Posey and Allen: Celtics beat Detroit 89-81

Posted by NECN - Sports May 31, 2008 at 6:13 am

(NECN) - The Boston Celtics will be taking on the LA Lakers in the NBA Finals.

Boston's Big Three came out strong in their final game against the Pistons on Friday night in Detroit.

Paul Pierce scored 27 points, Ray Allen had 17 and Kevin Garnett added 16 in the decisive game 6 of the series.

Things got a bit rough for Boston in the fourth quarter when Detroit took a 70-60 lead.

But Boston went on a 19-4 run to take back command of the game and win the series.

Final score Boston wins 89-81.

James Posey and Ray Allen spoke after the game about going to the NBA finals.

Game 6 Running Blog: Dropping the Hammer

Posted by Adam Hart May 31, 2008 at 5:24 am

It worked so well for Game 5, I figure we’ll do it again. Editing and blogging are a wonderful combination. Mixed with a fresh bag of circus peanuts, and you can see why NECN is the best around when it comes to coverage of the hometown team. Let us begin our night of dominance. I say begin, because Sports Producer Dave Green (1) handed the rest of sports row a beating during tonight’s showing of Jeopardy. He is a trivia mastermind. Fun fact, a high school history teacher of mine, Mr. Bill Cute, won a handful of episodes of Jeopardy. He is retiring from teaching in just a few weeks. Good luck in the future, Mr. Cute. Let’s see, any other way to delay the start of this running blog? Nah.

8:34 The Pistons still open with the same cheesy video as always. This time I pay particular attention to the drummers at center court. In the dark, with the spotlights and all, they remind of the drummers at the circus from Batman Forever. And in that movie, the drummers were murderers.

8:42 Ray Allen sinks a wide open three. KG draws a double team down in the post and dishes to Ray, who is ready to step into his shot along the left side of the three-point arc. I sure hope he is carrying over his shooting touch from Game 5.

8:44 Lots of whistles early, especially on the Celtics. The refs must have heard Rasheed’s post game rant after Game 5. It was so pleasant and kind toward the officials. Nobody likes a brown noser.

8:46 Garnett is cutting to the hoop, Rip Hamilton pushes him just as he’s catching the pass, so that KG is forced to put up a shot as he goes flying past the backboard. He misses the shot, and no foul is called. I forgot that this is “just playoff basketball.”

8:53 Paul Pierce checking in with a three. Boston up 14-10. Pierce and Allen are getting wide open looks on that left side of the three-point arc. They must have seen something on the game tape, and are now exploiting it. I still like Flip Saunders’ move to give the Pistons the day off in between Games 4 &5. That’s working out for the best.

9:03 Rodney Stuckey hits a buzzer beater, except he didn’t beat the buzzer. Working only with naked eyes, the refs count the bucket. This will go to replay, though.

9:05 Mike Breen, enough is enough. Stop trying to defend the Pistons. I could look at the replay 10 times and get the same outcome – the shot is not good. Clear as day. Clear as Rip Hamilton’s binky – his stupid loser mask.

9:06 The call is overturned. No basket. “This is the value of instant replay.” Thanks Jeff Van Gundy. I always thought it was valuable for a totally different reason: allowing us to see prettier shots of the action without all those ugly scoreboard and game clock graphics. Celtics up 24-21 at the end of the 1st quarter.

9:06 (still) Craig Kolodny (2), the best Sports PA in town, possibly the nation, has suggested that I work everyone in sports row on this Friday night into the running blog. We’ve got a packed house tonight. This may be a tough goal to reach.

9:09 Mike Giardi (3) is hounding me about the amount of circus peanuts I’m eating. Not because he wants any, but because he considers them disgusting. Whatever, he’s not my dad. He can’t tell me what to do. Well, he can’t tell me what to do when it comes to eating. But when it comes to editing video or getting scripts or laughing at his jokes, I am his female dog.

