Boston Celtics News: Pro Sports Daily

February 4

Boston Globe

"Chris Wilcox spent the first half of the Celtics' 91-89 win over the New York Knicks last night either on the bench or on the floor fumbling away passes. But, during a crucial stretch in the second half, Wilcox started getting his hands on rebounds and finishing plays as the Celtics rallied. Wilcox grabbed four offensive rebounds, including a follow off a Paul Pierce airball, during a 19-8 Celtics run. "Chris Wilcox was down,'' coach Doc Rivers said of Wilcox's first half. "He bobbled a couple balls, he had his head down. And all I just told him is, 'We play forward, all right?' I said, 'Can't get any of those back.' And I thought he, Paul, obviously - but I thought Chris Wilcox was the"

Rivers happy to get Rondo back on point

February 4

Boston Globe

"The night began with an elbow to the right eye from Iman Shumpert, causing a swelling shiner he wore like a battle scar the rest of the game. Rajon Rondo was back last night against the Knicks, and although he was far from vintage form, he was good enough to contribute down the stretch in the 91-89 win. Rondo, who missed the previous eight games with a sprained right wrist, convinced the team's medical staff he was ready to come back. He appeared sluggish at times, missing three of four free throws and favoring the wrist on occasion, but he managed to make a key play when he re-entered in the fourth quarter. Pestering Shumpert near the sideline, he knocked the ball away and forced the"

Celtics make a stand

February 4

Boston Globe

"Not even two weeks ago, the Celtics appeared disheveled and filled with self-pity when faced with adversity. During the opening month, the Celtics were plagued by injuries and had little to offer worthy opponents besides intermittent flashes of their previous form. They didn't have enough in the fourth quarter, so the Celtics wilted down the stretch of close games. Despite those bitter visions, this reinvigorated bunch accepted the challenge of a double-digit, second-half deficit last night against the New York Knicks. And although their offense was ragged most of the evening, the Celtics earned a victory in this suddenly rejuvenated rivalry with trademark defense. Clinging to a 1-point"

Rusty Rondo gets back into the action

February 4

Boston Herald

"Make no mistake about what Rajon Rondo means to this team. "We're a playoff team without Rondo," Paul Pierce said after last night's 91-89 win over the New York Knicks. "But with Rondo we become a contender." Though Rondo returned from an eight-game, wrist-related absence last night, the contending part will have to wait. A rusty, slightly discombobulated Rondo finished with seven points, seven assists, five turnovers and a minus-eight efficiency rating. Conversely, backup Avery Bradley was a smooth plus-nine. But considering that the Celtics are now on a 7-1 streak, there is time for Rondo to rediscover his flow. "He was rusty, obviously," said coach Doc Rivers. "I thought he played a"

Plenty of fight in Green

February 4

Boston Herald

"It wasn't your average NBA game. It wasn't pretty enough. There were too many mistakes. There were too many loose balls and fumbles and stray elbows. There were more clangs than high noon in the bell tower. What the Celtics and Knicks did last night was more suited to a game in the park where the winner keeps the court and both fight like hell for the honor. The teams combined to shoot 41.7 percent, but this — not the "make a shot and pose" stuff — is what would really endear the league to those who crave hard and simple competitiveness. "That seemed like a game in the third and fourth quarter where you had two teams maybe in the summer, and somebody said, 'Hey, whoever wins this game,"

Celtics hustle 'n' flow

February 4

Boston Herald

"A little rusty, yes. At times, Rajon Rondo appeared to be queasily taking corners on one wheel last night. But the point guard's return to the Celtics after missing eight games with a sprained right wrist wasn't expected to be seamless. The bonus was that his teammates, after three uneven quarters, needed something far different from precision. Thanks to perhaps their most hustle-oriented fourth quarter of the season, the Celtics beat the Knicks, 91-89 at the Garden, in a game that wasn't safe until the buzzer. Paul Pierce (30 points, seven rebounds, five assists) and Ray Allen (nine of his 14 points in the last 4:25) covered the sloppiness and floor burns with some of this team's best"

In the Knick of time

February 3

Boston Herald

"The Celtics/Knicks matchup has gone from a Christmas Day centerpiece to an intriguing warmup slipped in two days before Super Bowl Sunday, and the players on the losing end of the last meeting believe much on their end has changed. For one thing, the Celtics, who may miss Rajon Rondo for the eighth straight game tonight at the Garden, are now 6-2 without their starting point guard, who is still suffering from a sprained right wrist. With Rondo in the lineup, they fell behind the Knicks by a 34-23 margin on Dec. 25, rallied, and fell just short when Kevin Garnett missed a 15-footer at the buzzer in a 106-104 loss to New York."

