News 1/9

[FLCeltsFan]

Vincent glad to see spirit of ’86 back

By Mark Murphy | Wednesday, January 9, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Nancy Lane
Sam Vincent still has friends in New England, and the first-year Charlotte coach has been able to track the emotional shifts in Celtics [team stats] nation through their e-mails.

“Everybody in that area became kind of disappointed during the down years,” the Bobcats coach said yesterday. “It was a long spell where things seemed to go from not being good, to not being that good, and back to just not being good.

“But the exciting thing in that community is that Celtics fans stay true to their heart. Once they care about you, they never forget.”

Vincent still can feel the love from 22 seasons ago, when the Celtics won their last NBA title.

He was a rookie guard - the 20th pick in the draft out of Michigan State - on that Celtics team, and experienced the best of what this city can bestow on its favorite athletes.

He’s about to lead his own young Bobcats into tonight’s game against what, once again, is the hottest team in basketball.

“We know it’s electric up there,” said Vincent. “I’m really happy for their success. It’s a great thing for the city.”

Whether that success matches that of the 1985-86 Celtics is another issue.

Beyond the title, that team went 50-1 at home, playoffs included - one of the most insurmountable marks in the history of the league.

“That was an unusual run at home,” he said of a record that was marred only by a loss to Portland. “It was very special. Imagine going into every home game with that kind of focus and energy, and knowing that the (crowd) was going to be ready every night.”

As much as the leadership of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce [stats] and Ray Allen has been heralded, they had nothing on the original Big Three, which in truth were a lot more than three players.

“The leadership on that team - man, I hadn’t been around that kind of leadership before,” said Vincent. “For one thing, Dennis Johnson had a very strong personality that could fill a locker room.

“And then you had someone like Larry Bird, who more kept to himself, but was a quiet leader. With people like that around you, there was never any question of whether you were going to be ready, because people were always setting this high standard.

“And then you had others who did the same thing - Robert Parish and Kevin McHale,” said Vincent. “I think (coach KC Jones) was perfect for that team, because he knew how to blend it all together, how to motivate it, and what were the right sets to get people into.”

Perhaps a comparison between then and now - salary cap era considered - isn’t such a good idea after all.

“I agree - you probably can’t have a team like that today,” said Vincent. “The support that team had off the bench was phenomenal with guys like Jerry Sichting and Scott Wedman. We had Bill Walton coming off the bench for one of his best seasons as a player.

“You can kind of make a comparison with this team because of the fact that they have three major, big-time players. But I don’t know that they have a dominant big coming in off the bench like Bill Walton.”

They do have the crowd, however. Vincent expects that much hasn’t changed.

“I just remember this city being very excited,” he said. “Boston has always had some of the best fans in the league, and there has always been a real connection between the fans and community and the players. You felt it any time you went out - just real electric.”

Article URL: www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1065403

[FLCeltsFan]

Cause for concern
Allen sent for MRI, CT scan

By Mark Murphy / Celtics Notebook | Wednesday, January 9, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Ted Fitzgerald
Ray Allen, bothered by a pinched nerve in his neck for the better part of a week, likely will miss tonight’s Celtics [team stats] game at the Garden against the Charlotte Bobcats because of some alarming conditions.

The guard, who sat out yesterday’s practice, said he recently started to experience numbness in three fingers on his right (shooting) hand. The little finger on the hand also developed discoloration.

“I haven’t been able to sleep,” said Allen, who said he first started to notice symptoms shortly before Friday’s home win over Memphis.

Allen played against the Grizzlies and again in Saturday night’s road win against the Detroit Pistons. By yesterday, however, the discomfort had finally reached a breaking point.

“It’s just real uncomfortable,” Allen said.

According to Allen, doctors were alarmed enough by what they saw on an MRI that they then ordered a CT scan. He was awaiting the results of the latter test.

