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06/12/2010 -
BOSTON (AP) -When the Boston Celtics assembled their new Big Three in the summer of 2007, they suddenly had three different options on offense - too many for opponents to handle, it turned out, and the league's most-decorated franchise drove to its unprecedented 17th NBA championship.
So far in this year's NBA finals, though, the trio of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen has been more like the Big One-at-a-Time: Three All-Stars, taking turns making contributions but never all clicking at once.
``It would be great if all three and Rondo and everyone got it going in one game,'' coach Doc Rivers said Saturday before the Celtics practiced for Game 5 of the NBA finals against the Los Angeles Lakers. ``I'd feel very good about that game if that happens. We're certainly going to try.''
The idea of having three scoring threats hasn't quite worked out in the first four games against the Lakers, as one after the other of the Big Three - and emerging star Rajon Rondo, too - has struggled. But the Celtics have managed to tie the series 2-2 heading into Sunday night's Game 5 because they've found other ways to contribute.
``You know what, they're a real sound defensive team and they're going to take some things away, and that's what it is,'' Garnett said. ``The series is a series of adjustments, and I feel like with each game comes a new set of adjustments. One game, it can be Paul, one game can be myself, one game can be Ray, it can be Rajon. But at the end of the day you have to be aggressive, take what they give you, and I think for the most part we've done just that.''
When Garnett struggled in the second game, Rivers made it his goal to get the biggest member of the Big Three going early in Game 3. It took Garnett only 75 seconds to match his Game 2 total of six points, and he finished with 25.
Pierce shot just 2 for 11 in Game 2, but scored 15 points - making 3 of 4 from 3-point range - the next game and then had a more characteristic 19 points with six rebounds and five assists when Boston won 96-89 to even the best-of-seven series at two games.
Allen hit eight 3-pointers to set an NBA record and score 32 points in Game 2, but in Game 3, he was 0 for 13 from the floor - one miss away from the worst shooting performance in NBA finals history - and he didn't snap out of it until late in the third quarter of Thursday's Game 4.
But it isn't just a shooting slump that's caused the numbers to fluctuate.
Allen seemed to struggle most when Derek Fisher was covering him, and it didn't help that Allen was running ragged at the other end of the floor chasing Kobe Bryant around. Players wind up in foul trouble, costing them minutes and also making it difficult for them to be aggressive driving the lane.
``As far as having a great game from all of us, it's real unpredictable,'' Pierce said. ``Teams have their scouting reports, and some things they want to take away from us each and every night, some guys more than others. So it's hard to predict the other team's game plan and what they want to give and what they want to take away.''
The players all insist that they aren't worried about their point total as long as they are contributing elsewhere - whether it's a denied entry pass on defense or a well-timed pick that sets someone else up for the score. But there's also a possibility that the poor shooting will affect their confidence at the other end, too.
``It was important to me to feel like I was actually in the game,'' Garnett said. ``I couldn't care less about getting the ball, I couldn't care less about scoring. But if I need to be effective in the post presence, then I need to do that. I thought Doc did a good job of just obviously consolidating the ball, giving me a chance to be aggressive.''
That's when having three stars can be an advantage - even if they're not all hitting their shots.
``We have multiple options on offense, but on defense we try to be as one,'' Garnett said. ``Absolutely it helps to have two, three other guys who can take the scoring burden and carry it, and you just focus on two or three other different things. It's definitely a joy, I can say that.''Copyright © 2005 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. The information contained in the AP News report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press.
<< Rays put OF Kapler on DL
St. Petersburg, FL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Tampa Bay Rays have placed
outfielder Gabe Kapler on the 15-day disabled list with a right hip flexor
strain.
Kapler is hitting .217 with a home run and eight runs batted in this sea
<< Cubs swap out relievers with promotion of Atkins
Chicago, IL (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Chicago Cubs have recalled right-hander
Mitch Atkins from Triple-A Iowa and optioned lefty James Russell to Iowa.
