Just a quick recap of tonight’s game. Jay is at his five-year high school reunion tonight, while my focus will be on writing a game preview for the Notre Dame-USC football game at my new site, Slapthesign.com.

Rajon Rondo picked up right where he left off, returning to the court after missing three games with a strained hamstring and dishing out 14 assists–eight coming in the first frame.

Boston had a comfortable, double-digit lead throughout most of the game, though the Celtics were outscored 34-24 in the fourth quarter. The Raptors cut the defecit to single-digits a few times, but this game was never in doubt as Boston won its third consecutive game, 110-101 at the TD Bank Garden.

Kevin Garnett played with phenomenal energy all game long, propelling the Celtics with 26 points and 11 rebounds. Shaq also looked energized and as spry as I’ve seen him recently, going up for a few alley oops and even driving past Bargnani from the elbow all the way to the tin on one play. Shaq scored 16 points and pulled down nine rebounds.

Paul Pierce added 18 points, while Ray Allen made three three-pointers on his way to 17 points. He also dished out eight assists. Glen Davis scored 18 points off the bench, including 10 fourth quarter points. It was great to see Davis play well offensively after his recent slump.

Linas Kleiza led the Raptors with 18 points. Jose Calderon notched a double-double with 12 points and 15 assists.

Everyone seemed to play well, but Rondo was the catalyst. Rondo’s excellent passing became contagious and the Celtics moved the ball crisply and unselfishly. With Rondo back manning the point, the offense took on a whole other dimension it lacked when Robinson was running the show.

Rajon, its mighty nice to have you back.

It was a classic case of the tortoise and the hare.

Boston sped off to an early 14-point lead, then took a nap in the second and third quarters, figuring they could catch up and win the game down the stretch. All was going according to plan when Glen Davis canned two free throws with 21.3 seconds left to go ahead 101-98, but then disaster struck.

Sonny Weems responded instantly with a driving layup, then Ray Allen lost the ball after being slapped on the arm. Leandro Barbosa was blocked by Pierce on his drive attempt, but Amir Johnson grabbed the offensive rebound and Pierce slapped him on the arm.

Johnson calmly sunk both free throws to take a 102-101 lead and a last ditch, fadeaway jumper by Pierce clanged off the front of the rim for the Celtics second loss in a row.

Boston got off to a hot start behind Nate Robinson, starting in place of the injured Rajon Rondo. Robinson put on a shooting display,  scoring 16 first quarter points and leading the Celtics to a 31-23 lead. Robinson finished the game with 22 points.

 The second unit then started the second quarter and the Raptors immediately went on a 13-5 run to even the game. The starters returned with six minutes left in the half, but the momentum and energy had already been lost. Toronto outscored Boston 38-27 in the second quarter. Read more »

Just in case the Celtics still have thoughts of signing Delonte West, here’s another red flag among many. A 10-game suspenion is bad, but if depression, bi-polar disorder, alleged sexual encounters with LeBron’s mom, and the Desperado act weren’t enough to curtail interest in West, what’s 10 games?

The Celtics may not be the oldest team in the league (the Lakers hold that title), but they definitely aren’t young. (Boston Globe)

Let the jokes begin.

Instead of a bench, the Celtics will have a couch. No, make that easy chairs and hassocks. All team meals will be Early Bird Specials. A typical player anecdote begins, “So I said to Dr. Naismith . . .’’

The 2010-11 Boston Celtics won’t be a basketball team. They will be a walking hoop museum. Among them, Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Garnett, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, and Jermaine O’Neal have a combined total of 71 years of service, good for 5,655 regular-season and playoff games and 200,371 minutes. They have combined for 51 All-Star Game appearances. They have 10 All-NBA third-team selections, eight second-team selections, and 12 first-team selections. If honors and plaques were all that mattered, we could book the parade right now, Miami Heat or no Miami Heat.

It goes without saying, of course, that they also lead the league in O’Neals.

That’s a whole heap of miles the Celtics have got on those wheels. Luckily, the Celtics have improved the depth of their bench by retaining Nate Robinson and Marquis Daniels, and adding Von Wafer, Jermaine O’Neal, and Shaq O’Neal. Perhaps Larry Hughes will join the fold.

