5-2 @ 4-3
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
7:00 pm ET
Schottenstein Center (Columbus, OH)

Game Thread   |   Chat

Through seven exhibition games, we've seen a lot of promising things. We've seen that KG might indeed be alright, we've seen slimmer and more agile versions of Big Baby and Perk, we've seen that Rasheed Wallace still has it when he's hungry, we've begun to see just how versatile Marquis Daniels really is, we've seen some all-out hustle from youngsters like J.R. Giddens and Lester Hudson, we've seen that Michael Sweetney has outdone Rondo's poor eating habits, and we've seen some very strong showings from our man Rondo after a slow start to his preseason campaign. What we haven't seen, however, is a game of basketball that actually counts.

Lucky for us, tonight's Celtics-Cavs matchup marks the end of preseason basketball. Don't get too excited; I'd save your "Eastern Conference Finals preview" headlines and anticipations for Tuesday's regular season opener in Cleveland, as many starters are expected to take tonight's preseason finale off. However, expect a hard-fought game played by a number of players looking to impress for minutes and perhaps a roster spot.

The regular season is just six days away. Take a deep breath and get through tonight's game with that in mind.

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2-1 @ 0-3
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
7:00 pm ET
Prudential Center (Newark, NJ)

Game Thread   |   Chat

Tonight, preseason basketball shifts to Newark, New Jersey, where the Nets will host the Celtics for a rematch of Sunday's matinee showdown. Boston took care of business in that contest, winning 100-93. New Jersey was held to 40.5% shooting from the field altogether, including an ugly 29.4% clip from beyond the arc. Meanwhile, the C's shot over 45% from the floor and rallied behind an efficient 25-point performance from Paul Pierce and strong bench play.

On the other side, Lawrence Frank struggled to get big performances from his perimeter soldiers. The starting backcourt of Rafer Alston and Chris Douglas-Roberts shot a combined 7-21 from the field while Courtney Lee, Bobby Simmons and rookie swingman Terrence Williams failed to help the cause by hauling up bricks in 16 of their 22 shot attempts.

However, the Nets did manage to get some very promising showings from three of New Jersey's key interior players. Of course, second-year center Brook Lopez highlighted them all, as the gifted seven-footer tallied 21 points, grabbed eight rebounds, blocked three shots and connected on 11 of his 14 free throw attempts. The former Stanford Cardinal appeared to be on a mission, and didn't back down from anyone in his path. In fact, he undoubtedly put more pressure on the Celtic defense than they put on him, as he showed off his fluid post arsenal and drew multiple fouls in shooting motion. Even Kevin Garnett praised Lopez's improvements in the post-game press conference. Keep your eyes peeled, he's got a very bright future.

Yi Jianlian came away with a 20-and-8 performance of his own, and this time it was not against a chair out in LA. Granted, he remains more than lost on the defensive end and probably still can't stop the infamous chair from scoring, but does Yi have a beautiful stroke or what? In addition to that, he looks a bit bigger, as does Josh Boone, who came off the bench to contribute 14 points and seven boards. Tommy marveled at his new and improved confidence level, and as crazy as the old man can get, he was onto something this time. Boone's no dummy, he knows that this is a contract year.

One notable that didn't suit up for the Nets on Sunday afternoon was 2009 All-Star Devin Harris, who rested a sore left ankle. He will, however, be in the lineup tonight, so expect a more dynamic offensive attack from them this time around.

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1-0 @ 0-1
Friday, October 9, 2009
7:30 pm ET
TD Garden (Boston, MA)

Game Thread   |   Chat

Despite the [meaningless] 96-90 loss to the Rockets in Wednesday night's preseason opener, the Celtics left Hidalgo with a lot of positives for the fans to be proud about. We saw the newcomers make strong first impressions, as Marquis Daniels put his versatility on display while Rasheed Wallace let us know that he still has a lot left in the tank when motivated. Shelden Williams appeared to be in terrific physical condition and was one of the most active players on the floor. Even rookie guard Lester Hudson showed multiple flashes of brilliance with his all-out hustle, admirable athletic ability and defensive intensity. And yes, of all people, Michael Sweetney ended up posting a team-high 10 points, as his... how should I put this nicely... "wide frame" created enough space for him to show off his soft touch around the rim in the fourth quarter.

In addition to that, we saw some promising things from our homegrown veterans. Glen Davis and Kendrick Perkins stood out for the simple fact that their recent weight losses have noticeably improved their appearance and mobiliy. Perk, however, learned that he wasn't quite quick or deceptive enough to shake n' bake with the ball in transition. Regardless, he put together a clean spin move in the post and reminded us of the killer lazer hook and quality defensive rotations.

Most importantly, we saw Kevin Garnett on the floor for the first time since March 25. He wasn't all hobbly and bobbly like recent overblown training camp video suggests, either. He looked good. Adrenaline may have played a small role, but no matter how you look at it, he got the job done on Wednesday night. He made some absolutely outstanding reads on the defensive end, two of which were picked off by KG himself, knocked down his mid-range jumpers, grabbed five rebounds in 13 minutes, made a terrific pass to a cutting Ray Allen, and provided the typical anecdotes that make him the one and only Kevin Garnett. He pounded his chest while cussing at the crowd prior to tipoff, he got excited from the bench, he coached his teammates at ample opportunities, and he even skied up to deny the opposition of knocking down post-whistle shots.

Give The Big Ticket some time to get himself in tip-top game shape, but make no mistake about it, KG is back and so are our beloved Celtics. Exhibition play resumes tonight, as the C's are set to make their 2009-10 TD Garden debut against division rival New York Knicks. Preseason or not, make some noise at "the house" tonight.

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3 @ 2
Thursday, May 14, 2009
7:00 pm ET
Amway Arena (Orlando, FL)

The fourth quarter of Game 5 was gut-check time, and the Celtics answered the call. Trailing by as many as 14 points in the final frame, Boston rallied behind a hot streak from Stephon Marbury and pulled out a monster four-point victory to give them the 3-2 series lead.

