Pierce ends boycott

Posted by Jeff Howe, May 4, 6:42 p.m.

Paul Pierce ended his media boycott today, which he started after some writers took it upon themselves to say Pierce was flashing gang signs.

"The stuff that was going on with myself, I just didn’t want to be a distraction to what we are trying to accomplish," Pierce explained. "My whole focus was just trying to be on game in and game out for what we were trying to do. I was just trying to take a step back to myself and not really be a distraction to others and everything that was going on on and off the court. I didn’t want to bring that attention back to my team. My focus was just on playing basketball."

Quick hits

Posted by Jeff Howe, May 4, 6:25 p.m.

• Check out the coverage in the Metro tomorrow. I've got the game story plus a quick sidebar on Kevin Garnett.
  
• Maybe the Hawks should have seen this coming. While trying to exit the Garden, the team bus hit the door of the loading dock -- not once, but twice.

• Doc Rivers won his first career playoff series as a head coach. He lost three first-round series with the Magic from 2001-03 and one with the Celtics in 2005. He is now 7-7 in playoff games with the Celtics and 12-17 in his career.

  “I guess if you coach long enough, you get luck and you can move on,” Rivers quipped. “I didn’t do anything, to be honest. We’ve got Kevin [Garnett], Ray [Allen], Paul [Pierce] and all those guys, and I’m just riding with them.”

• This was the fourth largest victory in a Game 7 in NBA history.
• The Celtics outscored the Hawks in the paint, 60-30.
• The Hawks shot a season-low 29.3 percent from the field.
• The Celtics held the Hawks to 26 first-half points, the fewest the C's have allowed in a half in playoff history in the shot-clock era (since 1954). It was also the fewest points the Celtics have allowed in a half all season, and the fewest points the Hawks have scored in a half all season.
• I've had three Mountain Dews and one water since the end of the game.
• Hawks coach Mike Woodson gave the Celtics a championship endorsement after the game: "Definitely, they have a chance for the title. Playoff basketball is like a rollercoaster. You can’t steamroll everyone. They still have a legitimate shot at it."
• Before the game, Ray Allen told Kendrick Perkins this was the biggest game of Allen's life.
  

Perking up

Posted by Jeff Howe, May 4, 6:08 p.m.

Kendrick Perkins dominated the paint in the first quarter, as noted by an earlier post. He finished with 10 points, 10 rebounds and five blocked shots.

"Kendrick was phenomenal," Doc Rivers said. "I thought he set the tone defensively as much as anyone."

" I haven’t been able to get enough sleep, so I just came out and set the tone, leave it all out on the court," Perkins said. "I think my team will feed off of me. I thought I came in with a great focus, and I wasn’t trying to go home."

Getting flagrant

Posted by Jeff Howe, May 4, 5:57 p.m.

Since there wasn't much to discuss about the Celtics' beatdown of the Hawks today, a lot of the postgame talk surrounded Marvin Williams' Flagrant-2 foul on Rajon Rondo in the third quarter. Rondo was in the process of laying in the ball on a fastbreak when Williams tackled him midair and sent him hard to the ground with 9:09 remaining in the third and the Celtics ahead 51-28. Williams was given an automatic ejection.

"I knew no question that it would be a flagrant," Williams said after the game. "But a Flagrant-2? Like I said, I was trying to catch him. I wasn’t trying to take him out. I would never try to hurt anybody, so for them to kick me out. It was a good call. I saw it on TV, and it did look pretty bad, so I can’t argue that at all. I just want Rondo to know that I would never try to hurt him."

Williams and Rondo have actually been close friends since high school, as the pair met up regularly on the court. Williams said he would call Rondo on the bus ride to the airport to make sure Rondo knew their was no ill intent.

"I thought [Rondo] was really hurt, and I just told him to stay down," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "Marvin Williams, by the way, is not a dirty player at all. Rest assured, I know that as a fact. I really thought he tried to commit a hard foul, but then he couldn’t catch him. It was a bad foul and two good kids playing hard. I guess by the rule you have to throw him out."
 

Celtics-Cavs schedule

Posted by Jeff Howe, May 4, 4:45 p.m.

The Celtics moved on with their 99-65 win against the Hawks today. I've got more coming later, but here is the first snapshot at the Celtics-Cavaliers series.

Game 1 -- Tuesday, May 6, at Boston, 8 p.m., TNT

Game 2 -- Thursday, May 8, at Boston, 7 p.m., ESPN

Game 3 -- Saturday, May 10, at Cleveland, TBD, TBD

Game 4 -- Monday, May 12, at Cleveland, 8 p.m.,  TNT

*Game 5 -- Wednesday, May 14, at Boston, TBD, TNT

*Game 6 -- Friday, May 16, at Cleveland, TBD, ESPN

*Game 7 -- Sunday, May 18, at Boston, TBD, TBD

Celtics closing it out

Posted by Jeff Howe, May 4, 2:59 p.m.

This one's all but over. The Celtics hold a 79-43 lead heading into the final quarter and can start looking forward to LeBron James and the Cavaliers.

Hawks forward Marvin Williams was assessed a Flagrant-2 foul and ejected from the game with 9:09 to play in the third quarter. Rajon Rondo was driving for a lay-up, and Williams tackled Rondo midair and sent him hard to the floor in a bush-league move. Since the league can't suspend Williams due to the Hawks playing their final game today, a very hefty fine is sure to follow.

C's defending home court

Posted by Jeff Howe, May 4, 2:03 p.m.

The Celtics lead the Hawks, 44-26, at the half. Obviously, the story has been on the defensive end, where the C's held Atlanta to 10 of 38 (26 percent) from the field. Four of those made shots have been Joe Johnson 3-pointers. Kevin Garnett has it going with 10 points and seven rebounds.

This was the fewest points the Hawks have scored in any half all season. Their previous low was 30 against the Bulls on Nov. 27. It was also the fewest points the Celtics have allowed in any half this season.

Solid start for Celtics

Posted by Jeff Howe, May 4, 1:28 p.m.

The Celtics played one of their best quarters of the series and lead 27-16 after one. Kendrick Perkins has been a beast in the paint with eight points and six rebounds. He had a great hard foul to stop a Josh Smith lay-in, and he had a nice block on a Zaza Pachulia drive. The Celtics out-rebounded Atlanta 17-8 and held the Hawks to 26 percent (6 of 23) from the floor. Joe Johnson has kept the Hawks from extinction with three 3-pointers.

Marvin starvin' to play

Posted by Jeff Howe, May 4, 12:36 p.m.

I forgot to mention earlier that Hawks starting forward Marvin Williams, who injured his knee in Game 6, said he will try to play today. With the way he is moving around, though, I can't imagine he'll be very effective. 

Ready for Game 7

Posted by Jeff Howe, May 4, 12:10 p.m.

Here we are, live at the Garden getting ready for Game 7 between the Celtics and Hawks. There's not a ton going on here, as the players seem like they are trying to limit all possible distractions. P.J. Brown spoke to the media for a few minutes and said he thinks he is 1-3 or 1-4 in his career in Game 7s, but he was suspended for the only win. He said the Celtics were victimized by an "exhale mentality" during Game 6 and the other losses, meaning they got ahead and then got comfortable.

Leon Powe and Glen Davis also spoke but to a very limited crowd. Doc Rivers wanted to have a short pregame press conference in order to continue preparing for the game, and it lasted 1:45. He typically speaks anywhere between six and 12 minutes.

The best scene in the locker room happened when Eddie House's son came in and gave his old man a hug and asked if he could get his wristbands after the game. This is obviously a family affair for House, who is married to Mike Bibby's sister.

Though I don't have a count, there are more media members here today than there have been all season. The media room, which is divided in half -- one room is a dining area and the other is strictly a work room -- is now completely a work room. The Celtics moved the meal down the hall and curtained off some tables. Big props given to the Celtics for bringing back the popcorn today. I asked PR staffer Brian Olive if he had a credential count, and he responded, "too many."

Postgame wrapup

Posted by Jeff Howe, May 1, 1:34 a.m.

After bolting out of the Garden to catch the last train home, I can finally fill your postgame appetite. While the Celtics piled it on late in their 110-85 win tonight, a margin of victory that didn't completely tell the story, they always seemed in control. Sans an 11-0 Hawks run early in the third quarter, Game 5 was completely dominated by the Celtics. They answered the bell with one of their greatest all-around performances of the season, and Doc Rivers called it their best offensive effort in the last month. Here are some other tidbits:

• Rivers made sure to note he was very happy for Paul Pierce with the game he had following the unfair scrutiny he has faced for his "menacing gesture." Pierce scored 22 points, including 10 in the first quarter, to go along with seven rebounds and six assists. "I was really happy for Paul," Rivers said. "I’m just going to say in this case I really think he is as innocent as can be. This whole thing is amazing where this has gone. I was more concerned about Paul being aggressive as a player, and that’s what I told him. I said forget that stuff, whatever it is. Play. Paul was aggressive in Game 4 but wasn’t productive, but that was the first time he was aggressive. And I felt good coming into the night that he was going to be aggressive and productive and he was. I thought his play in the first quarter was huge. I thought it set the tone for us tonight."

• There were four technical fouls handed out tonight, but Kevin Garnett was the only Celtic to get T'd up. Joe Johnson, coach Mike Woodson and Josh Smith all received techs for the Hawks. In addition, Al Horford was whistled for a Flagrant-1 foul tonight. Rivers didn't address those fouls, but he said some of the post-play jawing was laughable, at least from someone who played during the time when hard fouls were normal fouls. "Honestly, I think the overreaction, I think it was not as heated as it looked," Rivers said. "But every time a guy looks at each other, everybody is running in and grabbing each other. Sometimes, it’s a joke. It really is. I just think we almost make more, we draw so much attention to it. One time I was sitting there like, ‘Nothing is happening. Why is everybody running around grabbing each other?’ But we handled it. … It’s easy for us to say it, but the emotion of the game is tough. It really is. I just keep saying we cannot allow the league to get involved because it would be our fault. Everybody was standing around waiting for the league to make a decision on this last thing [from Game 4], and it was almost like it was the league’s fault. I said, ‘No, it’s our fault.’ We’re the one that’s bringing the league into this. We have to keep our control. They do, as well, and I think both teams are trying, but it is an emotional game."

• The Celtics completely squelched the Hawks' fast break game and actually outscored Atlanta 10-4 on the break. This largely started with the Celtics' offense being in better control. The C's had better offensive sets and took more controlled shots, which didn't allow the Hawks to cheat back on the break when they could easily snuff out a miss. On the other end, Rivers said his group can get it done on the break, as well. "We can run, too," Rivers said. "We can’t run as fast as them, but we can throw the ball ahead with the pass and run that way, and I thought we did that."

• Backup point guard Sam Cassell finally had the effective performance he had been longing for since he signed with Boston. Cassell had struggled in the playoffs but scored 13 points on 6-of-8 shooting in 15 minutes. "I’m just trying to get some minutes out there," Cassell said. "It’s hard to do things in four or five minutes out there on the basketball court. I’m comfortable with it, but this is my time of the year. I love the playoff basketball. I understand what it means. I understand what it takes to be successful this time of the year. I’m just trying to get on the court. Rajon is having a hell of a series right now, so he’s keeping me on the sideline."

• Kevin Garnett was candid when asked if superstars are supposed to come up big in big games. Garnett had 20 points, seven assists and five rebounds tonight, but he shot down the notion that he came with an extra effort because of the magnitude of the game. "You don’t pick and choose games where you’re more aggressive," Garnett said. "When you come into every game, you should be aggressive, you should be assertive and make your mark on the game right from jump ball. You don’t pick and choose where you give here or you don’t give here. You should be aggressive in any game you play in, not only offensively but defensively. When it’s on offense, setting guys up. When it’s on defense, talking, setting the tone to how it’s going to be played. I just don’t believe in certain games you pick it up and do that. Obviously, some games are a little bit more important than others, but when you hit the floor, man, and you’re supposed to be that player, you’re supposed to put your mark on that game every night. It’s not a give or take or when you want to. It should be every night."

Celtics win

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 30, 11:22 p.m.

The Celtics dropped the Hawks, 110-85, tonight at the Garden and took a 3-2 series lead in the process. Game 6 is Friday night at Philips Arena. More coming later. 

Nail in the coffin?

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 30, 10:45 p.m.

The Celtics lead the Hawks, 81-64 after three. Atlanta trimmed the lead to 60-54 with an 11-0 run early in the quarter, but the Celtics got three 3-pointers from Ray Allen and another from James Posey at the end of the quarter to reestablish momentum.

One of the biggest roars of the night came during a timeout with 7;27 remaining in the third quarter. The video boards showed highlights of the Red Sox' 2-1 win against the Blue Jays at Fenway, and the crowd erupted to the tune of "Sweet Caroline." Sox owners John Henry and Tom Werner, who are in the building, were then shown on the video boards. 

Celtics extend lead at the break

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 30, 9:56 p.m.

The Celtics opened it up a bit in the second quarter and take a 58-43 lead into the half. Al Horford was assessed a Flagrant-1 foul after knocking down Kevin Garnett in the final minute of the second quarter, and Garnett made both free throws. A Ray Allen 3-pointer a few seconds later pushed the margin to 15, and that's where we're at right now. 

Celtics lead after one

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 30, 9:17 p.m.

The Celtics lead, 27-19, after the first quarter. This is the Celtics team we saw during the first two games of the series, pressuring the ball on both ends of the court and controlling play. Paul Pierce had 10 points and four rebounds in the quarter. The Hawks are lucky to be this close right now, having hit three or four circus shots and breaking down a few times on defense. Pierce has been left alone with Bibby guarding him, and Kevin Garnett had a matchup with Josh Childress he didn't take advantage of. Ray Allen also missed a wide open 3-pointer from the right arc, which resulted from tremendous ball movement. The Hawks have brought the same tenacity they've had in the last two games and have sort of made their own breaks, but they should be lucky at this point to be in the game. If the Celtics let up like they did in Atlanta, though, this will be another game that goes down to the wire. 

"Green Out" the Garden

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 30, 8:22 p.m.

Apparently, all 18,000 in attendance tonight called each other before the game to plan their wardrobes. OK, I kid, I kid. Reebok has sponsored a free T-shirt night at the Garden tonight, and they're pretty nice as far as free stuff goes. And believe me, we in the media know all about the free stuff. The T-shirts are green and have the Celtics logo on the front with a "Playoffs" insignia below it.

Blood, sweat and tears

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 30, 7:51 p.m.

Not a ton going on before the game tonight, but Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins each addressed the media for a few minutes. Rondo spent a good deal of time talking about Hawks forward Josh Smith, who has been instrumental in Atlanta's two wins in the series. Rondo and Smith were high school teammates at Oak Hill Academy in Virginia, and Rondo said he was able to dunk on Smith once during their years together. Smith set a Hawks single-game playoff record with seven blocks in Game 4 and has had similar success against Rondo this series. Rondo, though, said he'll still try to throw one down on Smith before the series is over.

Perkins said he thinks Paul Pierce got a raw deal with the league-issued $25,000 fine for making a "menacing gesture" in Game 3. Rondo and Perkins both said it's a hand signal the team has used all season, and it symbolizes their "blood, sweat and tears" motto.

Doc Rivers spoke candidly about the firing of Mavericks coach Avery Johnson, who Rivers called one of his best friends in the league. Johnson was fired today after the Mavs failed to reach the second round of the playoffs in two straight years. (In my opinion, Mark Cuban is a moron, but this isn't a Mavericks blog and I'll leave it at that.)

Other than that, Rondo and Perkins each harped that the team is just trying to stick together and rally up for tonight's all-important Game 5.

Pierce releases statement

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 30, 6:50 p.m.

Paul Pierce has taken a bit of heat for his "menacing gesture" (term used by the NBA) at the end of Game 3 in Atlanta. Pierce was fined $25,000, and many have speculated -- probably going a bit overboard -- his hand signal was gang related. The following is Pierce's statement in its entirety:

"I don't want to take the focus away from the playoffs," the statement read. "In sports, emotions run high. After playing for 10 years in Boston, I think Celtics fans know that I am a passionate player.

"I 100 percent do not in any way promote gang violence or anything close to it. I am sorry if it was misinterpreted that way at Saturday's game.

"In fact, through my Truth foundation I am committed to giving back to youth groups and making sure young people have the opportunities to succeed in life. I am extremely proud of the work I have done through the foundation to provide positive influences and safe havens for inner city kids."

The good, the bad and the ugly

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 28, 7:06 p.m.

Rajon Rondo finished fifth today in the voting for the NBA's Most Improved Player Award, losing out to Orlando's Hedo Turkoglu. Rondo received six first-place votes, 10 second-place votes and 17 third-place votes for a total of 77 points, well behind Turkoglu. Rudy Gay, LaMarcus Aldridge and old friend Al Jefferson rounded out the top four.

This is a tough award to vote for, but there were some weird names on the list, including LeBron James (Seriously, only one person voted for him, and it was a first-place vote. Does someone in Cleveland have a Peter King thing going here?), Monta Ellis (who won the award last year) and Shaquille O'Neal (someone's vote should be revoked).

On the other side of the ballot, Leon Powe and Kendrick Perkins were each ignored. Now, you could make the case that Perkins improved because he was playing alongside Kevin Garnett, and that's completely fine. But no love for Powe? I'm not saying he should have won the award or even finished in the top 15, but he deserved a vote somewhere along the line. One of the 125 voters should have seen the Celtics enough (because they were finally on TV this year) to realize what Powe brings to the table. His numbers don't jump off the charts (7.9 points and 4.1 rebounds per game in 2007-08 compared to 4.2 points and 3.4 rebounds in his rookie season), but his energy and ability deepen Boston's rotation were second to none in the latter half of the season. And those are two intangibles the Celtics thrived upon as a whole this year.

Finally, the league announced today Paul Pierce was fined $25,000 for "making menacing gestures" during Game 3, presumably toward the end of the game in the direction of Al Horford.

Hawks won't quit

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 26, 11:30 p.m.

The Hawks beat the Celtics, 102-93, in Atlanta tonight to draw the series to 2-1. Here are a few of my thoughts on the Celtics' dismal performance.

• First, I'd have to say this was one of the three worst games the Celtics played this season, counting their losses to the Bobcats (Jan. 9) and Suns (Feb. 22) in that group. They looked lazy on defense, and they weren't aggressive on offense in the second half, particularly through the final seven minutes of the third quarter, when I thought they needed to continuously feed Kevin Garnett on the low block.
• The Hawks deserve some credit. Defensively, they were quick to swarm on the double team, particularly on the perimeter, and the Celtics couldn't crisply move the ball the way they typically do. Offensively, the Hawks' ball movement was nearly flawless, and they made 10 of their first 14 3-pointers as a result. They had 28 assists on 36 field goals.
• While it was interesting to see how the Hawks would respond heading into the fourth quarter with the lead, the shots they were making all night seemed to be no-brainers. Guy in their face? Shot clock (if it existed) running down? No big deal. The Hawks made everything, much like the Raptors when they beat the Celtics on Jan. 23.
• I did have a serious problem with one thing. First, it's bad enough when a team like the Hawks needs a PA announcer to get the crowd going by chanting "defense" every few minutes. But when the shot clock stopped working, it was the PA announcer's job to count down when it reached 10 seconds, seven seconds and then from five to one. In that case, this guy is supposed to be completely objective, but that obviously wasn't the case. And when the C's had a shot-clock violation in the third quarter, Doc Rivers was screaming at the officials that the guy counting down on the PA system was off with his counting. The Celtics would have a good case (likely not a winnable one) if they appealed this game to the league office.
• Paul Pierce didn't look right in this game, and I think his lower back is definitely hampering him.
• Lastly, the Celtics are going to win this series, and they're going to come out mad Monday night and convincingly win that game. But it's much better for the Celtics to put up their first stinker on the road against the Hawks than later on in the playoffs against a better team. This loss should wake up the C's, not just for this series but throughout the postseason.
  

Let's get physical

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 24, 2:04 p.m.

I just finished up a story for tomorrow's paper dealing with the Hawks' attempts to get into the Celtics' heads during Game 2, but the Celtics were able to respond with some physical play of their own. There are a couple things I didn't touch on in that story to save for the blog.

Kevin Garnett noted the C's no lay-up policy, which makes sure no opponent gets an easy look at the rim during the playoffs.

"We’re not trying to give up any easy baskets," Garnett said. "This team is athletic. We talk about it every practice day, every film day that we have to cut these easy baskets down. We have a no lay-up policy. It’s not trying to hurt somebody but trying to really, really defend the paint here in the playoffs. I feel like in order for us to be effective, we have to do that."

Ray Allen added to that.

"We knew what they were going to try and do and come out and attack us," Allen said. "We had to attack right back. You sense a play like that, and you get more aggressive on the offensive end. Defensively, you just say, 'Look, they’re coming in our paint. Put them down. Make sure they don’t come in there easy, and make sure they think twice about coming in there.'"

In addition, Kendrick Perkins and Mike Bibby allowed their war through the media spill out a bit onto the floor. Bibby maintained his stance after the game last night that he shared a major discontent with Celtics fans and also threw a verbal jab at Perkins' attempt at physical play.

" I thought he tried to hit me a few times," Bibby said, "but I didn’t feel it."

Bibby's little ditty

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 24, 1:34 a.m.

Mike Bibby's comments about Celtics fans were loud. The Garden's response to Bibby during Game 2 was even louder. But Kevin Garnett's reaction during the postgame press conference was something on another level.

"Neither one of us have said anything retarded," Garnett said while sitting at the podium next to Ray Allen. "I don’t remember you saying nothing retarded. Have I ever said anything retarded? No. It’s hard enough playing on the road causing attention to yourself. I don’t think, no I can’t recall, neither one of us has said anything crazy like that."

The fan reaction toward Bibby was a nice mixture of intense and comical. He was booed every single time he touched the ball and heard chants of "Bibby sucks," "Where is Bibby?" when he was on the bench in the second half and "Rondo's better" through much of the fourth quarter.

"I heard them," Bibby said. "I knew it was going to happen. They played a good game. I’m not really worried about the crowd. They played a good game."

Postgame highlights

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 23, 11:44 p.m.

There were a few things of note that happened during the postgame. Here are the quickies:

Kevin Garnett was asked if it was a distraction when he was honored before the game with the Defensive Player of the Year award. Garnett said, "It's a distraction that ..."

And as Garnett paused for a moment, Ray Allen jumped in, "That I wish I had."

"I was going to say it's a good distraction," Garnett said after the laughter in the room quieted. "Obviously, it's for the fans and people to show their appreciation. It's gratifying."

Doc Rivers mentioned the biggest thing he wants his team to improve upon this series is closing out quarters. Most notably, the Celtics had a 15-point lead with less than 90 seconds to play in the first half before heading into the break ahead by 10.

"They’re a young and aggressive team," Rivers said of the Hawks. "And when you give them hope, you’re playing with fire."

Rivers on James Posey, who entered the game for Paul Pierce in the first quarter and gave the Celtics some solid minutes: "He’s so important to our team. I don’t think people have any idea how important he is to our basketball team on and off the floor, and he was terrific tonight."

Rivers on Eddie House (3:03) and Tony Allen (2:25), neither of whom got much playing time: "Eddie and Tony, those guys are going to help us at some point. I can’t imagine how tough it is for them. They’ve played minutes all year, and you shorten your rotation [in the playoffs] and then they’re not playing. That’s difficult. They’ve handled it great, but I do understand how difficult that is."

Celtics take care of business

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 23, 10:50 p.m.

The Celtics blew out the Hawks for the second straight game, using a 96-77 win tonight to grab a 2-0 lead in the series. Game 3 is Saturday night at 8 in Atlanta. I'll check back in with more after the press conferences.

Hawks are 'dying hard'

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 23, 10:06 p.m.

The Celtics can kick out their legs and enjoy the fourth quarter after extending their lead to 76-58 after three.

Oh, and actor Bruce Willis is in the house. He received a loud ovation from the crowd when he was shown on the video boards. 

Celtics create some space, celebs in the house

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 23, 9:18 p.m.

The Celtics are taking control of this game and have a 52-42 lead at the half. Paul Pierce returned to the game at the start of the second quarter and hit a key 3-pointer to give the C's a 40-29 lead midway through the quarter. Pierce checked back out of the game with 3:18 remaining in the second and jogged back to the locker room with trainer Ed Lacerte.

Also, Patriots owner Bob Kraft is sitting with the Celtics' owners in the same seat Sox owner John Henry occupied during Game 1. I think I just broke the record for most uses of the word "owner" in one sentence. Anyway, Pats linebacker Adalius Thomas and comedian Lenny Clarke are also in attendance.

Pierce may not be the only Celtic with back problems tonight, as Sam Cassell is sitting on the bench with his back wrapped.

Celtics lead after one

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 23, 8:38 p.m.

The Celtics lead 24-20 after a testy first quarter. Paul Pierce returned to the bench with about four minutes remaining in the quarter but has yet to check back into the game. Kendrick Perkins picked up two quick fouls for the second straight game and had to head to the bench with 6:11 to play in the quarter. And this Mike Bibby treatment is epic. He's getting booed every time he touches the ball, and a couple "Bibby sucks" chants have echoed through the building. Gilbert Arenas can only wish he was hated this much.

Pierce injury update

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 23, 8:24 p.m.

Paul Pierce was on the wrong end of a hard foul by Joe Johnson 82 seconds into the game. After the foul, Pierce was pretty much tackled by everyone on the Hawks, and there was a lot of jawing from each team. Pierce missed the first free throw and immediately dropped to his knees to stretch his back while in obvious pain.

Pierce left the game a minute later and went into the locker room with trainer Ed Lacerte and team doctor Brian McKeon. The Celtics called his injury a lower back strain, and he is expected to return. As of right now, though, he is still in the locker room.

Getting started

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 23, 8:02 p.m.

Outside of Mike Bibby's comments, the subject of Rajon Rondo's intense film study ruled the Celtics' locker room. Coach Doc Rivers said Rondo watches more video than anyone on the team, and Rondo noted he watched Game 1 against the Hawks about 12 times. Check the Metro soon for an extended version of this story.

After the starting lineups, Kevin Garnett was presented with his Defensive Player of the Year award at center court. Following a quick photo op with a member from Kia, which sponsors the award, Garnett pulled all of his teammates out to center court with him. That drew a huge ovation and "MVP" chants from the crowd.

Bibby was also booed heavily during the Hawks' starting lineup introductions and even more heavily when he collected the opening tip.

War of words

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 23, 7:37 p.m.

The feud started with Hawks point guard Mike Bibby calling out Celtics fans, saying they're "bandwagon jumpers" who are only going to the games because the team is finally winning. Then, Kendrick Perkins  spoke out in the fans' defense. Now, it's gotten personal.

Bibby addressed the media earlier tonight and stuck to the comments he made before practice yesterday. Then, Bibby got on Perkins, saying the Celtics' center would be better off keeping his mouth shut because he hasn't accomplished anything in this league. Hey, Bibby's words -- not mine.

After Perkins was told of Bibby's statements, the C's big man shook them off.

"I’m still going to go to sleep tonight," Perkins said about an hour ago. "It really doesn’t bother me either way. Whatever to get his confidence right.

"I ain’t worried about him. Obviously, he’s worried about what’s going on over here, but I’m not worried about him, so it’s whatever."

Outside the locker room, Leon Powe was laughing with P.J. Brown, with Powe leaning on his teammate and saying, "Perk and Mike Bibby are talking crazy about each other."

In case you aren't up to date on how the feud started, click here for the story in the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Postgame highlights

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 20, 11:49 p.m.

Thankfully, the postgame press conferences were moved to a larger area in the Garden's back hallway compared a couple of the smaller locker rooms that were used throughout the regular season.

Kevin Garnett said he plans to soak in all of the playoffs have to offer this time around, saying he was thankful to be put in this position. He also compared running out of the tunnel before the game like sticking your head out of a car window when it's driving 140 mph. He said he needed to stop and collect himself a bit.

Doc Rivers noted his team's success from 3-point range in the first quarter was like "fools gold" in that once the Celtics started knocking them down, that's what they started looking for during much of the first half. He said that's when they started getting into trouble and the lead withered away, saying he emphasized the offense running through the post more often.

Rivers was also unhappy with the way the Celtics failed to close out the first and second quarters, and at halftime, they talked about closing up the lane on defense.

Rivers mentioned the atmosphere in the building, which was the most electric it had been all season. He said it is rare to hear the crowd roars from the locker room prior to the game, but that was the case tonight, noting "I was in the bathroom (pause) combing my hair." It drew a laugh from the media in the room.

Finally, the Celtics were all proud of Rajon Rondo and his ability to stay within himself and control the moment tonight. Rondo had 15 points, nine assists and six rebounds. 

Celtics take Game 1

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 20, 11:12 p.m.

The Celtics made a statement tonight, blowing out the Hawks, 104-81, at the Garden. They took a 1-0 lead in the series and will go for win No. 2 Wednesday night at home. This was the Celtics’ first playoff victory since they beat the host Pacers, 92-89, in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference quarterfinals on May 5, 2005 . The Celtics lost that series, 4-3.

I'll have a little more coming later on. 

Celtics blowing it open

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 20, 10:34 p.m.

The Celtics have a 73-55 lead after the third quarter. The C's were 58-7 in the regular season when ahead or tied after three. Ray Allen scored 12 in the quarter to give the Celtics a comfortable lead heading into the fourth.

Apparently, Kevin Youkilis doesn't have the connections that Mike Lowell, David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia have. Youkilis is sitting about four seats away from the Sox trio but in the second row.

C's lead at the break

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 20, 9:48 p.m.

The Celtics lead 49-40 after the second quarter. The C's were 52-9 in the regular season when ahead or tied at the half. The game definitely slowed down more once the Celtics' second unit entered, and the Hawks drew to within four points a couple different times before Sam Cassell sparked the C's with a big 3-pointer to push the lead to 38-31. The Celtics' biggest concern in the second half will be the foul trouble of Kevin Garnett and Kendrick Perkins, who each have three personal fouls.

Celtics lead after one, Sox in the house

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 20, 9:14 p.m.

The Celtics lead the Hawks, 29-21, at the end of the first quarter. The C's were 48-7 in the regular season when ahead or tied after one. The Celtics definitely fed off the raucous crowd, while the Hawks showed their youth. They went back-to-back possessions with a shot that was all glass and then an air ball. Atlanta point guard Mike Bibby also picked up a technical foul. Celtics center Kendrick Perkins was tagged with a couple early fouls, and Leon Powe was the first man off the bench for the C's.

Sitting courtside tonight are Red Sox Mike Lowell, Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz and owner John Henry. Pedroia, repping the little man, is wearing a green Rajon Rondo tee shirt.

This place is rocking

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 20, 8:39 p.m.

It's not quite yet the loudest this building has been all season because the crowds for the Pistons and Spurs games were pretty electric. But the pregame crowd is rocking the Garden. The C's brought back the fireworks for the starting lineups and also had a new montage they played on the video boards prior to the game. It highlighted past Celtics playoff appearances and looked back on the acquisitions of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. JoJo White also spoke live on the video boards. This should be a crazy night at the Garden. 

Playoff time

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 20, 6:52 p.m.

It's that time again. The Celtics were the first team in the NBA to clinch a playoff spot (March 5), and they're the last one to get in their first game, obviously along with the Hawks. The C's finished a league-best 66-16 and will have home-court advantage throughout the postseason as long as they're playing, and the Hawks were 37-45, the worst team still playing. Atlanta, however, finished 16-17 after trading for point guard Mike Bibby in February.

Some nuggets: Celtics coach Doc Rivers played for the Hawks from 1983-91 and is the team's all-time leader in assists with 3,866. ... The Celtics are in the playoffs for the first time in three years, and the Hawks are back in the postseason after a nine-year absence. ... Atlanta's 37 wins were their most in 10 seasons. ... Props to the Garden for keeping the parking price at $25 for the playoffs, while another local team (through no fault of their own) sees playoff parking rates soar around the facility. ... The NBA Playoffs insignia is on the parquet.

Powe leads Celtics

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 16, 10 p.m.

The Celtics got their kicks during win 66. Leon Powe scored a career-high 27 points to go along with 11 rebounds to lead the Celtics to a 105-94 win against the Nets at the Garden. Ray Allen led the Big Three with 18 minutes played, as this was merely a spectacle for the starters.

The C's finished the regular season with an NBA-best 66-16 record, and they'll host the eighth-seeded Hawks in the first round, which will begin this weekend.

Like the Celtics, we're back

Posted by Jeff Howe, April 16, 5:42 p.m.

It's been awhile, but don't worry. I wasn't really leaving you guys this way. Kind of like the Celtics, "In the Paint" clinched an early playoff berth and rested the starters for the rest of the season. But we're back in time for the playoffs, and consider tonight something of a postseason warmup.

The main topic of conversation around the Garden tonight revolves around when the Celtics will open play this weekend against the Hawks. The buzz is the NBA wants the Celtics to play in the first nationally televised game Saturday at 3 p.m., but there's a problem with the Bruins potentially hosting a playoff game Saturday night at 7. While parts of other playoff series have been announced, the league is holding off on the Celtics because it is rumored to be in talks with the networks to see if something can get worked out.

Consider the factors, though. A fast Celtics game would take two and a half hours, meaning a 5:30 conclusion. If the building security is completely on point, it would take about a half hour to usher the fans out of the building, and there'd be no time to clean the place. Typically, buildings open 90 minutes before the start of games, meaning that process would already be delayed a half hour. Also, you're talking about two sets of media. Granted, hockey media watches games on the Garden's ninth floor while the basketball media stays around the third floor, but there's still just one central media room. Is it feasible? Yes. But there are way too many small details to overcome.

Of course, the only thing that matters to the league is money in the TV contracts.

Here's where it gets even better. There are a pair of concerts in Atlanta next week on Thursday and Friday. That means the series can't open in Atlanta until next Saturday. As the rumors fly, this series is looking like it's going Saturday-Wednesday-Saturday in the first three games.

And finally, if the Celtics don't get the 3 p.m. game Saturday, it will be the Lakers.

The grades are in

Posted by Jeff Howe, Feb. 14, 7:23 p.m.

