The Flash fell to the Rio Grande Vipers 110-92 in spite of another strong game from JR Giddens and Bill Walker.
Giddens finished with 17 points on 8-17 shooting to go with 6 rebounds in 38 minutes of play. He had only 1 turnover as well.
Bill Walker started at center and finished with 26 points, 6 rebounds and 1 block. He also fouled out after playing 34 minutes. He had a team high 7 turnovers. He also picked up a technical foul in the fourth quarter.
KG and Perk made it very difficult for any Bobcats who ventured into tjavascript:void(0)he paint. It was an away game in spite of the home white uniforms that the Celtics wore. They wore their road jerseys at home against the Sixers the previous night.
It is great that this team wins as a unit. It doesn't take big scoring games from the stars every night for them to win. KG had a sub-par scoring game and finished with 10 points, 7 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 blocks. He did hit a clutch shot at the end of the game to help preserve the win.
After a couple of subpar scoring games, Pierce bounced back in this game with 19 points, 2 rebounds and 1 assist. He came up with big plays down the stretch and willed the Celtics to the win.
It has been so much fun to watch Rondo grow game by game. He didn't score big tonight but still was aggressive. He finished with just 4 points but also had 4 rebounds, 9 assists, and 2 steals.
Ray Allen didn't have an "Oh My" game like he did against the Sixers, but he had a good game nonetheless. He finished with 15 points, 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 2 steals.
Leon Powe and Big Baby have become quite an impressive team. They work very well together. Tonight, Leon finished with 3 points and 1 rebound. Big Baby finished with 2 points and 2 rebounds.
Rondo, Big Baby and Leon play a game of "ring around the Bobcat." While the Celtics seemed a bit out of kilter, they had just enough to pull out the 89-84 win. The Bobcats have always given the Celtics problems and this game was no different.
Tony Allen continues to play well with 11 points, 3 assists and 3 steals in this game and also contributes some very good defense.
The Celtics had 6 players in double figures. Rondo had 9 assists. Pierce took over down the stretch and finished with 19 points. But, the player of the game tonight is Kendrick Perkins. He finished with 15 points, 12 rebounds and 2 blocks. The last block came at the end of the game to preserve the win. The big guy played great defense inside and took the offense that was given to him.
Two themes running through the comments recently have been the fact that fans think that the Celtics get special treatment from the refs and teams are all clamoring for their coaches to be fired. Reminds me of the Celtics the year we had the 18 game losing streak. Every other post was how dumb Doc is and how he needed to be fired. Hint to Sixers fans: It isn't always the coach. I am glad that Danny didn't give in to all the calls for Doc's head. As for the refs, they are terrible. But, the bad calls go both ways. They aren't singling out the Celtics for special treatment. How else would you explain the fact that the Celtics have more technical fouls than any other team? It is just bad officiating and fans tend to see the calls that are bad for their team and ignore the ones that go their way.
Love the Sixers in this game. That other team can't shoot and play no defense.
I've got a good feeling about this game(maybe it's because the Eagles win made me a bit more optimistic?). Hopefully they keep it close and pull out a win at the end. Should be interesting to see how Brand will do against KG.
I believe we can stay competitive in this one. I think everyone will be motivated after letting the last one "slip" from us.
2 turnovers and Perkins just owned him. Please sit Daly for Speights.
You know it's bad when someone who doesn't belong in the league like Perkins owns you. Man he's a bad player. Perkins might be the worst center in the NBA.
Perkins sucks. You'll never win anything with him starting at center for you.
What?? They just won a championship with him as a starter. I would take him over Daly.
No, Perkins doesn't suck, and he's outplaying Dalembert right now.
These refs are horrendous. A clear goaltend, clear change of possession, and Perkins clearly picks up the foul on Brand and garnett raises his hand to save Perkins from picking up his second, and the refs call the foul on KG.. These refs really need to be held accountable.
Perkins has actually come a long way in just 2 years. Finally learning some post moves and actually being a solid 5th option in the post. As well as a solid post defender. I'd like Samuel Dalembet to learn how to box out. Anyone get the feeling Boston's toying with us here?
