Boston Celtics (18x NBA champions)

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Celtics notebook
Repeat performance would suit Cassell

But guard knows it's a tough task

By Frank Dell'Apa
Globe Staff / September 30, 2008
http://www.boston.com/sports/basket...09/30/repeat_performance_would_suit_cassell/#



WALTHAM - Of the current Celtics, only Sam Cassell was alive in 1969, the last year the team won consecutive NBA titles. But Cassell has become the team's point of reference for advice on back-to-back championships because of his experience with Houston's 1994 and '95 titlists.


"It's tough," Cassell said of the prospect of repeating. "You've got to get through the regular season but you have to get that momentum going through the playoffs. You have to be on your stride going into the playoffs. And that's everybody. Just one nagging injury could spoil it. We've probably got to be healthy. But we've been through it before. We know what it mentally takes to win so now we got to get to that point.

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espn.com

Miles not sure why he failed drug test, won't appeal 10-game suspension

By Chris Sheridan
ESPN.com
(Archive)

Updated: October 1, 2008, 12:25 AM ET

NEWPORT, R.I. -- Darius Miles says he has no clue what made him fail a drug test that will cause him to serve a 10-game suspension if he makes it through training camp with the Boston Celtics.
Speaking at length Tuesday for the first time since his suspension was announced by the NBA over the summer, Miles said he never took diet pills -- the over-the-counter medication in which the banned stimulant he tested positive for, phentarmine, is most commonly found -- and had never taken any medication other than what was prescribed by Portland's doctors and trainers.

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Celtics' Darius Miles still hungry

Talks ban, fresh start

By Mark Murphy
Wednesday, October 1, 2008 - Updated 1d 2h ago
Boston Herald Sports Reporter

NEWPORT, R.I. - Darius Miles has ridden through enough turbulence in his nine-season career.

The NBA didn't do the Celtics [team stats] new forward any favors by adding another jolt on Sept. 19.
We've known since February that this was going to happen, Miles said yesterday of the 10-game suspension he is about to serve for testing positive for the banned substance phentermine, a common ingredient in diet pills. So they announce it on the day that the Celtics go to the White House (to be honored as last season?s champions). What is it that everyone heard that day? The Celtics go to the White House and Darius Miles gets suspended for 10 games. That was messed up.

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C's looking for Posey's replacement

WALTHAM ?
He started just two games for the Boston Celtics last season, averaging 7.4 points and 4.4 rebounds in 24.6 minutes.

Those modest numbers, though, don't come remotely close to defining the contributions that James Posey made to the Celtics' championship run.

The 31-year-old forward provided the kind of intangibles that are needed by teams that win titles, and it is something Posey did with the Miami Heat when they rose to the top of the NBA in 2006.

In his role as the Celtics' sixth man, Posey was one of the best reserves in the league, making contributions on defense, with clutch baskets and with poise when he was on the floor at the end of most games.

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[Brandon]

I am all but 100% certain, the Celtics will NOT repeat. The Eastern Conference is so much more stacked, especially the Atlantic Divison. Boston will be going up against Chris Bosh and Jermaien O'neal as well as Elton Brand and Samuel Dalembert 8 times this season. Along with that, they still will have to battle with Detroit, Cleveland, Orlando, etc.

There is no way Boston will dominate like they did last season, especially with the "Big 3" getting older, that team will be in some serious cap hell in a few seasons.

 

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Doc Rivers says he's happy with Boston Celtics training camp

1 day ago
NEWPORT, R.I. ? Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers cancelled training camp practice scheduled for Monday, saying he wants to give the defending NBA champions a day off before they prepare for their first pre-season game.
Boston takes on the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday at the University of Massachusetts' flagship campus in Amherst.
"I liked the way we were going so I figured go one more day, give them a day off and then we get a day before our (first) pre-season game," Rivers said Sunday after the Celtics held their final practice at Salve Regina University. "It works out pretty good."
Rivers says he was pleasantly surprised by what he has seen of rookie Billy Walker.
"He's not your typical rookie that thinks he's got it figured out already," Rivers said. "He really isn't. He knows he has some catching up to do but he's been a pleasant surprise."

