News 2/19

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1074530&format=text

New-look Celts, same-old Doc
Rivers’ methods haven’t changed with team’s success

By Mark Murphy | Tuesday, February 19, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by AP (file)
Though the commute isn’t any more palatable between Boston and Orlando, Doc Rivers still manages to attend a surprising amount of his three youngest children’s practices.

He naturally hones in on the coaches. There’s something to learn from everyone, and the Celtics [team stats] coach is always looking for a new way to bend an idea.

As someone who has often been judged harshly on the basis of wins and losses, Rivers looks for something more, like interactions with kids, the communication skills, drills and practice routines.

He coaches a penthouse team, but that doesn’t stop Rivers from appreciating the guys down on the street.

“I go to my sons’ practices,” he said. “I see terrific coaches there, and a lot of them don’t win, but they’re still terrific coaches. There’s a million coaches in America who are like that.”

As appreciative as he may be when hearing this kind of sentiment, Rivers glazes over when discussing his new place in the rank of NBA coaches.

Though the TD Banknorth Garden fans weren’t as tough on Rivers last year as the Madison Square Garden crowd has been this season on his good friend Isiah Thomas, it was still only a year ago that some were calling for Rivers’ head.

But dramatic change can be only one trade away in the NBA, and the Celtics happened to make two that shook the league. They shot out of the gate with the best record in the league, and open the second half of the season tonight in Denver with the same status.

Rivers, fresh off Sunday’s win as coach of the Eastern Conference All-Star team, is once again thinking ahead of most others.

“In our profession you know how it goes,” he said. “Is Coach (Pat) Riley still one of the best coaches in the NBA? Just because (Miami) isn’t doing well right now, does that change? We sign on for it. If you lose two in a row you’re going to get second-guessed.

“The key for all of us is to keep doing our job,” said Rivers. “And sometimes wins don’t come with that.”

Getting the point

Doc Rivers was a member of the San Antonio Spurs relatively late in his playing career, when the coaching juices weren’t merely flowing - the aging point guard’s ideas on how to run a team had reached flood force. His locker was next to David Robinson’s, and the Spurs star was treated daily to the thoughts of the basketball world’s next young boss.

The irony is that for a coach who now keeps to the Bill Belichick mantra of never looking more than one game ahead, Rivers was adept at playing basketball chess.

“You never really know when you play with someone if they want to coach,” Robinson said last week. “But then there are guys like Avery (Johnson) and Doc who are always three games ahead of everyone else in the locker room.

“Doc sat next to me, and so we were always talking, and he was always thinking ahead. He was always analyzing what we had to do - things we had to do to get better, what we had to do against someone we were about to play.

“But I’ve got to say - Doc and Avery, those guys have done me proud.”

While Johnson inherited a very good Dallas Mavericks team when he started in 2005, Rivers’ climb has been harder.

He was named the NBA’s Coach of the Year in 2000 for squeezing an incredible amount out of a bad team in Orlando, and after 8 seasons in the profession, he still hasn’t won a playoff series.

If that doesn’t change this season, then something will truly be wrong. But no one expects that to happen. After all, he now has the necessary parts, which is preferable to having even Red Auerbach’s magic touch.

Eddie Johnson, the great shooting guard who now broadcasts Phoenix Suns games, considers Rivers a close friend. But the plain-speaking Johnson refuses to add to the delusions about NBA coaches.

“Coaching is overrated,” said Johnson. “A lot of times we put too much of a target on who is a good coach and who isn’t. The guy who was like a father to me was Cotton Fitzsimmons, and he always told me that a coach is only as good as his players.

“Is Doc prepared to coach in this league? Heck yeah. He played point guard, and had to control the tempo of a team. These are all quality things that lead to someone being an NBA coach.

“Now, Doc Rivers last year - because of what he had - looked like he was in a rough situation.”

And then, voila, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen arrived. Consequently, free agents like James Posey and Eddie House wanted to sign on for the tour. And suddenly young players like Rajon Rondo [stats], Leon Powe, Glen Davis and Tony Allen had the older role models necessary to develop.

It’s amazing what goes into becoming a great coach.

“The leadership of Doc, his understanding of the game, puts him in that position to succeed,” said Johnson. “But a lot of times we put it on the coach instead of the players who surround him. I guess we can say that Pat Riley is a terrible coach, then, because of what has happened to Miami, right? But coaches are always fighting for their jobs, and that makes it seem like they always have difficult jobs. Look at Byron Scott. He takes the Nets to the finals two years in a row, and then he gets fired a year later. But he’s doing a great job now (in New Orleans), and every one of his coaches is an ex-NBA player. You don’t think that makes a difference?

“Doc is a good friend of mine, and everything about him is very positive,” Johnson continued. “I really felt for him last year. You could see all of the wear and tear on him last year. That’s why I applaud Danny Ainge for sticking with him, and not looking somewhere else just because things were tough. As a player I always hated the Celtics because they always kicked my butt. But I applaud the changes they have made now. I love Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen, and I admire Paul Pierce [stats].

“I watch probably 90 percent of their games because of the way they play.”

But doesn’t a coach have something to do with that?

Doing his part

Robinson doesn’t believe that coaching is overrated. Even with Boston’s three stars there to form a rare nucleus, the Hall of Famer still believes it takes a talented leader to tweak all of the angles, and to give proper direction.

“I know that Doc is not a big ego guy, and that helps him,” said Robinson. “It’s hard to win without talent. But not just any idiot can get in there and put together what they have now.

“It takes a plan and vision. Three guys like that won’t respect you if they don’t think you can call a game.”

Scott, his Hornets improbably in possession of the best record in the Western Conference coming out of the All-Star break, can certainly empathize. He carried that horrid tag out of New Jersey - a coach who benefited from having great players like Jason Kidd, Kenyon Martin and Richard Jefferson.

But, like Rivers, he was an All-Star coach last weekend.

“When a team is doing bad it always comes down on the coach,” Scott said with a shrug. “When a team does well, it’s the players. I think coaching has to be involved somehow, and especially with Doc. He’s done a terrific job. But we’re in a business where the bottom line is winning.”

