Settling the Score

With an impressive 109-96 victory over the Lakers Sunday afternoon in LA, Paul Pierce and the Celtics have their eyes on home-court advantage come playoff time. 

Heading into Sunday afternoon's primetime showdown at the Staples Center against the hated Lakers, the Boston Celtics were struggling. Despite grinding out an ugly 88-78 victory at Portland on the first leg of their four game West Coast trip, the Green stumbled Friday night in Phoenix, scoring just 71 points in an embarrassing loss against one of the NBA's worst defensive teams. Throughout the contest, the Celtics seemed to battle the officials as much as the Suns. Even though referee Steve Javie made numerous questionable calls against the Celtics, Boston lost its composure and was never able to regroup. After being ejected for arguing a call midway through the second quarter, coach Doc Rivers could be heard repeating "It's all about you" in Javie's direction.

To make matters worse, Kevin Garnett only solidified his reputation as one of the league's dirtier players. With just over four minutes remaining in the fourth quarter, KG went out to challenge a three-point attempt by the Suns' Channing Frye. However, instead of putting a hand in his face, the Big Ticket decided to deliver a less-than-sportsmanlike low-blow to Frye's groin. After falling to the ground in pain, Frye's adrenaline shot him back up to his feet and directly into Garnett's face. After the two were separated, Garnett was ejected from the game and Phoenix was awarded a plethora of free throws.

"We kind of lost our composure when we tried to get back into the game," said Paul Pierce about the team's lackluster play. "Shots weren't falling for us tonight. I don't know if that was because of fatigue or not."

Speaking of fatigue, the Celtics didn't arrive in Phoenix until nearly 5 AM on Friday morning after losing to Portland the night earlier. However, while commentator Mike Gorman believed this played a significant role in the Celtics no-show, guest color man Bill Walton quickly dismissed the excuse, stating what many of us already believed to be true; these guys are multimillion dollar professional athletes traveling in a private team plane and staying in the most luxurious hotels: a tough travel schedule had nothing to do with it.

As a result, Celtics Nation was anything but overconfident entering Sunday's NBA Finals rematch against the streaking Lakers (LA came into the game 10-3 in their last thirteen contests). Nevertheless, the Celtics reminded us all exactly why they are favored to hoist Banner 18 this June, overcoming a 41-point-performance by Kobe Bryant to hang a 109-96 beatdown on Phil Jackson's Lake Show.

After trailing 54-50 at halftime, the Celtics game out firing on all cylinders in the second half thanks in large part to the steady guidance of point guard Rajon Rondo. It was a welcome sign because, for the past several games, Rondo seemed to be going through the motions. In both Portland and Phoenix, the Celtics lacked rhythm and poise on offensive simply due to the fact that Rondo did not look like himself.

Walton, who always tells it like it is, remarked that Rondo looked lethargic. He seemed content to walk the ball up court, waste precious seconds off the shot clock and then pass up open shots in favor of more difficult passes to teammates. As a result, the game became a one-on-one, half-court contest that completely neutralized Rondo's greatest asset: speed. Walton even pleaded with Rondo to pressure Andre Miller as soon as he touched the ball. Instead, Rondo sagged back and allowed Miller to walk to the ball past half-court without being contested.

But then, suddenly something clicked in the second half of the Lakers game and Rondo turned it on. Instead of walking the ball up court he took the inbound pass and immediately attacked the defense. Instead of being a part of the play, Rondo reverted back to his old ways and began to dictate it. He looked like Tom Brady in the pocket, scanning all possible options before finding the open man in the best possible position for a good look at the basket.

As a result, his offensive game opened up as well. With the Lakers forced to respect the pass, Rondo took advantage and blazed by Derek Fisher for several easy lay ups. He even hung around in the paint, sneaking in to grab key offensive boards and either laying them in or bringing the ball back out to reset the offense. While Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 32 points, 5 boards and 3 assists, it was Rondo who paced the victory, finishing with 10 points, 5 boards and 16 assists (15 in the second half).

"I told Rondo, in front of the team, that I thought it was one of his best games of the year," said Doc Rivers after the game. "I think he called an absolutely perfect game. He's our pitcher....[We] lost our senses in the second quarter for a stretch. We got into complaining about everything except for playing basketball, and I told them at halftime just keep playing through everything."

The Celtics did just that. And nothing personified that attitude better than Garnett. After battling over a loose-ball with Pau Gasol in the second quarter, KG split his head open and began oozing blood. Nevertheless, Garnett threw on an extra-sized bandaid and finished with 18 points and 13 boards. Talk about fighting through everything.

So, some seven months after blowing a 13-point third quarter lead in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals, the Celtics proved to us all Sunday that nothing can derail them in their pursuit of glory and revenge this season. Not bloodied foreheads. Not questionable officiating. Not high-scoring efforts from Kobe Bryant.

At 36-11, the Celtics own the second best record in the NBA, trailing only the 40-7 Spurs for the top spot. And after losing Game 7 on the road last season, Paul Pierce and Celtics know how important it is to continue to play well during the regular season and secure home-court advantage come playoff time. After all, it can be the difference between hoisting the trophy and nursing a broken heart.

"If we had home-court last year, who knows what maybe happens in Game 7?" said Pierce after the win. "We're not looking ahead, but maybe if it comes down to another Game 7, maybe we'll have it at home."

After Sunday's complete performance, it looks more and more likely that Pierce's wish comes true.

Out of the Blue and Back in Green

Kendrick Perkins made his season debut last night, returning to the lineup weeks before Celtics fans thought he would.

Ever since shredding his knee against the Lakers in Game 6 of the 2010 NBA Finals, Kendrick Perkins, admit it or not Celtics fans, became an afterthought. While many of us argue that the result of the series would have been much different had Perk been able to suit up in the deciding Game 7, we could all agree that once Perkins was injured on June 15, we all knew it was going to be a long, long time until we saw him back in a Celtics uniform.

However, some 223 days after suffering a torn MCL and PCL in his right knee, Perkins shocked Celtics Nation Tuesday night by returning to the court during the Celtics 112-95 drubbing of the lowly Cleveland Cavaliers. While Paul Pierce led the effort with 24 points in just 24 minutes and the Celtics improved their overall record to 34-10 (22-3 at home), the story of the game centered upon the unforeseen return of one of the Celtics most important players. Although Perkins had been practicing with the team for over a week, the rumors were that he was still a ways away from getting back on the court. We were told to circle Feb. 4th against the Mavericks as a likely return date for the big man. 

So much for the rumors.

Making his season debut at 8:02 of the first quarter, the 27th overall pick in the 2003 Draft out of Clifton J. Ozen High School was greeted with a standing ovation by the TD Garden's sell-out crowd of 18,624. Playing within the constraints of limited minutes, Perk finished with seven points on 3-5 shooting, six rebounds (three offensive), and three assists in 17 minutes. 

"It felt good," Perkins said after the game. "I didn't get any sleep last night, I was so excited. My necks hurts from not sleeping." 

Perkins' return could not have come at a better time for the Celtics. With Jermaine O' Neal rehabbing a recurrent knee injury and Shaq missing his second straight game with a sore right hip, the Celtics are thin in the front court, especially at the center position. And as impressive as Semih Erden has been thus far, Celtics fans would no doubt feel much more comfortable with the Turkish Tower coming off the bench instead of frequenting the starting lineup. 

Numbers aside, the best part about Perk's return is the fact that he re-invigorates a sputtering team that, although boasting the NBA's second best record, has looked sluggish in back-to-back games such as last Saturday's embarrassing 85-83 loss to the cellar-dwelling Wizards. He adds a swagger that can't be measured by a stat sheet. He's an intimidating presence. He anchors the defense. And, most of all, his return makes the Boston Celtics a favorite to raise Banner 18 in the Spring once again. 

"I thought he was teriffic," coach Doc Rivers said of Perkins debut. "I thought as the game went on his timing got better. There's people in the crowd that work hard every day, blue collar, and Perk identifies with those people. If you're a guy that works 9 to 5, you've got to love Perk because that's who he is." 

Welcome back, Perk. Now if we could only put those rumors of Rasheed Wallace's return to bed...

