The Game Nate Would Win For Us
by Jimmy Toscano on May 29, 2010 1:44 PM EDT
in Boston Celtics Articles
Email
PrintIt hasn't been all rainbows and butterflies for Nate Robinson since he's been with the Celtics, or maybe it has? The truth is, nobody can really figure Nate out- and he's fine with that. There are Nate lovers and Nate haters, and it's likely the latter outnumbers the former, but during the second quarter of last night's 96-84 victory over the Magic, it was all love.
Banished to the bench by Mike D'Antoni in New York, it was clear that Robinson was on the outs. When he was traded at the deadline to the Celtics along with Marcus Landry for Eddie House, J.R. Giddens, and Bill Walker, many questioned the move. Why bring in a guy who many said was immature, selfish, and didn't play defense; let alone knows how to win?
When the honeymoon ended in Boston, Nate found himself on the sidelines once again for the majority of games, at times getting a "DNP- Coaches Decision" next to his name in the box score. It appeared as though Doc, a former point guard himself, had had enough of Nate's on-court decisions. Everyone knew he could score, but this team isn't built around scoring and wasn't about to be.
When the playoffs came around, Nate was out of the rotation. He got garbage minutes here and there, but never had an impact on any series. The entire time, however, Rivers privately and publicly stood by Nate, going as far as to say that he would win a game for the Celtics at some point in this series.
With Rondo sitting for the beginning of the second quarter after going down hard in the first quarter, Nate made the first real playoff appearance of his career. Nate exploded for 13 points in the quarter, extending the Celtics' lead over the Magic while Rondo was out. It was his play in Game 5, however, that earned him playing time for Game 6.
"He gave me the confidence when he came into Game 5," Rivers said, "even though we played awful, that he had bought into our defensive system, and that he was able to run a couple set that's we thought would be effective against them. So I had made the decision before the game. I told our staff Nate would play tonight."
It would have been easy for Nate to mail it in earlier in the Playoffs, but "Mighty Mouse" as Glen Davis called him after the game, has been hard at work in anticipation of a moment like this.
"He came into practice, got his work in, shot the ball, and did whatever he had to do to stay ready," said Paul Pierce. "(Friday) his number was called, and that just shows his true professionalism being ready when his number was called."
Nate has also been one of the best Celtics cheerleaders on the sidelines. His energy and enthusiasm, on the court or off, is contagious to all. Whether he's chest bumping Ray Allen after the opposing team takes a timeout, or he's pumping up the fans, Nate brings that energy every night- and makes sure to exert some way.
Luckily for the Celtics, he exerted it on the court Friday night. He has shown that he has finally bought into the system, and was rewarded with important playing time that may have ultimately been the difference between the Celtics clinching the series in six games, or a Game 7 in Orlando.
"It was a great opportunity," said Robinson. "I thank God, I thank Doc, the fans for giving me so much energy and my teammates for believing. They always told me be ready, be ready you never know. Today was that day."
18 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Nice piece
theres no doubt he indeed won the game for us, once he came in defensively and offensively it was a breath of fresh air. you just felt it KG got pumped off the dime and dunk and after that point we took over and never looked back……wooorddaaapppp
Even though we were up. I thought we looked a bit stale and
I thought it was just a matter of time before the Magic made a game out of it. Though I thought we would win. Then Nate came in and just put the screws to them. Excellent defense and offense. His effort along with Allen’s two threes just took the Magic out of the game.
nate is an unusual, hard to characterize player. i like his enthusiasm, but am not crazy about his showboating. he is like a little bowling ball- sometimes it’s a strike, sometimes a gutter ball. he did come thru last night and played good d to boot.. he’s a better point than eddie, tho eddie is a better shot. nate can score off the dribble, which was hard for eddie. eddie was underrated on d and nate needs more scrutinizing there. i think, overall, danny did us ok by nate. will we need him again—yes. will he be here next yesr—maybe.
re-sign nate?
last night for the first time since the detroit game i thought nate had a future as a celtic. prior to that I figured he was a goner. now I think they’ll re sign him. of course doc staying or leaving could have an impact on nate
Hopefully this was just a warm-up to the game Nate will win for us
I want Nate to play like this throughout the Finals. His offense was always there and we know he can swat anyone (Dwight, Yao), but he’s shown he’s bought into the D. He was a magnet on Jameer, while shedding off screens.
I actually thoguht before last night we should resign him
One of the few things about Ainge that drives me crazy is his bring in point guards at the deadline. There is not enough time for them to learn the system. One of the reason the hawks surprised us in 2008 was that Bibby had developed a clue (and believe he was pre-deadline). Nate showed enough that I wanted to see him with a full training camp. The nice thing is he can be a back up point and be a floor spreading scorer off the bench. Then TA can play the two, and not have to ball handle. Also the two of them ball hawk well enough to drive most back courts crazy, particularly subs. The Celtics have to figure out if he has the right character to keep and if they can make the money work, but the talent and athleticism are certainly there.
Good read
Perfect description of nate
by Warrior Spirit on May 29, 2010 9:49 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
VIVA LOS LAKERS....VIVA KOBE24.....
beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…..beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…..beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…..beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…..beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…..beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…..beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….BE READY FOR A SWEET REVENGE….
VIVA LOS ANGELES LAKERS.........
VIVA LOS LAKERS….beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…..beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…..beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…..beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…..beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…..beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston…..beat boston…beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….beat boston….BE READY FOR A SWEET REVENGE….
Are u in detention in east la or something?
by vgarcia890 on May 30, 2010 10:08 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Hey Viva, guess you didn't see our suffocating D that shut down Bron and Superman.
Talk all the s*** you want, but deep down you know we’re going to smack your boys across the face. TAKE A HARD LOOK AT THE FINALS FROM 2 YEARS AGO and ponder how much better Rondo is playing.
If Doc gets some more work on Nate
Then, yeah, we get pretty much unstoppable duo: Rondo – Nate. Double teaming is a fail against both of them (we’ve seen Rondo get past both players and have open path down the paint, and we’ve seen Nate easily get between two players not only once). Why not play with 3 guards, if Nate gets as superb as Rondo…
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Related FanPosts on CelticsBlog
Related FanShots on CelticsBlog
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Recent FanPosts
In Association With
Ball Don't Lie - NBA - Yahoo! Sport
- LeBron James hints that he’d like to be welcomed back as a Cleveland Cavalier
- The Phoenix Suns refuse to dismantle their team because of … we can’t tell
- Video: Matt Barnes is legitimately upset with former coach Mo Cheeks
- Yao Ming discusses Jeremy Lin as eloquently as you’d expect
- Paul George (and Jeremy Lin, essentially) will highlight this year’s Dunk Contest
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
