GAME OF THRONES

Sacramento Kings--the end of this trip, 
Starting with this game Cs must get a grip!
Rondo's playing (phew)! Cs need to find their D, 
And stop relying entirely on the Big Three.

Kings Ball seems so random, anyone can shoot,
If Coach Smart calls plays, they don't give a hoot.
Q1 all the Kings' scoring is in the paint, 
Not the Cs--going to the hoop they ain't.

Love Sully's defense tho he isn't large, 
Makes up for it by being able to take a charge.
28% shooting for the Cs in Q1,
That's why we were down 6 when it was done.

Green (Jeff) has come alive, bringing energy and scoring,
This is the Sleep Train Arena--Cs' fans would be snoring.
There's talk about the Cs getting the troubled Cousins, 
(Here's a chance to say, Fredette, we know your cousins)!

We saw JET wings halfway through Q2,
But transition D is something the Cs don't do!
Alley-oop, alley-oop, Rondo to KG, 
Kings scoring in the paint--easy as can be.

Cs down 5 to start Q3,
Keeping us in the game is KG.
Halfway through Q3 the Cs got hot, 
Briefly PP found his three-point shot.

Bass looks sluggish, can't find his rhythm, 
Sloppy fouls--Doc's not happy with him.
Kings' Isaiah Thomas is a little guy,
Down the middle of the court he can fly.

Cs missed 10 of 11, end Q3 couldn't score, 
So down 11 we started Q4.
For the Kings it was suddenly raining threes, 
Another tough night for the traveling Cs.

Looks like a turned ankle for Captain P, 
Rondo's hip doesn't look right, a step slower is he.
The Kings couldn't miss, no matter what the shot, 
Throughout Q4 they all got hot.

For the Cs, whether it's physical or in their heads, 
They'll be grateful to sleep in their own beds.

"THE TWO MOST POWERFUL WARRIORS ARE PATIENCE AND TIME" Tolstoy

Cs are in the Bay Area (the Warriors tonight),

They'll all play point, Rondo's hip's not right.

There'll be some confusion, both teams have a Lee,

We'll take the one who has found his three!

Warriors went on an 11-0 run, 

Missed no shots, 4 minutes into Q1.

Ezeli, Thompson, Landry and Jack, 

Warriors won't give the Knicks their Lee back.

Guys in Green have a Green who played their Green, 

End Q1 Cs down 6, not the worst we've seen.

A Crawford is a ref (Danny), free throws are skewed,

Cs' bench was reprimanded early because they booed!

Warriors work hard, good half court D, 

They're especially tough on Pierce and KG.

The Warriors started playing a two-three zone, 

Forcing Pierce to take shots he does not own.

Mike Gorman agreed with Scal that the refs were bad, 

One of the most frustrating halves the Cs have had.

First half  4 for 26 PP, Green and JET,

Three cheesy fouls, each, Pierce and Sully did get.

Cs down 17 to start Q3,

Tough time all around for Captain P.

Cs 6-0, then 8-0 run tearing up and down the floor, 

Warriors' 20 point lead is 9 to start Q4.

Jack 5 straight points, Pierce hit on the arm

After making a three--refs saw no harm.

Then Green got hit, Sully took one in the nose, 

He was bleeding--on the bench he goes.

Tomorrow Cs vs Kings to end this rough trip, 

Hope Rondo's quickly better--his thigh and hip.

I am posting this early, not much more we can do, 

Expecting Bradley back on January Two!

NO "LAC" OF SKILL....

Cs in LA, no Nicholson tonight, 

It's that other team, Lob City highlight.

Celtics started slowly, we tuned in late, 

Thunder-Mavs OT--we had to wait. 

Q1 Clippers dropped 30, just 10 is their lead,

KG at the buzzer, ended the Q like we need!

Green hard to the hoop, then hooray for Lee, 

9-1-1 call was answered--he found his three.

Clippers fans love their show time, they get loud, 

But in every arena there's a Celtics crowd!

We know about Griffin, Barnes and Paul,  

Their bench is tough, especially 6th man Jamal.

In the first half--10 points for JET, 

Sully, the rookie, no respect yet.

Cs down 13 end Q2--not great.

Green for three at the buzzer--it was too late.

