The Celtics are Nasty!

[Nors]

Boston 112, New Jersey 101

Preview - Box Score - Recap

November 10, 2007

AP - Nov 10, 10:29 pm EST
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EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) -- The Boston Celtics won one for Doc Rivers and sent the New Jersey Nets a message in the process.

Hours after attending the funeral of his father in Illinois, Rivers saw the new-look Celtics remain the NBA's only undefeated team and personally show the Nets they are the team to beat in the Atlantic Division with an impressive 112-101 win on Saturday night.

The victory was the fifth straight for Boston, which is off to its best start since winning six in a row to start the 1987-88 season. That was the last time the trio of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish got to the Eastern Conference finals.

Boston's new big three of Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen put on another impressive performance against the Nets (4-2). The Celtics also showed they could play defense, holding New Jersey without a field goal for more than eight minutes in the decisive third quarter.

Pierce, who was scoreless in the first quarter, had 13 of his 28 in the third period when Boston turned a seven-point halftime lead into a 21-point margin. Allen added 27 points and Garnett had 18 points and 14 rebounds.

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Richard Jefferson led the Nets in scoring for the sixth straight game with 28 points, but only eight came after intermission. Vince Carter added 17 before leaving late in the third quarter with a sprained right ankle. Jason Kidd added 17 points, 12 assists and six rebounds.

The Nets trailed by 23 points early in the fourth quarter and never got closer than eight points.

Eddie House added 13 points and Celtics rookie Glen Davis also made a major contribution with six points and eight rebounds in 17 minutes when the game was on the line.

It was an emotional day for the Celtics, who didn't know last night whether their coach would be at the game.

Rivers added the funeral of his father, Grady Alexander Rivers Sr., in Mayfield, Ill., earlier Saturday and arrived at the arena about 75 minutes before the game. He didn't speak to the media before the game, but he was on the sidelines wearing a dark suit and tie.

New Jersey got off to a fast start, shooting 67 percent from the field in the first quarter.

Boston took the lead for good midway through the second quarter when Pierce converted a three-point play to ignite a 13-5 spurt. House, a former Nets player booed when he entered the game, added a 3-pointer in the run, Davis put in a rebound, Kendrick Perkins scored in the lane and Pierce capped the run nailing a wide-open 3-pointer for a 52-45 lead.

The third quarter was all Boston. Pierce hit a layup and scored seven points in a 13-3 spurt to start the period. New Jersey missed its first nine shots and didn't score a basket until Carter drove the lane for a layup with 3:39 left in the period.

A little more than two minutes later Carter was gone. The eight-time All Star drove the lane for a big slam dunk with 1:23 to play. His left foot came down but his right foot rolled after landing on Pierce's foot. He limped off.

The good news for New Jersey was X-rays were negative.

Notes

Nets C Nenad Krstic had the misfortune to have a rebound slip out of his hands and go into his own basket. Perkins got credit. ... Garnett got a technical for arguing a call. ... Boston outrebounded New Jersey 49-34. ... Boston F Brian Scalabrine was released from a Massachusetts hospital after being held overnight because of a concussion suffered late in Friday night's game.

 

[MC KAos]

The Celtics top 3 are as good or better then any team's top 3 and are all capable of catching fire and taking over a series. The Suns and Spurs may be better all around teams, but I wouldnt count out the Celtics vs anyone.

nobody can win a seven game series with only 3 players against a good team. the deeper they go into the playoffs, the tougher its gonna be for them. if they want to compete for the title a couple of other players will have to step up.

i still think the pistons are better and the heat will be by the end of the year

 

[SA_Gunslinger]

the funny part about this thread is we'll hear all year about how boston beats weak east team after weak east team....like it matters or something.

the best part of being a spurs fan is, you know what is important and what isn't.

you could argue that the spurs did not start getting good until March last year, but they ended up sweeping the finals, didn't they?

this thread is funny.

 

[Nors]

the funny part about this thread is we'll hear all year about how boston beats weak east team after weak east team....like it matters or something.

the best part of being a spurs fan is, you know what is important and what isn't.

you could argue that the spurs did not start getting good until March last year, but they ended up sweeping the finals, didn't they?

this thread is funny.

