News 2/28

[FLCeltsFan]

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Returns look good for Celts

By Mark Murphy | Thursday, February 28, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Tara Carvalho
The “Boogie Fever Gino” video was put up on the Jumbotron with 2:49 left.

Times must be good again. The dancing fool - what passes this season for a human victory cigar - hadn’t been unleashed for more than a month.

The Celtics [team stats] last played a home game on Feb. 13, before Cleveland went through an extreme makeover.

But with the state of Ohio on higher alert than in Tuesday night’s Democratic presidential debate after LeBron James turned his ankle in the second quarter, and with Zydrunas Ilgauskas battling extreme weight loss (eight pounds in two days) from an upper respiratory infection, the defending conference champions simply didn’t have the legs last night.

Thus, the Celtics beat the radically remade Cavaliers, 92-87.

The result was possible despite a 12-point, 4-for-14 shooting, six-turnover performance from Paul Pierce [stats]. The Celtics captain has shot 19-for-51 (.373) from the field in four games against Cleveland this year, an interesting number if these teams meet in April or May.

It was possible despite the return of new Cavs Delonte West (season-high 20 points) and Wally Szczerbiak (12) to their old haunts.

It was possible despite a third-quarter dunk from James - resolutely back from his sprained ankle - that made him the youngest player in NBA history to cross the 10,000-point plateau at 23 years, 59 days. That’s more than a year younger than Lakers star Kobe Bryant was when he hit the mark in 2003.

The result may not have been memorable, but with 26 regular-season games left and the best record (44-12) in the league still in hand, the Celtics were simply glad for a homecoming last night.cw-2

“It’s funny watching a game, being part of a game and then looking at the stats,” coach Doc Rivers said of the Celtics’ .523 shooting percentage, a number that climbed as high as 59 percent. “I didn’t think we shot anywhere near 50 percent tonight. The pace of the game was real slow, so you don’t think you’re playing well offensively. But our defensive energy was good all night.

“Coming back from the West Coast, I was really concerned about this game. But I’m glad we were playing a team like Cleveland, because it forced us to have focus.”

The necessary nudges came from players like Ray Allen (22 points on 7-for-10 shooting), Kevin Garnett (an 18-point, 11-rebound, five-assist, four-steal night) and Leon Powe and Glen Davis (combined 22 points and seven rebounds off the bench).

“(Tuesday) we said this was going to feel like a road game, and when you’ve been in the league long enough you know that first game feels like one of the toughest games,” Garnett said. “It was just that. Our defense fueled us, gave us energy, made us talkative, and that was the difference at times.”

Though the regular-season series between the two ended in a 2-2 tie, few doubt that Cleveland, with its massive changes that also include Ben Wallace, could make another visit here in April or May.

But last night the Cavaliers faded with barely a whiff of the stretch. Joe Smith hit a baseline jumper that cut the Cleveland deficit to nine points (75-66) before the Celts went into their finishing kick.

Starting with two Powe free throws, the hosts rolled out to an 84-68 lead with a 9-2 run that included four points from the hard-banging power forward.

Gino was the next order of business.

[FLCeltsFan]

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Postseason March is on
Celtics prepare for run at No. 17

By Tony Massarotti | Thursday, February 28, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Tara Carvalho
The playoffs start in seven weeks, give or take. From here on out, we all know what the Celtics [team stats] are focused on.

No. 17.

“Now, toward the end of the season, it gets even more interesting,” guard Ray Allen said last night after the Celtics’ 92-87 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers at TD Banknorth Garden. “We’ve talked about a Detroit team that’s so experienced, and that’s what we’re growing toward at this stage of the season.”

Said Celtics coach Doc Rivers: “We’ve talked about it all year, but I think after the break, you focus on it a little more. The stretch run is pretty much here.”

Oh, the sound is faint, admittedly, but it is there nonetheless and will grow with each passing day. The playoffs are coming. With their victory over the defending Eastern Conference champions, the Celtics improved to an NBA-best 44-12, including a sterling home record of 24-4. There are just 26 more regular-season games to go.

So now, for the first time in a generation, the Celtics prepare to enter March with legitimate thoughts of a championship. Merely qualifying for the playoffs is not in question. Neither is the No. 1 pick in the draft. The Celtics are getting healthier, and director of basketball operations Danny Ainge is fortifying the roster, all at a time when the pace of the NBA season is about to pick up again.

In modern sports, this is how it all works, especially for the Celtics, especially this year. You spend the first weeks and months of the season learning about the potential of your team, assessing the weaknesses and strengths. Then you plod through the middle of the schedule. The trading deadline serves as the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel, and it is then that everyone asks the same question:

What will things be like come playoff time?

This year, the Celtics answered the first question early. They came out of the gate by going 29-3, tying the NBA record for the best start after 30 games (27-3). In the wake of Ainge’s ultimate makeover (NBA edition), nobody had to spend much time wondering how the pieces would fit together. Then came some injuries, including one to Kevin Garnett, who is slowly regaining the form of a perennial Most Valuable Player candidate.

All of this brings us to last night, to the here and now, to the win over the Cavs. Last week, Cleveland general manager Danny Ferry orchestrated a massive overhaul of his roster by acquiring Ben Wallace, Joe Smith, Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak. All of it was geared toward winning the Eastern Conference, which means all of it was designed to help beat the Celtics.

Said Rivers before the game when asked about the flurry of activity throughout the league at the deadline: “I’d like to think we started it all in the summer and everyone else followed suit.”

As for the Celtics, Ainge yesterday continued the most extraordinary reconstruction in Boston sports history by signing power forward P.J. Brown to a contract. Presumably, point guard Sam Cassell will be next. Ainge lapped the field three times over last summer by acquiring centerpieces Garnett and Allen to go along with Paul Pierce [stats].

The rest of the NBA has spent the balance of time trying to catch up while the Celtics have gone about the business of fine tuning their product.

Now, at a time of year when New England typically looks to Opening Day, April will bring the NBA playoffs. Next week, the Celtics have a key home matchup against the Detroit Pistons, who are three games behind (four in the loss column) for homecourt advantage throughout the playoffs. Later next month, the Celtics will have their last major road trip, a journey that includes stops at San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and New Orleans.

