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Suns deal Celtics their first loss
by jimmyt on Nov 7, 2009 8:54 AM EST
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You didn't actually think they could go 82-0, did you?
The Boston Celtics lost for the first time this season to the Phoenix Suns, 110-103. In a game that featured fast pace offense and poor defense, the Suns were able to come into the TD Garden and play their style of basketball.
"The game was fast, I will admit that," Kevin Garnett said. "Overall, I thought when it came down to it, they made shots and we didn't."
The Celtics were playing from behind for the majority of the game, and although hung around to make a game out of it, could never go on a long enough run to take the lead in the second half. Every time the Celtics would try to get something going, Phoenix would come back on the other end and hit a shot to take the wind out of the Celtics' sail.
While the Celtics went 4-18 from three-point territory, the Phoenix Suns shot a whopping 13-24 from the same distance. That was ultimately the difference in the game.
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No D, No Win
by Jeff Clark on Nov 6, 2009 10:03 PM EST
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Clearly both teams made a pact before the game to play pickup style no-defense in this one. The only problem is that the Suns don't have Shaq and Terry Porter to slow them down anymore, so they are back to being an offensive force.
Jason Richardson couldn't miss tonight (6-7 on threes), Nash looked like the 2 time MVP of old, and Amare chipped in with 22 of his own points.
KG had a good offensive game (his new signature move is the alley-oop-layup) and all the starters scored in double figures, but the story of the game was the lack of defense. You can't count on outscoring the Suns. Oh yeah, and shooting 50% from the line doesn't help either.
You can't win them all. Tip your hat to the Suns.
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Undefeated Celtics Aim for 7-0 Against the Fast-Paced Phoenix Suns
by Greg Payne on Nov 6, 2009 3:24 PM EST
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Flat Celts Get By
by Green17 on Nov 4, 2009 10:33 PM EST
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The Celtics were flat tonight. How flat were they? In case you missed it, Tommy Heinsohn, Mr. Celtic, the homer announcer that every non-Celtics fan absolutely loathes on league pass called the Celtics elderly. Elderly. He said this in the context of the second night of the road back-to-back. Hopefully, Tommy is wrong and the Celtics are still working on their legs, but clearly they lacked a bounce in their step tonight - for example, Eddie badly air-balled a rhythm three at the start of the fourth and Paul's turn-around with 20 seconds to go to ice it was woefully short, barely scraping the front rim.
Not to take anyting away from the Timberwolves. They came out with energy and basically had an answer for every Celtics run. It's a pleasure to watch Al Jefferson. Jonny Flynn seems very much legit (I still don't get the Rubio pick). Ryan Gomes is just a solid NBA player - except for that ill-advised three with 50 seconds left. Oleksiy Pecherov has some interesting hair, and a better jumper. Wolves fans might be upset with the tie up call with six seconds to go, but honestly, what is career 38% shooter Corey Brewer doing with the ball there?
The Wolves really controlled the game, up until the middle of the 3rd quarter when they decided to stop guarding Rajon Rondo. Rajon found a few creases down low, made the bunnies and carried that energy into his defense with a few steals. He sparked the team tonight. With an "elderly" core (in basketball sense) the Celtics are really going to need to lean on the young legs of Rajon and Marquis Daniels to carry the team at times this year. Rajon did that tonight for the Celtics. He pushed this team over the hill.
Box score after the jump.
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C's Head North to Visit Old Friends
by Green17 on Nov 4, 2009 8:11 PM EST
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Boston Celtics at Minnesota Timberwolves Game Preview
Preview by IndeedProceed
Since that fateful day on July 31st, 2007 the Boston Celtics have faced off against the Minnesota Timberwolves four times and have won four times. That does not mean it has always been easy. In 2007-2008 the Celtics won the two games against the Wolves by a combined score of three points. In 2008-2009 the scores were a little less stressful but the latest battle last season had Boston only winning by eight.
Circumstances are decidedly different for both teams since they last met during the regular season. Minnesota's (By way of Boston. We had him first) Al Jefferson way playing at an All-Star level, posting 34 points and 11 rebounds. Boston was riding high, tied for the best record in the league. Since that game both teams have underwent massive changes.
Seven games later Boston would lose Kevin Garnett to what would ultimately be a season ending injury. Five games later Minnesota would lose Al Jefferson for the season. Both injuries would severely derail their respective teams seasons.
Now, it is two very different teams that face off. The Celtics have a revamped bench and a healthy Garnett. Of the Timberwolves starting 5 last Winter, only former Celtics Ryan Gomes and Al Jefferson remain. The Celtics look to improve on their already impressive record while the Timberwolves still look to get their first win since the franchise defining trade of Kevin Garnett.
