SB Nation - Eddie House

Celtics snap out of it in time to beat Pacers

Jimmy Toscano — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 04:57:32 -0000

More photos » by Elise Amendola - AP

Paul Pierce turned it on in the fourth quarter.

We have seen it many times with this Boston Celtics team this season. The game starts at a certain time, but the players on the Celtics don't show up until sometime around the midway point. The same can be said tonight. The Celtics trailed by 15 points at halftime, 57-42, playing from behind the entire half.

The starters, minus KG who was out with a right thigh bruise, looked asleep the entire first half. Rondo let his man Earl Watson score 18 first half points, Kendrick Perkins had trouble finding the ball on the offensive and defensive end, and Paul Pierce could not buy a basket.

It was clear that the Celtics were missing Kevin Garnett out there. Garnett, known for his defensive intensity, gets the Celtics in gear and all on the same page defensively. It took the Celtics an entire half to realize that they would need to adjust to the fact that he wasn't shouting in their ears.

"We said at halftime we said we weren't talking on defense and usually Kevin [Garnett] leads us in that category as far as talking, being in the spots, having everybody in their spots," Pierce said. "I guess it took us a half to realize that Kevin wasn't going to be out there. So we got it together, that is an adjustment we got to make when it's relevant. We got to make it a little bit earlier at the start of the game and realize there are things we have to do when he's out."

The Celtics came out in the second half looking more like Dr. Jekyll and less like Mr. Hyde, while showing something that was not seen in the building up to that point: effort.

"Just straight energy, just focus," coach Doc Rivers said of what the Celtics did differently in the second half. "We didn't change one defensive assignment. We didn't make one adjustment. We just did it harder, and did it better."

Kendrick Perkins and Ray Allen led the charge in the third quarter, scoring 13 points and 11 points respectively. Rajon Rondo added five assists and two steals in the quarter. The Celtics dropped 35 points and gave up only 20- tying the game at 77 by the end of the quarter.

Perkins ended the night with 19 points, eight rebounds, and four blocks. Asked what he did differently in the third quarter, Perkins said, "Finishing around the basket, I quit putting it on the floor and I just wanted to do some defensive things, checking my defense to help the team win."

Up to this point, Paul Pierce was 0-8 from the field, scoring seven points all on free-throws. Pierce would end up with 21 points, going 4-7 from the field in the fourth and hitting five free throws. Also, he ended the night with five steals.

"I've been in this league long enough to shrug off shooting slumps that really don't bother me," said Pierce. "The shots I was getting were good shots. I was thinking it's just got to be a matter of time before they go in."

Rasheed Wallace started the night in place of the injured Kevin Garnett. He finished the game with nine points and thirteen rebounds to go with three steals and zero turnovers. Wallace didn't know he was starting until about twenty minutes before game time when Rivers told him.

"It's a different preparation," Wallace admitted. "You know when you're coming off the bench you're looking more at the guys that they have coming off the bench. At first I was more focused on [Tyler] Hansbrough and what they have coming but I had to turn that focus to [Roy] Hibbert and [Troy] Murhpy and try to do what I can with them."

Wallace didn't have much success in guarding Murphy, who had 24 points and 18 rebounds on the night, but Rivers chose to stay with Wallace in the second half over Brian Scalabrine.

Ray Allen notes how different it is for a player to adjust from a bench role to a starting role, especially on such short notice.

"Rasheed might try to get us more shots because we're starting the game, so he's been very professional about it because he's started most of his career so layups he's out there getting everybody shots. But now he's in the starting lineup it changes; he needs to get his own shot, he needs to worry about getting himself going and making sure everybody is sharp and he knows what Hibbert is doing to start the game off."

Kendrick Perkins, who started alongside Wallace for the night, said that while Wallace's numbers weren't eye catching, he had an affect on the game in many ways.

"He goes out there and rebounds- his defense and energy is up," Perkins noted. "He just goes out there and does the little things. He doesn't worry about scoring the ball or nothing like that he just goes out there and plays his role to the fullest."

Rajon Rondo ended the night with 15 points and nine assists, and Earl Watson did not record a single point in the second half. Ray Allen had a game-high 23 points, and hit some extremely timely three-pointers during the Celtics third quarter run. Eddie House did his best to stop the bleeding in the second quarter, scoring all of his 10 points then but failed to score in the second half.

The Celtics play their next game on Christmas day in Orlando. Rivers expects Garnett to be suited up for that game, and more importantly the entire west coast trip. Rivers stressed the importance of having Garnett for that trip, and explained to Garnett that it was important for him to get rest for a couple of days to be healthy for the trip. Garnett got hit in the thigh against Memphis, but didn't tell anyone it was hurting him until yesterday or today according to Rivers.

A First Half I'd Like To Forget

Jeff Clark — Wed, 23 Dec 2009 01:47:38 -0000

More photos » by Elise Amendola - AP

Get the ball!!!

