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November 15, 2007
Celtics Win Nets Rematch: Still Undefeated
The Celtics won again, beating the New Jersey Nets at home, 91-69.
A 7-0 start is their best since 1972-73 when they started 10-0 and had a Celtic best, 68 win season, only to lose to the Knicks in the play-offs.
Tonight they again defied gravity by beating the Nets twice in a week, and in the 2nd half of a back-to-back, while the Nets were rested. They were without Vince Carter who was injured in their first meeting.
What was the same:
1) The win
2) Taking the game over in the 3rd period
3) Great defense
What was different:
1) Increasing the lead with Garnett off the court
2) A balanced scoring attack and 6 double figure scorers
3) Being taken out of their game for the entire first half
4) The crowd didn’t need a scoreboard prompt to get loudly into this game, mostly in the second half. It felt great to be there for that.
The biggest story, besides the win streak, was #1, that they actually increased the lead with KG on the bench.
Kevin went out with foul trouble with an 8 point lead at the 4:38 mark of the 3rd quarter. The lead shrunk to 4 points before they reclaimed that and added much more. By the time KG came back the lead was 16 points. I don’t think anything like that has happened this year before.
The unit that did most of the damage had Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, Tony Allen, James Posey, and Glen Davis. They were up 12 when Pierce came in for Tony Allen. Though Davis didn’t score, he did have a huge block on the guy who blocked him the quarter before, Sean Williams. Davis’ energy was needed as the Celtics came out a little flat – and tired tonight.
When he walked into the locker room afterwards, Glen Davis was singing that he was ‘so happy!’ He said he was happy about everything – including the fact that he got his first pay check. So now he’s got some NBA money to burn. I asked him about his own ‘burn’ tonight.
He said he was surprised that he got the minutes, but that he has to be ready to play ‘when they call your number’. He waxed philosophical for a moment…
"Just to know that I helped……You gotta be those ‘other’ guys. You know like those guys in the picture - you just see their hand. That’s me. I’m that guy. You know. Who’s that guy?
Most guys who have the chance to snatch immortality? (You) don’t see those other guys who are stepping stones to (help them) have a chance and that’s what I am on this team….Whatever I got to do to help the team.”
Glen didn’t score a point but played 9 minutes and had a block, a steal and 3 rebounds. More important, he was part of the unit that pulled away with Garnett on the bench.
The unit that started the 2nd half played solid ‘Garnett-less’ defense as a unit (Ray Allen, Tony Allen, James Posey, Rajon Rondo and Glen Davis). Rajon Rondo and James Posey had some critical steals and shots, to get the crowd on its feet. Rajon stole the ball from Bostjan Nachbar, passed it to Ray Allen who found Posey for a 3 pointer that made it 68-54. That got everyone up on their feet. Another game, another rout was on.
Giving credit where it is due, the Nets defense also had something to do with the Celtics first half performance. The Celtics shots were all contested unless your name was Rondo or Perkins.
Rajon came through by hitting his open jumpers tonight for 13 points on 6-9 shooting. Ray Allen experienced a tough shooting night (4-14) but led with 6 assists.
Garnett’s double double streak ended as he finished with 16 points and 8 boards. Paul Pierce was 6-10 for 15 points. Kendrick Perkins had 8 rebounds and 4 blocks to go with 10 points.
Tony Allen scored 13 points and played probably his best game so far, including handling point guard duties for awhile tonight. While tentative at times, he attacked the basket for some success though not the same as a pre-injury TA would have.
The team continued to have TO problems in the first half with 10. They managed better in the second half finishing with 14 total.
Celtics, the league leaders in FG% against, and steals, added to that tonight by holding the Nets to 33% shooting and had 15 steals to go with it, led by Ray Allen with 4.
Their defense was particularly suffocating in the second and fourth quarters allowing only 11 and 15 pts respectively.
Doc Rivers…
“Defensively, I thought we were terrific all night, except for the first four or five minutes of the game. And that’s what kept us in this game tonight.”
Nets Coach Lawrence Frank….
“They collapse the paint. They keep on coming, but that paint has some 4 bodies in it so our guys moved the ball, but we just had a hard time making shots and sometimes that breaks your will.”
That’s the second opponent (Carmelo Anthony) to mention 4 bodies guarding the paint this year. The Celtics outscored New Jersey in the paint tonight by 38-22.
The Celtics began passing the ball more in the second half to break open the defense and get their offense going.
Eventually the Celtics wore down their opponent and again won going away.
Miami comes to Boston for a Friday night match.
Posted by Tom on November 15, 2007 4:55 AM
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