If Tuesday night's victory was any indication, the Celtics are not going to win ballgames if they fail to get stops. The hot story of the fourth quarter may have been the return of "Starbury," but that's not the top reason for the victory. Ray Allen and Marbury can hit all the shots they want, but the Celtics do not have a series advantage without the defense to back the offense. The key of the comeback was that Boston buckled down and got multiple stops.

From the timeout Doc Rivers took at the 8:49 mark of the fourth quarter to the final buzzer, Orlando was held to just 11 points. Those stops opened up room for transition success, and the "50-50 game" was severely in Boston's favor throughout that stretch. That was the difference, and that's what the Celtics need to do for four quarters every night. As long as they take care of the defense and the hustle, the offense will follow.

Tonight, Orlando will have their backs against the wall on their home floor. With Boston in the driver's seat, Game 6 is a win or go home situation for Dwight Howard and the Magic. Will they get the job done and force the Celtics to play their fourth Game 7 of the past two postseasons, or will the men in green play inspired basketball on both ends of the floor and set up a date with Cleveland in the Eastern Conference Finals?

Let's hope for the latter. Go get 'em, boys!

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1 @ 2
Sunday, May 10, 2009
8:00 pm ET
Amway Arena (Orlando, FL)

I assume that you've all heard the sports term "win or go home." Tonight, the Celtics need to take it to heart, as a Game 4 loss would give Orlando a comfortable 3-1 series lead. Now, that isn't impossible to recover from, but only eight clubs in NBA history have been able to pull off a miracle comeback from an equal deficit. Mathematically, the series would be up for grabs, but realistically it would be all but over.

As Kendrick Perkins noted after Game 1's loss, the Celtics have the tendency to get a little too comfortable and let their guard down. Game 2 was all fine and dandy, but the defensive effort in Game 3 was atrocious at best, and the team was as out of sync offensively as they've been all season.

Tonight, that's not gonna fly. No more lackadaisical defense, no more stagnant offense, and no more allowing the opposition to dictate the tempo of the game. It's time to buckle down and regain homecourt advantage.

Take what's yours, Cs.

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1 @ 0
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
8:00 pm ET
TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA)

The outcome of Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals was a tough one to swallow for Celtics supporters. Nothing went right in the first half, and that had everything to do with the intimidation factor of Dwight Howard. The Celtics were scared to attack the paint and challenge him, especially Rajon Rondo, and they were so afraid that they didn't earn a single trip to the free throw line by intermission. Not one. The team was out of sync in every way possible, and the only true positive from the first half may have been the offensive surge from Stephon Marbury.

The third quarter was a different story, as the Celtics played desperation basketball while Orlando got comfortable, and the tables turned. Rajon Rondo knocked down 10 of his 12 free throw attempts in the third quarter alone, and the Celtics willed themselves back into the ballgame. Boston came from down 28 to bring the deficit to just four with about a minute and a half to go. Unfortunately, Ray Allen's corner three-ball bounce back out after falling three quarters of the way down, and the Cs were unable to cap off the miracle comeback with a victory.

However, as disappointing as Monday night's loss was, there is plenty of basketball left to be played. On the bright side, this game showed us that the Celtics can indeed beat Orlando in this series. It showed the players that they aren't going to get anywhere if they don't relentlessly attack, and it showed the fans that our guys were right there with Orlando despite a putrid overall performance. Ray Allen put up yet another Game 1 stinker (2-12 FG), Paul Pierce shot just 7-18, and Rajon Rondo was atrocious for roughly three quarters and finished with seven turnovers to go along with a 2-12 shooting clip. I'll be damned if all three of them duplicate those abysmal outings in Game 2.

As crazy as it sounds, we should feel confident after losing Game 1 on our home floor.

Go get 'em, boys, and get 'em with a 48-minute sense of urgency this time, will ya?

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Game Thread   |   Chat

Coming off of a convincing Game 3 victory to give Boston a one-game series advantage, the Celtics will revisit the United Center this afternoon with hopes of improving to 3-1. Should they find success, Doc Rivers' gang would have a chance at closing out the series back in Boston in Game 5.

Game 3 was an absolute beat down. The score (107-86) doesn't do enough justice, as Boston's patented defense came alive and harassed for the first time this postseason. The Bulls were held to 37.5% shooting on their home floor, while Boston added to the fire by forcing 22 turnovers and blocking 10 shots. Bulls fans were so disappointed with their team's performance that they busted out the boo-birds as the clock wound down in the fourth quarter.

At game's end, Rajon Rondo was seen shoeless, being carried to the locker room by Bill Walker and Phil Lynch. Rondo denied that it had anything to do with his injured right ankle and claimed that a bad tape job led to sore feet. Whether you want to believe that or not is entirely up to you, but it is probably fair to give Rondo the benefit of the doubt until we are proven otherwise.

Needless to say, it'll be interesting to see if the third-year stud guard can continue his series dominance (22.7 PPG, 10.7 RPG, 9.7 APG, 4.0 SPG) and help the Celtics cruise to their third straight victory. History suggests that Rondo will be ready to play, as he held averages of 16.9 points, 6.2 rebounds, 9.3 assists, and 2.1 steals per game on two days worth of rest.

Go get 'em, Cs.

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Game Thread   |   Chat

The Celtics didn't begin the 2009 NBA Playoffs as well as they would've liked. Granted, Game 1 was extremely intense and showcased a marvelous head-to-head battle from point guards Derrick Rose and Rajon Rondo, but you never want to allow the road team to steal Game 1 from you in your building. Especially in overtime, as the defending champions, at the expense of an unstoppable (at least on that day) rookie.

Boston wasn't the only higher-seeded club to blow a Game 1, however. Portland got romped by Houston on Saturday night, while Dallas played tough in San Antonio and Philadelphia pulled off a late 18-point comeback to steal one from Orlando.

