Now THAT Is A Comeback
by Jeff Clark on May 12, 2009 11:01 PM EDT
in Boston Celtics Games
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PrintThey couldn't make it all the way back in game 1, but they pulled it off this time.
The Celtics played very, very poorly in the first 3 quarters and I kept waiting for the Magic to put the game away, but they simply didn't do it. The teams were trading baskets in the early 4th quarter with the Magic leading by double digits and they couldn't close the deal.
Never, ever, ever, ever count this team out.
Celtics win.
- Celtics leading scorer: Big Baby with 22 (he's all grows up now)
- We don't have the option of coming back to win this if Marbury doesn't score 12 points in the 4th quarter alone. I knew he'd come in handy eventually.
- Ray had a horrible game through 3 quarters, but a shooter never hesitates and he hit a big one when we needed it.
- Just a poor game for Rondo too, but the team overcame it. Heads up loose ball play throwing it off Howard for the possession.
- I'm sorry but this Magic team can't close out anyone. They play scared when the Celtics make a run. Who is their go-to guy in the clutch? Why can't they get a stop in the clutch?
- Solid all around game for the Captain; 19 points, 9 boards, and 8 dimes.
- Up 3 with seconds left and Doc had them foul. Like it or not, it worked to perfection.
- Another "ugly win" game, but it counts as a W so no complaints here.
Here are some quotes from the Celtics twitter account:
- Doc: "I really thought Marbury and Baby kept us alive, gave us hope. The tough call was going back with the starters. It was a gamble..."
- Doc on Steph: "He keeps working every day. He's been very patient. He's handled it well and been a great teammate."
- Doc on Ray's big three: "We trust [Ray]. I told David Aldridge [in third quarter], we absolutely are going to Ray. He's a shotmaker."
- Doc: "We just grinded this game out. There were a lot of times we could have quit, but they just didn't."
- SVG: "I thought we played really well for 44 minutes. We just quit playing, we looked like we were trying to run the clock out."
Update: Can't believe I didn't mention this before now, but regarding the call with the ball grazing the rim: I don't know if it hit or not, but how is it we didn't get a better camera angle than what we got? Angles from above the rim and below the rim aren't going to tell us much. We needed a side angle. Regardless, I'm glad we got the call. That's all I have to say about that.
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by cordobes on May 12, 2009 10:40 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
That quote has now got some serious resonance
But, to be fair, for most of the game, I felt not entirely unlike a master of panic myself.
Astonishing game. And Marbury and Davis were huge down the stretch.
Rumor is that he Magic fans are calling for Ron Jeremy
to replace SVG…
by nba is the worst on May 13, 2009 12:33 AM EDT up reply actions
he'd be an improvement
i hear he’s a much better closer than SVG
by guy incognito on May 13, 2009 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Good game
Magic still haven’t shown they have any heart. I didn’t think so before but SVG is a terrible coach, too. The C’s have no one that can guard Lewis – why not ride him all game?
Great, great win, though. No complaints.
My question is: Is it Van gundy's fault that Rashard didn't get touches in the 4th, or is it our D?
Dwight Howard, Hedo Turkoglu and Rafer Allston lack big moment cluth performance experience. Also not Van Gundy’s fault.
17-3 run in the last 5 minutes. Finally, a positive contribution from Marbury. And where are the Glenn Davis haters now?
I've got to agree. Marbury was huge for a team that couldn't find it's offense. What a game.
It’s almost like “how’d they do that?” Equal parts Celtic pride and Magic gets the shakes.
by eastie Rich on May 12, 2009 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions
169-99
that’s my blood pressure now. Let me sit down first
My heart just stopped!
Wow what a postseason!
thought we played terrible for 3 and a half quarters
watching the game it seemed like we would never get a stop and not score any points..next thing you know marbury scoring a ton of points but still NOOOO STOPS…then it finally all clicked we were scoring and making stops and BAM! the lead and BAM! the W…great win tonight fellas wish it wasnt so nerve racking but the 3-2 is 3-2 and never anything else.
This game took a number of days off my life.
But I didn’t have anything scheduled.
by nachoman on May 12, 2009 10:44 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Line of the night, no question
Well played, nacho.
-sw
The best of the 2008-09 Boston Celtics is still yet to come. Believe.
by Steve Weinman on May 13, 2009 1:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Agree With Steve
Beautiful. You’ve got to make that your sig.
"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn
if you're gonna brick that many 3's....
you might as well make em count when you hit em! thanks ray…
Now, If the Rockets Can Somehow Win...
I’ll be in basketball fan heaven (for the moment at least).
They're fine
Like Barkley just said, the Celtics ‘are the better team from the neck up’.
..
Don't fake the funk on a nasty dunk
So far in this series, the Celtics have had bigger balls, notwithstanding that Ron Jeremy is coaching the other team.
by Brickowski on May 13, 2009 12:36 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Shuttles Worth
Hitten that Shot was crazzy clutch thataaaa boyyy nice win
by RandyMossinThem81 on May 12, 2009 10:46 PM EDT reply actions
We won and I have a new name!!!!!
