There were so many story lines to follow in last night’s game: Rajon Rondo versus Brandon Jennings, Kevin Garnett versus Ersan Ilyasova, Tony Allen’s return, and….
Kendrick Perkins versus Andrew Bogut? Really?
Yes really? The guy who Dwight Howard openly admits plays the best defense on him got punked by Andrew Bogut last night. If you take a look at their respective stat lines, you can’t help but be a little miffed. Bogut scored 10 more points and had nearly ten more rebounds, but it was how he got those points and how he got those rebounds that proved the most troubling. It seemed as if Bogut routinely shot baby hooks over Perk from about 5-7 feet out without so much as a late hand raise.
It could have just been the way the game went. Bogut wasn’t using his bulk to establish position, thus he didn’t put Perk in a position to hold his ground and keep him farther out of the paint- the way Perk plays Dwight Howard. Bogut also got his baby hooks off quickly, before Perk could make an attempt at the ball. Still, one can’t help but wonder if a lack of respect/ effort played a role in this matchup. And if it did, how can you not respect Bogut now?
Over these last few seasons, I tended to pity teams like the Bucks and Raptors for getting the number one pick in the draft when there wasn’t a guaranteed superstar-in-the-making available. I believe I have to start rethinking where my pity goes. Obviously, one game doesn’t determine a career and thus I’m not ready to dub Andrew Bogut a “top five centers in the league” or use any other hyperbole. Still, it proves that he can be extremely effective, and that is worth a lot in this league.
Bench, including the Return of Tony Allen
Along with Kendrick Perkins’ perceived lack of respect for the Aussie/ Balkan product, Doc Rivers did something interesting last night that I can’t explain fully. For a seven minute stretch between the first and second quarters, Doc kept three bench players in while rotating two starters and another member of the bench. This is something I’ve been writing (begging) about all season.
We all saw what happened last year and regardless of whether or not you refuse to believe this team is old or don’t understand the phrase “running out of gas” (Mike Felger, I’m looking at you), the Celtics starters need to play less minutes.
Finally, prayers answered right?
Well, sort of, I guess. Playing into my own narcissism, I felt like Doc was doing what a parent does to prove to their child that something won’t work so later they can say, “that is why when I say something, I know what I’m talking about.” He kept this rotating bench in, not when the C’s were up ten, but when the game was uncomfortably close. The bench came in with roughly two minutes to go in the 1st quarter and the score was 23-20 Boston. When they excited for all five starters, roughly 5 minutes had gone by in the second and the score was tied 33-33.
Unfortunately, the game action was more painful to watch than the actual net +/-. Let’s be real, a “rusty” Tony Allen is like watching Leon Lett every play (if you don’t know who Leon Lett is, watch this and/ or this, starting about a minute in) and TA played six minutes last night. Six minutes of pure frustration for fans. Zach mentioned it best in his bullets when he described TA’s play: “It’s the way TA teases you with a pretty play only to undo all the good he’s achieved by doing something dumb.” Sums it up right there.
I understand that Doc needs to figure out if TA can play/ help this team or not, but does that “figuring out” really need to take place in a close game? Almost the exact same rotation occurred in the last two minutes of the third and the first five of the forth. Again, I understand that the starters can’t pay the whole game, but I have a feeling that the bench would preform better if they got more run in the games that the Celtics have a big lead. That way they can spend some game time running sets and figuring out their little nuances instead of just trying to stay afloat until the starter’s return.
All that ranting and raving about when to use the bench and when not to use the bench is a bit moot. At the end of the day, I write, Doc coaches. Still, I can’t help but point out the net +/- for the bench: -22. Ugh.
Kevin Garnett v. Ersan Ilyasova
I wasn’t kidding when I wrote that this matchup was a story line. It’s clear that KG is the better player but it’s a matchup of opposites that warrants discussion. Ilyasova is a 6′10″ forward who can shoot and put the ball on the floor (he’s an international big man that can shoot and put the ball on the floor, surprised?). Not only that, but he’s also played well this season after his return from a second stint in the Euroleague, pretty much relegating Joe Alexander to end of the bench.
So who got the better of whom last night?
In short, Garnett. KG had one of his better games and kept up this season streak of impressive shooting nights, going 9-13 and scoring 25 points. That being said, it’s not as if Ersan had a bad game, scoring 19 points and securing 8 rebounds. Still, he played 10 more minutes than Garnett, couldn’t guard him in the post, and only went 2-6 from deep. Had he connected on two more of those threes (which 2-4 missed threes were wide open shots) the game could have been a lot different.
