Celtics Central

The National Basketball League’s minor league system, called the Developmental League (D-League) conducted their draft tonight.

Of note to Celtic fans is former 6′ 4″ Celtic PG Orien Greene was drafted in the second round by the Utah Flash.

Of note to UConn fans, former Trinity Catholic H.S. of Stamford point guard 6′ 2″ Craig Austrie was drafted in the fourth round by the Springfield (Ma) Armor .

Also of note to UConn fans, sharpshooting G/F 6′ 5″ Rashad Anderson was drafted in the first round by the Iowa Energy. I always wondered what happened to him. He had NBA jump shooting talent. A lights out shooter from deep, he last played in Italy

The first player taken was 6′ 7″ Carlos Powell from South Carolina. For the first time ever they drafted someone directly from high school. His name is Latavious Williams, a 6′ 8″ player taken by the Tulsa 66ers.

Here is the complete release from the NBA , including all 8 rounds of draft picks….

Albuquerque Thunderbirds Select Carlos Powell With First Pick In 2009 NBA D-League Draft
- Latavious Williams, First-Ever High School Player Drafted Into NBA Development League -

ATLANTA, NOV. 5, 2009 – The Albuquerque Thunderbirds selected Carlos Powell, a 6-7 small forward from South Carolina, with the first overall selection in the 2009 NBA Development League Draft.  The Tulsa 66ers selected Latavious Williams, a 6-8 forward, the first-ever player selected in the NBA D-League Draft directly from high school with the last pick in the first round.  With the second pick, the Erie BayHawks drafted Donell Taylor, a 6-6 small forward from Alabama-Birmingham, while the Los Angeles D-Fenders selected Deron Washington with the third overall selection.

Williams, the first player drafted into the NBA D-League directly from high school is a native of Sarkville, Miss. and most recently attended Christian Life Center, a prep school in Humble, Texas.  Williams made the jump to the professional ranks in order to continue his development on and off of the court.

The first three players, and eight of the first round selections, were all members of NBA Summer League rosters in July, 2009.  Powell played for the Phoenix Suns, averaging 9.0 points and 3.0 rebounds in 16.5 minutes over four games, while Taylor suited up for the San Antonio Spurs and averaged 5.4 points in 14.8 minutes over five games.  Deron Washington completes the trio, playing for the Detroit Pistons and averaging 8.2 points, 5.2 rebounds and 31.4 minutes in five games.

Other notable first round selections include former NBA players Desmon Farmer, a 6-5 guard from USC, JamesOn Curry from Oklahoma State, originally drafted by the Chicago Bulls in the 2007 NBA Draft, and French international standout Amara Sy, a 6-8 forward, who was selected by the Bakersfield Jam with the fourth overall selection.

Complete rosters for each of the 16 2009-10 NBA D-League teams will be comprised of the eight players drafted tonight along with seven returning, allocation, and local tryout players.  Rosters will be reduced to 12 players on Nov. 18 and opening-day 10-man rosters must be set by Nov. 25 in anticipation of the Nov. 27 tip off of the NBA D-League’s ninth season.  Each team will play one preseason game between Nov. 19 and 25.

Full results from the 2009 NBA D-League Draft are below.

First Round
1.        Carlos Powell, Albuquerque Thunderbirds
2.        Donell Taylor, Erie BayHawks
3.        Deron Washington, Los Angeles D-Fenders
4.        Amara Sy, Bakersfield Jam
5.        Garret Siler, Utah Flash
6.        Alonzo Gee, Austin Toros
7.        Desmon Farmer, Reno BigHorns
8.        Paul Harris, Maine Red Claws
9.       Rashad Anderson, Iowa Energy
10.        Alade Aminu, Fort Wayne
11.        Curtis Withers, Dakota Wizards
12.        Antonio Anderson, Rio Grande Valley Vipers
13.        Raymond Sykes, Sioux Falls Skyforce
14.        JamesOn Curry, Springfield Armor
15.        Sundiata Gaines, Idaho Stampede
16.        Latavious Williams, Tulsa 66ers

