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Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 20, 2009 7:03:15 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1166773&format=textDoc’s orders: Wait, Kevin Garnett If surgery delayed, return still possible By Steve Bulpett | Monday, April 20, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by Matthew West There may be yet another act in the Kevin Garnett saga. It was reported in yesterday’s Herald that the All-Star forward is planning to have surgery soon on his injured right knee, and sources continue to indicate he’s heading in that direction. But a day after reiterating Garnett won’t be coming to the Celtics [team stats]’ rescue in these playoffs, coach Doc Rivers said privately after his post-practice press conference that he and the team would like Garnett to hold off on the surgery. Then, at 3:14 yesterday afternoon, the story took another twist when Garnett appeared on the team’s practice floor wearing full workout gear. He proceeded to dribble a basketball as he walked slowly around the perimeter of the court, with strength coach Bryan Doo watching intently. Trainer Ed Lacerte came out of his office and sat at the far end of the floor to watch the event. After four minutes, Garnett, Doo and Lacerte walked through a door that leads to the weight room at the team’s facility. In all truth, the Sunday afternoon dribble could be part of Garnett’s maintenance program or a final check to see if there is any hope he can play. Shortly before, in an indication of just how difficult it is to find certainty with the injury, Rivers opened the door he had been working so hard to shut since Thursday, when he first said Garnett likely would miss the playoffs. “He’s thinking about (surgery), and it looks like that’s the way he wants to go,” Rivers said in response to the Herald story, “but I think he might wait. We think he should wait, because you never know. “It’s hard because one day he looked great and you think he’s definitely coming back, and then you see him run and you realize he just can’t play.” That’s where he and the Celtics have been the last few days, but Rivers was weighing the benefits when he advised a holding pattern on the surgery. “We would tell him to do it right now if it meant that he couldn’t be ready for the start of next year if he waited,” Rivers said. “But the recovery on this won’t be that long, so our thing is just wait.” Rivers also indicated yesterday a belief that the procedure Garnett will undergo won’t solve the issue. “From what we’ve understood, the surgery has nothing to do with the injury,” Rivers said. “Now they may get in there and find out that the bone spur was rubbing against that tendon and that’s what was causing the problem. But they can’t see that until they go in there. From what we’ve been told, it’s just going to take rest for the tendon problem to calm down.” Rivers wasn’t exactly calm when asked about Garnett not sitting on the bench in the second half of Saturday’s Game 1 loss to the Bulls. “Guys, Kevin is not playing in these playoffs,” Rivers said after the loss. “I’m not answering Kevin Garnett questions.” Saying yesterday that Garnett should wait on his surgery may just be a prudent course of action with an injury that has been hard to track, but Rivers is aware it will be open to negative interpretation. “That’s just people,” he said. “Unfortunately, we live in a society that sometimes even when you’re honest it’s looked upon as a conspiracy. There was no reason for us to mislead anybody about this. We were just hoping he would be back.”
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 20, 2009 7:07:11 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1166774&format=textCeltics ready to rebound Stick with game plan By Mark Murphy | Monday, April 20, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by Matthew Healey The defending NBA champions emerged for practice yesterday perhaps a little humbler after getting sand kicked in their faces on their own beach in Saturday’s Game 1 loss to the Chicago Bulls. Doc Rivers, waiting to see what followed, had his reality pills at hand. The Celtics [team stats] coach ultimately had to hand out a few, too. “Angry, down, upset, whatever,” Rivers said. “It’s the rule of the universe. The rule is what it should be, I guess. But we didn’t play well, we still had the ball and we should have won the game but we didn’t. The guys kept saying we should have won, and I kept telling them, ‘But we didn’t.’ ” Somehow, despite trailing a young Bulls team in this first-round series and despite losing homecourt advantage, the Celtics managed to twist said reality in their favor. They finished the day feeling well. “I was in a pretty good mood, because after watching the tape I knew that we didn’t play well at all and still had a chance to win,” said Paul Pierce [stats], who missed a free throw that could have won the game in regulation. No matter, the captain said. “We had a real enthusiastic practice and cleaned up things for Game 2 (tonight),” Pierce said. “Just stick with our game plan. We have to stick with our game plan. We wanted to keep them out of transition and we didn’t do that. Rebound the ball a lot better. It’s not really even about cleaning up. It’s about doing what we’re supposed to do.” After that, according to Pierce, anger and frustration don’t even matter. “We don’t need any added juice,” he said. “We’re already down in the hole, 0-1. The motivation is that we’re in the playoffs now.” One day after accusing many of his players of trying to make up for the absence of the injured Kevin Garnett individually, Rivers said yesterday the problem has been fixed. The Celtics have gone on this sort of shoot-first rampage before, but it never has lasted long. “They will snap out of it, because we do,” Rivers said. “It’s not something where we have a couple of games where we have guys playing outside their roles. I never think it’s a selfish thing. “I think it’s a team thing in the wrong way - guys wanting to do something more to win. It’s not like they’re saying, ‘Forget the team, I’m just going to get off.’ We don’t have that type of guy on our team. We have the type of guys who say, ‘We have to win this game, (and) I’m going to make us win.’ That’s the wrong way, too. It’s always got to be we.” Pierce, who was as guilty as anyone of that sin Saturday, agreed. “I just thought we forced it a little bit,” Pierce said. “The tendency when you get down is that the I-can-do-it thing becomes a fact, especially when so much is on the line.” Offensive tunnel vision obviously wasn’t the only problem Saturday. The Celtics probably have spent more time working on their transition defense than any other aspect of their game since the end of the regular season. And that, like ball movement, lacked Saturday. “For sure you have to be angry,” Kendrick Perkins [stats] said. “It’s the playoffs. We’re at home, we want to get the win, You’re mad. I’ll be mad all through (today), until we get the win.”