I told somebody in the chat who was trying to convert the chat to Jesus (we already know his work) that if we won this game I would convert to Islam !!!!!!!
My new name is PO-hammed. Praise be to Allah and to this whole team!!!!
Is it Soup Yet?
wow
no KG, no POWE, and we still secure 2 offensive rebounds in the waning seconds with the shot clock running out.. i hope SVG is on the toilet right now.
Hey Rocky watch me pull a rabbit out of a hat...
Not sure how they pulled that one off, but it sure was sweeeeeeeeeet…….
by Hondo on May 12, 2009 10:49 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
UNBELIEVABLE
What a team. Thank you Steph, and Baby, and Ray. Cue Rudy T: NEVER UNDERESTIMATE THE HEART OF A CHAMP. I love this team. Maybe even moreso than last year’s. WHOO!!!
THANK YOU FOR FOULING UP 3
DOC YOU LEARNED FROM THE BULLS GAME 4
by celticinorlando on May 12, 2009 10:49 PM EDT reply actions
Doc Didn't Learn Anything From Game 3
The players screwed that up, not Doc. Doc’s under 9 sec rule with a 3 point lead——Foul. And Pierce made sure everyone knew how to do it the right way.
"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn
Absolutely
A lesson for Antoine Wright and the Mavs, from the master.
Two close ones
SVG must be throwing fits. If not chairs.
What a team. Let’s get game 6 please.
Pierce does it again.
Like I wrote in my previous post/question, Pierce is a play maker. A natural one, at that.
Pierce played so well tonight, but really made 3 huge plays down the stretch: shovel pass to Baby for a 17 footer to make it 85-77 with 4:30 left, pass to Baby for a 15 footer to make it 85-79 with 3:57, and setting the screen for Ray to free up to nail the 3 to take an 86-85 lead. Again: Pierce didn’t need to make the shot to help his team win. In all 3 of those plays, Pierce could have opted for a shot or at least operated with the intent to shoot. But he didn’t.
We had no business being in that game. That game was essentially given to us by Orlando… and we took the opportunities and capitalize. Reggie Miller made the best call all night when he talked about the differences in coaching styles: the Celts are able to get the ball into the hands of their best FT shooter, while the Magic can only get the ball into one of the league’s worst FT shooters. And, to emphasis this point, Orlando came out of a timeout and couldn’t get the ball where they wanted!
Statistically, you can measure up players against other players and teams against other teams. You can tell certain players strengths from their numbers. I’m going to throw caution to the wind and lock and load up on this cliche, but you can’t statistically measure how strong a team’s will is against another team’s. You just can’t. The Celts have more heart. The Celts have more grit. The Celts know how NOT to fall apart in pressure situations.
My two questions:
1) Making it to the Eastern Conference Finals would be an unbelievable accomplishment for this team. I think we will make it to the ECF, and be able to steal a game or 2 away from the Cavs. It is possible, although not likely, that the Celts can catch the Cavs off guard. The Cavs will be well rested, but also will have been off the court for a long time. It’s possible… right? As KG said last year, "Anything is posssssssssssible!" Maybe not likely, but possible. Remember when the Celts stole a game from the Cavs without KG in their second to last meeting? It’s possible…
2) Is anyone else sick of Charles Barkley? TNT should have canned him after his 83rd DUI. Bring in Reggie Miller and make it Miller Time every night.
http://loscy.wordpress.com/
by jontookem on May 12, 2009 10:51 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
I wish
I could TP you this, because I think PP had one of his great all time “quiet” games as a Celtic: the two great passes to BBD, solid defense, efficiency. Everything. The cap was brill tonight/
I said it in the forums, but I feel like the luckiest sports fan in the world. This is quickly becoming my favorite sports team ever.
Can some one get me a link..
To some of the pre-trade deadline trade talks. Cuz I think we could all get a good laugh at some of the trades we all proposed with big baby’s name in it. God he’s been good.
by beantownboy171 on May 12, 2009 10:51 PM EDT reply actions
I had defend myself vigorously LAST year for saying Baby was working with Cliff Ray on his jumper
Then this year there was a lot of name calling about me saying he was working hard on it this year, successfully in practice, and that why he was playing over Powe.
yeah it was great. i got on some mods bad list i am almost sure as i fought back on the issue.
But because of what I have seen I know we can still win IF KG can play 12-15 minutes a game against Cle and we stay healthy otherwise
Super guilty.
I believe I labeled BBD an offensive liability about 50000000000 times…
http://loscy.wordpress.com/
damn, BBD was +16 in 42 minutes. +16!
by spider monkey on May 13, 2009 12:16 PM EDT up reply actions
Marbury is the reason we won.
If Steph doesn’t single-handedly keep this team afloat, we get blowed out big time.
The best offensive game from Marbury..
5 straingt baskets, including a 3.
Would've been six...