By then, the Celtics hope to be better than the team that opened the year with 29 wins in its first 32 games, which means the process starts now.

“We’re learning a lot of lessons about ourselves right now, things we need to clean up,” Allen said. “We’re becoming battle-tested.”

Good thing, too.

After all, the battle is drawing near.

[FLCeltsFan]

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Knock on wood, Allen’s been superb

By Mark Murphy / Celtics Notebook | Thursday, February 28, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Tara Carvalho
Ray Allen has been flying on a higher level ever since LeBron James took the MVP award away from him at the All-Star Game.

And after the Celtics [team stats] guard shot 7-for-10 (including 3-for-5 from downtown) for his 22 points during the Celtics’ 92-87 win over Cleveland last night, Kevin Garnett rapped his knuckles on the wooden top of the press conference table to chase away any unlucky spirits.

Allen knew exactly why.

“When I wasn’t hitting the shots I wanted to hit, I didn’t question it, so even now I don’t question it,” he said. “When you have a good game or a bad game, the next day, no matter what, you go back in the gym and you shoot. That’s what shooting is for all of us. It’s a process, and I have been there before and I allow that process to take place.”

Delonte’s big break

Delonte West’s latest tattoo is a bar code on the back of his left hand with a ‘G’ in the middle.

“It’s my G-code,” the new Cavaliers guard said before last night’s game against his old (but much different) Celtics team. “If you scan it in the supermarket, it says ‘God’s property.’ ”

Is Cleveland ready for this?

“He’s a good kid,” said Doc Rivers. “He’s a personality. And he has different ones.”

Thus far, the Celtics coach’s favorite side of West - the relentless guard who plays so hard that he sometimes hurts himself - has been especially apparent.

His arrival from Seattle with Wally Szczerbiak at the trade deadline coincided with Daniel Gibson’s ankle sprain.

As a result, West made his third straight start last night at point guard for the Cavs, offering enormous contrast to the 35 games he played with the Sonics, who barely had use for him.

Scan that bar code now, and it’s likely to also read “God’s Happy Camper.”

“It was definitely a humbling experience,” he said of Seattle. “At times you can become complacent as a player, but after (Seattle) I just want to get back to my roots as a player. I look at it as God getting me ready for the next step.”

The next step, especially since West has better point guard skills than Gibson, is to set up James, or find all of the open shooters once the Cavs star draws his customary attention.

“It’s all about pieces, and those pieces fitting right,” West said. “I didn’t know that Gibson was hurt when I got here, but the first game they said, ‘We’re throwing you out in the fire.’ And I’m ready to take it head-on.”

So head-on, in fact, that West could easily find himself nose-to-nose against the Celtics in the playoffs.

“That would be real good,” he said. “But I wouldn’t look at it as having to go out there and have a career game against those guys.”

But wait. Isn’t that exactly what West did on Dec. 27 against his old team, with a 19-point, eight-assist performance that was almost good enough to steal the game?

“That was one of the few games where I was really out there,” he said. “The game was on TNT, I had a few things on my mind. So I let loose out there on the floor.”

Wally adjusts

For a shooter like Szczerbiak, there is one particularly big difference that comes from sharing the floor with James.

“I’m not shooting great because I’m not used to being so wide open,” he said. “So I have to shoot better. But this has been a 180-degree turnaround. There’s no question that this really complements what I do, but I have to make it work. I’m just a cog in the wheel here.” . . .

Garnett played his first game in the Garden last night since straining his abdomen Jan. 25.

Rivers said, “Kevin is still not there, and it takes time. But the good part of the five-game road trip was that it was five games with Kevin back. And the last game (against the Clippers) was the most comfortable he’s looked.”

[FLCeltsFan]

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Title drive draws in Brown

By Mark Murphy | Thursday, February 28, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Tara Carvalho
The Celtics [team stats] are now a destination for highly desirable free agents, but that doesn’t mean they can eschew the necessary leg work.

Yesterday they signed P.J. Brown - the rugged, tough-rebounding 38-year-old veteran who had been in semi-retirement - after a year-long courtship.

The 6-foot-11, 239-pound Brown had appeared to be leaning more toward a midseason signing with New Orleans or Dallas, the two teams closest to his Louisiana home.

But after listening to the recruiting pitches of Paul Pierce [stats] and Ray Allen during All-Star weekend in New Orleans, he finally decided to move north.

“Boston has a great opportunity,” Brown, who played last season in Chicago, said before last night’s game against Cleveland at TD Banknorth Garden. “They’ve been playing well all year and they’ve been coming after me really, really hard. It’s a great bunch of guys to hook up with. I think my personality and my character really fits in with these guys, and I think I can help them with my experience and my knowledge from being around the league for a long time. I feel like it’s a great fit for me.

“I’m just trying to make a dream come true. I feel like there’s one thing missing from my career, and Boston’s pretty much been coming after me the whole year. The one thing that kept the door open for me was coming back to try and win a championship, and I feel this team has a great chance to do that. ”

Though the team is still waiting for word on whether Sam Cassell can negotiate a buyout with the Clippers, yesterday’s signing gave them significant insurance inside.

A timeline on Brown’s return to action after such a long layoff is anyone’s guess. Though he said he is in good condition, that doesn’t apply to “game shape.”

No problem, said Doc Rivers.

“We’re in no hurry with it,” said the Celtics coach.

[FLCeltsFan]

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Stern resists law talk

By Associated Press | Thursday, February 28, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | NBA Coverage

Photo by AP
WASHINGTON - David Stern was not about to back down.

Summoned again to Capitol Hill to discuss whether Congress should get into the business of legislating drug testing in the major professional sports leagues, the NBA commissioner took exception to lawmakers’ remarks and stood up for his colleagues from the NFL, NHL and major league baseball.

“This is an area where federal legislation is not necessary,” Stern told the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection.

Yesterday’s hearing produced the rare sight of the four commissioners and their respective sports’ union heads sitting at the same table.