Regardless, what's in the past stays in the past, and there is still plenty of basketball to be played. As Tyson Chandler said last night after New Orleans' 113-84 Game 1 loss to Denver, you'll take yourself out of a series quickly if you dwell on previous outings. If you lose a game, you lose a game. From there, you've got to move on and try to get the next one.

Tonight, the Celtics will look to redeem themselves back at the TD BankNorth Garden in Game 2. Should Chicago manage to somehow pull off back-to-back victories, the defending champs would be knee-deep in trouble. On the same note, this team is more than capable of taking care of business tonight and taking homecourt advantage back in either Game 3 or 4.

Get your popcorn ready.

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60-20 @ 40-40
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
8:00 pm ET
Wachovia Center (Philadelphia, PA)

Game Thread   |   Chat

If the playoffs were to begin today, Boston's Eastern Conference Quarterfinal matchup would be tonight's opponent, the Philadelphia 76ers. However, it is not set in stone. Chicago holds just a half-game advantage over the Sixers, and Philly has two games remaining on their regular season schedule (including tonight) while Chicago has just one. Therefore, there is a chance that Philly could win out and gain control of the sixth seed, which will square off with Orlando in the first round.

Now, when I say that there is a chance, I'm only speaking mathematically. The likeliness of Philly beating the Celtics tonight and handing Cleveland their second home loss of the season tomorrow is... well... it's just not going to happen. To top that off, Chicago's regular season finale is a more than winnable home game against the underwhelming 32-49 Toronto Raptors, who at this point are playing for nothing more or less than lottery odds.

Here's where it gets interesting. Should Philly split their last two games while Chicago takes care of business in their finale, the Sixers and Bulls would tie for overall record (41-41), record against Eastern Conference teams (25-27), and wins against one another (2). If all of that transpires, the deciding factor would come down to winning percentage within each team's respective division. Should that be the case, Chicago would control the rights to the sixth Eastern Conference seed, as they are currently 9-7 against Central Division teams while Philadelphia is just 6-9 against Atlantic Division clubs.

Or, we can forget everything above and just end the confusion tonight by racking up our sixty-first W of the season.

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32-45  @  58-19
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
7:30 pm ET
TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA)

Game Thread   |   Chat

It is not playoff time just yet, but we've got only five regular season games to go before the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals are the primary focus of this basketball team. Boston's first round matchup remains uncertain, but the chances of the Celtics and Nets facing off against one another is extremely slim.

In fact, a loss tonight would mathematically take New Jersey out of the playoff equation. Lawrence Frank's group currently sits five games behind Detroit for the eighth and final Eastern Conference playoff seed. In order for New Jersey to have the "luxury" of meeting Cleveland in the first round of this year's postseason, the Nets would have to win out the remaining five games of their schedule, while Detroit loses all five. In addition to that, they'd have to pray that neither Charlotte or Indiana, who each hold minor advantages over Jersey in the standings, reach or exceed that magic number of 37 victories.

In other words, Nets fans better start studying up on draft lottery odds and prospects for the third straight year.

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34-40 @ 56-19
Wednesday, April 1, 2009
7:30 pm ET
TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA)

Game Thread   |   Chat

With just seven games to go before playoff time, the Celtics kick off the final month of the regular season at home against one of the scrappiest young teams in the league. The Charlotte Bobcats typically give the men in green a tough battle, win or lose, and have won two of the last five matchups against the 2008 champs.

Charlotte heads into tonight's game with extra incentive to pull out a victory, as well. As it currently stands, Larry Brown's club is one game behind Chicago for the final Eastern Conference playoff seed. The 'Cats have won six of their last eight and come into tonight on a three-game winning streak, but the Bulls have countered those efforts by winning seven of their last 10 games.

Kevin Garnett, as you may have already heard, will be "shut down" for the time being, and could even be out for the remainder of the regular season. Leon Powe is in the same boat, and Brian Scalabrine may not suit up at all until 2009-10 preseason. Tony Allen, however, is expected to give it a go tonight after missing the last 22 games with torn ligaments in his left thumb. "TA" typically takes a while to get back into the swing of things when he returns from a time-consuming healing process, but it is somewhat comforting to have another body nonetheless.

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54-19 @ 42-30
Friday, March 27, 2009
7:30 pm ET
Phillips Arena (Atlanta, GA)

Game Thread   |   Chat

Coming off of a tough loss in Orlando, which handed away the rights to the Eastern Conference's second slot, the hobbled Celtics will look to bounce back against last season's first round playoff opponent, the Atlanta Hawks.

Atlanta has had a solid year all around, and as of late, Mike Woodson's club has been surging. The Hawks have won eight of their last 10 games, with all but one of those contests being played at their comfortable home of Phillips Arena. Perhaps one of the largest components to Atlanta's recent hot streak is the play of Al Horford, who has been racking up double-doubles like a mad-man once again. Since the All-Star break, the former Florida Gator has put up 13.6 points, 10.9 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. More importantly, he has become more aggressive on the offensive end, creating more inside-out opportunities for the Atlanta's attack.

Neither team will be at full strength for tonight's battle, however. Atlanta's starting three-man Marvin Williams is expected to miss his 10th straight game due to lower back soreness, while Acie Law could be sidelined with a similar ailment. As for our beloved men in green, Rajon Rondo says that he expects to suit up, despite the re-sprained left ankle, but Doc Rivers recently noted that both he and Kevin Garnett are game time decisions. Garnett did not move as well as the coaching staff would've liked in Wednesday night's loss to Orlando, and "The Big Ticket" reportedly failed to get through the full shootaround this morning.

Healthy or not, here we come.

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54-18 @ 52-18
Wednesday, March 25, 2009
8:00 pm ET
Amway Arena (Orlando, FL)

Game Thread   |   Chat

With 10 games remaining on the 2008-09 regular season schedule, the Celtics are finally rounding into shape health-wise. While catching Cleveland for tops in the Eastern Conference may be out of the question, the men in green still have something to play for over the course of the next three weeks. Orlando is currently one game behind Boston for the rights to the second seed in the conference, and with homecourt advantage at stake for a potential second-round matchup, each club's goal for the remainder of the regular season is identical - finish second in the East.

