Boston Celtics survive ugly game against the Chicago Bulls 71-69
The Celtics played their ugliest game of the season tonight (and maybe the ugliest game of the season period), but winning ugly is what Boston does best.
To say the Celtics are beat up would be a gross understatement. Less than three weeks ago the Celtics lost their All-Star point guard to a torn ACL, gone for the remainder of the season. He was joined shortly afterwards by rookie Jared Sullinger, and just this past Monday by Leandro Barbosa. “This ride has been mentally draining for us, losing guy after guy,” Jason Terry said after tonight’s game against Chicago. It’s been physically draining too; even the “healthy” Celtics are injured, like Paul Pierce who’s been playing through a pinched nerve in his neck for two months.
But on the eve of All-Star Weekend with less than two minutes left in the game, Kevin Garnett battled for a loose ball on the Garden floor, Paul Pierce’s free-throws found the bottom of the net, and “defensive stopper” Jason Terry sealed the victory with a game-winning block. The Celtics–who fell behind after shooting 20% in the second and third quarters–turned it around in the fourth and found a way to win, shooting 69% in the final frame. They are 8-1 since Rondo went down, propelled forward by a lot of grit and a little bit of luck.
The Celtics will head into the All-Star break four games above .500, soon to be bolstered by ten-day contracts and a trade deadline that should bring relief in one form or another. In six days they’ll head to Denver for a rematch of Monday’s thriller and the first game of a five game road trip, but until then they’ll enjoy some well deserved rest.
Follow Jordan on Twitter: @HiggsOnHoops
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Celtics Blog | Jordan Higgs | February 13, 2013
I dont care how ugly that win was it was a W.It was a great way to finsh off the first half.Brandon Bass stepped up with 14 points 9 rebounds,Jeff Green had 8 points but had 5 rebs and 2 blocks.Jet continued his great play with 12 points a steal and huge block at the end.It has been a crazy crazy first half.3 big pieces out 2 guys in 3 weeks with torn acl never have seen that ever I just pray 1.No else gets hurt 2.Danny doesnt do something dumb.On a positive note we quietly have gone 14-7 in our last 21 games.During that span we beat Indiana,Atlanta,New York,Houston,and up and coming Toronto team and Chicago all quality teams but we also beat top tier squads in Miami,Clippers and Denver.That shows me a lot and a lot of those teams we beat were without Rondo amazing.We are only two games out of 4th in the east with this west coast trip after the break we must go at least 3-2.GO CELTICS
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The season is over John and everyone else. We’re better off not making the playoffs and getting into the lottery so we can draft a quality player. Keep this group intact and do not trade anyone. Let FAB play out the rest of the season as our starting center and let’s experiment with PP coming of the bench while JG starts. I’d rather let our underachievers either prove their value for keeping or to use in a trade in the offseason. Realistically, this team, if it makes the playoffs, will be out in the first series and so we gain nothing fighting to go that route. I will catch flack for this post but we’ve lost 3 key players and we’re not winning sh*t without the first two that went down. Re-tool for next year as that will be less painful than seeing us whipped 4-1 in an opening series. We have a lot of issues keeping us from being a championship caliber team even when fully healthy. JG can’t average 3.3 rebs a game. Add JC’s 1.5 to that and we have two players subing for our frontcourt starters averging less than 5 rebs together per game in 34 mins while BB is getting 5.5 in 20 mins per game. We are toast kids! Go Cs…Banner #18 in 2014!
Hot debate. What do you think?
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You love to talk about rebounds…I think you mention it in every post along with fab…The Celtics are not the worst rebounding team…Miami is…so they are in very good company. I am not going to cheer a team that quits as you suggest. If you want an organization that doesn’t make every effort to win each game you should find a new team. What message are you sending to the players about Celtics Pride? Oh it is just something we talk about when it is convenient? This is your worst post. Take your pragmatism to another team. Thank you.
