air's Celtics dynasty

[air]

X, there's nothing much you can do about it if you master the post-up move using the power dribble/pro hop button. I tried everything from setting inside scoring ratings to 1 but Michael Olowokandi still ruled the world when I controlled his team. As I posted earlier, I don't use the post up move at all in this dynasty.

Anyway I managed to make it all a little harder, for the time being, here's a bit of coverage on the Indiana games.

Boston 105, Indiana 83
Box score


Raef LaFrentz hits a three-pointer.

Indiana 83, Boston 112
Box score


Pierce goes in and gets the tough shot to go.

More usual recaps will be on the way soon.

[air]

The November issue of Celtics Magazine features Raef LaFrentz on the cover. I spent a long time working on it but couldn't get the colours right so this will be the annual black and white issue (or something stupid like that).



It also features an interview with Celtics' assistant coach Tony Brown.

Celtics Magazine recently met up with Celtics assistant coach Tony Brown, who gave us a lowdown of the things they will be working on in training with each individual. Here's what he had to say on the Celtics' future stars.

Al Jefferson, 6'10, power forward
Tony Brown says: "We've been very pleased with Al's progress so far. He's earned his starting spot and he is already a big defensive presence for the club. He has great size, strength and defensive skills. What he needs to improve on can be divided into two areas: quickness and offence. He has to get quicker in his movements and become more agile, as well as shoot and pass better. It's easier said than done but those are the areas he needs to work on."

Delonte West, 6'4, point guard
Tony Brown says: "Again, we're very happy with the way Delonte has handled the pressure in the first games of the season. At 22 years of age we still expect him to develop his point guard skills, mainly ball handling and passing. Physically, he's pretty much at NBA level but he needs to develop a much more reliable jump shot, inside and outside."

Gerald Green, 6'8, small forward/shooting guard
Tony Brown says: "He's actually been even better than we expected although he hasn't found the kind of consistency you usually see in a veteran player. However we must remember he's still just 19, but he's amazingly gifted and as long as he keeps on working in training he will pick up many of the tricks of the trade during the next couple of years. A very exciting prospect, everyone at this club feels he has the potential to become a real star player."

Tony Allen, 6'4, shooting guard
Tony Brown says: "He could use a couple more inches in height but I doubt he will get that in training! Anyway, he's very good athletically and defensively, he can get to the rim but if you're going to be a shooting guard you need a good jump shot."

Marcus Banks, 6'2, point guard
Tony Brown says: "He's very quick, very energetic and just the fact that he comes on to the court gives the team a boost, so you want to have him come off the bench. He's doing the same drills as Delonte [West]: ball handling, passing and jump shooting."

Kendrick Perkins, 6'10, center
Tony Brown says: "Quite a typical young NBA center, lots of strength and power, he's still got a long way to go to the top. It's not easy for these big guys to become the quickest players or best ball handlers, but it's still their next step towards being the league's elite."
------------

The magazine also features an ad with Al Jefferson. It's that great but I figured I'll try and make a better one with a different player at some points. Check out Al Jefferson's vitamin ad here.

[nbalive744]

Nice magazine and coverage, I never knew how young of a team the Celtics really were.

[Kemp]

I like the Raef LaFrentz's cover, it looks nice. Jefferson and Green are definitely the Celtic's future stars.

[The X]

I guess I'll have to avoid the pro-hop post-up move too....nice mag, looking forward to see what you can do with the C's....

[air]

Suns bring Celtics' winning streak to an end

Phoenix 99, Boston 86
Box score
Team records: Phoenix 5-4, Boston 7-2

BOSTON, Nov. 18 (Ticker) -- Boston Celtics' remarkable seven-game winning streak came to an end after the team was defeated by Phoenix Suns. In the early stages it all looked to be shaping up into a close game, with only Leandro Barbosa's buzzer-beating three pointer giving the Suns a three-point lead going into the first quarter break. But the Suns extended their lead to nine by half time, and when the third quarter started, Raef LaFrentz drew his fourth personal foul. From then on it was all downhill for the Celtics, who eventually lost by 13 points.

