WIN OR GO POEM

(sorry) POEM IS LONG, 

BOSTON STRONG!

The day begins with Avery Bradley For Three!

Bass starting again, his first shot made he.

KG muttering, "Right now, right now!"

Practiced with Rondo (one one one) to remember how.

Cs an inspired start including Pierce For Three!

That sometimes-moving-screen-call on KG.

With a hand in his face, a Three For JET, 

In this series he and Bass haven't busted out yet.

Bass is playing 'Melo as well as can be, 

Cs' turnover led to Novak for three.

Good balanced scoring for the Cs, 

Crowd is into it, need four quarters--please!

Green hard to the hoop, no stopping him, 

Scoring all different ways, finding his rhythm.

(love these words) Cs up 5 to start Q2,

Crawford For Three, that crazy shot he can do.

Doc says every coach should have the honor to coach KG, 

He is The Man, makes the right plays, the court he can see.

JET to KG, alley-oop, 

8-0 run by the Cs group.

Gave Chandler a hoop, foul before, took it away, 

Tech on Woodson, offensive foul, Chandler, next play.

Q2 three fouls on KG, three on Green, two Captain P, 

Signs of the "old" JET we are starting to see.

Shumpert is annoying, deflections and steals,

Green took a charge, to the crowd this appeals!

Green is sharp,  Bass is playing great D, 

Standing O from the crowd, glorious sight to see!

Forgot Cs drafted Green, traded to Sonics for Ray, 

Tho we got him from OKC, with Perk we did pay.

Shaking his hand, won't say a word, is T. Will,

Surely he's just grateful to be in this game still.

The Captain, The Truth, For Three! For Three!

JET knocks it down, Cs up 19 start Q3.

Woodson wants transition D to stop Jeff Green, 

Fourth foul on KG, that problem with his screen.

Jeff Green For Three! Deflections and steals, AB, 

Now four fouls on Green, Bass and KG.

Prigioni was knocked down, phew, common foul on JET, 

Prigioni fell like it was flagrant, the call he didn't get.

Cs' lead is cut to 12, Doc giving it to Green, 

Doesn't like sloppy ball handling in Q3 he has seen.

Knicks had a run of 13-2,

Bass 5th foul, Prigioni flopped--again--deserves review!

Pierce did his fake, then a loud jam, 

Pierce took the charge from a 'Melo slam.

Knicks think the calls are bad, feeling some pain, 

Jason Kidd told Felton not to complain.

Pierce great block led to Felton for three, 

First time at the line, made 'em both--KG.

Cs 20 point lead is down to 8,

Struggling 'Melo on the bench, Felton playing great.

Prigioni for three and Felton for three, 

Saw a 30-14 Knicks run in Q3.

Cs up 3 to start Q4,

T. Will great block flying down the floor.

Great ball movement, The Truth For Three!

Shumpert steal, for the tie, a pest is he.

KG, over K. Mart, he did score, 

Green made two free throws, aggressive on the floor.

'Melo with the drive, the ball he flushed, 

Cs' lead is 2, crowd for a moment was hushed.

Green for two, how did that shot go in?

Bass fouled out...'Melo's irritating grin.

Once again in this game there is a tie, 

Felton-Knicks their first lead, collective sigh.

Cs second half--offense disappeared, 

Even up 19 at the half, so we feared.

Pierce and KG working together,

Onslaught from the Knicks we must weather.

End of game, the ball's in the hands of PP,

.4 second left is what the refs did see.

Deflection by Wilcox! Easy rhyme,

We are going to OVERTIME!

Pierce the first to score in OT, 

Clock expiring, score by KG!

'Melo at the line, another tie,

JET For Three, then two--do or die!

'Melo tried a three, foul on Novak the call,

JET stepped up, he's all over the ball.

In my heart these men I will always keep, 

Because they averted a Knicks sweep.

Game 5 Wednesday, what a ride, 

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE CELTIC PRIDE!

DIS-HEART-ENED

Honoring First Responders before the Anthem Song, 

Is the very  definition of "Boston Strong."

Announcers: Breen, and Van Gundy (whom I prefer),

Both better than the annoying Little Stevie Kerr.

