The Red Sox series against the Philadelphia Phillies this past weekend marked more than the first inter-league games of the season. Jonathan Papelbon, formerly Boston’s closer for six years, faced his old team for the first time. While the standard reunion between player and former team typically involves over exaggerated reminiscing over this past relationship (unless you’re Josh Reddick), this meet-up was surprisingly not more of the same.

Rather, the outspoken Papelbon received considerable criticism from Boston fans and media alike. It is no question that Papelbon does not shy away from the mic, but is the reaction from the Boston-end justified? No way.

Leaving Boston

When he chose to enter arbitration year by year over taking a multi-year contract, Papelbon made his intentions clear–when it came to free agency he was looking for top dollar. Any chance of a hometown discount? Forget about it. So now, months later, people inexplicably view Papelbon with hostility. This in itself is absurd. Papelbon did not snub Boston by accepting Philadelphia’s offer of 4 years/$50 MM. In fact, the Red Sox never made a legitimate attempt to retain their closer. If anyone belongs in the dog house for that one, it’s Ben Cherington and friends.

But that’s besides the point. Whether it’s shortsighted fans or ignorant bloggers, there is still this aura of hatred around Papelbon, almost as if he “owes them something.” Because one of the best players in Major League Baseball is in personal debt to specific no-name fans of the Boston Red Sox. Because they deserve it. Never mind Papelbon’s four all-star appearances and World Series victory for their entertainment. How Boston doesn’t understand why the fan base gets such a bad rep, I have no idea.

The Quips

So when there are negative feelings towards an athlete, what do you do? Express your utter contempt by taking complete offense towards everything he says. Combine Papelbon’s (overblown) loud mouth and you have a recipe for disaster.

“Papelbon isn’t afraid of facing the Red Sox.” “Papelbon says Philly is just like Paris.” “Philadelphia fans have a higher IQ than Boston fans.” If he said it, there’s an enraged blog post somewhere. At the time, the Red Sox had bigger problems like the fact that, I don’t know, the team with an $170 MM  payroll was below .500. It’s not like Papelbon was going to change his mind and come back to Boston. Let it go.

So?

Ruben Amaro Jr. offered Papelbon an easy $50 MM and, bless his soul, he took it. Since then he’s posted a 2.20 ERA and 12 saves in 12 chances. For all the hate, the Red Sox could really use someone like that. Does this mean the Red Sox should have offered a relief pitcher an absurd, long-term contract? Probably not. But the fact doesn’t change that whether you like him or not, he is still one of the top three closers in the game.

Furthermore, it is also evident that baseball fans hate trash talking. Ozzie Guillen, Luke Scott, anyone this season who has said anything not completely boring has been showered with criticism. Is anything fun allowed in baseball?  When “Bobby V” is considered one of the most colorful figures in your sport, there is something horribly, horribly wrong. In the NBA or NFL, nothing Papelbon said would make a headline.

And look at it from his perspective. This is a guy who played for the Boston Red Sox for six years. From Manny Ramirez to Terry Francona, how many teammates and colleagues did he see leave Boston only to be immediately smeared by the Stalin-esque Red Sox ownership and PR machine. Is there something so bad about turning the tables for once? Good for him.

As a fan in this modern age of professional sports, it is impossible to have allegiances to both teams and players without expecting these interests to come into conflict. Papelbon is a pitcher who brings a feeling of security whenever he steps foot on the mound, something not very many baseball teams can boast. He even manages to be entertaining in the process (something the game of baseball itself can no longer do on its own). He wanted to be paid accordingly and he got his wish.

And if Red Sox fans don’t understand that, maybe they really do have lower IQs.

© Josh Segal for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | One comment
Filed under: Featured, Opinion, Red Sox.

The Philadelphia 76ers didn’t show us how tough they are last night, nor how strong their will is, nor how much fortitude they have. Instead, last night, the Boston Celtics showed us how complacent they are, how uninterested they can be, and how little they want to fight.

