nba musings

I had to look at versions of this picture all season long, but NOT ANYMORE.

Ding dong, the witch is dead!

Celtics 94, Cavs 85 (Celtics in 6)

Put that in your pipe and smoke it!

Recommended links:

• @KWAPT via @JSKCknit Twitpic: Gone fishin’ 1
• @jose3030 Twitpic: Gone fishin’ 2
• RedsArmy.com: ESPN, WRONG x 10
• Basketbawful: Worst of the Playoff Night: The “LeGone” edition
• @docfunk: Cavs v Celtics – Game 6

A lot of people think the Celtics are done. Not just done — done, done. I don’t believe it. I think they’re just bored with the regular season, don’t get up for bad teams and let bad offense become piss-poor defense — all, by definition, attitude problems that exist between the ears. Doc needs to kick them in the ass one by one, starting with Rasheed. He won’t though. Doc is the quintessential benign authority figure who threatens to lay down the law (“Don’t make me come back there!”) and never does.

Oh well, at the very least he should make them watch this YouTube video to remind them of what winning feels like:

Source: celtsfanjay/YouTube

Yes, if you’re counting, this would be the third time I’ve posted this video on my blog. I’m sure it won’t be the last either. If I could burn it into my brain stems to play on a continual loop for the rest of my life, I would. Don’t judge.

Oh and by the way, Leon Powe is starting tonight for the Cavs. Yeah, still hate you, Danny Ainge.

Related articles:

• Fear the Sword: Antawn Jamison out tonight, Leon Powe gets the start
• The Boston Globe: Wallace still upbeat
• Boston Herald: Frustrated Doc Rivers mulls changes

Last seen: On the jumbotron at the TD Garden in Boston, Massachusetts.
Responds to: “Gino”, winning score at the two minute mark, Bee Gees.
Reward: If found by the playoffs, I will grant the finder one crisp benjamin dollar bill. $

Hey Santa – I’d like another one of these for Christmas, ok?

Source: celtsfanjay/YouTube

By the way, if this celtsfanjay guy ever decides to pull this video off of YouTube, I’ll cry. I love it that damn much. I have yet to make it very far past the 2:20 mark without welling up. GO CELTICS!

In other news, Leon sounds bitter. I don’t blame him one single bit, but it still makes me wistful.

And, Adrian Wojnarowski doesn’t think Cs will sign Sweets:

[Update 6:50pm: NESN confirms]

More from A-Woj… an interesting article that provides a little insight into last season’s un-ubuntu-like chemistry.

Sigh. Just stumbled onto this on YouTube and it made me happy …and sad. Please to enjoy.

Source: YouTube/WCVBtv

 Holy emo, I promise I’ll stop talking about Leon… Someday.

ps. I’m calling bullshit on Doc not knowing about the Gino dance.

Playoffs Game 2
Celtics v. Magic 112-94

The Good

• Eddie House scored a career playoff high of 31 points.
• Rajon Rondo earned another triple double (15 pts, 18 assts, 11 rebs) and threw down a pretty nifty slam dunk to boot.
• Doc Rivers had high praise for Brian Scalabrine after the game and said that he was surprised Scal was even able to come back this soon. This quote from Scal is one of the reasons I love him: “The funny thing, everyone else has problems with how much playing time I’ve gotten here except me,” said Scalabrine. “Even my mother will say, ’How come you’re not playing more?’ I tell everyone the same thing. I’m happy to be here. I’m happy being a Boston Celtic … I’m happy being a winner.”

The Bad

• Paul Pierce was in foul trouble and only played 15 mins. and only scored 3 points. (The upside: Lots of needed rest for the captain!)
• Rafer Alston felt an imaginary elbow and decided it would be a good idea to slap Eddie House in the back of the head (he’s suspended for Game 3).

The Ugly

• J.J. Redick fouled out and then thought it would be a good idea to go bitch about it to Bennett Salvatore, thus getting himself ejected from the game.

Related news:

• Celtics Hub: Without Pierce, C’s Get Back to Basics
• Red’s Army: That’s More Like It | Rafer vs Eddie
• CelticsBlog: Wow… Just Wow
• TalkHoops.net: 2009 NBA Playoffs: Celtics-Magic Game 2 Recap

Playoffs Game 3
Celtics @ Bulls 107-86

I was so not expecting the game that I saw tonight. I figured either Rose/Gordon would go off offensively or Thomas/Noah would throw another block party and it would be another close game. How wrong I was. This was a blowout and got away from the Bulls quickly and they never recovered. The arena was sold out with Bulls fans all wearing red t-shirts and mid-way through the game they were booing. By the 2nd half, they were leaving. The Celtics were fantastic on defense. They haven’t been this good on defense since KG was playing. It was superb. I can’t wax philosophically about it enough. When they make up their minds, collectively, to do everything they need to do to wind up with that ball, they’re unstoppable. This was without KG and Leon too. Awesome. I can’t imagine the next game will be this easy, so we’ll see how the series pans out, but either way, I’m really proud of the way the team stepped up tonight, on the road, and got the convincing win.

