The Truth on Dime #5If the Celtics are gonna lose on their first West Coast road swing — the same trip on which a lot of people thought they’d drop at least one game — it’s gonna be up to the Lakers tonight. Boston knocked off Utah yesterday, improving to 7-0 against the West overall and 3-0 on this road trip. Paul Pierce went off for 24 points in the second half after going scoreless in the first, looking like a whole ‘nother player coming out of the locker room; whereas he was settling for jumpers before, Pierce was attacking the basket in the second half and getting to the free throw line. He scored the go-ahead bucket with 28 seconds left when he got past Ronnie Brewer for a layup, then hit a couple free throws to seal it later on … The last time Boston and L.A. played it was a rout, but the Lakers are on a roll and Andrew Bynum is playing better now than he was a month ago. Plus L.A. has worked Trevor Ariza into the rotation, and you know Kobe’s gonna be locked in … Earlier in the day, the Jazz solved the Gordan Giricek problem by getting an upgrade: Giri was traded to the Sixers along with a first-round pick for Kyle Korver. Great move for both teams. Korver does a lot for a Utah team that has had problems knocking down jumpers (witness the Portland losses), and since the Jazz are trying to win now, they’re not worried about giving up what will likely be a draft pick somewhere in the 20s. For the Sixers, they’re getting rid of a contract they didn’t necessarily like (Korver makes about $5 million per through the 2010-2011 season) in exchange for Giricek’s expiring $4 million deal and another pick they can use to rebuild … What happened to the offense last night? The Raptors, Cavs and Heat were all kept under 80 points. The Heat looked especially bad, one because D-Wade followed his 48-point showing from Friday by getting outscored by Luke Jackson (14-12), and two because it’s not like the Wizards are a defensive powerhouse … The Cavs were shut down by the Hornets. We said the other day that Cleveland can be a contender if they play defense and get some second and third scoring options behind LeBron, but last night the supporting cast couldn’t capitalize on ‘Bron being doubled and tripled. LeBron himself didn’t have his best game (21 pts, 8-for-21 FGs), but had one sick play where he dusted Rasual Butler on a right-to-left shoulder fake and came flying in for a dunk that Tyson Chandler didn’t even want to challenge … LeBron turns 23 today. What does that mean? No more “He’s only 22!” being hollered by announcers every time he does something impressive … Jamaal Tinsley (back) missed the Pacers/Pistons game, the second leg of a home-and-home between those two. Of course the Pacers lost. The guy hosting NBA TV’s fantasy hoops show said about Tinsley, “He’s only 29. People forget that.” Translation: Jamaal looks and moves like he’s 35 … Seeing as Dwight Howard and the Magic had destroyed the Bobcats twice already this year, Sam Vincent did some tinkering yesterday: putting Emeka Okafor back at center and moving Nazr Mohammed to the bench, then going small with the lineup surrounding Okafor with J-Rich and Gerald Wallace at the forwards (to match up better with Rashard and Hedo) and Ray Felton and Jeff McInnis up top (reminiscent of the Felton/Knight two-PG backcourt that Bernie Bickerstaff liked). The ‘Cats also played zone to deny Dwight the ball and did some Hack-a-Beast, but he still worked Emeka a handful of times and couldn’t be kept off the glass — finishing with 15 points, 21 boards and 4 blocks in an Orlando win. There was one play where Dwight gave Emeka an up-fake that got Emeka in the air and all turned around, before coming back with a crossover and bucket. The move itself was great, but that Dwight now has that kind of confidence to pull it off against a good defender is bad news for the Eastern Conference … The Nets were up four on Milwaukee when Mike Redd hit a long three with about one second left. The Bucks fouled quick, sending Darrell Armstrong to the line. (Why was he in the game?) Armstrong made the first free throw, and trying to miss the second on purpose, fired a line drive off the front of the rim that came right back to him as time ran out. Luck, a savvy veteran move, or both? … Did you see the finish of Texas/Wisconsin? The Badgers (playing without leading scorer Trevon Hughes) were down two with about 10 seconds left when Michael Flowers came off a pick and hit a three with 2.7 ticks left. Then Flowers ran all the way across the court, stole the inbounds, and as he was flying out of bounds, flung the ball high in the air — where it stayed until the buzzer sounded. Michael Ruffin could learn a thing or two from that kid … We’re out like Ruffin’s arm …
December 30th, 2007 at 5:38 am
first says:
that is all…
December 30th, 2007 at 8:01 am
kowtz says:
How come when DWade drops 48, Miami Sucks…
But if Kobe drops 40, he takes too many shots…
What? Odom is a better offensive option than Ricky “BUCKETS”?
Hope LA develops soon,so that we could see BOS-LAL next Christmas…
Kwame is getting some tick, because he needs to increase value for trade bait…
December 30th, 2007 at 8:57 am
The Dude says:
love how Riley talks about Smush and says he’s “not going to lie. We’re trying to trade him.”
some young bucs never know how good they got it
December 30th, 2007 at 9:22 am
YOUNGFED says:
Kowtz,
Good point Kowtz its too many Kobe haters in this world. Kobe is the Neo of the NBA, The Barry Sanders of Basketball, The Jay-Z of the Game. Kobe’s New name…..Ya’ll ready……K-HOVA (LOL)(LMAO)
December 30th, 2007 at 10:29 am
thamilan says:
K-Hova ? What an ass clown…
December 30th, 2007 at 10:34 am
YOUNGFED says:
Only if its YO MAMA!!!