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What was that?

Sure, the Celtics don't have KG but the Pacers don't have Granger. So no excuses. That was just a bad half of basketball. Down 15 at the half to this team is embarrassing.

Pierce is 0-6 with 2 points. That's not like him.
Ray is 0-3 from three point range.
Eddie House was the only one who could buy a bucket.
Rondo only has 2 turnovers but it feels like more.
Speaking of Rondo, his man Earl Watson has 18 at the half. That's not all luck.
Pacers are shooting 46.7% from 3 point land. We better hope they cool off.
Perkins inexplicably can't seem to hold onto the ball.
Troy Murphy has 10 rebounds already and the Pacers are ahead 24 to 21 in that dept.
The only thing going for us is the odds - Pierce won't stay cold forever, the Pacers won't stay hot forever... I hope.

Things better turn around fast or this is going to be another ugly loss at home.

Celtics respond to tough loss with win over Wolves

Jimmy Toscano — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 03:22:00 -0000

More photos » by Michael Dwyer - AP

Tony Allen helped the Celtics take care of Al Jefferson and the Wolves Sunday night.

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The Boston Celtics responded to an embarrassing home loss against the Philadelphia 76ers exactly how they should have- with a convincing win over the Minnesota Timberwolves.

The Celtics took a 15 point first quarter lead and turned it into a 25 point halftime lead. Although the Timberwolves made a rally in the fourth quarter, bringing the deficit to 12 points, the Celtics pulled away once again, scoring a season high 122 points in the 122-104 win.

Paul Pierce led all scorers with 29 points on 8/14 shooting including 6/6 from three point territory- tying Danny Ainge and Walter McCarty for the most three pointers in one game. He also added seven rebounds and four assists.

"We talked yesterday and I just told him he needs to get back to playing with his instincts," coach Doc Rivers said of his discussion with Pierce. "I thought he was trying to get everybody involved which you want him to do too but I think our three really instinctive players are Kevin [Garnett], [Rajon] Rondo, and Paul [Pierce] and I think all three of them, they have the curse of a high basketball IQ. And at times I think they start wanting to ‘think' the game, and try to get this guy off; instead of just playing. Their instincts will take over and their IQ will play into it

Rajon Rondo recorded a double-double once again with 13 points and 15 assists. Ray Allen, playing with a hyper-extended ring finger, ended up with 20 points.

The play of the night and maybe season, however, goes to Eddie House and Tony Allen. Early in the second quarter House tipped the ball away from Ramon Session, sending the ball towards the sidelines. House got to the ball just as it was to fall out of bounds and threw a behind the back pass to the streaking Allen. Allen caught the ball cleanly on his way to the hoop and threw down a thunderous slam over Corey Brewer for the points and the foul, sending the crowd and Allen's teammates to their feet.

"Well, first I didn't think (House) was athletic enough to get to the ball," said Rivers. "So the fact that he got to the ball, I was shocked. And then he made a play once he got to the ball- it was pretty spectacular. It was great. I was happy because it was a great defensive play."

Allen finished the night with 15 points, six rebounds, and three assists, but more importantly zero turnovers. The Celtics needed Allen to fill the void left by Marquis Daniels who is out roughly until the All-Star break, and so far since coming back from his injury he has done just that.

"He's been huge man," Pierce said of Allen, "just his energy and what he's been able to bring especially with Marquis [Daniels] out because he's a guy who can come in and slash, score, and also what he's best known for is his defense. He comes in right away and he gets a steal and a fast break layup to start the game off when he gets in the game.

Kendrick Perkins was matched up with his old friend Al Jefferson tonight. Perkins finished the night with 14 points and 11 rebounds, while Jefferson recorded 20 points and 11 rebounds.

"Perk [Kendrick Perkins] is getting better and better every game," said the Timberwolves' Al Jefferson. "If he keeps playing the way he's playing, he's going to get a big contract. He's a great defensive player, always has been... Plus his offensive game is getting better."

If the opponent can see the improvements Perkins has made, you can bet his teammates notice them on a daily basis. Perkins has really come into his own and embraced his role on this team. He has worked on his low-post moves and takes way more high-percentage shots than he has in previous seasons.

"He's improved," Kevin Garnett said of Perkins. "The one thing Doc expressed here is knowing your role, he tried to go out and do that every day, every night, even in practice. But the thing that stands out about him, because I get to see him every day, is that he works on his game every single day and that's what you want from a young guy."

"I know I had a tough matchup," Perkins said of his bout with Jefferson. "I just try to make things hard on him. You're not going to stop Al [Jefferson], you just try to make things tough on him. He will still hit you with some things you won't expect."

Deja Vu Averted

Jeff Clark — Mon, 21 Dec 2009 01:29:54 -0000

More photos » by Michael Dwyer - AP

Play of the year?

