Stocking Treats

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and a glorious Festivus for the rest of us! I hope everyone is having a blast with friends and family. I’m really looking forward to the line-up of games tomorrow (although it will be a little tricky watching from Uluru- where there’s a will, there’s a way!). There should be some doozies particularly that Knicks-Bulls game. For all the basketball punters, here is my gift to you; a couple of tips on tomorrow’s Christmas Day Games.

Just a disclaimer here: I’m not actually betting and if anyone losses on my tips, well, my bad. Just as you wouldn’t give me a cut of your winnings, don’t expect me to reimburse you either.

Bulls at Knicks

Who knows but I’m picking the Knicks to win this one in overtime. Expect this to be a fast paced game fuelled by MVP-candidates Amar'e Stoudemire and Derrick Rose. The Knicks and Bulls score 108 and 100 points per game respectively with the Knicks attempting a league-high of almost 25 3-pointers per game. Moreover, the Knicks concede 107ppg. Pick the Knicks to win in overtime with total points over 198.

Celtics at Magic

After last week’s blockbuster trade that saw Vince Carter, Rashard Lewis and Marcin Gortat depart Orlando for incomers Jason Richardson, Gilbert Arenas and the return of Hedo Turkoglu, this game could look extremely different from pervious clashes between the Magic and Celtics. Having faced each other in the playoffs for the last two years, the Magic is rebuilding on the fly. The Celtics will have the “O’Neal Brothers” playing together for the first time this year and should prove an effective tag team against Dwight Howard. I’m not sure how the Magic will matchup with the Celtics but I am confidant of the Celtics putting on the defensive clamps and winning comfortably. Having said that this could be the pick of the games. Celtics to win and total points fewer than 198.

Heat at Lakers

LeBron. Kobe. The league’s manufactured rivalry goes head-to-head for the first time this year. There are a lot of personalities in this game; however, the Heat will definitely be facing a tough task playing in LA. The Lakers are difficult matchup for the Heat who lack size. The Lakers have a plethora of size with Bynum, Gasol and Odom in the frontcourt. The Heat has Chris Bosh, Joel Anthony and Erick Dampier. Expect Gasol to have a big night. Compounding the situation is that Dwayne Wade may not play with a sore knee. Coming off a disappointing loss at home against which the Bucks that saw Kobe ejected, expect the Lakers to win a little comfortably. (Over 198 points)

Nuggets at Thunder

A tragic scenario spoilt what was a tantalising prospect in watching a Carmello-Durant duel. Sadly, Carmello Anthony’s sister died of a pre-existing medical condition and will miss tomorrow’s game. With home court, Oklahoma will win despite a resilient Denver. In an entertaining game, pick over 198 points to be scored.

Blazers at Warriors

This is one of those games that could be very exciting or very lacklustre. The resilient Blazers have a multitude of injuries including injuries to Brandon Roy, Marcus Camby, Joel Przybilla and Greg Oden (who is injured for the season). Playing at home, the Warriors are high-octane so definitely expect a lot of points with Monta Ellis leading the rush. As for the win, the Blazers won 96-95 when they played last Saturday. I’m narrowly tipping the Warriors.

The Truth Always Comes Out

When your team is facing adversity, you look to your captain to lead the way. Enter Paul Pierce; Celtic great, 13 year veteran, future hall-of-famer, NBA Champion and Finals MVP.  This year saw him join John Havlicek and Larry Bird as the third player to reach 20 000 points solely as a Celtic. The Truth has been nothing short of astounding. His exceptional play this week was capped off when he was awarded the Eastern Conference Player of the week. He has been playing like a Captain this week starting last Wednesday with his game winning shot with .4 seconds remaining against the Knicks in New York.

The Celtics have been paid "a visit by the Blue Shield" as Doc describes his team's injured status. The team was missing 3 of its centers (that's 21 feet of centers), its MVP-candidate point guard and their backup point guard. Pierce has put this team on his shoulders with some help from the Big Three.

Pierce has answered the call and has done everything that the team has asked of him. This week has seen him play primarily as the point forward. Apart from his high volume of scoring, he has been distributing the ball as play maker, finding steals, blocking shots, drawing fouls and taking charges in playing his typical strong defense. 

