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March 11, 2008
Boston Chills Philly 100-85
The Boston Celtics cooled off a rather warm 76er team, while winning their 50th game and moving their own win streak to 9 straight.
It demonstrated the difference between the top playoff teams and the bottom ones in the east.
The Philadelphia team has surprised everyone and was on a 4 game win streak and had won 12 of 15 coming into this game. They are playing for .500, respectability, and a play-off spot in the weak Eastern conference. They are within 4 games of .500 (after this loss) at 30-34, are currently in the 7th play-off spot and are earning respect with every win. No one expected that from this squad.
Boston has been rolling along, and clicking on all cylinders for a while now. Boston can beat you in a variety of ways. Tonight they did so by two well established themes since the beginning of the year.
1) Quality over quantity...
From the trades this summer, and the carefully added role players, to Boston's low shot attempts, (the lowest in the league by 2 full shots at 76), but high FG%, (4th in the league at 47% - at one time they were #1) the team has gone for quality over quantity.
Tonight they were outshot by 17 attempts (78-95), but they made 7 more baskets (37-30) en route to their victory. Far from unusual, it is the team's MO this year.
2) The Three Shall Lead Them...
Lead them they did. The three stars scored 64 of the team's 100 points, were the only players in double figures and set the tone defensively, as always, starting with Kevin Garnett.
The Celtics jumped out to a 15-0 lead, held on when the Sixers caught up at 44, and made a strong 3rd quarter push behind Kevin Garnett's 12 points to push the lead back to 14 from which they maintained a comfortable margin for the rest of the game.
Kevin Garnett shot an uber efficient 11-14 for 26 points, making his first 7 shots, not missing until the 3rd quarter and adding 12 rebounds while playing his usual remarkable defense. That is what happens when you don't double Kevin Garnett regularly, as Philly chose not to on many occasions this evening.
Paul Pierce had 8 first quarter points, 15 by half time, on 6-9 shooting, 3-5 from downtown, and finished with 17 in 28 minutes, while playing solid defense on Andre Iguodala (5-14 for 17 points).
Ray Allen continued his torrid 3 point shooting, scoring 10 first quarter points, 21 points for the game, on 8-12 shooting, going 4-6 from beyond the arc. He is 33-62 over his last eleven games for a superb .53% that is even more impressive when you factor in that he is taking 5.6 three point shots per game. That is quality and quantity.
Add in Kendrick Perkins contributing yet another gem of a game with a career high 6 blocks in the first half (3 against Dalembert, 3 against Andre Miller), 11 rebounds, 7 points, while locking up Samuel Dalembert (2 points) for most of the game. Kendrick keeps his goal of 10 boards a game alive in 29 plus minutes.
Rajon Rondo had a Rondo-esque game with 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 6 points, 2 steals and made life difficult for a hard driving Andre Miller (7-20), a player who normally gives Rondo trouble.
The Celtics did lose a 'points in the paint' war they normally win, by 42-30. But it isn't as surprising when you see that this team takes it to the hoop most all the time now. No more Kyle Korver 'inside out' game for them. Andre Miller, Andre Iguodala, Thaddeus Young, and even Louis Williams were attacking the painted area all night.
The low degree of success is a credit to Perkins and Garnett's defensive prowess for the most part, as the Philly ballers shot just .316 for the game to the Celtics .474. That was essentially the game.
Sam Cassell played tonight for the very first time as a Celtic, but was held scoreless in 5 minutes while picking up 4 fouls.
The Celtics keep warm, cooled off Philly, and gave them something to think about if they ever meet in the play-offs.
The Celtics are now 50-12. It is the first 50 win Celtic team since 1990-91 when they won 51 in the tail end of the Larry Bird years. .
They return home for a game Wednesday night against Seattle.
Posted by Tom on March 11, 2008 12:06 AM
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