Celts lose to Spurs: San Antonio 103-Boston 92

[wfcooper@tiac.com (Bill Cooper)]

	The Celts emphatically answered the question of who is the
worst non-expansion team in the NBA, with this evenings effort.   The
Spurs, in addition to all their other problems, had to play this
evening without point guard Avery Johnson, who was ill. =20
The Celtics fell behind by as much as 21 early in the third quarter,
but made up most of that margin in a strong run in the last half of
that period.  Down the stretch, though, the C's couldn't stop the
Spurs offensive juggernaut.
	For a few brief shining moments at the start of the game, it
looked as though the C's might not only win the game, but that they
might control it from start to finish.  They rather easily assumed
leads of 11-6 and 14-9.  Early on though, it was also apparent that
the Celts had no stomach for forcing the game to be played at their
preferred tempo, but were instead willing to play the San Antonio slow
down.  The Spurs got some strong play from Dominique Wilkins to take a
lead at the end of the quarter on the strength of a 12-5 run (21-19).
	The Spurs scored the first 6 points of the second quarter to
take a 27-19 lead.  The C's were having increasing problems
controlling their defensive boards as the game wore on, and trailed by
ten 37-27, halfway through the quarter.  Both Todd Day and Antoine
Walker were having miserable shooting nights as the C's offense ground
to a standstill.  What running there was, came from the normally
moribund Spurs.  San Antonio took advantage of two offensive
rebound/put backs by Carl Herrera to score the last 9 points of the
half to take a 51-34 lead.
	The Spurs opened the second half with another 6-2 run to open
their lead up to 21 points (the largest of the game).  In order to
combat the somnolent tempo. M.L. put the press on.  Although, the
Celts were so lethargic in it's execution, that the press didn't have
much apparent effect on the game, it did accelerate the tempo a
little.   More importantly, Eric Williams began to heat up from the
field, as the Celts scored ten unanswered points to cut the Spurs edge
to 11 (57-46). The Spurs recovered their equilibrium and pushed the
lead back up to 14 (65-51) halfway through the quarter.  The Celts
outscored the Spurs 19-5 over the last half of the period to cut the
Spurs lead to 3 going into the 4th quarter, 73-70. =20
	It looked as though the C's might have some momentum, going
into the 4th quarter, but the Spurs quickly dispelled any such
thoughts as they pushed their lead back up to 9 at 81-72, and then 11
at 85-74.  The press, which seemed to have some modest positive
effects in the third, was totally useless in the 4th as the C's
couldn't summon the physical energy to make it moderately effective.
Avery Johnson's replacement, Cory Alexander hit some big shots down
the stretch, and no one on the C's squad except for Eric Williams
could get much of anything done (though Todd Day certainly tried and
tried and tr.....).   After some pointless intentional fouls late in
the game, which helped push the Spurs (who had been tied with the
Grizzlies for the fewest games scoring over 100 going into tonight's
contest) over the century mark, 103-92.
     	The Spurs, who actually aspire to play defense, held the C's
to a .353 shooting percentage in this game (Spurs shot .446). The
Spurs destroyed the C's on the boards 54-37, and 21-17 on the
offensive boards (and that number looks better for the C's than it
actually was).   In fact the Spurs had more offensive boards than the
Celts did defensive boards (21-20).  The Celts did have an advantage
in turnovers 14-19, and both teams did an excellent job from the free
throw line  at an identical 24-28.

Lineups- Celts- Wesley, Fox, Williams, Walker, Szabo
              Spurs- Alexander, Del Negro, Williams, Herrera, Anderson

Players- Williams- For once Eric started slow and finished strong, as
he had almost all of his points in the second half.  He scored 25
points (7-14, 10-11 from the line), and had 5 boards.  Early on the
Spurs were doing a good job of collapsing all of their players into
the paint, and stopping Celtic low post play without fouling.  They
went away from this in the second half and let Williams score some
points and get to the free throw line.

Wesley- after the fine game last night in Dallas, Wesley was a no show
for tonight's game.  He scored 10 points on 2-8 shooting, 2 rebounds,
and 6 assists in 35 minutes.  The Celts actually played their best
ball of the game late in the 3rd quarter when Michael Hawkins was in
the game, though it was hard to see that Hawkins was making much of a
contribution.  Alexander, who played 47 minutes actually outplayed
Wesley.    More importantly than the lack of scoring, Wesley had no
control over the Celtics offense in the 4th quarter, as by default,
decision making fell into the hands of the players who were most
willing to shoot the ball (Walker and Day).

Walker- 10 points on 5-19 shooting, 10 boards, and 4 assists in 42
minutes.    Awful shooting night, as it's surprising that he broke the
25% mark.  The only Celt who did much of anything on the defensive
boards with 7.=20

=46ox- The only Celt who did much of anything in the first half.  Fox
scored 20 (7-15), but didn't get a rebound and had only 1 assist and 1
steal (though he did get credit for 2 blocks).   Of course, guarding
Del Negro for much of the game, Fox didn't have much of a chance to
get any defensive boards.  He didn't handle the ball much at all, and
though he was effective every time he posted the Spurs guards, the C's
didn't go to it more than 3 or 4 times.  Was 4-7 from the arc in 36
minutes.

Day- tough night from the field, as Day just shot the ball and shot
it.  Scored 11 points on 4-15 shooting in 29 minutes.   Was 0-5 from 3
land.  The only Celt who was willing to participate in Carr's press in
the second half as he came up with 5 steals.

Conlon- scored 6 points on 2-8 shooting.  He also had 10 boards,
including 9 offensive boards in 19 minutes.  But the Spurs would just
collapse three players on him when he got the rebound and then
steadfastly refused to go for any of Marty's fakes and foul him.
Marty ended up fruitlessly throwing up a weak shot , and then barking
at the refs for not calling a foul.  He was chiefly responsible for
the C's 17 offensive rebounds, but he's also the reason that they were
far less important than they appear.

Hawkins- played for 11 minutes, especially during the third period,
when the C's made up much of the ground on the Spurs.  Hawkins didn't
seem very effective although he did have 4 assists.

Szabo- Played hard but picked up 4 fouls in 9 minutes.  Got 2 blocks
early in the game.

King\Lister\Hamer- M.L. was grasping for straws in the second half and
played all  three of these guys in the vain hope of finding someone
who would provide a spark.   None of these guys really did, although
they did combine for 8 points and 5 boards in 25 minutes.

Coaching- it seemed to me that M.L. lost  his ability to motivate the
team a little tonight.  When he called for the press in the 3rd
quarter, the Celts really just weren't willing to participate.  The
two guys went into the forecourt to trap, but none of the C's
(especially Fox, Walker and Williams) would take a chance and try to
make the steal, even though it seemed to me that the trap forced
Alexander to throw the ball up for grabs any number of times.   I
think, maybe, that the trap did help by forcing the Spurs to bring the
ball up court slowly, which effected their methodical half court
offense.
	Cousy did affirm that M.L. has decided not to have practices
and shoot around during this road trip in an attempt to preserve what
energy the Celts have.

The C's are now 12-53 and I think that Josh can stop worrying about
the Spurs (they now have 16 wins and are in some danger of slipping to
4th place in the Duncan Derby, behind Philly).  The Celts play again
Sunday, against Minnesota.

Bill Cooper
wfcooper@tiac.com=20