News 3/15

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1080448&format=text
For Celtics, division title a nice consolation prize
After loss, team able to clinch

By Jeff Horrigan | Saturday, March 15, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Stuart Cahill
On a night when they had an opportunity to emphatically clinch the Atlantic Division title at home and extend the franchise’s longest winning streak in 22 years to 11 games, the Celtics [team stats] looked about as sure of themselves as out-of-state drivers trying to navigate Storrow Drive in a one-sided, 110-92 loss to the Utah Jazz at TD Banknorth Garden.

The good news?

Despite their largest loss of the season, the C’s still wrapped up the division for the second time in four years due to second-place Toronto’s loss at Denver.

With uncharacteristically lax defense, mental lapses and off-target shooting during too many vital stretches, the Celtics trailed 62-49 at halftime and never got closer than three points the rest of the way en route to their fifth home loss of the season (29-5) and first since Jan. 23 vs the Raptors.

“It was just one of those games where, man, you kind of felt like a little kid out there in the park and the bully came and snatched the ball and there’s nothing you can do about it,” said Paul Pierce [stats], who finished with only eight points on 1-for-7 shooting.

The Celts, who held opponents to 38 percent field goal shooting during the 10-game win streak, saw the Jazz connect on 50.7 percent of their shots. Utah also held a 38-29 rebounding advantage resulting in 21 second-chance points and contributing to 50 points in the paint.

“Early in the game, you have a 50-50 chance to get to every loose ball, and it was about 98-2 in percentages,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “I thought (Utah) just wanted it. They played hard, they played aggressive, they were more physical, they were tougher and they beat us. It doesn’t happen often.”

To compound matters, the C’s lost Ray Allen to a jammed left ankle after the veteran guard scored nine points in the opening quarter. He accompanied the team on its flight to Milwaukee for tonight’s game against the Bucks, but it’s too early to tell if he will be available for any or all of the arduous road trip, which includes subsequent stops in San Antonio, Houston, Dallas and New Orleans.

“You like to get that last one before you go out on the road but, hey, we’ve got to do it the hard way,” said Kevin Garnett, who led the Celtics with 15 points.

Deron Williams paced the Jazz with 32 points and eight assists, and Carlos Boozer added 17 points and 12 rebounds.

The Celtics found themselves in the unfamiliar position of having to make up a 10-point deficit (33-23) after one quarter, mainly due to their own inability to box out on the defensive end. The Jazz outrebounded the Celtics, 13-5, in the opening 12 minutes, which helped them to 18 points in the paint and 10 second-chance points.

Playing from behind was something the Celtics rarely had done in their previous five games. When Seattle scored the first basket on Wednesday night, it marked the first time in that span that the C’s had trailed.

The Celtics opened the second quarter last night with a 7-2 run that cut the deficit to 35-30, but the Jazz responded with a 13-4 surge that pushed the advantage to a game-high 14 points (48-34). The Celtics got as close as three (79-76) on Glen Davis’ bucket to open the fourth, but Utah again responded with a powerful push to ice it.

[FLCeltsFan]

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Extra attention makes long night for Pierce

By Rob Bradford | Saturday, March 15, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Stuart Cahill
Kevin Garnett was late getting the postgame interview room last night, leaving Paul Pierce [stats] alone with just his thoughts, a scoresheet and a room full of media eager to find out exactly what happened in the Celtics [team stats]’ worst loss of the season.

For the Celts captain, this opportunity to reflect wasn’t exactly what the doctor ordered.

While Pierce waited for Garnett, he got a long look at the stats that made up the Celtics’ 110-92 loss to the Utah Jazz, sporadically shaking his head and laughing in disbelief upon deciphering what was perhaps his and his team’s worst night of the season.

“It was just one of those games,” he said, pausing for a laugh. “Man . . . you kind of feel like a little kid out there in the park and the bully came and snatched the ball tonight, nothing you can do about it. It’s just one of those good old-fashioned butt-whuppin’s, you give credit to them.”

Pierce’s postgame reaction didn’t give a single hint that the Celtics had wrapped up their first Atlantic Division title since 2004-05. His focus was on what led to a night in which he totaled just one field goal on the way to eight points.

Pierce’s performance, which clearly wasn’t helped by Ray Allen leaving the game in the first quarter with an ankle injury, marked the fourth time he finished under double-digits through the Celts’ first 64 games. The seven field goal attempts also were a season low.

“I don’t know, I just thought I just was out of sync from the start with the two fouls and three fouls in the first half, then turned the ball over,” said Pierce, whose struggles included just two first-half shots and five turnovers overall. “That’s about it, turnovers just really cost me tonight and they kind of frustrated me and that’s about it.”

This type of game has been rare for Pierce, who hadn’t suffered similar struggles since the Celtics’ debacle in Phoenix on Feb. 22, in which he went 2-for-13 on the way to eight points. No coincidence, that was the last time the Celts had lost before going on the 10-game winning streak that was snapped last night.

A good portion of the credit for Pierce’s woes could be attributed to the lessons learned by the Jazz from their 104-98 loss to the Celtics on Dec. 29 in Utah. During that game the Celts forward torched Utah for 24 points, but also left Jerry Sloan’s team a blueprint for last night.

“He kicked our tails in Salt Lake, but we did a good job of focusing on him, especially in the second half,” Utah forward Carlos Boozer said. “We realize how potent his offense is, so we did a good job of mixing it up a little bit, coming over and making him shoot free throws instead of getting layups and dunks.

“We had to learn from it. We had to mix it up a little bit and keep people in the lane because he obviously is a very good one-on-one player so you have to make him work for every shot,” Boozer added. “You have got to make him see different looks because he’s a great one-on-one player. If you show him the same thing over and over he’s going to figure it out.”

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1080451&format=text


Doc follows Sloan’s lead

By Rob Bradford | Saturday, March 15, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Stuart Cahill
It’s automatic for any NBA coach: Jerry Sloan comes to town and you automatically start thinking about your future.

Last night, Doc Rivers was no exception.

“I don’t think anybody would have me that long,” the Celtics [team stats] coach said in regards to Sloan’s run of 20 years at the helm of the Utah Jazz. “I’m 21 years with my wife, and that’s the biggest accomplishment of my life.”

Sloan’s tenure, which is the longest of any coach in professional sports, is undeniably remarkable. To put it in perspective, the day he took over for Frank Layden on Dec. 9, 1988, the Celtics’ starting point guard last night, Rajon Rondo [stats], hadn’t celebrated his third birthday.

But while Rivers is among those who marvel at the 65-year-old former University of Evansville sharp-shooter, the Celts coach recognizes his path could never be the same as Sloan’s.

“I don’t have a number,” said Rivers in regards to how many more years he would like to coach. “I don’t think I’m going to be a consecutive coach where I would go for 20 straight years. I do believe I will be a coach who will take a break for a year. I’m a believer in that. I just think it’s healthy anyway. The thing people don’t factor in is the toll it takes on your family.”

Flush with the success of the Celtics’ current season, Rivers can speak with confidence regarding choices which appear to now be in his hands. After living through the contractural uncertainty that came with a 102-144 record through his first three seasons with the Celts, Rivers now is carrying a league-best record to go along with a contract that runs through next season.

He is winning, has regular hour-long plane flights to have lunch with his oldest son, Jeremiah, at Georgetown, (“I see my son probably more than most parents see their kids in college,” Rivers said.), and has seemingly worked out a palatable plan to visit his wife and other three children in the Florida on a semi-regular basis.

Still, good times or not, Rivers insists his career path will be decided on a year-to-year basis, with the summer serving as the checkpoint.

“I see how many games I can come to, and I see how much I can be involved in their lives,” Rivers said. “And I see how much (his family) needs me. There are times in your life where your family needs you more, and you never know when that comes.”

While Rivers has made it clear that his future is far from set in stone, he is cemented in the fact that he is, and will always continue to be, a coach.

And if he need any reminder regarding his resolution, all Rivers needs is to look the way of Sloan.

