The Celtics get ready for a tough stretch

The Boston Celtics have quite the week ahead of them.  They will be heading down south to jockey for position in the Eastern Conference standings, with trips to Orlando, and Atlanta, and then a return to the parquet to face the Los Angeles Lakers.

This will be a crucial week coming up, and they can send a message throughout the league if they are victorious.

The Celtics becoming hard to watch

The Boston Celtics have lost 8 of their last 12 games.  Last night’s loss to the lowly Detroit Pistons sums up the way the Celtics have been losing, and that is, starting out strong, only to fade late.

The C’s opened up the game shooting 61 % from the floor in the first half.  Paul Pierce (21 points), Rajon Rondo (21 points), and Rasheed Wallace (16 points), all started off with hot-hands.  Once again, it was the Celtics who led at the half (56-48), and once again, the lead evaporated in the beginning of the third quarter.

Cleveland now has a 2-game lead for the best record in the Eastern Conference.  The Celtics hold a half-game lead on the Atlanta Hawks for the two seed, and the boys in green will have a critical 2-game road stretch coming up when they travel to Orlando, and Atlanta.  They return to action tomorrow night when they host the Portland Trail Blazers, and look to improve their 11-7 record at home.

B's get dumped by Sens

The Boston Bruins were blown out yesterday by the Ottawa Senators, 5-1.  The Senators and Bruins are now tied for second place with 54 points.

Tim Thomas had another woeful performance, yielding three goals on nine shots before getting pulled in the second period.  Thomas has been tough to figure out this season.  The reigning Vezina Trophy winner has seen his goals-against average soar to 2.45, while his record is a mediocre 13-12-6.  I’m not calling for Timmy to be booed out of town, because the guy has simply been a stud here for the better part of the decade.  But, it’s apparent that he hasn’t been the same guy this year, and rookie Tuukka Rask is beginning to make a name for himself, posting a 10-5-2 record, with a 2.04 GAA.

The Bruins have the next two nights off before welcoming the Columbus Blue Jackets to town.  The Blue Jackets are currently in last place in the Western Conference’s Central division.

Celtics lose at home again

The Boston Celtics were dealt their seventh loss at home this season, as the Dallas Mavericks came away with a 99-90 win.  Dirk Nowitzki went off, shooting over Celtics defenders with ease, finishing with 37 points (22 in 2nd half) on 14-22 shooting from the floor.

The Celtics played well in the first half, building up a double-digit lead before settling for a nine point advantage at the break (50-41).  The tables were turned in the third quarter when Rasheed Wallace picked up his fourth foul, landing him on the bench.  The Celts became a lot smaller with Wallace on the bench, and Nowitzki took full advantage, scoring 14 points in a five-minute span that occurred after Wallace’s fourth foul.

Paul Pierce (24 points) and Ray Allen (21 points) fueled the scoring for the C’s, but it was the defense that had no answers for Nowitzki.  Boston will look to regroup tomorrow night in Detroit.