After scoring 36 points in the first half and finding themselves ahead by three, conventional wisdom would tell us that the older, more seasoned Celtics would finish off the 76ers in the second half. But the 76ers, led by Jrue Holiday’s 20 points, proved that the Celtics weren’t ready to take advantage of a team that could barely get out of its own way. Instead, when it mattered most, the “indestructible” Celtics defense watched Holiday slice his way to the rim without breaking a sweat.

But don’t credit Holiday.  It’s fairly easy to get to the basket when there’s no one trying to stop you.

Bad Defense Cost Celtics

The 76ers played a typical 76er game. They shot poorly from the free throw line. They shot poorly from the three point line. The 76ers did exactly what the Celtics expected them to do. The problem, however, was that the Celtics managed to play just as poorly, and dare I say, worse. The Celtics shot poorly from, well, everywhere (33 percent overall), including 3-14 from beyond the arc. But the Celtics certainly could have won that game in spite of their poor offensive performance.

What really cost them is that the 76ers anemic offense managed to score 27 points in the third quarter. Twenty-seven? From the same team that scored 11 points in the second quarter?  Yes.

Did they all of a sudden find their shooting stroke? No. Instead, the Celtics invited them to score, and score they did.

So after the Celtics gave away a chance to beat an inferior team on the road in Game 6, it begs the question: what should we expect of the Boston Celtics?

If they lose in Game 7, should we be amicable? Are Avery Bradley’s injury and Ray Allen’s ghost-like performance enough to justify losing a series to a team whose “best player” is, well…who is their best player, again? The Celtics should beat the 76ers Saturday night, and they should be able to beat them by simply scoring over 85 points.

Boston Won’t Reach NBA Finals

If losing Game 7 isn’t an option (and it’s not), then should we expect them to beat Miami or Indiana in the Eastern Conference Finals? Without Bradley to guard Dwyane Wade, and without a two-legged Paul Pierce to guard LeBron James, do they really stand a chance? Could Kevin Garnett and Brandon Bass realistically match up with Roy Hibbert and David West in the paint?

My answer to both questions is “no.” Wade and James would run through the Celtics “tough” defense like a hot knife through butter. Garnett and Bass would make Hibbert look like Patrick Ewing (and for the record, Roy Hibbert is not Patrick Ewing).

It’s time we stopped pretending the Celtics are still a great defensive team and instead look at the reality: they’ve played Atlanta and Philadelphia in the first two rounds. These are two teams that wouldn’t know how to score during a playoff game if the rim was as big as a swimming pool. It will be the Celtics defense, and its defense alone, that undoes their season. Not injuries. Not age. Not lack of depth.

As we heard Doc Rivers say to his team during a huddle in Game 4: “It’s about defense.”

© Michael Ricci for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Celtics, Featured, Opinion.

With a stunning 82-81 loss Monday night to the upstart eight-seed, the Boston Celtics found themselves knee-deep in questions.

What happened to the Celtics’ advantage in big-game experience and late-game execution? Would Paul Pierce‘s knee injury kill the Celtics’ enough offense? And why was Brandon Bass shooting more than anyone on Boston’s roster, considering Kevin Garnett seems to have swapped places with his 2004 MVP-self?

After shellacking the Philadelphia 76ers with an impressive 107-91 win on the road, consider those questions answered.

Hence Fourth

Okay, so maybe the fourth quarter crunch time question from Game Two wasn’t really answered when Boston emptied its bench for the final three minutes of garbage time. Up by 19, Doc Rivers subbed in Marquis Daniels, Sasha Pavlovic, Keyon Dooling, and E’Twaun Moore (orm as they’re more commonly known, the Tiny Four). The Celtics scored all of two points the rest of the way.

That said, it was incredibly refreshing to see the Celtics assert their will and take charge early, not letting the Sixers stick around until the very end when anything can happen. (Lavoy Allen’s line drive bank shot with 0.9 seconds on the shot clock, Evan Turner’s spinning, flailing prayer of a go-ahead layup) TNT might not want a game decided before the final minute, but as a Celtics fan, that’s alright by me.

