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16 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 [...]

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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 [...]

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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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On The Board: Celtics 96, Pistons 85

ESPN Box Score • Detroit Bad Boys • Piston Powered

Oh my how the Celtics needed that!

And the best news is that the Celtics held the Pistons under 90 points after failing to prevent that in their first three games.  Were there defensive lapses? Sure.  But the overall defensive display was impressive.

Along with the return of defensive basketball, the Celtics also got some unexpected contributions from Jermaine O’Neal  (19 points, 7 Rebounds, ZOMG +25!) and the Cap’n Paul Pierce (12 points).  Pierce’s line may have looked pedestrian by his standards, but he showed no ill-effects from the heel injury and made all his patented step-back jumpers.

Despite the convincing win, the Celtics’ all bench unit still looks pretty lost.  That is definitely something to watch as the season goes on.

* * *

We’ll have more for you Celtics’ fans to chew on tomorrow but tonight, I’ll leave you with this:

During the post-game presser, Doc Rivers mentioned that he took Lawrence Frank out to dinner last night (they are former colleagues after all) and Doc said that there was “no chance” Paul was going to play.  As you well know, Pierce did play and really changed the entire way the Celtics started the game.  He also was the only player with which the Celtics ran isolation plays.

It’s funny.  After years of seeing Pierce be the offense and go exclusively “one on five” for substantial stretches, I never thought I would be so happy to see him post his defender up on the wing, face up, and make a move.  This may prove to be the biggest luxury the Celtics have this season.

After the game,  Frank had this to say about Pierce:

“Paul changes the game for them. Regardless, I know he’s only practiced once this whole year, but you know what he’s capable of doing.  He’s an outstanding defender as well.  He’s got a pretty decent shot at the Hall of Fame.”

I wasn’t actually in the room when Frank said this, but I can only imagine that he was joking a little.  Pierce not making the Hall of Fame?  He’s underrated but not THAT underrated.

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