News 4/8

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1164264&format=text
Brian Scalabrine bones up at Celtics practice

By Mark Murphy / Celtics Notebook | Wednesday, April 8, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Matthew West
No one knows for sure when he actually will play in another game, but Brian Scalabrine took a major step yesterday in his recovery from post-concussion syndrome.

The Celtics [team stats] forward, who hasn’t played a game in more than two months, ran through noncontact skeleton drills with the team yesterday.

“I haven’t had any symptoms for eight days, and I’ve been taking baby steps,” Scalabrine said. “I’m not getting any of those headaches at night. I’ve been getting great sleep.”

Just over a week ago that hadn’t been the case. Scalabrine blamed a return to the weight room on headaches that interfered with his sleep.

Even Scalabrine was surprised yesterday when the doctor overseeing his care, Dr. Robert Cantu, cleared him for limited action. Though it’s still unclear when Scalabrine will be able to take part in regular scrimmaging, his recovery is apparently on the right track.

“I got a shower (this morning), had breakfast and Ed (Lacerte, the C’s trainer) called me and said Dr. Cantu said I can go five-on-zero,” Scalabrine said.

Predictably, his legs didn’t last long.

“I’ve been going hard on the bike and the treadmill, but nothing can get your legs ready like being out there,” he said. “I need everything I have. (Kevin Garnett) can play at 30 percent and have an influence on the game. I have to be at 100 percent. I need everything. But I’m getting better every day.

“My role is going to be pretty simple. I’m going to play defense and knock down open shots, stretch the floor, when I get in there.”

Injury updates

Rajon Rondo [stats], who aggravated his sprained right ankle late in Monday’s practice, was back at work.

“It was a stinger,” coach Doc Rivers said. “A lot of those happen after you get the first, initial (sprain). But (Rondo) is fine.”

Garnett (knee) sat and watched practice, while Leon Powe (knee) observed from a stationary bicycle. Garnett, Powe and Scalabrine are expected to join the team for the last road trip of the season through Cleveland (Sunday) and Philadelphia (Tuesday).

Not everyone admits to watching the scoreboard and gauging just where, exactly, the Celtics will finish in their battle with the Orlando Magic for the Eastern Conference’s second seed in the playoffs.

Captain Paul Pierce [stats] has no such pretension.

“I look at it more than anyone,” Pierce said. “I think it’s fun. I look at the (Western Conference) trying to figure out who is going to finish where, and it’s the same with the East.”

Great outlook

KC Jones, the Celtics legend and former coach, took in practice from a sideline seat.

“The history of this team is so great,” Rivers said. “And the advantage I have over all other coaches is that I can bring them in. So many of them are always around, like Satch (Sanders).”

Jones now is part of the administration at the University of Hartford.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1164267&format=text
Pau Gasol, Lakers edge closer to Cavaliers

By Herald Wire Services | Wednesday, April 8, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | NBA Coverage
Pau Gasol scored 26 points, Kobe Bryant added 22 and the Los Angeles Lakers overcame a sluggish start to beat the Kings, 122-104, last night Sacramento and move within a half-game of Cleveland for the best record in the NBA.

The Lakers fell behind by 12 points midway through the first quarter before finding their stride.

Los Angeles (62-16) still needs the Cavaliers (62-15) to lose at least once down the stretch to win the race. The Lakers hold the tiebreaker by virtue of sweeping the season series against Cleveland.

Rockets 93, Magic 83 - Yao Ming had 20 points and 16 rebounds, outplaying Dwight Howard as Houston beat visiting Orlando.

Howard had 13 points and 10 rebounds, but went 3-for-9 from the free-throw line for the Magic, who slipped one game behind the Celtics [team stats] in the Eastern Conference standings.

Hornets 93, Heat 87 - Rasual Butler hit a game-tying 3-pointer with no time remaining in regulation, David West hit the game-winning jumper with 8.8 seconds left in overtime, and visiting New Orleans stunned Miami.

Chris Paul had with 26 points, nine rebounds and nine assists, and Peja Stojakovic added 24 points for the Hornets, who clinched a postseason berth.