“Just because things are going bad doesn’t mean you don’t like coaching. I think you have to keep things in perspective. Jerry has had some ups and downs, but has pretty much stayed the same, so I think he’s probably a good role model for me in that perspective,” Rivers said.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1080454&format=text

Allen a question
Injury may force sniper to take seat

By Jeff Horrigan / Celtics Notebook | Saturday, March 15, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Stuart Cahill
Ray Allen is questionable for the opener of the Celtics [team stats]’ five-game road trip tonight against the Milwaukee Bucks after suffering a jammed left ankle in the first quarter of last night’s 110-92 loss to the Utah Jazz.

Allen, who was unavailable for comment after the game, appeared to suffer the injury when he slipped on a wet spot and fell under the C’s basket. He had a team-high nine points at the time.

The official team report listed it as an ankle injury but coach Doc Rivers referred to it as a bruised heel.

“It was a tough blow, especially going on the trip,” Rivers said. “I’m hoping he’s healthy for that but I’m not going to change my rules. He’s going to have to be extremely healthy for me to play him and if he can’t play, somebody else is going to have to step up.”

Tony Allen, who scored seven points last night, is the most likely candidate to step in to the starting lineup, although James Posey, Eddie House and Sam Cassell remain possibilities.

“That’s the nature of the business,” Posey said. “We have guys capable of stepping in and getting the job done if he can’t play.”

Wild west

Most Celtics said they were looking forward to the five-game road trip that features four games against the Western Conference’s top teams.

They stay in conference tonight at Milwaukee, then head to San Antonio on Monday, Houston on Tuesday and Dallas on Thursday before wrapping up in New Orleans one week from tonight. All of the Western teams are jockeying for playoff positions.

“We’ll be thrown into the Western Conference fray,” Rivers said. “That’s the way I look at it. The West has been playing in desperation mode and are desperately trying to win every game and squeeze every minute out of their players. For us, it will be a great test in terms of mental preparation because when the games start, you’ve got to be ready.”

Utah coach Jerry Sloan said the skill level in the Western Conference keeps everyone on their toes.

“There’s a tremendous amount of competition and that’s the way basketball should be,” Sloan said. “You have to play basketball every day or you’re going to be out of it real quick.”

The C’s head out with an NBA-best 22-8 road record, which guarantees them only their second winning record away from home since 1991. The other occasion was 2001-02, when they went 22-19 away from home.

“This game (tonight) is going to be the catapult to a big road trip and I think this (trip) will be a good test for us going into the playoffs,” Kevin Garnett said.

Lured by siren’s song

Ray Allen was extremely ready to lace ’em up prior to last night’s game with chart-topping British singer Natasha Bedingfield, who was performing postgame. He was more than willing to offer tips to the lovely songstress when she wanted to take a few shots on the parquet late in the afternoon.

“She’s got game - ‘game’ can mean a lot of different things,” Allen joked.

KG the key

Sloan credited Garnett for the Celtics’ old-school style of defensive-minded and team-oriented play.

“They’ve got guys who can do those things and have the ability to do it and have a tremendous desire to win,” Sloan said. “Kevin Garnett has played a long time and hasn’t had this opportunity and he’s always been a great player, not only on the offensive end but all-around. Add a guy with an attitude like that and it helps everybody else.” . . .

Opponents shot just 38 percent from the floor during the Celtics’ just-ended 10-game winning streak. But Rivers wasn’t all that impressed.

“A couple of teams haven’t played very well. That had a little bit to do with it, honestly,” he said. . . .

Though it didn’t turn out too well, Ray Allen was pleased to be wearing the gold-trimmed, alternate uniforms before the game.

“Boston’s very old school,” he said. “There’s no throwbacks because we’ve been throwing back forever. So when you see a change, it’s refreshing.”

[FLCeltsFan]

www.bostonherald.com/sports/basketball/celtics/view.bg?articleid=1080420&format=text

Jazz blow away Celtics
Allen sits after 1st quarter with sore ankle

By Associated Press | Friday, March 14, 2008 | www.bostonherald.com | Boston Celtics

Photo by Stuart Cahill
BOSTON - Deron Williams had 32 points and eight assists, and Carlos Boozer added 17 points and 12 rebounds Friday night to lead the Utah Jazz to a 110-92 victory over Boston that snapped the Celtics [team stats]’ 10-game winning streak.

Boston cut a 13-point, third-quarter deficit to three points in the fourth, and trailed just 93-89 with 5:25 left. But Williams led the Jazz on a 10-0 run while the Celtics missed a pair of 3-pointers, committed a pair of charging fouls and threw in a flagrant foul by Kendrick Perkins [stats] to fall to their biggest loss of the season.

Williams went 17-of-18 from the line, and hit his only 3-point attempt. Boozer had his 44th double-double of the season, and Mehmet Okur had 12 points and nine rebounds for the Jazz.

Kevin Garnett had 15 points, four blocks and six assists for the Celtics, who had a chance to clinch the Atlantic Division. Instead, they needed another loss by Toronto to earn a top seed in the NBA playoffs.

Boston played three-quarters of the game without Ray Allen, who jammed his left ankle and did not return.

The Celtics went four games without trailing in a game before Seattle scored the first basket on Wednesday night. But the Jazz opened a 12-point lead in the first quarter on Friday night and made it 14 in the second.

Utah held the lead even as Boston cut it to five points, 79-74, at the end of three.<

Notes: The Celtics wore green uniforms with gold trim instead of their traditional home whites on Friday because they’re on the road Monday for St. Patrick’s Day. ... After the game, there was a concert by Grammy-nominated singer Natasha Bedingfield. ... Jazz coach Jerry Sloan was called for a technical foul for arguing with the referee with 4:18 left in the third. ... Tony Allen had four breakaways in the first few minutes of the second half; twice he had to pass the ball back out to avoid a blocked shot, once he converted a layup and on the last he made an acrobatic dunk. ... Boston’s previous biggest loss was 95-83 on Jan. 9. ...Although the Jazz are 28-3 at home — winning 18 in a row — they are just 16-20 on the road.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/03/15/jazz_are_all_that?mode=PF

Jazz are all that
They end Celtics' win streak at 10
By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | March 15, 2008

The Celtics, who in a surprise were bullied last night, oddly won the Atlantic Division in losing fashion.

The Celtics suffered their most-lopsided defeat of the season, 110-92, to the Utah Jazz at TD Banknorth Garden. Boston (51-13) saw its 10-game winning streak snapped, as well as its season-best 11-game streak at home. Even so, Toronto's 137-105 loss at Denver clinched the Atlantic title for the Celtics.

"It was just one of those games, man," said Paul Pierce, who scored 12 points fewer than his average with 8 points on 1-of-7 shooting. "You kind of feel like a kid out there in the park and the bully came and snatched the ball tonight. Nothing you can do about it. You give credit to them."

Said Celtics coach Doc Rivers: "They just kicked our butts."

Utah guard Deron Williams had 32 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds in 42 minutes. The Jazz shot 50.7 percent from the field, nailed 7 of 14 3-pointers, and scored 50 points in the paint. No Celtic scored more than 15 points, and the team missed 12 of 15 3-point attempts.

"I wanted to make sure that my teammates knew not to be intimidated," said Utah forward Carlos Boozer, who had 17 points and 12 rebounds. "They have an imposing lineup out there with Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and KG [Kevin Garnett]. I tried to let my teammates know about my [plan], just attack."

The Celtics will be in Milwaukee to night to play the Bucks. And considering last night's loss, Boston plans on being focused on Milwaukee and not the tough four-game road trip upcoming against Western Conference powers San Antonio, Houston, Dallas, and New Orleans.

"Truthfully, I'm not even worried about our focus [against Milwaukee]," Pierce said. "We lost tonight. I expect very good focus."

Said Garnett: "High focus tomorrow, very much."

Allen, who had 9 points in 12 minutes, suffered a bruised left heel in the first quarter and didn't return. Rivers said Allen would make the trip for tonight's game, but wouldn't play unless he was completely healthy.