Tonight, Orlando will host the defending champs at Amway Arena, where a Magic victory would result in Orlando owning a better winning percentage by the end of the night. Should the Celtics pull out the victory, however, it would give the green a bigger cushion in the win-loss column as well as a 3-1 advantage over the Magic this season. That doesn't get the team a ring or even a medal, but does give the Celtics the upper-hand in case the two Eastern Conference contenders end the season with equal records.

It is more than expected that these two will meet in the second round of this year's playoffs. Neither Boston or Orlando wants to head into postseason play without homecourt advantage against the other. This is a big game that should produce plenty of emotion, aggression, and competitive spirit, especially after Orlando stole one in Boston earlier this month. In other words, this could be a "chippy" one.

Chippiness isn't always the route Doc wants to go, but I think it's safe to say that those types of battles provide the highest level of entertainment. Get your popcorn ready.

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48-12 @  48-14
Friday, March 6, 2009
8:00 pm ET
TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA)

Game Thread   |   Chat

Tonight, the C's return to The Garden for perhaps the biggest game of the regular season. Probable MVP LeBron James and his Cleveland Cavaliers are set to pay a visit to the men in green for a prime time Eastern Conference showdown. Cleveland currently holds a one-game advantage over Boston for the East's top seed, and this evening's victor may very well decide which of the two powerhouses receive homecourt advantage this postseason.

Both teams come into tonight's game a bit shorthanded. In addition to role players Tony Allen (thumb) and Brian Scalabrine (concussions/neck), defensive anchor and emotional leader Kevin Garnett continues to recoup from the posterior muscle strain he obtained in Utah on February 20. Since the injury, the Celtics have won four of seven games.

Cleveland will also be without a starting big, as Ben Wallace went down with a fractured right fibula in last week's loss in Houston, which will keep him out of the lineup for 4-6 weeks. The Cavs haven't missed a beat since, however, as they've won four straight (three coming on the road) with Anderson Varejao replacing Wallace as the team's starting power forward. As a starter in 21 games this season, Varejao has put up 10 points and 7.5 rebounds per game.

Fortunately for Cleveland, they've been able to throw salt on the wound caused by Wallace's injury by adding veteran big Joe Smith this week. Smith was bought out and released by Oklahoma City this past Sunday and elected to go back to Cleveland as soon as he cleared waivers. The fourteenth-year power forward appeared in 27 regular season games for the Cavs last season, where he held averages of 8.1 PPG and 5.0 RPG. Against the Celtics in the 2008 Eastern Conference Semifinals, Smith produced 7.6 points and 4.4 rebounds throughout the seven-game series, in which Cleveland came up on the wrong side of.

Leading up to the March 1 deadline for free agents to be playoff eligible, Boston was considered the favorite to land Smith when and if the Thunder decided to part ways. Unfortunately, the Celtics couldn't afford to wait any longer. Sacramento made Mikki Moore available first, and Danny Ainge took what he could get while he could get it.

Smith may or may not be in action tonight, but all signs point to him playing, as he went through Cleveland's scheduled practice yesterday.

There's no Kevin Garnett, but you better believe that emotions will be flaring. Homecourt advantage is extremely important, should these two teams meet in the playoffs, as expected. Get your popcorn ready.

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25-35 @  46-13
Friday, February 27, 2009
7:30 pm ET
TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA)

Game Thread   |   Chat

There's no place like home.

After a spread out, six-game west coast road trip in which the Celtics finished 3-3, the illustrious men in green have finally returned home to play in front of their fans for the first time since February 8.

This isn't quite the same team we saw the last time they laced 'em up at the TD BankNorth Garden. The C's have returned home with a couple of new faces. Sam Cassell and Patrick O'Bryant have moved on to different organizations, and Danny Ainge has replaced them with a pair of veterans to help fill out Doc's rotation.

The first addition is that of seven-foot energy guy Mikki Moore, who made his Celtic debut in Wednesday night's road loss to the Clippers. His first impression was a relatively positive one, as he set multiple screens and displayed constant activity, as well as his beautiful mid-range set shot. Moore might not be P.J. Brown, but for between eight and 15 minutes per contest, he can help this team.

Now onto the big addition that everybody is buzzing about, Stephon Marbury. The long-lasting soap opera with the Knicks has finally come to a close, and as of 10:00 am this morning, the two-time All-Star cleared waivers and became an official free agent. From there, he completed a physical, signed his veteran's minimum contract, and giddily joined his new teammates in Waltham.

Marbury will attend the team practice at roughly 5:00 pm ET tonight, and will subsequently discuss his new surroundings with the Boston media about 45 minutes later. With that in mind, along with the fact that Gabe Pruitt will be serving the first night of his two-game suspension, it is expected that Marbury will be dressed and ready to go tonight vs. Indiana.

Let the Stephon Marbury era begin. We have a new Employee #8 in town.

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45-12  @ 37-19
Monday, February 23, 2009
9:00 pm ET
Pepsi Center (Denver, CO)

Game Thread   |   Chat

After Rajon Rondo delivered a birthday bash to lead Boston to a 20-point victory over the up-and-down Phoenix Suns yesterday afternoon, the C's will play their first back-to-back of the post-All-Star stretch tonight in Denver. Throughout the first two games of the current west coast swing, the men in green have split the games, as they dropped the initial match of the trip down in Utah. Luckily, they were able to put a stop to Phoenix's string of 140-point efforts and come out with a convincing win at the US Airways Center to put the C's back on track. Tonight, however, they'll be facing the best team of the trip.