Garnett certainly did his homework before coming to Boston. He reached out to Troy Hudson and Tyrone Lue - two friends who had played for Rivers - for evaluations. Nothing he heard has been disproved.

“After talking to them I knew he was a player’s coach,” said Garnett. “I can honestly say that he’s the most motivation coach I have ever had. But he also keeps us grounded, and he lets us know that we’re not indestructible.

“Just a great coach, man. I really mean it when I say that he’s the best motivator that I’ve ever had.”

It’s important to remember this if those hoots from the Garden stands ever reoccur. Fans being fans, and the cycle of an NBA team being what it is, it could even be expected.

But right now the most important people in the building are on board. A coach can’t hope for much else.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1074548&format=text

No peaking at KG, Celts
Garnett aims to keep this team improving

By Mark Murphy | Tuesday, February 19, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Jim Mahoney (file)
There’s always someone to raise the bar.

For the Celtics [team stats], one new theory is they peaked early, and a team like Cleveland, which has flown under expectations, can catch them down the stretch.

Or maybe it’s Detroit, whose players like to boast about flying under the radar.

“Oh, I don’t think they play that far under the radar,” said Kevin Garnett. “I think they want to fly more under the radar. It’s not like a cupcake walk. I told Chauncey (Billups), a lot is gonna happen.”

That’s especially true where Garnett is concerned.

The Celtics begin a five-city road trip tonight in Denver, and their All-Star forward may be on the floor following a nine-game absence because of an abdominal strain, which forced him to also miss the league’s showcase event, the All-Star Game.

Peaking early? Garnett’s brimming desire to get back in the lineup should be enough to guard against that potential problem.

“No, because we have so much room for improvement,” coach Doc Rivers said of the early peak issue. “It’s not like this team has been together for a long time. We don’t go by record. We still have an awful lot to prove. When you talk about teams like Detroit, Cleveland, Dallas and San Antonio, those are all teams that have gone through things that we haven’t yet.”

The Celtics have passed at least one challenge, though. They are 7-2 without Garnett.

But even with his absence considered, in some respects Garnett’s influence has never waned.

“People have to understand the influence that he has, even when he doesn’t play,” said Brian Scalabrine. “He’s been in the locker room watching all of these games when he was unable to play.

“But we go in for the half or after the game, he comes out and goes up to different guys with advice,” he said. “He’ll tell (Big) Baby (Davis) what he has to do, or point something out to (Rajon) Rondo that he did in a game that needs improving. He’s so completely into it, even when he’s not on the floor.

“I’ve never had a teammate like that.”

Garnett’s presence - emotionally and mentally as well as what he is about to bring back to the active lineup - should continue to pay an invaluable dividend on this trip as the Celtics prepare to play a very good Denver team, athletic Golden State and a Phoenix team that is ready to unveil its new look with Shaquille O’Neal.

“(Garnett) just gives our guys confidence,” Scalabrine said. He’s like a big brother who you know is always going to have your back. He’s a special guy. We are super fortunate to be playing with a guy like this.

“His commitment to winning is huge,” he said. “He has a hand in everything - practices, games, he’s in the gym working out constantly with everyone. He knows everyone’s scouting report, and he’ll go over that with you.

“If we’re going into Indianapolis he knows (Travis) Deiner, he knows (Danny) Granger,” said Scalabrine. “I just can’t say enough about what a difference that makes on this team.”

Or on this road trip, regardless of when Garnett next laces up his sneakers.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1074549&format=text

Garnett aiming to play
Injured star gets through full workout

By Steve Bulpett | Tuesday, February 19, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Stuart Cahill (file)
DENVER - As Kevin Garnett walked off floor of the gym at the Denver Athletic Club last night, one of the members said, “One more game out before you play, right?”

But after Garnett went through his first full workout with the Celtics [team stats] since suffering an abdominal strain Jan. 25, it looks like Nuggets fans should be concerned. Though the team has not made an official decision, there appears to be no reason to keep Garnett out.

“It felt good, man,” KG said after doing some post-practice work, as well. “For the most part it was good to be out there battling and going over some things and helping the team get better. It was just good to be out there, to be honest. I went pretty hard today. I went really, really hard. There was a lot of fire in the practice, a lot of energy in the building. It was a good practice.

“I’ve been shooting. I’ve been doing light running. Obviously explosiveness and things like that I haven’t been able to do, but probably this last week I’ve been working on being explosive, getting back to dunking the ball. I’m playing with a lot more energy and getting back to my style of play.

“It’s been awhile since I’ve been out here with these guys, and it was overall a good day. You never take the game for granted, and practices like this and days like this prove it.”

C’s coach Doc Rivers left the practice early because of flu symptoms. Armond Hill ran things and offered a good report on Garnett.

“After not playing for a while, he’s just getting his conditioning back,” Hill said. “But everything else looks good. Everything was positive. It’s just positive with him being on the floor with everybody. But (he was) doing every drill, doing every defensive drill, running the offense. Everything looked good. It’s just the conditioning part. He hasn’t played in a number of weeks, but he ran up and down the floor well. He did everything.”

Even in the thin air, Garnett’s wind seemed fine.

“As far as conditioning, I’m pretty good actually,” he said. “I’ve been going pretty hard in my workouts, so I anticipate me not being too off track. If I’m out there, it’s because I belong out there.”

Asked if he would definitely play, Garnett said, “I don’t know. I feel good. Doc Rivers might have a different assessment from that, so, either way, mentally I’m good with it.

“His thing is long-term. I live in the present and the current, but I understand his position. Y’all talk to Doc Rivers for me,” he added with a smile. “The ‘Play KG’ campaign.”

The Celtics should be pretty healthy overall. Glen Davis (quad strain), Kendrick Perkins [stats] (left shoulder strain) and Scot Pollard (sore left ankle) practiced and are also looking ready to play against the Nuggets.

Brian Scalabrine (groin strain) worked out here and hopes to be back playing by Friday’s game in Phoenix.

