Wednesday, December 28, 2011

STIRRING UP A HORNETS' NEST

JO involved early, then RAY ALLEN FOR THREE,
Can JO handle the pressure? We'll soon see.
Stiemsma with a block, then score, then a block, 
These are words that warm the heart of Doc.

Okafor averaging double double all career,
Thought it should be noted so I mention it here.
Hornets created a "buzz," with an 11-2 run,
Cs down 6 at the end of Q1.

Q2  huge Hornets run, Cs feeling queasy, 
Homecoming for Bass, he's from the Big Easy.
RAY ALLEN FOR THREE, then Rondo a driving two,
Offensive foul on Ray?? What are the refs trying to do?

11 free throws for the Hornets, for the Cs there are none,
Four minutes left in the half, Rondo finally gets one.
Stiemsma comes to life, with blocks so fine, 
At the end of Q2, Cs are down 9.

The young official in the house is ruining the Cs night,
The way he is calling fouls just isn't right.
RAY ALLEN FOR THREE, Belinelli from farther away,
Cs put their heads down and started to play.

Cs kept getting the lead down to nine or eight,
Seems it was--for the third time--too little too late!
Doc's furious with the officiating, easy to see, 
Cs still down 9 at the end of Q3.

Bass strong to the hoop to start Q4,
For the Cs, the appearance of Johnson and Moore.
The Hornets swarmed, they weren't fooling, 
Only bright moment, clock running down, three by Dooling!

Of the three games so far, this is the worst we've seen,
Three games in four nights too tough on The Green?
The Cs will pull it together, stick around for the ride, 
0 and 3?  Never underestimate Celtic pride.

Coach Monty Williams is one of Doc's closest friends,
None of that matters til the basketball game ends.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

" IT AIN'T THE HEAT, IT'S THE HUMILITY," Yogi Berra

Q1 Miami kept stealing the ball, 
While the Cs couldn't play without a foul call.
Cs had a smaller line-up so they could score,
Silly fouls and turnovers--let's have no more!

Rondo jawed at the official and got a tech,
Like the Knicks 4th quarter, what the heck!
Then he started scoring and playing large,
As evidenced--from Chalmers he took a charge!

Eight turnovers for the Cs but a 12-4 run,
Cs down only three at the end of Q1.
Then so many turnovers to start Q2,
Doc took an early timeout to see what to do.

RAY ALLEN FOR THREE, RAY ALLEN FOR THREE
RAY ALLEN FOR THREE, RAY ALLEN FOR THREE,
15 Cs turnovers, to 23 points they led,
That's why at the half the Heat's 15 ahead.

Wade and Lebron, those guys can dunk,
While the Cs seem to be in a shooting funk.
RAY ALLEN FOR THREE, can it be enough?
Not while the Heat every shot they can stuff.

The Cs needed a change-up, to set a new tone, 
For the first time ever Doc's guys played zone!
The Heat had to think and change things a bit,
Q3? Cs down 8 at the end of it.

RAY ALLEN FOR THREE, his shots so fine, 
His career total? Twenty-five hundred sixty-nine!
Let's hear it for our new guy, Brandon Bass, 
Who has given us a presence on the offensive glass!

Is it my imagination or does it seem in Q4,
The game's about the refs, not the players any more?
In Q4 the biggest problem who plays for the Heat?
The rookie Cole whom we just did meet.

Tho' perhaps it wasn't Boston's best basketball night, 
You have to admire their "Truth-less" fight.

Sunday, December 25, 2011

CHRISTMAS PRESENCE

On Christmas there  was a team in the Garden, 
The Celtics, whose resolve did harden.
Causeway Street? Not there,
It was at Madison Square.
From Ogden Nash I request a pardon.

Doc says "...we're a no-excuse basketball team,"
All in pursuit of the Banner 18 dream.
Rondo's a one man fast break, 
To the hoop the ball he'll take,
Cs are struggling without Pierce it would seem.

Q1 was a tough test for the Cs,
Never thought this would be a breeze,
Our new guys came out, 
Doc wanted to shout,
Let's bring Spike Lee to his knees.

Remember Wilcox was a Knick, 
And so when the action was quick,
To Melo he passed, 
Not thinking too fast,
To his stomach he must have felt sick.

Q2 double techs Toney and Ray,
Several turnovers, so far not Ray's day.
Aggressive are the Knicks, 
The Cs hardly set picks,
Doc says we're "...soft, soft,"  let's play!

All of a sudden in the middle of Q2
Brandon Bass knew what to do, 
Three and a half minutes, points eight, 
He must keep playing great,
While Rondo continues to break through.

First half Rondo and Bass did score,
Without Pierce there was a hole in the core,
The others were slow,
Not much give and go, 
From KG and Ray Cs need more.

7:11 left in Q3-- tied 69,
Rondo took Melo's elbow, he 's fine, 
RAY ALLEN FOR THREE
Been waiting to see,
Of Celtics Basketball a very clear sign!

JO took a charge in Q3,
Alley Oop Ray to JO we did see, 
Rondo's 40 foot pass, 
To Marquis, not Bass, 
Seems a Celtic Rondo really wants to be!