Neither Jermaine O’Neal, nor Shaquille O’Neal, who both have knee troubles, will have to play more than 25 minutes per game. Last season, Kevin Garnett played the lowest mpg of his career since his rookie year, and that’s sure to stay put or go lower with an increased role for Glen Davis. Paul Pierce and Ray Allen’s minutes will probably go down with a healthy Marquis Daniels and an invigorated Von Wafer coming off the bench.

Hopefully, the depth of this team will keep those old wheels greased and the motor running late into June.

Ever since Kevin Garnett joined up Paul Pierce, forming the best trash-talking duo in the NBA, the Boston Celtics have been known as a brash bunch that never lacks for confidence.  But Marc Stein of ESPN took it a step further:

Miami at Boston strikes me as a far more appropriate season starter: LeBron, Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh against the reigning East champs, who also happen to be the NBA’s perennial champions of cockiness and — according to Rajon Rondo — not all that impressed by the glittering roster Pat Riley has assembled.

“The NBA’s perennial champions of cockiness.” You know what, I can’t argue with Stein on that one. Paul Pierce has routinely made cocky comments like, “I’m the best player in the league,” and, “we’re not coming back to Orlando,” or, we’re going to win the NBA championship.” Kevin Garnett is never one to back down from a challenge, and is hands down the biggest shit-talker in the NBA–he never shuts up. Even Rondo and Perkins have recently made comments about the Miami Heat, and how they  still expect to win the damn thing.

The Celtics cockiness is actually one of the things I love most about the team, if you can believe it. They never doubt themselves. It’s what got them through last season. Most teams would have fallen apart during the last 54 games, when the Celtics went 27-27. But despite the poor play, the Celtics always collectively believed they would be back in the Finals. Only a supremely confident team (code for cocky) could have withstood that stretch and come out on the other side believing just as fully in their abilities.

It’s better to be cocky, than to lack confidence. And it’s hell of a lot more interesting to follow.

Julian Benbow of the Boston Globe wrote a great article today about how committed the Celtics players are to returning to the NBA Finals. He interviewed Danny Ainge, who is very optimistic about both the upcoming season, and the development of the younger players. (Boston Globe)

Ainge, on the team’s dedication to winning:

“I think that the more important thing is that they themselves want another crack at it,’’ said president of basketball operations Danny Ainge. “Ray and Paul and Marquis and Nate, those guys all had opportunities to do other things. They all had other teams that had interest in them and they all chose to want to come back. Doc had other things he could have done, but everybody chose to come back. It’s not just about what I want or what [owners] Wyc [Grousbeck] and Steve [Pagliuca] want, it’s about what they want, too. And I think that that’s what’s the most intriguing part about it, or exciting part.’’

1-2-3...Ubuntu!

We’ve said it before, but it bears repeating: there’s not a group of guys more focused on winning an NBA championship than the Boston Celtics. Like Ainge said, the guys had opportunities to leave, but they never seriously considered any of them, because they wanted to play together, and they wanted another ring. When the  Celtics won the NBA championship in 2008, there was talk about whether on not they would be hungry enough to repeat, hungry enough to sacrifice themselves for the team. Time and again, these guys have proved that they are willing to sacrifice almost anything to win another championship. It’s what I love best about this team. You can tell me the Lakers or the Heat are going to be better this season, had a better offseason. But there’s not a team in the league I’d rather root for– whether they wore the Celtics’ jerseys or not.

Ainge, on the development of Rondo, and Big Baby:

“I think Glen is just like most young players,’’ Ainge said. “Consistency is always the thing with young players. You get a good game here and a good game there, and Glen has provided that. He’s reached the point in his career where his teammates and his coaches have all the confidence in him to go out and perform at any moment — fourth quarter, on the road, at Orlando or at LA. They believe in him and he’s proven it. For Glen to take the next step is to be as consistent as the top-notch players in the league. He’s going to play a big role and he’s excited about that challenge.’’

I like the fact that Rondo’s continuing to improve,’’ Ainge said. “I like the fact that Baby’s getting better all the time and able to take on more responsibility.”