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The Celtics were flat on Friday and lost to a team they had no business losing to. You would think that they would keep the throttle down tonight, but not so much. After building a 20 point lead early in the 2nd quarter, they let the Wolves maintain that margin by trading baskets for much of the game. Then the Wolves made a run in the 4th forcing Doc to insert the starters back in the game. Where's the killer instinct? Like Tommy said, when you go up big early, go for a 50 point win. Oh well, it ended up being a large win anyway. I just hope they can shake this trend.

Question for number 42: Who are you and what have you done with Tony Allen? I only ask so I can welcome you to the team and make sure you disposed of the body properly. (15 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and zero turnovers)
Pierce was a perfect 6 for 6 from three point range. Gotta love that.
We may have seen the play of the year with that Eddie House around the back save to Tony for the facial dunk and the foul.
There was a nice encore with Rondo lefty-spin-long-bounce pass to Tony who put a wraparound pass into Perkins' hands for the easy slam.
Al Jefferson still has it. Nice to see.
I will say, the goodwill I have for that team with Big Al and Ryan Gomes is nearly negated by the presence of Rambis and Laimbeer.
Johnny Flynn (go Syracuse!) sure can play, can't he?
Rondo keeps racking up the assists. 15 tonight to go with his 13 points. All Star. Period.
Seven, count 'em, seven players in double figures (and Eddie added 7).
Tommy had some fun with the fact that there were only 2 refs (due to the snow). Good times.
According to Jessica Camerato: "Celtics improved to 4-0 when scoring more than 30 points in the first quarter. They are also 4-0 on Sundays."

Bobcats Lose to Pacers 101-98; TJ Ford Runs a Clinic

David Arnott — Thu, 17 Dec 2009 02:58:07 -0000

More photos » by Michael Conroy - AP

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One night after a stirring comeback win, the Bobcats fell to the Pacers, 101-98. Granted, it was the second half of a back to back, and on the road, too, but Indiana was without Danny Granger, making this game tougher to accept.

The Pacers simply had better ball movement, better passes, more open looks... it was a clinic for much of the game, led by Professor T.J. Ford. The Cats kept it close with a few key advantages and made a tight game of it in the fourth, staying in the game until the final possession, but, ultimately, it just wasn't enough to overcome the other holes they'd dug.

Highlights and lowlights after the jump.

BAD

-- Did Boris Diaw hit rock bottom last night? No, he did not. Tonight? Not quite. But the Knicks game may have been a precursor to tonight's stinker. While he was 3-3 from the field with 8 points, he had 0 rebounds and only 1 assist, all in 36 minutes. On the final inbounds play, with 1.4 seconds remaining in the game, he received the inbounds pass from Flip (why wasn't Gerald inbounding?) and then, instead of shooting the three for the tie, passed it on to Augustin, who had no chance to get his shot off before buzzer. Furthermore, Troy Murphy -- a guy I love, by the way -- absolutely torched Boris and whoever else was guarding him. Murphy ended up with 26 points and 15 rebounds, including 5-7 from three.

-- Stephen Graham: 15 minutes. Gerald Henderson? Derrick Brown? They combined for 0. Lovely.

-- It's interesting that Larry Brown is okay with letting Ronald Murray be himself. As quoted in the Observer, Brown's perfectly fine if Murray shoots his way out of slumps. Flip's probably earned that right with his play over the years, but what strikes me about it is the base notion that it's no use trying to force Flip to change dramatically, that LB is a better coach if he deploys his player based on his established strengths and weaknesses instead of expending energy trying to change him and putting him in positions where he'll be expected to be someone he isn't. I appreciate coaches who do that, because they're acknowledging that they are not all-powerful and can't work miracles.

So why the double standard with D.J. Augustin? He was a certain player in college. He was a certain player in his rookie year. He's not a pure creator and he's not a rugged defender, but he can handle the ball and facilitate the offense and shoot the lights out! Sure, it'd be nice to try to imbue him with some of those qualities, but Damon Stoudemire made a long career for himself as a point guard without being exceptional at any of that. Same for Eddie House, if you want the role player example. Why tear D.J. down from that kind of player to try to rebuild him into something else? He'd probably be better off in a triangle or D'Antoni or Donnieball offense, but just because our offense is best run by an all-around creator doesn't mean he can't be a productive player in said system.

-- The defense couldn't stop T.J. Ford, or anyone really, from creating good shots. The Pacers made 35 field goals, and 29 were assisted, 13 by Ford. They were 48% from the field overall and 12-24 from three. Ouch. I'm probably thin-slicing, but I think I'm developing a fear of smaller, relatively faster, point guards after seeing Will Bynum and now Ford vivisect our defense.

-- Will someone please inform basketball officials that when Tyler Hansbrough splays his arms and curls his legs as he goes up for a layup under the basket, it's probably not a foul, but just something he does to get foul calls. I don't mind if he does it for emphasis, like when Gerald thinks he's being shoved around and he snaps his head back on screens, but every time? Really? That's the secret to getting to the line so much?