Bobcats 101, 76ers 98 - Gerald Wallace scored 29 points, including the final four of the game, and host Charlotte snapped a three-game losing streak against Philadelphia.

Hawks 118, Raptors 110 - Josh Smith had 25 points and seven rebounds, and visiting Atlanta used 11-for-22 shooting from 3-point range to beat Toronto.

Spurs 99, Thunder 89 - In Oklahoma City, Tim Duncan had 25 points and 15 rebounds, and Drew Gooden provided a needed lift off the bench for San Antonio in its first game since learning Manu Ginobili would miss the rest of the season.

Trail Blazers 96, Grizzlies 93 - Travis Outlaw banked in a 14-footer with 13 seconds left to complete Portland’s comeback from an 18-point second-quarter deficit against host Memphis.

Bulls 110, Knicks 103 - Kirk Hinrich scored 25 points to lead five players in double figures for host Chicago against New York.

Timberwolves 87, Clippers 77 - Ryan Gomes had 24 points and 13 rebounds, Craig Smith added 16 points, and visiting Minnesota beat Los Angeles.

The Clippers suspended forward Zach Randolph for two games after he was arrested for investigation of drunken driving hours after the team lost to the Lakers.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/04/08/pierce_keeps_tabs_on_foes?mode=PF
Pierce keeps tabs on foes
By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff | April 8, 2009

WALTHAM - Celtics captain Paul Pierce and coach Doc Rivers are looking ahead to the playoffs, the team's focus going beyond the final five games of the regular season. But while Rivers is concentrating on his own team, Pierce is keeping an eye on things elsewhere, just in case he might be curious about a future opponent.

The Celtics (58-19), who host the Nets tonight, have a chance to post consecutive 60-win seasons for the first time since 1984-85 and 1985-86. They have long since clinched a top three Eastern Conference finish and are now out to optimize team health, regardless of their standing with first-place Cleveland and third-place Orlando.

"I know we're tied or a game up but I can honestly tell you I have not looked at the standings for a week and a half," Rivers said yesterday. "And when I looked at them, I just glanced.

"I can't do anything but win our games. I can't tell you where [other teams] play, I can't tell you any of that stuff. But the guys know, I guarantee they know, and that's more important than me knowing."

The Knicks could help determine the Celtics' first-round opponent, since they visited Chicago last night and host Detroit tonight. The Bulls and Pistons began last night tied for the No. 7 seed.

"I look at it more, probably, than anybody," said Pierce. "I think it's fun to see who you might match up with. I look at the West, the race is changing every day.

"I'm a basketball fan. I keep up with it religiously. I watch games, look at the standings, see who we might match up with in the first round. Right now, Chicago or Detroit, they have the same records, so it could flop either way.

"You never know. With five games left, [sixth-place] Philly can drop, they're having injury problems. We could be No. 2 or 3, so it could be Philly, Detroit, Chicago. Let the chips fall where they may."

Meanwhile, the Celtics are showing signs of progress, with Kevin Garnett (right knee) and Brian Scalabrine (concussion) returning to light workouts.

"[Garnett] is clearly moving better," Rivers said. "[Monday], as far as I was concerned, was a good day. You could see the improvement. He wants to be on the floor but he has accepted the fact that he has to be as healthy as possible for the playoffs, more than playing."

Scalabrine was cleared by Dr. Robert Cantu of Emerson Hospital to participate in drills for the first time since Feb. 24. Scalabrine has been working out on his own and, after eight successive days without symptoms, he joined the team for noncontact workouts.

"I feel back to normal," Scalabrine said. "It's absolutely encouraging."

Scalabrine is expected to travel with the team to Cleveland Sunday but has not been cleared to play in games.

"We had two good days of practice, guys are out there feeling good," Pierce said. "Hopefully, the time off gave guys time to heal their injuries.

"You have to start getting your mind prepared for the playoffs. You don't just say, 'OK, here's the playoffs.' I think it's a preparation thing - you start doing the things you are going to do once the playoffs start, the way you rest, the way you eat, the way you practice.