But no call on Howard. Marbury is starting to get a little swagger of his own.
yep.
look for everyone to completely overrate steph ala PJ Brown this summer.
but Steph really kicked off the 4th the right way, and clearly played his best quarter for the Celtics
When Perk was asked what he thought of Howard winning the gold medal this summer, he responded: "What’s his impression of me after I won a ring?"
Which is why, I suppose, Doc took him out when he did
… right in the middle of his run.
we needed some stops
trading baskets wasn’’t getting it done so our starters came back and won the game
no regrets here
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V
I think
Doc just quit while he was ahead with Steph
again, it was the right call based on the win – Rondo moves the ball better
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V
Is Ray a better defender than Steph?
… and Ray at that time was ice-cold.
gamble paid off
Doc: “I really thought Marbury and Baby kept us alive, gave us hope. The tough call was going back with the starters. It was a gamble…”
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V
its also familiarity on defense
we play team defense. i get why doc put the starters back in. we needed stops. these guys have played a lot of minutes together, and the thinking probably was, they’d be more capable of getting multiple stops for that reason. tough call, but i think it was the right one. defense is more than the sum of the parts, and it showed tonight. our D down the stretch was fantastic.
by guy incognito on May 13, 2009 12:14 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes, gamble paid off
… I just don’t understand the gamble. But I agree, there was some logic to it. Could have backfired completely. Almost did, but for a few lucky bounces and two ref calls/non-calls that finally went our way.
Doc Explained This Move In Post Game Interview Shown On Comcast
Doc said he didn’t want to take Steph out, but he did because he wanted players on the floor at that time that were more used to playing with each other. He said it was a gamble.
"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn
Steph
Everyone said he’d win us a game. There you have it— he won us a game.
http://loscy.wordpress.com/
No matter how this season ends...
..these guys are true Champions.
Congrats.
Celtics deserve to win the series, especially given the fact the Magic fail to execute time and again against Boston. Orlando needs to take a page from the C’s and learn how to finish the job.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
by erivera7 on May 12, 2009 10:54 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
thanks man
sorry for the stomach punch game, that one will smart for a while
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V
Yep.
Two games in a row, but again .. congrats. A well deserved victory.
.. hopefully this series is another learning experience for the Magic.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
No problem, sir.
Enjoy it.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
Appreciate the congrats eddy, see you for game 6 in Orlando.
No matter what happens in this series, if SVG and the staff push Dwight’s hook shot and your advice to run the rolls more often, the Magic will be even tougher to match up next year. Some people say we have a closing window with aging stars, some say we have upcoming stars to pass the torch to, and I can see how the Magic have the pieces in place to contend for the title, this year or next.
Charles Barkley talks like he played – lots of mass moving around and once in a while something articulate, all backed up by the attitude….
Thanks for stopping by, Eddy
And like Jeff says, I’m sure this one has to hurt. But well see what Game 6 has to offer.
-sw
The best of the 2008-09 Boston Celtics is still yet to come. Believe.
by Steve Weinman on May 13, 2009 1:22 AM EDT up reply actions
No problem fellas.
Pardon me if my optimism is dampened a bit for Game 6 .. hopefully the Magic go down swinging.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
Classy
…coming here after losing like that. You deserve a TP.
by Amager Celtic Fan on May 13, 2009 3:23 AM EDT up reply actions
I feel like it would be pouring salt in the wound if I said,
“I’m definitely with you as far as ‘hopefully the Magic go down’ is concerned.”
Sorry, ER, couldn’t resist. Forgive me for that one, please.
-sw
The best of the 2008-09 Boston Celtics is still yet to come. Believe.
by Steve Weinman on May 13, 2009 3:31 AM EDT up reply actions
I don’t know, Eddy. You still have matchup problems for us that we have no real answer to.
I really didn’t think SVG called an intelligent fourth quarter at all, and I was frankly shocked when he commented afterwards that “we should be looking for jump shots in Boston.”
I don’t think the fourth win will come any easier for us than the first three.
That comment did not compute
SVG was unhappy that his guys tried to drive to the hoop in the 4th, preferring that they take jump shots. Boy, I don’t get that at all. I think that, shockingly, maybe Shaq was right. This guy just chokes when the chips are down.
In any case, with all the discord now evident in their locker room, it’s hard to see them winning anymore.
Two D-League teams in an NBA playoff game
That’s what this game was. The worst basketball I’ve seen all year, by both teams. Paul, Perk, Baby were good. Stephon were great. Doc was terrible. Rondo, Ray: horrible. The team as a whole: horrible.
Luckily, Orlando was even worse. And luckily, we got some fortuitous bounces at the end. But the Magic are a really bad team, with a terrible coach, which is why we won these last two games.
We stink. That’s it. No way can the Celtics or the Magic even hope to beat Cleveland playing like this. Nor Denver, or LA, or Houston, for that matter. No way in hell. All the other teams left in the playoffs are in the NBA… we’re in D-League. Just wasting time… unless we do a 180 from where we are right now.
Magic aren't a "really bad team with a terrible coach" .. that's a bit harsh.
.. they’re just a team that fails to execute. Simple as that.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
Plenty. Orlando isn't a bad team and the team doesn't have a terrible coach.