There were no players at the hearing. Instead, the commissioners sat side-by-side with their sport’s union chiefs: Bud Selig was inches away from Donald Fehr; Stern was next to Billy Hunter. Then there was the NFL’s Roger Goodell and Gene Upshaw, and the NHL’s Gary Bettman and Paul Kelly.

All tried to persuade skeptical lawmakers that their respective leagues had taken steps to thwart steroids use and were awaiting a dependable way to detect human growth hormone.

“In spite of the fact that they want to pronounce that they have it under control, I still think that it’s not fully under control,” said the subcommittee’s chairman, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.). “And we have to do more.”

Baseball had the most to prove, having implemented a stringent steroids policy only in the last few years. The NFL began addressing the problem some two decades ago, while the NBA and NHL say the nature of their sports is such that steroids use is virtually nonexistent.

All four leagues have toughened their drugs policies since 2005, when many of the same witnesses, including Stern, testified before the same subcommittee. Several bills were introduced in the House and Senate after that session, but none came close to becoming law.

[FLCeltsFan]

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Kings of this court
Celtics, not James, rule the night
By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | February 28, 2008

Barely 24 hours after returning from a long Western trip, the weary Celtics gutted out a key conference victory last night.

In its first home game in two weeks, Boston defeated the new-look Cavaliers, 92-87, in front of a sellout crowd at TD Banknorth Garden. The Celtics (44-12) won their sixth straight at home and third straight overall. The Eastern Conference champion Cavaliers (32-26) and Celtics, who could meet in the postseason, split the four-game season series.

"I knew it coming into the building," said Celtics guard Ray Allen, who scored 22 points, including three 3-pointers. "I knew before leaving LA what it was going to be like to fly home after six hours and have a game the next day. [Tuesday] was a travel day and it was over the minute we landed. Everybody in the league deals with that.

"We just have to be mature about it, step up to the plate. Once you get in the building, it's all the same. I've always said the NBA is not meant for somebody to go undefeated. But you try to win your fair share of games and games that other teams think you shouldn't win."

The Celtics returned from a 2-3 trip Tuesday at around 6 p.m. To give his players extra rest, coach Doc Rivers canceled the shootaround yesterday morning and had a walkthrough prior to the game. Working in the Celtics' favor, however, Cleveland was coming off a 105-102 loss at Milwaukee Tuesday.

"When you come back home that first game, it's one of the toughest games," said Celtics forward Kevin Garnett, who had 18 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals. "It was just that. I thought our defense fueled us, gave us energy, and made us talkative. That was the difference. We made our shots when we had to.

Said Rivers: "We didn't play great and they didn't either. They probably got in at 3 in the morning after playing the game in Milwaukee."

Cavaliers star LeBron James, who entered the game averaging a league-best 30.2 points per game, scored 26, missing 17 of 24 shots, including 5 of 6 3-point attempts, in 39 minutes. He left the game in the second quarter after spraining his right ankle when he landed on Paul Pierce's foot. James returned for the second half after X-rays proved negative, but he missed 11 of 15 shots after the break.

"I've had my share of ankle injuries. The first thing I thought was, not again, not another one to go down for our team," James said. "We have been hit with the injury bug, the cold bug, guys have been walking around here sick and injured. I didn't want to go down."

Cleveland's Mike Brown was ejected for the first time in his coaching career with 41 seconds left in the third quarter after going onto the floor and needing to be restrained by his assistants while arguing a call.

The Cavaliers acquired forward-center Ben Wallace, ex-Celtics Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak, and forward Joe Smith prior to the trading deadline. And prior to the game, there were a lot of smiles in the Cleveland locker room, the new Cavaliers happy to get out of their previous situations.

"Coming from not playing at all [in Seattle] to being the starting [point guard] over here on a championship-caliber team, it definitely wants to make you put your all out on the floor and show this franchise that they made a good decision taking a chance on me," said West, who finished with 20 points and five rebounds in 36 minutes.

Said Szczerbiak, who had 12 points on 3-of-13 shooting: "I'm not shooting great since I got here because I'm not used to being so wide open."

In making its moves, Cleveland dealt forward Drew Gooden and guard Larry Hughes to the Bulls. Celtic Scot Pollard, who played with the Cavaliers last season when they won the Eastern Conference title, did not agree with the moves.

"I know Ben Wallace. I know what he does," said Pollard. "And to me, I wouldn't have given up Drew Gooden for what Ben Wallace does. It's so much more money [with Wallace], and you're locked into a $60 million contract. I just think they gave up too much to get Ben Wallace. Nothing against Ben Wallace, but knowing Cleveland, the team was working well enough."

The Celtics held a 47-40 halftime lead after shooting 54.3 percent and limiting Cleveland to 36.8 percent. Boston went up, 84-68, on a Rajon Rondo lay-in with 5:11 remaining, and held on from there.

"We had a letdown here and there," Garnett said. "They made a run. But we cut it very short. When we were aggressive, we looked great, and when we weren't, we were bad.

"The first game back home after a big road trip like that, that always seems to be the toughest. But we got through it."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/02/28/cavaliers_star_had_been_a_royal_pain?mode=PF

Cavaliers star had been a royal pain
By Jackie MacMullan, Globe Columnist | February 28, 2008

LeBron James has so thoroughly shredded the Celtics during his young reign as the King of the East, you'd be hard pressed to find any way to put a positive spin on it from Boston's perspective, unless, of course, you are resident glass-half-full philosopher Glenn "Doc" Rivers.

"Hey, I'm 1-0 with him," cracked the Celtics coach, referring to the Eastern Conference All-Star win he pocketed in New Orleans on the strength of LeBron's MVP performance. "It's great having him on your side."

No. 23 suited up for the other guys last night with his new lineup in tow, one he hopes will vault his defending conference championship team over Boston and Detroit (not to mention Toronto and Orlando, whose records are superior to that of the Cavaliers).

