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Topic: Boston Celtics - NBA
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Posted: 02-Apr-2008 10:30	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Anybody following the basketball at the moment. There is a genuine great chance of a Celtics V Lakers Finals this year. You can be sure the NBA are praying for it. It should be at least a Celtics v `Wild West winners` as there are 9 teams in contention for the Western Conference. Difference this year is that the 2 best teams in the NBA maybe in the East for once with the Celtics and the Pistons going 1/2 in most team rankings. Since the Kevin Garnett trade, Boston were talked about as playoff contenders, but nobody saw the impact that Garnett would have turning them from a basket case (sorry ) into the best team in the league, they`ve already won more games this year (57 ) than the last 2 years combined.. Its why he is in the shake up for the MVP with Bryant, Chris Paul. Think I might shell out for a month of the NASN channel if the Celtics get there..
slogger_jogger (83 Posts)	Posted: 02-Apr-2008 10:31	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
slogger_jogger (83 Posts)	Going to see them play the Knicks in MSG in just under a fortnight, can`t wait. Pity the Knicks suck though.
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Posted: 02-Apr-2008 10:40	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Originally posted by slogger_jogger: Going to see them play the Knicks in MSG in just under a fortnight, can`t wait. Pity the Knicks suck though. I saw the Celtics Play several times during the playoffs when they had `Twoine` and the Bomb`s Away team during the 01/02 season. They made the Eastern finals, but that was more a reflection of the paucity of the East than the merits of the Green that year. The Boston Public new it too, there was never a problem getting tickets, so I got to see Jordan play with the Wizards, I also saw Garnett play for the Timberwolves and remember thinking he would be awesome with Boston. It took 5 more years but he made it. The only game you could not get tickets too was the Lakers. Even when Boston sucked, they wanted to see the Lakers and boo them. It maybe the only genuine `old firm` like rivalry in Basketball.
JoNinety (Power User)	Posted: 02-Apr-2008 10:45	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
JoNinety (Power User)	Celtics don`t have much play-off experience. They`ll be gone in one of the earlier rounds of the play-offs.
Corbally Legend (828 Posts)	Posted: 02-Apr-2008 10:45	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
Corbally Legend (828 Posts)	Morales would love this talk...
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Posted: 02-Apr-2008 10:57	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Originally posted by JoNinety: Celtics don`t have much play-off experience. They`ll be gone in one of the earlier rounds of the play-offs. Well, I think Doc River`s (the coach ) is cogniscent of that fact. Thats why he has been getting them to finish games hard. Plus, their record is 57w-16l this year and they have beaten every team in the League at least once. Including a record of 26w - 5l against the supposedly superior Wetern Conference teams. So the point is they may well lose games, but I dont think they will lose over 5 and 7 game series, nobody will get 3 or 4 wins against them.. One reason - Defence. Rated #1 in the league
Ice (612 Posts)	Posted: 02-Apr-2008 11:43	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
Ice (612 Posts)	Originally posted by Joe`s Toes: Anybody following the basketball at the moment. There is a genuine great chance of a Celtics V Lakers Finals this year. You can be sure the NBA are praying for it. It should be at least a Celtics v `Wild West winners` as there are 9 teams in contention for the Western Conference. Difference this year is that the 2 best teams in the NBA maybe in the East for once with the Celtics and the Pistons going 1/2 in most team rankings. Since the Kevin Garnett trade, Boston were talked about as playoff contenders, but nobody saw the impact that Garnett would have turning them from a basket case (sorry ) into the best team in the league, they`ve already won more games this year (57 ) than the last 2 years combined.. Its why he is in the shake up for the MVP with Bryant, Chris Paul. Think I might shell out for a month of the NASN channel if the Celtics get there.. I keep and eye on it though these days March Madness is the only show in town. The Celtics have a real chance of going all the way. Overall the east is weaker - no doubt about that but it didnt stop the Heat 2 years ago and I think this year`s Celtics are better than they were. Don`t rely on NASN though. I have it and its mainly stanley cup and baseball that they show. You`ll get most NBA games on a stream though - try http://www.channelsurfing.net/ for starters This message has been edited - 02-apr-2008 @ 11:45
jizique (2,251 Posts)	Posted: 02-Apr-2008 12:25	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
jizique (2,251 Posts)	Originally posted by Joe`s Toes: Well, I think Doc River`s (the coach ) is cogniscent of that fact. Thats why he has been getting them to finish games hard. Plus, their record is 57w-16l this year and they have beaten every team in the League at least once. Including a record of 26w - 5l against the supposedly superior Wetern Conference teams. So the point is they may well lose games, but I dont think they will lose over 5 and 7 game series, nobody will get 3 or 4 wins against them.. One reason - Defence. Rated #1 in the league Just my luck to see them in Jan when they were going through a small slump - ended up losing to Wizards after being about 15 up with 5 minutes left. Didn`t impress me that night but all teams will have a period during the year when they go through a bad patch. Great to see them get it back together.
