Boston Celtics Look To Bounce Back After All-Star Break

The Celtics unfortunately have dropped both games on their West Coast post All-Star Break road trip so far. While performing brilliantly at home in the TD Garden they have struggled to get W’s on the road. Hopefully, as the team gears up for a likely playoff spot this discouraging trend will not continue.

The tough west coast road trip goes through Phoenix Friday night in a matchup with the Suns and then ends in Utah and Portland next week before heading home for a contest against Golden State! To start the road trip the Celtics faltered in a loss to the L.A. Lakers 113-99 after dropping to the Denver Nuggets the night before in a closer 97-90 score!

The Celtics have proven that they will not quit through adversity and devastating injuries. Management must have noticed this positive trait because after many trade rumors swirled around about all players, GM Danny Ainge showed a vote of confidence in this group….keeping Pierce, Garnett, and even the injured yet coveted by other teams, Rajon Rondo. He did add Jordan Crawford in a small trade with Washington that sent away Jason Collins and Leandro Barbosa.

They also acquired Terrence Williams who has already joined the team! These players should add some needed scoring and bench depth for the stretch run! All in all, it is an encouraging sign that Pierce and Garnett will be given a chance to get another banner! As “bleeding green” Kevin Garnett stated he might retire after this season, he says along with Pierce that he plans to do so as a Celtic! Let’s hope they do so with a banner this season or at least sooner rather than later!!! Go Celtics Go!

Bwin 10 Minute Madness

How many times have you found yourself watching Euroleague basketball from home wishing you could have a stake in the action? Well, thanks for the leading European sports book, https://www.bwin.com, this is now a reality. With the launch of their new game, ‘10 Minute Madness’ viewers at home can interact with other fans, players and predict events all from their own home. This interactive game has been designed to work with multiple platforms. It can be downloaded free of charge to iOs and Android devices. This would include smartphones and tablet. Additionally, it will work on internet browsers.
With the ‘10 Minute Madness’ game, players can compete against one another as they make predictions about what will occur in each quarter of a game as it is being played. This is different than some forms of sport betting that are made prior to the event. With this new game, predictions are made real time with immediate feedback. Players can feel like there are almost there in person at the basketball arena.
When using the game, players earn points for correct predictions. Predictions can be made on a myriad of statistics that would occur in each quarter. This presents multiple opportunities to earn points. Points can then be converted to chances to win some coveted prizes. One of these includes a package of VIP Courtside tickets to London’s Euroleague Final Four event. Other prizes include jerseys autographed by players as well as regular season game tickets.
Players of ‘10 Minute Madness’ at home also have the opportunity to share this experience with others. By using the twitter hashtag, #makeyourplay, users of this game can interact with each other. Feel like bragging about your success? Here’s the place to do it. Another added bonus is that some of the biggest names in Euroleague basketball will chat with fans via Twitter as well.

Wave of Celtics Injuries Affecting Ticket Prices

As of late, the injury gods have not been kind to the Celtics. First Rajon Rondo is gone for the season with a torn ACL along with Jared Sullinger who has a bad back and needs surgery. Now, less than a month later it’s Leandro Barbosa, also with a torn ACL, and Paul Pierce with a pinched nerve.

Luckily, these injuries have not seemed to heavily impact the success of the team so far; the Celtics have won eight of their last nine games. However, the injuries are beginning to take a noticeable toll on the price of Celtics home game tickets. For example, according to data provided by SeatCrunch, the average price of tickets to the Celtics game against the Miami Heat on March 18th dropped from $262 to $240 just a few days after Rondo’s injury. The average price for their game against the Knicks on March 26^th has dropped about $20 since the Rondo injury as well.

These changes in price are based mostly around the Rondo/Sullinger injury dates. With the additional injuries to Barbosa and Pierce, one can only speculate that prices will continue to drop. This is good news for Celtics fans looking to attend a game. As mentioned before, though some of the Celtics star power may not be present, there is no indication that they are so depleted that they can’t continue to win games.

For the upcoming home game against the Golden State Warriors, SeatCrunch.com has tickets at an average price of $109, and for as low as $42. If you’ve been waiting for the right time to purchase tickets this season, there might not be a better time than now.

Celtics Can’t Catch A Break – Leandro Barbosa Tears ACL

Last night’s loss to the Bobcats comes with much more disheartening news than an end of a 7 game winning streak. Boston Celtics guard Leandro Barbosa has a torn left ACL and is out for the rest of the season, according to Chris Broussard.

