Celtics Defense Grinds Out a Win in Portland
by Fafnir on Jan 28, 2011 1:14 AM EST
in Boston Celtics Games
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PrintThe Celtics build a 15 point lead with a few minutes to go and then the Blazers go on a huge run, sound familiar? Fortunately the Celtics had KG to come through tonight just like Ray Allen did in Boston.
The Blazers hit three straight threes and the Celtics missed three free throws to allow them to close within five points. KG came through with a huge offensive rebound on a Daniels missed free throw. After that Glen Davis stepped to the line and hit both of his free throws to push the lead back to seven.
On the next possession Wes Matthews missed a wild lay up attempt and KG secured the rebound again and drained both free throws. Game Over.
Paul Pierce left the game with two minutes to go and headed to the locker room, I'll be looking for an update on his status. Update: Pierce just stated he has a thigh bruise so scratch all my belly aching about his knee.
A few more notes on the game after the jump.
- Right from the start this was a tough physical game. The Blazers fouled hard and often early in the game, with lots of chest bumping and emphatic follow through after the whistle. The Blazers couldn't score on the Celtics at all in the half court. They survived through by getting 12 offensive rebounds in the first half, and forcing a lot of turnovers. When they weren't forcing turnovers the Celtics were making unforced ones.
- All those extra possessions allowed the Blazers to hang around, but the Celtics shot a better percentage from the field, hit more three point shots, and took and made more free throws.
- In the second half the Celtics did a much better job on the glass, allowing only 4 offensive rebounds until a frantic possession late in the fourth added three more. Still 19 offensive rebounds is too many to surrender
- KG was a great tonight. He had 9 assists by the early third quarter, creating easy shots from the high and low post repeatedly. He also prevented LaMarcus Aldridge from getting anything going on his own. He scored mostly on tip ins, lobs, and a few jumpers while Davis/Perkins guarded him.
- Kendrick Perkins impressed again tonight, he just missed a double double in 21 minutes with 10 points and 9 rebounds. He went 3-4 from the field and 4-4 from the line. He also earned a highlight play when he forced a 24 second violation while guarding a Portland Guard (Rudy?) on a switch at the three point line.
- Von Wafer earned a couple TPs from me tonight. He played instead of Nate in the second half and did very well. He gave up one quick lay up but after that he responded by scoring 6 quick points including a coast to coast transition bucket.
- Oh and if you watched the early game on TNT then you saw the Heat lose, the C's are up four games over the Heat/Bulls who are now tied for the 2nd seed in the east.
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Faf, you're too modest
My Take:
I think the C’s carry over their energy from Perkins return against the Cavs and storm out to a big lead on the Blazers. Portland will make a couple of runs to close the gap, but the Celtics will pull away for a 100-92 win that isn’t in doubt in the closing minutes.
Called it!
Reporter: About a year ago I asked about the Celtics-Lakers thing and you said you'd really only seen it on TV. Now you've been through it, can you talk about playing the Boston Celtics for the NBA championship?
Kobe: It Sucks.
1 down 3 to go...
Sloppy and very physical game.
Being a very physical game it was great to have Perk in the lineup.
I think Perk deserves the game ball as he had overall solid game on offense, defense and on the boards.
Turnovers were frustrating to watch.
But the C’s got the win so its a nice way to start the road trip.
It was also great listening to Walton on comcast tonight.
He was limping back to the locker room.
However, if we didn’t have the lead we did, I’m pretty confident Truth would have played through. I’m guessing not that bad.
by KY Celts fan on Jan 28, 2011 1:32 AM EST up reply actions
That was an entertaining game
by Warrior Spirit on Jan 28, 2011 1:18 AM EST via mobile reply actions
He was so fundamentally sound, it was great to watch. Perk too was fun to watch.
And when Baby locked up Aldridge KG and Perk jumped off the bench yelling, good stuff man.
by Warrior Spirit on Jan 28, 2011 12:06 PM EST via mobile up reply actions
Cs Changing Their Name to "BOSTON PINATAS"
Yeah… just came over the wire. We can call them “the Ps” from now on.
This happened minutes after the NBA announced that big, ugly white guys can kick any Celtic anywhere on the body as much as they want! The also said that Ray Allen may be smacked across the face AT ANY TIME, without fear of a foul call! (…and if you draw blood you get an extra bonus.)
