By ANTONIO GONZALEZ (AP)
ORLANDO, Fla. — The hair is a little grayer. The ankles and knees no longer so sturdy. Even with a roster full of aging superstars, the Boston Celtics are still standing tall.
Too old to chase a title? Not these days.
Ray Allen scored 25 points, Paul Pierce had 22 and the Celtics used smothering defense to beat the Orlando Magic 92-88 on Sunday in the Eastern Conference finals opener.
Hampered by injuries, the Celtics literally limped their way through parts of the regular season. All that seems a distant memory now.
"I honestly say we lost ourselves," Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. "I think we've found ourselves again."
Rasheed Wallace added 13 points as the Celtics built a 20-point lead, then held on late to snap Orlando's 14-game winning streak. They held the Magic to 41 percent shooting — 22 percent from 3-point range — in displaying that rough and tough defense that was once their staple.
"There were stretches in the season, we know each other so well now, where we were becoming less patient with each other," Allen said. "We were getting on each other a little too much. We can take it, but we respected each other.
"When we started the playoffs, we said teams are going to hit us, they're going to attack us. But when somebody scores on us, which they will, we go get the ball out and come back."
Vince Carter had 23 points and Jameer Nelson finished with 20 for Orlando, which cut the lead to two in the final seconds but simply ran out of time, looking rusty after a six-day layoff. Dwight Howard was limited to 13 points and 12 rebounds, nowhere near the dominant force the Magic need to win a title.
Game 2 in the best-of-seven series is Tuesday night in Orlando.
"I don't think it was rusty. Just anxious," Howard said. "We dug ourselves a hole, and it was tough to get back from." Continue reading here
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Showing posts with label paul pierce. Show all posts
Showing posts with label paul pierce. Show all posts
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
NBA Round Up: Josh Smith buzzer beater
Josh Smith buzzer beater dunk carries Atlanta Hawks past Orlando Magic 86-84
Atlanta Hawks clinched their third straight trip to the playoffs. Thanks to the buzzer beater dunk of Josh Smith. Officialls review it and the dunk went in with 0.01 seconds remaining.
“I knew it was close,” Smith said. “I just crashed it. I looked and the ball was there. Joe’s a good shooter, and I knew it wouldn’t be much off.”
Atlanta snapped a six-game losing streak against the Magic dating back to the opener of the 2008-09 season.
Charlotte Bobcats rout Minesota Timberwolves 108-95
Jackson hit 4 of 6 from the three point line and scored 37 points to help the Bobcats. Jackson revealed that he was being bothered by a bruised ligament in his left index fingers.
Al Jefferson led the Timberwolves, 26 points and they end their road trip this season with a disappointing 5-32 record.
Wizards loss 13th straight
Danny Granger scored 31 points to help the Indiana Pacers hand Washington Wizards its 13th straight game loss. The last time the Wizards won was against New Jersey Nets last Feb 28, 2010.
Coach Flip Saunders response about their consecutive losses.
“I don’t think our guys are looking at that,” he said. “We’re looking at trying to be competitive and look ahead. The reason we’re getting beat right now is because other teams are better than us. We’re not very good right now.”
Utah Jazz beats Toronto Raptors 113-87
The Raptors experienced their second straight game blowout loss at home. Deron Williams helps the Jazz with his 18 points and 16 assists. Raptors missed the service of Hedo Turkoglo in the second half due to stomach virus.
Celtics back in the playoffs
The Boston Celtics beat the Denver Nuggets 113-99 and clinched their playoffs spot. Paul Pierce lead the Boston Celtics with 27 points. Pierce rebounded from the 5 points performance against the Denver last Feb. 21.
“The Paul Pierce you saw out in Denver wasn’t the Paul Pierce that usually shows up to play,” he said. “Right now I’m as healthy as I’ve been all year and this is our time to start playing well.”
New Jersey Nets Win
Lopez helps Nets in their quest to avoid the stigma as the NBA's worst team. Lopez scored 26 points and carried the team, beating the Sacramento Kings 93-79.
Philadelphia 76ers beats Milwaukee Bucks 101-86
Rokie Jrue Holiday scored 15 points and had seven assists as the Sixers stun the Bucks.
Thunder beats Rockets 122-104
James Harden returned in the lineup for the Thunder after two weeks of absence. He help the Thunder with his 23 points, together with Durant who scored 25 points carried the Thunder over the Rockets.