Instant Karma

Dan Shaughnessy used to be my literary idol. But after telling us to root for the Jets on Sunday, he's revealed himself as nothing more than a bandwagon scribe with misplaced allegiances. 

For as long as I can remember, Dan Shaughnessy has been a literary hero of mine. Growing up, I remember waiting for my father to come home from work, kick off his shoes and gently toss the Boston Globe onto the kitchen table. It was always a race between he and I to see who could get their hands on the sports section first. Instead of flipping to the box scores or standings, I always started off by reading Shaughnessy's column. From the beginning, I was attracted to his provocative prose and transparent perspective. He always seemed to sum up exactly what I was thinking about the Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics or Bruins at the time in a way that no other sportswriter could.

When reading Shaughnessy, there was no filter. No fluff. If Pedro Martinez pitched a bad game and refused to talk to the press, he called him out as a "Diva" and never thought twice about it. I remember watching Carl Everett's epic meltdown on umpire Ron Kulpa in the summer of 2000 and then reading Shaughnessy's article the very next day where he famously branded Everett "Jurassic Carl," a nickname that fit the volatile personality to perfection. In my youth, Shaughnessy was the unquestioned authority on Boston sports. He even coined the phrase "The Curse of the Bambino" to describe the Red Sox' 86-year championship drought.

As my days of playing sports transformed into writing about them, Shaughnessy became my biggest influence. During my time as a staff writer for the Vermont Cynic, my school newspaper at the University of Vermont, I attempted to mold my columns in his likeness, masking my personal bias with pop-culture and historical references in an attempt to paint a complete picture of a game or event. I looked up to Shaughnessy. I agreed with him. I wanted to be just like him.

Not anymore.

After waking up Sunday morning, I grabbed the Globe sports section and couldn't believe my eyes; front page, plain view: "Why Patriots fans should be on board with the Jets," by Dan Shaughnessy.

Despite my immediate feelings of amazement and disgust, I promised myself to hold off from passing judgment until I finished the entire article. For all my years as a devoted reader, I owed Shaughnessy this much.

This should be good, I thought to myself.

But then my eyes became engulfed in flames as soon as I began reading. "If you are a Patriots fan still smarting from the shocker last Sunday, you should be rooting for the Jets tonight," Shaughnessy said. The basis of his shortsighted reasoning was that "The better the Jets do, the more the Patriots will be driven to beat them." He goes on to claim that we should root for the Jets because they're "all about fun" and because, after all, "What's not to love about Rex Ryan?"

I nearly choked on my bagel after reading that last line.

He told us that the Jets should receive our backing because they're "homeless" having played in a stadium named after the Giants. And that, if nothing else, we should be bandwagon Jets fans like him solely because we don't want to see the Steelers win again and have to debate who's a better quarterback, Tom Brady or Ben Roethlisberger.

"So, yes, the Jets are my team," Shaughnessy wrote. "I hope they go on to win the Super Bowl in Dallas in two weeks."

Give me a break.

For all the years I defended Shaughnessy, I apologize. I now see why many around Boston as well as the country can't stand him. Of course, he has earned the right to say what he wants, but that doesn't make whatever he says right. How could he possibly write a column telling die-hard Boston sports fans to root for one of our greatest enemies? What's next? Is he going to tell us to root for the Lakers and Canadiens in the playoffs just so the Celtics and Bruins are "motivated" to spend more money on salary next year? Or maybe he'll tell us to root for the Yankees just so John Henry will break out his check-book around the trade deadline.

Sorry, Dan. This is Boston. I hate to break it to you but we don't root for Jets under any circumstance. We hate the Jets. And we sure as hell don't want them to win the Super Bowl. Unlike you, watching Rex Ryan throw his head-set like the whiney, overweight, trash-talking brat that he is after losing 24-19 to the Steelers Sunday night filled us with complete and utter happiness. It was our blissful revenge. Our instant karma. Karma for Rex telling us Tom Brady isn't as good as Peyton Manning. Karma for Braylon Edwards guaranteeing the Jets would beat the Patriots. Karma for Antonio Cromartie using four letter words to describe our franchise quarterback. Karma for the classless Jets taunting us mercilessly after beating our underachieving Pats in Foxboro last week.

And most of all, karma for my once literary idol telling us all to root for our greatest nemesis. I'm sorry your Jets lost, Dan. I know how much you would have loved to see Rex and LT hoist the Lamar Hunt trophy Sunday night. I really feel awful for you having missed out on your dream of two more weeks of Jets trash-talk leading up to the Super Bowl against Green Bay. I'm sure it would have been a lot of "fun." Maybe you should think about leaving the Globe and joining the New York Times, Dan. All those years in the comforting press boxes must have really gone to your head.

Unlike Dan Shaughnessy, real Patriots fans were rooting for the Steelers Sunday night. Sure, we hate Ben Roethlisberger as much as the next guy, but not nearly as much as we hate the J...E...T...S....JETS JETS JETS.

All In

With the blockbuster additions of Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford as well as the return to health of incumbent stars such as Dustin Pedroia and Kevin Youkilis, GM Theo Epstein may very well have crafted the finest Red Sox club in team history. 

In the wake of Red Sox GM Theo Epstein inking both Jacoby Ellsbury and Jonathan Papelbon to one-year-deals just a few days ago, not only does the Brookline whiz kid continue his admirable streak of never having sent a player to arbitration during his tenure, but more importantly, it appears Epstein has finally placed the finishing touches on his 2011 roster.

In a jaw-dropping offseason in which the Sox shocked the world by acquiring two of the game's best players via trade (Adrian Gonzalez) and free agency (Carl Crawford), Sox fans no longer have to worry about what position Kevin Youkilis will be playing this season and who's starting in left field, but instead how we are possibly going to kill 23 more days until pitchers and catchers officially report to Spring Training in Fort Myers, Florida.

So, with our Boston sports egos freshly bruised and battered following the Patriots pathetically early playoff exit at the hands of the hated Jets less than a week ago, here's a position-by-position rundown of the 2011 Red Sox that will surely restore your confidence and invigorate your now meaningless Sundays with hope and reason to persevere.

First Base: No brainer here. After trading away the farm to acquire Gonzalez, the former sweet swinging Padre will no doubt be handling the first base duties when he's not wearing out the Monster and driving in 100+ runs. Brace yourselves: A-Gon is going to spoil us like we've never seen before.

Second Base: After missing much of last season with a fractured bone in his foot (ironically Tom Brady just had surgery to repair the same injury), fan favorite Dustin Pedroia is back at full strength and primed to make up for lost time. On a team filled with stars, Pedroia is about to remind us all that his still shines brightest.

Limited to just 75 games in 2010, Dustin Pedroia is finally healthy and ready to go in 2011.

Shortstop: This will be one position to watch closely during Spring Training. Despite grumblings from Epstein that Jed Lowrie has a shot to win the position, Manager Terry Francona reiterated just yesterday that Marco Scutaro is his starting shortstop. Fine by me. Scutaro plays slightly above average defense and handles the bat well, hitting for average with a high on-base percentage. Plus, he's a gamer and you can't have enough guys like that on your team.

Third Base: Despite coming up through the Sox system as a third baseman, Kevin Youkilis hasn't manned the hot corner in a few years after transforming himself into a Gold Glove first baseman. While his versatility makes him valuable, Youk should take some comfort in the fact that, after the addition of Gonzalez, he'll be playing his natural position again for many years to come.

Outfield: With newcomer Carl Crawford a lock to start in left field, Jacoby Ellsbury shifts back to center (his natural position), while J.D. Drew begins what is sure to be his final year in right field. Watching Crawford and Ellsbury together should be fun, not only on the basepaths but in the outfield as well. Their combination of speed and instincts should turn countless bloopers and gap shots into outs instead of hits, giving the Sox a great defensive advantage.

Catcher: If the Sox have one positional weakness it's behind the plate. While Jason Varitek has agreed to return in a back-up/mentoring role, the Sox have put enormous faith in Jarrod Saltalamacchia, anointing him the starter despite his youth and inexperience. Should he struggle, don't be surprised if the Sox give 23-year-old Ryan Lavarnway a shot behind the dish. Sure, he's still in AA but after hitting 43 homers and knocking in 189 runs the past two seasons in the minors, the 6'4'', 225 lb backstop may have a bat too powerful to deny. Especially if Saltalamacchia and Varitek are hitting in the .230s.

