The Celtic's 2008/09 thread

[Nors]

I am record, said this last year Rondo was an All Star Point.

He may be the most athletic point guard I have ever seen. Tonight with his triple double he literally was taking rebounds away from Garnett and the big guys...17 assists, 16 points are what point guards do

13 REBOUNDS?

 

[Nors]

Crushed another top tier West Team,

19-2

As they are playing now, near unbeatable

 

[Nors]

20-2

Ray Allen goes for 35, lights out shooter this year

This team is pretty good

 

[Nors]

21-2

Cs win 13th straight
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Marc J. Spears, Globe Staff December 11, 2008 10:16 PM

By Marc J. Spears
Globe Staff

WASHINGTON – The only team that seemed to have Celtics’ number during their championship campaign last season was the Washington Wizards. Well, that was then…
The Celtics won their 13th straight game of the season by taking a big early before hammering the Wizards 122-88 at the Verizon Center last night. Boston tied the sixth best win streak in franchise history with the triumph. The Celtics (21-2) not only have the NBA’s best record but also are in the midst of the best start in their storied franchise history. With two more consecutive wins, the NBA’s defending champs will match the best start in league history previously set by three other teams.
Celtics guard Ray Allen and forward Paul Pierce both scored 22 points. All five starters scored in double-figures, including forward Kevin Garnett who had 11 points, 11 rebounds and a season-high 7 assists. Boston also won by a season-high margin of victory with the previous high 24-point over Philadelphia on Nov. 28.

The Wizards (4-16) swept the season series against Boston 2-1 with their star Gilbert Arenas unavailable to injury in the two wins. But with Arenas and starting center Brendan Haywood both out to injury last night and all season thus far, the Celtics opened up to a 36-21 lead in the first quarter and never were challenged strongly after that.

Allen nailed four 3-pointers and had 13 points in the first quarter while Paul Pierce added 10. The previous Celtics scoring season-high for a first quarter was 35 against Golden State on Nov. 26. Boston shot 50 percent on 24 field goal attempts in the first and scored 10 points in the paint.

The Celtics owned a mammoth 63-39 halftime lead after holding Washington to 37.1 percent shooting. Boston made 21 field goals in the first half, including four 3-pointers, and nailed 17-of-2 free throws. The Celtics’ 63 first half points were two shy of tying a season-high.
Washington trimmed its deficit to 10 points, 84-74, on a 19-foot jumper by Caron Butler with 1:02 left in the third quarter. But Eddie House’s 3-pointer with 3.6 seconds left in the third gave Boston an 89-74 lead. Washington out-scored the Celtics 35-26 in the third to make the game somewhat interesting.
House, however, nailed two straight 3-pointers to push Boston up 101-77 with 8:31 remaining in the fourth quarter. After the Wizards immediately followed by calling a timeout, House yelled to the crowd to go home. Many of the 20,173 spectators seemed to follow his order. Just to make sure they heard him, House followed with another 3-pointer shortly after for good measure.
-30-

 

[Nors]

22-2 - This team continues on this arc, gets back to back we are soon talking about Greatest NBA teams of all time. Not sure they can win 75 games as current pace says, but no one really seems to be able to beat them.

FINAL: Celtics 94, Hornets 82
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff December 12, 2008 10:38 PM

14 and counting (FINAL: Celtics 94, Hornets 82 )

Paul Pierce scored 28 points, 18 in the second half, as the Celtics pulled away from a pesky Hornets team, 94-82 tonight, at TD Banknorth Garden. With the win, the Celtics extend their winning streak to 14 games and improve on the best start in franchise history (22-2).

Kevin Garnett (19 points, 10 rebounds) may have had the best all-around game for the Celtics, which is good because Rajon Rondo (10 points, 2 assists) had one of his worst games of the season.

 

[Nors]

Rondo on fire - streak to 15
23-2

Sloan calls out his team
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff December 15, 2008 11:39 PM

Jazz coach Jerry Sloan called his team soft after tonight's game.

"It looked like we were scared to play against them to start the ballgame," said Sloan. "Looked like we wanted to play out on the perimeter and take jump shots...They're awfully hard to get the ball inside on, because they’re an excellent defensive team and they knock you around a bit. Our guys wanted to stay outside because I think they were afraid they’d get hurt. They had us intimidated a great deal and had us out on the perimeter. We never did fully recover.”

