News 2/15

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1073716&format=text

NBA-best Celtics way ahead of curve
Midseason report card mostly A’s and B’s

By Steve Bulpett | Friday, February 15, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Matt Stone (file)
As they pause for the All-Star break, Greenhearts all over must be in some measure of pain. A year ago, their team was diving for pingpong balls. Now it owns the best record in the NBA.

The repeated self-pinchings must be taking a toll.

Even to those watching every day, the turnaround is incredibly stark. But 41-9 on Feb. 15 doesn’t guarantee a trip to the NBA Finals. In fact, the belief here is that the Celtics [team stats] could have some extremely difficult postseason matchups with a number of teams. They are better than the teams that will fill out the bottom of the Eastern Conference draw, but wouldn’t a series with Washington, for example, be a bit interesting?

Therefore, on one hand, we cannot be blinded by the record. But in that we can only go on the evidence before us, it is patently impossible not to be impressed with what this team has done. Particularly in light of how well it has continued to perform without Kevin Garnett, the club has answered doubters.

That is not to say it will pass all the tests to come. Shortcomings may appear in time. But in the absence of psychic powers, there can be relatively few discouraging words to dispense.

Ray Allen -- His shooting numbers are off, and it’s clear he’s had some trouble coming back from the offseason ankle cleansing and adjusting to the new situation. But when playing with greater instinct later in games, he’s been more aggressive -- and more successful. And the fact he must always be respected by defenses gives others more room to operate. He’s getting criticized a bit for his percentage from the floor. Not here. B-plus.

Tony Allen -- He must be given some latitude as he comes back from knee surgery, and he remains a huge X factor for this team. If Allen gets back near his level from last season, he can be a weapon off the bench that gives the Celtics a huge matchup advantage. But defense has to come first, and he’s done a much better job of that lately. Perhaps trying to recapture last year too fast, he forced his offense and turnovers resulted. His progress will be important to monitor. C-plus.

Glen Davis -- Better than expected, but still prone to rookie inconsistencies. When given regular time, he’s provided more than the Celtics could have hoped out of a second-round pick. His work against the Spurs and his fourth quarter against the Pistons on the road were remarkable. Some of the latter was explained as simply hitting open layups when the defense rotated, but his lefty drive through Rasheed Wallace that night was veteran material. B-minus.

Kevin Garnett -- What he’s done on the floor is apparent. The numbers speak for themselves. But what he’s meant in terms of attitude and defensive consciousness could be of even greater effect. Garnett has benefited, too, from his surroundings. As a star who likes to pass, the fact he has better players with him makes him more dangerous than he was in Minnesota. But the Celts would still like to see him take his man a little more often. As long as the abdominal injury is as relatively minor as the club says, there is reason to believe that better is yet to come. A.

Eddie House-- The Celts knew what they were getting ... and it’s what they wanted. House is a veteran sniper who can alter a game when he is on. Even when his jumper is not quite there, the fact he forces the pace with his energy is of value. It’s instructive to note that the C’s didn’t believe Damon Stoudamire to be a significant upgrade. B-minus.

Kendrick Perkins [stats] -- It is to his public detriment that a good portion of what he provides doesn’t show up on the stat sheet. There is no accompanying number for getting physical in the lane or stepping over to pick up a driver gone free, but if you want a testimonial on Perkins, just go to Garnett. Perkins will continue to drive his coaches a little batty when he takes an offensive rebound or a pass up high and brings it down to his waist, but his overall importance to the entity is unquestioned. The Celts are praying the shoulder strain is manageable. B-minus.

Paul Pierce [stats] -- He remains an explosive scorer; only now his team is better equipped to handle those times when he doesn’t have it going. There have been times when he’s tried to force things, but, as evidenced from his late-game passing to Davis and Leon Powe -- as well as Garnett and Allen -- he’s gotten a lot more comfortable with moving the ball in crunch time. A-minus.

Scot Pollard -- Can he be a factor against big men down the stretch and in the postseason? Can he be counted on? Only his left ankle seems to know for sure, and it ain’t talking. Incomplete.

James Posey -- Important both on the court and off. His defense is unquestioned, and his outside shooting improved when he got over his right index finger injury. But the fact he’s a guy Garnett leans on is big, too. B.

Leon Powe -- Rarely spectacular. Always solid. Doc Rivers probably should have gone to him earlier in the season -- like when the Celts were getting beat up on the boards in Washington -- but he knows now that he has, at the very least, an important piece of depth. The fact Powe has performed so well when needed has to make the Celtics feel more comfortable about dealing with foul trouble and injuries down the line. B.

Gabe Pruitt -- Unless he gets some minutes in the last 32 games of the regular season, the Celts had better hope they don’t need him in the playoffs. Pruitt has shown some signs that he can play, but, unlike his other bench brothers, he hasn’t gotten much of a chance to build his confidence. Incomplete.

Rajon Rondo [stats] -- Celtics fans began the season wondering whether they could win with him. Now they fret that they can’t win without him. It was said he couldn’t shoot, but his stroke has been there far more often than not. We said last year that if hard work was all it took to improve a game, Rondo would be a lock. The fact he’s been so versatile (a skinny, rebounding point guard?) has been a pleasant surprise even to his supporters. B-plus.

Brian Scalabrine -- The numbers don’t look good at all, but the Celtics coach and players will tell you they like having his solid presence on the floor. The problem is that lately he’s getting a little gun-shy even with the open looks. C-minus.

Doc Rivers -- It would have been nice to see a little bit of Powe earlier, and burying Pruitt so badly could prove problematic at some point. And while his sideline histrionics ripping his own guys aren’t a personal favorite, it has to be said that he’s allowed this team to develop well in a short period of time. Yes, most of what you’re seeing has come from within, but Rivers has given the players a good framework and he hasn’t gotten in the way -- where a lot of coaches would have done so. B-minus.

