Celts Lay One On Bulls: Boston 104-Chicago 74

[Bill Cooper <wfcooper@tiac.net>]

	The Celts finally had that laugher against the Bulls that most
of the league has been enjoying all season.  The C's got out of the
gate fast, and never looked back.  Potapenko was back in the starting
lineup, and Dana Barros returned from the IR.

	The Celts started off the game playing aggressive defense,
running the ball and moving the rock around nicely for some easy
shots.  They jumped out to leads of 13-6, and then 24-10.  Pitino felt
that Potapenko wasn't pushing Elton Brand around the way he should,
and brought Fortson in, off the bench to provide some extra defense.
The Celts led at the end of the quarter 31-20.

	Barros got into the game, and quickly hit a 3, to help the
Celts push out to a 36-20 lead.  The Celts bench had a field day
against the Bulls, and they got the lead up as high as 52-19.  Pervis
Elision made a rare appearance at the end of the quarter, as Pitino
was being his usual ultra conservative self, trying to preserve fouls.
The Celts led at the half 62-41.

	Given the Celts recent problems in preserving leads, you had
to approach the third period with some trepidation.  But the Celts
continued to play steady basketball (and the Bulls continued to play
poorly).  Andderson played well, as the Celts got the lead up to 30
for the first time at 81-51.  Corey Benjamin got called for a flagrant
foul, taking down Pierce (trailing by 30).  The Bulls put together 3
straight baskets at the end of the quarter, and the Celts led by
"just" 28: 85-57 at the end of period.

	Pitino went totally to the bench at the start if the 4th, but
the Celts continued to wallop the Bulls, getting the lead as high as
37 (95-58).  With offensive non-contributors like Pervis and Overton
on the floor, the Bulls won garbage time, and the final was 104-74,
the C's largest margin of victory on the season.

	The Celts did everything well and the Bulls didn't.  the C's
did have a fairly remarkable 19 steals.

Players:
Walker: I was hoping that Toine would have anot..... well, you know
what I was hoping.  Toine actually had a good game in limited minutes
(28).  He hit on 3-8, had 9 points, 8 boards, 4 assists and 5 steals.
He really seemed to be going out of his way at the start of the game,
not to dominate.  The Bulls guards were trying to front Pierce in the
post and Toine hit him over the top several times for easy baskets or
trips to the free throw line.

Anderson: again short minutes, but Kenny was having an easy time of it
out there.  He was 6-9 from the field including 2-3 on treys.  He also
had 7 assists, and did a solid job of distributing the ball.  

Pierce: Had a lot of size on the Bulls guards, and really tried to use
it.  He was 5-11, and got to the free throw line 7 times.  had 15
points, and 5 steals, as he did a good job of hunting the passing
lanes.  His jumper is still AWOL.

Potapenko: 8 points, 4 boards in 13 minutes.  got down the floor a
couple of times for easy baskets.  Was having a tough time pushing
Brand out of his spot (or was reluctant to pick up fouls in the
process).  cost him some minutes, and the blowout score cost him more.

Griffin: playing better, but the shooting woes continue.  He had 4
points, 3 assists and 4 steals in 20 minutes.

Battie: 9 points and 11 boards in 19 minutes.  All of those minutes
came at power forward.  Continues improved play.

Fortson: first of the bench tonight, to remedy Vitaly's real or
imagined problems with Brand.  Fortson, as usual was able to muscle
Brand out of the spot, and really make things tough for him on the
offensive end.  And, of course Danny picked up 6 fouls in 25 minutes
doing it.  Along the way, thought, he also kicked in 14 points, and 7
boards, so it was a pretty positive effort.  It does amaze me how
little Pitino thinks about matchups.  He put Fortson in against Brand,
and Danny does a nice job.  Then Floyd come in with Chris Anstey, who
immediately started getting open looks on jumpers from 20 feet.
Fortson does just as bad a job against Anstey, as he did well against
Brand.  On defense his strength is of no use, and his lack of outside
comfort kills him.  Isn't that obvious?

Barros: Hit a couple of jumpers early, and seems to have retained that
bit of improvement he was showing before he went on IR.  Had 9 points
and 5 assists in 23 minutes.

Williams: missed his only 3 of the game (I think he had a streak of 3
games in a row with a trey).  Scored 7 points in 24 minutes.

Cheaney: 5 points, 2 steals in 16 minutes.  The Celts bench finally
seems to be solidifying.  It would be nice if Cheaney would kick in.

Overton: everyone scored so Doug had to also.

Pervis: got 11 minutes tonight.  Shot 1-7 and had 6 boards and 5
fouls.  

The Celts play Sunday afternoon at 12:30 on NBC (against the Sixers).
They are now 26-35.

Bill Cooper
wfcooper@tiac.net