Tonight is the NBA All-Star Game, which means the Boston Celtics have reached the half-way point of their 2011-2012 season.  Luck of the Irish will hand out a few midseason awards, and take a look at what lies ahead for the second half of the Celtics’ season.

The first award to hand out is Biggest Disappointment: Jermaine O’Neal

Jermaine O’Neal had a tough season last year, especially with the number of injuries he had to endure.  However, Doc Rivers called O’Neal the MVP of training camp.  Rivers said he stepped up his defensive game and became a better leader on the court.

» Continue reading “Boston Celtics Midseason Awards: Biggest Disappointment”

It seems that this season, whenever one players returns from an injury, another one goes down.  The Celtics began the year without Paul Pierce, and they spent a few weeks without Rajon Rondo.  Jermaine O’Neal has been plagued with various ailments, along with Chris Wilcox and Keyon Dooling.

Now Brandon Bass is on the injury list.  Doc Rivers said the forward will miss 10-14 days with swelling in his right knee.

“We knew his knee was bothering him, but then he got the treatment, and he missed that one game,” Rivers said.  ”There was nothing said after the Toronto game.  Then [team trainer] Eddie [Lacerte] called me this morning and told me he was out, and out for a while.  That was a surprise.”

Bass’s injury comes at an inopportune time.  O’Neal missed Sunday’s game with a shoulder injury, and he is listed as day-to-day.  The Celtics beat the league-leading Bulls yesterday, although Derrick Rose did not play, but they will especially need the two big men to get healthy if they want to make a run late in the season.

Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA

Tip-Off: 3:30 P.M.

Projected Starters:

Boston (14-12): Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O’Neal

Chicago (23-6): C.J. Watson, Ronnie Brewer, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, Joakim Noah

**Derrick Rose is a game-time decision (lower back).

» Continue reading “Celtics Look To Bounce Back Against Bulls”

The Boston Celtics lost to the Toronto Raptors 86-74 last night, their second loss in a row.  They take on the Chicago Bulls tomorrow afternoon.

Here are your Saturday news and notes:

• Check out the recap of last night’s loss.
• Doc Rivers called his team’s performance “awful.”
• Are the Celtics still interested in trading Rajon Rondo?

The Boston Celtics defeated the New York Knicks last night, and Rajon Rondo finally returned to the court after missing eight games due to a wrist injury.

Here are some news and notes on this Saturday:

• Check out the recap of the game here.
• No Celtics players were selected as starters in the All-Star Game.
• Jermaine O’Neal missed practice today, but could play tomorrow.
• Doc Rivers wishes he could have more practice time, but the shortened season makes it difficult with back-to-back games or little rest between outings.

The Celtics take on the Memphis Grizzlies tomorrow afternoon.

UPDATE: Rajon Rondo to start tonight.

Location: TD Garden, Boston, MA

Tip-Off: 8:00 P.M.

Projected Lineups:

Boston (11-10): Rajon Rondo, Ray Allen, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, Jermaine O’Neal

New York (8-14): Iman Shumpert, Landry Fields, Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler

» Continue reading “Celtics Hope To Have Rondo Back Against Knicks”

The Boston Celtics defeated the Toronto Raptors last night 100-64, and if there’s any question about how the Celtics are feeling right now, check out Paul Pierce’s tweet below.

Last night’s win was a total team victory, with every active player making a mark on the stat sheet.  They shot 52 percent from the field and outrebounded the Raptors 46-39.

» Continue reading “Pierce Leads Celtics To Rout Over Raptors”

The Boston Celtics won last night, great.  But where was Rajon Rondo?

On the bench.  The same place he has been for the past seven games after injuring his wrist on January 18.  It is now February, and the Celtics listing him as day-to-day is getting really old.

Doc Rivers and the members of Boston’s front office clearly studied Bill Belichick’s system for dealing with injured players: provide as little information as possible and keep everyone guessing.  Usually, the Patriots players end up playing, and it becomes some type of scheme to keep the opposing teams and the media off guard, but the Celtics are actually playing without their starting point guard.

» Continue reading “Boston Celtics: O Rondo, O Rondo, Wherefore Art Thou Rondo?”

The Cleveland Cavaliers snapped the Boston Celtics four-game winning streak last night, and Paul Pierce was not happy afterwards.  Frustrated by the loss, he also questioned Doc Rivers’ game plan down the stretch.

NESN reported Pierce’s comments about his lack of playing time in the fourth quarter:

When asked if he was disappointed by Rivers’ decision, Pierce said, “No comment.  Maybe I should play a little more.”

Pierce later backed off his feelings a little bit, saying it is the coach’s decision, and he did not expect an explanation from Rivers regarding Pierce’s time on the bench.  He smartened up and changed his comments more about the disappointment in his team’s loss, as reported by WEEI:

» Continue reading “Celtics Snap Winning Streak, Pierce Upset With Playing Time”

The Boston Celtics erased a 27-point deficit last night to beat the Orlando Magic 91-83.  The Celtics mounted a serious comeback, led by Paul Pierce.

Pierce scored 19 points in the second half on 7 of 13 shooting, and he finished the game with 24 points.  Itappears the side effects of Pierce’s heel injury that kept him out of the first three games of the season are long gone.  He is back as the team’s leader, and he set the example for his teammates last night.

Rookie E’Twaun Moore followed suit, hitting five three-pointers in the second half to end the game with 16 points.  Moore struggled on offense during his minimal playing time thus far this season, but last night, everything seemed to click.

» Continue reading “Boston Celtics: Just Call Them The Comeback Kids”