Celtics Central

No one thought they were going to see two games tonight. TNT only advertised one game. Admission was only charged for one game by the Celtics. Pregame scalpers didn’t seem to know about it either. I checked my press pass. Just one contest.

Strangely, there was no announcement. But there it was. Boston and Orlando went 1-1 tonight. The good thing is that only the last part counted. No matter how things start, it is how they end that matters.

Two Different Games
Well it was more like one main game and a short feature. Like they used to do at the movies years ago, I’m told. Except in this case, the short was the important part. Perhaps more like a mystery, everything changes, new facts emerge in the final few minutes and you wonder how we got here from there. Surprise ending? Yes. Stunning, in fact.

The Orlando Magic completely won most of this game. They came from a 6-2 opening deficit to storm ahead of the Celtics by the end of the opening quarter 22-16. They shook off another Glen Davis 20 foot jump shot to open the game just to remind them of the nightmare finish of just two nights before.

Orlando defended well, outplaying the seemingly unenthused Celtics. They led by as many as 14 point and beat the Celtics by 77-63 in a 38 minute and 31 second game. The lead was never less than 5 and hovered around 7-9 points for most of the game.

Then without warning, a second game was started. There was no jump ball, singing of the Star Spangled Banner or anything. Like a good mystery, it was started by a lurking secondary character.

With just a bit part in the first half, one maligned and down trodden Stephon Marbury stepped back onto the stage and drilled a three pointer, 77-66. Then Tony Battie missed a shot and Eddie House rebounded. Pass to Marbury. Swish. 20 footer. 77-68.

From there, support came from Glen Davis who was going from hero to zero with a 4 for 11 head shaking performance draped around his neck. Working right to left, he drives the middle and he makes, not one, but two straight jump hooks over the league’s Defensive Player of the Year and league leading shot blocker, Dwight Howard.

Then Marbury gets fouled on a made jumper and hits the free throw, 75-83. After a Turkoglu
short jump shot on the move, Glen Davis hits two more jumpers, after a 3 for 9 first half for him. It is now 79-85. A lifeless Celtic team was awakened…by two unexpected catalysts.

From there, it was on. Paul Pierce made a lay-up and Perkins made a reverse lay-up on a feed from Ray Allen.

Ray Allen, shooting 2-9 at that point, makes a three pointer on a feed from Rondo to give the Celtics their first lead at 86-85, since it was 8 to 6. It was a 23 to 8 run over just 8 minutes.

With the Celtics looking like a new team. Gripping that lead in a strangle hold, the Magic would play hard but never lead again. Orlando didn’t make field goal in the last 5 plus minutes.

From there the game turned into a free throw contest in the last 8.5 seconds. The Celtics made six straight on two each by House, Ray Allen and Davis to close out the win.

The Celtics never led in the game by more than their final margin of 4.

Paul Pierce almost had a triple double with19 points on 6 of 11 shooting, 9 rebounds, and 8 assists. Glen Davis took game honors with 22 points on 8 of 16 shooting.

Stephon Marbury scored 12 points on 5 of 6 shooting, all in the final quarter and Davis teamed with him for 10 more of the Celtics’ 31 points. Marbury’s offensive explosion was the ignition to the Celtics’ push.

Doc Rivers has said that Marbury would help the Celtics win at least one playoff game. With the lack of bench support, let’s hope there is more in them Coney Island bones.

Kendrick Perkins has quietly held down and somewhat exposed one of the league’s supposedly most dominant forces. Dwight Howard carries the moniker Superman. If Howard is Superman, then the Celtics have Kryptonite in Perkins. He has weakened Howard just enough for the Celtics to take a 3-2 lead in the series.

Brain Scalabrine once again hit two big three pointers when few outside shots were falling for the Celtics in the first half.

With two straight game stealing wins, it remains to be seen if the Celtics can capitalize and close the Magic out on Thursday night.

An important pregame note:

Doc Rivers announced that Brian Scalabrine will play tonight after being ill for the past day or so. He was not at shootaround today and was rumored to be a game time decision.

