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MVPierce Snaps Hawks Streak

Piercegw_medium

You know, I usually don't support Mark Jackson catch phrases, but it's time to bust one out.

"Oh momma there goes that man!"

Paul Pierce; that's right. The Truth. He did it again.

After yet another slow start to the game, the Celtics gutted it out and strapped onto the back of their captain to will them to victory. In fact, it was a fairly reminiscent sequence of events to Monday night's win over Toronto... except a bit sweeter.

Boston capped off the second half with an energy-filled 23-7 run and found themselves tied with Atlanta 51-51 at intermission. The third was up-and-down from both ends and resulted with just a one-point Atlanta advantage.

The fourth quarter was a hard-fought, neck-and-neck battle as well. The only difference is that Atlanta didn't have a reigning NBA Finals MVP in their possession. To our convenience, however, the Celtics did. Paul Pierce scored 11 of his 34 points in the fourth quarter, just two days after roaring for 22 fourth quarter points on Monday, and his final deuce couldn't have been scripted any better.

A Joe Johnson runner and Marvin Williams corner three put the Celtics down one with just over seven seconds remaining on the clock. Then it happened. With 0.5 seconds left, Pierce buried a corner jump shot in the face of Al Horford to ice the game 103-102, snap Atlanta's streak, and lead the Celtics to a six-game winning streak of their own.

Vintage Paul Pierce. Vintage Celtic victory.

Star-divide


Final - 11.12.2008 1 2 3 4 Total
Atlanta Hawks 31 20 26 25 102
Boston Celtics 24 27 25 27 103

Complete Coverage >



STARTERS MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Kevin Garnett, PF 35 10-16 0-0 5-5 3 9 12 4 1 2 1 2 25
Paul Pierce, SF 45 8-14 3-7 15-16 2 4 6 1 0 0 5 4 34
Kendrick Perkins, C 31 3-4 0-0 3-5 3 5 8 2 0 0 2 3 9
Ray Allen, SG 37 6-17 1-9 4-4 5 2 7 2 1 0 3 4 17
Rajon Rondo, PG 31 2-8 0-1 1-4 0 4 4 10 1 0 3 4 5
BENCH MIN FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
Eddie House, SG 17 2-10 1-7 0-0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 5
Tony Allen, SG 14 0-4 0-0 2-2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2
Leon Powe, PF 16 0-1 0-0 4-6 0 3 3 0 0 2 1 3 4
Glen Davis, PF 13 1-2 0-0 0-0 1 1 2 1 0 0 0 3 2
TOTALS FGM-A 3PM-A FTM-A OREB DREB REB AST STL BLK TO PF PTS
32-76 5-24 34-42 15 28 43 21 4 4 15 23 103
42.1% 20.8% 81.0% Team TO (pts off): 15 (12)

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Crazy

Incredible! I imagined Pierce running around doing the bit from “Gladiator”. “Are you not ENTERTAINED?! ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED!?!?!”
Great, great win.

by LuckyNumber07 on Nov 12, 2008 11:24 PM EST reply actions  

INSANITY at TD Banknorth Garden

incredible ending to a playoff-like game… you gota love Mike Gorman’s “Pierce, for the game….. GOT IT!”

by BNeville87 on Nov 12, 2008 11:54 PM EST reply actions  

pierce is slowly turning into larry birdesque!

by jaimsitecom on Nov 13, 2008 12:44 AM EST reply actions  

Thank you, Paul Pierce

Again.

Other notes: does anyone else die a little inside when Ray totally biffs a fastbreak? It’s unbelievable how many fastbreaks (and we’re talking man advantages here not 2 on 2’s forcing it) he has blown since joining the Green. I just don’t get how he can do that especially playing free and loose with the Sonics. Boggles MY mind.

The Hawks look for real. That defense is very good. Hopefully they get their players back for next time and we can get a real look at them. And hopefully they don’t get any more ridiculous calls like that foul on Rondo (his groin hitting Bibby’s foot/leg) and the foul on Paul (where he hacked the “Spalding” off the ball apparently).

by Berkcelt on Nov 13, 2008 1:13 AM EST reply actions  

Atlanta needs to sustain it all year. If they keep it up they will be a contender.

by NoraG1 on Nov 13, 2008 1:17 AM EST reply actions  

IN OTHER NEWS THE CELTICS ARE MORE THAN LIKELY LEADING THE LEAGUE IN MISSED LAYUPS…RONDO STILL CANT SHOOT…RAY ALLEN CANT MAKE WIDE OPEN 3’S ( THE GAMEPLAN FOR HIM SHOULD BE NOT TO CLOSEOUT ON HIM) TONY ALLEN IS REALLY ANNOYING, EVERYONE OF YOU KNOW IT TOO AND ABOUT AS INCONSISTENT A BASKETBALL PLAYER YOU’LL FIND
THESE TERRIBLE STARTS ARENT LETTING US WORK YOUNG GUYS INTO THE ROTATION LIKE WE DID POWE LAST YEAR, IM SORRY BUT THIS TEAM IS MISSING 1 MORE PLAYER CONTRIBUTING

by thecaptain34 on Nov 13, 2008 1:38 AM EST reply actions  

I won't disagree that there is some room for improvement

But at 8-1, coming off two thrilling victories against teams set to be important factors in the East this year, I’m not quite sure I’d be screaming so much about all the problems as your all-caps style seems to imply.

