JESUS SHUTTLESWORTH'S RESURRECTION

The Celtics made this one more difficult than it should have been in the 4th quarter. But we'll get to that later. First, I would like to officially welcome Ray Allen back to the NBA and the Boston Celtics. Ray-Ray was 9 for 15 (5 of 6 from 3) from the field, and finished with 29 points. Finally having a reliable outside threat in Ray Allen allows the Celtics offense to be more flexible, and to exploit gaps created down low when Allen gets attention.

The rest of the starting 5 had great nights. Pierce ended up with 16 points and 6 assists. Kendrick Perkins had the game of his life, knocking down 18 points, and collecting 16 rebounds. Rajon Rondo only had 7 points, but he also had 13 assists, 4 steals and 6 rebounds. Kevin Garnett led the team in scoring with 33.



But the Celtics' performance in the 4th quarter was a problem. They led 84-71 after 3, but things became entirely too interesting. With about 9 minutes left on the clock, the Celtics offense melted away. They lost both their aggression and their poise. It was almost as if they felt victory coming, and focused too much on not letting it slip away, instead of pulling it closer. From 9:15 to 4:26, a stretch of nearly 5 minutes, the Celtics had 1 point (from a technical free throw) and no field goals.

The Celtics played great in the last minute. Ray Allen hit that 20 foot jumper to put the C's ahead 102-99. And all the important free throws down the stretch went in. But they shouldn't have been in that position.

This team lacks a killer instinct. When up by a good amount, but not a blowout amount, the Celtics seem to get nervous. Teams like the Hawks might fade away when they're down in the 4th quarter, but teams like Detroit don't. Here are just a few things the Celtics need to do in the 4th:

1. Drive to the hole and draw fouls.

2. Shoot the friggin' ball!!! This one goes especially to Garnett, who seems to always pass to players covered more heavily than he is.

3. Play tight defense. The Celtics did this well last night, but they have to keep doing this. All those open looks Wallace and Billups got for 3 kept this game close down the stretch.

4. Make Ray Allen an outlet. If they're covering the paint tightly, then find Allen on the outside and he'll make it rain. Three pointers down the stretch are extremely demoralizing to an opponent.



And Rasheed, stop bitching about the officials. There have been some pretty bad calls in this series on both teams. Grow up.

Tedy, does The Coach know you're doing this?



I guess he does.



Nice cougar, Coach.

Game 6: Friday night in Auburn Hills.



Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images
AP Photo/Michael Dwyer
Jim Rogash/Getty Images
AP Photo/Winslow Townson

HITLESS IN SEATTLE

A brilliant start by Wakefield was wasted last night as the Red Sox fell 1-0 to the Mariners. Wake went 8 innings, allowed 5 hits, 0 walks, struck out 8, and yielded a solo homerun. But the Red Sox offense was only able to muster 2 singles off Erik Bedard. The Sox never even got a man to 3rd base.

Only Mike Lowell and Manny Ramirez were able to get hits. The Sox did work 6 walks, but couldn't string anything together. Their biggest threat was in the top of the 9th when they had runners on 1st and 2nd with 2 outs, but Coco Crisp grounded out up the middle to end the game.

The Sox are now 1-5 on their road trip, which came on the heels of a 7-0 homestand. Their inconsistency, and their inability to win on the road continues to boggle the mind.

Still no official word on Matsuzaka's shoulder. He flew back to Boston today and will have an MRI tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Sox have an off-day before beginning a 4 game series in Baltimore. Josh Beckett faces Daniel Cabrera. The Sox are 0-2 against the Orioles this season.

Sources:
ESPN.com
Hartford Courant

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/John Froschauer

ALL-STAR VOTING MAKES RED SOX FANS LOOK RETARDED

When Cal Ripken Jr would make All-Star Games late in his career, it wasn't because he was the best third baseman in the AL, it was because the fans wanted to see him play. But when Jason Varitek is the leading vote-getter among AL catchers, it's a different, much sadder story.



I'm a Red Sox fan, and have been for as long as I can remember. I stuffed the ballot box in '99 to get Nomar the start at short-stop. I wrote in David Ortiz when he wasn't on the ballot. But when it comes to the All-Star Game, I don't want to see the Red Sox take on the National League, I want to see the American League All-Stars. I want to see players we don't get many opportunities to see. Vladimir Guerrero, Joe Mauer, Ichiro, et cetera. With the unbalanced schedule, us Sox fans don't see much of the AL West and Central. So why do we want more of that by only voting for AL East players?