“I just wanted to come out and get my swag back like it was before I left,” said Harden, who had his fourth 20-point game of the season and his first since Dec. 7
Cavs slip past over Hornets 105-92
Behind the good performance of Lebron James, the Cavs beat the Hornest and stays at the top of NBA standing. James scored 38 points on 15 of 22 shooting. He even turned his left ankle in the final seconds of the first half. At the second half, he started and did not show any sign of ill effect.
“LeBron’s 6-8, and if you double team him, he’s going to throw over the defense. He can definitely see over the defense,” Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. “He can burn you either way. LeBron had an outstanding game but the guys around him played extremely well feeding off of the double teams … and the attention that he drew.”
Lakers won over Spurs 92-83
Behind Kobe Bryant 24 points, as the Lakers win seven straight. Artest also played a good defense in the second half that triggers the Lakers offense.
Manu Ginobili scored 24 points in a losing cause for the Spurs.
Warriors won over Grizzlies 128-110
Stephen Curry scored 30 points and the Warriors spoils Grizzlies bid of a playoff spot. He also had 11 assists. Grizzlies Zach Randolph scored 16 points but left the ball game in the third quarter with a sore ankle.
source
Atlanta Hawks clinched their third straight trip to the playoffs. Thanks to the buzzer beater dunk of Josh Smith. Officialls review it and the dunk went in with 0.01 seconds remaining.
“I knew it was close,” Smith said. “I just crashed it. I looked and the ball was there. Joe’s a good shooter, and I knew it wouldn’t be much off.”
Atlanta snapped a six-game losing streak against the Magic dating back to the opener of the 2008-09 season.
Charlotte Bobcats rout Minesota Timberwolves 108-95
Jackson hit 4 of 6 from the three point line and scored 37 points to help the Bobcats. Jackson revealed that he was being bothered by a bruised ligament in his left index fingers.
Al Jefferson led the Timberwolves, 26 points and they end their road trip this season with a disappointing 5-32 record.
Wizards loss 13th straight
Danny Granger scored 31 points to help the Indiana Pacers hand Washington Wizards its 13th straight game loss. The last time the Wizards won was against New Jersey Nets last Feb 28, 2010.
Coach Flip Saunders response about their consecutive losses.
“I don’t think our guys are looking at that,” he said. “We’re looking at trying to be competitive and look ahead. The reason we’re getting beat right now is because other teams are better than us. We’re not very good right now.”
Utah Jazz beats Toronto Raptors 113-87
The Raptors experienced their second straight game blowout loss at home. Deron Williams helps the Jazz with his 18 points and 16 assists. Raptors missed the service of Hedo Turkoglo in the second half due to stomach virus.
Celtics back in the playoffs
The Boston Celtics beat the Denver Nuggets 113-99 and clinched their playoffs spot. Paul Pierce lead the Boston Celtics with 27 points. Pierce rebounded from the 5 points performance against the Denver last Feb. 21.
“The Paul Pierce you saw out in Denver wasn’t the Paul Pierce that usually shows up to play,” he said. “Right now I’m as healthy as I’ve been all year and this is our time to start playing well.”
New Jersey Nets Win
Lopez helps Nets in their quest to avoid the stigma as the NBA's worst team. Lopez scored 26 points and carried the team, beating the Sacramento Kings 93-79.
Philadelphia 76ers beats Milwaukee Bucks 101-86
Rokie Jrue Holiday scored 15 points and had seven assists as the Sixers stun the Bucks.
Thunder beats Rockets 122-104
James Harden returned in the lineup for the Thunder after two weeks of absence. He help the Thunder with his 23 points, together with Durant who scored 25 points carried the Thunder over the Rockets.
“I just wanted to come out and get my swag back like it was before I left,” said Harden, who had his fourth 20-point game of the season and his first since Dec. 7
Cavs slip past over Hornets 105-92
Behind the good performance of Lebron James, the Cavs beat the Hornest and stays at the top of NBA standing. James scored 38 points on 15 of 22 shooting. He even turned his left ankle in the final seconds of the first half. At the second half, he started and did not show any sign of ill effect.
“LeBron’s 6-8, and if you double team him, he’s going to throw over the defense. He can definitely see over the defense,” Cavaliers coach Mike Brown said. “He can burn you either way. LeBron had an outstanding game but the guys around him played extremely well feeding off of the double teams … and the attention that he drew.”
Lakers won over Spurs 92-83
Behind Kobe Bryant 24 points, as the Lakers win seven straight. Artest also played a good defense in the second half that triggers the Lakers offense.
Manu Ginobili scored 24 points in a losing cause for the Spurs.