GOOD

-- Gerald Wallace scored 29 points and had 12 rebounds. There just isn't much more to say about him... except that he's slowly moving from underground aesthetic hero to underground dark horse All Star candidate.

-- Tyson Chandler had the kind of game we hoped he'd bring at least twice a week. 13 points and 13 rebounds, while getting to the line for 9 free throws. For purposes of both this entry and the Boris entry, I'm conveniently ignoring that Indiana's big man defense is, reputation-wise, atrocious.

-- The Cats were 30-40 from the line, which gave them a huge advantage over the Pacers, who were only 19-26.

Comfort In Familiarity

Jeff Clark — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 11:02:42 -0000

More photos » by Sue Ogrocki - AP

Care for a lozenge Doc?

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Being a fan can be a stressful thing sometimes. You invest so much emotion into something that you have next to no control over aside from screaming your lungs off and plunking down your hard earned cash. Sports are so unpredictable that any given day any team can lose to the worst team in the league. So it is always nice to have some stable, reliable things that you can count on. They can be small things that don't even change the outcome of the game, but you can lean on them for emotional support because they are so familiar.

Here are some of the things that you'll see while watching any given Celtics game that make me smile.

Kevin Garnett's pre-tip ritual of head butting the basket support and pointing at the officials and who knows what else.
Rondo's fake behind the back pass that always seems to fool people if only for a split second which is all he needs to get by them.
Rasheed barking something at an official after a call that the instant replay showed was actually a perfectly legit call.
Doc's strained voice. Even when he's completely calm and rested he sounds like he's lost his voice from screaming too much. When he spends all night yelling at the players and refs, he sounds downright screechy.
Garnett making eye contact with Rondo, bolting to the rim, and flushing an alley oop on a defender who has that "they got me" look on his face.
Perkins' scowl.
Ray Allen coming off of 2 or 3 screens to catch, aim, release, follow-through, and splash (nothing but net). Poetry.
Ball movement. Unselfish passing. Screens. Pick and rolls. Very little one-on-one.
Paul Pierce pinballing through the lane and throwing his hands up to make sure that the ref sees that he just got mugged. Sure enough, he gets the call just about every time.
KG snatching a dead ball shot out of the air before it hits the rim.
Rondo "walking the dog" on the inbound pass, even when he doesn't necessarily need the extra seconds.
Tommy incredulous about a call that really could have gone either way.
A Scalabrinie sighting. Even if he isn't playing, you notice him on the bench because he sticks out in a "one of these things is not like the other" sort of way.
Update: (by popular demand) the Eddie House "is that such a good idea for a shot? ...ok, it went in, great shot Eddie!" shot.
And of course, much more often than not, a win. It isn't always pretty, but they find a way most of the time.

And that is what makes the losses stick out that much more. They are unfamiliar and unexpected. When the team doesn't come through in the clutch, when they don't make the extra pass, when they don't hit critical free throws, it stands out.

Which suits me just fine. Drama is easier to write about, but I'll take a comfortable, predictable win any day of the week.

Daily Links 12/12

FLCeltsFan — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 17:18:20 -0000

Herald    Counter points
Scouting report: Celtics at Bulls
LeBron James scores 33, Cavs trip Trail Blazers
Amare Stoudemire’s big rebound helps Suns beat Magic
Globe   Bulls thumbnails
On guard: Rondo slicing through foes
Vote for Perk    Vote For Perk
SportCenter 5     Vote For Perk!