Studs of the game: Pierce (24 Pts), Rondo (20 Pts, 11 Reb, 6 Ast), Big Baby (14 Pts, 8 Reb, 6 Ast), the entire team’s defense

Quote of the night: Rondo, post-game: “We played our A game tonight, on defense.”

Tidbits: Steph got hammered and needed an awkward arrangement of bandages on his head/face. Rondo’s feet hurt after the game and Bill Walker carried him off the court. According to @talkhoops, someone stole the headband off Walker’s head (what the hell does someone do with a sweaty Bill Walker headband?). In the post-game presser, Doc joked that he thought Big Baby stepped on Rondo’s foot “…and we all know what that would do.” Fat jokes, Doc? Tsk tsk.

Not to be a buzzkill, but I’d be remiss to not mention on this blog that my heart goes out to Leon Powe. It’s no secret that he’s my favorite player on the team, so of course this one hits me especially hard. For those not following the Celtics, Powe is out for the season (and longer) with a torn ACL. The same knee he’s previously already had surgically repaired. It is going to be a tough road trying to come back from this. Adding to the problem is the fact that he’s a free agent after this season. Do the Celtics tender him, wait and sign him if he recovers? I sure hope so. Everyone’s heard the stories about what a great guy Leon is so I won’t rehash it… I’ll just say that I hope and pray that he recovers as quickly as possible to resume his promising career. Come back soon Leon!

ps. Can I complain about Tyrus Thomas for a minute? For all of his talent — and he is extremely talented — he’s so frustratingly immature. As P. Diddy would call it, he has a lot of bitchassness.

Related news:

• CelticsBlog: The Truth Is, I Told You So
• Red’s Army: Crashing Down to Earth
• Celtics Hub: “My Feet Hurt. That’s All”
• Boston.com: Celtics, 107-86
• WEEI: Five Things We Learned: Paul Is Not Dead

Disclaimer: About half-way through writing this post, my HD cable box decided to $h*t the bed. I was so rattled, that it’s entirely possible that one or more thoughts below is less thought out than it would normally be. Lol. So if I said anything more inane than usual, don’t blame me. Blame COMCAST. My new archnemesis. I’m stuck watching the rest of the Bulls/Pistons and entire Jazz/whoever they’re playing on regular non-HD television. Blah.

Celtics v. Clippers 90-77

There are certain times during Celtics games where I’m convinced that Doc Rivers is trying to kill me slowly with a tiny rusty kitchen fork. Why is that, you ask? Well, I’ll tell you. I never, I mean ever, want to see the following five players on the floor together at the same time, under any circumstances: Marbury, House, Walker, Moore and Davis. Just say no. This was one of those typically annoying games where you start off feeling pretty confident and good about yourself — until you realize the Clippers are ahead because you’ve pissed away a 12-point lead thanks to the aforementioned rotation. Ray Allen kind of took this game on his back somewhere in the 3rd quarter and a nice tidy blowout ensued. I really thought I was going to get to see Gino because when we came back from commercial I heard his theme song… but alas, it was not to be. All I could spy on the jumbotron were random dorks in green jumping around waving. Haha, that will be me on April 10th!

Celtics @ Grizzlies 105-87

I watched this game, didn’t I? Actually, I think I DVR’ed it and only watched highlights. Nothing special really stands out for me about this game other than it was another game with KG and another win for the Celtics.

Celtics @ Spurs 80-77

Before this game, I was positive we were going to lose it. How’s that for confidence? Hehe. Well, we were sucking it up pretty good before that game arrived, so it’s not like I had no reason to worry. Earlier in the day though, I heard KG might play, but I still wasn’t sure that would make a big enough difference. After all, KG had been out for awhile, he had to be a little rusty, right? Wrong! He was sensational and made a huge impact on the game. It’s strange because last season, I didn’t notice the difference as much between games with KG and games without. I’m not sure why it’s different this year, but it is and in a big way. I think the rest of the team feeds off of his temperment and energy now more than ever. I know they all want to win another championship, but after the grind of last year’s post-season, I would have to imagine they’re dealing with some mental fatigue.

Ok, there’s been a lot of bad breaks going our way lately and that sucks… but if you’re a Celtics fan and you want to turn that frown upside down, just enjoy this YouTube video with me. Damn, if I don’t get choked up every time right around the 2:20 mark.

Source: celtsfanjay/YouTube

If that doesn’t do it, then just enjoy the cutest Celtics fan ever on Ellen!

Source: neufundland/YouTube