The Celtics were led by Paul Pierce’s 27 points. Pierce also had four rebounds, two assists and two steals while shooting 10-for-14 from the field and 3-for-5 from downtown. Ray Allen had 17 points and Kevin Garnett had 14 points, seven rebounds and five assists.

The Hornets got 22 points and eight assists from Paul. Peja Stojakovic, who is coming off the bench so far this season, led the team in scoring with 26. The only other Hornets player in double figures was David West with 10.

So far during the 2009-10 NBA season, the Celtics have been the league’s most dominant team. They beat the Cavaliers in Cleveland to begin the season and then won their next three games by 33, 28 and 10 points, respectively.

Doc Rivers has to be thrilled with the Celtics (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: EveryJoe

Celtics Dominate Late to Stay Undefeated

The 59 points scored by the Bobcats represented an all-time low for an NBA team in their season opener. Gerald Wallace led the way for Charlotte with ten points, while they managed to shoot just 31.1% from the field and 52% from the foul line.

When Boston wasn’t playing defense, their offense was clicking. Ray Allen led the way with 18 points, while Paul Pierce chipped in with 15 points, four assists and three rebounds. Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo and Shelden Williams were also in double figures for the Celtics.

The Bobcats were playing their first game of the season and head coach Larry Brown couldn’t be too impressed with what he saw from his team. Offense was going to be a weakness for Charlotte — but it wasn’t supposed to be this big of a weakness.

The Celtics will try to improve their record to 3-0 when they take on the Chicago BUlls on Friday night.

Doc Rivers had to be happy with his team's defensive play (Image: Zuma Press)

Post from: EveryJoe

Celtics Suffocate Bobcats, Improve to 2-0

Apparently, the negotiations are still afloat.

According to ESPN The Magazine, a contract extension for the lightening-quick point guard could still be reached before Saturday’s deadline.

Rajon Rondo is hoping that his contract extension with the Celtics soars to $65 million.

Rajon Rondo currently makes $2 million per year playing for the Celtics, which pales in comparison to other starting point guard salaries around the NBA. Though Rondo has had his share of off-court missteps, he definitely deserves a pay raise. He’s been solid for the Celtics, especially during their championship season, and he is considered to be one of the top-performing point guards in the league. To put it in perspective — Brandon Roy, who entered the NBA in 2006 along with Rondo, recently received a five-year, $80 million contract extension. Rondo is currently seeking a $55 million to $65 million extension.

If a deal can’t be reached, Rondo will become a free agent at the end of this season along with the likes of LeBron James, Ray Allen, Dwayne Wade and Chris Bosh.

The free agent class of 2010 may be the best yet. Who do you think will be the best free agent on the market?

I’ve got my money on LeBron.

Image: Zuma Press

Post from: EveryJoe

Contract Negotiation For Rondo Not Dead Yet

In front of his home fans, Ray Allen was once again great. He led the way with 23 points and also had seven rebounds, three assists, two steals and a blocked shot. In Game 6, Allen poured in 51 points. Helping him out in Game 7 in the scoring department were Paul Pierce (20 points), Eddie House (16 points), Glen Davis (15 points) and Kendrick Perkins (14 points).

For the Bulls, who were an underdog in this series despite the fact that the Celtics have been playing without Kevin Garnett, were led once again by Ben Gordon. In 46 minutes, Gordon had 33 points and four assists. Rookie phenom Derrick Rose had 18 points, while Kirk Hinrich had 16 points off the bench.

The Bulls now go home, while the Celtics advance to play the Orlando Magic in the second round of the 2009 NBA playoffs. The Magic advanced by beating the Philadelphia 76ers in six games.

Derrick Rose's Rookie Seasons was Stopped by the Celtics (Image: Newscom)

Post from: EveryJoe

Celtics Beat Bulls in Game 7 to Advance

Both teams got production from a variety of different sources. John Salmons led the way for the Bulls with 35 points, six rebounds and four assists in 60 minutes. Derrick Rose chipped in with 28 points, eight rebounds and seven assists, while Brad Miller and 23 points and ten rebounds off the bench.

For the Celtics, Ray Allen has 51 points in 59 minutes. He hit 18-of-32 shots from the field, 9-of-18 three-pointers and 6-of-7 free throws. Glen “Big Baby” Davis had 23 points and seven rebounds, while Paul Pierce had 22 points and nine rebounds.

With the win, the Bulls tied the series 3-3 and forced a Game 7 against the Celtics. Game 7 will take place in Boston on Saturday.