Remember the name: Ryan Lavarnway. 

Designated Hitter: Once again, David Ortiz returns in his familiar DH role. He should benefit from being dropped down in the order, taking lots of pressure off him to be the man, instead just being one of several heavy hitters. Look for Papi to put up a huge year as long as he doesn't slump early.

Bench: Mike Cameron returns healthy and motivated and should see a lot of at bats against lefthanders, spelling Ellsbury in center and Drew in right, especially as a late-game defensive replacement. Due to his versatility and flare for the dramatic, Darnell McDonald looks like the fifth outfielder (the Sox want promising prospect Ryan Kalish to play everyday in Pawtucket so he can take over for Drew at season's end). In the infield, Lowrie appears to be the super-sub, with the ability to play all four infield positions. In addition, his switch-hitting should have him in the lineup most everyday, especially with Scutaro and Pedroia coming off injuries that should require them to take a day off here and there.

Likely Lineup
1. Ellsbury CF
2. Pedroia 2B
3. Crawford LF
4. Gonzalez 1B
5. Youkilis 3B
6. Ortiz DH
7. Drew RF
8. Saltalamacchia C
9. Scutaro SS

Starting Rotation: Jon Lester takes over as the unquestioned Ace, with Clay Buchholz locking in the #2 slot after a dominating 2010 that saw him go 17-7 with a 2.33 ERA. After struggling mightily last season, look for Josh Beckett to bounce back as he has much to prove, most notably that last year was a fluke. John Lackey is the #4 starter. While most clubs would love Lackey in that spot, the fact that he's absurdly overpaid (due $15 million in 2011) and gives up hits like they're going out of style makes it hard for Sox fans to embrace him. Dice-K returns to round out the rotation at least for now but could find himself traded at some point during the year.

Bullpen: Enjoy Papelbon while you can because after signing a one year deal for $12 million, it appears Pap will walk after this season. But not to worry, with flame-throwing set up men Daniel Bard and Bobby Jenks in the fold the Sox have surrounded themselves with options for the closer role should Papelbon falter again like he did last season. Dan Wheeler will take over in the 6th/7th inning role, acting as a reliable bridge between the starters to Bard/Jenks/Papelbon. And yes, 44-year-old Tim Wakefield is back in a long-reliever/spot starter-type role. The one remaining open roster spot appears to be for the lefthanded reliever role. Look for a spirited battle in Spring Training between Hideki Okajima, Rich Hill and Andrew Miller. Scott Atchison and Matt Albers provide depth as well. Unlike last season, the bullpen appears to be a position of strength, at least on paper.

So there you have it. As if dividing your attention between the Bruins and Celtics wasn't hard enough, get ready to catch Red Sox fever once mid-February rolls around. Hopefully by then most of us will be at least partially recovered from the Patriots' tragic defeat.

Shaq-tastic

Shaquille O' Neal's spirited performance Wednesday night gave the Celtics a spark when they desperately needed it. The Big Shamrock finished with 12 points and 12 boards to lead Boston to a 86-82 victory over Detroit.

In the world of sports, one of the oldest adages states that the mark of a great team is one that finds a way to win even when they don't play their best game. The Boston Celtics did exactly that Wednesday night, coming from behind to upend the Detroit Pistons 86-82. After trailing much of the game and looking lethargic, uninspired and disjointed along the way, the Celtics finally turned it on in the fourth quarter and escaped with a win before a sell-out crowd of 18,624 at the TD Garden.

"This basketball game was a perfect illustration of the January doldrums," lamented Boston living legend Tommy Heinsohn during his post-game analysis. "When you have elder players like the Celtics do, and not that many young players who revitalize this team, you're going to have some games like this I think."

From the opening tip until midway through the fourth quarter, the Celtics looked awful. None of their shots were falling, every pass seemed to be a second too late and they were committing careless turnover after careless turnover. The usually electric Garden was zapped of its energy as the young-gun Pistons outhustled the Celtics to every loose ball and beat them up and down the court on every possession. To make matters worse, Marquis Daniels appeared to roll his ankle after driving for a lay-up early in the second quarter and did not return. Detroit took advantage of Daniel's departure (a player known for his smothering defense), shooting 58% for the quarter and entering halftime with a 45-42 lead.

The Celtics continued to struggle in the third quarter, committing nine turnovers while scoring just 16 points. With just over seven minutes remaining in the game, the Pistons held a 75-67 lead and it looked more and more like Wednesday just wasn't the Celtics' night.

Not so.

On a team full of first-ballot Hall of Famers, the one veteran who stepped up when the Celtics needed it most was none other than the 38-year-old Shaquille O' Neal. Igniting the comeback, O'Neal caught an alley-oop pass from Rajon Rondo and slammed it home with thunderous force, the first of three straight buckets for the Celts. For the first time all night, the crowd rose to their feet and finally became a factor. The Celtics responded on the defensive end, forcing a shot clock violation and then coming up with a key turnover.

Then, with just over five minutes remaining and Boston trailing 76-73, the Big Shamrock pounced on a Rondo missed shot and layed it home despite getting fouled by Tracy McGrady. Continuing his stellar performance, O'Neal, known for his historically awful free throw shooting, sank the foul shot and just like that the game was tied 76-76. After the pivotal three-point play, Heinsohn shouted "That looks like the Shaq of ten years ago!"

From there on out, the Celts Big Three stepped up as well, with Garnett nailing a baseline jumper and Pierce rattling home a shot from the elbow to tie it 82-82. Then, with just under a minute left and the shot clock running out, KG missed a deep two-point attempt but Rondo corralled the rebound to give Boston a fresh 24 seconds. After calling a timeout, the Celts drew up a familiar play and found Ray Allen off a screen. Despite struggling all night and scoring just five points up until that point, Allen added yet another huge shot to his star-studded resume, nailing what appeared to be a three-pointer with just 24.4 seconds left (video replay determined that his foot was on the line). Nevertheless, Allen's deep jumper was the eventual game winner as the Celtics held on in the final seconds to escape with a 86-82 win.

With the victory, the Celtics have now won four in a row and officially wrap up the first half of the season with a 32-9 record. The victory also improved their record to an astounding 20-3 at home.

While Pierce led Boston with 22 points, the real star of the game was O' Neal. Turning in arguably his best performance of the season, the Big Fella recorded his third double-double of the season, finishing with 12 points on 5-9 shooting to go along with 12 rebounds (a season high), three steals and two blocks. He was also an absolute monster on the glass, finishing with five offensive boards. Still, much of O'Neal's contributions cannot be defined by a stat sheet. When the Celtics seemed left for dead and desperately needed a lift, O'Neal was there to go the extra mile.

In what may come to be Shaq's signature play of the season thus far, O'Neal picked the pocket of point guard Will Bynum with just over two minutes remaining before halftime, dove for the loose ball, got back up to his feet with the help of KG and then proceeded to run the length of the court and lay in a lob from Allen. The quintessential Tommy Point.

And thus, the Celtics proved the old adage true. They found a way to win when they didn't play their best. Lucky for them the Big Diesel had enough room on his back for the whole team to jump on when they needed it most.

KG heals all wounds?

Kevin Garnett returned last night against the Orlando Magic to give the Celtics a much needed boost on offense, defense and provided the team with some swagger they have been lacking.

It's been two days since the Patriots choked against the Jets and the pain is still fresh. But it only took a little over 24 hours for Kevin Garnett to return to the Celtics starting lineup and give Bostonians everywhere hope for some optimism for the remainder of the season and to take our minds off the Patriots loss. In a game which some sports and NBA analysts called it "one of the best" of the year, Garnett thrived and stole the spotlight for the night. 

Orlando came into the night with something to prove. After unloading a quarter of their team in a 3 team total blockbuster, they believe the moves they've made will help them finally get over the wall that is formed by the Boston Celtics. KG had something to say about that last night. He tallied 19 points, 8 rebounds, and 2 steals with one of them coming with under a minute left that helped win the Celtics the game in a well played 31 minutes. He changes everything about this team. No one can replace what he does on the court when he's injured. "We look like a totally different team out there," Celtics forward Paul Pierce said. "You can't replace what Kevin gives to a ballclub. ... He raises everyone's play when he's on the court."

