Collins: Celtics turn up the heat

Posted by Chris Collins May 4, 2008 at 8:10 pm

Nobody thought the Celtics would be pushed to the brink of elimination by the Atlanta Hawks, but the Celtics proved they were the dominant team winning by 34 points in Game 7. But how well the Celtics performed when their backs were against the wall is a sign of good things to come… in this video blog.

Hawks Grounded at the Garden

Posted by Mike Giardi May 4, 2008 at 4:07 pm

Despite all my gnashing of teeth and disappointment in the Celtics through the first six games of their playoff series with Atlanta, I - like just about everyone else who’s watched this team on a daily basis - figured a return to good times in Game 7. But this good? Wow. What a clinic by the Green team, a 99-65 rout of the Hawks.

Defense spurring everything for the C’s. They forced Atlanta to settle for way too many jumpers early on, never a good thing for a young and understandably nervous team. Then, even when the Hawks got to the hoop, they were unable to finish, only compounding their woes.

There were a couple minutes in the second quarter that proved just how unwilling or unable the visitors were to match what the C’s were bringing. Old man P.J. Brown had not one, but two blocks, and even Sam Cassell - who hasn’t guarded a soul in this series - had a strip steal. When that’s going down, warm up the chartered jet, fill it with fuel and get dinner cooking ’cause the boys are headed home for a long summer.

As Atlanta tries to size up what could be a bright future, they have to wonder what happened to their most talented big man, Josh Smith. He loves to talk and scowl, but when it mattered the most, he was atrocious, the worst player on the court. Al Horford, a much more stable sort, was pretty bad as well. Give the Celts some credit for getting into their kitchens, but also wonder about the mental state of that duo.

Now its on to Round 2 and a date with Cleveland. Its going at least 6. LeBron is good enough for at least two wins. At least. He tortured the C’s during the season series, going for 30-plus in two of the three he played. King James did miss one with a finger injury, and the Cavs only scored 70 in that game. Surprised? I didn’t think so.

 

Can I Get an “E” For Execution?

Posted by Mike Giardi May 3, 2008 at 10:19 am

Put simply, that was about as an atrocious display of late-game execution as you will see, short of watching the Washington Generals. Seven seconds to get off a shot, and the best you can do is a 26-footer from Rajon. This, after not a single pass? Awful.

But lest you think that was the only egregious error by the C’s, fear not my friends, there were plenty more. How does Paul Pierce get a technical - at that stage of the game - following his 6th foul? Was it a good foul call? No, but he did foul Zaza. Don’t compound that with an emotional reaction. “The Truth” is, Pierce continues to lose his composure at the most inopportune time. That’s not befitting a captain.

Ray Allen didn’t have his stroke going, so with the C’s needing a two to tie in the closing minute, he fires up an off-balance three. I mean, for a craftsman like that to hurry a shot without having his feet even pointed in the direction of the basket…what the heck is that?

The “Big Ticket” doesn’t escape either. The knock has been that KG is too unselfish in big games. Twice in the final 5 minutes, he had open looks within an 8-to-10 foot radius of the hoop and passed up shots for tougher ones from teammates. Can someone, anyone, take hold of this team? Lose once to Atlanta? Okay. Twice…well, if Bob Ryan says it can happen, then so be it, it can happen. But three defeats to a team that had 29 less wins than you did in the regular season? It would be hard to explain if we hadn’t witnessed the entire debacle with our own eyes.

Do th C’s survive tomorrow afternoon and advance to Round 2? Yes, but the point is, they’ve done nothing to make us believe that amazing regular season is carrying over to the postseason, and anything less than a trip to the NBA Finals is a massive disappointment. Seems like the Celts have been playing with that weight on their shoulders, at least thru the first 6 with Atlanta.

Where Are We Going?

Posted by Mike Giardi April 30, 2008 at 10:39 am

If you are reading this blog, or the previous incarnation of it, you know I occasionally go on non-sports related rants. I’ve already professed my love for the Banana Chocolate Chip muffin. Now let me throw this out there: The Raconteurs new album “Consolers of the Lonely,” is pretty good. Jack White is so ridiculously talented that he can crank out an album in about 4 minutes. Must stink to be that talented. Clearly, I wouldn’t know (go ahead, insert cheap shot here). A shout out to Regan PR maven Sean Flanagan for pointing me in the direction of this album.

