Celtics get KO against Mavs without KG
The Celtics have found a new rhythm to their winning ways against one of the West’s best, even without Kevin Garnett, taking a 96-90 victory against the Dallas Mavericks last night. There are so many story lines to this game, I don’t know where to begin! Well, I attended the game, and on the jumbotron, we saw that Bill Russell, Coco Crisp and Jonathan Papelbon were in the house. However, my favorite shot on the big screen was a somber-looking Mark Cuban at the end of the game!
The Celtics had to go small against the Mavericks, who sport a front line of 7-footers with Nowitzki and Dampier backed-up by Diop. Kevin Garnett did not suit up . . . he wasn’t even present in street clothes! My guess is that Garnett was getting needed rest or treatment, and as emotional as he gets, he would giving his abdomen an unneeded work-out cheering for his team if he were there. Pollard did not suit up either, so the Celtics had to rely on Perkins, Scalabrine, Powe and Posey in the front court (Big Baby was a DNP).
While the Mavericks seemed to control the boards and get many put-backs during the first half, the Celtics front line of Powe and Posey really did a good job of regaining control of the paint in the second half, with Powe in particularly coming up with some critical offensive rebounds in the 4th quarter.
But we can’t leave the subject of the Celtics rebounding without paying tribute to the Celtics point guard, Rajon Rondo, who played a terrific game, especially in the 2nd half. It seemed as if he were the victim of bad officiating in the first half and was going to be a non-factor getting stuck with 3 fouls early, but he still lead the Celtics in rebounds at the half with 7. Of course he finished the game with a double-double with 14 points and 12 rebounds. How does he do it? And in fact, he got the story line in yahoo.com game recap for out foxing Nowitzki and getting a key offensive rebound and put-back with 40 seconds left in the game to essentially seal the victory. Go Rondo!!!
From the onset, it seemed as if the Celtics had the upper hand in this game, getting up by 7 after the 1st quarter and holding Nowitzki scoreless during that time. However, they never gained control in the first half, as the Mavs came back to tie the game. Much of the Celtics offensive punch in the 1st half was due to Ray Allen, who was his old scoring self, with 21 of his 26 points coming in the 1st half. After visiting with my Celtics17 friend Justin Poulin in the press box at half-time, I come to find that Ray Allen was snubbed in the All*Star game roster selection, and perhaps he was showing the NBA what they were missing. In response, I like Henry Abbott’s line on this, “You only get three All-Stars if your team just dominates the first half of the season. Oh wait, I guess Boston did that.”
Proceeding to the second half, we saw Nowitzki come alive for the Mavs, along with Josh Howard who was giving the Celtics problems the entire game. However, it was the Celtics who maintained control by garnering a 58-48 lead early in the 3rd quarter with a lot of successful slashes to the rim by Pierce and Rondo. However, Nowitzki proceeded to score 15 points closing out the 3rd quarter, cutting the Celtics lead to 71-70.
The Mavs kept pace and actually took a 79-76 lead with 8:00 minutes left in the 4th quarter, thanks in part to their 3rd year forward Brandon Bass who couldn’t seem to miss from the baseline. But here is where we get to mention the Rondo, Posey and Powe again. Going forward in the game, they did a great job on the boards to deny the Mavericks of the easy second opportunities they were getting up to that point, and Celtics team defense was locked in as well.
While Rondo showed some wizardry in getting to the hoop at the end, with Powe seemingly shadowing Rondo to get key offensive rebounds, it was all James Posey in the critical last 20 seconds of the game. He grabbed the final defensive rebound, was fouled and sank the two free throws, then stole the ball from Nowitzki, and sank two more free throws, and simply was entitled to rejoyce in this rare Celtic defeat of the western powerhouse Dallas Mavericks.
For player of the game, it would be difficult to chose between the other three that came up big for the Celtics. Pick your poison NBA: Rondo, Powe or Posey?
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18 Responses to “Celtics get KO against Mavs without KG”
February 1st, 2008 at 9:56 am
“But we can’t leave the subject of the Celtics rebounding without paying tribute to the Celtics point guard, Rajon Rondo, who played a terrific game, especially in the 2nd half. It seemed as if he were the victim of bad officiating in the first half and was going to be a non-factor getting stuck with 3 fouls early, but he still lead the Celtics in rebounds at the half with 7.”
No kidding. The Celtics would have went into the half up by double digits if it weren’t for some of the ridiculous calls Dallas was getting. It evened out a bit in the end, I suppose.
February 1st, 2008 at 10:22 am
Is Baby in the Dog Hizz-House? Or no?
February 1st, 2008 at 10:54 am
[…] from the Other Side - Mavs Celtics stay perfect against the West with 96-90 win Celtics 17 Celtics get KO against Mavs without KG NBA.com Steal of the night - James Posey Unedited race to the MVP mailbag TrueHoop Big […]
February 1st, 2008 at 10:56 am
[…] from the Other Side - Mavs Celtics stay perfect against the West with 96-90 win Celtics 17 Celtics get KO against Mavs without KG NBA.com Steal of the night - James Posey Unedited race to the MVP mailbag TrueHoop Big Easy - big […]
February 1st, 2008 at 11:33 am
Great recap Bob.
Except for illness, I would have been able to meet you and Jug.
Alas, I watched a great game on TV.
That was a fun one. Go Rondo! Posey was huge, and Powe played very well.