Barbosa got the injury late in the third quarter of Monday’s game against the Charlotte Bobcats and it looked bad because it was a non-contact injury. He couldn’t walk on his own at the end of the game and now the Celtics have lost a third player to injury.

We aren’t the Boston Celtics, we are the Boston Cripples! SMH

For Better or For Worse?

Let’s be honest. Right now, the Celtics are looking the best they have in a long time. They have won their last six games including an embarrassment of the Los Angeles Lakers. Why is this so significant? Because the Celtics are “Rondo-less”.

Some are suggesting that the Celtics should trade Rondo, that they are fine without him. To these people, I say, “No.”. Don’t get me wrong, I love the way the Celtics are playing right now. Their ball movement is next to none and everyone is scoring. In their past five games, the Celtics are third in their conference in points per game, and second in assists during that period. Why? The Celtics have been forced to spread the ball. With Rondo on the court, he was the one for the most part who decided when to pass and when to shoot, but now, each individual has to make that decision for themselves. Each player is having to make a conscious effort to move the ball. This movement of the ball is giving several players double digit figures in points. Trust me, this is a good thing.

The Celtics need to play as a team, not as a group that follows a superstar. However, I do not endorse the idea of trading Rajon Rondo. Rondo is too valuable to this team. When he comes back, the Celtics need to use what they’re learning right now and apply it to his game. Yes, one could argue that Rondo often tries to do a lot of things himself, but it’s because he can. He is an all around great player and the Celtics could really use him right now. Not only does Rondo provide assists for the team, but rebounds, and most importantly vision. Rondo can see things on the court that most other players could not. He is a vital part of this team and if he leaves, it will hurt in the long run, not having an elite point guard.

Want to get to the game while the Celtics are streaking? Buy Celtics tickets today!

Celtics Gelling as a Team: Win Six in a Row Including Beating the Lakers

The Celtics handily defeated the L.A. Lakers in Boston TD Garden Thursday night by a score of 116-95! A game that saw Celtics star Kevin Garnett reach the 25,000 Pt. level and be listed as the 16th top NBA scorer of all time.

However, even KG himself would say the more important story was that the Celtics gelled well, played tough defense, and maintained balanced team basketball!

Many players have been saying “we’ve been playing for Rondo” since he went down with an injury six games ago. Players like Courtney Lee, Jeff Green, and Avery Bradley knew this means they would get more playing time and needed to pick up the slack. So far they have been producing! Setting a tough defense and a steady offense anchored around capable veterans Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett. Pierce even threw in some impressive triple-double and double-double stats including hitting key game winning last minute shots. Just ask the League leading Clippers who saw Pierce drop some last minute three pointers in their 106-104 defeat in Boston!!!

The Celtics took a side trip up to Toronto and defeated the Raptors on their home court 99-95! Showing their ability to win the next night they bounced back to embarrass the Lakers! Still bickering over who their team leader is… All the Lakers have to do is look at Kevin Garnett as a good example of a team player who always hustles, plays defense, and can rebound/score as well. KG does the hard work that leads to scoreboard wins and he does it unselfishly night in and night out. That’s why he will be one of the best to play the game!

Still Getting it Done

Imagine being Paul Pierce, finding out that your star point guard is out for the season. Shortly after, you find out that your rookie center, who’s been having a great year so far, is also out for the season. What do you do? Well in Paul Pierce’s case, you fight.

Last Sunday, the Celtics found out that Rajon Rondo would be out for the season. Yet, with both Rondo and Jared Sullinger gone, the Celtics are still getting it done. They have beaten the number one seed in the Eastern Conference (Heat) and the number three seed in the West (Clippers), along their four game winning streak. How is this possible? After all, Rondo was third in points, first in assists, and fourth in rebounds for the Celtics. He was arguably the most crucial piece of the team. Losing Sullinger at the five position (center) certainly didn’t help either. Yet the Celtics are still playing extremely well. How? Well it certainly helps to have “Da Truth”.

Paul Pierce in the past seven days, has averaged 15.7 points per game, 11.3 rebounds per game, and 7 assists. He is the captain of this ship and is proving it right now. Jeff Green has also stepped it up, while continually making the highlight reel, and Jason Terry has also shown signs of heating up. “The Jet”, as they call him, managed to score 13 points today and dish out 6 assists.

If the Celtics are going to make a successful playoff run, this is what they need. They are spreading the ball around well, as proven today with five Celtics scoring in double figures. They are also playing great defense; the Miami game was a perfect example, as well as the performance against Jamal Crawford today. The Celtics are looking good right now, and if they keep playing the way they are, they will certainly be contenders for a championship.