C's/Nuggets - 12/15/06

Celtics Notes

The following text message exchange occured during the game:

“Tony Allen!” - Reader Fly Gerald Fly
“Of 2 YEARS AGO!” - Me
“Unreal feeling the heat from GG.” - Reader Fly Gerald Fly

Is that it? In a loss to the Raptors 2 weeks ago today Gerald Green played solid and Allen struggled. This prompted Doc Rivers to say that Green was starting to come along. Allen followed that up with a garbage time virtuoso performance against the Bulls. But he only started to really impress during the recent Atlantic Division road trip. And this is a guy I was ready to give up on not too long ago. Crazy team.

This goes without saying but the Celtics are a dangerous team when Paul Pierce is in the zone and working within the flow of the offense.

I’m still willing to rethink the Brian Scalabrine era. Tommy regularly raves about the C’s team defense when Scal plays. However, he did get taken off the dribble by Eduardo Najera and let’s not forget Scal’s PER (#220 in the league). By the way the fact that Marcus Banks is #219 is the real reason I brought up PER.

At 7:01 in the third quarter Mike Gorman referenced the fake orgasm scene from When Harry Met Sally. This is important to know.

“Lot of time left in the game.” – Gorman throughout the third quarter. We get it. The Nuggets will make a run.

Doc and Danny Ainge: wince contest…GO!

Sometimes Tony Allen plays like a stray dog. Strangely this can be both good and bad. Discuss.

You have to go back to a six game win streak from February 27 through March 9 2004 to find the last time the C’s won 4 in a row.

No seriously what the hell is going on with Tony Allen? This is the same guy that Tommy desperately tried to institute a two-dribble rule for. And I would love to have been there when the C’s coaches huddled up and said “Fuck it let’s play Tony the whole game.” Somewhere MarkTwain Johnson is furious.

Big Al (28 points, 10 boards) took it to Marcus Camby a few times tonight. Jefferson is putting up Zach Randolph numbers with slightly better defense, a better contract and no legal problems.

Tony Allen, powered by salmon (pronounced solmon) and mashed potatoes, is a fascinating interview. He somehow manages to use clichés and still be incredibly honest.

The C’s ball movement was inspiring at times tonight.

One more thing about Allen. Remember when he did this. I thought Nate Robinson tried something similar and all he got was a travel.

This was a quality win.

Smells like first place.

Nuggets Notes

Here’s what I love about the NBA blogging community: you can go to the Nugg Doctor’s blog and learn about how Denver can be downright terrible on defense at times. That helps explain tonight.

At least Nene doesn’t have a huge contract.

Wait Kiki Vandeweghe dropped 40 on the C’s...twice.

Carmelo Anthony is a beast. More on this in another post.

Things Tommy Said

“I tell you this kid you’re getting to love him more and more. I mean he’s 6’7’ but he’s playing like a 6’10’ guy…that’s a Tommy Point right there!” – Tommy on Leon Powe

“If he played more minutes he would definitely steal your heart.” – Gorman on Powe

Somehow Powe has surpassed Paul Pierce as the guy I’m uncomfortable with Heinsohn and Gorman discussing. Don’t worry Walter McCarty is still safe as the leader in this realm.

“You gotta give him a step and I don’t think he did. Let’s watch and see if he gave him a step…he gave him half a step.” – Heinsohn unable to control his bias after Pierce was called for a charge.

“He’s their version of Scalabrine.” Heinsohn on Najera.

“My heart stopped! My heart stopped!” – Heinsohn after Pierce hit his sixth three pointer. He could have been serious.