Warriors won over Grizzlies 128-110
Stephen Curry scored 30 points and the Warriors spoils Grizzlies bid of a playoff spot. He also had 11 assists. Grizzlies Zach Randolph scored 16 points but left the ball game in the third quarter with a sore ankle.
source
Sunday, February 14, 2010
NBA All Star Feb 13, 2010 Summary
Winners of the NBA All Star Feb 13, 2010 Events
1. Steve Nash wins Taco Bell Skills Challenge.
Facing a significantly younger field, Suns point guard Steve Nash captured his second skills title in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge as part of All-Star Saturday Night.
“I asked them since I’m a lot older if I could start at the second rack,” Nash joked to TNT Cheryl Miller after the competition.
Nash cruised into the second round as one of the top two times on the dribbling, passing and shooting course. Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams posted the best first-round time of 34.1 seconds, just better than Nash’s 35.0, which just barely edged Milwaukee Bucks rookie Brandon Jennings’ 35.7 seconds.
Nash improved in the second round, posting a time of 29.9 seconds, and Williams’ passing seemed to fall apart as he finished in 37.9 seconds. read more
2. Paul Pierce wins Foot Locker Three-Point Contest
Paul Pierce last night became the first Celtic to win the 3-point Shootout since Larry Bird took the first two titles in 1986 and ’87. Pierce (20 points) outshot Stephen Curry (17) and Chauncey Billups (14). Pierce was 15 for 25 and converted all five “money’’ balls, receiving 2 points for each.
With teammates Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo sitting courtside, Pierce used gamesmanship to disrupt the rhythm of his opponents. Pierce knocked a ball off the rack and pulled the velcro on one of Curry’s shoes when Curry had a chance to surpass Pierce in the final round. read more
3. Nate Robinson wins Sprite Slam Dunk
DALLAS - If only an NBA season consisted of 82 slam dunk competitions instead of actual games, Nate Robinson would be a superstar and out of Mike D'Antoni's doghouse for good.
Robinson may be struggling with the Knicks but here at All-Star Weekend, Lil' Him is still the king. Robinson became the first three-time slam dunk champion Saturday night, beating a weak field in a competition that failed to measure up to last year's showdown in Phoenix between Robinson and Orlando's Dwight Howard.
Robinson beat Toronto rookie DeMar Derozan in the final and did something Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Vince Carter and Kobe Bryant never did.
"No more titles," Robinson said. "I'm finished. It's the last one." read more
1. Steve Nash wins Taco Bell Skills Challenge.
Facing a significantly younger field, Suns point guard Steve Nash captured his second skills title in the Taco Bell Skills Challenge as part of All-Star Saturday Night.
“I asked them since I’m a lot older if I could start at the second rack,” Nash joked to TNT Cheryl Miller after the competition.
Nash cruised into the second round as one of the top two times on the dribbling, passing and shooting course. Utah Jazz point guard Deron Williams posted the best first-round time of 34.1 seconds, just better than Nash’s 35.0, which just barely edged Milwaukee Bucks rookie Brandon Jennings’ 35.7 seconds.
Nash improved in the second round, posting a time of 29.9 seconds, and Williams’ passing seemed to fall apart as he finished in 37.9 seconds. read more
2. Paul Pierce wins Foot Locker Three-Point Contest
Paul Pierce last night became the first Celtic to win the 3-point Shootout since Larry Bird took the first two titles in 1986 and ’87. Pierce (20 points) outshot Stephen Curry (17) and Chauncey Billups (14). Pierce was 15 for 25 and converted all five “money’’ balls, receiving 2 points for each.
With teammates Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo sitting courtside, Pierce used gamesmanship to disrupt the rhythm of his opponents. Pierce knocked a ball off the rack and pulled the velcro on one of Curry’s shoes when Curry had a chance to surpass Pierce in the final round. read more
3. Nate Robinson wins Sprite Slam Dunk
DALLAS - If only an NBA season consisted of 82 slam dunk competitions instead of actual games, Nate Robinson would be a superstar and out of Mike D'Antoni's doghouse for good.
Robinson may be struggling with the Knicks but here at All-Star Weekend, Lil' Him is still the king. Robinson became the first three-time slam dunk champion Saturday night, beating a weak field in a competition that failed to measure up to last year's showdown in Phoenix between Robinson and Orlando's Dwight Howard.
Robinson beat Toronto rookie DeMar Derozan in the final and did something Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, Vince Carter and Kobe Bryant never did.
"No more titles," Robinson said. "I'm finished. It's the last one." read more
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