Truth Be Told

Whereas his box score from Game Two drew comparisons to his worst career playoff performances, Game Three was more like the vintage #34 Celtics fans are accustomed to. Pierce only shot 35 percent, but 24 points and 12 rebounds? Soaring dunks? Fourteen free throw attempts? Maybe Pierce’s refusal to acknowledge his sprained MCL wasn’t a classic case of denial after all.

Of course, who knows how Pierce’s knee will respond after playing 37 minutes just 48 hours before Game Four. Maybe he’ll limp than ever on Friday night. But at least we know he can still carry the scoring load for stretches if need be. I “Tebow” with gratitude.

Blast from the Past

In the Celtics’ two wins this series, Garnett is only averaging, oh, 28 points and 12 rebounds. He’s also been the defensive captain/tour de force. Even in the loss, though Garnett had just 15 points, he scored 11 of them in the fourth quarter. With Pierce somewhat slowed, Garnett has become the primary scoring option, abusing the Sixers in the low post with an array of fade-aways and bank shots. At this point, I’m surprised when he misses.

This Minnesota-era KG blast from the past is much better than any blast from the Bass, who inexplicably jacked up roughly 1,000 jumpers without making any in Game Two. Bass took a much more reasonable 10 shots on Wednesday, making half and staying within the offensive flow. Garnett’s 12-of-17 shooting and seemingly scoring at will also helped.

Will Momentum Last 48 Hours?

From the rubble of the Wells Fargo Center, a new question emerges: can the Celtics carry their momentum from Wednesday’s dominant victory to Friday night?

I’d like to think so, especially with a chance to step on Philadelphia’s throats and put them in a 3-1 hole going back to Boston. Wednesday showed just how much more talented the Celtics are: not just Pierce and Garnett, but also Rajon Rondo (running the show with 23 points and 14 assists) and even Mickael Pietrus (3-of-4 on three-pointers and 13 points). The veteran Celtics can smell 76er blood in the water.

Unfortunately, I said “I’d like to think so” for a reason. This Celtics team can be wildly inconsistent from night to night, both in terms of results and, more criminally, effort. Sometimes the C’s just seem unmotivated, uninterested or unchallenged, and they play accordingly.

You could certainly make that case for the first two games of this series, both of which required fourth quarter comebacks. One resulted in a last minute loss, the other could’ve just as easily.

It’s hard to blame Boston after exuding such authority over their opponent (in their opponent’s own house, no less). They just controlled every facet of the game – what’s there to be worried about? My fear heading into Friday is that after coasting to an easy win and reclaiming home-court advantage, the Celtics will rest on their laurels instead of pressing the attack. That’s how they lost Game Five in Atlanta, and that’s how Philadelphia could re-tie the series Friday night.

But with some luck and a little hard work, the questions remaining after Game Four won’t have anything to do with age or injury, but only whether the Celtics can close it out in five.

© Nick Bohlen for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Celtics, Featured, Opinion.

Curt Schilling has many talents. Pitching in the playoffs, bleeding into socks, butting his nose into steroid hearings without cause – the list goes on and on (and on and on, given Schilling’s talent for ranting).

But apparently one talent Schilling doesn’t have is making video games.

Kate Bramson of the Providence Journal reported Tuesday that 38 Studios, Schilling’s video game company, defaulted on a $1.125 million loan guarantee-payment. Rhode Island governor Lincoln Chafee has called an emergency meeting of the Economic Development Corporation to discuss the $75 million loan-guarantee – two-thirds of which has already been paid – Rhode Island awarded 38 Studios to entice the company to move from Massachusetts.

While the EDC took no action against the company following a meeting Wednesday, fiscal problems like these can’t help but scare the Rhode Island taxpayers whose money went into the loan to 38 Studios.

Clearly, trouble’s brewing in the Kingdom of Amalur (38 Studio’s only game).

