Tonight the Celtics silenced the critics in a 16 point road win. Three Celtics double doubled including Rajon Rondo (23 points 14 assists), Kevin Garnett (27 points 13 rebounds), and Paul Pierce (24 points 12 rebounds). While each were ultra efficient, Paul Pierce’s line stands out. Making only six shots, Pierce found his way to the hoop and not only finished with authority on three occasions but hit eleven free throws. Needless to say Pierces offensive prowess is a large part of the Celtics’ winning potion.

The C’s have stolen back home court in the series which is a good thing because ideally the Celtics would not want to see this guy in a potential game six:

Celtics' reserve center Ryan Hollins fights for the ball against the Philadelphia 76ers' Lavoy Allen

The Boston Celtics are hobbling to Philadelphia after blowing an opportunity to take a commanding 2-0 series lead over the 76ers with their Game 2, 82-81 loss on Monday.

This has been a strange series where both squads feel they should be holding the edge despite the fact that the teams are even. The unusual statistic about the first two games is that Paul Pierce has made only five field goals on 20 shots combined in the initial contests. Sixers forward Andre Iguodala is keeping Pierce from controlling the pace of the action like Pierce did against the Atlanta Hawks in Games 2 and 4. While Iguodala is an above-average defender, Pierce’s knee continues to be a hindrance.

The Celtics can get by without Pierce putting the ball in the basket if the rest of the roster picks up his lack of scoring. This was not the case in Game 2 against the 76ers because the 76ers were trapping Kevin Garnett. Doug Collins and the 76ers coaching staff would rather leave Brandon Bass open to make Bass beat the 76ers. This strategy worked because he was forcing up shots. Bass actually took the most shots in Game 2 with 15 attempts. Even though he knocked down a couple of jumpers early, the ball clanged off the rim in the middle quarters. This helped make the Celtics a passive team on the offensive end in the second and third quarters when they scored one less point than in the opening 12 minutes.

After the Celtics took a 15-7 advantage early, Garnett came out of the game and the Celtics were getting killed on the glass. Ryan Hollins can provide energy with his size and athleticism on both sides of the court. He cannot rebound. Hollins is a 7-footer and he did not have a rebound in 14 minutes of play on Monday night. Hollins’ frontcourt partner off the pine, Greg Stiemsma had just 1 board through 11 minutes and he was a pathetic -14. This is the result of the Celtics allowing too much penetration from the Sixers’ guards as well as the Celtics not being able to box out underneath the basket.

While the majority of the talk in the Game 2 victory over the Hawks was centered on Pierce’s superb performance when the team was without Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen, the reserves’ performances, especially in the fourth quarter gave Pierce the opportunity to take over with his ability to make shots. Keyon Dooling, who drilled the Celtics’ first treys in that Game 2 victory over the Hawks, has scored just 4 points against the Sixers. In Game 2, Dooling was 0-for-2 in 12 minutes of action. Mickael Pietrus was finally able to nail a couple of treys in the final frame to cut the Celtics’ deficit down to two points at 61-59 after struggling to find his shot throughout the postseason. Pietrus was 4-17 from the field before his 3-5 performance in Game 2.

Other than Pietrus, every player on the bench’s +/- was on the lower side. When the backups come in with their team holding a lead, their job is to either keep that lead or stretch it so when the starters come in, they can build off that energy. The bench plays a lot of minutes because the Celtics want to keep Garnett and Pierce fresh down the stretch.

Unfortunately for the Celtics, they have not received consistent production from their bench. Meanwhile, the 76ers have shown a deeper rotation with little-used players like Jodie Meeks and rookie Lavoy Allen providing quality minutes. Allen has scored 22 points in this series. With Spencer Hawes being inconsistent and Elton Brand missing in action, Allen has been a constant thorn in the Celtics’ side. Allen was able to prevent Garnett from controlling the game like Garnett (29 points, 11 rebounds) did in Game 1. Allen also was 4-for-7 from the field, including a big basket before the shot clock expired on an inbounds play. Allen was able to bank an off-balanced shot with 0.9 second on the clock. The Sixers went ahead 67-65 late in the game and gave the Sixers much-needed confidence after the Celtics’ defense had worked hard for nearly 24 seconds on the shot clock. Meeks sank two free throws to ice the game at 82-78 with 2.2 seconds left, which proved crucial after Garnett hit a three before the final buzzer sounded.

