NBA Home · Scores · Schedules · Standings · Stats · Transactions · Injuries · Teams · Players · Tickets · Photos · Videos

Celtics aren't sorry to be repetitive

by Charley Rosen

Charley Rosen is FOXSports.com's NBA analyst and author of 15 books about hoops, the current ones being The First Tip-Off: The Incredible Story of the Birth of the NBA and No Blood, No Foul.

Updated: December 8, 2008, 12:32 AM EST 68 comments

add this RSS blog Print

Game Time: Celtics 107, Magic 88

Even though the defending champs ran away from the short-handed Magic in the second half, there was an abundance of significant information to be gleaned from the game.

BOSTON'S STRENGTHS

  • With the Celts' lead at only two points at the intermission, they relied on Paul Pierce to rally their offense throughout the third quarter. He responded with 17 in 10 minutes played — scoring on drives, pull-ups, a 3-pointer and 6-7 from the stripe — as well as registering an assist. His dominating performance reinforced the fact that he is without doubt the Celtics' main man.

  • Rajon Rondo is so quick that he seemed able to penetrate to the dotted line at will. With RR repeatedly breaking down the Magic's defense, his teammates executed well-rehearsed moves into open spaces and wound up on the scoring end of Rondo's 12 assists. Rondo is the ball club's second-most valuable player.

  • Is there anybody in the league who uses screens as well as Ray Allen? Since he doesn't need much time or space to launch his deadly jumpers, the Celtics run several plays for him — various combo screens and an occasional double-screen. Count on Allen to always be in the right place at the right time.

  • Kevin Garnett's spinning, fade-away jumpers are unstoppable. Plus, he's incredibly quick off his feet, has excellent hands and rarely forces a shot. And he never stops working on defense.

  • Tony Allen's crossovers and fantastic spinning moves can usually create makeable shots in the paint.

  • Kendrick Perkins sets solid screens, has adhesive hands and has learned how to slide into open spaces. On defense, he may be foul-prone, but he diligently uses his powerful mass to maximum effect.

  • Leon Powe is never out-worked.

  • Eddie House has an incredibly quick release off the bounce.

  • Glen Davis did a credible job in defense of Dwight Howard, staying wide and strong. Moreover, Big Baby routinely assaults the offensive glass.

  • No other team in the NBA defends the high screen-and-roll as well as the Celtics. Their bigs show hard and wide, and their baseline rotations are well nigh impeccable.

    Charley's NBA tour

    Charley Rosen FOXSports.com's Charley Rosen has been watching every team closely this season. Now he has a scouting report on each one.
    Eastern Conference
    Atlantic
    Central
    Southeast

    76ers

    Pistons

    Bobcats

    Nets

    Bulls

    Magic

    Celtics

    Bucks

    Heat

    Knicks

    Pacers

    Wizards

    Raptors

    Cavs

    Hawks
    Western Conference
    Northwest
    Pacific
    Southwest

    Thunder

    Suns

    Rockets

    Nuggets

    Kings

    Grizzlies

    Wolves

    Lakers

    Spurs

    Blazers

    Clippers

    Mavs

    Jazz

    Warriors

    Hornets

  • They cluster around ball-penetration — and this is where Rondo's quick hands come into play.

  • Boston's close-outs are extremely effective — nobody winds up in what Bill Fitch used to call "the popcorn machine."

  • On offense, there's plenty of ball- and player-movement, everybody maximizes the benefit of virtually every screen and Pierce can fill the basket from anywhere.

  • Their second unit plays with great intensity.

    BOSTON'S VULNERABILITIES

  • Perkins can't bounce the ball twice in succession without drawing a crowd and suffering unfortunate consequences.

  • Rondo still attempts too many ill-advised passes — mostly while he's airborne and also when he overthrows lobs. Plus, his shooting range is limited, and he doesn't have much of a left hand.

  • Except for Pierce and Rondo, the Celtics don't attack the basket as much as they should.

  • PP can be had when he's posted by bigger players — Rashard Lewis simply ate him up in the low post.

  • Sometimes the Celtics sent three defenders at Howard when he attacked the rim — thereby leaving the Magic's other big totally unattended and able to eat up several offensive rebounds.

  • Whenever a posted-up opponent is doubled, an out-pass followed by a swing pass often found the repositioned post-up player wide open.

  • Powe is an undersized power forward and can be posted up with impunity. Likewise, Tony Allen is an undersized small forward who can be similarly used and abused.

  • Throughout the game, the Celtics acted as though their championship rings entitled them to be the beneficiaries of every close call. Consequently, their complaints were over the top — and they wound up with five Ts.

    The Celtics' positives greatly outweigh their negatives. Their versatile offense (anchored by Pierce) and their well-coordinated defense (even though it lacks an outstanding shot-blocker and a stopper) are good enough for Boston to have an excellent chance to be the first repeat champs since the Shaq-and-Kobe show.

    Straight shooting

    The Knicks are going about this whole Stephon Marbury situation in the worst possible way.

    Obviously, trading him is proving to be impossible.

    Fines and suspensions are merely flimsy Band-Aids fruitlessly attempting to stanch a franchise-threatening open wound.

    Buying him out — even at the reduced rate of $20 million — is like burning money. A sinful waste in the best of times, but an absolute tragedy with the economy in the tank.

