Hank Hill's Boston Celtics fan blog

Western Conference Finals Game 5: Another Battle But Kobe Makes Right Decision For Lakers Win!!!!! As I wrote in my last couple blogs teamwork wins, and LA and Cleveland have not been playing as a team, either Bryant or James wins it for their team or they have lost because Orlando and Denver have been playing with teamwork for the whole playoffs.

Last night Kobe flipped the switch and used his team by having 8 assists a game high, and driving to the hoop, this means he  then draws the double team and last night he was then kicking it out for open shots for his team mates (instead of trying to take a hard shot while doubled) and that is how the Lakers can win and were able take this one. Kobe only took 13 shots, hitting 6, but by driving to the hoop he went to the free throw line 11 times and hit 10 so Bryant only ended with 22 points because he did not just keep shooting as usual, instead he controlled the tempo and made the right passes so all the Lakers starters and bench were involved,

Continue reading "Lakers Teamwork brings a Home a win"

In the Eastern Conference finals, Orlando is showing everyone that they deserve to be in the finals!!!! They beat Cleveland again last night in a battle and, I might add, a very entertaining game giving Orlando a 3-1 series' edge!!!! Crazy, they already have commercials playing that are basically saying it's Kobe vs James rather than Orlando vs Denver.  I think that's awesome as I always love the underdogs!!!

Back to last night's game. L. James played a great game scoring 44 points, 12 rebounds and 7 assists but is that enough to carry and win this for his team?  Not in this game.  Orlando was trailing most of the game, down by up to 16 points in the 1st half, then an 8 point lead going into half by the Cavs. So going into the half Cleveland looked ready and L. James was getting some help from West (17pnts), Wallace (off bench played great D), Williams (18 pnts), and IIgauskas (12 pnts). But in the second half, Orlando came out on fire with a look that said they were on a mission and were going to come back and take this, and they did. They shut everyone down on the defensive end and scored a franchise record 17 playoff threes, all when they needed them. So heading into the 4th, the Magic cut the lead from 8 to 1 and now it's anyone's game.

Continue reading "The Eastern Conference Finals -- A Very Entertaining Game"

Even though I am still bleeding green, I have to say that Denver showed us that they are for real. Denver had game 1 in their hands but just couldn't close it out, thus giving the Lakers a win by 1 point and a lead in the series 1-0 going into last night. But last night's game was a little different than usual in the fact that it was a total role reversal. LA had the lead most of the game (like Denver did last game) but this time, Denver closed them out by keeping their lead at the end of the game turning it into 3 points and giving LA only 1 shot to tie with 6 seconds left. D. Fisher couldn't hit it and Denver walked away with the win 106-103 and tied the series at 1-1 and are now headed to Denver. C. Anthony was on point again scoring 34 points with 9 rebounds and 27 points from Billups giving Denver the edge!! While the Nuggets were able to hold Kobe to 32 and control the boards and get 19 second chance points and 14 offensive rebounds was enough to take game 2 and tie this battle up and I think it's only going to get tighter!!  So get ready for another intense basketball game Saturday Night at 8:00 in Denver; it should be entertaining. Still wishing it was the Celtics who were beating Cleveland, but there's always next year. Meanwhile, Celtics nation should be rooting for Magic and Denver!!

Continue reading "Denver Shows the Lakers Who's Boss"

The Western Conference playoff started last night between #1 seed LA Lakers and #2 seed Denver Nuggets. Denver has been playing well since they got C. Billups who is able to take some pressure off C. Anthony. C. Anthony s one of the best players in the league, but with K. Bryant and L. James, Carm does not get much credit.  

In last night's game, Denver went into LA and had the win in their hands, but in the last minute they blew it with stupid turnovers.  So the Lakers walked away with game one, 105-103, and they were lucky to get it.  This game does prove Denver is a for-real team, and I believe they are going to give LA a run for there money. K. Bryant basically won that game for LA (as he usually does) scoring 40, but C. Anthony gave him a great battle scoring 39.  It was a physical fight on both ends of the court between the two, and I believe Anthony won 3 quarters, but Bryant took the 4th like a veteran and LA won by 2.  So the next game  should be another crazy fight; one you don't want to miss -- Thursday night in LA 9:00. Tonight Orlando heads to Cleveland for game 1 of the Eastern Conference at 8:30.  Still Bleeding Green.