The third-seeded Nuggets are generally tough to beat on their home floor, where they hold a 20-6 record this season. Only seven NBA teams have a better home record than George Karl's club. Meanwhile, the Celtics are second to only the Los Angeles Lakers on the road.

Both Boston and Denver are playing on the second night of a back-to-back, but Denver may indeed be more fatigued. Not only did they have to fly back home from Milwaukee as opposed to Phoenix, they have been away from their home floor since February 3. Denver's last eight games have been on the road; all of that traveling has to take a toll on their bodies.

In the same token, however, it may be justified to expect the Nuggets to come out with extra fire and brew up some home cookin'. In addition to that, let's not forget that Denver was the first team to win a game at the TD BankNorth Garden this season, as they beat the Celtics by nine on November 14. The Nuggets may just have a little extra confidence against the big bad bullies in green.

They will, however, be shorthanded. Starting center Nene came away with yet another knee injury after colliding with Richard Jefferson in last night's loss to Milwaukee. The timetable for his return has yet to be unveiled, but his unavailability for tonight's contest is a certainty. Kenyon Martin, who was unable to give it a go last night on account of back spasms, is also a game time decision, though he has told the press that he is planning on returning to action tonight.

Can the C's pull off a successful back-to-back and improve to 2-1 on this trip before closing it out Wednesday night? Stay tuned.

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44-11 @ 31-23
Thursday, February 19, 2009
10:30 pm ET
EnergySolutions Arena (Salt Lake City, UT)

Game Thread  |   Chat

Over the past week, the attention shifted towards the dunk contest, the All-Star game, H-O-R-S-E, and the 2009 NBA trading deadline. All-Star weekend has passed, along with today's league trading deadline. The focus is back where it should be (unless you've got the names "Stephon Marbury" and/or "Joe Smith" lingering in the back of your mind); we've got more games to play.

The C's enter the post-All-Star stretch with the East's best record at 44-11, which puts them 1.5 games ahead of Cleveland, but the upcoming schedule isn't necessarily peachy. As Boston typically does, they'll come out of All-Star weekend on a West Coast road trip, which is a virtual extension of their New Orleans/Dallas back-to-back stint from last week. Before they head to Phoenix, Denver, and LA, they'll be hosted by the injury-plagued Utah Jazz tonight in Salt Lake City.

The Jazz picked up their play as of late by winning five of their six games so far this month. The biggest proponent to Utah's recent surge is none other than Deron Williams, who is widely considered the second-best point guard in the league behind Chris Paul. Through the last five games, Williams has held jaw-dropping averages of 30 points, 10.4 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per contest on an ultra-efficient 54.6% shooting clip.

Rajon Rondo has his work cut out for him tonight, as does the Celtic defense, who will be facing perhaps one of the most complete offensive attacks in the NBA.

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42-11 @ 30-19
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
8:00 pm ET
New Orleans Arena (New Orleans, LA)

Game Thread   |   Chat

Before this weekend's All-Star break out in Phoenix, the C's have headed south for a two-game swing against a pair of Western Conference clubs. To kick off the mini road trip, the men in green will be hosted by the 30-19 New Orleans Hornets.

This isn't quite the same Hornets team we saw a year ago, however. Even with the addition of former Celtic James Posey, Byron Scott's squad has failed to match the fire and intensity that they brought to the court last season.

In addition to that, they've been undermanned as of late. Four of their starters have been out of the lineup for various reasons over the past couple of weeks. Center Tyson Chandler has missed 11 games and counting with a sprained ankle, swingman Morris Peterson has been out for the past seven games with a sprained ligaments in his left foot, All-Star forward David West was out for Monday's game in Memphis due to a one-game league suspension, and most of all, ignition key and Western Conference starting guard Chris Paul has been out four games and counting with a strained right groin. As a result of these unfortunate absences, New Orleans has won just four of their last 10 games.

All-Star weekend couldn't come at a more perfect time for New Orleans.

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41-10 @ 21-27
Friday, February 6, 2009
7:30 pm ET
Madison Square Garden (New York, NY)

Game Thread   |   Chat

Last night, the C's unfortunately dropped another game to last year's NBA Finals opponent, the Los Angeles Lakers. Phil Jackson's club ended a large Celtic winning streak for the second time this season with a 110-109 overtime victory at the Garden, in a thoroughly intense battle. However, that game is a thing of the past. The loss is behind us all, and there is still plenty of schedule to tackle.

Up next is a division rival in the New York Knicks, at the other Garden. The more famous Garden, at that, which has hosted a pair of historical performances this week. On Monday, Kobe Bryant led the Lakers to a 126-117 victory with Madison Square Garden's all-time high for points scored in a single game, 61. Two nights later, LeBron James helped Cleveland to a five-point edge with a filling line of 52 points, 11 assists, and nine rebounds.

Will "The Truth" join the fun tonight?

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Update: Tony Allen will be available for tonight's game.

40-9 @ 23-23
Wednesday, February 3, 2009
7:00 pm ET
Wachovia Center (Philadelphia, PA)

Game Thread   |   Chat

When the Sixers play halfcourt basketball, they struggle. When they run, they compete. Tony DiLeo has Philly running again, and as a result, they've won 10 of their last 13 games.

It's no secret that the up-tempo style is complementary to Philadelphia's big guns, particularly the two Andre's. Iguodala posted monstrous averages of over 21 points, five rebounds, and five assists per game last month, in addition to mightily efficient shooting percentages of 42.9% from three and 53.3% overall. Starting point guard Andre Miller has always succeeded in a faster-paced setting, as opposed to a balanced attack, and he has this team amongst the top transition offenses in the league once again.

Elton Brand, who missed over a month of action (16 straight games) with a dislocated shoulder, returned to the court for the last week of January. Philly had struggled to adjust their style to accommodate Brand's strengths earlier in the season, but since he went down, they've been able to go back to what works. Since Brand's return to the lineup, DiLeo has made it a point to ween this year's big free agent acquisition back into the lineup slowly, without ruining the current chemistry of the club. Brand has come off the bench in each of the last five games, producing 6.8 points and five rebounds in approximately 20 minutes per contest.

