The Celtics will raise banner # 17 to the Garden rafters tonight as they tap off the new season against LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Mark Murphy looks at the challenges that a title defense will provide for the Celtics. Frank Dell’Apa has the Celtics ready to take on the challenge of defending their championship, starting tonight. Tim Weisberg looks at how things will change for the Celtics this season with a championship under their belt. Paul Doyle has the Celtics eying their place in NBA history. Bill Doyle notes that the greatest Celtic of all will be missing from tonight’s ceremony. Robert Lee has the Celtics confident that they have what it takes to repeat.
Bob Ryan looks at the new NBA season, which kicks off in glorious fashion tonight at the Garden. Steve Bulpett says that the party will be over at tipoff tonight with LeBron in town. Gerry Callahan says that the Celtics are the true definition of a team. Very good column from Callahan. Bill Reynolds insists that the big three of these Celtics need to win another title in order to truly be great Celtics. Scott Souza has the Celtics ready to get things started.
Marc J. Spears says that it is more about the feeling of winning and being champions than getting the actual rings themselves. Jeff Howe has the Celtics excited to ring in the new season. Bulpett looks at the top threats to the Celtics in the East. Paul Flannery says that the Celtics are still the class of the East.
Bulpett has expectations growing this season for Rajon Rondo in his third year in the league. Dan Duggan looks at the young guys Danny Ainge added to the bench in the offseason. Weisberg also has a look at how Ainge spent the summer rebuilding the bench. Murphy has a look at the chemistry that Kendrick Perkins and Kevin Garnett have in the paint for the Celtics.
So what are the odds that Wyc Grousbeck says or does something embarrassing tonight in his exuberance? Bulpett has the Celtics three big stars looking to be even better this season. Murphy looks at Tom Thibodeau’s role as secretary of defense. Ron Borges says that Doc Rivers has always been a winner, even when his “internet critics” said otherwise.
Dell’Apa’s notebook has a look at the detail that goes into making the championship banners. Bulpett’s notebook has Pierce thinking Red tonight. Lee’s notebook has Sam Cassell reflecting on his third championship ring.
Patriots.
It’s report card day for the Patriots. Michael Felger has praise for the defense and generally high marks all around. Ron Borges isn’t quite so generous with his grades, but the marks are still passing. Ian Clark has a big “A” for Matt Cassel.
John Tomase has Adalius Thomas getting more into the mix for the Patriots defense, right at the perfect time. Christopher L. Gasper notes that the depleted defensive secondary has a tough task on tap this week against the Colts. David Brown says that the Patriots defense bent on Sunday, but held when needed. Christopher Price has Bill Belichick talking about Matt Cassel’s improvement. Glen Farley says that the Patriots depth has been a key to their success this season. An article with no byline in the Telegram & Gazette says that the Patriots have a blueprint to success that they’ve been working from for nine years. Shalise Manza Young says that the Patriots proved that a penalty free game can have an impact on the outcome. Daniel Barbarisi says that coaching played a huge role in the win over the Rams.
In a somewhat – strange – column, Shira Springer says that short athletes like Wes Welker are an inspiration.
Tomase’s notebook has victories, not style points important to the Patriots. He also has Mike Vrabel preparing to school the younger Patriots in the ways of Peyton Manning. Gasper’s notebook says that success in the Red Zone – on both ends – was the key to the Patriots win on Sunday. The Projo notebook has Belichick praising the onsides kick by the Rams.
The Bruins picked up an overtime win in Edmonton last night, 1-0 over the Oilers. Get the details at BruinsLinks.com.
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Every fall when the circus comes to town, the Bruins head west. It would be a tremendous boost to the team if they could at least break even before coming home.
Didn’t they do that this year? 1-1-1 before the home opener against Pittsburgh.
Ron Borges is still allowed to write? Shouldn’t the Herald treat him like a sex offender moving into a neighborhood?
Put posters up, have the police go door to door informing all that the peculiar, smoothee-lover next door is a PLAGIARIST?
Bruce – have the Celtics said exactly when the pregame festivities start? I’m going to the game and plan to get there early but want to make sure I don’t miss anything.
From the Celtics website:
Half an hour before tomorrow’s 8 p.m. tip off, the Boston Celtics will gather on the parquet to receive the rings of NBA Champions. NBA Commissioner David Stern will call out the names, some tears may be shed and the crowd will offer its due ovation. But as quickly as the house lights come back up in T.D. Banknorth Garden, the final moment for celebration will end and whistles will herald the 2008-09 season.
Hope that helps.
Thanks!
When did the Globe and WEEI get together on web content? There are links to Planet Mikey and Dale & Holley audio on the sports pages.
The Globe and WEEI together? It will be fun to hear Ordway spin this one. His twenty minute anti-Globe rants have been must-miss radio for years now.
You know, not for nothin’, but exactly one Boston team actually played a game last night, and they’re relegated to “go look at our glorified google search page” status today. I get that the Celtics have a big event tonight, and I get that Tuesday is when we catch up with all the nooks and crannies of the Patriots game, but this is pretty pathetic. Can’t take that long to link the Globe, Herald, New England Hockey Journal, etc.
I understand what you’re saying. I wish I could do them all, but many times I’m rushing out the door, late as it is already. I do the best I can.
I’m hoping to have some good BSMW Bruins coverage news for you soon.
Fair enough, appreciate the response. You do good work here.
Hey Bruce…
Just catching up on your links now – and was wondering what you meant by this?
“So what are the odds that Wyc Grousbeck says or does something embarrassing tonight in his exuberance?”
Has Wyc ever done anything like that before?
Love your site by the way. I’m visit daily.
Thanks Scott. Wyc just has a tendency to go a little over-the-top with things he’s had a few cringe-inducing moments over the years, and Tuesday night was a prime setting for another. He behaved, though.