On to the headlines today. We’ve got ourselves a meaningful Game 5 between the Celtics and Hawks. I still can’t fully fathom that this is happening, and I’m surprised the NBA took no action on KG, Zaza, Kendrick and Marvin from Monday’s affair. But then again, Jason Kid tried to kill Chris Paul in the Mavs/Hornets series and David Stern didn’t say boo. When did Stern and Stu Jackson stop caring about their sport?

I guess they’re doing a “Green Out” at the Garden, You know, everyone wear Green in support of the C’s. Have things in New England gotten so bad fans need to be instructed on how to respond to their team? Whether its the Jumbotron telling people to cheer, or the breaking out of thundersticks a couple of weeks ago, I’m beginning to wonder if we haven’t lost our identity. Celts fans don’t need to be cheesy. Just make noise, and provide the energy necessary to help a close game become a blowout, or turn a 5-point loss into a 5-point win. The Garden faithful did that in the day, and they didn’t need no stinking Jumbotron to figure it out. Yeah, I just preached there. I don’t feel real good about it, but come on! A man can only stand so much.

Been a bad week for sporting icons in this city. First, the passing of Don Gillis, then the final broadcast by WBZ’s Bob Lobel. Don was a true gentlemen. Once came into my office back when I was a 23-year old sports editor of the Falmouth Enterprise and told me what a wonderful job I was doing. I  could barely manage a thank you. I was in awe. Years later, I got to intern at Channel 7 and Don’s son, Gary, was a sports reporter there. For my money, Gary was/is the best storyteller in the biz and also veryy much like his Dad. I don’t think there’s a bad bone in his body. I tried to learn as much as I could from the man, and the day Gary was not renewed by 7’s Brass was a dark day for me.

As for Lobie, Sports Final was appointment viewing every single week. He asked the right questions, had on all the right guests and made that program a tremendous half-hour. Part of why I’m doing what I am today is because of Lobie, and Don Gillis, and Gary, and so many others who’ve graced our airwaves - Lavanchy, Lynchie, Ammo. All excellent at their craft, and all good people as well. The brotherhood (and sisterhood) just got a little less crowded this week, and that’s not a good thing.

Super 7

Posted by Mike Giardi April 29, 2008 at 2:25 pm

Just getting ready to head off to Celtics practice. This should be interesting. To the “Super 7.”

1) All this talk about possible suspensions, and I neglected to mention two things that I found annoying and concerning about the Green team. Both revolve around Paul Pierce. Didn’t he learn his lesson from that Indiana playoff meltdown a few seasons ago? He went over the top in Game’s 3 loss. I won’t speculate on the nature of his gesture. Only Paul really knows what he was doing there. But bottom line is, he let his emotion get the best of him, and it didn’t help matters.

As for the other Pierce related issue, the man’s back is bothering him. He rarely attacked the basket, and that is a sure sign. That certainly complicates matters as we head into tomorrow’s Game 5.

2) Who knows how well Jerod Maro and Shawn Crable adapt to pro ball and to the complicated Bill Belichick defensive system, but the one thing that really stands out to me, is that both were incredibly productive collegiate players at elite schools. I hate combine warriors, so I think these two get a moderate thumbs up. I can’t give ‘em any better than that in April.

3) I wonder if we’re seeing the end of Mike Timlin. His numbers are frightening at this point, but then again, didn’t we feel that way last year? And the year before? If history has taught us anything with this guy, is that he is awfully resilient. Can he still be that way at 42? If he can’t, Craig Hansen will get another crack, and probably sooner than later.

4) Imagine how the San Francisco Giants feel right now? Barry Zito and his 126-million dollar deal to the bullpen. That signing was dicey at the time, and now it looks like it could be one of the worst in baseball history, rivaling Mike Hampton, Kevin Brown, Darren Dreifort and Denny Neagle.

