Bullets Through My Heart

I honestly never thought the C’s would lose this game, which is probably a bad thing.  It seemed like the Celtics had everything going for them- despite Rasheed Wallace getting thrown out, but we’ll get to that later.

The Celtics had a 15 point lead at one point and it just felt like they would trade buckets until the end.  Did the Celtics get as complacent as I did?  Perhaps.  They just seemed to give it up at the end.

First, some positives:

• Kendrick Perkins had a career night snagging 16 boards.  Zach Lowe has been (rightfully) griping about how the Celtics can’t match anyone on the boards and they tied the Sixers at 45 in that department tonight.  I’d rather win by ten and lose by ten in the rebound department than have what happened tonight.
• Tony Allen had his best game since returning from injury.  Ten points an three steals, plus a thunderous dunk to get the crowd going.  How can TA play this well and the C’s still lose.  It defies logic.
• Rondo had another double-double which is (very thankfully) getting tiresome to report.  He also had some very nifty plays which caused me to quip in the Daily Dime chat that Rondo may be going to the Hall of Fame.  The first play was a great double-clutch up and under lay up which he followed with the very next play being a circus shot And1.  Should have made the difference in this game.
• Shelden Williams played very efficiently and showed some flashes of hands tonight- which, if you watch him play, is very encouraging.

Alright, now for the negatives:

• Let’s start where it ended.  How does that last play happen?  Pierce gets an iso, just not where he likes it.  His back was to the basket against a longer defender.  His patented step back thwarted him tonight, but it should have even had that chance.  Rondo was easily the best player in the second half and he had the momentum going to the basket against a rookie (albeit a good defender).  I’d take him making at least one free throw over Pierce getting a step back where he’s not comfortable.  According to Elton Brand, the Sixers game planned for Pierce getting the ball and KG pooping out for a jumper- not for Rondo getting a handoff and going to the basket.  Rondo deserves a shot at a game winner.
• KG should have exploited the matchup against Thaddeus Young and to some extent he did (21 points, 10 rebounds).  Still he shot awfully (5-14), missing some wide layups.  It really appears like KG is a rhythm shooter considering the tear he was on before this little vacation.
• Pierce should have had more than 9 points.  At least two more.
• Wasn’t the ‘Sheed situation bizarre.  I didn’t even know what happened?  He had to be restrained by Tom Thibodeau and it looked like he talked back to KG, Thibedeou, and Perk.  It just didn’t look good.  ‘Sheed is great, but he wouldn’t last on a Belichik coached team.  He’s the one that said this team could challenge 72-10 and he can only look at himself for -5.

Because it’s Friday, and the C’s lost, I’ll just leave it at that.  A more robust recap coming from Zach’s way tomorrow.

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