Final: Sixers 95, Celtics 94

If you happened to be channel surfing tonight and saw that the two worst teams in the Atlantic Division were facing off, you more than likely passed right by it, assuming that this game would not be worth watching.

But that was not the case.

In their first matchup of the season, the Celtics (15-33) and Sixers (15-31) gave the fans their money's worth, but Evan Turner broke the hearts of the Celtics' faithful with a game-winning shot as time expired to give the Sixers a 95-94 victory.

This one had 12 ties and six lead changes.


The good:

* Even with two injured fingers on his shooting hand, Jared Sullinger was still the best player on the court. Sullinger recorded his 13th double-double of the season, putting in 24 points and 16 rebounds

* Kris Humphries is going to get paid this offseason. Since he started getting significant minutes, Humphries has become an important piece on this team. He's performed very well, and he continued his strong play tonight with 13 points and 9 rebounds in 21 minutes off the bench.

* Although the Sixers killed the Celtics in points in the paint, the C's did the same on the boards. They outrebounded the Sixers, 59-40. They also had 17 second-chance points to Philly's 7.

* The C's kept Philly's fast-break attack in check. Philly came into tonight third in the league in fast-break points per game (17.1), and they had eight in the first quarter. But the Celtics locked in defensively and only allowed four more fast-break points in the final three quarters.

The bad:

* The Sixers got into the paint with ease all night long, and it proved to be costly for the Celtics as Evan Turner's game-winning floater came in the paint. The Sixers scored 58 points in the paint to the Celtics' 40.

* Boston largest lead of the night was eight, and it came with 8:05 remaining the fourth quarter. It's a little disheartening that Boston could not hold a lead like that against a team that allows the most points per game in the NBA.

* The Celtics now sit alone at the bottom of the Atlantic Division. They have lost 19 of their last 22 games.

* An interesting stat on Rajon Rondo. He's played in six games this season. The Celtics have lost them all. He missed one game in that six-game stretch, and that was the Celtics' only victory.


The Celtics have three days off before returning to action Sunday afternoon against the Orlando Magic. Tipoff is set for 1:00 pm.

Sullinger, Olynyk chosen as Rising Stars

At the very least, the Celtics will have two players to represent the team
next month at the NBA's All-Star weekend in New Orleans.

Celtics second-year forward Jared Sullinger and rookie forward Kelly Olynyk have been selected to participate in next month's Rising Stars Challenge.

The game, which will be played on February 14 in New Orleans as part of the All-Star weekend festivities, consists of two teams with each having nine rookies and sophomores.

All 18 players -- nine rookies and nine sophomores -- were selected by the NBA's assistant coaches.

After the Rising Stars Challenge Draft on February 6, fans will be able to vote online from both their computer and mobile device for the starters of each team

The head coaches for both teams will be the lead assistant coaches from the 2014 NBA All-Star Game coaching staffs. Frank Vogel, head coach of the Indiana Pacers, and Scott Brooks, head coach of the Oklahoma City Thunder, will coach the game for the East and West respectively.

La La, Melo, KG, and Honey Nut Cheerios

Remember the whole Honey Nut Cheerios drama that came about during last year's January 7 matchup between the Knicks and Celtics?

Well, it was all made up.

La La Anthony, the wife of Knicks' superstar Carmelo Anthony, writes in her new book "The Playbook" that former Celtic Kevin Garnett never made a reference to the cereal during his trash talk with Anthony.

Anthony was so outraged by Garnett's comments during the game that he waited outside the Celtics' team bus afterwards to confront Garnett.

Anthony was suspended for the team's next game against the Indian Pacers.

La La writes, "I wasn't ever going to bring up the Honey Nut Cheerios incident again. But since I'm writing this book, I might as well set the record straight for good," La La writes in the book, according to the New York Post. The book was released Tuesday. "Kevin Garnett in fact had never said that I tasted like Honey Nut Cheerios. I tried to figure out how this big lie was turned into a media firestorm. I still can't answer that one ... Melo and Kevin are cool today. And now it's nothing but a faint memory."

Game 48 Preview: Sixers at Celtics

Brandon Bass and the Celtics big men will have to work hard to secure
rebounds against Thaddeus Young and the Sixers.

