News 4/23

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1167502&format=text
Paul Pierce showing patience
Worth his wait

By Mark Murphy | Thursday, April 23, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Nancy Lane
In the old, pre-Banner 17 days, the ultimate sign of frustration was Paul Pierce [stats] in isolation mode.

He was hesitant, hammered on a nightly basis by double teams, and much too preoccupied with drawing fouls. A common Pierce pose was of outstretched arms after unsuccessfully playing to the referee as an opponent stripped away the ball.

Welcome to Games 1 and 2 against the Chicago Bulls, and a two-game 16-for-40 (40 percent) shooting performance from the field by the Celtics [team stats] captain. Worse still, he has only attempted nine free throws in that span, perhaps the ultimate sign that Pierce isn’t his normal aggressive self.

Pierce admittedly has yet to find his offensive current. He has been tentative, and he hasn’t been the only one.

But great scorer that he is, Pierce doesn’t worry about finding that next efficient performance.

“It doesn’t really bother me, if you know what I’m saying,” he said after yesterday’s practice. “It’s about the team. Other guys are stepping up for us, and that’s what’s big right now. (Glen Davis), (Rajon) Rondo playing the way he’s playing, (Kendrick Perkins [stats]) - I don’t really worry about that stuff - the coaches trying to figure out how to free me up. Over the course of this series I’ll figure it out.”

That doesn’t mean the tinkering stops.

The coaching staff’s first issue was Ray Allen, whose 1-for-12 performance in Game 1 was, in part, the result of subpar execution, including poor pick-setting by the Celtics big men.

Execution improved in Game 2, Allen found a late offensive flow with a 28-point second half, and he buried the game-winning 3-point shot courtesy of a crunching Davis pick.

Picks aren’t the issue for Pierce. But once again execution is the key.

In particular, Pierce needs better spacing to operate.

“I think really it’s a spacing issue,” said Allen. “The bigs are the key. If the bigs set screens (for) me, then they get open, and Paul’s open. Then they get easy layups. As Doc (Rivers, the C’s coach) has said, it’s the role of the bigs to get the smalls open, and then you get to your spots. That’s a priority. It’s smalls first and then you guys second. You’re not necessarily there to score, but now you make a play, and then the ball gets reversed, and Paul gets easier shots that way.

“A lot of times Paul is on the ball so much and so strong they’re doubling him. I think when I got open it’s easier for Paul because he doesn’t have to stop the ball all the time.”

Otherwise, Pierce becomes a glorified decoy.

“If that’s what’s going to happen, that’s what I’ll do,” he said. “If I have to go out there and set more screens to get somebody else open and make us more effective, then I will.”

The Celtics’ current big-man shortage considered, Pierce may even spend time playing the role of a power forward.

“I didn’t play that in the first game, but if someone gets into foul trouble then that has to be an option,” he said.

Above all, though, Pierce’s tentativeness needs some relief.

“We have to give him more space,” Rivers said. “I didn’t think they trapped him that much in the second game, and I thought he was looking for traps in the second game. That’s what made him hesitant. We showed him film yesterday with all of the time he had with all the time and space.

“One thing, the adjustment he has to make is that there’s really an in-between game against them because of their shot-blockers, and I thought he got too deep a couple of times. But Paul doesn’t need me in his head or any of us coaches in his head. He’s a great scorer, and scorers figure it out.”

Perkins agrees with the last part of what his coach was saying. Above all, stay out of the way.

“Just get his confidence,” said Perkins. “I don’t think he’s lost his confidence, but once his shot gets going it’s all right. Make the extra pick, and let him attack more. Once he attacks, it will be over.”

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1167505&format=text
Big news: Brian Scalabrine clear to play

By Dan Ventura | Thursday, April 23, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Herald file
The Celtics [team stats]’ fraternity of the walking wounded is about to lose one of its charter members.

Wearing a protective headband to cushion against a blow to the head, Brian Scalabrine practiced with the team yesterday and pronounced himself ready to return to action tonight for Game 3 of the Celtics-Bulls playoff series.

The 6-foot-9 forward has been sidelined since Feb. 23, suffering from post-concussion syndrome stemming from a pair of concussions he incurred in late January.

“I feel great, the head’s not an issue,” Scalabrine said. “As far as my body, I’ve been allowed to work out and our trainers did a great job with my conditioning, working with the bike and the treadmill. I didn’t even breathe hard at all during practice.”