Davis left TD Banknorth Garden on crutches after suffering the injury last Wednesday, but he seemed fine here.

“Yeah, way better than I expected to feel,” he said. “You know, I thought I was done for a second. The MRI said it was a really, really rare bruise. I bumped my kneecap and the ligament that covers my ACL. If I didn’t stay in Boston (to rehab over the break), it would have took me longer to get back.”

Ray Allen had his right thumb bent back late in the workout. He had it wrapped after finishing up.

Tony Allen made it a full house when he got to practice nearly an hour late. Allen’s first flight out of Chicago yesterday was canceled.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/other_nba/view.bg?articleid=1074539&format=text

Kidd deal close

By Associated Press | Tuesday, February 19, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | NBA Coverage

Photo by AP
The New Jersey Nets returned to the court yesterday without All-Star point guard Jason Kidd, whose status remained in limbo while rumors persist that his trade to the Dallas Mavericks is growing increasingly imminent.

The deal reportedly has Kidd, forward Malik Allen and guard Antoine Wright going to Dallas for point guard Devin Harris, center DeSagana Diop and swingman Maurice Ager, plus retired forward Keith Van Horn and Trenton Hassell. New Jersey also will get two first-round draft picks and $3 million.

Kidd, Allen and Wright were excused from yesterday’s workout. Meanwhile, the trade was awaiting the league’s approval.

The trade apparently is predicated upon whether Van Horn will sign a contract with Dallas. As of last night, Van Horn, who played five seasons with the Nets from 1997 through 2002, had not decided whether to accept the deal.

Van Horn has not played since the 2006 NBA finals with the Mavericks. They still hold his playing rights because Van Horn never officially filed retirement papers with the league.

Elsewhere in the NBA - Gilbert Arenas was cleared to participate in light, non-contact drills by the Washington Wizards yesterday, a step forward in his return from left knee surgery.

Arenas has said he hopes to return to the Wizards in the coming weeks.

Another injured Wizards player, center Etan Thomas, was cleared to practice for the first time since he had open-heart surgery in October.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/02/19/after_practice_garnett_raring_to_go?mode=PF

After practice, Garnett raring to go
No decision yet, but he 'feels great'
By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | February 19, 2008

DENVER - As injured Celtics forward Kevin Garnett was about to depart from practice at the Denver Athletic Club last night, Nuggets fan Tim Schimberg yelled out, "You got one more game to sit out."

It was Garnett's first practice since sitting out nine games with an abdominal strain, but afterward he didn't give definitive word that he would return tonight against the Nuggets. But judging by the way he looked while taking part in the entire practice, and his wide smile afterward, he seems likely to disappoint Schimberg. Ultimately, coach Doc Rivers and trainer Ed Lacerte will make a final decision today.

"I feel great," Garnett said. "It felt good. For the most part, it was good to be out there battling, going over some things and helping the team to get better. It's just good to be out [there], to tell you the truth. It felt good.

"Doc Rivers might have a different assessment than that. Either way, I feel good with it."

Garnett suffered the injury Jan. 25 against Minnesota, and the Celtics are actually 7-2 without him. He worked out over All-Star Weekend in New Orleans but it wasn't until last night that he took part in a team practice.

Garnett ran the floor smoothly and shot well during a scrimmage. He didn't have any problems doing stretches after practice and took part in his usual shooting routine with assistant coach Tom Thibodeau after practice, too.

"I've been shooting, been doing light running," Garnett said. "Over this last week, I've been working on being explosive, dunking the ball, playing with a lot more energy and getting back to my style of play."

Assistant coach Armond Hill said Garnett had no setbacks yesterday. Garnett also said his conditioning felt "pretty good" in the Mile High air, and for the second straight day, he jokingly asked the media to urge Rivers to put him back on the floor in the "Play KG Campaign."

"I went pretty hard today," Garnett said. "I went really hard. There was a lot of fire in practice today, a lot of energy in the building. It was a good practice."

Garnett's All-Star teammates, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, were impressed. "I thought he looked good," said Allen. "He's been on the mend for a couple of days. He's been able to run and move his legs. The time off definitely feels good to him. I'm sure he's definitely ready to be back."

"He looked good," said Pierce. "He ran through the whole practice, knocked down some shots. He looked better than I expected."

Nuggets star Allen Iverson has said he hopes he sees his good friend on the floor tonight.

"Besides myself, I'd like to see KG [win a title] because he hasn't had one and all the hard work and dedication he's put in," Iverson said. "You just want to see a guy like that get it. He's a team player. He's a great basketball player and I'm cool with him also."

Nuggets teammate Carmelo Anthony said, "I'm pretty sure he'll be back against us."

Garnett isn't the only Celtic on the mend.

Starting center Kendrick Perkins said he expects to play after missing three games with a left shoulder sprain. Reserve center Scot Pollard is wearing ankle braces and is expected to play for the first time since Jan. 9. And rookie forward Glen Davis is expected to play despite recently suffering a strained left quadriceps and a knee bruise.

"It felt good," Perkins said. "I got to do a lot of banging, do a lot of contact. It felt really well. I'm expecting to play."

Forward Brian Scalabrine, however, said he will miss the game with a right groin injury but hopes to be available Friday at Phoenix.

"I feel like a pinch, like a grabbing sensation when I push off," Scalabrine said. "Besides that, it feels all right."

Rivers also left practice early and went back to the hotel with flulike symptoms that bothered him during All-Star Weekend.

For the Nuggets, Kenyon Martin will be a game-time decision because of strep throat.

The Celtics are a surprising 16-0 against the Western Conference, including recent wins over reigning champion San Antonio and Dallas. But beginning tonight, they are embarking on their most challenging Western trip thus far.

Tomorrow they face Golden State, which, like Denver, is 32-20. Then there is Friday's game against the hot Suns (37-16) - and superstar newcomer Shaquille O'Neal - followed by the young and exciting Trail Blazers (28-24) Sunday and the struggling Clippers (17-33) Monday.

