Celtics Are Grinders, 76ers Are Hoagies

Not only does the word "grinder" aptly describe the Celtics and how they play, but it also irritates Philadelphians when you call a sub a grinder.

The moment that encapsulated the game was in the 4th when Avery Bradley blocked a Lou Williams layup, Rondo took the ball down the court, handed it off to KG, who made the layup and got fouled. Philly had an 84-83 lead with the ball with 3 minutes left. So instead of the Celtics trailing 83 to 86, they go up 86 to 84. A 5 point swing in one sequence.

After that, it was the Celtics' game to lose.

Kevin Garnett had another fantastic game on both sides of the ball. 29 points (9 in the 4th), 11 rebounds, and superb defense. The C's were behind for most of this game, but were able to stay close and eventually comeback because their defense contained the 76ers.

KG had help. Pierce had an off shooting night, but made all his free throws and finished with 14 points. He also had 6 assists, and 4 of those came in the 4th. Rondo had 13 points and 17 assists. As a team, the 76ers only managed 19. Bass had 10 points, Bradley had 8. Ray Allen scored 12 off the bench.

The Celtics didn't even shoot that well, and they won. They were 2/18 with their three-point attempts. And both teams shot exactly the same from the field (36/82, 43.9%).

When Pierce and Allen start hitting shots and dropping 20+ points, this could get very fun to watch.

Game 2 Monday night.

Photo Credit:
AP Photo

Pedroia Wins Game for Buchholz

Clay Buchholz is 4-1. Talk about having good luck. This was his best start of the year, and first Quality Start. He allowed 8 hits, walked 3, and couldn't finish the final inning he started. He's had trouble going through a lineup more than 3 times. More than 2 times, actually.

He was saved by Pedroia, who went 3 for 4 with a double, a sac-fly, and 3 RBI. The bullpen made things dramatic. Alfredo Aceves allowed another run while getting his 6th save of the season. Aceves saved this bullpen last year. But relief pitchers tend to fluctuate season to season. He's allowed 10 earned runs already, in only 13.2 innings. If he doesn't settle down, the Sox bullpen becomes very shaky.

The Sox had more of their little failures. Middlebrooks made an error. His third. Gonzalez got picked off. The Sox lose because they do the big things wrong (starting pitching, hitting with runners in scoring position) and the little things wrong.

Even though the Sox won, the way they won isn't the right formula. Buchholz played with fire all night, allowing so many baserunners. The bullpen gave up some runs, and if not for Pedroia having a big game, the team loses. Long-term, it's a losing formula.

Doubront faces Josh Tomlin tonight. Tomlin's had three good starts and three bad ones.

Photo Credit:
AP Photo

Beckett Turns Fenway Into a Driving Range

Fenway Park became a driving range last night. The Indians teed off on Beckett. It was really a subpar performance. The next time Beckett's resting some sore muscles, he should go down to Connecticut and play some slots. Because last night he recorded 7 outs, allowed 7 hits, and gave up 7 runs.

He was booed very loudly once Valentine took him out. It was the one part of the game I enjoyed.

I was hoping he'd feel the need to take the mound and shut everyone up. I was hoping he'd be throwing fire. I was extremely disappointed. The golf thing aside, he's been inconsistent this season. As he's been his entire career. This is the second time he's failed to go 5 innings. He's also had 4 Quality Starts, 2 of which were good, 2 were really good. You just don't know which Josh Beckett will show up.

In his postgame press conference, Beckett resembled and sounded like a child. Fervently shaking his head and repeating "no" when asked about the golfing thing and whether it affected him. And even if he's right and the golf incident wasn't a physical problem or wasn't a distraction, just how childish he looks and sounds annoys me. I'd rather see him get pissed and counter-attack.

He's a toddler. A spoiled baby.

One bright spot in all this is that the Sox bullpen hasn't been half bad lately. Maybe it's all the extra practice they've been getting. Then again, Aceves is supposed to be the best healthy reliever on the team, and he allowed another run last night.

Beckett's golfing buddy Buchholz takes the mound tonight. He faces Ubaldo Jimenez, who's coming off a brilliant 7 inning, 2 hit, 0 run outing against Texas. This could be loss #20. The Sox lost their 20th game on May 11 last year too.

Photo Credit:
AP Photo

Adios, Atlanta

The Celtics weren't blatantly more talented than the Hawks. This wasn't a case of a clearly superior team outclassing an inferior opponent. This was about being clutch, about putting yourself in position to make big plays and then executing. The Celtics were clutch in this series. The Hawks weren't. Just look at the last minute of Game 6 as Exhibit A.

The Celtics needed a big game out of Kevin Garnett and they got one. 28 points, 14 rebounds, he was a monster. And he made the shot that gave the Celtics the lead with 30 seconds left. Pierce, Rondo, and Garnett have each taken turns carrying this team. They take the pressure off each other, and they step up when the others need them.

The last time Rondo didn't have 10+ assists was March 9th. He only had 8 last night. But like I said, when one of the stars is off, the others step up. It's like having a car with three engines.

Bradley, Bass, and the bench didn't provide much offense, but the defense was able to hold Atlanta at bay. That's KG again. The Celtics missed their three-pointers, but they got to the line (and made their free throws). They didn't put the Hawks on the line. That was a big difference maker.