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 20, 2009 7:08:13 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1166777&format=textCeltics hope help on way with Derrick Rose By Steve Bulpett | Monday, April 20, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by Matthew Healey The Celtics [team stats] have no plans to stop Derrick Rose, because, well, that’s just not realistic. But they do believe they can do a far better job in tonight’s Game 2 on the Bulls point guard, whose 36 points Saturday tied an NBA record for a rookie in his playoff debut. Rose made 12-of-19 shots from the field and still found time to dish out 11 assists. He continually broke down the Celts’ first line of defense, Rajon Rondo [stats], and found too much space afterward. “We showed it on film,” C’s coach Doc Rivers said after yesterday’s practice, which was heavy on video. “We didn’t execute our defense. That doesn’t mean he’s still not going to be great, but we can be better.” Looking to hit defensive home runs, Rondo was caught trying to make plays instead of simply staying in front of the aggressive Rose. But Rivers said the problem went deeper. “He was reaching too much but he’s got to get more help, too,” the coach said of Rondo. “You know, the guy (Rose) is powerful, so even when Rondo can slide and beat him to the spot, Rose is still powerful enough to blow through him. And I don’t think we supported Rondo enough. Rondo can’t reach as much, but we have to support more. I thought we did both wrong.” Rondo agreed. “I probably gambled less (Saturday), but I shouldn’t have gambled at all,” the point guard said. “I don’t need to reach as much. I just have to try to keep the ball in front of me and make him take contested 2’s, the elbow shot. He made a couple (Saturday), but if he makes those, then my hat’s off to him. But as a team I think we just need to make him see five (Celtic) guys on the floor.” As is the case with the way teams defend Rondo, the outside shot will be there for Rose. “Rose is going to make some jumpers, but we’re going to have to live with it,” Rivers said. “He’s making shots now from the outside, which you have to live with, with his speed and power. “I think what’s happened is the trust of the other players. You know, early on you could almost see it with the Bulls - they’re almost fighting it. Why should we give this guy the ball and let him run the team? And obviously, now they know why and they allow it. You can see his whole team rally around him.” The C’s also know they must pay special attention when Chicago goes to the pick and roll.cw-3 “It’s more communication,” said Rondo, “especially on the pick and rolls, knowing what angles they’re coming from - and, when their bigs get out for the pick and rolls, knowing where the bigs go to. So it’s going to take a team effort. Not one particular guy is going to stop one person on each team, but I think communication is key for us (tonight).”
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 20, 2009 7:09:45 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view/2009_04_20_Case_closed:_Get_Ray_Allen_open/Case closed: Get Ray Allen open By Mark Murphy / Celtics Notebook | Monday, April 20, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by Lisa Hornak Practices usually don’t run this long or hard so late in the season, but everyone - Ray Allen especially - needed something yesterday to create a spark. The Celtics [team stats] guard, who was just 1-for-12 from the field in Saturday’s Game 1 first-round playoff loss to Chicago, sliced out to the top of the circle and buried a jumper. The ball rattled through - not with Allen’s customary swish but certainly better than all but one shot he took in the opener. Coach Doc Rivers called everyone in and ended practice at that moment. Muscle memory will be important in Game 2 tonight at the Garden. So too will effective pick setting - one of the many skills the team lacked in Game 1. “Our job is to get him open,” captain Paul Pierce [stats] said of Allen. “He’s one of the deadliest shooters to ever play the game, so we have to do a better job of get him open. Despite all that, we still had our chances. The bigs and even myself have to set screens for him, because that’s what we’ve done for him all year. It has to come from all of us.” Point guard Rajon Rondo [stats] said the key is to get Allen a few easy transition baskets early. Meanwhile, Rivers continues to believe sound defense creates offensive flow. “The offensive part I haven’t had a lot of focus on,” he said. “We’re a better defensive team and we’re going to win because of our defense. The more stops, and Ray will get more shots and he’ll get more shots in rhythm. If they’re running everything off a made basket or a made free throw, then they can set their defense to stop Ray Allen. The key for Ray to get shots is for us to get stops.” Baby steps Rivers had an interesting response to forward Glen Davis’ 18-point performance Saturday: Big deal. “He can play better,” Rivers said. “Eighteen points, that was great, but it wasn’t 18 points in the way we wanted it. I thought we forced a lot of shots, and Glen tried to make too many plays with the ball instead of making the next pass and getting the ball to Ray and to Paul. “They needed to touch the ball more, and then they make the decision of where the ball goes. I thought Glen became a creator, and that’s not what we want out of him. We have to all think defense first and not offense.” More Marbury Though Rivers said he will not change his lineup tonight, he does plan to increase Stephon Marbury’s playing time. The backup point guard saw just 10 minutes of action Saturday, missed his only two shots and had three assists and two turnovers. “Steph’s going to be fine,” Rivers said. “He should have been more aggressive, but I should have played him more. “I didn’t play him enough to get him going. I thought in the first half he actually had a nice little rhythm going, but in the second half I didn’t play him as much.” . . . Told that three of the four road teams won their playoff openers Saturday, Rivers laughed. “That means that last year was different,” he said of the Celtics’ inability to win a road game in the first two rounds of the 2008 postseason. “That’s good for us, because we’re going to have to win on the road.”
