Boston Celtics News

Pierce 'questionable'
Comment
February 9
Boston Globe
 
"Celtics' captain Paul Pierce practiced briefly Monday and is "questionable" for the Celtics' visit to New Orleans Wednesday. "Paul didn't do a lot, we actually pulled him out early," Rivers said of Pierce. "He wasn't moving around very well. He's questionable, I think he's going to play but right now we'll wait and see. We have a forced day off because we have to get to New Orleans before the parade." The Celtics will travel Tuesday morning to avoid a Super Bowl parade in New Orleans, skipping practice."
They have hit a switch
Comment
February 9
Boston Globe
 
"The first two months of the season indicated the Celtics were going to have a cakewalk to the playoffs. They won their first five games by an average margin of 21.6 points, including a season-opening 95-89 victory at Cleveland. Then, from Nov. 22-Dec. 25, the Celtics went 14-1, losing only to Philadelphia, 98-97, Dec. 18. So, what has caused the Celtics to lose more than they have won since then? Why are they being outscored in crunch time? What caused a third-quarter collapse in a 96-89 loss to Orlando Sunday? Which team is the real Celtics, the one that won 23 of its first 28 games, or the one that has lost seven of 12?"
Doc Rivers' done being nice
Comment
February 9
Boston Herald
 
"Doc Rivers took note of his players declining requests from the Celtics public relations people to speak with the media yesterday. "No one wants to talk to you guys, huh?" the coach said. "You're like the plague." Told by one in the crowd, "It's our fault," Rivers smiled and said, "It always is. You know how it works." But if the Celts in sneakers were concerned in any way about writers and broadcasters being hard on them, they needn't have been. One day after criticizing his players for their loss to Orlando, it was Rivers who took out his hammer and played another tune on their fattened heads."
Trip can put Green on feet
Comment
February 9
Boston Herald
 
"Doc Rivers believes a team truly comes together on the road. So to the coach's pleasure, the Celtics will get about six extra hours of bonding time on their trip to New Orleans for tomorrow night's game against the Hornets. The day before a road game, the Celtics typically practice in Waltham and depart around 3 p.m. But with the Saints' Super Bowl parade set for today at 5 p.m., the C's changed their travel plans. They scrapped practice today and are scheduled to get into the Big Easy early this afternoon. "I'm looking forward to this road trip," Rivers said yesterday. "I think we'll know a lot about our team. I thought that earlier in the year - that this trip will tell us who we really ..."
Trading Ray Allen only hope for C's
Comment
February 9
Boston Herald
 columnist Gerry Callahan
"They looked older than Abe Vigoda and sloppier than Patches Kennedy. It was a national TV game against a tough conference rival, with their entire lineup back together on their home floor, and yet the Celtics appeared as disinterested Sunday as Neil Patrick Harris at the Lingerie Bowl. It has been two days now since the most humiliating performance of the Garnett-Pierce-Allen era, so let us not accuse Danny Ainge of being the impetuous type. If he were, he would have taken a flamethrower to his team by the time it reached the locker room after the 96-89 smackdown at the hands of Orlando. If Ainge were inclined to panic, Ray Allen would be traded by now, and Rasheed Wallace would be ..."
Paul Pierce's status is questionable for Wednesday
Comment
February 9
Boston Herald
 (scroll down)
"The Celtics' 96-89 home loss to Orlando on Sunday was the first game all season in which Rivers had his full rotation at his disposal. But that doesn't mean there are no health concerns. Rivers said he thinks Paul Pierce [stats], who has a left mid-foot sprain, will play tomorrow, although his status is questionable. Pierce injured the foot Feb. 1 in Washington and missed two games before returning and scoring 13 points in 30 minutes against the Magic."
Celtics, Allen on trade block
Comment
February 8
CBSSports.com
 