The headband was a source of some good-natured ribbing. Scalabrine assured everyone this was no fashion statement or a dedication to Jackie Moon, the fictional character portrayed by Will Farrell in the movie “Semi-Pro.”

“It protects me in the slight chance I get hit (in the head) again. I’m not going to go Rip Hamilton and wear it for the next 10 years,” said Scalabrine, alluding the facemask Hamilton wears. “There is a piece inside the headband that one of the trainers kind of jimmy-rigged it together. It could blow up; stock options are available.”

Given the fact the Celtics are down two forwards (Leon Powe and Kevin Garnett) due to injuries, the re-emergence of Scalabrine couldn’t have come at a more opportune time.

Coach Doc Rivers said it was impossible to predict how effective Scalabrine would be.

“We’re asking a lot of Brian to be put into a great playoff series, one where guys have been playing,” Rivers said. “But we only have three bigs and he can make it four. He will play. We just have to put him in with the right group.”

If there is a reason for optimism, it would have to be the way Scalabrine performed in practice. Rivers was effusive in his praise for the veteran forward.

“He looked good, actually he played great,” Rivers said. “It’s funny, our bigs were not used to guarding him because he was standing out by the (3-point line) and he was making a lot of them. Hopefully he can make them (tonight).

“Right now, he’s cleared to play unless he has some symptoms (between now and gametime).”

With Scalabrine back in the fold, the Celtics have the luxury of throwing a few new wrinkles at the Bulls. Scalabrine can play power forward or center and is capable of doing a lot of things at both ends of the floor.

“To me, he’s the X-factor because he doesn’t have to score points,” teammate Ray Allen said. “With him, we can play small or we can play big. He gives us a lot of flexibility.”

Scalabrine was quick to assure everyone he feels much better than the last time he tried to return from a concussion, only to have the comeback stopped after three games.

“I feel much sharper now then I did when I came back against Utah,” he said. “I felt excellent, every time I had to go out there and make a decision, I was right there.

“When I came back last time, I didn’t feel good, but I just thought it was Utah with the high altitude, then Phoenix with the run-and-gun, then back to Denver with the high altitude. I probably did come back too early that time.

“(Yesterday), I felt great.”

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1167508&format=text
No changes to Kevin Garnett’s status

By Mark Murphy / Celtics Notebook | Thursday, April 23, 2009 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Nancy Lane
Another practice, another morning in the back room getting treatment for Kevin Garnett.

And once again the window for a return has been left cracked open in case the injured forward’s condition improves.

“It’s the same, no change,” Celtics [team stats] coach Doc Rivers said after yesterday’s practice in Waltham, which preceded a flight to Chicago for tonight’s Game 3 of a first-round playoff series vs. the Bulls. “The thing is that he’s just doing rehab. He does it every day, and I think he should do it because you never know. There is the chance the tendon could let go one day, you never know.”

The problem Rivers referred to is an inflamed tendon, attached to muscle, that has locked up Garnett’s right knee. The hope - the prayer, really - is that the inflammation will subside enough to improve Garnett’s mobility.

“No one sees that,” Rivers said of Garnett’s constant rehabbing and treatment. “I don’t ask, and I haven’t really asked in over a week about how he’s feeling. One day this week he said ‘Oh, I’m feeling a little better,’ and then the next day it was no, so I just coach the team.

“I just honestly ask Kevin every day how’s it going, how’s the family, how’s the baby, and that’s it. But if something happens, then he’ll be the first to tell me.”

Feeling for Powe

Few events this year saddened the team like Tuesday’s news that Leon Powe had torn the ACL and meniscus in his left knee for the second time.

“It is sad,” Ray Allen said. “I’ve seen a lot of guys, they’re playing in the league one year and then they’re out and you forget about them. I always wonder, what happened, and you never know. It’s just something, a medical issue, or for some guys disease-wise. Shawn Respert went away from the league and years later you found out that he got cancer.

“When you’re dealing with guys with injuries, you don’t know what they’re playing with on the floor. Sometimes if it’s somebody you play with, you don’t know what’s on the other end. You have to take advantage of these moments.”

One aspect of Powe’s story that has truly hit home for his teammates is the forward’s contract status. He will be a restricted free agent this summer, one obviously without much bargaining power.

“That’s the toughest part,” Allen said. “Injuries are the first things that people ask about when you’re being traded or signed. The first thing they ask about is the durability.”

