Celtics-Wizards Preview

By MATT BECKER
Posted Dec 31 2011 10:48PM

The four-time defending Atlantic Division-champion Boston Celtics have finally earned their first victory of the season.

It seems like it could be a while before the Washington Wizards get theirs.

The Celtics hope to build on their first win as they open a home-and-home set with the lowly Wizards on Sunday night in the nation's capital.

After opening the season with three straight road losses, Boston (1-3) defeated Detroit 96-85 in Friday's home opener to avoid the franchise's first 0-4 start since 1969-70. The Celtics struggled defensively in the defeats, allowing an average of 106.0 points, but came up with several key stops against the overmatched Pistons.

"I don't think we played particularly well in those three games, but one thing I know is we know how to play basketball," Ray Allen said. "We like who we have on our team."

Allen probably especially likes having Paul Pierce on the floor.

After missing the first three games with a bruised right heel and participating in just one practice, Pierce had 12 points, five assists and four rebounds in 23 minutes against Detroit. The nine-time All-Star, who averaged a team-best 18.9 points last season, provided energy and drew defensive attention, opening opportunities for teammates.

"He gives us a swagger that was definitely missing the first three games," Celtics guard Keyon Dooling said.

Jermaine O'Neal also stepped up for Boston on Friday, finishing with a team-high 19 points on 7 of 9 shooting after totaling eight on 3 of 12 shooting in the first three games.

While the Celtics seem poised to get back to .500 with back-to-back games against Washington with their starting five intact, little suggests the Wizards are in any position to climb out of the basement of the Eastern Conference. These teams play again Monday in Boston, and the schedule doesn't get much easier for the Wizards, who travel to Orlando on Wednesday before hosting New York two days later.

Washington (0-3) did split the season series with the Celtics in 2010-11, winning the two games at the Verizon Center by a combined three points, but Pierce, Allen, Kevin Garnett and Rajon Rondo all sat out the April 11 loss to rest for the playoffs.

The Wizards are struggling mightily offensively this season, averaging 82.7 points on 38.6 percent shooting, and if Boston's defense can duplicate the effort it had against Detroit, it could spell more trouble for Washington.

"Bottom line is we got to figure it out and figure it out quick," Flip Saunders said after Friday's 102-81 loss to Milwaukee. "We can't have it where we have some guys go out and compete, or if some guys are not playing well offensively it takes away our energy defensively."

Saunders points to the sluggish play of John Wall for some of the team's problems. Wall finished with six points against the Bucks, and is averaging 13.0 points on 27.0 percent shooting and 4.7 turnovers.

"John has a tendency to get down on himself when he is not making plays," Saunders said. "We got down big, he got down."

As a rookie against the Celtics last season, Wall averaged 20.0 points in three games, two wins.

Boston outscored the Wizards by an average of 23.5 points in its two victories in last season's series. Pierce averaged 22.5 points on 50.0 percent shooting, but he scored just 12 in an 85-83 loss in Washington on Jan. 22.

Rondo's triple-double leads Celtics over Wizards

Posted Jan 01 2012 10:12PM

WASHINGTON (AP) Doc Rivers was enjoying his team's win so much that he didn't realize Rajon Rondo had achieved his eighth regular-season triple-double.

Rondo had 18 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds while Kevin Garnett had 24 points and nine rebounds to lead the Boston Celtics over the winless Washington Wizards 94-86 on Sunday night.

Rivers found out about Rondo's statistical feat when he glanced at the final box score.

"I just knew he played great. He was sensational all night. He had one of those nights - he had this last year in stretches - where he just called a good game, you know, like he's a great catcher," Rivers said.

"He called a terrific game tonight."

The victory was the Celtics' second straight after losing their first three.

"It's just two games. We had some tough losses the first few games, but it's about building and I think that's what we're doing right now," Rondo said.

Garnett had just 43 points in the first four games. He dominated Washington's front line - hitting nine of his 17 field goals - scoring 12 points in each half.

"At this point my defense is definitely ahead of my offense," Garnett said. "(Rivers) wants me to be a lot more offensive."

The Celtics took the lead in the first 3 minutes and increased the margin to 19 points. Boston led by at least seven points throughout the second half.

Washington is 0-4. After losing the opener by six points to New Jersey, the Wizards have lost the last three by 47 points.

Washington, which lost five straight to open 2008-09, could match that start Monday in Boston when the teams play again.

John Wall, who was 10 for 37 from the field in Washington's first three games, was 6 for 13 against the Celtics. He finished with 19 points, eight assists and seven rebounds. He committed his fourth foul with 4:25 remaining in the third quarter on a three-point play by Rondo.