Criticize the Magic for not executing or lacking focus. That’s a fairer judgment.
I'm the other guy at Third Quarter Collapse, with a Twitter account.
"Never hate your enemies. It affects your judgement." - Michael Corleone
Sorry, did not notice you were a Magic fan
Sorry to be harsh… I like the Magic. I think when Nelson gets back, and they get a new coach, they will be a great team. But right now, they’re not executing or focusing, as you say, and they’re choking at key moments, and their 2 best players are fighting with their coach in the media. I’d say that makes them… for now… “not a good” team, with a “not-so-good” coach. Euphemistically speaking….
But really… I like your guys. Like Lewis. And Lee. Love Howard… kid’s got great spirit, and will obviously be a dominant center for many years. You just need Nelson, really… he’s your go-to guy, and the one who makes this team sing. Next year, Magic should go very far.
Note: But with all the discord now, I think SVG will be gone next year.
not really
94.8 points avg in 8 playoff games for cavs that would rank them 27th in the NBA in the regular season, not much to brag about. Celtics BASKETBALL
Convenient omission of the fact that they are scoring 111.9 points per 100 possessions over that span,
good for second in the postseason, trailing only Denver.
-sw
The best of the 2008-09 Boston Celtics is still yet to come. Believe.
by Steve Weinman on May 13, 2009 1:24 AM EDT up reply actions
It's Called Winning Ugly
It could also be called “HEART” A D-League team could not play with the composure and patience that the Celtics played with in the last 4 minutes. Try to remember that this is one exhausted team playing without arguably it’s best player, with another key sub out and with Rondo playing on two bad ankles. Who knows what Pierce is going thru and Perk’s shoulder could go at any time. The Celtics are not a D-League team. The Celtics are a GUTSY team.
"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn
Of course
I was not saying they ARE D-League… just that both teams played like there were.
I understand that they’re depleted, of course. And about Perk’s shoulder and Rondo’s ankles, etc. But this team always says “no excuses”, so let’s not make any for them. They still have a shot, and we should try to help them take it. Cheering their small victories — if achieved with pathetic play and lots of help from the opposition — doesn’t help.
If they step up… if Rondo gets back to his game 2 play, Ray back to some kind of decent shooting percentage, and they remember to play defense for more than 5 minutes per game… they can still win ECF. It’s not likely, not easy… and not impossible.
But yes… that was a gutsy performance in the end. After 43 minutes of very bad play, they finally did gut out this win.
Another tip of the hat to Marbury
He kept us afloat for that last run.
Champions do what the Celtics just did. Terrible basketball on both ends, but they outperformed their opponent during the most crucial time of the game. Pure heart.
Hey we didn't play great but we got a WIN.
I understand where you’re coming from, we were absolutely disgusting tonight, but let’s be a little positive here :-)
by C's09Champs on May 12, 2009 11:06 PM EDT up reply actions
Positive? Impossible for DRJ1
This is the same dude that whined that the Celtics had no heart in Game 1. Now they come back from 10 down with less than 4 to go, and it’s heart schmart. Give me a freaking break. If you can’t enjoy a win like this, something’s wrong with you, and I feel sorry for you. Being a sports fan is about more than just championships dude. You have to enjoy the ride, and appreciate terrific comebacks like this. Look at it this way: Would you rather be a Magic fan? I wouldn’t. The Celtics are a skeleton crew that refuses to ever die.
If you can’t happy about that, go sulk. But the rest of us are going to enjoy this.
by joebianca on May 12, 2009 11:16 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Gotta agree
While it wasn’t the prettiest game it was an awesome comeback and an historic choke by the Magic. I don’t understand how any Celtics fan could not be filled with joy right now.
I am looking beyond this game
Of COURSE I’m happy we won this game.
But I don’t understand how you people can be happy about the situation the Celtics are in. WHAT GOOD is all this it if we play like we played in the last two games? We’re just gonna get blown away in the next round. How good will you feel then? What is the point?
This team has to dramatically improve in the next 1-2 games. Or it’s all over anyway. Period.
WHAT GOOD is all this it if we play like we played in the last two games?
Joebianca already explained this, but seeing as how you didn’t get it, here it is again…
We are sports fans. We hope to win it all as fans of our team, meanwhile we ENJOY, actually derive pleasure from witnessing, great comebacks in games like this. It’s a healthy thing, you should try it…
by jyrecelts on May 13, 2009 1:03 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Ok, I get it
You’re happy with getting to the ECF. I’m not. I think this team can do better (not easily, but it could.) Different strokes for different folks.
really?
i mean, i think they are still a very good team, but without KG and powe, you realistically expect better than getting to the ECF? just look at the spurs this year…lost one of their big 3 (but had their two most important cogs in duncan and parker) and dallas took them out pretty easily in the first round. we lost the most important of our big 3, and a key bench player, and are one win away from the ECF. i mean, i’m not happy with their bad stretches, but they are dead tired and undermanned.
by guy incognito on May 13, 2009 2:18 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes
I really think they have a shot vs. Cleveland if:
- Rondo has great games, and gets everyone going on offense
- Ray plays at least well, or great
- Paul continues his good play of the last 2 games
- They don’t forget to defend
I don’t think this is impossible. If they could just get it together enough to do these things, they COULD win the ECF. And if they do, btw, I’m not as worried about the Lakers or Nuggets. The Cavs are the main obstacle this year (obviously).