“The doctor asked if there was anything in one of the games that could have caused this, but I don’t know,” he said. “I’ve never had anything like this before.”

Allen has no idea if his Dec. 30 collision with Lamar Odom in Los Angeles - essentially a flying hip check delivered by the Lakers forward that resulted in a Flagrant 2 foul and one-game suspension - played a role in the injury.

“I mean, I’m sore after every game,” he said. “You ice yourself after every game, wake up in the morning, see a scar across your chest, and it’s hard to say where you got it from. The things we put our bodies through are normal for us. So you never distinguish one from the other.”

Allen’s coach didn’t sound particularly concerned.

“Not really,” said Doc Rivers, adding with a joke, “If he loses it forever, that would be bad.”

Davis expects to go

Glen Davis also missed practice with a sore right knee. He is expected to play tonight.

The big rookie was hurt while landing awkwardly during his 20-point rampage against the Pistons, though the injury wasn’t bad enough to keep him off the floor.

“With the adrenaline rush you don’t feel anything while you’re playing,” Davis said. “Besides, in a big game you don’t want to go out.”

Davis, incidentally, was in full school-spirit mode, courtesy of alma mater LSU’s win Monday night over Ohio State for college football’s national title.

“LSU wins another one,” he said.

Matchup problems

Allen, whose last-minute shot won a Nov. 24 game at Charlotte, is probably the one player not to lose with the Bobcats in town.

“We’d better play better this time,” Rivers said. “They create a ton of matchup problems for you, and then they go into (isolations) that are difficult for us. (Gerald) Wallace at the 4 is tough.”

Said Kevin Garnett: “(Wallace) is one of the few players in this league who plays both ways, and now he’s shooting 3s, too. But he’s one of the best one-on-one defenders in the league.”

Article URL: www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1065401

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/01/09/sore_neck_a_pain_for_allen?mode=PF

Sore neck a pain for Allen
Guard may sit out against Charlotte
By Peter May, Globe Staff | January 9, 2008

WALTHAM - Two days of sitting at home, with all the attendant attractions therein (the NFL playoffs, the BCS title game, the New Hampshire primary coverage) was what Ray Allen thought he needed to lose his stiff neck.

He was mistaken. Now he might lose a game.

The Celtics guard sat out practice yesterday and is questionable for tonight's game against the dreaded Charlotte Bobcats with what Allen said is a pinched nerve. He had an MRI yesterday morning and a CT scan after that to confirm the diagnosis.

He said he received a shot to "try and relieve the pressure in the area. I can lift [the right arm], but it's real achy right now and there's a little bit of burn in it."

He said he was day to day. Coach Doc Rivers said he wouldn't be surprised if Allen missed the game, but also said if it were a playoff situation, he wouldn't be surprised if Allen played.

What happened? Allen doesn't know. He said he has been experiencing soreness in the neck area for four or five days and even some radiating pain down through his shoulder and right arm into his hand. Maybe that might explain his dreadful shooting night against Memphis Friday (0 for 9) and not-so-great night against Detroit Saturday (3 for 8). He has scored in single figures in the last two games after scoring at least 10 in the previous 126 games.

But what really got Allen's attention was tingling and then numbness in three fingers, along with what looked to be discoloration in his pinky. That's when he went to trainer Ed Lacerte, who in turn got Allen in for the tests.

"The last two days, it got a little more intense to where I couldn't sleep," Allen said. "Anywhere I turned, it was like a little sharp pain back there. I was trying to monitor the thing and [hoped that] with a couple days' rest, it would go away. And then the fingers told me a little more, that I should call the trainer and tell him what was I feeling."

If Allen can't go tonight, it will be the third game he has missed this season. He missed games against Milwaukee (Dec. 14) and Toronto (Dec. 16) while resting a sore right ankle. The Celtics won both.

"From my understanding, it's day to day," said Rivers. "You get hit in the wrong spot. It can happen."

