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Show HERALD DAILY Monday, June 9, 2008 THE DAY IN BASKETBALL With Celtics hot, Boston's gone green again ' i . Brian Mahoney wich named for him. Bird retired after the 1992 season, and the Celtics didn't win another playoff seFor Brian Shaw, these BOSTON ries until 10 years later. They missed the were the true sights and sounds of Boston. postseason the last two years and became Celtics flags everywhere. Fans shouting a laughingstock last season, when they at the Lakers' bus, most of them decked won 24 games and sometimes seemed out in greea Even the driver taking the more interested in losing for a better shot team to the arena was wearing a Celtics at landing the No. 1 pick in the draft. hat. "I guess the low point was a year ago That was missing in recent years, and when they lost 18 straight or something so were wins on the basketball court. But like that," Celtics Hall of Famer John k with the Celtics back in the NBA f inals, said, "But you know there are cyclithe city has regained a part of its identity. cal things in sports and they reached rock Beantown has gone green again. bottom. Now they're riding the wave of "I'm sure that everybody feels like the that championship feeling. So I think you team is back where it belongs and things have to go through the good and the bad, are the way that they are supposed to be," and fortunately right now they're fighting Shaw said. for a championship." Shaw began his career with the CeltThat hardly seemed possible last spring, ics, ended it with the Lakers, and is now when the Celtics celebrated the 50th anan assistant on Phil Jackson's staff. Los niversary of their first championship. Angeles was trying to even the series Things were so bad that Boston's first atSunday night in Game 2 before if shifted tempt to trade for Kevin Garnett collapsed to the West Coast. because the didn't think he had a Shaw was drafted in 1988, the year chance to win there. after the Celtics lost to the Lakers in their Garnett changed his mind after the last finals appearance. He was traded Celtics acquired Ray Allen, and decided to Miami in 1992, and later realized that to come to Boston. The fans followed, as some of the fans left town, too. every home game was sold out after the know that there were games we team averaged 16,900 fans at its 18,624-searena last season. played here iri recent years that wasn't sold out, which was different," Shaw said. "It's such a different atmosphere now "The years that I was here it was always over the last two, three years as opposed sold out. to this year," said Dana Barros, a former "I know a couple of years ago the fans Celtics player who now works for the orCHARLES KRUPAAssociated Press here were chanting 'MVP!' when Kobe ganization. "I think in any situation when put on a show here, that would have nev- - . Fans sit in their seats as two Boston you're losing, even free agents don't want er ever happened before. So I think that Celtics championship banners hang to come. And once we turned everything the culture kind of changed. I'm sure that from the rafters before Game 2 of the around, you got everyone in the world it's coming back now to the way it was." NBA Finals on Sunday. calling trying to move here as well as coaches and everything else." Long beforethe Red Sox and Patriots became the dominant teams in their Colton said he's seen some of the hardcore fans from the 1980s come back Celts, since the '90s, getting fans intersports, it was up to the Celtics to bring titles home to Boston. They often delivered, ested, especially competing against the around perhaps some of the same ones Red Sox and Patriots. They're kind of 1 Shaw noticed had been missing. winning 16 of them, tops in the NBA. But the last came back in 1986, and "I think the true Celtic fans kind of and 2 1 guess in Boston, so the Celts had in recent years the Celtics were even to kind of compete with that. Now they're went away and hid the last few years back up there," said Peter Colt on, owner mocked, when they weren't being igwhen the team was down," Shaw said. nored. Once the best in the NBA, they had and manager of The Four's, a sports bar "But I'm sure everybody is back out now to settle for being third best in their own across the street from the TD Banknorth and they pulled out their Celtics flags and Garden where patrons can look at picand is wearing them city. caps and "I know it's been a struggle for the tures of Larry Bird while eating a sand around town proudly now." Tut ASSOCIATED PRESS Hav-lice- . c All-St- "I . : Celtics 95-7- 1 Continued from D I '. I " ; I ' ; i ' j , ; . ; ; ! ; Powe, who played a total of 68 seconds during one stretch of 13 games during the season, scored six points to close a 15-run ending the third quarter that gave the Celtics a lead, a burst had the Lakers California dreaming. At one point in the fourth quarter, Boston fans discarded the fa- -' miliar chants of "Beat L.A." for Powe!" cries of "Le-oRajon Rondo had 16 assists and Garnett added 14 rebounds for the Celtics, back in the finals for the first time since 1987. Game 3 is Tuesday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, where the Lakers are in the postseason and have won 14 in a row at home since March 28. Bryant had better hope the rims there are a little kinder than the ones in TD Banknorth Garden. "We knew we had to get this win, this was a big win going out West," Pierce said. "Our mind-sis to get Game 3 and try take away their confidence aii.' i this series in L.A.. We knew it was going to be tough, but nobody said it was going to 2 n 8-- 0 et be easy." Bryant, who pledged to bounce back from a sub-pa- r 13 Game 1, scored 30 points in the fourth on ' shooting. In four losses to I Boston this season, Bryant is from the field and just can't seem to get the same easy looks he enjoys against every other team. Pau Gasol had 10 rebounds for the Lakers, who were down with 7:55 when they mounted a comeback that fell just short. 