Celtics coach Doc Rivers indicated Monday that the reason for his team's recent struggles is a combination of small things at both ends of the court. But as the Celtics set about the process of fixing what ails them, the primary focus is obvious: defense.
"One of the things we made clear is that you'll be playing [based] on your defense," Rivers said. "If we made anything clear [Monday], it's that you can make 10 [3-pointers] in a row, but if you're not getting stops, you're going to come sit next to me. That's the way it has to be. We have to get back to thinking of ourselves as a defensive team."
The irony is that the Celtics are a defensive team, the best in the league, in fact. Boston has held opponents to an NBA-best 93.7 points per game this season.
But recently a disturbing pattern of allowing the opposition one big offensive quarter has emerged, most notably when the Magic outscored Boston 36-11 in the third quarter of Orlando's 96-89 victory Sunday at the TD Garden.
In each of their previous four games, the Celtics gave up a 28-point quarter or worse, including a 30-point second quarter against the Nets, a 28-point fourth quarter against the Heat, a 31-point second quarter against the Wizards and a 30-point first quarter against the Lakers.
The statistics suggest the Celtics' opponents average only 23.4 points per quarter, so to see teams putting up 36 points in a single frame is simply unacceptable to Rivers.
Click HERE to read the full story.
"One of the things we made clear is that you'll be playing [based] on your defense," Rivers said. "If we made anything clear [Monday], it's that you can make 10 [3-pointers] in a row, but if you're not getting stops, you're going to come sit next to me. That's the way it has to be. We have to get back to thinking of ourselves as a defensive team."
The irony is that the Celtics are a defensive team, the best in the league, in fact. Boston has held opponents to an NBA-best 93.7 points per game this season.
But recently a disturbing pattern of allowing the opposition one big offensive quarter has emerged, most notably when the Magic outscored Boston 36-11 in the third quarter of Orlando's 96-89 victory Sunday at the TD Garden.
In each of their previous four games, the Celtics gave up a 28-point quarter or worse, including a 30-point second quarter against the Nets, a 28-point fourth quarter against the Heat, a 31-point second quarter against the Wizards and a 30-point first quarter against the Lakers.
The statistics suggest the Celtics' opponents average only 23.4 points per quarter, so to see teams putting up 36 points in a single frame is simply unacceptable to Rivers.
Click HERE to read the full story.
ESPN's Chris Broussard, citing league sources, reported Tuesday that the Boston Celtics and Charlotte Bobcats are talking about a trade centered around a swap of forward Glen Davis and guard D.J. Augustin.
From Broussard:
This is one of many trade rumors sure to swirl as the Feb. 18 deadline nears. Let's break it down:
Does it work?: Utilizing the ESPN NBA Trade Machine, this deal won't work straight up, but one version that does come back successful is Davis and Shelden Williams for Augustin. While Davis' base salary for this season is $3 million, his trade value is sliced in half due to base year compensation. When coupled with Williams' $825,497, it's enough to swap for Augustin's $2.37 million deal. (Bill Simmons points out another version that works).
Does it make sense?: Our gut says this one doesn't make sense for Boston. Do the Celtics need a backup point guard? Yes. But the team also just went 28 games without Marquis Daniels, who should resume primary ball-handling responsibilities off the bench as his surgically-repaired left thumb heals. If the team was desperate for a backup ball-handler, it would seem they would have pursued this sort of swap sooner. What's more, Boston seemingly needs Davis' depth in the frontcourt given that Williams has been dropped from the rotation (nine straight DNPs) and Rasheed Wallace continues to be ineffective. Losing Davis would elevate Brian Scalabrine to primary backup at the four spot.
Final thoughts: Despite some frustrating actions this season (off-court fight before season started; obscene comment to fan in Detroit), Davis appears to be coming on strong lately. He's getting more comfortable as his right thumb heals and he's added great energy off the bench (more than once recently he's hauled in multiple offensive rebounds on a possession). Davis talked at length Monday about his desire to increase his role and return to the type of indispensable presence he was when Kevin Garnett was injured in last year's postseason (more on that Wednesday). We just don't see this as a move that improves the Celtics moving forward. They can find more economical ways to fill the void at backup point guard if forced to look outside their locker room.
From Broussard:
Sources cautioned that nothing is imminent, but said the clubs are having discussions.
The Bobcats have been searching for a power forward, and the 6-9 Davis could be their man. The Celtics, meanwhile, have been longing for a backup point guard, and Augustin, who's fallen out of favor with Charlotte coach Larry Brown, would be more than adequate.
A straight-up trade would not work because Davis is a base-year compensation player, so other players would have to be involved to meet the financial requirements. That could be a sticking point in the deal.
While teams don't typically trade big for small, Boston is a bit aggravated with Davis, who's had a few off-the-court problems this season. Most notably, he missed the first 27 games of the season after breaking his thumb in an early morning scuffle with a friend.
The Celtics have been rumored to be shopping Ray Allen, and while league sources insist the word "shopping'' is too strong, they say the shooting guard is definitely available. Few believe he'll be traded before the Feb. 18 deadline, though, because the Celtics aren't likely to get a better player in return.
This is one of many trade rumors sure to swirl as the Feb. 18 deadline nears. Let's break it down:
Does it work?: Utilizing the ESPN NBA Trade Machine, this deal won't work straight up, but one version that does come back successful is Davis and Shelden Williams for Augustin. While Davis' base salary for this season is $3 million, his trade value is sliced in half due to base year compensation. When coupled with Williams' $825,497, it's enough to swap for Augustin's $2.37 million deal. (Bill Simmons points out another version that works).
Does it make sense?: Our gut says this one doesn't make sense for Boston. Do the Celtics need a backup point guard? Yes. But the team also just went 28 games without Marquis Daniels, who should resume primary ball-handling responsibilities off the bench as his surgically-repaired left thumb heals. If the team was desperate for a backup ball-handler, it would seem they would have pursued this sort of swap sooner. What's more, Boston seemingly needs Davis' depth in the frontcourt given that Williams has been dropped from the rotation (nine straight DNPs) and Rasheed Wallace continues to be ineffective. Losing Davis would elevate Brian Scalabrine to primary backup at the four spot.
Final thoughts: Despite some frustrating actions this season (off-court fight before season started; obscene comment to fan in Detroit), Davis appears to be coming on strong lately. He's getting more comfortable as his right thumb heals and he's added great energy off the bench (more than once recently he's hauled in multiple offensive rebounds on a possession). Davis talked at length Monday about his desire to increase his role and return to the type of indispensable presence he was when Kevin Garnett was injured in last year's postseason (more on that Wednesday). We just don't see this as a move that improves the Celtics moving forward. They can find more economical ways to fill the void at backup point guard if forced to look outside their locker room.
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Garrett W. Ellwood/Getty ImagesCeltics president of basketball operations Danny Ainge must decide if a shakeup is needed for the C's.
It may not be that simple.
While it's true that 33 games remain on Boston's regular-season schedule, the window for positioning this team for postseason success may be decidedly narrower as the trade deadline approaches.
On the heels of yet another meltdown against a top Eastern Conference foe, the Celtics, now more than ever, seem desperate for a shakeup. If that's to come, they don't have the luxury of time before they have to make some important decisions.
The NBA trade deadline is Feb. 18. Because of the All-Star break, the Celtics play just two more games before that point -- Wednesday night in New Orleans and Feb. 16 in Sacramento.
In what seems like a daily exercise, Celtics coach Doc Rivers reaffirmed his love for his roster after Sunday's disheartening loss to the Magic, which featured yet another second-half collapse and blown double-digit lead. If you believe Rivers, the Celtics have enough talent in their locker room right now to win a championship. Despite their struggles against elite competition, it's still hard to argue given how good they looked at the start of the season.
But recently, the Celtics have looked bad. Very bad. No lead is safe; home court is irrelevant; and it's hard to remember the last time Boston put together 48 minutes of consistent basketball.
Worse yet, neither players nor coaches seem to have an answer for how to fix the problems. The Celtics acknowledge the issues and suggest they will get better, but they offer no definitive plan of attack for fixing those ailments.
So how do they proceed?
Click HERE to read the full story.
Monday's practice report: Pierce sits, Davis celebrates
February, 8, 2010
Feb 8
5:16
PM ET
WALTHAM, Mass. -- A collection of news and notes after the Celtics practiced Monday at the Sports Authority Training Center at HealthPoint:
The rundown (a quick look at practice headlines, click a link to jump to that section)
Doc: Pierce limited, questionable for Wednesday's game
Celtics coach Doc Rivers said the team pulled captain Paul Pierce out of practice Monday afternoon to rest his sprained left mid-foot injury and he is questionable to play Wednesday night when the team visits the New Orleans Hornets.