It is uncertain how DiLeo will manage his team once Brand has regained full strength and gotten himself back into complete game shape, but for the time being, Philadelphia is a threat with their high-energy transition attack, especially at home, where the club won six of eight games last month.

The Celtics are currently the hottest team the league has to offer, having won 11 straight, but tonight's matchup should be far from a cake-walk, especially without the presence of Kevin Garnett (flu).

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10-36  @  37-9
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
7:30 pm ET
TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA)

Game Thread   |   Chat

The Celtics have been rolling as of late, and have managed to come out victorious in their last eight games. They're playing hard, defending like they haven't defended this season, and most noticeably, they've got their swagger back. No longer do the C's look frustrated and even somewhat rattled, to an extent. Instead, they look like defending champions.

Boston will look to extend its winning streak to nine with a win over Sacramento tonight. The Kings are hungry for a win, having lost their last six games, and should have some extra motivation to come out like gangbusters against the men in green. Why? Look no further than December 28, when Sacramento hosted the C's at Arco Arena, only to be embarrassed in front of their home crowd, 108-63. That 45-point defeat would mark Boston's highest margin of victory since they were able to snatch the soul of the New York Knicks last November (104-59).

On the bright side, Kevin Martin returned to the lineup last month after missing 22 of 24 games with a nagging groin injury. Since rejoining the team on December 30, he has been dynamite. So far this month (14 games), Martin has held averages of 26.4 PPG, 3.5 RPG, and 3.1 APG to go along with an extraordinarily efficient three-point shooting clip of 45.2%. In addition to that, he has been getting to the line with the best of them, as he has knocked down 91.2% of his 10.5 free throw attempts per game this month.

Even so, Sacramento has struggled mightily, especially away from home. As a result of that, along with Oklahoma City's recent surge, the Kings currently sit dead last in the Western Conference at 10-36, and their .217 winning percentage is superior to just one NBA team (Washington, .205).

With that in mind, along with the fact that Sacramento holds the league's second-worst road record at 3-21, it's safe to say that the odds are against them to off the green at the Garden.

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34-9 @ 22-18
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
7:30 pm ET
American Airlines Arena (Miami, FL)

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If the 2009 NBA Playoffs were to begin today, Boston's Eastern Conference Quarterfinals opponent would be the sixth-seeded Miami Heat, who host the C's tonight on their own turf (or hardwood). A season ago, that would have sounded extremely outlandish, as Miami posted the NBA's worst 2007-2008 regular season record (15-67). A year later, things are a bit different. Miami is no longer the joke of the league or the glorified NBDL All-Star team. After a successful summer, bringing in young pieces like Michael Beasley and Mario Chalmers, to go along with the rebirth of Dwyane Wade, Heat fans are able to smile once again.

Beasley came into the season with as 2008 hype as any other rookie in the class, and throughout the 2007-2008 NCAA season, he was widely considered the best player in the country (even above UNC's Tyler Hansbrough). To begin his inaugural professional season, however, he was overshadowed and outperformed by his peers, highlighted by the likes of Memphis' O.J. Mayo and the number one overall pick in Chicago's Derrick Rose. Even so, the laid back forward has started to turn the corner since the New Year. Through Miami's first 10 games of the month of January, "B-Easy" has held averaged of 14.9 points and six rebounds per game on an efficient 49.6% shooting clip. Though he comes off the bench for now, it won't last for long if he continues his steady progression.

Beasley's promise is encouraging, but the real reason why Miami has been put back into the playoff picture is Mr. Dwyane Wade. My, what a season he has had. He has been absolutely fantastic, and has likely reclaimed status as a top five player in the league. To go along with his league-leading 28.9 points per game average, "Flash" is dishing 7.4 assists, grabbing 4.9 rebounds, coming away with 2.3 steals (3rd in NBA), and blocking a remarkable career-best 1.6 shots per game (1st among guards). D-Wade is back, ladies and gentleman, and he shows no mercy.

The biggest story surrounding the Heat as of late, though, may not be Dwyane Wade, but rather the trade rumors that have circulated mainstream outlets. Rumor has it that Jermaine O'Neal may be headed to Miami along with Jason Kapono, who played in Miami from 2005-2007, in exchange for former Celtic Marcus Banks and the expiring contract of Shawn Marion. Additional pieces have yet to be announced, but word on the street is that the deal could be completed by week's end. Conveniently enough, all four aforementioned players were out of action for Miami and Toronto's respective games this past Sunday. Stay tuned.

Shawn Marion may or may not be in uniform tonight, but there is some good news on the Celtics injury front - Kendrick Perkins will play for the first time since January 9th's loss in Cleveland. The Celtics have gone 5-0 since, thanks to "Air Intangibles," but you've got to wonder how long that ordeal would have lasted. Welcome back, Perk.

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19-19 @  31-9
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
7:30 pm ET
TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA)

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After a successful home-and-home with Toronto, the next four days will be focused on another mini-series with the New Jersey Nets. The C's will get a much-needed two days off before squaring off at the IZOD Center on Saturday afternoon, but first, the division rival will be hosted by the green at the TD BankNorth Garden tonight.

Heading into the 2008-2009 NBA season, nearly every analyst, writer, and basketball die-hard had New Jersey pegged as one of the league's worst teams. Some even went as far as pre-ranking them dead last in the Eastern Conference. Thirty-eight games into the season, the Nets have proved many wrong, as they currently stand seventh in the East with a respectable .500 record (19-19).

Vince Carter has had himself a solid year up to this point, but "Vinsanity" is no longer the talk of the team. Those reigns have shifted over to soon-to-be 26-year-old point guard Devin Harris, who came out of the gate red hot and appears to be a shoe-in for the league's Most Improved Player of the Year award. Harris' scoring averaged has jumped from 14.8 to 22.9, to go along with a +0.9 improvement in assists per game (5.8 to 6.7) and a career-best 83.4% clip from the free throw line. And he defends. Many consider him the best active point guard in the Eastern Conference, and while he rolls with a score-first mentality, it's difficult to argue with that this season.