17 jx)ints and made Bryant's and then the "Black Mamba" slithered down the lane for two quick baskets that got the Lakers, who scored 41 points in the final 12 minutes, within 104-9The Celtics, meanwhile, began to stand around on offense thinking the game was in hand. It was anything but. After Vujacic hit a Vladimir Radmanovic made a steal and dunk to make it 0 and Celtics fans, who had been dancing moments earlier, began to panic. None of Boston's players seemed to want the ball as it moved around like a hot potato before Rondo missed a jumper with 44 seconds left. it Lakers vs. Boston Celtics L.A. mm 102-9- 1 104-10- 2008 NBA Finals Game 2 Boston, Mass. if Celtics 108, Lakers 102 Boston leads series 2-- 0 Player of the Game ; Leon Powe, PF Boston Celtics Min. FT Reb. 15 2 Pts 21 3 Powe came off the bench to score more than a point a minute for the Celtics ; Bryant's free throws CELTICS 108, LAKERS 102 2 brought Los Angeles to LALAKBtS(102) before Pierce slashed down Radmanovic 13, OrJom 10, Gasol Fisher 23 30. Area Bryant the lane and got fouled by 2 W 2. Vmadc 0, Walton (H) 8, Farmar frO 9, Tunat 4. Totals 41 83 102. Derek Fisher. As a few of his teammates locked arms on BOSTON (108) Pierce 28, Garrett 17, Perkins the bench like a college team 4,RAen6-16. Posey Cassel 8, Powe trying to advance in March, Totals 108. Pierce knocked down both foul LA. taken 22 shots. Then, on defense, he got 20 19 41 102 Boston 20 34 29 25 108 just enough of Vujacic's shot Goals LA. lakers (Farmar from the left wing with 14 secFisher Radmanow Vnacic Bryant ' onds left. Boston RAen 3. Posey (Pierce Cassel r1. Fouled Out None Rebounds LA. Posey was fouled on the play Boston 46 (Garnett lakers 39 (Radrrerafld tool LA lawrs 20 (Bryant Boston 31 14) Assists and calmly made his two free Total Lakers 28, Boston 21 (Rondo throws. The lakers rushed the Garrett A 18.624 (18,624). ball down but missed on a couple junipers, and when the final horn sounded, a collective sigh Called "unstoppable" by Lakof relief rushed through the ers coach Phil Jackson, Bryant exits as the Celtics and their got off to another slow start. fans left the building confident, He missed his first two shots, if not shaken. one an uncontested layup 104-10- 1 4 10), 8), 161 Fouto-- LA Teriinicsls-flrya- nt. . Play of the game The Lakers hit seven Spointers in the fourth quarter an NBA Finals record to help them trim a deficit to just two and almost steal the win. What it means The Celtics defended their home court and appeared to be too much for the Lakers. But that late L.A. rally will give the Lakers some added confidence heading home for the next three games. Jj wfe at ' jr- SPENCER GREENAssociated Press Miami Heat guard DwyaneWade takes a break as he works out at Attack Athletics on May 16 in Chicago. Wade expects to be ready for Olympics Tim Reynolds , THE ASSOCIATED PRESS .', MIAMI DwyaneWade still believes his knee will be ready for the Beijing Olympics. The Miami Heat guard, who missed the final 21 games of last season because of chronic soreness in his surgically repaired left knee, said Sunday that he's been playing games for about a week with "no problems." Wade is spending much of his offseason rehabilitating in Chicago, with eyes on both getting a spot on the ' Beijing-boun- d team USA Basketball will finalize its Olympic roster later this month and ensuring that he's fully healthy when the Heat open training camp in late September. "Just trying to get my timing back because I haven't played since March," Wade said at a promotion for the annual Zo's Summer Groove, a charity event in South Florida that Heat teammate Alonzo Mourning has asked Wade to help headline this July. "But went well and I'm looking forward to next week, going back to my second week of and the competition picking up more. I'm doing my job of trying to bring more competition down to Chicago." Indeed, he's enlisted some help. New Orleans guard Chris Paul will be in Chicago this All-St- . week for the scrimmages, Wade said, and he's asked another good friend, Carmelo Anthony of the Denver Nuggets, if he's willing to come play later this month. Like Wade, both Paul and Anthony are expected to be at USA p Basketball's selection in Las Vegas during the last week of June. It's been a long process for Wade, who had surgeries on his left knee and left shoulder on May 15, 2007, and never mini-cam- underneath and was unable to get the looks he wanted as the Celtics followed the MVP around like a pack of hungry wolves on the hunt. felt 100 percent at any point last season. "I'm feeling good. I've been working real hard," Wade said. "I'm feeling whole and I've just got to keep it up. I've just got to keep the process going and not take any steps backwards." Wade spoke out Sunday on several other topics, including: He isn't certain that the top two picks in the June 26 NBA draft will go to Michael Beasley and Derrick Rose, as just about every draftnik out there has predicted. Wade said it wouldn't surprise him colleif