Sticking point

Though the Chicago backcourt has produced two huge nights - a 36-point Game 1 by Derrick Rose and a 42-point Game 2 from Ben Gordon - that doesn’t mean that Tony Allen is going to see more time as a designated stopper. The Celtics guard played eight minutes in Game 1 and only four seconds in Game 2.

If giving more time to Allen means taking Ray Allen or Rajon Rondo [stats] off the floor, then Rivers wants no part of it.

“We’ve done what we’ve done all year and it’s been pretty good,” Rivers said. “One thing I’ve learned as a coach is just because (the other team) has big scorers for a couple of games, don’t scrap everything that got you there. The last time I checked, Ray Allen has played all year and we led the league in field-goal percentage (against). . . . That doesn’t mean Tony won’t play. If taking Ray off the floor would have been the answer, we would have lost (Game 2), because we wouldn’t have had Ray’s shots.” . . .

Rondo’s durability continues to amaze his peers.

After aggravating a chronic right ankle sprain while also producing a triple-double Monday night, Rivers said that the point guard would be ordered to rest during Tuesday and yesterday’s practice sessions. And yet there Rondo was yesterday, pushing as hard as ever.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/04/23/chicago_has_long_history_of_courtship?mode=PF
Chicago has long history of courtship
By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | April 23, 2009

CHICAGO - Long before Derrick Rose became a rookie sensation, the nationally acclaimed documentary "Hoop Dreams," and Michael Jordan first starred in a Bulls uniform, Chicago had a love affair with basketball.

Abe Saperstein founded the Harlem Globetrotters here in 1926, and the team adopted the name Harlem because it was viewed as the center of black culture at the time. The first African-American to sign an NBA contract was Chicago's Nat "Sweetwater" Clifton with the Knicks. Former NBA stars Mark Aguirre, Doc Rivers, Isiah Thomas, Maurice Cheeks, Quinn Buckner, Cazzie Russell, Tim Hardaway, Terry Cummings, and Antoine Walker hail from the Windy City. And while Texas might be known for its high school football, the same could be said about high school basketball in Chicago.

Sorry, New York, Chicagoans have no problem boasting that their city is the real mecca of basketball. Rose even called it "our sport." And tonight in Game 3 of the first-round playoff series between the Celtics and Bulls, Chicago will have three of its own to support in Rivers, Rose, and Celtics guard Tony Allen.

"I don't know where the talent came from, but we have a lot of people in Chicago that can play," Rose said. "Some should have made it before me. I know a lot are going to make it after me. I don't know why. I just know it's a city that loves basketball. It's the No. 1 sport in Chicago."

Basketball becomes ingrained in children in Chicago. While surely the Bulls are an influence, dreams of being a high school star initially foster that enthusiasm.

As a kid, Rivers dreamed of playing for Proviso East High School, not for the Bulls. Rivers's uncle, Jim Brewer, a former NBA player, was the first notable player to come out of Proviso East. With Rivers in attendance at age 7, Brewer led the school to its first of four Illinois state titles in 1969. Rivers went on to star at Proviso East, too, and was a three-time All-State selection. Other NBA players who followed Brewer and Rivers at Proviso East included Donnie Boyce, Sherell Ford, Michael Finley, Steven Hunter, Dee Brown, and Shannon Brown. Rivers's mother, Bettye, still attends Proviso East games.

"Road or home, I went to every game from kindergarten till I got to high school and then I played," Rivers said. "It started with watching my uncle. I started watching even before that. My parents, people in my community, just watched high school basketball.

"You go to your high school and it's huge. As a kid, you don't grow up wanting to be a pro player. You grow up wanting to play for your high school. That's good. That's healthy. And I think that's why [Chicago] ballplayers understand winning. They are not thinking about the pros or college. They're thinking about high school. That's a good thing."

Hardaway remembers when Rivers and Thomas were high school phenoms playing in front of thousands of fans in the late 1970s. Rivers actually graced the back page of the final issue of the Chicago Daily News in 1978.

"He was dunking, scoring, posting people up," said Hardaway of Rivers. "When Doc and Isiah played, they had 5,000 people at their games. I went to one game of Doc's and always heard about Isiah. When I was like in the sixth or seventh grade, my coach took me to see Doc. At high school games in Chicago, it's nothing to see 3,000-4,000 people. In Chicago, we love basketball. We love football, but we really love basketball. It's our first passion."