Shawn Marion was electrifying, earning player of the game honors with 27 points, nine rebounds and four assists. Amare Stoudemire had 18 and 10, while center Kurt Thomas came up big with 17 rebounds and eight points. Total rebounds were therefore 51 to 39 in favour of the Suns. Paul Pierce racked up 21 points for the Celtics, but Ricky Davis and Raef LaFrentz managed only ten each.

"This team goes out on the court to win every game but it's clear that you can't win all of them", said Doc Rivers. "Hopefully we will gain something from this defeat for the future, maybe we'll be more determined for the next one."

"We started with some good defensive stops but from the second quarter on it was only [Phoenix] who were getting up the court in transition", said Ricky Davis.

Photo Wire

Marcus Banks makes a good effort to evade Steve Nash and Kurt Thomas and gets to the rim.

_________________________________________________________________________________


Magic make it close for Celtics

Orlando 111, Boston 118
Box score
Team records: Orlando 5-3, Boston 8-2

BOSTON, Nov. 23 (Ticker) -- Boston Celtics got back to winning ways in a high-scoring game against Orlando Magic. They led all the way after an impressive start, drawing lots of fouls and scoring from free throws. Orlando's Dwight Howard got into foul trouble, which made the game a little easier for Boston. It really should have been all over after the Celtics had a 16-point lead in the third quarter, but somehow the Magic got back into it and it was a four-point game late in the fourth quarter. Paul Pierce scored a tough three-pointer which really should not have gone in, but it did and the Celtics had the win wrapped up.

Pierce was again player of the game with 31 points, four rebounds and three steals, but the rest of the Celtics starters also came up big. Raef LaFrentz had 14 and 10, Al Jefferson had 20 and 10, Ricky Davis had 23 and seven, while Delonte West recorded 11 assists whilst scoring only five points. Steve Francis led the Magic with 23 points. Orlando shared points with four players scoring eight and two players getting nine points.

"We just couldn't finish them off", said Ricky Davis. "They kept coming back and back and back, fortunately for us Paul [Pierce] was again at hand to help us."

"We made it hard for ourselves but once we got into the tough spot, we handled it well", declared coach Doc Rivers.

The Celtics face the Sacramento Kings tomorrow on the road, followed by grudge matches against Orlando and again Sacramento.

Photo wire

Ricky Davis scored 23 and provided some high-flying action for the fans.

[air]

Thank you for tuning in and the compliments!

For those two games I enabled superstar abilities and I also made my sliders tougher so I'll post my update on them at some point.

Any comments on the Al Jefferson ad?

Oh, and I have played the first of the next two games, someone scored a career-high in points!

[Kemp]

The Celtics shot horribly from the field against the Suns. Amare and Kurt dominated the boards, good to see you bounced back after that loss as you killed the Magic. That Jefferson ad, yeah quite hilarious . I like your funny ad. Post more ad in the future.

[The X]

nice Ricky Davis pic

[Keo]

Tough loss against the Suns, just a very tough team. Kurt Thomas crashed the boards, 17 rebounds! But you "rebounded" well by beating the Magic. Paul Pierce might just be up for MVP this season although you've had everybody chipping in so team's playing well and good to see the posotive things! Good luck next game.

[Jing]

opppph... ricky flyingin! lol

[nbalive744]

Great pics, looks like Ricky and Marcus have some serious hops, nice win, tough loss.

[air]

Hey and thanks for watching. Will post recap once internet connection works more than 30 seconds again.

[Isaiah]

tough two losses...hopefully tou can bounce back against the Kings

[air]

Woah, my previous message got here. Couple of days still I guess, I'll have to get this computer wizard I know to visit and help out.

[air]

Pierce gets 48, Celtics win in Sacramento

Boston 114, Sacramento 102
Box score
Team records: Boston 9-2, Sacramento 4-6

SACRAMENTO, Nov. 24 (Ticker) -- Boston Celtics played some of their best basketball this season in the first two quarters of their game against Sacramento Kings. They played perfect basketball against a weak Kings defence and the score was 72-44 at half time, Paul Pierce scoring an incredible 31 points. The Celtics let their lead slip in the third and fourth quarters, and some of their fans must have been biting their nails until they had some solid possessions in the final minutes and won the game by 12 points.

