The Boston Celtics can probably see the end of their monstrous eight-game road trip. But this is not the time to look ahead. The Celtics have two games remaining on their 13-day trek, which began with a marquee matchup in Los Angeles against the Lakers on March 11. But Thursday’s game against the Milwaukee Bucks – and, for that matter, Friday’s trip finale in Philadelphia – are probably the most important games on the trip. The Celtics are 3-3 on the trip
Mehmet Okur will soon be on the open market as he was released Wednesday by the Portland Trail Blazers, who signed J.J. Hickson. Okur was acquired last week in the deal that sent Gerald Wallace to the New Jersey Nets. He never took the court for Portland. Okur can be claimed on waivers, but the claiming team must honor his contract. If he clears waivers, he becomes a free agent. A 7-footer with 3-point range who can rebound a little, Okur would be
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
The Denver Nuggets on Sunday waived center Ronny Turiaf, who should attract some interest from playoff contenders. Turiaf began the season with the New York Knicks, who dealt him to the Washington Wizards as part of the Tyson Chandler deal. He played just four games before breaking his hand and was included in Thursday’s three-team deal that landed Nene in Washington. The 6-10 Turiaf has played backup center minutes for the Los Angeles Lakers, Golden State, New York and Washington in a
Let the Wood-sanity begin. It has been three games since Mike Woodson took over the coaching duties of the New York Knicks after the firing resignation of Mike D’Antoni. The Knicks have since gone 3-0. Preaching defense and accountability — perhaps the polar opposite of D’Antoni’s style — Woodson has changed the attitude of his players and the results have shown in remarkable fashion on the court. Since going on a nightmare six-game losing streak that saw them fall out of the playoff picture, New
With Thursday’s trade deadline come and gone, two teams with frontcourt injury issues will test whether a midseason roster change was the right decision when the Boston Celtics visit the Denver Nuggets on Saturday. Boston (23-20) learned Wednesday that center Chris Wilcox will miss the remainder of the season, needing surgery on an enlarged aorta, and malcontent Jermaine O’Neal is looking for a buyout. Desperately needing help down low – the Celtics are dead last in the league in rebounding (38.3). Boston
For so many years, Monta Ellis had been the subject of trade rumors. Although he was always in discussions, the team could never find the guts to trade the face of its franchise. Until this season. Under the new leadership of owner Joe Lacob, changes were finally made when the Warriors broke up the small back court of Stephen Curry and Ellis. One of the final pieces of the Cohen era, Ellis was traded along with Ekpe Udoh and Kwame Brown to the
The Boston Celtics head into Staples Center on Sunday to play the Los Angeles Lakers where the heated rivals finally have a mutual enemy: the NBA rumor mill. Thursday’s trade deadline is fast approaching and both Boston’s Rajon Rondo and L.A.’s Pau Gasol have been linked to multiple trades. On Friday, Gasol’s name was mentioned as a done deal to the Houston Rockets, for the second time this season. Gasol will suit up for Sunday’s marquee matchup, just as he did Friday, scoring