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Posted: 02-Apr-2008 12:35	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Originally posted by Ice: I keep and eye on it though these days March Madness is the only show in town. The Celtics have a real chance of going all the way. Overall the east is weaker - no doubt about that but it didnt stop the Heat 2 years ago and I think this year`s Celtics are better than they were. Don`t rely on NASN though. I have it and its mainly stanley cup and baseball that they show. You`ll get most NBA games on a stream though - try http://www.channelsurfing.net/ for starters Ya thanks Ice, I had NASN before for a month, which is why I didnt keep it up. That and around the horn is all they have. I will see if they plan on showing. Jiz, they seemed to lose like that after being up against inferior opposition. They are a better pillar to post team from what I saw although they did come back to win against the Mavs after being 20 down at one stage. You were deffo very unlucky to see a loss especially if it was in the Garden.
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Posted: 03-Apr-2008 16:45	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Interesting article on the turnaround in the NY Times. Focusing on the way Garnett has changed the culture and what it means to the players who had been on the losing teams the last 2 years or more. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/sports/playmagazine/02play-klosterman.html?ref=basketball [url]http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/sports/playmagazine/02play-klosterman.html?ref=basketball [/url] This message has been edited - 03-apr-2008 @ 16:55
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Posted: 07-Apr-2008 17:42	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Originally posted by Joe`s Toes: Interesting article on the turnaround in the NY Times. Focusing on the way Garnett has changed the culture and what it means to the players who had been on the losing teams the last 2 years or more. http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/sports/playmagazine/02play-klosterman.html?ref=basketball [url]http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/sports/playmagazine/02play-klosterman.html?ref=basketball [/url] Could someone post Tom Humphs article on Len Bias` death on the board. That tragedy knocked the Celtic nation back years. Tom if your looking in, can you score tickets for the playoff`s seeing as I gave you an idea for an article...! Keep up the good work. No doubt the story of the season will be the Boston Celtics this year!