"Few grand conclusions can be drawn from February NBA games. But in this case, the Celtics' latest disappointing loss only underscored what has been a poorly kept secret among NBA executives for weeks: Ray Allen's time in Boston is likely coming to an end. Thanks to a non-competitive third quarter, the Celtics fell to Orlando 96-89 on Sunday, dropping them to third in the East behind the Cavs and Magic. The struggling Celtics still have three games against Cleveland to prove they haven't fallen from elite status. But after going 1-3 against Orlando and 0-4 against Atlanta, the Celtics have reached a crossroads in their bid to milk one more championship banner out of the Allen-Paul ..."
Their effort not hard to categorize
Comment
February 8
Boston Globe
 
"Elite teams don't get outscored, 36-11, in a quarter. "The Celtics aren't an elite team,'' ESPN/ABC NBA analyst Jeff Van Gundy said after Boston collapsed in the third quarter yesterday at TD Garden and dropped a 96-89 decision to the Orlando Magic. Van Gundy was plain about his assessment of the Celtics and he was correct. The Celtics left elitehood when Kevin Garnett showed signs of age and needed right knee surgery, when Paul Pierce no longer could consistently get off his elbow jumper, and when Ray Allen hesitated before taking the open 3-pointer. The Celtics now reside in Pretty Good-land, talented enough to beat most teams but not talented enough to consistently win against teams who ..."
Rivers won't go with flow
Comment
February 8
Boston Globe
 
"They were words spoken when a team loses a game it should have won, and after blowing an 11-point halftime lead to the Magic yesterday at home, someone in the Celtics' locker room said them. "We're better than Orlando.'' Coach Doc Rivers wouldn't let anyone in the room believe that. Not after Orlando had outscored the Celtics, 36-11, in the third quarter, not after Boston had let Matt Barnes, Rashard Lewis, Vince Carter, and Mickael Pietrus combine for 10 3-pointers, not after the Celtics lost the season series to Orlando."
Relaxing the cause of tension
Comment
February 8
Boston Globe
 
"The days of the Celtics setting the tone after halftime are apparently long gone. Their 11-point production in the third quarter of a 96-89 loss to Orlando yesterday set a team season low for scoring in a quarter. The Celtics were outscored, 17-12, in the third quarter of a 92-85 win at Miami Nov. 29. But the Celtics' struggles have not been limited to the third quarter. Even when they have played well in the third (32-21 over Atlanta Jan. 29), they lost the game, 100-91. The Magic outscored the Celtics, 35-22, in the final quarter of a 96-94 home victory Jan. 28. "You know, we have a whole work of art right now,'' Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "There is a bunch of quarters or halves. We ..."
Celtics' failure needs study in the third degree
Comment
February 8
Boston Globe
 
"Third-quarter letdowns have been costly for the Celtics this season. But the Celtics took third-quarter lowlights to even greater depths in a 96-89 loss to the Orlando Magic yesterday. The Celtics' half-court offense was nonexistent for most of the third quarter. Their defense was similarly virtual, so there were few chances for transition baskets. And the Magic capitalized, outscoring the Celtics, 36-11, in overcoming an 11-point deficit."
Celtics disappear like Magic
Comment
February 8
Boston Herald
 columnist Steve Bulpett
"The Celtics obviously were banking on Newton's first law of motion when they bounded onto the court for the second half of yesterday's game against the Magic. In earning an 11-point lead at the break, they moved the ball, made extra passes and - holy teamwork, Batman - got wide-open shots. At the other end of the floor, they moved in concert and held the Magic to 40 points on 39.5 percent shooting. It was just the type of performance the Bostonians had been seeking - a bravura beatdown of a top conference foe in front of a national television audience that surely included peers munching on chips and salsa as they awaited the Super Bowl kickoff. Ah, but after slipping their principles of ..."
Beat goes on for Celtics
Comment
February 8
Boston Herald
 
"Here's fodder for those who want to do some early playoff handicapping. The Celtics now are 1-7 against Orlando and Atlanta. Add the Lakers and they're 1-8. An unidentified player told coach Doc Rivers following a 96-89 loss to Orlando yesterday that the Celtics still are the better team. The numbers say otherwise. So does the Celtics coach. "He said, 'We're better than Orlando, and I said, 'No you're not,' " said Rivers. "That's a bunch of crap. They beat you three games - two at your place. They're better. They knocked you out of the playoffs last year. Orlando's better than you right now. Atlanta's better than us right now. LA's better than us right now. "Those are the teams that have ..."
In return, Marquis Daniels receives thumbs-up
Comment
February 8
Boston Herald
 