I swear it’s true. It was just on TV! I saw it with my own eyes!!
$^&*(&(%~!#@%^$^-damn NBA…..
He got the ball first
Unfortunately if you get the ball they let you kill the man in the follow through.
Should still be a foul.
"Phil is obviously a good coach. You don't win that many games without being a damn good coach, ... Remember one thing: He's been very fortunate. He picks his spots. That's all I can say." - Red Auerbach
that is not true
b/c if he had bumped body with him (which is the same, they would have called a foul)
Not exactly, the block is clean, but the ball is up for grabs at that point.
Section VIII—Loose Ball Fouls
a. A personal foul, which is neither a punching, flagrant or an elbow foul, com-mitted while there is no team control
Certainly seems what happened. Clean block, ball is free, Ray gets slapped in the face.
Foul.
"Phil is obviously a good coach. You don't win that many games without being a damn good coach, ... Remember one thing: He's been very fortunate. He picks his spots. That's all I can say." - Red Auerbach
Solid win
Ugly game but nice to see the Celtics fight hard in the 2nd half and pull it out.
The C’s managed to string together one decent stretch of offense and hold onto the lead they had built up. For some reason the C’s can’t hold onto big leads against the injury depleted Blazers but they hung on late.
Offensively the C’s struggled for much of the game. Rondo made several terrible passes and had more turnovers than assists. His free throw shooting isn’t improving either which is a concern. 21 turnovers is a ghastly number for such a veteran team. Once again the rebounding was an issue also – even with Perk playing hard and grabbing 9 boards the C’s still allowed the Blazers to get numerous shots on multiple possessions. They have got to figure out a way to keep teams off the glass after missed shots.
For the ref haters remember tonight’s game - C’s shot 33 free throws to only 13 for the Blazers.
Overall the C’s struggled to score but their stellar defense was enough tonight. Great to start off the road trip with a win…
That's misleading
around 12 FT (at least) were intentional at the end.
The C's still had a solid lead in FTAs
Which was well deserved the Blazers were fouling hard to prevent lay ups.
This.
The FT ratio had far more to do with the strategy of the Blazers than anything else.
It doesn’t change that there were some shaky bad ref calls/non-calls out there. Not just against the C’s (though to my biased eyes it sure felt like most of them were against the Cs).
C’s shot 15 free throws in the first half to only 2 for the Blazers even though Portland was dominating with inside the paint scoring
Portland's scoring was mostly on offensive put backs and lay ups
The refs let both sides play physical all night long.
Funny thing was...
…at one point I caught myself going through the Cs roster in my mind, trying to find somebody who could come out and slam that Prysbilla Gorilla somewhere really painful. Somebody they wouldn’t miss much if suspended, etc. Lol… that really happened…..
Correct
Plus, Blazers WERE fouling all over the place. This was their version of “being tough,” I guess. Pretty pathetic, if you ask me. There’s a difference between playing hard, and playing to hurt/foul the other guy. I didn’t appreciate how the Blazers handled themselves tonight. At all. Hell with them. What goes around comes around… as they’ve already discovered.
Yeah
Butthe C’s were playing good solid D, the blazers were just pounding everyone to the floor as often as they could. Could have been a couple extra calls tonight fir the C’s, but over all, the refs did a good job tonight. I just hope they let this kind of game happen on Sunday
by Warrior Spirit on Jan 28, 2011 10:19 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
how about that Rondo to Ray alley oop?!
have we ever seen that? Awesome!
Perk looking great. Terrific D, especially on Rudy Fernandez.
Who wants to punch Pryzbilla in the face?
I would (punch that ugly mug)
And YEAH… the Ray alley-oop was AWESOME
Ugly game to watch with all the Cs turnovers in the 1st half, but we'll take the win.
Ugly or not, we’ll take the win, say thanks for the memories and start travelling over to Phoenix.
Perk is looking better and better- it’s almost as though he’d never left; and making all his free throws as well. He’d better start givng some lessons to Rondo- his free throw shooting is pathetic.
Garnett was clutch in the final minute + after those treys by Portland.
Ray Ray is closing in on Reggie- three more down.
Crazy hour over here- 08:20 and off to bed.
Lygafe.
Lionel Gaffen / Fotomix.