For a team that lost its best reserve this offseason and has still a ways to go before it even gets near playing its highest level of basketball, I’m not feeling too terrible right here in the early morning hours of November 13.

-sw

Manuel Aristides Ramirez is the greatest hitter I've ever seen.

by Steve Weinman on Nov 13, 2008 1:41 AM EST up reply actions  

Still definite warts, Steve, but the results are good. So far. Sometimes, though, wins hide warts. They never solve them.

Didn’t think we defended particularly well for long stretches last night either.

But another Pierce big play kinda washes the disappointment away.

by CoachBo on Nov 13, 2008 7:40 AM EST up reply actions  

Agreed in whole, Coach

I don’t dispute that there is plenty to work on, and last night, our defense of the three-point line in particular was, er, less than inspired (although the Hawks also deserve some credit for that, too – they hit big shots, and Marvin Williams in particular clearly put the work in this summer). And the settling for jumpers plight seems to have remained with us as well.

But that said, I’m not sure it’s panic time at 8-1, as the above poster seemed to intimate.

Our captain sure is fun.

-sw

Manuel Aristides Ramirez is the greatest hitter I've ever seen.

by Steve Weinman on Nov 13, 2008 10:32 AM EST up reply actions  

Yikes, I almost forgot to mention:

Good stuff as always, CB32. Vintage Paul Pierce it was. That fella’s pretty okay, huh?

-sw

Manuel Aristides Ramirez is the greatest hitter I've ever seen.

by Steve Weinman on Nov 13, 2008 1:43 AM EST reply actions  

Thanks

Thanks Steve, appreciate the kind words.

Go Celtics! Go Hoyas!

by CelticBalla32 on Nov 13, 2008 10:42 AM EST up reply actions  

I agree with thecaptian34

The box score and seeing pierce have to sink a 2 to beat this team doesn’t bother me as much as looking at the quarter by quarter score. Tony is proving me wrong and Rondo if this kid thinks he’s getting 8-10million after next season he should think again. How many PGs only shoot 51% from the line? Granted he’s shooting a 51% click for FG’s but he’s only taking 8shots a game or some where in that vicinity. I like the thrilling wins but I mean do they all have to seem like come back wins. In my head at the beg of the year I thought Rondo would be a different player he has disappointed me thus far and forget about last years final game,,,he has got to at least make bloody layups!

by richardlight on Nov 13, 2008 3:19 AM EST reply actions  

rondo will be fine, Id still have him as my PG of the future for this team, once the Big 3 fade, the flow of the offense will change and run thru him instead of the big 3..much like tony Parker is now.

Lets not get down on TA, he didhis best defensively and that is what is good for the team now, we will be ok for now….But Doc would really need to start thinkin of playin our rooks. They are burning those benches and their learning curve is so delayed now compared to say Rudy Fernandez who was clutch last night….I guess thats the price you pay for being the Defending champs, hard to develop rookies when you have to come out and try to win as much games as possible.

by bopna on Nov 13, 2008 4:48 AM EST up reply actions  

Disappointing

To veer off topic for a moment, Rudy Fernandez isn’t a rookie. He was one of the best players in Europe before coming to the NBA. He is an experienced blue chip guard. It’s not fair to compare him to guys like Walker and Giddens.

I did not like the way the Celtics played. Oh sure, Pierce made a great shot to bail them out, but the offense was too passive. They settled for jumpers. Rondo showed that he could get to the rim on Bibby at will, yet he stopped doing it in the second half. Why?

They also did a poor job of defending the three point line. Atlanta’s high percentage was due in part to the passive way the Celtics played. On several occasions Marvin Williams was camped out in the corner with no Celtics defender in the same time zone.

The bench did not play well either.

They looked to me like an older team that needs three days off. Had Josh Smith been available, the Celtics could not have won the game.

by Brickowski on Nov 13, 2008 7:30 AM EST reply actions  

Panic Abounds!

