The Boston Slump

After a terrific start to the seasons by the Bruins, the Celtics, and the Boston College Eagles things have come to a sudden halt. Whether it is the constantly gray days, or the emotional toll on the players, or the winter chill, but Boston sports teams have been having a rough start to the new year.

The Boston Celtics had the best start in franchise history and amassed a 19-game winning streak, the longest in team history. Going into the game on Christmas Day against the Los Angeles Lakers, the Celtics were on an incredible high. They were playing well, and more importantly, they were wining games in which they weren't playing especially well. Then all the good things that had happened up to that point came crashing down. The Celtics played okay that day but didn't have anyone to take over in the 4th quarter. Pau Gasol was the man for LA in that situation and led the Lakers to the victory. That began the decline that is now the Boston Celtics. The team has lost 7 of 9, the most recent, last night to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The Cavs now have the lead in the Eastern Conference over the Celtics who are in serious need of a win. The team has clearly worn itself out in that incredible win streak and is now dealing with sloppy play, poor shooting, and many more turnovers than usual. The team needs to rally itself again around one win and take it from there. Ubuntu, the Celtics' motto of togetherness last season, is going to need to shine through again as the players regroup and right the ship.

Another Boston team, the Bruins had a wonderful start to the season. Many young players were stepping into the spotlight and playing extremely well. The goaltending was terrific, both from Tim Thomas and Manny Fernandez. The team was leading the Eastern Conference and scoring as well as playing solid defense. They have just recently hit a small patch of ice along the road and lost two straight at home. The first, a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Buffalo Sabers snapped the Bruins 10-game winning streak and the first home loss since late October. Then, 3 days later, the Minnesota Wild came to town and downed the Bruins 1-0. The Bruins played well in these 2 losses but we unable to finish their chances and thus lost both. The Bruins have returned to their winning ways with a 3-goal 3rd period against the Ottawa Senators. The Bruins (64 pts) are still atop the Eastern Conference and are skating strong at the midway point of the season.

Even bigger news was the upset of the University of North Carolina Tarheels at the hands of the Boston College Eagles in college basketball. The Eagles shocked the nation and the then-#1 ranked Tarheels. Tyrese Rice led the way with 25 points for the Eagles in the win.

BUT, the next game the Eagles played was at home against the Harvard Crimson, which the Eagles lost 82-70. The story with the Eagles and Tyrese Rice seems to be inconsistency as Rice has had wonderful nights, such as against the Tar Heels and his tournament play his freshman season, and then the next night he will be abysmal and nonexistent. Rice had three points until the final 4 minutes of the game and finished with 14 as Harvard beat a ranked opponent for the first time in school history.

The New Year has not seen the best of Boston sports but the year is still young and there is plenty of time to regain control of the top spot for the Celtics, retain control of the top spot for the Bruins, and retain a ranking for the Eagles.