This is probably going to be our last look at Boston’s Big Three — unless, of course, they win the championship and Wyc Grousbeck is forced to pony up a fortune in luxury taxes to keep the team together for one more year. Oh, and he needs to find a center, too. The Hawks get no respect, but that is to be expected when they come up with their annual spring flameout. Judging from the predictions below, a majority still
That was no playoff preview. Paul Pierce, expected to have a huge game as the de facto point guard, got the night off instead, as did Kevin Garnett. With Ray Allen and Rajon Rondo hurt, that was 80% of the Celtics’ familiar starting five on the sidelines. Red-hot Avery Bradley scored 28 to keep the makeshift lineup in the game, but the Hawks won, as Joe Johnson, who had been quiet for a while, exploded for 30 points. MEM @ CHA: I guessed
Usually, the winners make the headlines. In today’s roundup, however, the losers were the story of Saturday night as a handful of teams fighting to make the playoffs came up short. With three different teams — Milwaukee, Utah and Phoenix — still within reach of the eighth and final playoff seed in their respective Conferences, how many of them came out with a victory? None. Starting with the most inexplicable blowout of the night – the only game on national television – the Spurs
After looking old and uncertain at various times during the season, the Boston Celtics have hit their stride just in time to take a convincing Atlantic Division lead as the playoffs draw near. As usual, defense has been the key. They have allowed just 89.3 points per game this season, good for third best in the league. Since the insertion of Avery Bradley in the starting lineup nine games ago, they have been even better, giving up an average of 81.7 on
Dwight Howard played, without much enthusiasm: 8 points, 8 rebounds, 3 blocks, 5 turnovers and a swirling controversy about his relationship with Stan Van Gundy. Jameer Nelson also played, without much success (10 PTS on 3-14 shooting) and Glen Davis (15 & 7) got another start in place of Ryan Anderson (ankle). Carmelo Anthony led the visitors to a convincing win with 19, Tyson Chandler (12 PTS, 12 REB) was strong and J.R. Smith (15 PTS, 9 AST) continued to
The Sixers have now scored less than 80 points in five of their last 11 games. Jordan Crawford had 28 points for the Wizards, and 16 of them in the first quarter. The Spurs only scored 9 points in the third quarter. According to ESPN Stats & Information, it’s the first time they have been held to single-digits since April 4, 2008. After missing the past 6 games, Ray Allen was held scoreless in the first half. It is his 17th scoreless first
Four overtime periods is not how you want to finish your third game in three nights. The exhausted Hawks never quit. Joe Johnson played over 55 minutes en route to 37 points and Zaza Pachulia was terrific, with 15 points and 20 rebounds. For Utah, seven players scored in double figures, led by Al Jefferson (28 & 17) and Paul Millsap (25 & 13) but somebody had to lose this very exciting contest. Elsewhere DEN @ MIN: Kevin Love was tremendous again,
The other day, I was stuck behind the Boston Celtics on the highway. I was in the left lane and I wanted to go considerably faster than the car in front of me, who was doing about 60. Against my better judgment, I got up on his tail and applied some pressure, but he refused to go any faster or move into the right lane. Somewhat annoyed, I drove right behind him for about a quarter-mile before a gap opened in the