Griz Maul Celts: Vancouver (?) 111- Boston 103

[Bill Cooper <wfcooper@tiac.net>]

	The Celts ran into a buzzsaw tonight.  The Grizzlies came into
the game with a much higher level of intensity than the Celts, who had
apparently had this game circled as a combination night off/easy
victory since the beginning of the season.  The Grizzlies won with a
combination of outstanding outside shooting and hustle.  Pierce
reportedly reinjured his ankle, and it was thought might not play: In
fact he did play and had one of his better games since he came back
from the injury.  Of course Griffin didn't play.

	For a little while the game did go according to the Celts
imagined script.   After the game was tied early at 6-6, the Celts
burst out to a 24-12 lead with a strong contribution from Potapenko.
The Grizzlies were getting to the foul line, and were able to cut the
Celts lead to 7 at 30-23 by the end of the quarter.  Walker had 5
assists in the first quarter, mainly feeding Vitaly who had 12 points.

	The Grizzlies began to heat up from 3 point range early in the
second, but the Celts were still able to score enough to maintain the
lead.  Pierce had some nice moments on offense, and every time the
Grizzlies got close the Celts were able to fight them off.  With about
3 minutes left the Grizzlies got to within 1 point.  The Celts went on
an 11-5 run to close out the quarter and reproduce their 7 point lead
from the 1st quarter.

	The third quarter was pretty much a repeat of the second up
until the end.  The Grizzlies played hard and constantly cut into the
Celts lead, only to have the C's regain (seemingly control of the
game).  Finally with about 4 minutes to go Bibby was able to tie the
game at 70 apiece.  Anderson responded with a brilliant stretch as he
scored 10 of the next 12 Celtic points, as the C's pushed their lead
back up to 5 at 82-77.  Pitino chose this moment to substitute for
Kenny and the Grizzlies immediately hit 2 treys to take the lead
83-82, as the quarter came to a close.

	Bibby started the game with 2 consecutive threes, as the Griz
got out to a 91-82 lead.  Pitino quickly got Anderson (along with the
other starters) back into the game, but the damage was done.  The
Celts stiffened on defense but were unable to produce on offense.
Every time they did get a score (Pierce had a pair of 3's in the
middle of the quarter), Bibby would respond.  The Celts eventually
fell behind as much as 11 numerous times.  The Celts tried to press
late in the game, but their heart wasn't in it.  The final was
112-103.

	2 big numbers in tonight's game.  Vancouver went to the free
throw line 42 times (to the C's 22), and they were 8-10 on threes
(Bibby 6-6).  That's a big enough edge to win most games and tonight
was no different.  The Celts got a few more offensive rebounds, and
had a few less turnovers, and they actually shot better on 2 pointers
(.472-.438).  

Lineups: 
Celts: Anderson, Pierce, Williams, Walker, Potapenko
Griz: Bibby, Dickerson, Abdur-Rahim, Harrington, Reeves

Players:
Anderson: mixed bag for Kenny tonight.  Other than that streak in the
3rd quarter he shot the ball poorly (7-20), but he did have 8 assists,
4 steals and 0 turnovers.  On the other hand, Bibby went for 33 on
12-20 shooting.  Not that he was actually beating Kenny, on all those
shots.  It was much more that the Celts defense would lose contact
with him.

Pierce: Again, pretty good stats, but not a real smart game for Paul.
He had a charge, took some poor shots down the stretch (though couple
went in).  He did score 23 on 8 of 16 shooting, before he fouled out.
He had 3 turnovers against 1 assist.

Walker: after a very strong 2 or 3 weeks, Toine seems to be drifting
again.  he did get 11 boards tonight, and had at least 3 offensive
rebounds for scores.  He also made some nice passes and ended up with
7 assists (all in the first half).  But he didn't post at all, and
turned the ball over 7 times, while shooting 7-18.  And for the second
game in a row, he got beat up by a true low post player, as Harrington
went for 27 on 11-14, as Toine didn't event try to deny him the post.

Potapenko: was the focus of a big promotion before the game (Shave
your head like Vitaly and get into the game for free).  Anyway, he
started the game fired up, and scored 12 points in the first quarter.
Naturally the effect wore off as the game went along and Vitaly got
into foul trouble.  Still had a more than respectable, 19 points and 8
boards in 23 minutes.

Williams: Had some good moments in the first half, but Pitino seemed
to like Cheany better in the second.  He scored 9 and had 3 boards in
29 minutes.

Battie: Is El Busto Back?  Tony hit a three just before the end of the
game (when it didn't make any difference, but...).  Other than that
his effort was negligible.  He had 5 points, 2 boards and 2 blocks in
16 minutes.

Cheaney: got 25 minutes, I'm not entirely sure why.  He scored 5
points on 2-6 shooting and had 4 boards.  Maybe Pitino likes Cheaney
on the perimeter more than Williams or Pierce.  

Fortson: Just 2 fouls in 9 minutes.  Had 3 points and 4 boards.  I'm
not sure why he played so few minutes.

Barros: 6 minutes.  Not effective.

McCarty: Waltuh's first appearance in quite a while.  He hustled and
was perfect from the field (0-0).  had a very nice touch pass to Toine
on the break.

Pervis: got 4 minutes in the second quarter, when Vitaly and Battie
both got into foul trouble.  Very, Very rusty.

Coaching: Generally I think the impact of the Celts poor bench play
has been exaggerated this season.  Tonight was a different story.  The
Celts had the Grizzlies in the traditional road trip rope a dope
pattern.  Vancouver fell behind, and then were wearing themselves out
trying to get back into the game.  But when Pitino went to the bench
at the end of the third, and Vancouver went on that 14 point run, it
changed the game.  The Celts starters just lost their heart.  Not that
they stopped trying, but they began to throw up desperate shots, and
to take unnecessary chances.  Maybe the Celts starters should have
been able to overcome the hole, the bench put them in, but I thought
they really got discouraged.  They were playing like they were the
ones on the road.  

	The other thing this game highlighted again, was the Celts
inability to pressure the perimeter.  How many times have the Celts
been toasted by a hot hand from the outside?  Of course anyone can
have a good night, but why did Bibby get 6 open looks from the 3 point
line?  The Celts are so programmed to switch and double, that even
when it is costing them, they can't break that habit.

The Celts are now 14-19.  They host the Clippers on Wednesday.

Bill C.
wfcooper@tiac.net