Saturday, May 31, 2008

Eastern Conf Finals (Game 6) Highlight

The Celtics are going to NBA Finals. The last time that happens is back in 1987, when the original Big Three are still playing.


(Photo by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images)

(Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

(AP Photo/Paul Sancya)

Watch game highlight (NBA TV), post-game press by Doc Rivers (NBA TV) and by the players (NBA TV).

This is the best fourth quarter that Celtics have played in the playoff, where Pistons are still up by 10 points early. The C's have kept their poise when things go rough. Paul Pierce has exerted his will, after a bad call, and follows with sequence of big play. That is great leadership and his teammates follow him.

Pistons are still in the game with less than two minutes to play. But James Posey steals the ball from Tayshaun Prince and thus forcing the P's to foul. Doc Rivers has opted Posey, instead of Ray Allen, for the entire fourth quarter to guard Chauncey Billups.

Thursday, May 29, 2008

Eastern Conf Finals (Game 5) Highlight

This one goes to the wire. Celtics makes a 16-4 run in the second quarter and builds a 13 points lead after three quarters. But the Pistons fights back for the exciting finish.

Watch game highlight (NBA TV) and post-game press (NBA TV).

(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)


(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Celtics' starters have played their best game, prompting Doc Rivers to shorten the rotation and play them most of the game.

Kendrick Perkins is a beast on the posts, graping 16 rebounds and scoring 18 points. Ray Allen has his best shooting game, making 5 of 6 3-pointers (scoring 29 points). Few of those are assisted by Rondo. He has 13 assists in total. The screen-n-roll set between Allen and Kevin Garnett have repeatly paid dividends. When the P's fails to close-in Allen, he makes them paid. Later when the P's blanket Allen, he rolls the ball to Garnett and KG makes his mid-range shots. Garnett has 33 points. With the C's game clicking in all cylinders, Paul Pierce compliments with his all-round game on both ends. He has 16 points.

In the final minute, with just 1 point lead and the C's inbounds from P's end, Allen and Garnett runs the screen-n-roll again. Only this time Garnett has set a hard pick, allowing Allen the space to make his shot and brings the lead back to 3. Nice play.

C's responds to P's physical play with physical. In game 4 the Celtics' offense gets thrown-off because they are intimidated by the physical plays. Tonight they are ready. As an indication, take a look at the rebound stats, C's has a 42-25 advantage.

On the negative side, the C's is still learning how to finish the fourth quarter. When the score gets uncomfortably close, they get passive and giving-up the lead. If there is a game 7, the C's must do a better job to finish it off.

Tuesday, May 27, 2008

Eastern Conf Finals (Game 4) Highlight

The Pistons should have pulled the game away much earlier.

Watch game highlight (NBA TV) and post-game press (NBA TV).



Instead, the Celtics stay competitive till last two plus minutes, thanks for the free-thow disparity. C's has more points from the line (32) than from the field early in the fourth quarter.

The P's forces the Big Three out of rhythm with defense. Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen combines to miss their first seven shots and finished 11-for-38 from the field.

Antonio McDyess has his best game of the playoffs for Pistons, scoring 21 points and grabbing 16 rebounds.

Doc Rivers is still joggling with his option for backup PGs. Sam Cassell has his pros and cons. At times Cassell's confidence over-spills for erratic outside shooting, rather than running the offence, and disrupting the rhythm of the team.

Sunday, May 25, 2008

Eastern Conf Finals (Game 3) Highlight

The Celtics has rejuvenated from previous home lost. Their energy level in the first-half are impressive.

Watch game highlight (NBA TV) and post-game press (NBA TV).

(Photo by Allen Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images)

The Big Three scores as much as the supporting cast. Kevin Garnett (22), Ray Allen (14) and Pierce (11) combined for 47 points to match the rest of the team. Kendrick Perkins, Rajon Rondo and James Posey each scored 12 for the Celtics.

The Pistons, on the other hand, are not as balance as in game 2. Tayshaun Prince scores 4 points and Chauncey Billups has 6, combining to shoot 3-for-17.

Friday, May 23, 2008

Eastern Conf Finals (Game 2) Highlight

The Pistons show that they are the best team in the East.

Watch game highlight (NBA TV) and post-game press (NBA TV).



The P's are resilient and mentally strong. They keep hitting tough shots through Celtics' defence, and making key stops in the final minutes. The C's have staged several comeback attempts, but each time the P's answer. And it is not just one or two players, everybody from starters to the bench (Rodney Stuckey) have stepped up.

The Big Three combines 75 points in a losing effort.

The problem now is how the Celtics can win at least a game in Detroit, with the Big Three have already played at near peak efficiency and still comes up short. Doc Rivers have blamed it on C's defence. Sure, the C's fails to switch to Richard Hamilton and leaves Kevin Garnett in a mis-match, and no one is guarding Chauncey Billups when he catches the in-bound pass for a layup under the basket in the final minute.



So it remains to be seen if the C's has to play a perfect road game in order to get a win.

Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Eastern Conf Finals (Game 1) Highlight

(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

One debate before this series is, whether playing long stretch in previous rounds will play a factor against the Celtics and, conversely, benefit the Pistons.

Watch game highlight (NBA TV) and post-game press (NBA TV).

As Game 1 turns out, the C's is playing in rhythm and with aggression, and their opponent looks a bit rusty. The C's has total of 27 assists and shooting at 52.2 percent.

(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett combines 48 points. Rajon Rondo has 7 assists and 5 steals.

Tuesday, May 20, 2008

Celtics' "secret weapon"

Stephen J. Dubner and Steven D. Levitt provides this insight.

The Boston Celtics have for the past few years been one of the most data-driven teams in the league. The team employs what the general manager, Danny Ainge, calls his “secret weapon,” a 32-year-old named Mike Zarren, who seems to know every data point about every NBA player, past and present.

Kevin Garnett calls him Numbers, the Celtics Dancers call him Stats and Paul Pierce calls him MIT (his actual title is Basketball Operations Analyst).

Ainge says. “Mike is a much smarter guy than I am. I’m open to smarter people than me. It still comes down to my instincts. I have to make the choice, no matter what my scouts say, no matter what the models say. I don’t think it’s realistic to think that a statistical model will ever be foolproof in basketball because there are so many variables, but I do think it can help us.”

There are two channels through which Zarren can help the Celtics. The first is by assessing potential deals and draft picks, which means bouncing information off of Ainge. The second channel is strategic advice, which means going to Doc Rivers, whom Ainge says is “skeptically receptive” to Zarren’s insights.


Q. What’s the most efficient shot to take besides a layup?
A. Easy, says Zarren: a three-pointer from the corner.

Q. What’s one of the most misused, misinterpreted statistics?
A. “Turnovers are way more expensive than people think,” Zarren says. That’s because most teams focus on the points a defense scores from the turnover but don’t correctly value the offense’s opportunity cost — that is, the points it might have scored had the turnover not occurred.

Zarren admits that Ray Allen’s worth goes far beyond his perimeter shooting, that Rajon Rondo’s rebounding was an undervalued asset, that Leon Powe’s surprisingly strong play was not so surprising to the Celtics and that, as transformative a player as Garnett was known to be, he has generated a variety of offensive and defensive pluses that even the Celtics didn’t anticipate.

Zarren is also responsible for the Celtics’ basketball-related technology and uses a service that delivers video footage tagged with statistical information. With just a few mouse clicks, he can call up every clip in which LeBron James has touched the ball at the top of the key and see whether he went left or right, is double-teamed or not, passes or shoot — and, if the latter, whether he misses, scores or is fouled. So if the Celtics dampen Lebron’s scoring the next time they play a high-stakes game against the Cavaliers, Zarren might be entitled to a smidgen of credit.

(Photo by Jim Rogash/Getty Images)

If one wonders how much it has panned out in the Cavaliers series, take a look at Lebron James' stat sheet. He is shooting 35 percent (55 of 155). But in Game 7 yesterday, he explodes and scores 45 points in 48 percent shooting (14 of 29). He is eventually stopped baseline by PJ Brown, who has been inserted in the decisive quarter.

Monday, May 19, 2008

Celtics-Cavaliers Playoff (Game 7) Highlight

This is a thriller. The shoot-out between Paul Pierce and Lebron James will be remembered as one of the NBA Classics, next to another Game 7 Classics 20 years ago between Larry Bird and Dominique Wilkins.

Paul Pierce and Lebron James combine for 86 points.

Watch game highlight (NBA TV), post-game press by Pierce (NBA TV) and Doc Rivers (NBA TV).

(Photo by Steve Babineau/NBAE/Getty )

But it isn't just Pierce, the rest of C's make crucial play towards the end: PJ Brown's plays on both end of the court, Eddie House's interception and James Posey forcing jump ball.

One of Pierce's biggest play does not reflect in stats sheet. With one-minute to play and a 3 points lead, he steals the jump-ball intended for LeBron and calling time-out.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

Celtics-Cavaliers Playoff (Game 6) Highlight

The Cavs have forced Game 7.

Watch game highlight (NBA TV) and post-game press (NBA TV).



Both teams play hard, even though neither team have shot well. The Celtics have fought their way back, from 16 points deficit in the third, to 3 points margin with 16 seconds remaining in the clock. The fact that the C's haven't quit is a good sign.

But Celtics have given too many fouls and the Cavs capitalise. Lebron James alone scores 13 of his 32 points from the foul line. He also has 6 of the team's 10 assists, 12 rebounds and 2 steals.

Doc Rivers have inserted Eddie House and Glen Davis into rotation, instead of Sam Casssell and Leon Powe. The result is mixed. While House has contributed some quick buckets, Davis has lot of trouble around the rim.

With the experience of previous round, the C's should be more mentally prepared to handle the intensity of another game 7. Added with the energy of home court, the C's hopefully can continue to clamp on Lebron James, as they have done a good job so far, but without giving up silly foul.

Thursday, May 15, 2008

Celtics-Cavaliers Playoff (Game 5) Highlight

This is the best game of the series so far. Both teams have performed under pressure. With a strong third quarter and the crowd behind, Celtics are able to protect the margin to the finish.

Watch game highlight (NBA TV, ESPN) and post-game press (NBA TV).

Lebron James has his best offensive game (35 points and 5 assists). But Rajon Rondo has counter Lebron's performance with his own 20 points, 13 assists, 2 steals and 2 blocks. Not known for his shooting touch, Rondo makes consecutive 3 pointers in the second.

Critics have been over Doc Rivers' bench substitution in Game 4, in favouring Sam Cassell and Glen Davis instead of Eddie House and Leon Powe. Doc continues the same rotation in Game 5, but sticking with Rondo more instead of Cassell. Glen Davis' energy has also given the C's a lift.


(Photo by Brian Babineau/Getty Images)

Both Kevin Garnett (26 points, 16 rebounds and three blocks) and Paul Pierce (29 points) have big game .

Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Celtics-Cavaliers Playoff (Game 4) Highlight

Celtics lose in a hard-fight game, even though their offence is still out of sync. But in the fourth, the momentum has shifted away from the C's and Lebron James dominates.

The Cavs now has the upper-hand in this series, as they have figured out how to score over Celtics' defence. And on the contrary, the C's aren't playing well under pressure.

Watch game highlight (NBA TV) and post-game press (NBA TV).

How often do you see the mother of NBA superstar get into game action. Happy Mother's Day.

Sunday, May 11, 2008

Celtics-Cavaliers Playoff (Game 3) Highlight

The Celtics get blown out. During the regular season the C's are really only blown out once in the regular season (back on March 14 against the Jazz). But so far this postseason, they are 0-4 on the road.

Watch game highlight (NBA TV) and post-game press (NBA TV).



The Celtics shoots just 40% from the field while allowing 53% shooting from the Cavs. Doc Rivers said, "We got great shots to start the game, but when we started missing them, and instead of being the solid defensive team we've been, we got down because our offense was down."