That is a vital bit of information, considering how depleted the Celtics’ options at power forward are with Powe and Garnett out for the duration. Brian has generally played well defensively in this series against Rashard Lewis, a tough match up for the Celtics.

The mood was decidely lighter after a big win in Orlando two nights ago.

When Doc Rivers was asked how Brian was feeling, he answer was…

Um…He’s feelling……lighter. (laughter)

That’s all I can say.

Reporter…

Then he should be quicker. (More laughter)

Doc…

Yeah, he should be quicker……yeah, he’s feeling better. I’ll stop there. (laughter) He is feeling better. He’s been able to keep his food down so that’s good.

Reporter: You thought you’d just mention that?

Doc…

I don’t even know why I went there. (laughter)

Will you be changing anything with him?

No, we’re just going to play him. I mean, obviously, you see that he’s out there. you see that he’s struggling, you’ll react. But no. Athletes have that ability at times. So we’re just hoping he can muster his way through it. You just don’t know. we’ll just wait and see.

That was basically it. Game time coming up.

This could be called the “Why I’m Loving These Games When I’m Not Pulling My Hair Out” Series.

Since Kevin Garnett went down with injury, the thought of every NBA pundit and even most Celtic fans was that the Celtics’ repeat championship aspirations went with him.

After experiencing the barbarian horde-like pitched battles waged in 11 playoff games with lesser teams in the NBA pantheon, teams that a Garnett-led Celtic team would have dispatched with much greater ease, that view seems to be correct.

A school of Piranhas can consume a luckless cow to the bone in 20 minutes. Ants can feed of carcasses for days. Wolves attack in packs, singling out weaker animals. Much larger injured or weakened elephants become prey for lions. Older lions are challenged by younger lions wanting to take their place.

The Celtics are prime sirloin. If you are going to eat, nothing feels better than taking a bite out of filet mignon. The cocky, self indulgent current champions light up their adversaries eyes like Piranhas or wolves when they have discovered juicy, luscious, limping prey.

It is said to beware of wounded lions. They are more dangerous, more desperate and unpredictable. Are these Celtics wounded lions?

The Celtic story lines of this post season are quite different than those of last years ‘Finals or Bust’ mantra.

What we have learned first and foremost is that they are not last year’s team. Second, this Celtic team is ready to rumble. There are no excuses. There is no whining. There are no pointing to injuries of current or sand bagged players.

In fact, that type of thing was nipped in the bud early on. Doc Rivers, and Glen Davis, in particular, said they didn’t want to hear anything more about Kevin Garnett.

Method to the Mindset
You never want to let an opponent get an edge. Any injury is immediately sensed and attacked by enemies.

a) Though some think that Paul Pierce has been playing at less than 100%, Pierce has offered no excuses for his less-than-MVP type play.

b) Rajon Rondo literally says nothing about sprained or swollen ankles.

c) Though obviously in pain, Kendrick Perkins’ tender, formerly dislocated shoulder has not even been an issue.

d) Tony Allen’s unfortunate personal issues and limited effectiveness aren’t even mentioned.

e) A lack of bench production has led to zero finger pointing.

f) Doc’s decision to sink or swim with the starting five if he has to, has led to no insurrections or second guessing by his players.

g) Reformed narcissist Stephon Marbury has been Eddie House and Rajon Rondo’s biggest cheerleader from the bench.

From the tough precision fighters of last year’s title run that landed laser like punches on their opponents, knowing that it was only a matter of time before they buckled and hit the canvas, this team has become more of a street brawler. And far more vulnerable. The punches don’t always connect, they are wasting energy at times, flailing away with big round house misses, and are flat out of breath at other times.

But they keep punching. They will bloody and be bloodied.

They still can land a haymaker or two, but they are absorbing far more more punishment themselves. Not coincidentally, it’s the defense that has most suffered.

So, as I morphed from animal to boxer analogy, there is a often fine line between seeking prey and being preyed upon.

These limping lions, these formerly highly efficient heavyweight professional boxers, now reduced to brawlers, are making it dangerous for anyone who thinks they are the prey.

You will take this championship from them when you can pry it from their hands.