Well, now they're even.

Last month, the Celtics embarrassed the Knicks on their homecourt. Last night, the Knicks got even.

So now the Celtics (15-32) have no choice but to move on. Why? Because they have business to take care of tonight. They host the Philadelphia 76ers (14-31) in the second night of a back-to-back.

This is the first meeting of the season between these two teams. Both squads occupy the basement of the Atlantic Division and are near the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings. Both teams are 2-8 in their last ten games, and they both have lost three straight games.

Buckle up, folks. This one oughta be fun.


Projected lineups:

Sixers:

Michael Carter-Williams
James Anderson
Evan Turner
Thaddeus Young
Spencer Hawes

Celtics:

Phil Pressey

Gerald Wallace

Jeff Green

Brandon Bass

Jared Sullinger

Keys to the game:

1. Get on the glass: The Celtics have improved drastically throughout the year when it comes to rebounding. However, they'll have their hands full tonight with the 76ers. Philly ranks ninth in the league in rebounds, pulling down an average of 44.8 a night. Winning the battle of the boards could prove to be critical.

2. Don't let them run: Philly ranks third in the NBA in fast-break points per game with 17.1. Boston's been mediocre when it comes to defending the fast-break, giving up 13.1 points per game on the fast-break. Boston's defense needs to get back quickly and prevent easy baskets from this young and quick basketball team.

Game 47 Preview: Celtics at Knicks

Jeff Green needs to get back on track for the Celtics to get off the schneid.

So now that Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce return has come and gone, it's time to move forward.

Tonight, the Celtics (15-32) will look to do just that against the New York Knicks (17-27).

The Knicks have won two straight and are in the midst of an eight-game homestand. Carmelo Anthony has almost singlehandedly won the past two games for the Knicks, scoring 62 (a career-high) and 35 points respectively.

The Celtics have won the first two games of the season series with the Knicks. In their last meeting at Madison Square Garden, the Celtics defeated the Knicks by a final of 114-73.

Head coach Brad Stevens told reporters at this morning's shootaround that guard Jerryd Bayless will be available for tonight's game after missing the last four games with a toe injury.

Projected lineups:

Celtics:
Rajon Rondo
Gerald Wallace
Jeff Green
Brandon Bass
Jared Sullinger

Knicks:
Raymond Felton
Pablo Prigioni
Iman Shumpert
Carmelo Anthony
Tyson Chandler

Keys to the game:

1. Contain Felton: Raymond Felton could play a major role in the outcome of this one. When he scores at least 13 points, the Knicks are 8-3. When he doesn't, they're 4-13. Rajon Rondo will most likely draw the assignment of covering Felton, and it's up to him to limit Felton's effectiveness.

2. Don't let Melo go off: Carmelo Anthony has gone off lately. However, when he sees green, he shrinks. In two matchups against the Celtics this season, Anthony is shooting only 36%. Anthony will certainly take a lot of shots, but the Celtics must make those shots as difficult as possible.

The case to hoist Ray Allen's number to the rafters

It's easy to forget just how vital Ray Allen was to the Celtics' success.

With last night's return of two former Celtics, it is easy to forget the third leg of the "Big Three 2.0:" Ray Allen.

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett received roaring ovations throughout the night, but the same cannot be said for Allen. When Allen checked into the game for the first time as a member of the Miami Heat back on January 27, 2013 at the TD Garden, the fans booed him, and quite loudly.

But that came after he was honored with a video tribute and received a standing ovation from the crowd.

Allen left the Celtics for their rival at the time, the Miami Heat, and he took less money to do so. He took (and is still taking) a lot of heat for doing so. But lost in translation is the sheer fact that Allen was just as big a part of the team's success over the last six years as Pierce and Garnett were.

He was always the third wheel. He was always the forgotten member of the "Big Three." However, that did not make him less important on the court.

The Celtics would never made it to two NBA Finals without him.

Hell, they never would have won a championship if Allen was not on the team.

So if we're so hell-bent on retiring Garnett's number -- I am not saying I am opposed to it -- then why is it so far-fetched to think that Allen's number should be raised to the rafters as well?