"It took just a matter of seconds for the Celtics to realize just how much they had missed Marquis Daniels. The man is a walking mismatch for opponents, and immediately he threw a wrench into the Magic's plans yesterday. Orlando has gotten quite a bit from J.J. Redick off its bench, but after a few minutes with Daniels on his case, Redick had to be hooked and reeled back in to the bench. Daniels took him into the lane and began hitting short jumpers on him. Soon a one-point Celtics lead after one quarter was on its way to 11 as Daniels scored six points. He was used sparingly in the second half as Orlando came back to win 96-89, but after 28 games out following left thumb surgery, Daniels ..."
Paul Pierce return cautious first step
Comment
February 8
Boston Herald
 
"Lost in yesterday's collapse to Orlando was the return of Paul Pierce following a foot injury-induced two-game absence. The Celtics captain, not moving particularly well, finished with 13 points and as many turnovers (three) as he had steals. He lasted for 30 somewhat belabored minutes in the 96-89 Garden loss to the Magic. "The foot was a little bit sore, but I don't think it restricted too much of my movement," said Pierce. "Like I've said, it's soreness on the top part of my foot, so as far as my lateral movement up and down, it really didn't matter." Pierce had said following Saturday's practice that he wouldn't make a decision on appearing in next weekend's All-Star Game until he had ..."
Pierce 'good to go'
Comment
February 7
Boston Globe
 
"Celtics captain Paul Pierce has recovered from a left mid-foot sprain and plans to play against the Orlando Magic Sunday. "I feel pretty good, light practice, I'm good to go tomorrow," Pierce said. "It's a lot better than it was yesterday, so it's improving, not quite 100 percent, but it's good enough for me to play on. It's a matter of healing, it's a little sprain, mid-foot. It really hurt, last couple days, but I've been getting necessary treatment and it's getting better every day. I feel like I could have went last game but I'm really ready to go." But coach Doc Rivers would not commit to having Pierce in the starting lineup after the team went through an hour-long practice Saturday ..."
There is still time for Magic formula to work
Comment
February 7
Boston Globe
 
"Dwight and the Supermen were supposed to take the NBA by storm after Orlando general manager Otis Smith retooled the team and injected more star power. They're still trying to find that Magic harmony that carried them to the NBA Finals last season. Chemistry is a funny thing, as Celtics fans are learning. Orlando's addition of Vince Carter has not gone as seamlessly as expected. Not only is Carter accustomed to dominating the ball and serving as the No. 1 option, but when he has received the chance to score, he has faltered, shooting a career-low 38 percent. Like the Celtics, the Magic come into today's showdown at TD Garden with their share of issues (injuries, players falling short of ..."
Give them failing marks on these boards
Comment
February 7
Boston Globe
 
"As the Celtics prepare for another nationally televised showdown game today - facing the Magic for the final time this season - they again will attempt to camouflage a weakness that has burned them in several games this season. The Celtics are 29th out of 30 teams in rebounding, grabbing an average of 38.8 per game. Last season, they finished eighth as their big men, as well as their little men, hit the boards with vigor. This season, they are not as aggressive on the glass; six of their seven front-line players are averaging fewer rebounds than they did in 2008-09."
Paul Pierce has plan of action, says he will play today
Comment
February 7
Boston Herald
 
"Though Doc Rivers said yesterday that Paul Pierce's availability for today's game against Orlando would be a gametime decision, the Celtics captain said he's ready to play. Pierce also said the state of his left foot during the two remaining games before the All-Star break - including Wednesday night in New Orleans - will determine whether he participates in Friday's 3-point contest and Sunday's All-Star Game. "I feel like I could have gone last game, but I'm really ready to go," Pierce said after yesterday's practice. "I know my body better than (an) X-ray. I think it's my decision. He asked me if I could play tomorrow and I told him yeah. I felt good with some of the drills we had going ..."
Nets try to stay positive after loss to Celtics
Comment
February 6
Bergen Record
 
