Clips OutShoot Celts: LaLaLand 103- Boston 100

[Bill Cooper <wfcooper@tiac.net>]

	I thought this was a rather disappointing performance by the
C's. The Clippers seem to a poorly organized team that puts forth a
minimal amount of effort, and they were shorthanded to boot.  All the
Celts had to do to win was to play hard, straight up basketball, and
these clowns would have played their way out of the game.  After a
slow start (the Celts looked like they were recovering from a case of
Turkey O.D.), it seemed as though the C's were doing exactly that.
They outscored the Clips 38-15 over the last 10 minutes of the 2nd
period, and the first 8 of the 3rd.  As we well know, the Celts can't
stand prosperity, and they soon let the lead slip away.  They got down
by as much as 8 in the 4th quarter, before they nearly rallied to tie
the game in the final seconds.  As advertised, Paul Pierce and Danny
Fortson both played (McCarty and Thomas are off the roster).

	The Celts looked horrible at the start of the game.  They were
sluggish, and it looked as though they were the ones being forced to
play a 1:00 start, as opposed to L.A., who came out of the gate firing
and hitting (these guys are firing coming out of the shower in the
morning:  there's no one on the team with a conscience).  The Celts
stayed close for a little while, but at the end of the first quarter,
the Clippers put on a 13-4 run to take the 31-18 lead.  Fortson came
into his first regular season game as a Celtic, and picked up 2 fouls
in about 10 possessions, and was right back on the bench.

	Pierce also got into the game, and seemed to spark the Celts a
bit, by driving to the basket and trying to pass off for an easy shot.
I say try, because he (and Walker) both made several nice passes to
Battie, who then fumbled the away or missed an easy shot.  meanwhile,
Eric Murdock (the Clips back up point) got hurt, and was forced to
leave the game.  Maybe because of that, or just because they got tired
of running the Clippers really slowed down the pace of the game.
Since they have no half court offense (besides shooting jumpers) this
is self defeating behavior.  Over the last 10 minutes of the second
quarter, the Clippers only scored 5 baskets, most of those fast breaks
off Celtics miscues on the offensive end.  By the half, the C's had
cut the lead to6 at 48-42.

	The Celts, and Walker came out on fire at the start of the
second half.  Toine had been getting into his usual jawing contest
with Odom from the opening moments of the game, and early in the third
he seemed to be channeling that energy in a positive direction.  Of
course he also got called for a T, about 2:00 into the quarter.  But
the Celts opened with a 19-4 run to take a 61-52 lead with 5:30 to go.
Once gain, though, they lost focus.  Keith (Kevin?) Closs (who should
definitely join Pervis on the All Great Haircut! Team) made the Celts
think twice about bringing the ball into the paint.  Meanwhile, the
Clippers  started feeding Maurice Taylor, who was shooting extremely
effectively from the outside.  The Celts still led at the end of the
quarter 76-68, but they really lost a chance to blow the Clippers out
over the last 5:00 of the quarter.

	The Celts went a bit to the outside game themselves, at the
start of the fourth.  But their jumpers weren't going in, and the
Clippers (Taylor) continued to hit.  L.A. opened with a 15-2 run to
take control of the game back with a 83-78 lead).   The Celts
refocused and began to go inside again, but they continued to have
trouble keeping a hand in the face of the Clipper outside shooters.
With 1:04 to go, they were down 101-95.  Battie hit a pair of free
throw, then Taylor finally missed a jumper.  Walker go an easy jam to
pull the Celts to within just 2 with 23 seconds to go.  The Clippers
tried to pass the ball over the Celts defense for the knockout blow,
but Taylor muffed the catch (it was none to good a pass), and the
Celts had the ball with .20 to go.  Walker missed a hook, but Battie
got the board and was fouled with 6 seconds left.  Battie hit the
first, but seemed rattled as he took the second.  It rattled off the
rim, and the Celts fouled.  Hudson hit 2 free throws, and the C's
tried a 3 with 4.7 to go.  Barros got a pretty good look from 25 feet,
but the shot was well short of the mark.  Clippers win 103-100.

