OH NO! and Two: Celtics 107, Heat 115

Posted by Brendan Jackson on Dec 27, 2011 2358628 commentshttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F2011%2F12%2F27%2Foh-no-and-two-celtics-107-heat-115%2FOH+NO%21+and+Two%3A+Celtics+107%2C+Heat+1152011-12-28+04%3A17%3A40Brendan+Jacksonhttp%3A%2F%2Fcelticshub.com%2F%3Fp%3D23586

ESPN Box Score • The Heat Index • Peninsula is Mightier

You got to hand it to these Celtics, these guys fight and refuse to quit.  They may lead the league in moral victories while also leading the league in close losses.

While watching this game, I found myself thinking that I really would have liked to see some E’Twaun Moore.  Oh and Paul Pierce, but definitely E’Twaun Moore.  It just seems like he could have gotten some valuable minutes in that second quarter when the Cs were getting bah-lown out 39 to 27.

The number one reason why this loss doesn’t feel as bad as any other time the Cs get put in an 0-2 hole is that Sasha Pavlovic wasn’t terrible.  He wasn’t great, but I fully expected him to get buuurrrnnned by the Heat (hence the crudely SeaShored photo to your left).  Just slightly behind Pavlovic’s prowess is the fact that the Celtics hung tough with a Miami team that had to play their starters for most of the game.  Once this Heat team figures out how to beat a two-three zone (hint: put James Jones in the game) it should be all over.

This is just a quickie to tie you over to Hayes’ more lengthy recap coming up.  I’m sure you will read things about “offense”, “a lack of defense” and you’ll probably laugh a lot.  Which is not easy to say after a tough loss.  Before Hayes gives you the giggles, here are some of my random thoughts about the game:

Mario Chalmers is the starting point guard on the NBA all “terrible/awesome” team.  There are times when Chalmers looks like the second coming of Chauncey “Mr. Big Shot” Billups and then other times he looks like Mario Chalmers.  He looked like MC to start the third quarter (18 turnovers in a 1:30). In case you’re wondering, Tony Allen starts at the two and JaVale McGee mans the middle.  The small and power forward positions are still up for grabs but will undoubtedly be sewn-up this season.

Just to remind you, the “terrible/awesome” team is derived from Hayes Davenport’s characterization of McGee in this recap from last season.

Would-Be Huge Turning Point: Ray Allen hits a three at the six minute mark of the fourth quarter to cut the lead to 9.  The ball is immediately out-letted to a cherry-picking LeBron James who is about to deflate all Boston momentum.  Luckily, Erik Spoelstra felt like he needed to flex the muscles he bought using that contract extension and called a timeout.  I’m no professional lip-reader, but I believe I saw Spo’ say, “this is my team, LeBreezy!”

Norris Cole is the first player in NBA history to draw a charge while levitating.   You have to give the little guy props, the dude is fearless and you have to respect that. Also, his over-the-top celebration of every made basket fits right in to the Heat way, and you don’t have to respect that.