The AP reports: Leon Powe scored 17 points in the second half, including the go-ahead basket with just over two minutes left, to lead the Boston Celtics to a 90-86 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers in a preseason game Tuesday night. Powe’s dunk with 2 minutes, 17 seconds remaining put the Celtics ahead 85-84. Boston trailed 81-74 following an 8-0 Cleveland run early in the fourth quarter… Ray Allen had 15 points in 23 minutes for the Celtics (3-1). Paul Pierce added 14 points and Kevin Garnett had 11 points and seven rebounds. Each of Boston’s “Big Three” left the game for good midway through the third quarter. Daniel Gibson led Cleveland with 14 points. LeBron James had 12 points, three rebounds and two assists in 18 minutes. Jawad Williams added 13 points and Zydrunas Ilgauskas had six rebounds.
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Oct 11: Celtics 90, Rockets 89
The AP reports: Gabe Pruitt banked in a 13-foot shot with 6.6 seconds left to give the NBA champion Boston Celtics a 90-89 exhibition victory over the Houston Rockets on Saturday night. Paul Pierce led Boston (2-1) with 15 points on 5-of-6 shooting from the field. Glen Davis had 12 points, Kevin Garnett and Leon Powe added 10 each, and Pruitt had eight. Yao Ming led Houston (2-1) with 16 points, Luis Scola added 14 and Ron Artest had 13.
Oct 10: Celtics 96, Cavs 94
The AP reports: LeBron James scored 12 points in the first quarter, finishing with 15 in 13 1/2 minutes on Friday night to help the Cavaliers open an early lead before the Boston reserves took over and led the NBA champions to a 96-94 victory… Tony Allen scored 25 points, and Leon Powe hit two free throws with 13.6 seconds left to put Boston ahead just as Jed Lowrie’s sacrifice fly gave the Red Sox a 1-0 lead in the AL playoffs against Tampa Bay… None of Boston’s “Big Three” played more than 9 1/2 minutes, all in the first quarter. Paul Pierce scored eight points, Ray Allen had five and Kevin Garnett scored four.
TV network fires Bob Cousy
The Boston Globe (Frank Dell’Apa) reports: Bob Cousy will be at TD Banknorth Garden for the Celtics’ banner raising Oct. 28, but he will not be involved in the television broadcasts this season for the first time in 34 years after Comcast SportsNet fired him. “I would have liked to have continued,” Cousy said yesterday. “I’m only involved in 10 games a season, so it’s not that big a deal. But I would have liked to have been allowed to keep my hand in, especially after 22 years of [Celtics] mediocrity – last year was kind of fun, frankly, and I was looking forward to doing it again. Comcast can choose to do the hiring and firing, but if it’s a financial situation, I’m not being overpaid. What they pay me is what they spend monthly for office supplies.” Cousy said he was dissatisfied with how he was informed of the decision. “I got a call from somebody I hardly knew, not even the head honcho, saying they decided to go to a two-man booth,” Cousy said. “I said, ‘Thank you, very much,’ and hung up. When you’re 80 years old, you run out of leverage.”
Oct 8: Sixers 98, Celtics 92
The AP reports: Lou Williams scored 27 points and Thaddeus Young added 21 to help the Philadelphia 76ers beat the NBA champion Boston Celtics 98-92 on Wednesday night in the exhibition opener for both teams. Williams was 7-of-12 from the field and 12-of-13 from the line. Leon Powe led the Celtics with 12 points and Tony Allen had 11. The Celtics’ Big Three—Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett—got off to a fast start, but played limited minutes.
JR Giddens tattoos have meaning
The Boston Herald (Mark Murphy) reports: J.R. Giddens is a man of many tattoos, but each, he says, have a purpose. A basketball encircled by a Black Mamba snake is tattooed over the Celtics rookie’s heart with the inscription, “Natural Born Killer” – an apparent reference to his playing style. But his newest – a green shamrock with the No. 4 behind his left ear – may also be one of his most dear. “I was the last pick of the first round,” he said. “Everyone had a chance to get me and they passed, and this is the team that took me. So I wanted to honor it.” Of his body art philosophy, Giddens said, “Some guys have tattoos all over that don’t mean anything. Mine all mean something.”
Celtics re-sign Sam Cassell
The Boston Celtics announced today that they have re-signed guard Sam Cassell. Per team policy, terms of the deal were not disclosed. InsideHoops.com assumes it’s just a one-year deal. Cassell has made several statements in the past suggesting he’ll retire after the season and get into coaching.
Last season it didn’t look like Cassell had much left in the tank. He’ll probably be at the end of the Celtics bench in 2008-09.