"Paul didn't do a lot today," said Rivers. "We actually pulled him out early. He practiced, but he wasn't moving well and we just took him out. He's questionable. I think he's going to play, but right now we'll wait and see."
Pierce was spotted on the court at the end of practice, but retreated to the training room as players wrapped up the session with free-throw work.
Rivers said that Marquis Daniels participated without limitation in the hour-long practice and continues to look "great" after returning to the lineup for the first time since missing 28 games after undergoing surgery on his left thumb.
As for his team's recent struggles, particularly the third-quarter collapse against the Orlando Magic on Sunday, Rivers said the team watched tape Monday and knows what needs to be corrected.
"There's so many little things, but all those add up," said Rivers. "It's not easy. It's not one glaring thing. We watched film and there were so many little things, at both ends of the floor. When we need a stop, we're not getting a stop. When we need a basket, we're not getting a basket. It's an execution thing. We know we can do it, but we haven't done it yet. So maybe we don't know we can do it, and we have to work on that. We had a really good day today, but we have to keep working. One day is not going to turn this around."
Rivers also liked the way his veteran team responded to being criticized for its lack of discipline following Sunday's loss.
"They responded with a great practice, so that's good," said Rivers. "We have to get back to work, back to that workman mentality, back to being the best defensive team in the NBA. We have to get back to executing better. We can't just keep relying on guys coming back from injuries. That's thrown us off because of a lack of practice time, but that's become an excuse around here and we're not going to allow that. We can't allow that."
Saints' victory forces change in Celtics' travel plans
The New Orleans Saints' triumph over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV Sunday is forcing the Celtics to rearrange their travel plans.
Boston was scheduled to fly to New Orleans for Wednesday's game against the Hornets on Tuesday afternoon after a practice in Waltham. Advised that the city of New Orleans will essentially be shut down when the Saints' victory parade begins, the Celtics will instead fly out Tuesday morning to avoid navigation headaches.
For Louisiana native Glen Davis -- who emerged from the training area after Monday's practice and hollered a celebratory, "Who dat!?" -- it's incredibly divine timing as he will not only return home in time to see the Saints' parade, but will stay in Louisiana for the All-Star break after Wednesday's game.
Davis seemed a bit subdued talking to the media about the Saints' win, but noted he "got it all out last night" after watching the game at Ray Allen's house with teammates and friends.
"I'll be down there [Tuesday], celebrate a little more," said Davis. "I'll stay there over the break and celebrate even more."
Davis stressed what the win meant for the state of Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
"The Saints did a great job of getting the job done," said Davis. "Being from there, being a fan, and going through all the ups and downs with the Saints, for them to pull it through and win the Super Bowl, it's huge, not only for the team, but the state.
"You really can't [put it in words], you can't express it. You have to be from there, have to have a loved one that's lost something."
Teammate Rajon Rondo plans to join Davis at the parade and joked he might even sneak onto a float for the celebration.
"I'll probably be at the parade myself, I look forward to going down there," said Rondo. "I know a couple guys on the team, we'll see. I can't really say [which float he'll be on] because I don't know if I'm supposed to be on a float. But maybe I'll have a hat on. It may be a Celtics hat, it might be a Saints hat."
Rondo invited to All-Star H-O-R-S-E competition
Rondo has been invited to participate in the H-O-R-S-E competition next week during All-Star weekend in Dallas.
The competition, which will take place on Saturday night before the Slam Dunk and 3-point Shootout, features four players performing trick shots. The 2009 All-Star Game in Phoenix was the competition's inaugural event.
Rondo will face off against Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, the defending champion, and Sacramento's Omri Casspi.
"I haven't practiced yet, [but it's] probably a lifelong practice," said Rondo. "I shoot a lot of H-O-R-S-E shots before games. I used to my first couple years, shoot a lot of crazy shots. I'm more focused now."
Asked if he had any tricks up his sleeves, Rondo smiled and said, "I've got a couple shots nobody can hit. It's just a matter of if I can hit them."
Trade rumors continue to swirl around Allen
CBS Sports published a report Sunday suggesting the Celtics and president of basketball operations Danny Ainge were actively shopping Ray Allen and his expiring contract. From Ken Bergers' blog:
In last week's Celtics mailbag, we pointed to one potential Allen-Martin swap, but also expressed our thoughts that, barring this team hitting rock bottom, a deal involving Allen seems unlikely.
The rundown (a quick look at practice headlines, click a link to jump to that section)
- Paul Pierce pulled from practice, questionable for Wednesday's game vs. Hornets
- Doc Rivers indicates Celtics responded with quality practice after Sunday's loss
- Who dat? Glen Davis celebrates Saints victory in Super Bowl XLIV
- Rajon Rondo invited to H-O-R-S-E competition at All-Star weekend
- Trade rumors continue to swirl around Ray Allen
Doc: Pierce limited, questionable for Wednesday's game
Celtics coach Doc Rivers said the team pulled captain Paul Pierce out of practice Monday afternoon to rest his sprained left mid-foot injury and he is questionable to play Wednesday night when the team visits the New Orleans Hornets.
"Paul didn't do a lot today," said Rivers. "We actually pulled him out early. He practiced, but he wasn't moving well and we just took him out. He's questionable. I think he's going to play, but right now we'll wait and see."
Pierce was spotted on the court at the end of practice, but retreated to the training room as players wrapped up the session with free-throw work.
Rivers said that Marquis Daniels participated without limitation in the hour-long practice and continues to look "great" after returning to the lineup for the first time since missing 28 games after undergoing surgery on his left thumb.
As for his team's recent struggles, particularly the third-quarter collapse against the Orlando Magic on Sunday, Rivers said the team watched tape Monday and knows what needs to be corrected.
"There's so many little things, but all those add up," said Rivers. "It's not easy. It's not one glaring thing. We watched film and there were so many little things, at both ends of the floor. When we need a stop, we're not getting a stop. When we need a basket, we're not getting a basket. It's an execution thing. We know we can do it, but we haven't done it yet. So maybe we don't know we can do it, and we have to work on that. We had a really good day today, but we have to keep working. One day is not going to turn this around."
Rivers also liked the way his veteran team responded to being criticized for its lack of discipline following Sunday's loss.
"They responded with a great practice, so that's good," said Rivers. "We have to get back to work, back to that workman mentality, back to being the best defensive team in the NBA. We have to get back to executing better. We can't just keep relying on guys coming back from injuries. That's thrown us off because of a lack of practice time, but that's become an excuse around here and we're not going to allow that. We can't allow that."
Saints' victory forces change in Celtics' travel plans
The New Orleans Saints' triumph over the Indianapolis Colts in Super Bowl XLIV Sunday is forcing the Celtics to rearrange their travel plans.
Boston was scheduled to fly to New Orleans for Wednesday's game against the Hornets on Tuesday afternoon after a practice in Waltham. Advised that the city of New Orleans will essentially be shut down when the Saints' victory parade begins, the Celtics will instead fly out Tuesday morning to avoid navigation headaches.
For Louisiana native Glen Davis -- who emerged from the training area after Monday's practice and hollered a celebratory, "Who dat!?" -- it's incredibly divine timing as he will not only return home in time to see the Saints' parade, but will stay in Louisiana for the All-Star break after Wednesday's game.
Davis seemed a bit subdued talking to the media about the Saints' win, but noted he "got it all out last night" after watching the game at Ray Allen's house with teammates and friends.
"I'll be down there [Tuesday], celebrate a little more," said Davis. "I'll stay there over the break and celebrate even more."
Davis stressed what the win meant for the state of Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
"The Saints did a great job of getting the job done," said Davis. "Being from there, being a fan, and going through all the ups and downs with the Saints, for them to pull it through and win the Super Bowl, it's huge, not only for the team, but the state.
"You really can't [put it in words], you can't express it. You have to be from there, have to have a loved one that's lost something."
Teammate Rajon Rondo plans to join Davis at the parade and joked he might even sneak onto a float for the celebration.
"I'll probably be at the parade myself, I look forward to going down there," said Rondo. "I know a couple guys on the team, we'll see. I can't really say [which float he'll be on] because I don't know if I'm supposed to be on a float. But maybe I'll have a hat on. It may be a Celtics hat, it might be a Saints hat."
Rondo invited to All-Star H-O-R-S-E competition
Rondo has been invited to participate in the H-O-R-S-E competition next week during All-Star weekend in Dallas.
