News 2/18

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1074291&format=text

Making it look Big Easy
Allen’s torrid 4th lifts East

By Mark Murphy | Monday, February 18, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | NBA Coverage

Photo by AP
NEW ORLEANS - The Celtics [team stats] had better hope Ray Allen saves some of his latest groove for the road trip.

The Eastern Conference All-Stars have the Celtics guard to thank for their redemption from last year’s 21-point loss in Las Vegas.

Allen, with 14 points in the last 3:14 (including three treys over a blistering 1:16 stretch), scored 28 points on 10-of-14 shooting in the East’s 134-128 win last night.

Allen, who hit 5-of-9 from beyond the arc, has 20 career 3-pointers as an All-Star - a league record.

Even with his game-winning push, Allen was edged out by LeBron James for the game’s MVP award. The Cleveland star finished with 27 points, nine assists and eight rebounds, and took home this particular piece of hardware for the second time in three years.

James was the first to credit Allen, saying, “He was the reason we won this.”

But the eight-time All-Star - a last-minute replacement for the injured Caron Butler - can also call himself a good-luck charm. He was on the other side when the West destroyed the East last year.

“It’s funny, because in the locker room the East (players were) talking about how bad the West beat them last year, and we’re not going to have that anymore,” said Allen. “And I said, ‘Yeah, we did beat you guys pretty bad.’ Kevin (Garnett) and I were both in the other locker room last year.”

Indeed, any sense that last night’s game wouldn’t mean enough disappeared the moment the East took the floor and built a lead that wouldn’t slip until the fourth quarter. The hangover from Vegas was still strong.

“You could hear them talking about it,” said Celtics coach Doc Rivers, in his first All-Star Game as a head coach. “My big rah-rah speech was when I asked them about the score from last year. They didn’t know the score, but they know they lost pretty handily. Jason Kidd talked about it openly. I heard Chauncey (Billups) talking about it. Joe Johnson talked about it. They lost in a big way last year. And I don’t care what type of game it is. As a coach, that’s what you want them talking about.”

Allen personally benefited from a stretch late in the third quarter when he combined with Celtics teammate Paul Pierce [stats] (10 points, 5-for-9 shooting) for 13 straight East points.

The guard’s hot streak enabled Rivers to go with a small, Celtics-style lineup over the last six minutes of the fourth, despite the presence of the West’s towering rotation of Tim Duncan, Amare Stoudemire and Dirk Nowitzki.

Rivers admittedly nearly second-guessed himself, too, when he was within a timeout of subbing Chris Bosh for Allen.

“But then he hit that first 3, and when Ray does that, you know more are about to come,” said Rivers.

Allen proved him right, hitting three treys over a 1:16 stretch - the first for a 119-118 lead, the second to tie the game at 122, and the third for a 125-122 lead. Chris Paul tied it on a 3-pointer, setting the stage for a power dunk from James for a 127-125 East lead with 55 seconds left.

Allen also produced the night’s most important defensive play, drawing a charge on Paul in the final minute.

He later scored on a drive to give the East a 131-125 lead, and recorded the last three points of the game from the foul line.

“I told Doc that if you need to play me, play me, but don’t worry about me being on the bench,” he said. “I’m not going to be mad if you don’t play me. We’re on the same team.”

Thankfully for the East, Ray Allen made that move over the Mississippi just in time.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1074313&format=text

Odds on KG’s return: 50-50

By Steve Bulpett | Monday, February 18, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by AP
NEW ORLEANS - The NBA goes to great lengths to distance itself from any gambling issues, but that didn’t stop Celtics [team stats] coach Doc Rivers from setting the line on Kevin Garnett’s comeback after watching him work out yesterday.

“I would say 50-50 at best for Tuesday,” Rivers said.

By all accounts, Garnett did well in the session here (mostly pick-and-roll stuff) as he seeks to come back from the abdominal strain that has sidelined him the last nine games. But to get to his stated goal of playing against the Nuggets tomorrow night, Garnett must still get through tonight’s team practice in Denver.

“Well, at the end of the day it’s Doc’s call,” said Garnett before last night’s NBA All-Star Game, won by the Eastern Conference, 134-128, over the Western Conference. “If we have practice tomorrow (they will), I will participate in practice and we’ll go from there.

“These last four days have been my strongest days. I’ve made major strides and I’m happy with where I’m at. A couple of weeks ago I could only do limited things, and I’m back to my old self again.”

Asked if he was still feeling good about his Tuesday goal, Garnett said, “Yeah, I am, but I don’t think Doc feels so good about it. So if y’all could say a couple of words to Doc for me (to) help me out, I’d appreciate it.”

Rivers is still prescribing patience. He’d obviously love to have Garnett back for the five-game trip that takes the Celtics through some tough Western Conference sites (Denver, Golden State, Phoenix, Portland and Los Angeles - for the Clippers), but he was treading lightly as he discussed the matter before leading the Eastern Conference squad last night.

“Well, we go to practice (tonight) in Denver,” Rivers said. “You know, we’re just going to wait and see. He looked pretty good, moved well, but other than that, you know, you really couldn’t tell a lot. The good thing is he did things pretty freely. He had free movement. But I think we’re just going to wait and see in the practice (tonight) - let him get his legs under him and then we’ll go from there.

“I’ve got to get a clearance from Eddie (Lacerte, the team trainer), where Eddie thinks he’s ready. You have to think about conditioning, too. We’re going to Denver, so that, with the thin air and everything, could be a factor, too.”