Spurs Fan, Have you seen the 5-0 Celtics play this year?
Your opinion on their +18 point margin of wins, and bench. You keep saying only 3 players but "might" be off there

Bulls did it with a core of 2-3 greats.


Miami is a threat to who?

 

[Nors]

the funny part about this thread is we'll hear all year about how boston beats weak east team after weak east team....like it matters or something.

the best part of being a spurs fan is, you know what is important and what isn't.

you could argue that the spurs did not start getting good until March last year, but they ended up sweeping the finals, didn't they?

this thread is funny.

Celts were up 41 points on Denver in 3rd. I await to see what the West has - candidly.

 

[SA_Gunslinger]

Spurs Fan, Have you seen the 5-0 Celtics play this year?
Your opinion on their +18 point margin of wins, and bench. You keep saying only 3 players but "might" be off there

Bulls did it with a core of 2-3 greats.


Miami is a threat to who?

i'm really looking forward to april.

 

[MC KAos]

Spurs Fan, Have you seen the 5-0 Celtics play this year?
Your opinion on their +18 point margin of wins, and bench. You keep saying only 3 players but "might" be off there

Bulls did it with a core of 2-3 greats.


Miami is a threat to who?

are you kidding me? the bulls had more than just two players, they had a lot of contributers, specially paxton/kerr shooting threes lights out and rodman being a defensive bruiser, they had other big men that were tough SOBs too. The other point we "spurs fan" have been making to you is the coaching or lack there of. you are seriously gonna compare phil jackson with doc rivers?? your gonna compare the 90's bulls to a celtics team five games into the season??? and ya i think miami will be a threat if they get healthy, but i forgot you crowned teams after 5 games, so i guess we better give them the first pick in the draft right.

Celts were up 41 points on Denver in 3rd. I await to see what the West has - candidly.

well, unless your dumb enough(not calling you dumb unless you do this) to listen to Screaming A. Smith about the nuggets winning the west thats still not a valid argument, the nuggets arent that good, they are overrated. the nuggets are like the cardinals have been the last couple of years, people keep picking them as the surprise team to only be severely dissapointed.

again, im not saying the celtics arent or will be a good basketball team, but its a little early to anoint them with anything more than the division championship, and thats not much of an accomplishment considering what division they play in

 

[Doomsday]

nobody can win a seven game series with only 3 players against a good team. the deeper they go into the playoffs, the tougher its gonna be for them. if they want to compete for the title a couple of other players will have to step up.

What NBA are you watching? If you can play decent defense and get 3 guys putting up 70 points a game in today's NBA and you have a shot vs anyone.

 

[Mavs Man]

One thing to consider - in the NBA playoffs most everyone goes to a seven or eight player rotation. They may not have a lot of depth, but it won't hurt them as much when Garnett, Allen, and Pierce are each playing 40 minutes a game.

The Mavs have awesome depth every year, but once the playoffs roll around it doesn't make as much of an impact when only seven or eight play significant minutes.

 

[thekavorka]

Yeah, but if these guys keep playing big minutes over the course of 82 games, they could be fatigued come playoff time

 

[Nors]

Yeah, but if these guys keep playing big minutes over the course of 82 games, they could be fatigued come playoff time

Thats my biggest concern -

Right now we have our best Backup Forward out in James Posey. And with Tony Allen not 100% , we have issues at guard rotation. House is stellar as the #3 guy.

But watching key Nets victory I noted as time wore out that I had never seen Ray Allen off the court. Went to box score and sure enough he played 48 minutes! Sure he scored 27 and we won easily but Celts have to guard for wear and tear long haul.

I think Rivers and Celts trying to make a statement early. I would covett a vet like Sam Cassell to play 10 minutes a night for us.

This is all great for NBA that Celts are back.

 

[MC KAos]

What NBA are you watching? If you can play decent defense and get 3 guys putting up 70 points a game in today's NBA and you have a shot vs anyone.

decent defense is a team concept, and not as easy to pick up as everyone thinks. that would involve at least 2 other players stepping up. its also very hard for 3 guy to put up 70 points per game against a good defensive team.

