"IT'S HARD TO CATCH HAWKS WITH EMPTY HANDS." ~Dutch Proverb

Hawks at the Gahden, after 22 games, AB's back!!
15+ minute restriction, Fearless Brown still on track!
Schröder said about his mom, trash talking was IT--
Last game: Schröder on the bench, game winner IT!

Fearless Brown slightly mixed feelings tonight,
Playing against his original mentor, 8not12 Dwight.
Start: Horford, Amir, Crowder, IT...(at last!) AB!
Schröder on a mission! Horford first scoring C!

Cs, D! Amir! We've missed you! AB FOR THREE!
CROWDER FOR THREE! Fantastic strip: IT FOR THREE!
Fearless Brown in! Hawks an 11-0 run.
Schröder hit IT in the face, foul called by...no one.

🎶🎵 The wonder ball goes round and round 🎵🎶
FEARLESS BROWN FOR THREE! In the corner found!
Horford, steal! Cs, some D! Olynyk, fouls, three.
Fearless Brown's leaps and spins exciting to see!

Cs are tied to start Q2!
Maskless Jerebko! How much better he'll do:
JEREBKO FOR THREE! Hawk Ilyasova is here,
His third NBA team in just this year.

With our 7 best Cs, this is just game 21.
AB, steal. AB FOR THREE! Turbo IT--fun!
Jerebko, block! AB, steal! IT GOT A CALL!
Schröder helped him up when he started to fall.

Cs, 2nd, 3rd tries, can't make a shot--
Refs are fairly calling fouls for us (IT)...NOT!
Phew, finally--mic'd up 😉--SMART FOR THREE!
Ugh, Hawks at their best, Cs within 4 start Q3.

FEARLESS BROWN FOR THREE! Rough night, IT!
DH8not12, no ball, grabbed the neck of IT!
COMMON FOUL? Huh? Horford "fouled" Dwight,
Who shoved Horford...T on Dwight, what a night!

Horford, four fouls. Olynyk steal, foul four.
SMART FOR THREE! DH8not12 off the floor:
Got his second T hanging like a jerk on the rim--
Had a double double. Cs must find rhythm!

Olynyk was fouled, hard--no call...T!
Smart flew across the court!! What a C!
Horford, block. Cs disjointed! Hero ball's poor.
Cs struggled to be within 13 to start Q4.

No words to describe the start of Q4--
Tho glad Smart and Rozier are on the floor--
Phantom 5th foul, Horford. Zeller (good hands), in,
Fearless Brown hard to the hoop! He wants to win!

IT quadruple teamed all night! Struggled to score ;(
His 20+ points games straight will not see 44.
Brad could have left him in, for just one more point--
Something positive for the loyal Fans in this joint!

Celtics lost by a number too large to write--
Forget about this game, always the next fight!
Cs can't let whining
Be defining....

(Still) CELTICS HOORAH!
🏀

"YOU CAN MATCH ANYTHING WITH EFFORT." ~Jonas Jerebko [perfect Celtics mantra!]

Cs in Detroit, retiring Rip Hamilton tonight.
AB will be back soon! Green's heel's not all right!
Horford, first Cs score! Fearless Brown to the rim!
IT, on Horford: our whole game depends on him!

Fearless Brown, hustle! FEARLESS BROWN FOR THREE!
Crowder, D! Horford, block! Most aggressive? Every C!
Cs a 13-2 run! Amir, rebounds! Crowder, steal!
ROZIER FOR THREE! Refs are keepin' it real.

OLYNYK FOR THREE! Cs up 4 start Q2!
Missing shots, each C. Time for what IT can do!
IT, Jerebko, Rozier, hustle! ROZIER FOR THREE!
Cs an 18-3 run! Yikes, Drummond worst ever at FT.

IT FOR THREE! Buzzer: Morris a crazy three.
Time to honor Rip. Cs up 4 to start Q3!
After a quiet first half, CROWDER FOR THREE!
Crowder, hustle! Cs an 8-0 run. IT FOR THREE!

Horford, dunk! Cs, D! IT FOR THREE!
IT, 20+ points, games straight, 43!
"You could make a very good case for him [IT] as MVP,"
Said Van Gundy; Carlisle agrees! So do we!

Cheesy call(s) on Amir (4), Horford, Olynyk, too!
Then Crowder--what are the refs trying to do??
Pistons an 11-0 run. Cs TOs. IT FOR THREE!
Cs stagnant. Ball's sticking with every C.

Zeller, in. Hack-a-Drummond. ROZIER FOR THREE!
Lots O' dribblin', loose play. Cs up 5 end Q3!
Smart, (always) crazy hustle! So much choppy play,
Because Rip had so much to say, to say, to say....

