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15 hours ago

Rondo Replacing Johnson on All-Star Team

The Herald got it right from Rondo’s agent. According to his agent, Bill Duffy, the Celtics point guard has been named to the Eastern Conference All-star roster, presumably to replace Joe Johnson, the injured Atlanta Hawks guard. This would be Rondo’s third all-star appearance. Nice birthday present for RR, who probably should have been selected [...]

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3 days ago

Comments Deleting?

We apologize if your comments are being deleted (provided that they are not offensive). We are looking into why this is happening. We also want to apologize for the lack of a game thread for last night’s game.  We had a premonition that the Celtics would play that poorly and thought if we pretended the [...]

2
7 days ago

5 Questions With Greg Monroe

I talked with Detroit star forward Greg Monroe prior to the Celtics-Pistons game on Wednesday night.  Here is what the 2nd year big man out of Georgetown, who is averaging 16.4 points, 9.7 rebounds, 2.5 assists per game had to say. 1. Just your 2nd year in the league, but playing so well, were you disappointed [...]

3
8 days ago

Call for Responses: 5-on-5

Readers! Last week’s responses to the 5-on-5 questions were really, really great. We had way more qualified answers than we were able to use. So we’re going to keep doing it! FOREVER. Here are this week’s questions: 1. Are you concerned about Rondo’s media boycott this week? 2. The trade deadline is less than a [...]

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11 days ago

5 Questions With Ronnie Brewer

I talked with Chicago starting guard Ronnie Brewer prior to the Celtics-Bulls game on Sunday.  Here is what the 6th year man out of Arkansas who is averaging 7.6 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.1 assists had to say. 1. You guys have a lot of the same players back from last year’s team which was [...]

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13 days ago

5 Questions With Josh McRoberts

I talked to Los Angeles back up big man Josh McRoberts prior to the Celtics-Lakers game Thursday night at the Garden.  Here is what the former Duke Blue Devil, who is averaging 2.9 points and 3.8 rebounds in his first year in LA, had to say. 1. How have you guys been able to deal [...]

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Where Meaningless Happens: Celtics vs. Wizards

AP

AP

Wizards (19-62)
vs.
Celtics (61-20)

TIP OFF: 8:00 p.m. EDT
TD Banknorth Garden
TV: CSN (HD)
RADIO: WEEI 850 AM

I remember watching this same exact game two years ago.

Sitting lower level of a half-empty TD BankNorth Garden, the NBA’s second-worst team took the floor in an extremely obvious attempt to, well, lose and increase lottery chances.

“The NBA should make a lame duck rule; watching teams lose on purpose is a slap in the face to sports fans,” my Dad said to me, wondering why we even decided to show up.

It wasn’t even the All-Star break yet, and the whole Veterans-Vacationed / Rookies-Rewarded Law was in effect. It was meaningless to even try. Essentially, it hurt them to try in terms of the future. Today’s ping-pong-ball-lottery culture keeps the team’s franchise player(s) benched and the JV team fighting for a roster spot next season. Why risk injury? Why risk anything?

Jan. 10, 2007. After whistled for a foul on the floor, Tony Allen continued driving to the hoop, attempted an uncontested (but more importantly, extremely unnecessary) dunk and landed awkwardly.

Torn ACL.

“What the f—,” added Pops, “We’ve officially seen it all.”

How times have changed.

Tonight it’s the visiting team, Washington Wizards, playing the lottery — doubtful that stars like Gilbert Arenas and Antawn Jamison will play due to injuries.

Why bother?

This side of the no-pressure scenario certainly feels a lot better. We’ve endured the past few years of post-AL East-clinching games where the Red Sox watched its AA team, the Portland Seadogs, countdown outs until the playoffs. And now that the Celtics cannot improve or hurt their standing, it’s an equally meaningless game for the Green.

What to watch for: Fan appreciation night. One last chance that the middle class gets to attend a Celtics game before the bigwigs takeover even the 300-level seats for absurd amounts.

What not to watch for: Any action from Kevin Garnett or Paul Pierce. Rondo will most likely come off the bench.

Prediction: Celtics 105, Wizards 100.

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