Second Round
1.        Mustafa Shakur, Tulsa 66ers
2.        Dar Tucker, Idaho Stampede
3.        Major Wingate, Springfield Armor
4.        Pete Campbell, Sioux Falls Skyforce
5.        Jonathan Wallace, Rio Grande Valley Vipers
6.        Doug Thomas, Dakota Wizards
7.        Frank Tolbert, Fort Wayne Mad Ants
8.        Pat Carroll, Iowa Energy
9.        Darnell Lazare, Maine Red Claws
10.        Haminn Quaintance, Reno Bighorns
11.        Russell Carter, Austin Toros
12.       Orien Greene, Utah Flash
13.        Reece Gaines, Bakersfield Jam
14.        Alan Wiggins, Los Angeles D-Fenders
15.        John Bryant, Erie BayHawks
16.        Chad Toppert, Albuquerque Thunderbirds

Third Round
1.        Erek Hansen, Albuquerque Thunderbirds
2.        Martin Zeno, Erie BayHawks
3.        Jeremy Wise, Los Angeles D-Fenders
4.        Anthony Goods, Bakersfield Jam
5.        Kevin Goffney, Utah Flash
6.        Lewis Clinch, Austin Toros
7.        Chris Lowe, Reno Bighorns
8.        Frank Young, Maine Red Claws
9.        Sean Barnette, Iowa Energy
10.        Jamelle Cornley, Fort Wayne Mad Ants
11.        Marcus Dove, Dakota Wizards
12.        Jamarcus Ellis, Rio Grande Valley
13.        Reggie Williams, Sioux Falls Skyforce
14.        James Cripe, Springfield Armor
15.        Delonte Holland, Idaho Stampede
16.        Cecil Brown, Tulsa 66ers

Fourth Round
1.        Jeral Davis, Tulsa 66ers
2.        T.J. Cummings, Idaho Stampede
3.        Craig Austrie, Springfield Armor
4.        Leemire Goldwire, Sioux Falls Skyforce
5.        Mickell Gladness, Rio Grande Valley Vipers
6.        D’Lancy Carter, Dakota Wizards
7.        Booker Woodfox, Fort Wayne Mad Ants
8.        Carl Mitchell, Iowa Energy
9.        Gary Ervin, Maine Red Claws
10.        Louis Graham, Reno Bighorns
11.        Ira Brown, Austin Toros
12.        Jason Richards, Utah Flash
13.        Jared Newson, Bakersfield Jam
14.        Christopher Hayes, Los Angeles D-Fenders
15.        Derrick Mercer, Erie BayHawks
16.        Yaroslav Korolev, Albuquerque Thunderbirds

Fifth Round
1.        Shagari Alleyne, Albuquerque Thunderbirds
2.        Rod Wilmont, Erie BayHawks
3.        Christopher Moore, Los Angeles D-Fenders
4.        Lance Hurdle, Bakersfield Jam
5.        Joe Darger, Utah Flash
6.        David McClure, Austin Toros
7.        Terry Martin, Reno Bighorns
8.        Scooter McFadgon, Maine Red Claws
9.        Joah Tucker, Iowa Energy
10.        Lenny Stokes, Fort Wayne Mad Ants
11.        Jason Straight, Dakota Wizards
12.        Kenny Dawkins, Rio Grande Valley Vipers
13.        Draezon Burns, Sioux Falls Skyforce
14.        DeSean White, Springfield Armor
15.        J.C. Mathis, Idaho Stampede
16.        Mitchell Johnson, Tulsa 66ers