Danny Ainge -- It was said all along that he wanted to deal for the right veterans, but that his plan required a dance partner. Kevin McHale proved willing to waltz when Al Jefferson [stats] was the tune. Proof that Ainge has been looking to do moves like those for Garnett and Allen is evident in the try for Allen Iverson [stats] years back. You can bust on him for some specific individual moves all you want -- and it’d be nice if he could find a couple of insurance policies at center and point -- but if you look at it honestly, you know that no GM bats 1.000. Right now Ainge is batting 41-9. Grade A-minus.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1073717&format=text

Bruised knee to slow up Davis

By Mark Murphy | Friday, February 15, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Tara Carvalho (file)
Glen Davis, who originally planned to return to his home in Baton Rouge, La., for this weekend’s All-Star break, will instead spend it rehabbing his left knee.

An MRI taken on the Celtics [team stats] rookie yesterday at New England Baptist Hospital revealed a bone bruise.

Davis will have the knee re-examined on Monday by team physician Dr. Brian McKeon before the team leaves for Denver, the start of a five-city road trip.

It was also confirmed yesterday that forward Brian Scalabrine, who like Davis was injured in Wednesday night’s win over the Knicks, has a strained groin

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1073715&format=text

Helping New Orleans a slam dunk
Celtics jazzed about opportunity

By Mark Murphy | Friday, February 15, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by AP
NEW ORLEANS - Hurricane Katrina was remarkable for the way it touched so many who didn’t actually live in the affected area.

Instead of six degrees of separation, the scope of connection for many was more like three degrees, or two.

had relatives - “My mom’s auntie and a few other people,” he said - who were displaced. The Celtics [team stats] captain not only picked up the tab to move about eight people to Houston, he also helped secure a permanent home for the group, thus giving it a fresh start.

Teammate Kevin Garnett famously - though not intentionally - dug into his own funds and contributed $1.2 million to the cause 2 years ago.

That’s why when the NBA’s All-Stars go out in the Crescent City community today to perform various acts of public service, it won’t be the first time. Many, through the league, had been involved in this relief effort from the start.

Cleveland star LeBron James, for example, opened a playground and recreation center in one of New Orleans’ wards yesterday.

Though in most instances the All-Star Game devolves into a big party for athletes, entourages and other hangers-on, the spirit in this city is intended to be different. Frivolity is meant to take a back seat, albeit a back seat large enough for a Hummer.

“It’s cool,” said Pierce, one of three Celtics All-Stars (Ray Allen and Garnett are the others, though Garnett will miss the game with an injury). “It’s cool for this city to try and get back on its feet. It’s like a coming together. That’s what I’m looking at, man. It will be great.

“When they first said this was where they were going to have the All-Star game, I was surprised. But I think it’s a terrific idea.”

Though he grew up an hour away in Baton Rouge, La., Glen Davis doesn’t plan to make the drive here. The C’s rookie wasn’t chosen for tonight’s Rookie Challenge, and “If I’m not in the game, I’m not there,” he said.

But “Big Baby” would have a few stories to tell if he did attend. He was a sophomore at LSU when Katrina happened in 2005 and broke into tears when he saw victims being carried into the school’s arena, which was set up as a triage center. He immediately volunteered to help.

“It means a lot just to help the state and help the city by bringing the All-Star game there,” he said. “There’s a lot of people in New Orleans. It was a real big tragedy that happened, but they’re bouncing back with the support of the NBA. It definitely means a lot to be doing this.”cw-3

Celts coach Doc Rivers visited New Orleans as part of an AAU trip with his middle son, Austin, a year after Katrina, and the image of the destruction still largely exists.cw-0

“It’s night and day when you see it in person,” said Rivers, who will coach the Eastern Conference All-Stars on Sunday. “As bad as it looked on TV, it was much worse in person. Downtown was the only area that was alive.

“It’s interesting because it’s such a festive city, and there were no lights. It was depressing. That’s why these events are needed there right now. I went around by myself, and the AAU coach also took the players to the Ninth Ward, where a lot of the destruction happened. Some people think it was just one or two blocks, but it was massive.”cw-3

The people of New Orleans, however, also must do their part, according to Allen.cw-0

“I was reading something that crime was up at Mardi Gras,” Allen said. “There has to be a point where those people who are running around committing crime have to want something for their city, too. People have been afraid to go out in New Orleans because of crime.

“I played there last year (with Seattle), and I was amazed at the number of businesses that were shut down. People from New Orleans were sent all over the world because of what happened. That’s why it’s great that everyone is giving their time now.”

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/articles/2008/02/15/hot_hornets_could_use_staying_power/

Hot Hornets could use staying power
By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | February 15, 2008

NEW ORLEANS - Ex-Hornets guard Robert Pack stared intensely at the empty lot at 2336 Alabo St. while a city employee evaluated the site Wednesday afternoon.

There was once a modest, two-bedroom home here in the now famous Lower Ninth Ward where Pack grew up with his parents and three sisters. The house is now in ruins and was pushed across the street by floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

In a neighborhood nicknamed "back-a-town" by the locals, where empty lots, ruined homes, and shattered dreams can be seen for miles, Pack reminisced about how he used to dribble a rubber basketball late at night from his home to the corner store to get whatever his mom needed.

Just over a 5-mile drive is New Orleans Arena, the site of Sunday's NBA All-Star Game. Pack envisions a day where the devastated area will be thriving with better homes, businesses, and happy families. And when that day comes, he is optimistic the Hornets will remain, bouncing basketballs just a short drive away.

"I look forward to seeing support for the Hornets with a full city," Pack said. "This city has supported the Saints with paper bags on their heads. Regardless to whether they were unhappy with the team or not, they were there. They put butts in the seats.

"I look forward to the city being back full with the energy and the life that it had once before and the Hornets being here playing the way they are playing. I look forward to a time like that."


Attendance down
While The Big Easy slowly recovers from Katrina, it's up in the air whether the Hornets still will be around once New Orleans is back on its feet.

In January, team owner George Shinn negotiated a clause with the state to possibly terminate the franchise's lease with the New Orleans Arena if the team fails to average 14,735 paid fans from December 2007 through next season. Despite having the Western Conference's best record, the Hornets have the NBA's second-worst attendance, 12,645 per game.