Rookie center Brook Lopez has also been a big (no pun intended) bright spot for Lawrence Frank this season. The majority of mock drafts had the better half of the Lopez twin combo being selected in the top five, and a few even had Minnesota flirting with him at third overall. For whatever reason, the fundamentally sound seven-footer fell right into the laps of New Jersey at 10th overall.

Starting from day one, he hasn't disappointed, as he's held season averages of 10.7 points, 8.2 rebounds, and two blocks per game. Since the new year, however, it has been more like 13 PPG, 9.3 RPG, and 2.2 BPG. In addition to that, this is a seven footer with a shooting touch. It's very difficult to find a center that can shoot 80% or better from the free throw line. On the season, Lopez is shooting 80.5% from the line, and he's holding an ultra-impressive 87.5% clip through January's first six outings.

For the first time in a couple of years, the Nets appear to be on the right track with an array of promising young talent. They're playing halfway decent basketball, too.

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29-9 @ 16-21
Sunday, January 11, 2009
12:30 pm ET
Air Canada Centre (Toronto, Canada)

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Here we are again, thinking about what the Celtics need to do to get back on track against their next opponent. On the bright side, they'll get two tries this time around, as the C's will follow up this afternoon's battle with a sequel tomorrow night in Boston.

The last time these two teams squared off at the Air Canada Centre was November 23, when the Celtics put together a convincing 118-103 rout to produce their fifth straight victory. At the time, Boston was just beginning their 19-game winning streak and Toronto was struggling.

This time around, the tables have turned. Boston, as we know it, has lost seven of their last nine games, while Toronto has developed a level of comfortability by winning four of their last five. Perhaps the biggest proponent to Toronto's recent success is the play of the 2006 NBA Draft's #1 overall pick, Andrea Bargnani, who has scored 20.8 points per game on 60.3% shooting through the new year's first five outings.

Even so, the Raptors have been bitten by the injury bug in recent weeks. Jose Calderon has missed four straight games with a strained right hamstring, while Jermaine O'Neal has been unavailable for the last six games due to knee soreness. Both Raptor starters are in question for today's game.

Banged up or not, however, who is to say that Toronto can't kick the C's while they're down?

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29-6 @ 12-22
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
7:00 pm ET
Time Warner Cable Arena (Charlotte, NC)

Game Thread   |   Chat

Before the holidays, all was well in Celtic land. Boston had put together a franchise-best 19-game winning streak, and when it came to team concerns, there weren't many to report.

Since Christmas' marquee matchup in LA, the tables have shifted a bit in the wrong direction. The C's have dropped four of their last six games, with all of those losses coming on the road (including those pesky Knicks). Through this frustrating streak, the bench play has been below average at best and the team is legitimately beginning to show signs of fatigue.

Meanwhile, one of the league's cellar dwellers is starting to play some halfway-decent basketball. The Charlotte Bobcats made big changes last month, as they sent high-scoring "Celtic killer" Jason Richardson to Phoenix in exchange for defensive specialist Raja Bell and well-rounded forward Boris Diaw, whose career may have been reborn with this change of scenery. Since the deal, Diaw has held impressive averages of 15.6 points, 7.5 rebounds, and 5.2 rebounds per game on an efficient 50.4% shooting clip. Hell, he has even hit 13 of 25 from beyond the arc (52%).

Since Bell and Diaw stepped into a Bobcats uniform on December 13, Charlotte has held a semi-respectable 5-6 record. Granted, their schedule throughout that stretch hasn't exactly been the league's most challenging, as only two of those 11 games were played against teams with winning records. And both of those games, played in Atlanta and at home vs. Detroit, have resulted in losses for Larry Brown's club. Regardless, a win is a win, and for a hard working young team like the 'Cats, the more confidence, the better.

Charlotte has given the C's problems on an annual basis since their 2004 franchise birth. In fact, Charlotte even beat last year's Celtics squad at the Garden, and if it weren't for a miracle three-point buzzer-beater by Ray Allen on November 24 (2007), the 'Cats could have gone 2-2 against the 07-08 NBA champs.

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28-4 @ 19-12
Tuesday, December 30, 2008
10:00 pm ET
Rose Garden (Portland, OR)

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After a two-game skid, in which the Celtics lost on back-to-back nights in both LA and Oakland, the "sky is falling" discussion was shown the door with a 45-point stomping in Sacramento on Sunday night.

To close out the year 2008, the Celtics will try to begin a new winning streak tonight at the Rose Garden, against the up-and-coming Portland Trail Blazers. Boston's road to victory may come a tad smoother than the average Blazer matchup, however, as both Brandon Roy (hamstring) and Greg Oden (ankle) are labeled game time decisions.

Regardless, this team does not hand victories to visitors very often. From the start of last season to now, the Blazers hold an accumulative 39-16 record at home, and currently stand as this season's sixth-best team in their own building (11-3). There are no freebies at the Rose Garden.

With that said, let's close out this glorious year on a high note.

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27-3 @ 8-22
Saturday, December 26, 2008
10:30 pm ET
Oracle Arena (Oakland, CA)

Game Thread   |   Chat

Last night's loss was difficult to watch, especially on Christmas day, but it's nothing more or less than a thing of the past. And a regular season game, to boot.

The winning streak was fun while it lasted - a franchise record 19 games. But what's done is done, and it's time to start a new winning streak in the midst of this four-game west coast swing. Tonight, the banged up Golden State Warriors will look to hand the Celtics their first back-to-back loss of the season.

And when I say banged up, I really mean it. Monta Ellis (left ankle) and Corey Maggette (right hamstring) are sure to miss tonight's game, while leading scorer Jamal Crawford (left groin) and captain Stephen Jackson (left hand) are listed as day-to-day.

