Quick thoughts on a big win

Posted by Zach Lowe on Mar 7, 2009 6872 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2009%2F03%2F07%2Fquick-thoughts-on-a-big-win%2FQuick+thoughts+on+a+big+win2009-03-07+06%3A22%3A39Zach+Lowehttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D687

Eight. That’s the most important number from Friday’s big win over Cleveland. That’s the number of turnovers the Celtics committed. The Celtics were dead last in turnover rate (that’s worst last, not best last) in the league going into this game. When this team takes care of the basketball, they are an elite offensive force. They are not known as such, but the Celtics are a very, very good offensive team when they aren’t giving away possessions. That’s how you rank fifth in offensive efficiency despite being last in turnovers. 

Know how many times the Celtics have turned the ball over eight times or fewer in the last two seasons? Ten. Record: 10-0 .  How about 10 or fewer turnovers? 15-0. Eleven or fewer? 27-3. We could go on, but you get the point. 

That number shouldn’t get lost in all the attention that will deservedly be paid to Leon Powe and Paul Pierce and the points in the painted area. (What would Hubie call my bedroom? The sleeping area?)

Other bullets from a nice Friday win:

• This is a big win. I try not to get caught up in perceptions among fans and media, because I’m not sure that stuff matters to players, but there was a perception out there that Cleveland had passed the Celtics. That Boston needs home court more than Cleveland does. And, in fairness, the Cavs really handled the Celtics when they played in Cleveland and they are 27-1 at home. Now the Cavs know the Celtics can beat them without KG and two important (Ok, maybe one) role players and with Big Baby getting tossed early in the third quarter. I think that means something, mentally. 

• I’m getting tired of writing about Paul Pierce making big shots. He hit shots that put the Celtics up by the following margins in the second half: 59-57; 71-63; 74-63; 82-70. And his interior passing was quick and precise. 

• I love the way the Celtics defended LeBron tonight on the high screen-roll. They trapped him, but it mostly wasn’t a hard trap designed to create a turnover or force an immediate pass. It was more of a squeeze–one man on either side of LeBron, playing him close but still giving him a tiny strip of space through which he could drive toward the paint. It looked at times–especially early–that the C’s were almost coaxing him to drive through that tiny strip, knowing that all the reaching arms and the third defender lurking would force him to slow down abruptly and make a tough decision. The C’s forced three LBJ turnovers in the first eight minutes of the game this way. Like Hubie, I was surprised that they didn’t post Bron up more or move him over to the wing to give him more space to work with.

• Rondo wasn’t the same after the ankle sprain early. You all saw it. The turbo gear wasn’t there tonight, and he wasn’t scooting all the way underneath the hoop and popping out the other side. You could see it when he got up slowly after drawing a blocking foul on LeBron along the sideline with 5:45 to go in the fourth quarter. Hopefully it’s one of those things that just needs a day of rest. 

• Funny detail at the end of the game when Pierce came out and high-fived fans along the bench. There was one little kid in a LeBron jersey asking for a high five. Pierce ignored him. I’m pretty sure Pierce saw the kid, too, because he high-fived an adult right next to him. I know you’re supposed to be nice to children, but I liked this. 

• For the record, the Flagrant 2 on Baby was a legit call–debatable, but certainly not out of line. Put it this way: If KG were fouled like that, we’d be calling for a Flagrant 2. But the technical on Ray Allen was awful–and even moreso because the refs took care to watch replays and still concluded Ray deserved a T. 

• Also for the record: I like Mike Brown throwing in the towel with about 1:30 left to go instead
of fouling and prolonging the game. It sends the right message: “We’re not desperate enough to foul on every possession on the one-in-a-million chance we pull off this miracle. You won this game, and we’re confident enough to accept that and move on.” I like it.