Photo. Gary LandThere’s one thing everyone on the “Boston hasn’t played anybody” train shouldn’t forget: the C’s have played last year’s Atlantic Division champs three times already, and two of those times the Raptors got cracked. Yesterday was the second such blowout — there were times when it looked like Toronto shouldn’t have been on the same floor with Boston, like they were just another cupcake. And this is a good Raptors squad, too. The Celtics’ defense was smothering, giving Jose Calderon (5 asts, 4 turnovers) and the rest of the team (17 turnovers total) problems just making simple passes. Play-by-play man Mike Gorman said this is the best defensive team he’s seen in green in more than 20 years … That defense begins with Kevin Garnett, who hasn’t been putting up the same monster numbers lately he put up at the beginning of the year, but is still the front-runner for Defensive Player of the Year. He had 16 points, 8 boards and 6 dimes yesterday and helped hold Chris Bosh to 4-for-12 shooting … Despite the big win over the Lakers the other day, you just knew Golden State wasn’t coming out of Detroit with a W yesterday. Awful weather, early tip-off time, the fact that GS is usually a different team on the road than at home — it just wasn’t their day. The Pistons were on precision mode early and took out the Warriors from the jump, to the point where Nellie basically admitted afterwards that he folded up the tent when he saw the writing on the wall. “We pulled the plug early on this one,” he told reporters afterwards. “We’ve got a game tomorrow, and sometimes you have to think beyond one game. We played the bench and we got a loss, but we were going to get that anyway.” Baron Davis was held to TWO points on 1-for-8 shooting; maybe the only positive was that Brandan Wright (10 pts, 4 rebs, 2 blks) saw some needed PT against a rugged front line … A lot of people didn’t agree with Tayshaun Prince ranking so high on this list of the League’s Top 10 small forwards. It’s just one man’s opinion, but watching Tayshaun drop 23 points yesterday and play that lock-up defense is a solid argument for his spot. Remember when he was coming out of Kentucky and a lot of people doubted if he’d even be a good NBA player? … Primoz Brezec played a few minutes in his first game with Detroit. Like Darko, he just doesn’t look right there. And we can’t imagine what Walter Herrmann will look like in a Pistons uni … Brandon Roy stamped 26 points and 11 dimes on the Nuggets, as the Blazers continue to be on fire. Seven W’s in a row now, and a lot of them without LaMarcus Aldridge. They’re a young team so that confidence has them playing above their heads. What will be interesting to see if how they bounce back the next time they lose a game … Wasn’t Kobe supposed to be hurt? Wasn’t the injured groin that reportedly kept him up all night Saturday supposed to make for a sluggish/subpar performance on Sunday? Nah. Kobe dropped 32 on the Clippers and gave his Philly homeboy Cat Mobley the business … How crazy was that half-court shot by Corey Maggette? Clock running down, Maggette ran the ball down, turned and barely jumped while flinging in a one-hand banker over Trevor Ariza. That takes more strength than you know … We’re out like weak schedules …
December 17th, 2007 at 8:23 am
Gee ... huh? says:
Good Morning All! Up early First thing in the Morn, now let us proceed.
December 17th, 2007 at 8:25 am
big40 says:
first bitches
December 17th, 2007 at 8:26 am
big40 says:
make that second
December 17th, 2007 at 8:30 am
First? says:
never seen so many guys proud of coming first…:)
December 17th, 2007 at 8:36 am
Austin Burton says:
Said one Bernie Mac: “I got mine … You better get yours.”
December 17th, 2007 at 9:37 am
Captain America says:
zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
December 17th, 2007 at 9:37 am
Captain America says:
Celtics? zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
December 17th, 2007 at 9:38 am
Captain America says:
Celtics = fish food zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
December 17th, 2007 at 10:07 am
Myrie says:
Corey Maggette had one of the best shots of the year.
December 17th, 2007 at 10:09 am
jz_smoove says:
Saw the Celts beat down on my Raps. They are sumthin else. Offense and defense, WOW is an understatement.
December 17th, 2007 at 10:38 am
mavid says:
Al Horford vs. Boozer is gonna be good tonight. Horford is pretty much a younger Boozer.
December 17th, 2007 at 10:54 am
Captain America says:
celtics tain’t played nobody
December 17th, 2007 at 12:00 pm
flyp says:
Well captain… by your double negative, the Celtics have played somebody. Nicely done.
December 17th, 2007 at 12:12 pm
dagwaller says:
I’m pretty pumped as an NBA fan to see that the Blazers aren’t just trying to lose so that they get another draft pick, which is what everyone foresaw. Well, not everyone (I’m sure there are a few randoms that thought they would make some noise), but it’s something that no one would’ve been surprised by.
As far as a guy that excited for that franchise, though, it’s mixed signals. I’m just afraid that they’ll become one of those middle ground teams, where they win enough to not get a good pick, but not enough to get out of the first round. Then it’ll be time for Roy/Aldridge and Oden/2008 draft pick’s contracts, and it’ll be similar to the Bulls I’m afraid…
December 17th, 2007 at 12:18 pm
B says:
Based on early indications, this years draft is gonna be pretty deep. The Blazers will probably add another quality player and I think their squad is already pretty legit. Yeah they probably coulda got more for Zach, but with Webster and Outlaw continuing to make strides, + Oden and whoever they pick up this year, I’d say their team has a very bright future.
December 17th, 2007 at 1:13 pm
dagwaller says:
You’re right B, but I’m just afraid that they’re stockpiling too many good-but-not-great players, depending on how you think Roy, Aldridge, Oden and next year’s pick will turn out. I just hope that they don’t make the same idiotic mistake as my Bulls and try to sell high on some of the younguns, once they become really good. 10 good players isn’t as good as 2 greats plus 5 really good ones, in my opinion.
December 17th, 2007 at 6:16 pm
nysux says:
Bo Outlaw seems to be tearing it up for the Blazers…isnt that guy like 100?
December 18th, 2007 at 12:50 pm
Kudabeen says:
Travis Outlaw???