Characterizing the state of his injury now, Garnett, unable to play here despite being the leading vote-getter, said, “Stiffness would be an accurate word. But it’s tolerable. It’s not like major pain to where it’s going to stop me. The previous pain has been just what it is, pain to where you have to actually top what you’re doing, pay attention, listen to your body - all of those things. This is a different type of pain. This is what I call my first injury. You know, in previous years I’ve been able to manipulate injuries with tape and ice and stim and different types of treatments, but this is your core, this is your abs. They control pretty much everything in your body, along with your back.

“And I’ve been educated as I go. (I’m) trying to be smart at the same time. You know, Doc’s doing a good job of making sure I keep some patience. . . . But this has been frustrating.”

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1074315&format=text


Some family fun for Doc
Kids make weekend memorable for coach

By Mark Murphy / NBA All-Star Notebook | Monday, February 18, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | NBA Coverage

Photo by AP
NEW ORLEANS - Doc Rivers’ three youngest children - Callie, Austin and Spencer - had their picture taken with Bill Russell yesterday.

Even the Celtics [team stats]/Eastern Conference All-Star coach was surprised at how little explanation to his kids was required about the greatest player in C’s - and arguably NBA - history.

“My little one actually knew who he was, which was impressive,” Rivers said of Spencer. “I think that’s due to NBA TV. I really do.

“You see all the old-time games. Kids have a better sense of history now. But it’s been special having them here. It’s been special to me because of that. It’s made the whole weekend for me and what these weekends should be all about, honestly. It’s about the kids and the fact that I’m a father.”

Talk about a nice start to school vacation.

As usual, Doc Rivers brought as much of his family along as possible, with his two youngest sons (Austin and Spencer) essentially allowed to tag along with him every step of the weekend, including Saturday’s practice.

“It’s nice - they get to meet all of the guys,” Rivers said before leading the East to a 134-128 win against the West last night. “Kobe (Bryant of the Lakers) spent a bus ride the other day sitting next to Spencer, and now he has enough stories for a lifetime.”


The deal with Kidd
Jason Kidd is headed to the Mavericks after all, although in a trade that’s slightly different than originally arranged.

The new deal - reported by various media outlets during last night’s game, all citing anonymous sources - has Kidd and forward Malik Allen going to Dallas for point guard Devin Harris, center DeSagana Diop and swingman Maurice Ager, plus a few new pieces: retired forward Keith Van Horn and Trenton Hassell.

New Jersey also will get two first-round draft picks and $3 million.

Van Horn and Hassell replace Jerry Stackhouse and Devean George. Stackhouse’s presence in the deal was muddled by plans to get him back to Dallas - within the rules, although in a way the league frowned upon - and George used his veto power to block his involvement.

The reconfigured proposal is expected to be offered for league approval today. If all goes as planned, Kidd could play for the Mavericks here on Wednesday night.


Some love for KG
Beyond himself, naturally, there is one player Allen Iverson [stats] would love to see win an NBA title: Kevin Garnett.

“Just because he hasn’t had one and all of the hard work and dedication that he’s put in,” Iverson said. “You just want to see a guy like that get it. He’s a team player, and he’s a great basketball player, and I’m cool with him also, so I just want to see him get it.”

Several other players expressed similar sentiments during the weekend, humbling Garnett.

“That’s shocking, actually,” he said. “It feels great. It feels good to know that the people you play against, or the people you battle against, actually have a level or respect or appreciation for certain things. That says a lot. It says a lot about the class and character of this league.” . . .

Rivers on Saturday night’s dunk contest:

“When you see Gerald (Green) blowing out the candle (on TV) - I’m not sure if you could see it live - makes you really appreciate it more. Dwight (Howard of Orlando) put on a show that we haven’t seen often. It’s very similar to what Vince Carter did.”

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/02/18/allen_28_shining_star_for_the_east?mode=PF

Allen (28) shining Star for the East
By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | February 18, 2008

NEW ORLEANS - Celtics guard Ray Allen went from an NBA All-Star replacement to competing with LeBron James for the MVP award last night.

Allen scored 14 of his game- and All-Star career-high 28 points in the fourth quarter during the Eastern Conference's 134-128 victory over the Western Conference last night at the sold-out New Orleans Arena. The eight-time All-Star, who replaced injured forward and fellow ex-UConn star Caron Butler, made 10 of 14 field goal attempts and nailed 5 of 9 3-point attempts in 28 minutes. Despite Allen's heroics, MVP honors went to Cleveland's LeBron James, who had 27 points, 9 assists, and 8 rebounds for the East.

"I didn't think about it," said Allen about being up for the MVP award. "I didn't even know how many points I had until I did the interview afterwards. Those points add up, most definitely."

Celtics forward Paul Pierce, who wasn't available for comment, had 10 points on 5-of-9 shooting, 4 rebounds, and 2 assists in 12 minutes. Boston's Kevin Garnett did not play because of an abdominal strain; the Celtics had three All-Stars for the first time since Larry Bird, Robert Parish, and Kevin McHale in 1988.

The Celtics' Doc Rivers, who coached the East, had no problems with James receiving MVP honors.

"It would have been nice for Ray, too, no doubt about it," Rivers said. "But was great for Ray in this, he was not an original pick and he should have been."

"I'm happy to be here in New Orleans, enjoying the city, despite the stuff that's happened with this beautiful city," Garnett said. "I'm disappointed that I'm not playing, period."

There were concerns whether New Orleans could be a solid host post Hurricane Katrina. Rivers and Allen, however, thought "The Big Easy" did a wonderful job. "New Orleans should be extremely proud of the way this thing was run this week," Rivers said.

Said Allen: "New Orleans, they put on a great show. And then the game . . . the game was definitely one of the more fun games I've participated in. So overall, I would have to say it's probably been my best All-Star Game so far."