But yeah… it’s a pretty remote possibility.
I think you'll find...
that timing is everything on this blog
DRJ1 is right that this was a troubling win in the grand scheme of things – the guys looked horrible for 3.5 quarters
however, to stand up and bemoan that effort right after the team willed its way to victory just comes across the wrong way to fans that are enjoying the moment
everyone’s welcome to their opinions, just don’t be surprised if fans are turned off by a wet blanket
"We few, we happy few, we band of brothers" Henry V
Give DRJ1 a break Jeff
I think he’s a little bitter right now.
PP’s making him look pretty silly for saying he needed to be a role player in order for us to win. ( ;
BTW, a win is a win is a win. They don’t have to be pretty. I think some people forget some of the purely ugly wins we had in the playoffs last year.
You're right
…about the dynamics here. But let’s put it another way. Poor fans, can’t handle the truth. They must be allowed to rejoice in their small victories, taking comfort where they can, happy to just make the ECF. You will excuse me if I don’t participate in that exercise.
Jay, you’re right, I did call for Paul to be a role player vs. Cleveland, with Rondo running the offense and Paul defending Lebron to death, as the only way to beat them. Last night, Paul was great. We don’t win without him. But there is no way on Earth that we can beat any of the other playoff teams playing the way we did in that game…. they will not cooperate like Orlando did, nor will we get that lucky again.
And it’s not like what I’m asking for is impossible. Just for Rondo to play the way he has shown us he can, and for Ray to hit a few more shots, and for the defense to play complete games, not just 5 minutes. Is this team really too tired to do that? I don’t understand… are they not pro athletes? Have they played THAT much more than everybody else in the league?
Personally, I think it’s mental, not physical. So maybe if they hear the Truth from us fans, it’ll wake them up. (Not holding my breath, but…. maybe.) I.e., it’s possible that all this knee-jerk cheering from the fans actually CONTRIBUTES to their forthcoming demise. Maybe if we all protested their lousy, lazy play (for 3.5+ quarters), as I did, they would stop this nonsense and really come to win.
On one response to DRJ1
Wow. Wow. Wow. Almost as if you are ignoring that Garnett is not out. Can’t understand how a Celtics fan cannot enjoy what this team is doing without itsmain stud.
"No excuses"
Their favorite motto. They’re not making them, and neither should we.
They are playing without one of their best players
And without a power forward who was a key role player on the team this year and in last year’s finals. I just don’t get what you expect. It is mind-boggling to me that they are up 3-2. I picked Orlando in 6, but I did not realize they would choke as badly as they have. Lighten up. Enjoy it. Be a fan.
I’m not saying we’re going to roll to another championship here, but after a game like that you can’t be too down on the team. They played horrible for the entire game and could have just bent over, but they didn’t. They decided to attack a team that’s known for collapsing at the end of the games. Can’t expect to win every game like that, but for this one that’s just what they did. Enjoy it until Game 6.
You need two teams for a game...
Both teams were up and down.
We got the W, that`s all what matters now.
orlando can't have much left mentally
after those 2 games
by celticinorlando on May 12, 2009 11:00 PM EDT reply actions
As one of THEE biggest Marbury haters before they acquired him.....
I’m sincerely happy for him with his performance tonight. He sacrificed his own game to try to acclimate himself to the team, unfortunately to the detriment of his own game. Very happy to see him make a legitimate, meaningful contribution!
yeah I owe him a hat tip
or now that I am Po-hammed I owe him a tip of my wife’s Burhka . Praise Allah for the second good game out of Starbury since February.
Seriously he played very well when we needed him.
Is it Soup Yet?
Hope he doesn't get too carried away
and continue to be a good citizen he has been.
Love Marbury
Super-happy for him. He’s a great player, and I think a great human being… completely and unfairly maligned by the media.
Finally- Starbury comes through with some much needed momentum
With less than 8 minutes to go, Orlando had us on the rocks, sliding all over the place, trying to play catch-up all evening, with a sloppy game on both sides, but mostly on ours. After 3 quarters, C’s are shooting about 36 % for the night, and Allan, Rondo and Big Baby tossing bombs all evening- check their stats- they stunk up the place for the first 3 quarters. Scals , Eddie House came through with some key points, but Starbury finally came through with flying colors to help PP come through with another ‘by the skin of the teeth win’.
http://lygaffen.blogspot.com/
http://community.webshots.com/user/lygafe
WOW
Orlando can’t close a door let alone a game. They just don’t know what it takes to win. That has got to be a VERY long flight back to Florida for them.