The Truth is in the middle of his latest groove that resembles his greatest hot streak of his career in the 2005-2006 season. In a five-week span, Pierce averaged 34 points per game and broke a Celtics record by scoring 30 points or more in 13 of 14 games.

After enduring the flu, which couldn't stop him from missing any game time, this week saw Pierce score 32 points along with 10 rebounds against the Knicks. He then recorded a double double of 15 points and 10 assists against the Hawks on Friday. The Truth backed it up with his  7th triple-double in his career against the Pacers. He had 18 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds as well as 4 steals.

  

What makes his latest feats even more remarkable is his story.  Raised in Inglewood, California, Pierce grew up as a Lakers fan before being drafted out of Kansas by the Celtics in 1998. Pierce was a promising young talent who rose to basketball fame during the 2002 Eastern Conference Finals against New Jersey when he scored 19 of his 29 points in the fourth quarter to lead a Celtics comeback from a 21 point deficit.

In September 2000, Pierce survived a violent nightclub stabbing. He was stabbed 11 times in the face, neck and back. It was so severe that wounds half an inch closer to his lung would have been fatal. "I think about it all the time", Pierce said in reminiscing the traumatic event. "You don't ever forget something like that. It changes you." Nevertheless, Pierce was the only Celtic to start all 82 games in the 2000-01 season.

Pierce has come a long way from the player that was labelled by ESPN columnist Bill Simmons as a "moody, selfish, me-first gunner with an attitude." Coach George Karl characterised Pierce as a selfish player in Team USA's failure at the 2002 World Championships. Pierce took extensive criticism that came to a climax after Game 6 of the 2005 playoffs against the Pacers. Pierce was ejected for a hard foul and taunted the Indiana crowd by swinging his jersey above his head. He then turned up to the press conference with his jaw bandaged. Boston Globe writer Bob Ryan called it as "a game that featured the single most unforgivable, untimely, stupid, and flat-out selfish on-court act in the history of the Celtics." Celtic Patriarch, Red Auerbach, called the captain's actions "embarrassing."

However, Pierce never backed away from his adversity. The Truth was motivated to improve both on and off the court. Pierce never asked to be traded. Pierce came out and said he wanted to retire a Celtic; a refreshing scene in a landscape that sees superstars seeking greener fields and leave their former teams high and dry.

Celtics General Manager Danny Ainge has always been a staunch supporter of Pierce and has refused to trade Pierce. "Paul was always a great player," Ainge says. "It's his spirit that changed. His enthusiasm is higher."

"Life has so many hurdles. Some of them I've hopped over, and some of them I've tripped over," Pierce acknowledged after being awarded Finals MVP of the 2008 Finals. "The key is to get back up and finish the race.'

What's important is, as captain, the Truth is trying his hardest to be the best teammate. "I always try to be the best overall player I can be." That goes for both on and off the court where he is very involved in the community. Pierce may be the most proactive player in his Truth On Health Campaign in educating youth on good health and an active lifestyle.

"Paul isn't perfect," Ainge said. "He's going to make mistakes." Pierce may not be perfect but in the hearts of many basketball fans, he's very close. And that's nothing but....

Your Starting Lineup...

Hey everyone. I hope you've been enjoying the blog as much as I have been writing it. As you most probably noticed it's a basketball blog. However, I thought an introduction right about now would be appropriate in letting everyone know my steez (steez is hip-hop lingo meaning story. For those of you who don't know Gang Starr, go enlighten yourselves right now).

To say I am a bit of a basketball fanatic is a bit of understatement. If I'm not playing, watching, adjusting my Fantasy Basketball lineup or writing about basketball every day, then I am debating and discussing basketball with friends and family while PS3ing any of the Basketball games.

Who do I follow you ask? If it isn't obvious, I am a massive Celtics fan living in Sydney, Australia. I have been a Celtics fan for as long as I can remember. My earliest basketball recollection is listening to my cousins debate as to whether Bird, Magic or Jordan was best in their prime. From that moment on, I was one of the many basketball lovers who collected basketball cards and tried to reenact the NBA Top 10 list from NBA Action from that week. I even impersonated the voice while embarrassingly trying to make 360 reverse lay-ups.