Because the NBA doesn't re-seed after each round, the Celtics face the 76ers in the Conference Semifinals. That means the Celtics have home-court advantage (3-0 against Atlanta at home, 24-9 at home in the regular season). It's a silly system, but I'll take it this year. That series starts tomorrow in Boston.

Photo Credit:
AP Photo

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Day 24

Washington forced a Game 7. And I'm not shocked at all. The good news is we get to see a Game 7, the bad news is we have no hockey until Saturday.

CAPITALS 2, RANGERS 1 - (Series tied 3-3)

I'm finally respecting Braden Holtby. He's withstood the pressure, clung to his confidence, and he's making big saves. He gives the Capitals confidence to play their game. Which isn't the finesse, high-flying offensive hockey that we've seen from them in years past. They've become more hardcore. They grind goals. But they also have that skill and talent to take advantage of odd man rushes and Power Plays.

Game 7 should be fantastic. It will be played Saturday night in Madison Square Garden. Winner faces New Jersey.

Royal Flushed

The umpires strike back. That's all Eck could talk about on the NESN broadcast last night, was the umpires. Jim Rice touched on it in the postgame. And I'm sure there are many out there who are holding the umpiring responsible for last night's loss. But let's lose with some dignity here, folks. Do the Sox need perfect umpiring to beat the Royals? Is that how low this team has sunk?

The Red Sox failed at a number of little things last night. Catching a ball on a bounce thrown in from the outfield. That's not too hard is it?

The Sox failed at a number of large things last night. Getting hits with runners in scoring position. Failing to make Bruce Chen look like Bruce Chen.

I'm still waiting for Lester to be as elite as he claimed he ought to be viewed as. He wasn't bad last night. He could've had more help behind him. But he hasn't been an Ace this year, he hasn't even been a good #2. He's 1-3 with a 4.29 ERA and he's had 30+ pitch innings in 4 starts already. He's got to be more efficient than that.

And elite pitchers are able to pitch around bad calls and bad luck.

This was the tenth series of the season for the Sox. They've lost 7 and won 3. Close to a fifth of the season is gone and the Sox are on pace for 65 wins.

They open a 4 game series with the Indians, who lead the AL Central. Derek Lowe, who I'm told is a very respectable golfer, opposes Josh Beckett. Tee-time, I mean first pitch is scheduled for 7:10pm. I'm going to milk that Beckett story until I get cheese.

Photo Credit:
AP Photo

"Resting" Beckett Still Able to Golf

Last Wednesday, Josh Beckett was scratched from his scheduled start on Saturday so he could rest a sore shoulder and lat muscle. According to 98.5, he was golfing with Clay Buchholz on Thursday. So why is the supposedly resting Beckett out swinging golf clubs with his teammate?

Because he's Josh Beckett. And these are the Red Sox. And no matter who the Manager is, this is Josh Beckett's clubhouse.

The whole series of events seems odd. Beckett claims that before his start last Sunday, he felt "a little thing going on" in his back and shoulder. Then Bobby Valentine kept Beckett on the mound for 126 pitches. Which seemingly aggravated that "little thing going on," so Valentine shut him down for Saturday's start. Beckett claims he was surprised to be shut down.

But what's Valentine thinking? He goes from throwing caution to the wind on Sunday and letting Beckett throw 126 pitches, to being extremely cautious and scratching him from a start.

And what about Beckett? He complains about soreness and stiffness, but still manages to golf on Thursday? Golf isn't an exhausting pursuit, but it does involve the back and shoulder, and does so in a very weird, start-and-stop kind of way.

If it were another pitcher, it wouldn't be a story. But Beckett has a reputation for soft injuries, and a reputation for having a careless attitude, doing what he wants, and not taking care of himself.

He doesn't care.

Aaron Cook cares. Aaron Cook pitched with his legs half-amputated. Beckett cried about his shoulder, then still made his tee-time with Buchholz.

I'm tired of this type of crap. Maybe I'm overreacting because it's Beckett, but Beckett's track record merits a reaction. This is a guy who has been inconsistent on the mound, and has been a major headache off it. And he's not good enough on the mound to make these character flaws worth it. He's not reliable. He's won some big games in the past, and lost some big ones. He's only occasionally there when his team needs him.

If things for this team don't turn around, it might be time to consider trading Beckett. For anything. Like Nomar in 2004 only worse. I know he's a 10-5 guy and would have to agree to being traded, but just find a team that allows beer in the clubhouse and he might consent.

Stanley Cup Playoffs: Day 23*

Another team eliminated last night. Right now only the Caps and Rangers haven't decided their series yet.

DEVILS 3, FLYERS 1 - (Devils win series 4-1)

A puckhandling mistake by Bryzgalov allowed David Clarkson to score the goal that wound up being the game-winner for New Jersey. Last off-season, the Flyers decided to focus less on offense, more on goaltending, and this was what happened. They did have some injuries for the playoffs (Pronger, most notably), and maybe their series with Pittsburgh took a big toll on them. Giroux being suspended last night didn't help either.

Only eight more years on Bryzgalov's contract. Enjoy that, Philly.

Tonight's game:
7:30pm - Rangers @ Capitals - NBC Sports - Rangers lead series 3-2