another gian, OJ. Mayo, merited for one of the top two spots. "Name-wisI think Rose and Beasley have, of course, the more fanfare after what they did in college this year," Wade said. "But Mayo is a good player as well. And you've got to look at your teams. You've got to look and see what you really need. And I think the reason he's creeped up in is because he's a combination of a lot of different things and he can really help a program out right away. So I think it is a three-ma- n race." The Chicago Bulls have the No. 1 pick in the draft, and Wade's Heat have the No. 2 " e, selection. Mayo, by the way, works out at the same gym where Wade does his offseason work in Chicago. The Heat scouted Mayo at a workout Saturday. Last week's wild rumors out of Chicago suggesting Wade could be traded to his hometown Bulls didn't sur- prise him, either. "It isn't anything but talk," said Wade, who did his best to shoot down the rumors last week as well. "My focus is what we're going to do next year for the Heat, what we're going to do in the draft, what we're going to do during free agency to get us better." ".1 "7 Cummard ultimately squash a chance of returning to college by hiring highly regarded Mark Bartel-stei- n and his Priority Sports but will be back at it this week. The NBA draft is June 26, and Plaisted will work out for Continued from Dl ' every team that has a pick will get four this week. for from Nos. 0 the second agency representation. It starts in Houston on MonRose points out that his play- half of the first round. ers approach the NBA under day, then Sacramento, Calif., Cummard, however, will the following day. He'll go two completely different situa- probably figure out his future close tions. At BYU a year longer much sooner. He must ultiThursday to Phoenix to his home of Mesa, Ariz. remember Plaisted fedshirted mately decided whether to stay and Chicago the next day. the 2004-0- 5 season after being or go by June 16. Under NCAA Rose and his office assistant, hurt early during it Plaisted rules, he cannot hire an agent Zeffie Nelson, spent last week unless he chooses to forgo nearly has a degree in hand. Cummard has a year's worth playing in college. contacting all 30 NBA teams. These were four that showed of courses left. He's taking a "People are asking Lee what some of the most interest in few important ones this sumhe'll do," Rose said. "But, realmer toward his business deCummard, who shared the ly, no one has any idea until he Mountain West Conference gree, including the legendarily does some of these workouts." Cummard also has his eyes player of the year award with difficult Accounting 210. Rose New Mexico's J.R. GIddens. says his player isn't just going on his the rewards of returniRose said the teams work to leave the Marriott School ng. BYU hasn't won an NCAA tournament game since 1993 together to create Cummard's of Business, or the Marriott and has won the last two itinerary. The toughest part is Center, without a pretty sure MWC regular-seaso- n finding a balance of fair travel thing. chamand good opportunity, while Right now there's talk of pionships. Also, he could win d Plaisted being a consecutive player of the year finding times when Cummard could also fit into various pick, though published reviews awards. teams' schedules. of his performance in Florida "I've got a chance to leave a "It'll be a great experience were mixed. Cummard, who rr.ark on BYU basketball and no matter what," Cummard declared he'd look at the NBA NCAA basketball, which is said. "Hopefully I can improve on April 25 (about 10 days kind of neat," Cummard said. after Plaisted) totally undermy stock status." Cummard is revered in the stands why his good friend had program for being a "team Plaisted, a 1 center, was ' the first to announce his intento go all-iplayer." Well, he has help on tions of checking out the NBA this journey. Rose and staff Now, they talk all the time. in It was no surprise Plaisted's been on the road, alhave fielded phone calls and to Rose then, and it wasn't ready working out at Cleveland found him places to play. Most a shocker as the following and Boston. He returned to. intriguing should be the workmonth unfolded that he would Utah briefly over the weekend, out at Houston, as the Rockets 15-3- ! f ! IB KS first-roun- mid-Apri- L , MARK JOHNSTONDally BYU'l Lee Cummard (HI) nullc rlntm n rohrumil iwor , Afarcus Walker (4) and Ronnie Aguilar on Jan. 12. 'c Herald are expected to be joined by a few other teams for evaluation. Training staff has helped him put on nearly 25 pounds. Plaisted has let him know that he belonged alongside him, and also advised him on what to expect during these workouts: what teams want to see, what he'll be expected to do. He's talked to former BYU teammate Austin Ainge. Ainge, whose father Danny is the general manager of the NBA Finals participant Boston Celtics, used to watch these workouts as a kid and even sometimes play some with the visitors. Cummard said he hasn't asked Ainge to gauge his chances, just to give him ideas of what will be involved as he one-on-o- travels the country. Cummard's also been practicing in Provo with Keena Young, who preceded him as the M WC's best player and is also trying to get the NBA to notice him. His agent told Rose that he's looking to get Young a shot in an NBA camp after a successful year in Korea. "We'll see how it plays out," Cummard said. "But one great thing is I've been able to talk to a lot of people. I don't think I'll be surprised." ' |