But Allen can't recall a specific play or incident where he might have hurt himself.

"I have no idea," he said. "It's a real uncomfortable feeling, just like when you hit your funny bone. But that's what I'm feeling all day long."

He said the doctor told him the discoloration may have come from an aggravated nerve that wasn't getting the proper blood flow. And, needless to say, this is a new one on the list of injuries he has had over his career.

"I'm sore after every game," he said. "I never really take body inventory after a game. You ice, but there's always something. It's hard to pinpoint. You'll wake up in the morning with a scratch or a bruise and you've played four games in five nights and you can't say what game it happened in.

"The things we put our bodies [through] is normal to us. Some soreness you play with. You get your proper treatment, you ice, whatever it is, and then you go out and play basketball. It just seems like there's always something there."


Wounded knee
Two days after his breakout game against the Pistons (20 points, 16 in the fourth quarter), rookie Glen Davis was on the sideline, nursing a sore right knee. "One good game and he'll never practice again," cracked Rivers. Said Davis, "It's a little bone bruise. I'll be back. Just have to let it heal and I'll be ready to help my team." Davis said he hurt the knee on one of his four "and-ones." Rivers said he thought Davis would be able to go tonight. Meanwhile, Davis, who is from Baton Rouge and went to LSU, was basking in the Tigers' victory over Ohio State in the BCS game. "Great job. Go, Tigers," he said . . . Good news for Leon Powe. He will get paid for the rest of the season. All contracts are guaranteed as of Jan. 10, which means the Celtics would have had to waive Powe yesterday. It never was a consideration, according to Danny Ainge.


Fast times
A victory tonight would make this Celtics team the fastest to reach 30 wins (33 games). The 1959-60 team needed 34 games to get to 30 wins, while the 1961-62 team needed 35. Two teams (1984-85 and 1972-73) reached 30 wins in 36 games . . . The Bobcats are riding an 11-game road losing streak, but don't bother telling that to Rivers. He remembers the first meeting between the teams Nov. 24, when the Celtics stole the ball at the end of the game, leading to Allen's winning three. "Charlotte deserved to win that game and we stole it at the end," Rivers said. "We'd better play better. They play hard. They're athletic. They present a lot of tough matchups for us." The Bobcats, who beat the Nets, 115-99, last night, have yet to win this season on the second night of a back-to-back . . . Charlotte's Jared Dudley, the former Boston College star, ranks 17th among rookies in scoring, 11th in rebounds, and is tied for 16th in assists. But going into last night's game, he hadn't played in two games because of coaching decisions. Last night he played only 2:19.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/x1638237356


Celtics fare better in the sequels

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By Scott Souza/Daily News staff
GHS
Tue Jan 08, 2008, 11:57 PM EST

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Story Tools: Email This | Print This
WALTHAM -
Through all the triumphs the Celtics have garnered this season, their insistence has been that this is a process where they learn more from their mistakes than they take from their victories.

Nowhere has that shown up better than in the three rematches from their only three losses.

The latest (and greatest) of those rematches came Saturday night when the Celtics turned the tables from their last-second defeat to Detroit on Dec. 18 with their biggest victory of the season.

"That was a playoff game," said Celtics guard Eddie House. "That was just like the playoffs out there. It is good to see us win the playoff atmosphere-type games."

Much like the playoffs, the reversal was all about making adjustments and exploiting matchups. The Celtics did that earlier this season in avenging losses to Cleveland and Orlando, but did it particularly well Saturday night as they looked at their mistakes from the defeat three weeks ago and made the corrections that made for a different outcome.

Glen Davis was the secret weapon in the fourth quarter when he took advantage of Detroit's devotion to stopping Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett for 16 of his 20 points, while the Celtic guards did a better job offensively and defensively handling Detroit's potent backcourt.