Luimneach Celt (766 Posts)	Posted: 08-Apr-2008 00:06	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
Luimneach Celt (766 Posts)	Echoes of a watershed tragedy in US sport TOM HUMPHRIES LOCKER ROOM: The return to hoops prominence of the Celtics recalls the death of the brilliant Len Bias in circumstances that changed how many Americans viewed their sporting heroes DO YOU have to be old enough to remember recession to identify with the sporting scene in those cities that served as career options for young Irish people? When I was young Boston wasn`t so much a city as an alternative to long-term unemployment. Entire chunks of the social network you grew up with went to live in Boston rather than queue at the hatches in Werburgh street or Gardiner street or wherever. So it`s a little habit to take an interest in Boston sports teams. They`ve finished that incredible surgery to Boston`s face that they called the Big Dig, and happily for a citizenry paying the price for the reconfiguration, the city`s sports teams have stepped up to the plate as a beautiful distraction. The Boston Red Sox put an end to the curse of the Bambino (they were the club who sold Babe Ruth ) and have won two baseball World Series in five years. The New England Patriots have become the NFL`s leading dynasty. And perhaps most appealingly, the Boston Celtics are back. With their name and their leprechaun logo spangled with green four-leafed clovers, the Celtics have always been an easy sell to the Irish heart. The franchise`s absence from the top table of their own sport is comparatively short, a mere 22 years or so, but it is associated with a tragedy that has such watershed significance in the American sporting psyche the sight of a Celtics team dominating again will be part of the process of absorbing it. There are little reminders built into the bodywork of the current Celtics team who have qualified for this year`s NBA play-offs with the best record in the game this season. The side is built around three players (Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett ) just as the last great Celtics side was built around Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish. Back in 1986, when Boston last won the NBA title, their great rivalry with the LA Lakers was winding down. The showtime era for Magic Johnston`s Lakers team featured a steady and charged rivalry with the Celtics, led by Bird, the so-called Hick from French Lick (in Indiana ) whose white-farm-boy credentials provided an adequate blue-collar Boston retort to the Californian flamboyance of the Lakers. (This year, incidentally, with the Lakers returning to good form after a short dip, the NBA is praying devoutly for a Lakers-Celtics finals series with which it can bathe in nostalgia and revive itself as a TV-ratings phenomenon. ) In 1986 with Bird and Kevin McHale getting old the Celtics appeared to have secured their own future when they signed the most sensationally promising young player in the colleges system, Len Bias from the University of Maryland. It was the perfect signing. Boston`s Big Three were at that point rarely so clearly identifiable in sporting careers where excellence was just about to slowly wane. A young superstar to take some of the burden and to ease the franchise into a new time of dominance seemed the perfect solution. Boston`s legendary coach and club president Red Auerbach had been working for three years on making sure the Celtics secured Bias as their lien on the future. If you look at pictures taken at the time of his signing, Bias, in his shiny suit and his Celtics hat sitting jauntily on his head as he holds up, for the cameras, the number 30 vest he was destined never to wear, has an air about him that defines the era. He is just about on the cocky side of innocent, a kid who was stepping from the briskly hyped world of colleges hoops into the limelight of the pro game. He was by then already famous for his deeds on the colleges court, including one remarkable score against University of North Carolina (of which Michael Jordan was a recent graduate ) . It is a classic, imperishable moment which would become known after his death as the Jesus Dunk and can still be found on Youtube. Bias sank a jump shot from out on the left of court and instead of turning to sprint back down the court as every basketball player does when his duties switch from offence to defence he cut inside at top speed in a diagonal line toward the net, intercepting the first pass out of defence and ramming it home with a reverse slam dunk, exc uted with balletic grace. Having delivered the score he hung from the rim for a second and descended with arms outstretched - a score of such genius and chutzpah it made it inevitable he would be viewed as potentially the equal of Jordan, who was by then just two years into his pro career. While Jordan had come out of College and been drafted by the Chicago Bulls, a franchise which would for several years struggle to find a way of making his genius convert into titles, Bias hopped aboard the Celtics bandwagon at what seemed just the right time. He was so good it was felt his acquisition guaranteed the Celtics dominance till well into the `90s. Having been drafted by the Celtics, Bias travelled from Washington, DC, to Boston for the PR end of the deal, all those goofy shots holding the Celtics vest and telling the world this was a dream come true. He was coming out of amateur ranks and as well as a pro deal with the Celtics he signed an endorsement contract with Adidas. He flew to Boston with his dad, but his father returned alone to Washington and conducted a press conference on his son`s behalf. Later that night after the media had dispersed young Len Bias himself flew back in from Boston on a shuttle flight, picked up one of the first perks of the pro life, a new car leased for him by his agent, and drove back to campus at the University of Maryland His car was spotted in one of the heavier areas of town where drugs were freely available if you were willing to take the risk of driving there to buy them. At some later stage he drove to a party, the new King of the NBA. He remained a short while before heading back to college. Somewhere along the way that night, Len Bias consumed quite a lot of cocaine. According to the coroner`s report this induced the cardiac arrhythmia which caused him to collapse while talking to a friend at 6:30am the following morning. He was dead on arrival at hospital. Some 11,000 people went to his memorial service. Red Auerbach compared the impact of Bias`s death on the city of Boston to the assassination of John F Kennedy. Jesse Jackson spoke and expressed the wish the death of Len Bias would be a lesson to every kid following him along the path. Of course it wasn`t. Professional sports was on the road to unfettered excess, and the death of one hugely talented kid was no cause for turning back. The pathos of his parents suing everyone right up to Adidas for a slice of what was coming and the sight of corporate America resisting stoutly provided its own lesson. It was too late by then probably, but the death of Len Bias represented the loss of innocence for many Americans in terms of how they viewed their sport. And it set the Celtics back on their heels for many years. If they go all the way this year Len Bias will be much talked about again. None of the great lessons Jesse Jackson hoped would be learned were ever really taken on board, but 22 years later the Celtics` return to prominence might just spark something more than nostalgia and encourage a reassessment of the Babylon into which American professional sport has descended.
