Q's Basketball Chores

[Q_FBE]

Now that the P-----t season was unceremoniously terminated, it is now time to focus on the NBA and the universal goal for Celtics Nation.

Obstacles obviously abound for the Celtics but there are opportunities to get by with a little help from our friends.

Obstacles - Lakers (obviously), Heat (obviously), Magic (Did you notice their 3 point shooting tonight?), Bulls (Thibs knows what he is doing), Our injuries, Our Rebounding

But we have our helpers - Clippers (now winners of 8 out of our last 13) Blake Griffen is wreaking havoc out their along with Eric Gorden and Baron Davis. They already have given Spurs, Lakers, Heat losses and have helped the C's in the race for best record lately. They are trending toward a possible playoff spot with a high probability of a 1st round matchup against the crosstown defending champions. That would be SPECIAL, BAHBY!

Utah Jazz - How can you not root for Al Jefferson to do well?
Phoenix - No longer a playoff contender but they did beat the KNicks and reduce our magic number to clinch the Atlantic division title to thirty four. Perhaps they can bite the Fakers in the butt.
Memphis - another good WC spoiler

OKlahoma - Kevin Durant beat on the Spurs and Lakers
Dallas - Good Old Boys West

The beauty of it all is that they can beat on each other and never threaten the elite but if the Celtics can do better against the NBA middle class than the top rivals, we get the best record and HCA which is a priority this year.

Other games will be monitered that indirectly affect our standing and I take action accordingly. The Celtics need every edge I can get them. Well them OKIES fell behind by 10 points with 4 min left aginst the Fakers NOT GOOD

[Q_FBE]

Good news for the Celtics!

Atlanta nipped Miami in Miami 93-90 tonight and Chicago was edged at home by Charlotte 83-82 as Gerald Wallace and Stephan Jackson stepped with big baskets.

Nobody from Chicago played well except Derek Rose but he missed a 20 footer at the buzzer that decided the game.

Examining the Box Scores:

http://www.nba.com/games/20110118/ATLMIA/gameinfo.html?ls=gt2hp0021000611#

For Atlanta and Miami - Bosh missed tonights game. Wade and Lebron combined for 61 of the 89 points for Miami on the strength of 19 for 50 shooting and 21-23 at the FT line. 3 point FG shooting was a horrid 2 for 14 between these two. The only two other scorers of note was Eddie House (12) and Mario Chalmers. Atlanta had 5 players in double figures and Josh Smith with 12 rebounds. The box score is delightful for Celtics fans. We want to see 'bron and Dwade expend beaucoup energy in losing causes. Boston leads in the loss column by 4 games.

SO Boston leads Miami by 2.5 games and Chicago by 4.0 games in the race for HCA throughout the EC playoffs later this spring. Call me pleased as the futtball season disappears rapidly in my rearview mirror.

[Q_FBE]

More basketball chores -

1. Defending the Celtics toughness - A GM has said that Boston was not tough. Where is he gettng that conclusion from? From the fact that no one on the Celtics has as sharp elbows as Dwight Howard (arguably he is the best tackler the state of Florida has right now). Is it lack of defense?? Last time I checked the Celtics led the league in defense in Pts Allwed and near the top in FG% defense. Is it lack of rebounding? True our rebounding leaves something to be desired but it is better than last year and this is without Perkins, Jermaine, and KG has missed time. Is it not going into the paint enough? Judging by the shot charts, Boston goes inside more than anyone else yet they do not foul calls. SO WHAT IS THIS GM mean by the Celtics are not tough?

2. Mavericks beat LA and get a very badly needed win. The Lakers are going through what the Celtics went through last year an it will cost them HCA in the last two rounds (possibly the last three rounds) of the playoffs. The only thing sad is that the Celtics will not get a chance to get revenge for last years Game Seven injustice starring Joey Crawford who clearly favored Kobe Bryant according to my daughter.

3. Some great games last night as Philly fought tooth and nail in Orlando and Memphis fought tooth and nail in New Orleans. Both home teams won by one point in OT. Orlando figures to fade a bit after their blustery win streak.

4. What has happened to Miami? Where has all the balanced scoring gone? Has Mike Miller scored a point this season? Are they what we thought they are?

5. The LA Clippers are playing beautiful basketball now. Blake Griffen and Eric Gorden are energizing the city of the angels more than the tow time fraudulent champions. I know this has to make all of Clipper alumini PROUD

6. I truly feel sorry for the Nugget fans for the Carmelo Anthony saga. Perhaps they can engineer a deal with Dallas for Shawn Marion and all the number ones out to 2020. Knowing their luck they will send him to Indiana for Troy Murphy and TJ Ford or to Memphis for Zachary Randoph. Please do not send him to the Lakers for Ronald Artest, whatever you do(But you can send us Chauncey Billups for Nate Robinson.

7. The Knicks are politely fading away on their road trip losing in Houston. The Celtics now have a double digit lead in the Atlantic Division.

8. The Nets took it to the Jazz on Wednseday night. Was that a trap game for the Jazz?

[Q_FBE]

Besides our chores in Washington tonight. Looks like Utah continues to struggle on their eastern trip losing in Philly by 7 in the 2nd qtr. Charlotte and Atlanta are hooked up in a good one. Charlotte is angling for a playoff spot while Atlanta fights for seeding.

Looks Miami will beat Toronto at home (as they should). Dallas shold win in NJ but it has been tight so far. Game of the night is in New Orleans with San Antonio visiting.