To me it sounds like the C's still lacks the cohesiveness to fight through adversity, which will be tested again and again before they can reach championship caliber, like the Pistons.

LeBron James has a better-than-solid stats (21 points, eight assists, five rebounds, four steals and three blocks), but again is inconsistent, in missing 11 of 16 attempts. But his newly acquired teammates comes up big, including Delonte West (21 points) and Wally Szczerbiak (16 points), the two ex-Celtics. Joe Smith has 17, Ben Wallace adds 9 points and 9 rebounds.

Friday, May 9, 2008

Celtics-Cavaliers Playoff (Game 2) Highlight

LeBron James continue his shooting slump (6 for 24), while Ray Allen and Paul Pierece bounces back (16 and 19 respectively).

Watch game highlight (NBA TV) and post-game press (NBA TV).

Celtics' suffocating defense is executed perfectly. LeBron wants to get to the bucket off pick-and-rolls (85% of their offense, James says) so his defenders are fighting over the top of screens while Kevin Garnett or Kendrick Perkins traps him on the other end. And when he wants to pass out of those double teams to the open teammate, the weakside defenders are rotating and closing to the shooter as soon as the pass is in the air.

(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)

Celtics finishes the first quarter down 24-17, after missing 8 of 15 shots while Cleveland shot 52.4 percent from the field. Entering the second quarter are Leon Powe, James Posey, PJ Brown, Sam Cassell and only one starter on the floor in Pierce. Using mostly reserves in the second, Boston outscores Cleveland 27-12 in the frame to vault to a 44-36 halftime lead and never looks back.

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Celtics-Cavaliers Playoff (Game 1) Highlight

With Ray Allen failing to score and Paul Pierce getting just 4 points, the Celtics find a way to win the game. That's playoff basketball.

Watch game highlight (NBA TV) and post-game press (NBA TV).



Celtics' team defence crowds LeBron James into shooting 2 for 18 (12 points), while keeping the rest of the Cavs in-check, especially 3 Points FG (22.2%).

Kevin Garnett scores 28 to make up for an off-night for the rest of the Big Threes. Rajon Rondo scores 8 of his 15 points in first quarter, and Sam Cassell scores 8 of his 13 points in the fourth.

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

Ray Allen - All About Preparation (and Ritual)

Jackie MacMullan provides this insight.


Ray Allen is second all-time in 3-pointers (behind Reggie Miller).

He has a pregame ritual that does not waver:
a nap from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., a meal of chicken and white rice at 2:30, an arrival time at the gym at precisely 3:45 to stretch. Allen will shave his head, then walk out to the court at exactly 4:30. He will methodically take shots from both baselines, both elbows, and the top of the key.

When Allen was 8, he had to drop in five lefty layups and five righty layups before he could leave the gym. Sometimes another team needed the floor and he'd run out of time before he could complete his ritual.

"I cried," Allen says. "It messed up my day."

They nicknamed him "Hollywood" when he arrived at the University of Connecticut because he was always color-coordinated, always meticulously groomed. Allen roomed with Travis Knight at UConn. Knight was disorganized, messy. Worst of all, he squeezed the toothpaste tube from the middle. "We said they'd never last together," says UConn coach Jim Calhoun, "and they didn't." Calhoun said, "Ray does things the right way, and expects others to do them, too. People are sloppy - in their preparation, in the way they present themselves."

Allen is outspoken about Kevin Garnett's sweater-and-tie combos, and the omnipresent Adidas logo on everything he wears. He critizes Eddie House for shooting halfcourt shots at intermission at the opposing team's basket.

"I had a borderline case of OCD [obsessive compulsive disorder]," Allen explains. "I was never diagnosed, but it was something I was aware of."

This is how Allen's mind works. If there is a speck of paper on the floor in his house, he cannot walk by without picking it up. He has tried. He has purposely marched up the stairs without correcting the glaring imperfection, but he's unable to eliminate the image from his mind until he goes back down, throws the scrap in the wastebasket, and restores order in his home.