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Posted: 08-Apr-2008 00:28	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Much obliged Luimneach For those that are interested, the utube video of Len Bias http://ie.youtube.com/watch?v=4qHB7TAoUUc
Charlotte Gael (94 Posts)	Posted: 08-Apr-2008 08:13	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
Charlotte Gael (94 Posts)	As good as the Celtics have been this year, the Pistons have had a great year also and have serious playoff experience...when they are in the mood, they can beat anyone...probably the last big push for Hamilton, Billups and Wallace as the core of the team as well as they are all pushing on a bit at this stage...they collapsed last year against the Cavs in the Eastern finals due to arrogance and LeBron being on fire...They are probably the one team that the Spurs, Suns or Lakers would fear the most in an NBA final...should be a great series with them and Boston in the Eastern finals as Orlando and Cavs are a good bit off them in terms of class and talent.
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Posted: 08-Apr-2008 08:38	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Originally posted by Charlotte Gael: As good as the Celtics have been this year, the Pistons have had a great year also and have serious playoff experience...when they are in the mood, they can beat anyone...probably the last big push for Hamilton, Billups and Wallace as the core of the team as well as they are all pushing on a bit at this stage...they collapsed last year against the Cavs in the Eastern finals due to arrogance and LeBron being on fire...They are probably the one team that the Spurs, Suns or Lakers would fear the most in an NBA final...should be a great series with them and Boston in the Eastern finals as Orlando and Cavs are a good bit off them in terms of class and talent. Well thats the match-up that everyone is expecting and hoping for. And I fully expect the winner of the Eastern Conf to be favorites for the title as they both look like having Home Court advantage. The regular season games of which there were 3 with a 2-1 split for Boston were noted for their playoff like intensity. I still think that Detriot hold the advantage in that they have been there and done that. As you say the Pistons have there own big 3 who are experienced and more savvy than Boston. It may come down to differences on the bench. I still fancy Boston over 7 games but its too close to call.
slogger_jogger (83 Posts)	Posted: 15-Apr-2008 03:56	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
slogger_jogger (83 Posts)	Just back from the Garden, knicks suck hard, chased 3`s in the final quarter where taking the easy option would have kept them in it as they were always within 2 scores up to 2 minutes from time. Boston will be weak enough without their big three and I reckon if they are in a position where they need to chase a game they could come unstuck, Rondo looks a decent player though. Nate Robinson is a tidy player on a bad side, free food all night was nice as it was their season closer : ) Poor girls on the bar couldn`t understand why we just wanted beer and no free food.........