Continue reading "Still Bleeding Green but Watching the Western Conference"

This is just not the Celtics' year. Last night's game 7 looked like a game 4 in a 3-0 series. The Celtics came out without their energy, all out of sync. Clearly, they missed KG. Ray Allen, who we needed to step up, finally did, but he was the only one who showed up to play. Meanwhile, Orlando 21-13 from three point land, was just too much to handle and every shot they took led to me biting my nails off and praying for a comeback that never came. This game was a tough one for Boston to handle; we were losing all game and never made the run that they usually can.

And they just kept adding the pressure and smoking us making MIT, The Professor, Jr, G, Rach, Ro, Dato, KC, Jon, me, and even Murray, wanting to change the channel. But we didn't. We knew that we needed a miracle that just wasn't in the cards. The final score of 101-82 adds to the devastating losses in all of Boston sports. The Pats lost to the NYG in the superbowl; Sox lost to Tampa Bay in game 7; Bruins had an awesome season but just lost game seven last week in the same building as the Celts.

Continue reading "The Celtics Lose Game 7 and Boston Officially Loses it's TrophyTown Title"

So once again we face the win or go-home game seven situation. This Orlando series has been a mixture of blowouts, come-backs, and some good battles; tonight's game is all or nothing. If we consider the history of the Boston Celtics, this game is in the bag...every time the Cs are in game 7, their record is 20-5. At home they are 17-3. Orlando is 1-1 in this situation and 0-1 on the road.

But I always think that records are meant to be broken, and that's why they play the game and this is what makes the NBA intense. I firmly believe that if the Cs play like we all know they can, the Cs can take this game; but if they play sloppy and think that the Orlando Magic is just going to hand it over, the Cs can be in trouble. We need to also consider that Ray Ray, who has been averaging 11 points a game and shooting 30% in this series, has not been playing well, especially when you realize that last series he averaged 23 points a game.

Continue reading "Boston Celtics: And It All Comes Down to This"

Last night's Celts versus Orlando Magic game was different from the other games in this series. The Celtics came out looking determined to win this one and end the series in 6. The Cs had the lead the whole entire game (biggest lead 12) until the last 3 minutes. This is the first time during this playoff that a Cs lead in the 4th did not lead to a close out. Rondo had a good night scoring 19 points, 16 rebounds, 6 assists, and 4 steals, and so did Perkins scoring 15 points, 10 rebounds, an assist and 3 blocks. But it wouldn't be enough with Ray Ray only scoring 5 points and Davis 6 points -- this is not what C-Nation is used to! The Cs bench did play great Defense though, especially Scalabrine, and if he can keep that up, it will be huge in game 7.  But no offense from the bench -- I was hoping to see House step up when Allen was off, but no such luck.    Their "Superman" D. Howard had the night that Magic fans were waiting for and scored a game high 23 points and game high 22 rebounds and with help from R. Lewis scoring 20 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, it was just enough to give the Magic the win 83-75.  I thought that when the Cs were up 8 with 9 minutes left in the game, we were leaving with a win, but Pierce and Allen were 3-15 in the second half and that's what cost us. Pierce played an overall good game, scoring 17 points, 9 rebounds, and 5 assists keeping the Cs in the lead the whole game. But right down the stretch when Pierce usually single-handedly closes out the other team, he just didn't have it  and no one else stepped up. The Cs handed this game to the Magic!!! Pierce missed two free throws in the last 3 minutes and then the Celts just couldn't score and Orlando took advantage. They got the lead with under 3 minutes and kept it, sending this series to a game 7. Another crazy series but as Dato, G, Jon, KC, Rach, Ro,JR, Bobafet, Even-Murray, and I said from the start, this was going to a Game 7!!!( Rach has believed from the beginning that this series iwould be just like last year's, and she's right.) This will be back in Boston Sunday night at 8:00 where the Cs franchise is 32-0 in game 7. MIT believes the Cs are a lock. The Professor and I believe it's going to be a battle and could come down to the last possession. We will see Sunday. So Go Celts, get your green on; you don't want to miss this one!!!

Continue reading "Boston Celtics: It Can Get Awfully Hot in Orlando"

The Boston Celtics, for the second game in a row, made a comeback after trailing throughout 3 quarters and some of the 4th. Even then the Celtics were still able to close them down and get the win!!!! The Celtics know better than any other team how to closeout games and can pull out a win when trailing!! This is the essence of The Boston Celtics: last night's game was not a comeback--it's just how they play! Last night's win was huge because it gave the Celts their first lead of the series (3-2), and now it's clear that the Cs can finish them in Orlando on Thursday night.

