Boston Celtics Blog – Page 130 – NBA Blog

Ray Allen replaces Jameer Nelson in All-Star game

Boston Celtics guard Ray Allen has been named by NBA Commissioner David Stern to replace injured East All-Star guard Jameer Nelson (torn labrum, right shoulder) of the Orlando Magic in the 2009 NBA All-Star Game in Phoenix. Allen will be making his ninth All-Star appearance.

The NBA All-Star Game will air live on TNT, ESPN Radio and in 215 countries and territories, and in 44 languages worldwide at 8 p.m. ET on Sunday, Feb. 15.

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Celtics ticket prices stay same for 2009-10

The 2008 World Champion Boston Celtics announced today that they will not increase season ticket holder loge and balcony ticket prices for the 2009-10 season. The Celtics have experienced enormous success over the last two seasons capturing the 2008 World Championship title, along with selling out 85 consecutive home games and doubling their season ticket holder account base.

“We are extremely lucky to have such a loyal and passionate season ticket holder base and we want them to know how much we truly appreciate their support. While we have continued to invest in a championship caliber team, we recognize the economic climate has changed and we want to make it easier for our fans to continue to cheer for the Celtics at the Garden next season,” Boston Celtics Team President Rich Gotham said.

Along with keeping prices flat, the team will introduce a first of its kind 12 month interest-free payment plan option, allowing season ticket holders to spread both their 2009 Playoffs and 2009-10 season ticket payments over the next year. The Celtics will also continue to provide league leading benefits for their ticket holders and introduce a new tenure based rewards system, giving special event and gift access to season ticket holders that have been with the team for numerous years.

“We have made the decision to allow season ticket holders to spread out their entire playoff and season ticket invoice over 12 months, interest free, to ease the burden of heavier upfront payments this spring. We know flexible payment options are a necessity right now for our clients and we’re happy to deliver just that,” Boston Celtics CMO Shawn Sullivan said.

Celtics assign JR Giddens to D-League

Boston Celtics guard J.R. Giddens was re-assigned to the Utah Flash, the Celtics’ NBA Development League affiliate, it was announced today. The assignment is the 20th this season, and Giddens’ second. Giddens, who was originally assigned to the Flash on Nov. 15, 2008 and was recalled to Boston on Jan. 8, has yet to appear in a regular season game for Boston this season.

In 13 games, all starts, for the Flash Giddens averaged 17.3 points and 6.5 rebounds while shooting 54 percent (86-of-158) from the field. Giddens’ best game for the Flash came on Dec. 1 when he scored 34 points against the Bakersfield Jam at the McKay Events Center in Orem, Utah.

Giddens, a 6-5 guard, was selected in the first round, 30th overall, by the Celtics in the 2008 NBA draft from the University of New Mexico. During his two-year career as a Lobo, Giddens averaged 16.1 points and 7.7 rebounds. As a senior, Giddens started all 33 of New Mexico’s games, and averaged career highs of 16.3 points, 8.7 rebounds and 2.1 assists. Giddens shared Mountain West Conference Co-Player of the Year and earned First Team All-Conference honors during his senior year.

Giddens, the season’s fourth player to be assigned to an NBA D-League affiliate, is expected to join the Flash in Orem, Utah today and will be available for tomorrow night’s Flash game against the Los Angeles D-Fenders.

Allen hits game-winner, Celtics beat Sixers 100-99

The AP reports: Ray Allen took a perfect pass from Paul Pierce and buried a baseline 3-pointer with 0.5 seconds left to give the Celtics their 12th straight victory, 100-99 over the Philadelphia 76ers on Tuesday night… Pierce scored 29 points, Allen had 23 and Glen Davis had 12 points and 11 rebounds… Andre Iguodala scored 22 points and Andre Miller had 21 for the Sixers.

Kendrick Perkins fined for foul on Jason Maxiell

The Boston Globe (Marc Spears) reports: Celtics center Kendrick Perkins said he was fined $10,000 by the NBA for a hard foul on Pistons forward Jason Maxiell last Friday. Perkins was ejected with a flagrant 2 penalty. “I thought I was going to get more,” Perkins said. “So the $10,000 was pretty cool. I watched [the replay] a few times. It was a hard foul, but I wasn’t trying to hurt him. “He got real low. I wasn’t trying to go for his head. I just ended up hitting him. Like I said, it was nothing personal. I wasn’t trying to hit him in the head. It was just a play in the NBA.”

Warming up new to JR Giddens

The Boston Globe (Marc Spears) reports: Just before the Celtics ran onto the floor to warm up for their 49th game of the season, rookie guard J.R. Giddens stopped his teammates to ask an important question. “I didn’t know how to go out when we were warming up,” said Giddens, after the Celtics’ 109-101 win over Minnesota yesterday at TD Banknorth Garden. “Some of the guys were making fun of me. I said, ‘Hey I’m usually taking a shower right now [after working out].’ So it was fun and I actually got to see the warmups. “Today it was like, ‘A uniform. Is that for me?’ They hadn’t taken it out since like preseason so they had stains on it . . . It was all right. I had a lot of fun out there.”

Celtics win 11th straight, top Wolves 109-101

The AP reports: “I just try to give the game what it needs. Today, I thought it needed my scoring,” Paul Pierce said after his 36 points, eight rebounds and six assists helped Boston extend its winning streak to 11 games with a 109-101 victory over the Minnesota Timberwolves… Al Jefferson, the centerpiece of the trade that brought Garnett to Boston, scored 34 points for the Timberwolves, who lost their third in a row since winning 10 of 12… Randy Foye had 21 points and nine assists, and Jefferson also had 11 rebounds—the 26th double-double of the season for a player who was a surprise exclusion from this month’s All-Star game in Phoenix… Ray Allen scored 22, and Glen “Big Baby” Davis had 12 points, six rebounds and three steals while playing in place of Kevin Garnett.

Celtics beat Pistons for 10th straight win

The AP reports: The Boston Celtics finally got a game. The result, though, was the same. Kevin Garnett scored 22, Paul Pierce had 20 points and Ray Allen added 14, leading Boston to an 86-78 win over the Detroit Pistons on Friday night. The Celtics, who have won 10 straight, took their last seven by double digits, including three victories by 20-plus points… Detroit’s Allen Iverson scored 19 points, moving past Hall of Famer Charles Barkley and into 16th place on the NBA’s career scoring list.

House helps Celtics crush Kings

The AP reports: Eddie House is all warmed up and ready for the 3-point shooting contest on All-Star weekend. All he needs is an invitation. The Boston sharpshooter scored 28 points on a career-high eight 3-pointers, going 8-for-9 from beyond the arc on Wednesday night to lead the Celtics to their ninth straight win, 119-100 over the Sacramento Kings… John Salmons scored 22 points, and Jason Thompson had 21 points and 11 rebounds for the Kings, who lost to Boston by 45 earlier this season. Sacramento is 0-20 against the Eastern Conference—the only NBA team that has been blanked by entire conference so far.

Brian Scalabrine suffers concussion at practice

The Boston Globe (Marc Spears) reports (via blog): Celtics forward Brian Scalabrine was taken to New England Baptist Hospital after suffering a concussion at practice today, and coach Doc Rivers said he expects the forward to be out for an extended period of time. Scalabrine originally suffered a concussion against Dallas last Sunday and received another when he bumped into teammate Patrick O’Bryant while trying to get a rebound at practice today.