Schilling Should’ve Gone MMO

Schilling’s decision to get into video games post-retirement wasn’t a bad one. Globally, video games have become a $65 billion industry. A game that actually gains a foothold in such an industry could translate to jaw-dropping profits and widespread jobs proliferation. Everything Schilling promised Rhode Island could be done with the right game.

Schilling, unfortunately, just made the wrong game. Or, at the very least, he made the wrong decision to change the game midway through. Originally, Kingdom of Amalur: Reckoning was supposed to be a massive multiplayer online role-playing game (MMORPG). Such games have advantages over their single-player console cousins, bringing in extra revenue from membership fees and easing the deployment of expansion content.

But the final version of Amalur turned out to be a single-player RPG with the size of an MMO but lacking all of the other players that make the world fun. Single-player games shouldn’t take so much time to get anywhere.

Amalur is a giant world devoid of activity beyond you and your mission at hand. Pretty, but static.

“Everything is sorta scripted, and for the long hours, you don’t get the satisfaction of having done a lot,” says Kris Jenson, game and movie expert for DigBoston. “It’s just big.”

The World Doesn’t Need More RPGS!

The market’s flooded with knockoff RPGs – MMO or single-player console –all trying to be the next World of Warcraft or Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim. Amalur offered barely any variation from these already-established successes, and consequently it got swallowed up in the non-stop flood of similarly flawed copycat games.

Kingdom of Amalur does offer a slow-motion finishing mode in which your character – the horribly named “Fateless One” – can perform particularly brutal sequences for more points. But if you think that sounds like God of War, you’re right. Another derivative element typical of the “fun but derivative” description Jenson most people gave the game.

“If they’d been a little less ambitious and kept it as an MMO, I think they would’ve been a bit more successful,” Jenson says.

Curt, if you’re going to make a video game, make a new game. The approximately 700,000th inferior replication of the fantasy model J.R.R. Tolkien created can’t help but be pretty similar to the 699,999 that came before it.

© Matt Goisman for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | One comment
Filed under: Featured, Opinion, Red Sox, Top Story.

Only four teams remain in the NHL playoffs. The Devils try to continue their run against another powerful divisional rival while the Kings and Coyotes each try to cap off a Cinderella run to the Stanley Cup Finals.

And here at SoB, it’s looking like it’ll be the Rangers and Kings meeting for the Cup. The Devils did get a vote as well, and the Rangers have been through two seven-game series, so there may be something too that too.

So be sure to check below for the complete set of picks, and check back one the Stanley Cup Finals are set for the results.

© John for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Bruins, Featured, NHL, Now!, Opinion.

After a rough first round, the second round is now underway. The 76ers are trying to continue their run in a dogfight against Boston, while the injuries continue to hit key players with Chris Bosh straining an abdominal muscle. Unfortunately for the Pacers, two of the Big Three are as healthy as ever.

As far as our selections go, things are looking quite similar to the first round. Once again, all our panelists are unanimous in selecting division winners for all but one series. Once more, the highest seeds are thought to cruise through relatively quickly, while the closer seeds are thought to have a more drawn out series.

So there you have it. Check below for the complete picks, and check back after Round 2 for the results.

© John for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Celtics, Featured, NBA, Now!, Opinion.

The NHL is down to its final four teams, including an improbable #8 seed. There’s also a #1 seed on the other coast bringing elite goaltending (among other things) to the table, so the next round should be full of surprises.

But for now, the second round wasn’t too kind to our experts. The Coyotes and Devils each pulled off big upsets. The Rangers and Kings did come through for the majority, though. Perhaps the toughest part was figuring out how many games each series would last. In fact, only one set of picks had any right.

That keeps everyone about the same point totals apart as before, but there’s still enough action to change all of that. So check below for the results, and check back later for the next round’s pick.

Table Legend:

• Two-point picks are bolded.
• One-point picks are italicized.
• Zero-point picks are crossed out.