Although LeBron openly pined for (and did not receive) Jason Kidd, his consolation prize package wasn't too shabby. He got defensive depth up front in the form of Ben Wallace and Joe Smith, a healthy (finally) perimeter weapon in Wally Szczerbiak, who plans to make teams pay for doubling down on King James, and a versatile hybrid guard (another ex-Celtic, Delonte West) who should serve as an ideal backcourt complement to a star forward who likes to have the ball in his hands a lot. To get this, Cleveland surrendered, among others, the fragile Larry Hughes, Ira Newble, and the quirky Drew Gooden, who could score and grab rebounds but became known for exhibiting long stretches of defensive indiffer ence, and we're not talking about the kind when the guy steals second and the catcher elects not to throw.

Make no mistake: Cleveland is significantly better defensively, deeper up front, and therefore better equipped for the postseason. Asked if it was imperative that his team change its configuration before the trading deadline, James answered bluntly, "We had the same exact team that got swept in the Finals. I felt we needed a change."

LeBron has previously expressed his distaste with the national fascination with Boston, a team he has repeatedly slayed with Jordanesque numbers. In fact, he is the most lethal Celtic killer since Wilt Chamberlain used to lay lumber on Bill Russell and the Boys back in the early '60s.

In his previous nine games against Boston, James had averaged 35.4 points (on 51.2 percent shooting), 7.1 rebounds, and 7.4 assists. It should not startle you to learn that Cleveland was 8-1 in those games.

In fact, if LeBron had scored more than 30 last night, he would have surpassed Chamberlain as the player with the longest streak of 30-plus-point games against the Celtics in history.

He was well on his way to the milestone with 4:26 left in the second quarter when he followed up his missed 3-pointer with a layup in traffic and landed on Paul Pierce's foot. LeBron hopped up the sideline to midcourt, then hit the deck with a sprained right ankle. He limped to the locker room with 15 points.

The injury report duly noted that X-rays were negative, and his return was questionable.

Sure.

King James started the third quarter and needed just 14 seconds to knock down a perimeter jumper and cut Boston's lead to 47-42.

The Game was On, and the energy in the building was unmistakable.

That's because these games matter. Now, more than ever, the No. 1 seed in the East becomes the coveted prize. If Boston can hold its pole position, it likely means it will avoid playing Detroit or Cleveland until the conference finals - providing you subscribe to the theory the Cavaliers have what it takes to eclipse the Magic and Raptors, which I do.

That's why last night's game actually carried weight. What a wonderful concept - a regular-season game at the Garden in February that truly had ramifications.

"We're getting close to the playoffs," James noted. "Every game counts."

This game was won with spirited Celtics defense and balanced scoring. It was won, in part, because one sniper, Ray Allen, hit seven of his 10 shots, and another, Szczerbiak, missed 10 of his 13. It probably didn't help that Cleveland's superstar was hobbling, either, although he looked pretty fluid when he jammed the ball through on a teeth-rattling, fast-break slam late in the third quarter.

In the final frame, however, the two-headed defensive monster of Pierce and James Posey limited LeBron to two field goals.

Don't make the mistake of dismissing Cleveland based on what you saw. The Cavaliers' young shooter, Daniel Gibson, is still hurt. Anderson Varejao is still finding his sea legs after holding out to start the season. And the King's new court is still learning how to jell.

"I like them better," Rivers said. "They scare me as much as any team in the NBA. They did before the trade, and even more now.

"They know how to play around their star."

There has never been a season like this one, with so many major trades among so many major teams. The Lakers swung a deal that netted them Pau Gasol without having to deal Andrew Bynum, the Suns shook up their status quo and acquired Shaquille O'Neal, then Dallas plucked Kidd from New Jersey, thereby ruining LeBron's day.

"I'd like to think we started it last summer, and everyone else followed suit," said Rivers. "I think it's a good thing . . . I think it's the way it should be.

"Everyone who has a chance is going for it."

That includes the teams on the parquet last night. James checked out with 26 points on 7-of-24 shooting, ending his 30-point streak against Boston and preserving a small sliver of Wilt's legacy.

Oh, and by the way, the King's team lost, 92-87. If you are a Celtics fan, you can be heartened this victory was secured even though Kevin Garnett is still treading carefully offensively after his prolonged layoff from an abdominal strain.

KG is a truly an NBA paradox: a superstar just trying to fit in.

LeBron, even with his new lineup, still enjoys no such luxury.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/02/28/brown_in_town_to_lend_depth?mode=PF

Brown in town to lend depth
Free agent adds to the frontcourt
By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | February 28, 2008

After P.J. Brown got double-teamed by the Celtics during All-Star Weekend, it was hard for him to turn down an opportunity to make a title run in Boston.

Brown, 38, was signed by the Celtics yesterday for the prorated $1.2 million veteran minimum for the remainder of the season. The forward/center, who is in his 15th season, is expected to practice today, but it's uncertain when he will make his Celtics debut.

Brown, who was also courted by the Hornets, said his decision to come to Boston was strongly aided by a conversation he had with Paul Pierce and Ray Allen in New Orleans Feb. 16.

"They just pulled me over and said, 'Man, we'd really love to have you on the team,' " said Brown before last night's game against the Cavaliers. " 'With your experience, we think you can help our young guys and add some stability to our team. As a player, we still think you can play. Your defense and rebounding fits in with what we're trying to do.'

"That made a huge difference in this whole deal. If that doesn't happen, you probably don't see me here today."

The 6-foot-11-inch, 239-pounder last played for the Bulls last season, averaging 6.1 points and 4.8 rebounds in 20.2 minutes per game. For his career, spent with New Jersey, Miami, Charlotte/New Orleans, and Chicago, he is averaging 9.7 points, 7.8 rebounds, and 1.5 assists. Brown, a three-time All-Defensive second-team selection, will wear No. 93, the year he was drafted into the NBA and was married to his wife, Dee.

The Celtics will teach Brown their offense and defense at practice today. Coach Doc Rivers didn't think it would be difficult for Brown to grasp because of his experience and the fact he played under Miami coach Pat Riley, whose offense is similar to Boston's.

"He's a professional," said Ben Wallace of the Cavaliers, who played with Brown in Chicago. "He's a veteran who's going to come in and do his work. He knows the game. He does a lot of talking when he's on the floor, and that's going to help the younger guys out.

"We didn't start winning until we put him back in the lineup [last season]. He definitely still can play."