"The Nets believe they're on the verge of a breakthrough and if they don't have one it could lead to a breakdown. For three quarters Friday, they were better than the Celtics, a legitimate NBA championship contender, and led after three quarters. But in the fourth, the better team showed up and ruined the Nets' chances of the year's biggest upset. The sixth straight competitive game the Nets played resulted in their fifth consecutive loss, 96-87. All the Nets have to show for these hard-fought games is they're getting closer to the NBA's all-time record for most losses and in need of some extra-strength Advil. "You've got to take the bangs on the head to get where we want to be and we're ..."
Celtics have some left in reserves
Comment
February 6
Boston Globe
 
"Trailing, 55-51, at halftime to the Nets, this year's poster children for futility in the NBA, Celtics coach Doc Rivers kept his locker room message to a few short words. "I don't think I need to talk,'' he told his team, which at that point had been more than adequate offensively, getting 14 assists on 19 field goals, but had been a downed stop sign on defense, letting the Nets shoot 63 percent from the floor. "We're a defensive team and tonight we want to outscore them.'' Then, Rivers gave them his last words."
Sinking feeling familiar to Rivers
Comment
February 6
Boston Globe
 
"The Celtics were 24-58 just four years ago. The media was calling for Doc Rivers to be fired, and he had to ride through it. So when the Celtics' coach sees the Nets sitting on 4-44, he doesn't have to look far back to see himself in a similar position. "You don't ignore it,'' Rivers said of the losing. "I just worked every day. My mind-set with the team I had here when we struggled was: try to improve the team every day. [The Nets are] in a very similar situation because they have a lot of young guys. "My thought was not even improving team-wise. We did a lot of individual work every single day. You just hope that at some point you would get a win, but our goal during that stretch was ..."
Open House party
Comment
February 6
Boston Globe
 
"At the top of the list of Celtics opponents' defensive axioms is to never leave Ray Allen open. The same goes for Eddie House. But, of course, that is something easier said by coaches than done by players. The Nets were applying that strategy against House in the second half of the Celtics' 96-87 victory last night at TD Garden. Nets guard Devin Harris did not have to be a genius to figure out the Celtics were going to House out of a timeout midway through the final quarter as he stole Rajon Rondo's pass. But Harris's momentum was taking him out of bounds near the New Jersey bench. Trying to maintain possession, Harris flipped the ball back into play - the attempted save going directly to ..."
Kickin' House party
Comment
February 6
Boston Herald
 
"On a night when the Celtics seemingly did everything possible to give the historically bad Nets a chance to win, Eddie House came to the rescue. The reserve guard has been mired in a season-long shooting slump, but has recently shown signs of breaking out. The latest example was last night's 10-point fourth quarter as the C's pulled away for a 96-87 win at the Garden. "In the first half I kind of rushed some shots, took some quick ones," House said. "I just tried to let the game come to me in the second half. When I get my shot, I make sure it was in rhythm, wasn't rushed, take my time with it and I knocked it down." House was scoreless on 0-for-4 shooting from the field before the final ..."
Shaky night for pained Kevin Garnett
Comment
February 6
Boston Herald
 
"Signs of slippage were everywhere in the Celtics' 96-87 win over New Jersey last night, but the problem seemed to crystallize in the person of an obviously hobbled Kevin Garnett. The man who is expected to make this ride a long one couldn't elevate to convert a third-quarter alley-oop pass from Rajon Rondo. This Hall of Fame-caliber defender was taken to the hole by Kris Humphries - yes, Kris Humphries. But Garnett, despite continuing to favor his right leg, wrote his problems off to a one-night brain cramp. "I was OK - I made some misreads," he said. "Kris Humphries made a couple of baskets on me and I wasn't too happy about that. Defensively you have to know what you are going to do when ..."
Rajon Rondo's words worth it
Comment
February 6
Boston Herald
 columnist Steve Bulpett
"It was interesting to follow reactions when Celtics guard Rajon Rondo called out his team on these pages earlier this week. Fans speculated on the objects of his ire. The coach thought people were overreacting, without actually reading the piece, and that Rondo was taken out of context. Kevin Garnett stepped in front of a postgame question to Rondo on Wednesday and said everything would be staying in house from now on. A certain percentage of readers probably figured Rondo had been drawn into saying something he wished he hadn't. But we're not buying any of that. After seeing the process from its beginning to now, the following beliefs are firmly held: 1. Rajon Rondo is a very smart man ..."
Celtics need safety Net
Comment
February 6
Boston Herald
 