Sloan singled out Paul Millsap (32 points, 10 rebounds, 6 fouls) as the lone exception.

“He played his heart out," said Sloan. "That’s the way he’s been playing. He just seems to be getting better and better. It’s amazing what hard work will do for you.”
He made his point
Link|Comments (0) Posted by Gary Dzen, Boston.com Staff December 15, 2008 11:31 PM

Rajon Rondo took a lot of ribbing in our game blog (mostly for his six turnovers), but the point guard who never quits finished with 25 points, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists against one of the best points in the league in Deron Williams.

"He played great tonight," said Williams. "He's definitely quick. Hard to stay in front of."

Rondo did most of his damage in the fourth quarter, driving the lane to the tune of 14 points on 4-of-6 shooting. He seemed to take so many hits in the quarter that fans behind press row took to calling him "rag doll".

"You never worry about him getting back up," joked Celtics forward Leon Powe.

The game was especially important for Rondo following a subpar game against New Orleans Friday night.

“That was really important," said Rivers. "And all we talked about was we felt against New Orleans he walked the ball up the floor, he played at a medium pace, and that allowed them to stop him and him to struggle. And tonight, we just told him every single time we get a rebound, we want you at full speed up the floor, and he did that."

 

[Nors]

Garnett, Celtics top Hawks for 16th straight win

Boston Celtics' Kendrick Perkins (43) scores as Atlanta Hawks' Al Horford (15) looks on during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008, in Atlanta. Boston Celtics' Kendrick Perkins (43) scores as Atlanta Hawks' Al Horford (15) looks on during the first quarter of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2008, in Atlanta. (AP Photo)
By Tom Saladino
AP Sports Writer / December 17, 2008



ATLANTA—Kevin Garnett scored 10 of his 18 points in the final quarter, and Atlanta's Joe Johnson missed a late free throw that would have tied it, helping the Boston Celtics beat the Hawks 88-85 on Wednesday night for their 16th straight victory.

After Johnson missed with 2.7 seconds, Ray Allen made a pair of free throws with 0.7 seconds left for the defending NBA champion Celtics, who have a franchise-best 24-2 record. It was only the second loss in 10 home games for the Hawks.

In the only other game this season between the two, the Celtics beat Atlanta 103-102 on Nov. 12 in Boston on Paul Pierce's last-second basket.

Pierce added 18 points, and Allen had 16 for the Celtics.

Johnson led Atlanta with 20 points, 10 in the final period. He was 7-of-7 from the line before the miss. Marvin Williams added 16 points, and Josh Smith and Mike Bibby had 14 each for the Hawks.

The Celtics took the lead for good at 85-84 on Garnett's basket with 30.8 seconds left. Rajon Rondo, who had 15 points, then made one of two free throws to make it 86-84 lead with 9.1 seconds left.

Atlanta had won 12 of 13 at Philips Arena dating to last season's playoffs when Atlanta made the postseason for the first time since 1998-98 with a 37-45 record and beat Boston in all three games at home but lost all four in Boston.

Atlanta snapped Cleveland's 11-game winning streak with a 97-92 victory Saturday night and beat Charlotte 83-79 on Monday night in the second of eight straight home games.

Notes The best start in NBA history with two losses is 26-2, set by the 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers and matched by the '69-70 Knicks. ... The longest winning streak in Celtics history is 18, set during the 1981-82 season. ... The Celtics are 9-1 on the road. They lost 95-79 at Indiana on Nov. 1. Their only loss at home was against Denver on Nov. 14. ... The crowd of 18,729 was Atlanta's fourth sellout.

(This version CORRECTS Celtics 88, Hawks 85. SUBS 3nd graf to correct Celtics' record to a franchise-best 24-2.)

 

[Nors]

Perkins 25 Points
Rondo 15 Assists

Ray Allen healthy this year - this team is near unbeatable.
25-2

Amazing the swing in power to East in past year.... and that can't be silenced..... note threads (teams) not started today

 

[Nors]

This team goes 76 wins on pace, wins back to back may go down as greatest NBA team EVER....

