13 Down, 65 Wins To Go!

Game Notes & Observations

Getting a little tired of Resheed's act with another technical! Also fined $30,000 after the game Friday for speaking out against the ref's. He's becoming a liability rather then a force. MIA in the paint tonight.
Celtics play the next 7/8 games on the road.
C's are now 7-1 on the road!
KG is 17/18 from the field for the last 2 games!
All 5 Starters were in double figures.
Celtics are 10-2 when hold opponents to under 100 pts per game.

The two Big things the Celtic's did tonight were ball sharing. C's had 21 assists vs. 12 for Miami. The other was their Defense especially in the 4th Q.. Only exception was for that weird 3rd period where their D was being broken down by Heat. It was a case of the second team not showing up in the second half with some sloppy play and turnovers and the C's again not quickly attacking the paint on offense and going to their old 1/2 court style and getting into shooting 3 pters (1/7) in the third. They only took 7 shots in the paint for the 3rd Q.(3/7).

Overall a good comeback and road win and good to see KG pick up the team rather then relying on Pierce all the time. BobCats Tuesday at 7pm.

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SHeed hit some big hoops on O inside and I love what the guy brings to the team. He is another tough smart 6-11 guy to throw at squaw Gasol. The t's he is getting are frickin ridiculous. He cant LOOK at the refs. Clearly we are going to have to beat the other team and two refs all year.

Unless Wallace adapts his game to the biases of the referees and the league's unhappiness with his antics and outspokenness, he risks being completely marginalized as an impact player on a contending team.

Being POed about this situation not only doesn't help Wallace but makes the bulls eye on his back just that much easier for the refs to see and react to.

Rasheed needs to make nice to get the monkey off of his back... as hard as that is for him to do.

When in a deep hole, getting deeper, for Gawd sake stop digging.




GC

Oh bull pucky. Sheed can and will contribute to this teams winning many games this year. The dude is a winner and he knows how to play hoop. He is going to get better and better as he figures out his new team. He has been playing with these guys no time at all.

Some of the t's are just stupid and he needs to stop talking yes but that's who he is. A complicated cat. But a tough defender and smart team guy whose teamates have always loved him.

He has looked very good on both sides of the ball inside the last two games.

Sheed has his issues,but for what were paying him and what he provides you still have to love this move by Danny,he already is a force allowing KG to limit his minutes already,we need him,hes a great asset.He is already allowing KG and Perk not to have to expend too much energy,as this continues both these forces,Perk and KG will just keep playing better and stronger in their shifts-that is huge!!!If only Dave Cowens had a backup in his day like that he could have lasted longer himself.

Couple of observations.

-it is time for the NBA to put some of these old time refs out to pasture, as they have become too big for the good of the game. Bennett Salvatore, Joey Crawford, Dick Bavetta – NO ONE is paying to see these donkeys, and they attitude of being beyond reproach is getting old. When they wont even give people like Doc and KG the time of day – time to HANG IT UP.

-Sheed has been going down low more and more lately, and has been fairly successful. Still waiting for some of you guys that were crying about this to give him his due.

-As KG said in the post game interview, it begins and ends with Rondo. He completely dominated the game for long stretches last night and if he does that on a consistent basis – the Celtics are clearly the team to beat.

-Ray Allen is getting his legs and shot back. Watch out for a big game or two on the road trip.

-KG looks fantastic, and his swagger is starting to return.

-Perk was the best player on the court for stretches last night, and that is saying a lot. Jermaine O’Neil is completely intimidated by him, and with a healthy KG next to him and Wallace backing him up and Pierce at the 3, the Celtics have the best front line in the game.

I am very excited about this road trip. The team is getting back on track and I think they can go 3-1 for sure, and 4-0 is a distinct possibility. Now lets get Glen Davis back and start running teams off the court again.

mrkleen

agree theat many refs are average at best (i am trying to be nice today), however sheed must realize how big the target he has on him is, Perk to has one almost as large.
Getting a T now and then is no "big" issue until they add up to the suspension level, and I'm not quite sure what that is.

At that point it will hurt the team. They need to play (play hard) and keep their mouths shut (and I realize some of the T's are not because of the mouth but just a reaction to a call, or a non call). Look at PP's T the other eve after the dunk. He did basically nothing, he ceertainly didn't stand over Bosh but sort of put his chest out and hopped back for a step or two then turned to go play D when the T came.