As the NBA pauses for the All-Star break, I took the time to grade the C’s. Not surprisingly, they passed with flying colors. Team grade: A. (Side note: check the Metro today if you have the chance to because the report card looks pretty solid.)

Kevin Garnett: A+

Pros: The Big Ticket heads into the All-Star break as the NBA’s leading MVP candidate. He’s second on the Celtics with 19.2 points per game and is grabbing a team-high 9.9 rebounds per contest. Garnett also has 3.8 assists, 1.41 blocks and 1.41 steals per game. But it’s his presence on defense that has changed the culture of Boston basketball. He is a fiery competitor who controls the tempo of the action when he is on the court, and he’s got the killer instinct that should pay dividends during the playoffs.

Cons: There aren’t exactly many of these. Garnett’s abdominal strain is a mild concern, as he’s missed nine straight games. And there is still no exact timetable for his return, though it’s a good sign he is heading to New Orleans to work out with Doc Rivers over the weekend. As an injury that calls for rest as the best medicine, the fact that KG isn’t staying behind for a few days to nurse it shows his return to the lineup should be sooner than later.

Paul Pierce: A

Pros: The Truth is averaging a team-best 20.6 points per game, his lowest mark in eight years, but he’s having the best season of his career. Why? Because he’s playing Kobe Bryant-like defense. Pierce is drawing the praise of every coach and scout around the league for his perimeter prowess, and he should earn his first career selection to the NBA’s All-Defensive First Team.

Cons: He still falls into the occasional trap of settling for jumpers, but there isn’t a player like him in the game who doesn’t. If Pierce continues to stay aggressive in attacking the basket, he’ll open up more opportunities for everyone else, especially Ray Allen.

Ray Allen: B+

Pros: His creativity around the rim has been a surprise while watching him for the first time on a game-by-game basis. Allen has also admirably taken on the role of being the third offensive option (most times). But if Pierce or Garnett struggles — or if the game plan calls for it — Allen (18.5 points per game) has been a worthy scorer, especially in crunch time.

Cons: He went through a very difficult funk early in the season, but he has seemed to snap out of it. It’s tough for a pure shooter when the iron betrays him, but Allen certainly never lost confidence. With that slump, Allen is shooting a career-low .426 from the field. He can also find occasional difficulty getting his shots, as he relies on teammates setting screens to get him open away from the ball.

Celtics’ supporting cast: B

Pros: Point guard Rajon Rondo has been an absolute stud. His maturation process since the end of last season has been a welcomed sight for the Celtics, to say the very least. Entering the season, it appeared as though Rondo simply needed to stay out of the way and allow everyone else to do the heavy lifting for the C’s to have success. Those thoughts couldn’t have been further from the truth. Rondo is as fun to watch as anyone on the team, and he’s averaging 10.4 points, 4.8 assists and 4.5 rebounds per game. Fellow starter, center Kendrick Perkins, has played his role well, serving as a looming presence and grabbing 5.6 rebounds. Plus, James Posey, Glen Davis, Leon Powe, Tony Allen and Eddie House have nicely filled in the rotation and, at times, won games. 

Cons: Though House has been solid off the bench, he’s vulnerable as the backup point guard when defenses press, which will certainly come on a regular basis in the playoffs. Allen has shown equal parts bright flashes and head-scratching turnovers, especially with his knack of losing the ball in traffic. And who knows how the Celtics’ big men will mend, but this Davis injury could really hurt their frontcourt depth if he’s out for an extended period of time. 

Doc Rivers: A

Pros: As with Rondo, most wanted Rivers to stay out of the way this season. Well, it might be the understatement of the year to say it’s a really, really good thing he didn’t. After the summer press conference that introduced the New Three, Rivers took his stars to his office, where he firmly told them they wouldn’t be of any significance this season without playing great defense. Naturally, they bought what Rivers was selling. Rivers is also the perfect mix of players’ coach and drill instructor. His players trust him, they enjoy playing for him and he’s made sure they were able to come together and bond as a unit (it’s only fair to say Pierce, Garnett and Allen deserve credit for that, too). Rivers also made the smart move of hiring Tom Thibodeau, a defensive-minded guru, to his coaching staff. Finally, Rivers has handled Garnett’s injury with perfection. After the C’s roaring start, they definitely fatigued in January, and Garnett could have used the rest anyway. Rivers hasn’t forced Garnett to test his abdomen, and KG has been publicly grateful.

Cons: Like the Celtics’ stars, it’s nitpicking to find something wrong with Rivers’ operation. If anything, Posey (24.5 minutes per game, sixth-most on the team) probably deserves a tad more playing time, and that’s a reach.

Celtics knock out Spurs

Posted by Jeff Howe, Feb. 10, 4:53 p.m.

Who needs Kevin Garnett?

Certainly not the Celtics, who took down the defending champion Spurs, 98-90, today at a raucous TD Banknorth Garden. The C’s improved to 5-2 without the NBA All-Star Game’s leading vote getter, who is expected to miss at least another week with a strained abdomen. The Celtics visit the Pacers Tuesday before hosting the Knicks Wednesday and taking off for the All-Star break after that.

In Garnett’s absence, Paul Pierce scored a game-high 35 points and had six rebounds to lift the Celtics (39-9) to their first home win over the Spurs (32-17) in 11 years. And Glen Davis added nine points, eight rebounds, three steals and played solid defense on Tim Duncan, who had 22 points and 14 boards but never took control of the game.

“It was amazing to be out there with Tim Duncan, knowing that he is one of the greatest,” Davis said. “The matchup against him today meant a lot for my confidence and also for my team.”

“[ Davis ] was huge,” said Pierce, whose Celtics improved to 16-0 against the Western Conference. “His defense, the way he used his body, his strength, the way he pushed Duncan out of the paint to take away his easy lay-ups. That’s big for a rookie. You don’t see rookies coming in, stepping up to the challenge – you’ve got a four-time champion, an MVP of this league, and he wanted the challenge.”

Rajon Rondo made another important impact with five points, a career-high 12 assists and a team-best 11 rebounds, including an offensive board in the final minute that eventually led to a pair of free throws from Ray Allen (19 points, five rebounds) that pushed the Celtics’ lead to 92-87.

“It was a great effort,” Pierce said. “We played with a lot of energy, and that’s what it’s going to take to beat these elite teams in the NBA. Regardless, we’ve got to make up for our lack of players with our hard work and our hustle. That’s what we were able to do today, grind it out, make it a physical ballgame, and we were able to pull it out in the end.”

C's lead after three

Posted by Jeff Howe, Feb. 10, 2:53 p.m.

The Celtics have a 68-61 lead after the third quarter. The C's are 33-4 this season when ahead or tied after three. Paul Pierce has a game-high 26 points. 

Celtics lead at the half

Posted by Jeff Howe, Feb. 10, 2:03 p.m.

Paul Pierce hit a jumper with 6.5 seconds remaining in the second quarter to give the Celtics a 43-41 lead after two. Pierce has a game-high 18 points.

Spurs lead after one

Posted by Jeff Howe, Feb. 10, 1:29 p.m.

The Spurs have a 23-30 lead after the first quarter. The Celtics are 11-4 this season when behind after one. Paul Pierce was on fire early, scoring 14 of Boston's first 16 points, hitting back-to-back 3-pointers to key a 10-0 run at one point. 

Under way at the Garden

Posted by Jeff Howe, Feb. 10, 1:03 p.m.

OK, we're off to a late start this morning, and there's a lot to catch up on, as the Celtics (38-9) take on the Spurs (32-16). First, and least important, the Celtics brought the fireworks back for the starting lineups. This is the third time they've done that this season, with the season opener against the Wizards and Dec. 8 against the Bulls.

Now, let's get down to brass tacks. Doc Rivers announced earlier this morning that Kendrick Perkins will be out of the lineup until after the All-Star break with a strained left shoulder. Kevin Garnett, who is missing his seventh straight game today with an abdominal strain, will likely be out another week, as well. Rivers said Garnett ran today, and he might get on the floor during practice tomorrow to participate in basic offensive sets. Those will be slow, almost-walking drills that don't involve a defense, however. Garnett likely will not play Tuesday against Indiana or Wednesday against the Knicks here.

Rivers also said Garnett will probably miss the All-Star game, though the two have not made a decision on that yet. If that's the case, Rivers has been lobbying to get Ray Allen on the team to fill the spot.

Leon Powe and Brian Scalabrine started in place of Garnett and Perkins, but Powe picked up two fouls in less than two minutes and Glen Davis is on the floor now. 

KG out Friday

Posted by Jeff Howe, Feb. 6, 10:57 p.m.

Doc Rivers just said Kevin Garnett will not play Friday in Minnesota, where he spent his first 12 years of his NBA career. It will be the sixth straight game Garnett has missed with an abdominal strain.

Rivers said Garnett will "most likely" make the trip to Minnesota but will not make a definite decision on that matter until tomorrow. He then said Garnett will not sit on the bench, per usual, but will bring him out onto the floor if he learns the Timberwolves are planning a ceremony for him. 

Celtics beat Clippers

Posted by Jeff Howe, Feb. 6, 10:16 p.m. (updated at 11:02 p.m.)

If Sam Cassell ever ends up wearing a Celtics uniform, don’t expect Rajon Rondo to be too happy about it.

Rondo took exception to Cassell’s place on the parquet tonight, and the Celtics’ starting point guard put forth an inspired effort in Boston ’s 111-100 win over the Clippers at the TD Banknorth Garden.

Cassell, rumored to be on his way out of Los Angeles via trade or contract buyout and eyeing the Celtics as a potential suitor, told reporters before the game he would “love” to reunite with Kevin Garnett. The pair were teammates in Minnesota for two years.

But any affection Cassell previously had for the C’s may have dissipated during a physical battle between the point guards, which culminated with Cassell’s ejection for close-lining Rondo mid-air on his way to the basket in the second quarter. Rondo’s nose was bloody after a hard fall, and Cassell, who had 10 points, was given a Flagrant-2 foul and an early shower with 2:54 remaining in the second quarter.

“Nothing about it,” Rondo said of the foul.

Rondo scored a career-high 24 points, including 18 in the first half, to go along with eight assists, five rebounds and four steals. He was a nuisance on the defensive end, and the second-year guard shredded the Clippers in the paint with playground-style moves throughout the night.

“Every night, as of lately, I’ve been trying to get psyched up playing the opposing guard,” Rondo said. “It’s a great league, and every night you have a chance. The opposing guard could have a career high on you, so every night you try to get psyched up and be mentally ready.”

Paul Pierce scored the first nine points of the game and finished with 15 for the Celtics (37-9), who were without Kevin Garnett for the fifth straight game. Garnett maintained last night he was still day-to-day and is continuing to get better.

The Clippers (15-31) responded to Pierce’s opening spurt with a 24-11 run to take a 29-25 lead after the first quarter, but Rondo’s 12-point second quarter allowed the Celtics to establish control for the rest of the game.

Ray Allen had 19 points and five rebounds, while Leon Powe provided another boost for the Celtics with 13 points and 10 boards.

Celtics lead after three

Posted by Jeff Howe, Feb. 6, 9:33 p.m.

The Celtics have an 84-81 lead after the third quarter. The C's are 32-4 this season when ahead or tied after three. 

C's lead at the break

Posted by Jeff Howe, Feb. 6, 8:51 p.m.

The Celtics have a 59-48 lead after the second quarter. The C's are 29-5 this season when ahead or tied at the half.

Clippers point guard Sam Cassell, who could end up on the Celtics before this season is over, was kicked out of the game with 2:54 remaining in the second quarter. Cassell close-lined Rajon Rondo as Rondo was driving through the lane, and Cassell was given a Flagrant-2 foul, which comes with an automatic ejection. The two point guards had a physical battle going tonight, and Cassell ended up on the floor during the Clippers' previous possession.

Clippers lead after one

Posted by Jeff Howe, Feb. 6, 8:09 p.m.

The Clippers have a 29-25 lead after the first quarter. The Celtics are 9-4 this season when trailing after one.

Paul Pierce scored the first nine points of the game, but the Clippers responded with a 24-11 run to establish the lead. The C's had a chance to take a lead into the break, but Tony Allen air-balled a 3-pointer into the hands of Sam Cassell, who fed Quinton Ross up the right sideline. Ross then hit a running jumper from about 30 feet at the buzzer.

Quick hits

Posted by Jeff Howe, Feb. 6, 7:17 p.m.

Paul Pierce, who had a rough case of the flu last night in Cleveland, will start for the Celtics tonight. C's coach Doc Rivers said Pierce looks much better today, and not just because he got a new haircut.

Rivers also announced Scot Pollard will be out until after the All-Star break with a sore left ankle.

Clippers point guard Sam Cassell, who could be traded or allowed out of his contract soon, told reporters tonight he would love to play with Kevin Garnett again. The two were once teammates in Minnesota.

And the NBA just announced the trade between the Suns and Heat has been finalized. Miami sent Shaquille O'Neal to Phoenix for Shawn Marion and Marcus Banks, who began his career with the Celtics. My first impression says the Heat just got away with highway robbery, and they'll have a bright future with Marion and Dwyane Wade together on South Beach. The Suns, however, have the best record in the Western Conference, should, should, SHOULD have beaten the Spurs in the playoffs last year and gone on to win the NBA Finals. But Marion wasn't very happy with Suns management, which in turn felt the team needed to get better defensively and on the boards. Hey, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

State of the Ticket

Posted by Jeff Howe, Feb. 6, 7:12 p.m.

Kevin Garnett held his first ever State of the Kevin Garnett speech before tonight's game against the Clippers.

The Celtics’ All-Star forward called a press conference, which he had never done prior to a game since joining the Celtics, to discuss the abdominal strain that has kept him out of five straight games (including tonight).

While he still has no target date for his return to the lineup, Garnett insists he is getting better every day.

“The first three days were probably the most difficult,” said Garnett, whose first public sign of the injury came during a win over the Timberwolves on Jan. 25. “You don’t know how many movements are affected throughout your core and your abdomen area – everything from coughing to sneezing and laughing, or moving around and tossing and turning in bed at night. It’s been difficult, but I am getting better.”

Garnett eluded that he would probably play under his current conditions, but he admitted it wouldn’t be smart to do so. In the meantime, he has resumed running, and was recently able to do leg lifts while laying on the floor, “a huge accomplishment” in his mind.

“The doctors want to make sure that I’m smart and I’m not doing anything heroic, as they put it,” Garnett said. “They want to make sure that I’m healthy. Obviously, we have another half of basketball to play, and that’s a priority here. I’m trying to be honest and push myself like I always do. But at the same time, be truthful to how I’m really feeling.”

Garnett would clearly like to return to the lineup   Friday when the Celtics visit Minnesota , where he spent his first 12 seasons in the NBA. But the difficult part of this injury has been his inability to manipulate it. With previous injuries, he has used extra tape, padding and ice.

Such third parties, however, aren’t useful for an abdominal strain.

“I’m trying to be smart about this injury,” Garnett said. “In the past, I’ve looked at some of my injuries as I’ve been hurt. This is an injury. This is if I make a certain movement, I have to stop right in my tracks. Whatever I’m doing, I have to stop. I’m listening to my body, and I’m being smart.”

We're baaaaaaaaaaaaack

Posted by Jeff Howe, Feb. 6, 5:47 p.m.

It's been too long, but don't worry. I missed you as much as you all missed me. Now that the Patriots are done and the Super Bowl is in the rearview mirror, things have settled quite a bit, and the blog will resume regular operation.

So, without further ado, here's a look inside the numbers as the Celtics (36-9) get ready to take on the Clippers (15-30) at the Garden.

The Celtics are 20-4 at home, 0-1 in February, 8-3 on Wednesdays, 13-0 against the Western Conference and 5-0 against the Pacific Division. This is their first meeting with the Clippers this season.

The Celtics announced Kevin Garnett will hold a press conference at 6 p.m., and I'll check back after that.

Twin towers

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 26, 3:30 p.m.

Before last night’s game even started, Minnesota big man Al Jefferson raved about how much he looked up to former teammate and Celtics center Kendrick Perkins. And, when the two teams hit the court prior to the opening tip, Jefferson and Perkins engaged in a super-sized hug.

But it was on after that.

Jefferson is one of five players in the NBA averaging at least 20 points and 10 rebounds per game, and he has developed into one of the finest low-post scorers in the league. Perkins, however, has been forced to concentrate on defense and shift his offensive skills to the back seat while he makes way for Boston ’s three All-Stars.

As the night turned, though, Perkins was the most dominant force on the offensive end, scoring a game-high 21 points to lead the Celtics to an 87-86 win at the Garden. Perkins was 8-of-10 from the floor and also had four rebounds and three blocks.

Jefferson, who is the godfather of Perkins’s son, had 15 points, five rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks.

It was a matchup Celtics captain Paul Pierce was looking forward to watching.

“You could see it in shoot-around that Perk was up for the challenge,” Pierce said. “They were good friends when we were on the team. Whenever they matched up in practice, it was always a battle. Perk knows Al just as good as anyone else just by being in practice with him every day. [Perkins] accepted the challenge. I thought he did a great job on him, making it tough on Al because Al is an up-and-coming All-Star in this league. He can put the ball in the basket in the low post night in and night out. He is definitely improving, but Perk was big on both ends of the court. He’s been getting it done lately offensively, especially when other guys are struggling. The opportunities are going to be there for him, and he is taking advantage of them.”

And Perkins got the proverbial last laugh. With the Celtics trailing 86-85 in the game’s waning moments, Ray Allen drove through the paint and missed a lay-up, but Perkins jumped over Jefferson , grabbed the ball mid-air and dunked home the winning bucket.

“I think I was really over-gassed about it, playing against Al,” Perkins said. “On the court, I think we are rivals. You get us between the lines, we’re going to compete, but after the game, it’s all love. We know about each other. We’re good friends, and I wish the best for him.”

“One thing about Perk is he finds himself in the right position every time,” Jefferson said. “Guys like Paul and Ray Allen, they drive and you’ve got to help. Perk is just right there every time. That’s what he is so good at, and that’s what he did and it hurt us tonight. The reason they won the game was him. My hat is off to him.”

Early on, it looked as though Jefferson would take control and help the Timberwolves run away. He scored eight of Minnesota ’s first 13 points, all at the expense of Perkins, but Jefferson went into witness protection for much of the next two quarters.

A large amount of credit in that department goes to Kevin Garnett, who spent some time guarding Jefferson and getting into the young star’s head. Garnett began jawing at his trade counterpart in the second quarter, drawing a laugh from Perkins, who himself was once at the whipping end of a tirade from Garnett when the two were on different teams.

Perkins more than welcomed the help last night.

“It’s tough when you’re playing against [ Jefferson ] because he’s so quick and he’s got those push shots,” Perkins said. “He’s got a good feel for the ball. It’s crazy. Al’s been balling. If they had a winning record, he might be in the All-Star Game. I just love his game, and I just went out there and tried to make it tough for him.”

Two Minny-ature notes

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 26, 2:31 p.m.

Just a couple quick things that are lingering off the top of my head from last night's game before I post a closer look at the matchup between good friends Kendrick Perkins and Al Jefferson.

A Minnesota reporter asked what turned out to be the final question at last night's press conference involving Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. In somewhat of a "fanboy" tone, the reporter asked Garnett if he was concerned that the last thing Timberwolves fans would have seen on the game telecast was Garnett grabbing his jersey and pointing to the "Celtics" script as he walked toward the Garden crowd.

"I’m in Boston ," Garnett answered, seeming somewhat annoyed with the question. "I’m not concerned with it. I don’t play in Minnesota anymore. I’m in Boston , and we were at home. It was a huge win. It’s nothing personal."

There was also a period of 33 seconds during the second quarter when five ex-Celtics were on the court for the Timberwolves (It always comes back to the No. 33 in Celtic-land, doesn't it?).

Ryan Gomes checked into the game for Corey Brewer with 4:19 remaining in the second quarter, meaning Gomes, Antoine Walker, Gerald Green, Al Jefferson and Sebastian Telfair were all on the court together. Walker checked out with 3:46 to play in the quarter to end the reunion. In case you're wondering, the new Celtics outscored the old Celtics, 1-0, during that stretch.

The five former Celtics (Theo Ratliff, the sixth on the T-Wolves, was not with the team due to injury) combined to score 58 of Minnesota's 86 points. Interestingly enough, the five current Celtics who were with the team last year -- Paul Pierce, Kendrick Perkins, Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen and Leon Powe (Brian Scalabrine was inactive with the flu) -- also combined to score 58 points last night.

So, if you're scoring at home, the nine players on the court last night who were on the Celtics last season (Walker was not) scored 113 of the game's 173 points.

KG's injury

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 25, 11:30 p.m.

Kevin Garnett admitted he’s had abdominal pain at times this season, but tonight marked the first time he showed it during a game. The Celtics announced the injury was an abdominal muscle strain.

Garnett winced in pain after turning the ball over in the paint with 6:46 to play in the fourth quarter, and he signaled to coach Doc Rivers to call a timeout on the Celtics’ next possession.

Garnett immediately went toward the bench holding the left side of his stomach and dropped down to his knees with the Celtics trailing 75-69 with 6:19 remaining.

He then went to the Celtics’ locker room with the medical staff, and returned to the bench with 2:19 remaining before checking into the game with 1:51 to play and the Celtics behind 86-81. Garnett missed 4:28 of game action, but the Celtics outscored Minnesota 12-11 during the stretch.

Rivers was unsure of what to do with Garnett, because team trainer Ed Lacerte didn’t want Garnett in the game while the team doctor cleared him to play.

“I wasn’t going to put him in,” Rivers said. “He begged and said, ‘I’m going to go in if you don’t put me in.’ He was [saying], ‘Please put me in.’ He wanted to [play].

“Kevin was just psycho, which is good. Honestly, it was a tough call. I didn’t want to put him in. He was begging: ‘Please don’t do this. I’m going to go in. Please don’t do this. I want to play.’ It was great what he did. He was fantastic.”

Rivers said after the game his initial reaction is Garnett will play Sunday in Orlando , but it was too early to make a definite call. Rivers and Garnett spoke in the locker room about it, and Garnett tried to convince his coach he was fine. Rivers said Garnett will see a light load of work during tomorrow’s practice.

“I feel like I got sniped from the rafters or something,” Garnett said. “I just had a sharp pain in my stomach, and I just wanted the doctors to look at it. They looked at it and said I was fine. I came back out and won the game, basically.”

Garnett rescues Celtics in win over Minnesota

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 25, 11:22 p.m.

The script had been written for Kevin Garnett. It was hardly a fairytale or a feel-good story, and the middle of the plot lacked drama. But Garnett flipped to the last page and found himself putting the final punctuation mark on the Celtics’ 87-86 win over the Timberwolves at the TD Banknorth Garden tonight.

Garnett knocked the ball away from Minnesota guard Sebastian Telfair in the game’s final seconds to help Boston knock down his former team in the first regular-season meeting between the two since completing last summer’s historic trade.

What’s more, Garnett fought through a fourth-quarter abdominal strain, which required medical attention in the locker room as the Timberwolves looked like they were seizing control. But Garnett re-entered the game to a hero’s welcome to help the C’s escape an ugly performance against the NBA’s worst team.

“My philosophy has always been if I can play, if I can run, if I can move, if I can blink, if I can wake up in the morning, I can play,” said Garnett, who had 10 points and 16 rebounds. “I wasn’t sure what the score was [in the locker room]. I could hear the guys in there watching the tube. Knowing that I wasn’t playing well or we weren’t playing well, I wanted to come in there and give them some energy. Knowing I wasn’t probably at 100 percent, I knew I could put forth an effort. Sometimes, that’s enough. … I felt like I sealed the win for us.”

The Celtics (34-7) trailed by as many as six points in the fourth quarter and were down by five with two minutes remaining. They committed a season-high 23 turnovers, including nine in the fourth quarter, and scored just 37 points in the second half.

“We played awful,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “We had the fumbles. We didn’t get the ball to our big [men] all night. They did a good job fronting and backing, but we didn’t handle it at all. That’s what upset me in the game. You’re going to have games where you just don’t perform well. But when you do, you still have to execute, and I didn’t think we did at all. We’re very lucky to win.”

Kendrick Perkins led the C’s with 21 points and scored the game-winning bucket with 16.6 seconds left to play. Ray Allen drove through the right side of the paint and missed a lay-up, but Perkins grabbed the ball mid-air and dunked it to put the C’s ahead 87-86.

On their next possession, the T-Wolves (7-35) got the ball to Al Jefferson by the left baseline and forced him to pass it up high to Telfair. Garnett knocked the ball loose and dove to the floor across halfcourt to recover it as the buzzer sounded.

“I knew it was Sebastian, so I wanted to scoot up on him, try to make him drive the ball,” Garnett said. “I was able to count his dribbles. It went one-two, and I knew he likes to cross over. I just took a stab at it and got it, and then just dove for it. I knew time was running down, and I just wanted to be aggressive on the ball, and I was.”

Telfair scored a team-high 18 points, including eight in the fourth quarter, to go along with six assists and three turnovers.

Paul Pierce had 19 points (10-of-10 from the free throw line), nine rebounds and eight assists. Allen scored 12 points on 4-of-18 shooting and went 2-of-9 from 3-point range.

"We didn't deserve to win that game," Allen said. "But down the stretch, we did enough to pull it out."

C's trail after three

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 25, 9:23 p.m.

Corey Brewer hit a fade-away jumper from the left baseline to give the Timberwolves a 68-67 lead after the third quarter. The C's are 3-3 this season when trailing after three. 

Al Jefferson transcript

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 25, 8:49 p.m.

Al Jefferson was the centerpiece in the deal that helped the Celtics acquire Kevin Garnett from the Timberwolves last summer. The Celtics selected Jefferson with the 15th overall pick in the 2004 NBA Draft and developed him into one of the finest low-post scorers in the league during his three-year tenure in Boston .

Jefferson is averaging 20.8 points and 12.1 rebounds per game this season – both higher than Garnett’s totals – and is one of five players in the league recording 20/10 numbers. He is coming off a career-high 39-point effort to go along with 15 rebounds in the Timberwolves’ win over the Suns Wednesday night. Jefferson spent about 10 minutes with the media in the visitors’ locker room before tonight’s game.

Here’s the transcript:

(How he felt about the trade)

“It’s a business. Some of the best players have been traded before. I look at is as a sign of respect to be traded for one of the best players in the NBA. I look at going to Minnesota as a new beginning.”

(How it feels coming back to Boston )

“It was. I’ve never been in this locker room before. I’m used to coming to the players’ parking lot. I’ve seen a side of the gym that I’ve never seen before.”

(What the game will be like)

“At the end of the day, it’s just another game really. It’s just good to be back, see some old friends, all the people, even you guys.”

(On Kevin McHale in the hearts of Celtics fans)

“They love him regardless, but Boston and Minnesota are on two different levels. Boston is ready to win, and Minnesota is ready to be built. I look at it like both teams got good deals.”

(On how McHale helps Jefferson ’s game)

“Everything, there’s always something that he can show me. He works with me every day on a lot of stuff. It’s good because he actually played the position, knows what I’m going through, knows what I’m dealing with. It’s good to have a third eye.”

(If he saw the trade coming)

“When [Delonte] West first left [as part of the trade that landed Ray Allen in Boston ], I knew it wouldn’t be too much longer until I was right behind him. We understand that. When we get kicked out of the NBA, that’s when we need to have our head down. That’s when we need to be sad about some stuff. Everybody is still playing and happy, so it’s all good.”

(On his matchup with good friend Kendrick Perkins)

“Perk is the best guy off the court, but when he steps on the court, he’s going to treat you like you are all enemies. I know he is going to go at me and try to tear my head off, and it will be the same with me. Perk is one of the guys I looked up to when I first got here. He came straight out of high school a year before me. He’s one of the guys I look up to. We’re real close friends. I’m the godfather of his baby. But I know he’s going to tear my head off. He’s going to try to at least.”

(On the six former Celtics playing in Boston tonight)

“Everybody was really looking forward to come back today, come play in Boston .”

(On his role as the go-to guy in Minnesota )

“When I was with Paul and the last shot had to be taken, I was happy because Paul was going to take it and all of the pressure was on Paul. I’m that guy now. That’s something I’ve learned to deal with, and I’m happy to accept that role.”

(How he remembers Boston )

“I’d never forget these times and the memories I had here. This is the place that made me really. I spent a lot of time here in the offseason. Guys did a great job working with me. I can’t ever forget it.”

(On Doc Rivers coaching in the All-Star Game)

“He really deserves that because he’s been through a lot in the past few years.”

(On his relationship with Rivers)

“I never looked at him as only a coach. He was a friend, too. He was tough on me. I know that. It was tough love, but I think that’s what made me the guy I am now. He was a lot like my grandmother. No matter what I do in her eyes, I can always get better. That’s how Doc was. That’s what made me just respect him so much.”

(On his health this year after having ankle trouble in the past)

“I could be on the bench and see somebody go up, and I just close my eyes because that’s a painful feeling.”

(What he misses about Boston )

“Just my teammates, even though the majority of them came over with me. Guys like TA, him and Perk and D-West, we were all real close to each other. I just miss them and talking with them all the time. Our schedules are hectic. We don’t talk as much as we should. That’s one thing I do miss, joking on the back of the bus with them. I came in with those guys, and I was close to them.”

(If he watches the Celtics on TV)

“Every chance I get. They get a lot of TNT games now (rolls eyes). Unfortunately, we are at home on Thursday nights, so I watch them. I support them except tonight.”

(Who is the Celtics’ MVP this season)

“I’d really have to give it to Paul because for him to be the main guy here for so many years and them for him to step down and accept the role. Now he’s part of the Big Three with the other two All-Stars. To accept that, that’s a lot to be said about him because a lot of guys wouldn’t do that or wouldn’t accept that role. I had to give it to Paul because he is still keeping the team together and doing a good job.”

(How he felt about hearing the trade rumors)

“When Kevin Garnett said he didn’t want to be traded here, I was like, ‘Yes.’ Then when it started back up, I prepared myself for it. Danny called me like a week before it went down and said there was a strong possibility it was going to happen. I tried to prepare for it, and I looked at it like a compliment. For Kevin McHale to trade his best player and one of the best players in the league for me and the other guys, I looked at it as a compliment.”

(If he was looking forward to the starting lineups being announced)

“Oh yeah, I didn’t even think about that. The fans still love me here and still love all of us really, so it will be good to go out there in front of all of them.”

C's lead at the half

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 25, 8:40 p.m.

The Celtics have a 50-47 lead over the Timberwolves after the second quarter. The C's are 26-3 this season when ahead or tied at the half. 

G-Money on layaway

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 25, 8:18 p.m.

Gerald Green was asked about his current situation in Minnesota , and the former Celtic shrugged, his face went blank and he tried to force out the most politically correct answer he could muster.

He wasn’t too successful.

“I’m just as surprised as you all are,” Green said before pausing. “I can’t really explain it. Wow. That’s all I can say. I don’t really know.”

Green’s playing time fluctuated during his two-year tenure in Boston . But, fluctuating minutes would be more than welcomed for Green in Minnesota . He hasn’t played in seven of the Timberwolves’ last 12 games, and he’s averaging just 11.9 minutes per contest this season. But he’s only played in 21 of Minnesota ’s 41 games to date.

“It’s very frustrating, especially in a time when your team is not winning, either,” Green said. “It’s very frustrating. I feel like I want to play, and I feel like I should be playing. It is what it is. I’ve just got to wait, be patient, stay positive, and they say they’re going to give me my time, so I’ve just got to wait.”

Green played in 81 games for the Celtics last year and started 26 of them, averaging 22 minutes per contest. He scored 10.4 points per game, and he won the hearts of Boston fans with his dunking ability. Green is scheduled to defend the slam dunk championship he won during last season’s All-Star weekend.

So, after all of that, Green was required by Minnesota GM Kevin McHale to be involved in the trade that landed Kevin Garnett in Boston . When Green arrived in Minnesota, the Timberwolves declined to pick up the option in his contract, and he’ll be a free agent next summer. After falling out of the good graces of T-Wolves coach Randy Wittman, it’s just been a nightmarish ride for a kid with one of the highest ceilings in the game.

“Yeah, I was pretty surprised [about Minnesota declining the option],” Green said. “This year is a pretty surprising year for me. I was surprised about the trade. I was surprised about everything, but it’s basketball. It’s life. It’s full of surprises. The ones that get over adversity are the ones that turn out to be good, so that’s what I’m trying to do.”

C's trail after one

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 25, 8:07 p.m.

The Timberwolves lead, 30-29, at the end of the first quarter. The Celtics are 8-3 this season when trailing after one.

Gerald Green checked into the game with 2.6 seconds remaining in the quarter to guard Paul Pierce on an inbounds play. Green received a nice ovation from the crowd.

And forget the mixed ovations for Sebastian Telfair. He's getting flat-out booed every time he touches the ball.

Couple quickies

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 25, 6:45 p.m.

To say everyone was busy before the game would be a bit modest.

Starting off, James Posey (right index finger) and Brian Scalabrine (flu) will not play tonight. Scot Pollard (ankle) might dress but probably will not play unless he's absolutely needed, according to Doc Rivers.

Al Jefferson, Gerald Green, Sebastian Telfair and Paul Pierce all addressed the media before the game. Excerpts will follow throughout the night. Keep an eye out for the Green piece: He's not exactly happy with his situation in Minnesota right now. 

Inside the numbers

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 25, 5:29 p.m.

We're about two hours away from the start of the Celtics (33-7) and Timberwolves (7-34).

The Celtics are 18-4 at home, 7-4 in January, 11-0 on Fridays, 11-0 against the Western Conference and 4-0 against the Northwest Division. This is Boston's first meeting with Minnesota this season.

If you've been living in a cave this week, this is the first time Kevin Garnett will face the T-Wolves in a regular-season game since being traded from Minnesota to Boston last summer. The Celtics traded Al Jefferson, Ryan Gomes, Gerald Green, Theo Ratliff, Sebastian Telfair and two draft picks to the Timerwolves for Garnett. Minnesota used one of those picks on Corey Brewer. And lastly, Antoine Walker plays for the Timberwolves, as well. Walker was part of a multiplayer deal that sent former Celtics Ricky Davis and Mark Blount to the Heat. Ratliff, who has been hurt seemingly since the dawn of time, will not play tonight.

