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PSE Report
Boston Celtics
HOT TOPICS:
GETTING INSIDE
After nine straight games on the road and nine straight losses to show
for them, the Celtics returned home last evening to the waiting arms
of the FleetCenter, where they are now 9-18.
If parents were this nurturing, there would be far more runaways on
the nation's streets.
For the Celtics, it's all relative. The best thing about playing at
home is that it's not the road. They are a league-worst 2-26 in other
buildings.
"True, we haven't done that well here, but you're talking nine against
two," said Rick Fox. "We've definitely got better odds of getting a
win at home than we do on the road. The road is just terrible."
Home is only moderately terrible. The Celts are 27-41 in the new
facility where it's cheaper to send a family of four to college than
feed them. They'd have to go 9-5 here the rest of the season just to
match last year's home mark. When framed by the advantage of playing
next door in the Garden, it's more like they've moved to the
MeekCenter. Opponents are undaunted.
But that, of course, is the fault of the players -- not the cinder
blocks and cement.
"I think it's up to us," said Eric Williams. "We haven't played well,
so the fans come here waiting for something to happen. We have to show
them something before they really get it going.
"I think the crowds have been pretty good to us, but it won't really
be great in here until we turn it around and start winning regularly.
Then you'll see how good a home court advantage we can have here."
But while playing on the parquet doesn't carry the same weight for the
Celts as it did when Bill Russell -- not Brett Szabo -- was heading
out for the center jump, just the fact the current crew is back in
Boston figures to be of some benefit. There was a loss in Orlando
before the All-Star break and failures in Los Angeles (Clippers),
Phoenix, Vancouver, Portland, Seattle, San Jose (Golden State) and
Utah on a western swing. Then the C's fell to 0-3 against the Nets
Sunday in Jersey.
"It just feels good to be back here and out of the road atmosphere,"
said David Wesley. "It's really not much of a home court advantage for
us, but that's because we haven't made it into a home court advantage
with the way we play. It used to be that teams practiced a lot on
their home court and they got really used to the place. That's where
the home court advantage came in. But teams don't do that a lot now,
and this building is a lot like the other new buildings when you're
playing.
"The only way we can make it different is to give the people a reason
to be loud. I think they've been pretty good the last few games we
played here, but they feed off us. If we give them the kind of
intensity we should be giving them, I think they'll cheer for us and
help us. But if we don't, then it's really doesn't matter where we're
playing."
NOTES, QUOTES, ANECDOTES
Following last night's game, Ricky St. Jean came into the Sacramento
dressing room and hugged the coach, his brother. Garry St. Jean smiled
-- the first time he has been able to do so as a head coach on
Causeway Street.
"They all out there?" Garry asked, referring to the horde of friends
and family that had watched the Kings defeat the Celtics, 111-105.
"Sure this was big for me," said the Saint of Chicopee, Mass. "The
Celtics have always been my team. I still root for them in 80 games a
year." ... It was big for St. Jean and bigger for the Kings, who had
lost 17 straight in Boston. The last time they broke through here,
Scott Wedman went for 32 points and 11 rebounds in a 120-99 decision
on January 17, 1979. In the meantime, Wedman had won a championship
ring with the 1986 Celts.
"We could tell (St. Jean) really wanted this game," said Olden
Polynice after 16 points and 14 boards. "He had a lot of relatives in
the crowd, and this was very important to him. But I also feel happy
for the Kings. I mean, 17 years is a really long time."
For St. Jean, it hasn't been as long. But it's been intense.
"I can only claim credit for four of those," St. Jean said. "But a
couple of them have been memorable ones."
Indeed, last year the Kings led Boston by 26 in the third period
before falling. And two years ago, Sacramento was up by seven with a
minute left before Dee Brown ignited the Celtics' comeback win ...
Michael Hawkins was a no-go with his sore left shoulder last night. He
joined Dee Brown (hyperextended toe) and Greg Minor (sore right foot)
as players from the active roster in street clothes.
Thursday is the final day of Hawkins' second 10-day contract. He says
he has just a bad bruise, and if the Celts feel he will be able to
play soon, he could be signed for the rest of the season ... Brett
Szabo was limited to 10 minutes because of a sore left elbow ... The
joint chiefs of staff were in attendance, with Red Auerbach joining
Paul and Don Gaston and Jan Volk in the administrative section ... Old
friend Kevin Gamble had three points in 20 minutes.
BY THE NUMBERS: 11 -- The number of consecutive losses the Celts have
suffered.
QUOTE TO NOTE: "We're going to take this season in stride. We'll have
our day in the future" -- Rick Fox.
STRATEGY AND PERSONNEL
Frank Brickowski and Pervis Ellison have pretty much been declared out
for the year. Dino Radja has already been placed on such status, and
Dana Barros might as well be.
Applicants can write to the Celtics at the FleetCenter, Boston, Mass.
Antoine Walker, Eric Williams, Rick Fox and David Wesley have the
green light to shoot as much as they like. The rest is just details
for M.L. Carr.
GAME MATCHUPS: Friday night vs. Detroit Pistons -- The Pistons have
whacked the Celts thrice this season, never by fewer than 10 points.
And with Boston's depleted middle, Detroit will get all the rebounds
it needs to shoot for another big score.
Saturday night at Cleveland Cavaliers -- The Celtics have yet to play
the Cavaliers this season, so there's a chance the Cavs have forgotten
how much fun it is to play these Bostonians. The most interesting
aspect to this matchup is that the C's have done well in bringing
Cleveland out of its plodding shell. The Cavs will loosen up their
offense.
IN YOUR FACE: Friday night vs. Detroit Pistons -- Grant Hill has
averaged 22.7 against the C's this season. They haven't come close to
stopping him.
Saturday night at Cleveland Cavaliers -- David Wesley needs help on
Terrell Brandon, but the Celts have the worst help defense in the
league.
ROTATION: Starters -- Point guard David Wesley (team high 16.5 ppg);
Off guard Rick Fox (2.37 steals); Small forward Antoine Walker (2.4
assists; 2.9 turnovers); Power forward Eric Williams (a power forward
with just 4.5 rpg); Center Brett Szabo (still averaging just six
minutes a game). Bench -- First guard Todd Day (just 1.2 assists for a
guy who has the ball so often is despicable); First forward Marty
Conlon (87 percent from the line); First center Alton Lister (more
rebounds than points per game, 3.5-1.9).
INJURY UPDATE: Michael Hawkins (sore left shoulder) day to day, but
contract is up today. Dee Brown (hyperextended right big toe)
doubtful. Greg Minor (sore right foot) doubtful. Dino Radja (left knee
surgery) injured list. Dana Barros (sore left ankle) injured list.
Frank Brickowski (right shoulder surgery) injured list. Pervis Ellison
(broken right big toe) injured list.
x
_________________________________________________________________
February 28, 1997* Vol. 2, No. 37
Copyright (c) 1996 Pro Sports Xchange
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