Making a legitimate run at the title attracted Brown to the Celtics.

"I'm just trying to make a dream come true," he said. "I feel like there is only one thing missing from my career. Boston has been coming after me pretty much the whole time. They kept the door open and they are trying to win a championship. Obviously, this team has a great chance to do that. There are rare moments and opportunities that come in this league where you have a chance to ultimately be a champion. I think this team gives me that chance."

The addition of Brown gives the Celtics frontcourt depth. Scot Pollard has been limited by a left ankle sprain, and Kevin Garnett (abdominal strain) and Kendrick Perkins (shoulder) have also missed time.

Brown said he is in good shape, but not NBA shape. Rivers wasn't certain how he would use Brown.

"We'll wait. There is no rush. We have a lot of time. We'll see," Rivers said. "Honestly, since he is not in uniform [against Cleveland], I haven't given it a whole lot of thought. He'll pay his dividends for us at one time or another."

Said Allen: "We feel like he can make us better and we can put him in some great situations."


Space available
With Brown, the Celtics will have 14 players on their roster, with one spot available. They are hoping to fill the opening with a point guard. Candidates include free agents Brent Barry and Flip Murray, and the Clippers' Sam Cassell, if he is bought out of his contract before Saturday's deadline to become eligible to play in the postseason for another team.

An NBA source said there was no dialogue between the Clippers and Cassell's agent, David Falk, yesterday.

"I know for a fact I've done tremendous things for this organization," Cassell told reporters in Los Angeles. "I've helped this organization have respectability in the city of LA, at least for a year, where everybody walked around with their chests out, and they can't tell me I didn't."


Milestone for James
LeBron James scored 26 points in the Cavaliers' 92-87 loss to the Celtics, becoming the youngest player in NBA history to reach 10,000 points. James reached the milestone at 23 years and 59 days, more than a year younger than Kobe Bryant was when he hit the milestone in 2003 (24 years, 193 days). It took James 368 games to do it - the ninth-fastest in league history . . . The Celtics were without guard Tony Allen against Cleveland because of a strained right calf muscle. He is listed as day to day. Forward Brian Scalabrine was back in uniform after missing five games with a strained right groin, but he didn't play.

[FLCeltsFan]

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Ray's got his groove back
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff February 27, 2008 11:07 PM
Ray Allen led the Celtics with 22 points tonight on 7-of-10 shooting. He's been shooting the ball better lately, but don't tell him that.

“When I wasn’t hitting the shots I wanted to hit, I really didn’t question it," Allen said. "So even now I don’t question it. In a game when you have a good game or a bad game, the next day no matter what you go back in the gym and you shoot. That’s what shooting is, for all of us. You want to be one of the best in the league, one of the best ever that shot the basketball, you have to continue to put the work in."

KG on P.J.
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff February 27, 2008 11:03 PM
Kevin Garnett has known P.J. Brown for a long time, and he's excited to bring the veteran big man into the fold.

"He gives us experience right off the bat," said Garnett. "P.J. is a hard nosed player, very versatile when he comes out and being able to hit the 15-17 footer...His knowledge and IQ is unspeakable. We were in the back talking to him before we came out here and some of the things he sees he is going to fit right along with some of the things we do here. So I think he understands the philosophy already.”


Doc's take
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff February 27, 2008 11:02 PM
Celtics coach Doc Rivers cautioned against taking too much out of this win over Cleveland.

“They’re so new,” said Rivers of the Cavs, who made two significant trades last week. “We really didn’t see them. They’re going to be so much better late, because of the trades.”

Rivers was oddly pessimistic about his team’s win tonight. He said he was surprised his team shot over 50 percent (they shot 52 percent and were even higher for much of the game). He said Kevin Garnett didn’t look good, despite the fact that Garnett had 18 points, 11 rebounds, 5 assists, and 4 steals.

“He was great, up until tonight,” said Rivers. “He didn’t move great tonight…We’ll find that out later.”

The Celtics got in from LA at 6 p.m. yesterday, and Rivers said he was concerned about his team’s sleeping patterns.

“I was really concerned about the game,” he said. “I was actually happy we were playing a team like Cleveland because I thought it would force us to have good focus.”


Court vision
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff February 27, 2008 11:01 PM
Rajon Rondo had some great insight into why his play has been steadily improving this season.

"I think I see the court better, and know exactly what sets to call when we need a shot," said Rondo.

LeBron's injury
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff February 27, 2008 10:55 PM
LeBron James said he stepped on Paul Pierce's ankle toward the end of the second quarter. James, though it was not perfectly clear who's James came down on. The Cavs superstar left the game but returned for the second half.

"I know my ankle, and I know tomorrow it is going to be a lot worse," said James. "So hopefully I will get some treatment tomorrow, and be ready for Friday.

"I have had my share of ankle injuries the first thing I thought was ‘not again not another one to go down for our team’, we have been hit with the injury bug, the cold bug, guys have been walking around here sick and injured, I didn’t want to go down.”


Perk an eager student
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff February 27, 2008 10:43 PM
Kendrick Perkins stands to benefit from the addition of P.J. Brown as much as any other player on the Celtics roster. While Perkins has nailed down the starting job in the middle, he’s still young, and he thinks he can learn a few things from his new teammate.

“He’s a very smart veteran coming off the bench,” said Perkins. “I’m just happy to have him around. He’s another guy I can learn from, get better with, and hopefully he’ll help us with our chances on winning a ring this year.”

Rajon Rondo agrees with his big man.

"I think it’s another guy we can lean on, a great veteran guy that has been in the game a long time and knows a lot," said Rondo. "He’ll be able to teach some of the younger guys, especially the bigs, how to play the game and how to be successful.”


Perkins also looked ahead to Friday night’s contest with the Bobcats. The Celtics have struggled against Charlotte this season.

“They challenge our defense,” Perkins said. “They come out more aggressive than us every time. You can tell it’s on their mind that they want to beat us. So we just have to come out and play hard, make sure we take care of the rebounds, and it will take care of itself.”