KG to start All-Star Game

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 24, 7:55 p.m.

Celtics forward Kevin Garnett led all players in voting and was selected to start the 2008 NBA All-Star Game, the league just announced.

No other Celtics were selected, but reserves will be announced next Thursday. Reserves are selected by the coaches, who cannot vote for their own players. Celtics coach Doc Rivers said he has done some politicking in the past for his players, and he'll do so this season, as well.

Rivers and his staff will coach the Eastern Conference by virtue of the Celtics having the best record by the Feb. 3 deadline. The game will be played in New Orleans on Feb. 17.

Garnett earned 2,399,148 votes, the sixth highest total in league history, and he'll play in his 11th career All-Star Game.

Paul Pierce finished in fourth among Eastern Conference forwards, about 1.5 million votes behind LeBron James. Ray Allen finished third among Eastern Conference guards, less than 200,000 votes behind Jason Kidd.

Pierce should be a lock to be voted in next week. Allen is on the fringe.

Faulk weighs in on Big Baby

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 24, 5:10 p.m.

Celtics rookie forward Glen Davis has noted a couple times this season that he is friends with Patriots running back Kevin Faulk. Both were standout athletes at Louisiana State University, though at different times.

Davis, who was a running back in middle school and high school, has said he idolized Faulk when he was younger. Faulk wore No. 3 at LSU, and Davis said he wore No. 33 on his middle school football team in honor of Faulk -- because No. 3 wasn't available.

I caught up with Faulk today at Gillette Stadium, as the Patriots got back to work in preparation for next Sunday's Super Bowl, and Faulk's face immediately lit up when Davis's name was mentioned.

"I knew that he played football, but I never knew he wore my number or anything," Faulk said. "He never quite brought it up. Me and him have been real close for a long time. I actually went out and watched him play last night."

Faulk, like many Patriots this season, was at the Garden last night to cheer on the new-look Celtics. Richard Seymour, Ellis Hobbs, Adalius Thomas and Jarvis Green, among others, have been regulars at C's games.

"I love basketball," Faulk said. "It’s another sport to get out and just enjoy the Celts."

Davis said he gave up football before his senior year in high school, so he could concentrate on basketball. Former LSU football coach Nick Saban, who has ties to Bill Belichick, tried to get Davis to become a two-sport athlete "a ton," according to Davis.

When asked what kind of football player Davis was in his earlier years, Faulk playfully responded, "He probably could have been a first-round draft pick at tackle."

Back in the day

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 22, 3:15 p.m.

While Paul Pierce seems to be on his way to a sixth All-Star Game and could garner some consideration for league MVP this season, the Celtics’ captain found himself in a precarious situation last summer.

He almost got beaten in a pick-up game by a kid in high school.

Granted, this was no ordinary high schooler. It was Renardo Sidney, a 6-foot-10, 240-pound junior who is widely tabbed as the No. 1 power forward in the nation. Pierce and Sidney share a mutual friend, and they worked out together at the Spectrum Club in Redondo Beach , Calif. , where Pierce got a run for his money.

“He scored a little bit on me, but he didn’t win,” Pierce said with a wide grin. “Damn, he was nice, man. I couldn’t believe he was in high school when I played against him. He’s going to be good. He should be a pro. He made me kind of raise my game up. You don’t want to let a high school guy beat you, so I went extra hard on him.”

Pierce remembers similar stories from his days as a teenager, when he rocked a high-top fade that was typical of kids in neighborhood around Los Angeles .

After getting cut from the varsity squad, Pierce was a star at Inglewood ( Calif. ) High School during his junior and senior seasons. Referring to himself as “fearless,” he remembers working out with some NBA players at UCLA, and he tried dunking on Olden Polynice – about 13 years Pierce’s senior – which almost sparked a fight.

“It didn’t matter who I played against,” Pierce said. “I was a hungry young kid just trying to prove myself, trying to make a name for myself. I didn’t really get a lot of hype real young until later in my high school career, so every time I stepped on the court, I always had to try to prove myself.”

• High school kids don’t just walk onto these courts with professional players. They need an invite, and Paul Pierce’s came from longtime NBA veteran and first-year Kings coach Reggie Theus, who also graduated from Inglewood High.

Pierce remembers playing pick-up games with Harold Minor and a number of the Lakers, who sometimes practiced at Inglewood High, including Magic Johnson.

“You can’t touch Magic,” Pierce said. “You can’t even blow on him. Shoot, even when Magic was retired, he’d always win all the games. You can’t touch him.”

Pulling for Powe

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 21, 5:56 p.m.

It’s been easy for everyone in the Celtics’ organization to root for Leon Powe, especially over the past week.

To say the forward has had limited playing time during his second season would be an overstatement. But Powe, whose girlfriend gave birth to his first child, Leon III, last Wednesday, has found a role in the last two games.

Powe was a monster in the second half of Friday’s win over the 76ers — his first game as a father — churning out season highs with 10 points, six rebounds (four offensive) and 15 minutes. And today, he had six points and three rebounds in 14 minutes of Boston’s win over the Knicks.

“He was a man among boys,” Kevin Garnett said of Powe’s performance on Friday. “He was grabbing rebounds, being very active, and I’m happy for the newfound dad. I’m happy for him. It was big for him.”

Not a bad job for Powe, who didn’t see the floor in seven straight games and had remained on the bench for the duration of 23 of the Celtics’ first 37 games. Prior to the last two contests, Powe had played a total of two minutes in the previous 13 games and 60 minutes all season.

“My hat goes off to Leon because this is a guy that hasn’t played in a number of games, and he comes to practice each and every day, works hard and hasn’t gotten down,” Paul Pierce said. “When his name is called, he responded, and that’s what the coaches look for.”

But, just because Powe has come on strong doesn’t promise more playing time from here on out. Celtics coach Doc Rivers has maintained he’ll stick with his nine-man rotation, meaning guys like Powe, Brian Scalabrine, Scot Pollard and Gabe Pruitt need to remain mentally strong and physically ready in order to contribute when they’re called upon.

That’s not a problem for Powe, who went straight to the weight room with a Celtics trainer following Friday’s game, even though a swarm of media were waiting for him in the locker room.

“I’ve got to go in there and just bang it out,” Powe said. “It comes from Oakland. That’s where I get it from, just playing on the playground. You’ve got to man up. There isn’t any help, nothing when the dude is bigger than you. You’ve just got to play them. That’s how I was raised.”

Doc story, as promised

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 21, 5:08 p.m.

Note: This story ran in today's edition of the Metro. Please refer to the post below for a brief update.

Doc Rivers has always enjoyed being at home during the weekend of the NBA All-Star Game. This year, he’ll have to work.

If the Celtics beat the Knicks today — or win any of their next six games — Rivers will serve as the head coach of the Eastern Conference in next month’s All-Star Game by virtue of Boston having the best record in the season’s first half.

Coaches are not officially selected until Feb. 3, but the Celtics (32-6) will clinch the best winning percentage in the East with one more victory.

“It would be great for Doc to get the recognition for the great job he has been doing,” said Celtics captain Paul Pierce, who has played for Rivers for four years. “He’s been a great coach since he entered the league. He’s finally got an opportunity where he can coach some veterans, and he’s showing what he can do. I think is one of the more underrated coaches in the league. It would be a great honor if he got a chance to coach the All-Star team.”

Rivers, whose lone All-Star appearance came as a player in 1988, has done a tremendous job of blending a team that was completely rebuilt last summer, keeping his three stars happy and getting everyone to focus on the season-long process.

As a result, the C’s easily have the best record in the NBA, and Rivers will likely be the first Celtic to coach in the All-Star Game since Chris Ford in 1991. It’s an accomplishment his players believe would be well-deserved.

“He cares about the guys genuinely, and he wants everyone to get better and get smarter as an individual,” Ray Allen said. “It would be nothing for him to tell us about something that his dad told him growing up and how it made him who he was. Nothing for him to quote a scripture from a poet or the Bible or any great book or good author he read from.

“It’s interesting because it’s tough for a coach in this league to play 82 games, and you say the same things all the time. You have to find different ways to say the same thing, and I think he does a great job of doing that. He finds different aspects of sources to pull from.”

Doc to coach in All-Star Game

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 21, 4:54 p.m.

After doing a bit of math, the Celtics' win today in New York means they've clinched the best record in the Eastern Conference in the season's first half, meaning Doc Rivers will coach the East in the Feb. 17 All-Star Game in New Orleans.

Here's how it all works. The coach on the team with the best record in each conference two weeks before the All-Star Game (Feb. 3) gets the honor. So, even if the Celtics lost their next five games and the Pistons won the remainder of their games before Feb. 3, the C's would still have the best winning percentage.

It isn't made official, however, until Feb. 3. Rivers has the right to turn down the opportunity, but he has already said he would coach the game if that's how things played out.

The NBA will announce the All-Star starters Thursday night, and Kevin Garnett is a virtual lock. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen were in the mix, in terms of fan voting. The reserves are selected by the league coaches, who cannot vote for players on their own team, meaning Rivers will have some politicking to do for Pierce and Allen. The reserves will be announced on Jan. 31, before the Celtics play the Mavericks on national television.

I'm fairly certain Pierce will be selected as a reserve, but Allen will be a borderline decision.

I will post the story I wrote about Rivers in today's paper in a few minutes.

Celtics hold strong, rout Philly

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 18, 11:13 p.m.

For much of the night, the Celtics had been more generous than former Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis.

The 76ers had second chance after second chance, but they faded down the stretch, as the Celtics turned a tight contest into a laugher, 116-89, in front of a raucous sellout crowd at the TD Banknorth Garden.

Ray Allen had a game-high 23 points to go along with six assists, four steals and two rebounds. Paul Pierce scored 22 points, including 14 in the third quarter, to top the 20-point mark for the first time in seven games, his longest drought since his rookie season. Kevin Garnett had an off-night with 11 points and six rebounds, but he had a season-high eight assists.

The Celtics were ahead 90-85 with 6:56 remaining in the game before exploding on a 26-4 run to close it out. Boston outscored Philly, 38-16, in the fourth quarter.

“I thought we played with a lot more passion,” Pierce said, “especially in the third and fourth quarter.”

The Sixers had a 26-12 advantage in second-chance points through the third quarter, took 10 more field goal attempts and outrebounded the Celtics, 34-16, before destructing in the final minutes of the fourth quarter.

Philly was just 19-of-33 from the free throw line, and it turned the ball over 23 times to the Celtics’ 16.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers said the adjustment was made at the half, when the Celtics trailed 57-54. Instead of getting all Lou Holtz on his team, Rivers posed a simple question.

“I said, ‘OK, they have 57 points. What adjustments do you want to make?’ I actually asked that question,” Rivers said. “I had the marker in my hand and asked what adjustments do you want to make because they have 57 points. And they all started talking about what they should be doing, our rules, no changes. They knew it, but it was better for them to say it. To a man, not one guy wanted to make one defensive change. They wanted to do our rules in the first place, and it was great because the fact that they could state the rules is always nice. And they did. That was nice, and they knew it. They knew we were better than that defensively.”

The Celtics established control of the game midway through the third quarter. After trailing by as many as five points in the third, the C’s rallied back to take a 69-68 lead after Pierce, who scored 14 points in the quarter, converted a three-point play with 3:15 to go. It was Boston ’s first lead since they were ahead 34-32 with 10:23 to play in the second quarter.

“Paul played huge – he played so huge he didn’t have to play the fourth,” Garnett said of Pierce, who never had to leave the bench in the final quarter.

The teams came out racing in the first quarter, as defense looked more out of style than bellbottoms. Allen picked up where he left off Wednesday night, scoring 10 straight points for the Celtics during a stretch of 1:19 to pull the C’s within 17-15, but he picked up his second foul with 5:35 remaining in the quarter and went to the bench.

The Sixers responded with a 6-0 run to push the margin to 23-15 when Samuel Dalembert hit a lay-up. The Celtics then ripped off a 9-0 run, getting eight points from their bench, and took a 24-23 lead. The teams ended the first tied at 29 when Eddie House hit a jumper with 1.7 seconds left in the quarter.

Philly took control in the second quarter, using an 11-0 run to grab a 47-36 lead, but the Celtics went on an 11-4 run to close out the half and trim the deficit to 57-54 at the break.

The teams combined for 20 first-half turnovers (nine for Boston ), and the Sixers outrebounded Boston , 22-12, giving Philadelphia a 20-7 advantage in second-chance points, including a 13-2 mark in the second quarter.

“They gave us a great shot early in the first two quarters, and I told the guys this is a four-quarter game,” Allen said. “They gave us a strong three quarters, but by the fourth quarter, we were just wearing them down and staying true to what we know and what we do.”

San Diego is German for ...

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 18, 9:51 p.m.

Lucky, the Celtics' mascot, just doused a girl wearing the jersey of Chargers running back LaDainian Tomlinson with silly string, and it was all played on the video boards during a timeout with 5:24 remaining in the fourth quarter. Richard Seymour was watching ... and clapping, as it all went down. 

C's lead after three

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 18, 9:31 p.m.

Paul Pierce led the Celtics to a 78-73 lead after the third quarter. The C's are 28-3 this season when ahead or tied after three. Pierce scored 14 points in the third and has 22 in the game.

The video boards displayed a message with 2:18 to play in the third quarter that read, "Good luck, Pats, beat the Chargers!" They then cut to a shot of Patriots defensive lineman Richard Seymour, who is sitting on the baseline by the Sixers' bench. As far as I can remember, this is the first Patriots sighting at the Garden since the playoffs began. The Pats had become regulars in the building for much of the season before then.

C's trail at the half

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 18, 8:42 p.m.

The Sixers have a 57-54 lead after the second quarter. The Celtics are 6-3 this season when trailing at the half.

Eddie House hit a jumper from the right elbow with 1.8 seconds remaining in the second quarter. In the first quarter, House knocked down a jumper with 1.7 seconds left.

The Sixers matched a season-high for first-half points. They had scored 57 two previous times, including Dec. 5 against the Celtics in Philly.

C's tied after one

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 18, 8:11 p.m.

Eddie House hit a jumper from the left baseline to tie the score at 29 with 1.7 seconds to play in the first quarter. It looked like a 3-pointer originally, but his foot must have been on the line. The C's are 23-3 this season when ahead or tied after the first quarter.

Rajon Rondo is sitting directly to the right of the coaching staff on the bench. He did the same when he sat out Wednesday's game against the Blazers. Typically, players who are inactive for the game, due to injury or whatever, sit at the end of the bench.

Ray Allen picked up where he left off Wednesday night. Allen scored a season-high 35 against the Blazers, including 26 in the second half and 14 in the fourth quarter. He had 10 points and hit a pair of 3-pointers early tonight, but he picked up his second foul with 5:35 to play in the first quarter and has been on the bench since.

This looks eerily similar to the first quarter the teams played in Philly on Dec. 5, when the Celtics won 113-103. The Sixers took a 32-26 lead after the first quarter that night and scored more points in the first quarter than any Celtics opponent this season. They also hit 44 field goals that game and shot 55.7 percent from the field, both highs for a Celtics opponent this season.

Pierce says foot was broken

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 18, 7:45 p.m.

When Paul Pierce met with the media before the game tonight, he said his left foot was broken last year, not the stress reaction that was diagnosed.

Pierce missed 35 games last year with the injury.

"My foot, I had a broken foot," Pierce said. "It was misdiagnosed. I feel pretty good right now, just taking it every day, one day at a time, hope nothing bad happens and doing the proper things I need to do to keep myself on the court, with my rest, eating right and staying in shape."

Pierce was asked to clarify his statement because he kind of made it in passing, and it caught everyone off guard.

"I mean, shoot, I’ve never heard of a stress reaction in the foot before, so I’m calling it a broken foot," Pierce said.

The Green scene

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 18, 7:23 p.m.

Just some notes from the scene around the Garden tonight. Doc Rivers spoke with the media for about six or seven minutes earlier, and the Philadelphia writers had a ton of questions about the acquisitions of Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Rivers said the Allen draft-night trade happened "about as any deal I've been involved in."

He then spoke about the Garnett deal, which he said he thought happened a few times.

"The Kevin thing, it was kind of out there for us for awhile," Rivers said. "We thought it was going to happen a bunch of different times, so it wasn’t like one of those when you woke up and, you know what I mean. I thought we had it probably two weeks before it actually happened."

Rivers said he thought about starting Tony Allen instead of Eddie House, but Rivers thinks the offense runs better with House on the floor. He then compared the difference of having Rajon Rondo or House on the floor.

"Speed," Rivers said. "Eddie has played the point his whole life, really, on and off. He’s 6 feet tall, so he’s been forced at times. He’s more looking for a shot. Rajon is more speed and looking to run the team. He does a better job as far as getting the team into stuff. In a lot of ways, it has not been the worst thing for Eddie. I think he has gotten better and better at it. It’s probably a good thing in the long run."

Paul Pierce also compared the two players.

"Eddie and Rajon bring two different elements to the game," said Pierce, who hung out with the media for about 15 minutes in the locker room. "Rajon, you have more speed. He’s a pressure defender up the court. He’s able to get rebounds, cause havoc and get steals. Eddie is a little more solid than Rajon as far as not reaching and not gambling as much. He picks up full court here and there, picks his spots. But it’s a different tempo with both guards. That’s what makes our guards so unique. They change the game in their own way. I think you get more of a running style of play when you get Rajon on the court, but Eddie knows how to run the offense in the half court and space the court really well."

Rivers was also asked what he thought of guys like Andre Iguodala and Ben Gordon, who turned down huge contract extension last summer. Rivers said it's just how this generation works.

"We were all probably bad businessmen," Rivers said of his generation. "I think everyone just wanted to stay with their own team [back then], sign extensions and just be happy and stay there. That’s how it was. Now, it’s not a bad move. It’s a good business decision by the players. That’s the difference."

House gets the start

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 18, 6:49 p.m.

Eddie House will start at the point tonight, and Rajon Rondo will not play, Doc Rivers just announced. Rivers still has no timetable for Rondo's return, and does not know if Monday is a possibility when the C's visit the Knicks. 

Rondo working out

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 18, 6:26 p.m.

Rajon Rondo is wearing shorts and a warm-up shirt and has been stretching with strength and conditioning coach Bryan Doo. That's not necessarily an indication that Rondo will play, but he was wearing a suit before the game on Wednesday night, so he obviously feeling better. Doc Rivers will address the situation in a few minutes.

Inside the numbers

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 18, 5:53 p.m.

We're getting closer to tip-off between the Celtics (31-6) and 76ers (15-24) here at the Garden.

The Celtics are 17-3 at home, 5-3 in January, 10-0 on Fridays, 20-6 against the Eastern Conference, 8-0 against the Atlantic Division and 1-0 against the Sixers.

Rajon Rondo (sore lower back) is not expected to play tonight. Eddie House is listed as the starting point guard on the Celtics' media notes. House started in Wednesday's win over the Blazers and played a solid game, offensively and defensively. Rondo was injured last Friday in New Jersey, didn't play Saturday in Washington, was pulled in the fourth quarter due to injury Monday against Washington and didn't play Wednesday against Portland.

I'll confirm this after the media meeting with Doc Rivers at 6:35 p.m.

The Sixth Sense

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 17, 4:06 p.m.

Ray Allen came out of the Celtics’ locker room in the second half of last night's win over the Blazers as an incarnation of his famous movie character.

Portland went on a small run to build a seven-point advantage, but Allen knocked down a 17-footer that sparked the best offensive performance by any Celtic in a half this season. Allen, who played basketball star “Jesus Shuttlesworth” in the 1998 film “He Got Game,” ripped off 26 second-half points, including 14 in the fourth quarter, to lift Boston to a crucial victory.

Allen finished with a season-high 35 points for the Celtics, who had lost three of four and two straight at home. He hadn’t been right in January prior to yesterday, suffering through a pinched nerve in his neck that caused him to miss a game, and he struggled on the court, as well.

“[It] was probably the best, physically, that I’ve felt,” Allen said. “Being in great shape, getting used to what I’m doing here, what I’m given. For myself, I felt I was in great shape, felt good [yesterday].

“For me, it’s a leg thing. Everything is power in my jump shot. Being able to explode, play defense, chase the pick and rolls and score on offense. There’s a lot going on out there on the floor for me, so I’ve got to make sure I have my body together.”

Allen was averaging just 10.7 points in six January games, while shooting 32.9 percent from the field and 28.1 percent from 3-point range. But, he hit 12-of-20 from the floor and went 4-of-10 from distance against the Blazers. His third 3-pointer — the 2,000th of his career — put the Celtics ahead 89-81.

Allen really caught fire when he was aggressive going to the basket. He scored eight straight Celtics points at one point in the third quarter, the first six coming in the paint and the last two on free throws after he was fouled driving to the bucket.

He followed that up with another personal eight-point stretch late in the fourth, and scored 12 of the C’s last 14 points to keep Portland from making a serious run.

After being asked about two of his momentum-shifting 3-pointers, Allen revealed he might just have a sixth sense.

“I always tingle when I know a shot is possibly coming,” Allen said. “For some reason, it’s almost like the hairs on my arms or the back of my neck stand up because I know that shot is about to come.”

Good news, bad news

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 17, 3:52 p.m.

OK, Celtics fans. It's time to play everyone's favorite game. Do you want the good news or the bad news? (Seriously, don't you hate it when people say that to you?) Well, here at "In the Paint," you'll get both.

The Good: It was somehow overlooked last night that Ray Allen hit the 2,000th 3-pointer of his career, making him just the second person in NBA history to reach that milestone. He hit four 3-pointers in the 100-90 win over the Blazers to give him 2,001 for his career. The money ball was his third of the night, which gave the Celtics an 89-81 lead in the fourth quarter. Reggie Miller is the all-time leader with 2,560 successful treys. I'll have more on Ray coming soon.

The Bad: Rajon Rondo, who sat out last night with a sore lower back, needed help putting his coat on in the locker room after the game. That's not exactly a good sign. Rondo injured his back Friday against New Jersey, sat out Saturday at Washington and was benched in the fourth quarter Monday against the Wizards because Doc Rivers said Rondo was moving "awful."

'You know'

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 16, 11:30 p.m.

The Celtics had a class in how to interview well yesterday, and it turned out they just couldn't wait to show off what they had learned.

They were told they said the phrase, "You know," just a bit too much.

Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce were the usual suspects at the postgame press conference. Pierce interrupted Garnett as KG was addressing a question about their defense tonight, and whispered something to him. Both started cracking up before Pierce spilled the beans.

"We just had an interview class the other day," Pierce said. "We’ve got to talk about his ‘you knows.’"

"You too," Garnett said. "Did I say it that many times? Did I?"

"You know," Pierce said with a giant grin, drawing a roar of laughter from the room.

"You said it a couple times, too, man," Garnett responded like a little kid who just got yelled at. "You had it."

"You know," Pierce followed.

"You know," Garnett echoed.

It didn't end there. Garnett finished answering another question a minute later when Pierce interrupted.

"You know," he laughed.

"I didn’t say ‘you know,’" Garnett answered. "I’m conscious of what I’m saying now."

"I counted five times," Pierce said, still laughing.

"Whatever," Garnett said.

Pierce then began to answer a question about Ray Allen's 35-point performance, as Garnett started counting Pierce's missteps on his fingers, putting up two before interrupting.

"That’s twice," Garnett said. "You just said ‘you know’ twice. Am I lying? Now you have everyone in here conscious of what you’re saying."

Garnett let Pierce continue before bursting out to the media, "We’re sorry for this trash."

"You know," Pierce said.

"You’re trippin' right now," Garnett followed.

The two left the room after nearly eight minutes, but not before throwing in a couple more "you knows" for good measure.

Celtics end slide, top Blazers

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 16, 11:21 p.m.

The Celtics ended their first cold stretch of the year by taming the league’s hottest team tonight, outlasting the Blazers, 100-90, in front of a sold-out TD Banknorth Garden.

Coming off their first two-game losing streak under the new regime, the C’s put together their most complete effort in nearly two weeks to cool off the Blazers, who lost for just the third time in 21 games. It was the first time the Celtics scored 100 points since a Jan. 4 win over Memphis .

The Celtics (31-6) will attempt to win consecutive games for the first time since winning nine straight, as they host the 76ers Friday night.

Ray Allen scored 35 points, including 26 in the second half. Kevin Garnett had 26 points and seven rebounds, and Paul Pierce finished with 12 points, eight boards and five assists.

“It was very satisfying,” said Allen, who mentioned it was the best he has felt, physically, all year. “In this moment right now, thinking about winning the game because we’ve lost two in a row. We’ve lost three of our last four, so anytime we win, it brings me a great feeling. I’m excited about that. But for myself, personally, I still feel like there were some shots out there that were going in and out for me, in and out. But we played great basketball out there today.”

The C’s jumped out on a 6-1 run to start the fourth quarter, capped by a James Posey lay-up that gave the Celtics an 80-70 lead, the largest advantage of the night by either team. The Blazers (23-15) trimmed it to 86-81, but Allen knocked down a 3-pointer – his third of four on the night – as the shot clock expired on a broken play to give the C’s an 89-81 advantage.

“It was great to watch when you’ve got a hot player like that who’s done it so many times throughout his NBA career,” Pierce said of Allen. “You just try to ride a hot hand. We just tried to get him the ball as much as we could, and he made plays.”

The Celtics got out to a quick start, hitting their first three shots plus a couple free throws, and forcing three turnovers to take an 8-3 lead. But the Blazers used seven first-quarter points from guard Brandon Roy (22 points), and the teams finished the first frame tied at 19.

Portland blazed out of the gates in the second quarter, building as much as a nine-point advantage. Allen responded with a pair of 3-pointers to get the C’s back in the game, as they answered with a 13-2 run to take a 43-40 lead. But guard Steve Blake’s 3-pointer at the buzzer gave Portland a 45-43 lead at the break.

Allen and Roy had a shootout going in the third quarter. Allen scored 12 points in the frame, including eight straight for the Celtics at one point to give them a 68-63 lead. Roy kept with him, though, dropping 10 in the third to keep the Blazers within striking distance as the C’s entered the fourth ahead 74-69.

“I think we came in tonight wanting to play well against them,” Roy said. “I don’t think we believed that we could beat them. We’ve been playing to win lately, but tonight I think we just came in to give them a good game. The next time we play them, we have to believe that we can actually beat them.”

C's lead after three

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 16, 9:31 p.m.

The Celtics have a 74-69 lead at the end of the third quarter. The C's are 27-3 this season when ahead or tied after the third quarter.

Ray Allen scored 12 points in the third quarter, at one point dropping eight straight for Boston. Brandon Roy scored eight more to keep the Blazers in the game, though. Allen and Roy each have 21 points through three.

It's a boy

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 16, 8:52 p.m.

The Celtics just released a statement saying Leon Powe had a child today, welcoming Leon Powe III into the world at 4:50 p.m. Little Leon weighed 7 pounds, 14 ounces.

C's trail at the break

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 16, 8:44 p.m.

Steve Blake hit a 3-pointer from the left arc at the buzzer to give the Blazers a 45-43 lead at the half. The C's are 5-3 this season when behind at the half.

Former Celtics Raef LaFrentz, more known for his gigantic contract than anything he did on the court, received a mixed ovation when he checked into the game late in the second quarter.

And on cue, Ray Allen hit a pair of 3s in the second quarter to spark the Celtics' run. They trailed 38-30, went on a 13-2 run to take a 43-40 lead and then surrendered a 5-0 run to fall behind at the break. 

C's tied after one

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 16, 8:07 p.m.

The Celtics and Blazers are tied at 19 after one. The C's are 22-3 this season when ahead or tied after the first quarter.

Ray Allen is in a serious slump from 3-point range, and it looks like he could be thinking about it a bit. He was halfway up on a 3 and passed the ball across the court to Eddie House. Passes like that typically aren't made unless someone is wide open underneath the basket, but House was about 15 feet away on hte baseline. Granted, House made the jumper, so it turned out to be a good move, but that's not something you'd expect a great shooter to do.

And Brandon Roy is really impressive. He's got seven points at this juncture.

Greg Oden Q&A

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 16, 7:02 p.m.

Trail Blazers rookie Greg Oden met with the media for about six minutes earlier in the evening. Oden was the No. 1 pick in last summer's NBA Draft, but he is out for the year after undergoing microfracture surgery on his right knee on Sept. 13.

When the Celtics finished with the second-worst record in the NBA last season, fans had their hearts set on landing Oden or Texas product and Seattle rookie Kevin Durant. Instead, the C's landed in the fifth spot in the lottery, traded the pick and players for Ray Allen and Glen Davis. And they later traded half the team for Kevin Garnett. Things have obviously worked out all right.

Here is the complete transcript from the meeting with Oden:

What’s in been like for you this year?

GO: It’s fine. They’re doing a great job, so it’s pretty exciting for me just knowing I’ve got something really good to look forward to next year when I come back.

How’s your rehab been going?

GO: Really good. My knee is getting stronger. I’m getting bigger, so I like it.

What are you able to do now?

GO: I can’t really run, can’t really jump, but I’m riding the bike, in the pool, on the elliptical. That’s about it.

Does it help you going on the road?

GO: Yeah, I get to see the different cities and see these different players in person, like this is going to be my first time seeing Kevin Garnett in person. It’s good to be around the guys and just feel the vibe with them even though I’m not playing. It’s good.

How much were you thinking about Boston on draft lottery night?

GO: I was open to whatever, but there was a lot of talk. I was actually on the plane [to Dallas], so by the time I got off, I was like, ‘All right, I’m going to be open for everything.’ But when I got off the plane, I was like, ‘It’s going to be Boston or Memphis.’ And then it was Portland, Seattle, and I was like (gives a confused stare), ‘All right.’

Watching game by game, what have you learned about the NBA?

GO: It’s a long, grueling season. The games are long. The players play hard, and usually when you’re not around the guys every game, you might think sometimes these guys take games off. No, these games get intense every game. If you get blown out, you try, but you just end up getting blown out. It just wasn’t your night. The guys have to play through that every game. There’s a lot of them.

How are you mentally getting through this?

GO: Just being around the guys. They keep my spirits up. They’re all fun to be around. They keep me involved. It’s just fun to be around them.

How devastating was it not to be able to play this year?

GO: Very. I was looking forward to playing myself, seeing what I could do against better talent out here and these guys who are greats. Just that I have to wait another year kind of sucks.

Who keeps you up?

GO: The team, just because they’re doing so good. You just want to be a part of that. You want to contribute to that.

Going into the lottery, were you any more interested in coming to Boston because of the history?

GO: It would have been nice. Paul Pierce was already here. He’s a great player. To know or to have the possibility to play with somebody like that is always good.

Was it a letdown when you found out you were going to Portland ?

GO: Was it a letdown? I’m enjoying Portland.

Are you looking forward to seeing Kevin Garnett?

GO: Yeah, just seeing what he does in real life because you see it on tape all the time. I just want to sit up in the front row and just see it.

What sticks out when you watch him on tape?

GO: Just how agile he is and all the things he can do out there on the floor.

Was Garnett one of your top players for who you watched?

GO: Yeah, I would say. He was one of the best out there. He was always somebody that you watched and heard about.

You’ve got to be surprised that you guys are playing this well. When you got hurt, everyone expected you’d get the No. 1 pick next year, too.

GO: The guys are good, and they get along, so I’m guessing when you’ve got great guys who get along and play well together that accounts to winning.

How will you impact the team chemistry when you get back on the court?

GO: I have no idea. I hope I can add to that, and the guys can add a couple more games than what they’re winning this year. But when I go out there, they’re already going to be a good team, so I’m just going to try to play my part, get some rebounds, a couple of dunks and four points.

Is there any shot you can come back this year, even in the playoffs?

GO: No. I wish, believe me. If it was up to me, I’d be out there. But you just want to look at my career instead of this season.

Did you talk to Amare Stoudemire or Jason Kidd to get some pointers on the injury?

GO: I spoke to Jason Kidd, and Amare left me a message. Jason Kidd told me you don’t want to rush back because Amare rushed back, and he had to sit out another couple months. I don’t want to do that.

You’ve gotten bigger. Are they concerned with you getting too big?

GO: They worry about it. I don’t because I’ve got a different look at it. I say I’m too big when my shirts don’t fit. That’s how I say I’m too big. They worry about it, though, so my goal this month is just to lose some weight, get down and stay fit.

How much weight have you put on?

GO: A lot.

How much?

GO: A lot (laughs). It’s been a hefty amount, but it’s all muscle, though.

Do you plan to seek out Garnett to get some advice or just talk to him?

GO: I don’t know if I’ll get a chance to talk to him, but maybe take a move or two back. That would be good.

What was it like watching the Buckeyes lose to LSU in the college football national championship?

GO: Say something, Taurean (Oden looked at Portland teammate Taurean Green, whose Florida squad beat Oden’s Buckeyes in last year’s men's basketball national championship).

TG: Gators!

GO: That hurt me. I was actually in Miami for the NBA marketing meeting, and I watched it with [former Ohio State teammate and current Miami Heat rookie] Daequan Cook. It hurt. I had to go back to my hotel room and just be by myself for a little bit.

House to start

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 16, 6:49 p.m.

Eddie House will start at the point tonight in place of the injured Rajon Rondo, who has a sore lower back. This is House's first start in a Celtics uniform.

Inside the numbers and some Greg Oden talk

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 16, 6:04 p.m.

The Celtics (30-6) are about 90 minutes away from trying to end their two-game skid against the Trail Blazers (23-14) here at the Garden.

Before I get into some numbers, I just wanted to let you know to keep your eyes open for a Q&A with Greg Oden, which will come along before game time.

The Celtics have lost back-to-back games, three of their last four and two straight at home, while the Blazers have won 18 of their last 20 games.

The C's are 16-3 at home, 4-3 in January, 7-2 on Wednesdays, 10-0 against the Western Conference and 3-0 against the Northwest Division. This is their first meeting of the year with the Blazers.

It was also reported today that point guard Rajon Rondo will not play tonight.