Yeah, but if these guys keep playing big minutes over the course of 82 games, they could be fatigued come playoff time

exactly, and someone mentioned the mavs having good depth. That they do, but avery still had his starters play WAY too many minutes, and it was something talked about in spurs forums before the playoffs. if you go back to last year and compare duncan, parker, and ginobili's minutes to the top three mavs players youll see they were playing a lot more. i think Avery learned his lesson and thats why the mavs will loose more this season but will be better off for it come playoff time

Thats my biggest concern -

Right now we have our best Backup Forward out in James Posey. And with Tony Allen not 100% , we have issues at guard rotation. House is stellar as the #3 guy.

But watching key Nets victory I noted as time wore out that I had never seen Ray Allen off the court. Went to box score and sure enough he played 48 minutes! Sure he scored 27 and we won easily but Celts have to guard for wear and tear long haul.

I think Rivers and Celts trying to make a statement early. I would covett a vet like Sam Cassell to play 10 minutes a night for us.

This is all great for NBA that Celts are back.

as it should be, if the celtics can get a player like sam cassell, and keep him healthy, then id take notice. unfortunately for both of us the spurs and celtics dont play till mid february

 

[Mavs Man]

exactly, and someone mentioned the mavs having good depth. That they do, but avery still had his starters play WAY too many minutes, and it was something talked about in spurs forums before the playoffs. if you go back to last year and compare duncan, parker, and ginobili's minutes to the top three mavs players youll see they were playing a lot more. i think Avery learned his lesson and thats why the mavs will loose more this season but will be better off for it come playoff time

I would love for this to happen. Give the starters less minutes during the season and then ramp it up around the playoffs. I agree that Avery learned a valuable lesson last year, they will lose more games over the course of the season, but will be in a better position this April compared to last April.

 

[Nors]

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/boxscore?gid=2007111311

Celts on Road win by 15 over Indiana. Pierce dominated for 31-11 and Allen went for 15 in third. Game not much in doubt and 6-0 start for Celtics now.

Back to Back tomorrow night at Garden versus Nets will be a challenge for sure.

 

[Nors]

Pierce scores 31 as Celtics beat Pacers 101-86 to remain unbeaten

By CLIFF BRUNT,
AP Sports Writer

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Paul Pierce scored 31 points, and the Boston Celtics beat the Indiana Pacers 101-86 on Tuesday night to remain unbeaten.

Pierce made 14 of 14 free throws and had 11 rebounds.

Kevin Garnett added 18 points and 11 rebounds, his sixth double-double in six games, as Boston (6-0) matched its best start since the 1987-88 season. Boston still is chasing its best start, 14 straight wins to begin the 1957-58 season.

Danny Granger led Indiana (3-4) with 24 points and seven rebounds, and Jermaine O'Neal added 10 points and nine boards.

Indiana led by six points three times in the first quarter - Boston's largest deficit of the season. The Celtics appeared nonchalant through most of the first half and struggled to make shots.

Indiana guard Jamaal Tinsley fouled Pierce hard on a drive to the basket with the game tied at 38 late in the second quarter. Pierce quickly turned toward Tinsley, but kept his cool.

Suddenly awakened, Pierce even did push-ups between free throws to taunt the crowd. Moments later, after Pierce went baseline for a thunderous dunk, a Celtics player on the bench shouted, "Oops, you got him mad! Uh-oh!"

Pierce scored 13 points in the final 3:06 of the first half to give the Celtics a 52-43 lead.

Ray Allen picked up where Pierce left off. After being held scoreless in the first half, Allen scored 15 points in the third quarter. The Celtics led by as many as 16 in the period to take a 76-65 edge into the fourth quarter.

Indiana made a push late. Tinsley scored back-to-back buckets to cut Boston's lead to 89-82 with 4:06 to go, but Garnett made a long jumper on the other end to help the Celtics maintain control.

Boston outscored the Pacers 33-20 from the free throw line and held the Pacers to 35 percent shooting.

It was Indiana's fourth consecutive loss after starting the season with three straight wins.

It took Boston until Dec. 9 last season to win its sixth game. By then, the Celtics had 13 losses. Boston has won by fewer than 10 points just once, a 98-95 overtime victory at Toronto.