Doc not happy, early timeout Q3,

Chris Paul's head hit the mouth of Captain P.

Just when our spirits started to droop, 

Rondo to KG, alley-oop!

The Clippers are a constant highlight reel. 

While the Cs are struggling to get the feel. 

Clippers, sky high, continue to score, 

Cs are getting thrown all over the floor.

LA's rough and athletic--techs, they have the most, 

As they push and shove from coast to coast.

Clippers had a feisty player many years ago, 

That was our Doc Rivers, you probably know.

At the end of Q3 Rondo made his three shot, 

Still a 15 point lead the Clippers have got.

Q4 no offense or defense could the Cs design, 

Only hope for the Cs? Turiaf at the line!

Clippers' lead was in the 20s halfway thru Q4,

Cs' starters out--Joseph and Varnado on the floor.

Let's hope this game is an unfortunate blip, 

Cs will surely be better the rest of this trip.

CAVALIER ATTITUDE

Cs lost 3 on the road, all in a row,

No solid identity did we show.

Green and Wilcox-question not their heart...but hearts, 

They are just two of nine new moving parts.

JET not off the bench, but starting--not Lee, 

Plus Collins (no Bass) five, four is KG.

Irving and Rondo haven't met this season yet, 

Now Irving's the hungry point guard, Rondo the vet!

No Varejao tonight, for Collins that's good,

Rondo hard to the hoop, just like he should!

Bass first sub in, then in came Sully, 

The goal's to keep the Cs out of the scoring gully.

Pierce now 7th all-time shooting the three.

Not til late Q1 did we hear from Kyrie.

Cs up 2 to start Q2, 

Sully rebounding--the bench knows what to do!

Most of the first half scoring Rondo, Pierce and  KG, 

Kyrie kept to 6. Cs up 8 start Q3.

Cs shooting high percentage, lots of give and go,

Captain P putting on quite a three-point show!

End Q3 standing O for Captain P, 

Looks like tonight he found  HIS  i.d.

Then Rondo, KG out, Tyrie got hot, 

Knew he would because he took every shot.

Cs' lead was up to 20, til Tyrie's 9-0 run, 

Cs up only 10 when Q3 was done.

End Q3, start Q4, Cs stopped controlling the paint 

17-0 Cavs run, again where the Cs ain't.

A laughing Miles flops--Rondo foul number five, 

Cavs got within 2, Cs must survive!

Against mocking the Cs there should be a rule. 

Cs, especially PP--aggressive--just took 'em to school!

Flagrant One on Collins? He was staying with the ball!

Crowd--and Doc--went nuts on the bogus call.

Thompson missed both free throws, Ball Don't Lie, 

Don't laugh at the Cs, we will make you cry!

KG had a spectacular strip, bogus foul call,

Another standing O for our 40-point Paul.

Cs now have a 5-game streak at home, 

Cs by  12--that's the end of this poem.

NOAH'S ARC

"Hello, Thibs, it's Doc...." they speak all the time, 

Cs starting off strong--an easy rhyme.

Q1 Cs went on a 6-0 run,

Then Bulls' Noah and Deng getting it done.

Cs had a serious practice, they worked on stuff,

KG was hard on Bradley who showed up and was tough!

Boozer is big, he plays hard at the hoop,

But it's Noah who plays every spot for this group.

After great practice yesterday, today Doc was blue, 

Cs used none of it Q1, down 5 start Q2.

We know, in so many ways, KG is great,

I laughed out loud when he helped up Nate!

Cs are not shooting enough and we have shaky D, 

Bulls' Butler playing well, Nate Robinson for three.

First half how did the Bulls score so much in the paint?

By shooting from wherever the Celtics ain't.

Though it seems that at the refs Doc always does yell,

His real problem is getting the bench to jell.

Clock running down, off glass, Rondo for three, 

Cs from down 13 to down 7 to start Q3.

Where are Bass, Green, JET, Sully, Lee??

Gotta take the load off the Cs Big Three!

Cs' offense pulled together--briefly--early Q3

But we are still struggling with terrible D.

Rondo is so competitive he can dominate,

But he needs the bench to concentrate!

All the offense through Noah, everyone is all in, 

Cs got close, but Rondo alone cannot win. 

