Saturday Night Special

As I walked into Madison Square Garden this past Saturday evening for a match-up between the Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks I felt something I had not felt in quite some time as a Celtics fan. “I knew we were going to win the game.”

Coming off of two straight home wins over Indiana and Portland, the ladder the night before, I knew it would not be easy for Boston to win on the 2nd night of a back to back. I was fully aware that the Celtics went all of last season with out winning three straight games, something the Boston writers loved to stick in their columns about the teams’ inconsistency and struggles. There is just something special about going over to MSG as a Celtics fan and anticipating the Green beating the Knicks, regardless of the teams’ records.

My sports day had already gotten off to a great start as we had a great Varsity basketball practice earlier in the day. I thought I was just going to be coaching and teaching at practice, but we were short a few guys at the beginning who were taking an SAT II prep class so I had to hop in on some drills and scrimmaging, wow am I out of shape!!! It was a real struggle keeping up with the guys, being out the night before was not a help either. It felt good to break a sweat and work thru it, but I gotta get my ass back in the gym so I can run up and down the court with the guys a little bit. Practice had great tempo and we definitely took care of a few wrinkles that needed the proverbial ironing, specifically our movement in our zone offense.

After chilling with the guys for a while I headed home to watch the Ohio State Michigan game with some friends. We got the grill fired up, had a few drinks and really enjoyed the game. Two terrific football teams, hopefully there will be a re-match for the National Championship. I am not going to bore you with opinions and analysis on the game, and pretend I am an expert. Dick Vitale comes on the air and he talks college football now with Mike and Mike in the Morning on ESPN radio. Now don’t get me wrong Vitale has done a lot for college basketball and his upbeat high on life personality is great for college sports but do I really give a shit about anything he has to say about football? Enough yelling and complimenting everyone already. And during basketball, please Dick I am begging you please at least try and give some analysis to the action on the court. I know who the diaper dandies are.

I kind of veered off of the road there. Back to the game Saturday night. The Knicks went up 10-0 right off of the bat and the crowd started to buzz. It was an immediate test for the Green and then bounced right back to tie and take the lead. Though the Celtics have 3 bigs out of the line up (Jefferson, Ratliff and Olawokandi) they did not wilt and their small ball eventually built a 20 point lead. I was with two friends both rooting for the Knicks, but our empty seat which I saved for Red to sit in gave me plenty of Celtics support down the stretch. In the 3rd quarter I turned to my buddy as the Celtics lead was dwindling and let him know that the Captain, Paul Pierce would not let the Celtics lose this one. And indeed he did not. Pierce poured in 19 in the 4th, and even after the Celtics lost the lead with just over 4 minutes to go he lead them down the stretch to the win. Gomes, Wally, and Bassy all had solid performances as the Celtics won their third straight and sent Red and I out of the Garden with a big grin on our faces. Doc Rivers did as well as his job is safe for now and Celtic Pride was in the building.

Making Cuts and the Sinking Celtics

While the second week of the high school season is off to a fine start the Celtics ship is sinking before it gets out of the harbor.

After a tough loss at home to the Jazz Friday night, the Celtics traveled to
Cleveland to take on LeBron and Co. Saturday evening. Even without Theo
Ratliff and Wally Szcerbiak who were both out because of injury the Celtics
built a 25 point lead early in the 3rd quarter. It was a lead that was
short lived as the Cavs came roaring back and the Green had no way to defend
itself. Between the poor execution down the stretch and lack of toughness
during the Cavs 4th quarter assault many including myself really have to
think about whether or not Doc Rivers is a good fit for this team. I am not one to quickly point fingers at a head coach but the team’s toughness and attitude usually mirrors that of its coach, doesn’t it?

The Green then returned home on Monday to host the Magic and got off to a lack luster start but hung around long enough to grab a lead down the stretch after putting together a stretch of stops that resembled a team that had a clue how to play defense. Of course after they grabbed the lead the defense reverted back to its inexperienced and at times clueless ways as the Magic scored on its final 4 possessions and dropped the Celtics to 1-6. Not only was I pissed about the outcome but I stayed up past 11 to finish watching this game as I DVR’d it so I could watch some of the Cavs Knicks game with my roommate. As a die hard Celtics fan I am not sure where to go from here. Maybe a few days of not thinking or reading about the team may help. Of course they are back at it tonight at home against Indiana and I have the NBA package, so it will be another night of frustration. Red I hope you are doing ok wherever you are.