Sometimes I wish we were as half disiciplined as this Boston Team. SEE THAT, That's how you double. Don't leave any way for him to pass the ball. Only way Miller passes it is if the player comes to him, therefore they can set up and not allow an open shot.
I think Big Baby is on the Charlie Weis diet. What a fat frickin slob.
16 pts? Please trade for a scorer off the bench. Ricky Davis, anyone...
Ricky Davis is never the answer.
Can we kidnap Tom Thibodeau?
I feel like I'm watching the Washington Generals.
I really should stop watching this game because I'm overcome by a deep sense of jealousy every time I watch a team like the Celtics. Then I start binge drinking.
Thrse refs are really bad tonight. I know Boston has the stars and are a better team, but come on, they are getting every call.
By the time I'm done writing this message, Ray Allen would have drained another 3-pointer.
I will be shocked if Mo isnt fired after this game or during the season.
At least our uniforms look good out there.
Can we get Tom Thiabeau to coach the Sixers next yr? I wanna bring that stifling D to Philly.
Williams, center, of the Austin Toros fights for a loose ball against Utah’s Bill Walker, left, and Dontell Jefferson at the Austin Convention Center on Friday Nov. 28, 2008. Photo by Jay Janner/Austin American-Statesman
J.R. Giddens baseline jumper with 0.6 seconds left to play in overtime lifted the Utah Flash to a season-opening 93-91 victory over the Austin Toros Friday at the Austin Convention Center.
Giddens notched a double-double in his firstsecond game with the Flash, finishing with 19 points and 12 rebounds. Bill Walker led all Flash scorers with 23 points and was credited with the assist on Giddens’ game-winner. He also collected eight rebounds and had 4 assists and 5 steals.
Both Giddens and Walker started and Giddens played 45 minutes while Walker played 41 minutes. Good start for both of them.
The starters all played under 30 minutes except for Ray who played 30:38. The C's as a team shot 51%, 43% from 3 and 82% from FT. The bench was again a factor as they contributed 43 points. Tony had 10, House 8, Davis 9, Scal 4, and Patrick 2.
Pierce again had a bad scoring night putting in only 6 points on 1 for 6 shooting. But as a team, Boston is playing together and under control.
Ray had a stretch of 11 straight points in the 3rd qtr. Rajon assisted in all of them. He finished with 23 points on 10 of 15 shooting, 3 of 5 from the 3.
Leon Powe again had a stellar game off the bench. He finished with 10 points and 4 rebounds and 1 block.
Perk did well on defense as usual swatting 4 shots and getting 8 points and 7 rebounds with only 2 personal fouls.
I would like to take this time to wish Celtics fans everywhere a very Happy Thanksgiving! I am thankful for everyone in the Celtics Nation who make it so much fun to cheer for my beloved Celtics! The Celtics have the best fans in the world! Take some time today to count your blessings!
It seems that Warriors' fans are fed up with Nellie's penchant for small ball. Playing Corey Maggette at power forward does appear to be a bit odd, but hey, they were up at halftime and so it wasn't all bad. They even played defense for a stretch. The Warriors are a fun team to watch. I think my favorite comments were: "Ronny's fine. He's made of old Chuck Norris parts." and "The 4th quarter isn't our thing." Good stuff!
Warriors win.
I do not expect us to win this game. Will be another blowout though if Nellie goes with crap smallball.
The real outcome is predetermined. We're gonna get blown out, bad. Boston remembers last year, and won't let it happen again. They're going to take us out to slaughter.
The real game will begin when POB is put in. With the game already on the books, the real strategy will be Nelson absolutely trying to destroy Patrick while Patrick tried to show overbearing daddy that he's a man. It's going to be riveting theatre.
I don't think the Warriors will have a chance tonight. Unless the C's take them lightly like they did against Indy, but that was the 2nd of a back to back. C's have had 2 full days and a lot of Sunday to think about this one. Hide your women and children the C's are coming to pillage.
I hope Jax pops KG right in the mouth tonight...Garnett won't do anything...he's a coward...