T
February 1st, 2008 at 11:42 am
T,
When I was talking to Jugs, I looked down and saw the CTPost label on the press table, and thought it would take something to keep you from being at this game. Hope you feel better. Thanks
-MVBob
P.S. I enjoyed you article on the wine analogy to the Celtics. You are a connoisseur at heart!
February 1st, 2008 at 11:47 am
marc - I’m pretty sure that Big Baby hasn’t been himself since that fabulous Detroit Pistons game on January 5th. I think it is his right knee that was injured, and Doc’s going easy on him. Amazing that it it weren’t for that injury, we wouldn’t have seen what we have in Lean Powe, who was coined at “The Grown Man” after the summer league last year.
February 1st, 2008 at 12:03 pm
Zeke - I suppose you’re right about the Celtics getting a few calls the second half, but maybe I’ve been listening to Tommy Heinsohn too much, I only see the bad calls against the Celtics that were made against Pierce and others, and calls that should have gone against Nowitzki that they put on Hassell or George instead - it’s frustrating.
February 1st, 2008 at 1:09 pm
Good Call Bob re: Baby……i’m really liking what i’m seeing from “The Grown Man” out there. If it weren’t for his hustle plays (along with Posey and Rondo–HUGE!) the Celts woulda dropped that game last night.
I think Doc has to be pleased about the reserve big-men right now. Leon and Baby are active, and can def hit free throws at a better clip than Perk. The Drive&Dish is getting the big-men easy lay-ups!! (killer to opposing defense)
Give me Powe and Baby activity/development over a Pollard-option 8-days a week!
February 1st, 2008 at 1:36 pm
Nice write up. Powe has always been a hustle player. Don’t forget he led Pac-10 in scoring AND rebounding. But for an in-between size, he would already be a force in the NBA. He’ll find a way. And Rondo — great game. with drafting like this, who needs high picks?
February 1st, 2008 at 4:06 pm
[…] Celtics 17 Celtics get KO against Mavs without KG […]
February 1st, 2008 at 5:48 pm
Its going to be the Lakers and the Celtics in the finals, now that the Lakers got Pau Gasol. They now have Pau, Kobe, Bynum (when he gets back), and Odom going against KG, PP, Ray, and BIG BABY!!
February 1st, 2008 at 10:10 pm
I hope there is some sane reason for Glenn Davis’ absence. Wait I know, Scalabrines’s sensational stat lines night after night. Stats maybe overrated but zero points and zero rebounds are hard to dismiss
February 1st, 2008 at 11:39 pm
Rondo is the real deal. It was a great move to Damon go to the Spurs. The reserves are playing off the emotion they have learned from KG on defense.
The defense on Dirk was great at the end of the game. Some of the moves that Rondo made going to the basket were amazing (even though many times he missed the lay up.
Celtic Pride
February 2nd, 2008 at 12:30 am
I am totally diggin’ Leon “Pow”e and his spark off the pine! It seems like every time he gets in there, he finds the open spot for a great dish-n-dunk or pulls down a huge board. Even more, he has a great touch at the line. Smooth as silk! I like Perk for his size and hustle but I think I’d give it to Pow to make something happen if I had to choose. All in all, great showing for the C’s without their floor general in attendance!! They (whoever “they” REALLY is) have talked about how the Celts need to show that they truly can run with the big dogs and I think that’s exactly what they showed against the Mavs. The reserves understand their roles and play with heart. They fill voids when PP has an off night or KG is out. This is truly a team!! Bring on Phx, SA, and the rest!!
I am honored to bleed green!
February 2nd, 2008 at 12:13 pm
What’s going on bc I am just here 2 say KG 4 MVP and boston going all the way this year from baseball football and now basketball let go bc this is our year for real and yea I can’t wait to play the phx and the sp and the rest of the west so they could be see that bc is 4 real and the big 3 are 4 real and wait 4 ray not going to the allstar game he will be showing why he should have gone and that the big 3 should have been there not just 2out of 3 but it cool let go bc I am a fan 4 life and 1 more thing pp 4 MVP
February 2nd, 2008 at 1:49 pm
In the Herald today re: Big Baby’s DNP’s . . . “He’ll get his chance,” Rivers said. “I keep saying we’re doing it by committee with our bigs, and I didn’t like the matchups for him [against the Mavs].” So I guess he is healthy.
Marc - agreed about Davis and Powe, but Pollard also brings something too - he always stuffs the stat in short minutes - he’ll be good to have for the playoffs
Gnibtay - gotta take pride in the late draft picks that are playing like blue-chippers!!!
Jimbo - Rondo was showing his special skills against the Mavs, even when the refs tried their best to keep him out of the game - I was never a fan of bringing Damon, and am actually fine with what they have at PG as long as Rondo is healthy. TAllen provides some defensive PG and I think offensively they don’t rely on their PG (although Rondo could change that if he keeps it up).
Perky - well said!!
Kevon - I’m not ready to let go of Allen’s all*star snub either - it is an oversight, and one that the Celtics can use for further motivation . . . so that’s the upside of the bad call by the NBA.
BTW - The 14 all-stars reserves selected — seven each from the Eastern and Western Conferences — were chosen by the 30 NBA head coaches, who were asked to vote for seven players in their respective conferences — two guards, two forwards, one center and two players regardless of position. They were not permitted to vote for players from their own team. . . . so we can blame the opposing coaches for snubbing Ray Allen . . .
February 2nd, 2008 at 11:42 pm
Powe is a beast! Rondo is the new Rambo. It’s amazing how much better this team is over last year, especially when you take KG out of the equation.
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