Sixth Round
1.        Keena Young, Tulsa 66ers
2.        Mike Gansey, Idaho Stampede
3.        Perrin Johnson, Springfield Armor
4.        Nate Miles, Sioux Falls Skyforce
5.        Antoine Hood, Rio Grande Valley Vipers
6.        Darren Cooper, Dakota Wizards
7.        C.J. Anderson, Fort Wayne Mad Ants
8.        Casey Love, Iowa Energy
9.        Anthony Terrell, Maine Red Claws
10.        Jermaine Johnson, Reno Bighorns
11.        Quemont Greer, Austin Toros
12.        Travis Holmes, Utah Flash
13.        Chris Ayer, Bakersfield Jam
14.        Charlie Parker, Los Angeles D-Fenders
15.        Jeff Skemp, Erie BayHawks
16.        J’Nathan Bullock, Albuquerque Thunderbirds

Seventh Round
1.        Garrison Carr, Albuquerque Thunderbirds
2.        Ryan Troutman, Erie BayHawks
3.        Moustafa N’Doye, Los Angeles D-Fenders
4.        Ramon Dyer, Bakersfield Jam
5.        Alain Laroche, Utah Flash
6.        Augustine Okosun, Austin Toros
7.        Chris Davis, Reno Bighorns
8.        Tony Bobbitt, Maine Red Claws
9.        Russell Hicks, Iowa Energy
10.        Andres Sandoval, Fort Wayne Mad Ants
11.        Rashaad Powell, Dakota Wizards
12.        Rashad Woods, Rio Grande Valley Vipers
13.        Rodney Alexander, Sioux Falls Skyforce
14.        Brandon Jones, Springfield Armor
15.        Bryson McKenzie, Idaho Stampede
16.        Adam McCoy, Tulsa 66ers

Eighth Round
1.        Tim Parham, Tulsa 66res
2.        Vince Oliver, Idaho Stampede
3.        Brayden Billbe, Springfield Armor
4.        Lawrence McKenzie, Sioux Falls Skyforce
5.        DeAngelo Alexander, Rio Grande Valley Vipers
6.        Jimmy Binnie, Dakota Wizards
7.        A.J. Ratliff, Fort Wayne Mad Ants
8.        Marcus Walker, Iowa Energy
9.        Matt Clement, Maine Red Claws
10.        Ron Allen, Reno Bighorns
11.        D’Mond Grismore, Austin Toros
12.        Jordan Brady, Utah Flash
13.        Stephen McDowell, Bakersfield Jam
14.        Travis Pinick, Los Angeles D-Fenders
15.        Zachary Sowers, Erie BayHawks
16.        Brian Kortovich, Albuquerque Thunderbirds

The NBA Development League, founded in 2001, is the NBA’s official minor league whose teams have direct affiliations to NBA franchises.  For the 2009-10 season, the league will feature 16 teams – including the debut of the Maine Red Claws and the Springfield Armor.  A proven developer of talent, 20 percent of players in the NBA at the conclusion of the 2008-09 season boasted NBA D-League experience, while the league continues to develop coaches, referees, and front office staff for the NBA and its teams.  In fostering the league’s connection to the community, its teams, players and staff promote health and wellness, support local needs and interests, and assist in educational development through NBA D-League Cares programs.  The NBA D-League also advances the game of basketball as the research and development arm of the NBA.  Throughout the season fans can watch all NBA D-League games on NBA Futurecast, the free live Web-streaming initiative found at nba.com/futurecast.

With all the brouhaha about Rasheed Wallace’s opinion that the Celtics could overtake the 72-10 Bulls record, Andrew Bynum’s pronouncement didn’t seem to get the same media reaction.

I’m late to the party but here is what Laker center 7′ 0″ Andrew Bynum told Yahoo Sports Johnny Ludden.…

“Our goal should be to break the Bulls’ [72-win] record,” Bynum said. “I know that’s much easier to say than do, but we have that kind of a team.”

So add another player reaching for the sky. If Bynum is healthy all season, something he hasn’t been to be for a few years, and he starts to play somewhere near his potential, I guess it is possible. The Lakers won 65 games last year. They lost Trevor Ariza and added Ron Artest.