"The Celtics silently walked off the floor and took a right turn down the hallway to their locker room last night. No hoots, no jokes, no outward breaths. They just had won their third straight game, but in truth, there wasn't any numerical significance to this one. With defense again a stranger until late and the starters in need of a transfusion from the bench, the Celtics waffled through three mediocre quarters before finally pulling away with a 96-87 win against New Jersey at the Garden. That's New Jersey - a 4-45 team free-falling toward the worst record in NBA history. If not for a late Eddie House wake-up call, the Celts likely would have become only the Nets' second victim since ..."
Same old ending for Nets in Beantown
Comment
February 6
New York Post
 
"For more than three quarters, all we know and all we believe was being seriously challenged. For more than three quarters, the Earth spun off its axis, Columbus discovered shaving cream, the square root of nine was a six-pack of slate shingles. For more than three quarters, the Nets led the Celtics. But then normalcy returned to the world. Eddie House, who had missed his first five shots, hit four in a row for the Celtics and the Nets went into one of their trademark offensive blackouts. The Nets continued their march toward historic ignominy as they shot 5 of 20 in a 14-point, four-turnover fourth quarter and fell to 4-45 when the Celtics claimed a 96-87 victory last night. "We were ..."
Pierce at least will give it an All-Star shot
Comment
February 5
Boston Globe
 
"Paul Pierce probably will miss the Celtics game against the New Jersey Nets tonight, his second absence since sustaining a mid-foot strain. But Pierce believes his condition is improving, so he could return as soon as Sunday's game against Orlando, and will almost certainly be involved in the NBA All-Star Game activities in Dallas, having been selected for the Eastern Conference team and the 3-point contest. Pierce worked out on a treadmill yesterday and had his foot in an electric muscle and nerve stimulator as he conducted interviews after practice. "I'm doing the necessary treatments so I can get back on the court soon as possible,'' Pierce said. "The good thing about it is over the ..."
A program note on 'biggest loser'
Comment
February 5
Boston Globe
 columnist Bob Ryan
"The New Jersey Nets are in town. If you have any sense of history, this is a game you don't want to miss. The Nets are 4-44. They're on pace to become the losingest team in NBA history, a distinction currently belonging to the 1972-73 Philadelphia 76ers, who were on the verge of a double-digit victory season when they kicked into gear by losing their final 13 games. By that time, the 76ers were losing specialists to the extreme. If the Nets think this can't get worse, they'd better do a little homework. What they will discover as this season progresses is that opponents will not, as they may hope, take them lightly. They will discover that opponents will play as if every Nets game is the ..."
Sunday super for Marquis Daniels?
Comment
February 5
Boston Herald
 
"Marquis Daniels was back practicing yesterday nearly two full months after undergoing surgery on his left thumb. Doc Rivers didn't close the door on a return to the lineup tonight, but Sunday's game against Orlando is looking like a better bet. "I'm sure we'll discuss that (playing tonight) and see, but I would say I doubt it," Rivers said. "It'll be great to get him back playing. It'll help a lot of things. It'll help some of the guys get rest, No. 1. "We didn't do anything live, so it wasn't a great practice for him. He's just trying to get some rhythm. He has to remember the stuff again. You have to be retaught all the stuff all over again, so it's tough." Said Rivers of the wrap on ..."
Paul Pierce quickly afoot: Eyes return vs. Magic
Comment
February 5
Boston Herald
 