Of the NBA teams averaging fewer than 15,000, the Hornets are the only franchise with a winning record. The Hornets averaged 17,830 while playing most of their home games in Oklahoma City the past two seasons. If attendance doesn't improve, suitors from Oklahoma City, Las Vegas, and Kansas City, Mo., may drool about the possibility of bringing the new Western Conference power to their city.

When asked if he could calm fears that the Hornets might move, NBA commissioner David Stern told The Times-Picayune he "did not want to make false promises."

Shinn maintains he wants to stay in New Orleans and might negotiate a deal with the state to stay if the Hornets fall shy of attendance expectations.

"My wife and I talked about it. We prayed and we came back to New Orleans," Shinn said. "People said we were stupid. But it was the right thing to do. At this point, we put it in God's hands. I'm not trying to play the religious card here. But we are going to put it in God's hands.

"I believe in my coaches, players, and employees. It will get better and better."


Tainted history
If it doesn't work for the Hornets, it won't be the first time pro basketball has failed in New Orleans.

The New Orleans Buccaneers of the American Basketball Association were here for three seasons from 1967-70 before poor attendance, arena issues, and financial problems led to a move to Memphis. During the 1974-75 season, the NBA's Jazz began playing in New Orleans. With ex-Louisiana State University star Pete Maravich on the roster, the Jazz were a perennial loser and never averaged more than 2,600 season ticket-holders. In 1979, the Jazz moved to Salt Lake City because of low ticket sales and problems securing dates in the Superdome.

"There were a lot of great memories with 'Pistol Pete,' " then-Jazz public relations director David Fredman said. "We had some great nights. We put over 25,000 people in the Superdome for a couple of games. The core group of fans was terrific, so it was sad from that standpoint. But there just weren't enough of them."

The NFL's Saints have made New Orleans their home since 1967 and have had mostly lean years. Even so, the Saints have had a strong following not only in New Orleans, but the Gulf Coast region for years. Tulane, Louisiana State, Grambling, and Southern football have also enjoyed strong followings in New Orleans. With the exception of occasional NBA exhibition games, pro basketball was nonexistent for nearly 25 years here.

The New Orleans-area has sent numerous players to the NBA in recent years, including Pack, Avery Johnson, Eldridge Recasner, Kerry Kittles, Jaren Jackson, Randy Livingston, Donald Royal, Chris Duhon, and Danny Granger. But the Saints and college and high school football rule here. Even in the post-Katrina era, the Saints averaged 70,004 fans despite a 7-9 record last season.

"People will sleep on the streets and use their last money to go to a Saints game," said 59-year old Gale Armant, a lifelong resident.

Said Shinn, "I've accepted the fact that in this part of the country, football is king. This community hasn't been excited about the round ball. We're new. The Saints have been here for 40-plus years. We are hoping to become a New Orleans team, also."


Calm before the storm
The Hornets moved to New Orleans from Charlotte in 2002 and made the playoffs in their first season. With Baron Davis, P.J. Brown, and Jamal Mashburn at that time, there was optimism about pro basketball working in New Orleans.

"I supported the move for the Hornets to go there," said Johnson, now coach of the Dallas Mavericks. "I was a part of that deal. That was pre-Katrina. It's tough now."

During the 2004-05 season, the Hornets averaged an NBA-worst 14,221, owned a league-worst 18-64 record, and Davis, their star guard, forced a trade to Golden State. Not long after that, Katrina hit and not only did many of the New Orleans-area residents leave, but the Hornets had a hard time contacting most of its small season ticket base.

"It's going to take some work," said Davis, who still owns a recently rebuilt home here. "I hope it does. But it's definitely going to take some work, especially with the city needing to rebuild. That's first and foremost. We need to get that city back up and running the way it was and even better than it was before.

"There are a lot of issues that we need to address before we even talk about sports. Sports are one of those things that bring people together."

The Hornets' marketing has been questioned. But one major draw is having the NBA's lowest ticket prices at an average of $24.58. The average NBA ticket price is $48.83. The average Celtics ticket is $65.43. Hornets fan Guy Narcisse, a Saints season ticket-holder, bought a 10-game package for his family of four for $400.

"You can't beat it. It's the best in the league," Narcisse, 43, said. "Really, a person making $30,000 a year can afford a 10-game package or go to individual games throughout the year. I don't think it's a lack of advertisement. But the couple of years after Katrina hit, we didn't have them here and they weren't good before."


Seeing is believing
Narcisse lives in Slidell, a suburb 30 miles north of the city. But while Hornets games can be seen in New Orleans, the nearby West Bank, and in Baton Rouge, a cable dispute has kept their games from being shown in the Northshore, which had a population estimated around 264,000 two years ago. And unlike the Saints, the Hornets are not televised throughout the Gulf Coast.

A court order forced the Hornets' last three games before All-Star Weekend to be shown on cable in St. Tammany Parish. The Hornets hope the cable dispute will be resolved soon and the increased exposure will increase attendance and interest.

"The game came on the other night and we were just chomping at the bit," Cynthia Logan of Slidell said. "We were so excited about it. We get to see the Hornets and we will go to a game soon."

"It's a temporary resolution that will be permanent," said Shinn. "It's very important."

The potential for the Hornets staying in New Orleans seems to be getting better by the day for several reasons.

Opting out of the lease would reportedly cost Shinn $100 million, with about $30 million going to relocation fees, penalties, and reimbursements of past inducements by the state. He would also have to pay back new minority owner Gary Chouest, who bought 25 percent of the Hornets for $62 million last July.

"I'm very bullish that it will work here," Shinn said. "I'm very bullish about New Orleans. I want it to work here."


Growing interest
The Times-Picayune reported yesterday the Hornets averaged 15,150 fans during its last five games, including a sold-out contest against the lowly Grizzlies. The hot Hornets still have potential sell-outs against Boston, Phoenix, Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, and the Lakers in the final 16 home games. And with All-Star Weekend in New Orleans, the interest in Hornets basketball will surely grow.