Atkins will look to make his 2010 debut after going 4-2 with a 2.63 earned-run
average i
<< Rachel Alexandra garners first win of 2010
Louisville, KY (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Defending Horse of the Year Rachel
Alexandra notched her first victory of the year Saturday in the $200,000
Fleur de Lis Handicap at Churchill Downs. The four-year-old filly snapped a
two rac
<< BoSox put Dice-K on DL minutes before start
Boston, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Just prior to Saturday's contest against
the Philadelphia Phillies, the Red Sox placed starter Daisuke Matsuzaka on the
15-day disabled list with a right forearm strain.
Scott Atchison got the start for
Diamondbacks activate Montero from DL >>
Phoenix, AZ (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - The Arizona Diamondbacks have reinstated
catcher Miguel Montero from the 15-day disabled list.
The 26-year-old receiver was placed on the DL on April 11 with a right knee
sprain and underwent surger
Garrigus goes in front in Memphis >>
Memphis, TN (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Robert Garrigus shot a four-under 66 on
Saturday to move atop the leaderboard after the third round of the St. Jude
Classic.
Garrigus finished 54 holes at 11-under 199 and is two strokes ahead at the TPC
South
Almirola holds off Bodine and Busch for Michigan win >>
Brooklyn, MI (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Aric Almirola captured his second victory in
the Camping World Truck Series by taking Saturday's VFW 200 at Michigan
International Speedway.
Almirola took the lead for the first time with seven laps t
Unites States sweeps Day Two at Curtis Cup >>
Manchester, MA (Sportsbook Betting Lines) - Alexis Thompson and Jessica Korda won two
matches together Saturday as they headlined the United States' sweep of
second-day action at the Curtis Cup.
After winning all three foursomes matches in
BILLS (+10) at Steelers SPORTSBOOK LINES
It's impossible to gauge how a team will react after something like the Steve Everett situation, and it probably doesn't matter. That being said, the Bills are going to lose several games this year where they keep things close but fall short in the end to superior teams. Ben Roethlisberger and company could have a field day against Buffalo's decimated defense, but I like the Bills to cover.
BENGALS (-7) at Browns SPORTSBOOK LINES
All you can ask out of your NFL team is that it has a plan. You may not always agree with it as a fan, but as long as it appears the organization is going in some sort of direction, you have to go with it. Which brings us to the Cleveland Browns. You flip a coin to determine whether Chuck Frye or Derek Anderson should start the preseason opener. You start Frye in Week 1, but pull him in the first half. And then you deal him to the Seahawks for a sixth-round pick? Hmm... the Bengals could get six turnovers again this week.
COLTS (-7) at Titans SPORTSBOOK LINES
Tennessee signed ex-Colts cornerback Nick Harper in the offseason so that should help slow down Peyton Manning. Just ask Jason David and the Saints. Oh wait... One of these weeks, I'm going to learn to not pick against Tennessee, which has won seven of its last eight games. But it's not happening against Indy.
TEXANS (+6.5) at Panthers SPORTSBOOK LINES
Houston's Mario Williams, the first pick in the '06 draft, has more touchdowns than Reggie Bush after one week. Somehow I don't see that lasting. Meanwhile, Carolina bottled up what was expected to be a pretty high-octane offense in St. Louis in Week 1. Could this be the Panthers' defense everyone expected last year? Maybe. This feels like a 20-16 Carolina win.
RAMS (-3) vs. 49ers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Absolutely love this game. Everyone's favorite pick for this year's surprise team -- the 49ers -- laid an egg on Monday night (not that anyone was watching with the game ending in the middle of the night for those of us on the East Coast). St. Louis wasn't much better, delivering a lackluster effort against the Panthers that included two Steven Jackson fumbles and panic from his fantasy owners. Jackson rebounds this week, and the Rams get their first win.
PACKERS (+1.5) at Giants SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Do you really trust this guy to win an NFL game if Eli Manning can't go? I say no. I'd feel alot better about this Packers team if it had any semblance of a running game, but I still think Green Bay's defense is good enough to give it a 2-0 start.