"It was just being more prepared for what they do," House said. "The first game we weren't prepared for their run-and-jump (defense). We knew they pressured, but they did the run-and-jump a couple of times and we turned it over. That sped us up. Being ready for that, we were able to see it coming and we weren't running right to the corners. We were staying in the middle of the floor, initiating our offense and then going to the sidelines once we got in it.

"Then we pressured down on the flip side and they didn't like that."

That pressure on the perimeter showed in the Pistons' distance shooting that crushed the Celtics the first time and was tempered in the rematch. Detroit shot 45 percent (9-for-20) on 3-pointers at the Garden Dec. 18 and only 33 percent (7-for-21) at the Palace. Guards Rip Hamilton and Chauncey Billups combined for 49 points on 16-of-28 shooting (57 percent) the first time out and hit for 35 points on 10-for-28 shooting (36 percent) in the second go around.

"We gave them too many open 3s in the first game, then they didn't get that many in the second game," noted House. "Things like that, if we fix those areas where have problems then we think that maybe we can win the next game."

As gaudy as the 29-3 record is going into tonight's game against Charlotte (TD Banknorth Garden, 7:30), it does make sense that a squad with seven new players and only six holdovers from last year would continue to improve.

"As amazing as it sounds we are still at the meshing point," Garnett confirmed. "We learn something new about ourselves every game."

Though they have yet to face Western Conference powers San Antonio, Phoenix and Dallas, the Celtics now have the satisfaction of knowing they have beaten every team in the Eastern Conference at least once.

For what that's worth.

"I don't even know if we know that, or if we care," dismissed Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "I know you have to talk about it because it's our record and people are going to keep bringing it up, but I don't think anyone came in here and said anything about it.

"We talked about Detroit for about 30 seconds and then we went onto Charlotte."

***

The Celtics will likely be without starting shooting guard Ray Allen tonight after he experienced pain from a pinched nerve in the back of his neck and sat out yesterday's practice. Rivers was a little more optimistic about Davis playing even though the rookie also sat out practice yesterday with a knee bruise he suffered in Saturday's victory.

"It's not anything that's going to last," Rivers said of Allen's injury. "From my understanding, it's day-to-day. ... I don't think it's anything awful."

Rivers said he is not apt to take any chances with injuries in the middle of January.

"If it's a nick, at this point of the season, it's not worth practicing or even playing," he said. "Obviously, it were a playoff game everybody would be playing. But it's not and we need to get our bodies healed."

[FLCeltsFan]

yardbarker.com/nba/articles/Day_to_Day/64770

Day to Day
RajonRondo
submitted by RajonRondo
12 hours ago | 14 comments | Email to a Friend
I have some bad news....I probably won't be gambling as much with my teammates anymore....I lost a lot of money a few days ago and I'm still kind of sick behind it. Well...I may still gamble, but I may not go overboard like I did...haha.

As many of you all know, I pulled my hamstring in the Utah game while we were on the West Coast. It's doing ok now, but some days it still hurts a little. I've been getting treatment on it every day..sometimes twice a day. It's getting better, so I've been able to play.

We just came off of a W against Detroit...I'm soo glad about that. It was a good game, Big Baby did his thing that game. We had early practice this morning...I went hard in it. I gotta get back off this lil injury. We play the Bobcats tomorrow..that's gonna be a good game.

My agent is in town. I'm about to go have dinner with him...see what's up with everything. Of course we are going to my spot, Ruth's Chris. I actually tried another steak house the other day...Abe&Louie's. It was good, but I'm still a Ruth's Chris fan. I will be touching base soon...but for now...I'll holla!

[FLCeltsFan]

www.celtic-nation.com/news/2007_2008_news/spite.htm

WINNING IN SPITE OF INCONSISTENCY

Celtic juggernaut on a roll
By: Lee Lauderdale | Tuesday, January 8th 2008


Editors Note: Lee Lauderdale is a longtime member of Celtic Nation, and is now taking on the dual roles of guest columnist and regular contributor.