Things We have Learned
They are proving is that they will play tenaciously hard no matter what. Rajon Rondo, Kendrick Perkins and Glen Davis can play at levels not before seen. Paul Pierce is a confident, yet calming influence, and one cool cucumber. Even when things aren’t going well, Ray Allen will find a way to help. Doc will ask the most of those who can do the most.

There are times when the spirit is willing but the body is weak. Secondary heroes have been scarce. The starting five are playing with great heart. For that reason alone, I have absolutely enjoyed this season’s playoffs.

I’m not sure where the ride ends with this group. But I have a feeling it may surprise a few people, including a few NBA pundits. But I am a sentimentalist. I always go for the one with the most heart. I’m a believer that is isn’t the size of the dog in the fight, it is the size of fight in the dog.

There I go again with another analogy.

The Celtics meet the Magic in Boston tonight for game 5 in a series tied 2-2 after a Glen Davis buzzer beating shot. Again it will be interesting to see who the prey is.

I’ve mentioned here before that I also write for CelticStuffLive at Comcast Sports Net New England.

Justin Poulin does a great post game podcap after each game. I was invited to share thoughts with Justin after that buzzer beater win for the Celtics.

Here is that podcap as we look at a number of facets of that game and the series.

CelticsStuffLive podcap game #4 Orlando Series with Tom Halzack

Feel free to add any thoughts of your own in the CelticsCentral comment section afterwards.

Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis hit the two biggest shots of his two year young NBA career and brought home a crucial, hard fought playoff win for the Celtics against the Magic, knotting the series 2-2.

Without any scoring support from the bench (2 points), the Celtic starting five dug down once again to gut out a closely contested win.

Glen Davis had been preparing for this very moment since last summer, when Doc Rivers asked him to work on his jump shot. Glen hit the game winning shot as time expired.

A Year of Practice for a Single Shot
It was a mid range jumper from the left side that he has practiced 1,000s of times since the summer. Instead of shooting over imaginary defenders in an empty gym, Davis hit it in a loud, packed Amway Arena over Rashard Lewis’ outstretched hand. Paul Pierce had the ball near the top of the circle, was immediately doubled and passed the ball to an open Davis.

After 92 games (and counting) to date, that shot was the ball game in the Celtics’ second biggest game to date. Only game 7 against the Bulls was bigger.

A Destination Reached
How far Glen has come from a preseason where he shot just .432 and the first 39 games of the year where it got even worse dropping down to 35% and just 3.6 points per game. Glen couldn’t hit the ocean with a beach ball through those formative months. He couldn’t buy points in a game if he paid cash.

Glen and the Celtics are cashing in now.

According to Doc Rivers, Baby was option three on the final play. First, Rondo was to look for Ray coming off a screen, then try Pierce, who was immediately doubled.

Davis scored 15 clutch second half points on the way to a 21 point night. Glen was almost the goat with 5 missed free throws in the game and two travel calls in the 4th quarter. Instead he put together a solid offensive game, shooting 9 of 14 and grabbed 6 rebounds, 5 of them in the final quarter, while making the two biggest shots of the game.

Boston had built a grind-it-out 8 point lead after three periods, but gave it all back by the final seconds of the game on two Dwight Howard free throws, 92-91 with 49 seconds left.

Davis then hit a jumper with 32.5 seconds left to gain back the lead for Boston, 93-92. Davis then fouled Lewis with 11 seconds left and Rashard hit the cutch free throws to regain the lead, 94-93, setting up the final play.

Paul Pierce had 18 first half points and led the team with 27 points on 9 of 15 shooting, making 8 straight shots at one one point.

Rajon Rondo had an unusual game with only 3 assists, but produced 21 points and 14 rebounds, while generally playing solid defense. Rajon hit a few jumpers along the way. A few reasons for the low assist total was that Ray Allen continued his long range shooting slump (0-5) and Pierce preferred to handle the ball a lot himself in this game.

Ray finished with 12 points on 6 of 13 shooting, but was defended tenaciously by J.J. Redick and Courtney Lee for most of the night.