KG's gonna pick a fight with Biedrins if he guards him.
I'm sorry if I offend anyone, but I Hate KG... he's a jerk. Just like Paul Pierce (Allen and Rondo I got no rift with). But KG is a jerk, who the league promotes and gives him favoritism. I dunno if he has a problem with foreigners (Varejao, Bogut, Calderon just this year), but the dude is annoying me. He got suspended for the bogut incident, but the other two should of gotten him one too... Or at least a Technical or a fine. Its pathetic. If he messes with Biedren, I want Jackson to take him out.
I honestly expect us to lose by 30 points. POB will get some run tonight. Meaningless run, but he will be able to lace up the sneakers.
I hope Oscar Nominee for Best Actor (Paul Pierce) gets elbowed in the face by Jack...an intentional one that gets Jack suspended for 1 game and fined 25K. Hes heated and the Warriors need a wake up call.
Don Nelson has played rookie Anthony Randolph more than Doc Rivers has played Patrick O'Bryant.
And KGs been warned so we should be really able to punk him. The league is just waiting for him to do something. Let's have Kurz come in and start a fight with him (might as well make himself useful).
CJ at center will have the Celts going crazy. I can just see him now, running through Perkins legs to go for the jam and getting an and1 when KG fouls him on the switch.
We are going to win. Marco Belinelli is going to play a lot tonight and he will light up the Celtics, raining threes and off balance jumpers in their faces!!!
8 on 5 from the getgo
AR's gonna be special... He is staring down KG as we speak
WTH does KG do before games? He's already drenched...
Celtics are by far the most polished team we've seen so far. Has KG gotten bigger? He looks like he's bulked up which makes him even scarier.
Warriors are playing good ball tonight but the Celtics are one hell of a team! They're really really good.
Our main concern is Gay Allen and Perkins. Need a bigger body on Perkins
By the way, the reffing in this is worse than normal. And that's pretty bad.
I hope we don't make a foolish of ourselves by allowing Celtics to come back and win.
Celtics bench is the only one in the league that will stand up, scream at the opposing players shooting infront of them. Pretty pathetic, especially whenever the shot goes in, everyone just quietly sits down.
Unbelievable no calls all over the place. They don't need any breaks, but the refs keep giving it to them
Is this game rigged or what? The refs will not call anything. Rondo runs all over our guys, and they do nothing.
Man the Celtics are reffed totally different than every other team they get away with a lot.
Ronny's fine. He's made of old Chuck Norris parts.
Wright seems intimidated at times. Needs to just go hard to the basket.
He was getting fouled by so many guys at once the refs got confused
Man the refs wont call fouls on the Celtics in the lane they act like the Celtics big men cant foul.
The refs do make them look like 7 players on the floor
And what's worse are these Celtic announcers. Unreal. Earlier in the game they tried saying Eddie house got all ball when mags' head almost came off.
Maggette abusing Scalabrine.
This game is over. We can't stop Cs from scoring.
I want to see KG, Rondo, Pierce, Allen's lights punched out. Maybe a Chainsaw in there. Get suspended, just **** them up, I don't care...
We all saw it coming. The 4th quarter isn't our thing.
Anybody who roots for the Lakers over an Eastern Conference team needs to be taken out back and shot.
Must say the Celt's..like Champs, regained their poise and weathered the storm.
There could be a case made for Paul Pierce, Kevin Garnett, or Ray Allan as player of the game. But, the one player who turned the game around was Rajon Rondo. He is definitely making a case for himself as one of the top PG's in the league. The Celtics started the 3rd quarter down 13 points, but Rondo came out strong to start the 3rd quarter and his aggressiveness is what brought the team back and made this win possible. Rondo finished with 22 points, 8 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals, and most importantly, no turnovers.
As an aside, if they kept a stat on how many times players hit the deck hard, Rondo would definitely lead that league in that category.
The Celtics picked up another technical tonight, but it wasn't a player. Doc picked up the only technical of the game. At least Perk didn't get another one.
