Daily Dribble: Healthy and Humbled
Celtics Blow Big Lead Against Magic
For the first time all season, the Celtics had their top 12 players all healthy and available when they took on the Magic on Sunday. One half into the Super Sunday afternoon game, they seemed to have everything in control as they went into the locker room with an 11-point lead. However, the Magic would catch fire in the third quarter and the C's simply could not find a way to get points as they watched their opponents outscore them 36-11 in the third quarter. The Magic would never look back thanks to 11-of-22 shooting from three-point range and eventually they would hand the Celtics their ninth loss at home on the season.
"We were getting what we deserved," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said after the loss. "I thought we played like crap."
The Celtics have not resembled the sum of their parts over the past month.
Vince Carter led the Magic with 20 points on 7-of-13 shooting, including 3-of-4 from beyond the arc. After scoring in double figures in just four of 14 January games, he has scored at least 17 points in each of his three February games. Each of the Magic starters finished in double figures and despite foul trouble, Dwight Howard finished with 16 points, 13 rebounds, and two blocks.
Ironically, the Magic were on the other side of a very similar game played on their home court on Friday, when they blew a big lead and eventually lost to the lowly Wizards. "Mirror image of what happened to us the other night at home - big lead at the half, get absolutely annihilated in the third quarter," Magic coach Stan Van Gundy said. "People want to know how you can let that happen, now you've got someone else you can ask besides us."
Things were not as upbeat in the Celtics locker room. "One of the guys said, 'We're better than Orlando,' and I said, 'No, you're not,'" Rivers said. "They knocked you out of the playoffs last year. Orlando's better than us right now. Atlanta's better than us right now. L.A. [Lakers are] better than us right now." Indeed, the Celtics are just 1-8 against those three teams this season.
Opposite Directions
Following their first games of December, the Sacramento Kings were 9-8 and the Toronto Raptors were 7-12. While one team was far surpassing expectations, the other seem to be on the verge of a panic attack - and superstar Chris Bosh was the hottest name in the trade rumor mills. However, the Raps have won 21 of their last 32 games, including a 17-6 record since December 18. Meanwhile, the Kings have won only two of their last 20 games and are just 2-16 with leading scorer Kevin Martin in the lineup.
The two teams met in Toronto yesterday where the Kings blew a 91-84 lead in the fourth quarter and eventually fell 115-104. Bosh was his dominant self once again as he hit 14-of-18 shots on his way to 36 points, 11 rebounds, and five assists. It was his ninth double-double in 11 games and the Raptors have won 13 of their last 14 home games, currently ranked firmly in fifth place in the Eastern Conference.
Bosh, averaging 24.4 points and 11.4 rebounds on 52.5 percent shooting this season, commented on his career year afterwards. "I said coming into this season that I want to be the best forward in the league and I was going to have to be consistent, try to play every game," Bosh said. "So far it's been pretty good."
Jarrett Jack took it a bit further. "I've never seen him play like this," Jack said. "He's almost dominant. The other team is really at his mercy. He just puts it to them, night in and night out. It's an unbelievable thing that not too many can do in this league and he's able to."
Jack had seven points, nine assists, and five rebounds in the game and Andrea Bargnani finished with 22 points, eight boards, and three assists. The Kings were led in scoring by Martin who had 24 points on 7-of-18 shooting. However, the shooting guard also had a team-worst minus-22 rating. Spencer Hawes had 14 points and 11 rebounds and Donte Greene, coming off a 31-point game, finished with 13 points in 27 minutes in the starting lineup. Jason Thompson was limited to just 22 minutes off the bench.
Now, its Martin's name, not Bosh's, featured in the rumor mill - most notably connected with the Mavericks, Celtics, and Rockets. Still, despite the obvious negative results when Martin plays, the Kings have reportedly been telling teams that he is not available. Perhaps they're just playing hard to get. It seems readily apparent to us that they are better off without him - indicated by their 14-18 record without K-Mart.
Fastbreak
The NBA's Collective Bargaining Agreement expires in the summer of 2011 and the pieces were put into motion on a new agreement this past weekend. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that the owners and players could be further apart. David Stern submitted a proposal on behalf of the owners that would drastically cut into the player's share of league revenue (nearly a 10 percent reduction). League minimums would be reduced as would the maximum length of player contracts, and a hard cap would be put into place. Player's Union vice president Adonal Foyle called the proposal "ludicrous."
Tyrus Thomas was suspended for Saturday's game for "conduct detrimental to the team." He should be available for the team's next game, provided he isn't traded beforehand.
Stars in Suits
Kobe Bryant missed Saturday's game due to his sprained ankle combined with a variety of other nagging injuries. His status for today's game is up in the air as he is being called day-to-day.
Brandon Roy has been shut down through the All-Star break due to his strained hamstring. The Western Conference has yet to pick his replacement in the All-Star Game.
Joakim Noah has officially been shutdown through the All-Star break as well due to plantar fasciitis. He is currently sporting a walking boot to preserve the tendon.
Devin Harris sprained his shoulder in Saturday's game and is considered day-to-day. The injury-prone guard will likely miss a game or two prior to the break.
Nene Hilario injured his left foot in Saturday's game against the Jazz and was limited to just 20 minutes, however, the injury is not expected to be overly serious. Chauncey Billups missed that entire game after suffering a sprained ankle in a win over the Lakers on Friday.
Andrew Bynum sat out the second half of Saturday's game after suffering a hip injury. He is considered day-to-day.
Trevor Ariza suffered a hip pointer in Saturday's game and is considered day-to-day. Given that he was too sore to change clothes at the end of the game, we expect him to be limited, at best, this week.
Marcus Thornton missed his second straight game over the weekend with a sore back. He is considered day-to-day.
Earl Watson will return to action for Tuesday's game against the Bulls. He missed the previous two games for personal reasons. T.J. Ford has played well in his absence but could return to the end of the bench upon his return. However, A.J. Price was diagnosed with a concussion following the Pacers last game so he could be out for a while.
Erick Dampier will be a game-time decision for the Mavericks when they take the court tonight due to his sore knee.
