On a D-League assignment from the Boston Celtics, Avery Bradley tied the league mark for steals in a game with nine, adding 14 points as the Maine Red Claws defeated the Tulsa 66ers’ 109-106.
DeShawn Sims added 26 points for Maine.
On a D-League assignment from the Boston Celtics, Avery Bradley tied the league mark for steals in a game with nine, adding 14 points as the Maine Red Claws defeated the Tulsa 66ers’ 109-106.
DeShawn Sims added 26 points for Maine.
Shaquille O'Neal heard a mixture of cheers and boos on Sunday afternoon as he returned to the Staples Center as a member of the Celtics.
O'Neal played for the Lakers from 1996-2004 and won three championships.
When it was announced that O'Neal fouled Andrew Bynum on the Lakers first possession, O'Neal was greeted by more boos than cheers from the L.A. crowd.
"He looks to me like he's getting some opportunities and he has some really good games," coach Phil Jackson said. "I know he's going to be physical. He'll bring the physicality to it."
Since being traded from the Lakers in 2004, O'Neal has played for Miami, Phoenix, Cleveland and now Boston.
Celtics head coach Doc Rivers has been fined $15,000 for failing to leave the court in a timely manner following an ejection, it was announced Sunday by Stu Jackson, NBA Executive Vice President, Basketball Operations.
The incident occurred with 4:33 remaining in the second period of the Celtics' 88-71 loss to the Phoenix Suns at US Airways Arena in Phoenix on January 28.
RealGM Staff Report
The NBA is reviewing the two technical fouls Celtics coach Doc Rivers received in the team's loss to the Pistons on Friday night.
A league spokesman said that no punishment will be issued. Boston was whistled for six technical fouls as Kevin Garnett (two), Nate Robinson (one) and Kendrick Perkins (one) were also singled out.
With the Celtics trailing 40-25, Rivers was ejected late in the second quarter after arguing with referee Steve Javie during a timeout.
"I didn't have any choice words for him," Rivers told reporters after the game. "I didn't say a word. I didn't even swear then. You know what I said? 'It's about the game. It's not about one individual.' That's all I said, over and over again. Whatever, it wasn't about that -- why we lost the game. We didn't play well, I thought they played well. It happens."
Phil Jackson was asked how he expects Shaquille O'Neal to be greeted at Staples Center for the first time as a member of the Boston Celtics.
"I think they'll greet him warmly," said Jackson. "He's become kind of a ... I was going to say comic figure, but not that. More of a familiar person, you know, commercials and a lot of the things he does. He's become America's symbol of salesmanship. He's done a good job of that. He sells a lot of things."
O'Neal was traded to the Heat in 2004 by the Lakers for Lamar Odom, Caron Butler and Brian Grant.
O'Neal has also played for the Suns and Cavaliers since his departure from Los Angeles.
Celtics coach Doc Rivers was ejected in the first half of the team's 88-71 loss to the Suns on Friday night.
Rivers was frustrated after Boston was called for eight fouls in the first quarter against Phoenix's big men.
"I'm not sure," Rivers said when asked about the ejection. "I didn't earn it. So I think you have to ask Mr. [Steve] Javie. He actually came into our huddle. We were standing there and he came up to us. I'll tell you exactly what was said. He said, 'You guys are complaining way too much.' And I said, 'Then make the right calls.' His answer back was 'I'll make a call for you.' That's how I got the tech. After I got the tech, I didn't have any choice words for him. I didn't say a word. You know what I said? 'It's about the game, it's not about one individual.' That's what I said over and over again."
With 4:07 left in the fourth quarter, Kevin Garnett followed Rivers when he was called for two technicals after he was whistled for a foul on Channing Frye following a three-point shot.
The Lakers lost 100-95 to the lowly Kings on Friday night and afterwards Lamar Odom blamed the loss on the media.
"Yeah, I'm blaming this on you guys," Odom said. "You guys are jumping to the Boston game."
Odom was joking, but the talk prior to Friday's game against Sacramento was dominated by questions about the Celtics, who the Lakers will play on Sunday.
The Lakers had put a gag order in place, saying no one was allowed to talk about the Celtics until after the Lakers finished off the Kings.
"Like I've said, teams they come in here and they are looking for a 'W'," Odom said. "You don't do the small things that you need to do defensively and take people out of the game. … They got comfortable.
"But I don't think anybody looked ahead. We got beat. We got our [butts] beat. … We got hit on the chin."
Kevin Garnett, who endorses a shoe company from China called Anta, will wear special all green shoes in Sunday's game against the Lakers.
The shoes have the numbers 152-120 on the tongue, which represents Boston's all-time record against their rivals from Los Angeles.
Boston last played the Lakers last June in Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals.
The Knicks have surpassed the Lakers as the NBA's most valuable franchise, according to findings from Forbes.
New York is valued at $655 million, while the Lakers are close behind at $643 million.
The Bulls, Celtics and Rockets comprise the remainder of the top-five.
In the wake of LeBron James leaving in free agency, the Cavaliers had a single-year decrease of 26%.
Full Rankings
1. Knicks
2. Lakers
3. Bulls
4. Celtics
5. Rockets
6. Mavericks
7. Heat
8. Suns
9. Spurs
10. Raptors
11. Magic
12. Warriors
13. Pistons
14. Blazers
15. Cavaliers
16. Jazz
17. 76ers
18. Thunder
19. Wizards
20. Nuggets
21. Nets
22. Clippers
23. Hawks
24. Kings
25. Bobcats
26. Hornets
27. Pacers
28. Grizzlies
29. Timberwolves
30. Bucks
The Celtics are enjoying a very good season despite all their injuries, but there has been one alarming trend.
Boston is 15-5 against teams with losing records, while Miami (23-3) and San Antonio (21-1) routinely beat up on sub-.500 teams.
Conversely, the Celtics are 18-5 against winning teams. The Heat are just 8-10.
"If you look at the whole season, we've had a terrific season so far," Doc Rivers said. "But if you look at that terrific season, we've had some bad losses. Those are tough losses for a team that shouldn't lose those games. More lessons learned and we've got to keep teaching them."
The Celtics have lost to the Cavaliers, Pistons, Raptors, Rockets and Wizards this season.
"The way to get up [for these games] is to look up at the banners and think about homecourt," Rivers said. "That's what should motivate you."