FORT WORTH -- The NBA would love for storied franchises like the Boston Celtics to recapture their past glory.
But that won't be happening anytime soon.While trying to keep their slim playoff hopes alive, the Celtics blew a home game on Monday when the Mavericks overcame a 20-point deficit in the third quarter to win, 108-100.
Then Wednesday, critical missed free throws, plus an amazing 3-point field goal at the buzzer by Toronto's Vince Carter, led to a 96-94 home loss to the Raptors. That also was enough to nearly send Celtics coach Rick Pitino over the edge.
"You're the people being negative," Pitino told the media. "And some of the fans. Larry Bird is not walking through that door. Kevin McHale's not walking through that door. Robert Parish is not walking through that door.
"And if you expect them to walk through the door, they're going to be gray and old. What we are is young, exciting, hard-working, and we're going to improve. People don't realize that, and as soon as they realize those three guys are not coming through that door, the better this town will be for all of us because there are young guys in that (locker) room playing their (butts) off."
Like some coaches, Pitino has a way of blaming his team's woes on the media. It's never the fault of the coaching, or the inability of players to execute plays or make key free throws.
"I wish we had $90 million under the salary cap," Pitino said. "I wish we could buy the world. We can't.
"The only thing we can do is work hard. And all this negativity that's in this room (stinks)."
Pitino is feeling some heat because the Celtics are a below-average NBA team.
Everyone assumed when Pitino left Kentucky to take over the Celtics in 1997, credibility and winning would be instantly restored to this historic franchise. But the bluegrass has been greener in Kentucky than in Boston.
Boos are a regular part of the backdrop in the Fleet Center. Antonio Walker hears them, Vitaly Potapenko -- he missed two freebies with 3.5 seconds left in the loss to Toronto -- hears them. And Pitino hears them.
"I've been around when Jim Rice was booed," Pitino said. "I've been around when (Carl) Yastrzemski was booed, and it stinks. It makes the greatest city in the world lousy.
"The only thing that will turn this around is being upbeat and positive like we are in that locker room. And if you think I'm going to succumb to negativity, you're wrong. You've got the wrong guy leading this team."
Maybe the Celtics do have the wrong guy leading this team.
AROUND THE EAST
-- Vince Carter is still represented by Tank Black, the agent charged with fraud and money laundering and under investigation by the Southeastern Conference, but Carter has begun to distance himself from Black.
After saying early last week that they were "sticking by Tank Black," Carter and his mother "suspended" their relationship with Black on Thursday pending the outcome of the trial, scheduled to begin May 1.
Michelle Carter-Robinson manages her son's business affairs.
Carter's mother described the decision to temporarily sever ties with Black as "very painful."
-- You have to wonder how Shawn Kemp feels when he hears Cavaliers coach Randy Wittman lamenting the fact he doesn't have a go-to guy on his team.
Wittman didn't actually call out Kemp by name. But it doesn't take a genius to figure out that if you're paying a guy $100 million -- as the Cavs are with Kemp -- then he's your go-to guy.
"We don't have a player here who's going to say, 'Get on my back, I'm going to carry you the rest of the way,' " Wittman said. "We're a blue-collar team that needs to bring our lunch pail every day."
The Hornets, selected by some to reach the NBA Finals, finished 0-6 against the Lakers, Trail Blazers and Spurs.
AROUND THE WEST
-- It's been another sorry season for the Warriors, but Donyell Marshall has been on an amazing tear lately.
In four games before Friday3/8 his past fives games, Marshall averaged 19.6 points and 17.4 rebounds. He had at least 20 rebounds in three of the games.
"Hey, I've been (in the NBA) six years," Marshall said after his 23-point, 21-rebound performance led the Warriors to an 80-75 victory against the Hawks on Monday. "It's time for me to turn into something."
-- The Jazz, once nearly invincible at home, is 8-5 at the Delta Center since Jan. 19. And even when it has won, Utah hasn't looked impressive.
The Jazz defeated the Spurs by three points in that homestretch, and dethroned the Lakers in double overtime. However, it also eked out victories against the Pistons (91-87), Hawks (96-94) and Nets (106-101).
Also during the homestretch, the Jazz lost to the Grizzlies and Celtics, two teams that had never won at the Delta Center.
-- Memo to the Hack-a-Shaqers out there: The Lakers' Shaquille O'Neal buried 9-of-13 free throws in Tuesday's showdown victory against the Blazers.
PACERS MIGHT LOSE ROSE
Thanks to Larry Bird showcasing his talents, Pacers swingman Jalen Rose is expected to be one of the league's top free agents come July 1.
However, Rose said not to look for him to try to return home and play for the Detroit Pistons. He likes it in Indy just fine.
"I haven't put one foot in front of the other when it comes to that subject," Rose said. "This is where I want to be, but we're going to have a new coach (in Indy after this season) and that means more uncertainty."
Rose struggled through an uncertainty-filled season under Larry Brown, who coached the Pacers before Bird.
Rose averaged 7.3 points per game in 1996-97, Brown's final season coaching the Pacers. In Bird's first two seasons coaching Indy, Rose averaged 9.4 and 11.1 points, and he is averaging 16.9 points this season.
In the past 15 games, Rose averaged 22.0 points; he scored at least 20 points in 12 of those games.
Reggie Miller, who still leads the Pacers in scoring, appreciates Rose's production. That is, as long as Miller is still called upon to take the key shots during crunch time.
"It takes a lot of pressure off of Rik 1/4RSmits1/4S and myself," Miller said. "We have three legitimate scorers out there now. Teams are going to have to adjust to that.
"I think it's going to make us a much better ballclub come April, May and hopefully June. This is a welcome addition. It's a great tandem to play off of."
Maybe, but this could be the last season Miller gets to "play off of" Rose, who grew up in Detroit, where his mother and other relatives still live.
Rose played college basketball at the University of Michigan because it was close to home, and he spends a lot of his off-season in Detroit. But at this stage of his career, Rose says he prefers Indianapolis to Detroit.
"I'll play anywhere," he said. "I'm not a person who needs change. But being a professional, there's always two sides to the coin."