With Rivers and West coach Byron Scott of the Hornets, the game had two African-American coaches for just the second time since the mid-season classic started 54 years ago. The only other time it happened was in 1975 with Washington's K.C. Jones of the East and Golden State's Al Attles of the West.

"It's fantastic, to be honest with you, especially with what Doc went through last year in Boston, to get that team back up there," Scott said. "Obviously, the first year I was here we won 18 games and now we're 36-15. To me it shines the light on just two very good basketball coaches.

"It's not much about our race, it's more about what we've done in our professions. So I think that should be more what it's all about than the color of our skin."

There was much ado made about whether the Lakers' Kobe Bryant should play for the West because of a right pinkie injury. Bryant had to play, however, because he played in LA's last regular-season game before All-Star weekend. Bryant ended up starting and came out the game for Phoenix's Steve Nash with 9:13 left in the first quarter after touching the ball only twice without taking a shot. Scott said he was given orders by the NBA to play Bryant as little as possible.

"Our interest in Kobe is making sure when the game is over that he's relatively healthy," Scott said.

The East owned a 74-65 lead at halftime, getting 12 points each from Orlando's Dwight Howard and James. Pierce had 6 points at halftime, Allen 5.

Allen and Pierce combined for 13 points in the third quarter to push the East's lead to 106-93. Before the fourth quarter, Garnett and former NBA legend Karl Malone thanked New Orleans.

"God bless each and every one of you," Garnett said.

The West took the lead, 112-110, at the 6:52 mark of the fourth on a Dirk Nowitzki lay-in. Allen's 3-pointer with 3:14 left gave the East a 119-118 lead, and another trey by Allen tied the game at 122 with 2:26 remaining. Yet another long-distance make by Allen gave the East a 125-122 lead with 1:58 remaining.

"I knew I was going to get some good shots off," Allen said. "It was just a matter of whether or not I made them. But I was feeling good out there."

Said James: "Ray hit some big shots."

James gave the East a 127-125 lead with a strong dunk though the lane with 55.5 seconds left. Allen got the East the ball back by taking a charge on local standout Chris Paul with 46.1 seconds left. Allen, who nailed 4 of 5 shots and those three treys in the fourth, sealed the win for the East with a layin with 15.4 seconds left.

"Ray made shots, LeBron made plays, and we won the game," Rivers said.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/02/18/garnett_hopes_hes_ready_to_go?mode=PF

Garnett hopes he's ready to go
By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | February 18, 2008

NEW ORLEANS - Even though it will be in thin air, injured Celtics All-Star forward Kevin Garnett is looking forward to practice tonight in Denver.

Garnett has missed nine games since suffering an abdominal strain against Minnesota Jan. 25. He said yesterday he still is hoping to return tomorrow night against the Nuggets, but he added that coach Doc Rivers will make the final decision. A solid practice tonight at Metro State University in Denver could seal Garnett's return, however.

"Monday's a big day for me and I look forward to it," said Garnett at a media session before last night's All-Star Game. "Have some fun. We're in the Denver air, so it should be really interesting. But other than that, I'm just happy to be back on the practice floor."

Garnett's injury caused him to miss the All-Star Game at the New Orleans Arena, but he did work out at Tulane University yesterday. Rivers was on hand and said Garnett looked "pretty good."

Garnett, the 2004 NBA MVP, jokingly asked the media if they could "say a couple words to Doc" to ensure he plays tomorrow night.

"At the end of the day it's Doc's call," said Garnett, who is averaging 19.2 points, a team-best 9.9 rebounds, and 3.8 assists in 41 contests this season. "We will assess it after [tonight's] practice. I anticipate practicing, and we'll assess it from there.

"The past four days have been my strongest days. I've been making major strides. I'm happy with where I'm at. A couple weeks ago I could only do limit[ed] things and I'm back to doing stuff again."

Said Rivers: "We are going to wait and see. He looked pretty good [yesterday]. Moved well, but other than that you really couldn't tell a lot. The good thing is he did things pretty freely. He had free movement.

"But I think we're just going to wait and see in practice. Let him get his legs under him and then we'll go from there."

Garnett said he still has stiffness in his abdomen, but "not like major pain to where it's going to stop me." The 6-foot-11-inch, 253-pounder also described the strain as the first real injury he has had in his 13-year career. The Celtics are a surprising 7-2 in Garnett's absence.

"This is what I call my first injury," Garnett said. "Previous years I've been able to manipulate injuries with tape and ice and different types of treatment. But this is your core, this is your abs. They control pretty much everything in your body, along with your back.

"And I've been educated as I go. Trying to be smart at the same time. Doc's doing a good job of making sure I keep some patience. We're doing pretty well, giving the opportunities to young guys. But this has been frustrating. But I'm in a good place mentally and I think I'm dealing with it pretty well compared to my past."

Scalabrine ailing

Rivers said forward Brian Scalabrine likely will be out the entire five-game Western trip because of a right groin injury.

Of forward Kendrick Perkins, who missed the previous three games with a strained left shoulder, Rivers said, "He'll be OK." Rookie forward Glen Davis, who has a strained left quadriceps and a knee bruise, is expected to practice tonight.

The Celtics players and coaches attending All-Star weekend were slated to fly to Denver after last night's game. There is a charter from Boston to Denver today, and some players are coming on their own from different locations.

Mailman happy for KG

Ex-NBA star Karl Malone recalled being in a similar position to Garnett when he joined the Lakers during the 2003-04 season.

The Lakers were projected to have a good shot at winning the title when Malone and star guard Gary Payton joined fellow perennial All-Stars Kobe Bryant and Shaquille O'Neal. The Lakers advanced to the 2004 Finals but lost to the Pistons.