On the other side of the court both my high school Varsity and JV teams are off to a good start as we as coaches and the players are feeling good about the season. Our Varsity is fast, aggressive and has a great mix of young and experienced talent. Our transition game should be outstanding and the chemistry is also very strong both on and off of the court. We are carrying 14 on the roster right now including two freshmen. We have our first scrimmage this Friday.

On the JV we decided to keep a large number, sixteen. One of the sixteen is recovering from collarbone surgery and two others right now understand that they will not be seeing playing time anytime soon. It was a tough decision keeping that many but I feel like it strengthens the program and the guys will push each other more on a daily basis. A few of the kids that were cut could have filled those last two spots. Hopefully my gut was right on these players. Time of course will tell. I have some promising young guards and three football players that just joined us on Monday that play physical and very hard. It should be a good mix of guys. It is great going to practice everyday.

Special shout outs this week: The Legends (great win Sunday fellas!), Brookie G for passing the NY Bar Exam, Jordan and his hamstring, PR, Team Fastbreak, 133 Washington St. in Hoboken, 15J, D Bell, and of course my new high school basketball team!

NBA Friday

Lots of games tonight, but not one that really jumps off the list at you like
Dallas at Phoenix last night or Cleveland at San Antonio last week but let’s take a look:

The 7pm Appetizers of course feature the Orlando Magic. (They play at 7 all the time and it is great to catch some early Dwight Howard as he establishes himself as “THE MAN” on the court every single night) The Magic visit the Pacers in Indy. And while the Pacers are 3-2, I really don’t think they are that good, though they are well coached. They got killed in Washington the other night. This is a good road test for the young Magic, look for a close one, and keep an eye on who finishes the game at the point for Orlando, Nelson or Arroyo.

The winless Nuggets are visiting AI and Co. tonight in Philly. I know it happened, but how did Denver blow a 12 point lead at home to the Knicks the other night? You are at home, you are searching for your first win and you let the Knicks hang around and literally steal the game! The Nuggets are at the top of my gutless list until further notice. Crawford got you for 35, good luck guarding Iverson tonight.

Believe it or not the Hawks are 3-1 and they visit one of the early “buzz” teams, the 2-2 Raptors tonight up north. I know it is Hawks/Raptors and I know they have both played only 4 games but this is an early statement game for Toronto. They must establish themselves as a good home team if they hope to take that next step everyone is talking about. Chris Bosh is a beast getting 22 and almost 13 boards per night, as is Joe Johnson who is scoring 28 per game (nice job trading him after 3 months in 2001 Celtics!!!) This should be a good game. I like the Raps.

The 1-3 Celtics host the 4-1 Jazz tonight at the Garden. It is still weird with no Red, and it is even more frustrating that the Green’s season has started like this. My college friends and I do this team pool at the beginning of the season. I passed on Utah for Golden State, and my buddy MD took the Celtics so I would not get them in the last round. That has completely nothing to do with the fact that the Celtics turn the ball over more than a bad JV team and that Utah is going to be a very good team this season as long as they stay healthy. Utah is big and plays good team D. The Celtics are minus Al Jefferson for at least a month after having his appendix removed. Get better quick big guy!!! Pierce will carry them to the stretch run, but something tells me I will not have a smile on my face at the end of this one.

Time for the main course:
The Nets look to keep the New Jersey momentum going from their win over the Jazz Wednesday and the Rutgers triumph last night, as they host Miami tonight. The Heat are 2-2 and look far from in sync right now. Is Wade a little worn out from Team USA this summer? Will Shaq be back on the floor? The big fella has not played since opening night in a home win against Jersey. The Nets will be super fired up tonight. With or without O'Neal, the Jersey trio of Kidd, Carter and Jefferson will be too much for the Heat to handle tonight.