JET (scored first)--to get him going?--got the start,

Along with Green, who is quite literally all Heart!

Two threes for Prigioni, 'Melo with his jump shot, 

Rough stretch for the Cs, someone has to get hot.

Pierce turned the corner and attacked the rim, 

Because of KG's screen--we should all thank him.

Best cutter in the NBA? No one would argue it's AB,

Back in the rotation--good for him!--is Courtney Lee!

From the bench, together--Bass and Lee, 

Beautiful words: Jeff Green For Three!

Knicks good start just on threes, so unforgiving,

Live or die by the three? They are clearly living.

Cs only down 5 (somehow) to start Q2,

Lee on Smith, good D, what he has to do.

15 seconds, two fouls, on Knicks' KMart, 

KG rebounding, and rebounding, talk about Heart!

At the shot clock buzzer, Crawford For Three!

Turned the ball over, then took a charge--Captain P!

Knicks on a roll--every other three is good, 

Crowd want to applaud--if only they could!

Cs few flashes of brilliance, some from Green, 

But some of the worst turnovers we have seen.

Doc told guys not to give up, keep spirit, gotta fight, 

Missing easy lay-ups, good shots. They WILL fall tonight!

'Melo scoring, still raining threes, Knicks biggest lead, 

Where does Doc begin at halftime with what the Cs need?

Cs down 16 to start Q3,

Maybe, opposite of last two games, strong 2nd half we'll see.

Scary stat from the season re: games lost and won, 

Cs down 10+ at the half, we're 3 and 31.

7-0 run by the Cs, JET For Three, Pierce is scoring, 

The crowd has been anxious for the chance to be roaring!

Prigioni, a rookie, at age 35,

With steal after steal, he's kept the ball alive!

4:57 left Q3 til first free throw for Captain P, 

Too few moments of greatness from Green we see.

Cs down 16 at the end of Q3,

Before Q4 Doc said need shots, need D!

The air has gone out of the Garden tonight,

Early Q4 Cs "fans" are taking flight.

JET For Three, but we can hardly cheer, 

Hard to even recognize the Cs who are here.

Smith elbowed JET, up very high, 

JET took exception, Flagrant Two on Smith--goodbye.

We must remember whether games are lost or won, 

BOSTON STRONG. BOSTON STANDS AS ONE.

HOMEWARD BOUND

GAME TWO: Cs led off with a hoop by KG, 

More of him Doc says he wants to see.

Doc had nothing but praise for Brandon Bass, 

On which Bass said, without a win, he would take a pass.

Cheap early fouls on KG, Wilcox came in, 

Can't establish KG early, makes it harder to win.

J. R. Smith, off the bench, 6th man of the year, 

(Words Clippers' Jamal Crawford did not want to hear).

Rondo's the (not player) coach working with AB, 

Helping him add good passes to his excellent D.

Last game: in 11 minutes, first time Crawford took NO shot, 

In his second playoff game--will he show what he's got?

Because there's been no game from this one guy yet, 

It was particularly thrilling to see a big Three By JET!

Doc played only eight players in game one, 

Tonight deeper into the bench to try to get it done.

The degrees of difficulty go to Smith, that's J.R.

Especially the buzzer beating three, end Q1, from so far.

Knicks went on an 11-0 run, 

Cs down 6 at the end of Q1.

AB steal, scored twice, aggressiveness from KG!! 

Music to our ears: JET For Three!

Cs went on an 16-4 run,

JET For Three...another one!!

Cs causing Knicks turnovers, themselves making few, 

Third foul on KG, restricted area, what could he do?

Extra long pass by Pierce, to Jeff Green--alley-oop, 

Captain P, Green, JET leading scorers Cs group.

Cs Q2 28-16, Cs up 6 start Q3,

Could have done without Shumpert for three, and three.

KG early Q3 (talking to himself), 4th foul on him, 

Must be why he can't seem to find his rhythm.

4 fouls each, Green and KG, 3 on Captain P, 

Struggling to find his shot--finally KG.

Then called for a travel, not like him at all, 

He doesn't even seem comfortable handling the ball.

Pierce hard to the hoop, just tossed the ball up, 

Drew the foul, ball went right into the cup.