After getting to rest for 2 games in a row, the starters were needed right to the end of this one. KG came up big with 17 points, 12 rebounds, and 4 blocks. He also brought intensity to the team as only KG can. The Celtics out-rebounded the Warriors 47-34.
The Celtics started off strong but then fell into playing the Warriors' game and let them surge ahead to a 67-54 lead at half time. But Rondo came out very aggressively in the second half and turned the game around. He continued to attack the basket and willed the Celtics to this win. He scored 22 points, pulled down 8 rebounds, dished out 5 assists, nabbed 2 steals and had NO turnovers.
Tony Allen played well off the bench and his defense was needed as the Celtics came back from the 13 point deficit. Tony was on the floor at the end of the game and finished with 7 points and 1 rebound.
Ray Allen had it going in this game and scored from outside as well as taking it to the hoop. He finished with 25 points, 3 rebounds, and 3 assists.
The bench struggled somewhat in this game adding only 19 points to the 119-111 win. Leon finished with 3 points and 3 rebounds while Big Baby had 9 points and 3 rebounds. Eddie House missed the only shot he took but contributed 2 rebounds. Scal didn't go much of anything in this game.
Perk made it through a game without picking up a technical. He wasn't on the floor to end the game but played 29 minutes and finished with 9 points, 8 rebounds and 2 blocks and defensively held Biedrins way below his average in both rebounds and points.
Like the other 2 stars, Pierce didn't get to rest in the 4th quarter in this game. He finished with 21 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists in 40 minutes of play.
This is from a couple of games ago, but I am just getting around to posting it. Watch the move that LeBron makes going to the basket. Where have we seen that one before? Could it be the move that Rondo makes about once a game? LeBron's been watching apparently and is copying what up to now has been Rondo's signature move.
Anyone who has listened to a Celtics broadcast has heard Tommy Heinsohn mention "The Redhead in Needham." In every broadcast Tommy makes a mention of his beloved wife, Helen with that affectionate nickname. Celtics' nation is saddened to learn that Helen lost her 6 year battle with cancer yesterday. Our hearts are heavy today and our prayers are with Tommy and the Heinsohn family.
Funeral from the George F. Doherty & Sons Funeral Home 1305 Highland Ave. NEEDHAM (Exit 19B off 128) Wed. at 11AM. Funeral Mass in St. Bartholomew’s Church, Needham, at 12 Noon. Relatives and friends kindly invited.
Visiting hours Tue from 4-8PM.
Interment St. Mary’s Cemetery, Needham.
In lieu of flowers donations may be made in Helen’s memory to the New England Baptist Hospital C/O Development Office 125 Parker Hill Ave. Boston, MA 02120. Parking area adjacent to Funeral Home.
The teams at the bottom are already starting to panic. There have been 2 coaches fired already in this young season.
On Saturday, the Thunder fired PJ Carlesimo and assistant coach Scott Brooks was named coach in his place. The Thunder had started the season 1-12 which brought about the coach's demise. It was said that he had lost the attention of the Thunder's young franchise player, Kevin Durant.
Today we got the news that the 1-10 Washington Wizards have fired Eddie Jordan and Ed Tapscott, the Wizards' director of player development, will replace Jordan on an interim basis.
Checking out the Raptors' boards after their loss to the Celtics, you have to wonder if they won't be the next team to dump their coach. After being considered by many to give the Celtics a run for the top spot in the Atlantic, the Raptors have started 6-7. The Raptors' fans are all calling for their coach's head and I didn't see any support for him in any of the 140 + pages of their game threads.
But, Firing the coach is a scape goat move. The GMs need to ask themselves if they have given their coach enough talent to win with. The Thunder situation reminds me of the Celtics a couple of years back. A very young team with a lot of talent. There are expectations going into the season and by the nature of the beast, a young team never seems to meet those expectations and so the blame falls on the coach.
In the 2006-07 season, the Celtics had a lot of young talent and expectations going into the season for them. But, youth and injuries did what youth and injuries always do... they produced a very inconsistent team. Celtics' fans were calling for the heads of both Doc and Danny. I don't remember seeing much support for Doc on the boards.