We are playing a bit better but still there are things to work on. And as you point out BB should be back soon and that should further lesson the minutes for the older players.

beat

Hi,
Good game yesterday: looks like Celtics are getting their groove.
As for Rasheed, I wonder why such role models of a referee as Salvatore just give him T as soon as he steps on the court because of a very valid reason: he did it with his left foot instead of the right, and then give him the second T as soon as he starts talking regardless whom he's talking to. Done. Then they can concentrate on deciding the outcome of the game. Such a cancer on the NBA body.

AK

beat wrote:mrkleen

agree theat many refs are average at best (i am trying to be nice today), however sheed must realize how big the target he has on him is, Perk to has one almost as large.
Getting a T now and then is no "big" issue until they add up to the suspension level, and I'm not quite sure what that is.

At that point it will hurt the team. They need to play (play hard) and keep their mouths shut (and I realize some of the T's are not because of the mouth but just a reaction to a call, or a non call). Look at PP's T the other eve after the dunk. He did basically nothing, he ceertainly didn't stand over Bosh but sort of put his chest out and hopped back for a step or two then turned to go play D when the T came.

We are playing a bit better but still there are things to work on. And as you point out BB should be back soon and that should further lesson the minutes for the older players.

beat

The absolute power of the NBA and the way that they have empowered the league and the officials with this holier than thou attitude has been rubbing me the wrong way for years. The have the most inconsistent officiating of any professional sport and then have the audacity to hand down fines and suspensions with no rhyme or reason.

Eddy Curry smashes Rajon Rondo in the back of the head and gets NO FINE – NO SUSPENSION…yet Rasheed criticizes the refs for making a bogus call against him on Friday and gets fined $30,000 dollars? Are you F*&KING kidding me?

Beat - I understand your point about Sheed, but I think it is truly ridiculous at this point and Danny Ainge should be contacting the NBA about it.

If a 14 year pro, multiple time all star, potential future hall of famer cant say “and one” without getting a technical, the entire system is a joke.

In the end, I know he will have to calm down (something Perk has done much better with this season) – but where is the mutual respect? David Stern is a disgrace….plain and simple.

There is merit in what you are saying especially the last few paragraphs. It is something I was saying a few years ago and it cannot be won on the court. The Celtic management need to hold a meeting with Stern and the head of officiating and come to some compromise or at least put public pressure on the NBA that their officiating is a joke! Make a video doc to stress their point. No right minded individual would not side with the Celtics. Case in point was a foul/non-foul by Rasheed on a guy going for a lay-up. Took a swipe at the guy but never ever touched the guy and he gets a foul called on him! What a joke!

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Fellas

But no foul on Rondo's freakish driving reverse layup. It's really bad. Terrible. Kleen I think the older guys you mention need to be gone. Gone gone gone gone. They are grudge holders at the least and fixers at the worst. Like laBron "King" James they make the game ABOUT them. I watched the lakers play the warriors the other night and it was a big love fest for the Lakers from the officials. Even Artest is under the Kobe / Jackson umbrella. It all starts with Stern. Jordan was making him and EVERYBODY else so much money that "star calls" got taken to the degree of comedy. In deciding moments of big games calls simply never went against Jordan. Ever. Not one time. No way no day.

If it keeps up. And we are on the wrong side of every call. There is no way in this world we beat the Lakers no matter how we play. And we prolly won't get through Cleveland. James is in the club and Stern is measuring him for the crown. We dont get calls at home. No calls. It is very bad and will stop us from winning it all this year. If one of the three guys kleen mentioned is calling a Celts game I know we may not win unless we are up by fifteen.

Anyway there is my 2 cents. SHeed has been on the wrong side of these laughable joke calls for ten years. It shows in his body language and comments. Different rules for different players.

Mrkleen,

You're right about Sheed's going down low more frequently. It wouldn't shock me if he were spending two-thirds of this minutes down there, although he's good at shuttling in and out on the same play too.

I have felt, all season long, that Sheed's ability to get in sync with the rest of the team (and vice versa) was one of the keys to this team's championship hopes. His early success from the arc contributed to some nice blowouts but may actually have retarded the mutual assimilation process.