"If you look at this trip, it's a little bit stronger," Pierce said. "You got Phoenix, Denver, Golden State, and then at this point in the season everybody's jockeying for playoff position. It's going to be our roughest road trip to date."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/02/19/nuggets_thumbnails/

Nuggets thumbnails
Email|Print| Text size – + February 19, 2008
more stories like this
Garnett raring to go
Howard, Lewis power Magic past Nuggets
Billups, Pistons finish strong
Denver edges Heat in OT, 114-113
Anthony's 27 leads Nuggets over Cavs
When, where: Tonight, 9, at Pepsi Center, Denver.
TV, radio: CSN, WEEI (850).
Records: Boston is 41-9; Denver is 32-20.
Scoring: Allen Iverson 26.5, Carmelo Anthony 26.2, Linas Kleiza 11.9.
Rebounds: Marcus Camby 14.3, Anthony 7.3, Kenyon Martin 6.5.
Assists: Iverson 7.3, Anthony Carter 6.1, Anthony 3.3.
Head to head: This is the second of two meetings. On Nov. 7, the Celtics defeated the Nuggets in Boston, 119-93.
Miscellany: Denver is opening a three-game set against Eastern Conference teams, with games against Chicago Friday and Milwaukee Saturday. . . The Nuggets are 1 1/2 games back of first-place Utah in the Northwest Division, and tied with Golden State and Houston for the sixth-best record in the West . . . Denver is 11-1 at home against the East . . . The Nuggets are fourth in the league in scoring (106.7 points per game), but 25th in points allowed (103.9).

[FLCeltsFan]

I have said this since the very beginning.
Lue would be a great fit for this team

www.celticsblog.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2433&Itemid=189

Daily Babble: Lue the Right Fit For Celts
Written by Steve Weinman
Tuesday, 19 February 2008
Danny Ainge has done an excellent job all season in putting on a clinic of demonstrating the virtue that is patience.

He has left two roster slots empty for much of the season, resisted pseudo-temptations such as Damon Stoudamire and made it clear that he would make a move only when the right move presented itself, not for the sake of making one. It is the right attitude, and it has served Ainge well so far.

That said, here's hoping Ainge is ready to step off the executive sideline and into the trading game. Thanks to the trade that sent Tyronn Lue and his expiring $3.5 million contract to Sacramento, the chance to make that right move has presented itself.

Read More..

All of Steve's daily posts can be found in the CelticsBlog: NBA blog. Check him out!




Back in August, when it was first reported that Lue helped convince good friend Kevin Garnett to willingly come to Boston, I half-jokingly suggested the possibility of the Celts pursuing Lue over the summer. The jest was that Lue had to be a cool dude if he was friends with KG. The not-so-funny part was the stability he would provide at the point guard position.

At the time, however, Celtics Nation didn't know exactly what the need would be at point guard for this team. Well, with the exception of loyal reader MikeDfromNP, that is, who to his credit has at no point wavered on his unconditional love of Rajon Rondo. For those of us without the self-proclaimed resident Rondologist's foresight (in the case of any confusion over tone here, the preceding phraseology is meant wholly as a compliment to Mike), what Rondo would give the Celts remained an enormous question mark going into the season. Maybe the Celtics would need a veteran back-up. Maybe they would need an entirely new solution at the position.

Then again, maybe not to that latter possibility. The picture is a lot clearer now, and it only makes acquiring Lue look like an even more sensible move. The questions about where Raj fits on this team are gone: He is the starting point guard now and for the foreseeable future, and his ceiling remains unknown. As has been evident for some time now, the issue is at the point is that of potentially acquiring a more traditional point guard than Eddie House and Tony Allen to back up Rondo.

Before we get to Lue, it is worth disclaiming that this doesn't mean that either House or Allen should be getting booted from the rotation. Allen could still be a very valuable piece at the swing positions (his natural spots) for the Celtics, and House has earned the right to keep getting minutes, be they either at the point or occasionally at the two, though that latter possibility would certainly put the Celts at a major size disadvantage at times. The goal isn't to eat all of House's minutes, and that shouldn't happen, but that said, it's still important that this team be as playoff-ready as possible.

Tyronn Lue helps said team become more playoff-ready.

As part of a logjam in Sacramento and as a man in possession of an expiring $3.5 million contract, Lue should be obtainable at a fairly reasonable (if not altogether bargain) price. Worries about him affecting the thus-far beautiful chemistry on this team will likely be assuaged quickly, as Lue has long been reputed as one of the best locker room guys in the league. He is someone who knows his role and will bust his gut every night for his team but won't complain for more minutes or touches or cause strife with his teammates or coaches.

As for his role on the floor, Lue makes sense because he will fill the niches the Celts need. Unlike House and Allen, Lue is actually a point guard. He handles the ball with far greater ease than either of the other two and will be much less susceptible to running into trouble against ball pressure, especially when that sort of opposing defense picks up down the stretch and in the playoffs. He is a heady player who is far happier to settle for the smart play than to take the risk to make the spectacular. Lue won't need to take a lot of shots, and he will be take care of the basketball. When he does shoot, he likes the mid-range jumper, which is exactly the shot the Celts would be looking for Lue to take if he gets a minimally contested look.

Furthermore, Lue remains a very capable defender. He is best known for doing a phenomenal job on Allen Iverson in the 2001 Finals, and though he has certainly aged considerably since then, he is just 30 years old and still knows what he is doing when his team doesn't have the ball. Though just six feet tall, Lue is compactly built and deceptively strong. He is a scrappy player who will be more than happy to try to get inside the shorts of an opponent if asked to do so.

Ball handler with a brain, who will avoid turnovers. Passer. Defender. Low ego. High character. Deep postseason experience (two titles with the Lakers). Relatively low cost. Call me crazy, but this sounds like exactly the profile Celts boosters have been putting out in our want ads for back-up point guard help all season. Tyronn Lue would know his role on this team, and he would fit it to a tee.