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 20, 2009 7:10:12 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1166776&format=textDanny Ainge out of hospital By Mark Murphy | Monday, April 20, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by AP Danny Ainge was sent home from Mass. General yesterday, two days after sustaining a minor heart attack and having arterial surgery. The chances of Ainge attending Game 2 at the Garden of the Celtics [team stats]’ first-round playoff series against the Chicago Bulls, however, are slim. According to Steve Pagliuca, the C’s managing partner who visited Ainge at MGH following the Celtics’ Game 1 loss Saturday, which doctors advised the team’s executive director of basketball operations not to watch. Judging from what happened in the overtime loss, those doctors were on to something. “They just want him to take it easy for a while, and they didn’t want him to watch that game,” said Pagliuca. “Danny might have slipped in a few minutes late in the game,” he laughed. “But when I saw him after the game, he was doing well. He was in great spirits.”
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 20, 2009 7:11:46 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1166812&format=textBulls’ Derrick Rose among elite NBA guards By Rick Morrissey / Chicago Tribune | Monday, April 20, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by AP CHICAGO — Warning: This is what is called an I-told-you-so column. I don’t do many of these, and by saying that, I realize I risk being told there’s a simple reason I don’t: I’m so very wrong so very often. Very, very funny. But I get the last laugh on this one. After Derrick Rose’s first game as a Bull in October, I described his performance as mediocre. This is what I wrote for the next day’s Tribune: "Let’s be clear: This is going to take a while. Not a long while. But there will be good nights and bad nights and blah nights for the kid. But eventually, sooner rather than later, there will be mostly good nights. He will take over games, the way the great ones do. "In his first NBA game, playing in his hometown, Rose had a decent game, probably a bit closer to blah than good. He had 11 points on 3-of-9 shooting, nine assists and four turnovers in the Bulls’ 108-95 victory. "He said he would give himself a C if he were handing out report cards." The reaction was interesting. People were offended that I had the gall to suggest that Rose wasn’t spectacular in his debut. The No. 1 pick in the entire draft! Chicago’s own! How could I? For some strange reason, even media people were offended. One TV guy said, on air, something along the lines of, "He must have been watching another game." No, we were watching the same game, but I was watching it through the filter of what I knew Rose would become this season. I wasn’t watching him through the giddiness of seeing his first NBA game. It didn’t take too long to realize that 11 points, nine assists and four turnovers were nothing special for the kid. But very few people, me included, saw Saturday’s performance coming. Rose scored 36 points in the Bulls’ victory over the Celtics [team stats] in Game 1 of their Eastern Conference quarterfinal series. His scoring outburst tied the NBA record for points in a rookie debut. The record is so old that the guy who set it, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, was called Lew Alcindor when he did it. Oh, and Rose also had 11 assists and four rebounds. If anything is certain about his afternoon in Boston, it’s that he’s undoubtedly still upset about his five turnovers. There’s no doubt he was helped by the absence of injured Celtics center Kevin Garnett, who would not have allowed Rose to get to the basket so often. But there’s no taking away how good Rose was before fouling out. The explosiveness that was on display even when he wasn’t playing particularly well this season was there for a national TV audience to see. So was the rest of him. ESPN’s Nancy Lieberman tried interviewing Rose after the game, and she got a whole lot of what we in Chicago have grown used to: the humility and the aw-shucks responses. He’s a man-child of few words. Lieberman would have had an easier time cracking the Pentagon’s card-key access. She look slightly frustrated, as if wondering why he wasn’t giving her his A material. He was. All those "um’s" he throws in? They’re the equivalent of "Jeepers, do I have to talk about myself?" Some of it might have come across as stage fright, and perhaps there is a little of that when he gets in front of a camera. But mostly he’s unassuming. He’d rather let his game speak for him. You can’t shut his game up. He seems too good to be true. I can confirm the first part of that: He is too good. No point guard should be this good as a 20-year-old. You don’t see many guards have success like this right away. Isiah Thomas. Chris Paul. Derrick Rose. He’s from that same hoops lineage. Lots of rookies stood out this season_O.J. Mayo, Michael Beasley, Eric Gordon, Russell Westbrook_but Rose should be the rookie of the year. If he were getting graded, he’d get a solid B for the regular season. As it is, he’s already one of the best point guards in the league. But again: 36 points good? No, nobody saw that coming. When it arrived, however, it looked right. Of course he’d do something like that. He’s Derrick Rose. I’ll admit I’m wrong when I’m wrong. I’m inching in that direction on Joakim Noah, but I can’t bring myself to say he’s a good player. And he had 17 rebounds in Game 1. Hard to ignore that or what he did in the last half of the season. I’ve gone from being an atheist on him (I don’t believe he can play a lick) to an agnostic (I’m not sure if he can play). Back in October, I was sure Rose was going to be great. Sooner rather than later, I said. Sooner arrived very quickly. Told you so.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 20, 2009 7:13:57 GMT -5
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1166707&format=textSaga continues as Kevin Garnett sighted at practice facility By Steve Bulpett | Sunday, April 19, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics Photo by Matthew Healey The Kevin Garnett story continues to evolve even after proclamations from the Celtics [team stats] that he is done for the season. This afternoon, Garnett walked onto the Celtics practice floor at their practice facility in Waltham with strength coach Bryan Doo. While trainer Ed Lacerte sat at the far end of the court, Garnett, in practice gear, dribbled as he walked around the perimeter of the court. The entire visible process took less than four minutes, after which Garnett, Doo and Lacerte walked through a door that leads to the weight room. Though none of the involved was offering any comment, the simple exercise came after Doc Rivers commented to the Herald today that he and the Celtics would like Garnett to hold off on surgery to his right knee. It was reported in today’s editions of the paper that Garnett is looking to set a surgery date soon, and sources indicated again that he is moving in that direction. But Rivers said there should be no rush to have the procedure. The remark is even more interesting in light of Rivers’ quotes after yesterday’s Game 1 loss to the Bulls. “Guys, Kevin is not playing in these playoffs,” he said when asked about the fact Garnett did not sit on the bench in the second half. “I’m not answering Kevin Garnett questions. I didn’t even notice honestly until someone told me that he wasn’t on the bench, and I could care less. You know, he was on the bench in the first half and we were down (nine) points. So this is about the players in uniform. Kevin is gone. The guys in uniform have to play.”
