The Queens Get Chippy
by Jeff Clark on Dec 27, 2007 7:20 AM EST
in Boston Celtics News & Links
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The Sacramento Queens responded to the challenge of playing the Celtics by playing some chippy (or sometimes cheap) basketball. The Globe reports:
The Kings tested the Celtics with some questionable physical play. Rajon Rondo was knocked hard to the floor on more than one occasion. After a disgruntled Rondo asked Kings forward-center Mikki Moore why he fouled him on one play, Moore explained that he had six fouls and he was going to use them. But what stood out was when Garnett lay on the floor after being poked in left eye and fouled hard by several Kings with 8:29 remaining.
"You've got to expect that," said Pierce of the physical play. "We've got a target on our back. We're on the road. We can't expect to get any calls. Teams are going to play physical and push us around. I thought we kept our composure late in the game and we were able to come away with the win."
Said Kings coach Reggie Theus: "Sometimes when you're not playing well you've got to be more physical. They're a great basketball team and they played extremely well."
But the Celtics appeared to draw their most energy when Garnett was poked in the eye while battling Artest and Miller for a rebound.
"I got poked in the eye twice and elbowed in the head," said Garnett, who went to the bench for a timeout in a dizzied state but finished with 14 points and 10 rebounds. "Sure it was edgy. Some of their guys might have been playing a little out of character. Maybe they were asked to, I don’t know. But I’m sure from now until the end of the year we’re going to see all kinds of different things."
The Dime gives a somewhat humorous account of the action:
It was a physical game, and of course Ron Artest and KG were prominently involved in the physicality. Going to the benches during a timeout, someone on Boston said or did something to set Artest off — he started walking over to the Boston bench until Dahntay Jones jumped off the Kings’ bench to sprint down the court to corral him. Coming out of the timeout, KG (14 pts, 10 rebs, 2 stls) was jawing with multiple guys on Sacramento … When the game was basically over, Francisco Garcia was going to the bench yapping at Garnett, and KG just waved good-bye at him.
The Celtics are a target again. Teams desperate for solutions will try anything they can to knock this team down. On this night, it didn't work. The Celtics held off the Queens and just waved good-bye to them. In the future, the C's will have to continue to maintain their focus and stick to playing superior basketball to keep winning games. Another good learning opportunity for this team that is growing stronger every day.
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KG is a warrior.
I cannot believe he stayed in the game last night.
His eye looked very sore.
Impressive win in that regard.
Tonight will be very interesting.
Ray Ray’s return to Seattle.
Not to mention DW & Wally.
Plus, it’ll be cool to see Durant up close and personal.
Interesting to have Tommy in the studio last night.
This season is so much fun.
I knew this train was bound to glory.
A win tonight, and they match last season’s win total I think.
Crazy stuff.
With all the talk of Scott Skiles and lack of communication with his players, Doc had a great story in last nite’s postgame press conference. The C’s were getting taken out of their game because of the “physical” play and trash talking and Doc didn’t want his players to respond, but rather to focus on the game. He sort of singled out Garnett as getting too emotional and KG sort of told Doc he needs to play that way. There was some laughing and Doc basically said he learned the lesson to let KG be KG. That’s part of the learning process between players and coach. The important thing is that Doc didn’t pull rank and KG was ready to follow Doc’s instructions. Doc just figured it was best to let KG be himself. That’s the way to manage a group of grown ups. I hope the complete transcript becomes available because I’m paraphrasing the best I can.
http://www.celticsblog.com/index.php?option=com_smf&Itemid=64&topic=13498.msg220543#msg220543
This is a link to the forum. It’s an interview of KG by John Thompson while KG was with the T’Wolves. It’s a must see. I saw this after I made the above post. It shows alot about both men.
What is a flagrant foul? I’ve seen fouls not nearly as hard as Mikki Moore’s on Rondo be called Flagrant 1’s or 2’s. The refs lost total control of that game last night and it’s a wonder someone didn’t get hurt.
