POST GAME NEW YORK KNICK'S

JUST WHAT I LIKE TO HEAR IN MSG..........SILENCE........LIKE A GRAVE YARD NEAR THE OLD NORTH CHURCH!!!!!!

THEY SHUT THAT ASSHOLE MELO UP BIG TIME!

TONIGHT THE CELTIC PLAYERS BECAME COMRADES IN ARMS...........BEST GAME OF THE SEASON!

STATUS

FG% - Celtics - 52.7/ NYK - 40.8%
Points In The Paint - Celtics - 40/ NYK - 28
TO - Celtics - 11/ NYK - 14
Assits - Celtics - 26/ NYK - 19
RBS - Celtics 36/ NYK - 42

NEXT GAME WEDNESDAY - 7:30PM - HOME - PHX SUNS - CSNE/NBA LEAGUE PASS

POST GAME RECAP

ESPNBOSTON.COM

Rapid Reaction: Celtics 102, Knicks 96

By Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com

NEW YORK -- Rapid reaction after the Boston Celtics defeated the New York Knicks 102-96 on Monday night at Madison Square Garden:

THE NITTY GRITTY
Paul Pierce overcame foul trouble to do what he does best -- thrive inside Madison Square Garden -- as Boston's captain scored a team-high 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting with six assists and three rebounds. Kevin Garnett added 18 points and nine rebounds, but the Celtics -- without Rajon Rondo after he was suspended for Monday's game for bumping an official -- got contributions from all over their roster. Avery Bradley overcame early shooting woes to chip in 13 points on 6-of-13 shooting (with five assists), while Jeff Green pounced each time he saw Steve Novak in front of him (16 points on 5-of-10 shooting). Jared Sullinger continues to do non-rookie things (10 points, 5 rebounds, team-best +9 in plus/minus) and Leandro Barbosa (3-of-3 shooting, 8 points) provided a little first-half spark. JR Smith scored a game-high 24 points on 7-of-17 shooting, while Carmelo Anthony had 20 points on 6-of-25 shooting to pace the Knicks.

TURNING POINT
After giving up a 35-point second frame, the Celtics limited the Knicks to 16 third-quarter points. New York was a mere 6-of-17 overall and missed all three 3-pointers it put up. Boston owned a four-point lead going to the fourth quarter, where it doubled its lead before a back-and-forth battle developed. Boston didn't just hit big shots, it had different players step up in key situations. Pierce inserted the dagger with a tough little step-back 21-foot jumper over Tyson Chandler for a six-point lead with 45 seconds to play.

PIERCE PERFORMANCE DELAYED
Pierce saves some of his most inspired play for MSG, but two fouls over the first 4:33 left him frustrated on the bench (and he picked up his first technical of the season for his complaints). Boston's captain didn't return until two minutes into the second quarter, but made up for lost time by scoring 15 points on 6-of-8 shooting in the frame to help Boston hang around (and trail by just three at halftime). Pierce picked up his fourth foul three minutes into the third quarter and again got banished to the pine. It only seemed to add fuel to his fire when he returned.

C'S WEATHER STORMS
Garnett had Boston's only points over the first seven minutes of the game. Ninety seconds after he came out of the game, the Celtics were staring at a double-digit deficit. Riding a second-unit lineup spearheaded by Barbosa and Green, Boston rallied for a one-point edge after the first frame. The Knicks responded by hitting 8-of-11 3-pointers in the second quarter, pushing their lead back as high as nine, but the Celtics leaned on Pierce to keep it a one-possession game at halftime.

GARNETT AND ANTHONY GET TECHS
Garnett and Anthony got tagged with double technicals after some early fourth-quarter jawing during a dead-ball situation. The two continued to bark at each other before referee Tony Brothers gave a little verbal warning to knock it off. Celtics coach Doc Rivers was incredulous later when Melo took a little post-whistle swipe at the ball in Garnett's hands, thinking it should have been another tech. Just wait until the two are teammates at the All-Star game in Houston next month.

