NBA Haier Play of the Day

Quote of the Day 1/8/09

"Nobody said it was going to be easy. I know, at times, we do make it look easy. We are a very, very confident team....... I feel we have the mind-set to weather the storm." -Kevin Garnett

Celtics, Cavaliers ready to rumble

As little LeBron James Jr. practiced writing his name on the dry-erase board in Cleveland's locker room, his famous father was busy a few feet away. The Boston Celtics were on the flatscreen TV and LeBron James was watching them, studying them, breaking them down. Stepping away from his work, the youngster examined his penmanship. "Daddy, my 'n' looks like a 'w'," he said. On Friday night, his father wouldn't mind seeing a different 'W.' The Cavaliers, owners of the Eastern Conference's best record and the league's only unbeaten team at home, will host...read full article

What's wrong with the Celtics?

The Celtics walked into their Christmas afternoon showdown with the Lakers on a 19-game winning streak. The Lakers defeated Boston 92-83 in their Finals rematch and it appears that the C's left with their spirits broken. In the past two weeks the Celtics have a record of 2-6 with their only victories coming against the lowly Sacramento Kings and Washington Wizards. The reigning NBA champs suffered losses to the Lakers, Knicks, Bobcats, Warriors, Blazers, and Rockets. In their last loss they were defeated by the Tracy McGrady-less...read full article

Reigning champs have their issues

From 19 consecutive victories and the best start in NBA history (27-2), the defending champions have now lost six of eight games. The Celtics' unanticipated conquerors include the sub-.500 Warriors, Knicks and Bobcats, as well as the shorthanded Trail Blazers (without Brandon Roy) and Rockets (minus Tracy McGrady). And none of this can be blamed on injury, as the Celtics have had nearly their full team in place and available. Surprising? Not entirely, according to their coach.
"I thought during the [19-game winning] streak it was starting to come,'' Doc...read full article

James, Cavaliers, set for rematch with Celtics

When the NBA champion Celtics take the court in Cleveland on Friday night, LeBron James expects to see the Boston team that opened the season 27-2, not the one that has lost six of its last eight games. "It's not the end of the world. They've lost a few. They'll get it together," James said. "I bet they won't come in here on Friday sluggish." After scoring 21 points in Cleveland's 111-81 home victory over Charlotte on Wednesday night, James gave a running commentary as he watched the final minutes of Boston's 89-85 loss to Houston on television. The...read full article

Playing 'full speed'

I have a friend in Winthrop who, I hear, was a pretty good running back on the football team back in the day. He still helps out with the high school team a fair amount. I enjoy standing near him on the sidelines during games. I played football through fifth grade but, weighing in at around 110 pounds as a freshman and sophomore in high school -- a AAAA (largest) school in Pennsylvania, a pretty tough football state -- I thought, well, football probably wasn't my sport. I ran track, played tennis, ran cross-country and played in the band. Good choices; I broke no...read full article