CBW review: Celtics vs. Bulls

[snoopy1@xxxxxxx]

Ever since the embarrassing opening night loss to the Chicago Bulls, Boston 
has dominated the Bulls in each of the games they've played.  The Celtics 
were once again on a roll, and looking to take advantage of poor games by 
the Philadelphia and New Jersey teams in recent days to open an Atlantic 
Division lead.

The Bulls before the game appeared to be as ever, young and 
enthusiastic.  Shammond Williams got the start in tonight's game, as Tony 
Delk rested his knee.  In previous games, the Bulls had assisted the 
Celtics by turning the ball over early and often.  Coach Bill Cartwright of 
the Bulls indicated to that he was working on better communication in his 
backcourt.

First-quarter:

Tony Battie opened the game by the drawing the offense foul off Chicago in 
gaining possession of the ball for the Celtics.  A quick pass to Eric 
Williams for a sure jumper gave the Celtics the opening points and lead of 
the game.  The Celtics defense apparently was getting early start this 
evening.  Despite being given several opportunities on rebounds by Chicago, 
Boston seemed unable to convert points in the opening minute of the game.

This resulted in both teams taking two minutes to score to points.

This apparently was of those games were the Celtics got their scoring 
drought in early, based on a possession where Pierce made a very nice past 
to Shammond Williams, only to see the ball rim out of the hoop.  Ragged 
play on both sides resulted in Chicago taking the lead on free throws.

The Celtics remedied the problem quickly by finding Tony under the basket 
once more.  Has anyone bothered to read scouting reports on Tony Battie 
besides Orlando?  Paul Pierce made a nice effort to try to save an 
out-of-bounds rebound, but he was unable to do so.  Still it showed good 
action and hustle on his part.  On the other end several Celtics were under 
the basket with their arms up playing active defense including Eric 
Williams and Pierce.

Tony Battie showed patience and poise under the basket after receiving a 
pass for he couldnt do anything offensively with, by sending the ball back 
out to Eric Williams for a deep two.  Then Baker came in and promptly 
committed a foul.  With half the quarter over, the Bulls were out 
rebounding Boston. Then Baker surprised me by hitting a 17-foot jump 
shot.  But with four minutes in 25 seconds to go, the score was tied at 12.

After the timeout, Chicago hit both free throws, and on the other and 
Pierce responded by going to the hoop and scoring while drawing the 
foul.  Chicago had made five of eight free throws, while this was Boston's 
first trip to the line.

The Celtics made what I think was an offensive mistake, by sending then 
Baker into a one-on-three situation with no help. Trent Hassle blocked 
Pierce's shot for the second time in almost as many minutes.  Boston, at 
that point was shooting 42% vs.  Chicago at 39%, yet Chicago led by two 
points.  The difference was obviously at the free throw line.  The Celtics 
defense allowed Tyson Chandler to get 2 slams in the quarter.  Pierce made 
both free throws on the next possession (YAY!)

With Baker picking up his second foul, Bruno came into the game.  Antoine 
Walker muscled in for a basket and somehow drew a foul.  Chicago ended the 
quarter leading the game 24-23.



Second Quarter:


Second-quarter play opened with Chicago among other things, blocking the 
Celtics shots.  The Celtics had been unable to score from the field since 
near the end of the first quarter.  Their free throw shooting was really, 
really bad!

The Celtics had an exceptionally bad stretch with just over 8:37 to go 
where they failed to get to consecutive rebounds despite outnumbering 
Chicago 4 players to 1.  On the third try, they got the ball, then tossed 
it away.

With 7:51 to go, Chicago led Boston 31-25.  The Celtics or playing very 
badly, and there seemed to be no one player responsible.  Everyone was 
missing assignments, not to mention missing shots.  When Antoine Walker in 
wasn't getting called for an offensive foul, Tony Battie was getting air balls.

Chicago's bench outscored Bostons, 12-5.  The Celtics had yet to score a 
field goal with just under five and a half minutes to go away in the 
quarter.  Even a team like Chicago, not playing very well in general, is 
going to ad to the lead when you give them an opportunity like that!

Not a single player on the Celtics seemed to be able to shoot well, until 
Tony Battie finally scored from the field with 4:30 left in the 
quarter.  Chicago, on the other paw, was saving the ball inbounds, making 
tough shots, and generally out playing Boston.  The score was 43-28, with 
3:42 to go.  The Chicago Bulls, amazing as it sounds, were totally 
dominating the Boston Celtics. Eric Williams finally hit an open shot, in 
the hopes of salvaging something from this truly horrible quarter.  Then 
Baker got a rebound and Boston came upcourt.   Pierce fed the ball to 
Baker.  Baker was fouled going up to the basket.

Paul Pierce sat down, needing a break I suppose, from hauling up all those 
bricks.  A timeout called with 2:37 to go, had the Bulls leading 
46-31.  After the timeout, Pierce came back in.  Paint points favored 
Chicago 20-8.  Eric Williams then hit a deep two, a possible light at the 
end of this Big Dig sized tunnel.