But Danny hung in there and kept his faith in Doc and instead of firing the coach, went out and got him the players to work with. Suddenly, Danny was a genius and Doc was a great coach! He out coached Phil "The Zen Master" Jackson in the finals and went from scapegoat to hero in just one season. This same Doc Rivers was fired in Orlando after a 1 and 10 start just a year after being named Coach of the Year.
How soon the fickle finger of fate can turn on a coach. GM's feel they have to make some move and since it is hard to fire players and even harder to make the kind of trades that Danny Ainge made, they fire the coach to silence the calls for their heads as well. I have to hand it to the Celtics' organization. They didn't take the easy way out and dump Doc when fans all called for his head last season. Danny had a 5 year plan and he executed it to perfection. Maybe teams should be a little more patient and go with continuity over the quick fix.
The Raptors fans are definitely passionate about their team. Or, maybe they are just passionate about hating the Celtics. One board alone had a 72 page game thread and the others weren't far behind. There was a lot of talk about bad refs (other than Bavetta) and even more about how bad Sam Mitchell is as a coach. It's amazing that just 2 years after being named Coach of the Year, almost every Raptors' fan is calling for his head.
This game ain't gonna be pretty.
If our team cant come out pumped up after this loss to NJ + the ugly ugly loss and disrespect we received in Boston, well I lose all hope for us, we have to at least keep it close and make a statement at some point physically, and I believe we will, Raptors win by 2.
Ray Allen for the game winning three. With 11:59 seconds to go in the first quarter.
Bosh has another 40 point game and we blow away a big lead and lose by 25. After the game bosh demands a trade.
I am too emotionally attached to the Craptors. They are like being in a relationship with someone you love. Sometimes you love her... Sometimes you don't. As of right now, I AM NOT TALKING TO HER! I AM MAD AT HER!
Perkins will eat Bargnani.
Vegas line for Boston is only -4.5 ??? Hmmm
The game will be on the line and Boston has the ball. Ray passes to Pierce, but it gets intercepted by Vince Carter who appears out of nowhere and scores the basket. Because the team is the Celtics, the refs allow this and the Raps lose the game.
I'm gonna go out on a limb and say we win this game.
If JO doesn't play, we lose by 20+ easily. If JO plays, I have a feeling it'll be a close game that can go either way. The Raps always find a way to rebound after a sub-par game.
We win by 5. Redemption, baby.
With Bosh's last game vs. The Celts, I want him to drop 50 on KG.
PP is gonna eat Bargs alive
Love the crowd booing KG
Oh yeah 0-0 Should I stop watching now?
Lol at every Celtic being open
10-0, I'm watching it on ESPN Gamecast. I turned around for a minute and the C's score 10 Hell, I'm watching football
Great start... Being down 10 to a team like Boston is like being down by 20...
Smitch should be our coaching decoy, with Triano doing the actual coaching.
Boston has actually been struggling this year at the start of the game, and then really turns up the heat as the game goes on! That may mean that this will only get worse, haha
Rajon "Fastbreak" Rondo
Wow this is pathetic. Jose getting owned by Rondo...
Chris Bosh is afraid of Kevin Garnett
Bosh is afraid of every 7 footer from the '95 draft
he's not afraid - he just is outmatched. KG is Bosh + 25%, better in every way possible. It' s just a terrible matchup for Chris, because KG is taller, just as fast and much stronger than him. There aren't many people who outmatch CB in this league, but KG is one of them.
Why can't Kapono and Bosh be like Garnett and Allen..
Nice to see Bosh hitting his shots against guys like Scalibrine and Perkins but not
Our defensive system is a total trainwreck. The Celtics have not taken 1 contested shot! We leave Allen open for a spot up 3. Sam needs to go, honestly.
Can a coach be fired during a game?
Lets go Craptors Lets go
Good lord, we are making rondo look like a superstar.
STOP MAKING PERKINS LOOKING LIKE AN ALL-STAR AND **** RONDO LOOK LIKE CP3
I love it how all the Celtics look like they are Gassed and SWEATING buckets! But no one on the Raps is barely wet!