Finally, as was mentioned in the forum thread on this topic, I would be remiss to retire from any discussion about Tyronn Lue without sharing my favorite anecdote about him, courtesy of Michael Leahy's When Nothing Else Matters (in my paraphrasing):

In those '01 Finals, AI got so frustrated with Lue's defense that he finally yelled something at him that -- with the expletives removed -- equated to "I'm gonna fight you after the game." And Tyronn Lue looked right back at reigning NBA MVP Allen Iverson without blinking and said "I'll fight you right now."

This is the type of guy who one is best served to have as an ally. Especially come playoff time.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.enterprisenews.com/sports/x1186239088

Kevin Garnett could return for Celtics in Denver
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By Jim Fenton
ENTERPRISE staff writer
Posted Feb 19, 2008 @ 02:03 AM

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BOSTON — He was last seen diving on the parquet floor for a steal in the closing seconds to clinch a Jan. 25 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Three and a half weeks later, Kevin Garnett seems on target to finally return to the Boston Celtics’ lineup.

After missing a career-high nine games, Garnett could rejoin the Celtics when they open a five-game road trip against the Nuggets in Denver tonight.

Garnett, who suffered a strained abdominal muscle against the Timberwolves, went through the team’s entire practice session at the Denver Athletic Club Monday night without having any problems to cause concern.

It will be decided today by Coach Doc Rivers and trainer Ed Lacerte whether Garnett will be on the floor against the Nuggets.

The Celtics went a surprising 7-2 without Garnett, beating the Dallas Mavericks and San Antonio Spurs, but the time is right for him to start playing again.

Boston faces a rugged test out West, playing five games in seven nights with four of the opponents having winning records.

The eventual return of Garnett will ease the burden, and the Celtics received more good news on the injury front.

Kendrick Perkins, who sat out three games with a strained left shoulder, will be back in the starting lineup.

Reserves Glen Davis (strained quad) and Scot Pollard (sprained left ankle) should also be available to start the trip.

Only Brian Scalabrine (who suffered a groin strain last Wednesday) will not be able to play against the Nuggets, though he could be back at some point on the trip.

The Celtics, who hit the All-Star break with a league-leading 41-9 mark, are a surprising 16-0 against the Western Conference.

Beginning with this trip and another journey in March, the Celtics will be seeing elite teams from the best conference in the NBA.

“The Western Conference is a tough conference with a lot of elite teams,’’ said Paul Pierce. “I just think we match up well with just about anybody in the West and anybody in the NBA.’’

Keeping that perfect slate against the West won’t be easy in the next week, but having Garnett back will increase the Celtics’ chances.

The Celtics play back-to-back games on two occasions on the trip, and the first three games are against teams who are a combined 45 games above .500.

Also taking place on this trip will be the arrival of the NBA trade deadline Thursday. It is expected that the Celtics will not be making any moves.

Here’s a look at what awaits the Celtics as they visit four states before returning home a week from today:

Denver Nuggets, 32-20, 21-6 at home (Tonight, 9:05 p.m.):
The Nuggets will be looking for revenge after getting humiliated on their visit to Boston on Nov. 7, losing 119-93.

The Celtics shot 72 percent in the first half when they scored 77 points. Boston finished shooting 65 percent, its best showing since Nov. 24, 1993.

Golden State Warriors, 32-20, 17-9 at home (Wednesday, 10:35 p.m.):
Like the Nuggets, the Warriors were roughed up on the road by the Celtics, losing, 105-82, on Nov. 21.

Golden State has been one of the best teams in the league since getting off to a shaky start.

The Warriors were 0-6 to open the season, but are 32-14 since.

Phoenix Suns, 37-16, 20-6 at home (Friday, 10:35 p.m.):
The Celtics will probably get to see Shaquille O’Neal in his new uniform.

O’Neal, acquired from the Miami Heat in a recent blockbuster trade, is expected to debut for the Suns this week.

Phoenix is battling the New Orleans Hornets and several other teams for the best record in the West, and the Suns are 51/2 games behind the Celtics in the overall standings.

Portland Trail Blazers, 28-24, 20-6 at home (Sunday, 6:05 p.m.):
The Trail Blazers, one of the surprise teams in the NBA, are trying to stay in the playoff race in the difficult Western Conference.

Portland returns from the break in 10th place, four games away from the eighth spot.

The Celtics had trouble with the Trail Blazers on Jan. 16 before getting a 100-90 win.

Los Angeles Clippers, 17-33, 9-16 at home (Monday, 10:35 p.m.):
The Clippers are the weakest link on the trip’s schedule, but Boston will be playing at the end of the journey and on the second of back-to-back nights.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_8299118

Garnett Boston's real gem
Other players have better stats, but K.G. brings skill, passion and a knack for leadership
By Benjamin Hochman
The Denver Post
Article Last Updated: 02/19/2008 12:20:52 AM MST


Hedo Turkoglu averages more points per game than the MVP front-runner. So does Andre Iguodala. In fact, if voting went strictly by statistics, Boston forward Kevin Garnett might not get that many more votes than Von Wafer.

But ask Celtics coach Doc Rivers. Or ask Nuggets coach George Karl, who has talked repeatedly about it all season. Same for numerous members of the award-voting media. Garnett is the most valuable player to his team, a team that happens to have the best record in the NBA.

"There are a lot of guys with better numbers, but if you go by importance, he's been extremely important to us, on the floor and off the floor," Rivers said. "He's our defensive voice. He gets the most out of everyone. And it's meant the world

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to our team."
Garnett, who is averaging 19.2 points, is listed as questionable for tonight's Boston-Denver game at the Pepsi Center, the only time in the regular season the Celtics come to town. An abdominal strain kept him out of the past nine games, but during All-Star Weekend in New Orleans, Garnett said he would try to give it a go tonight.

This is not good news for the Nuggets. The Celtics (41-9) sit atop the Eastern Conference. And one might recall the November night when Boston bludgeoned Denver 119-93. Garnett scored 23 points and had 13 rebounds, seven assists and four steals.

That night was ho-hum for Boston and Garnett, who made the Celtics important again the moment he arrived from Minnesota in an offseason trade.

"We're a team that's unified, and we all understand the common goal," said Garnett, the league MVP in 2004. "I look at myself as bringing the energy."