Celtics, 92-87 (final)
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff February 27, 2008 09:56 PM
The Celtics have a message for anyone who thinks the balance of power in the Eastern Conference may have shifted last week when Cleveland revamped its roster with a couple of trades:

We’re still here.

Boston earned a split of the season-series with the Cavs with a 92-87 win tonight at the Garden.

They did it with defense, holding Cleveland to 38-percent shooting for the game. And they did it with efficient offense, as 27 of their 34 field goals came via an assist.

Ray Allen led the Celtics with 22 points, while Kevin Garnett had 18 points, 10 rebounds, and 5 assists for Boston.

LeBron James had 26 points and 8 rebounds for Cleveland. James injured his right ankle at the end of the first half but returned for the third quarter. With his team down by 12, James was finished for the night at the 2:49 mark in the fourth.

The Cavs are just beginning their We-Have-a-New-Lineup Tour, and the newcomers played with mixed results. Delonte West impressed the most with 20 points and 5 rebounds in 35 minutes, but Wally Szczerbiak ( 3-of-13 shooting) and Ben Wallace (6 points, 6 rebounds) both struggled. Szczerbiak was taunted with chants of “Waaaalllly” whenever he made a bad play.

Newcomer Joe Smith had a nice game with 9 points and 4 rebounds in just 14 minutes.


Brian Scalabrine said before tonight’s game that he was physically able to play, but Scal did not see any minutes from Doc Rivers. Scot Pollard and Gabe Pruitt also did not see time.

We'll have plenty of postgame reaction from both locker rooms as soon as is humanly possible.


Celtics, 75-62 (3)
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff February 27, 2008 09:26 PM
It’s all about the shooting.

The Cavs are shooting just 37 percent, while the Celtics are shooting 58 percent through three quarters.

LeBron James came back into the game and is leading Cleveland with 20 points. Ray Allen has 20 points for the Celtics.


LeBron is youngest to 10,000
Link|Comments (1) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff February 27, 2008 09:13 PM
With a dunk over Kevin Garnett at the 4:54 mark in the third quarter, LeBron James became the youngest player in NBA history to score 10,000 points.

The player who previously held that honor was Kobe Bryant, but at 23 LeBron is more than a year younger than when Bryant reached 10,000.

LeBron, however, did not reach 10,000 points the fastest. Wilt Chamberlain reached the 10,000-point mark in just 236 games. James has played in 368 games. James came into the NBA directly from high school.

LeBron back
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff February 27, 2008 08:59 PM
LeBron James has started the second half for the Cavs.

LeBron has ankle injury
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff February 27, 2008 08:45 PM
LeBron James has a sprained right ankle. X-rays were negative, and his return is listed as questionable.

Celtics, 47-40 (half)
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff February 27, 2008 08:40 PM
With the Celtics up by double-digits, former Celtics Wally Szczerbiak and Delonte West nailed back-to-back threes to get the Cavaliers within five with less than three minutes to go in the half.

West looks comfortable back in his old building. With LeBron James out of the game, West is leading the Cavaliers in minutes played here at halftime. He has 7 points.

Glen Davis had an energetic 6 points and 2 rebounds in the first half, but he picked up his third foul at the 7:58 mark in the second quarter.

The Cavaliers are shooting 37 percent in the game. The Celtics are at 54 percent.


P.J. Brown is sitting at the end of the Celtics bench, right next to Scot Pollard. Pollard is in uniform, but he’s seen just as many minutes (zero) as the newly acquired Brown.


There are plenty of Delonte West No. 13 Celtic jerseys in the house tonight. West was a fan-favorite during his time in Boston.


LeBron hurt
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff February 27, 2008 08:32 PM
After making a driving lay-up, LeBron James went down and collapsed in front of the scorer’s table before a timeout was called at the 4:24 mark in the second quarter. James was visibly limping on his way to the locker room. We’ll have more on James when we know more details.

Celtics, 25-16 (1)
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff February 27, 2008 08:06 PM
With all that happened pregame, all you're getting is a score at the moment. I'll have more at halftime.

Cheers for Delonte
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff February 27, 2008 07:37 PM
Delonte West got a nice hand from the crowd here when he was introduced as the starting point guard.

Brown wants a ring
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff February 27, 2008 07:23 PM
P.J. Brown wants to win. Now.

“I’m just trying to make a dream come true,” newly-acquired forward Brown said in the Celtics locker room before tonight’s game. “I feel like this is one thing missing from my career. Boston has been coming after me pretty much the whole year. I thought one thing that kept the door open was coming back to win a championship. This team has a great chance to do that.”

Brown said he made the decision to come back a few days ago. He’s been out of the league since last season, but after talking it over with his family he decided the time was right to make a comeback.

“I came to my decision, but once I told them that I wanted to do this, they had to give me the A-OK. They said ‘Go for it, Dad.’”

Brown said he plans on practicing with the team tomorrow. He says he’s in shape, but that he’s not in NBA shape.

“I’m going to be working my tail off,” he said. “When the time comes, I’ll be ready to go.”

The soft-spoken Brown seems to be a perfect fit in the Celtics locker room. He’s right out of the Ray Allen mold: respectful, thoughtful, and honest.

“I just want to be here for the guys for whatever they need,” he said. “Encouraging, supporting, and just being the biggest cheerleader I can possibly be.”

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Brown’s personality is a big plus.

“I don’t think you can have enough of them (high-character players),”said Rivers. “If you can add character, class, and stability to your locker room, you should.”


D-West back in business
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff February 27, 2008 07:18 PM
Delonte West was a fan favorite in Boston, but his playing time diminished on a losing team in Seattle. He’s happy to be getting another chance in Clevelend.

“I actually had no idea [the trade was coming],” West said before tonight’s game. “Going through what I went through in Seattle definitely humbled me, and it kind of gets you prepared for a situation like this. Coming from not playing at all to being the starting PG over here on a championship-caliber team, it definitely wants to make you put your all out on the floor, and show this franchise that they made a good decision taking a chance on me.”

With Boston’s backup point guard situation still unresolved, did West ever think there was a chance of him coming back to Boston?

“I had heard rumors,” he said. “I’ve been seeing messages on the blogs, or people saying ‘You should go after Delonte.” But I found out in this league that nothing happens until it happens.”