Kendrick Perkins played a solid game against the Magic big man, Dwight Howard, finishing with 12 points on 5 of 7 shooting, 13 rebounds, and 5 big blocks (two against Howard).

Howard had a dominant game anyway with 23 points, 17 rebounds and 3 blocks. Rashard Lewis added 22 points on 8 of 14 shooting, including the Magic’s final two points on the Davis foul. Lewis managed to tag Davis and Scalabrine with multiple fouls.

The Celtics had three players with 3 fouls each by halftime. Brian Scalabrine was whistled for a few frustrating touch fouls against Lewis, making a difficult match up that much worst. Paul Pierce experienced foul trouble all night and finished with 5. The replay showed no foul Paul’s 5th and final foul.

Shooting an economical .528 percent to the Magic’s .400, and out rebounding them by 44-38, the Celtics caused only 8 turnovers (Celtics has13 TOs) and were outscored on points off turnovers 16-9. The Magic also out scored the Celtics in second chance points 20-12.

So the Cs pull out yet another razor thin victory. Momentum has been a word with no meaning in the Celtics’ post season so far.

Perhaps they can give it definition on Tuesday night, back in Boston.

So much for momentum….and supposed advantages.

If the Celtics are one thing in these playoffs, they are inconsistent. Tonight they could neither shoot straight, nor defend well. The Magic go up 2-1 in the series.

It seems unless Rondo is playing against a league stud counterpart at the guard position, he just doesn’t get as up for the game.

Twenty one second half points by Pierce were countered by 18 points by Hedo Turkoglu and 17 more by Rashard Lewis to hold off the Boston Celtics and hold on to home court advantage.

In what was supposed to be a Celtic advantage with Rafer Alston suspended for the game, replacement Anthony Johnson scored 11 first half points, and Courtney Lee added 10 more in his first action of the playoffs. It helped set the tone for the game. Also setting a tone, Dwight Howard had 4 (3 amazing) blocks in the first 13 minutes of the game.

Boston never led and were down by 20 in third quarter, before making a late 15-4 run to close out the third quarter at 78-69 on a Rondo steal and dunk. Eddie House (two threes) and Paul Pierce contributed 6 points apiece to the run.

For a long while, to start the game, neither team could make a jump shot. The Celtics first 22 points were in the paint, but not for lack of trying. They started the game completely out of sync. They were 6 of 19 shooting and finished the first quarter at 8 for 22, missing many open shots.

Reminscent of the first game, the Celtics could hardly have played more poorly than they did in the first half. Yet, shooting 41% to the Magic’s 56% from the floor, they were down only 12 going into the break.

Defensively, the Celtics gave up 48 points in the paint, 22 fastbreak points and 25 points off turnovers. They were slow on switches, in transition, and late closing out perimeter shooters for much of the night.

House Continues Incredible Hot Shooting
Here is how futile it was for the Celtics’ defense. The fastest gun in the NBA, Eddie House, was once again ‘en fuego’ all night, scoring 15 points on a precision 6 of 7 shooting in 21 minutes. Yet, the Cs lost 11 points to the Magic in those minutes.

Orlando played a strong game and held off a number of Boston runs even after the Celtics fell down by 20 points. The Celtics finally got within 7 points within 11.5 minutes left at 78-71 on two Pierce free throws. Pierce attacked the middle and went 14 for 14 from the line in the second half.

The talented Magic forwards, Hedo Turkoglu and Rashard Lewis, finally broke out with big games. Lewis led the Magic with 28 points on 17 shot attempts, including 3 of 7 from downtown, and 7 of 8 from the free throw line.

Lewis found great success by going down low into the paint, making 6 of 10 shots and getting numerous fouls called, particularly on Brian Scalabrine.

Turkoglu was was even more efficient, dropping in 24 points on just 12 attempts, 2 of 3 from the arc, and 6 of 7 from the free throw line in 34 minutes.

The Celtics first offensive play of the game was a king of foreshadowing for the rest of the game.

Paul Pierce drove the lane, was met by Dwight Howard inside the circle (offensive player’s area), and was clearly fouled. It was called a shot block by Howard. Anthony Johnson rebounded and passed to Rashard Lewis who beat the Celtic defenders down court and dunked in transition.

