Paul Pierce puts in one of his six three-pointers on the night for a game-high 29 points.
Well that was interesting. Being inside the TD Garden for the first time this season is totally different from watching a game on television. You could feel the energy in the building. This game had a playoff-like atmosphere, and it was a nice sized crowd as well.
Although the Celtics eventually lost the game, there was a lot of good things to take away from this game.
The good:
How can you not start with Paul Pierce. From the get-go, Pierce looked like he was 25 instead of 35. He was absolutely on fire as he scored a game-high 29 points on 10-of-17 shooting, including 6-of-8 from behind the three-point line. To go along with his scoring, Pierce grabbed 5 boards, and hit three consecutive threes at one point in the second quarter. He even saved a ball from going out-of-bounds and also took a charge within the span of a minute.
The Celtics started off sluggish, but nonetheless managed to wake up in the second half. They only had 17 boards and 7 assists on 39% shooting, but they finished shooting 47% from the field, tallied 22 assists, and nearly duplicated their rebounding total by finishing with 35. It was clear this team made adjustments at the half and came out real strong to start the third.
Kevin Garnett continues to be Kevin Garnett. The intensity he brought tonight was flat out awesome. In the 3rd quarter, he had two highlight-reel blocks, knocked down three of his signature turnaround over the shoulder fade away jumpers
Jared Sullinger is going to get some serious Rookie of the Year consideration. He started tonight and deservedly so. He was a force on the boards tonight, 4 offensively and 5 defensively, which is something the Celtics have lacked over the past few years. Sullinger has quickly picked up the team's defensive rotations, as evident in tonight's game. He plays like a veteran, and he even battled nicely on the low block with Reggie Evans.
The bad:
Although he's one big human being, Jason Collins was getting beat constantly tonight by Brooklyn's big men. Collins did score 5 points in just under 15 minutes of action, but he did not grab a single rebound. He's only 33, and for a 7-footer, he should be able to take control in the paint on both offense and defense. He was over matched by the likes of Reggie Evans, Tornike Shengeila, and even Andray Blatche. And to think he was signed because of his ability to defend big men like Dwight Howard and Brook Lopez...
The lack of a backup point guard on the roster is a concern and, to me, is the only weakness on this team. The lineup that started the 4th quarter of Brandon Bass, Jason Terry, Courtney Lee, Sullinger, and Green did not play well together. This combination forced Terry to play the point, a position he can handle, but is not one that will benefit this team. By Terry playing the point, it takes away from his play-making ability and his ability to make his own shot, things that are of more value to this team. It'd be interesting to see if Danny Ainge and company look to add a veteran point guard -- maybe Derek Fisher -- to solidify that spot.
Miscellaneous:
The more I see Jeff Green, the more I like him. It's amazing to think that shortly under a year ago, Green underwent heart surgery, and to see him gliding up and down the floor is phenomenal. He is sneaky fast and very athletic, something you wouldn't be able to tell by just looking at his body.
Kevin Garnett started and played in only the 1st and 3rd quarters. Why didn't he play that much if he did not play the night before? Well, why not? He's 36 and one of the most important players on the team. Burn him out in April, May, and June, not October.
I guess Doc had a half-day today. After coaching the first half, Rivers never returned to the court, as he elected to watch the second half from the locker room. Perhaps he just wanted to watch the presidential debate. Wouldn't blame him. Just make sure you're on the bench the entire game in two weeks, Doc.
I still can't get over the energy in the building tonight. It was nice to be back in the TD Garden, and it was nice to see the arena fill up as much as it did. There were more people there tonight then there were at any regular season game during the 2006-2007 season.
Assistant Coach Armond Hill, who took over head coaching duties in the second half, drew up a great play with 4.6 seconds left in the game. The play was a designed pick-and-roll, and rookie Micah Downs rolled to the basket for an alley-oop off the in-bounds pass from Courtney Lee. The pass was perfect, the Nets weren't expecting it, and Downs got a good look, except from the fact that he couldn't put the ball in the hoop. Although, to his defense, it did appear that Downs was fouled on the play, inhibiting him from scoring.
This is the most complete team the Celtics have had in a long time. It's big, fast, quick, athletic, young, and exciting to watch. If the Celtics are going to win a title before the retirements of Garnett and Pierce, this is their best shot.
The view from the section 329 in the TD Garden.
No comments:
Post a Comment