At this juncture the best-record-in-the-NBA Boston Celtics are far from a well-oiled machine. Their lack of consistency makes them vulnerable to a team putting together a hot night. The fact that, even so, they stumble only once every ten games should be pretty daunting to the rest of the league. Even more sobering is the potential for them to improve as they settle into their roles and work out the kinks. The fact that they have two starters under 24 and are getting significant contributions from a rookie reserve suggests that they will also benefit from the maturation of their youths. As good as it is, it’s going to get better.

Consider the following puzzling contradictions during their past week of victories:

Celtics beat Detroit in Detroit stopping their 11 game winning streak. The Boston Big Three combine for 12 for 35 (34%) shooting, 8 turnovers, and 11 fouls

Boston beats Memphis. In 60 minutes the Celtic starting backcourt combines for 2 for 18 (11%) shooting, 9 turnovers, and only 6 points.

Boston beats Houston. In 26 minutes starting center Perkins has more turnovers than rebounds, assists, or made shots. and more fouls than points and rebounds combined. Mainstay subs James Posey and Tony Allen combine for 32 minutes but produce only 1 point.

Celtics beat the Lakers in L.A. Starting (and some say only) point guard, Rajon Rondo, is out with an injury. Tony Allen starts in his stead and in 42 minutes fouls out after racking up a 1 to 1 assist to turnover ratio (only slightly worse than the team totals of 16 turnovers to 17 assists). While all active players get in the game, the end of the bench (Pollard, Scal, Pruitt, Davis, and Powe) combine for 18 minutes but make no shots from either the field or free-throw line, and have more fouls than points, assists, rebounds, and blocks combined.

Every Celtic has had a sub-par, if not downright horrific, game during this winning week. Starters have had 0-fers, missed games due to injury or halves due to foul problems, racked up turnovers, rebounded like their hands and the ball were opposite-pole magnets, or passed into swarms of defenders. Even our most consistent stalwarts have stumbled from time to time. This hasn’t just been the inconsistency of youth (a trumpeted theme of recent seasons). Veterans, and veteran stars, have come a cropper, with the only saving grace being that they typically find other ways to contribute when their shot is not falling. It might be said that the Celtics have consistently been inconsistent.

That’s not to say that there have not been some consistencies in addition to the winning. “I got your back.” is a truism on several levels. Defensively it has allowed them to challenge perimeter shooters with minimal penalties from opponents attacking the basket. Unsuccessful gambles in the passing lanes don’t result in automatic layups. Opposing superstars have had some pretty horrific games facing the in-your-face defense with help coming early, often, and from different directions. Offensively, a bad shooting night or untimely turnover don’t seem to have such a deleterious effect when a teammate steps up to fill the gap. The fact that an unexpected, or unexpectedly large, contribution comes from a different source, or sources, almost every night only makes the phenomena that much more difficult to predict, scout, or counter. Rising to the occasion has been consistent, it is only the who that has been inconsistent.

Stars defer not only to each other but to their teammates, on and off the court. Garnet may have provided the initial impetus but this has become a team effort. Paul Pierce, frequently criticized in the past as a selfish player who wouldn’t trust teammates, leads the team in assists. In Detroit Big Baby wouldn’t have had a 20 point night entirely on under-a-foot shots and converting old-fashioned three-point plays without a steady stream of feeds resulting from ball movement gravitating to the open man. Seldom has any NBA team made double-teaming such a risky defensive maneuver. The deference extends beyond the court. As Davis headed for the locker room only to be diverted for a post-game player-of-the-game interview, Garnet’s huge hand was placed on Big Baby’s head as he anointed him with a “You came to play.” blessing. Kevin not only seems to enjoy sharing the limelight but even demands the media coverage include others. Can anyone doubt that these attitudes foster allegiance and camaraderie.