Cs down 9 to start Q4,

Ugh, Rondo grabbing his hammie running up the floor.

Green finally scored, but it's Nate for 3,3,3,3,3,

Triple double for Noah, Q4 was hard to see. 

Cs are slogging through mud, they are hurting my soul,

One game at a time, that is always the goal....

SPURRED...OFF??

A month ago the Spurs came into our Home,

Seemed Cs' focus on defense that night did roam.

Lee is starting again,  off the bench is JET,

Tho' Doc says he doesn't know anyone's place yet.

(Doc's kids grew up here, there's a place in his heart)...

Captain P, Lee and KG off to a good start.

Early shoving battle between Duncan and KG, 

Parker vs. Rondo so much fun to see.

Q1 Spurs played smoothly, like they've played together, 

Cs down 5, Spurs offense they did weather.

One thing that playing at home will do,

Q1, Spurs no fouls-not one, not two!

Cs a 10-2 run at the top of Q2,

Then the refs took over--you know how they do?

Rondo's fast break--gotta love it the most, 

Allowed Captain P to go coast to coast!

Pierce for three, for three, JET a three, plus three more,

The latter off the bench--before Q3 and Q4!

First half the Spurs picked apart the Cs' D,

Still Cs only down 3 to start Q3.

Cs shut down Duncan, he had no feel,

But what about Splitter, Parker and Neal?

Spurs 11-0 run, tho' the Cs played good D, 

Spurs always pass to the open guy they see.

Spurs another run, despite Cs' pretty good D

Spurs lead by 8 at the end of Q3.

Cs' offense struggles when the guy they call short--

Rajon Rondo--is off the court.

Lee hard to the hoop, then Jeff Green Number Eight, 

For him to come to life we shouldn't have to wait!

Doc is hot off the bench, in every ref's ear,

He does not like what has been going on here!

Cs are not playing poorly, they keep hanging in, 

But missing so many shots they cannot win.

Late Q4 the Spurs found their groove,

On Parker's one after another acrobatic move.

At the end of Q4, energy the Cs lack, 

Shots are short--2nd of back-to-back.

Anderson, Decolo, hardly a recognizable name, 

Cs by 15 lost this game.

IT'S NOT ROCKET SCIENCE....

Lee was a Rocket (2 years), tonight he'll start, 

Instead of JET who should be the bench heart.

DMarsh's theory of road games is great for rhyme, 

We must just play one game at a time.

Harden, The Beard, goes left, score can he, 

But, to McHale's dismay, Rockets play no D.

Cs need high pick and roll D, no ball for The Beard.

Phonetically "A-sheek" is now "A-shick," kinda weird.

Q1 KG out early, Wilcox into the mix, 

Cs struggling with shots--KG one for six.

Rockets are passing well, putting on a show, 

Hah! Odd for a team whose starts are slow.

Versus this youngest team, Doc did an interesting thing,

He brought KG back in, against the second string.

After turnovers galore, and play not so great, 

The Cs start Q2 down by 8.

Cs playing wily ball, as good as it gets, 

Game's off--using their brains--seasoned vets!

Certainly the best shot tonight that we've seen, 

The monster dunk by Number Eight Jeff Green!

Rockets are wild, running hard up the floor, 

For five  minutes in Q2 they did not score.

Been a long time since we talked about fierce, 

But tonight for sure he is--Captain Pierce!

Crazy game, solid D, Cs up 2 to start Q3,

Rockets changed up their plan, let Harden get free.

Rockets have a guy, Parsons, about him don't know much, 

But he can handle the ball, and he has good touch.

Then there's Smith whom the Cs have forgotten, 

Every time he scores, Doc must feel rotten.

Cs finished Q3 strong, they managed to survive

The soaring Rockets--start Q4 down 5.

JET, off the bench, for three, three, three, three,

But the threat that's Greg Smith no one did foresee.

PP and KG playing so hard tonight, 

Trying to start off this four-game road trip right.

Cs' offense broke down, and so did the D, 

Most of that started back in Q3.

Cs seem unfocused. Tired from double overtime?

Doesn't matter, Cs lose--that's the end of this rhyme.

HOME AND POEM

Sixers again--it is young vs old, 

Rondo's tweaked ankle is ok we're told.