Celtic starters catch breather in home rout against Raptors

February 2

Boston Globe

"The Celtics needed nearly a third of this compacted season to start producing blowout victories. A 100-64 decision over the Toronto Raptors last night was the Celtics' largest winning margin of the season, accomplished nine days after a 31-point wipeout of Orlando. This was the Celtics' sixth win in seven games and vaulted them over .500 for only the second time this season."

Captain takes Celtics lead over Raptors

February 2

Boston Herald

"For all of the hand-wringing over Rajon Rondo's sprained right wrist, the Celtics are climbing up the Eastern Conference ranks. Last night's 100-64 win over Toronto boosted the C's to 6-2 in their point guard's absence, and pushed them over .500, at 11-10, for the first time this season. Just as important, they have gone 6-2 with Avery Bradley and rookie E'Twaun Moore as their point guard rotation, and Paul Pierce in the Larry Bird role as a point forward."

Truth is a little rest goes a long way

February 2

Boston Herald

"Considering how precious rest has become on this team, the Celtics gave themselves an enormous gift last night. Paul Pierce had to play just 23 minutes in the team's 100-64 win over Toronto, and still came close to a triple-double over the first three quarters with 17 points, eight assists, six rebounds, and only one turnover. In like fashion, Kevin Garnett played only 17 minutes and Jermaine O'Neal just 14. The Celtics had the good sense to take care of business quickly. They led by 22 points (57-35) at the half, 30 (77-47) with 3:25 left in the third, and 40 (100-60) with 55 seconds left. Nowhere was that urge to wrap up early more apparent than in Pierce's urgency. He has now had two"

Positive signs to C

February 2

Boston Herald

"After last night's dutiful disposal of the Raptors, the Celtics are now above .500 for the second time this season. They are 8-4 against the sub-.500 teams and 3-6 vs. clubs above par. It's also instructive to note those latter three wins constitute a streak on which the Celts remain. One game away from having a third of their season in the books, they are doing essentially what they need: stay in the top eight and protect your hooptegenarians."

Celtics win, but nearly blow big lead again

February 1

Boston Herald

"It is said that revenge is a dish best served cold, but there was still steam rising from the Celtics when they took the floor last night. And they weren't that pleased when they left it, either. The Shamrocks got what they came for — a victory over the same Cavaliers who two nights earlier had scored the game's final 12 points to erase an 11-point Celtics lead and win by one at the Garden. But the 93-90 final margin in this one is of the hold-your-nose-and-smile variety because the Clevelanders were able to make up 20 points of their deficit. The Celts were just happy their lead was 22 before they assumed the crash position. It was, therefore, revenge — with an aftertaste."

Truth is, Doc Rivers got over spat

February 1

Boston Herald

"Doc Rivers isn't making anything of Paul Pierce's comments in the wake of Sunday's loss to the Cavaliers at the Garden. In fact, he hasn't even addressed the matter with Pierce. The Celtics had an 11-point lead with 4:25 to go in that one, and the margin was down to eight when Pierce made his first appearance of the fourth quarter with 3:42 to go. When asked postgame if things would have been different if he'd been in earlier, Pierce said, "I wish I was a fortune-teller. I don't think this would have been the outcome, though." He said, "No comment," when asked if he was disappointed by Rivers' decision and added, "Maybe I should play a little more.""

