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| Paul Pierce, KG and the Celts head to Orlando for a Christmas Day showdown with the Magic tomorrow afternoon. |
1. Although the loss of game-changing point guard Rajon Rondo cannot be understated, the Celtics have fared quite well in his absence. Since Rondo exited the lineup after spraining his left ankle late in the Celts heart-stopping 118-116 victory over the Knicks on December 15, Boston has managed to win three straight, posting victories over Atlanta (102-90), Indiana (99-88) and Philadelphia (84-80), while also extending their current win streak to a staggering 14 games. Nate Robinson has filled in admirably for Rondo as well, averaging nearly 14 points and 4 assists per game, while logging major minutes alongside the Big Three.
Heading into the Christmas Day showdown with the new-look Orlando Magic tomorrow, the Celtics own the NBA's secon-best record. At 23-4, the Green trail only the ageless San Antonio Spurs, who sit at a whopping 25-4. However, adding even more flare to the much anticipated matchup with Boston, the Magic blew out the Spurs Thursday night in Orlando, 123-101, proving to the NBA world that after a recent barrage of blockbuster trades, the Magic might be for real. Throw in Hedo Turkoglu, Jason Richardson and Gilbert Arenas onto a team that already features the game's best big man in Dwight Howard, a steady-handed point guard in Jameer Nelson and a plethora of reliable shooters in J.J. Redick and Quentin Richardson and the Miami Heat may no longer be the best team in Florida.
2. After losing four out of their last five games and looking lethargic and punchless along the way, the Bruins bounced back last night to beat up and bloody the Atlanta Thrashers (a team they trailed in the playoff picture) by a final score of 4-1, improving their overall record to 18-11-4. Setting the tone early, tough-guy Shawn Thornton dropped the gloves with Atlanta goon Eric Boulton just two seconds into the game, infusing the raucous TD Garden crowd of 17,565 with a stockings' full of energy. Soon after, Patrice Bergeron kept the good times rolling, scoring a shorthanded goal to give the Bruins a 1-0 lead. Michael Ryder extended the lead to 2-0 with a power-play goal in the second period.
However, the star of the game was Thornton. In addition to his momentum-swinging fight, Thornton scored a pair of goals in the second and third period, drawing his season total to seven, which sets a new career high. Then, with the game seemingly out of reach, the Thrashers Freddy Meyer gave Milan Lucic a cheapshot to the chin. As a result, Andrew Ference did exactly what a teammate should, rushing to Lucic's aid, and proceeding to pound Meyer senseless. Soon, an all-out, old-time hockey fracas broke out, with Nathan Horton taking on Evander Kane and Marc Savard going toe-to-toe with Bryan Little. When it was all said and done, the Bruins totaled 66 penalty minutes, the most since Nov. 1 2008 when the Bruins pinned a 5-1 victory over Sean Avery and the Dallas Stars.
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| Shawn Thornton isn't just an enforcer, lately he's been a goal scorer as well. |
3. With the 12-2 Patriots preparing to face-off with the 4-10 Bills Sunday in Buffalo, much is at stake for New England. With a win or tie, or Jets loss, the Pats clinch home-field advantage throughout the playoffs, meaning the road to the Super Bowl goes through Foxboro. However, facing the Bills won't be a walk in the (Orchard) Park like most Pats fans are accustomed to (the Pats have won 14 straight against Buffalo, the longest such streak in the NFL).
The Bills are playing well of late. After starting 0-8, Buffalo has won four of its last six games. If the Patriots hope to cool off the Bills Sunday, they will have to keep Buffalo's three-headed offensive monster (i.e. QB Ryan Fitzpatrick, RB Fred Jackson and WR Stevie Johnson) in check. The good news for Patriot fans: Tom Brady looks good to go on Sunday after battling a bout with the flu earlier this week.
My Prediction: 34-17 Patriots. Although no team may circle the wagons quite like the Buffalo Bills, I'll take the Brady and Belichick 757 any day.
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| Despite battling the flu earlier this week, Tom Brady appears rested and ready to take on the Bills in Buffalo on Sunday. |
4. As Red Sox Nation can wholeheartedly attest to, there is no such thing as an "offseason" when you're a Boston fan. Even with the Celtics and Patriots streaking and the Bruins looking like they're getting back on track, the Red Sox always have and always will own the city's sports heartbeat. With the electrifying offseason additions of Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford, Bobby Jenks and Dan Wheeler, this notion is only reinforced. I myself have witnessed a serious transformation around Beantown in recent weeks. Suddenly, everyone seems friendlier and much more optimistic, not just about the Sox but about life. Winter's bone-rattling chill? No problem. Rajon Rondo's sprained ankle? Forget about it.
Just the other day I almost missed the T at Kenmore and a complete stranger held the sliding door open for me. That never happens. He almost seemed reluctant to hold the door until he noticed the Red Sox cap peeking out from under the hood of my winter coat. Once I hopped on, I quickly offered my thanks, but instead of replying with a obligatory "you're welcome," all the man did was smile and utter two of the sweetest words I could imagine: "Carl Crawford."
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| I'm not sure who's happier: Sox Nation for landing Carl Crawford or Carl Crawford for joining the Sox. |
Spring Training can't come soon enough.
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