Smith, Anthony, Felton--all got hot, 

Best Cs had? The occasional KG shot.

Knicks 32-11 Q3, Cs down 15 start Q4,

Cs jump shots, no one going to the hoop to score.

Crawford leading an 8-2 run, Cs playing some D!

Then those words we love: Paul Pierce For Three!

Knicks never let up, then 5th foul on KG, 

Seemed there were no answers by any C.

Lee, Randolph, T. Will in toward the end of Q4,

No Q3, Q4 energy--the Cs couldn't score.

By 16 points the Celtics came up short, 

Now we'll have to take care of our home court.

Lowest half score, playoffs, the Cs have ever had, 

Just when we thought the last game was really  bad. 

The tragedy of the Boston bombings does resound.

First time since then the Cs are homeward bound.

(Still) Boston Strong....

"COME TOGETHER, RIGHT NOW...." The Beatles

IT IS PLAYOFF TIME--the Celtics vs. the Knicks,

Will we  see KG and 'Melo up to their usual tricks?

Best guys for the Cs: KG, Pierce and Green.

Knicks: 'Melo, Smith...Prigioni (ankle) won't be seen.

Wildcard players from both teams we will see, 

Of course, sitting front and center, will be Spike Lee.

KG very aggressive, the first (then AB) to score, 

Cs played Match Up/Zone all over the floor.

Copeland in for Prigioni? It is his first start.

'Melo started 4 for 4, clearly doing his part.

Ks went on an 11-3 (AB) run, 

Chandler pushed KG, extra shove--Tech One.

Guarding 'Melo--two early fouls on AB,

A Q1 sighting of Jordan Crawford we did see.

JR Smith (best 6th man?) a monster jam.

Love the intro--"That Power"--from Will. I. Am.

Cs ended the quarter on a 10-2 run, 

Green For Three at the buzzer, Cs up 3 end Q1.

Shot clock expiring, Green For Three...then two, 

Kidd back-to-back threes, he's 3rd all-time, it's true.

Second foul (for 'Melo) on KG, a cheesy call, 

He went straight up and got all ball.

Felt better after the Pierce to KG alley-oop, 

Love to watch AB cut (3 in a row) through the Knicks group.

Excellent defense on 'Melo, especially by Bass, 

Cs great ball movement--with the extra pass.

Pierce, with the advance passes,  energized Jeff Green, 

Best playing with KG and Pierce we have seen.

Green 20 first half points, Cs up 4 start Q3,

Welcome to The Playoffs and Boston Celtics D!

'Melo for three, Smith two--and a very loud crowd, 

Cs' slowed down their offense, shouldn't be allowed.

Four fouls on Shumpert, terrible call (3rd) on AB, 

Crowd restless until  Carmelo made a three.

AB is playing D, and offense, too.

"Spread the floor, attack!" is what Doc said to do.

Pierce is 10th all-time in free throws made, 

Cs 11-1 run, with all Heart they have played.

Cs up 3 to start Q4,

To start, Bass, AB, Pierce not on the floor.

Knicks scoring despite Cs' excellent D, 

Silly save by Lee, 4th foul on KG.

Cs went five minutes, from Q3, no score, 

KG and Pierce found some rhythm on the floor.

On a J.R. Smith play, 5th foul on KG, 

Hope JET will eventually connect with his three.

Cs are struggling second half trying to score, 

Kidd, the vet, deflecting, rolling around on the floor.

In Q4 the Knicks their offense they have found, 

Tho' cold from downtown--Cs turnovers, can't rebound.

KMart scored, on 'Melo's first assist, 

Cs just 8 Q4 points, not aggressive, jump shots missed.

Celtics' theme today, "Boston Stand As One,"

Which they did, tho' this game was not won.

Cs' game can be fixed--not that much wrong, 

Keep in your Hearts: "Boston Strong!"

"TONIGHT, WE ARE ALL BOSTON FANS." Raptors PA Announcer

Both teams gathered mid-court, of solidarity a sign,

After the national Anthem, Diamond's "Sweet Caroline,"

Played every game at Fenway since '97 at least.