During the past few weeks that KG has missed, people and analysts all around the league have questioned the fact if the Celtics are done. Orlando and the Miami Heat were rolling while the Celtics lost a couple games in a row and all of a sudden the Heat found themselves sitting atop of the Eastern Conference. The trend going around the league was will the Celtics be looking up to the Magic and the Heat for the rest of the year? And maybe for good? As of today that question is no. The Celtics are 31-9 and are 2 1/2 games ahead of the next contender, Miami. Keep in mind that 3 of our starters, Garnett, Rondo and Perkins have missed a total of 60 games combined (not to mention the injuries to Delonte West, Jermaine O'neal and Shaquille O'neal) but yet we still sit atop of the East. 

So I have a question for the critics now. When we return to full strength (Perkins, Delonte, Jermaine O.), will contenders be looking up at us for the remainder of the season? With the Heat dealing with some injuries and the Magic still building team chemistry, the sky is the limit for this balllclub. As for right now it's all about one thing to this city and this team.....18.

And Thus, the Healing Process Begins

Less than 72 hours after Tom Brady and the Pats saw their once promising season cut far too short, Patriot fans are left wondering how to cope with such a tragic loss.

[Note to the reader: The following article was written by Brendan Hurley, a close friend and fellow die-hard Patriots fan from Lynn, MA. I find that in times of tragedy, whether it be in life or in sports, it always helps to surround yourself with people who are hurting just as bad as you are. This blog is all about giving a voice to the Boston Sports Fan and it is my hope that Brendan's article helps us band together even more, uniting us in what is sure to be a long and immensely difficult healing process.]

First off, I'd like to thank Boston's Headband for giving me the opportunity to write a guest column on their blog. Much of what you are about to read was also mentioned in Josh's most recent article, but a lot of the points need to be brought up again, so bear with me...

The Patriots, who many thought were in a rebuilding year this season, exceeded even the most optimistic of fans expectations, finishing the regular season at 14-2 with the highest scoring offense in the league and the best turnover differential in history. Quarterback Tom Brady had an incredible season, throwing 36 touchdowns to just 4 interceptions and breaking the record for most consecutive passes thrown without an interception. Undrafted running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis went from the bottom of the depth chart to starting running back and eclipsed 1,000 yards, becoming the first Patriot to do so since Corey Dillon in 2004. Unknown Danny Woodhead stepped right in when the beloved Kevin Faulk went down and the Pats didn't seem to miss a beat. 

The ultra-talented but venerable wide receiver Randy Moss was traded in the first quarter of the season  and everyone, including myself, was baffled. Why let go of, in my opinion, one of the most physically talented wide receivers of all time? Was this Belichick's way of throwing in the towel, not thinking the Pats had a shot to win it all this year? It was hard to argue with that logic. Although the Patriots were winning, their defense was showing its youth and inexperience, taking the term "bend but don't break" to the extreme. 

But then something magical happened. 

Fan favorite Deion Branch returned, and although it took a few games, suddenly the Patriots were back to being an offensive juggernaut. Watching Brady throw to Branch, you would have never thought he had been gone for the past four seasons. And the defense was improving, too. Rookie cornerback Devin McCourty showed all the critics why Belichick drafted him in the first round, shutting down many of the receivers he covered and playing at a Pro Bowl level. 

The Patriots were rolling. 

They weren't just beating many of the best teams in the league, they were demolishing them. They went undefeated at home for the second straight year and finished with the best record in the NFL, meaning the Super Bowl went through Foxboro. What was even more comforting than knowing they got to play at home the rest of the way was the fact that they had beaten every remaining playoff contender. The Jets? Check. The Colts? Check. Pittsburgh, Chicago, Green Bay? Check, check check. If you listened to WEEI or read columns by guys like Jerry Callahan, the Patriots were a lock to head to Dallas. They were firing on all cylinders and no one would be able to stop them. 

But then, something strange happened. 

The Patriots, who turned the ball over just 10 times during the regular season, began to do just that against the Jets Sunday night. Tom Brady made a throw that you don't see Tom Brady make, sailing a screen pass over his receiver's head and into the waiting arms of a Jets linebacker. This is when I got a bad feeling in my gut, thinking "the perfect storm is here." Then everything became unhinged. The team known for taking care of the ball started making uncharacteristic mistakes. Tight end Alge Crumpler dropped a touchdown in the end zone. Danny Woodhead fumbled. Later in the game, the normally sure handed Wes Welker dropped what could have been a touchdown. Special teams ace Patrick Chung botched an attempted fake punt, giving the Jets the ball back with tremendous field position. The offensive line got pushed around, allowing Brady to be sacked 5 times, hit and hurried numerous times, and at one point, hit in his right arm so hard I was half expecting to see it detached from his shoulder and laying alone on the turf. 

Everyone was to blame for the performance, all the way down to offensive coordinator Bill O' Brien. Beginning late in the third quarter and into the fourth, the Pats had the ball for over 8 straight minutes. It was the kind of methodical drive that New England was known for.

Except for one thing: the Patriots were losing. 

And not just losing, but losing by two touchdowns. Why did they eat up so much time off the lock, often handing the ball off when they needed two scores just to tie the game? Belichick seemed just as perplexed, as cameras showed him on the sidelines speaking to O' Brien and mouthing what appeared to be "Throw the ball!"

And, finally, at the end of the game Branch dropped a fourth down pass that would have extended the drive. 

And just like that, the season was over. No more walkthroughs, no more film sessions, no more practices, no more games. The Patriots 2010 season was over, having been knocked out of the players in the first round by one of their most hated opponents, the Jets. 

What's worse? The Jets told everyone it was going to happen. 

And thus, the healing process begins. People may laugh at this statement. "Healing Process? It's just a game! There are more important things in life!"Sure there are, but when a team you've read about, listened to and watched for a whole half year fails to live up to the potential that had grown for them, it doesnt't seem like anything else is important. The warm feeling of disappointment in your heart still feels the same. 

So how long will this take to get over? Probably not as long as Game 7 of the 2003 ALCS, maybe not as long as he 2006 AFC Championship loss, and definitely not as long as Super Bowl XLII, but it will still take a while. Speaking of that last game, of which I often refer to as "The Game That Shall Not Be Spoken Of," I still haven't gotten over that and I'm not sure I ever will. Like Leonardo DiCaprio in Shutter Island, it was an event so tragic that I've tried to block it out of my memory as if it never happened. I'm trying to do the game with this game. 


People often say that football can teach you a lot about life. After Sunday's game, I felt like it didn't just teach us about things in life, but about the concept of life itself. How everything can be going along just like normal, just as expected, but in the blink of an eye, it can all be over. 

Broken Hearted

The loud-mouthed Jets shocked New England Sunday night, defeating the Patriots 28-21 in Foxboro. For the second straight year, Brady and the Pats are knocked out of the playoffs after just one game. 

People who don't follow sports just don't get it. They have no idea what it's like to spend six-plus months pouring your heart and soul into a single team, watching it grow and mature into something beautiful like a child or a relationship. They're completely oblivious to what it's like watching the team you've been a fan of for your entire life overcome adversity, youth and inexperience to blow out the competition and silence the critics en route to an NFL-best 14-2 record. And, as a result, the non-sports fan is unable to fathom the magnitude of the heartache and devastation felt when your Hall of Fame coach and franchise quarterback let you down when it matters most, especially when you've grown so accustomed to watching them deliver in the most pivotal of moments.

Ask any non-sports fan why they could care less about professional athletics and most likely their answer will have something to do with the old cliche that "it's just a game." But for the true Patriots fan, watching New England crumble at home against the hated Jets 28-21 Sunday night in the AFC Divisional Playoff was more than just a game.

It was a tragedy.

It was a slow-motion nightmare that none of us could wake up from no matter how hard we tried, like a character from Inception trapped in the fourth layer of the subconscious with no hope of returning to reality. It felt like losing a loved one. Or getting dumped. Or having your heart ripped out by your bitter rival only to watch them stomp on it and dance to the once powerful but now faint and irregular beat.

