Please, Doc Rivers: Sit Rondo – CelticsBlog

Why not?

Because the Celtics need him against the Hawks? He missed the last game against Atlanta, and the Celtics won by 23 points. And the game wasn’t even that close.

Because he’s healthy enough to play? After spraning his ankle last night, Rondo re-entered last night’s game moving like my grandfather, who’s 92 years old and sits in a chair all day. Then, he (Rondo, not my grandfather) reportedly left Madison Square Garden on crutches.

Because he’s too important to miss for a few games? Well, it’d be far worse if the Celtics ever lost him for an extended period of time. And after Atlanta, it’s not like the C’s play a murderer’s row of opponents. The Pacers and Sixers are on deck.

Don’t Forget About the Table-Setters – CelticsBlog

The finish was remarkable, with game winners and near-game winners breaking the Madison Square Garden crowd out of a long hibernation.

But the Celtics didn’t just win last night’s contest because of Paul Pierce’s step-back jumper, or because Amare Stoudemire’s three-pointer came *this long* after the buzzer. The C’s won because they out-executed the Knicks down the stretch. They won because when push came to shove, they showed they had been there before and knew how to behave.

With 2:57 remaining in last night’s game, the Celtics Sea parted and Amare Stoudemire waltzed his way into a thunderous dunk, putting the Knicks ahead, 111-107. From then on, the Celtics made big play after big play (for the most part) to exit Madison Square Garden with a thrilling win.

The following fourth-quarter plays were not the reasons I laid in bed, wide awake and thoroughly excited, until 2:30 a.m.

But they are the reasons Pierce even got the chance to add to his clutch reputation.

Should the Knicks have had more time left on the clock? – CBS Sports

The Knicks’ new wrinkle for Rondo, and the C’s response – NBA Playbook