Yes, the Celtics also acquired Ray Allen, a perennial all-star and one of the best shooters in the game. But Garnett is the general.

"His presence alone, his personality and work ethic, is very demanding," said Boston all-star Paul Pierce, who suffered for many years in Boston, similar to what Garnett went through in Minnesota without a supporting cast. "I think it flows through the rest of the guys. You feel it. And you see it in practice and on the court with his passion and energy."

In the years B.G., as recently as 2006-07, Pierce was miserable — a lone star in a cloudy sky. Last season, when Boston won 24 games, Pierce said it was a struggle to bottle his anger. He dreaded practice, which generally followed a loss. It's not fun to hear about your shortcomings, watch them on film, and then prepare for a game when you know they will resurface come tipoff.

To think that Boston could be a championship contender one season later, well, "There's only (a few guys) that could have done it," Pierce said, "and Kevin was one of them. You've got Kevin, Tim Duncan, Shaq. Those are the three premier guys in the last decade that you could say could change the culture of any team."

Garnett, 6-feet-11, is a dynamic scorer who swallows rebounds (9.9). But his value goes far beyond stats.

At practice, Garnett is as vocal as Rivers. And Garnett has no time to sugarcoat his message. Early in the season, Rivers said, Garnett's in-your-face motivation spooked some guys, but it has become an important part of the Celtics' growth.

Quite simply, Rivers said: "He talks the talk, but walks the walk."

After practice Monday, Karl reiterated his view of Garnett's importance in Boston.

"The biggest thing he has brought is passion, which they didn't have last year," he said.

If Garnett wins MVP honors and averages less than 20 points per game, he will be just the fifth player to do so. Steve Nash won the award because of his assists. Bill Walton and Wes Unseld were fierce rebounders and leaders. And Bill Russell was Bill Russell.

As for Garnett, hardware or not, this season will be memorable. He resuscitated tradition for a storied franchise.

"Bringing him in," Denver all-star Carmelo Anthony said, "I think that was the best move in sports in a long time."

Wannabe or MVP?
Who will be this season's NBA MVP? Denver Post staff writer Benjamin Hochman gives his top five candidates:

Kevin Garnett, Celtics F: 19.2 points per game, 9.9 rebounds, 3.8 assists.

Dwight Howard, Magic C: 21.7 points, 14.6 rebounds, 2.4 blocks.

Chris Paul, Hornets G: 20.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 10.9 assists.

Kobe Bryant, Lakers G: 28.0 points, 6.1 rebounds, 5.3 assists.

LeBron James, Cavs F: 30.3 points, 7.8 rebounds, 7.3 assists.

BOSTON AT DENVER
7 p.m. tonight, ALT, KKFN 950 AM

Spotlight on Ray Allen: The sharpshooter comes to town fresh off a 3-point barrage in the NBA All-Star Game, when he made three straight 3s in the final 3:15. Allen, obtained in a trade with the Seattle SuperSonics, has fit in ideally with the new-look Celtics, sporting an 18.5 scoring average for the top team in the East. "I feel like I've only played 10 games; that's just how fast it's gone because we've won in such a great fashion," he said. "We've had a good time doing it. Yes, it's hard work and we've all been doing it, but it doesn't seem like four months have passed by. It just seems like we just got together."

NOTEBOOK

Nuggets: Denver is 21-6 at the Pepsi Center. Playing extended minutes, guard J.R. Smith averaged 20.7 points in the past three games. He attempted 34 3-pointers, making 18, good for 52.9 percent. Also in the past three games, center Marcus Camby averaged 4.7 offensive rebounds, compared to his season average of 3.3.

Celtics: In the previous Boston-Denver game, which the Celtics won 119-93, forward Paul Pierce led his team with 26 points and five steals. And in Boston's most recent game, Pierce scored a team-high 24 points with seven assists, while shooting 10-for-10 from the line. Boston's "Big Three" — Kevin Garnett, Pierce and Ray Allen — are the team's top three scorers. But do you know who's fourth? Point guard Rajon Rondo (10.4).

[FLCeltsFan]

www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080219/SPORTS/802190347/-1/NEWS01

Flying Colors
Celtics more than pass the test in midseason report card
February 19, 2008 6:00 AM
As we've seen over the past few weeks, it's apparently not that hard to move big names around in the NBA. Shaq to Phoenix, Pau Gasol to L.A., Mike Bibby to Atlanta, Jason Kidd potentially to Dallas — the waiver wire has started to look like an All-Star roster as Thursday's trade deadline approaches.

But the harder job is finding the right pieces to fill in around the superstars. When Danny Ainge brought Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett to Boston last summer, he knew he had the core of a team that could contend for a title. What he needed was the role players to make it a reality.

First came forward/center Scot Pollard and guard Eddie House. Next was forward James Posey. Three guys who had other offers from other teams, instead choosing to come to Boston and play for a true contender.

While the NBA world has charted the course of the Big 3 quite well, what about those other guys who were on Boston's radar because of their experience with winning teams? Surely, they must be enjoying the first-half run of the NBA's best team.

"People are talking about this and that, how we're a shoe-in, a lot of (stuff) like that," Pollard said. "There's a lot of season left."

Pollard has been to the postseason in nine straight seasons with Sacramento, Indiana and made an NBA Finals appearance last season with Cleveland. Although he's watched some of the action from the bench, he's still been in more playoff games (60) than Garnett (47).

Yet he's not the kind of guy who you'd think of as an "impact player." He's not a scorer, and he's never been much of a rebounder. But, like Danny Ainge touted when he signed forward Brian Scalabrine in 2005, Pollard is one of those "intangibles" guys, someone who knows what it takes to win in the NBA.

"That's what it takes, to keep raising it to another level as the season progresses," Pollard said. "If there's a postseason for this team, which hopefully there will be, it's got to be taken to another level at that point, too."

Ankle injuries have kept the 32-year-old off the court for all but 20 games this season, but he said heading into the All-Star break that he was finally getting healthy.

"I'm good. I'm going to start playing again after the break," Pollard said. "Our goal was to try and rest me until the break. Hopefully, I can try and help the team down the stretch here and make some contributions."