 

[Nors]

http://i509.***BLOCKED***/albums/s337/jwhitesellnorsu/DSC_3720.jpg

Ray Allens determination last Years Championship Series caught in a picture.... 7 - 3's in last game iced it be he and Celts came to play DEFENSE

 

[Nors]

Rondo helps Celtics tie record, win 18th straight

Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett (5) looks to make a move on New York Knicks' Al Harrington in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008, in Boston. Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett (5) looks to make a move on New York Knicks' Al Harrington in the first quarter of an NBA basketball game, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2008, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
December 21, 2008



BOSTON—Rajon Rondo scored 18 of his 26 points in the third quarter to help the Boston Celtics tie a franchise record with their 18th straight win, beating the New York Knicks 124-105 Sunday night.

The win improved Boston's record to 26-2, matching the NBA mark for the best start by a team with two losses. The Celtics can break the record at home against the Phildelphia 76ers on Tuesday night.

Coincidentally, Boston tied the Knicks and 76ers at 26-2. New York did it in 1969-70 and Philadelphia in 1966-67. Both teams went on to win NBA titles.

Boston's 1981-82 team also won 18 consecutive games.

Ray Allen had 18 points, Paul Pierce 17, Kevin Garnett 12 and Kendrick Perkins 12 for the Celtics.

Quentin Richardson led the Knicks with 29 points and Nate Robinson had 23. Chris Duhon added 20 with 10 assists.

New York lost its fourth straight and eighth in a row to Boston.

The Knicks trailed 69-63 before Rondo took advantage of some poor interior defense, driving past defenders -- mostly Duhon and Richardson -- for layups and all of Boston's points in a 10-4 run that put the Celtics ahead by 12.

The Celtics led 98-87 after three and scored the first seven of the final quarter, turning the game into a rout when Brian Scalabrine's 3 made it 105-87 with 10:28 to play.

Despite a chance to tie the franchise winning streak and match the NBA's best start, the crowd seemed a bit subdued in the early going, likely due to a pair of snowstorms that blanketed the area with over a foot of snow since Friday.

Just like Friday, when the building was nearly full during the first storm, the TD Banknorth Garden was mostly filled during a day of snow and freezing rain.

While the Celtics pounded the ball inside early, scoring 12 en route to a 24-8 lead 5:53 into the opening quarter, the Knicks seemded intent on shooting 3s.

The Knicks went 10-for-18 from beyond the arc in the opening 24 minutes, with Richardson hitting 4-of-7.

Notes Celtics F Glen Davis was injured Sunday in an automobile accident on the Massachusetts Turnpike around 2:30 as he drove to the Garden. He was taken to a local hospital and president of basketball operations Danny Ainge went to be with him. ... A big roar went up when the New York Jets' final score -- a loss to Seattle -- was put on the Jumbotron. A number of fans gathered around TVs in the arena to watch the football game as the Celtics broke to a big lead early. ... The Knicks entered the game next-to-last in team defense.

 

[Nors]

Celtics win 19th straight, beat Philly 110-91

By JIMMY GOLEN,
AP Sports Writer

BOSTON (AP) Winning streaks are nice and all, but Kevin Garnett prefers something more tangible - like a championship ring.

"Unless you win it all, it's pretty much steam in the air: You see it, and then it evaporates," Garnett said after scoring 18 points to lead the Boston Celtics to a franchise-record 19th consecutive victory, 110-91 over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night.

The Celtics will go for 20 in a row against the Los Angeles Lakers on Christmas Day in a rematch of last spring's NBA finals, which Boston won in six games for its unprecedented 17th league title. The crowd couldn't wait, chanting "Beat L.A!" with 5:27 left to play against the Sixers.

"I totally appreciate the whole history of the Lakers and Celtics and the tradition, the players who've come through both teams, the foundations of this league," Garnett said. "But to put all the eggs in one basket on one game, or that we circle it ... we circle all the games, and if you're on the schedule we don't decline any shows."

Rajon Rondo also scored 18, Kendrick Perkins had eight points and 11 rebounds, and Ray Allen had 16 points as the Celtics starters watched from the bench while reserves Leon Powe and Eddie House helped expand the lead in the fourth quarter. Boston improved to 27-2 - the best start for a two-loss team in NBA history.

The 19-game winning streak broke the franchise set by the original Big Three in 1981-82.