Category: Boston Celtics Blog

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Celtics beat Pacers 104-99 in Marbury debut

The AP reports: Ray Allen added 30 points and Rajon Rondo matched his career high with 17 assists for Boston. Glen “Big Baby” Davis, starting in place of the injured Kevin Garnett, scored 18, and Kendrick Perkins had 11 rebounds. Marbury finished with eight points and two assists in under 13 minutes— just hours after clearing waivers and signing with the Celtics for their push toward the playoffs and a try at back-to-back NBA titles… T.J. Ford scored 23 and Troy Murphy had 20 points and 13 assists for the Pacers, who had won three out of four.

Celtics suspend Gabe Pruitt for two games

The Boston Celtics announced today that they have suspended guard Gabe Pruitt for two games for conduct detrimental to the team.

“I recognize that my behavior was inappropriate and accept the consequences of my action as determined by the Celtics,” said Pruitt.

Pruitt, a 6’4”, 170lb guard, is in his second year with the Celtics and is averaging 2.3 points in 8.8 minutes per game this season. The former USC Trojan has appeared in 36 games for the Celtics this season.

Analysis: Marbury can help Celtics

Former New York Knicks point guard Stephon Marbury has signed with the Boston Celtics.

Although Marbury was a starter pretty much his entire career and is capable of putting up 20 points and tossing around eight assists over the course of a full game, the Celtics already have championship-level chemistry, and having Rajon Rondo run things is working out just fine. So they’re not changing that.

It’s expected that Marbury will be used as a prime scoring option off the bench, alongside Eddie House.

But the Celtics win with defense and teamwork, so they’re not looking to have Marbury merely put the ball in the hoop a few times. He’ll be expected to defend as hard as he’s ever done in his life. And move the ball properly.

If he dominates the rock more than the team wants him to, or lets his man go by him too consistently, or doesn’t grasp their team defense schemes, coach Doc Rivers won’t hesitate to sit Marbury down.

If a problem develops, they’ll get rid of him immediately.

It’ll be interesting to watch, but I think in limited minute and a clear backup role and his head on straight, Marbury makes the Celtics better.

Read fan reaction and discuss your own opinion in this forum topic.

Gabe Pruitt arrested for DUI

The Boston Globe (Frank Dell’Apa) reports: Reserve guard Gabe Pruitt was booked on suspicion of driving under the influence and spent about five hours under arrest at the Los Angeles Police Department’s Hollywood station early yesterday morning. Pruitt was charged with a misdemeanor and released on $5,000 bail. Pruitt failed a field sobriety test and was taken into custody near the intersection of Sunset Boulevard and Wilcox Avenue, about a block from the police station, at 3:07 a.m. A police spokesman said Pruitt was stopped at a green light and his automobile, a Mercedes S550, had dark, tinted windows, illegal in California. Pruitt was released at 8:31 a.m. yesterday.

Randolph leads Clippers upset of Celtics

The AP reports: Zach Randolph scored 30 points, including the final three of the game, to lead the Clippers past the defending NBA champions—who have run into injury problems of their own. Already missing Kevin Garnett and Brian Scalabrine, the Celtics lost a bit more of their edge when Paul Pierce dislocated his right thumb in the third quarter, and again in the fourth. He finished with 20 points, but went 7-of-19 from the floor and missed a 13-footer that would have given Boston the lead with 20 seconds remaining… Randolph also had 12 rebounds. Davis had 16 points, seven rebounds and five assists for Los Angeles. Rondo and Ray Allen each scored 17 in the loss.

NBA D-League expands to Portland, Maine

The NBA Development League has awarded an expansion team to Portland, Maine for the 2009-10 season, NBA D-League President Dan Reed announced today at a press conference at Portland High School. The team, which is the first expansion franchise awarded for the 2009-10 season, will play at the Portland Expo Center.

The franchise will be owned and operated by Maine Basketball, LLC, which is principally owned by Bill Ryan Sr., the chairman of TD Banknorth Group and Bill Ryan Jr., who owns and operates Oxford Plains Speedway. Jon Jennings, a partner in Maine Basketball, LLC and former Boston Celtics assistant coach, will serve as the team’s president and general manager.

Today’s announcement, the NBA D-League’s first foray into New England, was held in front of the school’s student body while featuring Reed, Celtics Team President Rich Gotham, the Celtics Dancers, and a speech by the Portland High Student Body President Brian Furey.

“Expansion to Portland is another example of the health and growth of the NBA D-League,” said Reed. “We are very pleased to add Bill Ryan Sr., Bill Ryan Jr., and Jon Jennings to our ownership ranks, as they bring a wealth of business, sports operations, and basketball experience on behalf of the team and the community.  I’m confident that fans throughout the state of Maine will enjoy our world-class level of basketball featuring current and future NBA players, as well as appreciate the team’s family-friendly environment, affordable prices, and positive impact on the Portland and Maine community.”

“I’m overjoyed to bring NBA D-League basketball to Portland,” said Jennings.  “We’ve already established strong relationships with the people of this community, and we can’t wait to get underway next season.  I know that this team will have a long and exciting future in Maine.”

Portland will be affiliated with two NBA team parent-clubs, which will be able to assign their first and second year players to the club a maximum of three times during a season. Thus far, the 2008-09 NBA D-League season has had 22 NBA players assigned on 24 occasions to NBA D-League affiliates as players continue to develop their game. An announcement regarding Portland’s NBA team affiliations will occur during the offseason.

Boston Celtics sign Mikki Moore

The Boston Celtics announced today that the club has signed free agent center/forward Mikki Moore. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“Mikki’s length, energy, skill and experience, along with his enthusiasm to come to Boston, will be a great boost for us.” said Danny Ainge, Celtics President of Basketball Operations.

Moore, a 7’0”, 225lb center/forward, is in his 11th NBA season.  Moore has posted career averages of 5.9 points and 3.9 rebounds while shooting 54.8 percent from the field.  This is Moore’s second stint with the Celtics after he spent a portion of the 2002-03 season with the team.  The former Nebraska Cornhusker has posted career playoff averages of 10.2 points and 5.3 rebounds in 15 games.  He also shot 54.5 percent from the field in those 15 games.

Moore will wear #7.

Allen leads Celtics past frazzled Nuggets 114-76

The AP reports: At this rate, Kevin Garnett can take all the time he needs to get healthy. The Boston Celtics handed the Nuggets one of the worst home losses in their history Monday night, routing Denver 114-76 behind 26 points from Ray Allen. It was Boston’s second game since Garnett strained a muscle in his right knee that is expected to sidelined him for at least two weeks. Paul Pierce added 22 points for the Celtics, who raced to a 60-37 halftime lead that rendered the second half a let’s-get-it-over-with exercise. This was Denver’s worst home loss since Feb. 2, 1998, when the Nuggets were routed by Chicago 111-72. The 38-point margin of defeat tied for the second-biggest home loss since Denver joined the NBA in 1976.

Sam Cassell could wind up with Nuggets

The Orange County Register (Art Thompson) reports (via blog),With his playing career now in its twilight, veteran NBA guard Sam Cassell could wind up ending with the Denver Nuggets, who are in the market for a seasoned guard to aid them in the playoffs. The 39-year old Cassell recently was traded by the Boston Celtics, to the Sacramento Kings, for a second-round draft pick. The floundering Kings had no plans for Cassell and it was their intention, when the trade was made, to waive him immediately.

InsideHoops.com editor says: Cassell want to become an NBA coach. As reported by the above newspaper but also told to me by Cassell himself, George Karl seems willing to work with Cassell on it.