"It's up to us to make the fans want to come out," said star Hornets point guard Chris Paul. "They've been coming out supporting us. As long as we continue to play hard and continue to be successful, they'll continue to come out. I think the buzz will get bigger and bigger."

"Their team is the best team in the Western Conference and there are some attendance issues because it's kind of hard to ask somebody to fork up a couple hundred backs to go to a game when they're living in a trailer," said Johnson. "We understand and we're real sensitive to that. But we were all for the team moving there, we're all for the team staying there, and we hope in some kind of way that it can work in the long run."

Time will tell. But maybe in time, Pack will stand in front of a new house that replaced his old one on Alabo Street on the night of a sold-out Hornets game.

"You really don't know where the Hornets would be now without Katrina," Pack said.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/02/15/measure_of_success_just_point_to_the_stars?mode=PF

Measure of success? Just point to the stars
By Peter May, Globe Staff | February 15, 2008

NEW ORLEANS - At this point last year, Paul Pierce was mending, the Celtics were tanking, and only Gerald Green, dunking machine, wore a Boston uniform at All-Star Weekend.

A year later and, well, wow! A mended Pierce is one of three Celtics players who can put "All-Star Game '08" on his résumé, joined by Ray Allen and the injured Kevin Garnett (abdominal strain). Doc Rivers, who heard "Fire Doc" chants a year ago, is coaching the Eastern Conference team. Rajon Rondo is participating in tomorrow night's game between rookies and second-year players and will be coached by Celtics assistant Tom Thibodeau.

Outside of the obvious stars, coaches and players alike generally point to team success as the barometer for All-Star selections. The Celtics have had the NBA's best record all season and they have been rewarded a presence unlike any since the team was last a serious championship contender 20 years ago.

Allen, for instance, was a late pick by commissioner David Stern, taking the place of Washington forward Caron Butler. This will be Allen's eighth All-Star Game and, for the first time, he's going as a contributor on the best team, rather than the best player on a decent team.

"I think there is so much speculation on who is going to make it, who didn't make it, snubs, whatever you want to call it," Allen said. "We spoke about individual accolades, and the great thing about this team so far is we didn't care who did what on this team and everybody is contributing in some form or fashion and it hasn't mattered what we've done individually, and that's why we've had so much team success."

It won't be all partying and basketball for the fellows, although there will be a lot of that.

This afternoon, more than 2,500 people attending All-Star Weekend will participate in one of 10 service projects in the city, which is still recovering from the ravages of Hurricane Katrina. Pierce and Rivers will be at one of those projects, a Habitat for Humanity. Allen will be at another, Rondo at a third. Garnett will do charity work for adidas along with some other players, including Tim Duncan and Chauncey Billups.

"To me, that's what this weekend is all about," Rivers said. "New Orleans needs it. If you look at all the cities in America that needs an All-Star Game, New Orleans is it."

Rivers is making his first trip to New Orleans since a year after Katrina, when he took his son, Austin, to an AAU basketball tournament. Back then, he got a firsthand look at the damage and said it was "night and day" from what he had seen in television coverage.

"We were staying downtown and it was really the only place alive," Rivers said. "And that was really sad. It's interesting because it's such a festive city in that one area. But then you take a half a mile drive and there is zero lights, no life, nothing. I just thought, 'What a hell of a contrast.' Half a mile away there are people partying, drinking. And the other half there was nothing, no lights. I found it to be depressing to me. It was so close to the hurricane that you knew they had a lot of work to do. It was a year and a half ago, I assume that it was better. But clearly every picture you see, there is a lot of work to do. I think these events are needed."

The Celtics will not have a presence on Gimmick Saturday, which involves the dunk, 3-point shot contest, and assorted other made-for-TV events featuring the likes of Justin Timberlake. Both Eddie House and James Posey had hoped to be invited to the 3-point contest, but neither got the call.

On Sunday night, Pierce will have company as a Celtic for the first time since he and Antoine Walker were on the team together.

"Well, if it was up to me, I'd rather rest," Pierce said. "It's a long season, but I'm there to represent the Celtics and it's always an honor to do that.

"I'll go out there and hold my head high and represent them the best that I can."


Giving chase
As well as the Celtics are playing, the Pistons come into the All-Star break with a 10-game winning streak and are only four games behind Boston in the loss column. And the Pistons have played four more road games . . . An NBA official said Garnett is not expected to attend today's media session, which is mandatory for players who are in the events. (Michael Jordan used to take the fine and play golf.) Garnett is not expected to be fined because he is injured. He also is not expected to be at tomorrow's Eastern Conference practice . . . Glen Davis had an MRI yesterday at New England Baptist Hospital and it revealed a strain of his left quadriceps muscle, as well as a small bone bruise in his left knee. He was on crutches after Wednesday's game. Davis had hoped to be in New Orleans and possibly catch his alma mater, LSU, play Kentucky Saturday, but he remained in Boston to get treatment. There was no further word on Brian Scalabrine's strained right groin . . . Mark Lindsay, the referee who tossed Knicks coach Isiah Thomas Wednesday, is in his first season as an NBA official.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/2008/02/rivers_on_the_b.html

Rivers on the Big Easy
Email|Link|Comments (0) Posted by Greg Lee, Globe Staff February 14, 2008 05:42 PM
Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers, who is leading the East squad in Sunday's All Star game, on Friday will lead a group of NBA players, coaches and celebrities that will take part in a volunteer day that will bring good will to a variety of sites in the New Orleans metro area.

Rivers said he had visited the Hurricane Katrina ravaged city and shares his thoughts with the Boston Globe.

Have you been in New Orleans since Hurricane Katrina?
“I haven’t been there in a while. I went there the year after the hurricane. (My son) Austin was playing in an AAU event. ... We were staying downtown and it was really the only place alive. And that was really sad. It’s interesting because it’s such a festive city in that one area (French Quarter). But then you take a half a mile drive and there is zero lights, no life, nothing. I just thought, ‘What a hell of a contrast.’ Half a mile away there are people partying, drinking. And the other half (a mile) there was nothing, no lights. I found it to be depressing to me. It was so close to the hurricane that you knew they had a lot of work to do. It was a year and a half ago I assume that it was better. But clearly every picture you see there is a lot of work to do. I think these events are needed.”