    However, there is one foolproof and mutually beneficial way out of this mess: Donating Marbury to some charity!

    By doing so, the Knicks would get a huge income tax deduction that would certainly be welcomed. And Marbury could do something truly useful — something that he's certainly failed to accomplish during his NBA career.

    The only problem is selecting the appropriate charity.

    He could lend his talents to some kind of organization that aids the unemployed. Marbury could then teach all concerned how to make lots of money by doing nothing.

    Actually, the Salvation Army seems to be the best fit.

    In its band, Marbury would get to beat his own drum as loudly and as often as he wishes.

    Best of all, he'd make a terrific Santa Claus, thereby enticing passers-by to joyfully fill the familiar Christmas-time pots with large bills and even larger personal checks.

    Vox populi

    Many people are talking about the possibility of an injury wrecking Greg Oden's career. Who do you think is the best player ever to have his playing days either terminated or severely diminished by injuries? A few players come to mind: Bill Walton, Ralph Sampson, Grant Hill, Larry Johnson and Anfernee Hardaway. In fact, I believe that Hardaway would have been a Hall of Famer if not for injuries. Kristian, Brisbane, Australia

    If you have a question or comment for Charley Rosen, submit it below and Charley may just respond.

    Subject:
    Comment/Question:
    Name: 
    Email: 
    Hometown: 

    Hardaway was about as soft as a bag of feathers. He could score in isolation situations, on the run and with mid-range jumpers. He lacked shooting range and was strictly a finesse defender. Hey, but if over-hyped big-numbers guys like Walt Bellamy, David Thompson, and Connie Hawkins can get in, maybe there's room for Hardaway.

    Sampson was even softer than Hardaway and belongs in the Hall of Shame for wasting so much size and talent.

    Hill's career was definitely curtailed by a series of incapacitating injuries. If he'd remained healthy, he'd be the certified Hall of Famer here.

    Larry Johnson was a guy who put up big numbers for bad teams. And except for his miraculous four-point play that won a playoff game for the Knicks, LJ was a big-time choker and ball hog, as well as a small-time defender.

    Walton would clearly head yours and anybody else's list. In truth, he played less than three full seasons at his full capacity (1975-78) — and during that time his leg and foot miseries caused him to miss a total of 95 games.

    But I'd also add Willis Reed, Joe Caldwell, Ossie Schectman, Kevin Johnson and Bernard King.

    Travels with Charley

    Here's a good-news CBA Thanksgiving story.

    In his rookie year with the Bulls (1986-87), Pete Myers played only 155 minutes in 29 games. He actually spent most of that season getting abused by Michael Jordan in practice. In any case, Pete was totally distraught when he was cut in training camp that following year. So overcome with grief that he holed up in his hotel room for days.

    I was coaching the Rockford Lightning at the time and, after several phone calls, convinced Pete to resume his career in the CBA.

    NBA roundup


    Friday's action

    FOXSports.com analysis

    Video

    Photos

    He was adopted (and soothed and encouraged) by the always gregarious Fred Cofield. It didn't take long for Pete to revert to the friendly, vivacious person he naturally was. Not to mention that he was a terrific player — an excellent driver, runner and finisher; and despite his chicken-wing release, an adequate jump shooter. But his specialty was playing downright awesome on-the-ball defense (after he returned to the NBA, he was the only guy I ever saw who could consistently stay in front of Allen Iverson).

    Anyway, we were in Rapid City, S.D., preparing to play the hometown Thrillers on Thanksgiving Day. In order to maximize the audience for the nationally-televised game, the scheduled start was 11:00 a.m. local time.

    So I took Pete aside after a brief practice session Wednesday and told him that this was a golden opportunity for him to get back into the league. Come game time, everybody else would be somewhat logy from over-indulging their early holiday feasts. Plus the early jump ball would likewise make it difficult for both friends and foes to be alert and at the top of their games. I therefore advised Pete to eat lightly, go to bed early, and be ready to play like a house-on-fire from the opening tip.

    Which he did.

    Numerous NBA scouts, general managers and coaches watched as Pete simply took over the game. Scoring points by the dozen, making slick assist passes and even hitting a pair of long-range jumpers. But, most of all, they couldn't help being totally impressed when he victimized his slightly dazed opponents for 12 steals.

    Within days, he was called up to San Antonio. And discounting another brief sojourn in the CBA, Pete wound up playing a total of nine seasons in the NBA. And he's still there, as an amiable and always helpful assistant coach with the Bulls.

    Pete Myers is a sterling example of good things happening to good people — even during a CBA Thanksgiving.

    • Please note by clicking on "Post Comment" you acknowledge that you have read the Terms of Use and the comment you are posting is in compliance with such terms. Be polite. Inappropriate posts may be removed by the moderator.

     advertisement

    FOX SPORTS NBA VIDEO

    On The Edge: Charles Barkley
    Charles Barkley has always been loud and outspoken. FOXSports.com re-lives some of the best and worst of what Sir Charles has had to say over the years.
    Cavs crush Celtics
    The Cavaliers remain unbeaten at home after a 98-83 win over the Celtics. Mo Williams had 13 points in the big win and talks to FSN after the game.

    FOX SPORTS STORE