Posted by Mike Petraglia

Monday night had all the makings of a back-to-back letdown. And for all the world in the first half, it looked like an emotional and dominant win in Detroit 24 hours earlier had taken its toll, as the C’s trailed by as many as 16 in the second quarter and 48-36 at halftime. Then the Celtics woke up in the third before Paul Pierce took over in the final 15 minutes, scoring 25 of his game-high 36, including 22 in the final quarter to match the ENTIRE Raptors team.

The end result was a stunning win for the Green and a demoralizing, head-scratcher for Toronto.

Paul Pierce said he was feeling it in the fourth.

Pierce had an ice pack on his sore right hand in the postgame presser.

Kevin Garnett said Pierce was Superman.

Doc Rivers realizes what kind of player Pierce is.

Leon Powe could see a special look in Pierce’s eyes.

What they said about it…

Jason Kapono: “We felt we could have had them down a tad bit further, especially at the end of the second quarter. They made a couple of shots there and they got to the free throw line. It’s our job to keep it going and build a lead, but obviously they are a quality team, a world championship team, and you know that their best run (of the game) is still coming.”

Jermaine O’Neal: “Those guys in the third quarter shot a lot of free throws. In the fourth quarter, they did a good job of making shots. Ray (Allen), Paul and the others have an incredible comfort level with each other. We’ve got to figure a way to keep those guys down, especially  when we’re up 15 or 16 points in a game, especially in the second half.”

Posted by Paul Flannery

There was a moment midway through the third quarter that looked the period and exclamation point on a Celtics loss. Chris Bosh got himself free behind the Celtics defense and sailed in for an easy alley-oop dunk off an uncontested feed from Jose Calderon. This kind of thing doesn’t happen to the Celtics very much. The Grizzlies, maybe, but not the baddest defensive team on the planet.

Kevin Garnett, the closest defender on the play, raised his hand as if to say, “My fault.” He left it up there a tick or two longer than was necessary, a strange sort of self-flagellation as if he wanted to be sure everyone in the arena knew it too. It was 59-46 and there wasn’t a soul in the Garden who thought, “OK, now they start the comeback.” But, that’s exactly where it started.

Garnett hit a 5-foot jump shot, and then Paul Pierce knocked down a 3-pointer to cut the lead to eight and suddenly the Garden was alive. The Celtics have played eight games on this young season, and through the first seven they have hit on an admirable grind-it-out formula that has proven successful, if not entirely aesthetically pleasing.

But then the comeback started and for the first time this season, the Celtics of last season were back. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Jessica Camerato

Once down by as many as 16 points, the Boston Celtics staged a fourth quarter comeback to beat the Toronto Raptors 94-87 on Monday night at the TD BankNorth Garden. Paul Pierce scored 22 points in the final 12 minutes alone and finished the night with 36 points, nine rebounds, and four assists. Kevin Garnett added 21 points and 10 boards. Jermaine O’Neal posted 23 points and 11 rebounds for the Raptors.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Paul Flannery

We’re back for the second half, with the Celtics down 48-36. They shot an ugly 12-for-37 from the floor (32.4 percent) in the first half and 1-for-10 from 3-point range. The good news is that Kevin Garnett got it together in the second quarter after starting 1-for-5, but someone (anyone?) had better stop Jermaine O’Neal.

O’Neal lit the Celtics up for 19 points in the first half. For the first time this season he is resembling the guy from Indiana–before the injuries hit.

That much vaunted point guard battle between Rondo and Calderon that I’ve been touting since training camp? Uh, not so much. Rondo has two points and one assist and Jose has two and three assists. On with the show…

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Alex Speier

The Seattle Mariners requested interviews with three different Red Sox coaches: pitching coach John Farrell, bench coach Brad Mills and third-base coach DeMarlo Hale. Mills and Hale accepted the invitations (Mills interviewed in Seattle today), while Farrell declined the opportunity, just as he did last offseason, when offered an opportunity to interview with the Pirates for their managerial opening.

“I have withdrawn my name for consideration by the Seattle Mariners as they search for a new manager,” Farrell said in a statement. “I wish them well as they move forward. My decision is based on family reasons and being committed to the Red Sox Organization. The working relationship shared with (G.M.) Theo Epstein and (manager) Tito Francona and the resources provided by John Henry, Tom Werner, and Larry Lucchino create a situation that is both challenging and rewarding.”

Posted by Mike Petraglia

No team has had more success replacing star players in midstream and not missing a beat than your New England Patriots.