THEY MADE 21 OF 21 FTS
in game 4 they missed 9 and would have ran away with those makes…FTS!!
by celticinorlando on May 12, 2009 11:14 PM EDT reply actions
Stephon, stephon
He wasn’t just scoring, he was setting up his mates, playing decent defense. I’m very happy for him, this is such a confidence boost. Now let us just hope that this wouldn’t encourage him to get back to his old Starbury primadonna ways. And of course, don’t you just love Big Baby?
A good recipe for victory against the Magic … egg Alston to keep on shooting. Man, where they bricks.
Every one Hated on Baby
But i knew he could ball when he dropped 22 on the pistons last year kids got some talent
by RandyMossinThem81 on May 12, 2009 11:17 PM EDT reply actions
We are the BEST!!
That was the best playoff win I’ve seen since the 02 comeback against the Nets. It was literally over, until one player with a head tatto made 5 shots in a row!!
i hope people now are seeing
baby isn’t a sideshow that got lucky in game 4…he has been doing this since the all star break
by celticinorlando on May 12, 2009 11:24 PM EDT reply actions
Steph just needs to trust his game
and be the man when nobody else wants to…great game #8
by celticinorlando on May 12, 2009 11:25 PM EDT reply actions
SVG blaming it on the refs
In 40+ years watching the Celts, I don’t think I’ve seen a bigger jerk than SVG as a coach. His team consistently has trouble closing out games against us and he’s responsible for fixing that. Seems to be having problems getting it done.
http://www.celticsblog.com/2009/5/12/873659/and-one-thing-i-really-despise-is
His whole press conference
Was one thinly veiled whine after another. Mad at the refs when Rafer Alston took that horrendous hook shot that went over the backboard. Unreal. Asked why his team choked, instead complained about Turkoglu not getting a call on that drive into Perk. News flash buddy, Pierce does that a lot and doesn’t always get the calls. “You can’t expect the judges to decide against the champion.” Yeah buddy, keep whining. Just remember that chokers can’t choke if the coach isn’t a gagger too. Enjoy Game 6, your whining is guaranteed to get you every call possible, but don’t plan on winning Game 7 on our court without some courage injections for your team.
I disagree. I think SVG was straightforward and willing to try and explain the Magic failure to execute.
His complaints were about his players, and he advised media to watch film and draw conclusions, rather than blame the refs. He was obviously dissapointed and still had composure, but what is he going to say when the “non-calls” were brought up, he can’t tell if there was a legit foul or not from the bench. So his comments were mostly about his team ‘not getting it done’ which is correct. He may deserve the blame for that, but post-game media is not the place to converse at length about his entire season’s coaching creating this scenario… trust me, that’s a few magazine article’s worth…
You must have missed the first 3 minutes
It was ALL about the refs from him. Nobody “brought up” the no-calls, he brought them up. And he did everything but accuse the refs of fixing the game for the Celtics. If you think that his “you guys watch that and draw your own conclusions” was sincere, I’ve got a bridge to sell you. He prefaced it with “I don’t want to donate to the league” for God’s sake. Even when he was asked about his team’s horrible offensive possessions, he went back to saying Turkoglu and Alston were fouled.
Well, his whines were veiled, but very thinly
He all but said the ball-touched-the-rim call and the non-call on Hedo’s drive were ref errors. As if there weren’t tons of errors by the refs all game long, for both sides… and as if that’s something new in the NBA.
As a matter of fact ...
… the C’s lost a game this year to Orlando when Pierce drove like that with 2 seconds left and bumped into Howard for the no-call.
ASTOUNDING
I just got home from the game with my son. They were DEAD when Pietrus hit that jump shot, I tell you. But Marbury brought them back to life and the starters finished it. I would be shocked if Rondo and Allen ever play worse again. The only negative thing I see is really a question — what is going on with Rondo?"
I feel that the crowd tonight was as loud as the biggest playoff comeback in NBA history.
We weren't going to win until.....
I played Paid in Full by Rakim and me and Steph took over the game STARBURY #18
IncredibleI
The comeback was amazing. Great effort and grit in an ugly game.
I don’t know what you do if you’re Orlando. If you have a game in hand like that, you close out.
I don’t mind SVG complaining to the refs. EVERY NBA coach and player does it. Some are more subtle than others. Compare Ray talking to the refs & Perk shooting them hate lasers every time he gets a foul called against him.
Whataaa Game!
I always wonder why the Celts just dont come out and play with 4th qtr intensity from the get go…then we would just close these games out. I think we are going to bring it to Orlando @ there homecourt because i dont think Rondo will have a worst game..nor Ray ( i love rays shots when they count!!!) Pierce looks pretty compelled right now and i cant wait to see us take out Cleveland…Cleveland has played the 2 worst teams, in my opinion, in the playoffs and if pierce can handle his on lebron like he did last year I BELIEVE (unlike a lot of you out there) that we can take the Cavs…especially if we advance and can take game 1 on their court…anyways good game tonight..wouldnt have won without Marbury..the transaction paid off tonight..big baby is clearly playing Garnett type offense..gotta love it!
Great job guys!