"We are not going to make any excuses," Garnett said. "We got our butts kicked tonight."

Said Utah coach Jerry Sloan: "Them having Ray Allen out hurt them, probably."

The Celtics defeated Utah, 104-98, in Salt Lake City Dec. 29. Since then, the Jazz (44-23) have won 18 straight home games and had been thinking about payback against the Celtics.

"We just wanted to make a conscious effort to come out and assert ourselves early because of the way we played in Salt Lake," Williams said. "This is a game we had circled on our list."

Utah led, 33-23, at the end of the first quarter. The Jazz owned a 62-49 halftime lead and were just 2 points shy of equaling the most points scored against the Celtics in an opening half this season (64 by the Cavaliers Feb. 5).

The Jazz shot 58.3 percent in the first half, hit four 3-pointers, and scored 28 points in the paint. Garnett missed 6 of 7 field goal attempts and 3 of 4 free throws, while Pierce missed both of his field goal attempts. Williams had 15 points (10 on free throws) in the first half, while Boozer had 15 points and seven rebounds.

"Energy. I could tell off the bat energy-wise," said Garnett, who finished with 15 points. "We weren't our normal selves. These last couple of games we've been probably spoiled off the fact that we come out with really, really good energy, and tonight for whatever reason we just didn't.

"But we fought for 48 minutes. But for the most part in this league, you've got to, especially against a good team like Utah, you've got to have everything oiled up and ready to go from the jump."

A lay-in by Garnett sliced Boston's deficit to 72-68 with 3:48 left in the third. But the Celtics got no closer than that in the quarter, and were down, 79-74, entering the fourth. Pierce and Garnett combined for 15 points in the third.

A fast-break lay-in by Glen Davis cut Utah's lead to 79-76 with 11:33 remaining. But the Celtics were outscored, 31-16, the rest of the way.

"It seemed like every time we got it to 4 or 6 points, they pushed it back to 9 or 10," Pierce said. "We could never get over that hump."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/03/15/he_should_have_guard_up?mode=PF

He should have guard up
By Peter May, Globe Staff | March 15, 2008

Rajon Rondo's Fortnight from Hell didn't start off too well. There was an on-court verbal exchange with Paul Pierce in the first quarter just before a timeout. He then had to watch Deron Williams slice and dice the Celtics for 32 points and eight assists in Boston's season-worst 110-92 loss to the Jazz.

Starting with last night's game and going through March 28, the Celtics' point guard will face the creme de la creme of the NBA at his position, something that can be seen both as ominous (because it is) as well as advantageous (because he can only learn from it). Tonight, he gets Milwaukee's Mo Williams, who is more than serviceable. Then comes the iron. On Monday, he'll see the Spurs' Tony Parker, followed the next night by the much-improved Rafer Alston of Houston. Then it's on to Jason Kidd of the Mavericks and Chris Paul of the Hornets to close out the trip. Upon returning to Boston, it's Philadelphia's Andre Miller, the Suns' Steve Nash, and Paul again, all in a span of five days.

"Rajon has some tough games ahead of him," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers, listing the names of those aforementioned gents. "But it's good for him."

Williams was the first marquee point guard of the bunch to match up against Rondo - and based on what we saw it would be hard to make a case that anyone can do it a whole lot better than the Utah playmaker/scorer. Seventeen of Williams's points came from the free throw line as he used his size and strength to pretty much get what he wanted.

"We didn't do a good team job on Deron Williams," said Sam Cassell, who spectated for the full 48. "We let him dictate what he wanted to do. When he wanted to shoot, he shot. When he wanted to pass, he passed. We gave him way too many options."

Rondo only played 31 minutes - which is about his average - and didn't play at all in the fourth quarter until there was 3:51 left in the game and the Celtics were down by 9. But he quickly drove the lane and airballed a lefthanded flip shot from about 5 feet and then was flagged for an offensive foul. He had 12 points, but he was down in the areas where he usually thrives, assists (3) and rebounds (3).

"Not great. Not bad, either," Rivers said, when asked about his point guard's evening. "I thought he made some pretty good decisions with the ball. But that's what they want. The ball ended up in his hands a lot."

In other words, we didn't get the Full Rondo last night. Williams probably had something to do with that. "He's a great player," Rondo said. Rivers said Williams overpowered Rondo and Eddie House for much of the game.

Williams said he was merely being assertive, but to listen to the Jazz guard, it appears he doesn't particularly look forward to going against the pesty, gnat-like Rondo.

"Every game since he's been in the league, he has gotten a rip on me, a clean strip, and then he's gone in for a layup," Williams said. "He's got the tools to be one of the best defensive point guards in this league - the long arms, the big, quick hands, the great anticipation. And he's added a lot to his offensive game. You can't play off of him. I got caught in the first quarter doing that and he made us pay."

It will be on the defensive end, however, where Rondo will get his real workout these next two weeks. Theoretically, that should be fine with him, because on the offensive end, he's not exactly the No. 1 option. He's been known to go a little out of control on offense at times, but it's a byproduct of his approach. He is fearless.

But it's on the defensive end where he plays his best, whether it's pestering his man or coming out of nowhere to snatch a rebound. And he goes into each game these next two weeks knowing that most of the elite point guards he's facing have a lot more freedom than he does, which makes his task even tougher.

"It's different for Rajon because all those guys have the green light to do what they want to do," said Cassell, who has a pretty good read on the position in the Western Conference from his days with the Clippers. "But what I like about Rajon is that he understands that he doesn't have that same green light, but it's because he has so many weapons."

Rondo was pretty blasé when asked about the approaching trip and the many excellent players he will have to face. He's not exactly Mr. Emo anyway, but he stuck to the standard "No Bulletin Board Material" responses when queried about Parker, Nash, Paul, Kidd, and the rest.

"I just try to get excited for every game," he shrugged. "It's the NBA. I'm just fortunate to be in the league and I try to bring out my best each night."

He's going to need that each night - for a while. As his coach noted, "If I was him, I'd be very excited about it."

[FLCeltsFan]

www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/articles/2008/03/15/floor_gives_allen_the_slip?mode=PF

Floor gives Allen the slip
By Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff | March 15, 2008

With a slip on the TD Banknorth Garden floor last night, Celtics guard Ray Allen's left foot woes returned.

Allen went to the locker room with a bruised left heel after slipping near the free throw line in the first quarter of Boston's 110-92 loss to the Utah Jazz. While Allen did make the trip to Milwaukee for tonight's game, coach Doc Rivers said Allen must be "extremely healthy" to play against the Bucks.

"It's a tough blow, especially going out on the [road trip]," Rivers said. "I'm hoping he's healthy for that. But you know, I'm not going to change my rule. He's going to have to be extremely healthy for me to play him. And if he can't play, then someone else is just going to have to step up and play, and we've done that pretty well this year."

Allen was evaluated at halftime, and didn't return, finishing with 9 points in 12 minutes. He missed six games with a sore left ankle from Jan. 27-Feb. 8.

If Allen, who wasn't available for comment, can't play tonight, Tony Allen will likely start in his place.

"He's going on the trip, so we'll just see," Rivers said.


Price of success
Once the season ends, the Celtics will write a hefty check to the NBA. However, the ownership won't have a problem with it because they knew such would be the price for having a contending team.

The Celtics' payroll is approximately $75 million following the recent additions of veterans Sam Cassell and P.J. Brown. Since they are about $7 million over the luxury tax, they will be assessed a dollar-for-dollar tax after the season. But managing partner and governor Wyc Grousbeck said all of the owners were comfortable with the additions of several high-priced players since last season. And with All-Stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen leading the team to the NBA's best record, the Celtics are getting bang for their buck, too.

"In trading for Kevin Garnett and extending his contract, we added to what we did to Paul Pierce by extending his contract [in 2006]," Grousbeck said. "With Garnett's extension this summer and then going to the luxury tax to add [James ] Posey, [Eddie ] House, and [Scot ] Pollard, it made a statement that this is the time. We're not going to look back and say, 'If we only had one more player.' So, my partners and I talked about it and made a group commitment to support this team to the hilt."

