The AP reports: LeBron James scored 38 points, harassed Paul Pierce all over the floor and strengthened his case to be the league’s MVP front-runner as the Cavaliers, playing with a bottled-up intensity reserved for the playoffs, improved to 19-0 at home by beating the staggering Boston Celtics 98-83 on Friday night. James scored 23 in the second half. He added seven rebounds, six assists, four steals, three blocks and made Pierce’s life miserable for 35 minutes… Kevin Garnett had 18 points and 15 rebounds, and Rajon Rondo added 13 assists for the Celtics, who shot only 41 percent from the floor and didn’t have their usual swagger… Anderson Varejao scored 14 points and Mo Williams 13 for Cleveland, which avenged a season-opening road loss to the Celtics despite playing without injured center Zydrunas Ilgauskas.
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Celtics fall at home, 89-85 to Rockets
The AP reports: The defending NBA champions dropped their sixth game in eight tries Wednesday night, falling to the Houston Rockets 89-85 on Von Wafer’s go-ahead 3-pointer with 44 seconds left. It was the Celtics’ first loss in Boston since a Nov. 14 defeat to Denver sent them on a 19-game winning streak… Yao Ming had 26 points and eight rebounds, clinching it on a putback with 12.9 seconds left to help the Rockets snap a three-game losing streak and a five-game road skid. “Yao is unstoppable,” said Rockets forward Ron Artest, who scored 17 points playing most of the game in foul trouble… Paul Pierce scored 26 points, and Kevin Garnett had 18 and eight rebounds for the Celtics, who opened the defense of their 17th NBA title with victories in 27 of their first 29 games… Glen Davis scored a season-high 12 for the Celtics.
Celtics-Rockets connections
Houston General Manager Daryl Morey joined the Rockets after serving three years as SVP Operations for the Celtics.
Boston Associate Head Coach Tom Thibodeau and Assistant Basketball Coach/Advance Scout Coordinator Mike Longabardi each served in similar positions with the Rockets before joining the Celtics.
Celtics guard Sam Cassell played for the Rockets from 1993-96, averaging 10.1 points per game and helping Houston win back-to-back NBA Championships in 1993-94 and 1994-95.
Boston center Kendrick Perkins was a standout player at Beaumont’s Clifton J. Ozen High School.
A look at recent Celtics losses
After winning about nine billion games in a row, the Boston Celtics have fallen to Earth, and recently made a thud so loud that Larry Bird is probably shaking in his grave.
Bird is alive and well, of course, which makes this all the more shocking.
Their first big loss came in totally honorable fashion, on the road in Los Angeles to the Lakers on Christmas day. Nothing wrong with that. It happens. Lots of teams lose to the Lakers.
Since then, it’s been a wild ride, with more crashes than anything else.
The very next day, on December 26, Boston lost in Golden State to the Warriors, 99-89. In that game, the Celtics were called for 31 fouls, hit just six three-pointers, and only connected on 17 of their 25 free throws. Stephen Jackson scored 28 and Marco Belinelli had 22. Kendrick Perkins was out for Boston.
Two days later, Boston traveled to Sacramento, and laid total destruction on the Kings, winning 108-63.
On December 30, the Celtics found themselves in Portland, facing a tough Trail Blazers squad. The home team won 91-86. Paul Pierce dropped 28 points in the loss. The Celtics as a team only shot 40.3%, hit just 3-of-14 three-pointers, but kept the game close thanks to 29-of-31 free throws. But Portland dominated the glass, winning the rebounding battle 44-29. The Blazers got a nice balanced effort, and they did it without star Brandon Roy, who was out injured.
On January 2, Boston hosted the Washington Wizards, and won easily, 108-83. This time, the Celtics shot 55.4%, the opponent 38.3%. And Boston nailed 12-of-20 three-pointers and easily won in the rebound and assist categories. Paul Pierce had 26 points, though just one rebound and one assist. No other Celtic scored more than 11.
On January 4, the Celtics were in New York to face the Knicks, and lost 100-88. They fell apart in the third quarter, scoring just 15. Kevin Garnett was almost invisible in the scoring category, shooting 1-of-6 for 6 points, 9 rebounds and 5 blocks. Paul Pierce stepped up delivering big in multiple ways. Ray Allen put up bricks. Boston as a team shot just 40.5% and hit just 6-of-25 three-pointers. The Knicks were 41.5%, but nailed 9-of-22 three-pointers (five from Al Harrington) and 23-of-28 free throws. Harrington finished with 30 points. Wilson Chandler had 31.
And yesterday, January 6, the Celtics visited the Bobcats in Charlotte and lost 114-106 in overtime. Charlotte totally dominated the extra period, scoring 17 super-quick points. Emeka Okafor grabbed 17 rebounds in the game. The Bobcats managed 48.1% shooting, totally defying Boston’s defense. And the Celtics again struggled from three-point range, hitting just 6-of-23 (Ray Allen was just 3-of-11 from downtown). The Celtics had lots of nice performances, though Rajon Rondo had an insanely awful 9 turnovers. The Bobcats’ offense was simply not to be denied this day.
Tonight, the Celtics are at home to face the Houston Rockets, then head to Cleveland for a must-watch matchup with the Cavaliers.
Then, things get easier, as they have two games against the Raptors, and two against the Nets.