Celtics collapse late to Cavs

January 30

Boston Herald

"They had it, and they knew it. "I was in the locker room getting my ankle taped, and when I went back out you could see that we thought we had it," said Avery Bradley, who made it back from a twisted right ankle to play the final 3:40 of last night's 88-87 loss to the Cleveland Cavaliers at the Garden. "The intensity was there on the bench — everything. We thought we were ready to win it." Instead, repeated defensive breakdowns, turnovers and a crucial missed layup by the otherwise impeccable Ray Allen led to a 12-0 Cavaliers run over the last 4:13. Rookie point guard Kyrie Irving, already known as an uncommonly efficient shot maker, scored six points in the Cleveland run -— including a"

Decision doesn't sit well with Paul Pierce

January 30

Boston Herald

"Many things ruined Paul Pierce's evening last night. His seven turnovers, which pushed his fumble total up to 13 over the last two games, had to top the list. He was on the floor for the last 3:42 of a 12-0 Cleveland run that wiped out an 11-point Celtics lead and replaced it with an 88-87 Cavaliers win. It wasn't a healthy way for the Celtics captain and his teammates to end a four-game win streak, or to drop back under .500. But in a rare fit of pique, Pierce chose to question coach Doc Rivers' decision that left him on the bench until that last 3:42."

For Ray Allen, it's not to be in return

January 30

Boston Herald

"Ray Allen was inches away from a perfectly written return to the Celtics lineup. His play was largely impeccable in the Garden's theater in the round. But as Shakespeare surely would have put it, all's not well that ends poorly. And the Bard didn't have NBA League Pass — or cable even. So there was Allen, who had spent the week rehabbing a jammed left ankle and watching the birth of his fourth son, reciting his lines almost to perfection on the parquet boards. Nine of his first 12 shots found the strings, with four of the makes coming from beyond the 3-point arc. But last evening was to be a tragedy for the Celtics. They went scoreless in the last 4:25, surrendering an 11-point lead and"

Celtics have interest in Kaman, if bought out

January 29

Boston Globe

"As team president of basketball operations Danny Ainge has maintained for years, he is always looking to improve the roster and the Celtics are keeping its eyes open when it comes to New Orleans center Chris Kaman, who is being offered for trade by Hornets general manager Dell Demps. According to an NBA source, the Celtics would be interested in Kaman if the impending free agent is bought out of his contract. The Hornets have told Kaman, 29, to stay home while they try to orchestrate a trade. They acquired Kaman in the trade for Chris Paul last month but have decided to go with younger players."

International debate

January 29

Boston Herald

"Mark Cuban would probably be better off assembling the next Jamaican bobsled team than what he is trying to do, but the Mavericks owner likes fighting the system. He's become very self-righteous about banning NBA players from international competition. His star, Dirk Nowitzki, has missed a stretch of games to strengthen his tender right knee. The forward admits the soreness resulted from German national team duty last summer. All of this after the Mavs lost their French guard, Rodrigue Beaubois, for all of the 2010-11 season because of a broken foot suffered while playing on the French national team. If Cuban had it his way, NBA players would be banned from the Olympics, though forever"

Reserves put Celts back on track

January 29

Boston Herald

"Just to avoid any misperceptions, it must be stated first that the Celtics are not winning now because Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Jermaine O'Neal have been out of the lineup. But they are winning because Avery Bradley, E'Twaun Moore, Chris Wilcox and even Sasha Pavlovic are playing. Huh? The problem with the Celtics is that they were hitting the snooze button on the 2011-12 season as they rolled off the lockout mattress with a 5-9 record. Their best players simply expected to play well instead of going out and performing the small but necessary tasks required to succeed. No question, the Celts were slowed by Paul Pierce's heel injury and the fact he couldn't get in proper condition while"

Strength gaining

January 28

Boston Globe

"Forget about being old and tired. The Celtics had plenty of stamina and strength last night, less than 24 hours after a difficult game in Orlando, to win their fourth straight, defeating the Pacers, 94-87. "We got in at 3:30,'' coach Doc Rivers said. "You know, it's funny. I asked all the guys, they basically said they went straight to bed, because none of the coaches did. But I thought we had unbelievable energy. "I thought there were stretches where you could see, coming out of the beginning of the third, you could see they were going to try to run us out of the gym. You could see the energy that they wanted to play with."

A breath of fresh air

January 28

Boston Globe

"With injured starters Ray Allen (ankle), Rajon Rondo (wrist), and Jermaine O'Neal (knee) in street clothes last night, it was imperative for the reserves on the Celtics' bench to fill the void. Led by Chris Wilcox's 14 points and six rebounds, both season highs, the Celtics got a huge lift from their bench in a 94-87 victory at TD Garden, outscoring Indiana's reserves, 24-17. Noting how the Celtics were without three starters, Pacers coach Frank Vogel made an astute observation about the composition of the Celtics' roster, saying afterward, "Their bench is kind of their starters right now.''"