The competition, which will take place on Saturday night before the Slam Dunk and 3-point Shootout, features four players performing trick shots. The 2009 All-Star Game in Phoenix was the competition's inaugural event.
Rondo will face off against Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant, the defending champion, and Sacramento's Omri Casspi.
"I haven't practiced yet, [but it's] probably a lifelong practice," said Rondo. "I shoot a lot of H-O-R-S-E shots before games. I used to my first couple years, shoot a lot of crazy shots. I'm more focused now."
Asked if he had any tricks up his sleeves, Rondo smiled and said, "I've got a couple shots nobody can hit. It's just a matter of if I can hit them."
Trade rumors continue to swirl around Allen
CBS Sports published a report Sunday suggesting the Celtics and president of basketball operations Danny Ainge were actively shopping Ray Allen and his expiring contract. From Ken Bergers' blog:
In last week's Celtics mailbag, we pointed to one potential Allen-Martin swap, but also expressed our thoughts that, barring this team hitting rock bottom, a deal involving Allen seems unlikely.
The Boston Celtics continue to slip in the ESPN.com NBA power rankings, dropping one spot to No. 11 this week.
Writes Marc Stein: "Who needs the All-Star break more than the Celts? Pierce and KG are laboring, Ray Ray can't escape trade speculation, Rondo is openly doubting team chemistry and they're 9-12 since beating Orlando on Christmas."
Ironically, the Celtics are a three spots behind the Toronto in the rankings, despite the fact that they've beaten Raptors three times this season, and boast a five-game lead in the Atlantic Division standings (though the Raptors are 7-3 in their last 10 games, while Boston is 5-5).
The Celtics hold firm at No. 8 in John Hollinger's statistical rankings.
Writes Marc Stein: "Who needs the All-Star break more than the Celts? Pierce and KG are laboring, Ray Ray can't escape trade speculation, Rondo is openly doubting team chemistry and they're 9-12 since beating Orlando on Christmas."
Ironically, the Celtics are a three spots behind the Toronto in the rankings, despite the fact that they've beaten Raptors three times this season, and boast a five-game lead in the Atlantic Division standings (though the Raptors are 7-3 in their last 10 games, while Boston is 5-5).
The Celtics hold firm at No. 8 in John Hollinger's statistical rankings.
On the day before he returned to game action, Marquis Daniels was asked what he thought when he heard national prognosticators suggest that he was the cure for what ailed the the struggling Celtics.
Daniels, who had missed 28 games after surgery to repair a torn ligament in his left thumb, just smiled and noted he doesn't watch much TV. "My kids are too busy watching Max & Ruby," he joked.
Before Boston's third-quarter meltdown Sunday against the Magic, Daniels did seem like the missing link. He received a standing ovation when he checked in for the final seconds of the first quarter, then stayed on the floor for the start of the second frame, where Boston's bench helped turn a one-point lead into an 11-point halftime advantage.
Daniels finished with 8 points on 4-of-7 shooting with 3 rebounds and a steal over 12:31. He scored six of those points over a three-minute span, hitting three of his first four shots in his first game back.
"Coach [Doc Rivers] wanted me to come out and be aggressive," said Daniels. "I just wanted to come out and do the regular things that I normally do. They were giving me the shots and I was just trying to take them, and be aggressive."
The 6-foot-6 Daniels benefited from a size mismatch on 6-foot-4 J.J. Redick, and immediately set up shop in the post. Daniels and Boston's bench dominated the second quarter, which led Redick to finish with a Magic-worst minus-15 in the plus/minus category.
Any good feelings were washed away in an abysmal third quarter, but Daniels gives Boston reason to be optimistic.
"Marquis played phenomenal," said Rivers. "I've got to tell you, I was shocked by that. I wasn't going to play him. That’s how [bad] I thought he looked in practice [Saturday]. But he was terrific."
Despite the loss, Daniels pointed to the success of the second unit as one positive to build on.
“It was good [to mesh with the second unit]," said Daniels. "I think that we came out with a lot of energy. We just have to get the team to work and get better."
Postgame notes: Celtics not among the elite
February, 7, 2010
Feb 7
6:20
PM ET
BOSTON -- A collection of postgame news, notes and analysis after the Orlando Magic defeated the Boston Celtics 96-89 Sunday at TD Garden:
The rundown (a quick look at the postgame headlines)
The troubling part wasn't that the Celtics fell to the Orlando Magic Sunday, dropping to a dismal 3-9 against the teams with the top eight records in the NBA this season.
No, the troubling part came when a voice inside the Boston locker room suggested the Celtics were still better than Orlando, despite a 1-3 record against the Magic this season, including two losses at home.
"One of the guys said, 'We’re better than Orlando,' and I said, 'No you’re not. That’s a bunch of crap,'" Celtics coach Doc Rivers said following the game. "They beat you three games, two at your place. They’re better. They knocked you out of the playoffs last year.
"Orlando's better than us right now. Atlanta's better than us right now. [The Los Angeles Lakers are] better than us right now. Those are the teams that have beaten us. That doesn't mean that we can't be better than them at some point. But right now, those teams are better than us.”
Ray Allen said he wasn't overly concerned about Boston's struggles against the elite, but agreed with Rivers' assessment.
"I'm not concerned, we feel in every game we've played [against the elite competition], we put a good brand of basketball out there," said Allen. "What we're not doing now is doing it for 48 minutes.
"Right now we can't say that we're better than Orlando. We can't say we're better than Atlanta. We can't say we're better than the Lakers. They beat us. It's all about what's in the pudding and right now we don't have the proof."
Click HERE to read the full story.
Pierce: Foot's fine, Celtics' third-quarter performance is not
Celtics captain Paul Pierce returned from a left mid-foot sprain that sidelined him for two games last week to register 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting (though only 1 of 6 from 3-point land) with 4 rebounds and 3 steals over 30 minutes of action.
"The foot was a little bit sore, but I don't think it affected too much of my movement," said Pierce. "Like I said, it's soreness on the top part of my foot, so as far as my lateral movement, up and down, it really didn't matter."
Asked about his rhythm on the floor, Pierce again deemed himself in good health: "I felt fine out there," he said.
Pierce's plus/minus stat suggests he wasn't a liability with the foot injury, even as Rivers suggested he labored at times. Pierce finished at minus-2, the best among all five starters.
Pierce seemed more concerned about the team's struggles than his own, but noted that poor second-half defense led to poor offensive choices, including a reliance on 3-pointers that didn't fall (5 of 16, 31.3 percent).
"You don't play any defense and then the offense wasn't there," said Pierce. "We can't let one thing affect another. We're a defensive team first and we shouldn't allow teams to score 36 points, especially at home. I think we got a great rhythm and a great focus on defense in the first half. We really ran the guys off the shooters, but then we opened up the 3-point game and we're not really a 3-point team. We just didn't recover to the shooters and that was the game right there."
Garnett: No excuse for ugly third quarter
Celtics forward Kevin Garnett said he couldn't pinpoint the exact reason why the Celtics have struggled in third quarter this year, and particularly Sunday against the Magic, but he's not happy with the results.
“I have no idea, but collectively, we all share that it's something we've got to get better at," said Garnett. "There's no excuses for that. There's no answers for that and we've just got to lock in. For some reason third quarters have been kicking our behinds this year. We've just got to get better at it, period.”
As for Sunday's forgettable third quarter, Garnett said the team simply has to be better than what it showed.
"[Outscored] 36-11, that's the game right there," he said. "We called some different sets, did some different things, but for the most part, we just didn't get it done. I think we're better than 11 points. We've definitely got to put forth a better effort in executing, and we will. You hate to see that third quarter come like that. I'm sure we’re going to watch film and learn from it and then apply it, but we're better than 11 points."
Opposing view: Mirror images
When the Magic look in the mirror, they see the Celtics staring back.
Both teams have endured similar struggles in the new year, but the most frightening similarity might have been what unfolded in the third quarter. Two days ago, the Washington Wizards outscored the Magic 39-17 in the third quarter of a 92-91 win that featured the visitors erasing a 15-point halftime deficit.
On Sunday, the Magic flipped the script in Boston.
“Mirror image of what happened to us the other night at home," said Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy. "Big lead at the half, get absolutely annihilated in the third quarter. People want to know how you can let that happen, now you've got someone else you can ask besides us. It happens. I mean, teams get on a roll and then it's tough to stop them. Obviously a great, great third quarter [for us Sunday]. I thought Dwight [Howard] played a terrific second half after playing less than eight minutes in the first half. Just a great win for us. We've got a lot of guys who contributed. We held them to 35 percent [shooting] in the second half, defended much better, played much harder. A good win for us.