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Where did I say quit or not play to win. You need to actually READ my post before commenting. As a 53 yr= celtic fan and my only NBA team I believe I know when the season is lost. I fully expect we give 100% EVERY game, unlike earlier in the season when we were 100% healthy. I love the current effort, but where was it in the first 40 games??? Celtic Pride is alive and well, but we are DEPLETED and missing 3 players (2 starters and our best player) and you think being in the playoffs is a good thing? For what purpose len??? Please enlighten me as to how going out in the first or second round benefits this team compared to drafting another quality big? There are no bigs coming in trades or through the door before free agency. I live in reality and we are going to start losing because we don’t have enough for a CHAMPIONSHIP run, which this team and organization are all about. Cs are still my team but this season is toast. Go Cs…
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When you talk about running a NBA Team like a D-league or summer league team then you are saying they should quit. Writing off the season is something you do once you are mathematically eliminated from contention. The players, fans and the team strive to make the playoffs. The Celtics are a playoff team…no one expected them to challenged Miami last season…so you probably would have tanked last season as well. Following your logic all the teams who are not considered favorites to win the Finals should just give up and tinker with their lineups, let rookies start…what a mess the NBA would be if they followed your advice.
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Way to read into my comments len. Look, many teams that make the playoffs are building for the future and ALL teams need to be in the playoffs, especially young teams, to gain experience so they can move up as they build and add to their teams. The Celtics know how to win a title, but we are not equipped to this year. The Bulls with MJ had to get by the Pistons, OKC had to lose to the Lakers, and on and on as this is how teams learn to play playoff ball, which is 95% half-court play with challenges on every single possession, loose ball, and rebound. I am not as dumb as you are trying to make me out and putting words in my mouth or interpreting my comments how ever you want is just a waste of time. I am not advocating we quit, lose on purpose, etc and NEVER SAID SUCH. So stop inferring that I did. Again, I said – and read it properly – “we’re better off not making the playoffs”. Now where in that statement (my opinion) do I say anything resembling what you are accusing me of?????? NOWHERE!!! So please stop ‘speaking’ for me. If you disagree with my post fine but at least be accurate in your critique. And time will tell if we are in fact a playoff team. There are 30 games left and we are an extremely wounded team. Dream on, but reality is screaming we are done. Go Cs…
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In the eastern conference besides Miami name me one team you seriously believe is gonna knock us out first round in 5 with our 8 man unit right now.I believe in a first round series we can beat New York,Brooklyn,Indiana and Chicago.We are right there I thought before the season started we were a 4th to 5th seed well were even 2.0 games back and of those teams I named New York takes 35 three point shots a game and averages 1 rebound as ateam more per game than we do.Brooklyn is a team with size but less depth than us.And Indiana and Chicago rank close to the bottom of the league in points per game there great defensive teams most def but since Bradleys return we are allowing 91.2 per game that includes 9 extra quarters of overtime.When you play that good on D you better believe with no more injuries(knock on wood)you better believe in the EAST we got a shot of making it out the first round but based on standings and potntial secound round matchups(avoid Miami)we got shot at making it to the conference championship GO CELTICS
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I believe that NY, Chicago and Indiana call all beat us in a 7 game series, where there is no rest between games. We don’t have the rebounding necessary to win a series because JG, JC will not rebound and one of our best rebounders (RR) is out. So what if we win a series. Again, what does that accomplish for a team only interested in championships? We are not going to be a 4-5 seed and I believe it’ll be #8 or out. Go Cs…
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JS is out too so we’re going to get killed on the boards even though PP and KG have stepped it up. I believe we should plan for next season and start FAB and get our rotations experimented with so PP can be the 6th man if necessary. I’d rather this scenario then one and done. Go Cs…
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Oh yeah this year draft WEAK WEAK WEAK there are about 5-8 good players dont put your hopes in a bunch of lottery balls.
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The draft is better being a lottery team than drafting #20. Whether there are ‘stars’ available or it’s a weak draft, maybe using JG, BB and our draft pick we can move up or acquire a good center or PF. Ever consider those options? DA is extremely good at draft/FA time so I trust we’d do much better than drafting in the 20′s. Go Cs…
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I thought you were one of the bests fans in this celtics blog page, no I realize I was mistaken. The reality my friend is there’s no tomorrow and no yesterday, Larry Bird is retired and we don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. So cheer up for “your” team today because they are the most prideful team in the NBA and stop being so negative. I really really hope they win banner #18 this year to show you how wrong you were about them.
I don’t care if my team goes 0-82 a season, I will be there every night watching them play and cheering for them, I’m no band wagoner fan. Go Celtics!