In this series, the Celtics need to control the glass. The Sixers were 15-20 when they got outrebounded this season. The Celtics lost the rebounding battle on Monday night at 47-36.

With Pierce facing a quality defender in Iguodala  while suffering with a painful knee, there needs to be a reserve who steps up his play and helps the Celtics defeat the 76ers. After the first two games, the 76ers’ bench has held the advantage, which is one reason why the teams will be playing on Wednesday night deadlocked at a game apiece.

From 1965-68, the Celtics-76ers battle was a de facto NBA title fight.

The Boston Celtics head to Philadelphia for Games 3 & 4 of their second-round NBA playoff series with the 76ers and from the first two games in Boston these series has all the makings of a fight to the finish. These two franchises are more than familiar with taking each other to the limit. In 1981-82 they played consecutive seven-game series. The Six Days That Formed The Bird Era came in ’81 with the Celtics winning, and though the C’s lost a Game 7 the following year they showed America how to handle Defeat With Honor.  Indeed, not until the 2003-04 Red Sox-Yankee wars in the ALCS, would the city of Boston see such closely fought rivalry battles with so much at stake.

But before Larry and Dr. J, there was Russell and Wilt and the late 1960s were dominated by the Celtics and 76ers. If you haven’t had the chance to take a look at the outstanding video collection put together by Carl Desberg here at BST&N, please take a look at the great moments of this rivalry in that period captured on film. Here, we’ll focus on a run through the players and the great moments that defined those old Celtics-Sixers playoff battles—four straight years form 1965-68.

Boston had won five straight NBA titles coming into the 1965 season and six of the last seven. But Bob Cousy had retired after the ’63 campaign and with Wilt Chamberlain at center, Philadelphia was hungry to supplant Red Auerbach’s C’s. In addition to Chamberlain, Philly came into that season with a quality wing shooter in Hal Greer, a decent rebounding forward in Chet Walker and another  solid inside presence in Luke Jackson.

The Celtics were a more balanced team, with Bill Russell’s rebounding and shotblocking skills controlling the middle—unfortunately, blocked shot stats weren’t kept then, so we have to rely on anecdote, but praise for Russell’s ability in this area is widespread, particularly his gift for controlling the block, making sure it didn’t go out of bounds and starting the fast break. There was plenty of offensive talent for the big man to get the ball to, with future Hall of Famers Sam Jones and John Havlicek, and supported by K.C. Jones, future coach of the Celts’ 1984 championship team and Tom Heinsohn who was in his final year as a player.

There were only nine teams in the NBA in 1965 and though that number would grow to 12 over the four-year period we’re covering, the fundamental alignment never changed. The league was split into East and West Divisions, the top three in each division made the playoffs, with the first-place teams getting byes and the first two rounds of the postseason took place exclusively among division members. Philadelphia was a mediocre team in ’65 at 40-40, but they took third place, won their first-round series and got a crack at the 62-18 Celtics. What was a mismatch on paper proved to be one of the legendary playoff series in NBA history.

John Havlicek's Game 7 steal in 1965--set up by great defense from Bill Russell--is part of NBA lore.

Another format note that should be pointed out is that homecourt advantage traded off every game, even in the first four of a series. The home teams took turns winning and set up a Game 7 at the Garden. Boston led 110-109, but an inbounds pass by Russell to wrap the game up went awry and Philly got it with five seconds to go. Russell redeemed himself defensively by preventing Chamberlain from getting the ball on the Sixer inbounds play. Which compels me to wonder what the problem with Wilt was. He was taller than Russell and the ball was under the Philly basket. Can anyone imagine Michael Jordan being denied the ball with that kind of physical talent edge? It set the stage for an epic radio call by Celtic announcer Johnny Most. The pass went to Greer, but Havlicek had effectively baited the pass by leaving Greer open and watching out of the corner of his eye. Once there was no going back, “Hondo”, as he was nicknamed made his move. “Havlicek stole the ball”, Most jubilantly told the Celtic fan base, setting off celebration and making us wonder how he might have called the play that began with “It’s a comebacker to Foulke…”