I believe that Sheed's recent role is much closer to what will be occurring on an ongoing basis. And the bench may have taken a collective step backward as everyone struggles to get used to the change. For instance, I think there is some confusion as to the proper role of the three-pointer and who should be spacing the floor at any given moment; and it's one reason why Pierce is currently playing so many minutes with the bench because he's adaptable to playing about anywhere.

During the first five games, the Celtics averaged 10.8 made three-pointers.

During the next eight games (four of them losses), they went to the other extreme and averaged only 3.9 made three-pointers.

During the most recent four games (all wins), they seem to have settled on a middle ground (7.3 made three-pointers per game). I've been preaching balance as a huge mandate for this team, and this adjustment is an example of balance. And Sheed has been a factor in achieving that balance.

So I happen to believe any assimilation struggles now will be worth it in the long run as they find the various forms of balance that will harness their myriad resources to best advantage and could lead them to another title.

Sam

I definitely agree that some of today's refs should consider retirement. In regards to Sheed's most recent tech, the "and 1", I think Sheed certainly had a point there, it looked to me like he was fouled. And sure, we hear guys yell "and 1" all game long. I think the reason he was T'd up on this one is because he looked directly at the ref when he said it. Sheed thinks that the refs are out to get him, and sometimes it seems like they are, but he's not helping himself out at all when he goes out there with the intention of playing against the Heat and the refs. Playing against the refs is one game that he'll never win. On the bright side, I did read in the Globe that Sheed said that Bennette Salvatore told him he would talk to the league about rescinding the T.

That said, I am one that wanted to see Sheed play inside more, and I do want to give him his props for that. I think he's done a good job of mixing it up. Maybe the reason I haven't mentioned it already was fear of Kleen blowing a gasket at the mere mention of his inside game! JK Kleen

I also was worried about KG and the possibility that what we saw early in the season was as good as it was going to get. He's been looking great the past couple of games. And honestly, I'd still think he was looking great even if he wasn't shooting lights out. He seems to have that fire in his eyes back and has been much more active on the defensive end. He doesn't seem as tentative when he jumps, and he appears to be making decisions a lot quicker too.

Good morning, everyone.

I think some of you are off base thinking refereeing is biased against the Celtics.

I agree that some refs think too highly of themselves, and it wouldn't take much to convince me that some older ones need to go. In particular, the league loses credibility when they keep Joey Crawford. His altercation with Tim Duncan and the perception by multiple players and teams that he has a vendetta against them makes him unacceptable as a referee.

You can argue the merits of other referees or the referee pool as a whole, but I find it telling that the last two times the league has used replacement refs, the vast majority of players and coaches have said they want the regular refs back, and pretty please hurry back.

Regarding technicals, here are the NBA rules (I added bold to key sections):

d. A technical foul shall be assessed for unsportsmanlike tactics such as:
(1) Disrespectfully addressing an official
(2) Physically contacting an official
(3) Overt actions indicating resentment to a call
(4) Use of profanity
(5) A coach entering onto the court without permission of an official
(6) A deliberately-thrown elbow or any attempted physical act with no contact involved
(7) Taunting
e. Cursing or blaspheming an official shall not be considered the only cause for imposing technical fouls. Running tirades, continuous criticism or griping may be sufficient cause to assess a technical. Excessive misconduct shall result in ejection from the game.

These guys know the rules. These things are stated in the rules. Rasheed and Perk usually get their techs for the items in bold above.

As for Pierce getting a T after the dunk on Bosh, he glared at Bosh, which is considered taunting. It's an automatic T, and he knows it. (Personally, I think the knee to the groin was at a minimum an offensive foul and probably a flagrant. What would your reaction be if Kobe or LeBron did that to KG?)

The Celtics led the league last year with 117 T's in the regular season (1.4 a game). They lead the league so far this year with 28 in 17 games (1.6 per game). You can argue that it's part of playing with passion and having an intimidating attitude, but T's do come at a cost (and I'm not talking about fines). There's the free points given to the opponent during the game, and there's automatic suspensions. Rasheed already has seven and Perk has five. I believe the rule is that a player is suspended one game for the 16th tech and one additional game for every two techs after that (18th, 20th, etc.). Players usually clean up their act as they get close to the limit, but Rasheed got 19 last year, which meant two games missed because of technical fouls.