Of the six games so far in the series, four of the games have gone to overtime. The defending NBA champion Celtics are trying to survive a heated push by the young Bulls. Boston’s job is made more difficult since Kevin Garnett is likely out for the rest of the playoffs with a knee injury.

Rookie Derrick Rose is attempting to lead a Bulls upset (Image: Newscom)

Post from: EveryJoe

Bulls Defeat Celtics in Triple Overtime

Ray Allen Suspended (Image: Newscom)

After getting tangled up with Cavs bigman Anderson Varejao, Allen elbowed him south of the border. As a result, the NBA has decided to suspend Ray Allen for one game. The sharpshooter will be forced to sit out the contest on Tuesday against the Philadelphia 76ers.

Last season, the Celtics won the NBA championship. This year, Cleveland has been the best team in the East for much of the season. They currently have a 66-15 record and have locked up home-court advantage throughout the playoffs. The Celtics, on the other hand, are 60-20 and will have home-court advantage against every team in the East outside of Cleveland.

Allen is averaging 18.2 points on 48% shooting from the field and 40.9% shooting from beyond the three-point line.

Post from: EveryJoe

Celtics’ Ray Allen Suspended for Elbow

I recently updated my b5 profile with the intention of explaining how www.jabandgrapple.com could cover both the scripted fun of pro wrestling entertainment and the unexpected life-threating tension of professional boxing. My answer wasn’t that they both take place in rings and involve some sort of combat.

No, my explanation was that they are bookends of the sporting world with everything else existing in between their emotional bounds. Friday night was evidence of this evocative breadth. WWE’s SmackDown and ESPN’s Friday Night Fights were broadcast simultaneously and my Motorola DVR only allowed me to watch one at a time while taping both. I was forced to delve into both without distraction.

First up was the glorious costumed cabaret fun of SmackDown. The Undertaker was trying to take revenge out on a supposedly wheelchair-bound lady. People were fired, lives were affected, fear, trouble, mayhem, betrayal and loss were the pervasive themes.

We all know, however, that the situations were fake. That in the end the performers’ lives aren’t affected as far as career longevity and/or actual intended danger. Sure, unexpected tragedies can and have occurred but The Undertaker’s choke slam really isn’t endangering opponents; the Great Khali wasn’t really bleeding profusely from the mouth a few weeks ago. Their career paths are decided by scriptwriters and their salary, however modest, isn’t dependent on them winning.

Once SmackDown ended I switched over to the very real career arc of Chris Byrd, a 37-year-old who had just lost 37 pounds in an attempt to compete at the light heavyweight level. Things didn’t work out that well for the former heavyweight champion as he was beaten badly and knocked out in the ninth round. Byrd then deliriously apologized to his wife and handsome young son; he felt he had let them down.

The drama was real, the pain evident, and the tragedy too much to bear. Here was a man who put his life on the line in the ring and couldn’t bear the failure that he wrongly perceived himself to be.

Shortly after the fight doctors diagnosed Byrd with a separated shoulder and administered painkillers. Then the situation nosedived. His wife explained to ESPN, “They gave him Valium and morphine and we couldn’t wake him up,” she continued. “I was so scared. We had to rush him to the hospital.”

Byrd was revived late Friday night and returned home but the psychological pain will not end. Byrd will presumably not fight again at least not on the same championship level he was accustomed. He understands that he should retire.

His opponent Shaun George added after the fight “There’s going to come a point where you have to give it up. That’s the hard part because you love the sport. It’s sad for anybody, but especially someone like Byrd who is a two-time heavyweight champion.”

For me, the pathos was too much to bear, especially after watching its polar opposite at SmackDown.

So I turned the channel to the end of the Boston Celtics-Cleveland Cavs playoff game. I love the NBA but after the Byrd fight it seemed so superficial and so far removed from man’s essential struggle. So scripted and so much closer to pro wrestling than what I had just viewed.

Lives aren’t going to be affected by the Celtics loss no matter how angsty Kevin Garnett portrays himself; no matter how aloof and affected Ray Allen appears to be. They’ll pull in their guaranteed million dollar contract accept their loss, continue performing to David Stern’s script, move on and compete until their bodies can’t move. Just like Bruno Sammartino, just like Hulk Hogan and just like Ric Flair.

If Chris Byrd were to go back in the ring he might be killed, the fact that he’s still an elite boxer doesn’t matter. His skills just aren’t elite enough.

Think I’m off base? Comment below and tell me what you think.

Photo Source: Newscom.com

Post from: EveryJoe

The Real Drama of Boxing vs. the Fake Drama of the WWE and the NBA