WHAT IT MEANS
The Celtics have now won three straight, matching their longest winning streak of the season (Nov. 10-14). But it's the quality and variety of wins that stands out in this stretch. Boston did it with defense against Indiana; rallied back from a 19-point hole in Atlanta; and grinded it out versus the Knicks while asserting that the Atlantic Division still goes through Boston. That's three Eastern Conference playoff teams and the Celtics found a way to top them all -- the common thread being a renewed commitment on the defensive end. The Celtics will take a day off before kicking off a five-game homestand with a visit from the Phoenix Suns on Wednesday night at TD Garden.
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CSNE

A. SHERROD BLAKLEY

Celtics put on a show in 102-96 win over Knicks

NEW YORK — The Boston Celtics have never played the New York Knicks for the first time after having played this many regular season games.

Well the Celtics delivered a performance that was well worth the wait, full of physical, gritty, buzzer-beating play.

This was another down-to-the-wire battle, which would favor the Knicks who have won more games (5) by three points or less than any team except Portland which also has five such wins.

But the Celtics (17-17) were not interested in adding to that list as they showed the kind of clutch composure at both ends of the floor in the final minutes to pull out a 102-96 victory even with their floor leader Rajon Rondo (suspension) out.

It was as gutsy a victory as we have seen from the Green Team this season, as they fought off one big shot after another.

Even as league MVP candidate Carmelo Anthony (20 points, 6-for-26 shooting) started to heat up, the Celtics refused to let him take over the game and carry the Knicks to victory.

It was Paul Pierce (23 points, 10-for-18 shooting) making shot-clock beating baskets. Avery Bradley (13 points, five assists) finding lay-ups on cuts to the basket and locking his man up defensively. Kevin Garnett (19 points, nine rebounds) on the boards and Brandon Bass defending the paint were both key as well.

And then you had Courtney Lee's defense, Jared Sullinger's (10 points, five rebounds) steady play and Jeff Green's (16 points) scoring off the bench ... the list of contributors to this victory is indeed a lengthy one.

In the end, it added up to the kind of victory that the Celtics (17-17) have not been able to deliver enough of this season.

And while it's still too soon to say that the Celtics have turned the corner, Monday's win - their third straight - is indeed another step in the right direction as they continue to try and get on track after a season that was heading nowhere fast.

Even if the C's had Rondo, who was suspended for Monday's game after bumping official Rodney Mott in Atlanta on Saturday and failing to cooperate with the investigation afterward, the Celtics would have had their hands full with the New York Knicks.

But to take him out of the equation, an already difficult opponent became even more daunting.

Boston didn't shoot the ball particularly well to start the game which factored in the Celtics falling behind by as many as 10 points in the first.

But the defense tightened up which sparked a 14-3 Celtics run to close out the quarter which was capped off by a 3-pointer by Courtney Lee that put the C's ahead, 22-21, to end the first.

Boston once again found itself back playing catch-up in the second quarter as New York's Carmelo Anthony began to heat up.

After just one point in the first, Melo had nine points in the second which equalled New York's largest lead in the quarter.

But with Rondo out, it afforded a number of Celtics players to see their roles significantly increase.

Among them was Leandro Barbosa who provided an instant spark for the Celtics both as a scorer with six points and three assists in the first half.

However, the Celtics struggled like most teams this season in limiting New York's 3-point shooting.

The Knicks, leaders in 3s taken (29) and made (11) this season, drilled 10 in the first half which ended with the Celtics trailing 56-53 following a driving lay-up by Avery Bradley - his first basket of the game.

Boston continued to fight an uphill battle in the third quarter, a fight that became even tougher when Pierce picked up his fourth personal foul
with 8:55 to play in the third.

But that's when the Celtics defensive tandem of Courtney Lee and Avery Bradley helped trigger a 21-12 run in the third quarter that put the C's in firm control.

And as the game got tighter, tempers began to flare. And naturally it involved two of the game's biggest stars - Kevin Garnett and Carmelo Anthony.

The two had words on several occasions in the second half, even after official Tony Brothers whistled both players for double technical foul.

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I guess Melo was yelling at the Celtics bench and players when the game ended. Doc, when asked about it, said he wouldn't comment on it, if it was the playoffs he said he might have had something to say.

You think these teams like each other????

no rosalie, i am sure they dont, it'll make it all the more fun to wip 'em in the playoffs.

I am listening to the MSG post game.