Power outage

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 15, 8:43 p.m.

Kevin Garnett walked to midcourt at the TD Banknorth Garden after a fourth-quarter timeout last night, intently stared at the crowd and slowly raised both arms to draw the fans to their feet.

He had the presence of a mythological Greek god, and the building responded with a thunderous boom. The Celtics had the lead and the electricity, but like a Sophocles tragedy, Garnett and the mighty C’s fell to their doom in a loss to the Wizards.

That type of energy carried the Celtics to a blistering 29-3 start. But it was often absent as the C’s lost three of their last four games.

“Our energy,” Garnett said when asked what has been missing over the past week. “January is probably the hardest part of the schedule. It is what it is, and everybody in the league is going to go through the same thing, so we’re not bitching and moaning about none of that. It’s on the schedule.”

It is probably no coincidence the slump began on the heels of a tough win in Detroit on Jan. 5, a game the Celtics had eyed since they fell to the Pistons on Dec. 19 at the Garden.

The C’s have been flat since that furious effort.

They need that buzz back as much as ever tomorrow night when they host the Trail Blazers, who have won 18 of their last 20 games.

“We’ve got to deal with it,” Garnett said. “Everybody else has to deal with it. We’re no different from that. But if you look at tapes and film of ourselves [prior to the last week], we have a lot more spunk and energy.”

Going Green

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 15, 8:37 p.m.

The  Celtics and Kevin Garnett lead the NBA's lists of Most Popular Jerseys and Most Popular Team Merchandise in sales at the NBA Store in New York City and online at NBAStore.com for the holiday season, the league announced today.

Garnett jerseys and C's merchandise have tripled in sales since last season. Garnett's jersey was ranked No. 16 when he was in Minnesota last season, and the C's were seventh among team merchandise sales.

Here are the top-15 jerseys and top-10 teams.

Top 15 Players

1. Kevin Garnett – Boston Celtics
2. Kobe Bryant – Los Angeles Lakers
3. Allen Iverson – Denver Nuggets
4. LeBron James – Cleveland Cavaliers
5. Steve Nash – Phoenix Suns
6. Dwyane Wade – Miami Heat
7. Gilbert Arenas – Washington Wizards
8. Dirk Nowitzki – Dallas Mavericks
9. Stephon Marbury – New York Knicks
10. Carmelo Anthony – Denver Nuggets
11. Kevin Durant – Seattle SuperSonics
12. Paul Pierce – Boston Celtics
13. Tracy McGrady – Houston Rockets
14. Dwight Howard – Orlando Magic
15. Chris Paul – New Orleans Hornets

Top 10 Teams

1. Boston Celtics
2. Los Angeles Lakers
3. New York Knicks
4. Chicago Bulls
5. Miami Heat
6. Phoenix Suns
7. Denver Nuggets
8. Cleveland Cavaliers
9. San Antonio Spurs
10. Dallas Mavericks

KG cuts in

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 14, 11:26 p.m.

Kevin Garnett has become the model teammate in a number of ways this season. He again showed why tonight.

Paul Pierce was at the postgame press conference talking about Caron Butler's game-winning drive and lay-up. It was an isolation play, and Butler drove to the right on Pierce, hitting a lay-up to give the Wizards an 84-83 lead with 19.6 seconds to play.

"I gave up a drive to Caron Butler, just a straight drive, and those things hurt us," Pierce said. "Usually, that’s when we’re at our best. We look at this, these two games, just have to learn from them and move forward. This is good for us, just keep learning and keep learning, figure out what we’re doing wrong down the stretch of games and fix it."

Then, Garnett cut in, putting a strong emphasis on the word "we."

"We gave up a direct drive to Caron Butler, not just Paul," Garnett said. "We did. I want to make that clear. Paul didn’t give up a straight drive. We gave Caron Butler a straight drive."

Rondo couldn't finish

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 14, 11:18 p.m.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers pulled point guard Rajon Rondo from the game after the third quarter tonight. Rondo didn't play against the Wizards on Saturday with a sore lower back after getting injured Friday in New Jersey. Rondo was not expected to play tonight, but the team felt he could go.

Rondo scored four points on 2-of-6 shooting to go along with two rebounds and two assists in 21:04. He did not turn the ball over. But Rivers didn't like what he saw as the game progressed.

"I just didn’t think he was moving well," Rivers said. "I wasn’t going to take the chance. That clearly puts us in a bind. We know that. But, to me, I’m looking at the season as a whole. We could have put Rajon back in, and that probably could have helped our offense run a little more efficiently. I thought he was moving awful, and I wasn’t going to take the chance."

Rivers would not declare Rondo's status for Wednesday's game against the Trail Blazers at the TD Banknorth Garden, only saying Rondo was "day to day."

C's blow lead, lose to Wizards

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 14, 11:12 p.m.

It didn’t seem too long ago when the Celtics couldn’t do anything wrong. Now, they’re having a difficult time trying to get it right.

The C’s blew a 14-point, fourth-quarter lead tonight, as they fell to the Wizards, 88-83, at the TD Banknorth Garden. It was the first time the Celtics have lost back-to-back games all season, their third loss in four games and their second straight defeat at home.

“It’s not going to be easy,” Kevin Garnett said. “It’s a process. We’re going to have to take our lumps now. I’d rather take them now than later. I’d rather learn now than later. That’s the mindset.”

Caron Butler scored five straight points in the fourth quarter to rally the Wizards.

He gave Washington an 82-81 lead with 40.1 seconds remaining in the game, driving for a bucket and converting the free throw after Kendrick Perkins was called for the foul.

Paul Pierce put the Celtics back in front, 83-82, with a pair of free throws with 25.9 seconds left. Garnett missed a 3-poiner – making him 0-for-7 from distance this season – and Butler was whistled for a loose-ball foul when he and Pierce went for the rebound.

Butler made amends on the next possession, beating Pierce and hitting the game-winning lay-up from the right side with 19.6 seconds remaining, putting the Wizards ahead 84-83.

Garnett missed a fade-away jumper on the Celtics’ next possession, and Ray Allen failed to convert a prayer 3-point attempt with the C’s down 86-83.

“There’s a point where the game is kind of slapping us in the face,” Allen said. “We have to take it, step up, all be men and come together even more.”

The Celtics had a 77-63 lead after Eddie House hit a 22-foot jumper with 6:22 remaining in the fourth quarter to cap a 7-0 run.

Garnett finished with 23 points, nine rebounds and six assists. Pierce had 18 points and five boards, and Allen had 16 points and six rebounds.

The first half was hardly a thing of beauty. Each team had eight turnovers, and neither team went on a run of more than six points.

The Celtics took an 18-13 lead with the loudest play of the night. The not-so-agile Perkins dribbled the ball behind his back to get around a defender at midcourt and passed it left to Pierce, who delivered a thunderous alley-oop to Garnett from about 35 feet away.

The C’s built a seven-point lead in the second quarter, but they went without a field goal for 4:31 to allow the Wizards to tie the score at 35. Allen put the C’s ahead at the break when he drilled a baseline jumper at the buzzer.

Boston began to create some space in the third quarter with the help of Wizards forward Antawn Jamison. With both teams trying to grab a rebound in the Washington end, Jamison inadvertently tipped the ball into his own net, giving the Celtics a 49-47 lead and sparking an 11-3 run for Boston .

C's lead after three

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 14, 9:22 p.m.

The Celtics have a 63-59 lead after the third quarter. The C's are 27-2 this season when ahead or tied after three.

Curt Schilling and his wife, Shonda, are sitting courtside next to the Wizards' bench. Schilling received a huge ovation when he was shown on the video boards with 1:25 remaining in the third quarter.

C's lead at the break

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 14, 8:40 p.m.

Ray Allen hit a buzzer beater from the right side on the baseline to give the Celtics a 37-35 lead at the half. The C's are 25-2 this season when ahead or tied after the second quarter.

The Plain White T's are performing after the game, and the lead singer sang the national anthem beforehand. Things got comical when he was interviewed on the video boards during the second quarter. He was asked to sing some lyrics to their song "Delilah" and he was immediately booed by the Garden crowd. Should be an interesting postgame atmosphere.

C's tied after one

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 14, 8:03 p.m.

The Celtics and Wizards are tied at 18 after the first quarter. The C's are 22-2 this season when ahead or tied after one. 

The Green scene

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 14, 7:25 p.m.

Here are some nuggets from the pregame activities at the Garden tonight.

Danny Ainge has been seen a few times walking around the back halls, and he appears to be in a very good mood.

The Celtics had their shoot-around at 5 tonight instead of 9 this morning due to the snow. Doc Rivers said he was thinking about not having the shoot-around to begin with, but the snow only added to his thoughts. Rivers and Ray Allen noted it's not a huge deal to miss the shoot-around when you're playing the same team twice in a row.

Glen Davis, Allen and Brian Scalabrine were all speaking with the media during the locker room availability. Davis, who was a running back (seriously) in high school, stopped playing football after his junior year. He said his teammates were terribly happy with that decision, but he wanted to concentrate on basketball. When he got to LSU, Tigers football coach Nick Saban tried to convince Big Baby to play football "a lot," according to Davis.

That's all. It's game time. 

More on Rondo

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 14, 7:20 p.m.

The brief scare has been averted.

Point guard Rajon Rondo returned to the Celtics’ lineup tonight after missing Saturday’s loss at Washington with a sore lower back. Rondo was injured during Friday’s win in New Jersey after falling hard on the edge of the court after fouling Richard Jefferson.

“I talked to [Celtics trainer] Eddie [Lacerte], and Eddie said [Rondo] is doing pretty good,” Celtics coach Doc Rivers said before tonight’s game against the Wizards at the TD Banknorth Garden. “[Rondo] said he is playing. Once they say they’re playing, I think they’re fine.”

Rondo did not address the media before the game.

As important as Boston ’s three stars are to the team’s success this season, the Celtics don’t have the same fluidity with him on the bench, whether he is resting or out with an injury.

The C’s are averaging 22.0 assists and 14.4 turnovers per game. Against the Wizards on Saturday, however, they had 21 assists and 19 turnovers. When Rondo missed the Celtics’ win at the Lakers on Dec. 30, the C’s had 17 assists and 16 turnovers.

It’s a simple science. Rondo is the only true point guard on the team. With him out, Rivers is forced to use a combination of Tony Allen and Eddie House at the point. If necessary, Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are able to take the ball up the floor, and James Posey could do the same under dire circumstances. Rivers has avoided using rookie Gabe Pruitt in key situations this season.

Rondo is averaging 9.1 points, 4.9 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 1.7 steals per game, all of which are career highs for the second-year floor general. He’s already earned the praises from his teammates.

“I think Rondo is going to be one of the best point guards to play this game, and I told him that,” Kevin Garnett said. “He is going to have to continue to work and get better. … He is maturing night in and night out, and I think that is a good thing for us.”

Rondo to start

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 14, 6:49 p.m.

Doc Rivers just said Rajon Rondo will start tonight's game. I'll have more coming later. 

Inside the numbers and a note on Rondo

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 14, 5:15 p.m.

Here are a few notes as we get ready for the Celtics (30-5) and Wizards (19-16) tonight at 7:30.

The Celtics are 16-2 at home, 4-2 in January, 20-5 against the Eastern Conference, 6-3 against the Southeast Division and 1-1 against the Wizards. Oddly enough, this is the C's first game this season on a Monday.

The Celtics fell at Washington Saturday night, 85-78. The C's raced out to a 103-83 win over the Wizards on opening night at the Garden.

The loss Saturday marked the end of a 10-game road winning streak, tied for the second longest in franchise history. They won a team-best 13 straight on the road in 1964-65, and they won 10 straight away from the Garden in 1960-61.

Saturday's loss also served as the first defeat this season on either leg of a back-to-back, which is a truly phenomenal stat in the NBA nowadays. The Celtics are currently 17-1 on back-to-backs this season. They are 9-0 on the first leg and 8-1 on the back end.

Rajon Rondo is not expected to play tonight, which should mean another start for Tony Allen. Rondo has soreness in his lower back after fouling Richard Jefferson and landing on the edge of the court in New Jersey on Friday. Rondo missed Saturday's game in Washington, his second of the season. He also missed Boston's game at the Lakers on Dec. 30 with a sore right hamstring.

C's move on

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 13, 6:38 p.m.

The Celtics have continued to harp on an old cliché this season: Don’t get too high after a win or too low after a loss.

But that’s a heck of a lot easier to say when you’ve won 29 of your first 32 games. Now that the C’s have dropped two of their last three, however, they finally can see what life is like on the other side.

The losses — last Wednesday to the Bobcats and yesterday to the Wizards — were serious gut checks. The Celtics suffered just their second defeat this season at the Garden when they fell to lowly Charlotte. And the C’s managed two of their three lowest offensive outputs of the year, including a season-low 78 points in Washington.

“I think we spoiled not only you guys but the fans and everybody,” Kevin Garnett said last Wednesday of the Celtics’ hot start to the season. “That’s a good thing. We worked to that point. It wasn’t given to us. We went out and worked for that.

“We’ve got to learn from it, apply what we’ve learned and just stay consistent with what we’ve been doing. That’s defense, and we’ve got to continue to preach that.”

The defense wasn’t so much the problem. The Celtics shot 41.5 percent over the two losses, and went 13-of-45 (29.9 percent) from 3-point range, both way below their season averages.

And they were killed inside. The Bobcats outscored the C’s by 20 points in the paint, and the Wizards outrebounded Boston, 49-30.

“We’ve just got to learn from our mistakes,” Paul Pierce told reporters yesterday. “We’re not going to win every game. We definitely know we can play better basketball than we did [against Washington]. The key about winning, the key about losing is learning from mistakes and building on them.”

The Celtics can test what they’ve learned tomorrow, when they host the Wizards on the back end of a rare NBA home-and-home. As even-keeled as this team has remained throughout the season, they’ve already been able to move on with a steady head.

“We won nine in a row before that,” Pierce said. “We’re not going to win every game. On any given night, we can get beat by anybody.”

Starry eyed

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 10, 8:36 p.m.

The campaign trail will have to do without Paul Pierce this voting season.

While the Celtics’ captain has earned the lofty praises of coaches and scouts across the league, he’s thus far been left out of the hearts of balloters for the 2008 NBA All-Star Game.

Pierce remains in a distant fourth place among Eastern Conference forwards for the Feb. 17 game in New Orleans, behind teammate Kevin Garnett, Cleveland’s LeBron James and Toronto’s Chris Bosh.

Unlike Bosh, who has launched a hilarious grassroots campaign for the fan vote on YouTube, Pierce has remained low key.

“That won’t do me no good,” Pierce said. “When you’ve got Kevin Garnett and LeBron James ahead of you, there’s no chance.”

Indeed, Garnett and James lead all players in votes by a significant margin — both were ahead of Bosh and Pierce by over a million votes in the fourth set of returns, released today — and Bosh’s cowboy hat and hillbilly accent seem like an escapade that will be all for naught at this juncture.

But, even Celtics teammate Brian Scalabrine has starred in a tongue-in-cheek promotional video against Pierce, which airs on the video boards during games at the TD Banknorth Garden. Pierce only scores so many points, the backup forward says, because Scalabrine continues to pass him the ball. Still, Pierce won’t budge.

“Once Kevin Garnett came to the Eastern Conference, I went, ‘There goes my chance of starting,’” Pierce said with a smile.

A five-time All-Star, Pierce is taking it all in stride. He is averaging 21.2 points per game, his lowest in eight years due to the scorers around him, but Pierce’s assists are up. More than that, it’s been his defense the league is raving about.

If Pierce doesn’t earn the fan vote, he can still be named a reserve when the head coaches make their picks, and Doc Rivers has already stated he will do some politicking if necessary. But when it’s all said and done, Pierce said he’s got other things on his mind.

“It would be fun,” Pierce said. “[The] All-Star [Game] is always fun, getting a chance to be around your peers and being recognized for what you’ve done throughout the beginning of the year. If I had an opportunity to make it, that would be great. If not, I’m more interested in having a bigger goal with this team that I’m playing on right now than making the All-Star Game.” 

J-Rich makes amends

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 9, 11:10 p.m.

Everyone in the Celtics' locker room remembers one thing about their last meeting with the Bobcats: Ray Allen drilled a 3-pointer at the buzzer to give the C's a 96-95 win in Charlotte.

The Bobcats, particularly Jason Richardson, remember that night differently, though. The sixth-year pro, in his first season with the Bobcats, turned the ball over on the inbounds pass, allowing Paul Pierce to grab possession and feed Allen for the trey.

"We played them pretty close the last game, and I turned the ball over," Richardson said tonight. "Pretty much lost the game for my teammates, so I knew next time around I had to make it up to my teammates."

Did he ever.

Richardson matched a season high with 34 points, including 21 in the second half, to lift Charlotte to a 95-83 win at the Garden. He was 14-of-22 from the floor, hit a pair of 3-pointers, grabbed nine rebounds, dished out three assists and recorded two steals.

Basically, he did it all.

"He got in the zone tonight," teammate Gerald Wallace said. "He got in one of those moods where he felt like every time he shot the ball it was going to go down."

And Richardson did it primarily with Paul Pierce in his face. Pierce has earned the praise of seemingly every coach and scout across the league for his improved defense this season, and he often had a hand in Richardson's mug tonight.

"Jason is a hell of a player," Pierce said. "He’s grown every year he’s been in the league. He’s been on kind of a roll tonight. I thought he hit some tough shots. I thought there were some shots that I covered, but he made them. I know what it feels like to be in that type of a groove because I know I’ve done it. I take my hat off to him tonight and move on."

"He hit some tough shots, man," Kevin Garnett said. "I thought in certain situations, Paul made him go to his counter [move], and he just hit some tough shots. We started the game. We had a lot of energy, and for some reason, we just let it down."

C's fall to Bobcats

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 9, 10:58 p.m.

If the Celtics peaked with their win at Detroit on Saturday, they certainly reached their low point of their season tonight.

The C’s had it all going on paper, but their performance on the parquet looked like a dud of seasons past, as the Bobcats knocked off the NBA’s best team, 95-83, at the TD Banknorth Garden. It was Boston ’s worse loss of the season after losing its first three games by a combined nine points.

The Celtics entered the night with a 16-1 mark at home, and they hadn’t played in four days, while the Bobcats had the seventh fewest victories in the league, were on the second leg of a back-to-back and have been working on a limited practice schedule due to such a high amount of injuries. They only had 10 active players for last night’s contest.

“[I told them] that they got their butt kicked,” Doc Rivers said. “I didn’t sugar coat it. I said, ‘Hey, we all did.’ Sam Vincent did a better job than me, and their players did a better job than our players.”

Boston was without Ray Allen (pinched nerve in neck) and Glen Davis (sore right knee), and both absences were critical. The C’s shot just 41.7 percent from the field and 20 percent from 3-point range.

Without Davis to spell Kevin Garnett or Kendrick Perkins, the C’s were outscored in the paint, 48-28.

“They found a way tonight,” Pierce said. “We took their best shot, and that’s what we have to come to expect. We’re not going to win every game of the season. We’ve got to expect everybody’s best, and tonight was one of Charlotte ’s best games. We took one on the chin, and we’ve just got to bounce back.”

The Celtics trailed 72-65 entering the fourth quarter and cut the margin to 75-70 when a Brian Scalabrine dunk nearly brought down the building. But they never cut the deficit below five points the rest of the night.

Jason Richardson led all scorers with 34 points, tying a season high, including 21 in the second half. Garnett paced the Celtics with 24 points and eight rebounds. Pierce finished with 13 points and eight boards.

Each team started the game slow, but the Celtics took a 24-20 lead into the second quarter, despite Pierce missing nearly seven minutes due to early foul trouble.

And the C’s added to that lead using a motley lineup to start the second quarter. Boston went on a 7-2 run over 4:18 to go ahead 31-22 with Scalabrine, Scot Pollard, James Posey, Eddie House and Tony Allen on the floor.

The Celtics later got in trouble when the starters returned, however. The Bobcats surged out on a 14-0 run, holding the C’s scoreless for 4:21 and taking a 38-35 lead.

Boston started the third quarter on an 8-2 run, scoring on its first four possessions, to take a 49-47 advantage, but completely unraveled after that.

“I think we spoiled not only you guys but the fans and everybody,” Garnett said of the Celtics’ hot start to the season. “That’s a good thing. We worked to that point. It wasn’t given to us. We went out and worked for that. Like Paul said, it’s a game. We’ve got to learn from it, apply what we’ve learned and just stay consistent with what we’ve been doing. That’s defense, and we’ve got to continue to preach that.”

C's trail after three

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 9, 9:22 p.m.

The Bobcats have a 72-65 lead after three quarters. The C's are 2-2 this season when trailing after the third quarter.

The Celtics look completely out of it. They're giving up offensive rebounds, turning the ball over and sagging their shoulders at every call that goes against them. They escaped what could have been a huge blow when Kendrick Perkins stepped in bounds on the C's baseline before actually inbounding the ball with 1.1 seconds remaining. The Bobcats failed to score after the turnover. 

C's trail at the break

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 9, 8:37 p.m.

The Bobcats have a 45-41 lead after the second quarter. The C's are 5-1 this season when trailing at the half.

The Celtics played the first 4:18 of the second quarter with a lineup consisting of Eddie House, Tony Allen, James Posey, Brian Scalabrine and Scot Pollard, and they outscored Charlotte 7-2, increasing the lead to 31-22. But the Bobcats later ripped off a 14-0 run to take a 38-35 lead.

Jason Richardson has 13 points and seven rebounds for Charlotte.

A couple notes from the scene here. First, there's a kid sitting near the court wearing a Ron Mercer road green jersey, which was probably on sale for all of six hours before Rick Petino traded him.

And second, the Celtics get a Flagrant-2 for their "At the movies" skit with Scot Pollard. It's the second time they've run the segment on the video boards this season, and it's the second time they've spelled his first name "Scott."

C's lead after one

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 9, 8:04 p.m.

The Celtics have a 24-20 lead after the first quarter. The C's are 22-1 this season when ahead or tied after one.

Paul Pierce was hit with his second personal foul with 6:37 to play in the opening quarter. Not really a good thing for the Celtics with Ray Allen already out. Pierce went straight to the bench after the foul and was replaced by James Posey.

Pierce speaks

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 9, 7:48 p.m.

Paul Pierce met with the media in the locker room for about eight minutes before the game. The Celtics' captain noted how much he is enjoying this season, and he's also been congratulated by players around the league for the C's accomplishments.

"It’s a lot of fun," Pierce said. "You get excited about these opportunities. It’s not every day you get to play with these top players on your ballclub, and I cherish each and every day I walk into the gym for practice. Every opportunity I have for the game, I make it like it’s my last. A lot of people in the league are coming up to me before and after the game saying how happy they are for me just for going through the bad times and just sticking it out. Now, look at the opportunity [I] have, and a lot of them wish they were in my position."

Pierce has been in fourth place in the All-Star balloting through each set of returns, and he has almost no chance of starting with Kevin Garnett and LeBron James ahead of him. Garnett and James are currently the top-two vote getters in the NBA.

"Once Kevin Garnett came to the Eastern Conference, I went, ‘There goes my chance of starting’" Pierce joked.

Pierce has definitely had an All-Star first half, and he should be a lock to get voted in by the coaches.

"It would be fun," Pierce said. "[The] All-Star [Game] is always fun, getting a chance to be around your peers and being recognized for what you’ve done throughout the beginning of the year. If I had an opportunity to make it, that would be great. If not, I’m more interested in having a bigger goal with this team that I’m playing on right now than making the All-Star Game."

Doc talk

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 9, 7:38 p.m.

The media had a decent meeting with Doc Rivers prior to the game. It wasn't a vintage performance by the C's bench boss, but here are some highlights, nonetheless.

Rivers spoke on Ray Allen's status for tonight's action. Allen is out with a pinched nerve in his neck, and Tony Allen will make his fourth start of the season in his place.

Glen Davis is also out with a sore right knee.

"He felt great today, nothing in his fingers," Rivers said of Allen, who was experiencing numbness in his fingers yesterday. "Clearly, if this was a playoff game, he would be playing. If I had said that yesterday, he probably would not have been playing. He woke up this morning and felt great. That’s a great sign for us. I expect him and Baby to play Friday."

It's an obvious improvement over the last 24 hours for Allen, who underwent a CAT Scan for safe measure.

Rivers was also asked if he was worried about the veterans meshing well with the younger players heading into this season.

"Well, we don’t care about the younger guys," Rivers said sarcastically. "I thought you knew that already."

Pregame notes

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 9, 6:56 p.m.

Doc Rivers just confirmed that Ray Allen will not play tonight. Neither will Glen Davis, who has a sore right knee. When the locker room cleared, however, Davis was wearing his uniform. Rivers expects both to be ready for Friday night's game at New Jersey.

The C's will wear their home whites tonight.

I will have more coming later from Rivers' press meeting. Paul Pierce also met with the media, and I'll have something from that, as well. 

Inside the numbers

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 9, 5:26 p.m.

Here are some pregame numbers as we close to within two hours from tipoff between the Celtics (29-3) and Bobcats (12-21).

The Celtics are 16-1 at home, 3-0 in January, 7-1 on Wednesdays, 19-3 against the Eastern Conference, 6-1 against the Southeast Division and 1-0 against Charlotte. The C's are riding a nine-game winning streak, which matches their best such stretch of the season.

Tony Allen is expected to start tonight for Ray Allen, who has a pinched nerve in his neck. The Celtics are 3-0 this season with Tony Allen in the starting lineup.

The C's 29 wins are the fourth most in NBA history before a team's fourth loss. And with a win, the Celtics would reach 30 victories faster than any team in franchise history. The 1959-60 Celtics took 34 games to record 30 wins. That team went 59-16 and won the NBA championship.

The laugh factory

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 8, 8:35 p.m.

It doesn’t take much more than an abacus to figure out the Celtics have more wins than any team in the league.

And, though a scientific instrument can’t be used to calculate personality, the C’s probably lead the NBA in that, too.

Postgame press conferences featuring Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce closer resemble some of Boston’s improv clubs than dissections of the game. Rarely does one pass by without one of the Celtics’ stars buckling the room over in laughter.

Whether they’re joking about bowel movements, lobbying for shoe sales — Garnett is with Adidas; Pierce is signed by rival Nike — or just jawing at one another about that night’s rebound totals, it often seems like a scene from an Abbott and Costello skit.

After the Celtics steamrolled the Knicks by 45 points on Nov. 29, a laugher in its own right, Garnett was asked if he could remember ever having that much rest in the fourth quarter.

“I don’t even remember,” Garnett responded before stopping to think.

“When we blew y’all out two years ago,” Pierce interjected, drawing a laugh in the process.

“Get your ass out,” Garnett said. “I don’t know what he’s talking about.”

The laughs seem to start at the top with Head Coach Doc Rivers, who has the ability of a late-show host to drop a one-liner. But the C’s comedy cast also stars the quirky Scot Pollard, a riot tandem of Eddie House and Tony Allen, and rookie Glen Davis, who Rivers referred to as “a different bird in a good way.”

Davis has publicized his comedic stylings with an inane message on the Garden video boards that urges the fans to get pumped for the fourth quarter, and it’s drawn laughs from players and referees alike.

The room is even hit with unintentional humor, like Ray Allen’s stories of driving — unsuccessfully — in Boston traffic, or Kendrick Perkins’s red-faced affair that involved dropping his bed on his right foot, which caused him to miss a game in December.

“It’s fun,” Garnett said of his first season in Boston. “Every day has a new challenge, and it stays interesting, as you see. It’s fun. I’m enjoying it. Obviously, winning makes it a lot better.”

Allen hurt

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 8, 4:49 p.m.

Doc Rivers said today at practice that Ray Allen has a pinched nerve in his neck and is unlikely to play tomorrow against the Bobcats.

"It's not anything that's going to last," Rivers told reporters. "It's a pinched nerve. It is what it is."

Rivers expects Allen to be ready to play Friday at New Jersey. Allen said his right shoulder has been sore, and he's had tingling in his right arm and numbness in his fingers for a few days.

"The last two days or so it got a little worse to where I couldn't sleep," Allen told reporters. "Any way I turned, there was a real sharp pain back there."

Glen Davis also missed practice today. He's had a sore right knee since scoring 20 points against the Pistons Saturday. Davis may not play tomorrow night, either.

Bench marks

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 7, 7:57 p.m.

While the Celtics’ stars get the deserved credit for the team’s turnaround this season, it’s been their bench that has been the deciding factor in recent victories.

Naturally, teams can’t rip off a 29-3 record and three separate eight-game winning streaks without the service of a strong supporting cast. But the C’s have gone deep into their rotation over the last week, most notably with Glen Davis’s 20-point effort in Detroit.

“Starters are going to have to start games, obviously set the tone,” Kevin Garnett said. “But the bench is going to have to maintain that and keep the energy level, keep the defense maintained.”

While Garnett was the fourth-quarter hero against the Rockets last Wednesday, Scot Pollard earned praise for his job on Yao Ming. Though Pollard played just 14 minutes because he fouled out, he scored a season-high 10 points, grabbed five rebounds and remained physical with Yao.

When Ray Allen was held without a field goal last Friday against the Grizzlies, it was Tony Allen who stepped up. Allen scored 20 points, including 18 of the Celtics’ 22 points during a stretch in the first half.

“It is a relief that I don’t have to stress out sitting on the bench worrying about not scoring,” said Ray Allen, who like Garnett and Paul Pierce has in the past been a one-man show. “We have a bunch of guys that can carry the load.”

Most recently, with Garnett in early foul trouble and the C’s often out of sync Saturday against the Pistons, the rookie Davis lifted Boston with five points during a key 10-2 run in the second half.

“Most of all,” Doc Rivers said about the bench, “I just think they have more confidence.”

Manning checks in

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 6, 6:25 p.m.

• This story comes in from Tony Lee of the Metro. Tony was covering the Kansas-Boston College game yesterday and met up with Jayhawks assistant coach Danny Manning, who is a Kansas legend. Manning keeps in contact with Celtics center Scot Pollard, a Kansas alum and former KU teammate of Paul Pierce. Thanks to Tony for writing this up, and you can reach him at tony.lee@metro-boston.com.
  

From one Kansas Jayhawks legend to another: Get some rest while you can.

That’s the message Danny Manning — in town yesterday to help guide his Jayhawks past Boston College — has for fellow Kansas alum Paul Pierce and Celtics co-stars Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen.

“I haven’t studied it, but I would be curious to know how many minutes those three are logging right now,” said Manning, a first-year assistant coach with unbeaten Kansas, where he holds career records for points and rebounds. “I look at the Pistons team, and I know [Pistons Head Coach Flip Saunders] is playing his bench and giving them big minutes, and they’re producing.”

Tony Allen and Glen Davis, stars in the Celtics’ wins this weekend, might have something to say about who has the better bench in the East. What’s clear to Manning, however, is the change that’s come over Pierce, currently playing nearly a minute more per game than his career average.

“I see the enthusiasm. I think he’s always had fun playing, but now it’s more, ‘I’m enjoying it. I can have a so-so night, and we still win,’ as opposed to the burden and the load he had [before].” said Manning, who bumped into former Phoenix Suns teammate and current Celtics Vice President of Basketball Operations Danny Ainge at Conte Forum yesterday.

Although Manning has not talked with Pierce this season, he gets a vibe on all things Celtics through text messages with center and resident cut-up Scot Pollard, Pierce’s teammate at Kansas.

No word on whether Pollard short sheets Pierce’s bed on road trips, but a little bit of old school might make the difference in getting the Celtics to the promised land, a stage Manning never reached as part of nearly a dozen playoff teams.

 “[The Celtics] remind me of a college team in the sense that they are fun to watch. They play hard, they play together, they’re unselfish,” Manning said. “It looks like from a distance they really enjoy each other. That’s big.”

Title contenders

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 6, 6:16 p.m.

Even with the best record in basketball, the Celtics knew they had something to prove last night in Detroit.

A lackluster first-quarter performance aside, the C’s did just that by knocking off the Pistons in one of the most hostile environments in the league. The Celtics are now officially on the world championship map, and the hunt for a 17th banner is legit.

The C’s (29-3) have the fourth most wins before a fourth loss in NBA history, a leading MVP candidate in Kevin Garnett and a tremendous home-court advantage. But it all seemed trivial with the Dec. 19 loss to the Pistons at the TD Banknorth Garden hanging over their heads.

After Friday’s win over the Grizzlies, the Celtics spoke of the Pistons rematch with such phrases as “measuring stick” and “statement game.”

“When we sit and talk, we talk about teams that are going to challenge us and are going to be challenging,” Garnett said. “We feel like Detroit is one of those teams. I felt like if we’re going to be of any substance, we’re going to have to beat teams like this.”

The Celtics managed to scrape by with Garnett on the bench in early foul trouble. And, when the Pistons’ timely shots stopped falling in the fourth quarter, rookie Glen Davis capitalized in the paint as the C’s built a late lead.

Just as important as the victory was Boston’s solace in knowing it could win without any starter scoring 20 points. And the Celtics turned The Palace into their playground when the buzzer sounded, drawing the ire of the veteran Pistons, who shrugged off the defeat as though it were a pick-up game.

“They’re a little more happy than we were when we won our game at their place,” Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups told reporters.

“It was just a regular game for us with two good teams playing. They were kind of playing like it was the Super Bowl. It’s just a regular game, man, with two good teams playing. This probably means a little more to them and their psyche than it was for us. But they won, man, they won.”

Round 2

By Jeff Howe, Jan. 4, 11:50 p.m.

It's the rematch we've all been waiting for, especially the Celtics.

The C's (28-3) visit Detroit tomorrow night in a matchup between the teams with the two best records in the NBA. And it's the first time they meet since the Pistons (26-7) dropped the Celtics 87-85 at the TD Banknorth Garden on Dec. 19.

The loss snapped the Celtics' season-high nine-game win streak, and it remains their only blemish at home all year. Since, the C's are riding an eight-game victory parade, their third such streak of the season.

But the Pistons are even hotter. They've won 11 in a row, with their win in Boston being the third victory during the current stretch.

It's a loss that has stuck with the Celtics ever since.

