Paul Pierce Pushes Celts Past Raps

by Green17 on Nov 10, 2008 10:07 PM EST in Games Comment 26 comments

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Ever wonder what the Celtics would play like if they all took one Ambien prior to tipoff? Well wonder no longer, we just saw it, and its awful! Note POB didn't take one, he's naturally sleepy enough.

The first half was in a word: ugly. The Celtics looked every bit like a team that played a game just 24 hours earlier. Pick your favorite analogy, but I'll go with flat as a pancake. Rondo was disinterested. Pierce did his best Antoine impression and missed not one, but two bunnies. Even a dorky face-off with Jermaine O'Neal couldn't get Perk going, on his birthday no less.

The second half continued in much the same, sleepy vein as the first half. Until KG lost his mind. The Celtics finally woke up (or aforementioned Ambien wore off) and made a contest of it. Garnett's "harrassment" of Calderon is easily the funniest things I've seen this young NBA season.

Maybe it just took 2.5 quarters for the Celtics to wake up, but thankfully they did. Pierce finally locked in and abused Kapono as he should. Again, Paul did great work with the second unit (Powe/TA) and brought the Celtics right back in it.

And once energized, the Celtics got very, very crushy. There have been worries about Paul's play to start the season. I think its safe to say....our Captain is just fine. I can't do it justice in a recap. Discuss below.

Final - 11.10.2008	1	2	3	4	Total
Toronto Raptors	23	25	17	22	87
Boston Celtics	18	18	23	35	94

Complete Coverage >

STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
Kevin Garnett, PF	35	10-19	0-1	1-1	3	7	10	3	0	1	0	4	21
Paul Pierce, SF	45	10-22	4-7	12-14	0	9	9	4	0	0	4	3	36
Kendrick Perkins, C	21	1-1	0-0	0-0	0	4	4	1	0	1	0	4	2
Ray Allen, SG	37	5-13	1-7	8-8	0	4	4	3	1	0	1	1	19
Rajon Rondo, PG	33	2-8	0-1	0-0	1	4	5	3	1	0	2	2	4
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
Eddie House, SG	15	3-5	1-3	0-0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	1	7
Tony Allen, SG	13	0-2	0-1	0-0	1	1	2	0	1	0	2	2	0
Leon Powe, PF	18	1-1	0-0	2-2	0	1	1	2	0	0	2	0	4
Glen Davis, PF	21	0-2	0-0	1-2	0	4	4	0	1	0	0	4	1
TOTALS		FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	PTS
		32-73	6-20	24-27	5	34	39	17	5	2	11	21	94
		43.8%	30.0%	88.9%	Team TO (pts off): 11 (12)

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Comments

Let me say it again

Paul Pierce, WOW!

by reggie35 on Nov 10, 2008 10:13 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

re: Let me say it again

Yeah, I think WOW pretty much sums it up. After sleepwalking through the first three quarters the Celtics woke up for the fourth. Great win.

by TripleThreat on Nov 10, 2008 10:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Oh Captain, My Captain

What a game!

Pierce carried the squad in the 4th.

Sure Sam Mitchell, keep Kapono or Parker, or Graham in the game. One problem: They can’t guard anyone.

Doc need a nice job with subs in the game. Got Eddie in for Rondo and then Rondo back in at all the right moments down the stretch.

by JAM on Nov 10, 2008 10:14 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The Truth!!!

Wow, Paul Pierce just went medieval on the Raptors tonight. 22 pts. in the 4th quarter. Shades of the amazing 2002 playoff comeback against the Nets. Pierce gave me goosebumps in this game.

In Pierce, we trust. Long live the Truth!

by Celtic_E on Nov 10, 2008 10:27 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

Completely off topic but...

it looks like Paul Pierce is doing his best Jackie Chan impression on the basketball in that picture.

by TripleThreat on Nov 10, 2008 10:28 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The right Path

‘How do I find myself and the light?’ – Young Caine
‘By taking the path that leads to the truth.’ – Master Po

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Nov 10, 2008 10:29 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

This year's Raps

Toronto doesn’t look much different that last year’s squad. As Jam said, they can’t guard anyone. JOneal looked good tonight, but I’d think you’d want the ball in Bosh’s hands more.
Pierce? Crazy. What did he score in the 4th? 20?

by LuckyNumber07 on Nov 10, 2008 10:31 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

I thought the win over Detroit was the highlight of the season but tonight topped it. What a great game.mwe could have folded our tent and went home but KG, Pierce, Eddie and ray weren’t going to let that happen. even though the bench wasn’t as good as it’s been they still made big plays. anyhow it was nce to see Pierce playing like he did in the playoffs- just a fantastic performance by Pierce

by Red2 on Nov 10, 2008 10:36 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

As usual, defense sparked the comeback.

