10 quick things

Gant · Post #1 » by **Gant** » Mon May 11, 2009 1:54 pm

1. Baby and the Kid

The kid in the white shirt did establish position, but had both feet out of bounds so it wasn't a charge. It's a no-call.

2. Baby and the Rising Level of Play

Remember all the people who wanted to trade, cut, or otherwise harm Big Baby when he played poorly the first part of the season? I'll say this again: Never judge a player when he's injured or out of shape (unless he's like Eddie Curry and never gets into shape).

3. Baby and the Shot

We've watched as his jumper has gone from unreliable, to spotty, to decent, to good, and now to STONE COLD CLUTCH. Good things happen when you practice a lot. That was a bolt of lightning straight from the cradle to Orlando's grave!

4. Pierce and the Pass

Remember it was only a few years ago when every end of game shot was Pierce against the world? No more. Paul drew the double, expertly hit the open infant, and crushed the spirit of the southern sorcerers.

5. Sam Jones

I always wondered why Sam was hardly ever around at any Celtic events all these decades. From Dan Shaughnessy's column in today's Globe: "According to Jones, he only has been to Boston twice since hanging 'em up after the 1969 championship season. "I came back for Red," said Jones, 75, who lives less than two hours from the Orlando arena. "I never go any place unless I'm invited and I haven't been invited."

Also: "Celtics coach Doc Rivers requested an audience with Jones outside the locker room before the game. "He's one of the few Celtics that I hadn't met," said Rivers. "It was pretty cool."

Huh. Somebody send Sam some invitations.

6. How Unlikely

The Celtics just beat the Magic after getting a total of 2 points from their bench, on the road, with no Garnett, no Powe, Perkins hurting, Ray Allen not shooting well, and Paul Pierce out for a critical period in the second half with foul trouble. Now that's magic!

7. Grape Fermenters

I am finding the incessant whining about referee bias in favor of Boston very irritating. (I'm talking to you, you Florida vintners!) Yes the Celtics got a break on the non-goaltend against Rondo. But a red hot Pierce was unfairly put on the bench with phantom fouls. If that doesn't happen one or two calls mean nothing- Boston wins easily and doesn't need Big Baby's heroics.

Here the undeniable nugget: If the refs favor Boston, they don't keep putting Paul Pierce on the bench. Also the foul calls and free throws would be lopsided in Boston's favor, which they are not.

8. Unlikely Wins

I would have bet everything (not that I ever bet anything) that Boston/Houston twin victories would not happen yesterday. The two most injury decimated teams in the playoffs came up huge and gave hope to all that believe in liberty, humanity, justice, and a morally sound universe.

9. Speaking of Magic

About twenty years ago I was in the inland mountain region of the island of Bali where the people are strong believers in magic. On parting, a Balinese friend gave me a special ring with a big dark stone which he said contained powerful magic. (He additionally said I should never wear it while using the bathroom or the magic would disappear.)

Yesterday I was going through some drawers and found the ring. I put it on for the first time since the 80's and wore it while watching the game.... I just wanted you to know why the Celtics really won: The magic ring beat the Magic.

10. On We Go

Back to Boston. Two out of three. The Celtics limp but they live!

BakersDozen · Post #2 » by **BakersDozen** » Mon May 11, 2009 2:01 pm

the Sam Jones tidbit I found really interesting. The guy is only a ten time champ with the Celts. Wyc and Danny need to get this guy to Boston for some games.

MyInsatiableOne · Post #3 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Mon May 11, 2009 2:06 pm

As always, great job Gant. #1 made me LOL :lol:

Think the Tragic's fans will call for Glen to be suspended over that?

lojowo · Post #4 » by **lojowo** » Mon May 11, 2009 2:14 pm

Yesterday I was going through some drawers and found the ring. I put it on for the first time since the 80's and wore it while watching the game.... I just wanted you to know why the Celtics really won: The magic ring beat the Magic.

The real reason for the C's title drought from 1986 through 2008.

Gant · Post #5 » by **Gant** » Mon May 11, 2009 2:16 pm

lojowo wrote:
Yesterday I was going through some drawers and found the ring. I put it on for the first time since the 80's and wore it while watching the game.... I just wanted you to know why the Celtics really won: The magic ring beat the Magic.

The real reason for the C's title drought from 1986 through 2008.

Oh yeah... gulp. Sorry.

BillessuR6 · Post #6 » by **BillessuR6** » Mon May 11, 2009 2:38 pm

Great stuff gant!

The first one is hilarious! :lol:

Athanacropolis · Post #7 » by **Athanacropolis** » Mon May 11, 2009 2:42 pm

Somebody send Sam Jones some invites, indeed.

