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Game 65/82: Celtics (40-23) @ Cavaliers (51-15)

March 14th, 2010

3:30 p.m. EST
Quicken Loans Arena
CSN/WEEI

Opposing Viewpoint: Cavs The Blog

Offensive Efficiency:

Boston: 106.9 points/100 possessions (16th)

Cleveland: 111.5 points/100 possessions (4th)

Defensive Efficiency:

Boston: 102.1 points allowed/100 possessions (1st)

Cleveland: 103.7 points allowed/100 possessions (7th)

Probable Cleveland Starters:

LeBron James, Mo Williams, Antawn Jamison, Anthony Parker, J.J. Hickson (or Leon Powe to make us all puke and cry at the same time)

Injury Report:

OUT: Shaquille O’Neal, Sebastian Telfair

PROBABLE: Antawn Jamison

Thumbnail: Is there such a thing as a “must win” in March? In the NBA that is, as everyone knows right now College kids everywhere are eagerly awaiting the revelation of the Dance’s exclusive invite list. Or you are like me, and your Alma Mater (Boston College) drastically under-preformed for an experienced team and you are hoping the three freshman coming in next year have enough fire power to put them back in the bracket….whoah, what happened? Sorry, I just blacked out for a second.

The Celtics have to win this game. The script has already been written. Two games ago, the Celtics were left picking up pieces of their pride as Memphis emphatically yelled “this isn’t your league anymore old man” in their faces. The Celtics responded with a prodigious “we’re not dead yet” by trouncing the Indiana Pacers and forced star Danny Granger to shoot poorly from the field. The quintessential tune-up to today’s game.

Everyone knows what the Cavs can do. Everyone knows what the Cavs have. The Celtics did masterful job D-ing up a big swingman (Granger) and a stretch four (Troy Murphy) and they must do that again today.

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Posted in Annoucements

Just What the Celts Needed: Celtics 122, Pacers 103

March 12th, 2010

ESPN Recap • Indy Cornrows • Eight Points Nine Seconds

If only for one game, the Memphis loss was a wake up call for this Celtics team. Every single thing writers and fans have been clamoring for since Christmas culminated in a beautiful exhibition at the Garden on Friday night. The game started much like any other Celtics game from the past eight to ten weeks. The C’s played hard, shots seemed to be falling, but no matter how many plays Celtics made in the early going, the Pacers matched bucket for bucket. This game had all the makings of another young team poised to run the Celtics out of the gym.

The Celtics refused to oblige. They ramped up their defense at the same time their bench came in and heated up Boston’s ice cold offense. The most encouraging thing about this game was the fact that the C’s didn’t rest on their laurels (or their 20 point lead) and get themselves caught looking toward Sunday. True, the Celtics let a 27 point lead dwindle get dented down to 14 before settling back comfortably in the 20s- this game never had the same possession for possession angst the past 15 some-odd games has had.

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Posted in Commentary, Game Recaps

Game 62/82: Celtics (40-21) @ Bucks (33-29)

March 9th, 2010

Offensive Efficiency:

Boston: 106.9 points/100 possessions (14th)

Milwaukee: 104.5 points/100 possessions (23rd)

Defensive Efficiency:

Boston: 101.9 points allowed/100 possessions (1st)

Milwaukee: 102.8 points allowed/100 possessions (3rd)

Probable Milwaukee starters:
Brandon Jennings, Andrew Bogut, John Salmons, Carlos Delfino, Luc Richard Mbah a Moute

Thumbnail:The Celtics try to make it five in a row against a team that is playing excellent basketball as of late. In their past ten game, the Bucks have gone 9-1 including wins against Cleveland (sans LeBron) and 20+ point wins against Miami (sans Wade) and New Orleans (eeeesh). Their only loss in the past ten games? A four point loss to Atlanta…in overtime.

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Posted in Previews

Celtics Win? Celtics 86, Wizards 83

March 7th, 2010

ESPN Recap • Bullets Forever • Truth About It

Earlier today, I was playing some pick up basketball with a Celtics team employee and he lamented that when the season started, this matchup tonight was supposed to be a marquee worthy enough for the eight o’clock ESPN time slot. Unfortunately, due to some poor choices and lopsided trades, the Celtics were set to take on a new look Wizards teams that didn’t pose much of a threat at all. To this employee, all I can say is, “all’s well that ends well.” Right?

For three and a half quarters the Celtics seemed set on laying one of the biggest eggs of the season. They shot terribly, got out hustled, and flat out talented by guys with less talent. Al Thornton played like a man on a mission tonight. Flip Saunders is known for being an offensive minded coach, and he seems to be getting every last bit of offensive capability out of the cards he’s been dealt.

In the preview, Brian wrote about how Andray Blatche was a man with which to be reckoned. Well surprise! 23 points and nine rebounds! Blatche showed off his considerable skill in various areas of the game and even displayed a consistent midrange jumper I had yet to see.

The Wizards were aggressive on defense, frustrating the Celtics on drives, contesting shots, playing passing lanes, and Javale McGee was an absolute shot blocking machine tonight. By taking away the passing lanes, this Wizards team took away one of the main things that makes Rondo so great. Rondo only mustered 7 assists in 37 minutes, a pretty pedestrian number for Rondo.

Doc Rivers deserves a lot of credit for this one, although it may not have felt that way during the game. When I reviewed the box score after the game, I was absolutely shocked that no starter played over forty minutes. This almost asssuedly accounts for the energy the Celtics used to climb out of the 13 point hole with a little more than six minutes to go. » More: Celtics Win? Celtics 86, Wizards 83

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Posted in Commentary, Game Recaps

Celts Take a Boring One: 96, Sixers 86

March 5th, 2010

ESPN Recap Philadunkia

It was an interesting night for the NBA, one which can best be described as “Twilight Zone-esque.” Detroit dominated Cleveland for a half. Charlotte dominated the Lakers for a whole. And New Jersey hung around with Orlando enough for Celtics’ fans to take a little solace home (lies!).

Luckily, the Celtics did not see the same type of unlikely result. They also did not see any perimeter defense. In fact, neither team played anything resembling perimeter defense. Ray Allen spent the majority of the first half enjoying a healthy mix of three balls and wide open midrange jumpers. Unfortunately, he handed his hot-hand to Lou Williams in the second half, who proceeded to shred the Celtics for whatever they gave him- which was a lot.

The Celtics played extremely lackadaisical when it came it closing out on the Philadelphia shooters. Shooters may be a bit of a misnomer. The Celtics were extremely slow at contesting Philadelphia’s chuckers- probably for good reason Philadelphia really doesn’t have very good shooters. That being said, this is the NBA and players are going to knock down wide open jumpers regardless of what is written on the scouting report. The Celtics did not allow themselves to take advantage of a poor shooting team. For a poor shooting team like the Sixers, easy shots are made hard by a simple run out and tough shots are made damn-near impossible with a good contest. Despite the poor perimeter D, the Celtics came out with the a nice, convincing win (“convincing” is said, of course, a bit in jest as this game was pretty close throughout).