What do you think about NBA All-Star weekend coming to New Orleans?

“These events are really important for New Orleans. They need it. They really do need it. It brings income to the city. It’s good.”

What's the difference between seing New Orleans post-Katrina footage on television and in person?

“It’s night and day. As bad as it looks on TV, and that was back then when I went, it was way worse live and in person. I don’t think (TV) can do that justice though. I don’t think people realize how bad that was. You saw it. And you saw the footage of it and all the whole dome incident, but when you go there, and when I went, it was heart breaking.”

What was it like for you to drive to the Lower Ninth Ward to view the devestation?

“I just wanted to see it. It was so close to the time, eight months later. I wanted to go and see. I noticed when I drove in it was pretty much dark and then all of the sudden you saw these lights and I was downtown. So it piqued your curiosity. So I just got up in the morning before a game and I drove around. It’s massive. People think it’s one block, two blocks. It’s massive. The first thing you think is how can this be re-built and how long is it going to take?"

[FLCeltsFan]

www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/x1446142783

Lenny Megliola: No one saw this coming from the C's

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By Lenny Megliola/Daily News staff
GHS
Fri Feb 15, 2008, 12:58 AM EST

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Don't mean to go Clemens and McNamee on you, but tell the truth: Did you really believe the Celtics were going to be this good?

They could play .500 ball the rest of the regular season and still wind up with 57 wins. A year ago the Celtics lost 29 games at home!

Of course, going .500 after the All-Star Game break isn't the plan. Sure, the Celtics have wrapped up (well, haven't they?) the Atlantic Division. That was expected after shoo-in executive of the year Danny Ainge brought in Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, James Posey and Eddie House.

But 41-9 no one saw coming. That would include coach Doc Rivers. "I didn't give it any thought," he said. "It wasn't something we were going to chase."

The chase is still on. The Celtics have 32 games left. Let's say they go 23-9. That'll give them 64 wins, a mere 40 more than last season. They won't lack for motivation, not with securing home-court advantage throughout the playoffs in mind. They're only ahead of the playoff savvy Pistons by 3 1/2 games in the overall Eastern Conference standings.

The Celtics have kept winning even with Garnett sidelined with an abdominal strain. In his absence, Rivers has masterfully meted minutes to bigs Kendrick Perkins, Glen Davis and Leon Powe. If you want to find a bright spot to Garnett's injury, it's how these guys have responded. "Everybody pitches in," said Rivers.

Of the three, we knew more about Perkins. Hey, it's his fifth year, although when he first showed up he was fresh out of high school. It's no coincidence that he's having his best season with this star-rich team. Davis, affectionately called Big Baby, is a rookie, a second-round draft pick no less, who could easily have not made the team. The more Ainge and the coaches saw of Davis, the more they liked. But to suggest he'd have this not insignificant impact would have been stretching it a bit.

Which brings us to Powe, another second-round pick (Denver, 2006). The softspoken 6-foot-8 Cal-Berkeley product was pretty much lost at sea (who wasn't?) in Boston's unbearable 2006-07 season. With the talented newcomers Ainge signed, it was fair to wonder if he had a chance to make the squad. He's only been terrific, OK?

Perkins, Davis and Powe have rebounded and played creditable defense. As for their scoring down on the blocks, much of it has to do with the attention given to game-busters Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Garnett. But that's really a big part of what's happening here. The stars are going to get theirs, yet there are plenty of leftovers for the other guys. Pierce, Allen and Garnett must have signed an unselfish document, for the way they willingly dish the ball to whatever youngster makes himself available.

That's what makes Boston so tough to beat. "Team effort," said Rivers. There's never any other way to play this game. LeBron James, to his credit, carried the Cavaliers on his back all the way to the NBA Finals last year, but the Spurs, a better T-E-A-M, took the title in four straight.

Are these Celtics NBA finalists potential, with Garnett having a better cast than LeBron to potentially finish the deal? We're getting a little ahead of ourselves. Just know that if the Eastern Conference final comes down to Boston and Detroit, which many expect, the Celtics have a chance if they're healthy.

That pleasant thought is tempered by the pressure on the Celtics to get that far in the playoffs. They've gone from a team that missed the playoffs the last two years to one that has to at least get to the Eastern Conference finals, otherwise the season's a disappointment. That's quite a load to carry around.

Lack of a veteran point guard has been a hot topic all season. Was Rajon Rondo ready to, ahem, run this team? Early returns, at best, ranged from no to inconclusive. Rondo's changed just about everybody's thinking. There are nights when he's a virtuoso at the position. Knicks coach Isiah Thomas called Rondo the most important Celtic. "He's the guy who really makes them go. He's tough, he's gritty, he rebounds. He's smart. He's a perfect complement to those guys."

Which isn't to say Ainge has stopped looking for a backup at the point.

Posey and House, and a rejuvenated Tony Allen, increase Boston's chances to go deep in the playoffs. Scot Pollard and Brian Scalabrine are short-minutes useful parts.

In the West, there are plenty of teams that aren't smoking funny stuff regarding their chances of making it to the Finals: Lakers, Jazz, Spurs, Suns, Mavericks, maybe the Rockets. Sorry, Denver and New Orleans.

In the vastly weaker East, it's cut-and-dried. Boston or Detroit, unless LeBron can go crazy in the springtime again.

With Garnett and Perkins already sidelined, and Pollard in uniform but not ready to play, the Celtics lost Davis and Scalabrine to game-ending injuries in the first half of Wednesday's win over the Knicks. Pierce was impressed with the effort.

"We're a rebellious group," said the captain. "We're not letting injuries bother us."

Pierce and Ray Allen are in New Orleans for Sunday's All-Star Game. "We'll have a good time," said Pierce.

Not a bad time to be a Celtic, or to watch them take this journey.

