At least you can say they're consistently inconsistent.
The Celtics (20-23) are just not a good basketball team right now. They've been inconsistent all season. After winning a season-high six in a row, they've now dropped a season-high six in a row. During their winning streak, Boston looked fantastic, and coach Doc Rivers echoed this sentiment after the game: "We go out and play near-perfect basketball." During this current losing streak, Boston looks beaten, broken, like Bruce Seldon struggling to get up after a ferocious blow from Mike Tyson.
We're 43 games into the season, and it's time to face the facts: Boston is not a good basketball team right now. Simple as that. They cannot seem to put together a full, 48 minute effort on a consistent basis. As Doc Rivers alluded to after their loss in Detroit, the Celtics played well for the first three games of their winning streak, but then "just won" the other three games.
This was like a complete 180 of the last meeting between these two. On January 5, Atlanta led 53-38 at the half. Boston came out at the start of the third and completely ran away with the game. Tonight, Boston carried a 57-38 lead into the half. Then, when the second half began, Atlanta came out on the attack and went on to win the game.
According to Rivers, the game started to swing when he put the starting five back in with nearly 4 minutes to go in the first half. From there, Atlanta finished the half on an 11-6 run.
I would like to disagree with Doc. This one was over the moment Kevin Garnett fouled out in the second overtime. CSNNE sideline reporter Greg Dickerson said that during a timeout soon after Garnett leaving the game, Rivers could sense the Celtics losing their spirit. After Garnett fouled out, Atlanta went on a 13-4 run to finish the game. Atlanta took advantage of the Jared Sullinger-Al Horford matchup, which was more than an advantage for Atlanta considering Sullinger had 4 fouls himself. Then, it only took a minute and 35 seconds for Sullinger to foul out.
The third quarter has been the deciding quarter in the two games these two have played. Back on January 5, Boston won the third quarter, 33-9. Tonight, Atlanta dominated the third, 31-16.
Here's a recap:
The good:
* Rajon Rondo had his second-consecutive triple-double. He finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds, and 11 assists. But, once again, it wasn't enough. Boston is now 2-3 when Rondo has a triple-doubles. Coincidence? I'll let you all come to your own conclusions.
* All things considered, the bench was O.K. tonight. Jeff Green finished with 17 points and 6 rebounds, Jason Terry had 12 points. Courtney Lee was the star of the bench, finishing with 16 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, and 2 steals. His energy on defense was phenomenal. He, along with Avery Bradley, took the challenge of trying to stop Kyle Korver. He did O.K., but it wasn't enough. Nonetheless, Lee probably played his best game as a Celtic.
* Kevin Garnett had himself a game. He compiled a double-double of 24 points and 10 rebounds. After 32 minutes last night, Garnett finished with 38 tonight. Great job by the big fella.
The bad:
* It only took 5 minutes and 44 seconds into the third quarter for the Hawks to erase 57-38 halftime deficit. They went on a furious 19-0 run, and the Celtics just didn't respond.
* Losing a game in which you have a season-high 27 point lead is simply unacceptable.
* Boston had no answer for Kyle Korver. The Hawks' sharp-shooter had a game-high 27 points. All 8 of Korver's field goals were three-point field goals.
* Paul Pierce's woes continue. The Truth finished with 12 points on 4-of-13 from the floor including 0-of-5 from beyond the arc. Over his past three games, Pierce is 3-of-25 from three-point range. This is the definition of a BIG-TIME slump. Pierce has to get hot at some point...right?
* Boston did not score a field goal in the final 3:39 of the fourth quarter. The pace of the game slowed down considerably, and it led to inefficient offense.
* In the final 34 minutes of the game, Boston committed 15 turnovers. Atlanta took advantage of nearly every turnover and ran rampid on the Celtics.
This isn't the way the Celtics wanted to enter their duel with Ray Allen, the Big Three and the Miami Heat. Sugar Ray will be making his first appearance in Boston since his departure for Miami. Tipoff is Sunday at 1:00 p.m.
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