Blount takes another poke at Collins, refs

Mark Blount's eyesight was fine yesterday, but his mood was still a tad on edge. The Celtics center took Jason Collins' left hand to his face late in Monday night's victory in New Jersey, and he's still ticked that it was judged to be nothing more than a common foul. ``He hit me in my face, man,'' Blount said, defending his right to be angry. ``I mean, what if I couldn't come in here this morning? What if I can't play tomorrow? What is that going to do for me? ``It's my right eye. What can I do? They're not hiring any blind reporters are they?'' Upon further review, Blount thinks there was room to call a flagrant foul. ``They had a chance to clear it up and they didn't clear it up,'' he said. ``That's why I was upset. The refs were standing right there. The ball was going out of my hands and they were towards my face. The ball was nowhere near my face.''

Via Boston Herald

Boston Celtics, New Jersey Nets

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Atkins isn't for every Celtic fan

He is your best friend or your worst enemy, depending on what you want for the Boston Celtics.

If you're hoping the men in green will stumble across the finish line in these final 11 games, and thereby secure a more desirable draft pick by missing the playoffs, then point guard Chucky Atkins is the bane of your existence. If you are an eternal optimist who believes winning cures all ills, even if it means dropping in the draft order, then Chucky Atkins is your new favorite player.

The Celtics have gone 8-5 since Atkins was acquired from the Detroit Pistons and inserted into the starting lineup. Modest gains, yes, but for the first time all season, Boston features a true point guard who looks to push the ball, pass first, and properly position his teammates

"Chucky's been a life saver," said teammate Mark Blount. "He knows which plays to run. He knows where we should be. He's showing the young guys how to do it."

"He has good organizational skills," explains interim coach John Carroll. "He knows where people are supposed to go. He has good vision. He can run the pick-and-roll.

"And he earned the players' respect right away. They see him and they throw him the ball, so we don't have other people trying to bring it up the floor."

Via Boston Globe

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Blount remarks suggest departure

Mark Blount has told anyone and everyone, essentially, that he's out of here at the end of the year. The Celtics center has said it publicly. He's said it on the team bus and in the locker room. No one took the early season trades that broke up this team harder. Blount, who had some close friends traded away, reacted as if he were the child in a bitter divorce. Danny Ainge's moves cut him deep. So deep, in fact, that the emotion may have helped push his game to a surprising level. Only two players in the league, Shaquille O'Neal and Kevin Garnett, have pulled down more rebounds this month. Blount's 12-point, 12-rebound performance during Saturday's loss in San Antonio marked his 10th double-double in the last 14 games.

Asked about Blount's chances of remaining a Celtic, Ainge said, ``Those things are left for the right time. I don't know what's going to happen. He's playing as good as he has in his whole career. You'd think that he would enjoy the way he's playing. The bottom line is that we love Mark, and we want him to stay.''

Via Boston Herald

Boston Celtics

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