West said he has no regrets about how things ended here.

“If I was a general manager or someone making decisions, and I had a chance to put Ray Allen together with Paul Pierce in the backcourt, I would have to pull that trigger myself. I don’t have no hard feelings.”


Wally's back
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff February 27, 2008 07:05 PM
It’s hard to imagine anyone is more excited about recent NBA developments than Wally Szczerbiak, who left a rebuilding situation in Seattle to play with LeBron James and the contending Cavs.

“I’m just ecstatic,” bubbled Szczerbiak before the game. “I’m really excited. I love the guys.”

Wally appears to be a good fit in Cleveland because of his spot-up shooting abilities.

“I have to make it work,” he said. “On paper maybe it looks like it would, and when you look at the roster. I’m just a cog in the wheel here. We have 10 or 11 guys that can really play. And we have LeBron James, who’s one of the top two players in the world. I just have to do what I do.”

There’s been only one problem so far.

“I’m not shooting great since I got here because I’m not used to being so wide open,” Szczerbiak said.


Scal active
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff February 27, 2008 06:52 PM
Brian Scalabrine is active for tonight's game and says he can play if called upon.

Brown in the house
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff February 27, 2008 06:15 PM
P.J. Brown is in the building, looking dapper in a gray suit. Brown and his wife will sit courtside and watch tonight's game.

It's funny to watch NBA players introduce themselves to each other, as some of the Celtics did to Brown in the locker room before the game. Brian Scalabrine asked Brown if he was in shape (more to come on that). Eddie House just gave him a handshake. Celtics owner Wyc Grousbeck, the man who will be signing Brown's checks, told the veteran forward "I'm glad you're here."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/green_room/2008/02/sleepless_in_bo.html


Text size – + Sleepless in Boston
Email|Link|Comments (0) Posted by Jesse Nunes February 26, 2008 08:55 PM
The following post is from new Green Room contributor Matt Hafele:

The road trip that saw the Celtics’ first three-game losing streak this season and my sleep schedule get thrown for a loop finally came to an end Monday in Los Angeles. The players haven’t been home in a week and for those that participated in All-Star Weekend (Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, and Rajon Rondo), it has been even longer. It was a brutal five-games-in-seven-days West Coast trip that had its highs and lows. Thankfully, the Celtics ended up winning in Portland and Los Angeles on a back-to-back to somewhat salvage the trip, and my sanity.

It has to be tough going on a long road trip like that right after the All-Star break, and the Celtics certainly didn’t look like themselves in the first three games. It’s tough to determine whether that was because of the opponents or just the extended break. The first game, against Denver, was also Garnett’s first game back in nearly a month. After Friday night’s game in Phoenix I wasn’t really foreseeing this road trip ending on a positive note, but the Celts were able to pull it together and put a beating on the Blazers and the lowly and injury-depleted Clippers.

Midway through the second quarter against the Blazers on early Sunday evening (afternoon on the West Coast), the Celtics finally started clicking. They were getting stops like we knew they could and making the most of every offensive possession.

Much like their first West Coast trip in late December, Pierce played the hero. His game against Portland was arguably his best on the season. He was harassing ball handlers on the defensive end and added 30 points on a remarkable 12 of 14 shooting. Out of those 14 shots, only one was a lay-up. All of his other shots were mid-range jumpers or three-balls. It got to the point where once he got the ball the defender knew what he was going to do, but couldn’t stop it. He put on quite the show just when the Celtics needed it.

In that second quarter of that Portland game they managed to get down by 17 and it looked like they were ready to drop their fourth game in a row. Somehow Pierce was even able to overshadow Ray’s great offensive night. Both Pierce and Ray struggled mightily in the loss to Phoenix but neither could be stopped on Sunday.

It was really nice to see both of them bounce back immediately and in such an important game on the road. All players go through rough games, but it’s good to know we have three top-tier options to look to this season. The Phoenix game was only Garnett’s third game back, so it’s tough to rely on him to carry the whole load. It’s easy to forget that most of the team this year is new and it’s going to take time for everyone to get on the same page. Garnett’s injury was a small setback but I don’t think it’s anything to worry about in the long run. The Celtics’ next five games are all at home, starting with Cleveland on Wednesday, which could be an interesting playoff preview.

Some final thoughts on the road trip:

The fourth quarter in Tuesday night’s game in Denver was wild. Pierce had one of his most emphatic dunks of this season -- and maybe his career. It was over both Marcus Camby and Kenyon Martin, two great shot blockers. I would’ve loved a win, but I’ll take the satisfaction of getting to rewind that play and watch it over and over again on my DVR.
The Phoenix game was probably the Celtics’ worst game of the season, and yet they only lost by 8. I can live with that, but mostly because they took the next two games.
The Clippers' Sam Cassell sat out Monday’s game with a sprained wrist. The rumors have been flying about his potential buyout and the most likely place for him to land would be in Boston. I have been hoping for this moment all season and I think it would be a great move heading into the playoffs.
How impressive was James Posey in the last two games?! We’ve become accustomed to his great defensive performances and his excellent multi-colored mouthpiece… but since when does he shoot the lights out? He shot a combined 12 of 16 from the field; 7 for 11 from deep. A couple of performances like that in the playoffs would be huge.
Tuesday night’s game against the Nuggets was all right because it started at 9 p.m. -- but the Warriors and Clippers games’ 10:30 start time is deadly during the work week. The Celtics can now come home to their families and I can get some much-needed sleep.
Oh, and hello
This is my first Green Room post, so to introduce myself, here are a few of my likes and dislikes. I like when Rondo does his fake behind-the-back pass. I like that Garnett yells “Get that **** out of here,” after every block and is almost always picked up by the TV microphones. I also like when he nearly eats his jersey after an intense play or game. I like Ray Allen’s perfect shooting stroke. I like listening to Tommy go crazy after any foul call. I like cheering for Scalabrine at the Garden, mainly because it’s high comedy watching him play and I try to make the best out of a bad situation (his 5-year contract). I don’t like Doc Rivers.