"In a matter of three days, I've seen the worst quarter we've had since I've been here in three years and the best now in three years. Yeah, I thought that was the best quarter we've played since I've been here. We played great.”
Added Dwight Howard: "I think we just came out with a lot of intensity. I was upset about how we played in the first half, it wasn't as well as we wanted to. We came out in the second half with a lot of energy, defensively moved our feet, we were talking more, and that's what got us the big lead."
Loose balls
The rundown (a quick look at the postgame headlines)
Doc: C's haven't proven they're better than the NBA's elite
- Doc Rivers says Celtics can't claim to be better than Magic
- Paul Pierce notes lopsided third quarter hurt more than his foot injury
- Kevin Garnett can't diagnose Boston's third-quarter struggles
- Opposing view: Third quarter is mirror image for the Magic
- Loose balls: Bench in focus; Orlando thrives on 3-pointers
- Game recap: Magic ride third-quarter surge
The troubling part wasn't that the Celtics fell to the Orlando Magic Sunday, dropping to a dismal 3-9 against the teams with the top eight records in the NBA this season.
No, the troubling part came when a voice inside the Boston locker room suggested the Celtics were still better than Orlando, despite a 1-3 record against the Magic this season, including two losses at home.
"One of the guys said, 'We’re better than Orlando,' and I said, 'No you’re not. That’s a bunch of crap,'" Celtics coach Doc Rivers said following the game. "They beat you three games, two at your place. They’re better. They knocked you out of the playoffs last year.
"Orlando's better than us right now. Atlanta's better than us right now. [The Los Angeles Lakers are] better than us right now. Those are the teams that have beaten us. That doesn't mean that we can't be better than them at some point. But right now, those teams are better than us.”
Ray Allen said he wasn't overly concerned about Boston's struggles against the elite, but agreed with Rivers' assessment.
"I'm not concerned, we feel in every game we've played [against the elite competition], we put a good brand of basketball out there," said Allen. "What we're not doing now is doing it for 48 minutes.
"Right now we can't say that we're better than Orlando. We can't say we're better than Atlanta. We can't say we're better than the Lakers. They beat us. It's all about what's in the pudding and right now we don't have the proof."
Click HERE to read the full story.
Pierce: Foot's fine, Celtics' third-quarter performance is not
Celtics captain Paul Pierce returned from a left mid-foot sprain that sidelined him for two games last week to register 13 points on 5-of-12 shooting (though only 1 of 6 from 3-point land) with 4 rebounds and 3 steals over 30 minutes of action.
"The foot was a little bit sore, but I don't think it affected too much of my movement," said Pierce. "Like I said, it's soreness on the top part of my foot, so as far as my lateral movement, up and down, it really didn't matter."
Asked about his rhythm on the floor, Pierce again deemed himself in good health: "I felt fine out there," he said.
Pierce's plus/minus stat suggests he wasn't a liability with the foot injury, even as Rivers suggested he labored at times. Pierce finished at minus-2, the best among all five starters.
Pierce seemed more concerned about the team's struggles than his own, but noted that poor second-half defense led to poor offensive choices, including a reliance on 3-pointers that didn't fall (5 of 16, 31.3 percent).
"You don't play any defense and then the offense wasn't there," said Pierce. "We can't let one thing affect another. We're a defensive team first and we shouldn't allow teams to score 36 points, especially at home. I think we got a great rhythm and a great focus on defense in the first half. We really ran the guys off the shooters, but then we opened up the 3-point game and we're not really a 3-point team. We just didn't recover to the shooters and that was the game right there."
Garnett: No excuse for ugly third quarter
Celtics forward Kevin Garnett said he couldn't pinpoint the exact reason why the Celtics have struggled in third quarter this year, and particularly Sunday against the Magic, but he's not happy with the results.
“I have no idea, but collectively, we all share that it's something we've got to get better at," said Garnett. "There's no excuses for that. There's no answers for that and we've just got to lock in. For some reason third quarters have been kicking our behinds this year. We've just got to get better at it, period.”
As for Sunday's forgettable third quarter, Garnett said the team simply has to be better than what it showed.
"[Outscored] 36-11, that's the game right there," he said. "We called some different sets, did some different things, but for the most part, we just didn't get it done. I think we're better than 11 points. We've definitely got to put forth a better effort in executing, and we will. You hate to see that third quarter come like that. I'm sure we’re going to watch film and learn from it and then apply it, but we're better than 11 points."
Opposing view: Mirror images
When the Magic look in the mirror, they see the Celtics staring back.
Both teams have endured similar struggles in the new year, but the most frightening similarity might have been what unfolded in the third quarter. Two days ago, the Washington Wizards outscored the Magic 39-17 in the third quarter of a 92-91 win that featured the visitors erasing a 15-point halftime deficit.
On Sunday, the Magic flipped the script in Boston.
“Mirror image of what happened to us the other night at home," said Orlando coach Stan Van Gundy. "Big lead at the half, get absolutely annihilated in the third quarter. People want to know how you can let that happen, now you've got someone else you can ask besides us. It happens. I mean, teams get on a roll and then it's tough to stop them. Obviously a great, great third quarter [for us Sunday]. I thought Dwight [Howard] played a terrific second half after playing less than eight minutes in the first half. Just a great win for us. We've got a lot of guys who contributed. We held them to 35 percent [shooting] in the second half, defended much better, played much harder. A good win for us.
"In a matter of three days, I've seen the worst quarter we've had since I've been here in three years and the best now in three years. Yeah, I thought that was the best quarter we've played since I've been here. We played great.”
Added Dwight Howard: "I think we just came out with a lot of intensity. I was upset about how we played in the first half, it wasn't as well as we wanted to. We came out in the second half with a lot of energy, defensively moved our feet, we were talking more, and that's what got us the big lead."
Loose balls
- With the return of Marquis Daniels, who missed 28 games after left thumb surgery, Boston's bench looked revitalized in the first half, connecting on 9-of-16 shots (56.3 percent) for 18 points before the intermission. After halftime, the Celtics' reserves combined to go 4-of-13 (30.8 percent) for 12 points. Glen Davis finished with nine points, but connected on 4-of-11 shots, while Daniels logged eight points on 4-of-7 shooting in a little more than 12 minutes. Boston utilized only its core second unit, with Brian Scalabrine and Shelden Williams logging DNP's (coach's decision).
- Second-year players J.R. Giddens and Bill Walker were inactive with the returns of Pierce and Daniels. Giddens is recovering from arthroscopic knee surgery (and noted before the game all is going well), while Walker is the victim of a crowded bench.
- The Celtics finished with a 42-28 advantage in points in the paint, but Orlando's long-range shooting (11 of 22 from 3-point land) killed Boston.
- Boston outscored Orlando 78-60 outside of the third quarter.
First impressions: Magic 96, Celtics 89
February, 7, 2010
Feb 7
5:08
PM ET
BOSTON -- Instant reaction after the Orlando Magic posted a 96-89 triumph over the Boston Celtics Sunday at TD Garden:
How the game was won: Vince Carter connected on 7-of-13 shots for a team-high 20 points to lead Orlando's entire starting five in double figures. Rajon Rondo paced Boston with a team-high 17 points (also on 7-of-13 shooting), adding 9 assists and 7 rebounds. Paul Pierce returned from a foot injury to score 13 points in 30 minutes, while Marquis Daniels added 8 points in 11 minutes in his first game back from left thumb surgery.
Turning point: Boston's bench helped the Celtics open an 11-point halftime lead, but the starters were absolutely trampled in the third quarter as the Magic outscored Boston 36-11 for a 14-point advantage after three. The Celtics led 57-46 with 9:03 to play in the third quarter, but Orlando closed out the period on a 30-5 run, including a 19-0 burst over little more than a five-minute span that turned a nine-point lead (60-51) into a 10-point deficit (70-60). Carter scored nine of the first 12 points in that burst, and his 3-pointer gave Orlando a lead it wouldn't give back (63-60).
Stat of the game: The Magic connected on 11-of-22 3-point attempts. Orlando averages 10.1 trifectas per game and is set to challenge the NBA record of 10.2 set by the 2005-06 Phoenix Suns.
Unsung hero: Orlando forward Matt Barnes finished 4-of-6 shooting for 11 points with a mind-numbing plus-25 in the plus/minus category. By comparison, Dwight Howard and Carter were next best at plus-10, while Kevin Garnett was minus-7.