The NBA has got to get a handle on this ‘the C’s have a target, they’re just going to have to get used to it’.
What I love more than anything about this team is how they dispatch crappy teams like the Kings. So far the Celtics have lost three games, one to the defending East champion Cavs in overtime, one to one of the up and coming teams in the league in overtime, Orlando, and the other to the Pistons on the last second foul on TA. Basically, if you are going to beat this Celtics team, you better have a good team and have a very good night. You basic crappy teams hustling to get to .500 like the Kings or the Bulls or the Wizards have no chance. They don’t even get into close games with those teams. They just kill them. I suspect will see a lot more gimicks and cheap play as the year goes on. At least half of the teams in the league have no chance against the Celtics and they know it. With nothing to loose and the real danger of being blown out, teams will try to make the game ugly.
by JohnCK on Dec 27, 2007 10:03 AM EST reply actions
mcpu40 – I totally 100% disagree. Ron Artest is a thug, a crazy ignorant excuse for a man, a disgrace to the NBA, and a guy who repeatedly either quits on his team (make a music CD and wants to take a month off on the Pacers) or gets kicked out/suspended (numerous times). He has disrepected just about everyone who has tried to help him. Great players and Ron Artest should never ever be used in the same sentence. He shouldn’t even be in the NBA IMO.
“Great PLayers” have more than just physical skills, they have heart, they have respect or their team, they have been there for their teammates in big moments, and the respect the history of the game by playing with class. Artest fails all of those miserably.
Truegreen thanks for the link on KG
We won, we played hard, and the refs and Queens were bad. Next!!!!!!!!
When the game was basically over, Francisco Garcia was going to the bench yapping at Garnett, and KG just waved good-bye at him.
I remember Mike Gorman saying something to the tune of Garcia saying stuff like good game and don’t take it personal… KG still brushed him off though.
by bleedingreen on Dec 27, 2007 10:19 AM EST reply actions
Alot to like about last nite’s game.
1. Doc put subs in early and let them play thru their problems. They need to get a rhythm and will be needed on this trip.
2. The C’s lost their poise for awhile, but were able to regain it because of the veteran leadership. To break the King’s 3rd quarter run they seemed to slow it down, use clock and get back to ball and player movement, ending up with better shots.
3. Turning the game over to Rondo at the end was interesting and a good experiment for the future. Rondo rose to the task and did a great job.
4. We get a 24 point lead, let it get down to 5 and end up winning by 20 (I believe). All this with a time zone change, no practice, etc.
I heard on ESPN this morning that Rondo is leading the NBA in shooting percentage among guards. The guy is shooting like 52% from the floor. At some point teams are going to have to abandon the “leave Rondo open and make him hit an open shot” philosophy.
by JohnCK on Dec 27, 2007 11:03 AM EST reply actions
Master Po,
Artest has had a very checkered career on and off the court as far as behavior goes, yes. But his competitiveness was praised by #34 after the game and it is that which I was commenting on.
None of us will soon forget the circus at the Palace in Detroit that ill-fated night when Artest tore into the stands after someone threw a beer on him as he lay on the scorer’s table.
Regardless, you are right Po.
Perhaps ‘GREAT’ isn’t the right word to describe Artest in all that the word could encompass. But Artest was praised by #34 last night following the game as one of his toughest (if not THE toughest) match-ups he faces during the season.
That’s all I’m saying. Artest brings it each night. Sure, he has a screw loose; that’s very clear. But man, the guy can play…and Pierce knows it.
Tonight should be a more standard game, hopefully they continue the trend.
PP praise of Artest shows the growth of Paul…he as become a diplomat…Jordan use to do the same thing…suck up to the top defenders and they start to respect and like you and ease up just a bit..it also sends out a subtle message to the rest of the league, that is, physical play doesn’t bother Paul..
by Fastbreak on Dec 27, 2007 11:26 AM EST reply actions
these west coast games are already killing me i’m falling asleep in my cubicle
by BrettSzabo on Dec 27, 2007 11:49 AM EST reply actions
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