This season has definitely been the greatest since I’ve started bleeding green in the early ‘90s. Just like every other Celtics fan my expectations are through the roof. I live and die with every Celtics game and I’ll do my best to make my time here memorable -- pretty much the opposite of Rick Pitino.

[FLCeltsFan]

aol.nba.com/celtics/news/blog/post-ups.html

Postgame Update
Doc Rivers said he didn't think his team had a great offensive game, but the numbers don't lie. He'll take 52% from the field, even if the team did turn it over too many times. Nineteen, to be exact.

"We didn't play great and they didn't either. Coming back from the West Coast, I was really concerned about the game. I was glad we were playing a team like Cleveland because I thought it would force us to have good focus," Rivers said. "I thought our defensive energy was good all night."

Rivers did say that after a good game against the Clippers, Kevin Garnett didn't appear to be moving well tonight, intimating that he might still be suffering from the abdominal injury, or possibly just general fatigue after the five-game road trip.

"He was great up until tonight. I don't know, he didn't move great tonight. It could be the trip," Rivers said.

Check the Audio Archive for postgame sound from Ray Allen, KG, Doc and Perk.

In-Game Posts
92-87 Celtics, FINAL: This one is all over. Ray Allen had an efficient 22 points (7/10 shooting) to lead the Celtics and the home stand is off to a nice start.

For the Cavs, it's another rough shooting night for Szczerbiak (3/13) after his 5/18 performance in Milwaukee.

82-68 Celtics, 5:33/4th: KG has a very quiet 14 points and 10 rebounds and five assists tonight, and Leon Powe has chipped in with 13 off the bench. But LeBron's struggles (6/23 from the field), probably due to a sore ankle and fatigue form playing last night, have kept the Cavs at bay.

We're just pleased to see that Wally Szczerbiak is still stepping on the three-point line and remains a chronic high-fiver. Some things never change.

73-60 Celtics, 41.2 seconds/3rd: Mike Brown just got ejected from the game after Varejao didn't get a call on one end and then Leon Powe got a ghost call at the other. Brown went ballistic, was phsycially restrained by his staff and was ejected immediately. Apparently the Cavs were on the business end of some bad calls in Milwaukee last night, too...

59-46 Celtics, 7:42/3rd: Just joining the crowd at halftime? Leonardo DiCaprio. Security managed to sneak him in with little fanfare while the Celtics Dancers were distracting the crowd.

As for basketball, remember that Stat of the Half? Pierce is 3/3 in the half and has 10 points.

49-44 Celtics, 10:00/3rd: LeBron is back on the floor. James had x-rays (negative) on his right ankle and he seems to be moving fine, despite appearing to be in considerable pain when he first injured the ankle with 4:22 left in the first half.

47-40 Celtics, Halftime: Despite the disparity in shooting percentages (54%-37%) and rebounding (23-17) in favor of the Celtics, they're enjoying only a seven point edge. Ray Allen has 12 points to lead the C's, wand while LeBron has 15 for Cleveland, his status is unclear.

Stat of the Half: Paul Pierce is 1/7 from the field (3 points).

39-27 Celtics, 4:24/2nd: LeBron James appeared to turn his right ankle when stepped on KG's foot on his way to the basket. He limped off the floor under his own power; we'll pass along an update when we get one.

37-25 Celtics, 5:16/2nd: Ben Wallace just picked up two quick, bad fouls, and took a seat with three personals.

25-16 Celtics, End of 1st: The Cavs have come out cold, hitting just 5 of their 16 first quarter attempts. Rajon Rondo, on the other hand, is off to a quick start and is getting wherever he wants to go.

Nostalgia Update: Szczerbiak and West are a combined 1/5 for two points.

16-9 Celtics, 5:47/1st: The Celtics have come out aggressively, attacking the paint and scoring eight of their first 16 points in the lane.

Jeff Twiss just stopped by the press table to pass along the word that Tony Allen is out tonight with a strained right calf muscle.

P.J. Brown Meets the Media
P.J. Brown was spending time at home being a family guy (no, not that Family Guy that KG loves...) before he ran into Ray Allen and Paul Pierce over All-Star Weekend in his hometown of New Orleans. And as it turns out, much like Pierce, Allen, Garnett and U2, he still hasn't found what he's looking for either. He wants a championship ring, and figured this might be his last shot.

"The final thing that kept me from wanting to close the door was wanting to be a champion," Brown said. "I've had a dream to touch that Larry O'Brien trophy."

To get on the floor, Brown says he's got some work to do, saying that he's in "pretty good shape, but not NBA shape." He said he expects to have to work hard to get his timing and stamina back up to speed.

"It's been a while since I've been in the NBA. It's intense competition," Brown said. "This won't be an easy deal here, but I'm going to be working my tail off. When the time comes and my number is called, maybe I'll be ready to go."

In his pregame press conference, Doc Rivers said that the team is "in no hurry" with getting Brown on the floor.

While declining to name them, Brown said he had a handful of offers from other teams seeking his services.

Homecoming for West and Wally
Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak were shipped from Seattle to Cleveland at the trade deadline, and both are already impressed with LeBron James and what he does for his team. Each told reporters that they're getting more open looks, or as Delonte calls them, "cookies", than to which they're accustomed.

So far, West likes his new role and new digs in Cleveland, but he's still trying to figure out how to fit into the Cavs' system.

"I've only had two days of practice so far. The biggest thing is just picking up on the terminology, but as far as going out there and playing, I think I fit in there pretty well," West said. "It's just stepping up and knocking down shots, and that's something that's been my calling card in the league. That's something I didn't show in my first half of the season but I think I can fit in well here."

Celtics Sign P.J. Brown
With the March 1 roster deadline approaching, the Celtics made a move to bolster their front court, signing veteran forward/center P.J. Brown. Brown has career averages of 9.2 points per game and 7.8 rebounds per game.

Brown has started in 78 of his 81 career playoff games. The 14-year pro has played for five NBA teams, most recently appearing in 72 regular season games and 10 playoff games for the Chicago Bulls last season.

Brown is not expected to play tonight (although that could change) and it's unclear if he'll be meeting with reporters before the game.