"We’re ready," Paul Pierce said tonight. "We’re glad this game is behind us. We look forward to going to Detroit , the hottest team in basketball right now and the last team to beat us. We’ve got our work cut out, but Detroit is probably the best home team right now outside of us, record-wise. It’s going to be a tough challenge. They came in here, beat us by two. This is a team we could possibly have to beat in the playoffs, so it definitely could be a statement game. We’ve got our work cut out for us."

The Pistons are the only team the Celtics have played and not beaten this season. The C's avenged their losses to the Magic and Cavaliers.

"You’re going to win some, and you’re going to lose some, man," Kevin Garnett said. "When we sit and talk, we talk about teams that are going to challenge us and are going to be challenging. We feel like Detroit is one of those teams. I felt like if we’re going to be of any substance, we’re going to have to beat teams like this. This is a measuring stick for our team. It’s like a mirror team, if you will. They have a lot of different weapons. They’ve played in a lot of huge games. They’ve been together for a long time. This is a nice test for us.

"Subconsciously, I think we need to [win]. We need to establish who we are. I think our identity right now is defensively. We can’t get caught up into shenanigans and all that. Obviously, Detroit is our next team, and then we’re going to focus on that team. Knowing that they’re the last team to beat us, there’s a little something there. This is a measuring stick for us. We want to see where we’re at. It’s nothing more and nothing less than that.

"I expect them to be revved up coming in. I think Boston and Detroit have a lot of history. My first game [as a Celtic] going into The Palace. I look for it to be hostile like always. It’s a big game, man. It should be fun, though."

Allen's down night

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 4, 11:35 p.m.

Ray Allen was so close. He was 0-for-9 from the field, but he hit a pair of free throws with 9.3 seconds remaining in the game to erase the donut from the score sheet.

The last time Allen failed to score was nearly 11 years ago, on Feb. 2, 1997, when he was with the Bucks.

The last time he went without a field goal was on Jan. 11, 2006, when he scored one point in eight minutes before being ejected from a game between his Sonics and the Magic.

And the last time he went without a field goal during a game in which he finished was April 4, 1999. He went 0-for-8 with two points in 29 minutes in the Bucks' loss to the Cavaliers.

"I got to the point where I was trying my best not to even focus on it because I know I’ve always been a scorer," Allen said. "But, ultimately, to do what I need to do to let this team win is the key. I try not to even put a focus or worry about it."

Doc Rivers said the plan tonight was to attack the post as much as possible, using a heavy dose of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce, who each scored 23 points. But Rivers didn't have 0-for-9 in mind for one of his stars.

Still, Allen is just happy he doesn't have to worry about his team losing when he has an off-night.

"We all carry ourselves to a different standard of excellence," Allen said. "It is a relief that I don’t have to stress out sitting on the bench worrying about not scoring because we have a bunch of guys that can carry the load."

Celtics tough one out against Memphis

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 4, 11:26 p.m.

They finally admitted it.

The Celtics dodged all questions about the Pistons heading into tonight’s game against the Grizzlies, brushing them off with their one-game-at-a-time mantra. But, after the final buzzer rang in Boston ’s 100-96 victory over Memphis , the C’s said they might have been looking ahead to tomorrow.

And it clearly showed.

The Celtics started slow and hung on to scrape past the Grizzlies (9-23), one of the worst teams in the NBA. Boston ’s defense was sluggish on its rotations, and Rajon Rondo and Ray Allen each had off-nights. But the bench came up huge to back a pair of 23-point performances by Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett.

“Maybe we did [look forward to tomorrow],” Head Coach Doc Rivers said. “I don’t know. We looked tired in some ways. You might be right. Tomorrow’s game, we might have been looking forward to it. I don’t know.”

Allen was 0-for-9 from the field and didn’t score until he hit a pair of free throws with 9.3 seconds remaining. Rondo, who has been playing well lately, had four points, one assist and six turnovers.

But, Tony Allen provided a huge spark for the Celtics (28-3) in the second quarter, when he ripped off 15 of his season-high 20 points to turn the game in Boston ’s favor. Even more impressive was Allen’s ability to attack the basket. Nearly a full year after he tore the ACL in his left knee, Allen had been tentative and plagued by inconsistency much of the season.

He was a one-man show in the first half, at one stretch scoring 18 of the C’s 22 points, including a personal 8-0 run for the Green. Allen also had two rebounds, two assists and three steals.

“I’m just searching for ways to get him going and his confidence,” Rivers said of Allen. “It seems like when he gets the ball in his hands, he gets more aggressive than when he is playing off the ball early. It got him going.”

The rest of the bench was key, too. James Posey had nine points, 10 rebounds, three assists and two steals. And Eddie House chipped in with eight points and a pair of big 3-pointers.

“Our bench played really well for us tonight,” said Garnett, who also had five rebounds and five assists. “Starters are going to have to start games, obviously set the tone, but the bench is going to have to maintain that and keep the energy level, keep the defense maintained.”

After neither team led by more than six points in the first half, the Celtics opened up the game in the third quarter, using an 8-0 run to build a 65-53 lead. Garnett and Pierce each scored nine points in the quarter, and the C’s led by as many as 13 before taking a 74-65 lead into the fourth.

Boston increased the lead to 14 points on two occasions in the fourth quarter, but Memphis went on a brief run to get it down to four points in the final 10 seconds.

“It wasn’t one of our best games,” said Pierce, who also had 10 rebounds and five assists. “We were up and down. We talked about it the end of the game when we huddled up. We’ve got to learn from games like this. Against the good teams, we can’t go out and play like this. It was sort of a lull. We turned it on then turned it off. We’ve just got to learn from it.”

C's lead after three

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 4, 9:22 p.m.

The Celtics opened up a 74-65 lead after the third quarter. The C's are 26-1 this season when ahead or tied after three.

The Celtics finally gave themselves some room when they went on an 8-0 run to take a 65-53 lead, and they were ahead by as many as 13 in the quarter.

Rudy Gay left the game with 2:18 to play in the quarter. He was stripped by Tony Allen and fell to the floor with blood coming out of his mouth.

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett each scored nine points in the third quarter. Pierce leads all scorers with 20 points, while Garnett has 19. Ray Allen is still scoreless, and Tony Allen did not score in the third.

C's lead at the break

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 4, 8:36 p.m.

The Celtics have a 47-45 lead after the second quarter. The C's are 23-2 this season when ahead or tied after the first half.

Tony Allen just went off in the first half. He scored 15 of his 18 points in the second quarter, and he's already got a season high in points. Allen's career high is 30. He also has two rebounds, one assist and one steal.

Ray Allen, on the other hand, is 0-of-7 from the floor and was held scoreless in the first half. 

C's trail after first quarter

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 4, 8:07 p.m.

The Grizzles lead 24-22 after a sloppy first quarter. The Celtics are 5-2 this season when trailing after one.

Kevin Garnett has 10 points and two rebounds, and Paul Pierce has seven points, five rebounds and three assists. Mike Conley has eight points and one rebound for Memphis, while Mike Miller has nine points, one rebound and one awful head of hair.

Doc talk

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 4, 7:08 p.m.

Doc Rivers just met with the media for about eight minutes. The highlight of the conference came when he was asked by a reporter if he knew that yesterday marked the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the Celtics' 18-game losing streak.

"Oh, thanks for bringing that to my attention," Rivers said with a laugh. "And no one gave me flowers. You’ve left me speechless. As you know with me, that’s tough. Where’s Herm Edwards when I need him?"

Rivers had everyone in attendance laughing at that one.

Rivers was also asked about Grizzlies rookie point guard Mike Conley, who was taken with the fourth overall pick in last summer's NBA Draft. Conley, who left Ohio State after his freshman season, helped lead the Buckeyes to the national championship game, where they fell to Florida.

Conley is actually the same age as Jeremiah Rivers, Doc's son who is a sophomore at Georgetown, so Doc knows Conley's game very well by now.

"He’s the same age as my son, so I’ve watched him a lot," Rivers said. "I’ve watched him in high school and AAU. I’ve probably seen him more than most scouts have seen the kid. He’s got a great temperament. He’s going to be a good player. He has to improve his shot, obviously, but he has a chance to be a really good basketball player."

Rivers was asked if he was worried this might be a let-down game for his team, as the Celtics fly to Detroit later tonight for tomorrow's anticipated rematch with the Pistons.

"The game is such a competitive game, and the players are good," Rivers said. "You have to come out and play. You have to play everybody every night. During the regular season, it is easy to focus on one team and then change to the next team. During the playoffs, it’s easy to focus on one team because that’s all you have. We’re going to be ready because we have to be."

And finally, Rivers was asked about Tony Allen, who has been inconsistent all season while recovering from an ACL tear in his left knee. Rivers noted it's also on the coaching staff to get Allen more steady playing time.

"It’s tough," Rivers said. "It is a game-to-game thing, and I’ve got to do a better job there. We need Tony. He has to be great by the end of the year for us. The knee and all that, and I understand that. That’s going to take time. But I have to find a better way of just keeping him involved because he’s an energy player, and it’s tough for energy players to play when they don’t have a lot of minutes, especially minutes in a row. It’s been tough for him, also, because we keep screwing with him, putting him at the point and at the two [guard]. I don’t think that’s going to change, unfortunately. But that’s another thing that we coaches talk about, at least try to figure out a way to get him some time. It’s very, very important for our success to get him confident and get him going."

Scene at the Garden

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 4, 6:26 p.m.

Just some notes as I bounced around the Garden a little bit:

• Kendrick Perkins looked sharp during the pregame warmups. If I had to guess, he knocked down 65-70 percent of his jumpers from 15-17 feet. Perkins doesn't ever take those shots during game action, but it looks like he could knock down one or two if he had to.
• James Posey was also shooting around for awhile before the locker rooms opened, and then he signed a few autographs before heading back inside.
• The locker room has been quiet so far. Ray Allen talked for about eight minutes, and the Pistons were a common question. Allen deflected each query on tomorrow's opponent, maintaining that he and his teammates are concentrating on the Grizzlies and only the Grizzlies. Not a surprising answer at all. "It's hard to think about next week," Allen said. "It's hard to think about tomorrow. There's a lot that goes on this minute, this hour. So much will happen by midnight tonight."
• The Celtics will be wearing their home whites tonight.
• Doc Rivers is about to meet with the media, and I'll post some notes shortly.
  

Inside the numbers

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 4, 5:23 p.m.

Here's a look at some numbers before the Celtics (27-3) and Grizzlies (9-22) get underway in about two hours.

The Celtics' 27-3 record ties the best mark after 30 games in NBA history. The 1995-96 Bulls, 1990-91 Trail Blazers, 1971-72 Lakers, 1969-70 Knicks and 1966-67 76ers also accomplished the feat.

The C's record is also tied for the fourth best mark in league history before a fourth loss, behind the 1995-96 Bulls (41-3), 1971-72 Lakers (39-3), 1966-67 76ers (37-3). The Celtics are tied with the 1969-70 Knicks and 1990-91 Trail Blazers in that regard.

This is the Celtics' first game against the Grizzlies this season. The C's are 15-1 at home, 1-0 in January, 8-0 on Fridays, 9-0 against the Western Conference and 1-0 against the Southwest Division.

KG's money performance

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 3, 8:33 p.m.

Those at the TD Banknorth Garden last night — fans, players and coaches alike — served witness. When the knuckles are white, the game is on the line and the building is rocking, Kevin Garnett is money in the bank.

While the Celtics faded fast in the fourth quarter against the Rockets, losing an eight-point lead as Houston jumped out on a 16-5 run, Garnett came off the bench at his best. He dropped 11 of his 26 points in the final frame, nailing jumper after jumper to lift the Celtics to a 97-93 victory.

“That’s why he is KG,” Bonzi Wells said. “That’s why he gets paid the big bucks — to make the big buckets, and that’s what he did.”

Garnett earned a large sum of his $23.75 million season check when the game counted. But, despite the show he put on last night, he had been knocked in the past for his performances in the clutch. Critics scorned him for being unreliable — a big man who took too many outside shots when his collar got tight.

But, Celtics coach Doc Rivers thinks it was just a matter of numbers — as in, Garnett was the only member of the Timberwolves who could score, while the defense could shadow him with all five men on the court. That’s not so much of a problem in Boston.

“I think it was easier in Minnesota to take away from him being big,” Rivers said. “Just go triple team him. Here, it’s a little easier for him, so he can respond. I always thought that was unfair for guys who are on single-star teams. Well, hell, the other team isn’t going to just let you beat them. It’s not a secret where you’re going.

“Here, you’ve got Paul [Pierce]. You’ve got Ray [Allen]. You’re not going to double many guys. Kevin got single-covered shots [last night]. Paul did, too. Ray will, too, and Ray has. For all of them, they’re all coming up big at times for games because they’ve never seen coverage where the whole team is not running at them.”

The Celtics got the matchup they wanted in the final five minutes, as Rockets center Yao Ming was forced to guard Garnett with Kendrick Perkins and Scot Pollard fouled out of the game. That allowed Garnett to draw Yao to the outside, and Garnett continued to deliver. When all was said and done, his teammates could do nothing but marvel at his fourth-quarter heroics.

“It just seems that you always need that little bit of fire,” Ray Allen said. “You catch a little fire, and then he knocks down some shots for us. That was the difference.”

KG still on top

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 3, 6:45 p.m.

Kevin Garnett still leads all players after the third returns of the 2008 NBA All-Star Balloting program were released today. Garnett has 1,527,963 votes. Cleveland's LeBron James is second overall with 1,294,019 votes.

Paul Pierce remains in fourth among Eastern Conference forwards with 352,243 votes. He sits behind Garnett, James and Toronto's Chris Bosh.

Ray Allen has moved up to third among Eastern Conference guards, passing New Jersey's Vince Carter. Allen has 617,123 votes, while Carter has 612,543 votes. Allen sits behind Miami's Dwyane Wade and New Jersey's Jason Kidd.

Those are the only Celtics on the ballot.

Dwight Howard leads Eastern Conference centers.

Currently in the starting positions for the Western Conference are guards Kobe Bryant and Tracy McGrady, forwards Tim Duncan and Carmelo Anthony, and center Yao Ming.

Perks of the job

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 3, 5:28 p.m.

Just the perks of the job.

Kendrick Perkins has seen a spike in his numbers from last season, the sheer benefits of sharing the paint with Kevin Garnett.

He is scoring a career-high 7.0 points per game and shooting 59.2 percent from the field. Granted, most of those shots are within five feet of the basket and they’re coming from low-post passes and offensive rebounds, but he’s shown a noble ability to play within himself.

“I think I’m doing pretty good, accepting my role more than I do,” Perkins said. “And, when I get touches, I make the best of them. If I don’t, oh well. Just keep it loose.”

Perkins doesn’t just reap the rewards of playing on the parquet with Garnett. The fifth-year center is making sure to pick Garnett’s brain as often as possible, and his face lights up when talking about Garnett the mentor.

“[He has helped] a lot, tremendous,” Perkins said. “He’s the best in the league at what he does. I just try to not take the situation for granted and keep going hard every night.”

Doc Rivers isn’t asking the world of Perk this season, and it’s clearly showed. Perkins has numerous chances each game to take uncontested jumpers from 12 feet, but he always passes them up, choosing to back into the paint to set up someone else.

Instead, Perkins’s role is to play solid defense, grab any rebounds Garnett can’t swallow and convert easy put-backs. It’s that team-first attitude that has allowed the C’s to get off to a 27-3 start.

“That’s the thing I love about our team,” Perkins said. “We don’t play for stats. We just play to win. At the end of the day, man, we’re all going to get a piece of the pie.”

And, Perkins certainly gets his. Rivers made a point to acknowledge Perk’s performance against the Lakers Sunday night, particularly with his defense on Andrew Bynum.

“That’s tough to do, and I thought it was his best game,” Rivers said. “I really did. Offensively, he is what he is. But defensively, when he plays with that type of energy and that type of focus, Perk is really good for your basketball team.”

Couple notes

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 3, 5:23 p.m.

I'm working on a couple stories that will be posted shortly, but here's a couple nuggets to whet your appetite.

First, the Celtics were given the day off today. They were clearly run down yesterday during the shoot-around, and they looked tired during their win over the Rockets. The C's get back on the court tomorrow night when they host the Grizzlies.

Second, Modell's must have ponied up some serious dough while the Celtics were on the West Coast. Walking into the locker room last night, it was impossible to ignore the silver Modell's signs all over the place. They're everywhere — in each locker, outside the lockers and in the corners of the locker room.

Hold the beans

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 2, 11:36 p.m.

There was a lot of talk about gas in the postgame press conference with Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce. Some of it has to do with what you're probably thinking, and the rest has to do with the energy the Celtics brought tonight.

"My gas was high. When you play the best in the league, you can’t go in with low gas. You’ve got to have high octane," Garnett said about his matchup with Yao Ming.

Then, Garnett was asked if the team had "low gas" when the Rockets went on a run.

"I wouldn’t call it low gas," Garnett said. "I thought with the run, they took some of the gas away from us. When they start to make a run, I felt like our energy wasn’t as high as it should be. In the fourth quarter, we tried to change that. I felt like we made the adjustments right there in the middle of the fourth."

Later, Garnett was answering a question about how much fun he is having with the Celtics when Pierce's stomach appeared to rumble in the microphone, drawing Garnett's attention.

"Is that your stomach?" Garnett asked.

"Yeah, I’m holding it, so hurry up," Pierce replied with a smile.

"Gas is high. You need to turn your gas down," Garnett followed, drawing an eruption of laughter in the room. "See, this is what I’m talking about. It’s fun. Every day has a new challenge, and it stays interesting as you see. It’s fun. I’m enjoying it."

Rondo returns

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 2, 11:28 p.m.

Rajon Rondo had himself another strong ballgame tonight, scoring 13 points to go along with nine assists (two off his career high) and five rebounds.

Rondo missed the Celtics' win over the Lakers Sunday with a sore right hamstring, but team trainer Ed Lacerte cleared him to play before the game. Doc Rivers liked what he saw, even though he received a brief scare in the first quarter.

"Rondo was great," Rivers said. "It looked like, in the first quarter, he signaled to me, and I thought he was injured. That’s why I took him out. He told me he was tired. I wish I’d have known that. I would have kept him in. So we took him out, gave him a long rest and then put him back in. It was great because obviously we need him."

Kevin Garnett had to pull Rondo aside in the first half after Rondo went for a home-run pass to Paul Pierce that sailed out of bounds. Garnett addressed that after the game.

"I think Rondo is going to be one of the best point guards to play this game, and I told him that," Garnett said. "He is going to have to continue to work and get better. We had the rhythm, and we had a nice little flow. And he went for the home run. I turned around and told him that’s not the pass, and he understood. He knew that. I told him that [Pierce] wasn’t that fast to get that one. The maturity in this team is that we all understand, ‘Hey, that wasn’t the right one. It’s over. Let’s move on and make it up.’ When he came to the bench, the first thing he said is, ‘Hey, that’s my fault.’ That’s a sign of maturity. He is maturing night in and night out, and I think that is a good thing for us."

Pollard comes out strong

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 2, 11:20 p.m.

Scot Pollard had his best game as a Celtic tonight, scoring a season-high 10 points to go along with five rebounds, one assist and one steal. He did a number on Yao Ming on the defensive end, too. However, he only played for 13:44 because he fouled out with 10:13 to play in the fourth quarter.

"He was terrific," Doc Rivers said. "He just ran out of fouls. If we could have gave him five or six more [fouls], he would have been phenomenal tonight. He was great. He uses them. It’s funny. I got on him the other day – the Orlando game, the last game here – because he had a chance to foul Dwight Howard on a dunk. I asked him after the game, ‘Are you saving those things for something else.’ I think he must have heard me because he’s using them. But that’s what you want him to do. You want him to be physical."

Pollard's role has been very limited all season. He missed a few games early due to a sore back, but he's typically only in the game when the Celtics play against a big center, like Dwight Howard, Shaquille O'Neal or Yao.

Still, he's another energy guy off the bench. He drew an over-the-back foul on Yao in the second half, ran to the crowd on the baseline, pumped his fist and let out an ear-to-ear grin.

"He was huge," said Paul Pierce, who was college teammates with Pollard at Kansas. "He was a sparkplug for us. He was our energy guy when our energy wasn’t there. He was really physical with Yao . He got to the basket, got a couple free throws. He knocked down a jumper that really sparked the building. It’s tough being in Scot’s position. He’s a veteran. He doesn’t play in maybe a game or two, but the thing about him is he stays ready. Tonight, he got his call, and he stepped up for us."

Gone fishin'

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 2, 11:16 p.m.

Rockets forward Shane Battier had an interesting analogy following the game tonight.

"This is one of those nights for me where I’ll stay up and think about every shot," said Battier, who had six points and two rebounds. "It’s like the size of the trout you caught at the lake in the summer. It was huge, and if you took it home, everyone would have been amazed. But it got away, and that’s the way it goes."

C's win

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 2, 10:01 p.m.

The Celtics escaped with a 97-93 win. Here's the early story for the paper with more coming later:

Doc Rivers said before tonight’s game he was worried about his team being tired after their West Coast trip.

Rivers was right, as the Celtics fell asleep at the wheel against the Rockets before escaping with a 97-93 win at a sold-out TD Banknorth Garden.

The C’s blew a 20-point second-quarter lead and were ahead by eight to start the fourth quarter, but the Rockets (15-17) jumped the Celtics in the final frame, taking a pair of three-point leads.

But, in their first test at home since losing to the Pistons two weeks ago, the Celtics responded. Kevin Garnett earned his paycheck in the fourth quarter, when he scored 11 of his 26 points, including a jumper that gave the Celtics a 96-91 lead with 22.2 seconds to play.

The C’s have won seven straight and 16 of their last 17. Their 27-3 record ties them for the fourth best start in NBA history before a fourth loss.

The Rockets stormed out on a 16-5 run to open the quarter and give themselves an 84-81 lead. But, Garnett hit a jumper to pull the C’s within 84-83, and Ray Allen stole the ball from Aaron Brooks and converted an easy lay-up to give the Celtics an 85-84 advantage.

After another Garnett jump shot gave Boston an 87-84 lead, Shane Battier drilled a 3-pointer from the right arc to tie the score with 5:07 remaining. Then, Rajon Rondo (13 points, five rebounds, nine assists) drove through traffic and layed the ball in that gave the C’s the lead for good, and capped off the wakeup call they needed.

“They looked beat [yesterday] morning, there’s no doubt about that,” Rivers said. “They looked tired. And, we had to get through our shoot-around, and it was not an easy one to get through. We haven’t had that problem very often.”

Paul Pierce had 19 points, six rebounds and seven assists. Ray Allen had 13 points, two rebounds and two assists. And Scot Pollard was huge off the bench, scoring a season-high 10 points to go along with five rebounds.

Celtics holding on

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 2, 9:13 p.m.

The Celtics have a 76-68 lead after the third quarter. The C's are 25-1 this season when ahead or tied after the third quarter.

Yao Ming has woken up. He had 11 points and five rebounds in the third quarter to give him 17 and 11 in the game. He got Houston to within 69-64 at one point.

Scot Pollard is giving the Celtics some seriously good minutes in the paint. He has a season-high eight points, but he's also got five fouls. He drew a charge on Yao in the closing minutes of the third.

Yao was also called for offensive three seconds with 2:34 to play in the third. Next, we're looking for someone to be called for traveling and/or palming. The refs have dug deep into the rule book tonight.

C's lead at the break

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 2, 8:30 p.m.

The Celtics continued their hot stretch into the second quarter to run up a 40-20 lead at one point, but the Rockets used some nice shooting to get back into the game. The C's hold a 53-42 lead at halftime. They are 22-2 this season when ahead or tied at the half.

Yao Ming has been a complete non-factor, with Kevin Garnett, Kendrick Perkins and Scot Pollard doing a number on him on both ends. Yao has six points and six rebounds at the break.

Paul Pierce has a game-high 14 points to go along with five rebounds. Garnett has 10 points, four boards and three assists. Ray Allen has seven points and was held scoreless in the second quarter. Pollard has five points, already tying his season high.

Celtics running past Houston after one

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 2, 8:01 p.m.

The Celtics took a 30-16 lead after the first quarter. The C's are 21-1 this season when ahead or tied after one quarter.

The Rockets jumped out to a quick 7-2 lead, but that was short-lived, to say the least. The Celtics answered with a 13-0 run -- highlighted by an alley-oop from Ray Allen to Kevin Garnett on a fast break -- and they closed the quarter on a 28-9 run. Allen scored seven in the first, while Garnett and Paul Pierce each added six.

Doc talk

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 2, 7:25 p.m.

As I mentioned earlier, Doc Rivers announced Rajon Rondo will start tonight's game. Rondo sat out Sunday night's win over the Lakers with a sore right hamstring, an injury that requires a lot of attention from team trainer Ed Lacerte.

"We’re going to start him," Rivers said. "I just went by Eddie [Lacerte]. He didn’t even question it. We had him out yesterday just to be safe, but he’s fine.

"I didn’t even talk to Rondo about it. I just talked to Eddie. With the hamstring thing, you just have to trust the trainer. So, if Rondo gets hurt, we’ll just throw Eddie under the bus."

Rivers addressed the obvious need to stop Rockets center Yao Ming, a 7-foot-6, 310-pounder who is averaging 21.3 points and 10.6 rebounds per game this season.

"He’s just big," Rivers said. "He’s gifted. Jokingly, we were talking about it today about the defensive plan, and we wrote 5. When he writes it, it’s real big. That’s the problem. The fact that he has great touch makes it real difficult. A lot of the bigs, you want to keep them out of the paint, and Yao is the same way. But Yao can also catch it on the elbow and hurt you, as well. If you don’t cover him to his space, by the time he gets it up above his head, he shoots it, and I don’t even know if he knows you’re there."

One area of concern for Rivers is his team's energy. Having Rondo back will help, but he said they were very sluggish at the shoot-around today, partly due to the West Coast trip and whatever they may have done to celebrate the new year.

"They looked beat this morning, there’s no doubt about that," Rivers said. "They looked tired, and we had to get through our shoot-around, and it was not an easy one to get through. We haven’t had that problem very often."

Finally, Rivers noted assistant coach Tom Thibodeau is a bit jacked up for this game. Thibodeau left the Rockets during the offseason to come to Boston. He led Houston to top-five marks in scoring defense and field goal percentage allowed each of the past four seasons.

"It helps," Rivers said. "He knows personnel, and clearly he wants to win. We had to tone him down today in shoot-around. He was pretty much fired up this morning, which was good because this is a difficult game for us, coming off that trip."

KG leads the defensive uprising

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 2, 7:17 p.m.

Kevin Garnett brought such a tremendous reputation to Boston that it was almost too easy to wonder if he could live up to his lofty measurements.

What no one seemed to imagine were the possibilities of the Big Ticket selling for more than advertised. The Celtics knew they could count on him for 20 points and 10 rebounds on any given night. And the defense and leadership traits were supposed to be a bonus.

That couldn’t have been more off.

Garnett’s presence in the middle of the Celtics’ defense is the primary reason they have stormed out to the best record in the NBA. The C’s led the league in scoring defense (87.7 points per game), field goal percentage allowed (41.2), 3-point percentage allowed (30.7) and assists allowed (17.3 per game).

“That’s what we take a lot of pride in, having each guy’s back, knowing our assignments, playing defense with effort and energy,” Garnett said. “That’s got to be a consistent thing night in and night out on this team. I feel like if we play defense every single night, we give ourselves a chance to win every single night.”

Garnett’s teammates love his communication on the floor, directing them to their assignments across the court. And he requires a level of accountability among each individual on every play, whether it’s during a game or in practice, that makes everyone work that much harder.

“There’s no way you’re going to have the top guys on this team play the way we play on defense and the effort that we give, you’d be isolated at night with the effort,” Garnett said. “I won’t even have to be the one to say something. I don’t even think Paul or Ray would have a chance to say something. I think other guys on this team and everybody holds each other accountable for our defensive effort. We rarely get into discussions about offense. Defense is where we – if we’re going at it with each other or discussing something with each other – nine times out of 10, it’s about defensive assignments. On this team, you have to play defense.”

Garnett’s points, assists and rebounds are all down this season from his career numbers, but that’s perfectly fine for Doc Rivers.

“Kevin knows now he doesn’t have to be an offensive player all game, but he can be a defensive player all game,” Rivers said. “I think that frees him up. It’s not just his energy and attitude. It’s his focus he enforces on everyone else. He enforces it.”

Rondo to start

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 2, 6:47 p.m.

Updating a previous post (AKA: My bad.), Rajon Rondo will start tonight's game against the Rockets. Tony Allen was listed as the starting point guard in the pregame notes, but Doc Rivers just announced Rondo would start. I'll have more from Doc's pregame meeting in a few minutes.

Inside the numbers and pregame notes

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 2, 5:45 p.m.

The Celtics (26-3) are getting ready to host the Rockets (15-16) at the TD Banknorth Garden. It will be the C's first game at home in 10 days. The Celtics have won six straight and 15 of their last 16 games. They have won two straight at home since falling to the Pistons on Dec. 19.

The C's went 13-1 in December, and this is their first game in January. They are 6-1 on Wednesdays, 14-1 at home, 8-0 against the Western Conference, and this is their first game against a Southwest Division opponent.

The Celtics' 26-3 start is the sixth best in NBA history. A win tonight would tie them for fourth with the 1969-70 New York Knicks and 1990-91 Portland Trail Blazers. The 1995-96 Chicago Bulls (41-3), 1971-72 Los Angeles Lakers (39-3) and 1966-67 Philadelphia 76ers (37-3) lead the way for the most wins in league history before their fourth loss.

Also, Rajon Rondo is not expected to play tonight. Tony Allen is listed as the Celtics' starting point guard right now. Rondo missed Sunday night's win over the Lakers with a sore right hamstring.

Tracy McGrady is not expected to play for the Rockets. McGrady, the team's leading scorer with 22.8 points per game, has left knee tendinitis. Steve Francis, who has only played 10 games for Houston, is out with bi-lateral quadriceps tendinitis.

And finally:

• Detroit's Flip Saunders was named Eastern Conference Coach of the Month for December. Doc Rivers was a nominee for the honor.
• Orlando's Dwight Howard was named Eastern Conference Player of the Month for December. Paul Pierce was a nominee for the honor.
  

Van Pelt's prophecy

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 2, 4:57 p.m.

Filmed before the season, the newest “SportsCenter” commercial featuring the Celtics has proved prophetic.

Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen ask anchor Scott Van Pelt for an appropriate nickname for the newest star trio in Boston.

“The Three Basketeers,” Garnett proclaims.

Or, “The Three Amigos,” they sing in unison.

Nope, no thanks. Van Pelt calls for the “Boston 3 Party,” to which the fearsome threesome delightedly oblige.

And the nickname has held true on the court. The Celtics are shooting 39.4 percent from 3-point range, second to Toronto in the NBA.

The acquisition of Allen, who is shooting 38.2 percent from beyond the arc, figured to improve the team in that area, but he’s not the only one deadly from distance. Pierce is above his career average, hitting at a 39.7 percent clip, while Eddie House (43.8) and James Posey (41.5) have emerged as huge weapons off the bench.

Even Tony Allen (43.8) and Rajon Rondo (2-of-6) have joined the parade.

“We have a lot of great 3-point shooters on this team,” Pierce said. “Myself, Ray Allen, Eddie House, James Posey. I wonder why Kevin doesn’t take any 3s. He shoots on the line all the time.”

Garnett, who was sitting next to Pierce and is 0-for-5 from downtown this season, interrupted: “Because you just named seven guys who can take them. You want me to be the eighth? You need somebody to get some of those rebounds.”

Plus, Garnett’s inside presence has allowed for the high percentage of successful 3-pointers. When the C’s run the offense through Garnett at the post, he often draws a double team, leaving someone open on the wing. And he has done a tremendous job passing through the defenders.

“We have a lot of good shooters out on the floor at any given time, so it’s just a matter of us finding our rhythm,” Ray Allen said. “We’re just going inside, they’re doubling, Paul’s posting, KG is posting up, and we’ve got so many shooters spread on the perimeter, so it makes it easier for us to get easy looks.” 

Odom suspended

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 1, 5:04 p.m.

Lakers forward Lamar Odom has been suspended one game without pay and assessed a Flagrant Foul, Penalty Two for trucking Ray Allen in the Celtics-Lakers game Sunday night, it was announced today by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations.

The incident occurred with 2:57 remaining in the fourth quarter of the Celtics' 110-91 win at the Staples Center, with the Celtics holding a 103-84 lead. Allen had the ball on the left side of the court in the Lakers' end, and Odom ran at Allen and drove his shoulder into Allen's midsection, sending Allen to the floor. Odom was given a flagrant foul.

Odom will serve his suspension Friday, when the Lakers host the 76ers. 

Pierce honored

Posted by Jeff Howe, Jan. 1, 4:52 p.m.

Paul Pierce was just named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week for games played Dec. 24-30. Pierce led the C's to a 4-0 mark last week, averaging 27.5 points, 6.0 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 1.8 steals. He also dropped 37 points on the Sonics last Thursday, the most points scored by anyone on the Celtics this season.

Pierce carried the Celtics to their first undefeated four-game West Coast trip since the 1992-93 season. Their eight-game road winning streak is their longest since 1980-81.

Hornets point guard Chris Paul was named the Western Conference Player of the Week.

KG still leads the way

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 27, 4:44 p.m.

The second returns of the NBA All-Star balloting were released today, and Kevin Garnett still leads the league in votes. Garnett has 1,186,690 votes, and Cleveland's LeBron James is second with 1,005,733 votes.

Paul Pierce remains in fourth among Eastern Conference forwards with 268,926 votes. He trails Garnett, James and Toronto's Chris Bosh in that category.

Ray Allen also remains in fourth among Eastern Conference guards with 464,810 votes. He sits behind Miami's Dwyane Wade and New Jersey's Jason Kidd and Vince Carter.

Those are the only Celtics on the ballot.

Orlando's Dwight Howard leads Eastern centers.