Here is what the AL All-Star starters look like as of now:

C - Jason Varitek - BOS
1B - Kevin Youkilis - BOS
2B - Dustin Pedroia - BOS
3B - Alex Rodriguez - NYY
SS - Derek Jeter - NYY
OF - Manny Ramirez - BOS
OF - Vladimir Guerrero - LAA
OF - Ichiro Suzuki - SEA
DH - David Ortiz - BOS

I can understand Ortiz, Youkilis, and Manny. Even Pedroia isn't that bad. But Jason Varitek is hitting .268. There's a guy on the Twins who also plays catcher, but he's hitting .329. His name is Joe Mauer, and somehow he's 3rd in the American League in hitting, and 3rd in All-Star votes for catchers. Mauer also dates former Miss USA Chelsea Cooley.



Looking even deeper at the All-Star voting, a baseball fan grows more and more disturbed. Julio Lugo is 4th at short-stop? 130,139 people voted for Julio Lugo TO START an All-Star Game?????????? JD Drew is hitting .282 with 4 homeruns and is 11th in outfield voting. 185,673 people voted for him. Who are these people?



As a Red Sox fan, I implore my fellow Sox fans out there to stop voting for Varitek, Lugo, and Drew. Vote for Manny, Ortiz, and Youkilis all you'd like. Because Manny and Ortiz are truly Stars, and Youkilis is having a great season. But Varitek is neither a star, nor is he having a great year.

Think about this, the All-Star Game determines home field advantage in the World Series. Wouldn't you rather have Joe Mauer batting in a big situation instead of Jason Varitek?

And think about this, don't you want to give Varitek a few days off, so he's well rested and able to help the Red Sox win games?

So be a homer, but be a smart homer, okay folks?



Sources:
ESPN.com
MLB.com

SOX LOSE DAISUKE, THEN THEY LOSE THE GAME

Just when it seemed like the rotation would be improving with the return of Bartolo Colon, the Red Sox may lose Daisuke Matsuzaka. He left the game just before the bottom of the 5th with "fatigue" in his right shoulder. There is no word yet on whether he'll miss any time.

Manny Ramirez's 499th homerun tied the game at 3-3 in the 6th, giving the Sox a chance to steal a road win, something they desperately need. But the bats fell silent for the Sox. And in the bottom of the 9th, Mike Timlin walked a man, and gave up two hits, including the game winning single, to give Seattle a 4-3 victory.

The Red Sox are now 1-4 on this West Coast swing, after winning 7 straight at home. Their 11-18 road record is the 9th worst in baseball. And once again, Tampa Bay is in first place by half a game.

The rubber game in Seattle is tonight at 10:10. Tim Wakefield looks to have a good start after struggling in his last 3 outings. He faces former Oriole Erik Bedard.

Sources:
ESPN.com
Hartford Courant

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/John Froschauer

THAT WAS JUST PLAIN OLD UGLY

The Celtics have been under pressure to go on the road and play the way they've played at home. They did the opposite Thursday night. Sluggish defense down the stretch, absolutely retarded fouls, nobody wanting to step up and take the big shot, confused plays in the paint, and so on.

Rajon Rondo had a great night statistically, and that's about it. He had 10 points, 9 boards, and 8 assists. But he looked confused. He seemed afraid to take a shot when given an open look. Other times, he'd drive to the hoop, only to make a low percentage pass back to the outside. And could someone PLEASE spend a day with him and teach him the proper (and smooth) way to lay the ball up?



With Rondo's confusion, Sam Cassell's shoot first ask questions later mentality, and Eddie House's inability to get the ball past half-court, this team is sorely lacking dependability at the point guard position. And that's a major concern.

Pierce and KG were great, and if it weren't for them, this game would have been a walk for Detroit. Pierce had 26, KG had 24, to go with 13 rebounds. Jesus Shuttlesworth finally resurrected as Ray Allen shot 9 of 16 (2 of 4 for 3), and finished with 25 points.



