Ray Ray is M.I.A.

Posted by Mike Giardi May 17, 2008 at 9:19 am

At what point do we stop calling the Celtics stars the “Big 3,” or “New 3,” or “Three Amigos,” or what have you, and just call it like it is: the C’s have two very good/great players and one shell of his former self. The latter, of course, being Ray Allen. He has been a non-factor in this series, much like he was a non-factor versus Atlanta. Oh sure, there’s been a game here, or a moment there, but Allen has mostly been invisible. If that trend continues, the Celts won’t beat Detroit in the Eastern Conference finals.

No preamble here. No “Ray’s a good guy.” I’m not going to cut him slack because he’s had to make the biggest adjustment of any player on the team; at least, any player acquired before Sam Cassell. That was allowed during the regular season. Allen’s now had 82 of those and another 13 games in the playoffs to adjust. Unless that adjustment consists of the C’s shooting guard becoming a wallflower, I’d say he’s failed at the most critical time, during the NBA’s second season.

Here’s what should have Celts fans ticked: Ray’s getting his lunch money taken by Wallly Szczerbiak (I spelled it right on the first try!). We saw Wally’s World up close and personal. He was mediocre. But somehow, a slow, deliberate player at both ends has locked up a more fluid athlete with superior foot speed. Maybe I need to change my thinking. Maybe the words I just used to describe Wally fit Allen as well. All I know is that even on an off-night for Wally, he still hit a big shot last night. Ray, on the other hand, had a typical postseason outing for himself - 9 points and a big doughnut hole on 3 attempts from 3-point land. Rich and compelling? I think not.

Doc is on record as saying he thinks the C’s can win without Ray. Against Atlanta? Sure. Versus LeBron and the Cavs? I’ll buy it. But in the Eastern Conference finals over Detroit? No way. That team is playing its best basketball at the right time. The Celts aren’t. All the blame doesn’t fall on Ray, but he’s got to shoulder the load, good guy or not.

C’s Survive Brawl

Posted by Mike Giardi May 7, 2008 at 8:17 am

Last night, I bet you didn’t quite realize you were going to be watching a throwback to the Celts/Pistons series in 2002, did you? That was the Celts team CNNSI’s Marty Price referred to as the “Boston Stranglers.” They took care of Detroit in 5, but it was U-G-L-Y from start to finish.

No different at the Garden Tuesday. I was struck almost from the opening possession just how hard the C’s and Cavs were going at each other. I know this is Round 2 of the playoffs, but there was some nasty stuff out there. Play in the post was not for the feint of heart. Slaps, elbows, knees into thighs, chests all puffed out. There’s no doubt a bunch of those big men will need to visit the team masseuse.

Then there’s LeBron. The 2-for-18 is stunning. The 10 turnovers equally mind-boggling. Every time the Cavs King went to the rack, he got whacked. Okay. That’s the price you have to pay, and James knows it. But for a good two quarters, LeBron stopped going deep to the bucket, instead settling for ill-timed jumpers and deep 3’s. I don’t know who encouraged that, but if I’m the C’s, I’m praying there’s a repeat performance on Thursday night. You realize that if LeBron hit anything, the Cavs steal Game One. They SHOULD have stolen it. Now, you wonder how their psyche will be affected in less than 48 hours when the two teams go at it again.

C’s fans probably breathe a sigh of relief after looking at the box score as well. The C’s survived a 15-0 run by Cleveland in the 3rd Quarter, and two dreadful offensive performances by Ray Allen and Paul Pierce. Ray got shut out in a game for the first time since 1997. Heck, I barely even noticed he was on the floor last night. He went from one extreme in the Atlanta series - forcing his shot - to last night’s debacle - when he got outplayed by Wally Szczerbiak. Trust me, those last words hurt. Not so much for me, but for Ray.

As for “The Truth,” well, the truth is, he is still way too emotional. It cost his team in Game 6 vs. the Hawks, and I must say, I fear it will come back to harm this group again at some later date, be it in May or June. Plus, I think that when Pierce gets angry, he is reckless in his approach to the basket. That led to some hard spills last night, and this is a guy who is dealing hip and back injuries suffered in the Round One. I suppose it too late to suggest he’ll change, considering how long he’s been in the league, but trust me, a change would be nice.