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One negative post that you disagree with and now I’m not “one of the best fans”??? Come on. I am still a fan, but reality is we are without 3 critical players. Two of our best rebounders are gone. Our best player and leader is gone. No ‘savior’ is walking through the door as our underachieving players (that are finally playing as they should) lessened their trade value. As I said up above, I’ve been a fan for 53 yrs and I’ve suffered through the Bias death, Lewis death, the bad years pre-PP and even the ones before DA turned the team into a perennial contender. I wish I could watch every game and I would but I also live in reality and TODAY says we are not a championship caliber team. You and everyone bashing me is delusional if you think we can win more than a series and that’s only if we avoid Miami, NY or Chicago (who may get DR back). I have as much or more love for the CS as I watched and enjoyed the 7 straight titles vs the Lakers and the Bird titles, but we just don’t have the manpower necessary to win a title this year. Love their effort (finally) but we are better off re-tooling for next season. Go Cs…
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I thought you were one of the bests fans in this celtics blog page, no I realize I was mistaken. The reality my friend is there’s no tomorrow and no yesterday, Larry Bird is retired and we don’t know what’s going to happen tomorrow. So cheer up for “your” team today because they are the most prideful team in the NBA and stop being so negative. I really really hope they win banner #18 this year to show you how wrong you were about them.
I don’t care if my team goes 0-82 a season, I will be there every night watching them play and cheering for them, I’m no band wagoner fan. Go Celtics!
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That defeatist attitude is unlike James. To wish for our team to miss the playoffs is disgraceful. The way these guys are playing, I think we beat everyone in the east except Miami. And like someone else sais, rebounds doesn’t mean a lot as long as you aren’t the worst. This is not the 70′s James. Jeez…Chicago was the best rebounding team in the league for two straight years, each of them resulting in blowout losses in the playoffs. So stop thinking that rebounding magically makes rings appear. It doesn’t. Miami has NO frontcourt players at all yet are an infinitely better team than Chicago, Indiana, and all other “rebounding” teams. Jeff Green is a scorer and a capable body to throw on LeBron in the playoffs. To speak on Jason Collins at all shows your incessant nitpicking. He’s a non factor on this team, nothing more than another body to throw at LeBron.
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What? JC guarding LBJ??? When has that ever happened or will happen? If a 7-footer can’t get 5 rebs a game then they are worthless. JC getting 0 pts and 4 fouls a game is not helping, no matter what Doc says. And rebounding is the key to winning titles. Chicago lost DR, remember him??? Miami may be last at the moment but they’re HEALTHY and we are without two of our best rebounders (and the best rebounding guard in the league). You are likely too young and/or don’t remember Pat Riley’s mantra when the Lakers were sharing titles with the Cs in the 80′s but he said – “NO REBOUNDS, NO RINGS”. Now why would a coach with 6 NBA titles say something like that if he didn’t believe it 100%. You are also delusional if you don’t think rebounding matters. Go look at the top teams that win titles and I guarantee you they ALL won the rebounding edge in the Finals. Go Cs…not defeatist, just living in REALITY!
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I am not opposed to giving fab some minutes if the the game is not in question…if he proves effective in garbage time then he can play more minutes. Someone like Shaq or Dwight Howard would start in their rookie year…not fab.
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The games changed and dont get it twisted I believe rebounding is important last season Miami ranked 21rst bottom 10 in the league in rebounding guess what they won the title.Miami ranks dead last,New York ranks 27th those are the top 2 teams in the conference right now .Since RR and JS went down our rebounding numbers are actually higher than the Knicks so I really dont get your point about avoiding Knicks when they average 0.9 rebs more than we do.I respect some things you say but this time and cannot respect this and honestly it makes little sense considering we play in the East not the West where alot teams lack depth,consistency and size
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Which West teams lack depth, consistency and size? SA, OKC, LAC, Denver??? Please enlighten me. And the Clips will be even better with Billups back now. The game has not changed. How did you come up with that one? rebounding is defense, it leads to less shots for the opponent and more opportunities for the team that controls the boards. That’s basic Hoops 101 and hasn’t “changed”, EVER. The Knicks are healthy and we are -3 players. But you think we’ll handle them??? Glad you’re so optimistic but we are done and now we learn PP has had a pinched nerve for the last couple of months. Ergo, why his game has sucked miserably at times. We are injured, beat up and still have weak rebounding but I’m to say we can advance in the playoffs? Sorry, but I am not buying into that fantasy. Go Cs…
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James I said we are NOT in the west.In the east teams are smaller youre talking bout Riley 80′s mantra but Riley built a very small athletic team who won a title being ranked one of the worst rebounding teams.Read what I am saying dont twist it around I said we do not play in the West.