But scoring points wasn't the problem. As the game unfolded, so did the Celtics' defense. Even when they played well for 20 seconds on defense, all a Detroit shooter had to do was make an up-fake, and he'd get an open shot. And the lack of hustle down the stretch was infuriating.

But this isn't the end of the world. The Celtics won in Auburn Hills earlier in the season, they can do it again. Ray Allen is back. And if the C's can stop committing dumb fouls at half court, and being so gullible for the upfake, they'll win one or two in Detroit.

Game 3 is Saturday night.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
Elsa/Getty Images
Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images

GRAND DAY AT FENWAY

Aided by a pair of Grand Slams, the Red Sox completed their 4 game sweep of the Royals, and 7-0 homestand Thursday afternoon. JD Drew hit the first Grand Slam in the 2nd, putting the Sox ahead 4-1. Mike Lowell capped a 6 run 6th with his, giving his team an 11-3 lead.

But it was an ugly win, as the 11-8 score suggests. Matszuaka only went 5.2 innings, allowing 6 hits and 6 walks. His 118 pitches translates into 21 pitches per inning, which has been a major problem for him this year.

The bullpen made things entirely too interesting. Hansen gave up 2 runs in the 7th, boosting his already obese ERA to 7.56. Aardsma had his first major struggles in awhile, giving up 3 in the 8th. All of this caused the Red Sox to use Papelbon to get the last 3 outs.

Maybe I'm just being paranoid, or maybe it's just the Red Sox pessimism that still festers in my heart, but with all the use Papelbon is getting, I can see a repeat of 2006 in September. And no Papelbon means no World Series, folks.

But as I've said a few dozen times already this year, a win is a win. The Sox have the best record in baseball, and are 21-5 in Fenway. But now they have to go on the road. Far on the road. The Sox take on the A's Friday night. Tim Wakefield goes against Rich Harden.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Steven Senne

BIG FAT WIN

Bartolo Colon made his Sox debut last night, going 5 innings and only allowing 2 earned runs. He scattered 6 hits and 2 walks. Now begins the waiting game. How will he recover from his start?

But for now, the news out of The Fens is good. The Red Sox seemed to have grabbed another decent starter in Colon. But 5 innings and 2 runs is not much to write home about. If not for a 4 run 5th for the Sox, we might not be so optimistic about Colon.

Manny's struggles continue with an 0 for 3 night. He's now hitting .287. He was hitting .370 on April 25th, and he hasn't hit a homerun since May 12th. Hopefully this is just a slump, but every day it continues, the more and more it worries me.

Daisuke looks for win #8, and the 4 game sweep Thursday afternoon. He faces Brian Bannister, who sounds like he's some lawyer in a 1940s crime drama.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credit:
AP Photo/Charles Krupa

CELTICS PULL AWAY DOWN THE STRETCH, BEAT DETROIT 88-79

Why were some national media "experts" so certain that Detroit would win this series? Was it because the Celtics took 2 of 3 from Detroit in the regular season? Was it because the Celtics have Kevin Garnett and Paul Pierce? Was it because nobody but the C's can win in the Garden?

Remember when a certain Irish-American curly-haired Boston Globe columnist delivered these words of wisdom?:

"As for Garnett, I have only two words of warning: Alex Rodriguez."

More like David Ortiz, Shaughnessy. KG shot 11 of 17 from the field, ending up with 26 points and 9 rebounds. Pierce continued to play out of his mind, netting 22 points, with 6 rebounds, and 6 steals. He also did a great job of running the offense when Rondo was sitting. Rajon had one of his best defensive performances of the year, racking up 5 steals. He also had 11 points and 7 rebounds.



The Celtics played superbly on the defensive side of the ball. They forced turnovers, and made Detroit take low percentage shots on the outside. Had the Celtics shot better from 3 (2 of 9), this game would have been over much sooner than it was.

Speaking of shooting from 3, the C's tried to get Ray Allen involved in the offense early on, but it was to no avail. Allen's shots were all off. Halfway through the 1st, it was clear that he was psychologically affected by his struggles. He passed up open shots for difficult drives through traffic. Thankfully, his problems were only on one half of the court, defensively he had a great game.

Game 2 is Thursday night, same time, same place, and hopefully same result.

Source:
ESPN.com

Photo Credits:
Jim Rogash/Getty Images
AFP/Getty Images/Elsa