Denver's Carmelo Anthony and San Antonio's Tim Duncan are currently in position to start as the Western Conference forwards. The Lakers' Kobe Bryant and Houston's Tracy McGrady lead the Western guards. And Houston's Yao Ming leads centers in the West.

More on Rondo

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 27, 2:03 p.m.

It hasn’t been a problem in recent weeks, but Doc Rivers was really getting on Rondo early in the season about pushing the ball on every single possession.

“We’ve been really hard on Rondo about that,” Rivers said. “The thing I try to get through to Rajon every night is why give up your best talent? Why walk the ball up the floor? And now, you’ve given up what you do well. Push the pace every single time. If there’s a guy falling back, attack him. Just know that no one’s going to help off of Ray [Allen] and Paul [Pierce], and you can get to the basket.

“We’ve got to get him to stay in the habit. He tends to like to walk the ball up the floor and set the plays up. We get on him about execution. For him being a young guard, it’s a fine line for him. I told him if I had a guy telling me every day to just push it, push it, push it, I’d be the happiest guy on earth. So he’s doing that, and I think he’s going to keep getting better at it.”

Rivers, of course, is a former point guard who speaks from experience.

Rondo said his biggest weakness in that area was pushing the ball consistently. He wouldn’t always push it after a team scored, but he would after misses, and vice versa.

“I’ve just got to try to continue to push the ball up the court, whether it’s with the dribble or the pass,” Rondo said. “Even on makes, that’s my main concern because when teams make it, I don’t really continue to push the ball up the court. Whether miss or make, I’ve got to continue to push the ball up the court.”

The unlikely hero

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 27, 1:55 p.m.

The importance of Rajon Rondo was never more clear than in the Celtics’ loss to the Pistons last week.

Rondo got in third-quarter foul trouble and went to the bench, while the C’s lost their rhythm, the lead and eventually the game. Cue the theme music from “Titanic.”

Go figure. The Celtics acquired future Hall of Famer Kevin Garnett to go along with perennial All-Stars Ray Allen and Paul Pierce, and a second-year point guard who once lost his starting job to Delonte West is the player who completes the puzzle.

But Rondo’s game – and with that, his confidence – has grown tremendously each night this season. He has answered Doc Rivers’ call to push the ball up the court on every possession, and Rondo has broken down defenses off the dribble with his quick move at the top of the key, creating easy buckets for the big men or open jumpers out at the wings.

And, turning the world on its axis, Rondo has even developed a respectable jump shot.

“Most teams’ keys going into the season, they were saying, ‘Don’t leave Ray. Don’t leave Paul,’” Allen said. “Most teams start doubling off of Rondo. I think, thus far, he’s proven that he can knock that jump shot down. That’s been the question of him going into the season, and up to this point he’s done a great job for us.”

Granted, a number of his field goals are inside the paint on lay-ups, but he’s still consistently knocked down a baseline jumper when left open. Rondo has worked to maintain a consistent height on his jump shot this year, and his field goal percentage has soared to 52.9 percent from 41.8 last season.

Rondo’s goal is to make his defenders stay honest. They often turned their backs on him last year when he was 15 feet from the bucket, choosing to sag towards the paint or double-team someone else. Now, he is forcing them to pay attention.

“It frees KG up if my man can’t double, if [Kendrick Perkins’s] man can’t double,” Rondo said. “They can’t double up on Paul. If I’m making those shots, then it’s going to free those guys up. It’s easier with one-on-one action.

“It’s all about the wins. I’m trying to get a championship. That’s all that matters is the wins. I shot the ball. I had to shoot the ball. They were giving me that shot. I had to take them. I wasn’t trying to force anything. I never do. I just take what the defense is giving me.”

The three amigos

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 26, 3:50 p.m.

By now, you've probably seen the Celtics' new SportsCenter commercial. If not, here's the link from YouTube. It's funny, witty and slightly embarrassing, all of which are great elements in ESPN's long list of tremendous commercials in the past.

But, there's a problem. The commercial, according to the "time stamp" at the beginning, takes place on Nov. 23, at 8:25 p.m. What's the issue, you ask? The Celtics were playing the Lakers at the Garden at that precise time. Look, the C's have proven they can do a number of great things this season. But, being in two places at once? Let's not get ahead of ourselves.

C's face road test

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 25, 2:48 p.m.

Merry Christmas, now hit the road.

T he Celtics board a 3 p.m. plane today to embark on their most difficult road trip to date this season, which begins tomorrow in Sacramento .

They’ll play four games in five days – the third longest stretch away from home this year – and don’t return to the Garden until next Wednesday, 10 days after the C’s last played on Causeway Street .

With a 22-3 start and most of their wins in the blowout variety, the Celtics are looking forward to the West Coast swing as a good way to test themselves.

“It’ll be fun,” Head Coach Doc Rivers said. “We’re really looking forward to it. It will be a great, great, great thing for us to go out west, and four [games] in five [days]. But we’ll be with each other, and that’s the way I look at it.”

“We know coming into the season, we’re going to be faced with many tests,” Paul Pierce said. “It gives us a chance to be together, see how we respond and see what happens. We’ve been looking forward to this.”

The Celtics beat the Kings at the Garden on Dec. 12, dropping Sacramento to 0-9 on the road at the time. But the Kings are 8-5 in their building.

Thursday, the C’s visit the Sonics, who are 4-9 at home and will have a few guys anticipating the return of Ray Allen. After a day off, Boston will visit the Jazz, who are 9-2 at home and were in last season’s Western Conference Championship. And Sunday, the C’s visit the Lakers, who are 9-4 at the Staples Center and fell to the Celtics at the Garden on Nov. 23.

“It’s a test of character,” Kevin Garnett said. “I think the biggest thing with us is consistency. We’re going to be on the road. It’s not like we’re going to come home after games. It’s going to be more mental than physical, I feel like. We play four in five. It’s going to be totally difficult, but it’s something we have to do. It’s on the schedule.”

On the road again:

• The Celtics have two five-game trips later this season. They head back to the West Coast in February, and they go on a Texas swing in March.

Request line

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 24, 11:49 a.m.

First off, I believe this breaks the record for my earliest post. So I've got that going for me, which is nice.

Due to a number of requests, I've added an area where you can submit your comments at the bottom of this page, so have at it. Let me know what you think of the Celtics this season, provide some feedback or tell me how I can improve this blog. You can also send an e-mail. My address is located in my bio on the top of the page.

And finally, I mentioned during Friday's game between the Celtics and Bulls that I would post some links to some YouTube videos of some starting lineup introductions. I didn't exactly get that done Friday, so consider this an early Christmas present.

I've said before I think the Celtics' new intros rival those of the Bulls from the 1990s. The addition of "Requiem for a Dream" gives the introductions an added dimension. Nothing against what they've done in the past, but a strong rock/classical song can serve as a staple for years to come while hip-hop songs can get old fast. Just look at what the Bulls have done with "Sirius" by Alan Parsons Project.

Anyway, the Celtics have a pretty good thing going right now, and the intros are much better when they also use the fireworks, which they did on opening night against the Wizards and again on Friday against the Bulls. Here is a good clip from opening night. And here is a clip of the video they play during the intros. There is also a second one, which is lesser used. Instead of Kevin Garnett screaming, Paul Pierce yells, "We're baaaaaaack!" Here is a third clip. The quality isn't tremendous, but it was taken from the balcony, so you get a better feel as to what the whole building looked like.

Moving on, here is a clip of the Bulls' intros from Game 6 of the 1996 NBA Finals. The Bulls were also the first team to dim the lights for these intros.

And here's your first chance to use the feedback portion of the blog. Think I missed a good one? I know the Pistons have some pretty serious intros with a fireworks display and the use of "Baba O'Riley" by The Who. I've also heard the Grizzlies do a decent job, but they don't have the X factor. You can have the greatest song and most intense visual display on the planet, but yelling out a name like Pau Gasol isn't nearly the same as Michael Jordan or Kevin Garnett.

Now that I've used Pau Gasol, Michael Jordan and Kevin Garnett in the same sentence, I can officially wrap up this post.

Merry Christmas and happy holidays.

Stocking stuffers

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 23, 10:53 p.m.

Rajon Rondo matched a career high with 23 points tonight. He did it twice last season -- Jan. 12 against the Raptors, and Feb. 2 against the Clippers. Both were losses. Rondo's previous high this season was 18, which he did twice -- Nov. 18 against the Magic, and Dec. 8 against the Bulls.

The C's had four players score 20 points tonight for the first time since May 5, 1999. Those four were Paul Pierce (27 points), Dana Barros (26), Ron Mercer (23) and Antoine Walker (23).

Rondo leads Celtics past Magic

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 23, 10:51 p.m.

If Rajon Rondo continues to play like this, the rest of the NBA might want to raise the white flag.

The Celtics’ point guard has played like a man possessed lately, and he had his best game of the season tonight to lift the C’s past the Magic, 103-91, in front of a sold-out TD Banknorth Garden. Rondo matched a career high with 23 points to go along with six assists, four rebounds and four steals to help Boston (22-3) avenge one of its three losses this season.

Rondo was also 2-of-2 from 3-point range, including a buzzer beater that gave the Celtics a 49-42 lead at halftime. He entered the game 0-of-3 from distance this season and 6-of-32 (18.8 percent) in his career. Rondo has scored in double figures in four of his last six games.

“Just try to be aggressive,” Rondo said. “The shots have been going in. Last time, I shot 3-for-10, so I’ve just got to keep shooting the ball.”

Paul Pierce scored a game-high 24 points and had six assists. Ray Allen dropped 22 and was 4-of-8 from 3-point land. And Kevin Garnett added 21 points and five assists. It’s the first time four Celtics have scored at least 20 points since May 5, 1999 , when they lost to the Charlotte Hornets.

The Celtics took control during a stretch in the third quarter when they went on a 15-3 run, scoring all 15 points on 3-pointers, to build a 72-52 advantage.

“We have a lot of good shooters out on the floor at any given time, so it’s just a matter of us finding our rhythm,” said Allen, who hit two 3-pointers in that stretch.

The Magic (18-11) drew to within nine points twice in the fourth quarter but never got closer than that.

“I think Ray hit a lot of tough shots tonight, and instead of us playing through it, I think we kind of hung our heads after he hit a couple of those 3s towards the end of the game,” said Dwight Howard, who had 23 points and 14 rebounds but never had a chance to control the game.

The C’s built a 33-26 lead when Tony Allen hit a lay-up with 9:48 to play in the second, but they hit a terrible shooting slump after that. Boston didn’t make another field goal until Garnett knocked down a jumper with 1:45 remaining in the half to give his team a 42-41 lead. Even still, the Magic only outscored the Celtics 15-9 over that stretch of 8:03 .

The Celtics closed out the half on an 11-1 run, and built a 49-42 advantage after Rondo hit his first 3-pointer of the game at the buzzer.

Hobbs calls on the fans

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 23, 8:31 p.m.

The video boards just displayed a message from Patriots cornerback Ellis Hobbs urging the fans to make some noise for the fourth quarter. Hobbs, who is never one to shy away from the camera, probably didn't need much coaxing to film that video. It looked like it was filmed in one of the Garden hallways. The Patriots have had a very strong presence at C's games this season, but obviously had a game of their own to take care of this afternoon.

C's extend lead

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 23, 8:28 p.m.

The Celtics had yet another strong third quarter and put this one to rest pretty quickly, taking a 78-64 lead into the fourth. The C's are 21-2 this season when ahead or tied after three.

The Boston 3 Party was the difference, as the C's scored 15 straight points off 3-pointers midway through the quarter. Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce hit back-to-back treys to give the C's a 63-49 lead. Pierce and Ray Allen hit consecutive 3's to push the margin to 69-50, and Allen added another to make it 72-52.

The Celtics outscored Orlando 2922 in the third quarter. Boston outscored Orlando 35-25 in the third when the teams met on Nov. 18. Of course, the Magic entered that quarter ahead by 17 and won the game 104-102.

C's lead at the break

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 23, 7:44 p.m.

The Celtics used a late 11-1 run to retake the lead and build a 49-42 halftime advantage. The C's are 18-2 this season when ahead or tied after the second quarter.

Things slowed to a crawl in the second quarter, particularly on the Celtics' end. But they got it back together in the final minutes of the first half and capped it off with a Rajon Rondo 3-pointer from the right arc that beat the buzzer.

Paul Pierce has a game-high 12 points, while Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Rondo each have 10 points. Garnett also has six rebounds. Dwight Howard has eight points and eight rebounds for the Magic.

Garnett was hit with a technical foul in the second. He was called for an iffy loose-ball foul with 4:06 remaining and was whistled for the T when he argued.

Celtics lead after one

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 23, 7:07 p.m.

The Celtics have a 27-21 lead after the first quarter. The C's are 17-1 this season when ahead or tied after one.

Dwight Howard has been held in check so far. He's got three points, four rebounds and two assists, and he's also been dunked on by Kevin Garnett. We got to see what Howard is all about right away. Just 16 seconds into the game, Howard grabbed an offensive rebound, went up, got fouled and missed both free throws. That's still his downfall. He's shooting 60.2 percent this season from the charity stripe.

Special announcement

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 23, 6:40 p.m.

Kendrick Perkins just addressed the crowd after the starting lineups. He had the following message:

"On behalf of the Boston Celtics, we'd like to thank you for being the best fans in the world. And we wish you a safe and happy holidays." 

Doc talk

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 23, 6:18 p.m.

Doc Rivers just addressed the media as he always does before games, and he touched on some interesting topics.

First, how do you stop Dwight Howard, Orlando's 6-foot-11, 265-pounder who is turning into one of the league's most dominant players? Howard is just 22 years old and is starting to take over games the way Shaquille O'Neal did a decade ago. He is averaging a ridiculous 23.4 points and an NBA-best 15.1 rebounds per game this season. He had 24 points in the teams' first meeting on Nov. 18, when the Magic won 104-102.

"What you try to do is keep him in between the basket and his man," Rivers said with a bit of sarcasm. "If that was so easy, everybody would do it. He’s a great player. What we say every night. If it was easy just to say this is what you do to stop a great player, then you know what he wouldn’t be? A great player.

"You have to be physical. You can’t play Dwight soft, or he’ll destroy you. And, even when you play him physical, he still has destroyed a lot of people. One way you can’t play him is weakly. He is too athletic. He is too explosive."

The Magic built a 20-point lead in that contest and escaped with the victory, as Paul Pierce missed a potential game-winning 3-pointer with 1.9 seconds remaining.

"They attacked us all game," Rivers said. "I thought we were on our heels most of that game in Orlando , especially in the first half. The second half, we made a nice comeback, but I never thought we got into the way we play defense in that game. If you don’t defend, you can’t win, and that’s been our motto. We didn’t that night, and we lost. We deserved that."

Rivers also said he is safer at gas stations this season due to the Celtics' success.

"I can get out and self pump now," he said with a laugh. "Before, I had to pay the guy to do it because I was worried about somebody shooting me."

Rivers finally noted the team has the next two days off. He'll leave from Orlando to fly out to Sacramento at 3 p.m. on Christmas. He joked about playing on Christmas during his days with the Hawks, who were owned by media mogul Ted Turner.

"It’s the NBA," Rivers said about playing on and around the holidays. "I signed on for this job. It really is. I accepted that a long time ago. Maybe I’m used to it. When I was with the Hawks the first six years, Turner was just the Hawks, and every Christmas, they played us. Every Christmas Day. We were the happiest team in the league when Turner bought the NBA because that meant we were off. They definitely weren’t going to put us on there. It was great news for us because up until that point, we played every Christmas because Ted Turner needed programming. I tell the guys this is our job. It’s part of it. You get the summers off. During the season, it’s the season. I’ve always thought teams that are on the road right now have the advantage at times on teams that are home because of the distractions. That’s what you’re always worried about when you’re home for the entire Christmas season."

Inside the numbers

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 23, 5:51 p.m.

Getting ready here as the Celtics (21-3) and Magic (18-10) are about 40 minutes from tip off. The Celtics are 13-1 at home, 8-1 in December, 3-1 on Sundays, 17-3 against the Eastern Conference, 5-1 against the Southeast Division and 0-1 against the Magic.

And Dee Brown is in the house.

There's a unique feel here today with the Patriots playing right now. The Garden isn't as full as usual around this time, and the Patriots game is being played on all three TVs in the media rooms. There was a large crowd around a giant TV downstairs at North Station because the Pats were on. The media crowd is a little thinner than we've seen this week, too. With the combination of the Pats game, a Sunday game and Christmas approaching, that was somewhat expected.

Boston 3 Party

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 21, 11:10 p.m.

The Boston 3 Party was in full effect tonight. The C's tied season highs by jacking up 26 3-pointers and hitting 12 of them. Paul Pierce was 4-of-6 from distance, while James Posey was 3-of-6, Ray Allen was 3-of-7, Tony Allen was 1-of-2, Eddie House was 1-of-3, and Rajon Rondo and Brian Scalabrine each missed their lone attempts.

"That’s a lot for us to shoot 26 3s," Doc Rivers said. "But, if you get them because the ball started on the post or through a drive, then they’re great. I don’t like when you’re searching for them in transition unless it’s in transition and you’re wide open. I thought we stayed true to that for the most part tonight with the ball movement tonight, and it was terrific. We trusted tonight. We trusted ourselves. We trusted our teammates, and when we do that, we’re a better basketball team."

Make no mistake. They're not reverting back to the ways of the Jim O'Brien era, when shooting from downtown was a way of life. Pierce, though, likes what this team is made of in that regard, and he'd like someone else to get in on the fun.

"We have a lot of great 3-point shooters on this team, myself, Ray Allen, Eddie House, James Posey," Pierce said. "I wonder why Kevin [Garnett] doesn’t take any 3’s. He shoots on the line all the time."

Garnett, who was sitting right next to Pierce, looked at his captain like he had two heads.

"Because you just named seven guys who can take them," Garnett interrupted. "You want me to be the eighth? You need somebody to get some of those rebounds."

C's stop the bleeding, stomp the Bulls

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 21, 11:05 p.m.

Panic no more.

The Celtics’ whopping one-game losing streak is over, and they’re back to blowing out teams yet again. The C’s ran past the Bulls, 107-82, in front of a sold-out Garden crowd tonight.

Paul Pierce led the charge with 22 points, including 15 in the third quarter, and seven rebounds. Ray Allen had 18 points, three points and four assists. And Kevin Garnett added 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Per usual, Pierce and Garnett were spectators throughout the entirety of the fourth quarter, while Allen went to the bench with 7:32 remaining in the contest.

“Tonight was a statement game for us,” Garnett said. “We needed this game for confidence. Yesterday, we got some things done [at practice]. This morning was an unusual shoot-around. We went at it a little bit. You could tell the shoot-around this morning we were fired up. The Detroit game was still on our minds, and tonight was one of those nights when we just wanted to come out and do the things we know we do well – communicating, playing solid defense for 48 minutes, and I felt we did that.”

Boston (21-3) never trailed and maintained a double-digit lead all the way through once they took a 33-22 advantage with 10:06 remaining in the second quarter. It was tied, 6-6, with 8:20 to play in the first quarter before the Celtics took the lead for good.

James Posey provided a huge spark early on for the C’s. The Bulls (9-15) went on a 5-0 spurt to draw within 20-17, and the Celtics’ offense was briefly out of sync before Doc Rivers called a timeout to get things back on track. Posey hit a 3-pointer from the left arc with 1:02 to go in the first – which started a 27-8 Celtics run – and he scored 11 points over a stretch of 4:36 .

“When we play [like we did tonight], we’re a handful for anybody,” Posey said.

After losing their edge in the third quarter in Wednesday’s loss to the Pistons, the Celtics made an effort to reestablish what had been a dominant mark for them for much of the season. They jumped out on a 7-0 run to take a 63-42 advantage, and Pierce went on to score 15 of the Celtics’ next 21 points as Boston put this one in the books early on.

“Before the game, Ray and Paul were repeating the same [thing] in the huddle,” Garnett said. “We stop the bleeding tonight. We never try to carry over bad things. … What you saw tonight, it’s what we call stopping the bleeding. Home is where our heart is. We want to be able to establish something here at home. When we lose, we want to get it out of our system.”

The Celtics had it going on defense again, too, holding the Bulls to 35.5 percent from the floor and just 15 assists.

“The loss to Detroit left a bad taste in our mouth,” Pierce said. “It didn’t matter who our opponent was going to be [tonight]. We were going to come out, take it to them, really be real aggressive and play the way we did today. I expected us to come out the way we did, to tell you the truth. It didn’t matter who was going to be in the building tonight.”

C's have comfortable lead after three

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 21, 9:18

The Celtics are on cruise control right now, taking a 87-67lead into the fourth quarter. The C's are 20-1 this season when ahead or tied after the third quarter. The one blemish on that mark came Wednesday against the Pistons.

The only thing still up in the air tonight is whether or not Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce or Ray Allen will see any action in the final quarter. Garnett went to the bench with 3:12 remaining in the third and has 12 points, seven rebounds and five assists. Pierce, who scored 15 points in the third and has 22 in the game, left with 1:14 to play. Allen has 15 points and was on the court when the third quarter expired.

C's blow it open

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 21, 8:27 p.m.

The Celtics blitzed the Bulls in the second quarter to take a 56-41 lead into the half. The Celtics are 17-2 this season when ahead or tied at the half.

James Posey stepped in and really helped out the second unit at the end of the first and into the second. The Bulls went on a 5-0 run late in the first to cut the Celtics' lead to 20-17, but Posey hit a 3-pointer to give the Celtics a 23-17 advantage with 1:02 to play. Posey went on to hit a couple more 3-pointers and scored 11 points over a stretch of 4:36.

Tony Allen's knee still isn't at full strength, at least judging by a fast break in the second quarter. One of the best dunkers in the league over the last couple years, Allen slowed up and layed the ball in to give the C's a 40-22 lead with 7:50 to play.

A nice gesture turned comical with 6:14 remaining in the first half. Rajon Rondo had an open lay-up, but Ben Gordon grabbed Rondo from behind, drawing a foul. Gordon made sure to hold onto Rondo to keep the Celtics' point guard from falling hard on the baseline, and the two ended up hugging each other for a few seconds too long.

Kevin Garnett was hit in the face while going up for a rebound along with Gordon and Joakim Noah with 3:35 to play in the second quarter. It looked like it was Gordon who hit Garnett, who fell to the floor in pain, which says a ton for him. The referee signaled Gordon got all ball.

After the Bulls trimmed the C's lead to 20-17, Boston went on a 27-8 run to go ahead 47-25.

Garnett has 12 points and five rebounds. Kendrick Perkins has 10 points and three boards. Ray Allen has eight points. Paul Pierce has seven points and seven rebounds -- all of which came in the first quarter.

Ben Gordon has 11 points for the Bulls. No one else has more than six points for Chicago.

Celtics lead after one

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 21, 7:42 p.m.

The Celtics have a 26-19 lead after the first quarter. The C's are 16-1 this season when ahead or tied after the first quarter. Paul Pierce has seven points, seven rebounds and two assists. Rajon Rondo and Kendrick Perkins each had a strong opening quarter. Ben Gordon has nine points for the Bulls.

The fireworks are back

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 21, 7:13 p.m.

Fitting that the Celtics re-introduced the fireworks to the starting lineups tonight, considering they're playing the Bulls, who have the league's other great starting lineup introductions. The fireworks hadn't been used since Nov. 2, opening night against the Wizards.

I go back and forth on whose I like better. There was nothing greater than watching the Michael Jordan Bulls get introduced in the 1990s, but the C's have a sick intro this season with the addition of "Requiem for a Dream" as the music.

I'll try to post some links from YouTube later.

The Bulls are wearing their road blacks tonight, while the Celtics have gone back to their traditional home whites.

Wallace out

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 21, 6:55 p.m.

Ben Wallace will not play tonight. He is listed on the team's injury report as day-to-day with a sore left foot. The 6-foot-9, 240-pound center is averaging 4.5 points and 8.7 rebounds per game this season.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers says that has no effect on Boston's game plan.

The Bulls are running out a small starting lineup with Luol Deng, Ben Gordon, Kirk Hinrich, Andres Nocioni and Joe Smith. Aaron Gray, a rookie out of Pitt, has been getting extra playing time lately and should see plenty of action tonight in Wallace's absence. Gray is a 7-foot, 270-pounder who is averaging 3.4 points and 2.3 rebounds per game this season.

On the rebound

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 21, 6:48 p.m.

The Celtics are coming off their third loss of the season, an 87-85 thriller at the Garden Wednesday against the Pistons. The C's are 2-0 this season after losses, and they've been able to maintain a clear head through both ups and downs all season.

Bulls coach Scott Skiles has warned his team to remain focused early on, as he believes the C's will come out flying.

"Tonight, after their loss to Detroit the other night, they’re going to have a lot of juice, and we have to make sure we can stay with them," Skiles said.

More TV talk

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 21, 6:31 p.m.

With this being another nationally televised game aired on ESPN, the cameras are back in the locker rooms, and the in-game circus continues. The Celtics were on ESPN Wednesday when they played the Pistons, so they know the drill pretty well by now. And this isn't anything new to the Bulls, either.

In case you need a refresher, ESPN has been granted the rights by the NBA to dock a camera in each locker room (on the ceilings in this case), and each coach will wear a microphone throughout the contest as well as participate in an in-game interview. ESPN can also ask players to wear a microphone, but they are allowed to decline. The locker room cameras are used to air clips of each team's halftime meeting, which has really drawn the ire of the coaches.

Bulls coach Scott Skiles was asked a few minutes ago if he was used to it by now.

"If I’m saying I’m used to it, does that say I mean that I like it?" he answered.

Skiles has no issue with wearing a mike during the game since the coaches are allowed to turn them off, which he says he does when he is sitting on the bench talking to his coaches. He is not a fan of the in-game interviews, however.

Doc Rivers, on the other hand, has found the silver lining.

"My goal is to be interviewed on that a lot," said Rivers, who has mentioned numerous times he is opposed to the whole operation but supports it as long as it helps the league. "That means we’re playing in a game that has significance, so that would be good."

When asked about Wednesday night's in-game interview, Rivers said he couldn't even remember it.

"It didn’t bother me," he said. "It’s funny, I forgot because it’s not like this is something you do. I don’t know. I didn’t have a lot to say. I don’t think I thrilled anybody."

Inside the numbers

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 21, 5:59 p.m.

The Celtics (20-3) are getting ready to host the Bulls (9-14) tonight. The C's are 12-1 at home, 7-1 in December, 7-0 on Fridays, 16-3 against the East, 4-2 against the Central Division and 1-0 against the Bulls this season. 

Keep on keepin' on

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 20, 5:48 p.m.

There’s no such thing as a good loss.

Anything that negatively affects a team in the standings is just that — a negative. But there are productive losses, and that is how the Celtics are looking at last night’s defeat to the Pistons.

The C’s were happy to be tested in a tight game against an elite team. During their nine-game winning streak, they won every game by double digits and hadn’t been in a white-knuckled fourth quarter in more than three weeks.

The Pistons were better under pressure, starting the fourth on a 9-0 run. Boston, meanwhile, failed to execute on its last possession, as Paul Pierce let his game-winning bid fly a bit too early, giving Detroit one more possession. Then, Tony Allen fell for a Chauncey Billups pump fake, allowing the Pistons’ guard to seal the game at the free throw line with 0.1 seconds remaining.

“It was a good game, man,” Pierce said. “It was a good matchup for us, a good test for us. We feel like we haven’t really been tested in awhile, see where we’re at. It was a good game for us.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do, obviously. It’s a long season, and we’d rather take our bumps and bruises right now than late in the season. That’s what it’s all about. … It’s something we’ve got to learn from.”

The Celtics were not despondent last night, never pointing a finger or casting blame on the officials. Plus, they had no choice but to move on quickly.
They practiced today, host the Bulls tomorrow and then the Magic — who beat Boston on Nov. 18 — Sunday. Any extra lamenting could quickly turn into a three-game losing streak.

“I think losing games levels you out,” Ray Allen said. “As much as you don’t like to lose, it always humbles you and just makes you put that work in that you would on any given day at any give time. You’ve got to make sure you cross your T’s and dot your I’s. Losing games, we’ve all lost.

“I know we’ll put this behind us very quickly. Use the lesson that we learned, but definitely put it behind us and move forward.” 

Containing Chauncey

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 20, 4:29 p.m.

The Celtics can look back at Wednesday’s loss to the Pistons and second-guess themselves to death on a number of things, but there’s one point the C’s truly need to improve upon before they see Detroit the next time.

Boston’s eight missed free throws hurt. So did its 3-point defense and inability to control the play in the second half. But, most importantly, the Celtics really need a better plan for Pistons point guard Chauncey Billups.

Sure, teams have been saying that for the better part of a decade, but if the C’s want to reach the Finals, containing Billups is a must to get through Detroit.

Billups, who was selected by the Celtics with the third pick in the 1997 draft before being traded after 51 games, had 28 points, eight assists and sank the game-winning free throws Wednesday.

C’s point man Rajon Rondo scored 14 points, had seven assists and held his own on Billups in the first half, but Rondo got into foul trouble in the third quarter, when Billups took control. Doc Rivers also used Eddie House, Ray Allen and Tony Allen to play the point opposite of Billups.

But, Tony Allen fell for Billups’ up-fake — which is highlighted on every scouting report from Boston to Pluto — and fouled him on the final play of the game. Allen, who is bigger than Rondo, was on Billups to neutralize the size disadvantage.

Keeping Rondo in the game would be an obvious goal in future meetings, but Rivers should be conscious of keeping Billups off guard with a steadier rotation throughout. Allen played just five minutes Wednesday and came off the bench for the final play.

Billups admitted Rondo was a nuisance, but he offset the second-year guard’s athleticism by using his inexperience against him.

“He’s young, but he’s really, really good and really talented. So, a lot of times I just [played] a mind game,” Billups said. “I love his game. I like Rondo. He’s good.” 

Celtics suffer first home loss, fall to Pistons

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 19, 10:54 p.m.

The Celtics have admitted the Pistons have been where the C’s want to be.

Tonight, the Pistons reinforced that message.

Boston held the lead through much of the first three quarters, but the Pistons attacked early in the fourth and showed their experience in an 87-85 win at the TD Banknorth Garden.

The Pistons took possession with 1.7 seconds remaining after Paul Pierce missed a fade-away jumper to take the lead. Tayshaun Prince inbounded the ball to Chauncey Billups above the free thrown line, and Billups was fouled with 0.1 seconds to play after Tony Allen fell for Billups’ pump fake. Billups hit both free throws to give the Pistons the wild victory.

“In shoot-around, I had to get on them today about paying attention,” Doc Rivers said. “One of the things we kept saying was, ‘Chauncey Billups pump fakes, Chauncey Billups pump fakes.’ And Chauncey Billups pump faked into a foul.”

“Chauncey is one of the best clutch players in this league along with Paul [Pierce] and some other guys I could name,” Kevin Garnett said. “At the end of the game when the clock is running down, anybody could have went for that, to be honest. You don’t just put it on one person. It’s just what it was.”

The loss snapped the C’s nine-game winning streak and marked their first loss at home in 13 games this season.

The Celtics (20-3) led by as many as nine points in the game and entered the fourth quarter with a 65-61 lead. They were 20-0 this season when entering the final quarter ahead or tied.

But Lindsey Hunter hit a 3-pointer that gave Detroit a 68-67 advantage – its first lead since being ahead 11-9 with 8:48 to play in the first quarter – and the Pistons (18-7) escaped from there.

“They’re obviously, to me, the class of the East over the last couple of years, but it’s Dec. 19. For them, clearly Detroit has had bigger games in their last four or five years than they’ll have on Dec. 19,” said Rivers, speaking to the Pistons’ experience.

The Pistons held an 85-79 lead late in the fourth, but Eddie House and Ray Allen hit back-to-back 3-pointers to tie the game.

Then, Garnett stole the ball from Billups with 5.1 seconds to play, setting up Pierce for the potential game-winner.

“There were a couple options,” Pierce said. “I came out wide open. I had a wide open look. It came up short, and that’s what happened. I think I kind of rushed the shot. I should have held for the last shot, but those are the breaks of the game.”

Garnett led the Celtics with 26 points and 12 rebounds. Allen had 24 points, five rebounds and went 3-of-5 from 3-point range in his first game back after missing the last two with a sore right ankle. Rajon Rondo added 14 points, and Pierce scored 11 on a 5-of-16 night from the field.

Billups scored a game-high 28 and hit 10-of-11 from the charity stripe. Richard Hamilton added 21 points.

The Celtics weren’t themselves on a number of levels. They scored a season-low 13 points in the third quarter, when they have typically used the third to create some separation this season.

The C’s were 13-of-21 from the free throw line, while the Pistons hit 20-of-23.

And Boston , which entered the game holding opponents to a league-low 30.5 percent from 3-point range, allowed the Pistons to knock down 9-of-20 (45 percent) from distance.

“We’ve got a lot of work to do, obviously,” Pierce said. “It’s a long season, and we’d rather take our bumps and bruises right now than late in the season. That’s what it’s all about, getting tested, going out, cleaning up things, saying we can do better. It’s something we’ve got to learn from.”

Celebs in the house

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 19, 8:47 p.m.

David Ortiz, Adalius Thomas, Lenny Clarke and Donnie Wahlberg (who has season tickets) are all in the house tonight.

Side note: Doc Rivers might get tossed tonight. He's already got one technical foul, and the refs have been more subpar than usual this evening. Rajon Rondo was just tackled by Chauncey Billups with no call, and Rivers was nearly at midcourt yelling his case.

Celtics lead at the break

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 19, 8:20 p.m.

The Celtics opened a 52-45 lead to close out the second quarter. The C's are 17-1 this season when ahead or tied at the half.

The C's jumped out to a 38-29 lead in the second, but the Pistons went on a 10-2 run to cut it to 40-39. The Celtics then ripped off a 10-1 run to extend the lead to 50-40. The only Pistons point during that stretch came when Doc Rivers was hit with a technical foul, and Chauncey Billups hit the free throw.

Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo each have 14 points. Billups has 10 points and seven assists.

Two first-quarter notes

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 19, 7:49 p.m.