Said general manager Danny Ainge: "Successful franchises have good ownerships and our ownership has let our players, coaches, and management succeed and put winning as a priority."


Call for help
Tim Hardaway, a former five-time All-Star, called Ainge in December to express his interest in joining the Celtics. No, it wasn't about backing up point guard Rajon Rondo. Rather, Hardaway called to see if the Celtics wanted to hire him to work with Rondo.

"I just called and offered my services and plan in helping him in coaching," said Hardaway. "[Ainge] said we would look into it and check with Doc and go from there.

"I never heard back from them, but I understood because they were checking out this and that and had a waiting game. It was good. I can't fault them. They waited long enough to get the right person for their team."

The right person was Cassell. "I know Sam very well," said Hardaway. "He's a great competitor and he would help your team win any way possible with defense, offense, assists or whatever. That's a great fit for him."

Hardaway said the only thing Rondo needs to improve is consistency with his jump shot.

"He's playing good and doing the things Doc asked him to do and more," Hardaway said.


Bigger fish
Rivers didn't think it was a big deal when his team won its 50th game Monday, and doesn't think it will be a big deal to win the Atlantic Division title. And while having the top seed in the Eastern Conference playoffs could be valuable as far as home-court advantage, Rivers isn't sweating that, either.

"It would be nice, but we're not going to celebrate," Rivers said. "We'd still have to play in the playoffs. But it would be something that we absolutely want. A lot of teams have had home court that we haven't seen [advance far]. It's something we want, I know that. But I just don't see a reason to celebrate anything."

[FLCeltsFan]

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Celtics clinch
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 14, 2008 11:31 PM
Despite their loss tonight, the Celtics clinched the Atlantic Division title with Toronto's loss to Denver.

No excuses
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 14, 2008 10:56 PM
Doc Rivers didn't make any excuses for his team's loss tonight.

"I thought they just wanted it," Rivers said after the game. "They played harder. They played more aggresive. They were more physical. They were tougher. And they beat us. It doesn't happen often, but it happened tonight."

Sloan's take
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 14, 2008 10:50 PM
Jazz coach Jerry Sloan thought this was a good test for his team.

"I've got a young team, and they've got to learn how to play in these conditions," Sloan said after his team defeated the Celtics tonight. "That's why I was proud of the fact that they held their composure. They got knocked down a few times, but they held their composure and stayed with what we wanted to try to do. That's something that we've had problems with in the past, and it's a sign of a team maturing and becoming a little better under those conditions."

Boozer's take
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 14, 2008 10:47 PM
The Celtics handed the Jazz a loss in Utah on Dec. 29. Utah hasn't lost at home since.

Tonight on the road, the Jazz wanted to prove they could play with the Celtics.

"I wanted to make sure my teammates knew not to be intimidated," Jazz forward Carlos Boozer said after the game. "They have a very imposing lineup out there with Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and KG. I tried to let my teammates know to just play, to just attack."

Allen update
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 14, 2008 10:43 PM
Ray Allen has a bruise on his left heel, and his status for tomorrow night's game with Milwaukee is not yet known, according to Celtics coach Doc Rivers. Allen injured his foot when he slipped on a wet spot on the floor in the second quarter.

Rivers said he would not play Allen unless he was 100 percent healthy.

"This is a tough blow, especially going out on the trip," said Rivers. "But I'm not going to change my rule just for that."

Flat
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 14, 2008 10:38 PM
Kevin Garnett boiled the loss down to one word.

“Energy,” said Garnett. “I could tell right off the bat, energy-wise. We weren’t our normal selves. These couple of games, we’ve been probably spoiled by the fact that we come out with really good energy. And tonight, for whatever reason, we just didn’t.”

Paul Pierce described it with a metaphor.

“You kind of felt like a little kid in the park, and the bully came and snatched the ball tonight,” said Pierce. “Nothing you can do about. It was one of those good old-fashioned butt-whoopings. You give the credit to them, man.”

Neither Pierce nor Garnett was worried about getting up for tomorrow night's game at Milwaukee.

“I’m not even worried about our focus tomorrow,” Pierce said. “The way we played tonight, I expect a high focus.”

Jazz, 110-92 (final)
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 14, 2008 10:03 PM
On a night when the Big Three became The Big Two, the Celtics suffered their first loss in 11 games, a 110-92 defeat at the hands of the Utah Jazz here at the TD Banknorth Garden.

Ray Allen left the game in the second quarter with what the team is describing as a “jammed left ankle.” He did not return, though the final outcome of the game might not have been changed by his presence.

Utah held a double-digit lead at halftime, and even a raucous Friday-night crowd wasn’t able to help dig the Celtics out of that hole. Deron Williams, who paced the Jazz with 32 points, 8 assists, and 5 rebounds, hit one big shot after another to hold of the Boston charge.

To their credit, the Celtics made this a game. After trailing by double-digits for much of the game, they cut the lead to 93-89 on a pair of Kevin Garnett free throws at the 5:15 mark in the fourth quarter.

But the Jazz scored the next five points of the game to take back control. A basket by Carlos Boozer with 3:51 left pushed the lead back up to nine.

Paul Pierce was held in check all night by Utah’s Andrei Kirilenko. Pierce attempted just seven shots in the game and finished with eight points. The Celtics as a team finished just 3-of-15 from beyond the arc.

Garnett had a quiet 15 points, 6 assists, and 4 rebounds.

The Celtics embark on a five-game road trip with a game tomorrow night against Milwaukee.

We’ll have reaction from the locker rooms in a bit.


Jazz, 79-74 (3)
Link|Comments (1) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 14, 2008 09:25 PM
Just as the Celtics were trying to wrest back momentum from the Jazz, Andrei Kirilenko hit a buzzer-beating three as the shot clock expired to put Utah up, 70-59, at the 6:12 mark.

But the Celtics refused to go away in the third quarter.

Jerry Sloan got called for a technical foul at the 4:18 mark, and Paul Pierce hit the free throw to cut the lead to 72-66. A lay-up by Kevin Garnett got the Celtics to within four at the 3:48 mark.

The Jazz were unable to extend the lead back up to a comfortable margin before the final quarter.

The Celtics are now out-shooting the Jazz, 52 percent to 48 percent.


T.A. for Jesus
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 14, 2008 09:02 PM
Tony Allen has started the second half in place of Ray Allen, who has an injured left ankle. Ray Allen is unlikely to return in this one.

Jazz, 62-49 (half)
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 14, 2008 08:39 PM
It’s rare when a team shoots over 50 percent for a half and still manages to trail by double-digits, but that’s exactly what happened to the Celtics here in the first half.

Already without Ray Allen, the Celtics lost another of the Big Three when Paul Pierce picked up his third personal foul at the 3:51 mark in the second quarter. Pierce has one point in the game. Kevin Garnett has just three points.

Rounding out the starters for the Celtics, Rajon Rondo has 10 points but just 1 assist. Kendrick Perkins is the only Boston starter having an above-average game. He has 11 points and 4 rebounds.


Allen in the locker room
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 14, 2008 08:22 PM
Celtics guard Ray Allen is back in the locker room after slipping and falling in the first quarter. Allen has a jammed left ankle and will be re-evaluated at halftime, according to the team.

Bedingfield in the house
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 14, 2008 08:19 PM
Singer Natasha Bedingfield is sitting in one of the luxury boxes, wearing a KG jersey. Bedingfield will perform a concert after the game.

Fan nets $7,777
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 14, 2008 08:10 PM
Michael Comtois of Fitchburg won almost $8,000 in the Foxwoods "Take-A-Shot" contest by nailing a three-pointer between quarters. He was a little too strong on a half court shot, which would have won him $77,777.

Jazz, 33-23 (1)
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 14, 2008 08:03 PM
The Celtics made just 3 of their first 9 shots as Utah got off to a 14-8 lead midway through the first quarter.

Later in the quarter, down 25-17 and in need of some energy, Doc Rivers brought in James Posey and Leon Powe off the bench.