With Garnett and Ray Allen joining fellow All-Star Paul Pierce in Boston this season, the Celtics are projected to be a title contender. And like Malone, Garnett has not won a championship.

"It's awesome the way he is handling his business and with what he's doing," Malone said. "I think it's great. The guys around him are awesome. They are one of the teams that have me watching. They are unselfish and they came together to win a championship. A lot of young guys might not understand it now.

"But when you put your time in, then you start to realize when you've made a good pick of something. It's like my deal with the Lakers. It felt good to me and it felt good to them. I think [the Celtics] have a great situation. It's great for Boston with all the legends now."

A sprained right knee hampered Malone during his '04 Finals appearance. Thus he believes Garnett should be cautious about his return.

"What's going through his mind is, '[Expletive], I can't believe that I got hurt,' " Malone said. "It's the same thing I went through. Just be smart about coming back. Take your time, then you come back. You can taste [success], but then he got injured a little bit. That team doesn't need him to score 30. It's just a great team.

"[The abdominal] is his core training. He needs to take his time with it. He doesn't need to be trying to rush back with that. Just take your time."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/articles/2008/02/18/its_kidd_stuff?mode=PF

It's Kidd stuff
Guard laughs off evolving trade
By Peter May | February 18, 2008

NEW ORLEANS - He was introduced as a New Jersey Net last night at the NBA All-Star Game - and he laughed. What was Jason Kidd thinking? What did he know? When did he know it?

As it turns out, Kidd knew nothing substantive about his immediate future. He said his gut told him he was going to be a Dallas Maverick. His uniform said Eastern Conference and he was very much a Net in the East locker room, reminding his teammates of the humiliating loss inflicted upon them a year ago in Las Vegas.

But what was he laughing about? He said it wasn't because of his affiliation, but because he thought he was supposed to be doing some kind of dance. He didn't dance. So he laughed.

"I'm kinda shy," Kidd said.

He sounded like he meant it.

There has never been quite a situation like the one we've seen with Kidd over the 72 hours that he and the rest of the NBA world were hunkered down in the Big Easy. He was on his way to Dallas last Wednesday. Then the deal fell through. Then, a second deal was hatched, the details of which emerged last night. It still hasn't been finalized or approved by the NBA, so, for now, Kidd is still a Net. (Key words: "for now")

There was a quandary for the NBA while the first deal was still alive. Could Kidd start for the Eastern Conference All-Stars if he was a member of the Western Conference Mavericks? Thanks to Devean George's delusional intransigence, that problem was avoided. Then, hours before last night's All-Star Game, which the East won, 134-128, the second deal seemed to be gaining legs and Kidd went on TV before tipoff to say he felt it might actually happen.

After a typical Kidd game - 2 points, 4 steals, 4 rebounds, 10 assists - he was resigned to having to wait another day or two before he finds out where he'll end up. He said his plan was to return to New Jersey and, as he put it, "wait for a phone call. Or see if there might be a message. (Yeah right, like he'd have to wait until he got home to see if his message light was blinking.)

"Until the physicals are passed, you gotta wait until everything is official," he said. "There's a lot of talk out there. There's a lot of whispers out there. It's close. We'll see."

Kidd said he feels that this deal might actually go down, based on conversations with his agent. The principals remain the same - Kidd and Devin Harris. The Mavericks reportedly have replaced George and Jerry Stackhouse with Trenton Hassell and the retired Keith Van Horn. Dallas also will surrender draft picks and some of Mark Cuban's walking around money ($3 million). The Nets might add a body to make the numbers work.

In the Irony Department, there were times last night in the fourth quarter when a small Eastern lineup resulted in Kidd covering Dirk Nowitzki - and vice versa. Did Kidd see that as an NBA version of foreshadowing?

"That part of it was fun. That's what the game is all about," he said of his playing against Nowitzki. "Knowing that he might be my teammate and that it might be happening. But mostly, we were just kidding around."

Nowitzki didn't want to deal with the situation. He, too, has been hounded by Kidd queries all weekend and, as far as he knows, Kidd still plays for the Nets. "Let's talk about the All-Star Game," Nowitzki said to the very first question posed to him in the mixed zone. The question? What do you think about the latest Jason Kidd rumors?

Amare Stoudemire, however, was more than happy to take the Kidd story and run with it.

"I think it's going to help Dallas with the up-tempo game," the Suns' center-until-Shaq said. "Jason's a future Hall of Famer alongside Dirk. It will be fun to see. The West is back."

But the ever-diplomatic Kidd wouldn't go that far and, after what happened with the first trade, who can blame him? For someone whose insides must feel like jambalaya, he showed remarkable poise and patience in the face of all the questions.

"We'll soon find out," he said, satisfying no one. "Things are moving in that direction. But I've heard it before and until I get that call . . ."

That call could come as early as today. Kidd might want to rethink his travel plans and stick around, for the Mavericks' next game is right here, Wednesday night, against the Hornets. The Nets' next game is Wednesday night at home against the Bulls.

"One way or another, it's not going to take long," said Kidd. He's right about that because the trade deadline is Thursday at 3 p.m. George's unwillingness to move over future earnings power led to the first trade unraveling. It's conceivable something just as silly could do the same to the second one (like, perhaps, the possibility that Van Horn has no desire to play. But that's another story).

Last night was Kidd's eighth All-Star game. He's unlikely to ever have another one with quite so much intrigue.

"It's been a long weekend," he said.

