Finally, we get some star power in the Garden. Tonight the World Champions came to Boston, bringing with them a sizeable draw in the middle. We're guessing that there weren't a whole lot of fans in the seats tonight dying to see the Celtics' starting lineup of Rondo, Ray, Perkins, Gomes and Green. We suppose that it's possible that fans came out of some perverse nostalgia for Antoine Walker. Or maybe they came to see our new NBDL all-star Kevinn Pinkney. In the event that it was Shaq, he did not disappoint. But, neither did Rondo, Gomes, Green, Perkins, or Leon Powe. {styleboxjp width=200px,float=right,color=grey,textcolor=black,echo=yes}A funny thing happened along the way to an obvious blow out: one of the most competitive and entertaining games of the year. In defeat, these young men did themselves proud.{/styleboxjp}

The Heat came out strong, making their first 6 shots, and had the Cs down 14-4 right out of the gate. But then that magical anti-shooting karmic event happened: Shaq went to the foul line. After the Diesel bricked three (the extra attempt care of a lane violation), the Heat started missing everything, the young guns got their game going (including the Celtics' first four point play in two years, courtesy of Allan Ray), and the Cs captured the lead 20-19. With 2:55 left in the first, Antoine entered the game to cheers from the Boston crowd (hey, maybe they did come to see Walker). Like Shaq, 'Toine did not disappoint, hitting a quick 3 to make the score 26-22 in favor of the Heat. Ryan Gomes promptly answered with a three of his own, narrowing the gap to a single point. At the end of the first quarter, the Celtics were holding their own: Miami 28-26.

After a couple of scoreless minutes at the start of the second quarter, the pace picked up and the Celtics again took the lead on a Powe dunk with 8:36 on the clock. The game stayed close until Perk picked up his third foul, forcing Kevinn Pinkney into the game to cover Shaq. Let's just say that didn't go well. Shaq turned Pinkney into a human crash test dummy, picking up baskets and fouls at an alarming rate. On one foul, Pinkney actually tried to plead his case to the referee. Son, this isn't Bakersfield, and that man holds 4 NBA championship rings. {styleboxjp width=250px,float=left,color=skyblue,textcolor=black,echo=yes}The remaining Celtics highlight of the quarter was Tommy's bestowal of a new nickname upon Rajon: Ready Rondo.{/styleboxjp} We don't think that one's going to be a keeper. Shaq had twenty points at the half and, despite 14 points from Ryan Gomes and 12 from Gerald Green, the Celtics' grip on this game was starting to slip: Miami 52-45 at the half.

{styleboxjp width=100px,float=right,color=black,textcolor=white,echo=yes} Miami seized control in the third quarter, looking suddenly serious about trying to secure that third seed in the East.{/styleboxjp} They methodically extended their lead to 64-50. Game over? Not so fast, tank fans. Suddenly everyone seemed to be hitting shots for the Celtics: consecutive threes by Ray, Green, and Gomes (bringing Gomes to 4-4 beyond the arc, he finished the night 4-5) narrow the Miami lead to five points. The Cs seemed to have gotten their mojo back, and end the quarter with a 16-6 run and a tie at 70-70. Who would have guessed?

Still, the fourth quarter opened offering the question of not whether the Celtics would lose, but how. Miami will get serious again, and win it by 10, right? And as expected, the Heat did gain the edge early in the quarter. Fast forward a bit, and with just over 4:00 left in the game, Rondo ties it up with an intense dunk. Miami proceeds to go on a four minute dry spell in which they can't seem to buy two points. With 2:30 left in the game, Allan Ray is fouled and hits a free throw to bring the Celtics ahead 81-80. This is followed by a steal and dunk by the inspirational Powe. Perk then gets his fifth foul - on Shaq, of course.