Also consistent has been the energy and hustle. Someone is missing a bet in not signing up Kevin Garnet to do an Australian accent “Now there’s an Energizer Bunny!” commercial for that battery company. With this example of leadership blazing the path, the energy dependent aspects of basketball have been prominently on display. Rebounding, defense, tracking down loose balls, and denying layups are all energy-rich activities and have all been mainstays of this Celtics’ squad. Previous teams seemed to find taking a charge a bit aversive, these guys embrace this ploy that is equivalent to getting an opponent turnover and foul at the same time. Posey may be the Zen master of this science but he has found a willing disciple in Glen Davis. Also Perk, and even Pierce, have discovered the take-a-charge path productive. Occasionally a loose ball finds so many Celtics on the floor that one wonders if there will be a green shirt standing to receive the retrieved ball. Defensive energy has made most opponents comment on the difficulty of creating an open look or clear path to the basket. Shot clock violations are up, field goal percentages down. Most nights the C’s win the rebounding battle and seeing an opponent sweep in to convert an offensive rebound has become rare. Even in the scramble of early-offense the Celtics seem to seldom allow a shooter an open look. Gone are the days of stars playing mid-40’s minutes and “conserving” energy. Hustle is infectious, and effective.

Perhaps the best part is that these consistencies are very durable. Players may not always be “on” but they can always work hard, and unselfishly. Sharing breeds contentment but not complacency. Stars are always examples, there just not always good ones--and the Celtic stars are great ones. Players will continue to have bad games; accrue nicks, bruises, and strains; and find their shooting touch eludes them from time to time. These Celtics are building on foundations that will stand the test of time, fill the gaps and lapses, and temper the steel and hone the edge of their NBA weapon. The liars (liars, darn liars, and statisticians) will continue to be able to find odd and discouraging anomalies in every box score. Fortunately this whole seems to far exceed the sum of the (pretty impressive) parts.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.metrobostonnews.com/us/article/2008/01/09/02/5935-72/index.xml



The laugh factoryCeltics show their comedic side away from the court
NBA. It doesn’t take much more than an abacus to figure out the Celtics have more wins than any team in the league.


And, though a scientific instrument can’t be used to calculate personality, the C’s probably lead the NBA in that category, too.


Postgame press conferences featuring Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce closer resemble some of Boston’s improv clubs than dissections of the game. Rarely does one pass by without one of the Celtics’ stars buckling the room
over in laughter.


Whether they’re joking about bowel movements, lobbying for shoe sales — Garnett is with Adidas; Pierce is signed by rival Nike — or just jawing at one another about that night’s rebound totals, it often seems like a scene from an Abbott and Costello skit.


After the Celtics steamrolled the Knicks by 45 points on Nov. 29, a laugher in its own right, Garnett was asked if he could remember ever having that much rest in the fourth quarter.


“I don’t even remember,” Garnett responded before stopping to think.


“When we blew y’all out two years ago,” Pierce interjected, drawing a laugh in the process.


“Get your !!!GREENIAC!!! out,” Garnett said. “I don’t know what he’s talking about.”


The laughs seem to start at the top with Head Coach Doc Rivers, who has the ability of a late-show host to drop a one-liner.

But the C’s comedy cast also stars the quirky Scot Pollard, a riot tandem of Eddie House and Tony Allen, and rookie Glen Davis, who Rivers referred to as “a different bird in a good way.”


Davis has publicized his comedic stylings with an inane message on the Garden video boards that urges the fans to get pumped for the fourth quarter, and it’s drawn laughs from players and referees alike.


The room is even hit with unintentional humor, like Ray Allen’s stories of driving — unsuccessfully — in Boston traffic, or Kendrick Perkins’s red-faced affair that involved dropping his bed on his right foot, which caused him to miss a game in December.

“It’s fun,” Garnett said of his first season in Boston. “Every day has a new challenge, and it stays interesting, as you see. It’s fun. I’m enjoying it. Obviously, winning makes it a lot better.”