HoopsHype.com Rumors

KG's thoughts on someone telling him & Pierce as teenagers they'd be where they are today - together: "I would totally believe them. I would totally believe them. I’d be like, you’re crazy as hell but I believe you. It’s good that we can sit back and joke about holes in our shoes and playing with itty-bitty shorts and all this other stuff, and then to be full circle right here, it’s great. So congratulations to The Truth." #Celtics Sulia

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett 

Mickael Pietrus: "The game is like a fiesta. People deal with so many issues at home and for me, to play in front of 20,000 people, they don’t understand that I’m trying to transcend a message. Life is short -- enjoy it. I’m here to enjoy it with you. Bad time or good time, I’m here to enjoy it with you. I see the smiles on all of the kids’ faces. Every time I’m out on the floor, enjoy it with me, ride with me." Sulia

Boston Celtics, Mickael Pietrus 

The pressure was quite clear to Pierce and anyone else in the arena as he stood on the verge of passing Larry Bird for No. 2 on Boston's career scoring list. He needed only 10 points to overtake Bird when the Celtics hosted Charlotte on Tuesday night and those final three seemed as if they would never come. They did early in the third quarter, then Pierce and the Celtics celebrated the milestone by increasing their season-best winning streak to five with a 94-84 win over the Bobcats. "It was a relief. So much was hanging over me the last couple of days. Just hearing about it and knowing that you've got a game to play," said Pierce, who finished with 15 points. "Just to be mentioned with him, with this organization, is a great honor." Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce, Larry Bird 

Larry Bird on the possibility of Bird ever leaving the Celtics (and touching on the Peyton Manning situation in Indy): "Red [Auerbach] knew I wasn't going anywhere. ... I would have never left Boston, unless they traded me. I like to see guys come in, especially the elite players, and stay in one place. I think it's very important for the city, because we don't have a lot of great ones come through here, and Peyton Manning is by far the greatest athlete to ever come through [Indianapolis]. If he's healthy, hopefully he stays and finishes out his career. "If you have an elite player come through, especially a small market, you've got to hold on to them players. They're not born every day." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Indiana Pacers, Trade, Larry Bird 

Larry Bird on his -- and the Celtics' -- ongoing feud with the Detroit Pistons' Bill Lambeer, on and off the court: "It's because he was a dirty player. He had to do what he had to do, I understand that, but -- like Ricky Mahorn, he'd hit you and all that... but he didn't try to maim you. Bill tried to hurt you. He was one of them guys who, you'd shoot a jumper and he'd slide his foot under your ankle so you'd twist your ankle. That's why Parish always went down. If you watch any of our old games, Parish was always twisting his ankle against the Pistons." ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, Detroit Pistons, Indiana Pacers, Larry Bird, Bill Laimbeer 

Rajon Rondo. Note: “ball-handling guard” is triangle-speak for a point guard. Additionally, sources have told HOOSPWORLD that the Boston Celtics do have interest in Gasol for their All-Star point guard. HoopsWorld

Boston Celtics, Los Angeles Lakers, Trade, Rajon Rondo, Pau Gasol 

The Celtics have shopped Rondo on a number of occasions. For a number of reasons, sources say Boston does not intend to rebuild their roster around Rondo. The drop off from Rajon to second-year player Avery Bradley (a capable defender but not as experienced as a playmaker) may not be as significant to the Celtics as the void in the middle that Gasol would fill. HoopsWorld

Boston Celtics, Trade, Rajon Rondo 

Gary Washburn: Greg Stiemsma confirms earlier Globe report that his contract has been guaranteed. Brandon Bass is also back in the lineup tonight #celtics Twitter

Boston Celtics, Greg Stiemsma 

A. Sherrod Blakely: #CSNNE.com has learned the #Celtics plan to keep Greg Stiemsma around, thus making his contract guaranteed for the season. Story up soon. Twitter

Boston Celtics, Greg Stiemsma 

Greg Stiemsma is the lone Celtic on the roster with a non-guaranteed contract and his deal would be guaranteed if he remains on the roster by 6 p.m. today. According to an NBA source, Stiemsma, the rookie signed from the NBADL, is safe and will have his contract guaranteed. Stiemsma impressed the Celtics with his defense and shot-blocking abilities but has played sparingly of late because of the emergence of Chris Wilcox. Still, he remains an asset on the bench and has increased his market value with his production. Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Greg Stiemsma 

Stiemsma said this morning that he had not heard word from his agent but he did participate in the team's shootaround in preparation for tonight's game with the Charlotte Bobcats. "I try not to get caught up in the business side once we get the season rolling," he said. "I think overall it's been a great opportunity. I started out hot and that's just the way the game goes, the way the season is going to go. It's going to be here and there. As long as I'm ready when I get the call." Boston Globe