Ray Allen was kept under wraps again. J.J. Redick played pretty good defense, running through picks all over the court. At times, Ray was doubled at the three point line. Many of Ray’s shots were contested, and he missed many open shots as well. He finished 3 for 13 on the night.

You would think Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo would be outplaying the Magic guards convincingly. So far the Magic guards have stayed close enough to the two Celtic stars for it to be a problem.

Kendrick Perkins had his hands full with Dwight Howard and finished with 5 fouls, 10 points, 7 rebounds and no blocks. Howard had another double double with 17 points and 14 rebounds, in addition to his 5 blocks and 2 steals. What won’t be recorded is that he changed a number of other shots by the Celtics.

Stephon Marbury is shooting just 28% in the playoffs coming in to this game, went 1 for 4, and ended up passing up a number of open shots. He plays a great pick and roll game with his bigs, though Glen Davis missed at least three lay ups in this game. In a tough night for him, Glen shot 2 for 6 and had just three rebounds as the Celtics were outrebounded by 36-29. Glen did play some solid defense on Dwight Howard.

Next Game: Sunday in Orlando

Boston finally proved they could beat Orlando without having Kevin Garnett. They were 0-3 coming in.

The Celtics controlled this game from end to end and won in a blow out, retaking control, getting back to defense and getting back some swagger….all without a foul plagued Paul Pierce.

They held Orlando to .393 shooting through three quarters, while shooting a dominant .548 themselves after three. The rest was garbage time.

Boston put Orlando under House arrest in a rare runaway game for them. They were up as much as 26 and won by 112-94, behind yet another head shaking Rajon Rondo triple double and another spectacular shooting display by Eddie House.

Don’t tell the Celtics or Magic about any housing meltdown. There was a House-ing boom in the Garden. The only meltdown was by the Magic defense and Rafer Alston. The Garden was filled with chants of Ed-die! Ed-die! more than once, as he drained shot after shot.

Lost in all the offensive excitement was a solid job by Kendrick Perkins on NBA Defensive Player of the Year, Dwight Howard. KP outscored Howard with 16 points, had 9 rebounds, and two blocks. But it was his defense on Howard that was key. Howard, the league’s leading rebounder and shot blocker, was held to 12 points, 12 rebounds, no blocks and had 5 turnovers.

Paul Pierce was in foul trouble all game but wasn’t needed, finishing with 3 points in 15 minutes. Ray Allen supported with 22 all purpose points, on 7 of 15 shooting, but only 2 of 7 from beyond the arc. Ray added 6 boards, and 4 assists.

Ray toughed out a poor long distance shooting night by improvising with a number of layups and in-betweeners. I am still surprised how he does that.

I can’t figure Rondo out. One minute it looks like he can’t jump two inches and is missing lay ups he normally makes in his sleep. The next minute he is flying high for a ferocious dunk.

Ties Larry Bird
Rondo was 7 of 19 from the field, but had 18 assists, 11 rebounds, and 15 points. TNT Announcers said that tied Larry Bird (already) for the most triple doubles during one playoff season.

Eddie House zoned in for 31 ridiculous points on 11 of 14 shooting, including a perfect 4-4 from the three point line in 27 plus minutes. He embarassed Rafer Alston bad enough to earn a slap on the head from him as he went by, after yet another make late in the game. The two had words and Alston took a seat, but wasn’t ejected. League officials will review the incident, I’m sure.

House’s performance was more impressive because it was done against the second best three point defense in the NBA.

Inches Equal Points
House actually was inches away from at least a 35 point game. Eddie needs to check where the three point line is. He was standing on it for at least four made baskets. Ray Allen was doing the same. A small point in a blow out win, but still, guys.

Scalabrine Making Teams Pay
A somewhat close game opened up in the second quarter, with House, Perkins and Scalabrine leading the way. Brian has another solid game with generally adequate defense and hit a three pointer from what seemed like the second row as the fourth quarter was winding down. Scal is 9 for 15 from downtown in the playoffs. He had two blocked shots and was big lift off the bench for the second game in a row.