He didn't need his gut to tell him that.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/x911983239

Megliola: Pierce no longer green with envy

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By Lenny Megliola/Daily News staff
GHS
Sun Feb 17, 2008, 09:05 PM EST

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Story Tools: Email This | Print This
OK, a kiss is just a kiss, a smile is just a smile. But sometimes they're fake. Like, just because your mother says so, you kiss an old bat of an aunt who used to literally pull you around by the ear when you were a kid. Or, you smile when the occasion calls for one, and you hope they don't notice it's a weak smile because something's really bothering you. You're not happy. Still, you smile.

For the last two seasons, Paul Pierce, who has a room-iluminating smile, was sort of forcing it. Was he financially well-off for the rest of his life? Definitely. Was his off-the-court life going nicely? Seemed so. Was he professionally happy? No way.

Last season was especially gruesome for the Boston Celtics' star. He missed 36 games to injury. He had to watch his team become a laughingstock. The Celtics lost 18 straight, and won just 24 games all season. They were dreadful.

The 2006-07 season cut Pierce deeply. He had to produce a lot of "Can you tell I don't mean it?" smiles. For a couple of years his name was stoked in trade rumors. It got so bad that Pierce would have considered a new area code. He liked Boston, liked playing for the Celtics, even though they were way below the Patriots and Red Sox on the food chain.

But when he approached his 30th birthday, his NBA mortality was staring him in the face. He needed to play for a winner, play for a shot at something. The Celtics missed the playoffs two years in a row. That's hard to do, unless you're the Grizzlies or Hawks. Pierce begged GM Danny Ainge for help. You know where this is going. Ainge went after Kevin Garnett who, like Pierce, was playing for a nowhere team, the Timberwolves. Garnett's reaction: why leave one lousy team for another? His time was running out faster than Pierce's.

Ainge kept trying. He brought in Ray Allen. Good move, but if that was the end of Ainge's dealing, the Celtics would still be a borderline playoff team. What the Allen deal did was make Garnett reconsider a trade to Boston. What the heck, couldn't be any colder than in Minnesota. On July 31 Ainge traded for Garnett for what basically is the Timberwolves' current starting lineup.

Ainge wasn't done. In less than three weeks, he signed James Posey and Eddie House.

Paul Pierce thought he'd died and gone to hoop heaven.

It's even better than he dreamed it could be. The Celtics have won 41 of 50 games. It's no common thing that a team wins just 24 games and the next season is in the discussion of potential NBA finalists. But that's where the Celtics sit.

Pierce has become Mr. Smiley. This is his 10th year in the league. Only once, when the Celtics lost to the Nets in the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals, has he gotten a sniff of playing for the biggest prize.

Pierce is a different man now. He doesn't have to carry the Celtics anymore. He doesn't have to put up the last, winner-take-all shot. It's all good for him. He hasn't missed a game. He can trust teammates to score when he dishes to them. He's always been an underrated rebounder. He's tough. This is his reborn year. He's savoring every minute.

Two years ago Pierce averaged 26.8 points, and 25 last season. Impressive, but those are ultimately empty numbers when you can't take them to the playoffs. The scoring burden is off Pierce now, and yet he's having a brilliant season: 20.6 points per game; 5.6 rebounds; 4.8 assists. He's logging 38 minutes per game, second only to Ray Allen's 38.3.

For most of their glorious history, the Celtics were a lock for the playoffs. There was Russell, Cousy and Heinsohn; Havlicek and Jo Jo; Parish, McHale and that Bird guy. Those teams didn't worry about making the playoffs. They were resolute about pinning another banner up.

But it all dried up, as most good things do. Since Pierce's arrival, the Celtics have missed the playoffs (five times) more than they've made it (four). They'll be back in the playoffs, and expectations are high. Those expectations go beyond April and May. There is pressure to do so.

Pierce can't wait. Better pressure than insignificance. He's never played with more talent, and never will. This is his shot.

He isn't Bird or Havlicek or a bunch of other Celtics' greats, but he belongs in the discussion. He's taken his hits. He took bad shots. He acted foolishly in the playoff series against Indiana a few years ago. He was the star of the team, and so became a convenient target, when the Celtics failed.

But just know this. Pierce is framing a Hall of Fame career. One of the great Celtics of all-time isn't a bad tag. He's seen it all, except an NBA Final. This is his shot, and it may be a one-timer.

Yeah, Paul Pierce is smiling a lot. But after 10 years in the NBA, only a happy face in June matters. A smile, after all, is just a smile.

[FLCeltsFan]

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

Postgame Recap
Game Recap | Box Score
Ray Allen wasn't even supposed to be here, but he almost took home the All-Star Game MVP.

Allen had planned a trip to the Bahamas, but got the call as a replacement when Caron Butler pulled out of the game on Wednesday.

Scoring a game-high 28 points, 23 of which came in the second half, and 14 of which came in the intense fourth quarter, Ray Allen helped the Eastern Conference fend off the West despite their furious rally. Allen knocked down three triples and went to the line twice to seal the victory.

All-Star games always start off as a show, with guys looking for alley-oops and no-look passes, but if the game is close late, you suddenly have 10 of the most competitive human beings on Earth on one court, and the intensity is off the charts. Now a veteran of eight All-Star Games, Allen's familiar with the transformation that occurs.

"In the beginning, it's like a honeymoon. You throw alley-oops, then everybody's getting back [on defense], everybody gets that second wind. And by the fourth quarter, everybody's here for a reason. Everybody has that same competitive nature, it kicks in and you want to win the game," Allen said.

Rivers, who played in the 1988 All-Star Game, knew the complexion of the game would change, he was just waiting for it to happen.

"You knew with us having the lead, they were going to make the run. So we had the idea when the game was going to start, because we could see when they started catching up to us," Rivers said. "The league hasn't changed. It's a make or miss league, it always will be, and Ray made shots, LeBron [James] made plays and we won the game."

