Thoughts on first two games

[jmc@ptc.com]

In the Celtics first game on Friday night against Toronto, the 
problem with their offense was not Kenny Anderson or any individual, 
it was their defensive rebounding.  Toronto was so dominant on the 
offensive boards, that the Celtics almost always were taking the ball 
out from under their basket, and had few clean rebounds and steals 
with which to start fast breaks.  

Kenny Anderson is much better in transition than he is in the halfcourt, 
which is why he didn't do much that first game. 

The Celtics also didn't contest many offensive rebounds, which allowed 
Toronto many easy defensive rebounds and fast break opportunities. 

Antoine also made some foolish decisions in the first game. 


In the second game, Saturday night against Cleveland, the Celtics
concentrated on rebounding.  Riley, Pierce and Walker all got a good 
amount of rebounds, and fought for a lot more that they didn't get, 
which allowed Boston to prevent Cleveland from getting fast break 
opportunities (not that Cleveland looks for them much), and allowed 
them to create opportunities.  It was a sloppy game though, with 27 
turnovers by the Celtics, higher than any game last season, so the fast 
break points were few and far between. 

The first unit was ineffective, but the second unit's trapping 
and pressing forced turnovers and got the Cs back into the game. 

Schintzius got in foul trouble quickly for the second straight night, 
and sat for most of the game.  Riley continued to impress on defense. 
His shot blocking, rebounding and taking up space were superb, but his 
total lack of confidence on offense hurt.  Whenever the ball ended up 
in his hands on offense, he'd immediately look to pass to a teammate, 
and turnovers sometimes resulted. 

Pierce was in foul trouble early, so didn't play much until the 3rd quarter.  
However, Antoine was hogging the ball in the 3rd quarter, so Pierce didn't 
get his hands on it much.  Then in the 4th quarter, Pierce just took over 
the game.  Rebounds galore, a tip-in on a missed Boston free-throw (between 
2 huge Cleveland guys), a block, and multiple drives to the basket which 
rarely ended up in Pierce scoring a basket because the defense was too 
keen on stopping him, so he either dished off to the open man for an assist, 
or drew the foul and went to the line.  In a game in which each team scored 
12 points in the 3rd quarter, Pierce's generating of offense in the 4th 
quarter was like hitting the warp drive... Cleveland just is not used to 
scoring so much so fast, and couldn't keep up. 

My favorite play was with 10 seconds remaining in the game, and Antoine 
Walker having just hit the first of 2 free throws which put the Celtics 
up by 4 and just about sealed the win.  He missed the second free throw, 
and as it rolled slowly off the right of the rim, Ilgauskas had position 
and started to reach up to pluck the rebound.  Pierce, from a couple feet 
behind, made an incredibly fast leap up toward the rim and tipped the ball 
away just as Ilgauskas was closing his hands around it.  He then scrambled 
on the floor while 3 Cavaliers grabbed for the ball, and eventually it hit 
Pierce's foot and a kicked ball was called.  What got me is how Pierce went 
aggressively after the rebound when the game was almost-but-not-quite sealed
and he clearly had a slim chance of getting the rebound.  I also liked his 
incredibly quick leaping ability.  

Still, we kind of already knew that Pierce was amazing from his first 3 
games.  The most encouraging surprise was the defense of Riley. 

By the way, if you haven't seen it, and in case no one has posted it yet, 
there are some nice comments on the Celtics at: 
http://www.nba.com/news/9899preview_zeise.html

Jon Mc