The latest Chicago high school star to make it to the NBA is Rose, who yesterday was named Rookie of the Year. He is the youngest of four boys who grew up on the South Side, spending countless hours playing on outdoor courts. Rose, Mr. Basketball in Illinois in 2007, led Simeon Career Academy to two straight state championships, and a No. 1 national ranking by Sports Illustrated.

"I wanted to be the best. I played in grammar school and stuff. I started early," Rose said.

Rivers believes Thomas, a Hall of Famer, is the best player to come out of Chicago. But there may never have been a player who made more of an impact in Chicago prep basketball in one year than Kevin Garnett.

After playing in South Carolina his first three years, Garnett played his senior season at Farragut Academy in Chicago. The slender big man was named Mr. Basketball in Illinois in 1995 after averaging 25.2 points, 17.9 rebounds, 6.7 assists, and 6.5 blocks while leading Farragut to a 28-2 record. Garnett was the fifth pick in the 1995 NBA draft and is cheered enthusiastically during pregame introductions when he plays the Bulls.

While Rose never saw Garnett play in high school, he heard stories from his brothers.

"He was just talented and they knew he had a [budding pro] career," Rose said. "They say he was dunking on everybody and bringing more energy to the game."

While Rivers joked that he only considers Garnett a Chicago native when he is playing well, Allen considers him a true Chicagoan.

"I caught a couple of his games [on television]," Allen said. "He's stamped already, for sure. You want to say he's from Chicago. Well, he put in his work. He's stamped. Chicago is behind Kevin Garnett, trust and believe that. He was always screaming, hollering, and yelling."

So, why is basketball so big in Chicago? Hardaway believes the ability to play indoors at a YMCA, Boys & Girls Club, or other gym in the winter helped.

"A lot of people don't want to be in the cold," Hardaway said. "If you like the cold, you can play football. The rest are indoors playing basketball."

No matter what the weather, Rose always found a way to play, even when a gym wasn't available.

"My friends and I would shovel snow, break the ice, and just move it to the side," Rose said. "We didn't do the whole court, but we did have the half court."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/04/23/for_bulls_a_new_deal?mode=PF
For Bulls, a new deal
Miller, Salmons transform club
By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff | April 23, 2009

WALTHAM - The Chicago Bulls concluded the regular season with 12 wins in 16 games and hit the playoffs at full speed, splitting the opening two games of their first-round series with the Celtics. So, if any team has a bullish attitude going into Game 3 tonight, it is the Bulls.

"As they should," Celtics guard Ray Allen said. "Any team I've played on, that's the first thing we thought of - let's get one in their building, then they don't have home-court advantage.

"But we feel good about who we are and the things we can do better moving forward. The team is very optimistic. Guys know that we could be 2-0, we could be where we are, or we could be 0-2. Either way, we still haven't played great basketball and we're looking to improve on that."

Chicago appeared headed toward a losing season before Brad Miller and John Salmons were acquired from Sacramento in February. But the Bulls went 16-10 after Miller and Salmons debuted in a 98-91 loss at Indiana Feb. 22. That deal, which sent Drew Gooden, Andres Nocioni, Michael Ruffin, and Cedric Simmons to the Kings, changed the Bulls.

"It is the trade, and it's not just those two players," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said of the Bulls' improvement. "I think it's made their team fit. Playing [Joakim] Noah and Miller together is a great combination. Salmons and Ben Gordon are two terrific scorers - Gordon was their only guy; now they have two of them, plus [Derrick] Rose.

"Noah has improved dramatically - that kid doesn't get half the credit [he deserves] - people look at his hair and how wild he is on the floor and they don't see all the things he's doing. He, as much as Rose in that first game , had everything to do with them winning that game. I think his maturity and his ability to affect games without scoring has been huge for them."

The Bulls have averaged 115.7 points in their last three games with the Celtics, including a 127-121 win in Chicago March 17.

"The first game [of the series] was an overtime game, so that's kind of misleading," Rivers said. "The second game, 118-115, those are not the type of games we want to get into. We're fortunate that we won it, but we did win it.

"We work on defense every day, so it's not a big change for us. We haven't done anything different, we just emphasize what we are not doing and what we should be doing. [The March 17 game] was strange. We had three bigs, a lot of foul trouble early, we went small I'd say 50 percent of that game. And once you go small, it's an offensive game."