Their bench is suspect and that could affect such a run. But this team is built for another solid run this season. Johnny Ludden’s other comment of note?…

For all of the offseason acquisitions the Lakers’ closest challengers made over the summer – Shaquille O’Neal, Vince Carter, Richard Jefferson, Andre Miller – only Kevin Garnett’s return in Boston threatens to have a greater impact on the league’s balance of power than a whole and hungry Bynum.

I like that comment better. And it is a true one. Sounds like there are two high speed freight trains running down the same track from opposite ends of the line.

It will make for an interesting year, will it not?

Rajon Rondo, the Celtic reserves, a double double and a key play by Kevin Garnett resulting in a jump ball helped the lethargic Celtics stay undefeated. This game was much too close.

For a team bent on setting records, the second game of a ‘back-to-back’ against a bottom rung team can still be a killer. The Celtics seemed to be sleep walking, or stuck in mud, and never really gained control of this game. They played from behind for much of it.

Rajon Rondo led the Celtics in scoring with 18 points, most of them on unguarded lay ups. Kurt Rambis brought to Minnesota the Lakers’ version of how to play the Celtics – leave Rondo open to guard other players.

The quarter the Timberwolves used that strategy the most, the third quarter, Rondo scored 14 points and the Celtics won the quarter 31-23.

For the second straight game, the Celtics reserve players played well. This time they truly helped get the win. Rasheed Wallace, Eddie House, Marquis Daniels, Shelden Williams and Ray Allen brought the Celtics back and tied the game at one point. Marquis Daniels looked good and was making some nifty passes. Daniels had three assists and two were to Shelden Williams, who is proving he can hit the open jumper and plays pretty well in the paint.

When someone named Oleksiy Pecherov leads all scorers with a career high 25 points, on 9-14 shooting it tells you something. That he did it against Kevin Garnett, the league’s perennial nightmare to score against, you know something is slightly askew. KG and the rest of the team just were not themselves in this contest. Thank goodness….errr….Danny…..for the reserves.

Save the Celtics’ newest multi-millionaire, Rajon Rondo, the lethargic starters had all the life and rhythm of the zombies from Night of the Living Dead. Everyone had to dig down to come up with just enough effort to pull this one out. It was undecided until the final seconds. The Celtics biggest lead of the night was 4 points. They trailed by as much as ten points.

Rasheed Wallace did his thing and managed to get a technical while sitting on the bench.

Long Distance Power Outage
Ray Allen was 1of 7 from the arc. Previously unstoppable (56%) from downtown, Paul Pierce took just one three pointer…and missed it. Rasheed Wallace played well off the bench, but also could not find the range from the three point line, going 2 for 7. The Celtics made only 5 of 19 from the arc, after making almost 50% to lead the NBA coming in.

All five starters on each team scored in double figures….and no one else did.

Al Jefferson led all scorers at the half with 13 points, while his former co-hort and current counterpart on the Celtics, Kendrick Perkins, had 10 first half points on 5 of 6 shooting. He finished with 13. Jefferson finished with 18.

A young Minnesota club, in the bottom 6 of NBA teams in shooting percentage at 41.8% coming in, shot 52% against the league’s best defense. The Celtics were holding teams to 38% before this game.

Celtics won a game that never should have been this close. It is these kinds of games that are dangerous because the talent level is so disparate. It is hard for a team that is clicking like the Celtics are, to get up for a game like this. Even returning to the city and state where Garnett played for most of his career was not enough to generate the motivation needed to put this game away early.

Because of that, the Celtics struggled through out the evening. Ultimately, they fought back just in time to barely pull it out.

The Wolves led at the half 49-41, and had their last lead at 88-87 on a Pecherov lay up with 4:37 left in the game. The Celtics took the lead for good on two assists by Kevin Garnett. One was for a Rondo lay up, the other for a Perkins layup, After Perkins made 1 of 2 foul shots, Pecherov made yet another jumper to make it 92-90 with 1:14 left.

