That Took Too Long: Celtics 114, Wizards 83

Posted by Brendan Jackson on Nov 17, 2010 107618 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2010%2F11%2F17%2Fthat-took-too-long-celtics-114-wizards-83%2FThat+Took+Too+Long%3A+Celtics+114%2C+Wizards+832010-11-18+03%3A31%3A27Brendan+Jacksonhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D10761

ESPN Box Score • Truth About It • Bullets Forever

The caption of this photo is the following quote from Nick Young: “I want to be a better defender. That and learn the plays better.”  This was back in 2008.  Right.  Moving on.

The Delonte West era has resumed in Boston with an emphatic, rub-your-face-in-it win.  The only thing that put a damper on this evening’s entertainment is that the Washington Wizards got held up at Logan and failed to make it to the game in time to play.  In their stead, a bad high school JayVee team.

To be fair, the game wasn’t all bad.  There was some competition for a the most of the first half.  There was even a time in the third quarter where Kirk Hinrich looked like he wanted to take the game over–and by “take the game over” I mean “keep it within twenty”.  Hinrich’s play prompted Tommy Heinsohn to say something, and I’m paraphrasing, to the effect of “If the Celtics really try they can shut down Kirk Hinrich”.  Talk about a top ten statement you never thought you would hear.  Put that right next to “and with the 16th pick, the Boston Celtics select Troy Bell from Boston College” and “starting at the middle tonight for the Boston Celtics, Shaquille O’Neal”.

Hayes will have more later, but for now let’s just throw out a few bullet points:

• The Celtics shot 65.8% from the field tonight with the bench playing significant minutes.  According to Basketball Reference, the Celtics have only shot over 65% from the field in a game 6 other times since 1986.*

• Despite Delonte West’s return, the Celtics still had Nate Robinson run the point with the second unit.  “Knocking the rust off” probably accounts for this.  I wouldn’t be surprised to see Robinson moving into more of a shooting guard role as they establish a game-rhythm over time.

• It’s pretty clear that Cartier Martin doesn’t feel like he’s “made it” yet considering he stole Von Wafer’s pass to the referee as the game’s final seconds ticked off.  Admittedly, it was a bad pass from Wafer but Martin had to know that the Garden didn’t have NBA jam hot spots turned on, right?  No way to make up the 33 point differential in one shot.  That’s how you know a player knows he’s “made it” in the league; when the competitive fire turns into ennui.

• Please please please Celtics fans, do not try to turn Luke Harangody into Brian Scalabrine.  He is not Brian Scalabrine.  They are completely different players with different strengths and even different weaknesses.  If Harangody gets playing time, it won’t be long until the “LUUUUUUUUUUKE” chant starts occurring when he’s knocking down jumpers and snagging rebounds instead of getting garbage minutes in blow out win.

That’s it for now.  Be sure to check out more from Hayes some time in the future.

*This has the corrected stat.  In case you’re wondering, the Celtics have never shot 6600% from the field, which is how Basketball-Reference will read the search if you forget the decimal point.  (Face palm)