Lygafe
Lionel Gaffen / Fotomix
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International Hockey Forums > Europe > ISRAEL
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As ugly as the TOs made things in the first half
in the second half, the C’s pretty much tightened up and played their game.
After giving up a ton of points-in-paint in the first half (largely because of transition points-off-turnovers and put-backs) they cut their turnovers in the 2nd half and started causing more by Portland. And after giving up 12 offensive rebounds in the first half, they only gave up 7 in the 2nd half – 3 on one crazy possession that did NOT result in points. So they took control of the rebounds in the second half.
Thus the FG% ratios flipped dramatically in our favor in the 2nd half.
Imagine what kinda team we'd be
With our stingy defense and FG%, if we could just take care of the ball. A lot of sloppy passing tonight.
And not give up 15 offensive rebounds.
"Phil is obviously a good coach. You don't win that many games without being a damn good coach, ... Remember one thing: He's been very fortunate. He picks his spots. That's all I can say." - Red Auerbach
Rondo
wonder if this is the first game all season where Rondo had more turnovers than assists?
this is not to jump on Rondo after a bad game but....
not super happy with Rondo over the last 6 weeks or so. His game is getting more and more robotic, which is to say he is playing stiff. He waits at the top of the key with the ball for Ray to make a cut, and if it’s not there then he looks for Pierce or KG on a post-up. Meanwhile Rondo spends 15 seconds of the clock with the ball in his hands… I don’t think that’s really great for the offense.
What Rondo has typically been great at, but that he is not doing lately, is getting himself into the lane and then either finishing a play himself, dishing to a big man, or kicking it outside. The more Rajon goes into the paint the more dynamic Boston’s offense will be. They are good enough to get away with running the same sets where Rondo sits up top, but smarter teams will figure this out.
by milt palacio's shot on Jan 28, 2011 9:33 AM EST up reply actions
which is probably just because he has to play so many minutes
especially when Nate Robinson plays himself out of the game in the first half, like last night.
But Rondo playing on ‘energy conservation mode’ is not the full Rondo. It is just Semih Rondo
by milt palacio's shot on Jan 28, 2011 9:35 AM EST up reply actions
Was thinkin the same thing.
Semih Rondo LOL
by Warrior Spirit on Jan 28, 2011 10:22 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
I've concluded that this is a good thing:
Yes, Rondo is playing in energy-conservation mode… but what’s more important is that he’s also in Rondo-conservation mode. The calculation is this:
- This team is not going to get there without Rondo. (If anyone wants to argue that point, argue away, but it’s a fact. Here.)
- Rondo USED TO fall a lot in games, take a LOT of abuse, as he threw his body around. Every single time he did that = another elevated risk of injury. He has STOPPED doing this recently. Now it happens only when he can’t avoid it. (Like with the stupid version of “basketball” that Portland has decided to play… especially that gorilla moron ‘Priscilla’.)
- And he’s saving himself in every other way he can. This is seen by us as “robotic”, or the low-energy version of Rondo.
- The Cs keep winning anyway, most of the time.
- Rondo and (probably) Doc figure that’s fine. RR avoids ~75% of the injuries he might otherwise suffer, and in return, the team loses maybe 1 more game for every 10 or 12 they play… maybe. Fair enough. Good deal.
Keeping Rondo and KG healthy is Priority #1, above ALL others. Next is keeping the rest of the starters healthy. And then the rest of the team. This mid-season version of Rondo is their way of preserving his butt till the playoffs finally arrive. And that’s absolutely fine with me.
(Think of it as a minor version of what they did in the latter half of 09-10. A sort of ‘Sheed-lite’.)
I like this take on Rhondo
And it makes sense that he would save himself. I’ve often wished to myself that Rajon would be careful during games, and not risk an injury. He is way too valuable.
Groan...
Poor Nate. Serious slump and probably wishing Delonte would come back
on the plus side, Von Wafer is proving he can replace what Nate was supposed to provide...
which is: instant scoring and energy plays off the bench.
Von is actually very refreshing to watch right now, because he makes stuff happen. He is basically Tony Allen, with more emphasis on offense. Still, he seems to have a knack for getting steals and getting into transition just like Tony.
by milt palacio's shot on Jan 28, 2011 9:40 AM EST up reply actions
+1
Von Wafer definitely seems teachable. Nate seems hard headed. Usually Nate makes a good play for every bad play. But now there’s more bad plays than good. He’s clearly playing out of his position. DW will add so much when he gets back and stabilize that backcourt
his burst is incredible.