Jump Ball Helps Keep Celtics Undefeated
After Rondo, Pierce, and Ryan Gomes all missed shots, Corey Brewer had the ball and was about to shoot when Garnett got his hand in for a jump ball with 3.6 seconds left. On the jump ball, he and Brewer both tapped the ball back. It was going to Jonny Flynn when Rondo jumped and tapped it back further before it went out of bounds with .9 seconds left. Perkins blocked an Al Jefferson attempt with .3 seconds left. The Timberwolves fans booed as the game ended, as they thought that Garnett fouled Brewer on the jump ball call.

Pecherov, who was having a very good game, scored 10 fourth quarter points to almost gain a win for the Wolves who were just 1-3 coming in. Previously unheralded Pecherov played the last two seasons with the Washington Wizards.

The Celtics just never put out the energy defensively, got untracked offensively, and the Wolves took full advantage. Besides Minnesota’s high shooting accuracy, even without their best rebounder Kevin Love, they out rebounded the Celtics 40-36.

Rookie Timberwolves’ point guard Jonny Flynn showed flashes of talent and had 10 points, 5 assists, and 5 rebounds. Al Jefferson demonstrated his mid range jump shot from 15 feet a few times.

The Celtics were flatter than a day old open can of soda. Luckily they managed to eke out the win and come home for a Friday night game against the Phoenix Suns.

They are in the midst of a 5 games in 7 days run.

Kevin Henkin of Celtics StuffLive has a good rebuttle look at Yahoo Sports’ Adrian Wojnarowski’s tribute to Chris Paul.

It is titled “Adrian Wojnarowski Lathers Weak Sauce on Rajon Rondo and Chris Paul”

Here is a portion….

Later in the article, Wojnarowski heaps praise onto Paul for his apparently charitable decision to extend his contract with the Hornets a year ago. Woj’s words: “It speaks to Paul’s character, his loyalty, that he signed a three-year extension with New Orleans in 2008.”

What? Child, please. First of all, it was a four year contract extension (the fourth year being a player’s option) with the rate of pay set at the maximum allowable under the NBA’s collective bargaining agreement (starting at 25 percent of the salary cap for the first year of the extension, with 10 percent raises thereafter).

Let me repeat: it was a max contract. Bearing this in mind, I consider it a bit of a stretch to claim that Paul’s agreement to the extension makes him the equivalent of Mother Theresa in high-tops. It simply makes him a good businessman, a young player getting his first big payday set in ink as soon as possible.

In addition, Wojnarowski says of Hornets owner George Shinn: “The NBA pushed him into New Orleans, understanding it would’ve been a PR nightmare to abandon the post-Katrina city.” Sure, right. Except the same exact principle applied to Chris Paul when he decided to re-up with New Orleans last year, not even three years removed from Hurricane Katrina, with the city and surrounding area still largely in ruins. Paul’s shiny reputation would have suffered a considerable hit if he’d chosen to leave New Orleans at that point. Based on all of the above, it was a no-brainer for Paul to re-sign early with the Hornets. To ascribe noble intentions beyond that is simply ridiculous.

I must say I like reading ‘Wojo’ and he sometimes does write a little over the top. And I don’t always agree with him. But he is not afraid to call out some big names in the game and call it straight. But I have to agree that this is a much too one sided look at both parties involved.

For equal time, here is the Adrian Wojnarowski article Kevin is referring to. Decide for yourself.

Ray Allen made just one basket. Kevin Garnett made just one basket. The Celtics won by 31 points. Is this team deep enough?

This became another blow out in the second half, as the Celtic move their record to 5-0. The Boston Stranglers are doing it with a defense that is locking up most teams, white hot three point shooting, and a bench unit that comes in and adds to the lead. The scary thing is that they can only get better. They are still not near peak efficiency.