What it means: Aided by the return of Pierce and Daniels, the Celtics looked like the team that opened the season on fire -- for a while. But all positive feelings were washed away with an abysmal third quarter in which Boston simply had no answers for stopping the Magic. Since Christmas, the Celtics have fallen to fellow Eastern Conference front-runners Orlando and Atlanta five times in five meetings. Questions remain about just how far this team can go given its struggles against elite competition. Boston has simply been unable to put together 48 minutes of consistent play against top teams.
Pregame notes: Pierce, Daniels will play
February, 7, 2010
Feb 7
1:52
PM ET
BOSTON -- A collection of pregame news and notes before the Boston Celtics host the Orlando Magic at the TD Garden:
The rundown (a quick look at the pregame headlines)
For the first time this season, the Celtics are poised to have their entire top 12 available Sunday afternoon when they tip-off against the Magic as coach Doc Rivers indicated that both Paul Pierce (left mid-foot sprain) and Marquis Daniels (left thumb surgery) will dress and see action.
Rivers did say that both would be on a bit of a short leash because, with Pierce, he's still not 100 percent and did not look great during Saturday's practice, and, with Daniels, he's missed 28 games and will need time to re-acclimate to game speed.
But the mere emotional lift that a full roster will provide the Celtics might outweigh any limitations that occur.
After determining that Pierce would play, Rivers actually circled back to his captain to ask again if he felt confident he could go.
"I went to him today -- which I rarely do after we make [the lineup] -- but I went back to him, and said, 'You sure?' He said, 'No, the pain is on the top of foot. It's not anything under the foot, I can push off fine. I just hope I don't get kicked or stepped on.' I'm sure that's going to happen now."
Daniels ripped open a fresh pair of knee pads in the locker room and expressed excitement in his first game action since Dec. 4. He's missed 28 contests while recovering.
"I'm pretty excited to get out there and get active," said Daniels, who will wear a small cushion under the tape over his left thumb and wrist. He still hasn't drawn contact in two recent practice sessions, but knows someone's going to whack him at one point or another today.
As for his role, Daniels hopes to pick up where he left off.
"Same as it was before I went out," he said. "Bring some energy, play defense, do the things that they like me to do."
Big game? Celtics focused on improvement
Given the Celtics' struggles against elite foes this season, a little bit more focus is being payed to how Boston fares Sunday in their final regular-season meeting with the Magic (as we detailed in this game preview).
But Rivers sought to downplay the overall significance regardless of Sunday's outcome.
"Let's say if we win, if we see them again in April and May, I don't know if it matters, same thing for the Hawks -- it may matter for them, it may not, who knows?" said Rivers. "For us, obviously, the goal is just improving. If you sweep a team, does that guarantee you beat them in the playoffs? I can tell you from personal experience it does not. [Sunday's game] is important, but winning these games is always important."
Loose Balls
J.R. Giddens, rehabbing from arthroscopic left knee surgery earlier this week, was in good spirits in the locker room and said he hoped for a speedy recovery. Asked how he was feeling, with Eddie House in earshot, he joked, "I feel good enough that I could probably go out there and dunk over Eddie House right now." Giddens was expecting to miss about a month as the knee, which features two small scars, recovers.
A lot of All-Star talk with Stan Van Gundy set to coach the Eastern Conference squad next weekend. While Rivers joked about limiting Kevin Garnett to about 30 seconds of action, Van Gundy did not that, as a fan-voted starter, he did expect Garnett to see a decent amount of action. But Van Gundy also recognizes that guys like Garnett and Pierce might not need extended minutes and will do his best to rest anybody that asks to be limited. Plus, Van Gundy joked, this is the final meeting of the regular season, so running the Celtics for 40-plus minutes doesn't have too much of a benefit.
The rundown (a quick look at the pregame headlines)
Pierce, Daniels to play vs. Magic
- Paul Pierce, Marquis Daniels to play vs. Magic
- Doc Rivers says both will be on a short leash as they get re-acclimated
- Big game? Celtics focus on simply improving vs. good opponent
- Loose Balls: JR Giddens feeling good; All-Star chatter with Stan Van Gundy
For the first time this season, the Celtics are poised to have their entire top 12 available Sunday afternoon when they tip-off against the Magic as coach Doc Rivers indicated that both Paul Pierce (left mid-foot sprain) and Marquis Daniels (left thumb surgery) will dress and see action.
Rivers did say that both would be on a bit of a short leash because, with Pierce, he's still not 100 percent and did not look great during Saturday's practice, and, with Daniels, he's missed 28 games and will need time to re-acclimate to game speed.
But the mere emotional lift that a full roster will provide the Celtics might outweigh any limitations that occur.
After determining that Pierce would play, Rivers actually circled back to his captain to ask again if he felt confident he could go.
"I went to him today -- which I rarely do after we make [the lineup] -- but I went back to him, and said, 'You sure?' He said, 'No, the pain is on the top of foot. It's not anything under the foot, I can push off fine. I just hope I don't get kicked or stepped on.' I'm sure that's going to happen now."
Daniels ripped open a fresh pair of knee pads in the locker room and expressed excitement in his first game action since Dec. 4. He's missed 28 contests while recovering.
"I'm pretty excited to get out there and get active," said Daniels, who will wear a small cushion under the tape over his left thumb and wrist. He still hasn't drawn contact in two recent practice sessions, but knows someone's going to whack him at one point or another today.
As for his role, Daniels hopes to pick up where he left off.
"Same as it was before I went out," he said. "Bring some energy, play defense, do the things that they like me to do."
Big game? Celtics focused on improvement
Given the Celtics' struggles against elite foes this season, a little bit more focus is being payed to how Boston fares Sunday in their final regular-season meeting with the Magic (as we detailed in this game preview).
But Rivers sought to downplay the overall significance regardless of Sunday's outcome.
"Let's say if we win, if we see them again in April and May, I don't know if it matters, same thing for the Hawks -- it may matter for them, it may not, who knows?" said Rivers. "For us, obviously, the goal is just improving. If you sweep a team, does that guarantee you beat them in the playoffs? I can tell you from personal experience it does not. [Sunday's game] is important, but winning these games is always important."
Loose Balls
J.R. Giddens, rehabbing from arthroscopic left knee surgery earlier this week, was in good spirits in the locker room and said he hoped for a speedy recovery. Asked how he was feeling, with Eddie House in earshot, he joked, "I feel good enough that I could probably go out there and dunk over Eddie House right now." Giddens was expecting to miss about a month as the knee, which features two small scars, recovers.
A lot of All-Star talk with Stan Van Gundy set to coach the Eastern Conference squad next weekend. While Rivers joked about limiting Kevin Garnett to about 30 seconds of action, Van Gundy did not that, as a fan-voted starter, he did expect Garnett to see a decent amount of action. But Van Gundy also recognizes that guys like Garnett and Pierce might not need extended minutes and will do his best to rest anybody that asks to be limited. Plus, Van Gundy joked, this is the final meeting of the regular season, so running the Celtics for 40-plus minutes doesn't have too much of a benefit.
Celtics guard Ray Allen takes you inside the mind of a sharpshooter and looks back on his favorite game-winning shots in Boston (hint: Chicago's Joakim Noah is prominently involved).
During the course of the past week, the Celtics have started to pull themselves from a funk the likes of which the Big Three have not encountered since uniting in Boston.
The Celtics dropped 8 of 12 to close out January, their first losing month since Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen joined forces in 2007, highlighted by a particularly woeful three-game stretch that featured losses to elite competition in the Magic, Hawks and Lakers.
A three-game win streak with triumphs over the Wizards, Heat and Nets this week has done little to instill the sort of confidence that existed at the start of the 2009-10 season. But a win Sunday when the Magic visit the TD Garden in a Super Bowl XLIV appetizer (ABC, coverage begins at 2 p.m. ET) could go a long way toward re-establishing Boston as a championship contender.
Some players and coaches will tell you Sunday's clash is just one game on an 82-game schedule. So just how big is this Magic-Celtics clash?
Click HERE to read the full story.
The Celtics dropped 8 of 12 to close out January, their first losing month since Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen joined forces in 2007, highlighted by a particularly woeful three-game stretch that featured losses to elite competition in the Magic, Hawks and Lakers.
A three-game win streak with triumphs over the Wizards, Heat and Nets this week has done little to instill the sort of confidence that existed at the start of the 2009-10 season. But a win Sunday when the Magic visit the TD Garden in a Super Bowl XLIV appetizer (ABC, coverage begins at 2 p.m. ET) could go a long way toward re-establishing Boston as a championship contender.