While the Celtics won another title in ’65, the Sixers kept improving themselves. They added Wali Jones, a local product who’d played college ball at Villanova to strengthen the backcourt. And more importantly, they added a rookie power forward named Billy Cunningham. The new kid would one day be the Philly coach in the wars of 1981-82, but he was also about to embark on a Hall of Fame playing career and gave Chamberlain critical offensive and rebounding support. The Sixers won 55 games in 1966 and nipped the C’s by a game, getting the bye and homecourt advantage.

Philadelphia may have been improved, but Boston fans, who watched the Red Sox battle so futilely to get past the Yankees for so many years, know what Philly fans had to be feeling in the conference finals. As soon as the games mattered most it was though the Celtics found another switch and the Sixers couldn’t meet the moment. Boston won the first two games by a combined total of forty points, lost a close one in Game 3 and then closed it out with wins of 114-108 at home and 112-108 back in the Philadelphia  Convention Center. It was another championship year for the C’s. Another chance to wait till next year in Philadelphia.

Russell usually got the last laugh against Wilt Chamberlain

Red Auerbach stepped down as head coach after the ’66 title, moved up to the front office and handed Russell the reins as player-coach. The team added a new forward in Bailey Howell, scaled back the playing time of Don Nelson and got solid contributions from another forward in Tom Sanders on their way to a 60-win season. But the Sixers won 68 and this time there was no holding back the tide. Philly won the first three games, and while the Celts salvaged some pride with a 121-117 win in Game 4, the Sixers went back home, hung 140 on the board and won the game, and ultimately the championship. From the perspective of the Boston sports fan, I guess the C’s were entitled to take a year off—the Red Sox awoke from a decade-long slumber to produce the 1967 Impossible Dream pennant team, so there was still something to cheer.

The NBA was expanded to 12 teams by 1968, and by rights the torch of not just one title, but a dynasty should have passed the prior season. It seemed that way, as Philadelphia went 62-20, finished eight games ahead of the Celtics and then won three of the first four in their playoff battle. No team in NBA history had come down from 3-1 in a series before. You know, kind of like in 1985 no NFL team had ever won three straight road games to make the Super Bowl. Or in 2004 no team had ever won an MLB playoff series after being down 3-0. The Celtics of ’68 preceded the ’85 Pats and the ’04 Sox in the groundbreaking category. They got a decisive win in Game 5, an eight-point win back home in Game 6 and then a 100-96 win on the road to wrap up the series. Only seven other teams have duplicated  the series rally since and only one—the 1995 Houston Rockets—has done it without the benefit of homecourt advantage.

Boston won another title in 1968, and at that point went into a brief rebuilding mode, not being a serious contender again until 1972 and not winning the title until ’74. Philadelphia never fulfilled the promise that existed with the Chamberlain era, with the 1967 crown being their only one with that personnel group and the franchise wouldn’t win again until 1983. But for four hard-fought years their battle—and the Celtics perpetual, and mostly successful struggle to stay on top against a hungry foe, defined the NBA.

Well it’s been over two weeks since the Bruins were eliminated from the playoffs and I need a Bruins fix something fierce. So this promotional video for G-Form iPhone cases will hit the spot.

Of course Tim Thomas stops all of this dude’s feeble slap shot attempts, just wish he stopped Joel Ward’s OT dribbler.

DAMN IT!

IT’S NOT F*CKING FAIR!

A questionable Garnett foul late gave the Sixers the big win.

The Philadelphia 76ers weren’t going to just sit there and let the veteran Boston Celtics roll them right out of the playoffs.

After winning their first playoff series since 2003, the Sixers won their first playoff game in Boston since 1982, 82-81.

Behind a timely ref assist and a late Evan Turner bucket, Philadelphia stole homecourt advantage as the teams head to the Wells Fargo Center for Wednesday night’s Game 3 tilt.