Pistons hot-Ish (Smith). Smart, fouls, three.
Cs missing shots. Tie. Not due to the Pistons D ;(
IT FOR THREE! Cs Season Record in threes!
Cs need composure! Can't miss rebounds on FTs!

Bodies flying! Seriously bad call on IT!
Pistons, lead, Caldwell-Pope, FTs, three.
Fearless Brown! FEARLESS BROWN FOR THREE!
Smart drew a foul after Fearless Brown's missed FT!

Cs major rebounding (Crowder)! What a dog fight!
Cs, 10-2 run! CELTICS WON BY 6! Long, rough night!
An Aside: Smart's Game Is Sweet,
Which doesn't show on the stat sheet!

UGH, CANADA

Cs in Toronto, Sullinger's no longer here--
Ainge loves our Team as is, that is clear!
That's a vote of confidence, their bond unique,
Tho everyone expected at least some little tweak.

No Lowry (wrist). With the Team, but still no AB,
17th straight game (Achilles), him we won't see.
Tucker, Ibaka, new Raptors. Fearless Brown, start.
Ainge got no new rebounder--could tear offense apart.

IT-Amir, alley-oop! Ibaka plays versatile D.
Amir, block! CROWDER FOR THREE!
Ugh, Serge "I-block-a." IT FOR THREE!
Cs a 15-6 run! Olynyk...rim, "home" is he.

Drafted together, Cs playing Young and Smart!
Young's been the project, Smart's been the Heart!
On 55% shooting (vs 40), Cs up 11 start Q2!
That mask is limiting what Jerebko can do ;(

YOUNG FOR THREE! Young, hustle! Part of our Core!
Ibaka slapped IT? Bodies flyin'! IT FOR THREE! FOUR!
Crazy, physical play! JEREBKO FOR THREE!
Raptors a 9-0 run. CROWDER FOR THREE!

Carroll pushed IT, TWICE, to the floor, Flagrant...One??
Ts on Crowder, IT! T on Carroll, who thought it was fun!
WOW! Fearless Brown, no distraction, engaged is he!
Cs great ball movement! FEARLESS BROWN FOR THREE!

Cs a 7-0 run! DeRozan ACCIDENTALLY hit by IT--
They shook hands; IT, like a man, apologize did he.
Huh, REFS CALLED, ON IT, A FLAGRANT ONE??
Smart took a hard charge. Refs' control is done.

Raptors a 7-0 run. Cs up 10 start Q3!
Hard work, scoring, defense, by every C!
Refs trying to put a stop to the physical play.
Raptors pull within 1. Cs need to play their way.

"Whiners don't get calls!" in the huddle yelled Brad.
Cs need the intensity and energy they had!
Olynyk, hustle! Raptors first lead since 6-4.
Rozier, Smart hustle! CROWDER FOR THREE (Cs score)!

Smart was fouled hard...on Olynyk the call?
Because DeMar DeRozan managed to fall?
Smart! Jerebko! Cs a 7-0 run! SMART FOR THREE!
Wow, that was scary! Cs up 3 end Q3!

FEARLESS BROWN FOR THREE! Gave Brad a high five :)
IT FOR THREE! IT, 20+ points (42 games)--streak's alive!
Double Foul Call?
Huh? Toronto Ball?

Toronto, timeout--guys on the floor--didn't have the ball!
IT rightfully nuts when he heard that call.
Raptors a 7-0 run. DeMar DeRozan (great name) can play.
CROWDER FOR THREE! Cs 17 point lead? Gone. Off day.

Raptors a 7-0 run. Hustle, Young and Smart!
Raptors' pull-up jumpers taking our D apart.
Ibaka, Tucker, good debuts--oh, great.
Raptors good switches, Cs taking the bait ;(

The series goes to the Raptors (by 10), 3 to 1.
DeRozan career high points. That was not fun....

CELTICS HAD ONE GAME TOO MANY BEFORE THE ALL STAR BREAK ;(

Cs in Chicago. No Wade, he is ill--
Or to play these Celtics doesn't have the will? 😉
People question Butler's ego--is he uncoachable?
Could that be why Ainge thinks he's unapproachable?

History, Big Baby and Doc...Baby's not a fan:
He thinks as a coach he's an overrated man ;)
Hmm, what can you say?
Doc's still in the NBA!

IT is sick (playing), as he was last night--
Funny, he seemed angry, just not right.
Horford, great moves! Amir, Fast Break, D!
Horford, pause: HORFORD FOR THREE!

IT-Amir, alley-oop! It's the Amir Show!
GREEN FOR THREE! Bruised heel, can still go.
Cs good ball movement. GREEN FOR THREE!
Rondo wants to look like the Rondo who was a C.

