Celtics Can't Keep Pace in First Road Game
There was very little resemblance between the Celtics team that played the first 2 games at home and the team that played their first road game in Indiana. Just as in the playoffs last season, the difference between the Celtics' home team and the Celtics' road team was striking.
The home team played awe inspiring defense the road team played very little defense, allowing the Pacers to get to the rim at will. The home team held their opponents to an average of 36% shooting. The road team allowed their opponent to shoot 41%.
The home team shot an average of 44% from the field while the road team shot a measly 34.6% from the field. To show how out of character this is, all of last season, the Celtics shot less than 35% just one time.
The home team turned the ball over more than they should have, with an average of 18 over the two games. The road team turned the ball over an amazing 24 times, twice as many as their opponent. And, the turnovers couldn't be all blamed on the bench because 14 of the 24 came from the Celtics' 3 stars.
While the home team didn't set any records with their free throw shooting, they were considerably better than the 60% that the road team hit from the line.
As for the key matchups, Paul Pierce finished with 15 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 1 block while Danny Granger tallied 20 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist, 1 steal, 2 blocks and 2 lost teeth. This one could be considered a draw.
The other key matchup was between Rajon Rondo and TJ Ford. Rondo finished with 2 points, 6 rebounds, 1 steal and no turnovers. TJ Ford scored 19 points to go with 2 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals, and no turnovers.
A few odds and ends:
Doc once again brought Scal out in the first quarter and this is puzzling although Scal at least contributed this time with 2 points and 3 rebounds in just over 8 minutes.
Leon Powe was his usual steady self with 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 1 block. You have to love this kid.
Ray Allen struggled with his shot once again shooting 4-10 from the field and finishing with 10 points but he also pulled down 6 rebounds. Eddie House struggled even worse shooting only 1-10.
Violet Palmer was one of the refs and she hasn't improved any since last season. She is still one of the worst refs in the league.
There was one positive in an otherwise very ugly game for the Celtics. The Celtics out rebounded the Pacers 52-48.
Hopefully this game was an exception and the Celtics won't be a Jekyll and Hyde team this whole season with one team showing up on the road and another showing up at home. Let's hope they find their cohesiveness and defense before Tuesday because it won't get any easier in Houston.
0 recs |
15 comments
|
Comments
it’s early but last year we would have won this game. this year is not going to be easy but hopefully our bench will develop and some of the new guys will contribute. right now without posey I don’t really like our bench that much. we’re too small and we lack outside shooting. I really think Pruitt needs to get more time
by Red2 on Nov 2, 2008 7:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Tony Allen
Posey gone or not but Tony Allen cannot play on a team of this caliber…Danny has till April to get Posey’s replacement ….and get PJ back come March
by Motown on Nov 2, 2008 8:10 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Last year Celtics did not have the Championship bullseye on them. Celtics learned a good lesson. It looks like tis year is going to be even tougher.
by NoraG1 on Nov 2, 2008 8:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
First Hi to All..
Im one of avid Boston Celtics Fan From Philippines (now working abroad) from the time of Larry Bird, Parish and lot more. Yesterday game was just another OFF-night game for Boston, i mean quite bad. But its too early to Judge them as they came from 2 game winning. I hope everyone here is behind them in WIN or LOSE situation. I just feel bad seeing some Boston Fans here jumping on conclusion and start talking againts them, and jumping on Lakers Bandwagon. Win or Lose – Im a Green- Celtics all the Way!!
Sorry for bad english, hope you all dont mind..
by spoiled on Nov 2, 2008 8:54 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
welcome to the site spoiled
it is early, lets see how they do in the next few games before we panic
by Jeff Clark on Nov 2, 2008 9:29 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Bill Walker
Doc needs to get Walker in uniform and coach him to be the defensive stopper. Stop with Scalabrine at the 3 nonsense.
by Chief # 1 on Nov 2, 2008 10:50 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
Walker...
…wasn’t anywhere near the level of a defensive stopper in college. He wasn’t even able to keep his defensive stance through out the possessions. I doubt he has improved that much since then.