It’s incredible to watch his energy, and the hydraulics & combustion that this guy is working with. Didn’t know he would bring this kind of athleticism to the team.
I thought foolishly that he was only a scorer (somehow in the “shoot-only” McGrady mode). Wrong !!
by wayne7779311 on Jan 28, 2011 9:08 PM EST up reply actions
well I thought Perk was wonderful
saw more tipped rebounds and contested boards then Ive seen all year. he already looks 100% i know he can’t be just saying its great
35-10…Perk can do 25 consistently soon and Shaq can do 20. Semi actually is solid for a few. Its sad that JO was a waste but he now offically is only there as injury standy by fill in and heck his body has betrayed him so he isn’t reliable even for that
Perk was exhaused in 2nd quarter
….at around 7:00, but for some strange reason, Doc wouldn’t take him out. That’s when he missed a bunny and threw a pass to the other team. But most of the time, he was excellent.
Paul Pierce bruised right knee
Doc isn’t sounding too confident
lost in the shuffle
Anyone notice that Nate basically got benched in the second half (free throw duty at the end aside)? Also that it seemed to help turn the game (solidified the lead in the early fourth with Rondo with the second unit)?
I’d like to see Nate get it together, but every day he keeps playing unproductively is one more closer to Delonte’s return. At a certain point he’s going to play himself out of the rotation or even quite possibly off the team.
+1
He seems to be getting worse as time goes on. Tonight, it almost got to where it was a good thing if he managed to hit the rim.
He's going through a loss of confidence period.
After being abused in his unnatural position as point guard for so long, he’s lost his natural rythym and confidence.
I expect that with D.West’s return, all of that will change, as West will take over back up PG duties and the Shrek and Donkey show will be off and running again, as the normal course of events will occur, as happened with the return of K. Garnett and Big Baby..
Mark my words.
Lygafe.
Lionel Gaffen / Fotomix.
Lygafe
Lionel Gaffen / Fotomix
http://lygaffen.blogspot.com/
http://community.webshots.com/user/lygafe
http://forums.internationalhockey.net/showthread.php?t=7448&page=2
International Hockey Forums > Europe > ISRAEL
Israel Recreational Hockey Association 2009-2010 & 2010-2011 [ Lygafe ]
Israel Ice Skating Federation - From the Media [ Lionel Gaffen ]
http://www.eurohockey.net/news/story.html?id=20090408104226_herzliya_emerges_as_israeli_national_league_champions
I'm keepin my fingers crossed
….that you’re right. Cs need a guy like Nate can be…. just a guy coming off the bench that can shoot lights out. Hope Nate can get it back. But if not, there’s also Von, who seems very capable of scoring in bunches too.
I dunno...
for a guy who is 5’ 8" to be so badly thrown off his game because – the horror! – he is being asked to play some point… that seems strange to me. He has clearly been asked to play point in his career before, so how did he make it this far if it’s so disastrous?
My take is that Nate is a player who goes entirely on instinct. He has a hard time thinking and playing at the same time, and Doc is asking him to think a lot. Not only that, his teammates hold him accountable and Nate doesn’t want to let them down… so he’s thinking even more about not screwing up every play. He should take it to the paint more and just stop taking 3s until he finds some rhythm.
by milt palacio's shot on Jan 28, 2011 9:45 AM EST up reply actions
Delonte's return may help Nate unload his tender mind
.. and get back to playing on instincts. That means we will see some boneheaded plays from time to time, because that’s who he is.
But if his game does not return along with Delonte, I think his PT will shrink to zero.
I hope so.
We’ve been excusing his play all year because of the “He’ll be better when Delonte is back and he doesn’t have to be a PG.”
He better be, because as far am I’m concerned, he’s on a very short leash now.
If Delonte comes back, and Nate doesn’t start lighting it up, he should find himself on the bench real quick. Wafer is the better play at SG right now, in my opinion.