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 20, 2009 7:15:47 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/04/20/little_lebron_big_problem?mode=PFLittle LeBron, big problem By Marc J. Spears | April 20, 2009 Imagine a point guard-size LeBron James. Kind of intimidating, huh? Well, that's how one NBA scout described what the Celtics are dealing with right now in Chicago rookie Derrick Rose. "He's a LeBron guard," one Eastern Conference advance scout said. "His power and speed is unmatched. It can be Rajon Rondo. It could be Chauncey Billups. It doesn't matter. He'll outpower you." Rose outpowered the Celtics Saturday in Game 1. The NBA Rookie of the Year front-runner had a career-high 36 points, 11 assists, 4 rebounds, and 1 steal in 50 minutes of the Bulls' 105-103 overtime victory. The No. 1 overall pick made 12 of 19 shots (many on drives), nailed all 12 free throws, and earned several assists on alley-oops to wide-open shooters. While the Celtics had numerous other issues to tackle during practice yesterday, one notable concern was figuring out how to make Rose wilt. Boston will need an answer in Game 2 tonight at TD Banknorth Garden to even the best-of-seven series. "It's just going to be fun out there," Rose said. "I know there's going to be a little more attention on me." The Rose the Celtics saw Saturday was definitely much improved from the one they previously had seen. Rose averaged 14.3 points, 4.7 assists, and 2.3 rebounds as the Bulls went 1-2 against the Celtics in the regular season. The 6-foot-3-inch, 190-pounder, however, played two of those games before New Year's Day and was in foul trouble in a St. Patrick's Day win. Rose, 20, also dealt with the challenge of being handed the starting point guard position over veteran Kirk Hinrich at season's start. "He's just more confident," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "He's making shots now from the outside, which you have to live with, with his speed and power. I think what happened is trust from the rest of the players. You could see it with the Bulls, they were almost fighting him. Why should we give this guy the ball and let him run with the team? Now they know why and they allow it.
"You can see his whole team, they rally around him. He's such a unique rookie in how he carries himself in general with his teammates. He's so humble. He always talks about his teammates and that makes him trusting."
The scout said the Bulls aided Rose's development by making their offense much simpler.
"Early on you could see [Rose's] inexperience and his inability to run a team," the scout said. "But he has made significant strides as a floor general. That has really helped him. They just want to keep it simple and run to his strengths. It's basic as hell.
"He has inexperience in terms of running a team. He dribble drives down the middle of the floor and says, 'My athletes are better than yours and you can't guard me.' It's really that simple. Spread the floor and attack.
"He went from high school to one year at [the University of Memphis] to the NBA. They had to keep it simple."
The scout said Rose is too quick for defenders, does a great job of driving and dishing, can finish strong with both hands while taking punishment, makes unbelievable plays, and goes from baseline to baseline with the ball in a blur. If there is a weakness, it's his jump shooting - he only made 16 3-pointers this season and none in Game 1.
So how do you stop Rose?
"The game plan has to be to defend and protect the paint," the scout said. "Your [defensive] rotations have to be there. He needs to see multiple green shirts in transition. It's unfair to ask Rondo to guard that guy one on one. [Rose] has to see bodies. If all he sees is one guy, he's gone.
"He can finish and absorb contact and go to the free throw line like LeBron. That's why he's so tough. He's unselfish. A true point guard. The kid is really as good as advertised and will get a lot better because he's so young. He's getting by on his natural gifts. But once he gets a jump shot, it will be really tough to stop this guy."
From Rondo to center Kendrick Perkins, the Celtics believe they will make the right defensive adjustments.
"I don't need to reach as much," Rondo said. "I need to keep the ball in front of me and make him take a lot of [jumpers], elbow shots. He made a couple [Saturday], but if he makes those then my hat is off to him. As a team, we need to make him see five guys on the floor."
Said Perkins: "We gave him too many easy looks [Saturday]. We didn't attack him enough on the defensive end. We kind of laid back . . . I think we have to do a better job of helping out."
As tough as the mini-me LeBron is today, this defensive challenge will seem like nothing several years from now.