Glen Davis played well and split time with Scalabrine covering Rashard Lewis. Big Baby also spent solid time on Dwight Howard. Glen finished with 13 points on 4 of 5 shooting, 5 rebounds and 2 steals in 26 plus minutes.

Rashard Lewis and Mickael Pietrus led the Magic with 17 points apiece. Lewis added 10 rebounds.

The series now heads to Orlando on Friday. Boston is quite capable of winning one there, to regain home court advantage. But Orlando was 32-9 at home during the season, so it won’t be easy.

But other than this game and one other, what has come easy to the Celtics this post season?

Caron Butler…

“He (Paul Pierce) is the guy I’ve molded my game after.”

Call him Paul Pierce’s younger version. Caron Butler wants to be P-squared v.2.

When queried, Butler emphatically says the Celtics are “Still the champs!” until someone takes it from them, and he says that won’t be easy.

I wanted to put this up right at the end of season, but didn’t for extenuating circumstances ‘beyond my control’ as they say. Then, when that wasn’t possible, I thought I might wait until the off season, when things quieted down a bit.

But right now seems right, considering that I wanted to get Caron’s prediction for the Celtics in print when it had meaning. I also thought his Paul Pierce love might inspire our fearless leader to higher levels and greater distances in the playoffs, while he had the chance.

Butler also has major love and respect for Huskie brethren, Ray Allen. In fact, he was so honest, generous, and respectful of all things Celtic, I’m personally asking Danny Ainge to adopt him and find an unused number to put on him.

Could you imagine Ray, Paul and Caron in a Celtic rotation? They could all grow old gracefully together and be nasty into their mid 30s.

Two great multi faceted former UConn Huskies in Green? (I snap back to reality.)

Seriously, like President Obama, Caron has D.C. dreams of his own. Those dreams reach for the sky and are directly motivated by what he has seen up in Beantown over the last two years. Nothing less than championship talk was in the Wizard locker room…this year. From a team that went 19-63. Surprising? Butler will share his bold ambitions, a few inches down.

Pierce – The Butler Prototype
Paul Pierce, you have a fan, and a clone it seems, and they are one and the same person, a Mr. Caron Butler. You remember him, right? The guy on the Wizards you are always talking smack with when ‘the Wiz was good’.

For some strange reason, I’ve found that many NBA players are reticent to give glowing accolades to any other NBA players except, you know….Kobe or LeBron. Ego? Jealousy? I have no idea. Such is not the case with Caron Butler about Paul Pierce. Okay. There’s a reason and a motivation. Caron models his game after Pierce’s. He’ll tell you why.

(Note: This interview occurred at the end of the night of the last game of the regular season. Boston just beat Washington 115-107. Caron Butler scored 39 points, with 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and a block in the loss. Eddie House lit the Wiz up for 20 points on 6 of 9 shooting. The Celtics came back in the 4th quarter to win the game.)

———————————————————————————————————————–

Obviously, this year you weren’t able to compete with the Celtics this season. In the past, particularly, you and Pierce did a lot of talking out there on the court.

Your career has evolved from a good role player to an all star over the last few years. You have really improved every year since you came in. Can you talk about a little about what you expect next year and a little about the give and take you have with Paul Pierce?

Caron Butler…

“What I’m expecting next year, is all the young guys, with the experience that they had this year, and through the course of the summer, playing summer leagues…..they are going to really understand the value of the NBA, on and off the court. You know, how to play the game and how to win games, so hopefully they keep this taste in their mouths.

This was a bad season on the court. Hopefully it will enhance their work ethic, to go out there night in and night out to “bring it” so they’ll be ready for training camp.

As far as our personal duel with Paul Pierce, it’s always a pleasure and honor to play against one of the great Celtics.

You know, he’s the guy I’ve molded my game after. I’ve watched a lot of film of him. You know, we (have) the same physique, the same body type. And we’re under the same brand Nike, so I hear a lot about him.

And you know, me coming into the league, there was always like, ‘you remind me so much of Paul Pierce’, so I watched a lot of film on him and enhanced my game.