9:13 Kendrick Perkins cleaning up the offensive glass. He gets the put back, but was pushed on the way up. No foul call. I keep forgetting, it’s still “just playoff basketball.” 26-21 Boston.

9:14 Sam Cassell fouls Richard Hamilton on a reach in. Rip hits the deck. Thespian tears, we call them. He ends up staying in the game.

9:15 Ray Allen for three. C’s up 29-23. Ray and Rip going at it. A mini shootout here in the first half.

9:24 Rip getting some help from the basketball gods on this shot, as it bounces around the rim a few times before finally falling. He is now 6-of-9 from the field with 13 points in the 1st half. That elbow nonsense looks to have been a smokescreen.

9:29 Tayshaun Prince misses the open jumper, but as the shot is on its way down Kendrick Perkins backs away from the hoop, not boxing anyone out. The Pistons get the board and Chauncey Billups steps into a three pointer. Detroit down 32-31. As Mike Breen has made painstakingly clear, second chances are playing a huge impact in this game. That was one of those second chances.

9:31 That should be a fine. Rip Hamilton just flopped while battling Ray Allen for a rebound. But how will the NBA know who to fine? That mask protects his identity so well.

9:36 PoweNasty in the game. Cleaning up around the hoop and gets a chance for the three point play. The tradition style, I’ve been told. The three-point line has been in basketball my entire life. I know no better. Celts up 37-33.

9:40 This is what PoweNasty brings the team. Ray drives and dishes to Powe, who goes up strong and draws the foul from Rasheed Wallace. Didn’t catch Rasheed’s reaction after the whistle. I’m sure it was compliant with league conduct policies. Celtics up 40-36 with :38 seconds to go in the half. I say the Celtics recharge their batteries during the break, and come out firing in the 3rd quarter. I want Mason crying for Muh-muh-muh-muh-muh-mercy! over the PA system.

Celts up 40-37 at the break. Here are some stats to busy yourself with:

Ray Allen: 13 points

Kevin Garnett: 4 points, 1 rebound, 3 personal fouls

–

Richard Hamilton: 13 points

Chauncey Billups: 18 points

Rasheed Wallace: 312 “Bleeps”

At halftime ESPN shows Kobe Bryant talking with Stephen A. Smith. Kobe says he doesn’t want to be compared with Michael Jordan because they are different people. I totally understand that. Like, it would be wrong of me to compare my new mailman with my old one. Even if the old mailman delivered the mail two hours earlier. They are two different people. And it would be unfair to compare my old vet and my new one. Even though my old vet was creepy and changed the sign on his building to read “…Veterinary Clinic and Animal Sperm Bank.” They are two different, incomparable people.

***Always a good sign. Sports Director Morry Levine (4) is taking our old Celtics-Lakers footage into the system. Bird vs. Magic. I can feel it already.

**The circus peanuts are about halfway gone. I offered one to Intern Anne (5). When I came back around the corner to get my pen, I found her throwing it in the trash. That’s very disrespectful. I believe we should start an Intern Points System at NECN. For this offense, I would dock Anne six Intern Points.

*Anyone watching the Red Sox out there? Didn’t think so. Intern Mike (6) is forced to, since he is logging the game for us. He did not accept my offer of the circus peanut. He is awarded one Intern Point for logging the Red Sox while the rest of us are having a blast with the Celtics, and no Intern Points for rejecting the circus peanut.

2ND HALF

10:12 Garnett just picked up his 4th foul with 7:16 to go in the 3rd quarter. And a technical is called on Perkins for arguing. Of course, Rasheed had just mouthed off to Bennett Salvatore on the other end without a technical being called. I wonder if it’s because if Rasheed gets one more technical, he will be forced to sit out Game 7. I agree with Marc Jackson. I want consistency. Celts up 52-48.

10:25 Ballgame. With Detroit up 4, at 62-58, Paul Pierce drives to the hoop and is fouled. Except for the fact that the ref emphatically called a foul on the Celtics. That’s why I say ballgame. Phantom calls against the Celtics negate Detroit’s inferior play.

