Outsports » Boston Celtics

Celtics and Lakers down, did LeBron’s “decision” signal changing of the guard?

Cyd Zeigler jr. — Thu, 05 May 2011 16:10:03 +0000

The top two NBA franchises for several years have been the Los Angeles Lakers and the Boston Celtics. Now both teams are down, 0-2. While the Celtics had won their first three games against the LeBron James and the Miami Heat this season, they’ve lost their far more important last three games against them. The Lakers have lost two games at home to the Dallas Mavericks, despite experts saying a week ago it would be a cakewalk for the defending champs (those experts failed to recognize this isn’t the Mavericks of the last couple years). The No. 8-seeded Memphis Grizzlies now hold homecourt advantage in the second round. Either the Bulls or Hawks will be in the Eastern Conference Finals.

The NBA Playoffs are not going how they were supposed to. When you look back at 2010-11, this will be the season when the power in the NBA shifted. Are the Heat destined to win the championship? Is that the only way this season can end? I know this much…the NBA is hoping the power hasn’t shifted to a Memphis-Atlanta final.

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NBA Game 7 ticket prices hit $82k

Cyd Zeigler jr. — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:00:15 +0000

It will be only the second NBA Finals Game 7 in 15 years, and if you want to see the Celtics play the Lakers Thursday night, you’ll be paying for it. Think Super Bowl prices. On StubHub, the lowest ticket available now is $590. And if you want to sit courtside, you have your choice of paying $45k, $59 or — no, this isn’t a typo — $82k (click on image to the right)! My guess is we’ll see lots of Hollywood producers and actors courtside Thursday night.

I gave the Celtics a 5% chance of winning last night. Thursday night they’re my pick, 94-90.

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Glen Davis: God won’t help you win

Cyd Zeigler jr. — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 16:08:53 +0000

While we’re tired of hearing so many athletes thank God for helping them win a sports competition, it’s refreshing to see an athlete like the Celtics’ Glen Davis say God has nothing to do with winning.

“My approach to this game is that I’m too blessed to be stressed,” he said. “I don’t worry about that. We’ve got a Game 7. This is not faith. This is free will. We’ve got to go get it. You can’t pray to God and say, ‘Oh God, help me’ and hope that we win. That’s why I say you’ve got to go get it.”

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Will these NBA Finals go down as ‘classic’?

Cyd Zeigler jr. — Mon, 07 Jun 2010 21:42:39 +0000

I was going to start this post with the “there’s still lots of basketball to be played,” but that’s not remotely true. With only a few games left to this NBA season, we are potentially on the verge of a classic NBA Finals.

Last night was the epitome of this Finals matchup. The quintessential team in the Boston Celtics can win in a variety of ways. It was Rajon Rondo (who is becoming one of the best players in the NBA) putting up the first triple-double in the NBA Finals in years and Ray Allen setting a Finals record for 3s, despite Kevin Garnett playing tentatively and without any rhythm (in part, I suppose, due to foul trouble). And the Los Angeles Lakers are a Kobe-driven team that lives and dies with the success of their superstar, who will one day be considered among Jordan, Bird, Magic and Wilt. Last night he had foul trouble too, only got 21 points, and they lost.

With the series shifting back to Boston for three games, the stage is being set for a classic. There’s about a 1% chance the Celtics finish the series in Boston. Whether they go back to Los Angeles up or down, 3-2, could very well determine the outcome of the series. I’m hoping the Celtics take 2 of 3 in Boston, the Lakers win Game 6, and then we get something we’ve seen only once in the last 15 years: An NBA Finals Game 7.

Now if only the referees can get out of the way and let these guys play, it would get even better.

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NBA Finals: Lakers-Celtics

Cyd Zeigler jr. — Fri, 04 Jun 2010 01:34:11 +0000

Categories: NBA

Tags: Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers

Most people expected the Los Angeles Lakers to be in the NBA Finals, but few thought the “aging,” “tired”, “banged-up” Boston Celtics would be their opponent. And after knocking off the top two seeds in the Eastern Conference, the men in green are underdogs again to win their series. You’re currently getting 5/2 odds for [...]

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NBA Playoffs heat up players and refs

Cyd Zeigler jr. — Wed, 19 May 2010 17:03:11 +0000

I’ve had trouble getting into the NBA regular season for the last 10 years. But inevitably, around early May, I get hooked on the playoffs. I start planning my evenings around them. The players seem to suddenly come to life. Whereas they slog through March, in May they turn on a switch. Defenses come alive, guys play through injury. You can see the finality of the seven-game series in the games. And the referees throw things at the fans (video after the jump)!

Being a Celtics fanatic growing up, it certainly was cool watching this “old,” “outclassed” team in green take the franchise’s first-ever 2-0 series lead on the road. And the possibility of another Celtics-Lakers final is too tantalizing to resist. While I know the rest of the country would have to turn off SportsCenter for the three weeks of the NBA Finals, here’s hoping.

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Quick hits: Boston, T.O., Phillies, Chris Benoit

Cyd Zeigler jr. — Wed, 13 May 2009 16:34:32 +0000

Categories: Drugs, MLB, NBA, NFL, NHL, Wrestling

Tags: Boston Bruins, Boston Celtics, Christ Benoit, Philadelphia Phillies, Terrell Owens

Boston teams win big: Bruins extend series to game 7, Celtics take 3-2 lead. When Terrell Owens shows up for minicamp in Buffalo, VH-1 will be there to chronicle the whole thing. Yeah, he’s definitely leaving all his issues in Dallas. It’s a new T.O. Phillies’ Jayson Werth steals second, third and home against the [...]

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Quick hits: KKK, Celtics, Safina, Penguins

Cyd Zeigler jr. — Mon, 11 May 2009 16:45:36 +0000

Categories: Baseball, NBA, NHL, Tennis

Tags: Boston Celtics, Denver Nuggets, Dinara Safina, Glen Davis, NBA, Pittsburgh Penguins

Celtics win on a last-second shot from Glen ‘Big Baby’ Davis (right). Yes, you read that right. NBA admits referee mistake that lead to Nuggets win over Mavericks. Do these league announcements help or hurt? After Serena Williams’ announcement that she is the No. 1 player in the world, the actual No. 1, Dinara Safina, [...]

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Morning hits: Madden curse, pink bats

Cyd Zeigler jr. — Fri, 24 Apr 2009 17:10:11 +0000

MLB’s pink bats coming back.
Forget a Super Bowl matchup: Cardinals and Steelers latest victims of Madden curse.
Don Banks‘ latest NFL mock draft. Todd McShay’s latest (even though he generally doesn’t know what he’s talking about).
Did you bet on Toledo basketball or football from 2003-2006? You may have gotten scammed.
Is a London-based Super Bowl really in the works?
Celtics crush Bulls to retake homecourt advantage. Jazz beat Lakers.

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Morning hits: No-no, Celts, Torry Holt

Cyd Zeigler jr. — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 17:28:36 +0000

Categories: Baseball, High school, NBA, News, NFL, NHL, Running

Tags: Boston Celtics, Boston Marthon, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Jose Sharks

High schooler throws fourth consecutive no-hitter. “I never thought this would happen,” he said. “I’m just having so much right now.” Celtics stave off complete and utter meltdown and lose Powe for remainder of the playoffs. Torry Holt is a Jacksonville Jaguar. Top-seeded Sharks freaking out over 0-2 deficit? Africans again dominate Boston Marathon. Share [...]

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