December 30th, 2007 at 11:50 am
Str8baller says:
I dig K-Hova.
Stop drinking Haterade and admiting that the NBA without KB24 is GAME OVA. He’s the closest thing to MJ with better handles and a 3 point shot. MJ had bigger hands and was more clutch and maybe a bit more athletic, but K-Hova is T.N.B.T.A.T.M.F.G.O.A.T(The Next Best Thing After The Mother Fuckin Greastest Of All Time)
December 30th, 2007 at 11:52 am
djKianoosh says:
how soon will Korver be in Coach Sloan’s doghouse for his defense, or lack thereof? still, Kyle can shoot the hell out of the three, so a three man game with Deron, Boozer and Korver spotting up for open threes might be pretty lethal.
i just have a feeling this is one of those trades that don’t really amount to much for either team. what was Giricek’s problem in Utah exactly? and is Korver better suited coming off the bench? too many questions.
December 30th, 2007 at 12:49 pm
94by50 says:
It only feels like Jamaal Tinsley’s been around forever. And isn’t he due to switch teams soon? No one stays with the same team for their entire career these days… Here’s the question: will Andrew Bynum ever be as good as Dwight Howard? I hope so; that’s a rivalry that needs to happen, because a Howard/Okafor rivalry isn’t ever going to work out… To put it another way, if James had stayed in college for four years, he’d be a rookie this year. Good night… For the record, I though the Kobe hype machine peaked when he blasted Sacramento and San Antonio back-to-back in the 2001 playoffs, with the 48-and-16 followed up by the 45-and-10. After his legal problems and his rift with Shaq, it just hasn’t been the same… Don’t get me wrong, the 81-point game is still legendary. It just reinforced the “ballhog” B.S. that people toss around…
December 30th, 2007 at 12:53 pm
94by50 says:
One more thing: Dwight Howard can cross people up, too? Holy crap…
December 30th, 2007 at 1:39 pm
bron42 aka Global-4A-Reason says:
its almost as bad as when shaq hit up that crossover back in the day against like the kings
December 30th, 2007 at 2:02 pm
bron42 aka Global-4A-Reason says:
and i dont think its about hating kobe. I think its the fact that right now wade has NO ONE around him, he still gives you some assists and he rarely guns. When kobe used to gun you can tell he was just goin for his.
December 30th, 2007 at 3:37 pm
Kobeef says:
Lakers-Celts should tell us which of the two is a contender and which is a pretender.
While it frees cap space the Korver trade was a good but not great move. Lots of teams need a good shooter and it would have been nice to force the trade partner to take some excess baggage like Reggie Evans along with Korver
Heat need to win 63% of their remaining games to have a winning record for the season.
December 30th, 2007 at 4:47 pm
kowtz says:
“and i dont think its about hating kobe. I think its the fact that right now wade has NO ONE around him, he still gives you some assists and he rarely guns. When kobe used to gun you can tell he was just goin for his.”
- oh yeah… let me disagree with you for one last time… before the year ends…
Wade has NO ONE around him? Oh, so Lamar Odom is a scoring threat compared to ricky buckets… how about a couple of years back when wade had toine? GP? Dominant (semi) SHAQ?
Maybe for SOME guys Kobe was gunnin’, but like me… I would rather ahve kobe shoot a 45 degree, awkward, 35 feet away from the basket junpshot, rather than have kwame brown attempt a 7 foot hook shot…
December 30th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
kowtz says:
Oh yeah… I thought Jamal Tinsley is like a 20 year player… dude is old though right?
Uhm… Although I am a die hard LA Fan… and will be praying they kick the shit out of boston… these guys would be underdogs… Heck, even the spurs are underdogs compared to the celts…
A single digit loss to the celts, would be enough for me… then it would only mean LA’s legit… a contender as early as next year…
LOLZ… LMAO… Miami must be a definite contender this year… hahahahahahahahahahahahahaha… I mean their first loss to boston was only by a single point…
December 30th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Ian says:
kowtz the spurs are underdogs to the celtics??????
LOL
December 30th, 2007 at 10:56 pm
steve says:
No mention of Dayton laying a beat down on Pittsburgh?
Along with AJ Graves, Brian Roberts is way underrated because he plays for a mid-major.
December 31st, 2007 at 10:02 am
Captain America says:
Actually, the real test for the Celtics is Spurs, Mavs, Pistons, etc.
Celtics performed brilliantly on back-to-backs, however, which shows the heart of a champion.
KG is turning into the Rasheed Wallace of the Celtics with his cry baby antics. He’s a better player than that.
December 31st, 2007 at 10:41 am
kowtz says:
@ Ian…
Damn right… just look at the standings…
And if you’re telling me the SAS are the defending champs… well, KG and RAYRAY…. Nuff Said…
December 31st, 2007 at 1:39 pm
Ian says:
look at the standings ???
again LOL that was a good one
who cares about the standings (and please do check who the spurs have played so far compared to the celts and please do check if timmy manu and parker have been injured this season)
kg and ray ray big shit
ill go with td and manu over that