In addition to automatic suspensions, another concern is keeping your composure in playoff games. You can afford to lose a regular season game over technicals, but every playoff game counts.

As I've stated other times when we've discussed refereeing, I have numerous complaints about how games are called, including violations that aren't called -- traveling, carrying the ball, moving screens -- and calls that shouldn't be made -- fouls from flopping (offensive and defensive) and the ghost foul for being in the area or making any kind of swiping motion at the ball on a breakaway or relatively isolated finish at the hoop.

But the thing is, NBA players and coaches know the deal. They know how games are called. They know there are certain things you can do and others you can't do. They have scouting reports on referees as well as opponents. I just don't have much sympathy for players like Rasheed and Perk getting T's when they constantly complain to the refs about every perceived poor call or missed call. Everyone thinks calls go against their team, but calls and non-calls go both ways all game long at every basketball game at every level. The proper approach is to play through it and state your case to the ref on occasion in a respectful fashion. Excessive carping to the refs is counterproductive and only turns the refs against you. Yes, the refs shouldn't hold a grudge because of that, but they're human, and it's only natural to do so, even on a subconscious level. It's not only how much certain players complain, it's how they complain that hurts them.

You can point to any of a hundred plays in a game and say this call or that call should've or shouldn't have been made. Some of you seem to think all of these go against the Celtics, but it's my opinion that fans from the other team have the opposite viewpoint. I truly don't see a bias by referees against the Celtics.

Outside

Outside,

I think that wanting to improve the quality of officiating should always be an essentially continuing endeavor. And certainly addressing ethical standards should be the number one initiative in that regard.

Of course faulty refereeing calls (whether caused by honest error or dishonesty) sometimes turn wins into losses. But I routinely ignore (and pretty much reject) gripes that one team gets "jobbed" or benefited more by poor or even dishonest officiating than other teams do.

I can't recount the number of times I've heard a Celtic say, "You shouldn't let the score get close enough so that a bad call or two can make a difference. Spend your energy on playing the best you can." That's the sort of attitude that places primary responsibility squarely where it belongs.

Sam

Outside

You are a fine reasoned voice on this board but I got to say if you dont see the SAME rules APPLIED DIFFERENTLY to different players celtic and non celtic then I dont know what.

For example if Wade, King James Or Kobe would have gotten knocked to the floor after an outer space drive as Rondo did they are shootin a free throw every time.

That was ridiculous.Rondo gets hit hard a lot. He gets very very few calls.

Remeber Brent Barry from three getting hit in that spurs playoff game? Now ask yourself what the call would have been if it was Kobe.

Kleens comments about officials ignoring KG with the dues he's paid were accurate. Same for Pierce he gets to shoot free throws about half the time he is fouled. It's a joke.

But the beauty of this place is different people see things different ways. I respect your opinion highly. Your post are great. But I strongly differ with you on this one.

Outside

I have a simple question for you.

Do you think there are different interpretations of the rules for different players?

If you say there are, then you entire post complete with quoting the rule book is BUNK. If you don’t, then you must be watching the games with blinders on.

Dwayne Wade runs around the court palming the ball, taking 3 steps, and launching himself into the chest of defenders all night long and gets it called his way 99% of the time. Why is that? Because he is an extremely marketable superstar, and the NBA cant afford to miss the opportunity to promote one of his dunks on a poster or t-shirt – even if he took 4 steps on the way to sending it down.

So as long as there are two sets of rules, one for stars and another for the rest of the players – the NBA (and anyone trying to defend them) make themselves look stupid for trying to hide behind the rule book.

Every time an official blows a game, or makes a terrible call that costs a team a game – the NBA releases some lame statement quoting the rule book. As soon as they (or anyone else) stoops to that level – I know they don’t have a leg to stand on.

Rasheed Wallace is veteran, All Star, Hall of Famer - that gets treated like a rookie and it is a disgrace. I used to laugh at him when he played for the Pistons and get a T a night against the Celtics. But now that I see him on a game by game basis, I see just how much of it is BULLSHIT OFFICIATING.

It is not the refs job to look for trouble. It is not his job to stare down a player, or antagonize the situation. That is exactly what they do to Rasheed Wallace, and it is a embarrassment to the league.

