Full Court Press: Celtics vs. Sonics 11/21/04
By Jon Duke
November 21, 2004
Ladies and Gentleman. Let us please stand up in our cubicles, basements, or college dorm rooms to congratulate the Boston Celtics for holding a fourth quarter lead and defeating the “best team in basketball”, Seattle Supersonics. The 9-1 Sonics were winners of their last nine, but I think Dakota in the Morning has more listeners than those who believe that Seattle team can win 60 games. Through 8 games, the Sonics were shooting 60 percent from 3 point land. Now under Jim O’Brien, that long distance proficiency might mean a trip to the All Star Game for Walter McCarty, but like Obie Ball, all statistical anomalies come to an end.
After a complete 48 minute defeat of the Sonics 102-83; your Boston Celtics did what they did could do against the Spurs… or Washington… or Philly… or Indiana. RUN RUN RUN!!! Or more appopriately, keep running in the the 4th quarter. Where on Friday night Gary Payton was to blame for slowing the tempo in the final stanza, this evening Payton looked to push the ball. On GP’s first trip up the court in the 4th quarter, he made a pass ahead of the retreating defense that caught Ricky Davis at the arc, where he buried a 22 foot jumper. That set the tone for the rest of the quarter. There would be easing off the gas pedal as this game neared an end, and the quickened tempo allowed the C’s to build on their lead as the final quarter progressed.
Celtics at the Point:
Payton started this game very slowly (4 turnovers in the 1st half), but his poise and command of the tempo put the Celtics in position to put this game away. Payton did everything that he didn’t do on Friday night, and the difference was a “W”. By February and March, one would hope the entire team would understand the need to push the tempo, but for now Payton is the “Straw that Stirs the Drink” for this roster. In more depressing news: Marcus Banks was unimpressive yet again, which makes us all ask the eternal question: So, Delonte, how’s the thumb?
Celtics on the Wings:
Ok, I was wrong. I am man enough to admit that I was wrong about Jiri Welsch. While Welsch was showing signs of emerging from a Bootsy Collins sized funk, I was diametrically opposed to putting him in the lineup until he proved he could perform. This evening, “Havli-Czech” proved that the best role for him is in the starting line up. His passing, rebounding, and defense complement Pierce’s game well, and this allows Ricky to take a leadership position with the 2nd unit, not to mention providing that unit’s scoring.
Pierce was all over the place (17pts, 6-12FG, 10 rebounds, 7asts/3TO, 3 steals, 2 blocks), and Tony Allen showed at the end why I am excited about him. Some players know how to finish at the hoop (Allen), while others do not (Banks). I can’t believe that Allen will be 4th on the depth chart for very long.
Celtics at the Post:
Blount and LaFrentz were fairly average against a team whose inside presence features Danny Fortson and Vlad Radmanovich. Not to mention cameo appearence by Vitaly “The Ukraine Train” Potapenko. Hardly the Big Three there, but Blount could only muster 12 pts and 4 rebounds while the Fragile Frenchman garnered 11 pts with 7 rebounds. In another rotation change, it appears that Googs has slid down the rotation and was supplanted by Walter McCarty. Anything that involves giving McCarty more time is never a good thing, but Googs has not played well in his last few games. I don’t think Googs is done, but I also wanted to believe that Dominique Wilkins had something left in the tank for the ‘95 season.
Lastly, I am afraid I need to agree with Peter May. Wait, did I just write that!? Dear god! Either I’ve been zapped with 1 million jigawatts or I’ve fallen into somekind of wormhole. Nevertheless this development is scary deserves medication and consultation with a physician. Al Jefferson needs, deserves, and has rightly earned to play more than 20 minutes a game. Right now, Jefferson is the third best post player on the team, and may rate higher than that, but I am afraid of believing the hype too early on. If Blount were playing on par with his performance from his Contract Drive 2004 season, maybe I wouldn’t be so hasty with using Jefferson but he isn’t. Raef has been adequate, but you can’t be sure what to expect from someone who missed 60 plus games the previous season. And while Jefferson’s defense leaves much to be desired, his hustle on the boards and low post scoring are areas where the Celtics have deep deficiencies. Therefore…
Celtics on the Bench:
Doc Rivers should be lauded for finally getting his team to keep running in the 4th quarter, but Al Jefferson should be getting more than 15 minutes against a team with Vlad Radmanovich as its primary power forward. Wheezie can absolutely dominate that matchup on the low blocks, as he could with Nick Collison. I am tired of reading about giving Jefferson more minutes, Doc just needs to do it.
Doc also deserves kudos for mixing up the line up and moving Jiri into the starting role. Nothing that I saw over the past 7 games proved to me that switching Jiri and Ricky’s roles would benefit the team. That is why I am sitting here typing this on my laptop, and Doc is making the big bucks in the nice suits.
In review, the C’s RAN RAN RAN!!! While the Sonics luck from 3 point range seemingly ran out. The Celtics will have a day off on Monday, and then return with two in a row on Tuesday against Clubber Lang’s Indiana Pacers and then on Wednesday in Philadelphia.