They are saying that Melo tried to storm the Celtic locker room. Stay tuned!

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PS Also heard it on NBA Channel.

I guess both teams were welcoming back the NHL Hockey season!

what? really? storm the locker room

he looking for advice on how to be on a championship team, or looking for a suspension?

No player is saying but yes he went looking for KG. That is what is being reported. He could face a suspension.

What a punk!

KG made a complete fool out of him.


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HERE IS THE LATEST STORY FROM NEWSDAY WHO ALSO OWNS THE KNICKS

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Celtics get under Carmelo Anthony's skin, beat Knicks

Updated: January 7, 2013 11:26 PM
By AL IANNAZZONE al.iannazzone@newsday.com

Celtics 102, Knicks 96

The Knicks and Celtics didn't play like heated rivals for three quarters Monday night, but then Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett pushed and shoved one another and got in each other's face in the fourth.

It woke up both teams and the Garden crowd. The confrontation appeared to motivate Anthony. But in the end, despite playing without Rajon Rondo, the Celtics showed their mettle, executed down the stretch and handed the Knicks a 102-96 loss.

MSG Network reported that Anthony was outside the Celtics' locker room after the game and had to be restrained by security and some teammates. Mike Woodson wouldn't comment on the report, although he did say: "As the game wore on, we just let things get to us a little bit. We can't let that happen.''
Anthony, who left without speaking to the media, was hot in the fourth, and not in a good way. He continued to play physically and jaw with Garnett. Said Woodson, "I'm going to defend Melo, our player and our team. In the heat of the battle, you got to hang in there and you got to keep playing.''

But Anthony, who was named Eastern Conference Player of the Week, was misfiring on the offensive end. He scored 20 points but shot 6-for-26 from the field. He was 2-for-10 in the fourth and didn't make a field goal in the last 8:51.

"Melo's capable of having a bad night,'' Woodson said. "Melo has been pretty damn good for our ballclub.''

J.R. Smith led the Knicks (23-11) with 24 points. Tyson Chandler had 13 points and 16 rebounds. Amar'e Stoudemire, whose legs seemed livelier than in his previous games, shot 4-for-6 and had 13 points in a season-high 28 minutes.

Paul Pierce scored 23, including eight in the fourth, to pace Boston (17-17), which shot 53 percent. Garnett added 19 points and 10 rebounds for the Celtics, who found out about three hours before tipoff that Rondo had been suspended for one game for making contact with a referee Saturday in Atlanta.
The Knicks said from the start of camp that winning the division title was their first goal. They own a four-game lead over the Nets and a six-game lead over Boston, which has won the last five division titles. "We've still got a long road ahead of us," Woodson said before the game. "But I like the position we're sitting in as we speak. You win your division, you open up first round here at home and you start that playoff run. I mean, that's what it's all about."
Just like Saturday in Orlando, the Knicks were down eight early in the fourth. Anthony hit two three-pointers during a 7-0 run to make it 82-81, and Jason Kidd tied it at 86 with a three-pointer. But the Celtics scored on five of their next six trips, going ahead 96-91 when Garnett made two free throws.
After a layup by Smith, Pierce fed Avery Bradley for a layup and hit a step-back jumper over Chandler to put Boston up 100-94 with 45.5 seconds left.

The Celtics were in a strange position coming into the game, but Doc Rivers said the Knicks were playing much better than his team. "Their confidence is high," he said. "They're playing great basketball. I think Woody just deserves a ton of credit, because they're a good defensive team. They play a little bit of old Knick 'D' in they reach and grab and hold and foul a lot. And eventually they're going to be able to reach and grab and hold. I like that. It's not a knock. I think it's the way the game should be played, personally.
"But that's from Woody. To get guys to buy in -- that's the biggest part of the job. Just to get everyone to buy in by sharing the ball, when everyone's an offensive player, that takes a lot. The fact that they're doing it, and Carmelo is doing it, that's impressive."

Couple of things

1) The Knicks are not a tough team....they are a bunch of loud mouth bullies. As soon as you stand up them, they sulk off crying. Their 3 point shooting cannot hold up over the long haul. Not impressed at all.