JAGUARS (-10) vs. Falcons SPORTSBOOKS LINES
Does it scare me to pick Jacksonville to cover a double-digit spread after it scored just 10 points last week against the Titans? Absolutely. But can I bring myself to pick Atlanta under any circumstances? No. Check out this poll on ajc.com. It asks what Atlanta's most urgent deficiency is: offense, defense, specials teams or all of the above. "All of the above" has 57 percent of the votes. Ouch.
SAINTS (-3) at Buccaneers SPORTSBOOKS LINES
I'm picking way too many road teams this week. Oh well. New Orleans has had some time to reflect on its lackluster showing in the opener, and the Buccanneers just aren't a very good football team. Anyone else surprised Tampa Bay hasn't made a move to sign Byron Leftwich? I thought that's what they do.
VIKINGS (+3) at Lions SPORTS BETTING LINES
Run the ball and stop the run. Minnesota can do both, and that will keep them in a lot of games this season. Even though it was only one week, Adrian Peterson looks like he was a steal at No. 7 in last year's draft. Not only will he produce, but Peterson delivers excitement to what otherwise would be one of the league's most boring teams.
DOLPHINS (+3.5) vs. Cowboys SPORTS BETTING LINES
Lost in the Tony Romo lovefest is just how bad the Cowboys' defense was last week. I know they're banged up, but Dallas' 'D' allowed 438 yards to the Giants' offense, and backup running back Derrick Ward averaged 6.8 yards per carry. Meanwhile, Cam Cameron's decision to split carries between Ronnie Brown and Jesse Chatman sounds about as can't-miss as Larry David's plan to show up to Marty Funkhouser's party a night late. Still, gotta go with Miami to cover at home.
SEAHAWKS (-2.5) at Cardinals SPORTS BETTING LINES
I'm probably missing something, but this game seems too easy. Arizona blew Monday night's game against the 49ers in typical Cardinals fashion, and the Seahawks beat Tampa Bay by two touchdowns. Love Seattle in this one.
BRONCOS (-9.5) vs. Raiders SPORTS BETTING LINES
Special teams was a major story line in Week 1. Take a look at the Broncos. They had to rush on to the field to get a Jason Elam field goal as time expired against the Bills. Denver drove into Buffalo territory on eight of 10 drives but came away with just a pair of field goals and a touchdown. Look for more scoring from the Broncos this week against an Oakland defense that gave up 36 points to Detroit in Week 1.
BEARS (-12) vs. Chiefs SPORTS BETTING LINES
Everyone talks about Rex Grossman when dissecting the Bears' offense, but Chicago's quarterback got no help in last week's loss to the Chargers. Meanwhile, Kansas City confirmed what we all thought while watching Hard Knocks: The Chiefs are going to stink this year. It could be a rough first month for Larry Johnson fantasy owners. Kansas City's RB was limited to 43 yards on 10 carries in Week 1, and the Chiefs face the Bears, Vikings and Chargers the next three weeks, all formidable run defenses.
RAVENS (-10) vs. Jets SPORTS BETTING LINES
A big dose of Willis McGahee and a usual sound defensive effort will give the Ravens their first win. According to Football Outsiders, no team in the NFL rushed only three defenders on pass plays last year more than the Jets. And according to my special Jets correspondent Ben Stauber, New York did the same in Week 1. Whoever starts at quarterback for the Ravens should have all day to throw.
PATRIOTS (-3) vs. Chargers
Friends and I were discussing how Bill Belichick goes about paying his $500,000 fine for cheating. Does he just write one check to the NFL? Do you need some sort of clearance to make such a monstrous financial transaction? I guess I shouldn't complain about the security deposit I have to put down on my new apartment. Anyway, two of the league's best teams square off in what should be a good one Sunday night. The Patriots always respond well just when you think they're in trouble. And their offensive attack was the story in Week 1.
Note: Monday night game will be picked Monday. Lines used are from football betting.
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