© John for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Bruins, Featured, NHL, Now!, Opinion.

If you had told me two months ago that the Boston Celtics would host the first two games of a second-round playoff series, I would have laughed. Or maybe I would have scoffed and said I’m just looking forward to Red Sox season.

Either way, I would have been very, very wrong.

Before the Celtics blow a golden chance at the Eastern Conference Finals (dare I say the NBA Finals? No, you’re right, I dare not.), let’s look back and appreciate their Round One match-up against the Atlanta Hawks.

Suspensions, bone spurs, MCL sprains, extra gas, and heaven-sent 22-footers straight from the Gospel of Josh Smith? We’ve got it all in the Celtics Report Card: Playoff Edition.

Starting Backcourt: B+

16.8 points per game, 11.8 assists per game, one triple-double, the audacity not to tally double-digit assists in Game Six, one ejection, a botched wide-open layup, and one ongoing enigma of a player. Ladies and gentlemen, Rajon Rondo! Alternately indifferent and exceptional, Rondo managed to both single-handedly almost sabotage and then salvage the Celtics season. There was the inexplicable/inexcusable referee chest bump that could have easily derailed the Celtics, then a 17-12-14 the game after his suspension to put the C’s in the driver’s seat. There were dazzling bounce passes through the smallest of windows, and puzzling passes with a wide open layup right in front of him (not to mention the non-pass to end Game 5). I give up.

Separated left shoulder? No problem! Avery Bradley may not have continued the scoring pace he had before (12 ppg pre-injury vs. 4.7 after), but he still applied manic defense to Jeff Teague and even the six-inch-taller Joe Johnson (then again, he’s still Joe Johnson, no matter how tall he is). Bradley and Rondo will be crucial in setting the tempo and keeping pace with the Sixers on the break.

Starting Frontcourt: A-

Paul Pierce continues to be nothing short of a warrior on the court for the Celtics. With Rondo suspended for Game 2, Pierce submitted a heroic 36-point, 14-rebound, four-assist refuse-to-lose effort. Then, after hurting his knee in a shootaround and tweaking it further in the second quarter of Game 4, Pierce dragged his bum leg up and down the court for another 38 minutes per game in Games 5 and 6. I can’t dock him too many points for shooting under 50 percent in those two games.

It’s probably for the best that Brandon Bass didn’t play a crucial role in Round One, taking no more than ten shots in any one game. He has been the weak link in the Celtics starting frontcourt, shooting just over 41 percent from the floor. Luckily for him, though…

…Kevin Garnett has been playing out of his mind, which is separate from my assumption that he’s borderline insane. He averaged 18.7 points and 10.5 rebounds, and that doesn’t even begin to quantify his contributions on the court. Closing out the Hawks at home, Garnett took a trip back to 2004, abusing the Hawks in the post and submitting a vintage 28 points, 14 boards, two assists, three steals, and five (!) blocks.

My sincerest thanks to Hawks owner Michael Gearon, Jr. Keep on flapping those gums and pretending they’re wings.

Bench Backcourt: B-

If I weren’t a scrawny, pasty six-footer with the athletic ability of a 53-year-old, I would absolutely donate my ankles to Ray Allen. God knows the bench needs his scoring (over 11 ppg against Atlanta), and maybe then the pain wouldn’t make him clank four (!) free throws in Games 5 and 6. A healthy Allen also keeps Sasha Pavlovic and Marquis Daniels (and his stupid inbounds fouls) from seeing the light of day.

Revelation of the First Round: Keyon Dooling might actually be kind of somewhat mildly reliable off the bench. He brought the ball up the floor without causing me too much stress, hit a couple of big corner threes despite the ugliest looking jumpshot this side of Blake Griffin, and even pulled off the Nelly Band-Aid look surprisingly well.