I watched my first Celtics game during the Antoine Walker and Rick Pitino Era. When the C's drafted  Paul Pierce, he instantly became my favourite player. I was hooked. From that day, it was rare that I wasn't on the net watching highlights or reading reports and admiring Pierce's statistics. I would look forward to going on holiday to the States just so I could watch Celtics games on TV.

I have been to Celtic games in Boston annually since I was in Year Ten in 2002 when I saw Antoine and Pierce defeat the Orlando Magic and Tracy McGrady. It was tough going being a Celtic fan in high school especially when Lakers and Spurs fans surround you. Needless to say the Big Three V2 coming together to win the 2008 Finals was nothing short of a dream.

However, the dream was overshadowed by the nightmare of last year's finals where the Celtics lost in 7 games. Depending on how you look at it, I was fortunate enough to be at all 7 games. I was even featured in the Boston Herald after the Celtics won game 5 to lead the series 3-2 (look above). Despite the loss, I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. That doesn't mean that there isn't a large void in my basketball life. It's time for the Celtics to right the basketball world....

Until then, I will be passing on the messages of basketball. There's plenty to expect including the occasional exclusive sneak glimpse of the letters of the Basketball Gods as well as the occasional hip-hop reference. For those who need your basketball fix more frequently follow me on twitter where I tweet random basketball thoughts and opinions as well as other absurdity.

Finally, thanks peeps for all your love and support. I really do appreciate it.

As I tell my friend, it's not an obsession; Celtic Basketball is a way of life...

Why You Gotta Go My Mello My Man?

Many people would understand if the speculation would become too much of a distraction. Not for Carmello Anthony who faces intense scrutiny regarding what seems to be an imminent trade from the Nuggets. 

First, it was rumours claiming that Mello would not sign an extension unless he was traded to the Knicks.  The Nuggets offered Mello a 3 year $65 million extension prior to the start of the season that has been left on the table. Then, it was rumoured that he was going to land in New Jersey in light of their recent 3-team trade with the Rockets and Lakers.  “Who? I haven’t heard that one. Am I? I don’t know, dawg. This is new,” Mello responded when a reporter relayed a report that he would be headed to New Jersey on Wednesday. “I haven’t heard that. I’m officially saying I know nothing about it.”

Surely this is all becoming a slight distraction? “I’ve got a game here Thursday night against San Antonio and that’s what I’m focused on, “ Mello said. “All that other stuff, I’m not even paying attention to right now.”

Facing Eastern Conference contenders, Orlando Magic, at home last night, Mello recorded 35 points on a very efficient 14-21 along with 11 rebounds. If not for some late game lapses, this game could very possibly have been a rematch of the 2009 Finals where the Lakers eliminated the Nuggets in the Conference Finals 4-2 before defeating the Magic in the finals. Need I remind anyone of Ariza’s steal at half court in Game One in LA? That would’ve given the Nuggets a 2-0 advantage in taking the series to Denver. 

That’s what makes it so hard to understand. My Mello my man is so close. He was there. He had it. He possibly still has it there. Somewhere in this Nuggets team is the capability to reach the conference finals again and give this year’s Lakers team a real shake. 

It must be difficult for someone who has achieved so much in his basketball career to feel like they are playing on such a mediocre team right now. In his one season at Syracuse University, Carmello Anthony averaged 22.1 points and 10 rebounds in lead the Orangemen to their first ever NCAA tournament title in 2003. His 33- point effort against the University of Texas in the Final Four was an NCAA tournament record for most points by a freshman and he later earned the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player Award. Carmello had originally intended to play at Syracuse for two or three seasons but declared himself eligible for the 2003 NBA draft after he felt that he had accomplished all of his goals. 

In his first season the Nuggets finished with a record of 43-39 and made the playoffs as an eight seed. The previous season they finished with a 17-65 record. It was the worst record in the NBA.

But my Mello my man why would you go to an Eastern Conference that is so top heavy with finals contenders that it feels like an arms race at times? 