His biggest problem in pre-season games though, was his handling. As a perimeter player in the NBA, he has to improve his handles by a fair margin to be able to stay on the floor for a decent time.
by cordobes on Nov 2, 2008 11:14 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Terrible
That was probably the worst I’ve seen the celtics play since the big 3 have been assembled…although they really havent been that great even in their 2 wins this season…Anyone else notice Eddie house couldnt miss in the preseason, now he couldnt throw it in the ocean? Pretty much the same with Ray Allen..And I hate to say it but KG does not look the same, his "intensity’’ is nowhere near the level it was last year and he struggles and looks bad putting up mediocre numbers..
Way too much ball handling going on with the big 3 and tony allen..this is a disgrace…rondo gets in foul trouble and we have 26 turnovers? thats unacceptable
This team is tottally fucked if they plan on playing scalabrine throughout the season…Id rather have darius miles corpse rotting on the bench then ever have to watch scal play in another game
by GoGreen34 on Nov 2, 2008 12:20 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
KG
KG was 9-18 with 18 points 14 rbs the 6 turnovers were not good but it was obviously the refs were looking very closely for travels and they found them I guess. I think KG and his intensity/#‘s are the least of Celtics worries. Stats mean very little. KG’s #‘s went down last year and the C’s win the championship.
by NoraG1 on Nov 2, 2008 2:42 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
We need PJ
I hate to say it but it looks like we are missing PJ Brown and Posey more than I thought. I think TA is doing a decent job of filling in for Posey but there isn’t anyone who has stepped up for PJ yet. Scal is a good locker room guy and an ok player but he just can’t fill the shoes of PJ. Wow, that scene of Grainger loosing his teeth is crazy. I give him props for playing so hard especially continuing after that. I would have stayed out of the game.
by esp4p3 on Nov 2, 2008 2:03 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
we dont need PJ..Im pretty sure he didnt even join the team last year until we had a playoff spot locked up for crying out loud….If we need him, thats the time not now
by GoGreen34 on Nov 2, 2008 4:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
Stop Ripping Scal
I understand the frustration with the loss.
What is disgraceful is this fan base’s insistence to rip into Scalabrine every chance they get. He is the 10th guy off the bench, he hardly gets to make an impact. Add to that, last night he actually played well. Couple of points, rebounds, and solid defense – he actually used his feet staying in front the athletic rookie, B Rush, to draw a charge in his limited minutes.
He is a solid end of the bench player who can hit the outside shot and deliver above average defense. How about maybe we support the guy, ya know, who has been a good soldier on this team for 4+ seasons now?
Cordobes touched on this before, and I will echo his sentiment. Its an absolute embarrassment to: the team, the city, and every Celts fan around the world the way the ‘fans’ treat #44 at home. My guess is that Doc wanted to give him extended minutes on the road so he could play without being taunted by the home crowd.
Show some class at the next home game and cheer ALL of the Celtics on.
by D Dub on Nov 2, 2008 2:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
Ill stop ripping scal if the boston garden stops erupting when he comes into the game, begging him to chuck up a shot everytime he touches it, its embarrassing and he has no buissness on this team? why on gods green earth should anyone stop ripping him? aww waah poor scalabrine
by GoGreen34 on Nov 2, 2008 4:44 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
LOL, if you are going to start pointing fingers after this loss, why pick on Tony Allen, with Garnett, is one of the two or three Celtics who played well, or Scalabrine, who didn’t play much at all?
Put the blame where it belongs. Ray Allen, Kendrick Perkins, Rajon Rondo and Eddie House all played like absolute CRAP. And Pierce couldn’t put the ball in the basket, either from the floor or the free throw line.
by Brickowski on Nov 2, 2008 2:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
eddie was shooting lights out in preseason because he was playing mostly the 2 with pruitt at 1. when eddie’s at the point his shot is not. ray almost looks a little thicker as if he hit the weight room. at any rate, he has been slow to react.
by nazzbo on Nov 2, 2008 7:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

by 






