2) DO NOT break up the Celtics. Add a big man when you can, but you cannot trade Sully - Bradley or Jeff Green. You just cant do it.

So happy watching NY fall apart - could not happen to a bigger bunch of assholes.

Okay, who gets my game ball for this one?

• Should it be the Captain, who played a lot of point forward (6 assists in a game Rondo missed), poured in 23 points, including several threes that kept the Celts in the game during the first quarter, and a major league dagger three plus other gutsy scores down the stretch? (His bullet pass to Avery who had darted under the basket was a classic.)

• How about KG, with 19 and 10 plus 3 steals, a lot of intimidation on defense, and apparently a total psych job on Mr. Anthony?

• It could be silly to overlook Avery Bradley, whose stifling defense was awesome enough, but he supplemented it with 6-11 shooting, including some really tough outside shots. And one should not overlook his five assists.

• What about Jeff Green, who is increasingly contributing to the defense but, in this one, chipped in with 16 points—most of which occurred in aggressive attack mode (one of the major things the Celtics have been lacking)—and three assists?

• Maybe it would be appropriate to construct an MVP candidate by packaging Lee (with 20 minutes of very tight defense, including three timely steals), Bass (not a lot of shots or points—he really missed Rondo—but some fierce defense against a big, tough Knicks frontcourt), and Barbosa (who is proving to be the instant offense we expected of Terry).

• Or maybe it’s finally time to recognize Doc for an amazing job of bringing this team together in such a way that each Celtic except Terry (and, to some extent, Bass) is playing exactly the role that takes maximum advantage of his complementary capabilities.

• Regardless of the fact that much of his evening was marred by the futility of his 1-7 shooting, special mention should be made of the key play in which Terry took an outlet pass, slanted toward the basket, drew the lone defender, and passed the rock back to a driving Pierce for a stuff. Moreover, to his credit, Terry also had five dimes.

Frankly, it’s all too much for me. My game ball tonight goes to the cohesive unity that is finally becoming the personality of this team. Yes, I still believe the team needs a veteran center who is an impact players, not a journeyman. Yes, I think the bench players would become more consistently efficient if they had a true PG (who could be a journeyman) to direct traffic.

But the problem is that, with the possible exceptions of Bass and/or Terry, I don’t want to lose any of them. What they did tonight was amazing! Forty points to 28 in the paint. Roughly the same number of shots as the Knicks. Twenty-six assists on 39 made field goals (67%) without Rondo. Only 10 turnovers. The New Yorkers seem to love living by the three, and the Celtics in the second half showed the Knicks how that can backfire.

And finally, a private word for Carmelo Anthony: Ooh, wad da iddy biddy baby unhappy tonight? Did he choke on his pabwum as the bad old bawl kept missing when he should have been passing more anyway? Were da zebwas meanies when they called all those fouls on him? Did his woyal self enjoy standing and scweaming at the winners’ bus after the game? Did I hear him singing, “They Caw Me Melo Yellow?” (Quite wight!) (Note: I had Elmer Fudd ghost-write this part.)

It wouldn’t be difficult to draw up a list of areas in which the Celtics still need improvement. I wish they could convert on a greater proportion of their fast breaks. Their spacing was too bunched up at times tonight (although Pierce or Green or KG frequently rescued them). They can’t keep giving up so many threes before they adjust their defensive perimeter pressure because sometimes the hole they dig will be too deep to escape. I’d like to see a lot more Celtics gang-banging the defensive boards, as I saw a few times tonight.

But, overall, I think the offensive flow/timing and the defensive energy/swarming are heading in very positive directions.

Go Celtics!

Sam

Now this is becoming the team that we envisioned.

A fantastic display of Celtics basketball and reason to temper all of the trade chatter.

Dboss

Sam,
I would give the game ball to Doc.
The second game ball, if there's such, goes to all 9 players.

AK

ANOTHER REPORT ON MELO IS HAVING HIM TRYING TO GET TO THE CELTICS TEAM BUS..........WHAT A NUT JOB.........I GUESS KG WIPED THAT STUPID GRIN OFF OF HIS FACE!

