Boston Sports Then and Now

I bleed green.

Ok, so it’s been a while since I have written about the Celtics, but what has been going on lately is just terrible.

I need to get some things off my chest.

Now before I dig in, I’d like to say that I’m 27 years old and have been a C’s fan all my life. I’ve been going to games with my sister since the early 90’s and sat through the “Youth Movement Year” with tickets that were given to me.

I’ve seen the Eric Montross’s, Eric Williams, Gerald Green’s, and Kenny Anderson’s of the world come and go.

I’d like to first start off by advising the “pink hats” on the bandwagon to get off safely because Guru from Gang Starr said it best “Read. Study lessons, build your inner power, cause the next level doesn’t tolerate cowards.” If not we’re just going to kick your complaining ass off anyway!

Never have I heard so much booing during games when the team is down 10 and needs that confidence from the crowd!  It makes me want to puke when I see people leaving in the 4^th quarter because they are down by a few points! Most of you people that due leave usually have great seats and make the area look dreadful with all the empty seats on television! If you turned on the game and saw that, you would of thought they were getting blow out by 30! You know those people in the nosebleeds were envious of your seats in the beginning, but had to want to slap you for the chuck of empty in the fourth! I know if I was at the game I would have been disgusted, tickets are expensive enough especially with economy.

And we press on…

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Courtesy of  North Station Sports

Is the window closing on the "Big Three"?

As some one that started writing about the Celtics as a way of occupying myself during a health imposed layoff, it was easy to say what was on your mind when no one was reading your opinions. When North Station Sports was launched, in the spring of 2009, it was named The Boston Celtics News Station. Back then we only received 10 reads per day and I am pretty sure 8 of those reads were from friends and family. I guess back then I was a bit more controversial in my opinions stated on the site. Through the summer of 2009, as readership quickly spiked, I added writers and watched the developing personality of North Station Sports.

With a growing readership that spanned the globe, the responsibility to my readers for a non-speculative, fact-based writing transformed into taking the safe PC route of the truly opinionated. NSS writers Calvin, Lee and Shawn have produced some controversial pieces but not me. I have sat back and let the personality of the site take shape.

Just as the Celtics “issues” need to stop today, my PC writing is total bull.  I am going to lay my opinion out for readers no matter how pissed off it makes them or how upset the harsh reality of it makes me feel to put it in print…

On February 12, 2010, I can honestly say that the Boston Celtics suck!

Yes, I said it. Their are major problems brewing in Beantown and no one in the “Celtics-family” is willing to admit it.

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Courtesy of North Station Sports

Injuries and age have slowed the new "Big Three".

As disappointing as the Celtics loss was on Thursday night, I found it slightly encouraging to hear the captain not excepting any reasons as an excuse for lack of energy. The Boston Globe’s Gary Dzen (guest on this week’s Celtics Late Night Show) would bring reference to the Celtics lack of fire power on the second night of back to backs by quoting Pierce as saying,

“Every team in the NBA has to do it,” said Celtics captain Paul Pierce. “We’re conditioned to play as many games as they put on the schedule, so I don’t know if that’s a factor or not…We feel like we’re at home, we should be a better team at home than what we’ve been playing as of late.”

Playing on national television and on the second night of back to backs (four games in five nights), the Celtics looked old, tired and defeated at tip off. The young and athletic Bulls had charged through the TD Garden tunnel, onto the parquet floor and over the vulnerable Celtics. Described as “old and experienced” by the TNT intro to the telecast, the 2009-10 Celtics continue bare resemblance to the late 80’s, early 90’s team led by the aging Big Three of that era.

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Courtesy of North Station Sports

Kevin Garnett saved his best for last.

If you follow your sports through the ESPN-hype machine only, then you maybe just fine with the Celtics sneak-away win today at Madison Square Garden. Fact is, today’s performance was more of the same from the Celtics. erratic play, poor shooting, and veterans just looking plain old.

Our worst fears came true Sunday afternoon as the C’s recent offensive woes had spilled over to the defensive end of the court. Zero communication had translated to bad help defense, on some plays– no help defense. Again, our guys made a down right poor team look decent.

The C’s jumped out to an early first quarter lead and closed the period up by 8 points. I had started to exhale from holding my breath all weekend as the Celtics FINALLY jumped out to a decent start. Again, the Celtics struggling to put together a full 48 minute game of decent basketball, entered the half only up by three points.

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Rondo and the Celts improved to 8-1.

What a difference three days can make…

Unselfish play, stifling defense, hot shooting, and careful ball handling, translated into (possibly) the Celtics most impressive performance of the season. The C’s have had wider margins of victories and more dominant games but last night the offense and defense finally clicked in sync through 48 minutes. Boston, struggling early in the season, even hit 88.9 percent from the foul line.

Three days of rest, pratice and home cooking served the Celtics in redirecting their focus towards the aspects of the game that slipped as last week came to a close. The C’s three previous games (2-1) got them away from their credo of team defense and intelligent, unselfish offense. Particularly disturbing the team were their opponents ability to score the basket recently (Last three opponents– 96 points per game/49.9 field goal percentage).

“If you’re going to pride yourself on defense, then [those numbers] shouldn’t happen and they did. They saw that. And they thought it happened on both ends. Not only that happened, but then the offense wasn’t good enough, either. And there will be nights where your offense is bad and your defense has to carry you. And on those few nights where your defense is bad then your offense has to carry you. So in our mind, we let both offense, defense, let each other down on a couple nights.’’

- Doc Rivers on the Celtics recent deficiencies

The Celtics veteran core were running out of gas and it was starting to cast a shadow over the team’s play. So, after their 86-76 victory in a game that was closer then the box score reflected, 3 days of rest, regrouping and practicing in  Boston were welcome.

“We paid attention to the small things and the details because this is how that team beats you.’’

Kevin Garnett, after the game.

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Paul Pierce scored 20 first half points and Kevin Garnett, for the first time this season, anchored the offense

KG and Paul Pierce led the C's to their fourth straight win.

in the fourth quarter as the C’s beat the Hornets 97-87 at the Garden. Pierce, continuing his hot shooting (27 points, 10-14 from the field, 3-5 from long distance).

Garnett struggled through the first half as he seemed to be over-thinking his shot. Clearly a timing and confidence issue, for the third time in four games, KG missed a lob-dunk. In the fourth quarter, however, he forced his will in the paint, hitting a variety of shots from the post. Kevin finished with 14 points on 7-15 shooting and grabbed 7 boards.

In what has become a nightly occurrence, the second unit (and Ray Allen) spread the lead in the second. Upon returning, Pierce hit a three and the lead blossomed to 47-38 at the half but not before Rondo and Chris Paul tangled up and received double technicals.

During half time, there were reports Chris Paul (can’t yet be confirmed) tried to enter the Celtics lockerroom as Paul and Rondo’s relationship became even more abrasive.

CP3 stung the Celtics throughout the second half, scoring 17 points and assisting Peja Stojakovic on several of his 6 three point field goals. Stojakovic scorched the Celtics from long range and led Garnett, determined to force him to play defense, to take over in the fourth.

The Hornets cut the lead to 72-69 at the end of the third quarter.

Coach Doc Rivers began to run a flurry of Garnett/Pierce plays that helped The C’s pull away with 2:52 remaining in the fourth.

Nick Gelso covers the Boston Celtics and NBA for Boston Sports Then and Now. You can check out more of his great work on his blog: North Station Sports.