Allen's effort, however, was trumped by a dominant performance by James, who entertained a triple-double before finishing with 27 points, eight rebounds and nine assists.

The Eastern Conference had built a comfortable 16 point lead about halfway through the third quarter, but Amare Stoudemire and company chipped away at the lead and tied it up with a 17-4 run that evened the game at 110-110. With the teams trading hoops and the West taking a 118-116 lead, Allen caught fire and scored nine straight points on threes while the West hung tough. With the East taking a 125-122 lead on his last three, he finally missed one and Chris Paul tied it with a triple of his own at 125-125.

It looked like Allen could be the MVP, given the way he'd kept the East in the game, but James' impressive driving dunk through traffic ended any possible debate.

Still, not bad for a guy who planned to be lying on the beach this weekend.

Check the Audio Archive for sound from Doc, Ray and LeBron...

Pregame Media
All-Star Game: All-Star Preview | Live Scoreboard
Doc Rivers and Kevin Garnett, who is inactive tonight, met the national media about an hour before tipoff. We've got the audio here for you in the All-Star Audio Archive.

Here's a few noteworthy items from that media session:

Kevin Garnett: Garnett again said that he intends to practice Monday with the hopes of playing on Tuesday night in Denver. He said he's made "major strides" and he's happy with where he's at. He noted that he still feels stiffness from the injury, but called it "tolerable."

Doc Rivers: Rivers said the team is taking a "wait and see" approach to tomorrow's practice and Garnett's availability for Tuesday night. Otherwise, he was mostly asked about Dwight Howard's dunk contest win, Kobe Bryant's injury, and what it's been like to have his kids along for the weekend here in New Orleans.

We'll be back after the game with a full recap and thoughts, as well as postgame interviews...

Charmed at Jam Session

"To Celtics.com, home of the hottest blogger in the NBA, we finally know. You're the Boss! Love, Alyssa. XOXO..."
Peter Stringer/Boston Celtics
Sunday's a rather slow day in terms of events, so we spent the afternoon checking out the NBA Jam Session fan festival, and it turned out to be a rock-solid decision, and perhaps the highlight of the weekend to date.

While wandering the NBA Store set up at Jam Session, I noticed a sign advertising an Alyssa Milano appearance at 2 p.m. Since I've been around basketball players 24-7 this weekend, I figured I deserved a break, so I stuck around for her appearance.

When she arrived (shorter and cuter than advertised, I might add), she spent about 45 minutes autographing and taking photos with fans in the store who were buying items from her Touch clothing line. Once she wrapped up, Milano started asking where she could meet the guy from Celtics.com.

That's how I'm telling the story anyway. But we did chat for a few minutes about how she launched her women's sports clothing line, and she told me that her Celtics gear has been the top seller among her NBA apparel.

"I grew up around sports, and I got tired of going to games and not finding anything fashionable that fit my body, that wasn't pink, so I basically thought if I was looking for it than there was a market for it," Milano said, adding that she had Kings season tickets as a kid before Wayne Gretzky arrived. "It's awesome to be able to look into the stands and seeing my gear."

So where does she get the concepts for her clothing?

"I try to make it a great sportswear line and make the [team] logos go with it. It's not just about wearing the gear to the game," Milano said. "If you're a Celtics fan, I wanna see you in a Celtics hoodie at the mall. You know what I mean? Even if you're not going to a game..."

Growing up as a child actress, Milano obviously spent plenty of time going to games in Los Angeles and still goes to games frequently. Unfortunately, she admitted to me that she's a Lakers fan, which, I told her, breaks my heart.

"I'm sorry. It's just because it's geographically convenient," Milano said.

When I extended an offer for her to come to the Garden, Milano was enthusiastic.

"Absolutely!"

Hmmm....is that a date? She is an actress, after all. But color me convinced; I think it's official. Us Magazine, you heard it here first: Alyssa Milano is dating the Celtics.com reporter...

Either way, I'm easy to find, Alyssa...


Rajon Rondo took on fans at the EA Sports booth at Jam Session in a spirited game of NBA Live '08.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.concordmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?Date=20080218&Category=SPORTS&ArtNo=802180371&SectionCat=&Template=printart

Celts now must keep improving
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Letter to editor



By TIM O'SULLIVAN
Monitor staff


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Feb 18, 2008




At last season's All-Star break, the Celtics were 13-38. They had suffered through an 18-game losing streak. Doc Rivers was working on his résumé. And they certainly had no all-stars.

Now, the Celtics have the best record in the league (41-9). They rank first in points per game allowed and defensive field goal percentage and have a cushy 13½ game lead in the Atlantic Division. Rivers can add "All-Star coach" to his resume. Boston had the All-Star vote leader in Kevin Garnett and two more players - Paul Pierce and Ray Allen - on the team.

No, the leprechaun ping-pong balls will not be making their annual migration to Secaucus, N.J., for the NBA Lottery.

The playoffs may be a lock, but a trip to any type of postseason finals - league or conference - is not a lock, despite the bling bling flash of 41-9. The second half of seasons is typically more trying than the first - teams have deciphered your schemes and tendencies, players fatigue and suffer injury, pressure builds - and the playoffs are more trying still.

The Celtics must continue to excel and even improve if they are to make a serious run at Banner 17. Here are four keys for Boston's post All-Star break push.

Keep the Big Three fresh
The Celtics have proven they can win without Garnett or Allen, who have both missed multiple games with injury, but if either of them or Pierce is hurt or not 100 percent heading

into the playoffs, the postseason will be short for Boston.