"Rumors of Paul Pierce [stats]'s demise were greatly exaggerated. Instead of a possible broken left foot, he is dealing well with a strain and likely will return when the Celtics [team stats] host Orlando on Sunday. And Pierce definitely is looking forward to being in the 3-point shootout at All-Star Weekend next Saturday in Arlington, Texas. "He may do a shootaround (today), and we'll evaluate," said coach Doc Rivers, "but right now I'm pretty sure he's not going to play (tonight against New Jersey)." Pierce, who was hurt Monday in Washington, said he could probably play against the Nets were it a playoff game. "I'm just going by how it feels," he said. "The good thing about it is it's ..."
Miami Heat falls below .500 with loss to Boston Celtics
Comment
February 4
Miami Herald
 
"Before the Miami Heat took the court Wednesday to face the Celtics, Dwyane Wade had one final message for his team. ``The last time we were .500, we were in Phoenix and nobody thought we had a chance,'' Wade told his teammates as they surrounded him for the pregame huddle outside the visitors' locker room. ``So let's go out here together and get this one.'' The message was not necessarily accurate, considering the Heat actually was 17-16 entering its Jan. 8 win against the Suns. But Wade didn't let facts to get in the way of an attempt to challenge his team. For three quarters, the Heat rose to that challenge and played the Celtics even. But Boston took its game to another level -- one the ..."
Another competitive loss, as Heat falls below .500
Comment
February 4
Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel
 
"Based on its play against the Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers and Orlando Magic, the Miami Heat well might provide some postseason theater. That is, of course, if it finds a way to advance to the postseason. Despite playing the Celtics competitively to the finish for a third time in as many meetings, the Heat was left with a third loss to Boston, as the season series concluded with a 107-102 setback Wednesday at TD Garden. "Right now, for us," coach Erik Spoelstra said, "the fight has to be unconditional." Just as it has in its two losses to the Cavaliers and its two victories over the Magic, as well as those two previous games against the Celtics, the Heat forced the opposition to ..."
Rumor mill: Hinrich for Celtics' Allen
Comment
February 4
Chicago Sun-Times
 
"With the Feb. 18 NBA trading deadline fast approaching, expect to hear quite a few rumors involving the Bulls over the next two weeks. A viable rumor making the rounds Wednesday had the Bulls and Celtics possibly making a deal with Kirk Hinrich and Ray Allen as the principals. The Celtics would move Allen -- who is making $19.8 million in the final year of his contract -- if they can acquire a player who can crack their rotation this season and someone they'd be interested in keeping around for the next couple of years. Hinrich would appear to meet those requirements, but the Bulls might have to sweeten the deal by adding forward Tyrus Thomas, who despite his obvious issues would help ..."
History teaches us some old lessons
Comment
February 4
Boston Globe
 columnist Bob Ryan
"Kevin Garnett's knees began to betray him last year. Paul Pierce keeps coming up with one owie after another. When is Ray Allen's turn? Rasheed, too. Isn't this what happens when you are dependent on aging basketball players? Four of the first six members of Doc Rivers's rotation are 32 years of age or older. That's not an opinion. That's a fact. You can't act surprised if an older player gets hurt. That's another fact. What the events of the last two seasons are teaching us is that it was a very wise idea for the Celtics to get the job done two seasons ago. Was it not a general assumption that this second so-called "Big Three'' had a three-year championship window? Well, OK, they did it. ..."
Garnett: It's under control
Comment
February 4
Boston Globe
 
"Kevin Garnett said last night the Celtics have been working through problems with injuries and "bickering.'' "We want everything to be happening now - bickering, whatever,'' Garnett said after the 107-102 win over Miami. "You already know the All-Star break is coming around, you're going to have some things like that. "I think, for the most part, we as a veteran team, we've done a great job of sort of just keeping it under control and letting it out of our system. Every team has its ups and downs and we are no different from that. "We're not a team here that points fingers, we keep everybody accountable, everybody knows what this is in the locker room. We have anything to be said, it's ..."
It's a season of change
Comment
February 4
Boston Globe
 
