114 Raptors, 90 Celtics

When Fab Melo gets 17 minutes you know the Celtics didn't give a shit about this game.

Doc coached this game perfectly, Pierce played 14 minutes, KG and Terry didn't play and no player that will have a huge impact against the Knicks on Saturday.

The good that comes out of this is I guess potenial X factor players Jordan Crawford, Terrence Williams, Courtney Lee all got a ton of burn.

Either way the best series in the playoffs begin Saturday.

The Celtics finish 41 - 40 on the season.

112 Celtics, 88 Raptors

This was a game of milestones Kevin Garnett is now 15th on the All Time scoring list, passing Jerry West the logo and Pierce is now 20th on the All Time scoring list, passing Charles Barkley and 10th on All Time free throws made list, passing Allen Iverson.

The Raptors are exactly what the doctor ordered after not taking Bobcat night seriously. Paul Pierce, Jeff Green, Bass, Terry an Crawford all had nice games. Jeff stood out with 20, but Terry chipped in with 7 assists, Crawford had 12 off the bench and Pierce had 15 points off the day of rest.

This was a close game until the Celtics blew the doors off of them in the second half.

It wasn't the funnest game to watch other than for NBA fans, but a win is a win and a boring blowout vs the Raptors is a lot easier to take then getting blown out by the Bobcats.

P.S. I love how in our saved tags that we have the Raptors are in lower case, when bob and I started this, that's how much lack of respect we had for them.

Raptors @ Celtics Preview

Last night was the first game all season the Celtics had played without Paul Pierce and it didn't go well at all as they got blown out by the lowly Bobcats. Doc had to be furious with the way his team played that game. It seemed instead of stepping up for their Captain, they took the night off.

My thinking is Doc really got on them after this game, and they will come out strong tonight. I would really like to see KG get some time off soon though, he has been awful lately and looks really tired.

This will be the first time the Celtics will face the Raptors since they traded for Rudy Gay (who is questionable). It really hasn't change much as they still suck and just lost Andrea Bargnani for the season. It's another game the Celtics have no excuse to lose (especially at home). Let's see if they decide to play tonight.

Celtics win 95-91
Tommy Award: Pierce
Game starts at 7:30pm

Boozer To Raptors?

The Chicago Bulls and Toronto Raptors have engaged in exploratory trade discussions on a deal that would swap the Bulls' Carlos Boozer for the Raptors' Andrea Bargnani, according to sources familiar with the discussions (ESPN).

I don't think I would do this if I was the Bulls. Boozer might not be great, but he is good down low, and I don't think a soft European is what the Bulls need. I have seen Boozer crush the Celtics down low, yes it was during a time when seemingly every big man was, but I just have a lot more faith in him. 

99 Celtics, 95 Raptors

This was a great win, it was incredible, they showed great determination and resolve.

At one point in the 3rd they were down by 10 and then a strong 4th quarter by Barbosa and KG and the Celtics were able to come back and win the game. It was a vintage KG game, he had 27 points and 10 rebounds on 11-18 shooting. Paul Pierce struggled mightily offensively but was able to gobble up 11 rebounds and dish out 6 assists to go with his 12 points. I love the way these 2 have been playing since Rondo's absence and since the trade rumors started going. They are absolutely playing like, "DON'T TRADE US DANNY", and the team has flipped the switch and been playing with the sense of urgency they should have all year.

Like I mentioned Leandro Barbosa had an incredible 4th quarter and finished with 14 points in 27 minutes (that has to be a record for minutes in a Celtics uniform). There were 6 players in double digits and Courtney Lee played great defense.

Also I have to give a nod to Jeff Green who has been on the court at the end of the game as a defender, he was never known as a great defender and has stepped up his game considerably this year.

That's 5 in a row.

Good call Bob on the score.

Celtics @ Raptors Preview

On the surface this looks to be an easy win for the Celtics. They have won 4 in a row without Rondo, the Raptors have a terrible record, and the last time these two teams played Boston won by 18.

Yet, the Raptors have Rudy Gay now, and they are also getting Bargnani, who had missed the last 26 games due to a tear in a ligament in his elbow. The Raptors actually have some nice pieces and I think tonight could actually be a tough game for the Celtics. Boston has yet to play on the road without Rondo, and they have lost three straight road games and 11 of 14, so it's something they have struggled with.

Saying that, I don't think this Rondo-less winning streak come to an end tonight. The Celtics are rested, and fueled not only by the loss of Rondo and Sully, but the fact they want to stay together. You don't think Doc is telling them that every night? "Want these rumors to go away? Keep winning", and it's the truth.

I expect big game from Pierce and KG, which at this point I guess should go without saying, but they will be rested and extra motivated to keep their era going.

Celtics win 95-90
Tommy Award: Paul Pierce
Game starts at 7pm

Rudy Gay Sent To Raptors

Bob got me to believe that the Celtics one day would somehow get Rudy Gay, but that seems more of a pipedream than anything else now that he got traded to NBA hell. The 3 team deal goes like this The Grizzlies, Raptors and Pistons agreed to a six-player trade Wednesday that sent star swingman Rudy Gay to Toronto.

The Grizzlies, in the midst of a money-motivated makeover, acquired forward Ed Davis and veteran guard Jose Calderon in the deal that also sent backup center Hamed Haddadi to the Raptors.

Memphis then shipped Calderon to Detroit for Austin Daye and Tayshaun Prince.

It's weird because Memphis had a chance to make a lot of damage in the playoffs and shipping Gay due to cost restraints hurts them. I really like what the Raptors did to be honest, they now have Lilliard, Derozan, Gay and Bargnani, not a bad 4 of starting 5. The Grizzlies replaced Gay with defensive minded Teyshaun Prince (It's going to be weird seeing him anywhere but Detroit, I also thought that one day I would see him in a Celtics uniform), Ed Davis and Austin Dayee and Detroit gets Jose Calderon for some reason. It's all very interesting to see what happens, but we have heard these talks for years because of Rudy Gay's bloated contract and since the Grizzlies are on the hook for 3 huge contracts in Mike Conley, Zack Randolph and Marc Gasol they needed to make a move.

Maybe Bob will get his wish in 2 years when Gay's contract is up.

I Do Not Want Kyle Lowry

A name that has popped up a lot since the loss of Rajon Rondo is Kyle Lowry of the Toronto Raptors, he is young (26) and has a really friendly contract. 5 million this year with a 1 million buyout next, however, for all those people who like to point out Rondo's "attitude problems" Kyle Lowry is a lot worse and a bad egg. He has played on 3 teams so far in the NBA despite being a pretty good all around player 13 points, 5 boards, 5 assists, and so far in Toronto his bad attitude has pushed him to the bench to play behind long time Raptor Jose Calderon.

I read something yesterday that if we were to acquire someone like Lowry, we would have to give up Avery Bradley, Jeff green and Jared Sullinger..... fuck that. I consider all 3 of those players better than the Villanova product. I have been preaching sine the loss of Rondo, no trade really makes sense right now. I wouldn't even talk to teams about Bradley or Sully and from a Pierce and KG standpoint, I wouldn't trade them either. Nobody is going to give up good young talent and a 1st round pick for Pierce and because I am sentimental about Paul, I think he has earned the right to leave the Celtics on his terms and retire here. KG still has another 2 years on his contract and a no trade clause and like Jackie MacMullin said yesterday, she would think he would rather retire than have to be relocated anywhere.

You are going to hear a TON of rumors until February 21st, I just wouldn't put a lot of stock in anything you hear.