not too shabby

[lapdoggy <lapdoggy@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

It looks as though that Banks won't get any PT as long as he looks for 
his own shot. Obie is one stubborn SOB and he proved it tonight. If 
only Battie and Blount weren't so freaking soft half the time they are 
the floor we'd be on to something.




Boston 102, Utah 80

AP - Dec  8, 11:11 pm EST
More Photos
SALT LAKE CITY (AP) -- Any fatigue the Boston Celtics felt in their 
second game in two nights was gone within a few minutes.

The Celtics looked fresh from beginning to end and won in Utah for the 
first time in nearly four years, beating the Jazz 102-80 Monday night.

``We're just hungry. We're playing like a bunch of rats trapped in a 
corner,'' said Paul Pierce , who had 14 points for the Celtics.

Mike James had 18 points and nine assists and Eric Williams added 19 
points for the Celtics, who were 1-13 in their last 14 visits to Utah 
and hadn't won in Salt Lake City since Feb. 15, 2000.

The Celtics forced 19 turnovers and led by 33 in the fourth quarter 
while winning their second straight. Boston snapped a four-game losing 
streak the night before in Denver.

``Whenever you get two wins, that's a mini-streak right there and that 
will do wonders for any team's confidence,'' Williams said. ``These are 
games that help us build our team character.''

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Matt Harpring led Utah with 17 points and seven rebounds and Andrei 
Kirilenko had 11 points and six boards. The Jazz pulled their starters 
early in the fourth quarter.

Utah never held a lead and lost for just the second time at home this 
season.

``They deserved everything they got out there because they played so 
hard and we didn't even know where we were,'' Jazz coach Jerry Sloan 
said.

Both teams played on the road the night before, but only the Jazz 
looked sluggish despite benching their starters for the fourth quarter 
Sunday in a 94-92 loss to the Los Angeles Lakers .

Utah's starters got plenty of rest at the end again Monday as the 
Celtics took a 17-point lead into halftime and didn't let up at all in 
the second half.

The Celtics went 2-0 on a brief road trip and play four of their next 
five at home.

``We've played Utah well out here. We haven't always come away with the 
win,'' Celtics coach Jim O'Brien said. ``We did a good job of getting 
the lead and keeping the pressure on.''


AP - Dec  8, 10:39 pm EST
More Photos
Utah slightly cut into Boston's 51-34 halftime lead with the first four 
points of the third quarter, but the Celtics responded with a 6-0 run. 
Later in the quarter, James hit a long jumper as the shot clock was 
about to expire, Pierce took a steal all the way in for a dunk and 
Williams beat the shot clock again with a 3-pointer during a 7-2 run 
that put the Celtics up 68-46 midway through the third quarter.

Boston also gave its starters a rest and the end and still coasted to 
the victory.

DeShawn Stevenson scored 10 for Utah and Raja Bell scored 16, getting 
11 in the second half after the game was in hand for Boston.

Kirilenko said fatigue shouldn't have been a factor.

``It happens in the NBA. You've got like back-to-back (games) how many 
times during the season? You've got like 10-15 times so you need to be 
ready,''

Notes

Celtics forward Vin Baker missed the game because of the flu. ... James 
was just one assist shy of his career best of 10 set earlier this 
season. ... Utah guard Raul Lopez twisted his ankle near the end of the 
second quarter and winced in pain as he limped off the court. He 
returned early in the thirdquarter.