These refs are brutal, call a horrible foul on Bargs and then don't call those reach ins on Rondo.
Get that ReF fOUL calling Garbage OUTTA HERE!!!! I hate the Bias-ness for the so called NBA Champs
How about a **** moving pick by KG for a change. The only reason bosh couldn't get that block on rondo was cuz KG was shoving him away from the basket in the paint.
Imagine how dumb a team has to be to give Ray Allen not 1 but 2 wide open shots, and Pierce as well.
Am I blind or does it really say the Celts are shooting 66% with 8 minutes left in the 4th Seriously... 66%???
You're not blind, but you may be looking at it upside down. It's actually 99%
Bosh has stop to being afraid of KG and attack him
Bosh is getting pwned by KG
KG with a 3 ... This is turning into pure comedy.
You know what's wrong? The refs are **** biased. If they blow the whistle on Bargs bumping on Perkins and PP, they should blow some whistle on the way KG is pushing and shoving on Bosh. KG woulda been out the game with 6 fouls already.
That's the "So Called" respect that the defending Champs get! BS and ridiculous!... Surprised that charging foul was called at all
Cant Sam draw up a play to give bosh the ball?... Oh wait he has no playbook
At least our 3 point streak is still alive!
Refs making up for some of our calls against us at least
Kapono cannot guard Tony Allen. We'll get owned by Allen
Larry bird was a beast defensively but had the same athleticism as kapono. Why does kapono suck sooo badly then. He needs to watch some Bird tapes
Larry Bird isn't a beast defensively, he was, like Kapono, a good help defender though. The reason why Bird is so much better than Kapono is because Bird practiced 8 hours a day.
Larry Bird was one of the best defenders of all time. He was relentless, he was a trashtalker and people were scared of him. All with the same athleticm as kapono
Atleast we have Bavetta reffing, so we're not going to get sqrewed by the refs.
Bargnani breathes on pierce and Perkins and gets fouls called on him yet bosh gets mauled and no call
Funny how the reffing always sucks when we play Boston.
I know Know for a Fact the Refs are betting on this game
I'm telling you the NBA is rigged. The calls against us are just plain horrible. Something is going on... The officiating is embarrassingly one sided Imo.
Defence for dummies, raptors should invest in that book.
We're getting owned by both Allens
NICE graham just ran over Tony Allen
After this display....it's clear we need a coaching change...I'm done with Sam.
Lmaooo Tony Allen > Raptors
Boston's game plan is quite simple, take Bosh out of the game using Garnett and its game over.
Bosh can't play Garnett
Someone needs to tell Bosh that when he is guarding KG straight up, his hands should not be down at his waist.
Lol if bosh teams up with lebron in NY, wade should go with whatever team Garnett's on. A 40 year old KG will still eat bosh alive.
Dick Bavetta is the only one calling the game fair. Seems like the other refs are intimidated by the Celtics.
The refs will probably call a fourth foul on Bargs for breathing on Garnett.
The Celtics pretty much play every single player tight. The only way to beat them is to get some dribble penetration. One of the reasons the Pacers beat them was because TJ destroyed Rondo and got to the basket at will. He almost single-handedly beat the Celtics. The Raptors have NO ONE who can dribble penetrate.
Rondo is getting to the rim at will
Garnett is a tremendous defender. Omg. Bosh was a scoring beast, and hes making him look like a rookie
Perkins face reminds me of "Iron Man"
Jose, lay off of Rondo you retard! Damn, just let the bugger shoot.
Brian Scalabrine is on the court the game is over
Kendrick Perkins is a ****ing clown. Someone should knock him on his ass.
Perkins lol, Bosh should have punched him in his face
I wish we hav someone like Perkins on the team
Oh god! We are **** when Scalabrene is hitting 3's!
LOL NICE, now that chump Scalabrine is gonna go off
Brian **** Scalabrine just broke us down off the bounce... Worst D ever!
Kapono gets owned by Scalabrine,...
We cant even make a run against the Boston BENCH!
Seriously we can't even defend their Bench.
