The AP reports: After Eddie House scored five straight points in the fourth quarter to cut the Knicks’ lead to seven, Patrick Ewing Jr. threw down an electrifying dunk off an offensive rebound with 3:27 remaining to give the Knicks a 98-89 lead. With 19 seconds remaining and the Knicks (2-2) up by five, Ewing stole an errant Gabe Pruitt pass and made the subsequent free throws to secure the victory for New York… Nate Robinson scored 19 points, including 3of-6 from behind the arc, and Zach Randolph added 15 to lead the Knicks. Stephon Marbury had 12 points while Chris Duhon and Mardy Collins each had 10… Paul Pierce scored 15 points for the Celtics and Tony Allen had 11.
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Delonte West being treated for mood disorders
The AP reports: Cleveland Cavaliers guard Delonte West contemplated quitting before leaving the team’s training camp to seek help for depression and “a mood disorder” he has been battling his entire life. West, who recently signed a two-year contract with Cleveland, said he removed himself from the team to “get my thoughts back together.” He missed three preseason games during his absence from Oct. 4-15. “I felt a feeling of anger and I just wanted to throw it all away and quit the team,” he said… West is taking medication and has been attending therapy sessions.
Oct 16: Celtics 111, Nets 108
The AP reports: The AP reports: Tony Allen scored 32 points, 22 in the first half, to lead the NBA champion Boston Celtics to an 111-108 victory over the New Jersey Nets in an exhibition game Thursday night. The Celtics (4-1) played without Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, all kept out of action by Doc Rivers as a coach’s decision and not because of injury. Former Nets guard Sam Cassell also sat out… Former Nets guard Eddie House added 21 points for the Celtics… Vince Carter scored 19 points to pace the Nets. Yi Jianlian had 15 points before fouling out in the third quarter, and Keyon Dooling, who had been battling a leg injury, scored 14 points in his first action with the Nets.
Rondo eligible for long deal next summer
Celtics point guard Rajon Rondo has turned out to be a better player than most fans expected. He came into the league seemingly a backup-level talent, yet developed enough to be worthy of starting on a team that wound up winning the championship. The Boston Globe (Marc J. Spears) reports:
Rajon Rondo is hopeful he can be a Celtic long after the Big Three are gone. General manager Danny Ainge said yesterday that the $2.09 million team option on Rondo for the 2009-10 season will be exercised before this season… Rondo will be eligible for a lucrative long-term deal next summer that would begin with the 2010-11 season. Signing him next summer as opposed to when he is a restricted free agent during the hot 2010 market will have salary cap implications for Boston. Duffy plans to push hard for a long-term deal; Danny Ainge does not comment on free agent issues.
It isn’t likely that Rondo will ever develop into a superstar — though, he’s proved doubters wrong in the past — but at the very least he should be a very solid starter for years to come.
Oct 14: Celtics 90, Cavs 86
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.
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.”