Just like that, the New England Patriots' season is over. No debate. No discussion. No second chance. The very same team destined to reach the Super Bowl is now relegated to watching the rest of the playoffs instead of participating in them. This is precisely the reason why Sunday's no-show by the Patriots wasn't just a horrific loss, it was so much more than that. It was the abrupt end to a half-year journey that saw fans like you and me devote countless hours of time, energy and emotional capital only to have it cut short by a bunch of classless, trash-talking thugs from New York.

Leading up to Sunday's game, the Boston sports media kept telling us exactly what we wanted to hear and we couldn't help but believe it. Sports radio stations like WEEI told us over and over that not only were the Patriots going to beat the Jets but they would crush them. They told us it wouldn't even be close. They told us this Pats team was just as good if not better than the record-setting 2007 bunch. They spoke about the Super Bowl as if it was something the Patriots were entitled to.

The sad truth of the matter is that come playoff time, the past is meaningless. It doesn't matter that the Patriots went 14-2 and posted the greatest turnover ratio in NFL history. It doesn't matter that they blew out countless opponents during the regular season and took down juggernauts like Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Indianapolis, Chicago, San Diego and Green Bay. It doesn't matter that New England went undefeated both at home and during the second half of the season, earning the #1 seed in the AFC as well as a first-round bye and home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.

All that matters is that you win. And, despite winning more than any other team during the regular season, the Patriots couldn't when they needed to most. For the second straight year, New England saw its season end at home in the playoffs.

For all the trash the Jets talked leading up to Sunday's grudgematch, Rex Ryan and his players backed it up. Playing a nearly perfect game, the Jets made no mistakes while New England uncharacteristically committed several.

Nevertheless, the game began just as we expected it to. After forcing the Jets to punt on their opening possession, Brady led the Pats down the field with a methodical drive toward the New York endzone, spreading the ball around and looking exactly like the team we've grown to love all year. Then, seemingly out of nowhere, everything changed.

Attempting a screen pass, Brady overthrew his receiver and was picked off by linebacker David Harris who proceeded to return the interception 58 yards downfield. For Brady, it was his first interception since October 11th against the Ravens, breaking a NFL record of 339 consecutive attempts without throwing a pick. Just like that, the Patriots appeared shell-shocked. On a team full of rookies and second year players (16 Patriots were making their playoff debut), Brady, the unquestioned leader, proved his mortality and all of a sudden the momentum shifted.

From there on out it was like watching the same train wreck over and over again. Taking a play from the New York Giants game plan during Super Bowl XLII, the Jets put extreme pressure on Brady during every play, sacking him five times and forcing several errant throws. Evidently, Rex's defensive scheme revolved around the idea that Brady couldn't pick apart the Jets secondary if he didn't have any time to find an open receiver. Suddenly the team who led the league in scoring with an average of nearly 31 points per game couldn't even gain a first down.

Then came fumbles, penalties, dropped passes and mental miscues. Patrick Chung botched a fake punt attempt near the end of the second half, giving the Jets excellent field position to which they scored and entered halftime carrying the momentum and the lead 14-3.

The entire game Patriots fans were pining for just one player to step up and ignite the team. Mayo. Wilfork. McCourty. Meriweather. Gronkowski. Welker. Branch. But it never happened.

So here Patriots fans rest, caught in the unforgiving crossroads of devastation and regret. The once certain playoff magic we've all come to expect around these parts has eluded New England for the second straight season.

"We picked a wrong time to play our worst game," admitted Deion Branch.

Of course, at times like these, one must look for a silver lining beneath the overbearing weight of such a tragic loss. So here it is: believe it or not, the 2010 Patriots exceeded our expectations. A team full of rookies and second years players, they performed exquisitely during the regular season, winning 14 of 16 games and playing well beyond anyone's wildest dreams. Unfortunately, their young players seemed to fold under the monumental pressure of the postseason, Tom Brady wasn't the Tom Brady we all know and love and the genius Bill Belichick got outcoached by the loud-mouth Rex Ryan.

And when it's all said and done, everyone will remember this year not for all the games the Patriots won, but for the one big game they lost when it mattered most.

Settling the Score

Patrice Bergeron does his best Bobby Orr impression after colliding with the
Flyers' Ville Leino. The Bruins came back on several occasions Thursday
 night to upend Philadelphia 7-5 in dramatic fashion.   

In a thrilling, back-and-forth affair that kept the TD Garden's sellout crowd of 17,565 on the edge of their seats from the drop of the puck to the final buzzer, the Boston Bruins came back in epic fashion Thursday night to take down the Eastern Conference leading Philadelphia Flyers, 7-5. Displaying a gritty sense of urgency and unquestioned will to win, the Bruins came from behind on three separate occasions and scored an eye-popping five goals in the final period to enact some much needed revenge on the team that came back from the dead to erase a 3-0 deficit to the Boston in both the series as well as Game 7 of last season's Eastern Conference Semifinals.

Rookie left winger Brad Marchand and defenseman Steven Kampfer played the hero, scoring the biggest goals of their young careers to tie and win the game, while Patrice Bergeron, Gregory Campbell, Mark Recchi and Zdeno Chara each finished with a goal and an assist. Despite surrendering five goals, Bruins' netminder Tim Thomas stood tall when he needed to most, finishing with 30 saves.

"That was a roller coaster," said Thomas after the game. "Sometimes the best-laid plans don't work out that way. You've got to roll with the punches, and we did a good job with that."

Coming out flat and seemingly overmatched, the Bruins quickly fell behind 1-0 when Flyers winger Scott Hartnell beat Thomas less than four minutes into the game. If not for a plethora of spectacular saves by Thomas the Flyers could have easily taken a two or three goal lead.

Battling back, the Bruins tied the game 1-1 when Chara blasted a slap shot from the point past Boucher during a two-man advantage with less than two minutes remaining in the first period.

Then, just 45 seconds into the second period, Bergeron lit the lamp to give the Bruins a 2-1 lead, the first of an astounding five different lead changes during the game. However, the advantage would be fleeting as the Flyers picked up goals from Nikolay Zherdev and Jeff Carter to take a 3-2 lead into the final period.

Much to the aching chagrin of Boucher, the hockey gods smiled down upon the Bruins just 38 seconds into the final period when a dump in attempt by Recchi ricocheted awkwardly off the end boards and squirted directly in front of the Flyers' vacant goal. Following the play, Recchi tapped the loose puck into the open net to tie the game 3-3. Mercilessly pouring it on the Flyers' goaltender, the Boston crowd began chanting "BOUCHER, BOUCHER, BOUCHER" in celebrated unison.

Just over a minute later, Michael Ryder tallied his 12th goal of the season to give the Bruins a 4-3 lead. However, the Flyers fought back once again as consecutive goals from Danny Briere and old friend Sean O' Donnell put Philadelphia back on top, 5-4. The once ecstatic Garden faithful was immediately zapped of energy as thoughts of "not again" raced through everyone's minds. Obnoxious Flyers fans began chanting "Game 7, Game 7."

But despite how eerily similar the game had felt to last season's epic playoff collapse, the Bruins showed heart and resiliency, fighting back to tie the score midway through the third period. Using O' Donnell as a screen, Marchard collected a drop pass from Blake Wheeler (two assists) and roofed a sizzling wrister past Boucher to tie the score 5-5.

Then, Kampfer blew the lid off the building when he snuck home a wrist shot from the corner between Boucher and the left post to give the Bruins a 6-5 lead with just 74 seconds left in regulation. Campbell added an empty-net goal to seal the game.

"It was a very nerve-racking game," said Marchard, who has seemed to click playing on a line with Bergeron and Recchi. "It was so back and forth. When Kamp got that goal to put us back in the lead with a minute left, it was an unbelievable feeling. We were very jacked up. It's a great win for us."

With the dramatic win, the Bruins have now won three games in a row and stand at 24-12-7, just six points behind Philadelphia for the best record in the Eastern Conference.

One last reason for optimism come playoff time? Since the humiliating collapse to the Flyers in last season's playoffs the Bruins are now 2-0-1 against Philadelphia.