Clutch Shots
A lot different indeed. There were a myriad of clutch shots made by the C’s tonight. Some of the most notable ones are as follows:
- Rasheed Wallace Three: This came with 9:55 to go in the fourth and really stopped a Bucks’ run. Milwaukee had clawed to within two to make it 75-72 and then ‘Sheed comes down and hits a huge three to stretch the lead back up to five.
- Rondo Makes Two Consecutive Free Throws: Given Rondo’s recent struggles at the line, this was huge. With 4:55 to go in the game, Rondo’s two free throws broke a 86 all tie and put the C’s up by two.
- Ray Allen’s Three with 2:00 Mintues to Go: Feel free to say, “the nail in the coffin!” in your best NBA Jam announcer voice.
- Eddie House’s Three in the Second Quarter: Okay, okay. I know what you’re thinking. How can someone hit a clutch shot in the second quarter? This shot was huge, though, and big enough to be clutch. The Bucks were playing very well and had just pulled ahead 37-34 when Eddie pulled up and hit a three to tie the ball game. Two minutes later, the C’s went up 41-40 and the Bucks never led again.
- Rondo’s Jumper: It happened with 3:35 to go in the fourth, but it could have happened any time. The importance of Rondo being a threat to shoot cannot be over-stated.
Rajon Rondo v. Brandon Jennings
It would be incredibly irresponsible of me to write a recap that didn’t mention this match up. It’s the classic “student becomes the teacher, who teaches the student how to be a quick point guard in this league.” It’s an old proverb out of the Xin Dynasty, I believe.
The bottom line is- and this is not meant to bash Brandon Jennings- BeeJ can’t guard Rondo. He’s just not big enough, which is really saying something. Over next offseason, it would behoove BeeJ to pull a Rondo and put on 15 pounds of muscle. Jennings also just couldn’t stay in front of Rondo. This was no more evident than in transition where Jennings routinely let Rondo shoot right by him only to make a half-hearted swipe at the ball from behind. Just not going to get it done and to be honest, “frickin’ donkey stuff.”
It would also behoove Brandon Jennings to watch copious film of Rondo. Jennings could be Rondo with a jump shot- which, as you can imagine, would be down right frightening.
I also want to start a movement that pressures BeeJ to bring back the “Gumby.” I believe this was the true source of his power.
Final Thoughts
All in all it was a good game last night. Seeing all the minutes the starters’ played makes me eat all those words I wrote griping about the bench play. Whatever it is, this team is on a roll right now, playing extremely well, especially on defense. Last night’s transition D was some of the best I’ve seen all season. When, as a team, you can stop fast breaks it can be demoralizing to opponents.
Tomorrow night should be a fun one against a Wiz team playing better as of late. I’ve heard nobody beats the Wiz, but I believe that is grossly over-stated.
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The bench has numerous problems, but still has the potential to be just fine. Let’s first dispense with pipe dreams and just deal with reality. That is, while we may argue for Hudson and Giddens to get enough play to eventually contribute, it appears it’s not going to happen. That really just leaves us with House, Wallace, Daniels, BBD, Sheldon, Scal and TA.
The first huge problem is ball handling. It was last year and is this year. Daniels was supposed to “solve” this, but two things. First, there’s just no replacing what Rondo does. Second, even whatever expectations there were for Daniels, I would say he hasn’t even met those. And now he’s out. Would Hudson solve this? Doc’s apparently not a believer. One positive here though is that Doc is letting Rondo run with the second unit which I think is a great idea. But, of course, Rondo can’t play 48 minutes a game, so they still need some kind of solution.
Second, even with this problem, the second unit would look much better if House returned to being House. If he makes like he normally makes, we’re probably talking another 3-6 points per game for the part-timers, which would essentially erase all the negative +/- of this unit. I’m confident he’ll figure it out, but damn if his shots aren’t looking ugly right now.
Third, don’t know why Sheldon is suddenly a lost man. Loved his effort, D and rebounding. And he was pick and rolling very well, too. We know Wallace needs to limit his 3s to the wide-open variety and to punish in the post more. Scal’s doing what he does. Hopefully BBD can step right back in and do his thing. Expect the same old TA.
Anyway, ball handling and House’s shooting are two of the biggest issues. If those were solved, they alone would make the second unit look a lot better.
leon lett – hahaha