Down 27-19 and seeking even more energy, Rivers brought in Glen Davis and Eddie House, leaving Ray Allen as the only starter on the floor.

None of it seemed to work. The Jazz shot 55 percent for the quarter.


One by one
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 14, 2008 07:23 PM
They all say it. Ray Allen. Kevin Garnett. Doc Rivers.

One game at a time.

The mantra has allowed the Celtics not to overlook lesser opponents, and has resulted in Boston having the best record in the league.

“We’re not a fancy team, and I think that helps us,” said Rivers. “We don’t rely on that. We just try to be a fundamentally sound basketball team every night, and when we’re that we’ve got a chance to win the game. When we’re not that, we’re probably going to lose that game.

“There’s probably 10 games where you could say we didn’t play well enough in our minds, at least a coach’s mind, to win the game. And we won the games. And we’ve gotten away with it because we play hard.”

Rivers also said it helps because this team is chasing the championship together for the first time.

We’ve been in this chase for four months. San Antonio’s been in it for five or six years. I think that explains most of it.”


Save the celebration
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 14, 2008 07:16 PM
Doc Rivers won’t be celebrating should the Celtics clinch the Atlantic Division tonight.

“Not that I know of,” he said when asked if he had any celebration plans.

Would the No. 1 seed in the East be enough to get the coach to pop a little bubbly?

“It would be [to get the No. 1 seed], but we’re not going to celebrate it,” said Rivers. “We’ve still got to play the playoffs. But it would be something that we absolutely want…I just don’t see the reason to celebrate everything.

Rivers said he learned something from the almost-perfect season of the New England Patriots.

“I really don’t want that to be our role model,” he said. “I really wanted them to win, and I’m not a Pats fan. I just wanted them to win because, first of all, I like Belichick a lot. And secondly, they were perfect. They were just the perfect team all year.

“You should enjoy [winning], I guess, but you have to keep your eyes focused on what you want to get.”


Sloan's take
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 14, 2008 07:04 PM
Utah coach Jerry Sloan likes the effort he's seen from the Boston Celtics this season. He credits one player for making it happen.

“Kevin Garnett has played for a long time and hasn’t had an opportunity,” said Sloan. “He’s always been a great player all-around, and to have a guy with an attitude [like his], that helps everybody else. If you have one guy with an attitude that’s going to go out there and do it every day, it helps your team.”

Luck of the ...
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 14, 2008 07:01 PM
The Celtics will be wearing their alternate, St. Patrick's Day themed jerseys tonight against Utah. The jerseys are green and gold and feature a gold shamrock.

A couple of points ...
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 14, 2008 05:50 PM
Utah’s Carlos Boozer and Deron Williams both came out to the parquet to shoot around 5:45 p.m. Williams is the unquestioned star of this Jazz team, and along with Chris Paul and Steve Nash is considered one of the best point guards in the league.

Williams is built so much differently than Rajon Rondo. Both players are about the same height, but Williams looks like a linebacker with those wide shoulders. The point guard position could be the crucial matchup in tonight’s game. It would be surprising if the Celtics let Eddie House anywhere near Williams on defense.

On the other end of the floor, P.J. Brown worked with strength and conditioning coach Ed Norton Jr. Norton led Brown through a series of squats and core-strengthening exercises. Brown appears to be in very good shape, but the Celtics are working on getting him into NBA shape.


Jazz coach Jerry Sloan walked down to the press room to partake in some of food they serve there pregame. He must have heard about the gelato.


Welcome to the Garden
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff March 14, 2008 05:20 PM
Welcome to the Garden, where the Boston Celtics (51-12) will host the Utah Jazz (42-23) at 7:30 p.m.

The Celtics desperately want to win tonight’s game before embarking on a nine-day, five-game road trip starting tomorrow night in Milwaukee. The Bucks represent the easy part of that trip. The Spurs, Rockets, Mavericks, and Hornets: not so much.

Utah will not make it easy tonight. If the playoffs started today, the Jazz would be the fifth seed in the Western Conference and would be matched up against the Hornets.

Incidentally, if the playoffs started today the Celtics would be the No. 1 seed on the East and would play New Jersey. Boston can clinch the Atlantic Division tonight with a win or a Toronto loss. The Celtics are currently 17.5 games ahead of the Raptors. They are 25 games up on the Nets.

I always love how quiet the Garden is several hours before gametime. A couple of Jazz players are shooting on the parquet. Rajon Rondo is on the other end, iPod-in-ears, shooting jumpers for the Celtics. The dancers are stretching at center court. There are scattered arena personnel throughout the Garden.

Just a reminder that Natasha Bedingfield is scheduled to play some hot jams after tonight’s game. Your game ticket gets you into the concert as well.

Back with more from the Garden in a few.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.metrowestdailynews.com/sports/x1672787157

Jazz 110, Celtics 92: Beantown beatdown
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By Scott Souza/Daily News staff
The MetroWest Daily News
Posted Mar 15, 2008 @ 12:20 AM
Last update Mar 15, 2008 @ 12:21 AM

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BOSTON — There were few excuses and only one explanation for why last night was unlike any previous night at the TD Banknorth Garden this season.

"They just kicked our butt," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers following a 110-92 loss to the Jazz - Boston's first home loss on a Friday and worst of the season overall. "I thought they just played harder. They played more aggressive. They were physical. They were tougher and they beat us.

"It happens. It doesn't happen to us often, but it happened tonight."

Paul Pierce, who was held to just one made field goal in seven attempts and finished with eight points and five turnovers in 36 minutes, seconded the coach's assessment.

"It was just one of those games where, man, you felt like a little kid out there in the park and somebody came and snatched your ball," the captain said, "and there was nothing you could do about it. It was just a good, old-fashioned butt-whipping and it's a credit to them, man."

The defeat stopped Boston's longest winning streak in 22 years at 10 games and sent the Celtics out on the road for its most difficult trip of the year on a losing note. Though they were poised to clinch the Atlantic Division title (with a Raptors loss) by the time they boarded a plane for tonight's game in Milwaukee, the mood was more sober than celebratory.

While several of the players appeared ready to shrug the game off as one bad night in a season of mostly very good ones, a first-quarter injury to Ray Allen that kept him out the rest of the game provided greater concern.

"It's a tough blow, especially going out on the trip," said Rivers, who called it a heel injury while the team public relations staff termed it a jammed left ankle (Allen left the arena prior to the end of the game but was expected to be on the team plane to Milwaukee). "I'm hoping he's healthy for (the road trip), but you know I am not going to change my rule - he's going to have to be extremely healthy for me to play him. And if he can't play, then someone else is just going to have to step up and play. We've done that pretty well this year."

The Celtics couldn't make up for Allen's absence last night as Tony Allen struggled off the bench and the team as a whole could not contain Utah point guard Deron Williams (32 points, 8 assists, 17-for-18 free throws). The Jazz finished with 50 points in the paint, shot 50.7 percent (37-for-73) and had a 38-29 rebounding edge.

Garnett overcame a very rough first half both offensively (1-for-7 shooting) and defensively for a team-high 15 points for Boston, while Pierce never really got things going after an 0-for-2 first half.

"I just thought I was out of sync from the start," Pierce said. "I got the three fouls in the first half and then just turned the ball over. That's about it. The turnovers really cost me tonight and really frustrated me."

The Celtics were Kendrick Perkins and Leon Powe away from getting blown off the court for the first time this year in the opening half. Perkins had 11 points on 4-for-4 shooting (13 points, 7 rebounds from the game) and Powe had six points on 3-for-3 shooting. But the rest of the team combined to go just 11-for-29 (38 percent).

Despite Rajon Rondo's 10 points (5-for-9 shooting) in the half, he could not contain Williams early as the Jazz jumped out to a 12-point lead in the first quarter and were up 10 after one. A spark from the bench (including 3-pointers from Eddie House and James Posey and a Powe dunk) got the Celtics within 35-30 two minutes into the second quarter before the Jazz opened things up again and took a 62-49 lead into the break.