I say bring on the Flyers. If last night's performance is any indication, the Bruins are far from done settling the score.

And then there was 8

Seattle @ Chicago - Is there anyone out there who saw this one coming? Marshawn Lynch and the Seahawks literally caused an earthquake last saturday against the defending world champion Saints. Matt Hasselbeck proved that he has some gas left in the tank after throwing for 4 touchdown passes against a solid Saints defense. Can Seattle honestly pull another epic victory? Not to mention another victory will get them back at a .500% winning average (what a joke). Chicago is well rested, there is no question about that, but the same thing that makes them, could break them in Jay Cutler. He is the deciding factor in this game. Cutler could throw you 4 touchdowns or 4 picks, no one will know until the clock hits zero. I see this game coming down to the wire, but I believe Cutler and Brian Urlacher will take care of both sides of the ball and win this one 27-21. Seattle is receiving 10 points from the Bears via Vegas lines. If you're betting this game, take Seattle.

Green Bay @ Atlanta - I don't think there was any doubt in Cheesehead nation that the Packers couldn't come into Philadelphia and get the win last weekend. Aaron Rodgers carved up the Eagles defense for 3 touchdown passes and another big part of the Packers getting the win was because they re-established their running game that has been lacking. And you can't forget about their merciless defense led by Clay Matthews who is an absolute beast when it comes to putting pressure on on opposing offenses and their quarterbacks. Atlanta has some fire power themselves. Led by Matt Ryan mixed in with an excellent running game headlined by Michael Turner, this will not be an easy test for the Packers. I predicted the Packers to go into Philly and win, but this week is a little different. The Eagles were kind of one dimensional, which made it easier for the Packers coaches to game plan around stopping Michael Vick, because if he isn't playing well, neither is the team. If Ryan can't get it done through the air early, look for them to establish a run game to open that up. They have a lot of talented running backs and a beefed up offensive line that can get the job done. It'll be a battle until the end no doubt, but I see the Falcons coming out on top with a 31-24 victory. The Falcons are giving the Packers 2.5. I still like the Falcons in this category.

Baltimore @ Pittsburgh - What don't these two teams have in common? They both are your modern day smash you in the mouth football teams. Their rivalry has been going on since the emergence of the Baltimore Ravens in 1996 formally known as the Cleveland Browns. This game will be won in the trenches, no doubt but who will be standing after the last punch? Loud mouth Ravens linebacker Terrell Suggs claims that this game is "Armageddon" and since this is the third time they've met this season, "World War III." Both teams have an excellent run game, ferocious defenses, but it will come down to the quarterback play to decide the winner. I expect Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco to take another step in the right direction. He is the first quarterback to start and win a playoff game in his first three season, and all of them have been on the road. One of them coming last year in Foxboro against the Patriots, which is  a very rare thing to happen in that building. Quarterback Ben Roethlisberger will put up a fight, but I think this Ravens team is a little bit hungrier. Even though the Steelers had a full two weeks to rest, I still like the Ravens to go on the road and get the victory. Look for the Ravens to pull this one out by the final score of 17-14. The Ravens are getting 3 from the Steelers. I also like the Ravens in this category.

New York @ New England - I'd like to start out by letting Braylon Edwards know that when you spell out "New England", you capitalize the N in New.

Now that is off my chest, it's back to the basics. As any football fan knows, there is no love lost between these two teams. Ever since I've been paying attention to professional football, I have always disliked the Jets, or in other words, hate them. But besides all of that this game will be everything it is hyped up to be. On one side you have a coach that is all about the team, and letting your play on the field do your talking. And on the other side you have a coach that is a loud mouth trash talker, even when he is beaten on the field. Led by MVP Tom Brady, the Patriots are looking to shut the Jets up, literally. People can say what they want about the Patriots being vulnerable because of the loss to the Jets in week 2, different story now. Although at the time I wouldn't or didn't want to admit it, trading Randy Moss is the difference maker between the Pats/Jets and it made the Pats better. Jet's cornerback Derrelle Revis thrived when playing against Randy Moss. He shut him down, and Brady would try to throw to Moss to keep him pleased, therefore resulting in bad throws which led to interceptions. Not anymore. The Patriots and Tom Brady are masters at spreading the ball around the field. Brady doesn't have to "please" anyone anymore on this current team. Whether throwing it for 50 yards, or 5, as long as you move the chains and hitting the open receiver on a consistent basis, you'll win the game. I don't see Jet's quarterback Mark Sanchez coming into Foxboro and upsetting the Patriots. Can it happen? Yes. Is it likely? No. Sanchez has been mediocre all year, and at times questionable to be the face of the franchise. Or should I say, "Sanchise." I expect Belichick to have his defense more than ready to take on this Jet's offense and I expect the Patriots to come out on top. Patriots win the game 31-17. Patriots are giving up 8.5 to the Jets via Vegas lines. Patriots all day and twice this sunday is my prediction. Let's get it!!

Talk is Cheap

Rex Ryan isn't the only Jet taking a shot at the Patriots,
Braylon Edwards and Antonio Cromartie have joined in as well. 

In a span of four short days, the New York Jets have gone from making subtle digs at the Patriots to all out insulting them. Prior to their first round playoff matchup with the Colts, Ryan managed to credit Peyton Manning while also taking a shot at Tom Brady. If his low blow somehow slipped by you, chew on this one more time:

"There's nobody like (Manning) in the league. Nobody studies like him. I know Brady thinks he does. I think there's probably a little more help with Belichick with Brady than there is with Peyton Manning."

While the fact can't be denied that Belichick has helped Brady, Rex seems to have forgotten that Manning was mentored by Tony Dungy from 2002-2008. Not a bad guy to have in your corner.

Then, just minutes after defeating the Colts and officially advancing to face New England, Ryan chose to stoke the fire by declaring that Sunday's matchup between the Patriots and Jets is "personal." More closely, it's about "Bill Belichick vs. Rex Ryan."

On the outside looking in, one would diagnose Ryan's remarks and most likely come to one of two possible conclusions. First, Ryan is an overweight, loud-mouthed idiot who can't help but put his ego on display for the whole world to see, selfishly putting himself above his players in terms of importance and worth. Or, secondly, Ryan is strategically placing the spotlight on himself in an attempt to deflect the attention from his players, thus allowing them to focus more on the game and less on the media attention they're receiving.

I'm going with the former, not the latter.

Growing up the son of Buddy Ryan, who won two Super Bowls (one as a linebackers coach with the Jets in 1969 and another as the defensive coordinator of the 1985 Chicago Bears), Rex may possess football smarts due to his thick bloodlines, but make no mistake, he is by no means an intelligent man. Anyone who watched the HBO documentary series Hard Knocks knows this fact cannot be disputed. Half the time spent in his office was devoted to devouring peanut M&M's and finding a good restaurant to order delivery.

Does anyone really think Rex stays up late at night lamenting which strategy to employ against his opponent?

Didn't think so.

Taking after the unsportsmanlike standard set by his coach, wide receiver Braylon Edwards tweeted on Sunday: "All you hatin a$$ people....J-E-T-S. And let new England know we are coming." Then, just a day later, Edwards couldn't help himself and said "I'm not going to lie- I remember what happened (getting blown out by the Pats 45-3 on Dec. 6), but at the end of the day, I know we're better than them."

Today, cornerback Antonio Cromartie took the trash talking reigns for himself and laced into Brady with a string of well-known obscenities. First, when asked what kind of guy he thought Brady was, Cromartie answered: "An ass****." Then, he eloquently added, "F*** him." Comments like that certainly don't mean much coming from a guy who, as Globe writer Shalise Manza Young noted, has fathered nine children with eight different women and needed the Jets to front him $500,000 in order to pay back child support.

As expected, Belichick responded by demanding that his players remain silent and not play down to the Jets level by engaging in a battle of words. Even Brady failed to respond to Cromartie, stating "I've been called much worse."

Still, Rex couldn't help himself and found yet another way to dig into Belichick. When asked today about his thoughts on Cromartie's middle-school tantrum, Ryan stated "We let our guys speak and we don't try to tell them what to say or what not to say."

Have it your way, Rex. As if Belichick, Brady and the rest of the Patriots needed any more bulletin board material leading up to Sunday, you just gave it to them.