On 52% shooting (vs 41), Cs up 3 start Q2!
ROZIER FOR THREE! Zeller, in, Young, too!
OLYNYK FOR THREE! ROZIER FOR THREE!
YOUNG FOR THREE! IT FOR THREE!

Rondo twisted his ankle twice, near him no C,
Fumbled the ball, chased after it. Rondo's on IT.
Butler, Portis having games. IT FOR THREE!
IT FOR THREE! Cs, D! Cs up 6 start Q3!

Crowder (playing), flu. Q3 Smart's first score.
IT's close to the FT leader, only Curry has more.
Bulls lead. Horford, block. Crowder hard to the rim!
Jerian Grant, nephew of Horace, found his rhythm.

Crowder, three fouls. Bulls rebounding--no C.
OLYNYK FOR THREE! Cs within 3 end Q3.
Jerebko, mask struggles. OLYNYK FOR THREE!
ROZIER FOR THREE! Tie...then coast-to-coast IT!

IT: 20+ points, 41 games--ahead of Havlicek is he!
IT FOR THREE! How Does He Do It? IT!
Lead's back and forth. IT can draw those FTs!
SMART, STRIP--we were waiting! So were the Cs!

At the buzzer cheesy foul called on Marcus Smart--
.9 on the clock, Celtics collective broken heart....

BIG D...(LITTLE A-DOUBLE L-A-S)

Celtics, in Dallas; Crowder, former Mav, is back!
The services of Fearless Brown we will lack,
Hip flexor strain, out til after the All Star Break;
Same amount of time--now--AB should take.

Cs ball movement, IT FOR THREE!
SMART FOR THREE! IT FOR THREE!
Jerebko first off the Bench. IT FOR THREE!
IT on Dirk? SMART FOR THREE! CROWDER FOR THREE!

Yogi Ferrell, a 10-day deal, to him the team did speak:
Gave him a 2 year contract, nearly player of the week ;)
IT, D (on Dirk?)! Amir, D! SMART FOR THREE!
Butler Brad tried to recruit Yogi, crazy skills has he!

On 56 % (vs 60) shooting, Cs up 2 end Q1!
Amir, pause: AMIR FOR THREE! Amir! Fun!
Gerald Green not feeling well. GREEN FOR THREE!
Cs a 12-2 run! Green! Wow! Smart, steal. Cs D!

Green-Horford, alley-oop! GREEN FOR THREE!
After elbowing Smart, so long, Williams--T, then a T!
Cs an 8-0 run! Smart, 17, Green 10, 18 for IT,
Energetic, Focused, Cs up 11 start Q3!

IT FOR THREE! Yogi, yikes! Mavs swarming D.
Crowder, 4 fouls. HORFORD FOR THREE!
Rozier-Olynyk alley-oop! Smart, Amir, D!
IT, steal! Crowder, Horford, hustle! Olynyk, D!

Suddenly Mavs setting the pace, Cs forgot their D!
Awful calls on Smart, Jerebko. Brad's not happy.
Smart backing up, good D! Huh? Foul Number Three??
That could have gone better. Cs up 1 end Q3!

Cs TOs galore! Smart's tough! On Dirk is IT.
Full length of the court pass, Smart to IT!
Still struggling with that mask, JEREBKO FOR THREE!
Olynyk hard to the hoop, Mavs watching IT!

Young in! Smart--"homecoming." 50 tickets needed he!
OLYNYK FOR THREE! IT FOR THREE!
Cs a 6-0 run. Refs' calls are wack:
Both ways, odd. Calling all but contact!

Dirk's still sorta Dirk. Young's in, good for him!
CROWDER FOR THREE! Cs (re)found their rhythm!
IT, D! Crowder fouled out. Carlisle a while ago did say
That they made a mistake when they traded him away.

Mickey, in. YOUNG FOR THREE!
39th straight, 20+ IT!
CELTICS WON BY 13! So thrilled, I could explode!
We went 3 and 1 (silly Kings loss) on the road!

"I KNOW EVERYBODY ALWAYS TALKS ABOUT MICHAEL JORDAN, BUT THERE IS NOBODY THAT EVER COMPETED BETTER THAN JOHN STOCKTON." ~Danny Ainge, 2003, as a TV Broadcaster

Shout out to Stockton, Celtics are in Utah tonight,
Respect from a young Ainge somehow seems right ;)
Crowder is not with the Team; we still have no AB--
"Wait til after the ASB!!" ...when Ainge calls to ask me!

Smart, first score! IT FOR THREE!
Horford, block! Amir! Full speed, every C!
Two quick fouls, Fearless Brown to the rim!
Gobert, The Stifle Tower. IT shot right over him!

Hayward's a problem. IT FOR THREE!
Green! Olynyk, strip! OLYNYK FOR THREE!
Smart, strip! Olynyk running the floor! Phew!
On 78% (vs 44) shooting, Cs up 10 start Q2!