The Bulls are 28-13 at home this season.

"The road is tougher. We're playing a very good team that's played us well at home," Rivers said. "We're going into a hostile environment. Having said all that, just show up to play. I don't think anybody is talking about concern going on the road at all."

Brian Scalabrine, who is returning from a Feb. 23 concussion, could help the Celtics' perimeter defense against Tim Thomas and Tyrus Thomas. Scalabrine's court sense could affect the Bulls' ability to find Gordon, who outscored Allen, 42-30, in Game 2, though Allen converted the deciding shot with two seconds to play.

"One thing I learned as a coach," Rivers said, "a guy scores, you don't scrap everybody that's got you there. The last time I checked, Ray Allen has played all year and we led the league in field goal percentage defensively. Because a team has had two good games - and Gordon's had one - we don't want to panic and start changing our whole team. That doesn't mean Tony [Allen] won't play. But taking Ray off the floor [in Game 2] would have been the answer - but we would have lost that game because we wouldn't have had Ray's shot."

Celtics captain Paul Pierce has struggled in the first two games.

"We won one and we could be 2-0," Pierce said. "And we still feel like we haven't even started playing our brand of basketball yet. We've allowed them to shoot 50 percent from the field, and that's not how we've been playing all year. Hopefully, as we move further and further in this series, we'll pick it up on the defensive end. We know that's not Celtics basketball, giving up 100 points a game, teams shooting 49-50 percent from the field.

"It's a combination of both - [Bulls] players stepping up when they have to, guys are getting hot, and some of the things we're doing."

As for his offense, Pierce said, "It's about the team, I'm not worried about getting more space. Other guys are stepping up for us, and that's big for us. Throughout the course of this series, I'll figure it out. I like to play in Chicago. I've had some of my better games there and it's a great atmosphere."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/04/23/scalabrine_heads_back_to_court?mode=PF
Scalabrine heads back to court
Forward set to provide much-needed backup
By Frank Dell'Apa, Globe Staff | April 23, 2009

WALTHAM - Forward Brian Scalabrine practiced at full speed yesterday and is expected to be available when the Celtics visit Chicago tonight in Game 3 of their first-round playoff series.

Scalabrine, who has been out since sustaining a concussion Feb. 23, wore a protective headband during the workout.

"It protects me in the slight chance I get hit there," Scalabrine said. "I'm not going to go Rip Hamilton and wear it for the next 10 years, but you never know. One of our trainers jimmy-rigged it together. It could blow up - stock options available.

"My head is not an issue. I've been allowed to work out and I feel good. I didn't even breathe hard."

The last time Scalabrine returned from injury, he struggled against Utah, fouling out in less than 12 minutes Feb. 19, then scored a season-high 14 points as a starter against Phoenix and was reinjured as a starter against Denver.

"We won against Phoenix, I had my season-high points, but if you ask the coaches, I made countless errors on the defensive end," Scalabrine said. "It was so uncharacteristic of me to do that. I feel much sharper now. I thought it was Utah in the high altitude, Phoenix in the run-and-gun, and Denver in the high altitude again, I thought it was all those things. But I really think I came back a little too early. I felt excellent [yesterday], I felt sharp, I felt like when it was time to make a decision, I made it quickly.

"I have the benefit of seeing the last two games and we've been going over Chicago for a week now. So I'm comfortable with what we need to do. Our bigs have to be solid. We're asking our bigs to do a lot, going out on [Derrick] Rose and trapping on [Ben] Gordon, and that's not an easy task to do. And we've just got to be aware of that and use our spacing and use our length to deter them from getting to the basket. The things I do well are understanding the defensive game plan, court spacing, and awareness."

Scalabrine changed the practice dynamic with his outside shooting.

"We're not used to guarding him standing out by the three," coach Doc Rivers said. "I hope he can make them [tonight]. He's been cleared to play. Obviously, you only have three bigs, he will play. We just have to put him in with the right group."


Rondo practices
Rajon Rondo, who sustained a sprained ankle in the first half of the Celtics' 118-115 win over the Bulls Monday, was slated to skip practice yesterday. But Rondo appeared to be going full speed in half-court drills.