"They are going to run everything through him. They should. He's special," Rivers said.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 20, 2009 7:17:39 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/04/20/celtics_watch_their_missteps?mode=PFCeltics watch their missteps Video session captures mistakes By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff | April 20, 2009 WALTHAM - The Celtics did not quite know how to react after their 105-103 overtime loss to Chicago Saturday. This was the first time the current group had dropped the opener of a playoff series, and a first for the franchise since 2004. But, after a two-hour practice session yesterday that consisted mostly of analyzing video of their mistakes, they seemed to have recovered their composure and, maybe, some of their swagger. "Angry, upset, whatever - it's the mood when you lose," coach Doc Rivers said. "The mood was what it should be, I guess. We didn't play well but we still had the ball at the end and we should have won." Indeed, the Celtics were shooting to take the lead in regulation (Paul Pierce missed a free throw with 2.6 seconds to go) and to tie on the final shot of the contest (Ray Allen back-rimmed from the corner). But they seemed to be going against the tide from the opening minute, Joakim Noah's dunk in transition signaling the Bulls' ability to run at will. "A pretty good mood," Pierce said, describing the team. "After watching tape, we didn't play well at all and still had a chance to win. I thought we had a real good practice and had a chance to clean up some things. Just really stick with our game plan, we aren't going to change up our game plan. "We need to keep them out of transition, we didn't do that. Rebound the ball a lot better, we didn't do that. It ain't about cleaning up, it's just doing what we're supposed to do." The video session confirmed the errors of the Celtics' ways. And there were many errors. "The offensive part I haven't had a lot of focus on," Rivers said. "We're a better defensive team and we're going to win because of our defense." And defense should lead to offense, possibly the offensive plan the Celtics have in mind. Instead, the Celtics followed the Bulls' blueprint in Game 1, as three starters - Glen Davis, Kendrick Perkins, and Rajon Rondo - took 44 of the team's 90 shots in regulation. Allen finished the game 1 for 12 and Pierce 8 for 21. "If we get more stops, Ray will get more shots and he'll get more shots in rhythm," Rivers said. "If we're running everything after a made basket, everything off a made free throw, they can set their defense up to stop Ray. So, the key for Ray to get shots is for us to get stops. "Rondo was great, [but] I thought as a group we dribbled too much. Rondo scored a lot [29 points] - sometimes when the ball stays in that one spot a lot that's not exactly how we want to play and it makes it very easy, now they're picking who they want to score for you. We didn't execute in that way at all. Obviously, he got points but we keep encouraging him to be aggressive. I thought he walked the ball up too much. He has to play at a better speed. But once we get the ball upcourt, the ball has to start moving." As for the defending, Rivers was encouraged by how, down the stretch, the Celtics dealt with Derrick Rose, who had 36 points and 11 assists before fouling out. But the Celtics failed to stop the perimeter shooting of Ben Gordon and Tyrus Thomas, who scored 6 points in overtime. "I thought we had enough time to take [Thomas] off those shots," Rivers said. "We did the first job by taking the ball out of Rose's hands down the stretch, but we didn't do the second job, and that's running Tyrus Thomas off the shots." Then, there was Chicago's transition game. "They leak out, and they were outrunning us," Rivers said. "We counted 9 points after our made baskets. That's not a leak out, that's just an all-out sprint and we didn't sprint back. We can be better defensively." The Celtics seemed to have the edge in experience and guile in this series. But they are without Kevin Garnett (right knee) and veterans such as P.J. Brown and James Posey. Though Davis, 23, Perkins, 24, Leon Powe, 25, and Rondo, 23, gained valuable playoff time last season, they are relatively young. "We knew going in they were longer and more athletic," Rivers said of the Bulls. "We're not going to get longer or more athletic. We're, hopefully, more skilled, and we'll find that out." Asked if the defeat signaled an alarm, Rivers replied, "We'll find out. I guess it was. I don't know about that wakeup call stuff. They beat us, they attacked us, we allowed them to be very comfortable. I thought we allowed them to get comfortable in the first half and then, once they got comfortable, we had to deal with it. We run off 10 points in a row late in the game and they're not going away." On the first day of the playoffs, the only home team to win was Cleveland. "It means last year was different, and that's good for us, because we're going to have to win on the road," Rivers said. "We're young, we're [NBA] champions, but we're a young team now, and you saw some of that. We'll see how they react. I think they'll be fine." Said Pierce: "You don't need any more added juice. We're already down in the hole, losing a home game, something we pride ourselves in - playing well at home. We're in the playoffs now, it's time to pick it up."
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 20, 2009 7:18:50 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/04/20/offensive_plan_aims_to_get_allen_involved?mode=PFOffensive plan aims to get Allen involved By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff | April 20, 2009 The Celtics concluded practice yesterday on a positive note - Ray Allen sinking a 3-pointer during a half-court scrimmage. Allen then went through shooting drills and departed without speaking to the media. Allen had one of his worst games of the season - a 1-for-12 shooting performance - in the Celtics' 105-103 overtime loss to Chicago Saturday. And Allen will continue to be a focal point of the Celtics' offense and the Bulls' defense when the teams meet in Game 2 of their first-round playoff series tonight. "Regardless of the way Ray played or the way he shot the ball, we're going to continue to get Ray open - our job is to get him open," Celtics captain Paul Pierce said. "He's one of the deadliest shooters to ever play the game, so we've got to do a better job of getting him open. "It's the playoffs, you've got to understand, guys are not going to just leave Ray open. He's going to be guarded tightly, probably more so than I'll be. The players have to do a better job of getting him open." Point guard Rajon Rondo plans to find Allen early and often. "Probably get him shots in transition, that's how he gets his jump shots," Rondo said of Allen. "He didn't get any layups - he missed a dunk. The way our team is built, especially with KG [Kevin Garnett] out, we need to get out on the break a little more, get Ray and Paul easy shots, get them to the free throw line. That way, their jump shots