Yankees played it in tribute--as will teams even not in the east.

No JET tonight, limited minutes Green and Bass, 

No KG. Pierce, battling flu, wouldn't take a pass.

"You don't stop the spirit of Boston..." so said Doc.

Cs must play this game tho 7th seed is a lock.

Raptors back court violation right off the tip, 

AB was fouled, scored on the Celtics' first trip.

Cs' new guys/bench players must show what they've got, 

So on the playoff roster they can secure a spot.

Valanciunas--must be able to spell this guy's name, 

He's a 20 year old rookie, and can play this game.

9 points first 11 minutes by the no-resting Captain P,

Bass quietly good, great offense and D by AB.

T. Will and Jordan Crawford--each can be a wild card, 

Crawford half court at the buzzer--didn't look that hard!

Cs down 1 to start Q2,

Doc anxious to see what the Cs' Zone can do.

Need more of these words, "Courtney Lee For Three!"

9-0 run by the Raptors, in came AB and PP.

Speaking of the Knicks...a rumor one often hears:

Rasheed Wallace Retires! Second time in three years.

Cs down 10 to start Q3,

Tonight no more Shav and Pierce will we see.

Jeff Green For Three! Q3 20 + Raptors lead, 

Brandon Bass sat down, for the rest he does need.

628 games, 3rd in NBA, til a first playoff sighting

For Chris Wilcox! In this opportunity he is delighting!

Speaking of sightings, in came Fab Melo,

Two quick, sloppy fouls--he won't be Doc's fellow.

DeMar Darnell DeRozan (great name), what a night,

Along with Gay--and Lucas, who can only go right.

Cs down 26 to start Q4,

T. Will, White, Crawford, Melo, Lee on the floor.

Raptors had a scoring flurry,

Celtics seemed to have no worry.

Bruins at home--"Boston Strong" video, emotional night, 

Raptors beat the Cs by 24--does that sound right?

TONIGHT, WE ARE ALL BOSTON FANS....

"BROOKLYN WE GO HARD, WE GO HARD" Jay Z

Humphries but no Rondo, so you think no fight?

With Evans, Wallace, KG, Pierce-that doesn't sound right.

Paul Pierce For Three, after AB's first shot,

Great pass from Green, Bass got hot!

AB early foul trouble, for him, in came Lee, 

Jeff Green For Three! Paul Pierce For Three!

Crazy passes both teams, all over the floor, 

Randolph in for KG, Doc trusts him for sure.

Bass is shooting lights out, he had a loud dunk!

No longer is he in his early season funk.

Nets are staying close, tho they are fumbling the ball, 

Refs are bailing them out on call after call.

Watson, two threes, Nets on a 13-2 run, 

First foul called on the Nets not til the end of Q1.

Cs down 1 to start Q2,

Nets have a Williams--we do, too.

Wallace fell--not good--got carried off the court,

Left heel contusion. On confidence he's feeling short. 

KG to Wilcox--sort of an alley-oop, 

KG now 6th in the all-time-minutes-played group.

Watching Crawford:  No! Don't! No! Good shot? Oh....

His pace, coast to coast--or passing--is not slow!

Cs and Nets trading shots, third foul on AB.

Big-time travel for Lopez--no ref did see.

Nets went on a 15-2 run, 

Free throws in the first half? The Cs had...none!

For throwing an elbow--tech on KG,

Cs down 10 to start Q3.

KG led off, quick fourth foul on AB, 

Doc yelling at his guys, unhappy was he.

Told them to wake up, asked if they even want to play, 

Cs can't find a hot hand, Nets are having their way.

8:22 left in Q3, Pierce takes the Cs' first free throw, 

The rhythm of the Nets the Cs can't seem to slow.

PP's the third C to play his 1,100th game, 

(Odd) JET's 1,100th, too, but the teams aren't all the same.

Finally! From the corner, Jeff Green For Three, 

I am so glad that Shavlik Randolph is a C!

Cs went on a 9-2 run, 

Cs still down 10 when Q3 was done.

Interesting: Jackie Robinson wore number Forty-Two,

Stackhouse--first athlete since, in Brooklyn--does too.

