Baby steps
The Boston Celtics navigated their way through the toughest stretch of their relatively easy early schedule by going 3-0 over three and a half days.
The first game was a 45-point blowout of the New York Knicks on Thursday night at the Garden. The C’s boarded a plane and had to play the next night in Miami. Boston’s defense held Dwyane Wade to 10 points on 2-of-11 shooting and contained the aging Diesel (13 points) to sweep the home-away back-to-back. The C’s had to hop a plane the next day and be ready for a 12:30 pm start on Sunday morning against the Cleveland LeBrons.
King James ended up sitting out with a sprained finger he suffered in a Wednesday night loss to the Pistons. The anticipated sequel to the Celtics overtime loss to Cleveland last Tuesday didn’t materialize, but the game wasn’t as easy as it should have been for the C’s. At least not for a half. One positive for LeBron being out was his sideline wardrobe. He had on a navy blue turtleneck and a crushed velvet navy trenchcoat with huge golden buttons. He was dressed like an admiral on the Yellow Submarine. It was great. It couldn’t have been any better unless he dressed up like Wise.
 Lebron James talked with Paul Pierce before the game, possibly about yachting. (AP Photo) |
As for the actual game, the Celtics played the first two quarters like they did a little more than rest after Friday night’s game in South Beach. The only starter with a pulse for the first 24 minutes was Ray Allen, who scored a game-high 20 points.
The lowlight of this game had to be the 19-year-old referee Bill Forte calling back-to-back technical fouls on Paul Pierce and Doc Rivers after a bad call near the end of the second quarter. Backstreet Boy Bill apparently felt the need to take control of a game that wasn’t chippy, or rough at all. Just poorly officiated.
The highlight of this game, probably the ugliest of the season for Boston win or lose, was the contributions of Glen Davis. Big Baby can make even the ugliest of games interesting.
Davis scored nine points and grabbed seven rebounds in 21 minutes before fouling out. Big Baby had a steal and a big block to end the first half, but to me, it’s his reactions during the game that make him a fan favorite. When he makes a foul he puts his hands on his head and grimaces like he just cost the team the championship. In the first half when Davis went to block a shot and was called for a foul, Doc Rivers yelled for him to take the charge. Later in the game Big Baby took a charge, and he was called for two fouls trying to take other charges. Each time he was given a foul he lay sprawled out on the floor for a few extra seconds. After he fouled out of the game the folks remaining at the Garden gave him a well-deserved standing ovation.
Big Baby played 31 productive minutes in Thursday’s blowout of the Knicks and again showed flashes of talent, as well as room for learning. Doc clearly took note of the steps Davis has taken, playing him early in the first half with the game still in the balance. With the quality of veteran bigs on the team it is a perfect situation for Big Baby to develop.
Three things I thought while searching eBay for a crushed velvet trench coat …
He’s so philosophical!
He’s so spiritual!
"We just didn't have the energy we normally come out with," said Pierce, who had seven points in 30 minutes. "I don't know if part of it was (the game) being early. I don't know if part of it was LeBron not playing, but we usually come out with a better start."
He’s so not a morning person!
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The Celtics will go 10-3 the rest of december leaving them at 24-5, and still undefeated at home. Hopefully by then Marc Stein will have Boston number 1 in the power rankings. Maybe big baby will have elevated his game to a Joe Kleine type of level by mid January. As long as someone steps up to take Scalabrines minutes the team shouldn't have much of a drop off.