Long Live Frank Fixaris!

Wow, these guys look good in the early going. 31 point win over the 76ers and KG and Allen combine for 8.

The sixers pretty much shot themselves right out of this game. 36% shooting, 6% on 3 pointers. I know a big part of that was solid defense from the Celtics, but why take 16 threes after missing like 8 in the first half?

It's a good sign that this group is having great 4th quarters, it means they have better depth than the guys they are playing, and that their starters can have quiet games and they can still win by 30.

Not to mention Glenn Davis, a key component to the bench, is out.

Yes, that's true. They've been playing so well I didn't even think that one of their key bench guys is out.

So the Celtics had a bit of a stumbling block last week. Hopefully they can right the ship tonight and be ready for the Magic on Friday.

Thoughts on Tony and Scal being shipped to Philly for Andres Nocioni

http://sports.yahoo.com/nba/rumors/post ... nba,203040

Interesting. I would be very surprised if this happened, given the money involved. I'd just assume hang on to those expiring contracts, resign Allen to a short, more financially reasonable contract, and then just fill out from there.

The Celtics have very quietly won 10 straight...

...and Rondo have been unreal. KG has really started to get back into form as well.

Make it 11 straight...

So they beat the Magic on Xmas without KG but lose to the Clippers. They never play well in GS and Pheonix I can understand. I was surprised they handles Toronto with out KG, Pierce and Rondo.

BTW my son and I got Celtics/Cavs tickets for Christmas for the Feb 25th game. Cant wait.

Wow what an inbound play by Pierce and Rondo to tie it up with .6 seconds left. Nice road win for the Celtics in Miami.

I tuned in last night with 5.5 left, game tied, C's inbounding and Wade steals it and dunks it with 0.6 left. I was like, well I'm glad I tuned in. Then the alley-oop lay in to force overtime happened (best C's play I've seen in 6-7 years) and then they dominated overtime. Awesome win.

Im not a big basket ball fan, I used ot be a Laker fan in the 80's but i too turned into the game withthe 5.5 left and I figured Id watch it. I saw D wade steal it, dunk it and i figured that the C's were toast. But you never know what is going ot happen in .6 seconds. I think that "the lob" might be one of the greatest plays I have seen in a really long time. That was Impressive! It wont make me a Basket ball or a C's fan over night. But it definatley piqued my interest

Thankfully KG comes back tonight. The defense isnt the same without him.

Wow - that was the worst final minute of basketball they've played all season...

Well, way to let one slip away against the Lakers on national tv, guys...

That one was rough. Shooting a 3 with 7 seconds left on an out of bounds play was brutal.

I listened to the first six minutes or so of the fourth quarter while I was in the car last night, but wasn't able to catch the end of the game. My last thought as I got out of the car was that I had better not hear that they'd blown yet another lead when I found out the results of the game. I really wish I could say I didn't see it coming. Why can't they close out a game anymore? Isn't the "art" of closing games supposed to be something that veteran teams know how to do? It's frustrating as hell to watch.

Well they finally get a win last night but they lose Paul Pierce. That's what happens when the core of the team is north of 30. It's pretty obvious that the window is close to closing on this group. KG's knee isn't right and they just look slow and old.

Rumors still persist that Danny is shopping Ray Allen and Danny is still denying them.

http://www.bostonherald.com/sports/bask ... o_chatter/

I dont mind shopping Ray but it better be of worth. Personally I would just as soon keep Ray's expiring contract and take a shot at one of the multiple free agents coming up this offseason. which include Lebron, D-wade, Bosch, Amare Stoudamire, Dirk Nowitzki etc.... Not the Celts have much of a chance at most of them.

Thing is, I don't think letting Allen's contract expire will open up enough cap space to sign any of those guys. They're already well over the cap, close to $30M over, and their commitments for 2010-2011 are already over the cap as well...~$61M to six players (Pierce, Garnett, Rondo, Davis, Wallace and Perkins). I can't see them being players on the free agent market this summer without dumping Pierce or Garnett in addition to Allen.

Allen's contract is really only of value to the Celts if they trade it, at least in terms of replacing him with an upper-tier player. If they hold on to him, then they're going to have a hard time signing a free agent good enough to replace him adequately.

They can also work a sign and trade which could free up cap space.

C's have played an inspired game tonight without Pierce. Rondo in particular. Which is good considering he chose to open his mouth to the media and take the team to task for their play lately. He's the guy that they need to step up into a leadership role as the Big 3 possibly phase out over the next couple years. His stepping up in that way could be the kick in the pants the team needs in the second half of the season.

I have no problem with Rondo speaking out. I think he was great last night but he has been most nights. They lost but his play against the Lakers was very good. Bird used to open his mouth to the media.
I have no problem with him doing that.

I liked Rondo showing leadership as well, but it will only work if he has the respect of the veteran teammates.

No PP tonight, but they should be able to cruise against NJ...and they better.

Supposedly Pierce might play Sunday against Orlando. 2:30 game, it'll be over in plenty of time for the Super Bowl...

He also is participating in the 3 point contest.

Outscored 36-11 in the third quarter, the C's blow a winable game against Orlando. Ugly.

Aweful. I was feeling really good at halftime then a 19-0 run in the third put that to bed.