Rivers has done a decent job of keeping the minutes down for his three stars - Allen is logging 38.3 minutes per game, Pierce 38 and Garnett 35. But it would be beneficial if those numbers could get even lower. Garnett's abdominal strain, which has kept him out of the last nine games, is an injury that could linger and reappear at any time. The 32-year-old Allen had surgery on both of his ankles over the summer and is susceptible to a major injury there.

With their huge lead in the Atlantic, plus the knowledge that the bench can compensate when one of the stars is out, should allow Rivers to significantly rest Garnett, Pierce and Allen down the stretch. San Antonio has given its stars major down time at the end of regular seasons and that's paid off in championships.

Backcourt depth

Whether it comes via trade or improvement, the Celtics have to get deeper at the guard position. Rajon Rondo has been superb at the point this year, but at 6-foot-1 and 171 pounds he is bound to get hurt during the 82-game grind. As a matter of fact, he's already suffered some minor bumps and Boston has suffered without him running the show.

Eddie House has gotten better as the backup point guard, but he's still primarily a shooter. Tony Allen has also improved during the first 50 games, but he's still too erratic and mistake prone and must continue his improvement to be a reliable contributor come playoff time. Rookie Gabe Pruitt has performed well when called upon, but he's been buried on the bench and won't have the experience needed for postseason pressure.

Veteran Sam Cassell has stated that he would love to be bought out of his contract with the Clippers and sign with Boston. Cassell, a former teammate of Garnett, would fit perfectly in Boston, but a lot must happen for him to be in green. Danny Ainge needs to explore other trade possibilities or the Celtics may find themselves one guard short of contending.

The road West

The most impressive part of Boston's 41-9 record is its 16-0 mark against the Western Conference. The Celtics have beaten some of the West's best - the Spurs, Mavericks, Jazz, Lakers, Nuggets - but the toughest tests lie ahead.

Boston's second half begins with a five-game trip through the West that starts in Denver and includes a stop in Phoenix for the first meeting of the year with the Suns. In March, there's an even more demanding trip with games in San Antonio, Dallas and New Orleans.

With their early-season exuberance long faded, plenty of film and defensive strategies on the new Big Three available and the bull's-eye of owning the league's best record on their back, those second-half road games against the West's elite should offer a truer test of the Celtics than the early season games.

Doc exposed

With a full 50 games to examine, opposing teams will have plenty of material to study to prepare for Rivers's schemes. So far this year, Rivers has done an excellent job of meshing his new team into a cohesive unit, but he still needs to prove he can make the necessary strategic adjustments when opponents take away Boston's top options.

Rivers will be truly tested in the playoffs when he'll be forced to make significant adjustments during long series. Whether or not he can make the right moves at the right times will determine just how far the Celtics go and how relevant that flashy 41-9 will look come June.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.sportingnews.com/yourturn/viewtopic.php?t=354086

Allen proves vital to East triumph
February 18, 2008

Associated Press

NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Ray Allen was a late addition to the Eastern Conference All-Star roster, then came through with some late-game heroics.

Allen's three 3-pointers inside the last 3:14 helped the East, which had blown a double-digit lead in the fourth quarter, pull out its 134-128 triumph over the West on Sunday night.

Allen, who finished with 28 points, scored 14 in the fourth quarter. He shot 10-of-14 for the game, 5-of-9 from 3-point range.

"I was supposed to be in the Bahamas this weekend," said Allen, who was not initially selected for the East squad but later added when Washington's Caron Butler decided he hadn't recovered enough from a strained hip flexor to play.

"The game was definitely one of the more fun games I've participated in," added Allen, now an eight-time All-Star. "Overall, I would have to say it's probably been my best All-Star game so far."

East coach Doc Rivers, also Allen's coach with the Boston Celtics, said he considered removing Allen from the game late in the fourth quarter in favor of Toronto's Chris Bosh, a better rebounder, because the West had a bigger lineup in the game.

"Right before we were about to do it, Ray makes a 3, and I decided I think it would be smart to keep Ray in," Rivers said. "You've seen Ray. When he makes one, there's usually two or three coming behind it."

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BIG STAGE: For a city that lives on tourism, hosting basketball's greatest stars for a game watched by millions in 215 countries was a boost in itself.

Organizers further capitalized on that platform by greeting viewers with a French Quarter-style facade, a New Orleans brass band and second-line dancing so contagious that even players couldn't help from bouncing to the rhythm.

The faux French Quarter streetscape, built in a lower corner of the New Orleans Arena and featured during pre-game introductions, forced the NBA to sacrifice nearly a full section of excellent seating close to the court.

The NBA has made the rebuilding of New Orleans from Hurricane Katrina the primary theme of All-Star weekend. So it only made sense that the league would give up a few hundred seats so the city could showcase cultural richness that has fascinated tourists for generations.

Local trumpeters Kermit Ruffins and Troy "Trombone Shorty" Andrews delighted the players and the crowd, backed up by the Rebirth Brass Band, a popular draw at local bars and clubs for years.

Extras danced on the balcony, some dressed in NBA jerseys and many wearing feather boas like those often worn by revelers on Bourbon Street.

The national anthem featured saxophone player Branford Marsalis and singer Stephanie Jordan, both New Orleans natives.

Then Hornets All-Stars David West and Chris Paul said a few words on the city's behalf.

"Your commitment to this great city has given us a tremendous boost," West said.

Added Paul: "New Orleans is definitely back to being the city that the world knows and loves."

The NBA reserved the halftime performance for a host of famous New Orleans musicians, including singer Harry Connick Jr., Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Davell Crawford, Art Neville, Ivan Neville, Jonathan Batiste and Ellis Marsalis, who is the patriarch of the musical Marsalis family and Connick's one-time teacher.

