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Brandon Bass, PF 25 MIN | 2-5 FG | 1-1 FT | 4 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 1 BLK | 0 TO | 5 PTS | -4Brandon Bass missed his first wide elbow jumper early in the first quarter, then proceeded to struggle mightily on the other end, specifically containing Philadelphia’s ball-handlers in the pick-and-roll (especially Jrue Holiday). Not sure if this poor play convinced Doc Rivers to go small for much of the game, or if that was a predetermined strategic decision, but Bass wasn’t good on either end. |
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Paul Pierce, SF 30 MIN | 6-10 FG | 2-2 FT | 11 REB | 7 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 5 TO | 18 PTS | +9Sluggish isn’t a bad word to describe Paul Pierce at the beginning of this game. And no play better illustrates it than when he was out-hustled by Thaddeus Young for a rebound that he was in perfect position to grab. Fouling a stumbling Damian Wilkins on a late first quarter drive didn’t look too good either. But nobody will remember any of that (nor should they). Pierce was amazing from behind the three-point line, attempting four and making four, and each one seemed to come at a timely moment in the game when Philadelphia appeared to be forging a comeback. He started slow, but Paul Pierce ended strong. |
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Kevin Garnett, C 28 MIN | 9-17 FG | 0-0 FT | 6 REB | 1 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 6 TO | 18 PTS | +11Garnett started the game making three straight jump shots, which is always good news. He ended his first five minute stint viciously swatting an Evan Turner layup out of bounds too. It looked like young KG. The only thing that really hurt him were the quarter million offensive fouls and travels he was (accurately) called for. Apart from those, Garnett was awesome on both ends. |
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Avery Bradley, PG 34 MIN | 10-15 FG | 0-0 FT | 7 REB | 5 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 4 TO | 22 PTS | +5A few weeks ago I wrote a piece on Avery Bradley’s struggling offense. Tonight he made me look moronic, knocking down jumper after jumper, stepping out behind the three-point line, attacking in transition, and even cracking the door on his freakish athleticism with a beautiful put back dunk midway through the third quarter. Bradley’s defense on Jrue Holiday picked up as the game went on, but when he starts contests shooting 9-10 from the floor his impact on the Celtics is so much more tangible. (Not to disparage the defense in any way.) |
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Courtney Lee, SG 30 MIN | 2-7 FG | 0-0 FT | 4 REB | 4 AST | 3 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 5 PTS | -2If you’re looking for consistent individual offense, Courtney Lee isn’t for you. If intense pressure defense is more your thing, then you’ll absolutely love him! Tonight Lee was fantastic on the ball, forcing unorthodox turnovers from Jrue Holiday and consistently making things uncomfortable. This is the Courtney Lee the Celtics need every night if he isn’t going to be a dead eye three-point shooter. |
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Jeff Green, PF 28 MIN | 4-8 FG | 7-9 FT | 4 REB | 5 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 16 PTS | +9Another consistent game from Green, who not only lived at the free-throw line, but for stretches looked like the guy who seven years ago used to facilitate Georgetown’s offense. It’s become more and more a pleasure to watch Green compete on both ends of the court. He forces the issue and has become a borderline elite player when it comes to drawing fouls in one on one situations. It’s come to the point where sometimes the Celtics actually rely on him in isolation situations. |
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Chris Wilcox, PF 17 MIN | 2-6 FG | 0-0 FT | 6 REB | 0 AST | 0 STL | 2 BLK | 1 TO | 4 PTS | -1Wilcox did his best Tyson Chandler impression (at least on offense) for the 17 minutes of action he gave the Celtics, tipping out missed shots and diving hard to the rim on off ball cuts and pick-and-rolls. |
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Jordan Crawford, SG 16 MIN | 4-7 FG | 2-2 FT | 4 REB | 3 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 12 PTS | -1Jordan Crawford is the argument of “process vs. result” in human form. Example: Tonight he attacked four Sixers in transition with zero Celtics teammates even past half court, eventually throwing up a runner off the glass that went in. The result was great! The process? Not so much. |
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Terrence Williams, SG 7 MIN | 0-1 FG | 0-0 FT | 0 REB | 2 AST | 0 STL | 0 BLK | 1 TO | 0 PTS | +5Only seven minutes for Terrence Williams, who didn’t have any tangible impact on the game. |
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Jason Terry, SG 26 MIN | 3-7 FG | 2-2 FT | 3 REB | 6 AST | 1 STL | 0 BLK | 2 TO | 9 PTS | +9Terry had a great game with the ball in his hands, which is something the Celtics need to see more of if they want their offense to improve. He came off screens, found open shooters, and created passing lanes by penetrating into the lane. All that and a three-point dagger. |
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Doc RiversDoc Rivers went small throughout the game, mixing and matching several three guard lineups that at the very least provided Philadelphia’s crowd with serviceable entertainment. (Jordan Crawford, Jason Terry, and Courtney Lee on the court at the same time? Sign me up for those offensive possessions!) The Celtics went zone for the most part when they were small, and Philadelphia missed their shots. He also showed why he’s a great X and O coach, drawing up a beautiful pick-and-roll with Pierce and Terry at the end of the first half that resulted in two free-throws for the C’s. |
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The Ticker
