Re: Oh yeah, oh yeah

[HMURDOCH@AOL.com]

Bentz, can you imagine if they had won the Vancouver game too ?  But then 
again, maybe they needed that loss to motivate them.

Hank Murdoch

P.S. - here's an early recap :
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Celtics 85, Trail Blazers 81
PORTLAND, Ore., Feb. 17 (AP) -- Antoine Walker celebrated a bit early, but 
the Boston Celtics still got the win. 

Walker scored 28 points, including a crucial 3-pointer with 2:58 left that he 
celebrated with a strutting dance, as the Celtics held off the Portland Trail 
Blazers for a surprising 85-81 victory Saturday night. 

The Celtics moved a full game into the eighth playoff position in the East, 
and have now won nine of their last 11 games, and 12 of 18 since coach Rick 
Pitino's resignation. 

"That was a dagger, man," said Portland's Greg Anthony. "It's a big shot. 
Everybody goes through whatever little ordeal they have to when they make big 
plays like that. And that was a big play." 

Rasheed Wallace scored 23 points for the Blazers, who scored four quick 
points after Walker danced upcourt celebrating the deep 3-pointer that gave 
Boston an 82-75 lead with 2:58 left. 

"That last 3 felt good, and put us up by 7, but they still came back," Walker 
said. "That dance was something I made up at the end." 

Detlef Schrempf hit a jumper and Wallace, who guarded Walker much of the 
game, forced a turnover that led to a fastbreak alley-oop from Damon 
Stoudamire to Bonzi Wells that cut the lead to 82-81. 

But after the teams traded misses and the Blazers were called for an illegal 
defense, Paul Pierce hit a jump shot with 35.3 seconds left that increased 
Boston's lead to 84-81. 

"I struggled tonight, but that's a shot I've taken all season," Pierce said. 
"I want to take shots when it matters." 

Portland took a timeout, but Boston's defense came through and Stoudamire's 
layup wasn't even close. 

Milt Palacio grabbed the rebound and the Blazers were forced to foul. Pierce 
inbounded to Kenny Anderson, who went to the line and hit the first of two 
free throws to put the Celtics up 85-81. 

Stoudamire dribbled up court and passed to Wallace, who missed a 3-pointer, 
and Pierce grabbed the rebound to seal the win. 

"This is a huge win for us," Pierce said. "Portland is the best team in the 
NBA. This is a major confidence booster for us." 

Boston has been showing confidence of late, surging to 24-28 -- a game ahead 
of the Indiana Pacers in the East playoff race. 

"Our guys have played solid basketball and beat good teams on the road," 
Boston coach Jim O'Brien said. "We wanted to be in it with six minutes to 
play, and then put in Paul's and Antoine's hands." 

After Pierce hit a fadeaway jumper and Walker hit a 3-pointer, Portland tied 
the game at 50 as Arvydas Sabonis had two slam dunks and Wallace a layup. 

Walker, who was 7-of-12 from beyond the arc, hit another 3-pointer and Vitaly 
Potapenko banked in a hook shot to give the Celtics a 55-52 lead with 8:16 
left in the third quarter. 

Portland then took its first lead of the game when Stoudamire's leaning jump 
shot with 2:58 left in the quarter put the Blazers up 56-54. 

But Mark Blount was fouled just 41 seconds later, and his free throws gave 
Boston a 57-56 lead. Palacio then drove for an easy layup and stole a pass 
from Steve Smith for a fastbreak layup that put the Celtics up 61-56. 

"We knew they were playing well coming in, but we gave them way too many good 
looks, especially Antoine Walker," Portland coach Mike Dunleavy said. "We 
were soft on defense. They got baskets early and got us into foul trouble. 
They were the aggressor and we were scrambling most of the night in foul 
trouble."

Notes: Boston went to the free throw line 24 times, while the Blazers shot 
just 14 and were whistled for 26 fouls to the Celtics' 15. ... Portland has 
only one regular-season game against an Eastern Conference team left. The 
Blazers host New York March 30. ... The Celtics' last win in Portland was 
March 21, 1993, when they pulled out a 106-104 victory. ... Walker has scored 
27 or more in five of the last six games. 

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In a message dated 2/17/01 10:37:54 PM Pacific Standard Time, 
bocelts@usit.net writes:

> Well, what can I say?  Turn on the ESPN web site and there it is.  I
>  haven't even read it yet.  I want to let it sink in.  Needless to say,
>  this is a good win.  Wow!  Who says the East is weak?  Now, the only
>  negative is the headline, "Celtics SHOCK Blazers for ninth win in last
>  11".  Why not just the Celtics beat them.  Well, ok, yeah, well, I will
>  admit I am in shock.  So, ok, there is nothing bad about it that I can
>  see yet.  Let it roll baby.
>  
>  Go Celtics.  Hey, it has almost become fun to be a Celtics fan again!
>  Wear it with pride Baby!
>  
>  --
>  R. Bentz Kirby