"He wanted to practice," Rivers said. "We started out practice pretty sloppy and he wanted to stay out on the floor and try to get them right, and he did that."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/pros_and_colleges/x1098666125/Scalabrine-brings-balance-to-Cs-D
Scalabrine brings balance to C's 'D'
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By Scott Souza/Daily News staff
GHS
Posted Apr 23, 2009 @ 12:27 AM

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WALTHAM — Brian Scalabrine had a hard time even getting to dress for playoff games during last year's championship run. Now the Celtics are getting the veteran forward back in uniform just in time to help the injury-riddled club survive this postseason.

Scalabrine went through a full-contact practice for the first time in two months yesterday and pronounced himself fit to take the floor in tonight's Game 3 in Chicago (8 p.m., TNT, CSN) with the best-of-seven series tied at a game apiece. His return from post-concussion symptoms couldn't come at a more opportune time for a team reeling from the losses of Kevin Garnett (swollen right knee tendon) and Leon Powe (left knee ACL tear).

"We desperately need him," said Paul Pierce. "Hopefully, he can help us out. (Coach) Doc (Rivers) is probably going to be forced to play him because Leon went down. I think he'll be able to give us something."

It seems strange to view a player who averaged 3.5 points per game this season, and was inactive for 23 of 26 playoff games last year with three DNPs, as a savior. But while Scalabrine won't carry the C's past the Bulls, he will give them another look offensively and be a steadying force defensively.

"He doesn't have to score points," Ray Allen said. "But he's going to make us better. He's going to have an effect on the game. With him, we can go small or we can go big. That's going to give us a lot of flexibility."

"He played great," said Rivers of the workout. "Our bigs were not used to guarding him because he was standing out by the (3-point line). He made a lot of them. (Defensively) Scal has the quickness to help, and then not get beat off the dribble."

Scalabrine went through the workout wearing a protective headband he says he will wear tonight as well. Though he said he came back from his last concussion in February too soon, he is confident this time his patience will pay off.

"I feel much sharper now," he said. "When it came time to make a decision, I was right there."

Though never mistaken for a shutdown defender in his eight-year career, Scalabrine said he sees ways he can help bolster a sagging defense.

"I feel like the things I do well are understanding defensive game plans, and court-spacing, and awareness," he said. "I think our bigs need to just be solid. We're asking our bigs to do a lot - going to hedge out on (Derrick) Rose or trapping Ben Gordon. That's not an easy task. We have to be aware of that and use our length to deter them getting to the basket."

After giving up 36 points to Rose in Game 1, the C's surrendered 42 to Gordon as the Bulls shot 49 percent in Game 2.

"We haven't even started playing our brand of basketball yet," Pierce said. "We allowed them to shoot 50 percent last game. We gave up a hundred points the first game. That's not how we played all year. Starting in Game 3, hopefully we can pick it up on the defensive end. We know that's Celtic basketball."

"The first game was a little deceiving because it went into overtime," Rivers said. "The second game - 118-115 - those aren't the type of games we want to get into even though we did win it.

"We emphasize defense every day. It's not a big change for us. We are not doing anything different. We just emphasize what we're not doing that we should be doing."

That includes identifying Chicago's shooting threats within the context of the team's help-the-helper system.

"I think we understand the schemes," Allen said. "It's just adjusting on the fly as group. It's one thing for the coaches to give us a game plan, but as a team we have to understand certain situations.

"We have to understand that the mistakes have to be cut down to a minimum now that we're into the third game."

***

Rajon Rondo (sprained right ankle) pleaded his case to Rivers to practice yesterday and the coach relented after previously saying Rondo would miss the workout. After a sloppy start, Rivers said he finished strong and should be ready to go tonight.

[FLCeltsFan]

Herald
www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1167502&format=text
Paul Pierce showing patience

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1167505&format=text
Big news: Brian Scalabrine clear to play

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1167508&format=text
No changes to Kevin Garnett’s status

Globe
www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/04/23/chicago_has_long_history_of_courtship?mode=PF
Chicago has long history of courtship

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/04/23/for_bulls_a_new_deal?mode=PF
For Bulls, a new deal

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/04/23/scalabrine_heads_back_to_court?mode=PF
Scalabrine heads back to court

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2009/04/23/points_not_well_taken
Points not well taken

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/articles/2009/04/23/magic_pull_off_escape
Magic pull off escape

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2009/04/globe_100_do_yo.html
Is Rondo an elite point guard?