The pre-game and halftime entertainment featured the second part of a two-pronged message the NBA sought to send the world about New Orleans. On Friday, the league focused on the neighborhoods that are still reeling 21/2 years after Katrina struck. All-Stars joined 2,500 league employees on rebuilding projects.

But in addition to sending the message that New Orleans still needs help, commissioner David Stern said the league also wanted to remind the world that the cultural attractions that drive the all-important tourism industry here have endured.

While the Eastern Conference was one it's Connick said New Orleans converted on the NBA's assist.

"New Orleans is known for its tourism, Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest and all that stuff. So to be able to present itself in such a positive way is really important," Connick said. "A lot of people I know say, 'We've never been to New Orleans and we're afraid to go because it may not be back together.' So when they see this, they know hotels are back, restaurants are back. It's really coming around."

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RARE SIGHT: This year marked only the second time, and the first time in more than three decades, that black head coaches led each All-Star team. K.C. Jones and Al Attles coached the game in 1975.

This time it was the Celtics' Doc Rivers and the Hornets' Byron Scott.

"To me, it shines the light on just two very good basketball coaches. It's not so much about our race," said Scott, who once coached the East while with New Jersey. "It's more about what we've done in our professions."

Scott noted that both he and Rivers are only now enjoying the fruits of rebuilding efforts that involved a lot of losing in the last few seasons.

The Celtics did not make the playoffs last season, but developed enough young talent to orchestrate trades for Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen. The Hornets won only 18 games in Scott's first season in New Orleans (2004-05). Then they drafted Chris Paul and traded for Tyson Chandler, who along with fifth-year player David West have led the Hornets back to playoff contention.

"Doc has done a terriffic job. We've go something going pretty good here in New Orleans," Scott said.

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FLASHBACK: Julius Erving had a sudden flashback as he strolled past a practice court set up in the Louisiana Superdome.

Dr. J, who including his years as a player has been to 37 straight All-Star weekends, played before a then-record setting single-game crowd of 35,077 in a game against the New Orleans Jazz in 1977.

"It made me think about not only that game, but the next day, Pete Maravich, !!!GREENIAC!!! Cavett and I were the only ones in the building during the !!!GREENIAC!!! Cavett show," Erving said. "Those two days are etched in my mind, very special days, and it all came back to me."

The Jazz played in New Orleans for five seasons from 1974 to 1979 before moving to Utah, playing their final four seasons in the Superdome. The Jazz never made the playoffs. But with Maravich, a former LSU star, making circus shots and passes, attendance in the dome met or exceeded league averages in three of those seasons.

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SPECIAL STARS: Carlton Lockett had a surprise for Dwight Howard.

When the Orlando center, who won Saturday's slam dunk contest after donning a Superman outfit complete with a red cape, met Lockett, the youngster from Cleveland busted into his own "Superman" move made famous by Soulja Boy's popular "Crank Dat" song.

"I showed him how to do it," said the 15-year-old Lockett, a liver transplant patient who was a guest of the NBA and the Make-A-Wish Foundation at this weekend's All-Star events.

Lockett and three other sick youngsters got a chance to visit with all the players before Sunday's game. The biggest thrill for Lockett was when he got to meet Allen Iverson, his all-time favorite.

"He almost fainted when A.I. came around the corner," said his mother, Chabli. "He's been an A.I. fan since he was four or five years old."

"I told him I was his biggest fan," Carlton said. "People back home give me a hard time about it."

No doubt. A kid from Cleveland whose favorite player isn't LeBron James?

"He came along too late," said Carlton, who was sporting an authentic Howard jersey. "LeBron's cool though. I saw him in the hotel lobby every day."

The NBA and Make-A-Wish have teamed up for the past 12 years.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080218/SPORTS/802180365

All-Star experience bittersweet for Garnett
February 18, 2008 6:00 AM
NEW ORLEANS — Boston Celtics Coach Doc Rivers passed his star forward Kevin Garnett after leaving the podium and pointed to KG's sharp green suit.

"Quick wardrobe change," Garnett laughed.

Unfortunately for the injured Garnett, he was in his game attire, unable to start for the Eastern Conference in the 57th NBA All-Star Game on Sunday.

Chris Bosh of the Toronto Raptors replaced him in the lineup.

"I'm already at a bittersweet kind of thing when it comes to playing anyway," Garnett said. "But I just have a good outlook on what this weekend's all about. It's not just me; there's bigger things than just me."

Rivers has seen most of Garnett's wardrobe the past couple weeks. Garnett has been out of the Celtics' lineup for nine games, nursing a severe abdominal strain.

Garnett is expected to practice Monday day and possibly play Tuesday night for the NBA-leading Celtics at the Denver Nuggets.

"I'm back to my old self again," he said.

Garnett, perhaps the leader in the MVP clubhouse, said he feels good about returning, but added, "I don't think Doc feels so good about it. So if ya'll could say a couple of words to Doc for me to help me out, I'd appreciate it."

Garnett was the last major piece the Celtics added after acquiring Ray Allen from the Seattle SuperSonics to team with Paul Pierce. When the Minnesota Timberwolves traded KG to the Celtics, Boston had its "Big Three."

He is thankful to not only be with a winner, but far away from the powerhouse Western Conference.

"Relieved' can be an accurate word," he said. "Now that I'm in the East, the East is no cupcake conference either. But the West has always been a gunslinger type of atmosphere when it comes to the conference."

Most players have expressed the sentiment during all-star weekend that they'd like to see KG win a ring.

"That's shocking to me, actually," Garnett said. "It feels great. It feels good to know that the people you play against have a level of respect or appreciation for certain things."