Some players and coaches will tell you Sunday's clash is just one game on an 82-game schedule. So just how big is this Magic-Celtics clash?
Click HERE to read the full story.
Saturday's practice report: Pierce, Daniels want to play Sunday
February, 6, 2010
Feb 6
4:28
PM ET
WALTHAM, Mass. -- A collection of news and notes following the Celtics' practice Saturday at the Sports Authority Training Center at HealthPoint:
The rundown (a quick look at practice headlines)
Paul Pierce (left mid-foot sprain) and Marquis Daniels (left thumb) deemed themselves ready for action Sunday when the Orlando Magic visit the TD Garden for a Super Bowl Sunday matinee, but Celtics coach Doc Rivers dubbed both 50/50 and suggested both remain game-time decisions.
Rivers noted that Pierce looked OK walking through drills, but was concerned when he was hesitant during live action. Rivers was more encouraged by Daniels' performance, but might still err on the side of caution and get him another practice or two before bringing him back to game action.
"We didn't do too much [Saturday], we walked over some stuff and did a couple things live," said Rivers. "[Pierce] looked OK, but I'm not sure yet [about playing Sunday]. We'll see how he feels tomorrow. ... I thought he looked good until we ran a couple live plays, then he was a little hesitant. And if he's a hesitant, I'll probably sit him."
Pierce has missed the past two games after suffering a left mid-foot strain when he collided with Caron Butler diving after a loose ball during the first quarter of Monday's win over the Wizards. He admitted he might have been hesitant based on being his first live action since the injury forced him out during the second half of Monday's game.
But, regardless, he says he's ready to play.
"I feel I could have gone last game," said Pierce. "I'm really ready to go, if that's what y'all want to hear."
Pierce said he believes it will ultimately be his decision and, barring the unforeseen, he's ready to play. He said the foot is doing better each day and it's simply the location of the injury that's the most difficult, since he's never experienced a mid-foot sprain.
Pierce did indicate that he'd reevaluate himself after Sunday's game to determine his plan of attack from there. If all goes well, he'll play against New Orleans in the final game before the break, then go to Texas to participate in the All-Star festivities. But if the foot reacts poorly after returning to game action Sunday, he might have to consider another break.
As for Daniels, he's still immersing himself in the playbook, but Rivers suggested he's likely to at least dress for Sunday's game and, if nothing else, could be used in an emergency situation if the coaching staff feels he's healthy enough for action.
"Marquis looked pretty good, actually," said Rivers. "Besides not knowing any of our stuff, he looked OK. ... Marquis played hard, he played normal. He just needs to figure out [the playbook]. I don't know yet on [Daniels and Pierce]. I would say 50/50, probably on both of them right now. Even if Marquis dresses, I'm still not sure he'll play.
"With Marquis, I'd prefer him have a really good practice, that we'd have Monday or Tuesday. But we may dress him and, if we need him, we'll play him."
Daniels didn't draw the full contact he's been seeking, but he gave nothing but positive reports on his thumb, noting the only lingering pain comes during rehab exercises as they break down the scar tissue.
"I think I'm ready," said Daniels. "Hopefully [Sunday] I'm ready to go, whatever minutes I get."
Daniels has missed 28 games since undergoing surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left thumb in early December.
Check out the video above as Doc Rivers offers an injury update on Pierce and Daniels, then breaks down Sunday's matchup vs. the Magic.
Rivers to players: Go to Cabo or Las Vegas for All-Star break
The Celtics met with a sleep doctor near the end of Saturday's practice to review best practices as the team prepares for the All-Star break, then opens the second half with a four-game road trip out west.
Rivers skipped the session, he'd already been briefed on the speech, and had some eyebrow-raising advice for his players.
"We have one advantage, because of the All-Star break, if guys want to do it, they can go out west early. They don't have to go to Sacramento, but they can go to Las Vegas or Cabo," said Rivers, suggesting potential vacation spots before the Celtics open against the Kings on Feb. 16. "At least then they'd be on the same timeframe. That give us the chance to be acclimated."
Rivers told his guys to enjoy the break and doesn't mind if they go have fun in Sin City or a tropical island.
"I don't mind, I told them to go to Vegas, go wherever you want," said Rivers. "Get your mind off of basketball, get on West Coast time. Stay up all night if you want."
The Celtics might not necessarily be flocking west, but they are headed for warmer climes.
Ray Allen noted he'd head to the Bahamas, while Daniels said he's headed home to Orlando (though he'll mix work and pleasure as he continues to rehab). Pierce, Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett are headed to Dallas for the All-Star Game, limiting their potential adventures.
As for Rivers, he's going to Orlando, too, to watch his kids' games.
The rundown (a quick look at practice headlines)
Pierce, Daniels ready to go; Doc deems them 50/50
- Paul Pierce, Marquis Daniels deem themselves ready to play Sunday vs. Magic
- Doc Rivers suggests both players remain 50/50 and will be game-time decisions
- Team meets with sleep doctor as C's prepare for West Coast trip to open second half
- Rivers encourages players to visit Cabo or Vegas on break to acclimate to time zone
Paul Pierce (left mid-foot sprain) and Marquis Daniels (left thumb) deemed themselves ready for action Sunday when the Orlando Magic visit the TD Garden for a Super Bowl Sunday matinee, but Celtics coach Doc Rivers dubbed both 50/50 and suggested both remain game-time decisions.
Rivers noted that Pierce looked OK walking through drills, but was concerned when he was hesitant during live action. Rivers was more encouraged by Daniels' performance, but might still err on the side of caution and get him another practice or two before bringing him back to game action.
"We didn't do too much [Saturday], we walked over some stuff and did a couple things live," said Rivers. "[Pierce] looked OK, but I'm not sure yet [about playing Sunday]. We'll see how he feels tomorrow. ... I thought he looked good until we ran a couple live plays, then he was a little hesitant. And if he's a hesitant, I'll probably sit him."
Pierce has missed the past two games after suffering a left mid-foot strain when he collided with Caron Butler diving after a loose ball during the first quarter of Monday's win over the Wizards. He admitted he might have been hesitant based on being his first live action since the injury forced him out during the second half of Monday's game.
But, regardless, he says he's ready to play.
"I feel I could have gone last game," said Pierce. "I'm really ready to go, if that's what y'all want to hear."
Pierce said he believes it will ultimately be his decision and, barring the unforeseen, he's ready to play. He said the foot is doing better each day and it's simply the location of the injury that's the most difficult, since he's never experienced a mid-foot sprain.
Pierce did indicate that he'd reevaluate himself after Sunday's game to determine his plan of attack from there. If all goes well, he'll play against New Orleans in the final game before the break, then go to Texas to participate in the All-Star festivities. But if the foot reacts poorly after returning to game action Sunday, he might have to consider another break.
As for Daniels, he's still immersing himself in the playbook, but Rivers suggested he's likely to at least dress for Sunday's game and, if nothing else, could be used in an emergency situation if the coaching staff feels he's healthy enough for action.
"Marquis looked pretty good, actually," said Rivers. "Besides not knowing any of our stuff, he looked OK. ... Marquis played hard, he played normal. He just needs to figure out [the playbook]. I don't know yet on [Daniels and Pierce]. I would say 50/50, probably on both of them right now. Even if Marquis dresses, I'm still not sure he'll play.
"With Marquis, I'd prefer him have a really good practice, that we'd have Monday or Tuesday. But we may dress him and, if we need him, we'll play him."
Daniels didn't draw the full contact he's been seeking, but he gave nothing but positive reports on his thumb, noting the only lingering pain comes during rehab exercises as they break down the scar tissue.
"I think I'm ready," said Daniels. "Hopefully [Sunday] I'm ready to go, whatever minutes I get."
Daniels has missed 28 games since undergoing surgery to repair torn ligaments in his left thumb in early December.
Check out the video above as Doc Rivers offers an injury update on Pierce and Daniels, then breaks down Sunday's matchup vs. the Magic.
Rivers to players: Go to Cabo or Las Vegas for All-Star break
The Celtics met with a sleep doctor near the end of Saturday's practice to review best practices as the team prepares for the All-Star break, then opens the second half with a four-game road trip out west.
Rivers skipped the session, he'd already been briefed on the speech, and had some eyebrow-raising advice for his players.