	The big deal in this game was turnovers, miscues, and the
conversion thereof.  The Celts committed 17 turnovers which the Clipps
turned into 19 points.  Plus they made any Celtic long rebound into an
easy basket, and they even scored twice off of their own missed free
throws.  Meanwhile, the Clippers had just 11 turnovers (9 points).
Despite that the Celts managed to outshoot them .494-.466.  But L.A.
got 7 more offensive opportunities and shot 8-22 on threes, while the
Celts were 2-11.

Players:
Celts: Anderson, Griffin, Williams, Walker, Potapenko
Clippers: Hudson, Piatkowski, Odom, Nesby, Taylor

Players:
Walker: shot 12-20 for another pretty solid night (especially
considering the 1-4 on threes).  He seems to be favoring the hook more
and more as this hot streak goes on.  Maybe that's going to turn into
his go to shot.  Had just 5 boards, 2 assists and 4 turnovers in 42
minutes.  He should have had more assists, but several nice passes got
dropped or mishandled by teammates.  He played very well up until the
middle of the third quarter, but seemed to go quiet after that.

Pierce: came back with a roar.  Probably overdid things his first game
back with 17 shots, 12 free throws and 7 assists in 34 minutes.  He
did help the team get off the offensive mark with penetrating and
passing in the first half.  He actually seemed reluctant to shoot the
ball for the first 10 minutes he was in the game.  Pitino started him
in the second half, though, and all inhibitions were cast aside.  He
definitely went with the outside shot too much at the start of the 4th
quarter. 

Anderson: 18 points, 5 boards, 5 assists in 40 minutes.  Probably too
much time for him to be playing.   didn't really have the jumper going
tonight, and got most of his baskets going hard to the hoop.

Griffin: another typical A.G. game.  8 points, 9 boards, 2 assists and
3 steals in 35 minutes.  I would have liked to see him penetrate more,
as he was guarded by the Lementable Piatkowski for most of the game.

Potapenko: played well with 10 points and 4 boards in 19 minutes.  I
think Pitino limited his playing time because Taylor was hitting from
the perimeter so much.  Not that Battie or Walker did any better with
him.

Williams: back to the perimeter again.  Apparently Toine was the only
one who remembered what a nice job Eric did in the post in the last
game, and tried to get the ball to him a couple times down low.  The
rest of the game, though, Eric was floating around the 3 point line.
1-6, for 2 points, 6 boards and 2 assists in 23 minutes.

Battie: really had a problem handling the ball in this game.  He
scored 8 (2-5 from the field 4-8 from the line), had 7 boards and 3
turnovers (seemed more like 6 or 7) in 26 minutes.  I really can't
understand why he played so much. 

Fortson: doesn't seem anywhere near ready to play.  No timing, and no
idea what to do.  Picked up 1 board and 3 fouls in 8 minutes.  Watch
for him to play a lot if the C's get involved in a blow out.

Barros: 2 points (1-3). 0 assists in 8 minutes.  I guess he didn't
match up with Hudson (who looks to be a promising point guard).

Cheaney: probably missed his chance over the last 3 weeks to establish
himself.  From now on P.T. is going to be hard to come by.

Opposition Flash in the Pan of Note: Odom actually did show a couple
of flashes in this game.  Made a real nice pass on the break in the
first half (50 footer, splitting 2 Celtic defenders for an easy
score).  Also had a couple of impressive drives.  On the other hand,
Ford is taking him out on defensive possessions (not a good sign).
Another big guy who can dribble (a la Walker).  When will people
understand that what made Magic special was his anticipation and
vision, not his handling skills.  Anyway, Odom will disappear the way
of all Clipper draftees, and then reemerge in 5 years or so, as a
solid contributor for someone.

The Celts are now 11-15.  They go to Sacramento on Tuesday (8:00
start).  What did the C's do to get these great times on the West
Coast?  This is great.

Bill C.
wfcooper@tiac.net

P.S. I can't help seconding Dorine's observation that as the season
goes on Tommy is become increasingly acerbic in his comments on the
team.  I think he actually criticizes the Celts more than the refs
now.  Certainly more than he did in that last winter march under M.L.
He must really be unhappy about the direction of the team.