Good rebounds for Bass, maybe his shot we'll see,

Turner plays the Cs well, but has no D!

JET took a charge, has he found his shot?

Tonight Bass and Sully have to get hot!

Hard to the hoop Jeff Green Number Eight, 

As of the last few games he is playing great!

Cs up 8 to start Q2, 

Green to KG...YAHOO!

Tonight's the 1275th game for KG,

4000th assist, 5th all-time, Captain P!

Number Eight Jeff Green went hard to the hoop,

At long last, cheers from the home fans group!

KG, extending his range, making his shots go,

Cs stifling D, Sixers a first half low.

Cs up 20 to start Q3,

Red hot shooting from KG!

Cs out of the locker room a much slower group, 

Love that Rondo to Wilcox alley-oop, -oop!

Q3 Cs' game is flat, no one's going to the hoop,

13-0 run from the Sixers group.

Sixers--28 first half, 29 Q3!

Only offense for the Celtics is KG!

Sixers got within 8, down 13 start Q4,

Luckily Green was scoring from all over the floor!

Halfway through Q4 Cs developed some rhythm,

Glad Bass came to life, wondered what was with him.

KG played 24 minutes--interesting stat:

NO rebounds tonight, 15 years since that!

Good memories of this game the Celtics will keep, 

Sixers have beaten us this season, but not a sweep!

A moment of respect for Doc's coach/mentor/friend 

Rick Majerus

MAY ALL YOUR "HOLIDAY" WISHES COME...JRUE?

Sixers have owned the Cs this season--and pre-

Our record so far is 0 for 3.

Hurt again by turnovers early Q1,

Rondo--all alone--is getting it done!

Rondo rebounded, alley-oop pass then there for the tip in, 

Thought Pierce looked way off, I must have been trippin'.

Had 11 points in ten minutes--that was great,

End Q1, teams are tied at 28.

Holiday right, left, right, then straight to the hoop, 

Will Coach Collins ever say he can lead this group?

Just so Doc's instructions were not muddled, 

Pierce and KG coached whenever the guys huddled!

At the end of the half, an interesting stat:

Rondo leads with 10 rebounds, how about that!

So many small lead changes we did see, 

Cs up 4 to start Q3.

Early Q3, 11-2 run for the Sixers group,

All we got to enjoy was KG's alley-oop.

(On the Sixers bench, with all his hair, 

Did you remember, in Philly, Andrew Bynum's there)?

Sixers maintained the lead throughout most of Q3,

Cs too many turnovers and not enough D.

24th career triple double for the Cs Number Nine, 

Points, assists and rebounds--that's quite a line.

An emotional Doc because of things he did see, 

Like Pierce's pass to the stands instead of to Lee!

Cs down just 2 to start Q4,

(Haven't mentioned JET, he can't seem to score).

Q4, oh what a competitor is Captain P,

HOW MANY Cs' TURNOVERS DID WE SEE?

7.7 seconds left, KG for the tie, 

2.7 left, Rondo timeout on the fly!

Hang in there, folks, here comes more rhyme, 

KG's thumping his chest--it's overtime!

Six fouls on Jrue, no more game will he see, 

Third time tonight, Jeff Green for three!

Air ball by Lee, game went down to the wire,

Cs would have won if the clock didn't expire.

Sixers have owned the Cs this season--and pre-

Our record so far is 0 for 3.

Hurt again by turnovers early Q1,

Rondo--all alone--is getting it done!

Rondo rebounded, alley-oop pass then there for the tip in, 

Thought Pierce looked way off, I must have been trippin'.

Had 11 points in ten minutes--that was great,

End Q1, teams are tied at 28.

Holiday right, left, right, then straight to the hoop, 

Will Coach Collins ever say he can lead this group?

Just so Doc's instructions were not muddled, 

Pierce and KG coached whenever the guys huddled!

At the end of the half, an interesting stat:

Rondo leads with 10 rebounds, how about that!

So many small lead changes we did see, 

Cs up 4 to start Q3.

Early Q3, 11-2 run for the Sixers group,

All we got to enjoy was KG's alley-oop.

(On the Sixers bench, with all his hair, 

Did you remember, in Philly, Andrew Bynum's there)?

Sixers maintained the lead throughout most of Q3,

Cs too many turnovers and not enough D.