Bass has been putting on quite a show,
As if the Cs system he already does know, 
With help from Ray, 
That JO can play,
It's ok their starting pace was slow.

Ray Allen twenty-five sixty-three, 
Twice today RAY ALLEN FOR THREE,
Q4 Knicks had Melo,
Quite the scoring fellow,
So many fouls on both teams did we see.

Rondo played great, all over the floor, 
He could pass and he could score.
Melo's three the game was tied,
KG scored on the Cs' side, 
It was like a playoff game in Q4!

A hard fought game is what we have seen, 
Last time the Knicks won, 2010, April Sixteen.
KG might be a trash talker, 
But with our former guy, Walker?
We are still heading toward Banner Eighteen!


lovemyceltics.blogspot.com

Wednesday, December 21, 2011

Still EN-RAPTOR-ED?

Can you imagine how Paul Pierce must feel?
The season hasn't started, he's bothered by that heel.
No appearance tonight, nor Sunday, Tuesday, too
We'll see what Pavlovic and Marquis can do.

Does anyone know what DMarsh did mean
He said we could still trade Rondo by March Fifteen?
(A deal with some "warm" teams,  he wouldn't tell,
Inspiration for Rondo to keep playing well).

KG  "banged his head," then waved at the crowd,
The cheers at The Garden were so very loud.
Cs started on fire, there were blocks all around,
Got to love the energy they seem to have found!

The plan for KG is five, five, five, 
Minutes, that is, so he can survive!
66 games in a hundred twenty-four days,
Doc will mix his rotations in effective ways.

Q2 sees Stiemsma early, with KG on the floor,
Bradley's shots will soon fall, his defense means more.
Ray did his usual, quick turn and shoot,
We had the pleasure of KG's straightaway to boot.

Stiemsma's rebounding, scoring, getting a rhythm, 
Looks like the Cs will want to stay with him.
Preseason Game One he had the winning shot,
Tonight he is showing us what more he's got.

Raptors gathered themselves, then a steal by Bass, 
Eventually  he'll handle Rondo's bounce pass.
The Cs closed out the half, Rondo had the ball,
Fifteen points, made free throws, he answered the call.

KG, Rondo, JO, Pavlovic and Ray,
Started off the second half this way.
JO blocking with his left hand and then his right,
He is showing he's committed and ready to fight!

Halfway thru Q3 things got rocky,
Raptors started to score and they got cocky.
Many mistakes by the new guys, hard for them to gell,
It will take time and experience for them to play well.

Look at the Cs' bench, a glorious sight to see,
A guy shouting about Defense--it was KG!
At the end of Q3 the Cs went on a run, 
And started to look like they were having fun.

Q4 Bradley beat the shot clock, was able to score, 
His defense was awesome, he was all over the floor.
Great experience for the bench, against each Raptor starter,
They can measure their progress and will have to work harder.

DeRozan fouled Bradley because he stole the ball,
Then stepped over him--no taunting call?
Sweetney came in, great offense has he, 
Doc's trying all combos to see what will be.

Sweetney scored, wild cheering from the crowd,
But the Cs on the bench--they clapped most loud.
Lots of steals and energy, the new guys got it done, 
Whether he admits it, Doc must be glad we won!

The season is soon starting, I am so glad,
"I AM A CELTIC," don't you love the new ad?

Sunday, December 18, 2011

EN-RAPTOR-ED

211 days since the Cs have played, 
Pierce and Pavlovic--at home they stayed.
First half we saw Wilcox, rebounds had he,
Something the Cs always love to see.

(Active, solid ) above the rim, is where we'll find Bass, 
He'll get used to Rondo's sliding bounce pass.
Ray at quick forward, still sharp as can be,
RAY ALLEN FOR THREE, RAY ALLEN FOR THREE!

JO and Marquis, confident and comfy are they,
They have come to win, they want to play!
Let's talk about our new guys who came from Purdue,
They spent four years in college--that really shows through.

First half 14 points, 10 assists, and rebounds 10,
KG/Ray/Rondo combined--our core men.
Q3 there was action at the offensive glass, 
Loads of team energy, and thanks to Bass.

KG got tossed around , landed on the floor, 
I bet tomorrow these guys will be sore.
Q4 saw the debut of the Cs' Gilbert Brown, 
If you know Pitt and The Big East, you've seen him around.

The energy from Bradley, of course, Wilcox and Bass, 
Active JO, Marquis...and KG didn't just pass.
Johnson and Moore played together toward the end
Cool for each of them to play with a friend.

In came Stiemsma, giving a rest to Bass,
(Did I mention I love him on the offensive glass?)
4 left in Q4 we saw the new kids on the block, 
Mostly an experiment, see what they can do, thought Doc.

Johnson was "player" and "defensive player of the year,"
In the Big Ten! We need that around here.
Terrible call against him, with Tommy I agree,
Different rules for the new guys he'll soon see.

Toward the end of Q4 many changes in the lead,
According to Doc, a win we don't need.
He feels during pre-season, doesn't matter if we lose,
Seems only natural this win by one we would choose!

KG, Ray, Rondo, Pierce will have to lead,
Guidance is what the new guys will all need.
Today's combinations, gotta love the pace,
Wait til you hear the crowd when they get to our place!


lovemyceltics.blogspot.com