10:30 IS THIS SERIOUS?!?!?! Pierce called for an offensive foul when Rip Hamilton bites on the shot fake, jumps at him, hits Pierce, and then Pierce sinks the three.

This is what’s running through the ref’s mind, and I’m paraphrasing here:

“An impossible shot goes in. How nice. Oh, wait? That was a Celtics player shooting? Offensive foul.”

This is a circus. A circus with evil clowns dressed in black slacks and tight, gray NBA-issued t-shirts. Celts down 64-58. Absurd.

10:34 Hamilton hits a jumper. Celts down by 8, 68-60 at the end of 3rd quarter.

10:41 Sam Cassell called for pushing off on a shot. Here comes the train of elephants holding each other’s tails with their trunks. I heard the trapeze are next.

10:45 Rasheed has just been called for his 5th foul while guarding KG. He takes to the bench and talks to himself, like a crazy person. Then he throws his towel over the camera lens in front of him. I don’t get it. Isn’t that why people act crazy? To get attention, be on camera? Seems to work for the people on Maury Povich. Celts cut the Pistons lead to 3, 70-67.

10:50 KG hits a jumper. Celts down 70-69, cutting the deficit to 1 on a 9-0 run. Now we play for blood.

10:55 Game tied at 74 apiece now. I like this momentum swing. If the Celtics can overcome biased officiating, then they can take L.A. to the cleaners. Well, maybe not the whole Lakers team. Wyc isn’t made of money.

10:59 Rondo very tentative going to the hoop on fast breaks. That was his best attribute this season. This is the second straight time he has pulled back when going one-on-one to the hoop. Pierce still gets the bucket on this possession. C’s up 77-74. “More!”

11:03 James Posey with a HUGE rebound on the defensive end. And Rondo hits a pull-up jumper at the other end. Celts holding to a 83-76 lead. They are on a 21-6 run. Think about it. Rondo hitting a jumper. Now you know we’re winning this game. It’s destiny.

11:06 Chauncey hits a runner, and then gets a trip to the free throw line. Where’s the foul? Seems to me he initiated the contact. Celts up 83-79

11:09 What a steal by Posey!!! After the Celtics misfire, Detroit comes away with the ball and a shot to keep this game close. As Tayshaun Prince holds the ball, looking for his point guard, Posey sneaks in from behind and pokes the ball free. He dishes to Pierce who gets fouled. It’s down to free throws from here on out. That gives us some time to turn-and-burn in the edit bays. Can’t help but be nervous. Pierce hits both. C’s up 85-79. Need a stop with 1:30 to go.

11:10 And the stop is ours. Perk blocks the initial attempt, then Chauncey comes up short on a long jumper.

11:13 Rip short rims a 3. He has run out of gas. And TJ Walsh, NECN ENG guru, just tackled me, yelling “We’re going to the finals!” KG at the line, C’s up 6. He misses both. 36.1 secconds to go. I’m not worried. The Pistons are cashed out.

11:17 Celts up 86-79. Hamilton short rims another open 3. I almost feel bad for the guy. Oh, wait. No I don’t. He’s the man in the stupid mask. No one feels bad for him.

11:21 Welcome to the NBA Finals, Boston. Celtics win 89-81. They take the series 4-2. More importantly, they get their first two road wins of the post season. How about two more in Games 2 & 3 of the Finals?

12:45ish After a dynamite Sports Late Night, Giardi eyeballs that circus peanut bag. He estimates that I have eaten about 9 ounces of circus peanuts. By reading the nutritional information on the back of the package, Giardi also finds that this amount is crudely unsafe. The calories alone should have stopped my heart. It’s quite possible I will die in my sleep tonight. It’s okay. I’ve led a good life.