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Celtics coach Rivers skips exhibition opener

15 hours ago
AMHERST, Mass. (AP) ? Boston Celtics coach Doc Rivers was not with the team for its exhibition opener against the Philadelphia 76ers on Wednesday night so he could return to his home in Orlando, Fla., for a personal matter.
Assistant coaches Tom Thibodeau and Armond Hill were to run the defending NBA champions in Rivers' absence.
Also missing for the game at the University of Massachusetts was backup point guard Sam Cassell, who was in Baltimore to be with an ill family member.

 

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Defending Champ Celtics Lose Preseason Opener Vs 76ers


ShareThis October 9, 2008 8:18 a.m. EST


AHN Sports Staff
Amherst, MA (AHN) - Lou Williams pumped in 27 points and Thaddeus Young added 21, and the Philadelphia 76ers trounced the reigning NBA champion Boston Celtics 98-92 Wednesday night in the preseason opener for both teams.
Williams fired 16 points in the final period to pull Philadelphia out from a 14-point hole for their first win in the preseason.
Offseason signee Elton Brand tallied 11 points and pulled down four boards in 21 minutes in his first game as a Sixer
Boston's Big Three - Ray Allen, Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett saw limited action, but sparked the Celtics offense in the first two quarters.
Allen drilled in 3 three-pointers, finishing with nine points, while Pierce scored eight points and Garnett added six.
Leon Powe paced the Celtics with 12 points and Tony Allen chipped in 11.

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[ScriptOhio]

Move was just Posey minding his business

Globe Staff / October 12, 2008
James Posey woke up July 18 feeling that he was still was going to be a Celtic. But as afternoon approached in Los Angeles, his stint in Boston abruptly ended at one season as he accepted a four-year, $25 million deal to become a New Orleans Hornet. As evening approached, Posey was put in the odd situation of celebrating his NBA championship publicly at the ESPY Awards with his suddenly former teammates.
It was a bittersweet day. It was also business.
"It was still sort of odd, just that whole ESPY day," said Posey. "We were sitting in the [hotel] lobby, waiting to go on the bus. [The Celtics] said congratulations and everything. They were happy. They understood the circumstances and why things happened the way they did.
"It was sort of a long day. It really didn't hit me, though. I was thinking I was going back. But it was a reality check that it was time to move on and just go from there."
No, Posey isn't Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, or Ray Allen. But he played an integral role in the Celtics' first NBA title in 22 years. Leadership. Tough defense. Key plays. Clutch 3-point shooting. Poise. The NBA Sixth Man of the Year candidate displayed all that in Boston.
But, after the most noted season of his career, the nine-year NBA veteran knew this was his last chance to get a lucrative long-term deal. Posey wanted to stay in Boston, but he also knew this was business. The Cleveland native had to use his mind, even though it was hard not to follow his heart.
"During the heat of the situation, I was still positive about coming back there," he said.
Posey learned not to think with his heart after being very upset when he was traded for the first time, from the Nuggets to Houston Dec. 18, 2002, with free agency on the horizon for him. Ex-Nuggets teammates Avery Johnson and Nick Van Exel explained to him that it's business, not personal. Since then, Posey has viewed his employment in the NBA in a more businesslike sense.
The Celtics initially offered a two-year deal, but even if they had offered a three-year deal, Posey said, "I would have still gone through the process. I told my agent I was going to make this call and live and die by this decision."
The Hornets' offer was too much money and years for a 31-year-old with two kids to turn down. Considering that the Hornets have All-Stars in Chris Paul and David West and a chance to compete for an NBA title for years, the move made competitive sense for Posey.
Can he envision his Hornets playing the Celtics in the 2009 Finals?
.
.
.
continued