If only we play like that from start to finish and not just in the second half, this would’ve been 4-0 to be honest.
by thatswhatshesaid23 on May 12, 2009 11:48 PM EDT reply actions
steph deserves the praise he is getting and so does the baby—2 games in a row for glen. ray was making the weirdest worst passes i’ve seen going to the hoop. ray missing shots doesn’t bother me, but those passes-piuy. it was an ugly win helped by a choking orlando, but these guys don’t give up. i hate to say this because i love the kid, but rondo flat out stunk. he was playing way off skip to my lou and still was getting beat off the dribble. he was lackadisacal on offense and sloppy. he seems psyched out and notice how few drives to the hoop and missing a wide open layup. he is pressing. the c’s looked flat out tired in the 3rd period late and i felt doc left the starters in too long in the 3rd.
True to form
I come on again to the board to say my congrats to the Celtics. The Magic had you dead in the water at home again, only to choke big time.
Only thing you can do is tip your hat to you guys and say great game. It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but I come on this messageboard and give you guys grief when you lose.
But I’m man enough to come on here and say that you beat us fair and square. No excuses. No whining about the refs. Nothing else to say, but great win!
Good luck to you all in the next game.
I’m going to go stick my head in the oven now.
Appreciate the congrats dg, see ya for the next one...
I personally have respect for SVG and the Magic. We c’s fans have sat through a blown game or two. Just gotta get back up and compete. we’ll see what you guys got on Thursday…
just as on Sunday, a classy post
thanks, dg.
-sw
The best of the 2008-09 Boston Celtics is still yet to come. Believe.
by Steve Weinman on May 13, 2009 1:28 AM EDT up reply actions
P.S.
If D12 could learn how to use a head fake, I would love to see one.
I swear, I have yet to see one this ENTIRE year.
Learn from PP Dwight.
Jesus.
He's still young. Things will come along
When he’s PP’s age? Hope not.
Howard will be...
the best center in the league very soon. Just needs to learn a few more moves. Guy’s a freak athlete… between him and Nelson, Magic are gonna be cream next year. Heck, if Nelson were playing now, I doubt we’d be 3-2.
Coincidence?
Is it merely chance that Paul Pierce has played a huge role in three of the four best playoff comebacks in the past decade? I love that guy. I love this team.
It’s actually like they can win at will if they really want to against this team to be honest… Sure, you can have 10-20 points, and I can still win this game! going on at the moment. Great effort for the guys and Marbury getting that 12 points from getting 0/4 then going 5/6 and another big game from Big Baby as well!
by thatswhatshesaid23 on May 13, 2009 12:14 AM EDT reply actions
That was pure Luck
the celtics sure got lucky as hell tonight how do they keep pulling these wins out still hanging on a thin rope without KG another lucky win it s all over after this serries for both cause neither will get past Cleveland and none will get past the west Lakers have this championship in the bag this year maybe Denver the second best team then Orlando and Houston..
by Detroit_lionchief on May 13, 2009 12:21 AM EDT reply actions
Aint no luck, just pure skills and determination!
Magic are just plain chockers.. So don’t right the celtics off , we still haven’t loss any series. So til then, stfu. ;)
by thatswhatshesaid23 on May 13, 2009 2:57 AM EDT up reply actions
It's not luck...
it’s the stuff great teams are made of; heart, determination, pride, ice in their veins, and an attitude to never let up or give up. If you even watched a single game of the Chicago series, you would know that about this team. Luck won’t will you back from a 14pt deficit with less than half a quarter to go on an awful shooting night, even you can’t debate that.
by BostonisaBrotherhood on May 13, 2009 3:59 AM EDT up reply actions
how do they keep pulling these wins out still hanging on a thin rope without KG?
PRIDE, baby, CELTICS PRIDE…
Rondo
Seems like ever since Rondo was thrown to the floor hard in the Chicago series, he is more reluctant to go hard to the basket like he used to.
And that is Red Auerbach's greatest Legacy...
Tonight, the cigar tastes as good as last Sunday night…
Bad game, didn't deserve to win, but...
We’ll still won it.
Marbury was the spark that sparked the fire that was the comeback (to paraphrase Big Baby post game). Good move by Doc bringing in the starters with 4:43 left. Their defense and some timely shots by Baby, Paul, and Ray made this another miraculous comeback. Wow. Just. Wow.
by SalmonAndMashedPotatoes on May 13, 2009 12:46 AM EDT reply actions
These last two wins shold make Doc doubters pause, because these wins are culminations...
culminations of year long patterns of rotation, as well as year long study of ‘production’ potential of the starters, and culminations of experiments with the bench over 12 playoff games.
nothing against Rajon but with an on fire Steph in his current incarnation, this is a nice lineup to rest some of the starters: Marbury, House, Ray, Scal, Baby
we won and got good balance tonight
I disagree about Scal
I know he hit two threes tonight, but he’s been pretty useless the last few games. And who knows how long Steph will be “on fire”. This bench is so inconsistent it’s crazy.
crazy like a fox!!!
