Upon further review (not that it was needed)... The league admits its referees messed up. Repeatedly.

C/O Chris Forsberg

Case #1: A foul initially ruled as flagrant on Jermaine O'Neal was downgraded to a run of the mill personal foul. You know why? Because it was blatantly not flagrant. This botched call had serious repercussions: "O'Neal's flagrant led to a five-point possession for Miami and helped the Heat stem a third-quarter Boston rally." 

Case #2: A personal foul whistled on James Jones was upgraded to a flagrant. It's merely conjecture at this point, but maybe if Jones had been correctly whistled for the flagrant at the time of the incident, the recognition by the refs of the excessive nature of the foul would have served to calm Paul Pierce's nerves, and avoid his ejection. But who knows? It's all history now. 

All the news you need to know in increments of 140 characters (or less)

Jermaine O'Neal rocked last night:

Chauncey Billups got hurt: 

Rondo might have hurt his knee too: 

Krstic definitely hurt his knee (but not during the game):

Shaq won't play tomorrow.... Surprise!!

But he does dress like an OG. Nice suit and sneakers, Big Man:

This next one takes Zero characters, but it is a visual depiction to all Knicks fans about why they shouldn't be complaining about the officiating: 

That, my friends, is a call that indisputably went the wrong way at a pivotal point in the game, similar to the situation last night involving Carmelo Anthony and Paul Pierce that so many Knicks fans are up in arms about.

And in news unrelated to last nights game, but still about the Celtics, Flo Allen ran the Marathon today.

She ran it last year as well. Good for her! 2 in 2 years is an unbelievable accomplishment! And her hard work shows, she looks amazing. 

Jermaine O'Neal says all the right things.

C/O ESPN Boston



On the uncertainty surrounding his return 
"Is coming off of surgery to finish a job really pressure?" O'Neal asked after the Celtics' win over the 76ers Tuesday. "A state in Indiana really [jumped] on my back to see if I could carry a team and I didn't really see that as pressure. It's all a challenge. If you see it as pressure then you're not built for it." 


On his decision to have in-season surgery 
"The difference is in this league, the people who are in it for the wrong reason, would have laid down," said O'Neal. "They would have laid down, said, 'OK, I had knee surgery, my year's over.' I fought it. I fought it before the surgery. I didn't want to do it. I was out there on one leg basically, fighting the swelling, because I'm prideful. I'm prideful and I'm dedicated to the job that has been given to me. I've never been one to take the easy way out." 


On his role with the Celtics 
"It's whatever the team needs," said O'Neal. "I'm not in a position in my life, in my career any more, where it's about numbers. I gave that up when I decided to leave Indiana. I felt like it was about winning a championship. It wasn't about money, it wasn't about All-Star games, [or] anything [else]. Some guys sit in this situation and say, 'Alright, I'm going to go for the numbers every night, to see what I can get out of it.' You can get all the numbers, then you look at it, and you ask yourself, 15, 16 years later, 'What did I really get out of it?... All these years, I've accomplished a lot of things in my career and it doesn't really matter. This is what matters; the champagne, confetti, tears. That's what matters to me. I'm not about to let [anything], surgery, anything, take away, at least that opportunity." 


I, for one, have been pleased with what Jermaine has done in his time back. He looks to be comfortable in his body and he appears to be in good shape. I said it before and I'll say it again: nobody knows what Jermaine has gone through this season. I'm sure he was in excruciating pain but still wanted to contribute. Luckily for us, he had the surgery and committed to rehabbing. He's now in a position where he can stay on the floor (fingers crossed) and be a contributor. It's time to stop complaining about all the time he's missed and how old he is, and commit to the pieces the Celtics have to work with going in to the postseason. I think he's done a good job meshing with the starting unit, and has also helped  the bench to develop more of a flow. His return has put Krystic with the second unit, and has allowed Glen Davis and Jeff Green to play in their natural positons. We'll see what JO can do in a big game situation tonight, matched up with the ever pesky Joakim Noah. 

What do persistent rumors about a Ciara and Amare romance have in common with the health of Jermaine O'Neal?

They're both going strong right now.

It seems Amare celebrated the Knicks win over the Nets with Ciara by his side:

Amar'e Stoudemire, celebrated the team's win over the New Jersey Nets with R&B singer Ciara at Meatpacking District hot spot SL. While their reps claimed the pair are just friends, the duo "looked extremely close Wednesday night," said one onlooker, who added, "She was sitting on his lap and whispering into his ear all night." While Amar'e and Ciara huddled in a banquette in the corner, they were surrounded by club security and other Knicks, including Landry Fields, Jared Jeffries, Roger Mason Jr. and Andy Rautins. Ciara met Stoudemire through LaLa Vazquez, who is one of her closest friends and married to teammate Carmelo Anthony.


I dunno guys, seems like you might be shacking up and trying to be sneaky about it. Who knows? But if they were together, that's nice. They'd be a really tall and ridiculously good looking couple. 


And as for Jermaine, he played 11 minutes and had 5 points, 1 assist and 1 rebound (but it was an offensive one!)... He's feelin' pretty good about his return and so am I: 

Jermaine O'Neal: "I’m going to play tomorrow."

Jermaine O'Neal participated in a full practice tomorrow and, according to Julian Benbow, he is optimistic about his return: "I told them the plan is to play back-to-back games, the plan is to play as many minutes as I can without limitation.”

Doc Rivers also expressed a measured amount of enthusiasm about Jermaine's return:
"I thought his quickness and his activity [were surprising]," Rivers said. "He didn't surprise me where he didn't pick up some stuff. I don't blame him for that, but I was happy. I was very happy with it."

I, for one, (as has been previously discussed on this blog) have not given up on Jermaine. Obviously it will take some time for him to get back in to the swing of things, but I still maintain that for the limited role the Celtics need from him, he will be able to deliver. So consider me on #TeamJO. Also, irregardless of if he will be able to fully meld with the team (but who is fully melding on this team right now anyway?), he will still be a 7 footer who can come in and provide physicality in the middle that is desperately needed.

P.S.: Also participating fully in practice for the first time in a long time was Von Wafer. No word on if he's playing tomorrow or not, but it's a good sign that he's participating in full contact activities. I never thought I'd say this, but it'll be good to have him back.

The trade deadline is 6 days away. Will the Celtics make a move? Is Richard Hamilton a possibility?

The rumors that the Celtics are looking to make a move have been swirling for weeks now. The team has been linked to many names, from Richard Hamilton, to Troy Murphy, to Anthony Parker. 

It seems that Murphy might have to be taken out of the equation.Talks between New Jersey and Denver have started again andMurphy would be included in any deal that sent Carmelo to New Jersey. it's okay with me if the Celtics don't get him, he's not my number one choice. 

My number one choice is already in a Celtics uniform, and that's Marquis Daniels. I'm holding out hope that Marquis is able to make a comeback. There has been no work from the Celtics on the status of Marquis, other than that he won't be coming back any time soon. I'd say it's safe to assume that whether he's able to make any comeback at all is still very much up in the air. With that in mind, Peter May compiled a list of potential trade candidates. This list includes Josh Childress, old friend James Posey, Richard Hamilton, Troy Murphy and Ramon Sessions. 

We've already discussed how Murphy won't be available, and I'd also cross Sessions off that list. I'm assuming that the Celtics are looking for a 3 man and some size in any deal that they make, and Sessions is a 6'3 guard. He's a sturdy basketball player, and can put up points, but it's just not what the Celtics are looking for at this point in time. I'd also take Childress off the list- May explains that while the Celtics could send Robinson and Daniels to Phoenix in exchange for Childress, Childress has 4 years left on his deal after this one. The Celtics will need to re-sign Glen Davis and Kendrick Perkins, and I don't think they'd want to jeopordize those signings but tying up money investing in Childress for anything after this year. So.... Next! The most enticing name on this list to me is Richard Hamilton. It's highly unlikely that Rip will end up in a Celtics uniform, but May lays it out: 

If Hamilton goes anywhere, it probably won't be for a while, but his name is out there because he basically has been euthanized by the Pistons. He has appeared in one game since Jan. 12. Hamilton earns $12.5 million this season, the same in 2011-12 and has a $9 million buyout in 2012-13. No one with that kind of contract gets bought out now. Additionally, there is going to be an ownership change in Detroit, so everything can be viewed to be on hold. Plus, why would the Pistons cut Hamilton a $20 million check when he still has some value around the league? Sure, he would be an ideal backup in Boston. And, remember, Joe Dumars owes Ainge. Seven years ago, when Dumars was desperately trying to get Rasheed Wallace from Atlanta, he needed a third team to make it work. Ainge stepped in and made it happen, getting a No. 1 pick out of the deal along with some flotsam and jetsam (Chucky Atkins, Lindsey Hunter). Dumars has always said that if that deal had not gotten done, the Pistons would not have won a title.

That's right Joe, so pay up and send Rip over. I just have to say that the way the Pistons are treating Rip is WACK and way beyond disrespectful. The man still has some basketball left in him and could be a contributer. Free Rip!!!

After the cut, May makes a case for James Posey.

Jermaine O'Neal... Fashion Designer.

Jermaine has been hurt since he got here... So what's he been doing with all that free time, besides rehabbing? Designing clothes, apparently. Being 6'11" makes clothes that fit hard to come by, so Jermaine took matters in to his own hands and created a line of clothes catered to tall people. Above is a video I found on youtube, and below is a still from the line. Go ahead then, Jermaine.

(photo source)



It's funny how these things happen

"Jermaine O'Neal is not going to have surgery. He's going to rehab for 4-6 weeks and be ready for the post season."


Flash forward two weeks: I did not have sexual relations with that woman, "Jermaine O'Neal had surgery today."

Oh, Danny. It's always him that gets put in to this position.

Anyway. Get better soon, JO!

Recap: The Celtics show up in the last 3 minutes to beat Detroit.

Photo jacked from Chris Forsberg's twitter page. A perfect depiction of the C's effort through 3 and 1/2 quarters.


Better late than never, because this was a pretty important win. With Miami on a 4 game slide, the Celtics really can't afford to be losing any silly games.

The C's fooled me a little bit in the beginning of the 1st- I thought maybe they came to play. They looked sharp defensively (rotated people on T-Mac, so Detroit didn't know who to send to the box) and Paul started 4 for 5 from the field. Well, everything went down hill from there. Greg Monroe started cleaning up in the paint, getting easy lay ups and cashing in on second chance points. Detroit shot 50 percent from the field for the quarter, and the Celtics exerted less and less as the quarter wore on.

The second quarter was more of the same. It started off with a stupid offensive call on Marquis, so the ball went back to Detroit. Back on the defensive end, Marquis turned his ankle and left the game. He didn't return, so hopefully he'll be okay and it's not a lingering injury. Von Wafer (ugh) came in off the bench and provided a spark, beating Austin Daye off the dribble, getting fouled, and completing the 3 point play. Detroit turned the ball over twice in the first five minutes of the second quarter, with the Celtics second unit on the floor. The second quarter also featured some major Tommy points c/o the Big Shamrock. Big BIG up's to Shaq- with 2 minutes left in the 2nd quarter, he dove for a loose ball (got helped up by teammates), made it down the floor and laid the ball in. You go Shaqtus.

The third quarter wamped the MOST. Everyone looked sluggish and uninterested. Paul Pierce picked up two fouls in the first minute. It sucked. Semih came in and gave the team a little bit of a spark, but the Pistons went in to the fourth up 3 and it wasn't looking so good for the Green guys.

And then came the 4th quarter. With the Celtics down 3 with 10:15 left in the 4th, Nate Robinson hit a 3 to tie things up. The Pistons came right back and scored, going back up 2. Nate Robinson attempted another 3, missed, but was bailed out by Big Baby, who tipped it in and tied things up again. Charlie Villanueva had a pretty unspectacular night, but with 9:12 remaining, he buried a 3 and put Detroit up by that amount. A little bit later on in the 4th, Armageddon struck and Ray Allen missed 2 free throws. Oy. It's always so unsettling when that happens. Nate generated an offensive foul with 8:18 remaining in the 4th, and it was a battle from that point on. Shaq had a big fourth quarter- 7 of his 12 points came in the final frame, and he played a big part in keeping the Celtics in the game. With 25 seconds remaining in the 4th quarter and the score tied at 82, Ray Allen connected on a long 2, giving the Celtics the lead for good (the shot was originally called a 3, but upon review, his foot was clearly on the line. Ray was 0-4 from downtown tonight, so he remains 28 3 pointers away from breaking Reggie Miller's record).

We also learned that Jermaine O'Neal is not going to be having surgery. He is going to spend the next 4 weeks rehabbing and getting his conditioning up. Danny Ainge says that there will be no restrictions on JO upon his return. It's a pretty sad situation. I don't expect to get too much more from JO this year. Perk will be coming back soon, and Delonte West soon after that. It's likely that, even if JO is physically able to contribute on a consistent basis, he'd find himself on the outs of the rotation. Sad.

Two Celtics things to keep an eye on: One good, one maybe good but probably bad.

Let's start with the good news: Ray Allen is 28 three's away from breaking Reggie Miller's record for most career 3 pointers made. Miller's record is 2,560. Ray will probably chip away a little bit at that differential tonight. Here's what Mr. Miller had to say about Ray creeping up on him:


“Shooting is boring. It takes time and you have to spend hours working on your craft. Players don’t want to put up the sacrifice to do it. That’s why I applaud Ray Allen, at 35 years old, getting ready to break my (NBA record for 3-point field goals) in the next month and a half. He’s the best shooter in this league and that’s sad, because there should be some young gunslinger coming up saying, I’m going to shatter Ray Allen’s record. There’s no one alive that’s going to break his record.”


Classy of Reggie to say... But haha, you know he's mad.

Now for the slightly more crappy news: Jermaine O'Neal traveled to New York Monday to get a second opinion on his knee. He is considering surgery on his bothersome left knee. If surgery would keep him on the shelf through the playoff's, he will bite the bullet and play through pain this year. He has missed 24 of the 40 games played so far this year. He was apparently supposed to come back yesterday to make a decision, but was unable to travel due to the inclement weather. Obviously this decision could not be discussed over the phone...