My Mello my man, where else can you relax defensively for the first three quarters of a game? I guess in New York but they don’t even know what defense even is to try it in the fourth quarter. Those guys are on serious cruise control.

My mellow my man, where else can you be the man? They love you here. In Denver you are revelled as an offensive prowess. Mello can indubitably score at will. He may be the best individual scorer in the NBA right now. Mello tied an NBA record when he scored 33 points in the 3rd quarter of a home win over the Timberwolves in December 2008. He finished the game with 45 points on 12-15 shooting, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 4 steals.

Mello, you are the Nuggets’ primary option. You take 19 shots per game with the offense catered specifically for you by Coach George Karl. Your team wants you to be selfish in helping the team win games. Take 30 shots. Go ahead take 50 shots. The more the better. Regardless of whether the shot is successful, Coach Karl and your teammates will encourage you to take another 100 shots. 

During the 2008 season, the Nuggets traded Allen Iverson for Chauncey Billups. Many were critical of the trade questioning why the Nuggets would trade Iverson’s expiring contract for Billups lucrative contract. Coach Karl knew that Billups would be more of a compliment to Carmello’s game, as Iverson and Carmello were players that demanded the ball. 

My Mello my man, you are the man. As much as the situation mirrors what LeBron experienced in free agency, this Nuggets team has more pieces in place to contend for a title. The Nuggets is well coached by the seasoned George Karl and have a team with a lot of young talent in the backcourt with Ty Lawson, JR Smith and Afflalo. There’s also a solid frontcourt of Nene and Al Harrington with the Birdman, Chris Anderson, to return from injury soon.

My Mello my man, you shouldn’t have to go anywhere. People should be lining up to come join you and Coach Karl in Denver. Wanted: bigs who play D. 

Bobcat Got The Tongue?

Late Saturday night found angry owner of the Charlotte Bobcats Michael Jordan charging into the locker room for a postgame tongue-lashing of his lackluster team. "I didn't say anything. Michael had a lot to say”, said Bobcats coach Larry Brown. Jordan had planned to address the team’s season form on Monday, but addressed the team after witnessing the team's poor night.

It was definitely not pretty but it was consecutive win number ten for the Celtics and it was in a 93-62 blowout victory over the Charlotte Bobcats. The Celts gave a good old-fashioned beating who were locked in with their team trademark defense. “Defensively, we were just talkative”, said Kevin Garnett. “The communication was loud, it was constant.” 

What is more impressive is that this team is winning with a multitude of injuries which has forced them into giving the 3rd string centre, Turkish rookie, Semih Erden significant playing time. 

“They’ll talk a lot about him in Turkey tonight,” Allen said. “He deserves the credit because he played well for us.” 

Although looking shaky in the low post on defence, you have got to give Semih his props as he continues to play hard despite requiring surgery on his severely injured shoulder. Semih recorded ten points and seven rebounds along with four blocks. He had the highest plus/minus of +34.

This wasn’t a game note worthy for its offense as the Bobcats and Celtics struggled in the first half with shooting percentages of 39% and 38% respectively. Pierce and Allen struggled in the first half with Pierce shooting 1/6 and finished 1-9. Allen finished 4-11 but scored 16 points with 6-6 in free throws.   

Doc has always preached defense particularly on offensive nights like this and it was the inspired play of Garnett along with the bench mobsters, Marquis Daniels and Glen “Growing Boy” Davis that lead to the lopsided victory. 

“That’s all we talked about this morning,” Rivers said. “We made a point about it (team defense). We’ve talked about our slippage over the last three or four games”.

Garnett recorded his 18th double-double of the season with 13 points and 11 rebounds in just 23 minutes.

“Second half, I thought we blew the game wide open with just out defense,” Garnett said. “I thought it lead to some easy baskets and some flow. The rest is history”.

Doc has placed Davis as the leader of the second unit in giving much needed continuity between the starters and the bench. He is picking up the pieces and his energy is astounding in setting screens, rebounding, taking charges (he leads the league at 27) passing as well as shooting. He recorded 16 points and 7 rebounds.

Marquis scored 10 points, shooting 2-3 3pts with 6 rebounds as well keeping his hands active in gaining 3 steals. “(We’re) just coming out, taking care of business and playing good Celtics basketball”, Marquis said.

