Long Live Frank Fixaris!

No Ray Allen last night, and another tough loss, blowing a 12 point halftime lead to New Orleans. That city has had a pretty good week...

Yahoo sports: Celts, Wizards talking Allen deal

Looks like a pretty good deal for the C's...Allen, Scalabrine, and Giddens for Antawn Jamison and Caron Butler. The Wizards get some salary relief for their rebuilding and the C's reload with some solid frontline players that can take the pressure off KG and his knees, plus probably take some PT away from Sheed. Might be just the kind of kick-start the Celtics need.

Except that those are expiring contracts for a boatload over the cap. Basically killing the Celtics chance of signing anyone next season.

I like it in principle, though I'd rather see Ray moved for someone who can rebound. I actually liked the speculation of an Iguodala deal.

I'm guessing nothing big happens, and honestly, those big expiring contracts are pretty valuable. I'd hate to see the Celtics bury themselves AND give up a huge contract like Ray's for guys who are not that much more than role players.

I also heard some Camby talk (which is typical) and I like that deal as well. We need some inside presence.

This team as currently constituted isn't going to win anything this year and I'm sure Danny realizes that. That proposed deal may give them a smidge of a boost, but Jamison isn't the same player he used to be and the money is steep for next season. I for one hope it doesn't happen.

Except that keeping the expiring contracts doesn't really give them any leeway to sign free agents this summer. They're still over the cap next year even after those contracts come off the books, so they're not going to be in the running for any of the marquee guys like LeBron, Wade, or Bosh. The only way to get an impact player (or two) through Allen and Scalabrine's expiring contracts is to trade them by the deadline.

Jamison's rebound average for this season would be the best on the Celtics (8.8 per game) and Butler's averaging 6.7 a game. Only Perk (8.1) and Garnett (7.3) are better on the C's roster. Jamison's averaging 20 points a game, Butler 17. Only Pierce is close to that, coming in at 18.6 a game. I think they'd be a step above role players...Jamison probably steps into the starting lineup (Pierce moving to shooting guard), and Butler would provide a significant scoring presence on the second unit.

Playing on a terrible team. I'm guessing those numbers slide when they aren't expected to be marquee guys. And I also question how well they would mesh.

I still don't like putting them into that big of a hole. And I heard today that ownership doesn't like that either, for obvious reasons. I look at the deal, but I pass. I still would rather go one-for-one, or one-for-two for a guy or guys who are less about PPG and more about defense. I don't think they are in a position to win this season, and I don't think finding a pure scorer is that difficult.

C's beat a Kobe-less Lakers team last night, and have won two in a row.

I am no longer listening to the radio because I am done listening to idiots talk about how James Posey is THE missing link. . .well, it could be that, or could be the lack of health of the big trio. Not sure. Yes, Posey, a player who played 18-20 minutes was nice, but a healthy KG was VERY nice.

Exactly Farva. This team has 3 key pieces who have a ton of NBA miles. We all knew the window was going to be narrow and so did Danny. That's why he structured the big three's contracts to expire in consecutive years. This team needed a Stoudemire or Jamison...not a Nate Robinson...to be able to contend this year. Heck at the end of the 06-07 season I was resigned to the fact I'd never see another Celtics' title. I year later they won #17.

Looks like Pierce's injured thumb is really bothering him:

http://sports.espn.go.com/boston/nba/ne ... id=4934632

Yeah Pierce has not been shooting well and the Thumb is a huge concern. I am going to the Cavs game on Thursday so I hope its getting better or it will be a rough game.

The NETS!?!?!!?

They lost to the freaking NETS?!?!?

Good lord, this team is screwed. I don't tend to over-react much, but that is just disgusting. No life, no hustle, no chance. I don't buy them being able to flip a switch in April once they're "healthy" either. They might be lucky to get out of the first round if they keep this up.

Couple this loss with their 2-8 record against the top 3 teams in the East, their pathetic 16-11 home record, and that KG is hobbling again, you're probably undereacting more than anything. With injuries and age this team needs to begin rebuilding around Rondo, Perkins, etc. Oh yeah, and if we could unload Wallace I would be thrilled.

First time I have seen Greg Dickerson do an interview with a player and the player was smaller than him (Nate Robinson)

LOL. They should get Robinson a stool next time.

Robinson had a nice game last night.

Another nice game for Robinson with 16 off the bench and Pierce was vintage with 27 against the Bobcats.

I will admit that I have not got a chance to watch many Celtics games recently but I am glad I tuned in tonight because I heard the following.

Tommy: "Why is he shooting foul shots"

Mike Gorman- "Because he got fouled"

Almost as good as a game I saw about 3 weeks ago.

Tommy: "I'm getting upset, stroke me!"
Mike Gorman: "I'm not going there!"

4-0 in March, albiet against crap teams.

And they almost blew it yesterday too, needing a 20-4 run at the end of the game to win.

I think it's a sports law that the Celtics have to win on St. Patrick's Day.

They're now 13-1 all-time playing at home on St Patrick's Day. The lone loss came in 1968. Tonight was their first St Patrick's home game since 2004, but this is the fifth straight year they've played a game on 3/17. They're 9-9 all time in St Patrick's road games.

I think they can continue to improve that record if they keep having the Knicks on the schedule for St. Patrick's Day.

Nice win by the Celtics and now are 7-3 in March though they should be 9-1.

C's clinched a playoff spot last night with their win over the Nuggets.

Why does it seem like every time people think the C's have turned a corner and are "playing their best ball at the right time", they lay a stink bomb like tonight's game? I know the Spurs are a good team, but they shouldn't be blowing the C's out in their own building. At least not if the Celtics are a team that is supposed to be a contender in the East.

That was just an ugly ugly game.

I think the same RH. Every single time they seem to be coming into their best stretch they lay a stinker like this. I just dont get it.

I think they are too old to turn the corner. They extend the energy to win a few in a row, or win a big game, I think they just can't follow it up. So, just when you think they turn the corner, they actually have just painted themselves into one. That's my take anyway.

Thankfully the playoffs give them some extra time off, what is it, like a week between games? So they will have some extra rest. I'm just not sold that they can compete with a younger, faster team. I remember in 2007, the 3rd quarter was the Celtics quarter. This year, I think it's when you see if they can keep up or if they are going to fade. Last night, they faded.

I do'nt think they'll be one and done, but I don't like the second and third round potential matchups. Maybe against Orlando. And I certianly don't like their chances against Cleveland or Atlanta.

I sort of would like to see them as the 4 seed. If they can cruise through the first round, and then get Cleveland, I think that's their best shot of getting to the finals. If they have to play Cleveland in the Conference finals, I don't see them winning more than a game or two.

Thing is, whether they're the three or the four seed, I can't imagine a scenario in which they "cruise" through the first round. If everything holds through the last 9-10 games of the season, they're going to draw either Milwaukee or Miami. While they haven't lost to Miami this year, a team with Dwyane Wade isn't going to be an easy out in the playoffs. And Milwaukee has been pretty hot since the All Star break (16-5), including a win against the C's. Against either team, I think the series would have the potential to be a knock-down drag-out type affair.

And if history is any indication, there's really no such thing as an easy first round series with this Celtics team. Atlanta gave them all they could handle two years ago, and I though they were lucky to survive the series against Chicago last year. I think either Milwaukee or Miami will prove to be that same kind of pesky opponent that pushes the series to six or seven games easily. Even if the C's get by to the second round, they won't survive another long series no matter who the opponent is.