Kobe is better, but T-Mac's my favorite player so I went with him. Anyways, here's some articles on the team after their first two games.
The Boston Globe
Celtics Preapre for Opener
The Boston Celtics will play their first game tonight in Miam agains the Heat. Despite controversy surrounding the Heat's draft, they have opened with a 2-1 record, hoping to improve by beating a team that hasn't played a single game yet. The Heat will look to score with Nash and Steve Francis in the backcourt while Andrew Bogut holds down the fort on the inside. Celtics GM Nick Sennott has worked with Doc Rivers to get the starting lineup going.
-The game starts at 7 in Miami
Ok, here's the lineup I came up with. I've decided to play small (in a way) by playing Howard at center with Marvin at PF to take advantage of his better shooting skills.
PG - Sebastian Telfair
SG - Tracy McGrady
SF - James Posey
PF - Marvin Williams
C - Dwight Howard
Hakim Warrick, Sean Bradley, Kyle Korver, Tim Thomas, Leandro Barbosa, Rashad McCants, and L. Harrington all come off the bench.
Tim Thomas always comes in for PF, SF, and SG while Bradley comes in for just C, and Harrington enters for just PG. Everyone else comes in for all positions but C.
Here's the recap from the newspaper.
The Boston Globe
Celtics Can't Take The Heat in 106-90 Loss
The Celtics opened their season with a loss in Miami, but it didn't look like it would turn that way in the beginning. Harsh criticism has been directed at the Heat, particularly by Celtics' GM Nick Sennott. Their first selection, Steve Francis, was seen by many as an absurd choice. And when the teams stepped onto the court, both in throwback away jerseys, nothing was forgotten. Miami started the game with Steve Nash at the point, accompanied by Francis in the backcourt. Zach Randolph started the PF position with Grant Hill at SF and Andrew Bogut at center. The key matchup was seen by many to be between Dwight Howard and Andrew Bogut, both young, strong inside players.
The Celtics controlled the tip, getting the ball to Tracy McGrady for a contested 3 as the shot clock wound down. The shot clanged off the rim, but Dwight Howard lept up and snared the ball, stuffing it through the rim and silencing the hyped Miami crowd. The Celtics were able to control Nash's outside game, but from the very beginning they struggled with Francis driving to the hoop and jamming it. The Celtics went to their bench in the first due to fatigue, and their 7 point lead dwindled to a 1 point deficit.
Boston was forced to return their starters to the floor, but much to their horror, they could do nothing. The game slipped until the Celtics were 8 points back. Sebastian Telfair called a timeout, and Doc Rivers called for the ball to go inside to Howard. It was the right move, and the Celtics were down 6. A steal for an easy bucket, followed by a 1-2 showing at the line from Tracy McGrady made it a 3 point game. A missed 3 by Nash gave the ball to the Celtics. Kyle Korver was open in the corner and he drained the set 3 point shot to tie it up. But alas, Miami returned and made ti a 5 point game again.
The Celtics went to the line, but struggled over and over again while Steve Nash hit shots left and right. At the half, he had 25 points, 1 rebound, and 2 assists. Howard had 10 points, 7 rebounds, and 1 of each block, assist, and steal.
The second half was awash in terrible shot attempts. 3 pointers rained from the Celtics hands, but almost all bricked and the lead crept out to 21 before the ball was put back in Howard's hands. He rattled off a huge slam and then and And-1 play to make it a 16 point game. However, the Celts forget their inside success against Bogut and started chucking up shots again. They could never get closer than 12. But they never gave up, even fouling with less than a minute less, down 14.
The game could not be won, and they fell 106-90. Steve Nash did not score in the 4th quarter, but still finished with 33 points, a rebound, and 3 assists as the player of the game. Francis avenged his critics by leading the Heat with 34 points. Celtics' GM Nick Sennott was impressed afterwards: "He did a great job of fighting his way inside and getting the ball in the net once he did. He certainly is on the road to justify his high selection now."
The Celtics will look to rebound against the Raptors. If they want to do so, they will have to improve upon their free throw percentage - a measly 31.8%. The bench played well, despite the loss, and will ahev to continue that. For the Celtics, the bench just needs to be able o hold games in check for a few minuted near the ends of quarters.