"We have one advantage, because of the All-Star break, if guys want to do it, they can go out west early. They don't have to go to Sacramento, but they can go to Las Vegas or Cabo," said Rivers, suggesting potential vacation spots before the Celtics open against the Kings on Feb. 16. "At least then they'd be on the same timeframe. That give us the chance to be acclimated."
Rivers told his guys to enjoy the break and doesn't mind if they go have fun in Sin City or a tropical island.
"I don't mind, I told them to go to Vegas, go wherever you want," said Rivers. "Get your mind off of basketball, get on West Coast time. Stay up all night if you want."
The Celtics might not necessarily be flocking west, but they are headed for warmer climes.
Ray Allen noted he'd head to the Bahamas, while Daniels said he's headed home to Orlando (though he'll mix work and pleasure as he continues to rehab). Pierce, Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett are headed to Dallas for the All-Star Game, limiting their potential adventures.
As for Rivers, he's going to Orlando, too, to watch his kids' games.
BOSTON -- No team needs the All-Star break more than the Boston Celtics, something the team openly acknowledged on the heels of a cringe-worthy 96-87 triumph over the lowly New Jersey Nets Friday night at the TD Garden.
And while the Celtics didn't point to a whole lot of silver linings after one of their ugliest performances -- one that came dangerously close to resulting in what would have been the most wrenching loss of the season -- those positives do exist.
So here's four reasons -- one for each of New Jersey's wins this season -- to ignore the fact that Boston let the Nets hang around for three-plus quarters.
Click HERE to read the full story:
And while the Celtics didn't point to a whole lot of silver linings after one of their ugliest performances -- one that came dangerously close to resulting in what would have been the most wrenching loss of the season -- those positives do exist.
So here's four reasons -- one for each of New Jersey's wins this season -- to ignore the fact that Boston let the Nets hang around for three-plus quarters.
Click HERE to read the full story:
BOSTON -- A collection of postgame news, notes, and analysis after the Boston Celtics posted a 96-87 triumph over the New Jersey Nets at TD Garden:
The rundown (a quick look at the postgame headlines)
Both Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo lamented Boston's lack of energy out of the gates Friday night. Unlike the last meeting in New Jersey, where Boston opened a 71-35 halftime advantage, the Celtics allowed the Nets to hang around into the fourth quarter and that meant no easy evening for a team that could have used a laugher.
"Tonight, we didn't come out with that that killer mentality to destroy them in the the first half," said Garnett. "I thought that, collectively, as the quarters went on, we increased the intensity defensively... When we started the game, we didn’t come out with that energy to just get them out of here. You look at the game in New Jersey, the tone was set right away. Defensively, guys' hands were active. You could see the energy there, but tonight it wasn’t the same."
Rondo stressed that New Jersey's 4-44 record had nothing to do with underestimating them or not bringing the necessary energy.
“Last time, we did a great job coming out there early and attacking them," said Rondo. "We were setting the tone, and our guys got to sit in the fourth. That is not an excuse. We just didn’t come out with the right energy or right effort tonight.”
Rondo finished with 17 points and 11 assists, for yet another double-double. Garnett finished with 10 points and 7 rebounds, but labored at times defensively, and was his own biggest critic after the game.
“I was OK," he said. "I made some misreads. Kris Humphries made a couple of baskets on me and I wasn’t happy about that. Defensively, you have to know what you are going to have to do when picks come. Talking for guys like Rondo and Ray [Allen] on the pick-and-rolls. I messed up a couple of times. I am human, I will get better at that, but, for the most part, my focus right now is rebounding better and continuing to talk. I did miss some assignments tonight, which is something that I don’t usually do."
Doc's Opinion: No halftime speech
The side-by-side, first-half statistical comparison said all that needed to be said at halftime, so Celtics coach Doc Rivers didn't reach for many motivational words for his team.
“I don’t know what it was, we just didn’t play well in the first half," said Rivers. "I thought it was a game that we thought we could just outscore them. And we have those games. All of a sudden, with about four minutes left in the second quarter, we missed a lot of open shots. And they kept making shots because we weren't defending.
"[The Nets] had a [55-51] lead and I didn’t say much -- very little -- at halftime. I basically said, ‘I don’t think I need to talk. We’re a defensive team and tonight we want to outscore them.’ And I said, ‘Good luck.’ That was about it. But in the second half, they were terrific. Our defensive energy picked up and that’s why we won the game."
While not thrilled with the first-half effort, Rivers didn't lament that the Nets pushed his team through three-plus quarters.
"Orlando lost to Washington tonight, so it’s just basketball," said Rivers. "You show up. I told them before the game that we should win, I’m not going to blow smoke and create some illusion that’s not there. I told them, 'Having said that, the only way you can do that is to execute our system. And if we don’t, then anybody can win the game.' It’s called basketball. It’s a competition. I thought from the middle of the third quarter on, we [executed our system.]"
Walker helps spell Allen
After playing Ray Allen for more than 42 minutes in Wednesday's win over the Heat, Rivers stressed that he absolutely needed to lower than number moving forward. So even as Boston's offense struggled and the Nets hung around, Rivers did his best to stick to his plan.
“I was bound and determined to try to get Ray to 33 minutes, in that area, and it was murder at one point because we couldn’t make shots in that one stretch," said Rivers. Allen logged 33:20 of action, scoring a team-high 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting.
"We were getting stops and I knew if we put Ray on the floor with Eddie [House], it would open the floor up, but Ray had already played his allotment for me. And so, I mean, that was a tough one. But we stayed with it, we stayed the course. And when [Allen] came in, it was big for us. I thought he made shots because he had better legs.”
Allen's decrease in minutes meant extra time for second-year forward Bill Walker, who logged 9:21, and earned praise from both Rivers and Rondo, who noted Walker's size and athleticism helped counteract the Nets when they tried to present matchup problems with their personnel.
“Billy was fine," said Rivers. "It’s really unfair to Billy in a lot of ways. We play him in practice at the four and at the three. We ran a couple sets, but you could tell he wasn’t comfortable at the three-spot. But he cuts hard. We ran the one play out of the time-out and he got it deep, but he just bobbled the ball. And we could get him down there. He’s a better post player than he has shown, but it’s tough when you get a catch every 12 games, you know, or 20 games in this case. So it’s very difficult for him, but I like what I see. He’s playing hard for us."
Walker finished with 2 points (both on free throws) while missing two shots he took.
Opposing View: Building block
Even with four wins to their credit, the Nets weren't about to take a moral victory out of hanging with Boston, but players and coaches did identify positives with which the team can build on.
"We're doing the same things we've been doing for the past week and a half now: playing good defense," said Brook Lopez. "There will be times we’re not scoring the ball, but with the majority of our groups, there’s still a few where we don’t rotate well enough to counter our inability to score. It hurts us, but for the most part we’ve been rotating well and helping each other out."
Added Devin Harris: "We were right there, we battled. We had some ill-advised shots in that first part of the fourth [quarter] and then we turned the ball over and gave up some easy layups. Obviously, with a 10-point lead we fought back a little bit, but they made shots and we didn’t."
Even coach Kiki Vandeweghe admitted that, as usually is the luck of a four-win team, the ball simply didn't bounce their way Friday.
"I thought we got a couple of bad breaks, but, all in all, that happens in games, especially on the road, and you have to play through that," said Vandeweghe. "You have to learn to play that way. As I said, [Boston's] a great veteran team and they capitalize on any mistakes."
Loose Balls
For the second straight game, Eddie House rescued the Celtics when they desperately needed his offense. House, scoreless early in the fourth quarter, scored 10 of Boston's 16 points to turn a one-point deficit into a comfortable lead. House did more damage, but a 3-pointer was nullified by video replay when it was shown to come after the 24-second clock had expired. "Eddie making shots bailed us out," said Rivers. Rondo noted the Celtics strove to get House the ball once he heated up. "That’s our mentality: Feed the pig," said Rondo. "Whoever has it going... Feed the pig."
Pierce watched from the bench for the second straight game while nursing the foot injury... Shelden Williams logged his ninth consecutive DNP (coach's decision) ... Tony Allen finished 2-of-7 shooting for 7 points and never looked comfortable with his shot. He wore a tape bandage over the index finger on his right shooting hand... Kendrick Perkins lamented his struggles (2-of-6 shooting, 3-of-6 free throws, 7 points) and noted he simply didn't connect on open looks... Glen Davis earned positive reviews from Rivers for the energy he brought in the second half (including a series where he grabbed two offensive rebounds, even if Boston couldn't capitalize on it). Davis finished with 13 points off the bench.
The rundown (a quick look at the postgame headlines)
KG and Rondo: Where's the killer instinct?