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Philadelphia 74ers
by Green17 on Nov 3, 2009 9:29 PM EST
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The Celtics stay undefeated in another laugher, holding the Philadelphia 76ers to 74 points in the process.
After a tight first quarter, the Celtics blew it open in the second and third, largely on the strength of Rasheed Wallace's 20 points, including a sizzling 6-8 from downtown. The threes were a theme all night - the Celtics shot 14 of 20, 70% for the game.
Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen both had odd stat lines, with KG putting up 3 points and 6 boards with 5 turnovers in 20 minutes while Ray had only 5 points for the night, but was a +14 on the night. Honestly KG didn't seem to into it tonight, which is unusual.
The bench really pushed this game open for the Celtics extending the lead when the starters came out - the core bench guys were all above +25 on the night. Eddie House is the best garbage time player in the league, just stomping all over Philly with a couple of extreme garbage time three-pointers. Shelden Williams was also pretty solid tonight, flashing a few real nice turnaround post jumpers.
Lester Hudson played quite a bit in the fourth and was absolutely bombing from downtown throwing up two pretty nifty threes of his own. Old pal Scal got in a bit too, and not surprisingly got that same annoying cheer from the crowd in Philly that he gets in Boston. Stop it people.
31 comments | 1 recs |
Celtics Roll into Philly Looking for Fifth Straight Win
by FLCeltsFan on Nov 3, 2009 7:15 PM EST
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(4-0) 
at 
(2-1)
Boston Celtics (4-0) at Philadelphia 76ers (2-1)
Tuesday, November 3
7:00 PM ET
Game #5 Road Game #2
TV: CSN, CSN HD, LP 755
Wachovia Center
The Celtics visit the Wachovia Center looking to pick up their second road win of the season and their 5th straight victory. The Sixers lost their opener to the Magic but have won two games in a row. The Sixers have a good starting unit and may be able to hold their own against the Celtics starters. But, their bench lacks depth and that may be the difference in this game.
Rajon Rondo will be matched against Lou Williams who is another good young point guard. This is Williams' first season starting and he is making the most of his opportunity. He is currently second in the league in assist to turnover ratio and is also averaging just over 20 points per game. Hopefully there won't be the animosity that we saw between Rondo and Chris Paul because Williams works out with Rondo and Josh Smith in the off season.
The Sixers have the firepower to put points on the board as they scored 141 in their last game, an OT win over the Knicks. They will need every bit of that as they face the Celtics whose defense is allowing a mere 81 points per game which is tops in the league. The Sixers’ defense will be also be tested, especially on the perimeter, as Boston has averaged 21.8 three-point attempts per game, fourth-highest in the NBA behind New York, Orlando and Houston.
The Celtics' two wins in Philly last season came by a total of 3 points, but both were without Keviin Garnett. In those two games, Paul Pierce averaged 30 points and Ray Allen hit a 3-pointer in the final seconds for a 1 point victory in the first, while Pierce's clutch shot put Boston ahead for good with 2 minutes left in a 100-98 victory in the second. Since the Celtics play tomorrow night, let's hope that the Celtics take care of business in this one and give the starters the 4th quarter off.
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Celtics hold off Hornets to remain undefeated
by jimmyt on Nov 1, 2009 10:45 PM EST
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For the first time at home this season, Boston Celtics starters had to play four quarters of basketball. The Celtics held on for a 97-87 win over the New Orleans Hornets, but it wasn't easy. The Hornets, not the Celtics, came out hot in the third quarter, led by 14 third quarter points by Chris Paul. The Celtics squandered a 12-point third quarter lead and went into the fourth quarter up three points, thanks to a Rasheed Wallace three-pointer with 1.1 seconds on the clock.
The starting lineup going into the fourth quarter was Eddie House, Marquis Daniels, Paul Pierce, Rasheed Wallace, and Shelden Williams. Two minutes into the quarter, Pierce was subbed out for Ray Allen. At this point, the game was tied at 74. The Celtics went on to score six straight points after that, with only one starter in the game. Daniels hit one of two free throws from the line, Wallace hit a three-pointer, and Williams threw down an emphatic dunk.
"If he's not in the game, you know he's coming in the game," Allen said of Rasheed Wallace. He's going to put a lot of pressure on the opposing team's defense. So just continue to use him and I hope he enjoys what he's doing because he's doing a great deal for us."
In years past, fans would scream if we didn't see the starters in such a tight game. That isn't necessarily the case for this Celtics team. They are so deep that they can rest the entire unit in the fourth quarter of a tie game and still do damage on the opponent.
When the starters came back in, they were fresh- and it showed. Kevin Garnett nailed two clutch turnaround jumpers, Allen hit a shot, and then Pierce finished off the Hornets from long range to put the Celtics up by nine with a little over a minute left.
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