www.boston.com/sports/columnists/bob_ryan_blog/2009/04/two_games_in.html
Some points after games 1 and 2

www.boston.com/business/ticker/2009/04/reeboks_rondo_c.html
Reebok's Rondo campaign wins award

MetroWest Daily
www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/pros_and_colleges/x1098666125/Scalabrine-brings-balance-to-Cs-D
Scalabrine brings balance to C's 'D'

CelticsBlog
www.celticsblog.com/2009/4/23/849939/sam-smith-is-paul-pierce-hurt
Sam Smith: Is Paul Pierce hurt?

www.celticsblog.com/2009/4/23/849915/overrated-bulls-home-court
Overrated Bulls home court advantage?

www.celticsblog.com/2009/4/23/849924/blog-assists-4-23
Blog assists 4/23

www.celticsblog.com/2009/4/23/849906/dont-expect-much-more-tony-allen
Don't expect much more Tony Allen

LOY's Place
celticsgreen.blogspot.com/2009/04/random-thoughts-before-game-3.html
Random thoughts before game 3

celticsgreen.blogspot.com/2009/04/flash-lose-in-ot-in-spite-of-double.html
Flash lose despite double double from Giddens

Celtics.com
www.nba.com/celtics/game_preview/preview042309-bulls.html
Game preview: Celtics at Bulls game 3

www.nba.com/celtics/news/sidebar/sidebar042109-all-hands-on-deck.html
All hands on deck, Celtics search for front court help

Red's Army
www.redsarmy.com/home/2009/04/the-truth-will-be-heard.html
The Truth will be heard

Perkisabeast
perkisabeast.com/blog/?p=2001
With every win comes some sort of loss

ESPN
sports.espn.go.com/nba/playoffs/2009/columns/story?columnist=macmullan_jackie&page=Rondo-090423&campaign=rss&source=NBAHeadlines
Rondo fast becoming Celts' leader

Celtics Circuit
www.celticscircuit.com/2009/04/it-would-be-in-bostons-best-interest-to.html
It would be in Boston's best interest to win this series tonight

www.celticscircuit.com/2009/04/desperate-cry-of-help-to-our-bench.html
A desperate cry for help to our bench

NESN
www.celticscircuit.com/2009/04/it-would-be-in-bostons-best-interest-to.html
LeBron Kobe finals a foregone conclusion?

Southtown Star
www.southtownstar.com/sports/1539999,042309sptbullsnbk.article
Bulls on the lookout for Pierce

Connecticut Post
forum.connpost.com/celticscentral/2009/04/big_decisions_or_small.html#trackbacks
Big decisions or small?

Blog a Bull
www.blogabull.com/2009/4/22/849648/in-which-i-crap-all-over-the-bulls
In which I somewhat crap all over the Bulls vaunted home court advantage

www.blogabull.com/2009/4/21/848059/playoff-thoughts-observations
Playoff thoughts and observations

Enterprise
www.enterprisenews.com/sports/x1098666396/CELTICS-NOTEBOOK-Scalabrine-cleared-to-suit-up-for-action
Scalabrine cleared to suit up for action

Deseret News
www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705299174,00.html
Flash fight back bur fall to 14ers in OT

SouthCoast Today
www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090423/PUB01/904230325
What are the Celtics chances without Kevin Garnett?

www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090423/SPORTS/904230394
Celtics announcer needs to call it like it is, not how he sees it

www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090423/SPORTS/904230395
Big pressure on Big Baby

Green Street
greenstreet.weei.com/sports/boston/basketball/celtics/bulls-mystique-gone-for-celtics/
Bulls mystique gone for Celtics?

greenstreet.weei.com/sports/boston/basketball/celtics/all-eyes-on-paul-pierce/
All eyes on Paul Pierce

Daily Vidette
media.www.dailyvidette.com/media/storage/paper420/news/2009/04/23/Sports/Rondo.Taking.Over.For.The.Big.Three-3722832.shtml
Rondo taking over for Big 3

Chicago Sun Times
www.suntimes.com/sports/basketball/bulls/1539901,CST-SPT-bull23.article
Bulls looking for home improvement

www.suntimes.com/sports/basketball/bulls/1538697,bulls-derrick-rose-rookie-of-year-nba-042209.article
Derrick Rose voted NBA rookie of the year

Bulls.com
blogs.bulls.com/chicago_bulls_blog/2009/04/could.html
Could Paul Pierce also be injured?