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Posted: 15-Apr-2008 08:16	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Originally posted by slogger_jogger: Just back from the Garden, knicks suck hard, chased 3`s in the final quarter where taking the easy option would have kept them in it as they were always within 2 scores up to 2 minutes from time. Boston will be weak enough without their big three and I reckon if they are in a position where they need to chase a game they could come unstuck, Rondo looks a decent player though. Nate Robinson is a tidy player on a bad side, free food all night was nice as it was their season closer : ) Poor girls on the bar couldn`t understand why we just wanted beer and no free food......... Stephon Marbury should be their marquee player but like everything else with the Knicks, he is dysfunctional. Hope for the future lies with this guy Walsh they brought in to manage the front office from Indiana. I could care less about the Knicks this season though. Isiah`s last game at MSG I`d say That was definately a rest night for the big 3 and you were wasting your time expecting a competitive game I suppose. But at least you got free stuff... [url]http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/[\url]
Abruzzi Spur (1,083 Posts)	Posted: 15-Apr-2008 09:35	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
Abruzzi Spur (1,083 Posts)	LC- Evo Morales posted a similar article about that player last year, hmmmm
eastgael (873 Posts)	Posted: 15-Apr-2008 09:56	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
eastgael (873 Posts)	My sister plays basketball,a nice safe indoor game.
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Posted: 15-Apr-2008 10:37	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Originally posted by eastgael: My sister plays basketball,a nice safe indoor game. One which requires an amount of skill, which is why your sister is probably the bright one in your house as well.. Ask Kieran Donaghey what its done for him.
eastgael (873 Posts)	Posted: 15-Apr-2008 10:50	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
eastgael (873 Posts)	Originally posted by Joe`s Toes: One which requires an amount of skill, which is why your sister is probably the bright one in your house as well.. Ask Kieran Donaghey what its done for him. Yes ,shes quiet skillful at the basketball.....don`t live with my sister by the way , i`m married, who does DONAGHY PLAY FOR........L.A. Lakers. This message has been edited - 15-apr-2008 @ 11:41
mickee321 (16 Posts)	Posted: 15-Apr-2008 11:39	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
mickee321 (16 Posts)	why is there such a love in on a GAA website about the boston celtics? why isnt there a thread bout the Golden State Warriors or the LA clippers? please tell me i am wrong in assuming some people are not trying to cliaim the the boston celtics are an irish NBA team, this almost justifies the equally sick propostion of following the british team from scotland called Glasgow Celtic because you are from ireland......
eastgael (873 Posts)	Posted: 15-Apr-2008 11:43	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
eastgael (873 Posts)	Originally posted by mickee321: why is there such a love in on a GAA website about the boston celtics? why isnt there a thread bout the Golden State Warriors or the LA clippers? please tell me i am wrong in assuming some people are not trying to cliaim the the boston celtics are an irish NBA team, this almost justifies the equally sick propostion of following the british team from scotland called Glasgow Celtic because you are from ireland...... Unfortunatley, you assume correctly.
Ice (612 Posts)	Posted: 15-Apr-2008 12:00	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
Ice (612 Posts)	Originally posted by mickee321: why is there such a love in on a GAA website about the boston celtics? why isnt there a thread bout the Golden State Warriors or the LA clippers? please tell me i am wrong in assuming some people are not trying to cliaim the the boston celtics are an irish NBA team, this almost justifies the equally sick propostion of following the british team from scotland called Glasgow Celtic because you are from ireland...... Sick ? Would you cop yourself on. Besides I`m more a Heat than a Celtics man myself.
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Posted: 15-Apr-2008 12:25	Quote Edit Delete Report Post Post Reply
Joe's Toes (1,091 Posts)	Originally posted by mickee321: why is there such a love in on a GAA website about the boston celtics? why isnt there a thread bout the Golden State Warriors or the LA clippers? please tell me i am wrong in assuming some people are not trying to cliaim the the boston celtics are an irish NBA team, this almost justifies the equally sick propostion of following the british team from scotland called Glasgow Celtic because you are from ireland...... They were called the Celtics because Boston was such an Irish town. A marketing ploy yes.. That and they are the most famous team in Basketball with the most NBA titles (16 ) . The most famous coach (Red Aurbach ) , they played legendary series with the other famous team called the Lakers (Blue Collar vs Showtime ) and Larry Bird, the last great white superstar of Basketball.. Not claiming them as Irish at all, just a fan of BB and the Celtics in particular. Anyway, people post in here ad farking nauseum about Utd, Liverpool and arsenal so at least its different. Other than that.. So fvcking what....

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