POST GAME:

Just a couple quick notes. Doc Rivers is interviewed at the trophy presentation. The trophy is silver. In his closing comments, Doc says something like “we didn’t come here to win the silver, we want the gold.” All I can think of when this hits my ear is the greatest news package in the history of the news. From start to finish this thing is great. The look on the guy’s face when he gets the crowd to say, “Yeeeaaaah!” The amateur sketch. The guy with the leprechaun flute, who just came to help out. Even the anchors mocking the reporter when the package is done playing out. But Doc’s comments remind me of the guy at the end of the clip: “I wanna know where the gold at. I want the gold. Give me the gold. I want the gold.” Please tell me the Celtics’ video crew finds a way to incorporate that into an in-game Jumbotron clip. I think Lucky would demand it.

I love the Celtics players during the trophy presentation, coming out with the “Beat L.A.” chant.  Love it.  Greeny, Craig and I couldn’t get enough of it while watching ESPN after the show with cans of Coca-Cola in hand.  I definitely think it’s going to happen.  Boston is going to beat L.A. worse than Jason Ki… nope.  That joke can lead to only one place: trouble.

P.S. So I’ve mentioned before about my 50 minute drive from NECN Central to my house in Rehoboth, MA. Because of all that went on tonight, I didn’t leave until around 2:20 am. Listening to the radio makes the drive more bearable, because I can sing along and keep my mind fresh. But tonight, 95.5 WBRU has a set of co-hosts engaged in a lengthy argument over which of two television shows is better. With circus peanuts and lack of sleep eating away at my body, the last thing I need is two Brown students doing their best to drive me into the guardrail. And if I did end up dying, I would hope they’d get charged with manslaughter, because what they are doing is wrong.

Postgame notes: This and that

Posted by Projo SoxBlog May 31, 2008 at 4:28 am

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

BALTIMORE -- Red Sox pitcher Daisuke Matsuzaka was back with his teammates Friday night after undergoing an MRI in Boston the same morning.

The right-hander was placed on the 15-day disabled list due to a mild rotator-cuff strain. He arrived here late Friday, but manager Terry Francona told Dice-K to go to the team's hotel instead of the ballpark.

***Red Sox first baseman Kevin Youkilis snapped an 0-for-18 skid with a single in the 13th inning Friday night.

***The Orioles struck out a season-high 17 times Friday night. Red Sox starter Josh Beckett recorded 10 of them.

Postgame notes: Lugo’s defense

Posted by Projo SoxBlog May 31, 2008 at 4:26 am

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

BALTIMORE -- Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo leads the majors with 12 errors this season, including five in the last 16 games. He almost cost the Red Sox again lFriday night with his defensive, but thanks to quick reflexes – and an extremely slow Kevin Millar – Lugo was saved.

In the bottom of the 12th inning with two runners for Baltimore, Millar hit a routine grounder to Lugo. It appeared to be an easy double play, but the shortstop bobbled the ball and was forced to hurry the throw to first to at least get one out, which he did.

The runners now stood at second and third, so with first open the Sox decided to intentionally walk the Orioles’ Luke Scott. That proved crucial because reliever Mike Timlin got Ramon Hernandez to fly out to left field to end the inning and threat.

“Sticking with that ball, I don’t want to say it had disaster written all over it, but he stayed with it enough and got the out. That was a huge play,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona.

Lugo, who did not start the game, felt pretty confident after the victory.

“I just want to get one out,” he said. “I was trying to get two, but then I bobbled it. I went to first and got the out.”

Postgame notes: Suicide what?

Posted by Projo SoxBlog May 31, 2008 at 4:18 am

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

BALTIMORE -- The Red Sox tried something Friday night that you don’t normally see.

In the second inning with one out and Coco Crisp standing on third base, Red Sox manager Terry Francona called for a suicide squeeze with Alex Cora at the plate.

Crisp had previously reached on a walk and advanced to second on a wild pitch. He stole third when Francona gave the sign. Crisp broke for home, but Cora couldn’t execute the play successfully and missed the pitch. Crisp was tagged out only a few feet from home plate.