Fighting Back

After an epic collapse in Montreal Saturday night, Zdeno Chara and the Bruins rallied to score four goals in the final three-plus minutes to earn a thrilling 4-2 victory over the Penguins in Pittsburgh last night.

Less than 72 hours ago, the visiting Bruins executed their game plan to perfection by building a seemingly insurmountable 2-0 lead against the hated Canadiens Saturday night with just under three minutes remaining in the third period. Thanks to a pair of goals from Patrice Bergeron and a stellar performance between the pipes from Tim Thomas (he finished with 39 saves), the Bruins seemed destined to waltz out of the Bell Centre with a hard-earned road victory.

Then, in the blink of an eye, everything crumbled.

Eerily similar to their epic collapse in last season's playoffs against the Flyers, the Bruins coughed up their 2-0 lead and had no one else to blame but themselves. A Michael Ryder trip of Montreal defenseman James Wisniewski gave the Canadiens a power play with less than three minutes left. Igniting the comeback, Scott Gomez scored on the ensuing man advantage to make it 2-1, then, with the goaltender pulled, Brian Gionta tied the game with just 47.7 seconds left to force overtime and bring the sellout crowd of 21, 273 to a deafening roar (the Canadiens were especially pumped up because they were celebrating their 3,000th NHL home game in Montreal).

Another penalty, this time by Blake Wheeler, gave the Habs a four-on-three power play in overtime. Although the Black and Gold killed the penalty, Montreal forward Max Pacioretty beat Thomas less than two minutes later to give the Canadiens the 3-2, come-from-behind victory.

"I thought we played a really good game until we took that bad penalty in the third," Bruins coach Claude Julien lamented. "We gave up a bad goal, and from there on in, we took another bad penalty in overtime. We shot ourselves in the foot."

The backlash against the Bruins in the Boston press was severe, and deservingly so. Once again, they showed us all that they are uniquely susceptible to epic collapses, which says something deeper about not only their hunger, fight and will to win, but their coaching as well. Captain Zdeno Chara refused to speak to the media after the game.

The feeling around Beantown got even worse last night as the Bruins trailed the Penguins 2-0 with just four minutes remaining. The lackluster effort seemed to be a direct result of the hangover suffered Saturday night at the hands of the hated Habs.

Then, it all turned around.

Shocking everyone in Pittsburgh as well as Bruins fans back home, Boston showed pride and heart (something rarely seen from the Black and Gold in recent years), rallying to score four goals in the final three plus minutes to earn an improbably 4-2 victory. By coming from behind with the odds stacking heavily against them, the Bruins did to Pittsburgh exactly what Montreal did to them just a few days before.

After Chara put the Bruins on the board with a power play goal to cut the deficit to 2-1, Brad Marchard lit the lamp just 12 seconds later to tie the game. Earning another man advantage, the Bruins capitalized with just 50 seconds remaining when Mark Recchi potted the game-winner. Gregory Campbell added an empty-net goal to make it 4-2 and improve the Bruins record to 22-12-7.

"It was such a great comeback," said Chara after the game. "Especially after the game against Montreal when we had the lead and we lost it. Great character win."

There you have it. Maybe the Bruins aren't the sinking ship that we once thought they were, getting our hopes high during the regular season only to break our hearts during the playoffs.

Then again, it's only one game. But after what happened against Philadelphia last season and again in Montreal on Saturday, Bruins fans can't help but hope and pray that this team is different after last night's thrilling victory in Pittsburgh.

Bring on the Jets

Why does Mark Sanchez look so befuddled? Maybe it's
because he's got a date with the Patriots on Sunday. 

For the past week, while many of his players were using the first-round bye as an opportunity to rest, rehab and re-energize, Patriots' head coach Bill Belichick was hard at work preparing a specific gameplan for each of his possible second round opponents. As the #1 seed in the AFC, the Patriots knew a week ago that they would host the worst remaining seed in the second round of the playoffs. What they did not know was who they would be playing. 

Entering Wild Card weekend, popular opinion had the loud-mouthed Jets losing to the Colts on Saturday. After all, how could the sputtering Jets possibly take down Peyton in his own house? 

Continuing the thought process, with New York out of the playoff picture, that would leave the Patriots playing the winner of Sunday's matchup between the 5th seeded Ravens and 4th seeded Chiefs. As a result, New England fans found themselves asking each other a simple question: who would you rather face, Baltimore or Kansas City? 

Those of us who rooted for Kansas City to win did so with the belief that hosting the hard-hitting Ravens in round two was simply not a good way to kick off the playoffs. Of course, Brady and the Pats came back in epic fashion to upend the Ravens 23-20 back in Week 2, but even the most fair weathered fan can't help but think back to that fateful day nearly a year ago when Baltimore waltzed into Foxboro and wiped the floor with the Patriots in the first round of last season's playoffs. 

On the other side of the coin, many Patriots fans hoped for Baltimore to win simply because we just didn't have a good feeling about the Chiefs. Ever since former New England dynasty architect Scott Pioli took over as Kansas City's GM after the 2008 season, the Chiefs have undergone a dramatic resurgence thanks in large part to modeling themselves after the Patriots, literally and figuratively. Pioli picked from the New England pot of gold and traded for Matt Cassel to be his franchise quarterback and Mike Vrabel to be the mantra's spokesman. He even brought in former Patriot Super Bowl winning coordinators Charlie Weis and Romeo Crennell to handle the offense and defense, respectively. The Chiefs scared us in large part because they reminded us of ourselves. 

Then, just as we were sure we'd finally decided who to root for, the argument became mute when the 6th seeded Jets came back to upset the Colts, 17-16. Forget the Ravens. Forget the Chiefs. As the highest remaining seed, the Jets will travel to Foxboro to face the Patriots in what is sure to be the next great chapter of the heated rivalry Sunday afternoon. 

Prepare yourself, Patriot fans. We're in for a full week of Rex talking up the Jets, bashing Brady and attempting to convince us that despite getting demolished by the Pats 45-3 just over a month ago, the Hard Knock Jets are "just the men for the job" this time around.

Fine by me.

I'll take the team that lets their play, not their mouths, do the talking. 

Only a Matter of Time

While Matt Garza's departure from the Rays is great news for Sox Nation,
it's tragically symbolic of the current state of Major League Baseball. 

Making it more and more apparent that the once formidable Rays are now fully engaged in rebuilding mode, Tampa Bay jettisoned yet another core member of their 2009 AL Champion squad, trading away flamethrowing ace Matt Garza to the Chicago Cubs earlier today in exchange for a plethora of highly touted prospects. Garza now joins Carlos Pena, Carl Crawford, Jason Bartlett and Rafael Soriano as former Rays who have either been traded or elected to leave Tampa via free agency this offseason.

Talk about having your team gutted.

Sure, Red Sox fans are sure to rejoice in the news of Garza's departure from the American League East, simply because he always seemed to shut down Boston with a stellar performance. In 19 career games versus Boston, Garza went 7-4 with a 3.83 ERA. In addition, he absolutely killed the Sox in the infamous 2008 American League Championship series, which the Rays eventually won in seven games. After winning both Game 3 in Boston and the clinching Game 7 in Tampa, Garza was named the MVP of the series. In 13 innings pitched, Garza allowed just 2 earned runs and struck out 14.

Good riddance.

Still, true baseball fans can't help but feel bad for the Rays. For years, the expansion Devil Rays, as they were called at the time, were the laughingstock of baseball. From their inaugural 1998 campaign all the way to 1997 they lost a minimum of 90 games every single year, losing at least 99 games fives different times. Ownership refused to pay for players and Tampa's perpetually thin payroll never allowed them to field a competitive team. They played in an ugly dome. They had the lowest attendance in baseball. And, oh yeah, they were forced to join the hardest division in Baseball, meeting up with the powerhouse Sox and Yankees a guaranteed 19 times per year.

But then it all turned around. Tampa dropped the "Devil" from their name, changed their uniforms and welcomed a phenom third baseman by the name of Evan Longoria to the team. Seemingly overnight, everything clicked. The Rays were young, exciting, well-coached and featured a formidable starting rotation. In 2008, manager Joe Maddon guided the upstart Rays from worst to first, going 97-65 and reaching the World Series. In 2009, they barely missed the playoffs but went 84-78. In 2010, the Rays won the AL East for the second time in three years, going 96-66 before eventually losing in the first round of the playoffs.