I think it’s all well and good that people are pointing out the Celtics’ flaws, but I must admit that the tone is a little more panic-stricken than is warranted for this time of year for a team that is 8-1 and has played 6 games in the last 8 days and won its last three against playoff teams (including Detroit and Toronto back to back on a travel day). I too, have things I’d like to see improve (like fewer minutes for the starters), but right now, I’ll take the wins. It’s a long season, and most of these issues (except of course people’s fanatical devotion to the ghost of James Posey, which will never fade) will work themselves out over time. Last season started out with a flurry of wins about which the fan base still had complaints (Doc’s rotations, too much small ball – yes, people were complaining Posey was on the floor too much, too many minutes for the starters, House’s ball-handling, too much BBD, not enough BBD, etc) as well. They worked it out over time. it will happen again. Nine games in is just too soon to start whinging when they’re in first place.

by Section301 on Nov 13, 2008 9:01 AM EST reply actions  

there is no such thing as too much BBD.

Great points. I don’t know that people are actually in a panic about the team, its always easier to talk about negatives than the positives (see talk radio).

by Green17 on Nov 13, 2008 9:13 AM EST up reply actions  

20 Game Rule?

Does winning a championship negate the 20 game rule? I agree that this team has much to work on, but what I’ve seen from the last three games in particular is that, when appropriately challenged by opponents, the Celtics begin to lock it down. No one wants to see them wait until midway in the 2nd quarter (or later) when they’re 15 points down for it to click, but it’s a very young season and they will continue to improve. When they do click, though, they’re very good.

by Heavydee on Nov 13, 2008 9:34 AM EST reply actions  

There’s no panic from me, just an objective evaluation of what they did wrong. It’s not the composition of the team or the talent level of the players. It was poor execution and lack of focus.

by Brickowski on Nov 13, 2008 9:36 AM EST reply actions  

Agreed, Brickowski

Your comments were spot on. I think I was more wrankled by the boldly capitalized proclamations further up the line.

by Section301 on Nov 13, 2008 10:48 AM EST up reply actions  

Yes and yes

-sw

Manuel Aristides Ramirez is the greatest hitter I've ever seen.

by Steve Weinman on Nov 13, 2008 10:51 AM EST up reply actions  

Beautiful

Pointing out the flaws of an 8-1 team with fresh championship rings beats the hell out of agonizing over mounting losses, mediocrity, whether young talent will pan out, whether Marcus Blou…ah, you get the picture. The more things change, the more they stay the same, but the same feels so much better these days.

by Bird in the Rafters on Nov 13, 2008 9:54 AM EST reply actions  

These close games are good for the team

As much as this is not a good habit for the team to have, and as much as I want to see then start getting a little bit more dominant, and as much as I know these guys are veterans used to hitting big shots, you can see the comfort level this team has. We are starting to see a team that is so confident, that even the fans are starting not to worry about being down early in games. I was pulling my hair out when we gave up a big lead in Houston, I was bummed and worried when we were down against the Bucks, But I realized how casual I was watching the Toronto game and how unworried I was when with last nights game. Last year, I would change the channel already (I missed the Ray Allen shot against Charlotte). This year, I’m getting a bit spoiled. Man, what a great team.

by afflatus on Nov 13, 2008 10:13 AM EST reply actions  

Sometimes the other team's just hot.

The Celtics aren’t playing their best basketball yet, and surprisingly, they beat a highly motivated Atlanta team that shot 59% from beyond the arc. House, Allen and Allen stunk it up last night, and the Celts still won. So whaddywant?

Sure, I’d like to see a few changes, or at least, experiments. But what they have is shaping up pretty well.

by no kidding on Nov 13, 2008 10:27 AM EST reply actions  

I had mixed feelings about the game

I think that some part of me just wanted us to crush all of the Hawks hopes and dreams last night and beat them by 20 so of course I was definitely disappointed a bit at some of our game play.

BUT I have to give credit where credit is due. Atlanta was on on last night…they ‘re proving themselves to be contenders this year for certain. And even though we were down we did turn it on, and that last shot by Pierce??? I’m still breathless. I had my latop in my lap and it almost died a painful death from me jumping up so fast.

So we’re starting slow and we’ve got some work to do but the bottom line is that we’re 8-1 right now. I can’t be mad at that.

by Shiz1111 on Nov 13, 2008 11:00 AM EST reply actions  

they have flaws, but who doesn’t? they have a good rotation and they will work others in. it’s a long season.other teams are not twiddling their thumbs-they’re improving. we have a small window with kg and ray but they know how to play.

by nazzbo on Nov 13, 2008 11:28 AM EST reply actions  

great, great basketball games. W’s. We are all so used to watching the process as to whether this team executes well or not, because they lost for so many years. Now, it’s back to counting the W’s and L’s. It’s too early to take any team, or win, for granted. Back in the championship years, the Garden would get so quiet we could hear the rats scampering in the rafters, because the team was expected to win, and the W’s would pile up.

I think we should be thrilled that they continue to win through various types of adversity. This team knows how to finish of games. Hooray.

by johnnymost on Nov 13, 2008 2:07 PM EST reply actions  

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