to-day life. Cartoon Network is developing the reality show to coincide with the NBA's tipoff in the fall . . . Ainge was with the Celtics yesterday, but plans to return to Boston today to scout the NCAA East Regional games tonight and Saturday . . . According to an NBA players' poll in this week's Sports Illustrated, 7 percent said Garnett is the opposing player they would most like on their team. Garnett and New Orleans's Chris Paul were tied for fourth while Cleveland's LeBron James led the way at 32 percent, ahead of the Lakers' Kobe Bryant (13 percent), and Phoenix's Steve Nash (8).

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News 3/26 Mar 26, 2009 7:04:04 GMT -5

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Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 26, 2009 7:04:04 GMT -5

www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/pros_and_colleges/x1173689815/Magic-84-Celtics-82-All-tied-at-No-2
Magic 84, Celtics 82: All tied at No. 2
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Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press
Magic center Dwight Howard lands on Celtics center Kendrick Perkins after they chased a loose ball during Orlando's 84-82 win over Boston.

By Antonino Gonzalez/Associated Press
Associated Press
Posted Mar 25, 2009 @ 11:10 PM

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ORLANDO, Fla. — Dwight Howard blocked a potential go-ahead layup by Paul Pierce with 3.8 seconds left, and the Orlando Magic clinched their second straight Southeast Division title with an 84-82 win over the Celtics last night.

Howard had 24 points and 21 rebounds as the Magic (53-18) moved into a virtual tie with - and percentage points ahead of - Boston (54-19) for second in the Eastern Conference behind Cleveland, five games back of Cleveland for the conference lead.

Pierce hit a jumper to cut Orlando's lead to 83-82 with 1:27 left, but the Celtics couldn't make up the difference without Kevin Garnett, who was limited to 16 minutes as Boston continues to work him back in the lineup from a right knee strain. Pierce then missed a 3-pointer at the buzzer that would have won it for Boston.

Rashard Lewis had 21 points, and Hedo Turkoglu added 13 points for the Magic, who nearly blew a 16-point lead before holding on for their fourth straight win and 11th in their past 13 games. The Magic were held to just 14 points in the final period.

Pierce had 26 points, and Ray Allen added 16 points for the Celtics, who snapped their four-game winning streak.

Fueled by their big man, Orlando finally started to shed that image of a team that can't win the big game.

Howard followed up a rim-rocking, two-hand dunk with a 3-point play that put the Magic up 66-50 with 3:54 left in the third quarter. Garnett was called for the foul on the play and left the game for good, but not before huddling his teammates to give them a few choice words.

They would respond.

Pierce had six points during a furious 12-2 Celtics run that trimmed Orlando's lead to six. Reaching to give his team some life, Howard dunked over Glen Davis on an alley-hoop from Turkoglu that ignited the Magic bench despite ending the third quarter with only a 70-62 lead.

With home-court advantage at stake for a potential second-round playoff series, the Celtics made health the priority.

Boston coach Doc Rivers again resisted the urge to play Garnett for a full game, limiting him to eight-minute spurts in the first and third quarters. Garnett finished with four points and eight rebounds in his fourth game back from injury, and Rivers has said he will continue to ease the All-Star forward back in the lineup.

Howard had a double-double by the end of the first quarter.

Orlando's do-it-all center had 12 points and 10 rebounds in the period, powering the Magic to a 25-19 lead after a quarter in which he had three dunks, soaring at times above the backboard. Howard started 6-for-9 shooting and took advantage of Garnett's limited minutes to penetrate the paint at will. It was the fourth time this season Howard had a double-double in the first 12 minutes.

He had help.

The Magic's free-shooting perimeter players went to work in the second quarter, with Lewis and Turkoglu hitting a 3-pointers to help Orlando go ahead by 12 points midway through the period. Lewis finished with 12 points in the quarter on 4-of-6 shooting.

Boston didn't do much early to counter.

The Celtics shot just 36.8 percent from the floor in the first half, settling for tough shots without the help of Garnett's inside presence. Boston was able to keep it close with some late free throws to cut Orlando's lead to 47-39 at the half.

Notes: Both teams have one game left against first-place Cleveland. The Magic host the Cavaliers on April 3, and the Celtics play at Cleveland on April 12.

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News 3/26 Mar 26, 2009 8:50:38 GMT -5

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