{styleboxjp width=150px,float=left,color=maroon,textcolor=white,echo=yes}Fortunately, Shaq misses career free throws 4,751 and 4,752 (and 4,753 after a lane violation).{/styleboxjp} Less fortunately, Eddie Jones nails a three point shot, tying the game. Posey then finishes a conventional three point play, putting the Heat up by 3. Rondo tosses a floater in the lane with 42 seconds left to cut Miami's lead to one. After a Miami timeout, Haslem hits a jumper to puts the Heat back up by three. The Cs end the game in a flurry, launching three failed three point attempts (Telfair, Green, and Rondo), and that's the ballgame: Miami 86-83.

While a win tonight would have been a phenomenal achievement, there may not be a game this year that inspires more excitement about the young talent on this team. We all know what Jefferson can do by now, but many of these other guys still evoke the question "What exactly do we have here"? This game offered some clues: Gomes finished with 25 points, Green 21, Powe put up the second double-double of his NBA career (10 points, 11 rebounds), Rondo stuffed the stat sheet again (11 points 10 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and only 1 turnover), and while Perk's stat line is less than spectacular, it cannot show how he battled Shaq like his life depended on it. {styleboxjp width=300px,float=right,color=green,textcolor=white,echo=yes}For tonight, all tank talk was silenced{/styleboxjp}, and the reasons that this team can be so likeable at times were remembered.

We are 95.2% certain that at least 85.7% of you who have spent at least 1.71 days on CelticsBlog in the last 3.11 months will recognize the significance of the percentages in the title. When the game tipped of at 8:09pm tonight, the battle for lottery odds for the top 2 picks in the 2007 draft - expected to be 7' 3/8" Greg Oden (15.7 pts, 9.6 reb, 3.3 blk) and 6' 9.74" Kevin Durant (25.8pts, 11 reb, 1.9blk) - was on. Early reports that Michael Redd was 95.5% likely to play proved 100% incorrect, while Al Jefferson was 99.9% likely to sit this one out (which proved accurate). For our part, we were 100% psyched to watch an epic tankfest in action. Yeah, sure we were.

Charlie Bell, Ruben Patterson, Earl Boykins, Ersan Ilyasova and Dan Gadzuric started the game against Rajon Rondo, Delonte West, Gerald Green, Ryan Gomes, and Kendrick Perkins in this summer league tilt. {styleboxjp width=250px,float=right,color=grey,textcolor=black,echo=yes}What? You’re kidding me? This game counts? Well, most of the first quarter was like watching the 1919 World Series and being in on the fix.{/styleboxjp} Players were not just not covering guys, but were blatantly running away from players going to the basket. No kidding. The most entertaining aspect of this quarter was listening to Donny Marshall exaggerate his pro career. Who is Jared Reiner? Perk just schooled him in the post. Enough said. First quarter ends 25-21 Bucks. We’re speechless and feel vaguely dirty. We’d rather be watching Joakim Noah dance.

Brand-spanking new Celtic Kevinn Pinkney grabbed an offensive rebound on the first play of the second quarter, and on the second possession raced down the court and got a dunk and one on a pass from Allan Ray. Tommy gave him a point and an “I love Kevinn”! Players seemed to move at will on the court throughout the quarter. Ray weaved through the defense like Tiny Archibald. The lead changed hands about 117 times, looking like the game was being played for the last possession and the honor of getting to throw an air ball. We’re well aware that game stories usually have more description and analysis, but this game was really beyond such higher cognitive processes. Pinkney apparently did not get the memo when he signed his 10-day contract: he scores 11 points in 7 minutes in the quarter. Pinkney isn’t even in the NBA.com box score at this point. Without his 11 points, it looks like the Cs are down big. Over at ESPN, his position is listed as IR. Pinkney promptly goes to the bench after his last basket in favor of Perk, who immediately throws an air ball from 2 feet away. This substitution may go down as Doc’s finest coaching moment of the season. Halftime: 53-52 Bucks. This better be over by Lost.