ROZIER FOR THREE! Smart, steal! GOTTA LOVE IT:
Opened a kids gym, Tacoma--cried for all to see.
Green...again! Rozier, save! Cs a 10-0 run!
Cs ball movement, sharp shooting, getting it done!

Diaw's here. Games have been rough on Our Swede!
Tonight: mask, shoved around and then he did bleed.
HORFORD FOR THREE! How Does He Do It, IT?
WOW! GREEN FOR THREE! How great is he?

Cs excellent play, against the Jazz, known for D,
On 67% shooting, Cs up 14 start Q3!
Fearless Brown, right hip strain, no more tonight.
Green in for him. Hope the Rookie is all right.

Green, three fouls. Streaking Horford to the rim!
Smart, in pain! Walked on his own. Cramp for him?
OLYNYK FOR THREE! Olynyk, strip! Young, in.
YOUNG FOR THREE! He practices! They go in!

Smart is back (phew)! Annoyed about fouls, IT,
Saying refs calling for them, "...call 'em for me!"
OLYNYK FOR THREE! Cs an 11-2 run!
Olynyk, block! Ugh, (poor rhyme) Joe Johnson.

Jazz better D. Cs Bench! Cs up 12 end Q3.
Jerebko, D! Smart, strip! HORFORD FOR THREE!
Smart, strip--yes, again! IT FOR THREE!
Cs ball movement, IT slipped...score, IT!

Making the most of his minutes, YOUNG FOR THREE!
IT-Olynyk, alley-oop! Olynyk's real bounce we see ;)
Jerebko dumped mask! Ingles plays kinda dirty on IT.
38 straight games with 20+ points, IT!

Jazz an 8-0 run. 1st, NBA, FT percent--IT!
Pointing to his wrist: IT FOR THREE!
Jazz making shots, Cs TOs, Jazz still in it.
Horford, great D! Cs great passing--wanna win it!

Horford, 96% FT shooting in Q4--
No quit in the Jazz, they continue to score.
Jazz never led, CELTICS WON BY 8.
All played well, Bench especially great!

***************************************************

An aside: just reported, it's a very sad day:
Cs' '12 draft, Fab Melo, 26, in his sleep, passed away.
'Cuse's Boeheim says he was a very good kid,
Worked hard, treated people well, that's what he did.
Respect.

CELTICS ABLAZE!

Cs in Portland, after a silly loss last night--
When we came out flat, with no energy or fight.
"They punked us in every way..." so said IT.
Crowder, family health issues--him we won't see.

Smart, steal! FEARLESS BROWN FOR THREE!
Cs, transition D! So many teams have a Plumlee ;)
Amir, effort, effort! Got it. Went hard to the floor!
IT, finally, after three and a half minutes no score.

Rozier, energy! Young, in. Mask on the Swede.
Explosive Green! Okay D. More offense we need!
Jerebko, Olynyk: McCollum sandwich--that's D!
McCollum grabbing his hip--tomorrow achy he'll be.

ROZIER FOR THREE! Cs within 10 start Q2.
IT! More explosive Green! Love that hesitation he can do!
Smart to Olynyk, the bounce...may be real ;)
T for jawing at Leonard, IT--now he's the real deal!

Horford! Amir! Aminu? Ugh. Smart, spin!
Cs are faster when Fearless Brown is in!
IT FOR THREE! Smart, Rozier, hustle! IT FOR THREE!
Cs 13-2 run! From 17 down, Cs within 6 start Q3!

HORFORD FOR THREE! Fearless Brown, FTs.
Cs, first lead since first hoop! 23-4 run, Cs!
Ties! Horford block! Smart's in on every play!
Olynyk, 4 fouls. Horford hard to the hoop--yay!

Zeller, in, D! Zeller, foul? Great acting, Dame.
ROZIER FOR THREE! Aminu is having himself a game.
NBA, no more ridicule, harsh social media change:
Started with the naughty Parsons-McCollum exchange?

Cs, D! FEARLESS BROWN FOR THREE!
Cs up 1 at the end of Q3!
Cs a 7-0 run, started: GREEN FOR THREE!
37 games straight, 20+ points, IT!

Rozier! OLYNYK FOR THREE! Blazers 6-0 run.
McCollum's tough (Lehigh). Green! Dunk! Fun!
Olynyk, phantom fouls. OLYNYK FOR THREE!
Fearless Brown, Smart, hustle! And of course, IT!

Smart/IT, steal! Fearless Brown making every FT!
SMART, WOW! Drew a charge, playing great D!
Cs a 14-7 run! IT coast to coast!
Well-contested game, Cs attacking the most!

CELTICS WON BY 9!
CELTICS HOORAH (last line)....
🏀