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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 [...]

2
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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Game 82/82: Knicks (42-39) @ Celtics (55-26)

Is It Finally Avery's Turn To Shine?

New York at Boston
TD Garden
8:00 PM EST
CSNNE

Offensive Efficiency:
Boston: 103.9 points/100 possessions (19th)
New York: 108.4 points/100 possessions (5th)

Defensive Efficiency:
Boston: 97.7 points allowed/100 possessions (2nd)
New York: 106.9 points allowed/100 possessions (21st)

Probable NY starters: Chauncey Billups (PG), Landry Fields (SG), Carmelo Anthony (SF), Shawne Williams (PF), Ronny Turiaf (C)

Probable BOS starters: Carlos Arroyo (PG), Von Wafer (SG), Jeff Green (SF), Glen Davis (PF), Jermaine O’Neal (C)

View from the opposing bench: Knickerblogger

Thumbnail: It took the Celtics until game 82 to finally find meaninglessness. During Monday’s game with Washington, the second seed was still undecided. But nothing’s on the line tonight in this glorified exhibition game that also serves as an unrepresentative playoff preview. Doc Rivers will rest his starters, Amare Stoudamire and Delonte West will sit with injuries, and defense will likely be played in passing, if at all.

So why watch? Let’s see if we can’t find a few reasons.

Reason #1: Avery Bradley. Conditions are perfect for the C’s rookie PG tonight. Rajon Rondo has the night off. West is hurt. Arroyo can’t play the whole game. Bradley may break his season high in minutes, 15, which he set back in December against the Nets. It would almost be cruel for Doc to anchor him to the bench tonight, wouldn’t it? This is his last chance at game action until next fall.

Reason #2: Jeff Green. The fleet forward tore up the Wizards on Monday night for 20 points and 15 rebounds in 47 long minutes. You can read little into the specific numbers but the extended run and improved rhythm can only help him going into a playoff season that may serve as a referendum on his time in Boston. He got up 20 shots Monday. Let’s hope for that many again tonight.

Reason #3: Jermaine O’Neal. JO put up a 15 and 13 line on Monday and tagged on 5 blocks, all impressive totals. But even more striking are the 37 minutes he logged. He hadn’t played that many minutes since March 18, 2010. Back in the lineup now for 7 games, is it possible that O’Neal really will live up to his Feb 5 tweet where he promised “I know I haven’t been out there much this year, but I promise I will be there when the Cs need me the most! That I guarantee!”? ‘Cause that time is now.

Reason #4: Mike and Tommy. The NBA knows you hate listening to your local announcers and will shuttle Mike and Tommy off the air at the conclusion of the first round. So, this is your last chance to listen to Tommy in his relaxed state. By Sunday night, he should be practically volcanic.

Reason #5: Your blood pressure. Of course, the tension rises for all Celtics fans this weekend. Tonight is the last game where you can laugh off a bad call or a subpar Boston effort. Speaking of which…

WHAT WE WANT TO SEE FROM BOSTON TONIGHT

  • Avery Bradley logging 25 minutes and drawing more iron or mesh than air on his jumpers. A career-high in points (6) is not out of the question.
  • Jeff Green dominating offensively against a small New York front line and containing Anthony, like we hope he’ll do come Sunday night.
  • A JO performance, circa 2001.
  • No more #%@#% injuries.
  • Gino.

PREDICTION:

Boston 108 New York 104

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