The Knickerbockers continue their early road trip in Houston. If New York did not win the other night in Denver (Remember the Nuggets are gutless Mike!!!) I would not even mention this game. But since they found a way to get a win and the Rockets are supposed to be ready to be “contenders”, I’ll show the game and the Van Man some love. Yao is starting to assert himself now as a big time center in a year where HE HAD TO DO SO. There were no more excuses left for him and he is producing 25pts and 8reb per night. The Knicks have some confidence but look for them to fade late under the stranglehold of the Houston D.

Chris Paul is a stud but I do have much depth to my analysis about the Hornets visit to Portland tonight. The Blazers are off to a good start and their new players are also good citizens, so this could be a nice story out west this season. The Hornets played last night as they dropped their first game of the season in Oakland to the Warriors. This is a nice little test to see if they can get a win on the second night of a back to back after a loss. One thing is for sure, Chris Paul is the next great point and guess what Stephon, he is better than you too.

We’ll end the evening in Hollywood as the Pistons and Lakers will go at it. The Lakers are looking more and more like a team that has found itself as Odom, Bynum and Walton have all picked up their play along side Kobe. The Pistons have lost 2 straight on the road so look for them to be extra chippy tonight. When you look out onto the floor when Detroit is playing something is missing. Obviously Ben Wallace is gone but that consistent feeling of intensity is not their yet for them. The foursome of Rasheed, Mohammed, McDyess and Maxiell must find consistency in the paint. I think Billups and Hamilton figure a way to get this tonight in LA.


Enjoy the games and your evening…

A New Beginning: The 2006-2007 Season

This month marks the beginning of a new basketball season for me both as a high school coach and as a basketball fan. As a life long Celtics fan, NBA and College basketball fan as well, this is one of my favorite times of the year. One thing will be absent this season and every season that lays ahead. The great Red Auerbach passed away on Saturday October 28th. Not only did he build the Boston Celtics but he was largely responsible for making the NBA for what it is today. I will post a Red Auerbach piece at some point this month and there will pictures of him on the blog throughout the season. Even if you are not a Celtics or an NBA fan you should know that this man did more than you can imagine for the game of basketball. Thank you for everything Red, you will be missed.

I coach at a New York City private school and we began JV and Varsity tryouts on Monday. It was great to be back in the gym, that feeling of the first day is like no other. Uncertainty, nerves and excitment all mixed into one. It was great. Our turnout for the first two days has been strong, though football is still going on so we are missing a few players, but the feeling after two days is definitely positive.

The same thing can not be said for my struggling Boston Celtics. Sitting at 0-3 and hosting the Charlotte Bobcats tonight the Celtics are DESPERATE for a win. (And I am desperate to lock the new dance team out of the building!!!) This team is no doubt young and has some new faces but how long is that going to be an excuse that is acceptable. Coach Doc Rivers needs to right this ship fast or else Danny Ainge needs to really think long and hard about taking the reigns or finding a coach better suited to lead this team back towards respectability. Players of course must be held accountable but I am seeing more than just a lack of execution on their part right now. Saturday night in Washington the Green played close to ZERO defense as they fell 124-117.

I always get extra amped when the NBA season starts again not only with the hope the Celtics will improve but now with young stars LeBron, D-Wade, Melo, D Howard, and Chris Paul teamed with Duncan, KG, AI, Pierce, Elton Brand, Nash, Dirk, Kobe and many others, the league is in good hands and definitely back on the right track after a very good regular and post season last year.

Nothing like the NBA package to get you hooked early. I watched the Golden State Warriors two nights in a row, first winning in Dallas by three, then dropping a tough one last night in Oklahoma City to the now 4-0 Hornets. Can't get enough of the new upstart teams coming out of the gate strong. Will teams like the Hornets maintain their level? Time will tell, it is a long season.

Lets get a win for Red tonight.

Like my boy Paz does on his blog, some shout outs for some special people:
Mom and Dad, 15J Deluxe, Lunar and the News Team, Coach Bluth, The Don, Coach Onions, Todd and Cara, Ross, Jared, My China Crew and Manhattan's newest movie maven, PR.