At the start of the second half, Pinkney makes the NBA.com box score, and Delonte goes to his right hand on a drive! Sure, he sprained his ankle doing so (and hobbled off to the dressing room 4 minutes later), but the ball touched his right hand! Look for footage on ESPN later. {styleboxjp width=200px,float=left,color=yellow,textcolor=black,echo=yes}“Sebastian Telfair has now come into the game without his headband.” This is an actual Mike Gorman quote.{/styleboxjp} You really gotta wonder what he and Tommy are thinking here. Earl Boykins appears to be looking to set a Bucks single game scoring record. The Bucks quickly erase a small Celtics lead, and go up 73-67 with 4:32 left in the third quarter. We’re pretty sure that the home crowd (and we use the word “crowd” loosely) booed at this point. Mike Gorman goes to commercial with “Bucks surge ahead of the Celtics” without even a touch of irony in his voice. Ladies and gentlemen, that is a professional. Players run up and down the court for the rest of the quarter, and seem to be scoring points. Pinkney hits a jumper, Rondo doesn’t, Boykins has 30 points at the end of the quarter. Bucks up 79-72 at the end of the third. Fourteen minutes until Lost.

We’ll call this the Lost quarter. We’re sorry, but we’re supposed to miss Kate and Juliet handcuffed together running through the jungle mud-splattered during a rain storm for this? We trust that you’ll understand if our reporting of the fourth is a bit spottier than usual. We’ve agreed to tag-team between commercials, so at least one pair of eyes is on the game at all times. Right Hank? Hank?

Fortunately, the fourth quarter continues to be a lackluster affair. The Bucks and Celts continue their game of hot potato while Donny Marshall starts channeling Allen Iverson: “Shootaround? You’re talking about a shootaround?” Allan Ray makes a three pointer. What’s up with the threes tonight? Gomes, who has attempted only eight threes all year, is shooting them like they’re his specialty. He’s attempted five tonight (and made three of them, darn him). Even Rondo shot a three. Apparently Sawyer’s being voted off the island (it’s a timeout! I swear!). Leon Powe just fouled out of the game. Let me repeat that: Leon Powe fouled out. I swear we’re not making this stuff up. Kate just woke up handcuffed to Juliet. Question: if you have five players on the court and they all physically shrink away from the rebound, is David Stern preparing to dial the phone?

{styleboxjp width=210px,float=right,color=maroon,textcolor=white,echo=yes} Final: Celtics lose solidly, 89-98.{/styleboxjp} You’ve got to give it to them. They just wanted it more. The Cs shoot a resounding 37.4% and commit 15 turnovers. Quite an achievement when no one is playing defense.

We are 98.6% certain that was one of the worst exhibitions of competitive spirit and basketball competence that we have ever seen. But, hey - we’re one step closer to Oden (or Durant, pick your sweet poison). Learn to love the tank, embroider 38.9% on a pillow, and get some sleep. It’s going to be a long couple weeks.

Boxscore

When you purchased those single game tickets back in October looking forward to the Cav's last visit to the Garden for the year, this can't be what you had in mind. When the guys wearing ties could take any combination of the guys wearing shorts, it's time to start figuring out how you can get your money back. We had a nice applicable quote from a Hindu Veda, but after all the flack that Bob Day took yesterday, we decided the better of it.

Well, at least Ryan Gomes came to play, as he opened the first quarter with 10 points and 4 rebounds on 5 of 6 shooting. Kendrick Perkins had a couple of nice hooks, but also got one stuffed by Ilgauskas without Z even jumping. I think we can say with certainty that Perk will never be included in a slam dunk contest. Delonte West did not start. According to Doc in the post-game interview, Delonte lost his starting spot by showing up late to the pre-game meeting. But the Celtics nonetheless took a 12 point lead (28-16) out of the first quarter. On the other hand, the Cavs played the first quarter in a team-wide state of catatonia.