Bench Frontcourt: B-

Who are you, Ryan Hollins, and what have you done with Greg Stiemsma? For whatever reason, Stiemsma is out of the rotation and Hollins is in. Not that there is much of a difference between the two – each gives you a handful of rebounds, a couple of blocks, maybe a putback or two, and fouls. Lots and lots of fouls. Maybe Hollins has finally figured out enough for the Celtics to put his athleticism to use defensively.

Meanwhile, Mickael Pietrus is struggling to find his shot from three-point range but still chipping in on defense with his length and versatility. Nonetheless, the Celtics could really benefit from him stretching the floor, giving them some spacing so Rondo can penetrate into the lane or Garnett can go to work on the block without an immediate double-team.

Coaching: A-

Doc Rivers has leaned heavily on his starters, playing an aging Garnett and an injured Pierce especially long minutes. But I can’t say he’s had much of a choice, considering the Celtics’ bench scoring. Strategically, his decisions to end Game 6 (foul up by three, let Rondo win a track meet to run out the clock) went brilliantly – even if it left me with my heart in my throat pondering every imaginable way it could horribly backfire.

Now I can only hope home court advantage and a win in Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers means a more straightforward road to clinching (and grading) Round Two.

© Nick Bohlen for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Celtics, Featured, Opinion.

That was a thrilling first round. We saw a #8 seed upset a #1 for the second year in a row, New York briefly stopped their historic playoff losing streak and a pair of Game 7s matching up with two sweeps out West. That will be sure to make a big difference in the next round.

But for the last round, it was easy enough to pick most of the winners. The 76ers were the biggest surprise, of course, and a minority of experts picked the Clippers, but there were no other surprises. It was more difficult overall to pick the lengths of series, but there were still a good amount of successful picks there.

So what does that mean for all our panelists? The standings are very close; in fact, everyone is within four points of each other. And most are even closer than that. So check below for the results, and check back later for the next round’s selections.

Table Legend:

• Two-point picks are bolded.
• One-point picks are italicized.
• Zero-point picks are crossed out.

© John for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | No comment
Filed under: Celtics, Featured, NBA, Now!, Opinion.

As the NHL playoffs roll along, we’ll be taking a look back at the Bruins season that was. First, we review one of the Bruins’ top lines…

Report Cards: Marchand-Bergeron-Seguin | Lucic-Krejci-Horton

Brad Marchand - B+

There was no sophomore slump for Marchand in his second full season as a Bruin. He had 28 goals and 27 assists for 55 points, improving in all three-stat categories from last season. This occurred all while still being the agitator for the Bruins.

He didn’t really start strong or finish strong, finishing with only four points in the first month and and only two points in the Washington series, but overall it was a good season for him.

It looks like he has found a home along side Patrice Bergeron and on the penalty kill. Marchand will likely be trying to join the 30-goal club next season.

Patrice Bergeron - A

It was an all-around great season for Bergeron, who is an all-around great player. Bergeron was nominated for the Selke award for best two-way forward for the first time this season. Playing with the two young guns for most of the year, Bergeron had his best point production since missing time with concussions. He finished with 64 points, thanks to 22 goals and 42 helpers.

His best job was done in the face-off circles, as he won more than half of his draws all season. After the Bruins were eliminated, the team announced that he was playing in the playoffs with a broken nose and an injury to an oblique muscle. Look for more points next season from the leader of the offense, if he stays with the young wingers.

Tyler Seguin - A

Seguin got a chance to play real minutes this season and he showed that he was more than up for it. He led the team in points and goals in his second season with 29 goals 38 assists for 67 points. He showed that not only he can score in the NHL, but he is capable of being a two-way player, showing more willingness to go to the dirty areas all season long.

It will be interesting to see how long Seguin stays on a wing, as his natural position is center and he is more dangerous in that role, but there seems to be a log jam down the middle and a need on the right-wing.

In order for Seguin to build on last season, he needs to get stronger and he needs more ice time to reach his full potential, so hopefully he makes that jump to a top 5 player in the league.

© Bobby Doherty for Sports of Boston, 2012. | Permalink | One comment
Filed under: Bruins, Featured, Opinion.