Notes: It was Indiana coach Jim O'Brien's first game against Boston as Indiana head coach. He led the Celtics to the Eastern Conference finals in 2002. ... Former Pacer Scot Pollard returned as a Celtic. He played three seasons for Indiana, and was one of the team's most popular players. He was cheered when he entered the game in the first quarter. He finished with five points and two rebounds in a season-high 11 minutes. ... Boston forwards Brian Scalabrine and James Posey returned to the lineup after missing Saturday's win at New Jersey with injuries. ... Tinsley was called for a flagrant foul 1 with 1:45 to go for shoving Rajon Rondo on a dunk attempt.

 

[Nors]

Celts back to back in Garden against Nets tonight.

Big Test of their energy - can they keep steamrolling the NBA? This is a game that could get away.

 

[MC KAos]

Celts back to back in Garden against Nets tonight.

Big Test of their energy - can they keep steamrolling the NBA? This is a game that could get away.

they havent "steamrolled" the nba, they have "steamrolled" crappy eastern conference teams and the overrated nuggets.

 

[Nors]

they havent "steamrolled" the nba, they have "steamrolled" crappy eastern conference teams and the overrated nuggets.

On track for a 20 point win over Nets TONIGHT on a back to back game. 7-0 - all they can do is win every game they play. They were 41 points up on Wests Nuggets in 3rd.

Don't underestimate what the Celtics are doing - JMO

 

[Nors]

Boston 91, New Jersey 69

Preview - Box Score - Recap


1 2 3 4 Total

New Jersey 23 11 20 15 69 Final

Boston 17 19 26 29 91




(7-0)

 

[Nors]

Boston remains only unbeaten team with 91-69 win over New Jersey

By HOWARD ULMAN,
AP Sports Writer

BOSTON (AP) Not even three sluggish quarters and a subpar game by Kevin Garnett could keep the Boston Celtics from running off to their best start in 35 years.

The role players on the NBA's only unbeaten team made sure of that.

Boston routed the New Jersey Nets 91-69 Wednesday night, turning up the defense and the tempo while Garnett was on the bench with three fouls. The Celtics improved to 7-0, their best start since they opened 10-0 in 1972-73, with their sixth win by at least 11 points.

Their best start was 14-0 in 1957-58.

The Celtic's three stars all had decent games, hardly their best of the season. Garnett had 16 points and eight rebounds, Paul Pierce scored 15 points and Ray Allen had 14.

They got plenty of help from point guard Rajon Rondo and Tony Allen, a strong defensive guard, with 13 points apiece, and center Kendrick Perkins with 10.

Richard Jefferson scored 21 points and Jason Kidd had 19 for the Nets, who dropped their third straight game.

Boston pulled away while Garnett was watching from the bench after he picked up his third foul with 4:38 left in the third quarter and Boston leading 54-46. By the time he came back with 7:17 left in the game, the lead had grown to 74-58.

In the 9:21 Garnett was gone, the Celtics had doubled their lead from eight to 16 points.

Boston was leading 58-54 but scored the last four points of the third quarter on two free throws by Ray Allen and a layup by Tony Allen.

Tony Allen scored the first three points of the fourth quarter on free throws for a 65-54 lead. Then the Celtics really took control.

The speedy Rondo stole the ball under the Nets basket and dribbled quickly up court. James Posey, playing because Garnett wasn't, took a pass while all alone behind the 3-point line on the left side and sank the shot. That brought Boston's subs and the crowd to their feet as the Nets called a timeout.

They needed another break after a similar play when the Celtics stole the ball in the Nets end again. Ray Allen passed from midcourt to Rondo, who fed it right back to the sharpshooting guard for another 3-point basket. That made it 73-58 with 8 minutes left and the Nets immediately called another timeout.

Both teams shot poorly and handled the ball sloppily in the first half.

The Nets made only 36 percent of their shots, while the Celtics hit 44. New Jersey took a 10-9 lead midway through the first quarter and held it until Pierce made a 17-foot turnaround jumper with 0.1 seconds left in the half, giving Boston a 36-34 lead.

The Nets played their second full game without Vince Carter, who sprained his ankle in Saturday night's 112-101 loss at home to Boston.

The Celtics were missing backup guard Eddie House, who sprained his left ankle in Tuesday night's 101-86 win at Indiana.

They didn't win their seventh game last year until Dec. 11 when it was 7-13. They finished at 24-58, their second worst record ever. But they rebuilt their roster around newcomers Garnett and Ray Allen and used six players Wednesday who weren't on the team last season.