Paul Pierce led all players with 21 points, followed by new Celtic reserve, Philly native, Rasheed Wallace with 20 points, including long range bombing to the tune of 6 for 8 deep ones. Pierce also led in rebounding with 8.

The Celtic bench played almost as many minutes as the starters (45%) and scored 62 of the 105 points, 59% of the total.

After falling behind 12-4, the Celtics outscored the 76ers 101-62 the rest of the way. A tight first quarter (19-17 Celtics), led to the Cs  pulling away in the second, going up 42-28 on a Rondo driving dunk. The 76ers tried to make a game of it, finishing the half with an 8-2 run, fighting back to within 8 points. They would get no closer.

The Celtics opened the second half with a 14-2 run of their own and never looked back. Pierce had 7 points and Ray Allen 5 points of that run. They went up as much as 20 before Philly cut back the lead to 14 points as the quarter closed.

In the 4th quarter, Boston emptied the bench as the reserves outscored Philadelphia 36-20. Everyone got into the box score.

Boston contained the Philly running game and out pointed the 76ers in the paint 38-32. That is where Philly’s strength usually is.

Three Point Contagion

There seems to be a new epidemic going around Team Green and it’s a good one. Call it long range fever.  Rasheed Wallace and Eddie House caught last night and nearly broke the thermometer. They were 10 of 13 from beyond the arc. The Celtics were 14 of 20 from the arc combined and are now 52 –107 for a league best .486%. That is better than 22 teams are shooting from the field altogether.

If it was a fever, it wasn’t contagious across team lines. Or the Sixers were taking anti-three-otics. Philadelphia, the worst three point shooting team in the NBA for a few years now, shot an anemic 1 for 16 from the arc and .362 from the field for the game. The Celtics defense continues its stingy ways.

Rajon Rondo had 11 points, 5 assists, and 4 steals, while Kendrick Perkins added 6 rebounds and 2 blocked shots, but only three points. Eddie House drained 12 points on 4 of 5 from downtown. Shelden Williams added 11 points and 7 rebounds. Marquis Daniels added 6 points, 4 assists, 3 rebounds, and a steal.

Brian Scalabrine played his first game since injuring his ankle by stepping on a cameraman and scored 5 points on 2-2 shooting in 5 plus minutes. He had a reverse lay up and his patented three pointer.

Lester Hudson and J.R. Giddens got rare court time and joined the scoring fest. Ray Allen ad Kevin Garnett finished with 8 points combined in a game they were clearly not needed offensively.

The 76ers were led by Andre Iguodala’s 17 points.

The Celtics shot .569 from the field.

The Celtics play again tonight in Minnesota.

A Match Up of Great Interest

Every basketball game is a game of 5 players on 5 players. But sometimes, individual match ups are of more interest than others. There is hamburger, there is steak, and there is filet mignon. Tonight’s game had a meaty match up of two of the league’s filet mignon of point guards.

Rare and Well Done

Where’s the beef? It was between those two cuts of filet. I am talking about a beef between the Celtics’ Rajon Rondo and the Hornets’ Chris Paul. They started jawing at each other in the first half with both receiving technical fouls. It continued throughout the game and even as the two walked off the floor they started to get in each other’s face. I didn’t see who initiated the end encounter. The game ended with Chris Paul winning the individual match up statistically, but Rondo’s team won the game. I’m sure Rondo wouldn’t have it any other way.

ESPN (Associated Press) reported that Chris Paul continued to pursue Rondo near the Celtics locker room after the game…

After the game, Paul pursued Rondo toward the Celtics’ locker room and had to be blocked by Boston assistant coaches.

The Hornets point guard walked toward the Boston locker room as the Celtics were filing off the court before Celtics’ assistant coaches stopped him; New Orleans coach Byron Scott came over to retrieve him. Rondo looked back but kept walking.

There was a major significance placed on two of the best point guards in the NBA going head to head tonight.

Rajon Rondo thinks he is the number one point guard in the NBA or there abouts. Pre-game, when asked to rank himself, only partially kidding he offered…

Top one. One-ish. One and a half-ish.