5) I would appreciate Doc Rivers giving James Posey a chance to guard Joe Johnson.

6)  I think Matt Ryan can have success in Atlanta, but only if the franchise has hired the right coach. If Mike Smith is a mistake, then Ryan will have to start from scratch. That’s the QB killer. Ryan also goes into a situation where his receivers aren’t even average, and cut their best target, tight end Alge Crumpler. Actually, Matty Ice is used to that. He played with a suspect group at BC.

7) Mike Jordan hiring the ancient Larry Brown to coach his Bobcats. Jordan was a great player. Maybe the best of all-time. But he’s been no more of a success in his next career as Isiah Thomas has, and Ike gets killed for it.

C’s Suspensions Looming?

Posted by Mike Giardi April 29, 2008 at 11:06 am

This will be hard for Celtics fans to swallow, but so be it. Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins should be suspended for their actions in last night’s Game 4 loss. The Perkins thing is a no-brainer. He left the bench. That’s an NBA no-no. So he should expect to be in a suit tomorrow night when the series resumes at the Garden.

As for “The Big Ticket,” it is difficult to determine intent. If Garnett thought he was being restrained by a teammate, then fighting out of the hold is understandable. But that doesn’t get him off the hook. You can’t do that to a ref. Period. End of story. And KG knows that. As a leader, as a “do as I do, do as I say,” player, Garnett allowed his emotions get the better of him, and there can be no excuse for even putting himself in that situation.

Now take a look at the bigger pitcure. The C’s have allowed the Hawks to get under their skin, and have made this a series. Anyone else surprised? Shocked? Hard to predict this, that’s for sure. Tomorrow night, you’d expect the Green Teamers to respond - whether or not they’re missing two starters from the lineup - but then again, you thought that would happen last night. To say this is disappointing would be an understatement. The C’s are now faced with adversity, maybe for the first time all season. Quite frankly, its too soon for this.

Celtics beat Hawks 96-77 to go up 2-0 in series

Posted by Boston.com -- Boston Celtics news April 23, 2008 at 11:00 pm Kevin Garnett had 19 points and 10 rebounds, and Rajon Rondo added 12 points, eight assists and six rebounds to lead Boston to a 96-77 victory over Atlanta on Wednesday night and a 2-0 lead in the first-round series.

May Days Over at Globe

Posted by Bruce April 23, 2008 at 9:19 am

Just a few quick links this morning…

David Scott reports on Peter May being the latest Boston Globe writer headed out the door at Morrissey Boulevard, and examines the state of things over there. Scott will also be live-blogging Derek Kellogg’s introductory press conference from Amherst in the afternoon.

Dan Snapp on Patriots Daily looks at the Patriots’ quest to land ‘value’ with the number 7 pick in the draft. Check the rest of the Patriots draft stories and news on the signing of TE Marcus Pollard on PatriotsLinks.com.

The Red Sox had yet another comeback last night, erasing a 5-1 deficit at the hands of the Angels to post a 6-5 victory. view the coverage at RedSoxLinks.com.

The Celtics are getting ready for game two of their first round series with the Atlanta Hawks tonight at the Garden. Get the scoop on Mike Bibby mouthing off at Boston fans,and KG being named defensive player of the year on CelticsLinks.com.

Check out Chad Finn’s new home on Boston.com. Congrats, Chad!

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Playoff Basketball, Part Deux

Posted by Mike Giardi April 20, 2008 at 10:32 pm

Not a great first half from the Celtics. After a scintillating start, the C’s actually let the Hawks control the tempo and gain a measure of confidence. Of course, as I type this, the intensity has returned for KG and company, extending the lead back to double digits. I can sense the Garden faithful saying, “that’s more like it.”

Now while I expect the Hawks to go down quickly, I don’t expect it to happen quietly. I love Atlanta’s confidence, at their belief that they can “shock the world.” Celts fans get angry at the “gall” of the 8th seed, but what else do you expect? Are they suppose to kill the C’s with kindness? To genuflect at the Altar of Doc, Big Ticket, Ray Ray and “The Truth?’ You wouldn’t want your team to do that, so don’t expect the bad guys to, either.