Somehow the Cs second unit was able to fritter away the entire 12 point lead in less than 5 minutes of the second quarter (32-32 at the 7:28 mark). Luckily, Leon Powe seems to get that you are supposed to play hard no matter what (5 points, 1 rebound and lots of activity), even if you are only getting paid a mere $432,000 (which appears to be the approximate worth of the gold watch that LeBron was sporting tonight). Watch it LeBron, you might not be able to afford that 19th bathroom in the new pad. Perkins continued to show what a good passer he is, re-entering the game with a nice entry pass to Jefferson for a dunk. Gerald Green had a nice quarter (8 points on 4-4 shooting), as did Jefferson and Gomes. Rondo ended the half with a nice drive and dish….to a guy in the third row. You know, 53-49 Celtics lead at halftime on 52% shooting and only 7 turnovers is really not that bad. So why did it feel that way?

The third quarter was more aesthetically pleasing, with Jefferson and Perkins looking like they have been watching film of Bill Walton and Vlade Divac passing the ball from the high and low post. Perkins continues to be this spring's revelation. This is what Ainge thought he had when he extended Perk - a rebounder, shot blocker, and physical presence with a nice passing touch. Ah, Gerald, Gerald, Gerald. Is this the real you? Why don't we see this more often? Gerald looked confident and assertive with his offense in the third quarter, as he did throughout much of the game. The Cavs archetypal play of the quarter came when Aleksandar Pavlovic missed a shot and then lingered under the basket, disgusted at himself, the refs, somebody, as the Celtics raced down 5 on 4 and Gomes nailed a jumper. Nice effort Pav.

The fourth quarter continued Allan Ray's audition for the Milan Club League (Ray has hit 22 of 61 [36%] in the past month). Unbelievably, the second unit repeated their sterling second quarter performance exactly by yielding the entire 12-point lead within 5 minutes (84-84 at the seven minute mark). Even the quick reinsertion of Al could not stem the tide. Anderson Varejao continued to epitomize the phase "active body" making some nice aggressive plays at both ends. In came Perkins and Rondo to join Jefferson, West, and Gomes, with Green quickly following in place of Gomes. With about 4 minutes left, Jefferson stripped Scott Pollard and got it quickly up to West for a lay-up and a 92-90 lead, and the Garden erupted (really, it did).

Mike Brown apparently took a page from the Doc Rivers' Coaching Manual (available in the remainder bin at your local Borders) by sitting the lethargic Drew Gooden for the entire fourth quarter. Jefferson played with passion at both ends of the court with a couple of nice blocks, including one on the estimable Damon Jones, who must have the lowest Q score in the NBA - when Mike Gorman hates you, you know you are no Tom Hanks. With 1.9 seconds left in regulation, Delonte executed a beautiful flop while penetrating, earning himself a foul call (that'll teach Doc to sit him when he shows up late) and hit two from the line. Jones then misses a 3 from the corner for the win. Perfect.

All in all, not bad. A win (yes, the Bucks are only 2 victories away now… the sky is falling). The kids who started played well, and they won a close game against a disinterested, but veteran team. Al ("show me the max contract extension") Jefferson had 25 points (on 9-16 shooting), 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 5 blocks, 1 steal and 0 turnovers and was the best player on the court by far. Green showed up to play this one, leading the Celtics in scoring with 25 points in the game. And Rondo once again proved that he is no slouch at the point guard position, finishing the night with nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals. Ok, the Celtics can keep our money: this one was fun after all.

Box Score

The presence or absence of a strong commissioner is clearly a key to success in major professional sports leagues (see the Bud Selig years for evidence of the results of the absence end of the spectrum). From the uncompromising decisions of Kenesaw Mountain Landis to the debonair gladhanding of Pete Rozelle, commissioners can shape the culture and economics of their sports in paradigm altering ways.

So what do we make of David Stern? He is credited with much in the elevation of the NBA from a low profile, rag tag assembly to a tight, international marketing phenomenon. But the question has always lingered whether the esteem heaped upon him as causative change agent is deserved or whether he is the Accidental Commish, catching the Bird-Magic wave aboard the good ship Jordan. Is he a visionary leader or a calculating opportunist?

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