He is in the final hours (late Monday is the deadline) of potentially re-negotiating his contract with the Celtics or… seeing what offers may come as a Restricted Free Agent in the next off season. One of the biggest gaps to cross each sides understanding of just how talented Rondo is…compared to his peers. His camp says he a top 5 point guard. Celtics management doesn’t quite agree.

6’ 0” Chris Paul is the concensus pick as the best there is in the game right now. 6’ 1” Rajon Rondo is considered by many as a possible top 5…or 6…. ‘with a bullet’ as they used to say in the record industry. Both guards are churning out hit after hit in every game they play. Their individual play runs between some frenetic jazz solos to sweet soul music for their teams and anyone else who watches them.

By Monday, everyone will know if Rajon Rondo will remain a Celtic for a good long time, or he will test free agency for next season. It is almost silly to say, and all sides will deny it, but tonight’s game just may play a small part in the final negotiations.

With that in mind, a very chippy game was played between the two of them. Statistically, you might say that Chris Paul won the individual battle with 22 points on 9 of 13 shooting, 2 of 3 from the arc, and 8 assists. Rajon out distributed Paul with 10 assists, adding 6 points on 3 of 7 shooting, but Rajon made a huge lay-up with 2 minutes left to help the Cs pull away – 92-84.

A Tightly Contested Game And a Paul Pierce Assault

In between, the first quarter was played almost dead even (22-20) between the two teams. The Celtics took control in the second, going up by 11 on a Pierce three pointer and lead by 9 at the half 47-38 on a Pierce turnaround jumper.

Paul Pierce worked over Julian Wright and Peja Stojakovic to the tune of 20 points at the half on 8 of 10 shooting. Ray Allen was second with 7 points. The Celtics seemed close to dominating them, but the Hornets stayed close by out rebounding the Celtics 24-16 at the break.

Peja Stojakovic and Chris Paul lead the Hornets Back

The Hornets stormed back in the third quarter behind Chris Paul’s 14 points. Peja Stojakovic’s three pointer with 25 seconds left in the third tied the game (69-69) for the first time since the first quarter. Rasheed Wallace regained the lead with a three pointer that brought the house down with one second left in the 3rd.

The game was tied again by a Peja three at 74-74. Stojakovic scored 11 points in the quarter to finish the game with 26 to lead the Hornets. After Peja hit another three (6-9 on the game from the arc) to bring the Hornet team within 2 at 82-80, Kevin Garnett answered with two big jump shots to give the Cs some much needed breathing room at 86-80.

A David West three pointer from the corner cut that lead to three points before a Ray Allen three pointer and a Pierce turnaround jumper restored order at 90-83 with 2:34 left in the game. The Hornets would get no closer than 6 points the rest of the way.

Unusual Rebounding Statistics

The Hornets out rebounded the Celtics by 24-16 in the first half but were losing by 9 at the half. The Celtics out rebounded the Hornets 9-8 in the third quarter but lost the quarter 31-25. Boston then hit the Hornets hard on the boards in the 4th, allowing them just one rebound (11-1) in the final stanza.

The Celtics bench played well again, extended the lead while they were in there. Daniels, Wallace, Williams, and House played with Paul Pierce (mostly). Wallace finished with 12 points on 5 of 10 shooting. Ray Allen finished with 17 points on 8 of 15 shooting. Kevin Garnett added 14 points on 7 of 15 shooting.

Paul Pierce led both teams with 27 points on 10 of 14 shooting. He continues to be hot from the three point arc with 3 of 5 tonight. That makes him 13 of 22 on the young season for a back breaking 59% from downtown.

In some ways it was good that the contest was so closely contested. It helps the Celtics prepare for tougher games that are sure to come. They are starting a grinding run of 5 games in 7 days with this game. Though they are down some bodies (Tony Allen, Glen Davis, Brian Scalabrine, Bill Walker) it is probably a good thing that it comes so early in the season when the starters are all fresh from the summer break.