Pierce, Celtics keep up pace

January 28

Boston Globe

"The Celtics did not plan to be a .500 team at this point in the season. Nor could they have foreseen having to depend on Paul Pierce to both set up teammates and carry the scoring load. But after a 94-87 win over the Indiana Pacers last night, the Celtics are feeling like their 9-9 record indicates they are a team with a glass that is more than half full. Pierce led the way with 28 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists and Kevin Garnett, the only Celtic to play in every game this season, added inside strength as the Celtics outrebounded the Pacers, 45-42, and held them to six second-chance points. "That was the focus right there,'' Pierce said. "We understood they're the No. 1 offensive"

Celts don't get message, win anyway

January 28

Boston Herald

"This was clearly a game the Celtics were supposed to lose. Forget about the fact they were playing the Pacers, a team they haven't been close to in a pair of meetings this season. The reason the Celts blew any chance at an upset last night could be found in the minutes-played category of the box score from the previous evening's stirring 91-83 comeback victory in Orlando. Paul Pierce went 44 minutes. Kevin Garnett pleaded his way back in for 35. Mickael Pietrus played 32 with a bad shoulder. And everyone was forced to extend himself to overcome a 27-point deficit. Then there was the late flight back from an 8 p.m. national television start that messed with the joys of sleep. Accordingly,"

Allen looks to tomorrow

January 28

Boston Herald

"The Celtics were admittedly a little sleep deprived when, on the heels of Thursday's win in Orlando, they returned to the Garden last night for another game against Indiana. But Ray Allen guaranteed last night that they were fresh, at least compared to him. The Celtics guard, who missed his third straight game because of a jammed left ankle, was on hand when his wife Shannon gave birth to their fourth son, Wystan, on Wednesday afternoon. "I watched the game," he said last night. "There wasn't a peep (from the baby), but (the Celtics) got more sleep than me. I was thinking that. When I finished watching the game, I knew that." The Allens now have four sons named, in order of age, Walter Ray"

Celtics hold off Pacers for 4th straight win

January 28

Boston Herald

"This week's two-game sweep of Orlando was like an adventure-filled holiday, designed for the Celtics as a break from their previous misery. Last night was different. Indiana represented the chance for serious follow-up -- something the C's hadn't demonstrated this season. Though the Pacers already had two easy wins against the Celtics to their credit this season, the opponent was a changed team last night. The Celtics may have proved something to themselves, as well as the rest of the league, with last night's 94-87 win against the Pacers – their fourth straight, and their third straight against a playoff quality team. Paul Pierce, with a 14-point third quarter that easily ranked as his"

Rajon Rondo Returns to Practice, but Don't Get Too Excited

January 27

Yahoo! Sports

"Those who drafted Rondo in the late second round of fantasy drafts this season have been in fora rude awakening, and though Rajon Rondo has put in a practice, it doesn't exactly inspire confidence when you hear him say his wrist is at "45 percent health," nor does it sound too promising that he is unable to shoot or dribble a basketball due to his right wrist sprain. He gave a spirited effort to practice Wednesday, but did not find his wrist was able to cooperate with his drive to return."

Mickael Pietrus returns to Orlando and starts for the Celtics

January 27

Orlando Sentinel

"Thursday's game between the Orlando Magic and the Boston Celtics was special for Mickael Pietrus. Ray Allen's absence elevated Pietrus into the Celtics' starting lineup for the first time since Pietrus joined the team. Thursday also was Pietrus' first game at Amway Center since the Magic included him in a blockbuster trade with the Phoenix Suns on Dec. 18, 2010. Being back meant something to him. "I love it," he said. "That's a franchise I did a lot for, and they decided to trade me, and there was nothing I could do about it. But I'm very happy to be back and very happy to see my teammates from the Magic, Stan [Van Gundy] and the fans. They mean a lot to me." Celtics coach Doc Rivers said"

Celtics pile another embarrasing loss on Magic

January 27

Boston Herald

"Perhaps this is what growth is all about. This is what playing without Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen and Jermaine O'Neal can do for a team. This is also what a 27-point second-quarter hole can do for a team that knows it can do better. The Celtics, facing all of those conditions last night against the Magic team they beat by 31 points on Monday, roared out of their hole with last night's 91-83 win at the Amway Center. E'Twaun Moore is especially what growth is all about. The Celtics rookie guard made big plays in every area down the stretch last night, from four 3-pointers — two in the fourth quarter — to a late block on Orlando's Ryan Anderson."