Kelly

Your qoute

I did read in the Globe that Sheed said that Bennette Salvatore told him he would talk to the league about rescinding the T.

Not sure what the spread was but heck if you can do something after the game why not and maybe he had some $$$$$$ on it to?
Kidding a little of course.

Outside

if Bosh is in the restricted area which he clearly was any contact with a player going up for a shot on a drive to the hoop like PP, has got to be a block and a call against the defensive player period. I've watched that dunk many times and it looks like PP bends his leg moreso to protect himself from the contact that is obviously comming. He had the lane, no one stepped in to stop him on the drive, so when he commits to take off and sees Bosh looming he protects himself, at the expence of Bosh.

You ask if it had been KG getting the knee to the groin would we have been upset? Sure if he had gotten hurt. But If you can't make a clean block on that play you got no business going after it. To me there should have been a whistle and a foul on Bosh period. Earlier you quoted the rules for assessing a tech. I have no problem with those and we should be smart enough to play accordingly.

The NBA refers the the restricted area as the No charge zone. So how could PP be assessed an offensive foul if Bosh was there?

The “no-charge area,” formerly a two-by-six foot box where an offensive foul is not called if contact is made with a secondary defensive player who has established a defensive position, will be expanded to the area consisting of a half circle with a four-foot radius measured from the middle of the goal.

Anyway just my opinion.

beat

Beat, yeah, I was surprised to read that. Maybe Sheed was pestering him to review it and Bennette just told him that to shut him up. Or maybe Bennette reviewed it himself and thought he jumped the gun. I think if Sheed would just look anywhere but at the ref when he is complaining, he might reduce his season Tech total by half.

Kelly

the tech situation is a concern for sure, come playoff time we can't afford to be having anyone sitting (suspension) because of it period no matter how stupid it may appear. And at the rate they are going Sheed will get there!

I do think management needs to go to stern (out of the public + media eye) and find out just what the heck is going on. Several of the T's do seem a bit unwarranted.

beat

beat

Jeb,

There are definitely "star rules." I don't dispute that at all (and wish it weren't so, but the league markets itself with star players). No argument there.

I didn't see the Rondo play, so I can't comment specifically on that. But my point isn't to talk about individual plays, such as that or the Brent Barry one, but overall refereeing trends. I obviously don't see every minute of every game, but when I watch games (Celtic or otherwise), I see the calls balance out. Mr. Kleen says Curry should've been fined or suspended for hitting Rondo on the back of head. Okay, fine. What do you think of Rondo's foul on Miller in last year's playoffs? Personally, I saw that as a flagrant foul and possible suspension, certainly much worse than Rafer Alston's love tap to Eddie House's head in last year's playoffs that got Alston suspended. And what do you think of Pierce's knee to Bosh's groin? You can argue any one of these as individual plays, but it seems to me that you can find many examples of this stuff going both ways, not just against the Celtics.

I don't see enough Celtic games to offer a definitive opinion, but in the games I've seen, I didn't get any impression that KG isn't getting calls he should. Maybe it happened one game, but is there really a pattern from game to game? I don't see it.

As for Pierce not getting calls, you have to see his tendencies for what they are. When he drives, he often initiates contact, then jerks his head, flails his arms, and stumbles like he's been shot. He gets the call many times. It's easily my least favorite part of his game, and he's my least favorite Celtic because of it. It's a type of offensive flopping, faking a foul. Please don't say he doesn't get enough calls on those plays. Please. I'll sing his praises as a clutch scorer, smart defender, and leader, but I've lost a lot of respect for him because he fakes fouls so often.

Having said all that, I recognize it's natural for you guys to think the refs are against the Celtics, and that's okay. I appreciate you being open enough to not run me out of town on a rail when I suggest otherwise. I really do.

Outside

I don't know about that Beat. Maybe if Sheed had already changed his behavior towards the refs, wasn't complaining on every single call, and had learned to let things go, but the refs were still giving him techs for no apparent reason, then I might be more inclined to agree on management going to Stern. Unfortunately, none of those things has happened.