But back to last night's game: the Truth -- "Paul Pierce" -- was told! He came out last night with that determination and fire controlling the Cs keeping them close enough the whole game, scoring 19 points, 9 rebounds, 8 assists and 2 steals. Rondo (6 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists) and Allen (13 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists) looked a little off, and they didn't really play as well as C-Nation knows they can. Meanwhile Big Baby and Perkins (6 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists) played awesome.

Continue reading "Boston Celtics: Don't Call it a Comeback"

No better day than Mother's Day for the Celtics to get the victory they desperately needed. Up to this point in the series, every game has been a blow-out; the Magic had won 2 and the Cs 1. In yesterday's game, both teams came out on fire, and we knew that this was going to be a fight to the finish.Pierce set the tone for the Cs and scored a game high 27 points, also 3 rebounds and 4 assists; just what the Cs needed from their captain. (Note: when Pierce has scored over 40% a game in the playoffs we are 4-0.)  It was still a 2 point game at the half and then Allen scored 12 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and Rondo stepped it up with 21 points, 14 rebounds, 3 assists and a steal. Now, as the Professor says, when Rondo plays well, the C's win; and Rondo played well but he got major help from Big Perkins with 21 points, 13 rebounds, 2assists, 1steal and 5 huge blocks, and the man of the night  -- Big Glen Baby Davis!!! He had 21 points and 6 rebounds, but the biggest shot of the night that knocked me on the floor was the last shot of the game. The Celts had possession in a timeout with 11.2 seconds remaining and the Cs down 1. Big Baby had hit the Cs last jumper with 37 seconds on the clock but even then you expected the ball to go to Pierce or Allen; not this time. Pierce held the ball at the top of the 3point line as time ticked down and no one in Boston could sit down!With the clocks ticking it's down to seconds...4..3..2...Pierce passes to Big Baby and with 1 second and the buzzer going off just after the release, nothing but net!!!!!!! Big Baby was the hero in an amazing must win game in a 95-94 final and now they come back to Boston with momentum, exactly what C-Nation need!! What a game, amazing and intense; that's why the NBA rules!!! This game also proved we can hang in there when in foul trouble because Pierce, Baby, Perkins and Scalabrine (who played great Defense) were all in foul trouble early and Doc was able to handle it. So game 5 -- I can't wait --at the Garden would be a great win; MIT thinks we will win by 8-10 points, I believe this series is going to turn into the Bulls series where the last possession can determine the game.  I am sticking with my original guess with G, Dato, JR, A, KC, Jon, Rach, Ro, Hannah and even Murray, that this is going 7 just like last year.   So Go Cs!

Continue reading "The Sky's the Limit for Big Baby and the Celtics"

The Celtics came out last night against Orlando looking tired and defeated. I was reminded immediately of how they looked in game 1 and even though I hoped they'd pull magic out of their bag of tricks, the outcome was exactly the same as game 1 -- a blowout.In the 1st quarter, neither team could hit a jump shot; every point scored by both teams was in the paint. This led to D. Howard having a big game and all the Celtics getting in foul trouble early (which they cannot afford). Next thing you know it's half time, and the Orlando is up by 12 and Ray Ray can't hit a shot. Pierce and Rondo look extremely tired -- not good for the Celtics. This bad news and bad start would continue as the Magic would have a 20 point lead in the 3rd quarter and this time they keep it, ending up with an ugly final score of 117-96!  As the Professor always says, if Rondo is on, we win; if not we lose!!! And last night the Professor said, "I believe Rondo is off tonight [which he was] and it looks like Pierce is hurt."  So once again, the Professor is right. By the 4th quarter, Pierce was limping. I don't believe he is hurt, but he does look beyond-tired. All the starters looked so tired and Ray, with only 8 points (2-12), and Rondo, who's off his game, it's almost always going to be impossible to get the win. Even though Eddie House was on once again (the only one who was), without our starters, count us out.  So I think with all of the sitting at the end of this game, all the starters will have their legs back under them for an important game 4. C-Nation knows we can beat Orlando and we proved that in game 2 and that's what we need to see in game 4 -- that same fire and determination we all know that's there. It just needs to come out again, and I believe it will. MIT said, "I think the Cs have the next game for sure and they will win by 8-10 points on Sunday!!"  I personally think it will be another blow-out, but by who, we will have to wait to see what Celtic team shows up for this one!! I hope MIT is right, but I think as does Dato, G, KC, Jon, Rach, Ro, Bedlam(Showoff Marketing), and even Murray, this is going to 7, so stay tuned. I believe in the magic for Boston.

Continue reading "The Boston Celtics: Is the Magic Gone?"