Celtics (33-18) at Lakers (42-13) 2/18

[jdpapa3]

I feel like our lead would be 10-15 right now if Nate were allowed/ready to play. Our lack of a ballhandler/scoring punch in the second unit hurt our momentum.

[tgreanier]

You guys kill me.

Waaaaaaaa! The Celtics are losing!
Waaaaaaaa! The Celtics are winning!

Your team came to play tonight. There is nothing more to ask, nothing. Basketball is a streaky game and this first half has been exactly that. Sit back, have a cream soda or something.

Relax, enjoy, go Green.

[ManUp]

ray got steamed rolled and odom led with his knee...NBA refs are on the take

Ray was deep in the circle.

It was a good call, the best we could hope for was a no call.

Then explain to me why paul's the other night, just as deep, was a charge?

I'm not complaining about the particular call, i'm complaining about the consistency of the call as a whole.

Blame Stern!

[jadams5214]

Hard to believe as well as the Celtics have played that they go into halftime only up 5.  Terrible play to end the half with Rondo throwing up a wild fadeaway.

They simply cannot turn the ball over so carelessly.  They go for stretches where they appear to not value the ball and just get lazy.

The C's played with lots of energy in the first half which is a good sign.  Daniels was ineffective with lapses on defense, rebounding and contributing nothing offensively.

The real test is the second half.  Can the C's keep up the energy level and find a way to limit turnovers?  Hopefully they can because losing this game to the Lakers without Kobe would add another rung on the ladder of bitterly disappointing losses.

[vinnie]

given the ridiculous free throw differential I am happy with a 5-point lead. Let's hope the refs turn the free throw attempts around in the second half.

[fanofgreen]

PP's hand looks tender  

odom killing us. over the back on him right there

That wasn't over the back, that was called jumping vertically for a rebound, while Big Baby and Marquis stood there and tried to reach with their arms.

[FatjohnReturns]

We just have so so many slow players right now its ridiculous. Perk/Sheed/Kg(knee)/Pierce/Baby. Our team speed is real bad.

[n8thegr8]

I don't mind if that's the rule, but i wish they'd just come out and say "if your in the circle, you can't take a charge"

That's exactly what they say. You can't take charges when you're in the restricted area, with a minor exception.

Failure to do so just makes me angry when paul gets called for a charge while in it the other night, but tonight ray takes a much better charge in it than the one on paul last night vs the kings, and it's a block.

The problem with that Paul play vs. the Kings is that he caught the ball (and started the drive) within the lower defensive box. That's the only case where a charge can be called.

Right, but you know that's not how it's called.

Make it one way or the other, and I'll be happy.

I think it's how it's called.

Both those calls (Ray vs. Lakers, Pierce vs. Kings) were good and accordingly to the rules.

[celticinorlando]

boston should be up big.....bad turnovers and a bad start to the 2nd quarter. i have a feeling boston isn't going to be able to withstand the parade of fouls that will be coming up very soon...

[RJ87]

We just have so so many slow players right now its ridiculous. Perk/Sheed/Kg(knee)/Pierce/Baby. Our team speed is real bad.

Yea, we don't have the fastest players... which seems like a bit of a waste when you've got a PG like Rondo. But oh well.

[vinnie]

boston should be up big.....bad turnovers and a bad start to the 2nd quarter. i have a feeling boston isn't going to be able to withstand the parade of fouls that will be coming up very soon...

The fact that the Lakers took 17 free throws and the Celtics 8 has a lot to do with why the Celts are up only 5, Of course, the bad turnovers also did not help.

[fanofgreen]

We just have so so many slow players right now its ridiculous. Perk/Sheed/Kg(knee)/Pierce/Baby. Our team speed is real bad.

Agree to the highest degree.
Which is why for the past 2 months, I been posting that we should sign Sean Williams (formerly of the Nets)  he is a FA right now. We could sign him for cheap.

[celticinorlando]

another halftime lead for boston against an elite team. i so hope we can finish this

[vinnie]

We just have so so many slow players right now its ridiculous. Perk/Sheed/Kg(knee)/Pierce/Baby. Our team speed is real bad.

Agree to the highest degree.
Which is why for the past 2 months, I posting that we should sign Sean Williams (formerly of the Nets)  he is a FA right now. We could sign him for cheap.

Yeah -- Sean Williams is a real good clubhouse guy who has devoted his life to basketball. No thanks.

[hpantazo]

I hope Pierce's hand is ok