USA Today
www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2009-04-23-slumping-pierce_N.htm
Paul Pierce feeling a little out of rhythm

www.usatoday.com/sports/basketball/nba/2009-04-22-2873690969_x.htm
Pierce content in a supporting role

Celtics Hub
celticshub.com/2009/04/22/is-glen-davis-a-good-player/
Is Glen Davis a good player?

celticshub.com/2009/04/23/the-x-factor-brian-scalabrine/
The X Factor: Brian Scalabrine?

celticshub.com/2009/04/22/the-soap-opera-continues-kg-to-hold-off-on-surgery/
Hope is a good thing: KG to hold off on surgery

celticshub.com/2009/04/22/free-throw-disparity-chicago/
Free throw disparity at Chicago

celticshub.com/2009/04/22/frozen-moments-games-1-and-2/
Frozen moments: Games 1 and 2

Daily Herald
www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=288565&src=150
Celtics using size to their advantage

ProJo
www.projo.com/celtics/content/bill_reynolds_0422.fe92d53c.html
NBA is all about LeBron vs Kobe

www.projo.com/celtics/content/sp_bkn_celtics_web_23_04-23-09_LTE4F6D_v2.1e9efbf.html
Bulls are showing us that they might be better than we thought

Chicago Tribune
www.chicagotribune.com/sports/chi-23-bulls-bits-chicago-apr23,0,4677427.story
Salmons wary of Pierce's slump

www.chicagotribune.com/sports/basketball/bulls/chi-23-mitchell-bulls-apr23,0,5631842.column
Vinny Del Negro's father big fan of.... Celtics

Bleacher Report
bleacherreport.com/articles/160573-bullsceltics-two-games-in-what-to-expect-from-here
Bulls/Celtics: 2 games in, what to expect from here

bleacherreport.com/articles/159971-rose-game-one-performance-historical
Rose game 1 performance against Celtics historical

Full. Court Press
celtics.bostonsportsmedia.com/give-and-go-kickoff-playoffs-edition/
Give and go: Bum rush the playoffs edition

celtics.bostonsportsmedia.com/junk-food-for-the-celtics-fans-soul/
Junk food for the Celtics fan's soul

Sporting News
www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=541268
Point guards making their mark in this year's playoffs

Hoopsworld
www.hoopsworld.com/teams/Rankings.asp
Power rankings - Celtics 10th

www.hoopsworld.com/Story.asp?story_id=12375
Next year's MVP race

SI.com
sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/writers/ian_thomsen/04/22/nba.playoffs/index.html
The toughest call: block or charge?

Locksmith Sports
www.locksmithsportspicks.com/nba-playoff-odds-boston-celtics-vs-chicago-bulls-game-3-42209/
NBA playoff odds: Celtics Bulls game 3

WEEI
audio.weei.com/m/22134583/doc-rivers-celtics-head-coach.htm
Doc Rivers on Dennis and Callahan

CSN Celtics Stuff Live
csnne.com/wickedgoodsports/celtics/scalabrine-to-the-rescue/
Scalabrine to the rescue?

csnne.com/wickedgoodsports/celtics/playoff-thoughts-part-deux/
Playoff thoughts part deux

csnne.com/wickedgoodsports/celtics/ray-allen-rolls-chicago-rolling-observations/
Ray Allen rolls Chicago: Rolling observations

Wager Web
entertainment.wagerweb.com/sports/basketball/celtics-in-big-trouble-9451.html
Celtics in big trouble with Powe out also

Fox Sports
msn.foxsports.com/nba/story/9483118/Home-cooking-isn't-as-sweet-as-usual
Home cooking isn't as sweet as usual


Celtics 17
mvn.com/celtics17/2009/04/im-not-going-to-say-i-told-you-so-but-still-glen-davis-is-doing-pretty-well.html
I'm not going to say I told you so, but Glen Davis is doing well

mvn.com/celtics17/2009/04/top-ten-pgs-in-the-nba.htmlhttp://mvn.com/celtics17/2009/04/top-ten-pgs-in-the-nba.html
Top 10 PGs in the NBA

Jazzbots
www.jazzbots.com/web/2009/04/21/over-confidence-is-their-weakness/
Over confidence is their weakness

Mass Live
www.masslive.com/sportsflash/index.ssf?/base/sports-8/1240444882211060.xml&storylist=masssports
Disappointed Powe set to begin comeback from playoff injury