Forgot to mention a couple things. The video boards had the words "A rivalry is reborn" before the Celtics' starting lineups were announced. Also, Glen Davis was the first sub off the bench -- entering for Kevin Garnett with 1:51 remaining in the first quarter -- and picked up two fouls in 12 seconds.

C's lead after one

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 19, 7:44 p.m.

The Celtics took a 29-25 lead after an up-tempo first quarter. The C's are 16-0 this season when ahead or tied after one.

Rajon Rondo was big early, scoring 10 straight Celtics points, and he put a sick ball fake on Rasheed Wallace before hitting a leaner to tie the score at 11. Ray Allen scored nine for the Celtics in the opening quarter, and had four straight points once Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce went to the bench. One concern for the Celtics is Richard Hamilton's ability to get open frequently. Hamilton hit a couple wide open 3-pointers in the first.

Not rulers in the house

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 19, 6:51 p.m.

The consensus in the Celtics' locker room is that this is by no means a measuring-stick game. Doc Rivers went so far as to say he hasn't played a meaningful game in December since he was in high school.

"It was a Christmas tournament, and we were playing for a championship game against Isiah [Thomas], and Isiah’s team won," Rivers said. "That was big. I still remember it to this day."

Ray Allen did admit the team is a little more jacked up for this game than others.

"Obviously, our senses are more heightened," Allen said. "With human nature, you come into a game like this against a team that’s been one of the best teams in the conference over the last decade, so we have to make sure we play a good four quarters of basketball. We talk about big games in this league from one week to the next, but I think all of us, collectively, believe this game is going to be the same as any other game we’ve played. This game is important, but I’ve said it before. You have your chance to play against the best teams in the NBA, but it’s against the teams that aren’t as good or mediocre that you have to beat consistently to be considered one of the best."

Allen says it's time to leave the rulers at home.

"I don’t buy into it," he said when asked about measuring-stick games. "I really don’t. We judge ourselves based on how we come out every night. You figure 82 games, you might see the best team whether it’s in the Eastern Conference or Western Conference. If they’re in the other conference, we see them twice, so it’s really important to see how we do against everybody as a whole and see how consistent we are. We definitely want to win the game, and we want to win by playing the way we are capable of playing. But at the end of the day, we want to win regardless of how it looks. Again, once today is over, we have to do it again on Friday."

Rivers said there's only one time when you can measure a team, and that's six months away.

"When you get to the playoffs, then you do (measure yourself against the league)," Rivers said. "When you leave and you’re the team that’s happy, you can measure that."

Mic'd up

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 19, 6:45 p.m.

As I noted earlier, ESPN was granted permission this season to put a camera in the team locker rooms during its national games, and it can mike up coaches and players. The coaches have to do it, but the players can decline. There was already a pretty good sized camera hanging from the ceiling in each locker room. Bill Belichick would be so proud.

Doc Rivers has made no secret of his discontent over the new policy.

"I don’t like it," Rivers said. "It’s what it is. I understand it, I do. I understand it, and if that helps the league, then I’m all for it. If you want me to be honest, the whole miking of me and all that I can live with. The locker room thing I’m not a big fan of. Let’s hope it works. If at the end of the day, it works, and a year from now, we find out it’s good, then I’m all for it."

Rivers was asked if he was worried about cursing on camera. He answered with a light-hearted response. 

"I’m not worried about the cursing," he said. "I’m worried about the talking in the locker room. You do like some privacy, so I’m not worried about the cursing. I curse with you guys all the time. You want me to do some now?"

Note: There is a media presence here tonight that rivals -- and probably surpasses -- the crowd that was here on opening night. Every national media outlet worth its salt is in the building right now.

Allen ready

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 19, 5:55 p.m.

Ray Allen is ready to play tonight after missing two straight games with soreness in his right ankle. He stayed home when the Celtics traveled to Toronto over the weekend and had a difficult time watching the game -- not as much because he wasn't playing, but because his satellite signal was fading in and out due to the snowstorms.

Allen said he was feeling better yesterday, and he felt much better today.

Note: The Celtics will wear their throwback green uniforms tonight with "BOSTON" on the chest. This is an old-school throwdown in every sense of the word.

Getcha popcorn ready.

Inside the numbers

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 19, 5:28 p.m.

The Celtics (20-2) take on the Pistons (17-7) tonight. Due to ESPN jumping on board for tonight's broadcast, there will be cameras in the locker rooms during halftime. Players and coaches may also be miked up, but they are allowed to decline.

The C's are 12-0 at home this season, and they'll set a team mark for most consecutive home wins to start a season with a win tonight (or so we think; see post below). The Celtics' 20-2 start is among the best in NBA history after 22 games. The 1969-70 Knicks and 1993-94 Rockets each started 21-1. Eight teams, including this year's Celtics and the 1963-64 Celtics, have started 20-2.

The C's are 7-0 in December, 5-0 on Wednesdays, 16-2 against the Eastern Conference and 4-1 against the Central Division. This is their first meeting with the Pistons.

Stat check

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 19, 5:15 p.m.

The Celtics released a note about the team's historic start at home. The pregame notes all season have said the 1984-85 C's hold the franchise mark for most consecutive wins at home to start the season, but there's now a glitch in those findings.

The 1957-58 Celtics won 17 consecutive games at home before losing their 18th home game to the Philadelphia Warriors, 110-101. However, the C's lost four games at neutral sites when they were considered the "home" team before falling to the Warriors.

There seems to be a lot of loose ends in this stat, but here's the best way I can simplify it. The 1957-58 Celtics won their first 17 games at the Boston Garden, but they were only given credit for eight consecutive "home" wins to start the season due to a neutral site loss in their ninth game. That team was given credit for an 8-0 home start. But, there's an asterisk to some extent because they won 17 straight in their home building.

Come to think of it, I didn't do a good job of simplifying that at all.

The Celtics are 12-0 at home this season. If they beat the Pistons tonight, they would be 13-0 at home, which would set a record for the franchise's best home mark to start the season.

However, they would need to win their next six games at the Garden, including tonight, to break the team's all-time mark for home wins in their building to start the season.

You'll be tested tomorrow.

Celtics wave Wallace

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 18, 5:42 p.m.

The Celtics just announced they have requested waivers on Brandon Wallace.

Wallace signed with Boston as an undrafted free agent on July 10. The 6-foot-9 forward out of the University of South Carolina did not appear in any regular-season games for the Celtics. He averaged 1.2 points in 4.7 minutes per game during the preseason and was assigned to the Utah Flash of the NBA Development League on Nov. 13. He averaged 12.5 points and 9.2 rebounds in six games for the Flash.

The move was somewhat expected since the Celtics needed to make a decision on whether or not to sign Wallace for the remainder of the season this week.

Their roster now stands at 13.

Check your ego

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 18, 4:45 p.m.

Doc Rivers looked down the bench toward Kevin Garnett in the fourth quarter of the Celtics’ 45-point win over the Knicks last month to get his superstar’s attention.

Garnett had eight points, and his streak of 411 consecutive games in double figures — the seventh longest streak in NBA history — was facing its waning moments. So, Rivers asked Garnett if he wanted to go back into the game.

“Kevin looked at me like I was an alien,” Rivers said.

Therein lies the epitome of the new-look Celtics. No stats plus no ego equals one team, and everyone from Garnett to Eddie House has bought in.

That philosophy wouldn’t carry weight, however, if it didn’t start at the top. Paul Pierce, Ray Allen and Garnett have all seen a decline in points per game from last season. Allen’s clip has dropped the most significantly, from 26.4 to 19.2 this year.

The minutes per game have taken a fall for Garnett and Allen, as well.

“You’ve got a whole group of guys that are focused on one goal,” said Kendrick Perkins, whose points and minutes have actually increased this season. “It makes it that much easier. You [don’t] have guys focused on different agendas, getting contracts here. We’ve got a lot of veteran guys who’ve got contracts, got their money, made their All-Star games. So, guys really focused on one goal, and you can really see that on the court.

“That’s the thing I love about our team. We don’t play for stats. We just play to win. At the end of the day, man, we’re all going to get a piece of the pie.”

Without their focus on individual accomplishments, the Celtics have jumped out to a 20-2 start, easily the best record in the NBA. Last season, Garnett’s Timberwolves won 32 games and didn’t earn their 20th win until Jan. 15. Allen’s Sonics won 31 games, and didn’t pick up win No. 20 until Feb. 14. And Pierce’s Celtics won 24 times, with their 20th victory coming on March 17. Each missed the playoffs.

But the C’s win total doesn’t even concern them. Starting 20-2 proves nothing more than they can start 20-2, Rivers will often say. Their ultimate goal involves hanging a 17th championship banner, the only green and white cloth the team permits to grace the Garden rafters.

“Everybody says it’s a marathon, not a sprint, just take it one game at a time,” Rajon Rondo said. “I really lose track of our record.”

“I don’t even know our [record],” Garnett said after the C’s beat the Bucks to improve to 19-2 last Friday. Garnett paused, then looked at the score sheet. “OK, we’re 19-2. I do know now. We’re not aware of any of that stuff until you bring it up.”

Allen at practice

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 18, 4:39 p.m.

Ray Allen participated in portions of practice today, and he is expected to play tomorrow night against the Pistons. Allen missed the Celtics' two wins last weekend — Friday against the Bucks, and Sunday against the Raptors. Allen sprained his right ankle against the Bobcats on Nov. 24, and he experienced some soreness and swelling recently, causing him to miss a few practices. Doc Rivers said he was just being cautious with Allen.

Again, the game time was changed to 7 p.m. tomorrow. 

And the beat goes on

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 17, 6:35 p.m.

Big Two? Big deal.

The Celtics found out what life was like without one of their stars over the weekend, and the answer wasn’t as frightening as they might have thought.

The C’s never flinched with Ray Allen out of the lineup for the last two games due to swelling in his sprained right ankle, toppling the Bucks and Raptors by an average of 17.5 points.

While Paul Pierce carried the offense with 25 points per game in Allen’s absence, it was Tony Allen who entered the starting lineup and made sure the Celtics didn’t skip a beat.

Allen averaged 10.5 points, four rebounds and three steals while filling in for his namesake. He held Michael Redd, one of the league’s most dangerous scorers, to seven points on 3-of-9 shooting on Friday. Allen also forced Redd to commit three turnovers.

“Tony was awesome, just terrific. Defensively, he was as good as you want,” Head Coach Doc Rivers said. “If you had a game ball, you would probably give it to Tony Allen [on Friday]. He set the tone for us.”

Allen was Boston’s second super sub of the week. When Kendrick Perkins missed last Wednesday’s game against the Kings, rookie Glen Davis — making his first career start — had 16 points and nine rebounds in the C’s victory.

Along with the consistent efforts out of James Posey and Eddie House, the Celtics have proven the ability to play a rotation of nine strong.

“Our bench is underrated in my opinion,” Perkins said. “We’ve got great guys coming off the bench that could be starters anywhere else, but the key is guys accept their roles. Doc has put them in the right position so they can be effective. We just roll from there.”

Pierce, who was just named Eastern Conference Player of the Week for his efforts while the Celtics were undermanned, knows the last three games will help the team in the long run.

“You’ve got to expect injuries,” said Pierce, who missed 25 games due to injury last season. “It happens every year. There’s not going to be a team that stays healthy for 82 games. It’s hardly ever seen, so guys have to be ready. When Perkins was out, Davis came in and stepped up. [Then], it was Tony Allen. This is what we need from these guys is confidence, and we know we’ve got them in our back pocket when the other guys come back. But they’re going to be ready, and that’s huge for this ball club.”

Pierce honored

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 17, 6:24 p.m.

Paul Pierce was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week today. Pierce averaged 25.3 points and five rebounds per game last week, when the Celtics went 3-0 and extended their winning streak to nine games. Against Milwaukee on Friday, Pierce scored 32 points — one shy of Ray Allen's team-high this season — while Allen sat out with swelling in his sprained right ankle. 

Cookin' at home

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 14, 11:13 p.m.

The Celtics are 12-0 for the second time in team history. They'll attempt to set a new franchise record when they host the Pistons Wednesday.

Guys in the C's locker room have often mentioned they want to put the rest of the league on notice, saying they want opponents to fear coming into the Garden. Bucks guard Michael Redd attested to that tonight.

"We’ve got to play near perfect basketball to beat them at their home," Redd said after the game." I thought we played solid most of the game, and then there is a stretch towards the end of the third where they blew it open. You’ve got to play well against them to beat them at home."

Historic start

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 14, 11:10 p.m.

The Celtics are 19-2 for the fourth time in team history. They also went 19-2 in 1957-58, 1963-64, and 1984-85. The 1984-85 team was the only one of the group to start 20-2, which is the team's best ever record after 22 games.

Doc's original plan

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 14, 11:08 p.m.

Doc Rivers said in the postgame press conference he originally intended to sit Ray Allen when the Celtics played the Kings on Wednesday, but Allen talked Rivers out of it.

"The last game, we had three days off, and my game plan was to rest him for that game and this game, and give him a whole week," Rivers said. "He talked me out of it. I shouldn’t have let him do that, honestly, but he did. I just wanted to get him rest."

My gut feeling says Allen stays in Boston this weekend and misses Sunday's game at Toronto.

C's go buck hunting

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 14, 11:04 p.m.

The Celtics started tonight’s game without a member of the Big Three for the first time since the new coalition came to form. But they ended it the same way they have all season, with the stars on the bench through most of the fourth quarter in another blowout win at the TD Banknorth Garden.

The C’s turned an early third-quarter deficit into a laugher, bombarding the Bucks 104-82 in front of another sold-out crowd. The Celtics (19-2) improved to 12-0 at home for the second time in franchise history, tying the team mark from 1984-85, and will look to set a new standard Wednesday against the Pistons.

With Ray Allen confined to the bench while nursing what the team called a “sore right ankle,” Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett went to work. And they got a little help from Rajon Rondo, as well.

Pierce scored a game-high 32 points – one shy of Allen’s 2007-08 team-high 33 at Toronto on Nov. 4 – including 12 in the decisive third quarter. Garnett added 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists. And Rondo had one of his best games of the season with 17 points, eight assists and four rebounds.

Tony Allen had 11 points and four steals while starting for his ailing namesake. More importantly, he held Bucks star Michael Redd to seven points on three-of-nine from the field. Redd entered the night averaging 24.1 points per game this season.

“[Allen] was huge for us tonight,” Garnett said. “He was coming to the bench asking about his offense, but we were praising him for his defense. He did a great job.”

“Tony was awesome, just terrific,” Doc Rivers said. “Defensively, he was as good as you want. He’s physical, aggressive. And Michael Redd is an All-Star. That’s a tough matchup. I was happy that he did it, and didn’t get in foul trouble, as well. If you had a game ball, you would probably give it to Tony Allen tonight. He set the tone for us.”

The C’s entered the second half with a slim 46-44 lead and fell behind, 49-48, after Mo Williams hit a 3-pointer with 10:23 to play in the third. That’s where the Bucks (9-13) stopped, however. The Celtics ripped off a 12-0 run and closed the third quarter on a 30-10 stretch, taking a 78-59 advantage into the fourth. They improved to 19-0 this season when ahead or tied after three quarters.

Garnett stayed on the bench for the entire fourth quarter, while Pierce left the game with the Celtics ahead 86-67 with 7:20 remaining in the contest.

“We let them stick around for a little while,” Pierce said. “We didn’t play our best half. So right here in the third quarter, let’s turn it up a notch. I think we all know we can turn it up an extra gear in that second half, regardless of how we played in the first half.”

Celtics are running away with this

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 14, 9:27 p.m.

The Celtics blitzed the Bucks in the third quarter, outscoring them 32-15 to take a 78-59 lead into the fourth quarter. The C's are 18-0 this season when ahead or tied after three quarters.

Paul Pierce went nuts from downtown in the third, hitting three 3-pointers while scoring 12 points in the quarter to give him 26 for the game. Rajon Rondo is having himself a game, too, with 17 points, seven assists and four rebounds through three. Kevin Garnett has 15 points, seven rebounds and four assists.

Celtics lead at the break

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 14, 8:45 p.m.

The C's closed out strong in the first half to take a 46-44 lead into the break. The Celtics are 15-1 this season when ahead or tied at the half.

Tony Allen had a Jekyll and Hyde moment in the closing minutes. With Boston down 42-37, Allen drilled a 3-pointer from the left arc to cut the margin to 42-40. He then jacked up an ill-advised 3-ball on the next possession, which drew the ire of Doc Rivers after the air ball. The Bucks worked the ball down to Michael Redd on the right baseline on their ensuing possession, and Allen stripped the ball and started a 3-on-1. He passed the ball right to Rondo, who delivered it back left to Allen, who dropped it back to Kevin Garnett, who dunked the ball to tie the game at 42.

The C's scored the next four points to complete a 9-0 run before a Mo Williams lay-in closed the first-half scoring.

Earlier in the quarter, the Celtics' video boards presented a segment called "Movie Moments with Scott Pollard," which was funny minus the part that they spelled his first name wrong. Just one "T" in Scot. Anyway, Pollard acted out a great Chris Farley scene from "Tommy Boy" when Farley's character ran through the school to let everyone know he just graduated.

C's lead after one

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 14, 8:07 p.m.

The Celtics are in a tight one here, but they took a 25-21 lead after the first quarter. The C's are 14-0 this season when ahead or tied after one. Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce have stepped it up in the absence of Ray Allen. Garnett has 10 points, and Pierce has seven.

More on Allen

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 14, 7:10 p.m.

The team is officially calling Ray Allen's injury a "sore right ankle." Allen sprained the ankle in Charlotte on Nov. 24, when he hit a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to lift Boston to a 96-95 victory. The injury has lingered since.

Doc Rivers mentioned Allen never said a word to him about his ankle, but team trainer Ed Lacerte alerted Rivers that Allen's ankle continued to swell. Rivers will ask Lacerte his opinion on whether or not Allen should travel with the team to Toronto tomorrow. The Celtics play the Raptors Sunday at 1 p.m.

"I don’t want to take a chance," Rivers said on Allen's status for tonight's game. "He wants to play, but we’ve got a lot of games left. My recommendation was to sit him today and then maybe Sunday. We’ve got two days off [after Sunday], and we’ll go from there. When you keep playing, then it does get bad, and I don’t want to take that chance."

On what it will take for Rivers to play Allen Sunday: "Honestly, for me," Rivers said, "he’s going to have to feel great."

Snowed in

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 14, 7:04 p.m.

Doc Rivers said he stayed at the team's practice facility until 10 p.m. yesterday due to the snowstorm that blasted the area. He spent his time working out, watching more tape, some of the Mitchell Report coverage and the Heat-Wizards game.

"I left at 10 because I’m smart," Rivers said. "I realized there were a lot of cars out there on the road."

Rivers said the worst came when he talked to his wife, who was home in sunny Orlando in beach weather.

"Her only concern was getting the ice cream in from the car because she was worried about it melting," Rivers quipped.

Glen Davis, who was experiencing his first snowstorm, said he got home in about a half hour.

"I don't even want to know how fast he was going," Rivers said.

Allen out, Allen in

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 14, 6:51 p.m.

Ray Allen will miss his first game of the season tonight with a sprained right ankle. I noticed his right ankle was taped when I was talking to him after Wednesday night's win over the Kings. Allen originally hurt his ankle a few weeks ago and had missed a few practices since, including yesterday's. His status for Sunday's game is still uncertain, but Doc Rivers will make that determination before the team flies to Toronto tomorrow.

Tony Allen will start in Ray Allen's place.

Kendrick Perkins will start tonight after missing Wednesday's game with an injured right big toe. Scot Pollard's back has improved, but he will not dress tonight, either. 

Pregame stocking stuffers

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 14, 6:21 p.m.

Getting ready for tonight's game between the Celtics (18-2) and Bucks (9-12) at the TD Banknorth Garden. The Celtics are 11-0 at home. With a win over Milwaukee, the C's will tie the all-time team mark for the most consecutive wins to start a season (12-0 in 1984-85). The Celtics are 5-0 in December, 6-0 on Fridays (5-0 at home), 13-2 against the East and 3-1 against the Central.

I just spent some time watching Yi Jianlian work on some shooting drills with Bucks assistant coach Tony Brown, who held the same role in Boston for the last three seasons. Danny Ainge was reportedly interested in Yi heading into last summer's NBA Draft, but the Celtics selected Jeff Green and then traded his rights along with Delonte West and Wally Szczerbiak to Seattle for Ray Allen and the rights to Glen Davis. The Bucks then took Yi with the sixth pick.

Yi went around the world from left to right taking jump shots just inside the 3-point line and hit about 60 percent of them. After that, he worked on low post moves with Brown, and the knock on Yi appeared true during that session -- he still needs to work on that part of his game. But, Yi is averaging 9.8 points and 5.5 rebounds per game this season and figures to create matchup problems for some teams with his 7-foot, 238-pound frame.

The votes are in

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 13, 6:16 p.m.

The Celtics' Big Three might get their chance to take on the best the West has to offer at the NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans on Feb. 17.

The NBA released its first returns on the All-Star ballots today, and Kevin Garnett leads the land with 735,664 votes. Paul Pierce is fourth among Eastern Conference forwards with 164,346 votes. Ray Allen is fourth among Eastern guards with 270,114 votes. No other Celtics are listed on the ballot.

After Garnett at the Eastern forward position are Cleveland's LeBron James (597,768), Toronto's Chris Bosh (185,294), Pierce, Milwaukee's Yi Jianlian (98,507), Orlando's Hedo Turkoglu (73,781), Orlando's Rashard Lewis (70,737), Detroit's Tayshaun Price (63,787), Washington's Caron Butler (55,796) and Toronto's Andrea Bargnani (52,734).

Miami's Dwyane Wade leads Eastern guards with 470,921 votes. Following are New Jersey's Jason Kidd (343,468), New Jersey's Vince Carter (277,705), Allen, Washington's Gilbert Arenas (256,994), Detroit's Chauncey Billups (125,202), Milwaukee's Michael Redd (101,942), Philly's Andre Iguodala (70,476), Detroit's (66,617) Richard Hamilton and Toronto's T.J. Ford (58,894).

Eastern Conference centers in order of votes are Dwight Howard, Shaquille O'Neal, Rasheed Wallace, Ben Wallace, Jermaine O'Neal, Andrew Bogut, Zydrunas Ilgauskas, Emeka Okafor, Eddy Curry and Zaza Pachulia.

Kobe Bryant leads the West with 569,302 votes. For the rest of the West, check out NBA.com.

Voting will continue through Jan. 13, for paper balloting and Jan. 20, for online balloting.

The Bucks stop here

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 13, 5:28 p.m.

Ray Allen has said he considers his professional career to be somewhat of a graduation process.

It began in Milwaukee , where he was able to develop as a player without the heavy scrutiny of fans and media, who were often more interested in bratwurst and breweries than basketball. Allen then moved to Seattle after a midseason trade in 2002-03, and he developed more as a person due to a more intense atmosphere.

Now, in his first season with the Celtics, the 11-year veteran has seen all paths converge.

“I went to Milwaukee , and it was almost like I slowed down a lot because it wasn’t such a great fanfare following the Bucks at the time,” said Allen, who played in front of a packed house at UConn for three years. “So, it was easier for me to go there, prepare and move into Seattle , going up a notch higher. And then coming here, it seemed like every road I’ve taken has made it easier to be here and appreciate the fans here and accept them.”

Most of Allen’s success came with the Bucks, who the Celtics play tomorrow at the TD Banknorth Garden. He was a three-time All-Star in Milwaukee and took the team to the playoffs three straight times from 1999-2001.

Allen was instrumental in the Bucks’ charge to the Eastern Conference Finals in 2001, scoring a team-high 25.1 points per game in the postseason and dropping a then-playoff high 41 points on the Sixers to force a Game 7, where the Bucks ultimately fell.

“I had some great times there,” Allen said, “had some good teammates, won some good games.”

But Allen learned he was a mere business chip two years later, when he was dealt to Seattle as part of a deadline deal that landed Gary Payton in Milwaukee, which was searching for a point guard that could take the team to a higher level.

Though Allen has been traded three times, he said that was the toughest instance to deal with.

“During the season, the train is moving,” Allen said. “You have to move to a city within two days of that trade, get situated. Your family is behind, and your head spins a little more than it would in the summer time. There’s no peace of mind.

“Just keep moving. It’s a business.”

Moving along:

• The Timberwolves selected Ray Allen with the fifth pick in the 1996 draft, and traded his rights along with a future first-round pick to the Bucks for the rights to Stephon Marbury.
• Allen, two players and a draft pick were sent to the Sonics in Feb. 2003 in exchange for Gary Payton and Desmond Mason.
• Last June, the Celtics acquired Allen and Glen Davis from the Sonics for Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak and the rights to draft pick Jeff Green.

Davis makes his mark

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 12, 11:30 p.m.

Glen Davis’s ability to listen to advice and put it to use has been the biggest reason he has seen expanded playing time over the last two weeks.

He wasn’t so great at that tonight.

“Baby was good after hyperventilating through the first half,” Doc Rivers said. “He was terrific. I thought he was going to die after the first six minutes of the game. I mean, it’s funny.

“Someone asked before the game my advice. I told him to breathe, and he didn’t. He didn’t listen, but that’s fine. He’s young, and he was excited to start and it’s nice. It was kind of refreshing to see a guy that excited that he almost passes out running. But it is, it’s really nice. So, after he gathered himself, he was terrific. The second half, he was terrific.”

Davis made his first career start tonight in place of the injured Kendrick Perkins, and the rookie scored a career-high 16 points to go along with nine rebounds, including five on the offensive end. His energy was again vital to the Celtics, who had a tough time surviving through the first half.

Although, so did “Big Baby.”

“You’re thinking all kinds of things, oh my God,” Davis said. “You don’t want to mess up. Just breathe in and breathe out. This is a beautiful thing here. I know the plays. You’ve just got to go out there and be humble but play hard. That’s what I wanted to do.

“I came out in the first, and I was like, ‘Wow.’ I was hyperventilating. I know I’m in shape, so I just told myself to settle down, settle down and play the game – the game you know how to play, the game you love to play. And that’s what I did, just try to think without thinking.”

His quirky answer typifies an infectious personality that has gripped the Celtics’ locker room since the team first came together in the summer. Since then, Davis has grown from jokester, to dependable role player, to a reliable starter.

Davis credits Kevin Garnett, who has taken his protégé power forward under his wing. Davis could have glided through the game without making an impact under the circumstances. As long as he didn’t jumble up this well-oiled machine, everything would have been all right.

Instead, he took over in the third quarter with 10 points and six rebounds, and he was vital to the Celtics’ success in tonight’s hard-fought 90-78 victory over the Kings.

“Baby was huge tonight,” Garnett said. “He kept a lot of balls alive. He made useful mistakes, but they were very aggressive mistakes. I thought he played really well. He communicated. He was loud. He was vocal. He’s coming into his own a little bit. It’s because he’s busting his [butt], and playing really hard, and playing really well in practice. I’ve always told him that if you’re going to be good, you have to have a practice and a work ethic. That’s where a lot of things start. I think he’s building that foundation now, so it’s good to see him playing well.”

C's take the throne

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 12, 10:45 p.m.

Glen Davis learned tonight what Kendrick Perkins has been finding out all season.

There are some serious perks to playing with Boston ’s Big Three.

With Perkins out of the lineup nursing an injured right big toe, Davis made his first career start, and he helped charge the Celtics past the Kings, 90-78, at another sold-out TD Banknorth Garden.

Davis had a career-high 16 points along with nine rebounds, including five on the offensive end.

“We have guys that are ready to step up, and that’s what makes us a good team, said Ray Allen, who scored 15 points. “That’s where putting together a good team is important. You can’t just put together two good players or four good players. You’ve got to have a solid eight to nine.”

Paul Pierce had a game-high 26 points, plus six rebounds and four assists. Kevin Garnett had 11 points and six rebounds, as the Celtics (18-2) improved to 11-0 at home for the fifth time in team history, and first time in 23 years. They’ll attempt to match the franchise’s best mark tomorrow night against the Bucks.

Kings coach Reggie Theus said before the game he thought he could attack the Celtics’ defense, which was ranked first in the NBA in points allowed and field goal percentage.

“I don’t consider them defensive stoppers,” Theus said. “But they must be doing something right.”

But the C’s held Sacramento (8-13) scoreless in the first five minutes of the fourth quarter to build a 73-64 lead, and Boston opened it up to a 79-66 margin with 5:09 to play. The Kings were also held to a season-low point total.

“We don’t have to be defensive stoppers,” Allen rebutted. “All we have to do is be a good defensive unit. Numbers and statistics don’t lie, so whatever we’ve been doing to keep teams uncomfortable, that’s the key. It’s crazy because if you have one defensive stopper on your team then the whole team is a defensive stopper. We do what we need to do to keep teams uncomfortable out there, and that’s important.”

Celtics regain control

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 12, 9:22 p.m.

The Celtics took the lead at the end of three, 68-64. The C's are 17-0 this season when ahead or tied after three quarters. It looked like the Celtics were going to run away with this thing when they went on an 11-0 run to build a 55-47 advantage, but the Kings just won't go away. This should be a good fourth quarter.

Glen Davis looks really strong in his first career start. He's got 16 points and nine rebounds through three.

C's fall behind

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 12, 8:42 p.m.

The Kings stormed back from an 12-point deficit early in the second quarter to take a 45-44 lead at the half. The C's had leads of 31-19 and 35-26 before the Kings went on a 9-0 run to tie the game at 35.

The Celtics are 2-1 this season when behind at the half.

Paul Pierce leads all scorers with 14 points to go along with three rebounds, three assists and a steal. Kevin Garnett has six points and two boards. Ray Allen has seven points and three assists. Glen Davis, making his first career start, has six points and three rebounds. Ron Artest leads the Kings with 10 points.

C's lead after one

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 12, 8:05 p.m.

The Celtics lead the Kings 25-17 after the first quarter. The Celtics are 13-0 this season when ahead or tied after the first quarter.

I forgot to mention earlier that Scot Pollard did not dress, either. Pollard injured his back while getting out of his car and did not practice yesterday. He said he seemed set to go tonight until he bent over to tie his shoes, and his back tightened up again. His status for Friday's game against the Bucks is uncertain. 

Theus on the Three

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 12, 7:55 p.m.

Kings coach Reggie Theus conducted his pregame interview earlier and addressed the Celtics' Big Three.

"I think so many people come in and worry about the Big Three, and they forget what to do with themselves," Theus said. "I hope we can worry about what we’re doing.

"I don’t consider them defensive stoppers, but they must be doing something right."

The Celtics entered tonight's game ranked No. 1 in the NBA in the following defensive categories: field goal percentage (41.2), points allowed (87.7) and 3-point percentage (30.7).

So, I took the liberty of asking Ray Allen what he thought of Theus's thoughts.

"We don’t have to be defensive stoppers," Allen said. "All we have to do is be a good defensive unit. Numbers and statistics don’t lie, so whatever we’ve been doing to keep teams uncomfortable, that’s the key. It’s crazy because if you have one defensive stopper on your team, then the whole team is a defensive stopper. We do what we need to do to keep teams uncomfortable out there, and that’s important."

Inside the numbers

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 12, 7:48 p.m.

Some numbers for tonight's game between the Celtics (17-2) and Kings (8-12).

The Celtics are 10-0 at home, 4-0 in December, 4-0 on Wednesdays (3-0 at home), 3-0 against the Western Conference (the NBA's only unbeaten team against the West) and 2-0 against the Pacific Division.

This is the first time all season the Celtics have courted a different starting lineup. Kendrick Perkins is out with a right big toe injury, and Glen Davis has started in his place. Entering tonight, only the Sixers and Bucks had used the same starting lineup all season. Each team entered tonight with eight wins.

The good Doc

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 12, 7:41 p.m.

Doc Rivers figured he had heard it all before.

That was, of course, until Kendrick Perkins dropped a bed on his right big toe Monday night. Perkins missed yesterday's team practice and was unable to put any weight on his right foot today, so he did not dress for tonight's game against the Kings at the TD Banknorth Garden. Glen Davis started in his place.

He won’t do much today to rest his toe, and his status for Friday's game against the Bucks is still uncertain.

Perkins, according to Rivers, was too embarrassed to admit to his coach yesterday what had transpired, so he made Eddie House the middle man.

“Eddie came explain it to me,” Rivers said before last night’s game. “I didn’t have a lot to say about it. There were too many punch lines, so I left them all alone on this one. He’s embarrassed by it. Stuff happens.”

Rivers has seen worse. During his previous head coaching tenure with the Magic, Corey Maggette missed two games after his foot became infected following a pedicure.

“That was an interesting one,” Rivers said. “He literally couldn’t play.

“What do you say to that? What the hell? You just shake your head. You can’t scream at them, so you just laugh. Those are injuries that happen, I guess.”

In Doc’s typical fashion, he proceeded to draw the laughter onto himself, telling his most bizarre personal story.

“I had a suspicious birth mark one time on my forehead, and my players were calling me Gorbachev for about four days,” Rivers said with a good laugh. “My oldest son – and my only at the time – was playing basketball, and you know those suction cup hoops? I put it on my forehead, and I took it off.

“I began to go to the game, and my wife laughed. She said you won’t believe the mark on your head. I said what do you mean, and I looked in the mirror and there was a big circle on my head. It wouldn’t go away. It stayed for like three days.”

Barros named Director of Player Development

Posted by Jeff Howe. Dec. 12, 7:06 p.m.

The Celtics announced today they have named former Celtic Dana Barros as the team's Director of Player Development.

"We're very excited to have Dana returning to the Celtics as Director of Player Development," Danny Ainge said in a statement. "He exemplified professionalism throughout his 13-year NBA career, and we know he will be a tremendous resource to our players both on and off the court."

Barros originally joined the Celtics prior to the 1995-96 season and stayed through 2000. He later joined the Celtics for the remainder of the 2003-04 season, and appeared in one game in which he scored six points in 11 minutes. 

Perkins out

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 12, 6:53 p.m.

Glen Davis will start in place of Kendrick Perkins tonight. Perkins had something of an incident while fixing his bed Monday night, and he's out with a toe injury. His status is uncertain for Friday's game against the Bucks. More coming soon. 