Chris Wilcox answers the call

January 27

Boston Herald

"After a while, Chris Wilcox realized he was running on sheer adrenaline. But the Celtics forward, who missed the previous six games with a bruised left calf and didn't feel particularly sturdy last night, had no desire to leave the floor. At the recommendation of C's assistant coach Mike Longabardi, Doc Rivers went extra long with Wilcox as part of the rotation guarding Dwight Howard in the Celtics' 91-83 win. Every available foul was needed. Jermaine O'Neal missed the game with a sore left knee, and the Celtics big man rotation, led by Kevin Garnett, still limited Howard to a performance far more uneven than his 16-point, 16-assist double-double would indicate."

E'Twaun Moore like that, rookie

January 27

Boston Herald

"Recently Doc Rivers was saying that E'Twaun Moore's play in practice has "screamed at me to put him in." Last night at the Amway Center with the Celtics listing toward an embarrassing loss on national television, E'Twaun Moore's play hit Rivers over the head and forced the coach to leave the rookie in for the last 14:08. During that time, the kid who'd played just 20 minutes in his career prior made all four of his shots — two of them 3-pointers — and had 13 of his 16 points as the C's rallied from 27 points down for a 91-83 win."

Magic blow 27-point lead in another rough loss to the Celtics

January 27

Orlando Sentinel

"Just three days earlier, the Orlando Magic suffered a humiliating defeat to the Boston Celtics. The Magic scored only 56 points, played with almost no energy and folded under pressure. This was worse. The Magic led by 27 points late in the second quarter Thursday and allowed that lead to slip away, losing to the undermanned Celtics 91-83 at Amway Center. Orlando suffered another offensive meltdown, lost its composure late and once again wilted under stress."

Rondo, Allen out vs. Magic

January 26

Boston Globe

"Rajon Rondo (right wrist) will not play tonight vs. the Magic, and Celtics coach Doc Rivers said Avery Bradley will likely take his place in the starting lineup. Ray Allen (left ankle) did not make the trip, but Rivers said he could play tomorrow at home vs. Indiana. Mickael Pietrus (shoulder) is expected to start in place of Allen tonight, and Keyon Dooling (right knee) and Chris WIlcox (left calf) are also expected to return for the Celtics. Jermaine O'Neal (left knee) is doubtful, though he could return tomorrow night against the Pacers as well."

Magic have another chance to solve the Celtics' defense

January 26

Orlando Sentinel

"The secret to beating the Orlando Magic is no secret at all. If you have good interior defenders, you single-cover Dwight Howard as much as possible and ask your other defenders to crowd perimeter shooters to take away 3-point shots. The Boston Celtics did that when they eliminated the Magic during the 2010 Eastern Conference finals. The Atlanta Hawks followed a similar script when they knocked the Magic out of last year's first round. And the Celtics did it again Monday night, limiting the Magic to single-game franchise lows of 56 points and 24.6 percent shooting."

Offense may adjust to Avery Bradley

January 26

Boston Herald

"Rajon Rondo went through most of yesterday's practice on the Rollins College campus, but he and his recovering right wrist were on the sideline when it came time for scrimmage and the inevitable contact. So while Rondo is at least questionable for tonight's rematch with the Magic, the Celtics are already thinking ahead to his return and what it will mean for Avery Bradley. The second-year guard will, of course, relinquish the starting job to his All-Star teammate, but Doc Rivers is prepared to make some accommodations for the kid, who has clearly gained some traction in the last three games."

Despite injuries, Wallace not an option for Sixers

January 25

CSN Philly

"It appears very unlikely that starting center Spencer Hawes will play against the New Jersey Nets at the Center on Wednesday night, which could be the fifth straight game the Sixers have been without their big man in the lineup. Nursing a strained Achilles, which stemmed from some lower back issues, head coach Doug Collins will not rush back Hawes. The same goes for rookie big man Nikola Vucevic, who injured the area around his knee and quad last Saturday in Miami. Vucevic missed Monday's game against the Wizards and he probably will be a no-go for Wednesday's game, too."