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And James I forgot San Antonio is one of the worst rebounding teams in the League there worst than New York and have the best record in the league so Yah James rebounding is still important and yah the games has changed why do you think the NBA removed the center posistion at the all star game.Come on man steps up your negative posts
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Sorry I am wrong about the East/West point. But how is rebounding, tall dominate centers aside at the current history, still not a major factor? Riley’s Laker teams were not small (Magic 6’9″ PG, Cooper 6’6″ SG, Worthy 6’9″ SF, Rambis 6’8″ PF and Jabbar 7+) and his Heat teams are not that small (Bosh 6’11, Haslem 6’9″, Battier 6’8″, Anthony 6’9″ and Lewis 6’10″ and Andersen 6’10″ – they have 11 players 6’8″ or better) unless you are only seeking 7-footers. So what if i am being negative…don’t I have that right??? I’m not buying the Kool-aid you and your friends here are drinking. We aren’t going anywhere and will achieve nothing by making the playoffs. We cannot win a title with this team, as is. So bash me some more! Go Cs…
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We before the injuries were not gonna win a title all I am saying is we have a shot at the conference finals if we played out West we would be out in first round but in a weak very weak conference all I am saying is we got a shot at making the conference finals we play good enough D to compete anyone in the East except Miami it is not like I am dreaming or so far gone almost every analyst is saying it in a 7 game series it is possible not saying absolutely but our AB and Lee backcourt creates problems for perimeter oriented teams like Brooklyn and New York and are D is capable of pushing Indiana and Chicago I believe we have shot at conference championship not championship.GO CELTICCS
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Fine, but what does that accomplish when the only goal is a title? I’d rather build for next year by letting FAB start the rest of the way and experiment with PP as the sixth man and JG starting. We need to get younger, more athletic, get rebounding as a focus and gel as a team with all the different combinations we have. So the choice is playoffs or getting a big in the lottery or trade off of such. We have 3 2nd rnd picks and our first so DA can get creative and maybe we either move up or get a quality player.
http://www.prosportstransactions.com/basketball/DraftTrades/Future/Celtics.htm
I just think getting in the playoffs this season is a useless exercise considering our injuries and current team weaknesses. Whereas before the injuries, I believed this team could win the title if they had played the way they are now. So I was more optimistic until the injuries. Go Cs…
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Your not a fool I get man Im just a fan that enjoys in playoffs watching Celts games and if I get the chance to watch Celts in ECF without key guys thats something to build on big time for next season.Plus I’m hearing KG and PP this might be there last season KG had a very telling msg in post game last night we agree to disagree its all good
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I think KG is bluffing to pressure DA into fortifying the team for a proper title run. KG can’t be happy playing along side JC and when his teammates underachieve. I love the Cs and am fully frustrated by their crap early play (remember I said they should have been 20-4 instead of 12-12). Now everyone is playing hard, as they should have been, because the trade deadline looms. At least that’s my belief, but maybe too they are tired of KG and PP barking at them. Certainly, it’s nothing Doc has done. As far as the ECF I just think it’s a wasted effort unless FAB is starting because he is a talent and needs to work with the core starters if he is going to be of value going forward. Let JC back-up FAB but to use JC and his empty play game in and game out makes no sense to me. I agree we disagree and never hold harsh feelings about anyone commenting opposite of my opinions. Even the thumbs down and ‘hidden’ comments don’t bother me. Poor Celtics play and underachieving are far worse to suffer through. Go Cs…
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I was disappointed to see that James initial post was censored, the reason I stopped visiting this site months ago but came back to see more censorship. James is right. This team is not going to realistically compete in the playoffs this year. If people don’t want to hear that, fine, but do you really have to censor his comments with childish thumbs downs? I love the hustle and desire and teamwork of this team. It’s winning regular season games but a 7 game playoff series is a completely different animal. And Miami can get by without rebounding. We can’t.
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it’s not censorship. it’s the board shutting down posts that get “thumbs down”
that’s why I always give a “thumbs up” when I see a blacked out post: fans should be allowed to speak their mind and other fans should be able to read and respond if they disagree.
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