MUST SEE VEDIO OF MELO OUTSIDE CELTIC TEAM BUS

http://www.csnne.com/basketball-boston-celtics/celtics-talk/Knicks-Anthony-waits-for-Garnett-by-team?blockID=821079&feedID=10424

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Carmelo Frustrated by Garnett in Knicks Loss

A. Sherrod Blakely of CSNNE.com

Boston’s midtown matchup with the New York Knicks was a testy affair during – and apparently after – the Celtics’ 102-96 win.

Several reports shortly after the game indicated that Knicks forward Carmelo Anthony charged towards the Celtics locker room before being restrained by teammates.

There was also another confrontation near the Celtics team bus where Anthony was nearby, waiting for Garnett.

You can bet that Anthony will get a call from league security regarding the incidents of Monday night, with a potential punishment of some sort – maybe even a suspension – will be handed out.

Throughout the game – but particularly in the second half – Anthony had a number of verbal exchanges with C’s big man Kevin Garnett.

It got to the point where both were whistled for a double technical foul by official Tony Brothers.

“Heat of battle, guys go back and fourth,” Garnett said. “He’s trying to get his team to go, I’m trying to get my team to go. Both teams are colliding; not to mention it’s the Knicks and the Celtics. That’s just what it is.”
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Sources: Melo, KG scuffle after game

By Ian Begley and Chris Forsberg | ESPN.com

NEW YORK -- Carmelo Anthony and Kevin Garnett got into an altercation in the bowels of Madison Square Garden after the Boston Celtics' 102-96 win over the New York Knicks on Monday, and building security and New York City police officers were called upon to defuse the incident, two sources with knowledge of the incident told ESPNNewYork.com.

Carmelo Anthony and the Knicks want what Boston has, and losing their cool isn't the way to attain it, Johnette Howard writes. Story

With the Knicks busy running away with the division, the Celtics showed they weren't ready to cede their usual title, Beckley Mason writes. Daily Dime

"It was like being in the school yard," said one witness to the incident.

The two stars did not come to blows, according to a police source. But Anthony was still hot after getting into a confrontation with Garnett in the fourth quarter of the Celtics' win that resulted in a double technical.

After the game, Anthony angrily walked off the floor and out of the tunnel that visiting teams use to exit the floor, instead of exiting out of the Knicks' tunnel.

Tyson Chandler appeared to try to stop Anthony, but he blew by the Knicks center. According to one of the sources with knowledge of the incident, Anthony approached the Celtics' locker room and was screaming. It is unclear if his ire at the time was directed at Garnett.

Anthony approached Garnett near the Celtics' team bus. MSG security and the police intervened, according to a source.

A video posted by Comcast Sports Net New England showed Anthony waiting outside of the team bus as Knicks coach Mike Woodson appeared to be trying to calm Anthony down. Team and building security were also present as were several uniformed police officers.

The incident could result in a suspension and/or fine for Anthony and Garnett.

Woodson declined comment on the incident.

“
Listen, heat of the battle, man, guys throw back and forth. He's trying to get his team to go; I'm trying to get my team to go. Both teams are colliding. Not to mention that it's the Knicks and the Celtics. Just what it is.
”
-- Kevin Garnett after his on-court tangle with Carmelo Anthony

Anthony did not make himself available to the media after the game. Garnett said there was no altercation, noting, "No, no, man. Just basketball. Just basketball."

Celtics coach Doc Rivers didn't exactly deny the whispers in the hallways when asked whether Anthony came in search of a confrontation.

"I'm going to let y'all figure that one out," Rivers said. "I'm going to stay out of that. If it was the playoffs, I'd tell on him, but since it's not, I'm going to just be quiet."

Rivers took two subtle jabs with that remark: While offering a non-denial on Anthony's actions, he made reference to reports that Atlanta Hawks general manager Danny Ferry snitched on Rajon Rondo for bumping a game official during Saturday night's game in Atlanta, an act that led to Rondo being hit with a one-game suspension that forced him to sit out Monday's game in New York. Ferry was fined $15,000 by the NBA for inappropriate interaction with game officials following the game.

Rivers downplayed the on-court chippiness with the Knicks, which saw Anthony and Garnett tagged with double technicals in the fourth quarter after some jawing during a dead-ball situation, but he hinted again that Anthony might have gone a bit too far by pursuing things after the game.