Marquis and Davis triggered an 8-0 run at the end of the first quarter. Davis scored 9 points in the second quarter to hold the lead. The starters pushed the lead out to 17 in the third quarter on the back of Garnett’s strong play. 

For the Bobcats, saying it was a miserable night is an understatement. The lone highlight was Nazr Mohammed’s strong low post play of 14 points, 2 steals and 2 blocks as well as disrupting many more plays that weren’t recorded in the statistics.

However, when your 2 all stars score 21 points on 8-27 shooting and are as lifeless as a dead gold fish, what chance do you have, if any, of beating a contending team?

Hopefully Jordan’s talk is as inspiring as his game.

The Apology Letter

Dear Philly,


We’re sorry. You didn’t deserve to lose this game at home and have your home streak snapped at 5 games. We know it was your first national television appearance for the year (and we know for how long for that matter). We know you played harder, faster and with more energy and focus. We should’ve let you win in front of your home crowd albeit half of them were Celts fans.


As coach Doug Collins dishearteningly said “What a heartbreaking loss. It was just a shame. It would have been an incredible win for us here tonight.”


It was a game where the margin was never larger than 8 points. Meeks was possessed shooting 6-9 for 19 points with 4-4 from 3pt territory. Iggy had his usual stat line of 14 points and 11 assists with 2 steals. We even let Young and Williams, 2 of your bench players, score a combined 32 points on 12-21 with Williams hitting 4-5 3pts. You outrebounded the Celtics 39 to 33 and obtained 15 offensive rebounds with Brand pulling down 8 of those in his rebound total of 14 and ran for 22 points in transition. You only had 11 turnovers for the entire game against a premiere defense that had 15 turnovers.


But what can we do when the team you’re facing is destined for bigger things. This Celtics team is hell-bent on getting back to where it must’ve felt like hell this past offseason. They want that ring and they are willing to go back through the ring of fire.


Never mind that this was a team playing the second game of a back-to-back and at times this resembled a muck-up game between teachers and students with the 76ers average of 23 as opposed to the Celtics’ average age of 28 with 5 players over 30 with Shaq turning 39 in March. Never mind that the Celtics are injury plagued with four of their players out, three of which are centres. Never mind that those who are playing are also carrying injuries. Rondo FedEx continues to deliver with a double double of 19 points and 14 assists despite hobbling around on the court. Ray “Jesus” Allen, their most reliable player for the night was also the oldest player at 35. He shot 23 points on 7-10 shooting along with a perfect 7-7 in free throws. This guy doesn’t understand the concept of aging. Even their captain Paul Pierce is ill.


“It was a gutsy win,” Pierce said. “It didn’t seem like we had it all night. We couldn’t get really consistent momentum in the game or get a consistent flow. But good teams find a way to win. There was good execution down the stretch.”


This was the game that Doc forewarned that his team would steal when they had no right when we punished them for not playing the entire game and simply trying to turn it on for the last quarters of the Durant-less Thunder and Toronto games in November. Garnett even acknowledged it in his usual trash talking sense after his huge lay in with 1 second left gave the C's the win at 102-101. “Rajon threw a perfect pass and I just banked it,” Garnett said. “The crazy part about all that is that I messed that play up so many times in practice. It’s only right that the basketball gods gave it to me tonight. It was a good win for us, a grind-out win. This team has been playing unbelievably.”


We know. We shouldn’t have listened to KG. But he plays so hard every night and is so intense that he even intimidates us and we give in to his will. We really are sorry. If it’s any consolation, if you continue to play that hard every night, than we will more than likely reward you. Think of it this way, the way the Celtics need to bring it the entire game, you need to bring it every night. Even though you are not at that level, you have to play hard every night. It could’ve been worse. We could have let you lose by 20 on national television and not even let it build into an absorbing contest.


Sincerely,


The Basketball Gods.


PS. Although they say that 90% of basketball is effort, there is still the other 10%. If you think that in appeasing us know it is essential to play pick and roll defense. We know that Elton Brand is trying awfully hard but he was awful defensively giving up lay ups rather than rotate to protect the cup.