Entire article: Move was just Posey minding his business - The Boston Globe

 

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espn.com

Now comes the hard part for Garnett, Celtics

By Scoop Jackson
Page 2
(Archive | Contact)

Updated: October 13, 2008, 6:00 PM ET

BOSTON -- They say that once someone achieves something, the sense of urgency to achieve it again doesn't exist. Some call it human nature; some simply call it the anatomy of apathy. Most believe one of the reasons such complacency sets in is that it is always harder to do something a second time.
You would think Kevin Garnett -- excuse me, NBA champion Kevin Garnett -- would come back heavy this season. Not in weight, but from the extra pressure that comes when you become the hunted. Heavy because getting to the mountaintop was hard but staying there is a whole new episode -- one that even those considered to be the best to ever play aren't always ready to handle.
But KG is so up for this challenge he doesn't even look at it as one. At least not one that will be as challenging as winning his first NBA championship four months ago.

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[ScriptOhio]

Celtics to pick up Rondo's option; point guard hopes for long-term deal

Rajon Rondo's contract option, worth $2.09 million for the 2009-10 season, will be picked up by the Boston Celtics, the team announced on Tuesday.
"It makes me feel good, they still want me," Rondo said, according to the Boston Globe.
Rondo averaged 10.6 points with 5.1 assists with the Celtics last season, his second in the NBA.
He will be eligible to sign a long-term contract, which would go into effect for the 2010-11 season, next summer. Rondo and his agent are eager to get a deal done but the Celtics have not commented on the matter.

Entire article: ESPN - Celtics to pick up Rondo's option; point guard hopes for long-term deal - NBA

 

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Tony Allen leads Celtics past Nets 111-108 in pre-season

8 hours ago
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. ? Tony Allen scored 32 points, 22 in the first half, to lead the NBA champion Boston Celtics to an 111-108 victory over the New Jersey Nets in an exhibition game Thursday night.
The Celtics (4-1) played without Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen, all kept out of action by Doc Rivers as a coach's decision and not because of injury. Former Nets guard Sam Cassell also sat out.
It was the first pre-season home game for the Nets (2-1) following victories over the Miami Heat in Paris and London.

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Celtics waive F Miles

PA SportsTicker
Published: Tuesday, October 21, 2008


The comeback attempt of forward Darius Miles has been delayed.
The Boston Celtics on Monday waived Miles, who missed the last two seasons with knee injuries and was suspended 10 games in the offseason for violating the NBA's anti-drug program.
The suspension would begin with the first game for which Miles is eligible this season.
However, Celtics general manager Danny Ainge said the suspension was not a factor in Monday's decision.
"Darius was a model citizen during his time here in Boston," Ainge said. "He showed that he still has a lot of basketball left in him,"
The 6-9, 235-pound Miles signed with the Celtics as a free agent on August 22 and appeared in six preseason games, averaging 1.8 points and 1.3 rebounds.

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[BuckeyeMan]

I am sure Portland is glad to hear this.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Mangurian, Celtics owner at start of Bird era, dies at 82

BOSTON -- Harry Mangurian Jr., a former owner of the Boston Celtics and renowned horse breeder, has died of leukemia. He was 82.
The funeral home handling his arrangements said Mangurian died Sunday. He died at Holy Cross Hospital in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., after an eight month battle with the disease.
Mangurian owned the Celtics from 1979-83, a tenure that included a championship in 1981 and the signings of Larry Bird, Kevin McHale and Robert Parish, the original "Big Three" of team lore.
Mangurian was successful at numerous business ventures, including his start as owner of a family-run furniture store and as a breeder of champion horses on a 1,100-acre thoroughbred farm in Ocala, Fla.

Entire article: Mangurian, Celtics owner at start of Bird era, dies at 82 - NBA - CBSSports.com Basketball