Celtic's Avery Bradley loving the pressure

January 25

Boston Herald

"Before anyone gets too carried away with the recent play of Celtics guard Avery Bradley, first understand that Orlando's Jameer Nelson is struggling. The Magic point guard, who gets another crack at the Celtics tomorrow night in his own building, shot 8-for-28 in the two games leading into Monday's loss to the Celts at the Garden. Handcuffed by pressure from Bradley, starting for the C's while Rajon Rondo [stats] heals his sprained right wrist, Nelson finished with as many points (five) as turnovers and fewer assists (three). Nelson, corralled so completely, needed the time it takes an 18-wheeler to back into a loading bay to get the Magic into their offense. "It got to a point where he"

Orlando Magic suffer historic loss to the Boston Celtics

January 24

Orlando Sentinel

"In their first 15 games this season, the Orlando Magic never folded, even in losses. There's a first time for everything. The Magic unraveled Monday night, and the result was the worst single-game offensive performance in team history. They set franchise single-game lows for points scored and field-goal percentage as they absorbed a 87-56 beatdown by the Boston Celtics at TD Garden. "It didn't start well, and it got worse as the game went on," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "That's the most dominating defensive performance at least that I've ever had against me. There's no singling anybody out. It's the first game, I think, in my career I've ever been through where literally not one guy"

Celtics work Magic

January 24

Boston Herald

"Stan Van Gundy has heard all of those reports of the Celtics [team stats]' demise. He sneers at all of you. "You've got Hall of Famers — surefire, first-ballot Hall of Famers," Van Gundy said before the Celtics made the Orlando Magic coach sound prescient last night. "When I hear people say that they're struggling, I just sort of laugh to myself. They're never easy to play against, they're going to be one of the best defensive teams in the league year in and year out. When it's early in the year, people see a record they don't like and they panic. People put too much emphasis on the early part of the season, but you have to have something to talk about, too. If you're going to have all of"

Howard tips hat to C's after ugly loss

January 24

Boston Herald

"With five players injured and out, it was expected the Celtics [team stats] would have to play everyone. But how many were expecting Gino to get into last night's game against the mighty Magic? There was, according to Orlando colossus Dwight Howard, one overriding reason for the Celtics' 87-56 victory. "They went back to playing Boston basketball tonight," said Howard, who "struggled" to 18 points and 14 rebounds, missing his last nine shots and going 4-of-15 from the floor. "Everybody touched the ball, they ran, they played aggressive on both ends of the floor. . . . They did a good job tonight. We've just got to come back. We'll see those guys again Thursday.""

Reliving all the Magic

January 24

Boston Herald

"Brandon Bass is a close-to-the-vest kind of guy. So what if he dropped 19 points, off the bench, on his former Magic teammates in last night's 87-56 win against the Orlando Magic at the Garden? It might as well have been the Bobcats, for all the Celtics [team stats] forward cared. "It's always great, playing against any team," he said, flashing a smile that would have been at home on the campaign trail. "I was just letting the game come to me. It's about defending, rebounding, and letting the game come to me.""

Baby's back in old crib

January 24

Boston Herald

"Glen Davis was openly wondering how he'd handle things as he stood in the hallway outside the Orlando Magic dressing room before last night's game. He was concerned about how he'd react if the Celtics [team stats] put together a video salute to their former player. "I don't know," he said. "I heard they gave Perk (Kendrick Perkins [stats]) a little tribute, so if they do that, I don't know. I might not be able to hold myself a little bit. But, you know, it's good. It's good to be here. I think my emotions will be OK. I'm playing a basketball game.""

Celtics severely shorthanded vs. Magic

January 23

Boston Globe

"Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Keyon Dooling, Chris Wilcox, and now Mickael Pietrus will all miss tonight's game due to injury. Your Celtics starters tonight are Avery Bradley, Sasha Pavlovic, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, and Jermaine O'Neal. "Sasha will start just because we want to have more shooting on the floor early," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. Rivers said Pietrus was due for an MRI on his shoulder after not being able to lift his arm over his head last night. That mean's he's probably out for a while. Rivers said Rondo and Dooling could return Thurs. in Orlando. The others aren't close."