"The game just got heated. It's just basketball," Rivers said. "There's nothing wrong with getting heated. It happens. It's a fun game, it's competitive, it's rough at times. That's good, I think all that's good. It should never carry over past that. I've had my moments as a player as well. It does, but you don't want it to. And whenever it does, you feel terrible later. This is the way the game should be played, to me; it should be a competitive hard game. I thought overall the officials let us play, both teams. That's good with us."

Carmelo Anthony is the Knicks' biggest star. He's also one of the all-time greats.

Garnett tried to defuse the situation.

"Listen, heat of the battle, man, guys throw back and forth," Garnett said of the on-court dust-up with Anthony. "He's trying to get his team to go; I'm trying to get my team to go. Both teams are colliding. Not to mention that it's the Knicks and the Celtics. Just what it is."

Amar'e Stoudemire also weighed in on what Garnett might have done to anger Anthony.

"It was more just talk," he said. "More talk more than anything. Words are pretty sharp, so when you say certain things, it gets under your skin and it gets you a little angry. And that happens to the best of us. We've got to make sure that we keep our composure and see if we can beat a team like Boston."

Garnett and Anthony are on pace to comprise part of the Eastern Conference frontcourt at the All-Star Game next month in Houston. The Celtics and Knicks meet again before that during a national TV game on Jan. 24 in Boston.

Celtics rookie Jared Sullinger brought some levity on the atmosphere at Madison Square Garden.

"That's testy? That's testy?" he asked. "I've seen way worse stuff in the '80s and I wasn't even born in the '80s. So, if that's testy, I didn't see it."

look off to the left in that video...


Rondo is there!!!! Already two suspensions this season- one for having KG's back already and here he is again, if shtf by the bus Rondo would easily be facing another suspension...

Rondo is starting to remind of Doc Holiday. Just like Doc was a pain in the arse to be freinds with- giving the earps and especialy Wyatt plenty of headaches- ya just know no matter what, if your a freind of Docs he had your back no matter what. Same with Rondo- can be a pain in his teams arse, but man he's always got your back.

I am gonna disagree with somethign this article says- about Antoney being an all time great- not yet, and not by a long shot.

another comment- by Sully the Swag Bear:
"That's testy? That's testy?" he asked. "I've seen way worse stuff in the '80s and I wasn't even born in the '80s. So, if that's testy, I didn't see it."

thats theres funny i dont care who ya are.

Some hell of a game!! Love the way the team can win without a key piece, love the way Pierce can still get up for big matchups. We can handle Knicks, now that we have our identity back and AB's swarming defensive game back, we can really disrupt teams and get them out of their offense. Before AB things were alot easier for teams, hes such a touch son of a b...ch, just his defense puts whoevers bringing the ball up in survival mode, forget about running their offense, they have to just see if they can get the ball up.....its a struggle and beautiful to watch!!! Everyone on defense is more energized and playing their roles better and harder, what a transformation!!

Sully is playing better and better, Jeff Green got it going both ends. I have a feeling both those 2 will get better and better in their roles going forward, as could Bass and Courtney Lee, we can rest Rondo and harass the backcourt with AB and Lee, when/if Fab Melo comes up in a month or so.....this defense could get really fierce with a young shot blocker.

We can contend this year!!! its a beautiful thing, we got our mojo going!!

If we want a true Big Man...we'll have to wait until the summer and sign Big Al Jefferson who will be available as a free agent without giving up any young talent.

Like to see if Danny could get us a knock down shooter before the trading deadline and perhaps sign Kenyon Martin (at no cost/loss to the Celtics).

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Wow, what a game. So much to like about this one. Despite a short 10 point deficit in the first quarter, and a 11 point advantage in the 3rd (?), this battle was fought in a phone booth. 82games.com define "clutch time" as "neither team being ahead by more than 5 points and OT". If that's the case then this game was mostly clutch. Bobc nailed it on the Game On thread when he said this victory was about ganas. We wanted it more, were willing to do what it took to earn it and wouldn't be denied.