If you’re Doc, you look down the bench and see what we got, and you say, I hope like hell when I put you in you come up big, but really I just want you to execute so the starters can win it if possible. Of course, that’s russian roulette. Welcome to Playoff Basketball, and the other coast is further evidence…
Can we call the Starbury experiment a sucess
Seriously I was slightly worried about Starybury this playoff series because he hasn’t been shooting, but if the Celtics are going to make a serious run at another title they need Starybury to score plain and simple. I want people to give Danny Anige and Doc Rivers credit for signing him. He was worth it for nothing else then this single game.
I'd say far from a success.
I mean, do you really have confidence when he’s shooting? I, for one, have never seen a worse shooter than Stephon this year for Boston. Prior to tonight’s game, he was shooting 27.5% from the field for the playoffs, and he shot 34.2% from the field in the regular season. Despite him catching a little lightening in a bottle tonight, you just can’t call that a success.
That said, I have been really impressed with his ball handling, distribution, driving and defense. If only he could regain his shooting form, I’d call it a success, but I’m not sold on him after one hot quarter.
What's the bar for success?
If he has to be an All-Star caliber player off the bench, then no, it’s not a success. If we’re talking abut proving that Marbury is still a useful player who can be on this team without being a cancer, then the “experiment” is a success to me.
I’d be happy to see Marbury offer a bit of a discount in order to play on the bench, try to win a ring, and rehabilitate his image for one last starter contract in 2010 in a mutually beneficial arrangement.
Magic are falling apart...
…as seen on Inside the NBA… “the ship be sinking”. Lewis basically called his team stupid, and Howard just called out SVG for taking him out of the game and not getting him more than 10 touches. Meanwhile, SVG is blaming “the guys”, saying “I told them not to do it”… but “they” decided to play half-court basketball, etc. Howard in particular looked very upset… like ready-to-jump-ship upset. They’re unraveling. Hard to imagine they can win this thing anymore. Don’t think SVG will be back next year.
Cleveland’s up next. Shape up Rondo, wake up Ray… we still have a shot.
I can't recall how many comebacks this team has made...
…. but I sure remember how great it is to witness such comebacks, especially when nothing is falling for the C’s during 3 and a half quarters.
Great win, this team shows heart, desire and knows how to finish games in some fashion. I’m so glad that they got the 3-2 series lead, and that the players stepped up in the 4th (Starbury – he came in Beantown for this kind of performance! -, Ray with his big three after playing poorly during the whole game, Pierce’s excellent decisions and dishes, Big Baby, the 21/21 free throws…).
The 2009 playoffs are amazing for Celtics fans!
Yes you did.
And I’m not sure what planet you OR Mikki are from. Whichever planet it is, basketball is definitely not played.
"I don't hate anyone, at least not for more than 48 minutes, barring overtime."
-Sir Charles Barkley
by Major-Tom on May 13, 2009 10:13 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Youtube videos of Celtics vs. Magic (Game 5).
2009 Playoffs: Celtics vs Magic (Game 5). Last 30 min – parts 1/3
Part 1. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dSnMQNVxd6M
Part 2. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zDJqFLw2h0k
Part 3. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BCXNDqj0Xfc&feature=channel
Game highlights:
by Larry Joe Bird on May 13, 2009 11:00 AM EDT reply actions
I'm Just Skipping To Here
For two years after every game, regardless of whether they won or lost, the players and coaches constantly have been saying we didn’t play well and we’re working to get better. Last year in game 6 of the finals, the C’s played the “perfect game”. Last nite, in the last 4 minutes the C’s played the “perfect game” or darn close to it. Every player on the floor in the last quarter and especially the last 4 minutes contributed to the win. Some will be noticed and some were probably not noticed. Possibly unnoticed will be the way Perk and Baby both controlled the boards with excellent blockouts. Also unnoticed might be that Perk got the officials to take a second look at the RIM THING and that he was prepared for the rebound when Howard was not. The announcers, to their credit, noticed how, near the end Doc did not call a timeout to get House back in the game for free throws and how Ray and Rondo combined to get Ray the ball and eventually two big free throws. Just an unbelievable game and a cardiologists dream. Their offices must be packed today.
"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn
Really Don't Want To Bring The Officiating Into This Discussion, But
I thought they did a great job last nite. It seemed that they decided at the start to let the players determine the outcome. I saw somewhere that they brought Doc and Van Gundy together before the game and told them to let them do their job. I thought they didn’t make calls they should have and made calls they shouldn’t have, but the important thing is that they were consistent thru out the game and at both ends of the floor. Thus the players did not have to guess at what was going to be called and what wasn’t. As ugly as the game was the officials let it be a good game in that they did leave the outcome up to the players. As to the RIM call Perk pointed it out and they had the guts to make the right call. At first I thought it hit the strings, not the rim, but the replay, though not clear, seemed to show the ball changed direction (went straight down). Red was probably flicking some ashes off his cigar and made it move in the right direction, enough to convince the refs.
"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
"Criminally Negligent Officiating"--Tommy Heinsohn
What a different year, eh?
But I’m treasuring every second of it! These guys deserve lots of respect.
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