Celtics Blog   AM Notes: Allen's Last Chance, Lester Helps Rondo
Loscy    The Rondoness of all Rondo Articles: The Mother-load "
HoopsHype    Zebras and lions
NESN    Celtics Seek 10th Straight Win Against Flailing Bulls
Live Blog: Celtics at Bulls
Tony Allen Emerges as Marquis Daniels Hits the Shelf
Paul Pierce, Glen Davis, J.R. Giddens Get in Holiday Spirit With Local Students
Celtics Legends Cedric Maxwell, JoJo White to Distribute Food to Lee Academy
Rajon Rondo, Glen Davis, Lester Hudson to Host Stay In School Assembly
Dueling Couches    Ray Allen's Most Memorible Moments
CelticsLife Shaq Injures Eye, Kobe Breaks Finger, Injuries Reportedly Unrelated
McHale on Lebron's Dancing Nonsense
Today's Video: Ray Allen 20,000 Points NBA Career
LOY's Place    Quote of the Week - Kevin McHale
Red's Army    Rashard Lewis Has No Respect for His Coach
The Big 3 Things of the Week
Your KG Face of the Day
Ray Gets UP!
Your Morning Dump... Where Kevin McHale is still awesome
Celtics Hub   Kentucky-UConn Garden Party—an NBA Fan’s Perspective
Eddie House and 3 Point Attempts
Gratuitous Wolf on Human Violence
Saturday Notebook: Hudson’s Value, Rondo’s J, the Bulls
North Station Sports    More than a feeling: Dwight & Nate, pt. 2
Tony Allen Takes Over For Daniels. Should You Be Scared?
More Thoughts From Egypt: LeBron's Behavior in Question
Celtics Town    Celtics 'define what winning basketball in the NBA is all about'
Ray Allen gives teammates credit for milestone
Joe Johnson wants to come back to Boston?
Ray Allen, named top shooter of the decade, says Dirk is best
Rajon Rondo latest Celtic to deflect praise to teammates
Lex Nihil Novi    Wedman Leads Birdless Celts Over Hawks 83-84
Wedman Adapting to New Role 83-84
Knicks Try to Make it 3 in a Row against C's 83-84
Rondo Gives Jerry West No Respect
Celtics Overcome 12 4th-Quarter TO's to Finally Beat Knicks (83-84)
ESPN   Bulls-Celtics preview
So you're saying there's a chance?
Businesslike Approach Working For Celtics
Legler: Celtics are underrated
Chicago Tribune Chicago Bulls woes tied directly to defense
Chicago Bulls hear strange sound -- cheers during 96-91 overtime victory
Milford Daily News    Celtics: Green streak
Daily Herald    Bulls not responding well to other teams' runs
LA Times   Is this Lakers team the NBA's best ever? Not by a three-pointer
Sporting News   Celtics-Bulls Preview
HoopsAddict    Rajon Rondo: Silent, But Deadly
Washington Post     As the Wizards' big three try to mesh again, past is not present
The Starting Five    Notes from TNT’s Coverage of the NBA
Patriot Ledger     Celtics bid for another double-digit winning streak
Ohio.com    Notebook: Cavs' West earning more time on floor
Mass Live    Celtics buzz: Tony Allen's early returns, Boston's rebounding woes, and appreciating Ray Allen
Truth About It    Inconsistency Is A Muther: Celtics Down Wizards 104-102
4 Sport Boston    3 Things You Didn’t See In The Celtics-Wizards Rumble
Philly.com   Dick Jerardi: Biggest Donaghy question remains: Which games?
Basketbawful    Worst of the Night: December 10, 2009
Hoopsvibe     Tracy McGrady: All-Star Starter?
Dimemag     The Bulls Are Struggling And Vinny Del Negro Will Be The Scapegoat
Rashard Lewis didn’t want to play; Van Gundy says it’s no big deal
CSNNE   Celts, Bulls headed in opposite direction
WEEI    Postgame Guest - Tony Allen on WEEI
Washington Post   Book review: When the Game Was Ours by Larry Bird and Magic Johnson
Seattle Times    LeBron James' dance act wouldn't play well in old-school NBA

Why You Should Watch, Part 1: A Suns Fan's Cheat Sheet to the Rest of the League

Mike Lisboa — Tue, 24 Nov 2009 22:00:40 -0000

Coach Gentry cheers on the Suns at every game. You should, too! (Photo by Max Simbron)

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The Phoenix Suns are 11-3 and heading into a December full of must-watch games against top flight NBA teams. No Suns fan worth their salt is going to miss a match-up against the Lakers or Spurs or Mavericks. Those teams have been lifelong (or at least decade-long) nemeses to our beloved Suns and each of those games is like a basketball rite of passage.

But what about the rest of the League? Why should you watch the Suns beat up on the Timberwolves or Bobcats? And what about those random teams that never get any pub way out west like the Bucks or the Nets? Below is part one of list of things to look for and reasons to watch our Suns play every team in the NBA. Feel free to print it out and keep it on the fridge next to your official Phoenix Suns schedule or next to the remote so you can crib from it on gameday. Also included is each team's SBNation site if you'd like to learn more about them.

But mostly you should watch because it's the Suns!

Atlanta Hawks, Peach Tree Hoops: Another early season surprise, just like The Suns. The obvious angle here is former Sun, Joe Johnson, aka Daisy Buchanan aka The One That Got Away. While in past seasons, one could have argued that perhaps he was the only reason to watch the Hawks, this year Atlanta done went and put together a ball club. Josh Smith will put you on a poster after rebounding your miss that he nearly blocked on the other end and Jamal Crawford will go from 0-15 points in the blink of an eye. This is a fun team that, like the Suns, seems poised to make an unexpected run at an assumedly superior division rival (the Orlando Magic).

Boston Celtics, CelticsBlog: Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce. For me those are reasons enough to watch them. For Suns fans, KG represents an alternative dimension where the Suns won the trade lottery a few years back and miraculously transformed into a defensive championship-winning machine. Ray Allen was a Suns assassin with the Sonics seemingly ending every contest against the Suns with a 3 as time expired. And Paul Pierce is the The Truth. Probably a little underrated around these parts, Pierce is a ferocious competitor and maybe the 3rd most important Celtic in history behind Bill Russell and Larry Bird. However, time is catching up to the Big 3 and this may be the last chance to catch them before they retire/go their separate ways. Oh, and for added Suns angles, former Sun/Sun Devil Eddie House is always conscienceless good times firing 3s off the bench and Rajon Rondo causes some current fans to look at Goran Dragic coming off the bench and cut themselves since he was in fact a Phoenix draft pick that the Sarver and company sold on eBay back in the day.