[FLCeltsFan]

aol.nba.com/celtics/allstar2008/allstar-postups.html


Thursday, February 14 - Arrival in New OrleansNEW ORLEANS - We'll after a three hour flight we've settled in at the hotel, and while we'd like to tell you that New Orleans is buzzing, it seems pretty dead out on Canal Street. That should change by tomorrow as fans and players arrive.

Paul Pierce and Rajon Rondo were on the team charter today, along with Danny Ainge and Doc Rivers' coaching staff. But the Coach of the Eastern Conference All-Stars will be arriving on his own later, and Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen (who's doing Conan O'Brien tonight, don't forget to tune in...) will also be checking in between now and Saturday.


KG has arrived in New Orleans -- just not in person yet...

Rondo's right eye was much improved from the way it looked last night after he took a shot in the face from Fred Jones. He'll be up early tomorrow to practice for his the Sophomore team. I should point out that Tom Thibodeau will be coaching the Rookie team in tomorrow night's game, so if anyone knows how to scheme against Rondo, Thibodeau would be the guy.

Not much else to report for now. The party scene gets underway tonight, as Pierce is scheduled to play in the Zo and Magic 8-Ball Challenge later tonight.

Tomorrow, the All-Star participants will do their first round of media availability, and Rondo will do the NBA Entertainment Circuit, which consists of several photo shoots, a few interviews and a few other fun-filled items along the way. We're hoping to tag along for the fun on those as well.

The cajun cuisine is callin'...we'll check in tomorrow with updates and photos in the early afternoon.

Wednesday, February 13 - Allen's ReactionBOSTON - Doc Rivers told Ray Allen the news at halftime of the Celtics win over the Knicks last night that he'd be heading for New Orleans to make his eighth All-Star appearance.

Rivers said Ray was pretty stoic about the whole thing in the midst of a halftime locker room session, but given a chance to reflect on the honor after the game, Allen was a little more enthusiastic.

"It's a great feeling. I think there is so much speculation on who is going to make it, who didn't make it, snubs, what ever you want to call it. We spoke about individual accolades, and the great thing about this team so far is we didn't care who did what on this team and everybody is contributing in some form or fashion and it hasn't mattered what we've done individually and that's why we've had so much team success," Allen said. "So when I wasn't nominated for All-Star at the time I was happy for Paul and KG and I go and get some rest for the second half of the season. Obviously I'm ecstatic for my career to be able to be an 8-time All-Star. To be able to represent this organization, it's a great time for this organization and the fans, I definitely feel like I'm privileged and in a great situation."

Paul Pierce is excited to see his teammate finally make the roster.

"It's great to see him part of it. I always thought he should be part of the original twelve, but he's there and he's going to represent the Celtics with me," Pierce said. "I was getting lonely for a minute when Kevin (Garnett) wasn't going to play, and now I have Ray with me, and we'll have a good time."

Doc Rivers also weighed in during his postgame conference Wednesday, joking that he'd only play Ray "two minutes" because he's trying to keep his banged up team as healthy as possible.

"I was very happy for him. And the reason I was happy is because his numbers have suffered because he sacrificed. And when you sacrifice on a winning basketball team, you should be rewarded for that and not punished for it," Rivers said. "Clearly if Ray was on another team, he could throw up numbers that would look All-Star worthy and not have wins. But he would rather have the wins and I'm glad that the league recognized that."

Kidd Deal Off?
The deal players from both the Celtics and Knicks were accepting as fact may now be off the table, so until something's official, it sounds like Jason Kidd is still with the New Jersey Nets -- until further notice.

Allen Added to East Roster
79-55 Celtics, 3:52/3rd: Ray Allen was just standing at the free throw line, and I know something he doesn't. He was just named to replace Caron Butler on the Eastern Conference All-Star Team.

We'll post reaction from Allen here after the game wraps up...

J-Kidd Deal a Hot Topic for Doc
The pregame water cooler talk was buzzing about the Jason Kidd to Dallas deal that was reportedly in the works Wednesday afternoon, with the New York media peppering Knicks Coach Isiah Thomas with Kidd questions. Thomas, however, didn't want to say much about the deal until he knew it was official.

"Dallas is saying they want to win now, clearly. I think it's a good trade for both teams," Rivers said.

Asked if it helps the Celtics that Kidd was dealt from the East, Rivers had a unique take on the situation.

"Listen, I hope Dwight Howard gets traded to the West. Rasheed, Rip, Bosh; all the guys I'll be coaching on Saturday [sic], if I can figure out a way to get them on the West team too. The question I have for you, is does Jason Kidd play for us?"

That's the question on everyone's mind, one which the NBA has yet to decide.

"This is the bottom line, if he is playing with us, and it comes down to one possession, I'm taking him out. I think he'd throw it for the West," Rivers joked.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.celticsblog.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2415&Itemid=189

Signs for the 2nd Half
Written by Eric Weiss
Friday, 15 February 2008
Rondo, Team Improve in KG’s Absence

The Celtics started the season with one of the best offenses in the league and carried that up until just after their first west coast swing. The team had the 1st ranking in team FG% and was top 5 in asst/FG, points, 3 pt shooting, and points in the paint-all in all quite a showing for a unit thrown together over the summer.

But the team was overly-reliant on GPA early in the year, a clear byproduct of the team's focus on building their team defense during training camp. The team went into the season with a plan toward developing the offense throughout the season and that started with running base sets for GPA and growing from there. A simple chronological study of game film from season’s beginning will attest to the relative simplicity of the overall offensive attack.

Read More

Once opponents had gotten a couple of month’s worth of film on the Celtics however, the team's offense begun to sputter. Rajon Rondo's injury while out west in Utah furthered this decline as the team's lack of a competent back-up PG was exposed. After the team returned from its victory against the Lakers there was a prolonged offensive drought. The team saw sizable declines across the board in its offensive potency over the next few weeks.

Up until that point in the season the team was getting inconsistent contributions from all but GPA. James Posey and Eddie House were the next closest to being consistent, but they were both a hit-or-miss proposition after a fast start. Perkins and Rondo were off-and-on during this time and no one else from the bench was bringing it every night. The team was overly-reliant on its 3 stars and it was beginning to take its toll.

