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18 hours ago

I Am Awesome!

Yes. This is a “pat myself on the back” post because a) I’m a jackass and b) I predicted something correctly. Back on January 8th, I predicted that the next ten games will tell us everything we need to know about this Celtics’ team. If they struggled, it was time to blow it up. If [...]

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1 day ago

Pierce Wins Eastern Conference Player Of Week

One day before he’s scheduled to pass Larry Bird for second on the Celtics’ all-time scoring list, Paul Pierce won the Eastern Conference Player of the Week award. Pierce averaged 22 points, 6.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds in four Boston wins, playing point forward in Rajon Rondo’s absence. Pierce is only 9 points behind Bird [...]

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2 days ago

Garnett’s Wondrous 3-point Rant

Via ESPN Boston’s Chris Forsberg, who knows a great, playful rant when he hears one, here’s Kevin Garnett discussing his not-so-newfound aptitude for three-point shooting after the C’s took down the Grizzlies. “When I walk around the streets, y’all stop acting like y’all shocked that I can shoot 3’s. Everybody in Boston, everybody in the [...]

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2 days ago

5 Questions With O.J. Mayo

I talked with Memphis guard O.J. Mayo prior to the Celtics-Grizzlies, Super Bowl Sunday game at the Garden.  Here is what the 4th year man out of USC, who is averaging 12.5 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2 assists per game had to say. 1. You started every game your first two years in the league, [...]

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4 days ago

5 Questions With Landry Fields

I talked with New York starting guard Landry Fields prior to the Celtics-Knicks game at the TD Garden.  Here is what the 2nd year man out of Stanford, who is averaging 10 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 3.1 assists had to say. 1.  I’m sure you guys are frustrated with your record to this point of [...]

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5 days ago

New CelticsHub Poll – Please Vote!

We’ve added a new poll (left hand side) to the site soliciting your input on our coverage and what you want to see more of in the future. Please take time to vote. You can choose up to 2 of the available topics. You can also write us longer messages by email at celticshub@gmail.com or [...]

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Preview: A Shamrock vs. A Guy Holding a Lightning Bolt

warriorsBoston vs. Golden State
7:30 P.M.
TD Bank Garden
CSN

Opposing viewpoint: Warriors World

Boston: 109.1 points/100 possessions (7th);

Golden State: 109.5 points/100 (6th)

Defensive Efficiency

Boston: 97.8 points allowed/100 possessions (1st)

Golden State: 111.9 points/100 (27th)

Injury Report:

Celtics: OUT:  Tony Allen, Glen Davis PROBABLE: Paul Pierce

Warriors: OUT: Kelenna Azubuike, Raja Bell, C.J. Watson, Ronny Turiaf, Brandan Wright  QUESTIONABLE: Devean George, Andris Biedrins

Regardless of how poorly the Celtics have played their last two games, they are still a strong, cohesive team.  Pretty much the antithesis of the Golden State Warriors.  This week the Warriors traded away arguably their most consistent player for a guy who won’t play this season (Raja Bell) and a guy who just can’t play (Vladimir Radmanovic), at least against the Celtics…at least against Paul Pierce.   This team is more dysfunctional than Bobby and Whitney and might be just what the Doctor ordered for the C’s to get back on the winning path.

WHAT THE WARRIORS DO WELL/DID WELL LAST YEAR

The Warriors are one of those teams with the unique ability to lull a team into playing as poorly as they do.  The problem is they have some pretty solid players so when they force their opposing team to play as poorly as they do, they give themselves a chance to win.  The good thing about these players (for the Celtics) is that they all fancy themselves unstoppable one-on-one players.  I caught some of the Warriors-Cavs game last night and for the four minutes I watched I saw Corey Maggette and Monta Ellis try and beat the Cavs by themselves.  The game was close because Lebron did much of the same for the Cavs.   The Celtics don’t do stuff like that.

WHAT THE WARRIORS DO POORLY/DID POORLY LAST YEAR

Aside from keeping their players happy?  Let’s see…The Warriors have almost n0 interior presence with Biedrins and Turiaf out.  To put that in perspective, the Warriors starting front court was Mikki Moore and Vladimir Radmanovic.  Enough said.

PLAYER WHO WORRIES ME

Anthony Randolph….okay, not really, but this guy was a preseason stud and a freak athlete/ of nature.  I think he’ll be a real nice player in this league- just not right now.  The true player that worries me is Anthony Morrow.  In the spirit of full disclosure, I haven’t exactly seen Morrow play a whole lot as I don’t have NBA League Pass (Ahhh blasphemy!) but I have seen him fill up a box score.

PLAYER WHO DOES NOT WORRY ME

Mikki Moore.  Our old friend comes back to Boston with his new team.  Of course, as fans we wish him well but he has a real chance to get embarrassed tonight.  Imagine Moore being the primary defender of Garnett and/ or Perkins.  Well, you don’t have to, because you’ll see it tonight.

WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FROM THE C’s TONIGHT

Exploit their Post Dominance.  This Warriors is young and likes to run which doesn’t bode well for the C’s unless Rondo is going coast to coast taking right handed layups from the left side.  I want to see Moore try to body Perk and I want to see Vlad fake an injury.  Honestly, if it is in their repertoire, I honestly would not be surprised to see the Warriors play a zone. 

I also want to see the C’s get back to being a dominant defensive team.  I want to see hard close outs on Golden State’s shooters and I don’t want to see anyone get in the lane.  Too much to ask?  Perhaps but regardless, I want to see some fire.  Basically, I just want to see a game, these Saturday to Wednesday breaks drive me crazy (as a fan, I love them for the health and rest aspects for the team). 

Final Thoughts and Prediction after the jump.

PREDICTION:  Whose to say?  Although seeing a close Cavs/ Warriors game last night gives me little comfort, I think the back-to-back will hurt them enough.  Imagine having to play Cleveland and Boston back to back…when you only dress seven players…and you have a new guy in your starting line up…and you have a bad team….

Yeah.  Hopefully this will be a nice little blowout  to make us forget about the back-to-back losses last week.  Celtics 105, Warriors 90

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