Francona explained that since Crisp did a lot of leg work to get to third, and since Cora is probably the team’s best bunter, the manager felt it was a perfect time to drop one down.

Unfortunately it didn’t work.

“Take note of it because you probably won’t see it again until spring training,” said Francona. “Next time you’ll see it is probably in Winter Haven, because it doesn’t work. You just need to stay out of the way and let good players play.”

Postgame notes: Sox set record

Posted by Projo SoxBlog May 31, 2008 at 4:09 am

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

BALTIMORE -- The Red Sox stole six bases Friday night against the Orioles to set a new franchise record. They had stolen five bases six times. Jacoby Ellsbury led the way with three, which is the most by a Red Sox player since Jerry Remy had a club record four on June 14, 1980.

Manager Terry Francona said after the team’s 5-2 victory, it’s not like he planned to run as much as the Sox did Friday night, it was just the right time to do son.

“It’s completely game situations,” said Francona. “A couple of them they weren’t going to throw through. A guy like Mike Lowell, we don’t ever tell him before a game that in the whatever inning he’s going to steal third. That’s just a heads-up guy taking advantage. We ran the bases aggressively, but smartly.”

Ellsbury now has 23 swipes this season.

“We weren’t scoring runs, but we were moving our legs and getting into scoring position,” he said. “We didn’t get the big hits, but we put ourselves in a position to.”

Even Mike Lowell stole a base in the 13th inning that set up a much-needed insurance run.

“Wheels,” joked Lowell.

Lowell’s the hero

Posted by Projo SoxBlog May 31, 2008 at 4:07 am

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

If anyone listened very carefully Friday night at Camden Yards, you could almost hear the chants of “Sign Mike Lowell. Sign Mike Lowell. Sign Mike Lowell” that fans were screaming after he was named World Series MVP last October in Denver.

He obviously did resign with the Red Sox during the offseason, leaving a bigger pay check on the table to stay in Boston. And, he hasn’t let those fans down. Friday night was a perfect example.

The man fouled a pitch off the top of his foot in the sixth inning and was clearly in pain. That didn’t matter because he stayed in the game and provided the game-winning hit in the top of the 13th inning as Boston eventual won, 5-2.

With Manny Ramirez on second via a throwing error, Lowell delivered a RBI single off Orioles reliever Chad Bradford.

“I was just looking to get my hands out,” said Lowell. “Bradford is a really uncomfortable at-bat. He doesn’t throw hard – velocity-wise – but you don’t pick up the ball until real late. It gets on you quick and I can’t say I had a special formula or anything. I was just looking to put a good swing, maybe make him elevate it a little, and it worked out great. We were able to capitalize on some of their mistakes.”

Not only did Lowell provide the game-winning hit, he also stole third and later scored an insurance run because of his heads-up on the bases.

“I can talk about Lowell doing a lot of things,” said Red Sox manager Terry Francona. “Running the bases, making plays at third and we needed a hit at some point because we were getting (pitching) thin. . . He’s a tough guy and always has been. He plays the game. He’ll play nine or 12 or 13 (innings). He’s a good baseball player and he’s a tough kid.”

The job Lowell has done and continues to do certainly doesn’t go unnoticed around the clubhouse. Red Sox starter Josh Beckett has played with Lowell in both Florida and Boston, and he’ll always sing his praise.

“He is one of the smartest baseball players probably to have ever lived,” said Beckett. “I don’t know what his success rate is on stealing bases (27-for-39), but he’s probably right up there with Ellsbury. He doesn’t have as many steals in a year as Ellsbury, but generally when he tries to steal a base he’s safe. He knows how to play the game. He made a great play in the 13th inning because that first out is always a big one.”

That play Beckett was talking about was the first out of the 13th inning for Baltimore. The Orioles’ Adam Jones hit a grounder to the left side, which Lowell snared and made an accurate throw to get the always crucial first out.