...then KG went down...

In his absence the team was forced to re-configure its attack around Pierce and Allen with the slack for KG's absence being picked up by the remaining Celtics players. With KG sidelined there was an offensive and defensive void to be filled and a number of Celtics have answered the call.

Rajon Rondo, Leon Powe, Tony Allen, and Glen Davis have all come to the forefront to fill the "Big Tickets" big shoes. Rondo especially has upped his production and blossomed into a surrogate "third star" to keep the pressure on the opposition with his scoring and playmaking. Rondo has also increased his defensive consistency-specifically on pick-and-roll situations.

Rondo's confidence has grown and with it has come a sense that he may have turned a permanent corner in his young career. He is attacking the basket with regularity and looking for offense when the team's overall offense stagnates.

His energy has been infectious for players such as Tony Allen, who has begun to round into pre-ACL form over the past two weeks. Powe has benefited as well. The chemistry between Powe and Rondo has increased substantially on a game by game basis which has helped to invigorate the formerly slumping offense and re-constituted the team's rebounding grit.

One of the more overlooked elements of Rondo's improvement has been the effect it has had on Ray Allen's game these past few weeks. Allen had been handling a heavier load of the pick-and-roll game for the Celtics offense prior to KG's departure and hadn't quite found a balance point in the team offense.

As Rondo has increased his ball-handling and playmaking responsibilities, Allen has been free to roam the court and do what he does best-move without the ball and take advantage of his lethal mid-range game. This increase in movement has allowed Ray to penetrate to the basket with greater ease and added a new dimension to his attack, which in turn has improved his effectiveness in the pick-and-roll game.

When KG returns to the court he will find a team that has a much stronger on-court identity than the one he last saw. The star power of GPA was the catalyst for the Celtics historic start to the season. But as much as these 3 heroes have meant to the resurrection of this franchise, it may be the temporary removal of the team's brightest star that has allowed the rest of the supporting cast to define themselves.

Rajon Rondo has taken his first turn in the spotlight and is a better player for it. Leon Powe has followed suit as well. With Allen/Allen building up steam and Glen Davis looking capable of big-game contributions, the 2nd half Celtics may just be a much better TEAM, 1-13....Ubuntu indeed...

[FLCeltsFan]

Ray Allen on Conan O'Brien

[FLCeltsFan]

www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080215/SPORTS03/802150492/1002/SPORTS

Teammates lavish advice and praise on ex-UK star
By C. L. Brown | [e-mail] | The Courier-Journal


By C. L. Brown | [e-mail] | The Courier-Journal



INDIANAPOLIS

Deserved or not, Rajon Rondo has had a reputation for being tough to coach. Yet the second-year NBA point guard gets coaching from all angles with the Boston Celtics, and he welcomes it all.

The Celtics' veteran players have taken a hands-on approach to helping Rondo develop, and he often asks for direction.

"He understands as a young player he has to be a sponge to guys that have been in the league for a number of years," said guard/forward Paul Pierce, a nine-year NBA veteran and six-time All-Star. "He's still learning the game, but at the same time he's willing to listen and learn how to be a point guard."

The lessons must be working. Not only is Rondo playing the point for the team with the NBA's best record, but he also was selected to play in the T-Mobile Rookie Challenge and Youth Jam on All-Star Saturday in New Orleans, events for first- and second-year players.

His production is up in nearly every major category from his rookie season. He's averaging 10.4 points, 4.5 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game, and his turnovers have remained at 1.7.

The Celtics are 41-9 heading into the All-Star break. For all the talk about their big three -- Pierce, guard Ray Allen and forward/center Kevin Garnett -- they say the former Eastern High School and University of Kentucky standout is crucial to their success.

"You've got a guy running the point who, when we don't have him, it throws a lot of people out of position," Allen said. "That position is probably the most important one for us now."

The praise for Rondo has been steady all season. Pierce said he has "grown into one of the premier guards in the game in a matter of one year."

After Wednesday's game against New York, Knicks coach Isiah Thomas told The Boston Globe that Rondo is irreplaceable.

"They don't have another guy who does what he does," Thomas said. "He's tough. He's gritty. He rebounds. He's smart. He's a perfect complement to those guys. I can't say enough good things about him."

Such lavish praise from accomplished players was taken one step further by Garnett, who is on record as saying Rondo could become the league's best point guard in the next five years.

"That's a great compliment to have, especially coming from a guy like that," Rondo said. "… He sees something I don't, even though I do believe I can be one of the best point guards one day. But I just have to stay focused and work hard."

He said his biggest improvement from last season has been becoming more "open-minded" when listening to both criticism and instruction.

"He's stubborn; he's not uncoachable," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "He's a smart, extremely high basketball IQ point guard. He works his butt off. He wants to be great. He wants to be better than just a good player, so I've never had a problem with that."

For those who wonder, Rondo said he never had a problem during his two years at UK under former coach Tubby Smith, either. Smith, who now coaches the University of Minnesota, stopped by for a visit after the Celtics' recent game in Minneapolis. It was their first meeting since Rondo left UK to become the 21st pick in the 2006 draft.

"It wasn't that I didn't want to play for him anymore or he didn't want me as a player," Rondo said. "We both thought it was best."

They chatted for about 15 minutes, and Rondo offered his assistance with Smith's current players.

"I told him if he needed me to give any of his kids advice about what they're going through in college, they can call," Rondo said. "Or if he needed me to speak to a camp, I would do that."

Smith couldn't be reached for comment.

Rivers can appreciate any differences Rondo and Smith might have had.

"He's smart, and I think that gets him into trouble sometimes," Rivers said. "On the floor when he thinks on his own individually, it's not a selfish thing; he just sees something and sometimes he's right, but the other four (players) don't know. I can see why that would get him in trouble. It's gotten him in trouble with me a number of times."

Rivers, who had a 13-year playing career as a point guard, tends to be hard on Rondo when it comes to his decision-making. Rivers has been adamant that Rondo be more careful about offensive rebounding. When he crashes the boards, it leaves the Celtics defenseless against a quick outlet pass for a fast break.