Allen is certain his philosophy works. When he played in Seattle, a veteran leader among a mass of young, floundering talent, he would complete his pregame pattern, then retreat to the locker room where he'd read, often for more than an hour, before anyone else showed up. Allen started a ritual of a halfcourt huddle at the end of games. He didn't just talk to the Sonics about being professional, he showed them how to be professional. Even after a double-digit loss, there was Allen, his head shaved, his shirt tucked in, reading a book, prepared to fight again.

The Celtics have benefited most from Allen, who admits he's made more concessions this season than all the others combined. Doc Rivers said, "Our young guys are lucky to be around him. Too often these kids make it to the NBA and they settle. Ray won't let them." Allen talks to Perkins and Glen Davis about their social life. Allen doesn't drink alcohol. He reminds the young big men, "You have all summer to go out. Do it then. Not now. Not with so much at stake."

There is, however, the free-wheeling Pierce, who never does anything quite the same from game to game. One night Allen gets on the plane and says, "Paul, you're in the wrong seat." Pierce told him, "Man, there's a hundred seats open. Leave me alone."

Pierce says he plans to adopt some of Allen's eating habits and offseason workouts. But that's where he draws the line.

"If I had to stick to the exact same thing every day, I'd kill myself," Pierce says. "What happens if you go for your pregame meal and there's no more salmon in the freezer?" "I love Ray, but I don't get it. I'm not ever going to be at the free throw line saying, 'Damn, I didn't get my parking spot today."

The trio of stars has banged into each other throughout the long NBA season. Sometimes, they've even traded elbows. But, when that happens, Ray Allen has learned to retreat to his corner, regroup, and find a way to adapt.

The space he calls the Boston Celtics can get cluttered. Very cluttered. But, according to Allen's careful calculations, there is still plenty of space inside for a championship trophy.

Monday, May 5, 2008

Celtics-Hawks Playoff (Game 7) Highlight

Playing at home court, the Celtics' defence have suffocated the Hawks to shooting 29.3%. Another impressive stats is the foul-calls, allowing only 16 free-throw attempt, which takes away any chance of closing-in the score. So the Hawks have been completely blown out.

Watch game highlight (NBA TV) and post-game press (NBA TV).



Kendrick Perkins has eight points, six rebounds and two blocks in the first quarter.

Doc Rivers said, "I thought (Perkins) set the tone defensively as much as anyone. I thought Kendrick and P.J. Brown, in the stretch he played in the second quarter, was as good as you're going to get."

'Sleepless in Boston ...'
Several guys could not sleep after the loss in game 6. Ray Allen finds himself sending text message to teammates at 12 the night before the game. Perkins couldn't sleep until 2:30 Sunday morning. Garnett likewise. Doc Rivers needs to take Ambien. Paul Pierce is so happy that the game was at 1pm. He said, "there was no way I could of sat at home today all day today because of my anxiousness to get back on the court after game 6 from the way I been feeling the past couple days."

Saturday, May 3, 2008

Celtics-Hawks Playoff (Game 6) Highlight

The Hawks have forced game 7. They are down by 12 in the second and nine in the third, but play a strong fourth quarter.

The Celtics continue to double teaming Joe Johnson every time, but he is able to set up all his teammates for open looks all game long. That lead to a huge run in the fourth that put Celtics on its heals.

The Hawks continue to enjoy the foul-call advantage (47-25 free throws). Pierce fouls out on a disputed call and spends final 4:44 minutes on the bench.

Watch game highlight (NBA TV, ESPN).

Friday, May 2, 2008

Celtics-Hawks Playoff (Game 5) Highlight

Doc Rivers get Paul Pierce into offence right from the start. Despite running a gauntlet of shoves, bumps and elbows on every move to the hole, Pierce regains his aggressiveness, looking for his shot and in the flow.

Defensively everyone turn up the intensity, doubling Joe Johnson on every possession and holding the Hawks to just four fast-break points.

Watch game highlight (NBA TV) and Pierce's highlight (NBA TV).

(Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)