Rivers confirmed that Pollard should work his way into the rotation in the second half, but hopefully it's not too late for him to earn significant minutes.

House made it to the 2005-06 Western Conference Finals with Phoenix and made it to the Eastern semi-finals last season with New Jersey. He's averaging 7.9 points, 1.8 assists and 2.2 rebounds in 19.7 minutes per game, which is about what the Celtics were hoping to get out of him. He's been shooting nearly 42 percent from 3-point land, giving them a dimension at point guard they don't have with Rondo.

What's more, House has also made the Celtics' potential acquisition of a backup point guard a bit more difficult. While they would like to have someone with more playmaking ability on the bench in case something should happen to Rondo, they probably don't want to acquire someone that will cut into House's minutes too heavily. As a guy who can come in with instant offense off the bench, House will prove even more valuable in the playoffs and down the stretch.

For many who watched the off-season moves of the Celtics, it was the signing of Posey that solidified this team as true contenders. Known as one of the league's best individual defenders, his acquisition gave the Green something they had been lacking as constituted (little did anyone realize then just how good their team defense, led by new assistant coach Tom Thibodeau, would be).

Posey said recently that while his agent had been talking to the Celtics throughout the summer, the acquisition of Garnett is what sealed the deal for him.

"Once it got down late to a couple of teams, once I knew I wasn't going back to Miami, I looked for the opportunity where I thought I had the best chance of winning," Posey said. "And this was the best place."

While Posey knew a team with Pierce, Allen and Garnett was bound to be successful, even a guy who won a championship with Miami in 2005-06 couldn't predict that the Celtics would be 41-9 by the All-Star break. That Heat team didn't win their 41st game until mid-March.

"Not at all," he said. "You just go with the flow. Just the demeanor of this team, coming in here early in the preseason and getting a good feel for each other, working out and really pushing each other, I just sensed it was something different, something special. We knew we had the opportunity to make something special happen."

Although he's suffered a few injuries along the way, including a right index finger that hampered his shooting a bit, Posey's giving respectable numbers on a nightly basis, while showing his versatility playing the forward positions as well as the center spot when the Celtics go small. And his 3-point shooting (.396) is well above his career average of .350, and he's got a shot at a new career best, topping the .403 he shot with the Heat in that championship season.

And speaking of his former team, it goes without saying that Posey is happy to be in Boston instead of the train wreck that has happened in Miami this season. Ditto for House and the soon-to-be-Kidd-less Nets. And Pollard's former Cavaliers may be still in contention, but LeBron and company don't have the horses to hang with Boston or Detroit in the playoffs.

So the grass is definitely greener with the Green, even for those players whose acquisitions didn't make front-page news, and whose names are far down the box score. But their importance to the team can't be overlooked, and certainly won't with the second half and the postseason now on tap.

Tim Weisberg covers the Boston Celtics for The Standard-Times. Contact him at [e-mail]



MIDTERM GRADES
Tim Weisberg's midseason Celtics report card:

RAY ALLEN

A Ray's had to sacrifice the most out of anyone, going from the go-to guy of every team he'd played for to the third option in Boston. But he's handled it with grace and still comes up big when needed. Although he's struggled with his shooting at times this season, his big-shot ability makes him the most dangerous of the Big 3.

TONY ALLEN

C+ This grade will surely improve by season's end, but for now, TA grades low because he's still slowly trying to regain the form he showed last season before blowing out his knee. He gets kudos for his determination, but he's only recently begun to show the explosiveness that is a key part of his offense. Defensively, he's been solid.

GLEN DAVIS

B+ A rookie second rounder who could have just as easily not made the team, "Big Baby" is a fan favorite and a serious contributor to this team. His wide body and low center of gravity make him an attractive match-up to some of the better big men in the league, and his maturity and poise keep Doc Rivers from thinking twice about sending him to battle them.

KEVIN GARNETT

A+ It's no surprise that with Ray Allen and Paul Pierce alongside him, KG's numbers have dipped. But his intensity hasn't, and that's why even though Pierce is the captain, Garnett is the leader. Even sitting out the last nine games and watching them from the locker room, Garnett's presence is still felt on this team. The effect he's had on the team, and the franchise as a whole, can't be quantified.

EDDIE HOUSE

B- House has been exactly as advertised: a solid scorer off the bench. However, he's not been the answer as a true playmaker at the point when Rajon Rondo comes off the floor. Still, his 3-point ability could prove quite fortuitous in the postseason.

KENDRICK PERKINS

B+ Perk's certainly benefitted from playing alongside three All-Stars, doing a lot of the dirty work down low and allowing Garnett the freedom to wander the floor. But he's been rewarded, too: his numbers are up across the board. While he won't ever be a dominant center in the vein of Dwight Howard, he's a perfect fit at the 5 for this team.

PAUL PIERCE

A All he's told us (and management) for the past few years is that he needs a little help. Guess he was right. But more important than how he's flourished with Allen and Garnett is how much more he believes in his team, right down to guys like Leon Powe and "Big Baby," and especially Rajon Rondo.

SCOT POLLARD

Incomplete: The 6-11 Pollard was brought in to give the Celtics a big-man backup to both Garnett and Perkins, but the just-turned-33-year-old has been unable to remain healthy enough to log significant minutes at either spot. He should see a lot more time in the second half.

JAMES POSEY

A- Brought in for his defensive presence and his playoff experience, Posey's also been deadly from beyond the arc. His athletic ability has allowed him to come off the bench in both forward spots as well as taking over at center when the Celtics go small; he's been their Sixth Man thus far.

LEON POWE

B- Another second-round gem for Danny Ainge, the "Grown Man" has grown up in Garnett's absence. After being lost in the shuffle earlier in the year and conceding minutes to the rookie Davis, Powe has been a beast over the last month. If he can learn to avoid foul trouble, he'll be a valuable asset in the second half, either off the bench or in a trade.

