Paul Pierce had 15 points, nine assists and eight rebounds Tuesday night, moving into second all-time in Celtics’ scoring as the Celtics coasted to a 94-84 victory over the Charlotte Bobcats. Kevin Garnett continued his strong play for the Celtics with 22 points and seven rebounds. Reggie Williams led the NBA worst 3-22 Bobcats 21 points and 5 assists.

Going into Tuesday’s game, Pierce trailed Celtics legend Larry Bird by nine points on the franchise’s all-time scoring leader board. Pierce drained a three-pointer with 10:23 to go in the third quarter to pass Bird and become the second leading scorer in Celtics history. The Celtics immediately fouled the Bobcats on the other end of the court to give Pierce a moment to take a bow at center court as the TD Banknorth Garden erupted.

The 10th pick in the 1998 NBA Draft, Pierce has scored 21,797 points as a member as the Boston Celtics. Pierce now trails only John Havelicek, who scored 26,395 as a Celtic.

Continue reading Pierce Makes History, Celtics Handle Bobcats »

After going 4-0 last week, the Boston Celtics were already potentially poised to put up some straight A’s. They had their revenge (93-90 over the Cleveland Cavaliers), wiped out the dinosaurs (a 36-point drubbing of the Toronto Raptors), got gritty in MSG (beating the New York Knicks 91-89), and proved themselves against a younger, more athletic opponent (topping the Memphis Grizzlies 98-80). That left the Celtics at 13-10, the first time Boston has seen the right side of .500 since they were 4-3.

Then Super Bowl XLVI happened.

(Excuse me while I go drown my pain in unintelligible Kurt Cobain lyrics and grungy power chords.)

Without rehashing the gory details, let’s just move ahead with this week’s grades, with the important caveat that I am clinically depressed from Sunday night’s devastating loss. Just know I will be assigning massive grade inflation simply to assuage my severely bruised and battered ego. I need something to hold onto, both literally (to support myself) and emotionally (my tear ducts no longer function properly). Continue reading Celtics Report Card: Forgetting Football Ever Existed »

Another week by, and the All-Star starters are already in place. Only one, Carmelo Anthony, isn’t from a currently seeded team, so it should be a good game. In the meantime, teams are still shaking things up. Houston is falling while Miami is going back up. But Chicago and Oklahoma City are still running the show. But what’s happening in the meantime? Let’s look at what would happen if the playoffs started as of Sunday, February 5, before the day’s games: Continue reading If the Playoffs Started Today – NBA Week 6 »

I know its Super Bowl week, but how ’bout a little NBA Power Rankings to hold you over?

Continue reading SoB NBA Power Rankings: Week 6 »

When Orlando uber-center Dwight Howard recently said that he’s at least open to coming to the Celtics, bells went off at Sports of Boston headquarters. Or at least they would have, if a) we had a headquarters, and b) it bells in it.

Getting Howard would meet many of the team’s most glaring needs. He’s a true center, terrific at rebounding, scoring and blocking. He’s young, veteran enough to know how to succeed in the NBA. And he’s perfectly suited for who the Celtics will have left – Rajon Rondo,  E’Twaun Moore, Avery Bradley and Jeff Green – once the Big 3 leave after this season.

Of course, the Magic will ask quite a price to trade for Howard, and he’ll ask quite a bit himself if he reaches free agency. But how much is too much? Should the Celtics trade now or try to get Howard on the open market? Our writers weighed in:

Continue reading What Sports of Boston Would Do to Get Dwight Howard »

Paul Pierce had 17 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists for the Boston Celtics en route to a 100-64 thrashing of the Toronto Raptors Wednesday night. The Celtics improved to 11-10 with the victory and now post their first winning record since starting 4-3. Jared Bayless scored 14 off the bench for the Raptors who scored less than 70 points for the third time this season.

Ray Allen had 12 points and 5 assists, and Brandon Bass added 12 points and 9 rebounds for the hot shooting Celtics. The Celtics shot 52 percent from the field and 50 percent from 3. Continue reading Pierce, Celtics Stomp Raptors to Post First Winning Record in A While »