Big Baby returns to Boston looking for "love"

January 23

Orlando Sentinel

"Glen "Big Baby" Davis wore the championship ring he won in 2008 with the Boston Celtics to Magic practice on Sunday "for some reason." Could it be because the Magic tonight face the Celtics in Boston, and Davis is returning for the first time? Could Big Baby have brought the ring to fire up his new team? "I don't know," Davis said, and then launched into a story about how he thought he lost the ring, then remembered it was in a safe."

John Wall flirts with a triple-double but Paul Pierce, Boston are too strong in 100-94 win

January 23

Washington Post

"On one of the rare times Boston Celtics forward Paul Pierce missed a shot on Sunday, Andray Blatche corralled the rebound and fired a full-length pass down the court to Nick Young for a vicious one-handed jam. Admiring his work, Blatche stopped at half court, looked over at the Washington Wizards' bench and smiled as he struck his version of the Heisman trophy pose. Blatche later joked that he's "a quarterback," showing a playful side that he hid the past few games as fans at Verizon Center expressed their displeasure by booing him."

Wizards fail to take advantage of undermanned Celtics

January 23

Washington Post

"It's getting to the point that the last thing the Wizards need is for an opponent to show up without an injured starter. Chicago didn't have Derrick Rose nearly two weeks ago and John Lucas III did a reasonable impersonation of the league's two-time most valuable. Denver didn't have Nene and Al Harrington made so many three-pointers he became an afterthought. The Boston Celtics seemingly provided an opportunity for the Wizards when all-star point guard Rajon Rondo showed up in civilian clothes because of a left wrist injury. All-star point guard Ray Allen later went down with jammed left ankle in the second quarter, when he stepped on Jan Vesely's foot and collapsed to the ground. No"

Truth can't be silenced

January 23

Boston Herald

"Paul Pierce [stats] was walking through the tunnel after doing the star interview yesterday when a friend asked him for his jersey. "I think I might have to keep this one," Pierce said. "This is the best I done played in a long time." Indeed, on a day when Rajon Rondo remained sidelined with a sprained right wrist and Ray Allen left in the second quarter with a jammed left ankle, the Celtics needed Pierce to play better than he had all season. And the captain did so with season highs of 34 points, 10 assists, eight rebounds and three steals in a 100-94 victory against the Washington Wizards. "That's the Paul we've been missing," Rondo said. "He played great. We believe in him, and we're"

Doc: We weren't ready

January 23

Boston Herald

"Many people already have made up their minds after watching the Celtics stagger out of the 2011-12 gate, but coach Doc Rivers was asked if his aging club still has another run in its old bones. "I do, but I'd like to find out for sure and get us in shape and get us healthy and get us playing the right way — and then I could give you that answer," Rivers said before Ray Allen went out with an injured left ankle in yesterday's 100-94 triumph against the Wizards. "I did before camp started and I saw any of them walk in the door. When they walked in the door, I said, 'Boy, we'd better get in shape quick.' I do, but I'd like to have a real answer, and it's very difficult to give you any type of"

Ray Allen nursing an ankle injury

January 23

Boston Globe

"The good news for the Celtics after yesterday's 100-94 win over the Wizards was that Ray Allen sported an immaculately shined wingtip shoe on his left foot instead of a walking boot. Allen left in the second quarter with what the team termed a "jammed'' left ankle, and X-rays were negative. Allen said he will try to play tonight against the Magic at TD Garden, but his status is uncertain."

Celts stars unable to find shooting touch

January 22

Boston Herald

"There has been a steady stream of excuses, including injuries, a lack of practice time, an abbreviated training camp and the condensed schedule. More recently, general manager Danny Ainge put his players on notice that anyone could be traded. And after Friday's woeful 79-71 home loss to the mediocre Phoenix Suns, coach Doc Rivers took the blame. The one thing the Celtics haven't done during this miserable 5-9 start is accept that, even with three future Hall of Famers and an All-Star point guard, they just might not be capable of solving their offensive ineptitude. "There's no give up," guard Ray Allen said. "Tomorrow you go back in the gym and individually all of us need to figure out how"