Paul Pierce scored 48 points to match his career-high which he set in 2001 against New Jersey. He also had three rebounds, five assists and three steals to earn player of the game honors. Centers LaFrentz and Miller battled it out, both scored 20 and had four assists, LaFrentz had eight rebounds to Miller's seven. Bonzi Wells scored 22 in an effort to bring the Kings back, while Peja Stojakovic had 15 points, all in the second half.

"Sometimes everything just works out and you gain some extra confidence", explained Pierce. "Once you do that you can really score lots of points."

"We played our best basketball of this season", said Doc Rivers. "We could have played a better third quarter but overall it was a great game by us."

Photo Wire

LEFT: Impossible was nothing for Paul Pierce. RIGHT: West and Pierce with a showtime play.

air's note: The connection seems to be working at the moment. I don't quite know what the problem is, what I know is that a couple simmed games will be up next.

[Jing]

NICE! finally another game, beat the kings yeah!
nice of delonte and pierce.

[air]

I simulated a couple of games because I had the same opponents as in the last games, Orlando and Sacramento. I also have back-to-back games against Golden State coming up so I simmed the first.

I decided I will simulate max. 8 games out of the 58, I set my big guys inside scoring ratings back to defaults for these three.

Player stats: points/rebounds unless otherwise indicated

November 28
Boston 98, Orlando 87
BOS: Pierce 25/7, LaFrentz 26/8, Jefferson 13/10, Davis 18/4
ORL: Howard 30/6, Francis 20/4/7 ast

November 30
Sacramento 95, Boston 93
BOS: Pierce 29/14, LaFrentz 27/11, Davis 18/7
SAC: Stojakovic 26/7, Abdur-Rahim 16/15, Miller 24/9

December 1
Boston 77, Golden State 84
BOS: Pierce 16/12, LaFrentz 14/14, Davis 18
GS: B. Davis 21/8/5 ast, Dunleavy 21/9/4 ast

[air]

Thanks for checking in, jxuusa! Hopefully I will "stay connected" for at least a short while now.
_________________________________________________________________________________



NBA NOVEMBER RECAP

STANDINGS, December 4

EAST
Boston 10-4
Detroit 9-4
Miami 9-5
New Jersey 10-6
Orlando 6-5
Indiana 7-6
Toronto 7-6
Cleveland 6-6
---------------
Chicago 5-7
New York 6-9
Philadelphia 4-8
Atlanta 4-10
Washington 3-8
Milwaukee 3-11
Charlotte 2-11

WEST
San Antonio 14-3
Denver 12-4
Golden State 9-5
Houston 11-4
Memphis 8-4
Utah 7-4
Dallas 8-5
Phoenix 9-6
----------------
Minnesota 8-7
Sacramento 6-8
LA Lakers 5-7
LA Clippers 5-8
Portland 2-7
New Orleans 2-10
Seattle 1-10

Players of the month
East player: Shaquille O'Neal 25.7 ppg 10.6 rpg 3.1 apg 2.1 bpg
West player: Kevin Garnett 21.4 ppg 12.3 rpg 5.0 apg 2.5 bpg 1.5 spg
East rookie: Andrew Bogut 12.8 ppg 8.8 rpg
West rookie: Rashad McCants 13.0 ppg 3.5 apg

League leaders:

Points per game
Chris Bosh 28.4
Paul Pierce 26.9
Dirk Nowitzki 26.2
Shaquille O'Neal 25.7
Yao Ming 25.5
Kobe Bryant 23.8
Tracy McGrady 23.5
Shawn Marion 22.7
Zach Randolph 22.6
Vince Carter 22.4
LeBron James 22.3

Rebounds per game
Kevin Garnett 12.3
Tim Duncan 11.4
Chris Bosh 10.8
Tyson Chandler 10.7
Shaquille O'Neal 10.6

Assists per game
Steve Nash 9.2
Luke Ridnour 7.2
Kirk Hinrich 6.8
Baron Davis 6.7
Dwyane Wade 6.6
Allen Iverson 6.6
Delonte West 6.5

Celtics stats

[nbalive744]

Great NBA Roundup, it's good to see that you are leading the east, keep it up man, at this rate you have to make the playoffs .