Here's my case:

People also tend to forget just how good Allen was during the 2008 Finals. While it's hard to take Finals MVP away from Pierce, many would argue that Allen should have received the honor. In that series against the Lakers, Allen averaged 20.3 points and 5.0 rebounds. He led the team in field-goal percentage (51%) and three-point percentage (52.4%). He also set the record for most three-pointers made in an NBA Finals with 21.

Allen picked up the slack the following season when Garnett injured his knee. As part of his efforts, he scored 51 points in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Chicago Bulls.

In Game 2 of the 2010 Finals against the Los Angeles Lakers, Allen set the Finals record for most three-pointers in a game with 8.

In Game 1 of the 2011 Eastern Conference Quarterfinals, he hit a game-winning three-pointer to give the Celtics an 87-85 victory over the New York Knicks.

He played with bone spurs in his ankles in the 2012 playoffs and helped the Celtics take the eventual champion Heat to a Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals.

During his Celtic tenure, Allen was named to three All-Star teams and became the NBA all-time leader in three-pointers.

His numbers were very good. He averaged 16.7 points, shot 47.2% from the field, 41% from three-point range and 91.4% from the free throw line.

Allen holds three franchise records. His 95.2% free throw percentage in 2008-2009 is the highest in a single season. He holds the record for consecutive free throws made at 75. Finally, his 45.3% three-point percentage in 2011-2012 was a single season record.

He also came through when it mattered most. Allen's Celtic resume is filled with clutch shots late in games. According to 82games.com, Allen led the Celtics during his five-year tenure with 7 game-winning shots. The definition of game-winning shots here is when your team is down 1 or 2 points with 24 seconds or less remaining in the game.

For those who vehemently disagree with my case, riddle me this: why does Robert Parish get praised when he shows up at a Celtics game when he did not re-sign with the team and signed with the Charlotte Hornets as a free agent? Why did Doc Rivers get showered with love when he came back after he chose to leave the Celtics?

The Celtics currently have 21 numbers retired. Out of all of them, I tried to find the one player who could compare to Allen, as far as his Celtics resume is concerned, and I chose Cedric Maxwell.

In his eight years with the Celtics, Maxwell averaged 13.7 points and 6.6 rebounds, and shot 56% from the floor and 78.3% from the free throw line. Maxwell led the league in field-goal percentage in the 1978-1979 and 1979-1980 seasons. He won NBA titles with the Celtics in 1981 and 1984. He was the 1981 NBA Finals MVP. Lastly, he is the Celtics all-time leader in field-goal percentage at 60%

(One thing to note with Maxwell: his extremely high field-goal percentage is due to the fact that the majority of his shots came in or near the paint. He was not a jump-shooter like Allen.)

Allen's numbers are not eye-popping -- Garnett's aren't either, by the way -- but his impact and commitment during his time as a Celtic make him worthy of having his number 20 retired someday.

A duo and a group that get it

Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in a Brooklyn uniform standing next to
Rajon Rondo in a Celtic uniform. In a word, odd.

It was sudden.

Abrupt.

No real goodbye, no real closure. Nothing.

That's what the departure of Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce felt like.

Although we all knew the day would come when the two would no longer be wearing Celtics uniforms. We didn't know how or when the end would come, but we braced for it. And when the door finally did shut on one of the most prolific eras in NBA history, it still hurt.

It was sad and strange.

It was like losing a couple of your closest friends.

But when the NBA schedule was released in the fall, the first thing almost all Celtics fans looked for was when the Brooklyn Nets would play in Boston. This date was their chance to finally say goodbye and to honor two of their most beloved players. They knew what they had to do.

It wasn't surprising to see more fans gathered by the railing over the tunnel where the Brooklyn Nets came out of the locker room than the railing by the Celtics' tunnel.

From the minute they stepped foot on the court, Garnett and Pierce were showered with love from the Celtic faithful. Fans erupted in applause when the two were introduced in the starting lineup, and the same happened when video tributes were played for each player on the Jumbotron.

A loud "Paul Pierce!" chant began right before public address announcer Eddie Palladino announced the Nets' starting lineup.

Every time each player touched the ball, fans cheered. Each time they scored, fans cheered. Even when Pierce stepped to the line and knocked down two free throws, fans cheered.

Cheering for visitors? In Boston? Unheard of. But not for these two.

