Thus far, the Boston Celtics have been riding a rollercoaster of wins and losses. As the ride begins another plunge, they would like to stop and get off. The Celtics visit the Cleveland Cavaliers in Tuesday’s best NBA game, hoping to avenge their inexplicable last-second home loss Sunday. Boston held an 11-point lead with 4 1/2 minutes to play and appeared to be headed for a fifth straight win. However, the ride took an unexpected sudden turn as the Cavaliers scored the
Glen “Big Baby” Davis returns to Boston in Monday’s best NBA game. No word yet as to whether he and the Orlando Magic will leave Celtics fans crying in their beer. A fan favorite and Kevin Garnett’s occasional whipping boy, Davis spent his first four seasons with Boston and was a member of the 2008 championship team. Prior to this season, he joined the Magic in a sign-and-trade for Brandon Bass. “He’s emotional. He might cry. We’ll make sure we bring a
It’s time for the Boston Celtics to snap out of it. When the Celtics host the Chicago Bulls in the first game of ESPN’s Friday doubleheader, they will be trying to avoid a third straight home loss, something they have not done since the tail end of the 2009-10 season, when they were beaten by San Antonio, Oklahoma City and Houston. Optimists in Celtics Nation will point out that Gang Green managed to regroup that season and ended up within a stop
Russell Westbrook was under the microscope earlier this season, and rightfully so. Like many players who have been recent All-Stars, he needed to step up his game. As a player with a seemingly limitless ceiling, Westbrook was coming off a pair of firsts – his first All-Star berth and first deep playoff run, which made the Oklahoma City Thunder look like legitimate championship contenders entering this season. Westbrook was also coming off his first major controversy, having bickered with superstar teammate Kevin
If you punch an opposing player, you get an automatic suspension. If you smack an opposing player in the neck, do you incur the wrath of Stu Jackson? Kevin Garnett will find out soon enough after he hit Knicks forward Bill Walker in the neck with an open-handed smack after missing the potential game-tying jumper in Boston’s season-opening loss to the New York Knicks. Walker had to be restrained from going after Garnett, who may have been fouled on the final attempt. Television
By Chris Bernucca This NBA lockout is a 12-inch stupid sandwich. The owners have been stupid in believing they could get back in one negotiation everything they have given away over the last 12 years. The players have been stupid in underestimating the backlash from a fickle fan base hit hard by a nationwide economic malaise. And both sides have been extremely stupid in coming close enough to shake hands, then refusing to with the childish insistence of “You first!” It is another in
By Chris Sheridan NEW YORK — “It demonstrates the potential for more movement on our part.” Those words came out of the mouth of NBA deputy commissioner Adam Silver on Tuesday after the owners offered the players a 50-50 split of revenues. So although some are writing that the players will never get an offer like that again, I’ll take the word of Silver over the word of a fellow blogissist. There is a fair chance there will be contact between the league office and the
By Chris Bernucca We all remember last year’s free agency extravapalooza – LeBron James, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh heating up South Beach, Amar’e Stoudemire making the Knicks relevant, Dirk Nowitzki and Paul Pierce making career commitments to their teams and Joe Johnson landing the biggest contract of them all. Next year could be a quality sequel, with a star-studded cast that includes Dwight Howard, Chris Paul, Deron Williams, Ray Allen, Jason Terry, possibly Jameer Nelson and Gerald Wallace, and oldies but goodies Kevin Garnett, Tim Duncan and Steve