Celtics Take The Heat

The Celtics, playing without Paul Pierce, had enough to hold off Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat last night at the Garden. Frank Dell’Apa  has Tony Allen making a big play on Wade with the game on the line, ensuring the Celtics victory. Mark Murphy  has the Celtics making the needed plays in the fourth quarter – a welcome change from recent losses. Robert Lee  has Rajon Rondo (22 points, 14 assists) taking the lead last night. Lenny Megliola  the game bringing out the brilliance of Rondo and Wade (30 points, 13 assists). Bill Doyle  says that it was Christmas day all over again for the Celtics. Jim Fenton  has the Celtics looking like a happier team after this one. A. Sherrod Blakely  has the Celtics playing their best defense in the fourth quarter last night. Bob Ryan  reminds us how old and broken down the Celtics are, and says that “if” Doc Rivers can get them to the playoffs, the schedule becomes easier on old bodies. Bill Reynolds  writes the exact same column. Steve Bulpett  has Doc Rivers reacting to yesterday’s piece in the Herald about the team chemistry. Gary Washburn  pinpoints the Celtics struggles this season as “they aren’t winning consistently and have yet to gain cohesiveness because of injuries.” Tony Lee  says that Doc Rivers has worked wonders with his patchwork lineups this season. Paul Flannery  has order being restored at the TD Garden last night. Chris Forsberg  has Rajon Rondo’s play speaking volumes after his comments earlier in

the week. Rich Levine  has Rondo answering the challenge his own words created. Bulpett has Ray Allen  feeling better about his situation after a talk with Danny Ainge. Murphy has Paul Pierce  with a sigh of relief after his foot diagnosis. Jeff Howe  has more on Pierce. Forsberg has a look at the big play from Tony Allen  late in the game. Peter May  has Eddie House making a big contribution in Pierce’s absence. Dell’Apa’s notebook  has Kevin Garnett saying that the team’s “bickering” problems are now under control. Murphy’s notebook  has KG saying that there is no “finger-pointing” going on with the team. Lee’s  Celtics Journal  has more on the team’s chemistry issues. Doyle’s notebook  has more on Pierce’s sprained foot. Fenton’s notebook  says that Pierce will likely miss tomorrow night’s game against the Nets as well.   Misc Daniel Barbarisi  has Daniel Bard feeling comfortable with his role heading into spring training. Michael Silverman  has Padres GM Jed Hoyer backing off slightly from comments yesterday about trading Adrian Gonzalez. Stephen Harris   and Mike Loftus  both have the Bruins hoping that a change of scenery can change their fortunes. Kevin Paul Dupont  says that the Bruins are not likely land Ilya Kovalchuk. Mark Blaudschun  and Steve Conroy  have a look at Boston College linebacker recruit Kevin Pierre-Louis. Eric Avidon  has coach Frank Spaziani putting some building blocks in place. Celtics Take The Heat is a post from: Boston Sports Media Watch

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Celtics Take The Heat