With renewed defensive intensity, the Celtics cut the deficit to 64-57 on an 8-2 run to start the second half capped when Rondo's open-court steal went to Tony Allen for a windmill dunk. But the momentum was short-lived as the Jazz held their ground for the next two minutes and went back up 11 with 6:03 left in the quarter.

A pair of drives by Garnett (4-for-4 in the quarter) sparked an 11-5 Celtics run that got them as close as 72-68 with 3:41 left in the quarter, with late free throws from Pierce and Posey bringing Boston within 79-74 after three.

Glen Davis finished a pass from House as the Celtics made it a one-possession game in the opening seconds of the fourth quarter before the Jazz went back to the painting game for an 8-2 run.

"Every time we made a run they cut it short," Garnett said. "They did what we usually do to teams."

Garnett's steal and jumper combined with a House 3-pointer brought Boston to 87-83 at 8:03. Three more times the Celtics trimmed the deficit to four before Utah reeled off five straight points for a 98-89 lead, and the Jazz quickly pulled away from there.

[FLCeltsFan]

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

Live Courtside Blog

110-92 Jazz, FINAL: That was an 18-point beating, clearly the worst of the year. But by the time they get to Milwaukee tonight, the Celtics will likely be Atlantic Division Champions.

Leon Powe is the Celtics.com Player of the Game. He matched Utah's physicality and provided some toughness in his 13 minutes of action.

105-91 Jazz, 1:44/4th: Garnett just went to the bench, and the C's are waiving the white flag. With a tilt in Milwaukee tomorrow night, that's probably not a bad idea. Meanwhile, the Raptors are down in Denver, 68-41, with four minutes to play in the first half. Yikes.

100-89 Jazz, 2:54/4th: Perk and Rondo are back in along side Posey and KG. Perk just got hit with a questionable flagrant one against Deron Williams.

Here's some good news: The Raptors are trailing by 22...

91-87 Jazz, 6:07/4th: The C's are going small with a KG-Baby-Posey-Pierce-House lineup, trying to force Utah's hand. So far, the Jazz aren't biting.

More importantly, Deron Williams is 15/16 from the charity stripe. He's been getting to the basket way too easily, and if he's not getting to the line, he's dishing for easy buckets. That has to change in the final minutes of the game if the Celtics are going to come back.

79-74 Jazz, End of 3rd: The Jazz finished the quarter just 6/20 (30%) from the field. Leon Powe is on the floor to set the tone to start the fourth.

72-68 Jazz, 3:31/3rd: The C's have edged back into this game with some solid defensive play, holding the Jazz to just 3/14 shooting from the field in the quarter. With Ray Allen done for the night and Tony Allen still inconsistent, will we see a Rondo-Cassell backcourt?

64-57 Jazz, 7:29/3rd A breakaway windmill jam by TA, followed up by a Kendrick Perkins swat had the crowd in a frenzy. Some more sobering news: Ray Allen will not return tonight.

62-49 Jazz, Halftime: With Pierce, Perkins and Rondo all in foul trouble (three personals each), and Allen nursing an ankle (no update beyond 'jammed left ankle'), the Celtics could find themselves undermanned in the fourth quarter.

They can't continue to allow the Jazz to shoot 58% from the field and dominate the glass (20-12) if they want to win this game.

55-42 Jazz, 2:40/2nd: Paul Pierce picked up his third foul a few minutes trying to take a charge but he didn't get the call from Violet Palmer. The Jazz are controlling the tempo and physicality of this game, and I'm getting the feeling that we'll be seeing a lot more of Leon Powe in the second half. He had two putback dunks in traffic that were by far the most physical plays made by anyone in green tonight to this point.

45-34 Jazz, 6:34/2nd: Twister just swung by the press table to report that Ray Allen has a jammed left ankle and he'll be re-evaluated at halftime...

40-31 Jazz, 8:33/2nd: This is one of the more physical games the C's have been involved with at the Garden this year. Utah continues to dominate the glass and it seems like every time I look from my keyboard, there's a pileup of Celtics bigmen hitting the floor.

33-23 Jazz, End of 1st: The Jazz are killing the Celtics on the glass in the first quarter. They've got multiple guys going after every loose ball and right now they're simply out-hustling the good guys. Boozer's got 10 points and five rebounds.

18-12 Jazz, 4:47/1st: Early on it's the Carlos Boozer show in the paint for the Jazz. He's already taken seven shots and has six points. Kendrick Perkins, on the other hand, is a perfect 3/3 from the field for six of his own, and he's already got four rebounds to go with an assist and a foul.

It's unclear who he was upset at, but Rajon Rondo was incredibly fired up during the last timeout. Already showing some veteran leadership, Sam Cassell was quick to calm him down in the huddle.

When you look at the roster, you know that Deron Williams is considerably bigger than Rondo, but it doesn't really hit home until you see both of them up close.

Pregame Media Access
St. Patrick's Day alternate jerseys awaited the Celtics in their lockers tonight, and the jerseys are always popular down at the Garden Pro Shop and here on Celtics.com. The Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett models are available now.

One thing that isn't going to be awaiting the Celtics tonight, even if they win and clinch the Atlantic Division title, is plastic-wrapped lockers and champagne, or a rendition of the Riverdance for that matter. Reminded that the Celtics could clinch their division title with a win tonight, Rivers said that he couldn't care less.

"We've already done that here," Rivers said, recalling the team's 2005 Atlantic Division Championship. "It would be nice, but we're not going to celebrate. We've still got to play the playoffs."

With regard to the Celtics' stingy defense, Rivers said he was especially happy with his team's efforts against Chicago and Philly because they are two teams that are tough to defend. What was the key to allowing such low shooting percentages?

"Good focus and energy, and a couple of the teams haven't played very well," Rivers said.

The Celtics won't have that problem this weekend when they tip-off a five-game road trip against some of the Western Conference's top teams.

"We'll be thrown into the Western Conference fray, because everybody in the West is in desperation mode," Rivers said. "It's gonna be a great test for us. When the game starts we'd better be ready, because they have to be."

Finally, we met referee Bob Delaney, who's working tonight's game, on a media bus in New Orleans at the All-Star Break, and he gave me two copies of his new book, Covert, which talks about his undercover days infiltrating the mob. He signed one to me and one to Doc Rivers, which should have arrived in his office after Wednesday's game.

Check the Audio Archive for interviews with Coach Doc Rivers, Jazz Coach Jerry Sloan and Celtics guard Ray Allen, who talks about when things first started to click for him as he made the transition between being a young player and an NBA veteran.

Early Pregame Report
Not much to report right now. Tony Allen and James Posey are getting some shots up, Marina has the Celtics Dancers rehearsing at center court and it's a pretty run-of-the-mill pregame tonight. Pop singer Natasha Bedingfield is in the house tonight and will perform in the final Verizon Wireless postgame concert of the season.

After slaughtering their last four opponents, the Celtics have their hands full with the Northwest Division-leading Jazz. We broke down the numbers in tonight's game preview, but the C's defense over the last four games has been downright stingy, holding opponents to just 35% shooting from the field. That won't happen again tonight; the Jazz are the best shooting-percentage team in the league, connecting at just under 50% from the field for the season.

We'll be back after locker room access just before tip-off with a pregame update

[FLCeltsFan]

www.telegram.com/article/20080315/NEWS/803150450/1009/SPORTS

Road challenge tips off tonight

Trip includes three in Texas

CELTICS NOTES

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




Boston’s Kevin Garnett loses the ball between Utah’s Paul Millsap and Kyle Korver during the first quarter. (THE ASSOCIATED PRESS)
Enlarge photo


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They’re desperately trying to win every game and squeeze every minute out of their players.

CELTICS COACH DOC RIVERS,
ON WESTERN CONFERENCE TEAMS






BOSTON— The Celtics begin tonight what is undeniably their most challenging road trip of the season.