Not even Dick Bavetta and Violet Palmer could stop us. Tommy, with his typical genteel way, yelled "Violet, you're a fraud!". Tommy said that Tony Brothers, the 3rd official last night, is the only ref who will speak to him. Go figure. Doc was unusually hot at the refs last night. No surprise there, there were two of them tag-teaming us. Dick Bavetta has pictures of David Stern in bed naked with a minor (I'm guessing) but how the hell does Violet Palmer keep her job?

The Knicks are the best 3pt shooting team I've ever seen. Most teams can have a good night, where they are completely unconscious, but they shoot like this a lot. They have so many really good 3pt shooters it's hard to clamp down on the interior scorers when doing that leaves you so vulnerable on the perimeter. They shot 44% from 3 while only shooting 41% overall. Ridiculous, they shot better from 3 than from 2. Oh well, if that's what they want to do, then that's what you have to stop to beat them. They were unconscious in the 1st half from 3 going 10-17 (59%!) and ended up 14-32. That means they went 4-15 in the 2nd half. Live by the 3, die by the 3. What's astonishing is that they only had 76 fgas total a wild 42% of them 3s.

1. There are some really excellent shooters in the NBA like Kobe, JJ Redick and Ray Allen. Players who just need to see the basket to put it in and when they're "in the zone" there's little you can do about it. JR Smith has to be in that group too. His 7-18, 4-9 from 3 doesn't look that impressive (ok, the 4-9 from 3 does) but he was on his way to a truly monstrous night until

2. Doc put Avery Bradley on him. Nothing came easily for Smith after that. It is absolutely amazing what Bradley can do out there on defense. I read an article on CBS Sports today that exalted Bradley's defense. The word is out. His offense started off bad, again, but he seems to like the 2nd half. A very healthy 6-11, most of those points in the 2nd half and 5 assists. The Knicks lived and died by the 3 last night and Bradley did more to kill them by stifling Smith than anybody. This not to say there isn't a heckuva lot of more credit to spread around.

3. Pierce scored, defended, assisted and contributed to "The Bradley Effect" by getting Steve Novak in foul trouble and forced him to sit down. Bradley shut Smith's 3s down with his defense, Pierce shut Novak's 3s down with his offense. Can't score if you can't get on the floor, right? The Captain stood up again last night. The speech he gave in the locker room in Atlanta has taken root.

4. Jason Terry was 1-7 for 2 points in 31 minutes. He had 5 assists and 2 TOs. Barbosa had 8 points on 3-3 and 3 assists in 13 minutes. JET is the only Celtics with a negative +/-. Barbosa's speed had the Knicks scared to death, you could see it the way they played off him. Not that it mattered, he's so damn quick he still went where he wanted to go. With time running out, I think it was in the 2nd, Barbosa got the inbounds pass, raced up court and got it to Bradley who missed the shot. Because the ball got in Bradley's hands a couple of seconds sooner, that gave Sully a shot at an offensive board and putback. No way JET would have been able to motor upcourt that fast. We built this team, this year, for speed. Why wouldn't Doc use his speed more, especially when it's productive?

5. Jeff Green had a great game. Aggressive like we've always wanted him to be. He hit his outside shots and killed Novak off the dribble too. He also picked up a few fouls on Anthony. Ok, the truth is that Mr. Bonehead picked those fouls up himself, but Melo wouldn't have been as aggressive defensively if Green wasn't as aggressive offensively. He also had 6 rebounds and 3 assists. I could definitely learn to love this Jeff Green. He was a difference-maker last night. Without going back and looking at the individual boxscores of the past week or two, it seems to me that Green has been much more consistent as of late, no?

6. Zach Randolph was fined $50k for confronting Perk after a game. Think Melo cares about $50k? The 4" muscle between his ears is his weakest one. As long as a player can get into his head the team he leads will struggle. He's going crazy because the Knicks have lost 6 of their last 11. If they lose a few more he'll be a walking train wreck. Works for me!

7. We shot 52%. Without Rondo. We had 26 assists, about our team average. Without Rondo. We only had 10 TOs. Without Rondo. TRADE HIM! (just kidding). Seriously, though, with all our concerns about a lack of a backup point guard we did a helluva good job of making the offense work. A little more passing by Pierce, a little more by JET, a little more by Bradley and voila! Nobody tried to make "thread the needle" passes, just good solid stuff. I know it's unrealistic to think that Rondo would learn anything from this, but there is a lesson to be learned.