When the Celtics were playing like garbage, the third quarter defense by Davis, Rondo, and Garnett got things going. Garnett in particular, getting into Calderon’s head, got the rest of the Celtics awake and motivated.

by no kidding on Nov 10, 2008 10:39 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

The Garnett / Calderon stuff was tremendous. I’d love a YouTube of that and will happily post it on the front page if anyone has a good grab of it.

by Green17 on Nov 10, 2008 10:43 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

What happened? I only watched parts of the ugly 1st half. Guess I chose the wrong half…

by Big Ticket on Nov 10, 2008 10:57 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Garnett went completely nuts

He was picking Calderon up and pressuring him towards the end of the third quarter. Clapping in his face, waving his finger, and getting down on his hands and knees. You could see the Celtics emotionally check into the game right then and there.

Honestly they really should have called a taunting technical for the finger wag part lol. It was awesome.

by Fafnir on Nov 10, 2008 11:11 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Imagine if they called Mutumbo everytime he did that. He would have the NBA record. LOL

by NoraG1 on Nov 10, 2008 11:46 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

They do

That’s why now Mutombo doesn’t wave his finger towards other players, only to the stands.

by cordobes on Nov 11, 2008 2:03 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Found one on you tube put up by a Raptor fans I believe. Followed immediately by comments from whiny Raps fans.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Arh5bmAsWb0

by NoraG1 on Nov 10, 2008 11:50 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs

yeah, and then it was vintage Paul Pierce to close the game out. He had everything going! 3 ball, pull-up, back down spin-move fade away, and then closed it off going to the hole with the up and under around Bosh. you can’t tell me this guy isn’t a top 5 player in the league right now.

by D Dub on Nov 10, 2008 11:32 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

A new roommate of mine from outside of New England before the game said that Paul Pierce just isn’t a good shooter. “I mean, he just heaves them up there,” he said. I asked him what he thought again after the game. He was speechless.

by chunnamark on Nov 10, 2008 11:41 PM EST reply actions 0 recs

the big 3 awakes from a deep sleep

boy are they all asleep at the beginning of games. pp did his walk on water routine and kg did his ’ i just escaped the asylum " routine, and ray did his " i want my ovaltine " routine. it was gross than it was the great big 3. i would like to see more consistency, but that second half sure was a thrill.

by nazzbo on Nov 11, 2008 12:09 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Big three but for how long

The bench like crap tonight and Rondo is avg 2.28 TOs per game that’s not good at all considering he has only 6.2 assists per game. Does he look lazy out there or something? I can’t watch the games from where I am.

by richardlight on Nov 11, 2008 3:13 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Pierce & Rondo

when PP&Rondo go to the hole we’re unstoppable…otherwise we’re guardable…so gentleman,GO TO THE HOLE…lol…pretty simple

by Motown on Nov 11, 2008 8:14 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Actually I thought the bench played pretty well. Either Pierce (or Allen) was on the floor with the second unit, and those guys (along with House) did the scoring. But the defense was excellent. Neither JO or Bosh did anything against Glenn Davis, and Tony Allen played well against Kapono, who forced several bad shots when Tony was guarding him.

Box scores can be very misleading.

by Brickowski on Nov 11, 2008 9:19 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Agreed

One of the biggest changes between last year and (so far) this year has been the improvement on defense of the bench. It’s getting to the point where Doc can bring them in for a defensive spark, which would have been crazy talk last year. JO really stopped scoring last night when Powe went in for Perk, and BBD did a good job on him as well, especially in the 2nd half.

by MattD on Nov 11, 2008 10:07 AM EST up reply actions 0 recs

Clark Kent to Superman

by Birdbrain on Nov 11, 2008 9:43 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

4 words

The Mother F*ing Truth.

by rjstaines on Nov 11, 2008 9:44 AM EST reply actions 0 recs

Answer to richardlight

Hopefully you can get access to some games. It was a great game to be at. The 4Q was rocking. They are really good on defense this year. Rondo was not impressive last night. No penetration for 3 Qs. Steady man defense though. Calerone didn’t get many points and he is pretty good.
It was awesome to see Perk block O’Neal with 3 mins left since O’Neal had been abusing Perk up to crunch time. I also think Doc made good calls. Big Baby over Leon in 2nd half. Eddie-Rondo switches.
KG vs Bosh a joy to watch.
We won but watch out for Toronto. Pretty good looking team. Unselfish.

by Wildblu1 on Nov 11, 2008 1:46 PM EST reply actions 0 recs