Were getting out coached by Doc Rivers....DOC RIVERS
Celtics bench is 14-19. Sam is a joke. There is no way that the Celtics bench personnel is better than the Raptors starters.
It's kind of sad that their bench is imposing their will on our starters without much resistance.
Why did we give up w/ 4.20 left???
We gave up with 48:00 left
Rondo set the tone against Jose in the first. Bosh backed down against KG. We made everyone of their players look like superstars
Felt like I was watching the Celtics doing layup drills on us.
The fact that Sam got out coached by someone like Doc rivers should be enough to fire him
He wasn't outcoached by Doc Rivers. The Boston Celtics players outplayed the Toronto Raptors players.
If the Thunder can fire their coach already, there is absolutely no reason why the Raptors can't.
JR Giddens and Bill Walker both impressed in the Utah Flash 92-64 preseason win over the Idaho Stampede. Here are their stats: JR Giddens 28 minutes 16 points on 6-11 shooting, 2-2 from beyond the arc 2-2 on free throws 5 rebounds 3 assists 1 steal 1 turnover
Bill Walker 30 minutes 16 points on 4-7 shooting, 1-2 from beyond the arc 7-7 from the free throw line 3 rebounds 1 assist 3 turnovers
Giddens started and Walker came off the bench but Walker played more minutes. Their next game will be on Friday Nov. 28.
The Celtics had a true team win in this one. The starters all played 30 minutes or less. Seven players scored in double figures. The bench produced 44 points. Every player filled their role and played a solid game. Ray Allen stood out on the starting unit with 21 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists. Tony Allen stood out on the second unit with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. But from start to finish, it was a team win and so the Players of the Game would be the entire team.
Rajon Rondo continued his aggressive play with 15 points, 2 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in just 25 minutes of play. He definitely out-played Calderon in this game.
Perk had a good game and was aggressive going to the basket and on the boards. He finished with 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block in 26 minutes. One area of concern is that he picked up his 8th technical. Bosh locked up his arm and Perk was just trying to get loose and was called for a technical. Poor guy can't catch a break!
For the third game in a row, Pierce had a quiet game with 11 points, 4 rebounds, 2 assists and 3 steals in 24 minutes. Unlike last game, he didn't need to go into the booth and come out as Superman. Instead, he got a nice long rest on the bench as the second unit took care of business.
Leon Powe and Big Baby came off the bench and played against the Raptors starters for much of the time and did very well. Leon had 8 points and 3 rebounds while Big Baby had 7 points and 5 rebounds.
KG had a solid game with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, and 1 block in 29 minutes. His biggest contribution was on the defensive end where he held Chris Bosh to 24 points in 42 minutes, stopping his string of 40+ point games at 2.
Ray Allen had a great game with 21 points, 3 rebounds and 3 assists in 31 minutes. Ray played the most minutes of any of the starters. It is a good thing to be able to blow teams out and keep all the starters at 30 minutes or below.
Tony Allen brought a spark off the bench. He drove to the basket over and over and took a lot of hard hits, but just kept going at them and it paid off. He finished with 15 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 steal. He also played some very good defense. Now if he can do that on a consistent basis, Celtics fans would soon forget James Posey.
Another strong game for Rondo and the C's bench as they knock off the Raps 118-103.
It was clear throughout the game that the Toronto Raptors defense was nonexistent and the C's were red hot from the field shooting 62%. Ray Allen (21 points) went 5 for 7 from 3 with the team combining for 10 of 17 (59%) from deep.
Boston drove to the hoop at will while the C's bench contributed 44 points lead by Tony Allen's 15 points. Allen has been a spark as of late with good performances in Detroit, Minnesota, and today in Toronto. An honorable mention goes to Eddie House who has been key off the bench as well. Boston won its 5th straight game and improves to a league leading 13 and 2 record.
Toronto's defensive and offensive woes were magnified when O'Neal left the game due to a strained knee suffered in Fridays OT loss to NJ. He did not return.
The C's get 2 days off and return home on Wednesday to face the Warriors at 7:30PM ET.