are flowing easier." Said coach Doc Rivers, "We have to do a better job getting Ray open. We didn't set enough picks for Ray. That's what he does and I thought we failed to do our jobs. "We've got to get him open, give him more time. I think he had two good looks in the game, one was late in the game, but even then, the pass was late. "I told them shooters have to have the ball in their rhythm and they have to have time, and I thought when our shooters were open we didn't get them the ball in time and we threw them off rhythm. And a lot of times they were not open. "We didn't do a good job setting picks. Give the Bulls credit, they did a nice job forcing Ray one way, which teams do. They've done that all year but we've gotten him open all year. "Then, the second thing we didn't do offensively, we never made the second pass - it was one pass, then go into our act, instead of playing team ball the way we've played all year." Anti-gambling stance Rondo joined the mea culpas, his freelance defending style failing to upset Derrick Rose. "I don't need to reach as much," said Rondo. "I need to keep the ball in front of me and make him take a lot of [jumpers], elbow shots. "I have to stay in front of the ball defensively, instead of reaching a lot - especially in the playoffs, there's no time for gambling and making mistakes." Extra chores Garnett attended practice but is continuing to rest his right knee. "Definitely, not having Kevin affects what you do," Pierce said. "But we're not going to lean on that. We have to get the job done like the last two weeks, when we've won by making the extra pass. Obviously when Kevin's not out there you don't have that guy out there we're going to play through in the post. So, we have to do a better job with our ball movement, getting the ball from one side to the other, and make that extra pass." . . . Brian Scalabrine missed practice because of the birth of his second child, a daughter, last night.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 20, 2009 7:19:38 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/04/20/old_college_try_successful_for_these_youngsters?mode=PFOld college try successful for these youngsters By David Carty, Globe Correspondent | April 20, 2009 For all the talk about them being the "Baby Bulls" and their inexperience, one sure wouldn't have known it by watching Game 1 Saturday. Highlighted by rookie Derrick Rose's 36 points and clutch late-game free throws, precision mid-range shooting in overtime by Tyrus Thomas, and Joakim Noah's 17 rebounds, Chicago beat the Celtics, 105-103. Game 2 is tonight at TD Banknorth Garden. Contrary to popular expectation, the young Bulls did not crumble, and the idea they haven't played on a large stage may be incorrect as well. The Bulls' starting five has appeared in nine NCAA Tournament Final Four and national championship games, more than any other playoff starting lineup. Only forward John Salmons didn't reach the Final Four. Rose, Noah, Thomas, and Ben Gordon have appeared in four national title games among them, winning three. If the pressure of the NCAA Tournament doesn't seem as great, consider the size of the crowd. This year's championship game between North Carolina and Michigan State drew 72,922 fans to Ford Field, nearly four times the number that packed the Garden Saturday. "In college, every game has a lot more hype to it because you're one and done," said Gordon, a national champion at the University of Connecticut in 2004. "[The NBA] is a lot more of a cerebral game. I think in college, guys are playing a lot more on emotions. Up here, you know, it's still big emotions, but you've got to settle yourself down because it's a longer series." And that longer series means preventing a letdown. "When you win, you're relieved," Bulls coach Vinny Del Negro said yesterday as the team practiced at Emerson College. "I was pleased with the way we hung in there and made plays down the stretch. We have to just go on the road with the right mind-set, the professionalism that I talk about all season, and go do your job. "The Celtics will come out and play hard as they did [Saturday] and we're going to have to match that again and make plays. It's easy to talk about, but you have to go out and do it. So we have to get our minds set, get our focus, and go after Game 2." "The win was real important," Rose said. "It was good to let them know that we're here to play." Gordon isn't concerned about losing focus. "I don't think it will be hard to get up for the game or come out with the same intensity that we did," he said. "The main thing is that we're going to have to come out and be more prepared and more intense." A close look Del Negro doesn't expect Ray Allen to shoot 1 for 12 again in Game 2. The coach knows exactly how deadly Allen can be. Del Negro played with Allen in 1998-99 and 1999-2000 with the Bucks. "I expect Ray to knock some shots down," Del Negro said. "He's just too great of a shooter and too great of a competitor. "[Defensively], I thought we did a good job on Ray, but he's going to come out aggressive [tonight]. We're going to have to find [Paul ] Pierce and Ray like we did [Saturday]." Strain on him Salmons, struggling with a groin strain since late March, has to fight back the pain and also has to deal with defending Pierce. "We need him to play well, especially against [Pierce]," Del Negro said. "He's just battling through it as best he can until he gets some time to rest."
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 20, 2009 7:20:58 GMT -5
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/Ray Allen -- positive practice Link|Comments (5) Posted by Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff April 19, 2009 03:16 PM The Celtics concluded practice this afternoon on a positive note -- Ray Allen sinking a 3-pointer during a half-court scrimmage. Allen then went through shooting drills and departed without speaking to the media. Allen had one of his worst games of the season -- a 1-for-12 shooting performance -- in the Celtics' 105-103 overtime loss to Chicago Saturday. "We have to do better job getting Ray open," coach Doc Rivers said. "We didn't set enough picks for Ray. That's what he does and I thought we failed to do our jobs. We've got to get him open, give him more time. I think he had two good looks in the game, one was late in the game, but even then, the pass was late." Said point guard Rajon Rondo: "Normal Ray, he shot after practice, he does that from time to time. He's always on an even keel, he's never too high or too low. He doesn't show any emotion." Rondo, who had 29 points, 9 rebounds, and 7 assists, said he will attempt to set up Allen and Paul Pierce for better shots earlier in Game 2 Monday. "Probably get him shots in transition," Rondo said of Allen, "that's how he gets his jump shots. He didn't get any layups -- he missed a dunk -- the way our team is built, especially with KG (Kevin Garnett) out, we need to get out on the break a little more, get Ray and Paul easy shots, get them to the free throw line. That way, their jump shots are flowing easier."