Charlotte Bobcats, Rufus On Fire: True story: I nearly canceled League Pass after coming across a Bobcats/Nets game a couple weeks ago. It was eye murder. That said, there's some fun to be had here. First, you can boo/cheer Boris Diaw as you see fit. Watching him play waffle croissant frustrate another team is much more liberating without worrying about how his 9 milli a year is affecting the Suns' cap situation. Raja Bell is gone, but in his place is former Suns division rival Stephen Jackson who should up the excitement quotient in the Queen City. And if you though Mike D'Antoni had a thing against young players, you can practically see the Charlotte faithful's collective head getting ready to explode as rookie lottery pick Gerald Henderson continues to ride pine even in garbage time.

Continued after the jump...

Chicago Bulls, Blog-A-Bull: Joakim Noah will make you eat your words. Derrick Rose is going to be a very good point guard for a very long time. Vinnie Del Negro has one of the best tans I've ever seen. He's the NBA's answer to George Hamilton. If you want something of a Suns angle, John Salmons shunned the Suns leading them to eventually sign Marcus Banks to one of the worst contracts in Suns history AND Luol Deng was also a one time Suns draft pick. Alternately frustrating and fantastic, there's a lot to watch any time these Bulls take the floor.

Cleveland Cavaliers, Fear The Sword: Little known fact about these Cavs... just kidding. If ever an NBA team suffered from overexposure, it's this year's Cavs. Whether or not, Shaquille O'Neal puts Cleveland over the top or drags them under, LeBron James' presence makes Cleveland must-watch basketball every time he takes the court... at least for another few months.

Dallas Mavericks, Mavs Moneyball: Well, well, well, if it isn't a rejuvenated Shawn Marion back in the Western Conference! With Jason Kidd and Tim Thomas on the roster, that's 3 former Suns who could make life miserable for their ex-team. Then there's notable Suns killer and former Wildcat Jason Terry who gets all Bill the Butcher on the Suns every time they play. And of course, Dirk Nowitzki is a straight up animal. New to the mix this year is rookie Frenchman Rodrigue Beaubois, who might be the only 6'0" player in the NBA with a go-to alley oop play drawn up especially for him. So, yeah, watch these guys.

Denver Nuggets, Denver Stiffs: This is quite simply an electric basketball team. Defensively suspect perhaps, this Nuggets team is simply terrifying on the offensive end. Carmelo Anthony's most dangerous spot on the floor is, well, the floor. From the baseline to the top of the arc, he is making opponents lives miserable this season. Off the bench, rookie PG Ty Lawson is quickly making a name for himself as a capable and dangerous back-up to Chauncey Billups' unwaveringly steady hand. These cats are slick and worth watching any time they take the floor.

Detroit Pistons, Motown String Music: The most exciting development in the world of Dee-troit Basketball is Will Bynum's transmogrification into the explosive substance, Bynumite. And he's a former Wildcat, too! Also, the Suns whupped them handily so they're good for the occasional Alando Tucker sighting. And I <3 a healthy Rip Hamilton.

Golden State Warriors, Golden State of Mind: There's a lot to like here: Steph Curry, Anthony Randolph, Monta Ellis, Andris Biedrens and hey -- it's Raja Bell! I was a big Anthony Morrow fan at Summer League and after one game, even D-League call-up Chris Hunter is making some noise. The problem is with Don Nelson running the show mailing it in, you never know what version of this team you're going to get. As a Suns fan though, with 14 games worth of hindsight, try and figure out how that rumored Amare trade would have worked out this season (my 2 cents: not well).

Houston Rockets, The Dream Shake: No T-Mac? No Yao? No problem. Sort of. After a hot start, the Rockets have cooled off to the .500 level in their last 10 games. What they lack in star power, the team is attempting to compensate for in effort and ingenuity. While that combination may make for a middling season, it also makes for smart, hard-fought basketball games that the Suns will have to earn.

Indiana Pacers, Indy Cornrows: Because Danny Granger is the brightest star you've never heard of. While off to a bit of a rough start in 2009, Granger is capable of taking over games and should not be slept on. Also, Tyler Hansbrough will help you find your dog.