Rondo has taken the criticism in stride. In a 96-90 victory over Dallas on Jan. 31, he had a clinching putback with 42 seconds left.

"I can't look at it as him always being on me; I have to look at it as he wants me to be one of the best in the game," he said of Rivers. "All the little nicks and nacks he's picking on me about will get me better."

Defending Rondo, who shot just 41.8 percent from the field as a rookie, used to be as simple as cutting off his drives and making him shoot jumpers. Allen, one of the league's best shooters, began working with him in September before other players arrived for practice. Allen ran him through shooting drills and told him what his weaknesses were and how he could improve his touch, "and the rest was up to him."

Rondo, who has started in each of his 46 appearances this season, is shooting 50.1 percent.

"His game is stepping up through leaps and bounds," Pierce said. "Throughout the course of the season it just seems like he's getting better week in and week out."

The Celtics all but bet on Rondo when they traded Delonte West and Sebastian Telfair, who both played some point guard last season. With the veteran stars the team acquired, Rondo considers himself lucky to be a part of it all.

"I'm fortunate enough to be starting now, but a lot of second-year players that came in with me aren't playing," he said. "… I'm just in a good situation where it leads to my advantage."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.projo.com/celtics/content/sp_bb_celtics15_02-15-08_369164R_v8.37f6122.html

Celts look to mend during the All-Star break

01:00 AM EST on Friday, February 15, 2008

BY ROBERT LEE

Journal Sports Writer

Allen
BOSTON — The All-Star break has arrived for the Celtics, and it couldn’t have come at a better time.

Boston needs a few days off so that it can recover from injuries to various players. But the injuries haven’t slowed down the Celtics.

They own the best record in the NBA — 41-9.

It took a few bold moves to get here.

In his first four seasons as the Celtics executive director of basketball operations, Danny Ainge said the Celtics would improve through a “youth movement.”

He was in it for the long haul.

Under Ainge, the Celtics drafted young and talented players to get better in the future.

He traded away popular All-Star Antoine Walker (but would later bring him back for a season in 2005) for younger players (Raef LaFrentz, Jiri Welsch, Chris Mills and a lottery pick), and while Ainge did trade for veterans Gary Payton (2004-05), Chuck Atkins (2003-04) and Lindsey Hunter (2003-04) to add leadership, the “youth moment” was not successful.

The Celtics compiled a woeful 138-190 record and failed to win a playoff series in Ainge’s first four seasons in charge.

Something needed to change.

After a season in which many NBA experts believed that the Celtics lost games on purpose to get a better chance at grabbing the No. 1 or 2 pick in the 2007 Draft, a season in which the Celtics broke the franchise record for consecutive losses in a season (18), the Celtics, who were a dismal 24-58 last year, which was the second-worst record in the NBA, managed to get only the fifth pick of the draft.

That meant no chance of getting center Greg Oden or shooting guard Kevin Durant — two players who are expected to be franchise players in the future.

So in an effort to get better sooner rather than later, Ainge changed his “youth movement” philosophy, and traded away the fifth pick, Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West, to Seattle for All-Star guard Ray Allen. Then Ainge dealt Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Theo Ratliff, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair, Boston’s 2009 first-round pick, the return of Minnesota’s conditional first-round pick previously obtained by the Celtics in 2006 in the Ricky Davis-Szczerbiak trade and cash for All-Star forward Kevin Garnett.

The moves paid off.

The Celtics now have three All-Stars on their roster and they were clearly the best team in the NBA during the first half of the season.

Along with his talent (career average of 20.5 points, 11.3 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game), Garnett has brought with him to Boston a fierce intensity on the court and exceptional leadership qualities.

“Kevin Garnett is a great player in our league, with a fierce and competitive spirit, who brings offensive scoring prowess and a defensive presence to our team,” Ainge said when the Celtics traded for Garnett.

“While it’s difficult to part ways with the young players we’ve worked hard to develop, Kevin has been the consummate professional player in the NBA and a player who I have marveled at over the years,” Rivers said at the time of the trade. “Kevin leaves everything he has out on the floor every game. He has drive, passion and a hunger to win that is unmatched across the league.”

Allen may be the best pure shooter in the NBA. He is averaging 18.5 points, 2.9 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game.

“We think Ray Allen is a great player and has a lot of basketball left in him,” Ainge said when the Celtics traded for him. “It’s really hard to acquire All-Star-caliber players. We couldn’t be more thrilled.”

Pierce, meanwhile, continues to play at an All-Star level. He is averaging 20.5 points, 5.6 rebounds and 4.8 assists per game.

The Celtics Big Three have turned Boston from one of the worst teams in the NBA last season, into instant contenders. Garnett (10), Pierce (6), and Allen (7) have played in a combined 23 All-Star games, and all three of them have been invited to play in the All-Star game this season.

Point guard Rajon Rondo (10.4 points, 4.8 assists, 4.5 rebounds) and center Kendrick Perkins (7.3 points, 5.6 rebounds) round out the Celtics starting five.

While the Celtics have an array of talented scorers, it’s their commitment to defense that has led to a lot of their victories.

The Celtics own the best defense in the NBA, limiting teams to a league-low 89.44 points per game while scoring 99.84 points per game — a differential of +10.40 points per game, which is also the best in the NBA.

The Celtics are currently banged up, with Garnett (abdominal strain), Glen Davis (twisted knee), Brian Scalabrine (pulled groin), Perkins (shoulder) and Scott Pollard (ankle) all injured, but Rivers hopes to have them all back after the All-Star break.

So what is the Celtics’ goal in the second half of the season?

“Getting us healthy, No. 1, and just not looking at anything but getting better every night and every practice,” Rivers said are the first two goals for the second half of the season. Rivers said that the main reason why the Celtics were so successful during the season’s first half is because the players sacrificed individual accolades for team success.

If that trend continues and if the Celtics get healthy, winning the NBA title this season is a real possibility for them.

[e-mail]