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9 days ago

Paul Pierce’s Contract: Dispelling The Myths and Stating The Facts

The first domino to fall this offseason is Paul Pierce’s contract. Until Danny Ainge figures out what he’s doing there, little else matters. As we wait for this decision, we also must face the rest of the offseason, which means it is also rumor season. With that time of year, comes plenty of information floating [...]

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9 days ago

Final Grade: Avery Bradley (C+)

In his third year in the league, in which promising players often make brash leaps from benchwarmer to starter, from starter to star, Avery Bradley took a big step back. But his regression might be deceptive. When he returned to the Celtics’ lineup on January the 2nd after two in-season months recovering from offseason shoulder [...]

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10 days ago

Danny Ainge Expects Doc Rivers & Kevin Garnett To Return, Unsure About Paul Pierce

A long, challenging offseason awaits Danny Ainge this summer. Before he dives in head first, he joined Salk and Holley on WEEI-FM 93.7 to discuss the multitude of decisions facing him this offseason, as well as the progress of Rajon Rondo in his rehab from ACL surgery. A few of the notable highlights from the interview. Ainge [...]

11
10 days ago

Suns Hire Away Celtics’ Assistant GM Ryan McDonough

In one way or another, there will be change this offseason in Boston. That process started in the past couple days, with the first piece moving out coming as a name most C’s fans might not be familiar with. Yet, it was Celtics’ assistant general manager Ryan McDonough, one of Danny Ainge’s top lieutenants, who [...]

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11 days ago

Doc Rivers Finishes 13th in Coach of the Year Voting

It was a tough season for the Boston Celtics, and that includes for head coach Doc Rivers. The long-time coach battled to find the right fit for a lot of new pieces that were both underperforming and/or failed to pick up his schemes on both ends of the floor. Naturally, an unfortunate plethora of injuries [...]

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12 days ago

Overconfident Answers To Offseason Questions (Part 1)

It seems like every offseason since 2010 we’ve been through this: a myriad of questions and concerns about the Celtics’ roster that usually involve the possibility of the core of the team being dismantled. As we head into the summer of 2013, we’ve got a whole batch of questions, many of which will be familiar.  [...]

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Game 71/82: Bobcats (28-42) @ Celtics (50-20) Open Thread

Charlotte at Boston
7:30 P.M.
TD Garden
CSNNE

Bobcats Coach Paul Silas

Offensive Efficiency:

Boston: 104.4 points/100 possessions (15th)
Charlotte: 100.1 points/100 possessions (26th)

Defensive Efficiency:

Boston: 97.4 points allowed/100 possessions (2nd)
Charlotte: 104.4 points allowed/100 possessions (16th)

Probable Charlotte starters: DJ Augustin (PG), Gerald Henderson (SG) Stephen Jackson (SF), Boris Diaw (PF), Kwame Brown (C)

View From The Opposing Bench: Queen City Hoops

Thumbnail: Ailing Celtics, meet thy cure. The Bobcats, 2-10 over their last twelve games, are rapidly spinning down the drain, three games back of the last playoff spot in the East. On a normal night, this would be a worry, the kind of game the Celtics just love to mail in. But tonight, given all the scrutiny they’ve faced both internally and externally, we should all expect Boston to come out and thrash the Bobcats. Anything less would be a letdown. And it’s not like this team suffers letdowns, right? Especially not against Charlotte.

WHAT THE BOBCATS DO WELL

Lately, they’ve been doing precious little well.

Statistically speaking, they get to the line, or they did until the departure of Gerald Wallace, who was sent to Portland at the trading deadline as part of Michael Jordan’s nefarious plan to kill basketball in Charlotte for good. They also do a solid job of holding teams off the offensive glass, which, given Boston’s disinterest in second chance points, should give them a chance to get out and run.

Except they play at a relatively slow pace.

The one area where Charlotte may be able to overmatch the Celtics is effort. Boston’s has been spotty and while the same can be said for the Bobcats lately, their mid-level defense can rise into the elite on occasion, assuming everyone is focused (watch the Charlotte bench on that topic – they can out-energy you if not out-talent you).

WHAT THE BOBCATS DO POORLY

Bobcats Guard DJ Augustin

Score. If the Celtics D could assert itself for a whole game with the same effort we saw in the second halves against New Orleans and New York, Charlotte might not crack 60 points. Not only that, Jackson, their one periodically frightening player, has been slumping lately due to a hamstring injury. He’s shooting .320 for March, scoring only 13.4 points per game.

PLAYERS WHO MAKE ME WORRY

Every member of the Celtics.

Could there be any other answer? Boston has an advantage at every starting position tonight against the Bobcats. And even so, Charlotte could easily be up 10 points after one quarter.

Awesome.

PLAYERS WHO DO NOT MAKE ME WORRY

Every member of the Bobcats.

I’m not being glib. Look over their roster and tell me if anyone on that team worries you.

And yet they could be up by 15 at the half.

Awesome.

WHAT WE WANT TO SEE TONIGHT

A victory most of all, but one in which the Celtics lead comfortably after the first quarter would be nice. A return to crisp ball movement on the offensive side would be nicer. A low turnover total would be a joy. Rondo attacking the paint and actually finishing wide open layups would be wonderful. Nenad Krstic returning to his double-double form of a couple weeks back would also be impressive (if unlikely).

I’d just settle for the win.

PREDICTION

Boston 92 Charlotte 81

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