Grizzlies waive Darius Miles
The Memphis Grizzlies have waived forward Darius Miles, Grizzlies General Manager and Vice President of Basketball Operations Chris Wallace announced today.
In two games with Memphis, Miles collected two rebounds and two blocked shots in a total of nine minutes of action. The 6-9, 235-pound forward also served a 10-game league suspension, which concluded following the Jan. 2 game vs. San Antonio.
Miles was signed by the Grizzlies as a free agent on Dec. 13 after missing all of the 2006-07 and 2007-08 seasons following microfracture surgery on his right knee. The 27-year-old signed a free-agent contract with the Boston Celtics on Aug. 22, 2008 and appeared in six preseason games, averaging 1.8 points and 1.3 rebounds in 10.4 minutes before his release on Oct. 20.
The third overall pick in the 2000 NBA Draft became the first player in league history drafted straight out of high school (East St. Louis High School) to earn All-Rookie honors when he posted 9.4 points and 1.54 blocks for the Los Angeles Clippers in 2000-01.
The Bellville, Ill. native holds career averages of 10.6 points, 5.2 rebounds and 1.15 blocks in 27.6 minutes in 414 career games (190 starts) with Memphis, the Los Angeles Clippers, the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Portland Trail Blazers.
Memphis will play the New Jersey Nets tonight at 6:30 p.m. CST at the IZOD Center. The Grizzlies’ current roster stands at 13 players.
Bobcats surprise Celtics 114-106 in OT
The AP reports: After 19 straight wins and an NBA record 27-2 start, the Boston Celtics have lost that swagger. The lockdown defense and the poise are missing, too, as teams line up to get a shot at the defending champions. On Tuesday, it was the lowly Charlotte Bobcats, as Raymond Felton scored 25 points and rookie D.J. Augustin added 11 of his 20 in overtime in a stunning 114-106 win that sent the Celtics to their fifth loss in seven games… Paul Pierce scored 28 points, but had a key turnover in overtime. Ray Allen scored 20 points, but shot 7-for-20. Rajon Rondo committed nine turnovers. Kevin Garnett had 14 points and 13 rebounds, but shot only 7-of-18 and was called for traveling in Charlotte’s decisive spurt… Bobcats F Adam Morrison had 13 points in his best game in a month.
Antoine Walker charged with DUI
The AP reports: Former NBA player Antoine Walker was charged with suspicion of drunk driving in Miami Beach early Monday morning, further hurting his chances of playing again this season. Walker was driving a black Mercedes without the lights on when he was pulled over at 5:39 a.m., according to the arrest report. Officers detected a strong odor of alcohol and wrote in the report that Walker had a sleepy look on his face. He refused a breathalyzer test… Walker was being held Monday on a $1,000 bond and jail officials said they did not immediately know if he has attorney.
InsideHoops.com reader Goose says: Any word on the secondary charge of making a career out of jacking up careless jumpers?
Chandler helps Knicks upset slumping Celtics, 100-88
The AP reports: Wilson Chandler scored a career-high 31 points and the Knicks snapped an eight-game losing streak against the sputtering Celtics with a 100-88 victory Sunday night. Al Harrington added 30 for the Knicks, who hadn’t beaten Boston at Madison Square Garden since March 23, 2005, dropping the last six meetings. Capitalizing on a quiet night for Kevin Garnett, they seized control in the third quarter, never let it get too close in the fourth and added to the defending champions’ worst stretch of the season… Paul Pierce scored 31 points for the Celtics, who lost for the fourth time in six games after a 27-2 start. Ray Allen added 16, but Garnett, who hurt his right calf when he was kicked late in the third quarter, had only six points on 1-of-6 shooting with nine rebounds… David Lee had 14 points and 14 rebounds as he and Chandler, who scored 15 points in the decisive third quarter, consistently outworked Garnett and Boston’s front line.
Rajon Rondo rocks
With 29 wins and five losses the Boston Celtics are having a fantastic season as reigning NBA champions.
Aside from stars Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, the team has gotten a big boost from ever-improving point guard Rajon Rondo.
Remember the not-so-distant past when it was not clear who between Rondo and Sebastian Telfair would emerge as the better player? Neither do I.
After an unspectacular start, since November 18 the super-quick Rondo is averaging 13.1 points, 5.5 rebounds, 8.3 assists and 2.35 steals per game on fantastic 55.3% shooting.
Like spurs point guard Tony Parker, Rondo has a limited outside shot but shoots a great percentage thanks to penetration and smart play.
Rondo is currently tied with Orlando Magic point guard Jameer Nelson for the highest shooting percentage of any guard in the league.
The Celtics floor general is also tied with Jason Kidd for third in the league at steals per 48 minutes.
And when not snatching the steal, Rondo plays effective, high-energy defense.
Although they will face competiton from the Magic and Cleveland Cavaliers in the East playoffs, Boston remains the favorite to return to the Finals come June, and Rondo will share in the credit with his more famous teammates.
PJ Brown is retired
The New Orleans Times-Picayune (Jimmy Smith) reports: For all those NBA teams — the Hornets included — who were hoping for yet another comeback by veteran forward P.J. Brown, there’s no good news in the new year. Brown said Wednesday he is officially retired. “My career ended June 17,” Brown said of the day he became a world champion when the Boston Celtics defeated the Los Angeles Lakers for the 2008 NBA title. Brown had left a voice message to The Times-Picayune to that effect nearly five months ago, on Aug. 7, but would never use the “R” word.