24th career triple double for the Cs Number Nine, 

Points, assists and rebounds--that's quite a line.

An emotional Doc because of things he did see, 

Like Pierce's pass to the stands instead of to Lee!

Cs down just 2 to start Q4,

(Haven't mentioned JET, he can't seem to score).

Q4, oh what a competitor is Captain P,

HOW MANY Cs' TURNOVERS DID WE SEE?

7.7 seconds left, KG for the tie, 

2.7 left, Rondo timeout on the fly!

Hang in there, folks, here comes more rhyme, 

KG's thumping his chest--it's overtime!

Six fouls on Jrue, no more game will he see, 

Third time tonight, Jeff Green for three!

Air ball by Lee, game went down to the wire,

Cs would have won if the clock didn't expire.

WHAT'S LOVE GOT TO DO, GOT TO DO WITH IT?

Was Rondo being funny?It is hard to know,

Was he in Mexico? From the suspension did he learn? No!

Wolves have Rubio, Barea, but it is mostly in rebounding 

That Kevin Love's skill, says even Doc, is clearly resounding.

Wolves' Howard and Pekovic know how to score,

The most glorious sight? KG running the floor.

Alley-oop Rondo to KG, playing against his old team,

JET a wily vet, Sully's a rookie dream.

Ten days to two weeks til we see Avery Bradley, 

Then it is mostly a Big the Cs will need badly.

Just when we're counting out our beloved Captain P, 

He does a beautiful spin move, more of that let's see!

For those who say Cs fierce we are not, 

As Love went by Bass gave him a shot!

Doc says our transition D was pretty poor,

End Q2 Cs (on Pierce turnovers) down by 4.

Q3 more early Cs turnovers but on pass after pass, 

We were treated to the beauty of Brandon Bass.

Bass, Wilcox and Rondo all went on a run, 

Cs by 7 when Q3 was done.

More treats for us, in Q4, with KG,

Sully's quickly learning how to be a C!

Tho there are still so rarely "star fouls" for Paul, 

What a thrill to finally see Celtics Ball!

Rondo with a reverse spin, pretty and quick!

(Shot of Barbosa at the bench, he does look sick).

Rondo's 11th double double, Cs are getting it done, 

By 10 points this game was won!

BACK-TO-BUCK GAME

PP beat the clock, score KG, steal by JET, 

Cs hot. 5  1/2 minutes in, Bucks no hoops yet.

Cs started on a crazy 17-0 run,

Up 16 are the Celtics to end Q1.

Sully is great at taking the charge,

Can't really block shots but he plays large.

Last night a tweet by Courtney Lee,

Called 9-1-1 looking for his three!

Q2 Bucks improving, 9-0 run, they're back in it, 

Cs must stay aggressive, play hard, to win it.

Marquis Daniels, back to back, at the hoop,

(Still love his hair tho he's with the other group)!

Ellis, Sanders, Jennings pulled themselves together,

A well-organized run that the Cs must weather.

With KG on the bench--our defensive machine--

Had to rely on the energy of Number Eight Jeff Green.

Fewest points Cs allowed in a quarter--Q1,

Most points by an opponent, in Q2 that was done.

To 1 point at the half the Cs' lead was down, 

Forgot Ilyasova and Sanders, Bucks' big men in town.

Cs had a turnover to start Q3,

Then Bucks' turnover led to a score by Lee.

Bucks took the lead, then a terrible call,

Collins all set up, ahead of his man and the ball!

Ice water in his veins, you can count on JET, 

He's calm and focused, a wily vet.

A beautiful sight to see, Sully an offensive board!

By the Cs--and fans--he will be adored.

Pick and rolls, side to side, JET and Lee, 

But Cs, Bucks are tied at the end of Q3.

Mbah A Moute gave the Bucks the lead start Q4,

Finally KG and PP were able to score!

No-call calls on Pierce--sometimes seem unreal?

Playing Q4 with heart, good hustle, good steal!

With no game til Wednesday Doc left in KG, 

When we needed it, Jeff Green, then PP, for three!

One minute to go, a cheesy call on KG, 

24 seconds--Bucks by 2 on Jennings for 3.

Tough call on Lee put Sanders at the line,

Missed three by PP, by JET, Bucks by 3--not fine.