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Sure, the offensive foul call on Kevin Garnett last night was a moving screen; there is little denying that. However, that is a call that is made in the second quarter of a game and not in a one possession playoff game with seconds remaining.

It was not the prettiest game, but for over 47 minutes, the Green Team chipped away and kept the game close only to be undone by the whistle.

Sadly, as much as Celtics fans hate this call, the angst should be from the possession before when Rajon Rondo settled for a jump shot at the top of the key in what was bad execution down the stretch. Pounding the ball into the floor with the shot clock winding down, Rondo took a shot that was not best for the team and that is the play that cost them down the stretch.

People will be down on the Celtics today. With the series tied 1-1 heading back to Philadelphia, perhaps rightfully so. This team does not make things easy, but a win in Philly is imperative to winning the series.

Lester has been an inconsistent performer since last September 1

Lester’s woes have flown under the radar with Josh Beckett being public enemy #1 for what he’s done off the field, Clay Buchholz pitching as bad as any starter in the league at the outset of the season, and John Lackey in exile (even though he’s in the dugout at every home game) after Tommy John surgery.  Lester also got points from Red Sox Nation when he stepped up and accepted responsibility for what happened last season in the clubhouse and expressed remorse for what became of the Red Sox season and manager Terry Francona.  Lester, however, has been as inconsistent as any player on the Red Sox since last September 1st when the wheels began to come off of the wagon.

Consider that Lester made 25 starts between opening day and August 27th.  Of those 25 starts 19 of them were quality starts (pitching at least 6 innings while giving up only 4 runs or less).  A quality start is a benchmark for consistency for  a major league pitcher and a 76% Quality Start rate, which Lester had going into September last year, is an excellent number.  Lester also struck out at least 5 batters in 20 of his 25 starts including 11 in a game against the Angels on May 3rd of last year.  He had a 3.09 ERA heading into September last season and had walked 3.3 guys per 9 innings.  His shortest outing of the season was a 4 inning outing against Toronto on July 5th due to an injury that caused him to leave early in his next start as well and eventually land on the disabled list.  There were only three other occasions where Lester could not get into the 7th inning meaning he reached the 7th in 80% of his starts through August.  Then came September 1st.

Lester made 6 starts in September.  He had 3 quality starts, a 50% QS rate.  He went 5 innings, 4 innings, and 2 1/3 respectively in his other 3 outings.  His ERA in the month of September was 5.48, he walked 4.6 guys per 9 innings, and he sported a 1-3 record.  Things have not gotten better for Lester so far this season.  In 7 outings to start the year he has 4 quality starts.  He’s got a 4.29 ERA and he’s had more than 5 strikeouts in only 2 of his 7 starts.  He had given up 18 walks so far on the season.  He’s got a 1-3 record thus far.

When you put together Lester’s numbers from September 1 of last year the results are disappointing.  His 7 quality starts in 13 outings leaves him with an average 54% QS%.  He has a 4.76 ERA and a 4.2 BB/9 rate.  His record is 2-6.  Compare that with his 3.09 ERA and 3.3 BB/9 rate through August of last year and you find a serious downgrade in production.  Compared even further to his career stats going into last season when he had a 3.55 career ERA, 3.4 BB/9 rate and averaged about 16 wins per season you would assume that Lester is a much more effective pitcher than he’s been showing.

Lester's been easily flustered by umpire calls but he needs to bare down in those situations

So the million dollar question is – what is the problem?  It doesn’t seem to be health related.  I do see Lester get flustered early in games over close calls that go the other way and he tends to lose his composure.  But why now at this point in his career?  Why does he seem to be regressing rather than maturing as a pitcher at age 28?  I doubt anyone knows the answer and I am hoping that what seems like a statistical anomaly is exactly that, a blip on the radar for a guy that has a ton of talent and will put it all behind him.  Lester hasn’t totally lost his arm, he’s just inconsistent.  You’ll see flashes of the Lester we thought we’d see every night and then the guy who throws too many pitches will come back 5 days later.  Lester is coming off of a string of sub-par outings and tonight would be the perfect time for him to throw another gem and give the Red Sox their 4th consecutive quality start, something they’ve only done one other time this season (series in Chicago).