"Phil is obviously a good coach. You don't win that many games without being a damn good coach, ... Remember one thing: He's been very fortunate. He picks his spots. That's all I can say." - Red Auerbach
lack of court vision
Nate never had, never will have it; he may have played point before, but it’s unnatural for him. His instincts are all wrong as PG, and his mistakes are amplified.
Daniels should be acting as PG in these circumstances, but Rivers seems to want to force Robinson to adapt.
IMHO, it’s a lost cause.
Waiting for D.West’s return to restore order.
Lygafe
Lionel Gaffen / Fotomix
http://lygaffen.blogspot.com/
http://community.webshots.com/user/lygafe
http://forums.internationalhockey.net/showthread.php?t=7448&page=2
International Hockey Forums > Europe > ISRAEL
Israel Recreational Hockey Association 2009-2010 & 2010-2011 [ Lygafe ]
Israel Ice Skating Federation - From the Media [ Lionel Gaffen ]
http://www.eurohockey.net/news/story.html?id=20090408104226_herzliya_emerges_as_israeli_national_league_champions
I think Doc's given up too now
Seems like it from last couple of games, esp last night. Good.
sorta
Doc will still almost certainly continue to put Nate in at point occasionally because he’ll want to keep depth at the position and also to keep testing where Nate’s level of play is.
But yeah, you can clearly see the trend of not wanting to rely on Nate at PG.
any1 kno how to change ur name n this blog?
by 81bos on Jan 28, 2011 3:06 AM EST via mobile reply actions
It's a thigh bruise
Hard to imagine that keeping him out. (Btw, it is a bruise, not a “charlie horse” as Tommy & co. were sorta saying.)
Sit him out on Phoenix.
Get him ready for LA.
Run Daniels/Wafer out there for one game, should still be able to beat Phx without Paul.
On that note too, I thought Wafer was fantastic last night.
"Phil is obviously a good coach. You don't win that many games without being a damn good coach, ... Remember one thing: He's been very fortunate. He picks his spots. That's all I can say." - Red Auerbach
Yes, Wafer was great
I just don’t know if Paul would accept sitting out Phoenix…..
Give him no choice.
Doc still controls the minutes.
Whether or not he likes it, he’ll sit.
"Phil is obviously a good coach. You don't win that many games without being a damn good coach, ... Remember one thing: He's been very fortunate. He picks his spots. That's all I can say." - Red Auerbach
It was really upsetting to see Ray get hit in the head
or back of the neck or wherever it was. He looked really dizzy there for awhile.
did anyone else see Patty Mills blatantly double dribble on a fast break towards the end of the game, but botch the lay-up? The C's bench (and I) were flipping out, but both TNT announcers missed it (surprise surprise) and then they went to commercial???
by milt palacio's shot on Jan 28, 2011 9:48 AM EST up reply actions
Got smacked right in the middle of his face
… hard, and the guy’s fingernail left a ~1.5 inch cut on his left cheek. Pretty ridiculous. And no foul.
+1
C’s don’t get calls on the road haven’t u noticed that?
"C's don't get calls (in any game ever) haven't u noticed that?"
There, I fixed it for you.
"Phil is obviously a good coach. You don't win that many games without being a damn good coach, ... Remember one thing: He's been very fortunate. He picks his spots. That's all I can say." - Red Auerbach
Surprised POR didn't employ the 6th man tactic
cuz its the only way they can beat the C’s
by eat ur wheaties on Jan 28, 2011 10:01 AM EST reply actions
VONilla needs to play more
He has that intensity that we often lack at certain points in games. Play him he’s a beast
and Rondo needs to play less
hes going to get hurt out there
by WISCelticsFAN on Jan 28, 2011 10:45 AM EST up reply actions
Game ball goes to...
Garnett, Perkins, Erden, Allen, Pierce, and Wafer should all share the game ball.
Showing pretty clearly how this is a team that plays team ball.
Not everybody is going to have a good game every night. But it usually seems like 4 or 5 guys come through.
Since when has Przybella become Bill Lambeer?
by thereallargejames on Jan 28, 2011 1:54 PM EST reply actions
only saw the 1st half—not pretty. 44 mins. for rondo against cleve. showed in portland. be more careful with the minutes, doc. i love walton, but he was talking too much and driving me nuts. perk looks very good, but be careful re his minutes. the trailblazers played the only way they had a chance, very physical which scares me for the next game—the c’s will be bruised.
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