"The beginning of potential dissension began in Detroit two weeks ago after the Celtics fell apart in the second half and dropped another game to a lesser opponent. There they were, Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen in the locker room at the Palace of Auburn Hills, openly talking about the Celtics' issues and how selfishness was poisoning their quest to remain an elite team. There were no names mentioned. But Rondo and Allen knew who they were talking about and just wanted to get a clear understanding that their individual issues were the same. The Celtics are a confounding bunch, filled with aging superstars, young players emerging into cornerstones, and inexperienced players wondering why Doc ..."
Getting warmer: Celtics make the Heat second straight victims
Comment
February 4
Boston Globe
 
"There were all sorts of indications the Celtics might be playing catch-up with Dwyane Wade in last night's game against the Heat. Paul Pierce (strained left foot) was out, and his replacement, Tony Allen, got into early foul trouble. But with the game on the line, Allen batted away Wade's dribble and converted two foul shots in the final minute of the Celtics' 107-102 victory at TD Garden. "It was a rough night for me after those fouls,'' Allen said. "But I didn't pay attention. I was just trying to get back and do something big for the team.'' The Celtics had recently been producing neither clutch offense nor late-game stifling defense before a 99-88 win at Washington Monday. This time, ..."
Kevin Garnett: Team not pointing fingers
Comment
February 4
Boston Herald
 
"Kevin Garnett, like Richard Nixon, wanted to make one thing perfectly clear last night. Despite Rajon Rondo's comments in yesterday's Herald about an upswing in personal agendas on the Celtics, Garnett insisted there is no "finger-pointing" within the team. Though Rondo was asked about his comments following last night's 107-102 win against Miami, Garnett swooped in and took the bullet for his teammate, who remained silent. "I'm not speaking for him, but on this team we have a lot of strong personalities," he said. "I remember last year when we lost to Portland - lost three straight - I could just sense that everybody within themselves was just trying to do more than they should or (were) ..."
Doc Rivers fanned the ire with team criticism
Comment
February 4
Boston Herald
 
"Celtics coach Doc Rivers said a story in yesterday's Herald containing comments critical of the team from Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins and Paul Pierce was "overblown." Then he said he agreed with the statements and that he'd been saying the same things behind closed doors. Rivers later acknowledged he hadn't read the story. (Rivers altered course later, saying after the game the reaction to the piece, not the story itself, was overblown.) Rondo's remarks came in response to a query about the team's recent lack of execution late after Monday's game in Washington. "I think it's a little bit of different agendas maybe creeping in," he told this reporter. "It just all depends. You know, I ..."
After Ainge talk, Ray Allen's in a good place
Comment
February 4
Boston Herald
 
"Ray Allen is well aware there are no guarantees in this NBA life. But after he and his wife met Tuesday with Celtics general manager Danny Ainge to discuss trade rumors, he's feeling better about his standing with the Celtics. "Danny just told me, 'Look, I know you guys have been dealing with this over the past couple of weeks,' " Allen said following last night's 107-102 win against the Miami Heat at the Garden. "He was like, 'I haven't made any calls in trying to get you traded. It's always speculation coming from other franchises and other newspaper outlets around the country.' "So anything could happen. For me, I just keep playing basketball. It's not my job to sit here and worry and ..."
Celtics go fourth, prosper
Comment
February 4
Boston Herald
 
"At least the fourth quarter appears to be their domain again. Granted, the Celtics are far from a full house right now. Witness the sight of Paul Pierce in street clothes. But as evidenced by last night's 107-102 win over Miami - coming on the heels of Monday's fourth quarter lock-down in Washington - the Celtics are again finishing better than they start. Ray Allen and Eddie House, two Celtics who have seen better seasons, combined for 18 points over the last 12 minutes, including a trey each. Overall Allen scored 23 points and House brought 16 off the bench. Rajon Rondo polished off the night with a 22-point, 14-assist double-double. But for Doc Rivers the most encouraging number was ..."
Nate Robinson nets 23 points, plays entire second half to lead New York Knicks over Wizards
Comment
February 4
New York Daily News
 