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 20, 2009 7:23:09 GMT -5
www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/pros_and_colleges/x77787237/Celtics-will-keep-the-status-quoCeltics will keep the status quo -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- By Scott Souza/Daily News staff MetroWest Daily News Posted Apr 19, 2009 @ 10:27 PM -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WALTHAM — The Celtics are taking the "it's not you, it's me" approach to their Game 1 loss to the Bulls on Saturday and what they have to do to reverse the result tonight. There wasn't a lot of head-scratching going on at practice yesterday as to why they are down in the first-round series. The C's claimed there weren't a lot of adjustments made now that they've already surrendered homecourt advantage. There was just plenty of film evidence of what they didn't do in the 105-103 OT defeat and a directive to start doing it tonight or else. "We're not even going to change up our game plan," Paul Pierce said. "We know we have to keep them out of transition - we knew that (Saturday). We can handle the ball a lot better - we didn't do that. It's just really doing what we're supposed to do." "I think we just need to do everything a little bit harder," agreed Rajon Rondo. "I speak for myself. I could have been more solid on the ball defensively instead of reaching a lot. Especially in the playoffs, that's no time for gambling. That's no time for mistakes." C's coach Doc Rivers knows his team is not suddenly going to be able to leap or sprint with the younger Bulls. But that doesn't mean the Celtics shouldn't beat the Bulls. "We're not going to get longer," he noted. "We're not going to get more athletic. We knew that going into the series. We do think we're more skilled. We'll see if that's true (tonight)." One person they know is more skilled than what he showed Saturday is Ray Allen. The team's second-leading scorer during the regular season, Allen went 1-for-12 in Game 1, including a miss on the tying shot attempt at the end of overtime. The C's took collective responsibility for Allen's struggles yesterday. "We have to do a better job getting Ray open," said Rivers. "We didn't set picks for him. We didn't get him the ball at the right times." While Rivers was critical of Rondo's tendency to walk the ball up the court, and the lack of ball movement from everyone - Glen Davis, in particular - he said it all starts with defensive stops. "We're a better team defensively than we showed," he said. "We win because of our defense. If we get more stops, Ray's going to get more open looks. If we are bringing the ball up after they get a make every time, we have a harder time getting him open." Rivers gave Bulls rookie point guard Derrick Rose his due after a 36-point, 11-assist effort, but noted: "We didn't execute our defense against him. That doesn't mean he's still not going to be great, but we can defend him better." That includes at the initial point of attack. "I take a lot of the (blame) for the breakdowns on the defensive end," Rondo allowed, "getting our bigs in foul trouble and putting us in that situation." Offensively, there were too many isolation plays and not enough taking advantage of Chicago's youthful and overactive defense with the extra pass. "When that happens I never think it's a selfish thing," Rivers said. "I think it's a team thing wanting to take it on themselves to help the team more. But that's the wrong way to do it." "I thought we kind of forced things a little bit," admitted Pierce. "There's a tendency when you get down to have the I-can-do-it type of thing, especially when so much is on the line." It's got to come from everywhere. "In the playoffs, you've got to understand that guys are not just going to leave Ray wide open," Pierce said. "It's not like if we swing it here, they'll run off of Ray. He's going to be guarded tightly, maybe more than I'll be guarded. So the players have to do a better job of getting him open (with picks and screens). The extra pass is going to be there, but it's in their game plan not to let the extra pass be to Ray Allen or Paul Pierce." Despite his team-high 29 points on Saturday, Rondo agrees. "Their game plan is still going to be to shut Paul and Ray off," he said. "They probably think that, if I'm going to beat them, so be it." He almost did Saturday. The C's are going to have to find a way to do it as a team tonight, or it's off to Chicago for two games with no guarantees they'll be back at the Garden again this season.
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 20, 2009 12:13:27 GMT -5
Herald www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1166773&format=textDoc’s orders: Wait, Kevin Garnett www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1166774&format=textCeltics ready to rebound www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1166777&format=textCeltics hope help on way with Derrick Rose www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view/2009_04_20_Case_closed:_Get_Ray_Allen_open/Case closed: Get Ray Allen open www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1166776&format=textDanny Ainge out of hospital www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1166812&format=textBulls’ Derrick Rose among elite NBA guards www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view/2009_04_20_76ers_rally_past_Magic:_Andre_Iguodala_s_late_shot_stuns_Orlando/76ers rally past Magic www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1166707&format=textSaga continues as Kevin Garnett sighted at practice facility Globe www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/04/20/little_lebron_big_problem?mode=PFLittle LeBron, big problem www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/04/20/celtics_watch_their_missteps?mode=PFCeltics watch their missteps www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/04/20/offensive_plan_aims_to_get_allen_involved?mode=PFOffensive plan aims to get Allen involved www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/04/20/old_college_try_successful_for_these_youngsters?mode=PFOld