Crawford aggressive, starting Q4,

T. Will to the hoop--he can score!

Scrambling down on the floor, Humphries and KG, 

A little rumble, just as we expected to see.

Nets' lead hovered--til the end--between eleven and nine, 

Their Williams played well, they hardly missed at the line.

"Where was everyone?" I am sure Doc was yellin',

Green? Bass? AB? And the bench wasn't gellin'.

New guys, plus Lee, went on an 11-0 run, 

Nets by 8 when the game was done.

Tough night for the Cs, couldn't match the Nets' pace, 

Looks like in the standings we'll take seventh place.

LES WIZ

KG IS BACK! KG IS BACK! Cs will feel some rust, 

Pierce, sore ankle, too--still the vets Doc will trust.

AB, Pierce (back court), KG, Bass, Green (all Heart).

These are probably the guys who'll get the playoff start.

Crawford's facing his old team, he won't feel down,

Happy to be a Celtic--the Wizards are in town.

The Red Auerbach Award (consummate Celtic), Captain P.

Big week! Had a son: "Prince Paul Pierce" is he.

With KG on the court, you feel a culture change,

He's talking, passing, leading! AB's finding his range.

Second foul on Green, midway thru Q1,

AB went on a personal scoring run.

Love Randolph: rebounds, gets that second shot, 

Paul Pierce For Three! Need Bass and JET to get hot.

With very little space too much Wall can do, 

Cs up 1 to start Q2.

Q2 a thing of beauty, KG first to score, 

Don't you feel better when he's on the floor?

Crawford in the lane, he hit his shot, hit his shot, 

Wiz say a locker room problem, Cs think not!

Cs playing great D, a 10-2 run, 

Crawford's scoring, passing, rebounding--having fun!

AB to Wilcox--alley-oop, 

Ariza  playing well for the Wizards group.

Okafor got hurt, then he came back.

Love these Cs--energy they don't lack!

JET to Wilcox--alley-oop,

At the half a 4 point lead for the Celtics group.

Start Q3--again--KG first to score, 

Fouls mounting on Green, now numbering four.

Terrible call by the refs, then a tech on KG.

Since AAU Wall has known the D of AB.

What a move off a Paul Pierce pass, 

Hard to the hoop, loud dunk--Brandon Bass!

Paul Pierce For Three, answered by Price, 

Randolph shots in the nose, games in a row? Thrice.

JET For Three, he shot a very long ball.

Wall hammered Randolph, (JUST) Flagrant One the call.

Cs (up 16) had an '08 Q3,

Q4 started--again--with shots by KG, KG.

KG great steal, Wilcox great play after play,

A key part of the Cs' bench he wants to stay.

Doc annoyed with the turnovers in Q4,

Wizards too many chances to add to their score.

Vesely, for the Wiz, a factor tonight, 

Wiz got within 10, giving Cs fans a fright.

Under 3 minutes, back  into the game, KG and PP,

20 point night for Bass. Paul Pierce For Three!

With so many Celtics getting the ball in, 

Cs, by 11, come away with the WIN!

Balance--scoring and D--the hallmark of this Cs game, 

Five more to go (plus playoffs)--need more of the same!!

"CAN I GET A WITNESS?" Marvin Gaye

Motown's in Boston, Pistons have been tough, 

Early on they were younger, more athletic--played rough.

(One-time C) Coach Lawrence Frank about the Cs knows a lot, 

See if some combo of our new guys tonight can get hot.

Captain P has returned, Cs cannot be slow,

Green faces his Georgetown teammate, Greg Monroe.

Wilcox is rebounding, good offense and  D by  Bass, 

Green For Three, on a Captain P pass!

Drummond, age 20, UConn, came to play,

Probably has fans in the  building, CT's not far away.

Second early foul on Wilcox, Doc can't believe the call, 

Cs must be more aggressive rebounding the ball.

AB For Three, Randolph coast to coast!

Cs must stop the careless turnovers or we'll be toast.

Cs down 5 to start Q2,

JET For Three! Love what Green can do!

Cs had an 18-5 run--with spunk, 

T. Will playing point, hard to the hoop--loud dunk!

Williams and Crawford showing great passing skill,

(Should I mention again the ball-carrying T. Will)?