GABE PRUITT

Incomplete The only thing keeping him out of the D-League is the fact that the Celtics don't have a true backup point guard, and Pruitt's only seen time in blowouts. If the C's can bring in a veteran reserve, Pruitt can back his bags for Utah and some serious time with the Flash.

RAJON RONDO

A- Seriously, did you really think Rondo would be this good this year? He's scored better than 20 four times, while averaging 10.4 on the season. He's also improved in rebounding and assists, with a 4-to-1 assist-to-turnover ratio. But beyond the numbers, he's matured into a solid leader on the floor who the Big 3 love playing with. OK, one more stat for everyone who criticized Rondo's shooting "” he's better than 50 percent from the floor this season.

BRIAN SCALABRINE

Incomplete Scal's been a victim of injury this season as well, but even when he's healthy, he's lost playing time to Powe and Davis. He's averaging career lows in points and rebounds and is just barely above the minutes he played as a rookie.

DOC RIVERS

A Will Ferrell, promoting his new "Semi-Pro" flick, summed up the common misconception about Rivers: "If I recall, Doc, he just rolls the ball out there and takes a nap for 40 minutes. He wakes up for the last eight." In actuality, Rivers has done a remarkable job bringing this team together as one ("Ubuntu!") and managing the minutes.

FRONT OFFICE/OWNERSHIP

A Ainge has assembled a championship contender out of the ashes of one of the league's worst. That deserves Executive of the Year honors more than just adding a piece to a team already in contention (sorry, Steve Kerr, Donnie Nelson and Mitch Kupchak). But kudos also go to the ownership group that has allowed Ainge the financial freedom to assemble this team, and new president Rich Gotham for making the most of the Celtics' newfound relevance. Special recognition goes to Director of Game Operations Sean Sullivan and his crew for the Gino phenomenon, and the fast-rising "Jr. Soulja Boy" scoreboard segment.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.telegram.com/article/20080219/NEWS/802190420/1009/SPORTS

Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Brutal stretch to test Celtics

Trip west may be barometer

By Bill Doyle TELEGRAM & GAZETTE STAFF
[e-mail]




Garnett
Enlarge photo


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Last season, the Celtics headed into the All-Star break having just snapped their franchise-record, 18-game losing streak. Then after Gerald Green won the slam-dunk contest, the Celtics dropped their next four games as well.

This year, they’ve won their last five games even though Kevin Garnett has been hurt and they own the NBA’s best record at 41-9. How well have the Celtics played? The Pistons have won 10 in a row, but still trail Boston by four games in the loss column.

But this much hasn’t changed — the Celtics are still jockeying for position. A year ago, each loss improved their mathematical chances of winning the NBA Lottery. Now every victory brings them a step closer to securing home-court advantage throughout the playoffs.


Well, guess what? Not winning the lottery last year enabled the Celtics to end up with Garnett and Ray Allen instead, and failing to post the best overall record wouldn’t be such a bad thing either. The Patriots became the latest and most painful example that finishing on top during the regular season carries no guarantee of postseason success.

Of the last seven NBA champions, only the 2003 San Antonio Spurs also had the best regular-season record, posting the same 60-22 mark as Dallas, but winning the tiebreaker. Last season, 67-15 Dallas got bounced by eighth-seeded Golden State in the opening round.

Matchups are more important than seeds in the playoffs. Golden State also had Dallas’ number in the regular season last year. The Celtics would probably like to avoid facing Washington in the first round, and fading Orlando would be a better matchup than LeBron James and the rising Cavs in the second round.

The Celtics have their sights set on becoming the first team to win an NBA championship a year after missing the playoffs since the 1977 Portland Trail Blazers. Maurice Lucas joined those Blazers after the ABA folded and combined with Bill Walton and Lionel Hollins to lead them to the championship.

The Celtics could trump those Blazers if they capture their 17th banner this June. Portland was 37-45 in 1975-76 and improved 16 games to 49-33 during their title season. The Celtics were only 24-58 last season and could win as many games this season as they did in their previous two combined (57).

Celtics coach Doc Rivers doesn’t want to look too far ahead, but the postseason is really all that matters, not finishing with the best regular-season record.

“We’re just not looking at anything but getting better,” he said. “Every night, every practice, we talk about it. Every practice is a playoff preparation practice.”

There’s plenty of work left to do before the playoffs. Garnett, Kendrick Perkins, Scot Pollard, Brian Scalabrine and Glen Davis must get healthy, Rajon Rondo needs to continue to hit jumpers to keep defenses from sagging off him, and the bench has to take turns producing. The good news is the Celtics continued to play strong defense even with Garnett out with his abdominal strain, and the All-Star Game showed that Allen could be much more dangerous in the second half of the season.

Boston’s 16-0 record against the Western Conference will be put to the test during a five-game western road trip that begins at 9 tonight in Denver (21-6 at home). The Celtics will also visit Golden State (17-9 at home) tomorrow, Phoenix (20-6 at home) Friday, Portland (20-6 at home) Sunday and the Clippers (9-16) Monday. After flying back across the country on Tuesday, they’ll host James and the Cavaliers the following night.

“It’s going to be a monster,” Pierce said. “We’re playing some of the top teams in all of basketball so we’re going to need as many healthy bodies as we can get for this road trip.”

It will be a brutal stretch, but the Pistons have only a slightly less difficult string of games coming up. Tonight, Detroit hosts Orlando, which shares the league lead in road victories. Then the Pistons catch a breather by playing a home and home series against Milwaukee before visiting Phoenix, Denver and Utah (22-3 at home).

The trade deadline is Thursday. In the past, Danny Ainge hasn’t been one to let the deadline pass without swinging a deal, but he pulled off his best trades last summer in acquiring Garnett and Allen. Ainge must decide whether to add a veteran backup at the point. If the Clippers buy out Sam Cassell this week and he signs with the Celtics, he could play against his old team a few days later. Cassell could join the Celtics later than Thursday if he’s bought out, but players must be on a team’s roster by March 1 in order to be eligible for the playoffs.

Whatever happens the rest of the way, this has been the most fun season for Celtics fans in a couple of decades. Enjoy it for as long as you can because you never know how it’s going to end up.