George Yorks dies

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 12, 5:51 p.m.

George Yorks, a veteran scorekeeper for the Boston Celtics, passed away this afternoon in Framingham at the age of 74. Yorks was a member of the Celtics' scoring crew for the past 20 seasons, was responsible for the scoreboard and originally started his scoring crew duties in the original Boston Garden. He served his final game last Friday, when the Celtics beat the Raptors. 

Ford tough

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 12, 4:20 p.m.

According to reports, Raptors point guard T.J. Ford is out of an Atlanta hospital and on a plane back to Toronto. Ford was fouled hard by Al Horford last night and landed awkwardly on his neck and back, eventually being taken away on a stretcher.

So, why is this news important to you? Ford has averaged 22 points and four assists in a pair of losses to the Celtics this season. After last Friday's game at the Garden, Ford seemed especially interested to see the C's again. The teams meet in Toronto Sunday at 1 p.m., and Ford's status is still uncertain.

"I think they're good," Ford said of the Celtics after last week's game. "They still have to come see us two more times, so we got them again next Sunday. They are going to come on our home court again, and we just need to come out with that intensity and you just take that challenge."

Pistons game changes time

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 12, 3:11 p.m.

The NBA announced a time change for the Dec. 19 game between the  Pistons and Celtics. The game at the TD Banknorth Garden was originally scheduled to be played at 7:30 p.m. is now scheduled for a tip-off at 7 p.m. The game will now be broadcasted by ESPN along with Comcast Sportsnet and WEEI.

'Big Baby' growing up

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 11, 7:20 p.m.

Kevin Garnett doesn’t shy away from calling Glen Davis “the personality of the Boston Celtics.”

Even if the rookie’s playing time was limited at the season’s outset, Davis was quick to make his presence known in the Celtics’ locker room. The 6-foot-9, 289-pounder sticks out for a number of reasons — his giant frame, baby face, quirky personality and, more recently, his energy off the bench.

But, get someone on the C’s to talk about him, and laughter immediately ensues.

“He’s a different bird in a good way,” Doc Rivers chuckled. “It’s actually pretty good to have in our locker room. It really is because you don’t know what’s going to come out of that mouth. It’s usually funny.”

“He’s fun to be around. He’s a funny guy, that’s all I can say,” said Paul Pierce, who was too consumed with laughter to continue.

Even with that, Davis isn’t just a goofy guy in a clown suit. He’s quickly earned his team’s praises, and that has translated into more playing time in recent weeks, a couple instances coming off the bench in Rivers’ first substitution package.

Under Garnett’s wing, Davis has displayed a tremendous energy at practice and is really immersing himself into the Celtics’ game plans.

“It builds confidence, and the most important thing is it builds trust in my teammates and my coaches,” said Davis, who is averaging 6.8 points, 6.0 rebounds and 18.5 minutes per clip over the C’s five-game winning streak.

“If somebody trusts you, that means they believe in what you can do, that you can help the team. Then, you want to run through the wall. You want to do whatever it takes to let them know that I’m out there to help the team and to let them know I have their backs. That’s one of the main focal points for me is to help my team any way I can — loose balls, anything I can do.”

The few times Davis earned any notice in November were in the fourth quarter, when his mug showed up on the Celtics’ video boards while trying to rally the home crowd. The fans weren’t the only ones who noticed, as Garnett and Pierce were often seen hunched over laughing when the hilarious video played.

“They expect that from me,” Davis said. “That’s the type of guy I am. I like to have fun and stuff like that.”

It wasn’t until the Celtics’ overtime loss at Cleveland on Nov. 27, though, that Davis turned heads on the court for the right reasons. He played just six minutes, but scored eight points and pulled down a pair of rebounds, sparking the C’s in the second half.

Two nights later, Davis had 13 points and six rebounds in 31 minutes when Boston blew out the Knicks. 

“Glen came in for about three minutes in Cleveland and really was an active body and helped out the second unit,” Pierce said. “I was like, ‘Man, it would be nice to see him get some extra minutes then.’ I was saying that to [Rajon] Rondo before the [Knicks] game, and you look up and he’s out there early in the game. He’s been big.”

Davis appeared to be little more than a throw-in when the Celtics acquired his draft rights along with Ray Allen from the Sonics in a June trade. The C’s sent Delonte West, Wally Szczerbiak and the rights to draft pick Jeff Green to Seattle.

Rivers hasn’t always been keen on playing rookies right away — Gabe Pruitt and Brandon Wallace have spent most of the season in the D-League — but Davis has made his case.

In the last two weeks, he has been nearly as valuable off the bench as James Posey and Eddie House. It’s an opportunity Davis has relished — not just the expanded role, but the superstar cast he’s been asked to support.

“It’s a blessing,” Davis said of playing with Garnett, Pierce and Allen. “They’re talented guys. The way they play, knowing that they’re going to be Hall of Famers one day, and I was there on the same team as them, playing against them.

“It’s something to look back on and tell your kids about.”
 

Big pain

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 11, 6:59 p.m.

Celtics coach Doc Rivers told reporters at practice today "there is a very good chance" the team will go without Kendrick Perkins and Scot Pollard in tomorrow night's game against the Kings at the TD Banknorth Garden. Pollard missed practice with lower back pain, as did Perkins, who injured his right big toe during somewhat of a freak accident last night.

"Man, that's a weird story," Perkins told reporters today. "I was asleep. I guess whoever put my bed together didn't put it together right when I moved, so one side of my bed fell. My bed was tilted, so I got out of my bed to go push down on the other side.

"And when I was about getting ready to push down on the other side, the headboard started coming in. So I tried to push the headboard back so it wouldn't fall over. My foot was under the bed and the other side of the bed fell on my foot."

X-rays were negative on Perkins, who has averaged 7.3 points and 4.8 rebounds per game this season.

The Celtics have used the same starting lineup in all 19 games this season after going with 26 different combinations last year.

Rivers could start Glen Davis, Brian Scalabrine or James Posey in Perkins' place, and Kevin Garnett could see more time at center while the C's try to match up with Brad Miller and Mikki Moore.

No satisfaction

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 10, 2:12 p.m.

The Rolling Stones keyed it. Britney Spears nearly killed it. And now the Celtics have perfected it.

The C’s (17-2) have the best record in the NBA, are 10-0 at home and might as well hang their Atlantic Division Championship banner right now, but they still can’t get no satisfaction.

Boston took down a pair of worthy competitors over the weekend — last year’s Atlantic champion Raptors and the resurgent Bulls — and is being widely touted by scouts and coaches as the best team in the league.

But, the Celtics just don’t care.

“I don’t even know our record, to tell you the truth,” Kevin Garnett said.

“[17-2] doesn’t get us anything,” Ray Allen said. “We know it’s a process. It’s a work in progress, and everything we do we’re building for the future.”

Such words are music to Doc Rivers’ ears. The Celtics’ head coach admitted he’d be nervous if his team got fat and happy with its current state.

“Yes, I would be,” Rivers said. “I wouldn’t like it. You want them to play relaxed, you know what I mean, but you want them to understand that there’s a lot of room to improve.”

The Celtics showed that last week. They escaped a horrendous defensive effort with a 113-103 win against the Sixers on Wednesday, just the fourth time this season the C’s have allowed 100 points. Philly also shot 55.7 percent from the field, the highest by a Celtics opponent this year.

But on Friday, Boston held Toronto — the league’s best 3-point shooting team which had scored 123 points in its previous game — to 42.5 percent from the floor and 35.3 percent from long range.

The Celtics, who employed a rigid zone defense against the Raptors, admitted they made a conscious effort to pick it up after a lackluster effort in Philadelphia.

Then, per usual, they moved on to look at the bigger picture.

“We take it one game at a time,” Paul Pierce said. “We are building something here. At the end of the day, when the season is over, we can look back and reflect on it. But, right now, it’s one day at a time.”

Celtics cage the Raptors

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 7, 10:40 p.m.

It’s not supposed to be this easy.

The Celtics ripped apart the Raptors at a sold-out TD Banknorth Garden tonight by a 112-84 margin, and improved to 10-0 at home for the sixth time in franchise history. It’s the first time they’ve started this well at the Garden since 1984-85, when the team won a franchise-record 12 straight to start the season.

And once again, it wasn’t even close.

The C’s, who entered the night beating teams by an average of 20.4 points at home, won their seventh game on Causeway Street by at least 20 points. It’s their ninth win in Boston by double figures. The only contest that didn’t follow that theme was a 92-91 win against the Heat on Nov. 17, when the C’s blew a 15-point fourth-quarter lead.

With the win, the Celtics (16-2) improved their Atlantic Division lead over the second-place Raptors (10-10) to seven games. The C’s didn’t win their 16th game last season until March 3, when they improved to 16-42.

What’s more, none of the Big Three even stepped foot on the parquet during the fourth quarter, which the Celtics entered leading 91-55. Ray Allen sat the game’s final 17:10 . Kevin Garnett was out for the last 15:46 , and Paul Pierce didn’t play the final 12:37 .

All part of the plan, especially for a team heading out to Chicago tonight for tomorrow’s big showdown with the Bulls.

“It was a perfect situation for us,” Allen said. “It worked out for the best.”

Garnett led the way with 23 points and six rebounds, and he took advantage of the Raptors’ limited presence in the paint with Chris Bosh home in Toronto nursing a strained right groin. Garnett scored 10 of the first 12 points for the Celtics in the third quarter, helping Boston jump out to a 72-42 lead in the process.

“When I saw the double team wasn’t coming as quick, I tried to make quick moves,” Garnett said. “I wasn’t happy with my last week, or my last couple weeks of play. Watching film of myself, I was hesitating a lot. Tonight, I wanted to a lot more aggressive with my moves, having my head up and finishing around the basket.”

“I think the main emphasis today was get the ball inside,” Pierce echoed. “Doc [Rivers] had it on the board, just pound the ball inside, pound the ball inside. We knew we had the advantages there, especially with Kevin and myself, and that’s what we wanted to do. We got the ball to Kevin early and often.”

Entering the game, the Raptors were shooting an NBA-best 50.0 percent from 3-point range, but the Celtics held them to 6-of-17 (35.3 percent) from distance. The Raptors fell to 1-10 this season when getting outshot from the field, largely due to an aggressive zone defense by the Celtics.

“We’re challenged a lot by the team from Toronto because of the shooters they put out there,” Pierce said. “They’re the best 3-point shooting team in the league, so we wanted to go in there and challenge them. I thought we did a good job with that challenge, took away a lot of their open shots.”

“They just beat us,” Raptors coach Sam Mitchell said. “I don’t know what you want me to say. They just beat us. Good basketball team. They’re probably the best team in the league right now.

“They just drilled us.”

Celtics rolling along

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 7, 9:17 p.m.

The Celtics jumped out on an 8-0 run to open the second half and have taken a 91-55 lead after the third quarter. The C's are 15-0 when ahead or tied after three this year.

Kevin Garnett scored 10 of the Celtics' first 12 points in the third and has a game-high 23. 

C's open it up at the break

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 7, 8:51

The Celtics took a 62-40 lead into the locker room. The C's are 13-1 this season when ahead or tied after the first half. The loss came in Cleveland last Tuesday.

After the Raptors cut margin to 36-26 with 8:43 to play in the second quarter, the Celtics went on a 13-2 run over the next 3:33 to push the lead to 49-28.

Boston is shooting 53 percent from the floor, while holding Toronto to a 39 percent clip. The C's are outrebounding the Raptors, 22-19. Even more important, the Celtics have played a decent zone defense at times in the first half and are holding the deadly shooting Raptors to 3-of-7 from 3-point range.

The Celtics outscored Toronto 35-24 in the second quarter. Boston's highest scoring second quarter this season came against the Nuggets on Nov. 7, when it scored 39.

Paul Pierce leads the C's with 13 points. Ray Allen, who scored nine points in the second quarter, has 11 points, six rebounds and two assists. Kevin Garnett has 11 points and four boards. Eddie House put up 10 points in the first half.

Carlos Delfino has hit a pair from distance and leads Toronto with nine points. Joey Graham, who played on some pretty solid Oklahoma State teams with Tony Allen, has eight points.

Celtics lead after one

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 7, 8:05 p.m.

The Celtics stormed out to a 27-16 lead after the first quarter, keyed by a 10-0 run. Toronto took a 12-11 lead midway through the first before Boston ripped off 10 straight. The Celtics are 11-0 when ahead or tied after one this season.

There's a decent Toronto following at the game, not enough to make a dent in the noise of the Celtics' fans, but probably the loudest group of opposing fans at the Garden this season.

Two quick notes

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 7, 7:30 p.m.

First and foremost, today is Larry Bird's 51st birthday.

Second, the Celtics are again wearing their 1956-57 road uniforms in honor of NBA Heritage Week. They also wore them Wednesday in Philly.

Mitchell on KG, other pregame notes

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 7, 6:51 p.m.

Raptors coach Sam Mitchell met with the media a few minutes ago, and Kevin Garnett was the popular topic of conversation. Mitchell and Garnett were teammates in Minnesota from 1995 until 2002, when Mitchell retired as a player.

It's been well documented how intense Garnett is each day at practice, and that's never changed, according to Mitchell, who is trying to get his team to bring it every single day like Garnett does.

"He's a pain in the ass," Mitchell said of Garnett, "because if you screw up, he would let you know. He's got everyone accountable. And, if he screws up, he'd be the first one to let you know."

Celtics coach Doc Rivers was asked about his team's intensity tonight with the absence of Chris Bosh (strained right groin) and Andrea Bargnani (hyper-extended left knee). Some in the Celtics' locker room, including Paul Pierce, admitted they didn't have the same fire in Sunday's win over the Cavaliers, in part due to the absence of LeBron James.

Rivers pointed out the Raptors can still score without two of their stars, as Toronto fell to the Suns, 136-123, on Wednesday.

Jorge Garbajosa is also inactive tonight with a left ankle injury.

Inside the numbers

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 7, 5:48 p.m.

Live from the Garden in anticipation for the Celtics (15-2) and Raptors (10-9).

The Celtics are trying to move to 10-0 at home for the sixth time in franchise history, and for the first time since 1984-85, when the C's raced out to a team-best 12 straight wins at the Garden.

The C's knocked out the Raptors at the Air Canada Centre on Nov. 4, using a Ray Allen 3-pointer with 2.6 seconds remaining in their 98-95 overtime win.

This is the first night of the Celtics' fifth back-to-back this season. They are a combined 8-0 on both ends of their previous four. Boston heads out to Chicago tomorrow. The Bulls have a tough test on the road against the Pistons tonight.

The C's are 5-0 on Fridays this season, including a 4-0 mark at home. They are 2-0 in December (1-0 at home). The Celtics are also 5-0 against the Atlantic Division.

Toronto is in second place in the Atlantic, six games behind the C's.

Also worth noting is the Celtics have used the same starting lineup in all 17 games this season after running out 26 different combinations last season.

Injury alert: Chris Bosh and Andrea Bargnani did not make the trip for Toronto tonight. Bosh is averaging a team-high 18.8 points per game this season and is tied for the team lead with 7.9 rebounds per contest. Bargnani is third on the Raptors with 11.9 points per game, and he's pulling down 4.5 boards per clip.

'The Philosopher' finds his way

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 6, 8:31 p.m.

When Ray Allen drives through the lane, he’s as smooth and crafty as anyone in the game. His seemingly effortless ability to put the ball on the floor and sneak through double teams has been as impressive this season as his soft touch from downtown.

When Allen drives through Boston, however, he’s just like everybody else.

“I get lost every day,” Allen laughed. “You make one wrong turn, and there’s a $3 toll that you have to drop off. The family, whenever they come into town, I make sure that they follow behind me, and then I get the phone call, ‘Hey, I lost you, where did you go?’ The bad thing is I had a car service for my family, and they got lost, too. So, I was like, if they got lost, we all have to go home.

“You’ve got to keep the ashtray filled with change.”

Despite the inane amounts of one-way streets, tunnel closings and detours through Chelsea, Allen has adapted well to the city and his new teammates since the June trade from Seattle.

He is averaging 19.6 points, 4.4 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game, while shooting 35.7 percent from 3-point range. And the 32-year-old made his mark early, dropping a game-winning 3-pointer in overtime to beat the Raptors in the second game of the season. Allen also scored 33 points that afternoon, a Celtics high this season.

But, he’s also been as influential off the court. Nicknamed “The Philosopher” by some in the C’s locker room, Allen has spent time with Boston’s youngsters teaching them the ins and outs of the game.

“He’s very professional,” Celtics Head Coach Doc Rivers said. “He’s a great example, not only for just the young guys, but for everybody on how he approaches every game.

“He studies the game. He likes to talk about the game. He likes to get engaged about the game. That’s good for us.”

Allen is a cerebral player away from the ball. He is deliberate off screens and knows how to make himself useful in the open court, like he did before hitting a buzzer-beating 3-pointer to beat Charlotte on Nov. 24.

Away from basketball altogether, Allen’s transition to Boston has been made easier due to his background in New England. He is considered one of the greatest players in school history at UConn, where he spent three years in the mid-90s.

“Being at the University of Connecticut, it prepared me for so much, not knowing what was ahead for me,” Allen said. “Having so many followers in the state, I always kid people and tell them that I played three years of professional basketball in college because we were so sought after, and it was such an intense three years of my life.

“I went to Milwaukee, and it was almost like I slowed down a lot because it wasn’t such a great fanfare following the Bucks at the time. So, it was easier for me to go there, prepare and move into Seattle, going up a notch higher. And then coming here, it seemed like every road I’ve taken has made it easier to be here.

“I think that was the most comforting about the whole trade is knowing I was coming back to the New England area where I had spent a lot of time, and I’m here every summer. I don’t have to move much now in the summertime, so I look forward to it, the rest of my years being able to be here.”

Crown 'em

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 6, 5:51 p.m.

ESPN posted its playoff predictor today, which was formulated by John Hollinger, whose scientific formula is more complicated than the BCS and theory of relativity combined.

Either way, it created some interesting results. According to the odds, the Celtics (15-2) are projected to finish an NBA-best 64-18, have a 100 percent chance to make the playoffs, 99.9 percent to win the division, 78.1 percent chance to claim the Eastern Conference's No. 1 seed, 53.6 percent chance to reach the NBA Finals and 42.6 percent chance to win the whole thing. Each number represents the best in the league.

The odds also indicate the Celtics' best record could be 77-5, and their worst to be 51-31. The C's also have a 1 percent chance to finish at least 72-10, which would tie the all-time NBA record.

On the flip side, the Timberwolves (2-14) are projected to finish 19-63, and could win as many as 35 games or as few as eight. They are one of three teams — along with the Sonics and Clippers — with a 0 percent chance to reach the playoffs. The T-Wolves also have a league-high 22.7 percent chance to win the NBA lottery and claim the first overall pick in next year's draft.

Minnesota, of course, traded Kevin Garnett to the Celtics in July. Seattle (4-15), which is projected to be the second worst team in the NBA, traded Ray Allen to the C's in June. Looks like we know who won those deals.

Where's Dennis Green when we need him?

Celtics hold on

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 5, 9:50 p.m.

The Celtics (15-2) got a little help from their bench tonight to hold off the feisty Sixers (5-13) in Philly, 113-103. James Posey (17 points) and Eddie House (15 points) each hit a pair of crucial 3-pointers to carry Boston, which had a lackluster defensive effort.

Green take the lead

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 5, 8:49 p.m.

The Celtics used a 7-0 run to open the second half and took an 83-80 lead after three. The C's are 14-0 this season when ahead or tied after the third quarter. 

C's behind at the break

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 5, 8:06 p.m.

The Celtics trail Philly, 57-52, at halftime. The Celtics are 1-1 this season when they're behind at the break.

There's very little defense being played on the Boston end, and the Sixers have tied a season high with 57 first-half points.

C's trail after first quarter

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 5, 7:35 p.m.

The Sixers lead the Celtics, 32-26, after the first quarter. The Celtics are 3-2 when trailing after the first quarter this season.

And the C's are wearing their old-school 1956-57 road uniforms with "BOSTON" on the chest. The 76ers are rocking their 1982-83 home digs, all in part of NBA Heritage Week.

Inside the Numbers

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 5, 4:52 p.m.

The Celtics (14-2) meet the Sixers (5-12) tonight for the first time this season. Philly went 3-1 against Boston last year (1-1 at the Wachovia Center). The Celtics lead the all-time series, 227-174.

The Celtics are 5-2 on the road this season, 1-0 in December, 3-0 on Wednesday, 4-0 against the Atlantic Division and 11-2 against the Eastern Conference.

Pat's or Geno's?

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 5, 12:50 p.m.

The first-place Celtics (14-2) visit the last-place Sixers (5-12) tonight in Philly, where the most intense competition won't be on the court, it will be the choice between Pat's or Geno's.

The Sixers put together a 30-29 run to close out last season, providing some prognosticators to think Philly had an outside shot at making the playoffs this season if the youth movement continued to develop. Not so much. The 76ers fired GM Billy King yesterday and replaced him with Ed Stefanski, as Adam Levitan reported today.

Levitan has been covering the Sixers for three years at the Philadelphia Metro and stopped by to give In the Paint a scouting report on the Celtics' opposition tonight.

"Here’s what the Sixers will tell you about themselves: We are a young team that is developing our pieces and showing progress. We play good, hard, team basketball every night. The results will come.

"Here’s the real deal: The Sixers are in a complete rebuilding mode that has left the Wachovia Center more than half empty every night (although today's game has actually generated some buzz -- no small accomplishment). Their best player, Andre Iguodala, would be a decent No. 2 option on a playoff team. Willie Green and Reggie Evans, who both start for the Sixers, would struggle for minutes on a championship level team like the Celtics. Andre Miller is merely biding his time until being traded. The 12th overall pick in this year’s draft, Thaddeus Young, isn’t even close to being ready to play and rarely sees any burn during games.

"OK, enough negative ranting. It’s not all bad in Sixerland. They will have the most cap room in the league this summer (Yes, they are still paying Chris Webber, who is sitting at home, and Aaron McKie, who is an assistant coach.) Of course, another lottery pick will be getting his feet wet at this time next year. Backup point guard Lou Williams is a serious talent and is only 21 years old. But chances are it will get a lot worse before it gets better -- and today's game figures to be no different."

You can give Adam a shout at adam.levitan@metro-philly.com.

We'll be back later.

Handling the hype

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 4, 5:33 p.m.

First, it was Gilbert Arenas. Then, it was Quentin Richardson.

Players lined up around the block to take their shots at the Celtics, who have been dubbed “paper champions” by their collection of haters around the league. For Arenas and Richardson, the verbal jabs resulted in real-life beat downs, as their teams fell to the C’s by 20 and 45 points, respectively.

But, as the Celtics have continued to steamroll their opponents to the tune of an NBA-best 14-2 record, the respect is coming around.

“They’re considered the best team in the Eastern Conference,” an Atlantic Division scout said this week. “Everyone knows that, and their bench deserves a lot more credit than people are willing to give them.”

The bench has taken its share of criticism, but James Posey, Eddie House, Glen Davis and Tony Allen are proving to be a formidable group. Plus, when Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen hit the pine, their replacements are expected to look extraordinarily human.

Even that’s a reach.

“When I was playing,” Knicks coach Isiah Thomas said, “we used to always say if we could ever get to the Celtics’ bench, if we could ever get to Greg Kite, and get [Robert] Parish, [Kevin] McHale and [Larry] Bird out of the game, then we’d be all right. But we never got to Greg Kite. I don’t see these three guys going away. I think it will be the same thing.”

Still, even with the success, the Celtics are taking their lumps. What’s in a record, the naysayers ask, when the C’s have only beaten four teams that entered yesterday’s action with winning records?

The guys in the locker room are paying attention. They even had Richardson's comments posted before last Thursday's game against the Knicks.

But, they know the only responses that will carry true validity come on the court.

“It’s hard to tell or say what is going to prove to the rest of the league, the rest of the world, that we’re a good team,” Ray Allen said. “I don’t know, but I know one thing from this locker room, the things we want to do — winning games. We’re not content winning games. We know where we want to be, what we want to do.

“Winning one game is great. Winning five games is even greater, but putting together 10-, maybe 15-game winning streaks is something we look forward to doing, and that’s our goal.” 

Home cookin'

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 3, 5:31 p.m.

The Garden goes black, the chorus of “Requiem for a Dream” pounds the speakers and Celtics highlights take over the video boards before every home game.

Then, the music stops and the building goes completely dark for a split second before Paul Pierce shouts to the crowd on the board above, “We’re baaaaack!”

Truth be told.

The Celtics are 9-0 at home this season, the seventh time in franchise history they’ve opened the year with nine straight wins on Causeway Street and the first time since 1985-86, when they won their last NBA championship.

If the C’s are to break the team’s all-time mark — 12-0 in 1984-85, when they lost to the Lakers in the NBA Finals — they’ll need to go through the Raptors, Kings, Bucks and Pistons.

“One of our goals was to establish home,” Kevin Garnett said. “You go to some arenas, [such as] Utah, some arenas where you know it’s going to be difficult, the Palace [in Detroit]. Those are arenas that jump right off to me as difficult places to play. We’re trying to establish that here.”

The Celtics are outscoring teams by 20.3 points per game at the Garden this season, and their field goal percentage, rebounds, assists, steals and blocks per game are all above their road averages.

And, in Boston’s last two home games, they’ve held the Knicks and Cavaliers to season lows in points.

“Your home court is something you’ve got to protect,” Pierce said. “We want teams to feel like when they come in here, it’s going to be a long night. We’re starting to establish that now. It’s something that we didn’t have. In the past, I would go in certain arenas, and I’d be like, ‘We’ve got to be near perfect to get a win. And we want teams to think that way when they come to the Garden.”

Doc honored

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 3, 4:13 p.m.

Doc Rivers was today named the NBA Eastern Conference Coach of the Month.

The Celtics were 13-2 in November and began the season with an 8-0 record. They were also 8-0 at the Garden in November. The Celtics outscored opponents by 13.7 points per game in the season's first month and held their opposition to 41.0 percent from the field. The C's outscored their opponents by 21.6 points per game at home in November.

Spurs coach Gregg Popovich earned the Western Conference honors. Other nominees for Coach of the Month were Dallas' Avery Johnson, Detroit's Flip Saunders, Houston's Rick Adelman, Orlando's Stan Van Gundy, Phoenix's Mike D'Antoni and Utah's Jerry Sloan.

Celtics off today, Pruitt sent to Flash

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 3, 3:44 p.m.

Sorry for the late start today — had to do some shoveling.

The Celtics have the day off today to rest up after their three-game, four-day marathon. Heading into that stretch — which included victories over the Knicks, Heat and Cavs — it probably would have been considered successful if they won two out of three, despite the competition. Style points weren't necessary against the LeBron-less Cavs yesterday. It was an ugly win to say the least, but teams starting out 14-2 win them with style, despair and somewhere in between.

The C's weren't idle in their day off, though, as they sent rookie guard Gabe Pruitt back to the Utah Flash of the D-League. Pruitt appeared in one game for the Celtics last week, hitting a jumper inside the left arc that gave the Celtics a 52-point lead against the Knicks on Thursday. He also had a rebound and four assists.

Pruitt has played in two games for the Flash already this season. He hit the game-winning shot in Utah's first ever game on Nov. 24. He scored 31 points to go along with eight assists and three rebounds. Pruitt scored 12 the next night, in addition to six rebounds and three assists.

The Celtics have a noon practice tomorrow before flying out to Philly in anticipation of their Wednesday night game against the Sixers.

We'll have more coming later.

Role call

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 2, 4:28 p.m.

The lack of star power wasn’t just limited to the Cavaliers’ side in Sunday's Celtics victory at the TD Banknorth Garden.

While LeBron James didn’t dress with the sprained index finger on his left hand still giving him problems, the Celtics’ big guns found themselves taking a back seat to the firepower provided by their role players.

Ray Allen scored a game-high 20 points, but Kevin Garnett (nine points) and Paul Pierce (season-low seven points) didn’t have much going on the offensive end. The trio spent less time on the court in the fourth quarter than the Celtics’ dance team.

Rajon Rondo scored 12 points and keyed the Celtics’ 8-0 run in the third quarter that stretched the margin. He blocked a Daniel Gibson shot, pushed the play and knocked down a 20-footer from inside the left arc. Rondo knocked down a jumper from the same spot on the next possession to give the Celtics a 56-44 lead with 4:52 on the clock.

And Glen Davis, who’s role has expanded recently, was part of Doc Rivers’ first substitution package in the opening quarter. He added nine points, seven rebounds and gave Boston tremendous energy off the bench.

“We needed somebody,” Rivers said of Davis . “At one stretch, we took the Big Three out completely. We were just looking for any combination that gave us energy. The play would take care of itself. We just needed someone to start our engines. I thought Glen Davis did that today.”

Celtics beat the Cavs in an ugly game

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 2, 4:13 p.m.

If Doc Rivers has his way, Sunday's game tape will be taken out to Haverhill St. and tossed in front of a plow on the Zakim Bridge .

The Celtics, playing their third game in four days, put their survival skills on display at a sold-out TD Banknorth Garden and disposed of the Cavaliers, 80-70.

Boston (14-2) had season lows in points and field goal percentage (37.5) in a rare, early-afternoon start, but the Cavs, who were without LeBron James, also had lows in both categories (32.9 percent).

“There will be no video on this game, hopefully, but it’s a win and we’ll take the win,” Rivers said. “Just a low-energy game, really. As a team, I was proud the guys fought through it. We had spurts where we could take the lead, and we’ll take the win.

“It was not a piece of art.”

The Celtics had just two players score in double figures – Ray Allen with 20 and Rajon Rondo adding 12. Kevin Garnett scored nine points, the second time in the last three games he’s scored in single digits after scoring in double figures in 411 straight games, the seventh longest streak in league history.

“If you told me before the game Paul would be under 10, KG would be under 10 and Ray didn’t have a great shooting night, would you win? You’d probably say no,” Rivers said. “But we won, so that’s the good thing.”

The Cavs (9-9) took advantage of the Celtics’ slow start and built a 30-23 lead in the second quarter, but the C’s shot back with a 20-9 run to close out the half with a 43-39 advantage. Boston then outscored Cleveland 34-17 over the course of the first 18 minutes of the second half to put the game on cruise control.

The Celtics have won their first nine games at home for the seventh time in team history, and for the first time since 1985-86, when the C’s went 40-1 at the Garden and won their last NBA championship. The 1984-85 Celtics won a franchise-best 12 straight home games to start the season.

C's win

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 2, 3:00 p.m.

The Celtics held off the Cavs 80-70 at the Garden today in the sloppiest game we've seen from Boston this season. More coming later.

Celtics take first-half lead

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 2, 1:51 p.m.

The Celtics fought back from a seven-point deficit in the second quarter to take a 43-39 lead at the break. Boston is 12-1 this season when tied or ahead at the end of the first half.

Paul Pierce and Doc Rivers were each assessed technical fouls after Pierce was called for a touchy personal foul on Eric Snow nearly 30 feet away from the basket with 8. 4 seconds remaining.

The Celtics shot 14-of-38 (37 percent) from the field in the first half, while Cleveland shot 14-of-42 (33 percent). The C's had eight turnovers to Cleveland's nine.

The Celtics tied a season-low with 17 points in the first quarter.

C's trail after first quarter

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 2, 1:15 p.m.

The Celtics were trailing 19-17 after a sloppy first quarter from both teams. Boston is 2-2 this season when trailing after the first quarter.

Zydrunas Ilgauskas controlled the paint when he was in the game. Kevin Garnett hit his first shot, but he was off the rest of the way. Glen Davis, who has earned himself more playing time over the last week, was the first Celtic off the bench, along with James Posey. The pair replaced Kendrick Perkins and Garnett with 3:04 remaining in the first. 

Inside the numbers

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 2, 12:31 p.m.

The Celtics went 13-2 in November. This is their first game in December. The C's are 0-1 against Cleveland, the loss coming last Tuesday on the road. Boston is 1-1 on Sundays this season, with both games on the road.

Here is where the Celtics' hot November ranks among the franchise's all-time best:

*1985-86      13-1      67-15 (final record)

1984-85        11-1      63-19

1981-82        12-1      63-19

*1973-74      11-1      56-26

*1963-64      11-1      59-21

1957-58        12-1      49-23

2007-08      13-2      ???

1990-91        12-2      56-26

1979-80        10-2      61-21

*1965-66      11-2      54-26

*Denotes NBA championship team

LeBron out

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 2, 11:45 a.m.

According to Cleveland coach Mike Brown, LeBron James will not dress for the game today. He's still nursing a left index finger sprain, which he suffered last Wednesday against Detroit.

When Celtics coach Doc Rivers was told of the news a couple minutes ago, he looked down, shook his head with a bit of a smile and said, "Damn."

On the Boston front, Tony Allen will play today. He's missed the last three games with a right thigh bruise. 

James questionable

Posted by Jeff Howe, Dec. 2, 11:05 a.m.

Cavs star LeBron James is a game-time decision today with a left index finger sprain, an injury he suffered against the Pistons last Wednesday.

James scored a game-high 38 points, including 11 in overtime, to lift Cleveland to a 109-104 home victory over the Celtics last Tuesday. James had been averaging 37.5 points per game over the Cavs’ four-game winning streak, but they’ve lost two in a row since beating Boston . James didn’t play in a 91-82 loss at Toronto on Friday.

It would be a huge blow for the defending Eastern Conference champs (9-8) if they play against the Celtics (13-2) minus the fourth-year pro, who is averaging a league-best 30.7 points to go along with 7.6 rebounds and 8.1 assists per game this season.

Celtics captain Paul Pierce weighed in on James’ importance last Thursday.

“I know since I’ve been in the league there hasn’t been a guy that has put up the kind of numbers that he’s putting up,” Pierce said. “It will be amazing to see if he can sustain it over the course of 82 games.

“You’ve just always got to be on your toes. He’s constantly got the ball in his hands, dribbling off his move. He’s a threat always with the ball.

“He’s definitely strong. There’s no other guy like that in the NBA.”