Last home game, Rondo attended, tonight he was shooting,

Tho he didn't move much, for him the crowd was rooting!

Crawford's all knees and elbows, somehow he can score, 

Play D and pass effectively all over the floor.

Cs slow Q1, good Q2--up 10 to start Q3,

Paul Pierce started Q3 with a Three!

AB, AB, Jeff Green For Three, overpowering, 

Despite Drummond and Monroe, who over the Cs are towering.

Wilcox missed AB's alley-oop, but managed a pass, 

To the streaking and dominating Brandon Bass!

Pistons went on an 10-0 run, 

Cs' lead from 18 to 7 when Q3 was done.

Cs sloppy play end Q3 into early Q4,

Jeff Green good blocks, first guy to score.

Pistons most offensive rebounds against the Cs this season, 

They made this a game for just that reason.

OFFENSIVE REBOUND by Randolph--crowd did howl!

Pierce scissor-kick spin move; sure can draw that foul.

In every quarter an interesting stat:

Green had at least 6 points--more of that!

JET for three?? NO, but great tip by Green, 

Whole game, at both ends, his presence so keen!!

Bad call and tech on the Cs (who?) refs couldn't resist, 

Felt the need to give the Pistons an extra assist.

Pistons second chance points--Cs' rebounding is lame.

Knight posterized by LeBaby, now missed lone lay-up this game!

The crowd stopped breathing, this game is so tight,

Jeff Green For Three!! He's The Man tonight!

Under a minute, Cs finally a rebound!

Luckily Villanueva's game was never found.

Celtics clinched a playoff spot--by 5 they did win,

Mostly because of Jeff Green--34 points he put in!

...IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING

Pierce is not in Minnesota, personal reasons says he, 

Last night he turned his ankle, starting to sound like KG.

Because he seems to be feeling better, Lee gets the start,

Gives him a chance--along with Wilcox--to show his "heart."

Wolves' Love is out, second time he broke his hand, 

So many teams in the Association are seriously undermanned.

We'll see the magician, Ricky Rubio, with the ball, 

Cs will play by committee, new guys'll answer the call.

AB buried the jump shot, first one to score, 

Wilcox early foul trouble, aggressive on the floor.

Randolph is playing Kirilenko, his chance to shine, 

As Doc his 8 (9?) playoff players he tries to define.

Wolves went on an 8-0 run, 

Pekovic and Rubio getting that done.

Three fouls in five minutes on our guy Shav, 

Not much respect from the refs does he have.

JET For Three, nice shot by T. Will.

Cs down 2, Q1 not much of a thrill.

D. J. White start Q2, bench was driven by JET,

Haven't seen all that Randolph is capable of yet.

At long last, settling in,  Lee For Three! 

Offense is developing-with a Three--for AB!

AB to Bass--alley-oop, 

At the half, down 5, for the Celtics group.

Early Q3 Wolves out to a 12 point lead, 

Good job Wilcox, then 4th foul he did not need.

We can forgive Crawford for the crazy shots missed,

Because he leads the Celtics in assists.

Cs disorganized defense, too many turnovers, too, 

Love what Bass--still quietly--has been able to do.

Wasn't until mid-Q3 finally a rest for Green, 

AB a clean steal, foul on him--that was mean.

Wolves' 10-0 run was stopped by JET.

Williams For Three--learning each offensive set.

From his Dallas days, just got to say-uh, 

I could still do without J.J. Barea.

Green is walking off a now sore hip, 

From Pekovic--no call--he took a clip.

Cs down 6 to start Q4,

On accidental offense the Wolves can score.

Wolves went on a 7-0 run, 

Of the Cs, solid D being played by...no one.

Doc has to mess with rotations--who rises to the top?

These playoff auditions are tough--please make them stop!

JET For Three, he stopped the bleeding, 

AB with his shot the Cs have been needing.

Cs were outscored in the paint, on turnovers galore,

But the Cs' new guys got time on the floor.

Cs haven't lost to the Wolves, how long must it be?

Probably back when the Wolves still had KG.

Cs lost this game, down by 10.

They'll pull themselves together, just a question of when....