Los Angeles Clippers, Clips Nation: This is a team on the verge of... something. They've got a solid if unspectacular commingling of veteran and youth presence in the starting line-up and on the bench and it will only get better once Blake Griffin joins the mix. Boom Dizzle and Eric Gordon make for an above average (and occasionally dynamic) backcourt. Chris Kaman is playing as if he is actually from another planet this year. Marcus Camby is ol' reliable and Craig Smith and Sebastian Telfair are providing serviceable minutes off the bench. In short, these Clippers are ready to break out of the cellar and into the NBA middle class, but they won't because Mike Dunleavy is a terrible, terrible coach. So why should you watch? For the novelty of seeing a team whose locker room cancer is actually roaming the sidelines in a suit.

Los Angeles Lakers, Silver Screen and Roll: "Hate Leads to Suffering; Or, How I Learned to Stop Suffering and Appreciate the Los Angeles Lakers." I'm not sure when I stopped hating the Lake Show, but it's a relatively recent phenomenon. There's just too much good basketball happening when they're on the court. Kobe Bryant is the pre-eminent basketball technician in the league right now. Pau Gasol might be the most sophisticated power forward in the NBA. Andrew Bynum is morphing from man-child to man with each passing minute on the court. Lamar Odom is the Ghost of Earl Clark Future and Ron Artest has gone from dangerously crazy to lovably eccentric with a change in area code. Oh, and that guy on the sidelines has 12 rings (2 as a player... haters) to legitimize any complaints of "Fakerism." For weaknesses, Derek Fisher is showing his age and then some and that bench is the basketball equivalent of Russian Roulette (there's about a 1 in 6 chance they will cost the Lakers the game). But you know, watch for the hate. It feels good, doesn't it, young Skywalker?

Memphis Grizzlies, Straight Outta Vancouver: Because Allen Iverson is must-watch basketball! Watch these guys so that 2 years from now you can say you were there when... Rudy Gay announced his presence with authority, O.J. Mayo came into his own, Zach Randolph quietly resucitated his career, Marc Gasol began working his way out of Pau's shadow, Jamaal Tinsley was brought into stabilize (!) a team's roster, and Hasheem Thabeet began fading into obscurity. It's kinda like watching the X-Files before the X-Files was cool (and that also started in Canada!).

Miami Heat, Peninsula is Mightier: Because if you don't watch, Dwyane Wade will throw himself at you and you WILL be called for a foul. While it's easy to mock Wade's penchant for reckless drives and refs tendencies to bail him out, it's impossible to argue that he's not a hardwood hurricane when this team needs him to be. Without Wade, this team's win total is somewhere in the 30s, but with him, they're a dangerous playoff foe... which isn't to say there isn't some talent around him. Udonis Haslem defines "unsung hero" outside of Miami-Dade County. Jermaine O'Neal and Quentin "P90X" Richardson are both having mini-renaissances this season and youngsters Mario Chalmers and Michael Beasley provide inconsistent if effective support to their leading man. But mostly, it's all about Wade being a force of nature that you can watch from the comfort of your home without worrying about losing your home in the process.

To be continued....

Daily Links 11/15

FLCeltsFan — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:26:03 -0000

Herald Hoosier daddy, C’s
Unemployment line long
Larry Bird likes Green’s new Big Three
Ben Gordon drives Pistons
Leaguewide retirement of No. 23 seems unlikely
Brandon Jennings scores 55, leads Bucks past Warriors
Globe Notes from Pacers shootaround
Celtics-Pacers updates
Analysis of Celtics-Pacers
For Celtics fans, waiting was plate of frustration
Jennings’s 55 lift Bucks over Warriors
Bird a booster of Wallace, Daniels
Celtics worn down by pace