“It’s either going to end up in the 13th row or hit Youk right in the chest, so it worked out,” said Lowell. “The first out of the inning is very important with Pap because you’re able to squash anything they are able to get out of him.”

Most of the talk after Friday’s victory was the fact the Sox’ bullpen served up zeros after it came in relief of Beckett, who went six solid inning and allowed two runs on only four hits. But, it was the bullpen that credited Lowell with the victory.

“Mike’s awesome,” said Mike Timlin. “He plays the game right. He’s highly intelligent. He does the right thing at the right time. He doesn’t try to overdue anything. He stays calm in pressure situations and I love having him there.”

It’s Been Such a Long Time

Posted by ssilva May 31, 2008 at 2:18 am

They're Movin' On

Game 6 Box: Boston 89, Detroit 81
Celtics Rally Past Pistons, Earn First Finals Berth Since 1987

"It's kind of surreal... We're emotionally drained." -- 5.30.08, Kevin Garnett, Going to the Finals

Boston 5, Baltimore 2 (13 innings)

Posted by Projo SoxBlog May 31, 2008 at 1:47 am

By Joe McDonald
Journal Sports Writer

BALTIMORE _ When you’re not scoring runs, your pitchers can’t allow them.

That’s exactly what the bullpen was able to do for Boston last night as the Red Sox defeated the Orioles 5-2 in a four hour and 49-minute marathon that needed 13 innings to play here at Orioles Park at Camden Yards.

Entering the 13th inning the Boston Red Sox had scored a total of only five runs in the previous 43 innings of this current road trip. Not a very flattering statistics.

In the fourth extra frame last night, Boston scored three unearned runs the hard way en route to victory. After Manny Ramirez, who is still one homer shy of 500 for his career, reached on an error and advanced to second on the same play, Mike Lowell provided the would-be game-winning hit. The Red Sox pushed across two more before Jonathan Papelbon earned his 15th save of the season.

After a torrid trip (1-6) through Oakland and Seattle, the Red Sox were back at their home away from home at Orioles Park at Camden Yards last night. A sea of red, white and blue Red Sox jerseys and hats overwhelmed the Baltimore fans as a good number of the 46,199 in attendance were part of The Nation.

“This feels a lot better than losing,” said Lowell. “Our bullpen did a great job. . . Giving up only two runs in 13 innings is a pretty good job.”

The score was knotted at 2-2 from the fourth inning on, and after Josh Beckett worked six solid innings, allowing just two runs on four hits with only three walks and 10 strikeouts, his bullpen put up enough zeros to allow the offense to finally do something in the end.

Red Sox manager Terry Francona used a total of six relievers, including Hideki Okajima, Manny Delcarmen, Javier Lopez, Craig Hansen, Mike Timlin (3-3) and Papelbon.

“I think both the bullpens did a really good job,” said Beckett. “I was obviously happy with the way our guys did, but they had some guys do some good things, too.

The Red Sox needed their ace to come though in a big way last night.

Early yesterday afternoon Boston placed Daisuke Matsuzaka on the 15-day disabled list with a mild rotator-cuff strain, so Beckett wanted to give the Sox something to be happy about during this tough three-city, 10-game road trip.

“They made him work,” said Francona. “He’s facing a lineup that pretty much one through nine he has faced him a lot. They made him work and he was able to pitch out of a big jam late, and they made him throw a lot of pitches. Other than the home run and the other run early, he kept them at bay. That was good because after we scored those two runs (in the first inning, it took us about four and a half hours to get another one.”

This victory was key for the struggling Sox, and even though Francona always talks about living and play for that day only, everyone in the clubhouse after the game was relieved.

“This was a big win,” said Julio Lugo. “We needed it. Definitely we needed it.”

Speedy Sox find new ways to win

Posted by Ian Browne May 31, 2008 at 1:38 am Speedy Sox find new ways to win

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