I often wonder what opposing teams, their beat reporters and bloggers
are saying about the Celtics after playing the Celtics. Here's a dose
of 'enemy chatter' from Dallas.
Playing without Kevin Garnett, the Celtics lost for a third straight time on their home floor. While they can blame another brilliant performance by Dirk Nowitzki, 37 points, seven rebounds, three assists, Boston will have to look at how it allowed Erick Dampier to go off for 11 points in the Mavs' 34-point third quarter.
Clearly, the 2-by-4 they took to the head in Toronto on Sunday had some positive impact a day later.
"Did we even go to Toronto?" Kidd asked, clearly understanding that they might as well have bypassed Canada the way they played. "If you're a pitcher, and you give up a home run, you got to come back with your fastball. That's what we tried to do."
"When you're pushing the ball up the floor, it opens up everything and makes it easier," Marion said. "Dirk was great. Dirk was sharing the ball very well tonight. What can you say? Thirty-seven points. He had a heck of a game."