CelticsBlog     Celtics rebound, but still lose
Byron Scott Fired....Who's Next?
Where Have You Gone, Eddie House?
Loy's Place   Comments from the Other Side - Pacers 11/14
Random thoughts on the Celtics 2 Game Losing Streak
Celtics.com    Ford Keys to the Game: Celtics at Pacers
Celtics 17   Updates and Links: LeBron James Better Watch His Punches, And More
The Hankering Can Play Tricks on You: Indiana’s Motivation Proves to Be the Faltering Of Boston The Hankering Can Play Tricks on You: Indiana’s Motivation Proves to Be the Faltering Of Boston
Red's Army     I want my Boston Celtics back
The Morning Dump... Joey Crawford Has A Huge Ego
Plays of the Week
Green Street     Pierce will ‘wait’ on tender left knee
Celtics Hub     KG Remains Unfriendly
Pierce Still Hurting
This team is starting to look old: Pacers 113, Celtics 104
Advanced Stats in Pacers Game
Loscy     Kevin Garnett sports first official Loscy Gear "
North Station Sports     Pierce Takes Blame as the Celtics Honeymoon is Officially Over
NSS Flix: Let's Get More Frustrated with Last Night's Loss
Celtics Town   On Celtics-Pacers, a bad internet connection, and getting stuck in traffic
Lex Nihil Novi     Celtics Make It 8 Straight (83-84)
Sheldoon
Walton v. Maravich
Celtics Take Winning Streak to Denver (83-84)
CelticsLife    What the Hell Happened to...Brad Lohaus?
Celtics/Pacers Post Game Presser
Pacers 113, Celtics 104 Highlights
Celtics lose 2nd straight to feisty Pacers squad
Gino's Jungle     Indiana Pacers vs. Boston Celtics Gameday Post
Granger Backs Up Smack Talk, Celtics Atrocious In Loss Granger Backs Up Smack Talk, Celtics Atrocious In Loss
NESN    Rajon Rondo Continuing to Mature as a Player and Person
Live Blog: Celtics at Pacers
Celtics Fall Flat in Indiana, Lose 113-104 to Pacers
Larry Bird: Offseason Bench Additions Are Big Boosts for Celtics
Danny Ainge Isn't Finished Ranting About Rajon Rondo
Danny Ainge Isn't Finished Ranting About Rajon Rondo
Dimemag     Young Cash Money
Fan Huddle    Jim O’Brien’s Pacers extend Celtics Losing Streak to Two
Cleveland.com    Stephen Jackson with the Cleveland Cavaliers? It's a matter of debate
Telegram   NBA: Crying foul: Why isn’t Rondo at the line more?
My San Antonio    Curse of the Coach of the Year
ESPN    Granger tough for Celtics to handle
Pierce takes blame in loss
Fourth-quarter technicals crushed Celtics' chances
Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce #knee# makes start vs. Indiana Pacers
Boston Celtics' Paul Pierce #knee# makes start vs. Indiana Pacers
ProJo    Granger backs up words as Pacers hand Celtics second straight loss
So What's Wrong With The Celtics?
Celtics fall for second straight night
Pierce returns to starting lineup for Celtics
MetroWest Daily    Courtside View: Scalabrine struggling to see action
Indy Star   Streaking along
Daniels settling in as Celtics' reserve
Hoopsworld    Granger leads Pacers over Celtics
WRKO    Wyc Grousbeck talks Atlanta
Press Herald   Red Claws assemble for first drills today
Tom's Bombs of Thought   The NBA in Polychromatic Form
NY Daily News    Mike D'Antoni failing to get Knicks roster loaded with players in last year of deals to play hard
WBZTV Jaelen House, Eddie House's Son And Celtics Ball Boy Now A Reality TV Star
Indy Cornrows     Small Lineup Set To Stay As Pacers Ready For Celtics
Peach Tree Hoops     Atlanta Hawks 97, Boston Celtics 86 or nothing easy
CBS Sports    Nellie addresses rifts with Jackson, Monta

Sesame Street Celtics

Jeff Clark — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:02:35 -0000

A colorful cast of characters indeed.

View full size photo »

Yesterday marked the 40th anniversary of Sesame Street (and also my daughter's first birthday). So I thought I'd honor the occasion with a fun post comparing current players to Sesame St. characters.

Big Bird - Paul Pierce: He's the leader and face of the show but he doesn't always have to be in charge. Sometimes indecisive but always bold and confident. (Note: I'm sticking with current C's, so Larry gets only a respectful nod here)

Snuffaluffagus - Kendrick Perkins: Obviously he's big as a tank and moves about like one sometimes. He can be intimidating but when you get to know him you see his softer side. He's also invisible to everyone but Big Bird, which speaks to Perk's just-now-growing reputation around the league (his teammates have known how good he is for years).

Grover - Kevin Garnett: He's always hyper, always talking, to the point where you can't even understand his ramblings. And when he gets real worked up, he runs around waving his long arms around yelling at everyone in sight. Basically a PG version of KG.

Oscar the Grouch - Rasheed Wallace: Goes without saying. He really likes his reputation of being mean and nasty but deep down you just know he's got a heart of gold.

The Count - Ray Allen: He's smooth, he's friendly, but there's just a hint of danger behind those eyes. And you can just picture him counting in his head "one, two, three, four, five 3-pointers! ah ah ahhhhhhh"

Cookie Monster - Glen Davis: Both love to eat (obviously) and both are kind of excitable at times but they always bring out a smile in everyone around them.

Elmo - Rajon Rondo: He's the new kid on the block but he's quickly taken the world by storm.

Bert & Ernie: Marquis Daniels & Eddie House: They are a duo now that Doc has paired them up in the backup PG & point forward roles. Daniels is more laid back while Eddie is more mischievous and gets everyone hyped up when he gets going.

Herry Monster - Shelden Williams: He's a minor character, but when he comes in, he does his job well. Also, he's a big monster but you can tell he's soft and cuddly.

Telly Monster - Brian Scalabrine: He's a big, kind hearted redhead that sometimes deals with insecurities but everyone loves him and tries to encourage him.

Gordon and Susan - Danny and Doc: They are the adult humans who let the kids (and monsters) be who they are without getting in the way, but they provide gentle instruction and guidance along the way. (hey, that rhymed)

Hope you have a sunny day today. Hug someone you love.

And a big thank you to all the vets who served this country - happy Veterans Day.