8. Bass wasn't great, but he was good. Solid defense and hit his few shots. His release is back to being smooth and they're dropping, finally. Along with Green, Lee, Barbosa and Sully he is starting to play up to expectations. He's not all the way back yet, but the improvement in his play over the past week or two is unmistakable.

9. Courtney Lee did a fine job defending JR Smith too. He took himself out of the team defensive scheme and just glued himself to Smith. Smith was just hitting some "Are you kidding me?!" shots. Our perimeter defense really clamped down in the 2nd half. If we can do that with the Knicks, who are absolutely deadly from outside, we can do it with the Heat, the Thunder and everybody else.

At this point I'd say it's safe to say we have turned a corner. We are playing very well. Our defense is consistently holding teams' fg% to the high-30s to low-40s. Our offense is choppy at times, but has it's occasional outbursts. This is no different that previous years in the 3 Amigo era. Smothering defense, solid efficient offense that can occasionally blow the other team out.



bob


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Matty wrote:look off to the left in that video...


Rondo is there!!!! Already two suspensions this season- one for having KG's back already and here he is again, if shtf by the bus Rondo would easily be facing another suspension...

Rondo is starting to remind of Doc Holiday. Just like Doc was a pain in the arse to be freinds with- giving the earps and especialy Wyatt plenty of headaches- ya just know no matter what, if your a freind of Docs he had your back no matter what. Same with Rondo- can be a pain in his teams arse, but man he's always got your back.

I am gonna disagree with somethign this article says- about Antoney being an all time great- not yet, and not by a long shot.

another comment- by Sully the Swag Bear:
"That's testy? That's testy?" he asked. "I've seen way worse stuff in the '80s and I wasn't even born in the '80s. So, if that's testy, I didn't see it."

thats theres funny i dont care who ya are.

Rondo will be their huckleberry!!!

Melo waits for KG after the game at the Celtics bus.

To quote another blogger "could I get a pair of tweezers to get KG out from underneath Melo's skin?".


http://www.csnne.com/pages/celticsvideo?PID=uvXM2-vvS_VKTpwg_K9L1C77HteT2GbVYvKUhq



bob


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Melo just lost his chance to win the MVP with that immature stunt last night.

Well done Donkey.

tardust wrote:[
Rondo will be their huckleberry!!!

of course Rondo will spin a basketball on his finger, not a cofeee cup.

"Carmelo Anthony is the Knicks' biggest star. He's also one of the all-time greats."

Perhaps true if you just started watching the NBA three weeks ago.

These guys get paid to write about sports? Really?

Just got an email from my Dad (who I am hoping to bring to the board night in March) - here are a few excerpts from a fan for 65 years:

-Dick Bevetta needs a box seat behind the toilet, he really needs to go home and retire

-I tried to like Carmelo, or even stay neutral. But I cannot because he seems to be a punk, following the Celtics off the court, waiting at the bus. He can never be a superstar until he learns that the game ends with the final buzzer. This is a game of professionals, not a park full of thugs

- I love the Game of Basketball, especially how the Celtics are playing with such heart. It is the a true reflection of the history of this team, to play hard, play fair and face all adversity head on.

-I really love Avery Bradley he is such a strong kid and selfless player.

-The NBA has two sets of Policies, one very gentle policy on how the league will manage the New York Knicks, Heat, LA Clippers - and a very Harsh Treatment of Boston. I know I am biased, but I hope Danny Ainge has something to say to the league. They allowed Pierce and Garnett to get beat up all night - how can the be surprised when it boils over.

-and finally PLEASE DO NOT TRADE Jared Sullinger he is a strong willed man and I really like him, as a rookie he is really stepping up.

Hope I can bring my father Eugene to the dinner and game in March.

Hey MrK

Hope your dad is able to come. That would be great. He is funny and accurate!

I will post next week to count interest.

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When exactly is the dinner in March? And where?

Worcester,

March 16th Saturday game at 7:30pm. The idea is to buy group tickets, go to the 4 B's and meet at 4:30pm, eat and then go to the game across the street.

St Patty's Day weekend in Boston...does not get any better then that!

Can you attend?

Hope so!

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