- KG and Rajon Rondo lament lack of killer instinct
- Doc Rivers shuns halftime speech; lets stats do the talking
- Bill Walker gets play; Ray Allen gets rest
- No moral victory, but Nets can build off loss
- Feed the pig! House gets hot late
Both Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo lamented Boston's lack of energy out of the gates Friday night. Unlike the last meeting in New Jersey, where Boston opened a 71-35 halftime advantage, the Celtics allowed the Nets to hang around into the fourth quarter and that meant no easy evening for a team that could have used a laugher.
"Tonight, we didn't come out with that that killer mentality to destroy them in the the first half," said Garnett. "I thought that, collectively, as the quarters went on, we increased the intensity defensively... When we started the game, we didn’t come out with that energy to just get them out of here. You look at the game in New Jersey, the tone was set right away. Defensively, guys' hands were active. You could see the energy there, but tonight it wasn’t the same."
Rondo stressed that New Jersey's 4-44 record had nothing to do with underestimating them or not bringing the necessary energy.
“Last time, we did a great job coming out there early and attacking them," said Rondo. "We were setting the tone, and our guys got to sit in the fourth. That is not an excuse. We just didn’t come out with the right energy or right effort tonight.”
Rondo finished with 17 points and 11 assists, for yet another double-double. Garnett finished with 10 points and 7 rebounds, but labored at times defensively, and was his own biggest critic after the game.
“I was OK," he said. "I made some misreads. Kris Humphries made a couple of baskets on me and I wasn’t happy about that. Defensively, you have to know what you are going to have to do when picks come. Talking for guys like Rondo and Ray [Allen] on the pick-and-rolls. I messed up a couple of times. I am human, I will get better at that, but, for the most part, my focus right now is rebounding better and continuing to talk. I did miss some assignments tonight, which is something that I don’t usually do."
Doc's Opinion: No halftime speech
The side-by-side, first-half statistical comparison said all that needed to be said at halftime, so Celtics coach Doc Rivers didn't reach for many motivational words for his team.
“I don’t know what it was, we just didn’t play well in the first half," said Rivers. "I thought it was a game that we thought we could just outscore them. And we have those games. All of a sudden, with about four minutes left in the second quarter, we missed a lot of open shots. And they kept making shots because we weren't defending.
"[The Nets] had a [55-51] lead and I didn’t say much -- very little -- at halftime. I basically said, ‘I don’t think I need to talk. We’re a defensive team and tonight we want to outscore them.’ And I said, ‘Good luck.’ That was about it. But in the second half, they were terrific. Our defensive energy picked up and that’s why we won the game."
While not thrilled with the first-half effort, Rivers didn't lament that the Nets pushed his team through three-plus quarters.
"Orlando lost to Washington tonight, so it’s just basketball," said Rivers. "You show up. I told them before the game that we should win, I’m not going to blow smoke and create some illusion that’s not there. I told them, 'Having said that, the only way you can do that is to execute our system. And if we don’t, then anybody can win the game.' It’s called basketball. It’s a competition. I thought from the middle of the third quarter on, we [executed our system.]"
Walker helps spell Allen
After playing Ray Allen for more than 42 minutes in Wednesday's win over the Heat, Rivers stressed that he absolutely needed to lower than number moving forward. So even as Boston's offense struggled and the Nets hung around, Rivers did his best to stick to his plan.
“I was bound and determined to try to get Ray to 33 minutes, in that area, and it was murder at one point because we couldn’t make shots in that one stretch," said Rivers. Allen logged 33:20 of action, scoring a team-high 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting.
"We were getting stops and I knew if we put Ray on the floor with Eddie [House], it would open the floor up, but Ray had already played his allotment for me. And so, I mean, that was a tough one. But we stayed with it, we stayed the course. And when [Allen] came in, it was big for us. I thought he made shots because he had better legs.”
Allen's decrease in minutes meant extra time for second-year forward Bill Walker, who logged 9:21, and earned praise from both Rivers and Rondo, who noted Walker's size and athleticism helped counteract the Nets when they tried to present matchup problems with their personnel.
“Billy was fine," said Rivers. "It’s really unfair to Billy in a lot of ways. We play him in practice at the four and at the three. We ran a couple sets, but you could tell he wasn’t comfortable at the three-spot. But he cuts hard. We ran the one play out of the time-out and he got it deep, but he just bobbled the ball. And we could get him down there. He’s a better post player than he has shown, but it’s tough when you get a catch every 12 games, you know, or 20 games in this case. So it’s very difficult for him, but I like what I see. He’s playing hard for us."
Walker finished with 2 points (both on free throws) while missing two shots he took.
Opposing View: Building block
Even with four wins to their credit, the Nets weren't about to take a moral victory out of hanging with Boston, but players and coaches did identify positives with which the team can build on.
"We're doing the same things we've been doing for the past week and a half now: playing good defense," said Brook Lopez. "There will be times we’re not scoring the ball, but with the majority of our groups, there’s still a few where we don’t rotate well enough to counter our inability to score. It hurts us, but for the most part we’ve been rotating well and helping each other out."
Added Devin Harris: "We were right there, we battled. We had some ill-advised shots in that first part of the fourth [quarter] and then we turned the ball over and gave up some easy layups. Obviously, with a 10-point lead we fought back a little bit, but they made shots and we didn’t."
Even coach Kiki Vandeweghe admitted that, as usually is the luck of a four-win team, the ball simply didn't bounce their way Friday.
"I thought we got a couple of bad breaks, but, all in all, that happens in games, especially on the road, and you have to play through that," said Vandeweghe. "You have to learn to play that way. As I said, [Boston's] a great veteran team and they capitalize on any mistakes."
Loose Balls
For the second straight game, Eddie House rescued the Celtics when they desperately needed his offense. House, scoreless early in the fourth quarter, scored 10 of Boston's 16 points to turn a one-point deficit into a comfortable lead. House did more damage, but a 3-pointer was nullified by video replay when it was shown to come after the 24-second clock had expired. "Eddie making shots bailed us out," said Rivers. Rondo noted the Celtics strove to get House the ball once he heated up. "That’s our mentality: Feed the pig," said Rondo. "Whoever has it going... Feed the pig."
Pierce watched from the bench for the second straight game while nursing the foot injury... Shelden Williams logged his ninth consecutive DNP (coach's decision) ... Tony Allen finished 2-of-7 shooting for 7 points and never looked comfortable with his shot. He wore a tape bandage over the index finger on his right shooting hand... Kendrick Perkins lamented his struggles (2-of-6 shooting, 3-of-6 free throws, 7 points) and noted he simply didn't connect on open looks... Glen Davis earned positive reviews from Rivers for the energy he brought in the second half (including a series where he grabbed two offensive rebounds, even if Boston couldn't capitalize on it). Davis finished with 13 points off the bench.
First impressions: Celtics 96, Nets 87
February, 5, 2010
Feb 5
10:04
PM ET
BOSTON -- Instant reaction after the Boston Celtics posted a 96-87 triumph over the New Jersey Nets Friday night at the TD Garden:
How the game was won: Ray Allen scored a team-high 26 points on 9-of-17 shooting, including a trio of trifectas, over a manageable 33 minutes, while Rajon Rondo added 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting and 11 assists in a game-high 44 minutes for the Celtics. The Nets more than held their own for three-plus quarters with Brook Lopez contributing a team-high 19 points to pace all five New Jersey starters in double figures.
Turning point: The Celtics trailed by a point with under 10 minutes to play when Eddie House caught fire. House, scoreless to that point, scored 10 of Boston's next 16 points, including a pair of 3-pointers (a third was erased under video review as it came after the 24-second clock expired) as Boston's lead ballooned to 88-81 with 3:40 to play. House produced four baskets during that stretch and nearly a fifth on a steal/layup combo (that Ray Allen cleaned up).
Stat of the game: The Nets shot 63.3 percent in the first half (19 of 30), but finished at 44.1 percent (30 of 68). Boston finished at 50 percent (36 of 72 overall).
Unsung hero: Glen Davis logged 13 points on 5-of-7 shooting with 3 rebounds and 2 assists in 20 minutes off the bench.
What it means: For three-plus quarters the Celtics were at risk of enduring their worst loss of the season as the four-win Nets not only hung tough, but blistered the parquet with their hot shooting. But, as has been the case all season, Boston won ugly, utilizing a House-fueled spurt to win their third straight game. An ugly win is an ugly win is an ugly win for a Celtics team that is building a little momentum with the Orlando Magic coming in for a Super Sunday showdown.