However, some good as come from this. For instance, Marco Belinelli was recently given a large opportunity, and he has thus far made the most of it. Throughout the month of December, Belinelli is producing rounded averages of 14 points, three rebounds, and three assists per game on 46.9% shooting. As a starter in Golden State's last five games, he has put up 16 points, three rebounds, and 3.8 assists per on an even better shooting clip (48.4%).

Belinelli's strong play, though, has not been enough to equal wins. The Warriors have won just four of their last 20 games, and sit as a league's fifth-worst club record-wise. Boston, on the other hand, remains first in the standings with a 27-3 (.900) record, to go along with an anticipated level of hunger to rebound from yesterday's loss.

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12-15 @  26-2
Tuesday, December 23, 2008
7:30 pm ET
TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA)

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The 1981-1982 Boston Celtics were the first Celtic team to record an 18-game winning streak, similar to that of this year's bunch. On March 28, 1982, the Philadelphia 76ers ended the illustrious streak with a 116-98 victory over the Celts at the Boston Garden.

Just over 26 years later, the 76ers will be looking to end Boston's 18-game winning streak once again, as they could prevent the C's from making franchise history (19 straight wins) with a road victory tonight.

However, they will be shorthanded. High-priced free agent signing Elton Brand will be out for Philadelphia with a dislocated right shoulder, obtained in last week's win over Milwaukee.

In some ways, it may be reasonable to say that the injury could be a blessing in disguise. Obviously, it's never a good thing to lose a capable 20-10 threat, but based on the formula Philly won with last season, maybe it won't be such a low blow after all. A year ago, Mo Cheeks' Sixers shocked many by earning a playoff berth. The reason? Tommy Heinsohn's favorite - run n' gun basketball. This team got out in transition and made you pay with their tremendous array of athletes, to go along with a big time distributor in Andre Miller.

This season, the Sixers have gone away from that and have elected to adjust to Brand rather than having Brand adjust to them. As a result Philly started off the season in disappointing fashion, winning just nine of their first 23 games. Subsequently, Mo Cheeks was axed and assistant general manager Tony DiLeo was handed the reigns as the team's interim head coach.

Since DiLeo took over, the Sixers have gone 3-1, but the team could be on a four-game winning streak had T.J. Ford not knocked down a clutch elbow jumper on Saturday night to give Indiana a 95-94 edge at the Wachovia Center. Throughout the Brand-less four-game period, the Sixers have averaged 100 points per game, which is nearly six PPG higher than their season average of 94.3 (28th in NBA).

Have the Sixers reacquired their niche? Will they repeat history? Stay tuned.

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11-15 @  25-2
Sunday, December 21, 2008
6:00 pm ET
TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA)

Game Thread   |   Chat

Over the past few years, each and every Celtics/Knicks battle has been entertaining. Whether it results in a 45-point victory or a tightly contested matchup, one thing is promised - chippiness. Paul Pierce and Quentin Richardson consistently get into a verbal war of their own, and the rest have followed suit. In the last contest, played on November 18, three players and a coach (Mike D'Antoni) were hit with technicals in a 110-101 Boston win.

One of New York's biggest instigators, however, will not be in the building. No, I'm not talking about Stephon Marbury (who may or may not pay thousands of dollars to sit courtside). I'm talking about Zach "Z-Bo" Randolph, who was traded to the Los Angeles Clippers last month in exchange for Tim Thomas and Cuttino Mobley, who has put an end to his NBA career on account of health.

On the very same day, the Knicks sent high-scoring guard Jamal Crawford - who dropped 50 on Charlotte last night - to Golden State for Al Harrington. On paper, Crawford is far sexier than Harrington has ever been, but the other Big Al has been playing terrific basketball since being acquired by New York. In 13 games with the Knicks thus far, Harrington has held averages of 23.6 points and 7.2 rebounds per game, while burying just under three triples each night.

Nothing has changed on the Stephon Marbury front, but this basketball team is very different from the last time we saw them. To replace Crawford in the starting lineup, D'Antoni has chosen to go with breakout midget Nate Robinson, who is averaging well-rounded 16-4-4 numbers. As a starter in five of his 18 games played this season, Robinson has put up 18 PPG on an efficient 47% clip, to go along with 5.2 rebounds and 3.6 assists.

A new roster, a new style, a new attitude, and a new long-term financial outlook. The Knicks are no longer a team to laugh at when you see "NYK" on the schedule. They can and will put forth a valiant effort, and they are not to be slept on.

Update:  Big Baby was in a car accident prior to the game.  He has a concussion and whiplash and is in the hospital.  Sounds like he'll be ok thankfully. 

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15-10 @  22-2

Monday, December 15, 2008
7:30 pm ET
TD BankNorth Garden (Boston, MA)

Game Thread   |   Chat

The Celtics have been on an absolute tear as of late, and have not lost a game since November 14 vs. Denver. Tonight, the banged up Utah Jazz come to town with their eyes on ending Boston's winning streak at 14, but they'll have their work cut out for them.

Deron Williams returned to the lineup approximately three weeks ago, and is still working to get himself back up to 100%. Carlos Boozer, who is averaging over 20 points and 11 rebounds per game, has missed the team's last 13 games due to a strained left quad and is questionable for tonight's battle. Utah has held a record of 7-6 throughout that stretch, which is not the type of basketball that they are accustomed to, but they've gotten more than strong play out of second-year banger Paul Millsap. The 2007 second round pick has held averages of 16.7 points and 11.2 rebounds per game as a starter in Boozer's absence, and his all-around play has been a major bright spot for Jerry Sloan so far this season.

Whether Boozer is in the lineup or not, expect a hard-fought game. Jerry Sloan teams do not lay down easily, and the depth of this Jazz team is far superior to what Doc Rivers has to work with.

From Chris Paul to Deron Williams; we've certainly been blessed with back-to-back entertaining matchups at the point guard position.

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