The five-game trip begins with a bit of a breather at 8 p.m. in Milwaukee against the Bucks, who have lost four in a row and eight of their last nine. The Bucks will be more rested than the Celtics, though. The Bucks haven’t played since Wednesday, while the Celtics played last night.

After tonight, the Celtics face their most difficult four-game stretch of the season — at San Antonio Monday, at Houston Tuesday, at Dallas Thursday and at New Orleans a week from tonight. Entering last night, San Antonio, the defending NBA champion, was seeded third in the Western Conference, Houston had won 20 in a row and was seeded second, Dallas had won three straight after dropping its previous three and was seeded seventh, and New Orleans had won four of its last five and was seeded fifth.


Prior to last night, only five games separated the top eight teams in the Western Conference compared to 25 games separating the top eight in the Eastern Conference. A western team could lose two in a row and drop three or four places in the standings.

“That’s the way basketball should be,” said Jerry Sloan, coach of the fourth-seeded Utah Jazz. “You have to play every day. Otherwise you get out of it real quick. There’s a tremendous amount of competition, and that’s the way basketball should be.”

Entering last night, Denver was 38-26, a record that would have ranked fourth in the east, but is just ninth in the West.

“Everybody in the West is playing in desperation mode right now,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “They’re desperately trying to win every game and squeeze every minute out of their players. So for us it’s going to be a great test as far as the mental preparation because when the games start, you’d better be ready because they have to be.”

The Celtics snapped an 18-game losing streak against the Spurs by winning in San Antonio last St. Patrick’s Day. The two teams will meet on St. Patrick’s Day again this year. On the other hand, the Celtics have dropped their last seven and 11 of their last 12 at Dallas.

The Celtics own the NBA’s best road record at 22-8 — clinching only their second winning road record in 17 years — but they have lost six of their last seven away games against teams which took records of .500 or better into last night.

On their previous two longest road trips, the Celtics swept a four-game western swing to end December and went 2-3 out west immediately after the All-Star break. Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins were both rusty early during that latter trip after returning from injuries. They’re healthy now and playing some of their best ball of the season.

New Orleans is the only team the Celtics have yet to play this season. They’ll face the Hornets twice over their last 14 games, at New Orleans a week from tonight and at home on March 28.

Sticking with Sloan
It’s hard to believe, but Sloan is coaching his 20th season with Utah, the longest active tenure with the same team in pro sports. Rivers, who is in his fourth season in Boston after coaching five years in Orlando, can’t imagine coaching the same team for as long as Sloan has.

“I don’t think anyone would have me that long,” Rivers said. “I’m 21 years with my wife, and to me that’s the biggest accomplishment of my life right now. The fact that Jerry has been there that long is amazing.”

Rivers thinks teams such as Utah and San Antonio with Gregg Popovich are better off by keeping their coaches for a long time because they can draft players to fit the coaching system. Rivers insisted he wasn’t lobbying for another contract extension to keep up with Sloan.

“I don’t want a 12-, 14-, 16-year extension,” Rivers joked. “I’ll pass. It’s just too long. It would make me too uncomfortable.”

Doubling up
Jazz point guard Deron Williams entered last night with nine straight double-doubles and averaging 19.4 points and 14.9 assists in seven games in March.

“Great vision,” Rivers said, “great change of direction, great shot, great passer, tough, he’s physical. He knows how to play the position. He’s a terrific player.”

For the season, Williams, 23, averages 19.2 points and 10.3 assists. But he’s often overlooked when fans talk about point guards because the Western Conference also has Steve Nash, Chris Paul, Jason Kidd, Baron Davis and Allen Iverson.

“You can just close your eyes,” Rivers said, “pull out the hat, and whatever name you get, I think you’re very happy with who you get. They’re all different, but they’re all good.”

Williams follows John Stockton as another top-notch point guard in Utah.

“I don’t compare him to John,” Sloan said. “They’re different style of players. John was a very, very good player. He’s a very, very good player. After you’ve been in the league for 18 years, we’ll see who you are.”

[FLCeltsFan]

Jazz smoke listless Celtics

Allen jams his left foot

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






BOSTON— For a team so accustomed to winning, the Celtics did a whole lot of losing last night.

The Celtics lost a game, their 10-game winning streak, their 11-game home winning streak, their perfect home record against Western Conference foes, and Ray Allen all in the same night.

Utah handed the Celtics their most lopsided defeat of the season, 110-92, before the usual sellout at the Garden. The Celtics had been 12-0 at home against the Western Conference.


Allen, untouched, slipped in the lane late in the first quarter after scoring nine points and did not return. The Celtics announced that Allen jammed his left ankle, but Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Allen bruised his left heel.

Allen wasn’t available for comment after the game, and his status for tonight’s game in Milwaukee is unknown. Allen had bone spurs removed from both ankles last April and missed two games with a sprained right ankle in December.

“It’s a tough blow, especially going out on the (five-game road) trip,” Rivers said. “I’m hoping he’s healthy for that, but I’m not going to change my rule. He’s going to have to be extremely healthy for me to play him.”

Despite the loss, the Celtics clinched their first Atlantic Division title since 2005 and only their second since 1992 because second-place Toronto lost last night at Denver.

“It is good to pick that up,” Eddie House said, “but the way we picked it up wasn’t.”

Kevin Garnett overcame a poor first half to finish with a team-high 15 points and six assists, but grabbed only four rebounds and hit just 3 of 8 free throws as Boston suffered just its second double-digit loss. The Celtics never led after the game’s first three minutes.

“I could tell off the bat, energy-wise,” Garnett said, “we weren’t our normal selves. These past couple of games, we’ve probably been spoiled with the fact that we come out with really, really good energy, and tonight for whatever reason, we just didn’t.”

“They just kicked our butt,” Rivers said. “You have a 50-50 chance to get to every loose ball, and it was about 98-2 in percentage. I thought they just wanted it more. They played harder, they played more aggressive, they were more physical, they were tougher, and they beat us. It doesn’t happen often, but it happened.”

Paul Pierce never got it going, making only 1 of 7 shots and scoring just eight points.

“It was one of those games,” Pierce said, “where, man, you kind of felt like a little kid out there in the park, and the bully came and snatched your ball away. There’s nothing you can do about it. It was just one of those good old-fashioned butt-whippings.”

Kendrick Perkins collected 13 points and 7 rebounds. Rajon Rondo scored 12 points, but had only three assists, and Deron Williams gave him fits all night.

Williams led Utah to its seventh victory in its last eight games by scoring 32 points and dishing out eight assists. Williams sank 17 of 18 foul shots. Carlos Boozer had 17 points and 12 rebounds. Mehmet Okur had 12 points and nine boards.

Rondo and Perkins didn’t play in the fourth quarter until 3:51 remained as Rivers went with House for his offense and rookie Glen Davis.

Utah leads the NBA in field goal percentage (49.6) and Boston leads in field goal defense (41.7 percent). Utah won that battle last night, shooting 50.7 percent and making 29 of 33 foul shots.

The Celtics cut a 14-point deficit to three early in the fourth quarter and trailed by only four midway through the fourth, but a Williams’ steal and basket put Utah back on track.

The Celtics fell to 29-5 at home. Utah owns the NBA’s best home record (28-3) and has won 18 in a row at home since the Celtics won there, 104-98, on Dec. 29.

The Celtics trailed, 79-74, entering the fourth quarter. It was only the third time at home this season that the Celtics didn’t take a lead into the fourth. Davis opened the fourth with a layup to pull Boston within 79-76, but that’s as close as it got.

Utah shot 58.3 percent in the first half and led, 62-49. The Jazz came within two points of matching the highest scoring first half against Boston this season. Cleveland scored 64 at home on Feb. 5.

The Celtics had allowed less than 90 points in five of their last six games and surrendered as many as 100 points only twice during their 10-game winning streak with a high of just 102.

There was some good news: Michael Comtois of Fitchburg won $7,777 for making a 3-point shot between the first and second quarters.