No one. Even with the losses of Tom Brady, Rodney Harrison and Laurence Maroney for the year and running backs Sammy Morris and LaMont Jordan for the last month, the Pats are 6-3 and with two more wins could all but wrap up the AFC East title - at least in the minds of most.

Pierre Woods, who filled in on Sunday, will be asked to step up and play in Thomas’ place for the time being.

Woods will try to rise to the occasion like he did at Michigan.

“I’m just trying to do my job,” Woods said. ” That’s all it was. That’s why they put me out there: to do your job, and that’s what I did. You’re supposed to do your job. That’s what you’re here for. That’s what you get paid for. You go in there, know what you’re doing and it’s just like preseason when I was out there playing when Mike [Vrabel] was out, AD [Thomas] was out. You just try to pick up where you left off.”

But the natural question arose Monday… Is there a tipping point, even for the Patriots?

With everyone talking about LB Adalius Thomas like he is taking his team-leading five sacks with him, along with a reported broken arm to the season-ending injured reserve list, those remaining in the locker room went about the task of looking ahead to the New York Jets on Thursday night.

“We can’t do anything about it,” Jarvis Green said. “It’s a tough loss. Losing Adalius, he was a key to this defense, but we have to move on and get ready for the Jets. It’s happens. It’s part of the game. You lose a great guy. Look at Cassel, the way he’s performing. He’s getting better each week after losing Tom Brady. It’s the same thing on defense, you lose a guy, you’ve got to put another guy in place and he’s got to perform and get ready.”

Then there’s Ellis Hobbs’ take. He was asked if he is amazed the way the Patriots keep on keeping on. “I was never amazed,” Hobbs said. “We prepare ourselves, each of us, in a way that if one man goes down, the next one better be ready.”

Linebacker Mike Vrabel has been around long enough and has seen enough starters go out with injury. But even he acknowledges this is a tough one to swallow.

“He (Adalius) is a guy, like a lot of guys, that can play a lot of different positions and play them well,” Vrabel said. “It would be though. He is leader and veteran guy that plays well. We just have to find guys to step up.

“We talk about this all the time,” he continued. “It is just our focus with three days has to be on the [New York] Jets. We are going to have 11 guys out there. It is unfortunate that [Adalius Thomas] is not going to be there this week but we have three days to concentrate on the Jets.”

Posted by Jessica Camerato

Ok so that wasn’t pretty. The Celtics are down 48-36 at the end of the first half and are basically getting beat by one player … Jermaine O’Neal. JO has 19 points and eight rebounds in just 17 minutes. Next in line is Joey Graham with eight points and Chris Bosh has six. The Celtics have not had an answer for JO on either end of the court. Kevin Garnett has 11 points and 4 defensive rebounds while Perk is scoreless with one board. If the Celtics are going to get back into this game, they are going to have to step up their low post game to counter JO’s assault. Adding insult to injury, the Celtics are shooting 32%.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Paul Flannery

We are live at the Garden for tonight’s game between the Celtics and Raptors. This is an intriguing matchup for a number of reasons. The Celtics, as we know, play great defense. The Raptors are a very efficient offensive team. Something shall give tonight. Also to watch, the point guard duel between Rajon Rondo and Jose Calderon and the big man matchup between Kevin Garnett and Chris Bosh.

Jess and I will be bringing you all the action, so click through for all the off-the-cuff observations, intentional and unintentional comedy and a few insightful points, as well. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Jessica Camerato

Greetings from the TD BankNorth Garden where the Boston Celtics are set to take on the Toronto Raptors. Paul and I have you covered tonight so check back regularly for news and updates.

The Raptors wasted no time getting ready for the game as nearly every player except for Jermaine O’Neal and Chris Bosh were warming up when I scoped out the court around 5:30. Leon Powe, Kendrick Perkins, and Brian Scalabrine were practicing on the Celtics end.

The Cs were loose in the locker room, with Powe, House, and Rajon Rondo crowded near Perkins’ locker. Perk turns 24 today and the big man is trying to downplay his birthday even though he is receiving some extra attention from his teammates.

Chris Bosh received treatment on the trainers table in the Raptors quarters while a handful of players wandered in and out of the locker room. Jamario Moon said the Raptors are a brand new team with O’Neal’s veteran leadership this season. They are also a better offensive team, ranking second in the league in both three-point shooting and free throws.

Tonight it was the bench who was receiving praise from Doc Rivers. The Celtics head coach said the starters have not been consistent with their offense and defense. He would not go as far to say the bench has exceeded his expectations but they are “playing well.”

The game will get underway shortly. Check back soon for more …