college try successful for these youngsters www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/Ray Allen -- positive practice MetroWest Daily www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/pros_and_colleges/x77787237/Celtics-will-keep-the-status-quoCeltics will keep the status quo Celtics.com www.nba.com/celtics/game_preview/preview042009-bulls.htmlRound 1 Game 2 preview CelticsBlog www.celticsblog.com/2009/4/20/844976/ike-diogu-explodes-kings-seasonIke Diogu explodes, Kings season ends www.celticsblog.com/2009/4/18/843552/celtics-stuff-live-sunday-nightCeltics Stuff Live 4/19 with Steve Bulpett LOY's Place celticsgreen.blogspot.com/2009/04/defense-banks-vs-rondo.htmlDefense: Banks vs Rondo celticsgreen.blogspot.com/2009/04/comments-from-other-side-bulls-game-1.htmlComments from the other side - Bulls Game 1 Celtics 17 mvn.com/celtics17/2009/04/are-the-celtics-chances-for-a-repeat-dead-not-in-my-book.htmlAre the Celtics chances for a repeat dead? Not in my book mvn.com/celtics17/2009/04/doc-playing-head-games.htmlDoc playing head games? Red's Army redsarmy.wordpress.com/2009/04/20/just-do-what-you-do/Just do what you do Layup Drill layupdrill.com/2009/04/with-garnett-out-Celtics-face-gut-check/With Garnett out, Celtics face a gut check Slam slamonline.com/online/nba/2009/04/kendrick-perkins-has-a-message-for-chicago-and-d-rose/Kendrick Perkins has a message for Chicago and D Rose SI.com sportsillustrated.cnn.com/danpatrick/blog/62141/Celtics have to be more up front about Garnett sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/chris_mannix/04/20/celtics.bulls.preview/?eref=T1Rose testing Celtics ailing defense NY Times www.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/sports/basketball/20celtics.htmlDavis tries for presence in Garnett's absence www.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/sports/basketball/20dribble.html?_r=1Marbury accepts role with Celtics for shot at title www.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/sports/basketball/20celtics.html?ref=sportsDavis and Co. Asked for more by Celtics Telegram www.telegram.com/article/20090420/NEWS/904200376/1009/SPORTSUnsweet smell www.telegram.com/article/20090419/NEWS/904190612/1009Doc won't treat KG query Connecticut Post forum.connpost.com/celticscentral/2009/04/trufancom_new_england_sports_b.htmlTrufan.com New England sports blog awards LA Sports www.nbclosangeles.com/sports/basketball/How-Big-Is-Threat-To-NBAs-Losers-At-Home.htmlAssessing the underdogs' chances Chicago Tribune www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-20-bulls-matchups-apr20,0,1295931.story Game 2 preview blogs.chicagosports.chicagotribune.com/fullcourtpress/2009/04/celtics-say-bulls-rose-cant-do-it-again.htmlCeltics say Rose can't do it again Eagle Tribune www.eagletribune.com/pusports/local_story_110011115.html?keyword=topstoryFriends and foes SouthCoast Today www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090420/SPORTS/904200316Allen's confidence could be a ray of hope NESN www2.nesn.com/boston-celtics/2009/04/19/celtics-need-to-pick-themselves-off-the-floor-for-game-2/Celtics need to pick themselves off the floor for game 2 NECN www.necn.com/Boston/Sports/2009/04/19/Doc-We-must-get-Ray-open-for/1240186348.htmlDoc: We must get Ray open for shots www.necn.com/Boston/Sports/2009/04/18/Big-Baby-Ray-call-for/1240101308.htmlBig Baby, Ray call for aggression Cleveland.com www.cleveland.com/budshaw/index.ssf/2009/04/once_cast_aside_many_cavaliers.htmlOnce cast aside, many Cavs carry a special motivation Chicago Sun Times blogs.suntimes.com/bulls/2009/04/missed_ft_saves_bulls_del_negr.htmlMissed FT saves Bulls, Del Negro Celtics Circuit www.celticscircuit.com/2009/04/not-so-fast.htmlNot so fast www.celticscircuit.com/2009/04/why-is-no-one-talking-about-rajon-rondo.htmlWhy is no one talking about Rajon Rondo? Celtics Hub celticshub.com/2009/04/19/the-kg-story-is-getting-ridiculous/The KG story is getting ridiculous Salt Lake Tribune www.sltrib.com/jazz/ci_12179621Flash, Dakota meet in D-League semifinal Patriot Ledger www.patriotledger.com/sports/x77787203/CELTICS-NOTEBOOK-Perkins-vows-Rose-won-t-have-a-repeat-performance-in-Game-2Perkins vows Rose won't have a repeat performance in game 2 WEEI Green Street greenstreet.weei.com/sports/boston/basketball/celtics/doc-celtics-have-to-get-ray-open/Doc: Celtics have to get Ray open greenstreet.weei.com/sports/boston/basketball/celtics/more-minutes-for-marbury/More minutes for Marbury? greenstreet.weei.com/sports/boston/basketball/celtics/celtics-to-do-list/Celtics to do list Hoopsworld www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=12329Game 2's Monday www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=123305 things we learned in the NBA this week Josh Q Public joshqpublic.com/2009/04/19/celtics-employ-layup-rule/Celtics must employ no layup rule Nashua Telegraph www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090419/SPORTS11/304199892/-1/sportsPierce, Allen misses prove costly www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090419/COLUMNISTS06/304199890/-1/columnistsDoc getting testy after game 1 loss forum.connpost.com/celticscentral/2009/04/forbidden_subjects_banned_ques.html#trackbacksForbidden subjects, banned questions Bulls.com blogs.bulls.com/chicago_bulls_blog/2009/04/everythings-coming-up-rose-in-bulls-playoff-win.htmlEverything's coming up Rose in Bulls playoff win Sporting News www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=540140LeBron James' quest for title is inevitable MVN Outsider mvn.com/outsider/2009/04/nba-crystal-ball-the-celtics-big-threes-best-days-are-done.htmlFor Celtics, the Big 3's best days are done Parquet Pride blog.masslive.com/parquetpride/2009/04/is_doc_rivers_telling_the_trut.htmlIs Doc telling the truth about KG's injury? Bleacher Report bleacherreport.com/articles/158525-the-loss-of-a-leader-kevin-garnetts-true-importance-to-bostonKG's true importance to the Celtics |
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