Cassell, a 6’3”, 195 pound guard, is a veteran of 15 NBA seasons. Cassell won his third NBA title as a member of the Celtics last season after signing mid-season from the L.A. Clippers. Cassell averaged 7.6 points and 2.1 assists in 17 regular season games with the Celtics last season and finished the season with combined averages of 11.2 points and 3.9 assists per game. The 2003-04 All-Star scored 20 or more points 10 times last season including a season-high 35 points against the Indiana Pacers on November 7. He scored a high of 22 points with the Celtics against the Knicks on April 14.
Quick East thoughts
The season is approaching, folks. Training camps open in around one week (I’m in Prague right now, haven’t looked at a calendar in a while. Tuesday I’m off to hang out in Berlin for a week, then about 8 days in Amsterdam. I’ll be back in New York City right around the start of preseason.)
In the east, the Celtics remain the best of the conference, though I wonder if Ray Allen will drop off a bit this season. They also need to improve their bench.
The Pistons bring back last year’s team, with Rasheed Wallace and Chauncey Billups a year older.
The Magic still need to improve their backcourt.
The Cavaliers add scoring punch with the addition of point guard Mo Williams, but it’s still the LeBron James show with a supporting cast that will have to work very hard to carry their weight.
The Wizards must once again play without Gilbert Arenas for a while, though even with him they’re a lower-level playoff team.
The Raptors have to hope Jermaine O’Neal regains former All-Star form; it’ll be tough.
The 76ers added a star by signing power forward Elton Brand, and that should definitely raise them in conference standings.
The Hawks aren’t locks to return to the playoffs, but it’s good they kept Josh Smith.
The Bucks improved on paper, adding a pass-first point guard in Luke Ridnour, but more importantly, a legit good forward in SF Richard Jefferson.
The Knicks have the same talented yet flawed roster, but a new coach. Can Mike D’Antoni work miracles?
The Nets are rebuilding and aside from Vince Carter and young Devin Harris, everyone on the team who matters is young and in development.
The Bulls have the same team as the last few seasons, though Ben Gordon remains unsigned. Will they play like the good Bulls from two years ago, or the disappointing ones from last season? Flip a coin, because they’re capable of going either way.
The Bobcats have nice swingmen in Jason Richardson and Gerald Wallace, plus Emeka Okafor, but everyone else is young and in development.
The Heat could make a leap in the standings now that Dwyane Wade is healthy, plus Shawn Marion needs a new contract, and Michael Beasley doesn’t like losing. The supporting cast is still extremely weak, though.
The Pacers always do a bit better than expected. The bad news is, almost nothing is ever expected. Danny Granger, Mike Dunleavey and TJ Ford are very nice players, though. They may surprise a little, but not a lot.
I’ll share quick West thoughts tomorrow. Right now I’m off to hike up to the Prague castle. I’ll be right here in about an hour.
–Jeff
Celtics to visit White House Friday
On Friday, September 19, the Boston Celtics will travel to Washington D.C. to meet with President George W. Bush and receive recognition for winning the 2008 NBA World Championship. Celtics players will be accompanied by coaches, ownership, and members of the front office for the event. Head Coach Doc Rivers, Executive Director of Basketball Operations/General Manager Danny Ainge, as well as Team Co-Owners Irving Grousbeck, Wycliffe Grousbeck, Steve Pagliuca and Bob Epstein are expected to be in attendance.
At approximately 3:00 p.m., President Bush will address members of the team and guests in the White House’s East Room. While on stage with the President, the team will present him with a personalized team jersey and autographed team ball.
InsideHoops.com editor says: Just keep Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis away from the president’s buffet table and everything will be alright.
Cassell to be Celtics assistant next year
The Baltimore Sun (Annie Linskey) reports: Baltimore native and three-time NBA champion Sam Cassell said today he plans to become an assistant coach with the Boston Celtics after playing one more season. Cassell, a 38-year-old guard who was part of the Celtics’ title run this year, told a reporter about his plans shortly before speaking at a City Hall news conference. “This is my last year playing with the Celtics,” he said. “Next week, I’ll sign the contract.” After finishing the 2008-09 season, he plans to exercise an option to join the coaching staff. “I am playing this year,” he said. “After that, I have the option to do coaching for them.”
InsideHoops.com editor says: Cassell has let it be known for years that he planned on becoming a coach after his playing days end, and apparently he’s already got a nice job lined up. I wonder if the team has made him an official offer, or if there’s just a general understanding that the offer will come sometime in the next year. I assume the latter. Anyway, I see Cassell as a successful assistant in terms of helping players develop and being hands-on in making sure they know how to move and what to do on a basketball court. There are lots of players I wouldn’t want as an assistant, but I’d want Cassell. Cool news for the Celtics, assuming this actually materializes.