"He does the little things. He's sneaky at rebounding," Wall said. "He does a great job of trying to steal the ball. He can score in various ways."

JaVale McGee had 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Wizards, while Nick Young had 18 points.

The Celtics took a 30-17 lead early in the second quarter. Paul Pierce, in his second game since returning from a bruised right heel, played the first 9 minutes - a few more than Rivers envisioned. Rivers previously said he was more worried about Pierce's conditioning than the heel.

Pierce, who had 12 points in 23 minutes on Friday night, had nine in 28 against Washington.

After the Wizards cut the deficit to 32-25, Boston went on a 12-2 run to take a 44-27 lead with 3:45 left in the second quarter.

The Celtics led 51-34 at halftime. Boston nearly doubled Washington's shooting percentage in the first half - the Celtics shot 55.6 percent, the Wizards 28.2 percent. Washington missed all nine of its 3-point attempts in the half and finished 2 of 16.

"We're getting good shots. We missed nine shots inside of 4 feet," Wizards coach Flip Saunders said.

Washington scored seven straight points to cut Boston's lead to 65-58 with 2:33 remaining in the third quarter, but the Celtics led 73-60 after three.

NOTES: Wizards C/F Ronny Turiaf left the game in the third quarter with a bruised left hand. Saunders said he was doubtful for Monday night. ... Boston played without F/C Chris Wilcox (bruised left shoulder). Rivers said there was a good chance Wilcox would play on Monday night. ... Washington assigned C Hamady Ndiaye to Iowa of the NBA D-League. ... When Roger Mason checked into the game for the Wizards in the second quarter, the crowd murmured. Mason's name was inadvertently omitted from the eligible list for Friday's game in Milwaukee - resulting in Mason's disqualification.

Notebook: Celtics 94, Wizards 86

By Rich Dubroff, for NBA.com
Posted Sunday January 1, 2012 10:20PM

THE FACTS: Rajon Rondo had a triple-double with 18 points, 14 assists and 11 rebounds and Kevin Garnett had 24 points and nine rebounds to lead the Boston Celtics over the Washington Wizards 94-86 on Sunday night.

It was Boston's second straight win after three losses. Washington has lost all four of its games. The teams meet Monday night in Boston.

John Wall had 19 points, Nick Young had 18 points and JaVale McGee had 16 points and 14 rebounds for the Wizards.

QUOTABLE: "I didn't even know that. I just knew he played great. He was sensational all night. He had one of those nights -- he had this last year in stretches-- where he just called a good game, you know, like he's a great catcher. He called a terrific game tonight."­
-- Celtics' coach Doc Rivers on Rondo's triple-double.

THE STAT: It was Rondo's 14th career triple-double?eight in the regular season, six in the post-season. His 14 assists were one fewer than the Wizards' 15.

TURNING POINT: The Wizards cut a 17-point halftime deficit to seven with 2:32 left in the third quarter. The Celtics increased their lead to 13 at the end of the quarter.

QUOTABLE II: "Not every night I'm going to be making my shots....Just pick your poison. If they [go under screens], I'll continue to shoot. If they don't, the strongest part of my game is getting to the hole."
- Rondo on his game.

HOT: Rondo was seven for 10 in the field. It was the third time in five games Rondo had more than 10 assists.

NOT: According to head coach Flip Saunders, the Wizards missed nine shots from within four feet, and 14 of 16 from 3-point range.

GOOD MOVE: Rondo and Garnett were a veritable two-man offense, and the point guard kept looking for Garnett. His 24 points was easily the most he's scored in the first five games.

BAD MOVE: Andray Blatche continued to be invisible, scoring 10 points, but allowing Boston's front line to have its way. He quickly left the locker room without comment.

NOTABLE: Washington's 0-4 start is the second time in the last four years they've started with four straight losses. In 2008-09, they began with five straight.

IN THE ARENA: Wizards' forward Jan Vesely, who has yet to play due to a sore right hip, walked around the locker room with a white jacket and white shoes. No one has yet to tell Vesely, a recent arrival from the Czech Republic that it's a fashion faux pas to wear white after Labor Day.

UP NEXT: Celtics: Monday vs. Wizards, Wednesday vs. Nets, Friday vs. Pacers. Wizards: Monday @ Celtics, Wednesday @ Magic, Friday vs. Knicks

• Celtics: Pietrus, Wilcox
• Wizards: N'Diaye, Vesely

• Celtics: --
• Wizards: --

• Lead Changes: 1
• Times Tied: 1

• Arena: Verizon Center, Washington, DC
• Officials: #75 Eric Dalen, #22 Bill Spooner, #60 James Williams
• Attendance: 17458
• Duration: 2:12