[FLCeltsFan]

www.projo.com/celtics/content/sp_bkc_cassell15_03-15-08_7T9BSKG_v14.38e48f0.html
Cassell has made a point to know his role with Celts

01:00 AM EDT on Saturday, March 15, 2008

BY ROBERT LEE

Journal Sports Writer

Sam Cassell launches a shot at TD Banknorth Garden against the Sonics Wednesday night in his second game as a member of the Celtics.


AP / Elise Amendola
BOSTON — So Sam Cassell’s debut with the Celtics didn’t quite turn out as well as hoped Monday night — 0-for-2 shooting for zero points with one rebound, one assist and four personal fouls in a mere five minutes of action.

He saw more playing time Wednesday — 14 minutes — and chipped in with six points on 3-for-8 shooting. Last night against the Jazz, he remained on the bench and got no playing time.

Before signing with the Celtics, Cassell had not played in three weeks after spraining his right wrist. He had practiced only once with the team before Monday’s game and that was a voluntary Sunday workout and and not everyone was there.

“My timing is off,” Cassell said after Monday’s game. “Not knowing the sets, not knowing where to go on the court is tough. I know I’ll play more than five minutes. I’m not worried about it.”

Celtics fans shouldn’t be worried, either.

Cassell, who has a career scoring average of 15.9, was signed by the Celtics to give them some depth at the point-guard position and some playoff experience. He wasn’t signed to give them points.

The Celtics already have a point guard who can score in second-year guard Rajon Rondo, who has brought his game to a new level this season.

Entering the season with a career average of 6.4 points and 3.8 assists per game, Rondo was averaging 10.5 points, 5.1 assists, and 4.2 rebounds per game this season before last night and he continues to get better.

But what Rondo lacks is playoff experience, and Cassell, 38, a 15-season NBA veteran who averaged 12.8 points, 4.7 assists and 2.8 rebounds this season with the Clippers, has that.

Cassell won two NBA championships in his first two seasons in the league with the Houston Rockets after being drafted 24th overall out of Florida State University in 1993. He was voted to the NBA All-Star Game in the 2003-04 season.

“He’s always been a big-game player,” Boston coach Doc Rivers said of Cassell. “He has extreme confidence, which I think is always good. He’s a high IQ player.”

“I think he’s going to be a great fit.”

Cassell said that he did not come to Boston to take Rondo’s starting position.

“Rondo, I understand what he brings,” Cassell said. “I’m not here to challenge for his job. I’m here to be his backup. … I don’t want his job. I’m here to make his job easier.”

Cassell’s experience is priceless to a young player like Rondo. Cassell said that he plans to share his knowledge of the game with Rondo to make him a better player.

Cassell told Rondo, “I’m going to push you. I’m going to prepare you for the postseason.”

“I’m sure I can only get better, especially [playing] with a guy like him,” Rondo said.

Rondo said that the primary advice he will seek from Cassell will be to, “know how to close games better. I’m still learning how to do that. And knowing what sets to call within the last four minutes of the game, and in certain situations, when to attack and make the right decisions. Like I said, I’m still learning.”

Rondo is a high-energy player. Rivers hopes Cassell can teach Rondo when to play at a high tempo and when to slow it down.

“With Rondo’s speed, if he can learn that tempo and have the ability to go from first to third gear, it would be great,” Rivers said.

Cassell asked to be let go by the Clippers, who owed him $6.1 million in this, the final year of his contract.

“The talks between myself and the Clippers took a little while longer than I wanted it to go, but I think that’s what you have to go through when you want to get to something great,” Cassell said. “I think this is a great situation for me. It’s great for the city of Boston. This team has a great chance. Why not be a part of it?”

Cassell said that when the Celtics traded for Kevin Garnett in the offseason, he wanted to reunite with his old teammate.

“I know what Kevin brings to a basketball team,” Cassell said. “He made me an All-Star.

Cassell said he is hungry for a third championship and that’s why he wanted to play for Boston.

“The chances are great,” Cassell said about winning a title with the Celtics, who own the best record in the NBA. “We just have to stay healthy.

“We are all trying to accomplish one thing, and that thing is to win a championship.”

[FLCeltsFan]

www.enterprisenews.com/sports/pros/x1780893219

Celtics hit sour note
The C’s mount a couple of challenges against the Jazz but can never catch them, and now the team starts its toughest stretch of the season.
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By Jim Fenton
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
Posted Mar 14, 2008 @ 11:07 PM

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BOSTON — This wasn’t the sendoff the Boston Celtics were looking for leading into the most rugged stretch of their schedule.

Not only did their 10-game losing streak come to an emphatic end Friday night, but the Celtics also suffered an injury to one of their main players.

The Celtics were handed their worst defeat of the season and first since Feb. 22 when they were overwhelmed by the Utah Jazz, 110-92, at the TD Banknorth Garden.

They also lost the services of Ray Allen, who bruised his left heel in the first quarter and didn’t return, a setback made even worse when Paul Pierce (eight points on 1-for-7 shooting) had a rough outing.

The Celtics trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half and got as close as three in the fourth quarter before the Jazz pulled away for good.

“It was just one of those games, man; you kind of felt like a little kid in the park and the bully came and snatched the ball away and there was nothing you could do about it,” said Pierce. “They gave us an old-fashioned butt-whipping.

“We got down to them, and every time it seemed like we got it to four or six points, they pushed it back to nine or 10. We could never get over that hump. The defense struggled all night. They played well. They came out and were on a mission.”

The Celtics (51-13), who began the night with a magic number of one to win the Atlantic Division, had been rolling since a three-game losing streak to start the post-All-Star break road trip.

They had defeated 10 teams by an average of 16.9 points in the franchise’s longest winning streak since 1986, but against the Jazz, the Celtics looked mortal.

Now, they play five straight road games, including four next week against some of the top teams in the Western Conference.

“I could tell off the bat, energy-wise, we weren’t our normal selves,” said Kevin Garnett, who had 15 points, six assists but just four rebounds. “These last few games, we were probably spoiled by the fact we came out with really, really good energy and tonight, for whatever reason, we just didn’t.

“We fought for 48 minutes, but for the most part, especially against a good team like Utah, you’ve got to have everything oiled up and ready to go from the jump.”

The Jazz had a 12-point lead during the first quarter, bumped it up to 14 by halftime and fought off the Celtics in the third quarter. Boston got within 79-76 early in the fourth quarter and was within 93-89 with 5:25 to go, but the Jazz had an answer for every comeback bid.

Deron Williams was too much for the Celtics, scoring 32 points (17 from the foul line) to go with eight assists. Carlos Boozer added 17 points and 12 rebounds, and Utah made 51 percent of its shots.

Trailing, 94-89, the Celtics had a chance to get within two, but James Posey missed a 3-pointer. Williams responded with a drive to put the Jazz up, 96-89, and after Pierce misfired on a 3-pointer with 4:17 to play, Boozer hit a turnaround to extend the lead to nine points, and the Celtics never threatened again.

Allen, who had nine points in the first quarter, was injured when he hit the floor, and after playing all 12 minutes, went to the locker room for the rest of the game.

Pierce was never with it at the offensive end, getting six of his eight points from the line.

“I just thought I was out of sync from the start with the fouls in the first half,” said Pierce.

The Celtics reduced a 13-point halftime deficit to 79-74 after three quarters as Garnett and Pierce, who struggled in the first 24 minutes, finally contributed offensively.

Garnett had eight points and Pierce seven in the third quarter after they combined for just four points on 1-for-9 shooting in the first half.

The Celtics bounced back from a brutal first half by playing better defense in the quarter and had a chance to cut the Utah lead to two points, only to have Eddie House miss an open 3-pointer in the final 30 seconds.

Boston had the deficit in single figures for most of the third quarter, shooting 56 percent, and were within 72-68 on a putback layup by Kendrick Perkins (13).

The Celtics trailed by as many as 14 points in the first half, which ended with Utah in front, 62-49.

After holding six straight opponents under 100 points, the Celtics’ defense was well below par against the Jazz, who are the best shooting team in the NBA.

Utah made 58 percent of its shots in the opening half with Boozer and Williams scoring 15 points each.