As Labor Day comes to a close, fall is unofficially upon us.  That can only mean one thing…Celtics preseason is soon approaching and the NBA season will be ready to begin.

However, Boston’s players have been plenty busy this summer relaxing and taking time away from basketball.

Check out what some of the Celtics have been up to:

Paul Pierce hit the beach with his daughters, tweeting, “U kno I gotta have a couple girls with me while at the beach it’s the only way.”

» Continue reading “Keeping Up With The Celtics”

It’s always good to look back on the good times and that is exactly what we will continue to do in Part 2 of the Remembering the Best of the Boston New Big Three Era from 2009 – 2012.  During this time, Rondo emerged into one of the best point guards in the league.  The Big Three emerged into the Big Four then the Big Four then turned into Rondo and the Big Three.

2009-2010: Lost in NBA Finals to LA Lakers

Top 10 Plays:

» Continue reading “Remembering The Best of The Boston New Big Three Era: Part 2″

It’s been a long two plus weeks since the Boston Celtics last took the court in Miami for game seven of the Eastern Conference Finals.  It was the fourth time in the Big Three Era that the Celtics season ended without a championship.  However, when you think of the Big Three plan lasting 5 years with one championship title, another Eastern Conference championship, a game 7 loss in the ECF, a post season without KG, and another post season where Rajon Rondo injured his elbow, most will think of it as a success.  Although seasons mostly ended in heartbreak, Celtics fans and players have a lot to be proud of.

Heading into the 2012-2013 the Big Three era is in question.  Both Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen are free agents.  It seems like KG maybe back in Boston, but the it doesn’t seem likely that Ray Allen will join him.  Like they say, “All good things must come to an end.”

Below are some memorable moments since Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen joined Paul Pierce, a young PG, and Doc Rivers in Boston:

» Continue reading “Remembering The Best of The Boston New Big Three Era: Part 1″

The Boston Celtics’ loss last night to the Miami Heat in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals most likely brings an end to the Big Three era.

It was a dream come true for Celtics fans in 2008 when Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett joined forces with Paul Pierce in hopes of bringing a 17th banner to the City of Boston.  In just one season, they brought hope to a franchise that had been on a championship drought for so long and changed the meaning of a team.

Each player had their individual accolades, but none had that elusive NBA Championship to put on their resume and push them to the tops of the “all-time” greats.  Their selflessness to give up their star power and join forces jump-started the age of “Big Threes”, although they are still the only successful ones.

Under the helm of one of the greatest and most respected coaches in the NBA, Doc Rivers, Pierce, Allen, and Garnett made a city so rich in sports history re-fall in love with the Celtics and the game of basketball.

» Continue reading “Once A Celtic, Always A Celtic”

There’s really not much to say about this game…The Boston Celtics were absolutely terrible and LeBron James was lights out.

Turnovers and missed shots did the Celtics in, and the Mimi Heat forced Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Finals.

James was the story of the night, scoring 45 points on 19-26 shooting.  No other Heat player even came close to matching his performance, and he finally proved he can play in big-game situations.

Boston was hopeful going into tonight’s game that they could close out the series in six games, but it just wasn’t in the cards for them tonight.  Rajon Rondo was the lone bright spot for the Celtics with 21 points and 10 assists, but the poor performacnes fromt the other big guns and the team overrall overshadowed any positives for the Celtics.

Paul Pierce went ice cold.  He only had 9 points on 4-18 shooting, not being able to get anything going at any point in the game.  The Celtics can usually count on the Truth to step up and be the leader in pressure situations, but their Captain was no where to be found.

» Continue reading “LeBron Dominates In Heat’s Game 6 Win Over Celtics”

2012 Team Photo | Credit: Celtics twitter page

The Boston Celtics sit one win away from reaching their third NBA finals since the “Big 3″ was formed in 2008.  Whether they finish the Heat off in game 6 or 7, or heck, even if they choke and end up losing those two games, the Boston Celtics have produced a “Season Without Reason” that all fans are proud of and can appreciate.

The lock-out shortened season was nothing less than a circus.  September came and went and there was no new CBA. October came and went with nothing agreed upon the NBA and the players union.  November slowly ticked by, but by the end of the month a deal was in place to start the season on December 25th, 2011.

The veterans of the Celtics were shocked a season was upon them.  They believed there was no chance a season would exist after the union decertified.

Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce came into a shortened training camp out of shape.  During physicals at training camp, Jeff Green, who the Celtics acquired in the Perkins trade with OKC, was diagnosed with a season-ending heart issue that required surgery. Pierce ended up injuring his heel and sat out a few games at the beginning of the season.  Rajon Rondo hurt hist wrist and missed a few weeks.  Half way through the season, Jermaine O’Neal aggravated his wrist he hurt the previous year and had season-ending surgery.  Chris Wilcox, who underwent regular heart exams, was diagnosed with the same heart condition as Jeff Green and underwent season-ending surgery.  Ray Allen developed bone spurs in his ankle and missed time.  Avery Bradley came out of no where to overtake Allen’s starting spot, but suffered from multiple shoulder separations throughout the season and underwent playoff-ending surgery during the Philadelphia series.

Through all the hurdles thrown the Celtics way during the lock-out shortened season, they shockingly overcame each and everyone of them surprising fans, but “experts” even more.

The Celtics were reported as “over-the-hill” upon entering the All-Star break two games under .500 (15-17).  No one gave the team a chance.

They were deemed “too old” to compete with the elite competition.  They weren’t going to make the play-offs.  People were talking about the Celtics crashing so hard they would be in line for a lottery pick to kick start the rebuilding process.

» Continue reading “Standing O For the Boston Celtics”

They took their talents to South Beach.

The Boston Celtics broke through the home advantage precedent set in the first four games of the Eastern Conference Finals, taking a 3-2 series lead over the Miami Heat.

They say you only need to see the last two minutes of a game, and tonight’s game proved that statement.  The game was ugly early for the Celtics.  They were down by double-digits during the first half, but they managed to keep things fairly close going into the fourth quarter, despite poor play on both ends of the court.

With just about two minutes to go, Boston took the lead and did not fall behind for the rest of the game.  Mickael Pietrus and Paul Pierce hit two clutch three’s to keep the game just out of reach from the Heat, and the Celtics converted their free throws to stick the dagger in the one aspect of the game killing Miami.

» Continue reading “Celtics Bring The Heat Late, Take 3-2 Series Lead”

What. A. Game.

The Celtics tied the series win an overtime victory tonight, beating the Heat 93-91.  There were many similarities of Game 2, but Boston made sure the outcome was not the same.

Dwyane Wade had a chance to win it at the buzzer in OT, but his three-pointer bounced off the win and the Celtics pulled out a second straight victory at home to even the Eastern Conference Finals.

The Celtics got contributions from all five starters, as Ray Allen continues to improve with his best game in a LONG time.  He had 16 points and nailed four three-pointers.  Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo both recorded double-doubles, with the big-man earning 17 points and 14 rebounds, while the point guard had 15 points and 15 assists.

» Continue reading “Celtics Win A Nail Biter To Even Series Against Heat”

The critics said they could not do it, but the Boston Celtics proved everyone wrong to bounce back from a devastating Game 2 loss to beat the Miami Heat 101-91.

Rajon Rondo was the star Wednesday night, but Game 3 was a total team effort in a must-win game for Boston.

The Celtics’ success has come when at least two of its stars have big games, and tonight, the healthy Big Three shined along with help from their teammates.  It was no 44-point game, but Rondo did score 21 points and dished out 10 assists.  Kevin Garnett had a double-double of his own with 24 points and 11 rebounds, while Paul Pierce added 23 points.

Rondo played all 53 minutes in Game 2, but Marquis Daniels provided support off the bench to give the Celtics point guard some much needed rest.  He had nine points and five rebounds to anchor the reserves, who combined for a total of 19 points.

Both teams remained within striking distance of one another throughout the first half, but Boston pulled away in the second half and opened up a 20-point lead.  Miami’s deficit got as high as 24, but they cannot never be ruled out of a game and went on a little run of their won.

The Heat made things interesting half way through the fourth quarter, pulling within single digits, but the Celtics buckled down and and pulled out the 10-point victory.

LeBron James led the way for Miami with 34 points, while Dwyane Wade had 18.

Game 4 is Sunday night in Boston.

Once again, the NBA officials did everything they could to call the game in Miami’s, or just LeBron’s, favor.

The Celtics fought hard all night, but two plays in overtime derailed any chance they had at tying the series 1-1.

The referees apparently do not think Rajon Rondo getting hit in the face while attempting a layup is a foul, nor is Dwyane Wade kicking Kevin Garnett in the leg to gain an advantage an offensive foul.

It was a game of runs, as the Celtics started this game totally opposite of their Game 1 start.  They scored 24 points in the first quarter and held a six-point lead going in the second.  Their first lead of the series quickly turned into a 15-point advantage over the Heat.

» Continue reading “Heat Pull Out Overtime Win To Take 2-0 Lead”