"So it's a good time to start gearing up for it now, especially since it's only a week away."

Asked about the competition for the second seed with Orlando, Pierce said, "It can go one or two ways. It keeps us all playing. Last year, going into the playoffs, maybe we were a little more fresh, but maybe we weren't as sharp.

"Maybe this will keep us sharp because we're playing each and every game this year, instead of sitting some games, sitting some fourth quarters. I think we can go into the playoffs sharp but I think the key is, hopefully, we go into the playoffs with no more injuries."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/04/08/nets_thumbnails?mode=PF
Nets thumbnails
April 8, 2009

When, where: Tonight, 7:30, at TD Banknorth Garden.
TV, radio: CSN, WEEI (850).
Scoring: Devin Harris 21.8, Vince Carter 20.8, Brook Lopez 13.0.
Rebounds: Lopez 7.9, Yi Jianlian 5.4, Carter 5.1.
Assists: Harris 7.0, Carter 4.6, Keyon Dooling 3.4.
Head to head: This is the fourth and final meeting. The Celtics lead the season series, 3-0.
Miscellany: In Sunday's 96-67 win over Philadelphia, the Nets surrendered a season low in points and placed seven players in double figures . . . The Nets have lost eight straight to the Celtics . . . Dooling is averaging 16.3 points in three games since being inserted as the starting shooting guard.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/sidebar040409-perkins-defense.html
With KG Shelved, Perkins Holding It Down Inside
Couper Moorhead
April 3, 2009
Celtics.com

The big story of the last month and a half has been Kevin Garnett's injury. And why not? After all, the former-MVP and reigning Defensive Player of the Year led the Boston Celtics to a title. And the playoffs are two weeks away.

Another big story has been the play of Glen Davis, Garnett's replacement in the starting lineup. And why not? He's averaging 12.3 points and 5.8 rebounds as a starter.

But what about Kendrick Perkins, who has put up seven double-doubles since Feb. 19 and recorded nine or more rebounds 12 times in that span? Perkins made a career-high seven blocks against the Atlanta Hawks -- including two against Josh Smith -- in Boston's 104-92 win Friday night to go with his 12 points and 10 boards. The fixture in the starting lineup is seventh in the NBA in blocked shots (1.97 per game).

Surely he's a big story, too.

"He's tremendous," Paul Pierce said. "For us to be the top defensive field goal team (42.7%) with Perk among the shot block leaders, he defiantly gets my vote on the All-Defensive Team.

"I can't think of anybody in the league who's done a better job then he's done this year, especially with Kevin being out. He's doing a great job rebounding, clogging up the middle, blocking shots, getting the offensive rebound. So if he doesn't make the All-Defensive team it will be a conspiracy."

Perkins is in the midst of his third major shot-blocking streak of the season. In three early November games, he swatted 15 attempts, and in mid-March he said 'No Thanks' to 13 shots in three games. He has 12 refusals in the last two contests alone, and, along with making a strong case to stand among the league's defensive stalwarts, is a major reason the Celtics have won eight of their last nine and find themselves just 3.5 games back of Cleveland in the Eastern Conference.

"We're all on the same page right now," Perkins said. "We miss Kevin, do not get that confused, but right now I just think guys are doing a pretty good job trying to step in and hold it down before he gets back.

"Kevin always tells me I've got to hold the paint down and go from there. I'm just trying to do that daily, trying to get better at it."

While Hawks coach Mike Woodson praised both Perkins and Davis for their production in Garnett's absence, one knock on Perkins has always been his penchant for fouls. He is eighth in the league in fouls per game (3.4, same as Dwight Howard), but it's another area where he's slowly improving, reducing his foul rate to 3.29 since March 1.

"The only thing I need to get better at defensively is learn how to take a few charges and I think I'll be alright," Perkins said.

With fewer fouls and more rebounds (more than three offensive boards per game in March and April) and blocks, Perkins has been the rock in the Celtics lineup and defensive scheme. The story may be short and simple, but it speaks for itself.