Next up are 76ers.

The Boston Celtics continue an early heavy schedule and start a run of 5 games in 7 days with a 6 o’clock start against the New Orleans Hornets in Boston today.

They are undefeated at 3-0 and really untried so far. After a 6 point win that wasn’t as close as the score would indicate (95-89) against the Cavaliers, they blew out both the Charlotte Bobcats (92-59) and Chicago Bulls (118-90) in the friendly confines of TD Garden. They have displayed both inscrutable defense in all three games and superb offense against the Bulls.

Shelden Williams – The Right Player, The Right Place, The Right Time
Shelden Williams has been an early season surprise. After 3 games he averaging 8.7 points, but is leading the team with 7.3 rebounds, and is throwing in a surprising 1.7 assists in just 19 plus minutes. He is replacing Glen Davis while Glen recovers from a broken hand received in a well known altercation with a friend.

Leading the Celtics scoring scoring is Paul Pierce with 20 points, followed by Ray Allen with 18 points.

Rajon Rondo looks very sharp in the early going averaging 12.3 assists

Celtics Long Distance Guns are Blazin’
The Celtics are shooting 44.7% from the three point line as a team. Paul Pierce is stroking it at a lofty 58.8% on 10-17 right now. Ray Allen follows with 8-17 and 47%, and Eddie House is 6-14 for 42.9%.

Making Them Count – The 50% (and up) Club
Rajon Rondo is shooting 62%. House is shooting 56% overall. Kendrick Perkins is shooting 54.6%. Kevin Garnett is shooting 53.1%. Paul Pierce is at 52.9% Shelden Williams is right 50%.

Celtics Stingy Defense
The Celtics are number in points allowed with 79.3. Number one at three point defense allowing just 19.1%, and number two in total shooting percentage defense with 38.1%

Doc Rivers said he wanted this team to be one of the best defensive teams ever and they are off to a good start.

Charlotte is 1-1 but barely beat the lowly Sacramento Kings, thanks to new addition Emeka Okafor’s last minute blocks, after losing 113-96 to the Spurs.

Chris Paul is only averaging 6.5 assist so far. That number will head north very soon, I’m sure.

The NBA Champion Lakers are the expected foe for the Eastern Conference Champions by most every pundit out there.

Here are portions of the lowdown as seen by those who watch them often. Click in to read the whole preview…

sliverscreenandroll.com

Q2:  What are the team’s biggest strengths?

A2: As mentioned, the post game has now become a huge weapon for the Lakers. For one, they’re simply bigger, longer, and stronger than you. I mean, Ron Artest is our Small Foward, okay? Meanwhile, Kobe Bryant — already perhaps the most skilled post player in the NBA, pound-for-pound — worked with Hakeen “The Dream” Olajuwon over the summer, and if the first game of the season is any indication, he is looking to his post game more than ever. Even Derek Fisher, fairly large and strong compared to many of the leagues smaller, quicker point guards, will get occasional post-up opportunities.

This means that the entire Lakers starting unit can be a post threat — and that’s with Lamar Odom coming off the bench. This should equate to high points in the paint totals and plenty of drawn fouls.

forumblueandgold.com

God, it is good to be hated again.

It’s an oddly comforting thing for Lakers fans when the entire world seems to be passionately wishing for your team to fail, hoping for an earthquake that will break off Los Angeles and dump it in the ocean so that they don’t have to hear about the Lakers again. When the Lakers are hated, you know they are good.

And they are good — very good. Not only did they win the NBA title, they brought back virtually every piece of that team, and made a move to bring in a unique talent (and personality) at another spot. On paper they should be a better team this year — Pau Gasol and Kobe Bryant are back to lead, with a more mature supporting cast.

But they also will be a different team.

Two things change the Lakers dynamic this year, meaning they will play at a little slower pace and likely be better on defense.

nbatipoff.com