Boston Celtics, Greg Stiemsma 

When Bird finally answered, he referenced the man who still looms over them all — the ageless Havlicek. “I didn’t watch Havlicek play and all of the guys who came before like (Bill) Russell,” Bird said. “But Paul has been able to do it in a variety of ways. What the guy can give you in the offensive end is remarkable.” But not so remarkable that he stands alone — at least not in this building. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce 

Doc Rivers, who played against Bird and has coached Pierce in his prime, wanted no part of a debate. “Something I stay out of,” Rivers said. “Paul has been great and deserves everything he gets, and Larry was great, but I don’t ever compare guys. (But) Paul is more of a scorer. He can pass, and he’s also a great rebounder. Larry did everything. It was great (for this franchise) to have them both. That’s the way I look at it.” Some think completely outside the lines. “The best pure scorer I ever saw on this team would probably be Reggie — Reggie Lewis,” radio game analyst Cedric Maxwell said. “I think he had a few more post moves than Paul. Paul is up there near him, but I think Reggie is probably the best pure scorer.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce 

Asked to find a unique side to Pierce’s game, Bird pointed to the Celtics captain’s free throw prowess. Pierce remains the franchise leader in made free throws (5,909) as well as attempts (7,334). “He knows when to get to the line,” Bird said. “When the team is in the penalty, he could really take advantage of those situations. But he’s a complete player. There’s so much he’s able to do.” Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Paul Pierce 

San Antonio Spurs guard Tony Parker today was named the NBA’s Western Conference Player of the Week for games played Monday, Jan. 30, through Sunday, Feb. 5. This is Parker’s seventh time earning Western Conference Player of the Week honors. The Celtic’s Paul Pierce was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week. Parker averaged team highs in points (22.3 ppg), assists (8.0 apg) and steals (1.50 spg), as the Spurs went 4-0. He scored a season-high 42 points and added 9 assists Saturday in a 107-96 win over the NBA’s top team, the Oklahoma City Thunder. Parker has scored 40-or-more points three times in his career, most recently March 25, 2009, when he scored 42 points at Atlanta. NBA.com

Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Paul Pierce, Tony Parker 

Celtics captain Paul Pierce was named the Eastern Conference Player of the Week on Monday after helping to guide Boston to a 4-0 week while averaging a team-high 22 points to go along with 6.3 assists and 5.8 rebounds. A glimpse of his week from the NBA press release: * Jan. 31 at Cleveland: Recorded 20 points, six assists and three steals in a 93-90 win over the Cavaliers. ESPN.com

Boston Celtics, San Antonio Spurs, Paul Pierce, Tony Parker 

But Kevin Garnett wants to clear up a misconception. “I can shoot 3’s,” Garnett said after hitting a bomb yesterday for the third straight game during the Celtics [team stats]’ 98-80 win over the Memphis Grizzlies. It marked the first time as a Celtic that Garnett has hit three 3-pointers in one season, let alone three straight games. But if he bristles a little bit that his downtown prowess would be questioned, consider in Minnesota he had three seasons of 20 or more 3-pointers — 1999-00 (30-of-81), 2001-02 (37-of-116) and 2002-03 (20-of-71). Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Kevin Garnett 

So yes, Garnett can shoot 3-pointers. But regardless of whether people like captain Paul Pierce [stats] and coach Doc Rivers are urging him to mine that deep range, forget about it. “Don’t get used to it, ya’ll,” said Garnett. “Listen. I can shoot 3’s. I’m 50 and I’m out here with one leg and a cane, some nights are better than others. I’m human and I mess up, but I can shoot 3’s. I don’t (do) 3’s because we have one of the all-time greatest 3-point shooters in Ray Allen. We have Paul Pierce, who has won the 3-point contest. We have other guys who can shoot 3’s. “It’s not my role here. My job is to get those guys open, and if it’s thrown to me, dunk it or pass it, cool. But I can shoot 3’s. Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, Kevin Garnett 

You are a restricted free agent after this year, could you see yourself playing in a place like Boston? Mayo: Yeah sure. If there is an NBA team I’d be happy to play there. But right now my main goal is to play for Memphis and hopefully help get them their first NBA Championship. CelticsHub.com

Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies, Free Agency, OJ Mayo 

Is there any stigma about Boston? In the past not all athletes have wanted to play in Boston, it took KG some convincing. Does that still exist? Mayo: I’ve never heard of that. It’s always been one of the top organizations in basketball. Ever since you were a little boy start playing basketball you always heard about the Boston Celtics and Larry Bird, all the great players, it’s always been a great organization. CelticsHub.com

Boston Celtics, Memphis Grizzlies, Free Agency, OJ Mayo