Pierce Burns Blazers, C's Extend Streak to 5

After picking up a "W" in Cleveland last night, the Celtics returned to Beantown tonight and defeated Portland 99-95. The C's won the rebounding battle 30-28 and shot 57.1% from the field, while holding the Blazers to just 45.9%. The victory extends Boston's win streak to 5 games.

Captain Paul Pierce led the charge for the Celts, scoring 28 points on 9-11 shooting from the field. "The Truth" also connected on 4-5 attempts from deep and pulled down 7 rebounds. Kevin Garnett added 17 points, while Shaquille O'Neal and Glen Davis combined for an additional 30. Rajon Rondo contributed his expected double-double with 10 points and 10 assists.

For the Trail Blazers, Wesley Matthews scored a team-high 23 points, converting on 8-13 shot attempts and 5-7 from beyond the arc. Andre Miller added 20 points and 6 dimes, while Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge added 18 points apiece.

Gang Green 4-9

The Gang is Back for its Third week here on Celticslife. We are enjoying it, we hope you are as well. We got together last night after the Cleveland game and talked about things and stuff. We started a new segment called "know your Red Claws"

Enjoy!

Previous Episode: http://www.celticslife.com/2010/11/gamg-green-tv-season-4-episode-8.html

Celtics Host Blazers Looking for 5th Straight Win

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Portland Trailblazers (8-9) at Boson Celtics (13-4)
Wednesday, December 1
7:30 PM ET
Game #18, Home Game #9
TV:  CSNNE, CSN-POR, NBA-TV
Radio:  WEEI, KXTG
TD Garden 
Referees:   Tom Washington, Derek Richardson, Leon Wood  

The Portland Trailblazers are making their only visit to the Garden tonight. This is the first meeting between the two teams with the Celtics making their visit to Portland on January 27.  The Blazers are 4-5 on the road while the Celtics are 7-1 at home. 

Both teams are playing in the second of back to back games and both teams had to travel after their previous game.  Portland lost in Philly while the Celtics won in Cleveland on Tuesday night.  The Celtics starters played limited minutes in their game while the Blazers starters all played over 30 minutes in their loss to the Sixers.  The Blazers have a youth advantage but the Celtics have an experience advantage. 

The Celtics have won 9 of the last 10 games between these two teams.  Last season, the Celtics won the series 2‐0 with Paul Pierce leading the Celtics with an average of 16.5 points while shooting  50.0% from three‐point range.  Rajon Rondo added a double‐double effort with 14.5 points and 10.0 assists to go along with 2.5 steals per game.  Andre Miller led the Blazers with 22.0 points and 5.0 assists per game.   LaMarcus Aldridge averaged 17.0 points and a team‐high 9.5 rebounds per game.

Portland’s .402 (39-58) all-time winning percentage against Boston is its lowest mark among all current NBA opponents. The Celtics are the NBA’s only active team with  a winning record in Portland (26-23).

Fiddlin' and Diddlin' - Daily Links 12/1

Herald    Celtics have Quicken fix
Good bad for Marquis Daniels
LeBron James ready for ‘emotionally draining’ return to Cleveland
Grizzlies send Lakers to 3rd straight loss, 98-96
Hate the Heat? Loving its slow start? Enjoy it while you can
Globe    Final: Celtics 106, Cavaliers 87
Analysis of: Celtics 106, Cavaliers 87
A hot Rondo burns Cavs
Cavs’ ‘decision’ is to move on
Celtics should be an example for James, Heat
Celtics Life   Rondo breaks Season High, C's beat Cavs 106-87
Comments From the Other Side - BONUS Lakers at Grizzlies
Comments From the Other Side - Cavaliers 11/30
Celtics/Cavs Post Game Videos
Celtics 106, Cavs 87 Highlights

Celtics 106, Cavs 87 Highlights

Box Score after the jump.

Celtics/Cavs Post Game Videos

Comments From the Other Side - Cavaliers 11/30

Cavs fans are totally focused on the Heat game.  They wanted to beat the Celtics because it would give them momentum going into that game.  I really didn't blame Cavs fans for complaining about the officials.  There were some pretty bad calls, most of which favored the Celtics.  But then again there were some times when the Celtics got mugged with no call either.  But, that foul they gave Rondo where he shot 3 free throws was ridiculous.  Rondo actually initiated the contact and then tossed up the ball after the whistle. After what LeBron did to them, I find it hard to dislike Cleveland but still happy to beat them handily.  Now, I can root for them on Thursday.   Enjoy today's double dip of Comments from the Other Side....

Can't wait to see the Mo-Rondo matchup we missed in the opener.

I'm hoping the JJ of game one shows up again tonight.

I'm not really liking our chances here. Boston will be ready after we beat them last time and I doubt the team will be as fired up.

If I was putting money on this game I'd pick Boston.

The Celtics in my opinion are the 2nd best team in the NBA and if focused will beat the Cavs. However, it's not exactly easy for a team of Boston's caliber to get up for a team like Cleveland. I'm guessing a close first half with Boston pulling away in the 2nd half.

Rondo is still banged up and JO'Neal and DWest are out. I think this is a good chance of beating them being shorthanded. If the team is focused they could make a huge statement this week by beating Boston and Miami. Now if they're looking ahead to Thursday they could get ran out of the building.

Comments From the Other Side - BONUS Lakers at Grizzlies

Today we get a double dip of Comments.  First up are some comments from the Lakers boards after they just lost their 3rd in a row.  There's trouble in La La land.   It cracks me up when Lakers fans complain about not getting calls after the refs practically gift wrapped the championship for them last year.  Any bad calls they get are just make up calls.  And it's amazing that all their problems are because their center and back up center are out.  Uh.... Last I looked, the Celtics center and back up centers are out too, along with a key wing off the bench. And the guy who lost respect for Artest is surprising, simply because he had any respect for the guy in the first place...   I hope you enjoy another BONUS edition of Comments from the Other Side....

Our game plan for this game should be pretty much the same as the pacers game. They're very similar teams. Build a nice, comfortable lead/try to finish the game early...so we can rest the starters.

We should handily beat the Grizzlies.

The Lakers will destroy the Grizzlies. They are mad right now and when they get mad the games tend to turn ugly for the opposition.

Crazy. Rudy blocked Kobe twice already.

You know Kobe is getting old when he is getting blocked by punk like gay.