However, even feel good stories like the Rays going from worst to first are destined to evaporate in today's Major League Baseball. The odds are simply too great against them. The reality of the fact is that the Rays know they can never financially compete with the Red Sox and Yankees as long as a salary cap doesn't exist. As a result, they are unable to pay for stars like Carl Crawford and Matt Garza and are forced to let them go in favor of younger, inexpensive prospects that they hope can contribute sooner than later.

While the news of Garza's departure is met with exuberance in Boston, fans in Tampa can't help but think "here we go again." And, while you'll never hear me complain about overspending in baseball after my team shelled out $298 million on two star players this offseason, as a fan of the game I admit the growing disparity between big and small market teams is troubling.

Still, the reasoning for the Sox deep wallets is that they are forced to spend in order to compete with the Yankees. Luckily, they have the funds available to do so.

Unfortunately for Rays fans, Tampa simply does not.

See You in June

Rajon Rondo recored his second triple-double of the season
 last night in Boston's 105-103 victory over the Spurs. 

For several days leading up to tip-off, last night's matchup between the Boston Celtics and San Antonio Spurs had been touted as a possible Finals preview in the national media. Somewhat surprisingly, shows like PTI and Around the Horn sideswiped the usually favored Lakers and Heat and told us that this scenario was more likely to come to fruition in early June. After all, coming into last night's game the Spurs (29-5) and Celtics (26-7) owned the two best records in the NBA.

And still, despite all the hype and media attention, last night's matchup between conference powerhouses did not disappoint. Instead, it only strengthened the notion that these two teams are destined to meet up on the biggest stage at season's end. 

In a physical, back and forth affair between two fundamentally sound, defensively minded, exquisitely coached basketball clubs, the Celtics got the last laugh. Despite missing Kevin Garnett once again, Boston held on to defeat San Antonio 105-103 at the TD Garden. Proving to Celtics fans that he's completely recovered from a severe ankle sprain that recently saw him miss seven games, point guard Rajon Rondo turned in his best performance of the season, recording his second triple double of the season.

Take a second to fully digest these mind-blowing numbers from Rondo last night: 12 points, 10 rebounds, 22 assists, 6 steals and a block in 43.5 minutes. 

Talk about filling a stat sheet. 

Beyond Rondo, Ray Allen scored a game-high 31 points while also dishing out six assists. He was lights out from the floor as well, going an absurd 13-16 on two-point field goals. And, while the captain Paul Pierce chipped in with another consistent performance (18 points, 7 boards and an emphatic, highlight reel dunk at the end of the third quarter), the real story was his passing another Celtics legend in the Boston record books. By playing last night, Pierce pushed his total career games played for the Celtics to 918, passing Bob Cousy for fifth all-time. He now trails only Bill Russell, Kevin McHale, Robert Parrish and John Havlicek, who ranks first all-time with 1270.

Still, the win wasn't easy for Boston, even though a Ray Allen steal and layup put the Celtics up by nine at 105-96 with just 1:06 left on the clock.

Then the Spurs almost executed a remarkable comeback. After a Manu Ginobli three pointer, Tony Parker stole an inbound pass on a questionable call and converted a layup to make it 105-101 with 40 seconds remaining. Next, Manu Ginobili stole a cross-court pass and sprung Richard Jefferson for a breakaway. Jefferson got fouled but made both his shots at the charity stripe to make it 105-103.

With the ball and a shot to win it for the Spurs with time winding down, Ginobili went for the dagger three pointer but Pierce blocked the shot to earn the win for the Celtics. Subsequently, by catching the blocked shot of Ginobili, Rondo was credited his 10th rebound, completing his triple double. With six steals, he came up just four steals shy of the unheard of quadruple double.  

On the injury front, the Celtics got more encouraging news when Kevin Garnett hit the practice floor to shoot around before the game. He is currently on schedule to return in a week or so from his strained left calf.

And, as if Rondo needed any more accolades, early All-Star voting puts him starting at the point guard position for the Eastern Conference. Playing alongside of Rondo would be LeBron James, Dwyane Wade, Dwight Howard and teammate Kevin Garnett. 

But who has time to salivate over the All-Star game in February? After last night's hard fought victory over San Antonio, I'm more excited about meeting up with the Spurs again in June. 

So Long, Adrian

After a stellar 2010 campaign with the Sox, third baseman Adrian
Beltre is taking his talents to the Ballpark in Arlington. 

In 2010, Adrian Beltre exceeded all expectations that Red Sox Nation had of him and quickly became a fan favorite. He played a flawless third base, earned the first All-Star appearance of his 13-year career and had a monster season at the plate, hitting .321 with 28 homers, 102 RBIs. And, even though the writing was on the wall for Beltre to leave Beantown after the Sox brought in Adrian Gonzalez and shifted Kevin Youkilis to third this offseason, the news today that Beltre officially signed with the Texas Rangers for six-years, $96 million is still difficult to take.

If you remember correctly, 2010 was infamously dubbed a "bridge year" for the Sox by GM Theo Epstein, symbolizing a drastic change to the philosophy of the front office. Instead of inking big name free agents to long term deals (John Lackey was the one exception) or trading young prospects for proven commodities, Epstein opted for short term contracts and lesser known veterans with upside (i.e. Marco Scutaro, Mike Cameron). And, with Mike Lowell's thumb and hip injuries putting his availability in question, Theo decided to bring in Beltre to play third base with an ironically affordable one-year, $10 million deal (which included a player option for a second year).

Boy did that move pay off. On a team decimated by injury, Beltre was a gamer. Not only did he play in 154 of a possible 162 games in 2010, but he quickly became one of the team's most reliable leaders. After winning two Gold Gloves at the hot corner earlier in his career, Beltre's reputation as being one of the game's best third baseman preceded him to Boston. However, it wasn't until we were lucky enough to watch him play everyday that we realized how good he truly is.

Nothing got by him. He snagged screaming line drives with ease, came up with difficult short-hops and overall made the routine play look effortless. He came in on a bunt better than anyone else and started countless double plays with his quick release to second. Did I mention he had an absolute cannon for an arm? I thought Lowell was as good as it got at third. Then I watched Beltre day in and day out and was forced to change my mind.

Offensively, Beltre was one of the most feared hitters for the Sox in 2010. We all fell in love with his towering home runs in which he would scoop the ball just inches off the dirt and launch it over the Monster, landing on one knee. Hitting fifth or sixth in the lineup, he added thunder to the middle of the order and made both Victor Martinez and David Ortiz better by providing them with more than adequate protection. He could hit to all fields for both average and power, wearing out the Green Monster to the tune of 49 doubles, the most in the American League in 2010. His staggering numbers just barely came short of his career year in Los Angeles for the Dodgers in 2004 when he hit .334 with 48 homers and 121 RBIs.

The reason the Sox were able to sign Beltre in the first place was the troubling fact that he had just come off his worst year at the plate. From 2005-2008, Beltre averaged nearly 23 homers and 85 RBIs with the Mariners. However, in 2009 he hit just .265 with 8 home runs, driving in a mere 44 runs over 111 games with Seattle. This is what made his bounce-back year in Boston last season so gratifying. We were all witnesses to the resurrection of Adrian Beltre.

Nonetheless, it was never meant to be for Beltre in Boston. Early into free agency he turned down a one year player option for $10 million, making him a free agent. Despite olive branches extended by Theo to Beltre, the sense around Boston was that it was cost too much money to retain Beltre, who will turn 32 this upcoming season.

At the time, Sox fans were left dumbfounded. Our smooth, switch hitting catcher Victor Martinez had just walked to Detroit and each day it became increasingly evident that Beltre would bolt as well. Today, it became official: Adrian Beltre is now a Texas Ranger.

However, as devastating as this move would have been a few months ago, today it doesn't seem so bad. After all, we have a couple guys by the name of Adrian Gonzalez and Carl Crawford set to take over in 2011.

Spring Training can't come soon enough.