Bad-Thoma · Post #8 » by **Bad-Thoma** » Mon May 11, 2009 3:06 pm

Gant wrote:9. Speaking of Magic

About twenty years ago I was in the inland mountain region of the island of Bali where the people are strong believers in magic. On parting, a Balinese friend gave me a special ring with a big dark stone which he said contained powerful magic. (He additionally said I should never wear it while using the bathroom or the magic would disappear.)

Yesterday I was going through some drawers and found the ring. I put it on for the first time since the 80's and wore it while watching the game.... I just wanted you to know why the Celtics really won: The magic ring beat the Magic.

Excellent work as always Frodo

Dogen · Post #9 » by **Dogen** » Mon May 11, 2009 3:17 pm

re: Sam Jones. The man has 10 Championship rings! 10!!!! That's more than anyone not named Bill Russell.

Sam, you have a standing invite to visit Boston and go to any game, any time as far as I'm concerned.

Wyc, get on the phone to Sam and make sure this is explicitly known.

Dogen · Post #10 » by **Dogen** » Mon May 11, 2009 3:22 pm

re: Sam Jones. The man has 10 Championship rings! 10!!!! That's more than anyone not named Bill Russell.

Sam, you have a standing invite to visit Boston and go to any game, any time as far as I'm concerned.

Wyc, get on the phone to Sam and make sure this is explicitly known.

Athanacropolis · Post #11 » by **Athanacropolis** » Mon May 11, 2009 3:22 pm

Sam, anytime you're in Boston, beers are on me!

Mahoney_jr · Post #12 » by **Mahoney_jr** » Mon May 11, 2009 3:28 pm

Great piece, Gant. I thought that the winning atmosphere of the Celtics robbed your "10 things" a little bit of their magic (pun intended *g*) but this one was really good

Don't get me wrong, they are still good. But they were even better, when the Celtics had no hope besides the Truth and Big Al.

Tricky Ricky · Post #13 » by **Tricky Ricky** » Mon May 11, 2009 3:54 pm

Im sending Sam a birthday invitation, nicly done Gant!

Gant · Post #14 » by **Gant** » Mon May 11, 2009 3:59 pm

Mahoney_jr wrote:Great piece, Gant. I thought that the winning atmosphere of the Celtics robbed your "10 things" a little bit of their magic (pun intended *g*) but this one was really good

Don't get me wrong, they are still good. But they were even better, when the Celtics had no hope besides the Truth and Big Al.

I agree with you. It's the opposite of what Big Baby said: He hit that shot because of all the hard work he put in.

I used to put more effort into this but have been distracted by nonCeltic events in my life for the past year that unfortunately have to take precedence.

Post #15 » by **UGA Hayes** » Mon May 11, 2009 4:15 pm

It is pretty amazing the Davis has gone from possibly the most unreliable jumpshooter I have ever seen in the first half of the season to the guy we have seen in these playoffs. You got to credit Davis and Doc when even the most patient fan was ready to give up on him.

Prophet_C · Post #16 » by **Prophet_C** » Mon May 11, 2009 4:22 pm

lol at calling Baby "infant" haha good work man

MyInsatiableOne · Post #17 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Mon May 11, 2009 4:27 pm

UGA Hayes wrote:It is pretty amazing the Davis has gone from possibly the most unreliable jumpshooter I have ever seen in the first half of the season to the guy we have seen in these playoffs. You got to credit Davis and Doc when even the most patient fan was ready to give up on him.

Absolutely. Put me in the camp that used to loathe the kid's game but now see how excellent he has become.

Bad-Thoma · Post #18 » by **Bad-Thoma** » Mon May 11, 2009 4:53 pm

UGA Hayes wrote:It is pretty amazing the Davis has gone from possibly the most unreliable jumpshooter I have ever seen in the first half of the season to the guy we have seen in these playoffs. You got to credit Davis and Doc when even the most patient fan was ready to give up on him.

I'm not sure wanting to give up on a kid from the second round in his second season can qualify anyone as the most patient fan.

GreenPiece · Post #19 » by **GreenPiece** » Mon May 11, 2009 6:56 pm

Rondo didn't goaltend on that shot:

http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_11.html

c. For goaltending to occur, the ball, in the judgment of the official, must have a chance to score.

**** had no chance of going in, hence no goaltend. If we did get a break it was on a goaltend call against Howard on a Rondo floater, but I'd be hesitant to call that a break since he gets away with so many goaltends in general.

Gant · Post #20 » by **Gant** » Mon May 11, 2009 7:14 pm

GreenPiece wrote:Rondo didn't goaltend on that shot:

http://www.nba.com/analysis/rules_11.html

c. For goaltending to occur, the ball, in the judgment of the official, must have a chance to score.

**** had no chance of going in, hence no goaltend. If we did get a break it was on a goaltend call against Howard on a Rondo floater, but I'd be hesitant to call that a break since he gets away with so many goaltends in general.

Good find.

I once goaltended a shot by pinning it near the bottom of the backboard. I was so pissed nobody called it. :lol: