Defense is the epitome of a successful team. Without it, a team does not win, simply put. Usually there is an anchor on any great defensive team, and usually it is a big man. The Magic have the ball devouring Dwight Howard. The Spurs have the lane-clogging, shot-altering Tim Duncan.

However, there has been a new trend of shifty little men disrupting passing lanes and playing great defense using their lateral quickness. Players that have shaped the mold for their teams include Chris Paul of the Hornets and Rajon Rondo of the Celtics. These guys disrupt an offense to the point of the play bankruptcy.

Dwight Howard has won the defensive player of the year award in back-to-back seasons. He is the first player in league history to lead the league in rebounds and blocked shots in the same season twice. Better yet, he has done it in back-to-back seasons. The question is, can he do it again? There is no slowing down for this guy. I think he will win it again this year unless Andrew Bogut of the Bucks can duplicate what Howard has done. He had a solid year last year until his horrific elbow injury sidelined him for the season. Josh Smith will always be a contender to win the award, but until proven otherwise, this is Howard’s to lose right now. He is a defensive juggernaut.

Up next is my pick for the most improved player. Stay tuned.

By Josh Delp of the Sports Fan Blog Network

Thanks to Ray Allen and late magic from Rajon Rondo, The Boston Celtics have tied up the NBA Finals at one game a piece.
Ray Allen owned the first half getting 27 out of his team leading 32 points for the game. Out of Allen’s 32 points were eight three-pointers, he was 8-11 on three point attempts. Allen’s eight three-pointers in the game was a NBA record for most three’s in a game.
The big story of the game was Rondo. Rondo only scored six points in the first half, but he did rack up eight assists. In the second half Rondo scored 13 points, and four more assists which gave him his second triple-double of the post-season. He finished the night with 19 points, 12 assists, 10 rebounds, and two steals.
With the performance by Allen and Rondo combined with poor shooting from Kobe Bryant who was only 8-20 shooting, The Celtics who commanded most of the game (except for a rough patch in the end of the 3rd quarter when the Lakers tied the game up), should look for more of the same to win the series. (NBA.com)
By Eric Heyer of Sports Fan Blog Network

As I’m sure you know if you’ve seen a TV in the past week, the upcoming NBA finals are a rematch of the 2008 edition, with Kobe Bryant gunning for his 5th ring and revenge for his team’s 2008 defeat. While these storylines have been beaten to death by the media, here are 3 key “x-factors” that will make a big difference in the upcoming series.

1. Rasheed Wallace- That’s right. This season’s posterboy for out-of-shape, overpaid NBA players will likely be one of the biggest keys to this series. Lost in all of the criticism directed at Wallace (which he has deserved) is the fact that Wallace has long been one of the top post defenders in the NBA. Wallace possesses the rare combination of defensive intelligence and physical length, and both of these traits will be needed when he goes against Pau Gasol, one of the NBA’s most talented and efficient power forwards. If Wallace is able to effectively battle Gasol, expect to see a Celtics victory.

2. Nate Robinson- Long dismissed as a 5′8 novelty who could only dunk, Robinson reminded NBA fans that he actually possesses rare offensive ability. Unfortunately for Robinson, he often offsets that ability by taking too many shots and turning the ball over. When Robinson is in control of his game, however, he is a dynamic scorer and he, along with Rajon Rondo, could give the Lakers’ backcourt trouble.

3. Derek Fisher- To many fans, Derek Fisher is the anonymous point guard whose job consists of dribbling the ball upcourt and then giving it to Kobe Bryant. While that might largely be true, Fisher’s ability to hit big shots can not be discounted. Fisher frequently finds himself open because of other teams’ tendencies to collapse on Kobe Bryant, and his ability to knock down open threes could decide at least one game in this series.

by Nathan Eagan at the Sports Fan Blog Network

In the 2010 NBA Finals, the Boston Celtics will take on the Los Angeles Lakers. Yawn. This series will be big, but only for fans of these two teams. It is a historic rivalry, and both are top teams. However, for those who are not fans of these two teams, it is not exactly the world’s most fresh and exciting finals. The Lakers have been in the NBA Championship the past two years, and Boston won it in 2008.

Outside of actual fans of these two teams, these two teams are generally hated. Kevin Garnett is known for his corny “anything is possible!” quote, as well as his arrogant antics. Pau Gasol is someone who finds something to complain about every call made. Paul Pierce did the worst acting job in the 2008 Finals, actually leading people to believe that he was able to miraculously overcome a wheelchair to return to the game. Kobe Bryant is popular, but many envy him. Rajon Rondo is the flavor of the year to ESPN, and it gets on people’s nerves. Let’s not even get into Ron Artest.

The bottom line is that those in the NBA are probably happy with the fact that these two teams will duel it out for the Championship. But the average basketball fan simply does not want to see it happen.

by David at the Sports Fan Blog Network

Too slow? Too old?

Indeed, the Boston Celtics look like they saved their best this season for when it mattered most.

“I know,” Boston’s Paul Pierce said. “It’s starting to look that way.”

Pierce scored 28 points, Rajon Rondo had 25 and the revived Celtics again avoided a late collapse to take a commanding lead in the Eastern Conference finals with a 95-92 victory over the Orlando Magic in Game 2 on Tuesday night.

Boston bullied and bruised its way to a 2-0 series lead on the road against a Magic team that had won 14 straight until this series.

After being hampered by injuries for much of the season, often showing their age, the Celtics are now just two wins away from their second finals appearance in three seasons.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPNBoston.com

The Boston Celtics sent LeBron James and the Cavaliers back to Cleveland to admire all of their regular-season accomplishments and ponder their future.

It’s the Celtics who are still in the chase for an NBA title.

Kevin Garnett scored 22 points and added 12 rebounds, and Rajon Rondo had 21 points and 12 assists to beat Cleveland 94-85 in Game 6 on Thursday night and advance to the Eastern Conference finals. They’ll play the Orlando Magic, who are undefeated in the playoffs.

“Winning is gratifying,” Garnett said. “You’re playing the best team in basketball; the challenge is there; you don’t have to dress it up. One thing we don’t lack is confidence. We’re a veteran team and we understand when it’s time to lock in as a group. I think we did just that. I think the experience is taking over.”

Despite his sixth career playoff triple-double, James is headed for another early offseason after winning a second MVP award and leading the Cavs to an NBA-best 61 wins and a home-court advantage they never got to use.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPNBoston.com

Boston Celtics captain Paul Pierce understands it’s only natural for some to question whether he’s completely healthy given his offensive struggles against the Cleveland Cavaliers so far this series, but he stressed Monday he’s in good condition and reaffirmed that his production doesn’t matter so long as his team wins.

Averaging 11.8 points per game on 32 percent shooting through four games, Pierce is under the microscope for a dip in his typical offensive production. On Monday, repeating what he said after Game 4, Pierce stressed that his focus in this Eastern Conference semifinal series is more on the defensive end.

“I do whatever I gotta do to help this team win,” said Pierce. “Guarding LeBron [James] is no easy task. He’s the two-time MVP and a lot of their offense goes through him — pretty much all of it. I know I have to focus on that end, more so than the offense. I knew that coming into the series.”

Celtics coach Doc Rivers echoed everything Pierce stated, suggesting he’s healthy and doing his part defensively.

Click here to read the full article – By Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com

The Boston Celtics have a few days off to prepare for the second round of the NBA playoffs and a matchup with LeBron James.

Dwyane Wade has all summer to recruit him.
Ray Allen scored 24 points, making five 3-pointers in the second half to help Boston beat Miami 96-86 on Tuesday night and eliminate the Heat in Game 5 of their first-round playoff series. The Celtics will play James and the Cavaliers in a seven-game Eastern Conference semifinal series that will open Saturday in Cleveland.
“I think it’s a great matchup. It’s great for basketball — such a classic series,” said Paul Pierce, who scored 21 points on Tuesday. “They’re the team to beat right now. They showed it through the course of the season the way they played. We know this is going to be a tough series, another really, really tough series.”

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPNBoston.com

Even without Kevin Garnett, the Boston Celtics beat the Miami Heat.

Easily.

With the good-humored but hard-playing Glen Davis filling in while the Celtics’ emotional leader served a one-game suspension, Boston rolled to a 106-77 victory Tuesday night that Miami coach Erik Spoelstra called “embarrassing.”

It gave the Celtics a 2-0 lead in their playoff series and Davis a chance to reprise the nickname he hung on himself last year when he replaced the injured Garnett — known as the “Big Ticket” — in all 14 playoff games.
“The ‘Ticket Stub’ came,” Davis said. “Whenever they need the ‘Ticket Stub,’ he’ll be there.”
Davis had 23 points and eight rebounds, and Ray Allen heated up in the third quarter and scored 25 points. Dwyane Wade led the Heat with 29.

Click here to read the full article – By Associated Press of ESPN.com

Celtics forward Kevin Garnett has been suspended for Game 2 of Boston’s first-round playoff series against the Heat for landing an elbow to the face of Miami’s Quentin Richardson in a fourth-quarter fracas during Game 1 on Saturday.

The announcement was made Sunday by Stu Jackson, NBA executive vice president of basketball operations.

Richardson was fined $25,000 for his role in the altercation.

Garnett earned a double technical and ejection in the melee that unfolded after Paul Pierce tumbled to the ground near the Miami bench with 40 seconds left in Boston’s victory at the TD Garden.

Click here to read the full article – By Chris Forsberg of ESPNBoston.com