"If Mike D'Antoni had his way, Nate Robinson would be on the next flight out of town, if not sooner. And if there were room for two more, D'Antoni would gladly hand Larry Hughes and Al Harrington one-way tickets. But with the Knicks' season teetering on irrelevance, D'Antoni's stubborn side gave way to his practical side. And in a stunning turn of events, it was one of D'Antoni's favorites - point guard Chris Duhon - who was exiled, perhaps for good. D'Antoni revamped his rotation (a long overdue move), and the newest lineup featuring Robinson, Harrington and Hughes rallied to defeat the Washington Wizards, 107-85, Wednesday night at the Garden. "When you lose three in a row and you're ..."
Pierce "relieved" about results of MRI
Comment
February 4
Boston Globe
 
"Paul Pierce sat on the Celtics bench during Wednesday's 107-102 win over the Miami Heat and then walked without a boot on his injured left foot, but not without saying he was "relieved" that the X-rays and MRI showed that he has just a mid-foot sprain. "I told you guys (Monday) night it was a sprain," he said with a smile. "I will be fine in a couple of days. But somebody wrote that I had a broken foot, and I was like 'Damn, I have a broken foot?' Y'all jumped the gun.""
Win over Wizards a good first step
Comment
February 3
Boston Globe
 
"Through the stretch that started when Paul Pierce was in the hospital while his team was in Orlando and seemingly ended Monday when the Celtics beat Washington on the road, Pierce was the guy walking through the storm with no coat, no hat, and no umbrella, saying, "Rain? You call this rain?'' He has been on a team that won 36 games and made the playoffs. He has been on a team that won 36 games and missed the playoffs. He has been on a team where he alone accounted for more than a quarter of the offensive output. And then there was the team that lost 18 straight games. He knows rain when he sees it. The past few weeks, it has only been drizzling."
Selfish trend top item on Celtics agenda
Comment
February 3
Boston Herald
 
"The Celtics certainly have had their share of injuries this season, but some players are saying the problems aren't all physical. Cracks apparently are beginning to appear within a team that preaches togetherness before each game. As the Celtics prepare to get back to work against Miami tonight, the subject of the team's lapses in focus was raised. Doc Rivers constantly tells his players to avoid getting bored with the process, but it seems that has been the case. Rajon Rondo concurred to a degree. Then he spoke of a deeper issue. "We are getting bored with it some," he said, "but I think it's a little bit of different agendas maybe creeping in. It just all depends. You know, I think if we ..."
Danny Ainge, Celtics upgrade captain's condition
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February 3
Boston Herald
 
"The Celtics last night turned a fire hose on the flames of speculation that surrounded Paul Pierce's left foot injury. The team released a statement saying the captain had merely suffered a strained left mid-foot during the first quarter of Monday night's win in Washington against the Wizards. Pierce is currently listed as "day-to-day." "Everything else was just speculation, and all of it was wrong," general manager Danny Ainge said last night. Ainge said Pierce's X-ray taken yesterday didn't provide all the answers, and an MRI was scheduled. Pierce met with team physician Dr. Brian McKeon last night. "I was concerned right from the time he got hurt," Ainge said. "It looked terrible when ..."
Celtics win with fireworks in 4th
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February 2
Boston Globe
 
"In a way, it wasn't just a taunt, it was an insult to a team that made locking down scorers its business. Caron Butler, one of the last pillars of the disaster area that is the Washington Wizards, was pinned in the corner by Brian Scalabrine near the Celtics' bench. Butler tried a crossover, but he lost the dribble."
Signs point to improved Kevin Garnett
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February 2
Boston Herald
 
"When Kevin Garnett dunked with 22.2 seconds left, it was a small step for a Celtic - but a giant leap up the ladder of legends. The points were Garnett's 18th and 19th of the night, giving him 21,792 for his career. That moved him to 24th on the NBA's all-time list, one ahead of Larry Bird. The milestone was largely lost in the aftermath of the Celts' 99-88 triumph against the Wizards last night and in the re-examination of Garnett's health. There is word he is dealing with a slight groin problem in addition to the shin splints and general discomfort as he comes back from offseason surgery on his right knee. After this one, he finally let on that he's working through some issues. But this ..."