Fortunate enough, I was able to play against guys like him and Richard Jefferson, LeBron James and really establish myself as an elite player in this game.”

Have you told Paul that? That you’ve used him to model your game after? Ever have that discussion?

“No, I never told him that. (laughing) But I’m pretty sure he’s read it somewhere and saw that. You know, it’s always an honor just to go out there and compete against him. I’m never going to back down from a challenge, and obviously, he isn’t.

He is one of the best players in the league now and always…..he’s mentioned in the (same) breath as (an) MVP candidate. You know, you look at the Celtics and look at what they’re doing. He’s always a sleeper.”

“They’re so successful but people take that winning style for granted because they have so much firepower. But he’s a great, he’s a good player. I love playing against him.”

That’s true. In terms of clutch players, he doesn’t get the same accolades as Kobe or LeBron. But in terms of clutch play where would you put him?

“Obviously you have to put him in the top five players. Crunch time, look what he did in the finals. A guy who had a knee injury, went to the back, came back out, and his heroics, I think, the momentum that they had from that moment where he went in the back, kind of carried them in the playoffs to win that championship.

Because the crowd was….they just rolled the energy. Paul Pierce. The Truth. You know, it was unbelievable.”

“I was watching it and I was like …..(raises eyebrows, shakes his head). That was a great performance. One of the best ever.”

Now….this year’s Celtics. Going into the playoffs…what kind of chance do you give them? They’ve obviously got some injuries.

“They (are) still the Champs.”

KG is 50/50 to even play.

“(Emphatically) They still the champs. Until somebody dethrones them They (are) still the champs. You gotta respect that. They know what it takes to win games and they won a championship.”

Do you think they think they can knock off Cleveland or L.A.?

“They still the champs! Can they knock them (the Celtics) off? That’s the question. They still the champs.”

(No concession. Laughter.)

Let’s switch gears for a minute. What’s the outlook for your team next year? You have to be excited for next year? People see a 30 game improvement. What do you see?

“I see the same thing. You know all summer, all training camp, all season, all we’ve been talking about is championship. We saw the Big Three, with what they did in their ‘rookie’ season in Boston, and getting Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett and all they talked is championship

.

Get Gilbert back. Get Antawn back. Myself, Brenden Haywood, Desean Stevenson, our four guys, along with the experience that the young guys got through the course of this season, with a tweak here…we’re talking about a championship.”

Do you think that Flip Saunders (note: Flip was not formally announced at this time) is the guy who can take you there?

“Nothing is confirmed yet. It’s all speculation, but in the course of the next week or so we’ll get the confirmation on it, whether Flip’s our coach or not. But, I love his work. I love his body of work.”

“I love what he did in Minnesota, obviously Detroit and …we had the opportunity to talk with him before, in the preseason. He was real good. He helped us a lot with Eddie Jordan. He’d be nice.”

He seems to be an under rated offensive coach.

“He’s been great. Look what he did for Wally Szczerbiak’s career. He put KG in situations to really just be a guy to go out there and get 25 (points), 10 (rebounds), and 7 (assists) every night. He knows his stuff.”

Final comments on Eddie House?

“Oh he’s amazing. Drop dead three point shooter. Catch and shoot, he’s going to make that shot. You know, we didn’t have a body on him for the most part in the second half, and he was just knocking down shots.”

Any comments for Ray Allen, UConn brethren?

“I wish him a lot of luck. You know I told him at the beginning of the game, I went down there and said, Good luck. You’re having a terrific season and I love him and I wish him the best of luck. Hopefully, they win it again.”

Since then the Celtics went 15 rounds with Chicago and came out with a standing TKO win.

They are still the Champs.

Now the Green Machine just came out sleepy, fought back, but lost game (round) one in the Orlando series.

They are still the Champs.

They are down 0-1 at home. But Doc and the team are pretty upset at themselves for that first half performance. Can they fight back and win a series against a team that won 59 games?

If Caron Butler believes, so can I. As Caron says…

“They are still the champs.”

And Butler wants to follow in those footprints himself very soon.