Despite all the talk about beer, chicken, and golf it all comes down to starting pitching.  The Red Sox are 15-19 largely because their starting pitching has been inconsistent and hasn’t gotten deep into outings.  The bullpen has settled down but is still being used far too much because the starters aren’t going deep into games.  Jon Lester, not Josh Beckett, should be the ace of this staff.  He is 3 years younger than him and in the prime of his career.  If Lester doesn’t bear down and become the pitcher that he should be it will be hard to see us anywhere near the race this September 1st.  Hopefully tonight we will start to see that guy.

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Rajon Rondo was able to escape Evan Turner and the Philadelphia 76ers in the fourth quarter of the Celtics' Game 1 victory.

The Boston Celtics have been able to overcome several deficits throughout their first seven games of the postseason. While this can be a good thing at times when the Celtics are able to climb back into the game and eventually come out victorious, it is never a good thing to fall back on.

The Celtics cannot allow teams like the Philadelphia 76ers to hang around because they are young and if the Celtics leave the door open, the 76ers can gain confidence. There were too many turnovers and only Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen were making shots for a large portion of the first half to keep the Celtics in the game. In fact, the Celtics went through the initial nine minutes of the game without a field goal from anybody other than Garnett.

The Celtics trailed by as many as 13 points in the first half at 45-32 before they went on a 10-2 run to head into the locker room down by merely 5 points. In the first few minutes of the third frame, the Celtics scored six consecutive points to take the lead for the first time in the game after Avery Bradley’s layup. The team fell asleep when Rajon Rondo tossed a lazy pass in the direction of Paul Pierce. The 76ers’ Evan Turner stole the ball and turned the careless play into transition points after Garnett was called for goaltending on an offensive rebound.

When the 4th quarter began, the Sixers scored the first six points to go ahead by double figures at 10 points. The majority of the team struggled shooting  except for Garnett, who was 12-of-20 from the field.  It was not until the 4^th quarter that Rondo was taking care of the ball and knocking down open jumpers from the elbow.  Rondo’s numbers (13 points, 17 assists, 12 rebounds) looked great at the end, but for the majority of the contest, he was inconsistent . He finished with 7 turnovers, including two overthrown lobs to Greg Stiemsma and Garnett.

The biggest keys in this series are limiting the turnovers and disposing the exuberant Sixers as quickly as possible. If the Celtics are able to get past the 76ers, they appear to be on a collision course with the Miami Heat. Even though the defending Eastern Conference champs are flawed, they have two superstars in LeBron James and Dwyane Wade, who were able to end the Celtics season last year. The Heat is much better than either the Atlanta Hawks or the 76ers. The Celtics will not have the advantage of the home crowd to help will them back in the game.

Currently, the Celtics have four key players dealing with injuries. Pierce has an MCL sprain in his left knee which can only improve through rest. The same goes for Allen’s bone spurs in his right ankle. He is day-to-day.  Bradley’s left shoulder needs to occasionally be popped back in. Mickael Pietrus’s suffers flare ups in his right knee.

For the Celtics to continue this final run for the Big Three deep into the playoffs, they cannot afford to play Russian Roulette against a pesky 76ers team, who is not as talented as the Celtics. The Celtics must come out and dominate early and often.

It was all Rondo and KG for the Celtics Saturday night

Do you remember the first half of the season when the Boston Celtics looked completely miserable, clinging to the bottom barrel of the Eastern Conference playoff seeding and unable to beat the Philadelphia 76ers?

Well those days are over.

Philly and Boston were evenly matched, shooting the exact same 43.9 percent from the field as the Celtics used a 24-10 fourth-quarter run to beat the Sixers, 92-91.

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Love You Mom!

BST&N would like to wish a Happy Mother’s Day to all the incredible women out there! Without you, NONE of us would be here.

Let’s take a walk down memory lane to re-visit some of the great sports moments that happened on Mother’s day.

Bobby Make His Mama Proud

The Red Sox Rally

Moms, have a wonderful day and what you do NEVER goes unnoticed!