Because they were just that special, and because the people of Boston just flat out get it.

“The only thing I can say is what I said on the bench, and that is, this town gets it,” Celtics head coach Brad Stevens said. “This town is special, and you can see why. All the people who have gotten a chance to play here, whether they played here for a year or they played here for 15 years, they all talk about how special it is. You know that coming in, but you can feel it on nights like tonight."

I could go into all the numbers (in Pierce's case) or the change in culture that Garnett brought when he was acquired.

But we know what they did.

The All-Star appearances, stats, records, we know all that.

But the impact they left on this city is even greater.

What Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett did was bring basketball back to Boston. They restored the glory of the winningest franchise in league history, and they did so with pride, a team-first mentality and a tenacity to fight tooth and nail to be crowned champions. And they did that ever so quickly.

While many believed the run of the "Big Three" to last three years, Garnett and Pierce -- along with some help from Rajon Rondo -- made it a six-year run. The ability to remain competitive at such a high level over that time span, at their advanced ages, with the mileage they had, just speaks to how special these two really were.

"That was our era. No one can ever take that away from us," Garnett said after his Nets beat the Celtics last night, 85-79. "I think we will always bleed green as long as we play basketball. We'll bleed green when we’re six feet under."

Pierce called last night's game "the toughest I ever had to play. Tougher than any championship game, Game 7. Tough to concentrate on what was at hand."

It was just another game on the schedule, and it won't look any different in the box score.

But last night's game was a reunion. A chance for closure. A chance to honor and praise two old friends. And the Celtics fans and staff hit this one out of the park.

Final: Nets 85, Celtics 79

With the way they played tonight, the Celtics (15-31) might have done something that many may not have thought to be possible.

They made their fans miss Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce even more.

The two Celtic legends were victorious in their return to Boston, defeating their former squad, 85-79.

During the second timeout, the Celtics honored Garnett with a video tribute on the Jumbotron. They did the same for Pierce between the first and second quarter.

Both played a rather sub-par game, for their standards. Pierce finished with 6 points on 2-of-10 shooting with 4 rebounds and 2 assists. Garnett finished with 6 points on 3-of-6 from the floor with 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals.

His final steal proved to be the biggest play of the game, and a reminder that Garnett remains a difference maker on the defensive end. Down 80-77 with 20.9 seconds remaining, Rajon Rondo's pass was intercepted by Garnett, and he finished off the fast-break himself with a layup to put Brooklyn up 82-77.

Besides the first quarter, the Celtics looked sloppy and stagnant, especially on the offensive end.

Here's a recap:

The good:

* Well, I'll start with KG and Pierce. The two were honored nicely, and the reception they received from the crowd during pregame introductions was amazing. The Celtics staff hit this one out of the park.

* Chris Johnson's 10-day contract expires tonight at midnight. With the way he played tonight, he might have earned himself a second 10-day deal. Johnson led all Celtics bench players with 12 points in 28 minutes to go along with 4 rebounds and a steal. He hit some huge free throws and a clutch three-pointer to keep the game close in the fourth quarter. Since he was signed, Johnson has not only made a big impact on the stat sheet, but also in the hustle department. Johnson has deflected a ton of passes, dove for loose balls, and played stingy defense.

* The Celtics did a nice job of limiting the effectiveness of Brooklyn's top three scorers: Joe Johnson, Deron Williams and Pierce. They combined for only 19 points on 7-of-25 from the floor.


The bad:

* Everything about the Celtics offense from the second quarter until the 8:42 mark of the fourth quarter. There was no movement on offense. There were a lot of bad jump shots late in the shot clock. They looked very disorganized for the majority of the night.

* Rajon Rondo and Jeff Green combined to shoot 7-of-27 with 7 turnovers. Not what you're looking for from your two best players.


The Celtics return to action Tuesday night when they travel to New York to take on the Knicks. Tipoff is 7:30 pm.

Game 46 Preview: Nets at Celtics

Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce will return to the place where they raised a
championship banner in 2008.

The day that Celtics fans have waited for since the NBA schedule was announced is finally here.

Two of the most beloved icons in franchise history finally make their return tonight to the TD Garden.

Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett and the rest of the Brooklyn Nets (19-22) are in town to take on the Celtics (15-30).

Tonight marks the second of four meetings between the two Atlantic Division foes. Brooklyn got the better of Boston in their first matchup back on December 10 by defeating the Celtics in Brooklyn, 104-96.

After getting off to a slow start, Brooklyn has turned things around since the start of the new year. In 2014, the Nets are 9-1.

While starting center Brook Lopez is lost for the season, Brooklyn has gotten exceptional play from their bench, particularly Mirza Teletovic. Teletovic erupted for 34 points in 26 minutes off the bench in Brooklyn's last game against the Dallas Mavericks.

In their last ten games, the Nets have seen Garnett and Pierce finally play the way they are capable of playing.

Tonight marks the first of three straight games against divisional opponents for the Celtics.

But one thing's for certain: this is not your average regular season game.

Projected lineups:

Nets:

Shaun Livingston

Alan Anderson

Joe Johnson

Paul Pierce

Kevin Garnett

Celtics:

Rajon Rondo

Gerald Wallace 

Jeff Green
Brandon Bass

Jared Sullinger

Keys to the game:

1. Engage defensively: Both head coach Brad Stevens and Rajon Rondo mentioned after Friday night's loss that the team was not engaged on the defensive end. The Celtics allowed the Thunder to shoot 55% from the field and 39% from three-point range. That cannot happen tonight, as Brooklyn is in the top ten in three-point shooting and 13th in field-goal percentage.

2. Second-chance points: Part of the reason Brooklyn has won nine of its last ten games is that they have limited their opponents to a league-low 9.7 second-chance points. During that same span, Boston has the third-highest average with 16.3 second-chance points. Boston needs to work hard on the offensive glass against an improved Brooklyn defense.

Final: Thunder 101, Celtics 83

No Kevin Durant, no Russell Westbrook, no problem for the Oklahoma City Thunder (34-10).

They beat the Celtics (15-30) tonight, 101-83.

Right from the opening tip, the Thunder were more engaged and into the game than the Celtics. The C's shot 11-of-15 from the floor in the first quarter, but shot only 35% in the final three quarters.

The Thunder got double-digit scoring from five players tonight, and they were led by Serge Ibaka's 21.

Here's a recap:

The good:

* Gerald Wallace had his best game of the season. The guard scored a season-high 13 points to go along with 2 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals. Wallace had to play a lot of point guard tonight with Rajon Rondo still on a minute restriction.

The bad:

* The Thunder dominated the Celtics down low. The Thunder outscored them in the paint, 48-36, and outrebounded the C's, 45-32.

* Jared Sullinger dislocated a finger in the first quarter, and the injury clearly impacted him throughout the rest of the game. Sullinger finished with 6 points on 3-of-10 shooting and 4 rebounds.

The long-anticipated return of Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett to the TD Garden is up next for the Celtics. The Nets and Celtics tip off at 6:30 pm on Sunday.

Game 45 Preview: Thunder at Celtics

Although Russell Westbrook will not suit up tonight, Rajon Rondo will
return for the Celtics.

In a week where they took on the two-time defending world champion Miami Heat, the Celtics (15-29) return home to take on the Western Conference's best team, the Oklahoma City Thunder (33-10).

The Thunder have won five straight, including a win on Wednesday over the San Antonio Spurs. Although they are without their All-Star point guard Russell Westbrook, they have gotten phenomenal play from Kevin Durant. In his last ten games, Durant is averaging 37.1 points, 5.8 rebounds and 5.9 assists while shooting 53%.

However, the Celtics will catch a break. Durant injured his shoulder in Wednesday's game and is listed as out for tonight's game.

The C's will be without Jerryd Bayless (toe) and Avery Bradley (ankle).

Projected lineups:

Thunder:
Reggie Jackson
Thabo Sefolosha
Kevin Durant
Serge Ibaka
Kendrick Perkins

Celtics:
Rajon Rondo
Gerald Wallace
Jeff Green
Kris Humphries
Jared Sullinger


Keys to the game:

1. Stop Mr. Jackson: Since Westbrook went down, Reggie Jackson has filled in nicely for the Thunder. In Westbrook's absence, Jackson has averaged 15.4 points and 4.8 assists. The former Boston College star is going to have his hands full with a rested Rajon Rondo tonight, but it won't be easy for Rondo to shut down Jackson.