A bad reputation is a hard thing to live down, and it may seem unfair to us because Sheed is new to the C's, but he's been racking up the T's for a long time. Maybe there are particular refs that have a personal problem with Rasheed, and no, it's not right for them to watch him more closely than any other players, but unfortunately this is what happens. Sometimes it seems like they call the tech early in the game with very little reason just to stop him from getting on their cases the rest of the game. I think that is what happened against the Heat. On the flip side, Sheed knows that he's going to get T'd up a lot quicker than everyone else, so he needs to work on controlling himself, and directing that emotion that he plays with towards something other than the refs.

Outside wrote:Jeb,

There are definitely "star rules." I don't dispute that at all (and wish it weren't so, but the league markets itself with star players). No argument there.

I didn't see the Rondo play, so I can't comment specifically on that. But my point isn't to talk about individual plays, such as that or the Brent Barry one, but overall refereeing trends. I obviously don't see every minute of every game, but when I watch games (Celtic or otherwise), I see the calls balance out. Mr. Kleen says Curry should've been fined or suspended for hitting Rondo on the back of head. Okay, fine. What do you think of Rondo's foul on Miller in last year's playoffs? Personally, I saw that as a flagrant foul and possible suspension, certainly much worse than Rafer Alston's love tap to Eddie House's head in last year's playoffs that got Alston suspended. And what do you think of Pierce's knee to Bosh's groin? You can argue any one of these as individual plays, but it seems to me that you can find many examples of this stuff going both ways, not just against the Celtics.

I don't see enough Celtic games to offer a definitive opinion, but in the games I've seen, I didn't get any impression that KG isn't getting calls he should. Maybe it happened one game, but is there really a pattern from game to game? I don't see it.

As for Pierce not getting calls, you have to see his tendencies for what they are. When he drives, he often initiates contact, then jerks his head, flails his arms, and stumbles like he's been shot. He gets the call many times. It's easily my least favorite part of his game, and he's my least favorite Celtic because of it. It's a type of offensive flopping, faking a foul. Please don't say he doesn't get enough calls on those plays. Please. I'll sing his praises as a clutch scorer, smart defender, and leader, but I've lost a lot of respect for him because he fakes fouls so often.

Having said all that, I recognize it's natural for you guys to think the refs are against the Celtics, and that's okay. I appreciate you being open enough to not run me out of town on a rail when I suggest otherwise. I really do.

Outside

Outside,

I don’t see anyone trying to “run you out of town on a rail” – and I don’t think you are wrong in suggesting that bad calls happen both ways and to all teams in the NBA.

But when you try and make an argument about games you admittedly don’t often watch, by hiding behind some lame quote from the rule book that you KNOW is administered unevenly – I have to call you on it, sorry.

As for the Paul Pierce play, if you are in the restricted area – you are not only fair game, but you should automatically be called for a blocking foul. Make no difference if Bosh got kicked in the balls, chest or anywhere else….if you cant take the heat, get out of the kitchen.

As for the rest, I am sure I speak for everyone is saying that it is nice to have people to debate with and disagree with…so please stick around.

Outside

What I think is cool is that we CAN see each other's viewpoints. I try to avoid "dug in" positions cause I think if you are so committed to an opinion that you won't examine another's viewpoint and the evidence that supports that view, then you are part of the problem. Not to get too soapy but "dug in" dogmatic points of view cause mayhem and death on a global scale. For real.

The level of knowledge and variety of views on this board are something to behold.

Restricted area arc

The restricted area arc is an arc 4 feet (1.22 m) from the basket currently used only in the NBA; defending players can't force offensive fouls in this area.

More.....

There is an exception. A defender can be legally positioned in the
restricted area and draw a charge in one instance -- if the offensive
player receives the ball within the lower defensive box.

more....



The Restricted Area only applies to "Secondary" defenders -- defensive players who are not actively guarding the offensive player with the ball.

A secondary defender cannot be in the Restricted Area when a drive starts outside the lower defensive box (the area between the 3-foot posted-up marks, the bottom tip of the foul circle, and the endline) for the purpose of drawing an offensive foul. However, the offensive player's Primary defender may draw an offensive foul no matter where he is positioned at the time of contact. (On a fastbreak, all defenders are considered Secondary.)

Even if he is in the Restricted Area, a Secondary Defender will not be called for a blocking foul if contact is made while he is alighting vertically in an attempt to block the shot, or if the drive starts inside the lower defensive box.



Me speaking

OK if Bosh went straight up.........perhaps it was a good no call!! But certainly not a charge on PP.


beat