Alright - get your rest. Thursday is bound to feature more of the same.

Powe and Perkins react to Celtics win

Posted by NECN - Sports May 7, 2008 at 6:21 am

(NECN) - The Celtics have grabbed a one game to none lead over the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference semi-finals.

But this was not a game for the stars.

Paul Pierce scored just four points and Ray Allen was held scoreless. Lebron James scored just 12 points on 2-8 shooting.

Two of the big men in the middle, Leon Powe and Kendrick Perkins spoke after the game about stopping Lebron.

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.

Super 7

Posted by Mike Giardi April 19, 2008 at 5:49 pm

In the middle of prepping for an evening of channel surfing as I sit here in our plush NECN sports row. Its so plush, I have two trash cans within 15 feet of me, and yet there’s trash everywhere. Safe to say there’s been an errant jumper or three by yours truly. That’s true to form. I was deadly around the tin, and from beyond the arc, but I never did have a mid-range game. 

Time for the Super 7:

1) I’m positively Pete Carroll-esque right now: jacked and pumped for Game 6 of the Bruins/Canadiens playoff series. For starters, I won bets with everyone at work on the length of this series, so I have much coffee coming my way. Secondly, this has been a terrific matchup, full of everything that makes the Stanley Cup playoffs the second-best postseason in sports, behind only the NFL’s second season. I’m still not sure the B’s have enough to pull of a 3-1 comeback, much like the Habs did to them a several years back, but I’ve enjoyed seeing the Black and Gold represent so many thing that I loved about that franchise growing up. Plus, the Cam Neely high-5 to GM Peter Chiarelli after Game 3 was must-see TV.

2) After a 66-win regular season, the Celtics have placed a heavy burden on themselves. Expectations are sky-high, and I think anything less than a trip to the Finals means they’ve underachieved. I know all the Detroit apologists are out there, but that team has gakked in the postseason 2 of the last 3 years. Why should C’s fans fear that?

3) On that front, I fully expect Ray Allen to be shopped at season’s end. He’s been a true pro, but being 3rd in the pecking order has not be an easy thing for someone used to having everything built around him. That said, I have no idea how the C’s get anything close to full value for a 30-something shooting guard. In fact, I’d say its impossible.

4) This Spurs/Suns series has the potential to be one of the best first-round matchups since the league expanded to its current format. I mean, both of these clubs could win a championship, and they’re playing in the opening round?!?! That’s eye-opening. I still think the NBA needs to go to an open format for the postseason, with teams seeded 1-16.  Ditto for the NHL.

5) I heard a couple of callers complain about the Sox’s trade at the deadline last year. I love the revisionist history. Murphy and Gabbard for Eric Gagne was about as close to a no-brainer as you can get in late July. The ceiling on Murphy is 4th outfielder. Gabbard 4th starter. The Sox’s bullpen needed one more reliable arm, and Gagne was suppose to be it. How could they have known that he wouldn’t be able to adjust to the 8th inning role? I still think that’s a bunch of bunk anyway, but Gagne never got his head right, and consequently, stunk. Still didn’t stop the Sox from winning it all, and hopefully didn’t discourage Theo Epstein from doing something similar this year.

6) Yankee reliever Kyle Farnsworth got suspended for 3 games and fined a laughable 2,000 dollars for throwing straight cheese behind Manny’s head Thursday. That’s brutal. I understand the code about protecting your players, or trying to cool off a hot hitter, but put the ball at the waist, not at the head. And you know what? If you can’t control your pitches to begin with, then you shouldn’t be the one doling out justice.

7) Condolences to the family of John Marzano. The former Sox catcher died of apparent heart attack. He was part of one of my favorite Sox teams growing up. The 1987 edition, which finished dead-last, 6 games under .500, but sold us on the kiddies that were coming: Sam Horn, Todd Benzinger, Ellis Burks, Jeff Sellers Rob Woodward and Jody Reed. For some reason, I bought it. It still leaves a bad taste in my mouth

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