2. Keep them off the line: This may sound silly, but keeping OKC off the free throw line could go a long way in this one. OKC is second in the league in free throw shooting at 81%. OKC gets 20% of their points from free throws. Forcing them to take difficult shots and staying off the line will be crucial.

Final: Celtics 113, Wizards 111

It took them five extra minutes, but the Celtics (15-29) snapped their three-game losing streak by defeating the Wizards, 113-111.

The C's led by as many as 19, but the Wizards just wouldn't go away. John Wall finished with a triple-double, but he wasn't enough.

And just as coach Stevens said...#EveryGameIsAnAdventure

The good:

* I mentioned in my keys to the game the importance of Jeff Green. Boy did he break through. Green finished with a season-high 39 points on 14-of-26 from the floor. He also had 9 rebounds, 3 steals, and an assist. Green hit some big shots down the stretch, including a ridiculous three in the final minute of regulation on one foot.

* Phil Pressey had a career night. In his second career start, Pressey tallied 20 points, 4 assists, and 2 steals. Not known for his outside shot, Pressey was dynamite from downtown, connecting on 5 of his 6 three-point attempts.

The bad:

* The Wizards killed the Celtics in the paint, 48-28.

* Blowing big leads has been a theme with this Celtics team all season long. Tonight was no different. The Wizards doubled up the Celtics in the third quarter, 30-15, and forced overtime at the end of regulation.

* They got away with it tonight, but 18 turnovers isn't going to get it done on Friday night against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Game 44 Preview: Celtics at Wizards

Things are going down for the Celtics, but Brad Stevens keeps looking up.

Winter break is over, which means The Green Team is back.

Over the last four weeks, this Celtics team has taken a turn for the worse -- or in the minds of most, taken a turn for the better if you're talking about the NBA Draft Lottery.

The C's have lost 15 of their last 17 games and have fallen from first-place in the Atlantic Division to the fourth-worst record in the Eastern Conference.

Courtney Lee walked out that door, and Jerryd Bayless, who will miss the next 7-10 days with a right toe injury, walked in. Rajon Rondo finally returned at exactly the halfway point of the season. Keith Bogans has been excused from the team. Marshon Brooks and Jordan Crawford were shipped out to the Golden State Warriors, and Joel Anthony shipped up to Boston. And lastly, Chris Johnson and Vander Blue were signed out of the NBDL to 10-day contracts.

Phew.

Through it all, head coach Brad Stevens has kept it cool and carried on through his first grueling stretch as an NBA head coach.

Tonight, the road does not get any easier for his Celtics (14-29). They're in our nation's capital tonight to take on the Washington Wizards (20-20).

Washington has played well of late, winning six of its last nine games. Their improved defense has been the key to their recent success. They've given up 96.3 points per game, an improvement over their season average of 99.2.

What will make tonight's game even more of a challenge for Stevens and company is the absence of both Avery Bradley and Rajon Rondo. Rondo will rest tonight as he continues to progress in his return from a torn ACL. Meanwhile, Bradley sprained his right ankle in last night's loss to the Miami Heat.

Projected lineups:

Celtics:
Phil Pressey
Gerald Wallace
Jeff Green
Kris Humphries
Jared Sullinger

Wizards:
John Wall
Bradley Beal
Trevor Ariza
Nene
Marcin Gortat

Keys to the game:

1. Green and Ariza: In their meeting at the TD Garden back on December 21, Trevor Ariza owned Jeff Green. Ariza led the Wizards with 27 points on 9-of-18 from the floor. He also had 8 rebounds, 2 assists, and a steal. Green, on the other hand, shot an abysmal 4-of-13 and finished with a -10, the worst on the team for the game. With the C's shorthanded and in desperate need of a victory, it's time for Green to put the team on his back.

2. Don't let everyone beat you: In all likelihood, John Wall and Bradley Beal are probably going to get whatever they want tonight. But that doesn't mean the C's should cave in and let Washington's other three starters have it easy. This starting five is very good. They're seventh in the NBA in points per game at 73.3. Boston cannot let Washington utilize all of its weapons.