I haven't done enough statistical analysis to explain why they're losing, all I know is I used to get excited when the bench came in and now I feel like I'm going to have a heart attack every time Brian Scalabrine comes in the game.  And that's not a shot at Scalabrine; he always plays hard and every once and a while hits a three.  But he is sort of representative of the Celtics bench lately.  It's not that they're playing horrible, they're just not playing very well.  Powe and Davis had a swagger earlier in the season that in some ways was a little "too big for your britches," but they were backing it up, and now they're just...passable.  Gabe Pruitt is getting more minutes at the point, which is good for his development but he's just...adequate.  Tony Allen, who I had finally accepted as a scorer and not just a freakishly athletic human being, has been just...good.  During the winning steak, they would come in with a lead and expand it.  Now, they can't be trusted to expand a lead or keep a deficit from growing.  They have no real intensity.

Continue reading "Streaks Slumps and Fifteen Dollar High Tops The Past Present and Possible Future of the 2008-2009 Boston Celtics"

Okay, I'm kidding.  I didn't actually think the Celtics or anybody else was going 82-0.  Especially not when you play like that.  

Just a sloppy game.  Much sloppier than the opener against Cleveland when at least there was emotion and energy to make up for it.  Way too many turnovers (nothing new there I guess), which was best illustrated by KG deciding that dribbling wasn't necessary and getting called for traveling all night.  

That said, I don't think this loss is anything to get worried about.  Obviously we all wanted to see the season open with a long undefeated streak like last year, but this was just an example of a good team playing poorly.  It's frustrating as hell, but we just have to accept it and move on.  Besides, anytime your opponent's best player sacrifices his two front teeth hustling for a loose ball with a 16 point lead, it's probably just not your night.

Continue reading "There Goes 82-0"

As always, the Celtics organization handled a historic moment with class, having Hondo, Cooz, Satch, Tommy, M.L. (M.L.?  Just kidding. It's great to see him once again getting love from the Celtics faithful.  No-one swung a towel better), Cedric Maxwell and JoJo White bring the 17th championship trophy out to the court before the ring ceremony.  No team in the NBA embraces their history better, which is of course partly due to the fact that no other team in the NBA has as much history.  The whole ceremony was very powerful, and obviously it had a huge effect on Pierce.  I had been a little concerned that Paul was maybe a little too celebratory during the offseason (what happens in Vegas doesn't always stay in Vegas), but I think tonight showed that winning the title just meant that much to him.  It was never arrogance, it was genuine excitement.  I can't fault that.  So with Green 17 raised next to the 1986 banner, I was definitely psyched for the start of the season.

Continue reading "Sloppy Emotional More or Less Satisfying"