Jay Williams of the Bulls got an offensive foul against Tony Battie, who 
contributed a little extra acting ability to draw the officials 
attention.  The Celtics salvaged a bad play as Walker lost the ball, and it 
balanced right into the hands of Paul Pierce, who was fouled taking it up 
to the basket.  Pierce hit both free throws!! (Dont laugh, its one of the 
few things the Celtics were doing well by now)

The quarter ended as Chicago prevented a last second hoop, leading Boston 
48-37.

Halftime

Cookie break!

From the very beginning of this game the Celtics play was mediocre, and 
got worse from there.  While the defense was occasionally adequate, the 
offense descended into true misery it was one of the worst offensive 
exhibitions I've seen the Celtics put on sense that really a really bad 
game against Washington early in the season.

The Bulls by comparison, played consistently, if raggedly, and earned every 
single bit of their lead.  The Celtics sharing was down 29 percent truly 
horrible!!  Extras such as rebounding and free throws hardly matter at this 
point, without some form of consistent offense the Celtics are going 
nowhere fast.

In the first half the Bulls shot the ball better and more often than the 
Celtics--they went 18-45 to shoot 40%; as the Celtics went 12-41 for 29% 
from the field.  Chicago also held a free throw lead, going 9-16 as Boston 
went 12-14.  The only good sign there was that the Celtics were 86%, while 
Chicago was 56%.  The three-point line was no friend to the Celtics, who 
went 1-8, as Chicago made 3-8.

The Celtics would need to do two things in order to have any chance of 
winning this game.  Play truly outstanding defense, and shoot the ball like 
they had some vague idea of where the basket was actually 
located.  Otherwise, the only positive from this game from the Celtics 
point of view would be to keep Way of the Ray in the prediction list hunt 
for another couple of days.



Third-quarter:

Boston opened the third-quarter a much the same way as they had finished 
the second, by missing a shot.  Tony Battie quickly picked up his third 
foul less than a minute dawn in the quarter.  The Celtics were now down to 
shooting 28% from the floor.  Boston, in the second quarter had only shot 
18%.  My cat can shoot 18% from the floor, and shes six months old.

They only good thing about the Celtics poor showing in the third was the 
Bulls were equally bad.  The Celtics could no longer blame a discrepancy of 
free throws, as while Chicago had gone to the line a few times more, 
Boston's percentage was actually better.

Eric Williams, who moments ago had picked up his fourth foul, scored a 
basket.  But the Celtics problems continued, as Shammond Williams failed to 
finish a fast break; and Walker, despite going for the rebound, was unable 
to cleanup.  Then Paul Pierce, on following play, was charged with 
offensive foul going to the basket.  The Celtics just could not seem to get 
anything done consistently.  It's not like Chicago was intimidating the 
Celtics, the good guys just simply weren't getting it together.

Had the Celtics been playing virtually any other team in the NBA, they 
would be down by 30 points or more by this time.  Only the fact that it was 
Chicago, which was shooting a little better than usual, kept the game from 
being a total blowout was over half of the third-quarter to go.  With 4:47 
left, Chicago led by double digits.

So far, the only downside to the game for Chicago was Trent Hassell picking 
up his fourth foul.  Everything else seemed to be going Chicago's 
way.  Marshall of the Bulls hit another three-point shot.  He was having 
one of those nights, as was the entire Chicago team.  With 2:25 to go 
Chicago was leading 65-49.  The way that things were going, the Celtics 
would not need a run, they would need an all out marathon.

Things got worse as with 1:22 go Tony Battie picked up foul No. 5.  His 
offense was no better than anyone elses on the Celtics tonight, but at 
least he was playing relatively solid defense.  Finally some good news, as 
Paul Pierce, after losing the ball on a questionable foul, received a lob 
fast break pass, for a slam.  This reduced the Chicago lead to 11 points as 
the Bulls played for the last shot, which they did not get.  The Celtics 
attempted a three quarter court heave, which did not go in.  The score was 
67-56, Chicago leading, at the end of 3.



Fourth-quarter:

The lead was big, but far from insurmountable, based on previous Celtics 
games.  Paul Pierce had another outside shot, to try to begin to run to 
beat the Bulls.  Walker then stole the ball and took at all the way for 
two.  This prompted a Chicago timeout with 10:18 to go and the Chicago lead 
cut to only eight points.

Following the timeout to Celtics were able to close the lead with another 
point, but then Walker picked up his fifth foul.  Pierce's shot on the next 
possession was short.  But he grabbed the defensive rebound, and got the 
ball up on offense.  The Celtics miss was followed by a Chicago miss, and 
Pierce once again took the ball up court.  Swift passes lead to another 
Walker three-point shot.  It was now a three-point game, with 8:00 to 
go.  Chicago then committed an offensive foul, knocking Antoine Walker to 
the floor.  This led to another Chicago timeout, with 7:49 to go and the 
score now 68-65, with the Bulls barely holding the lead.

After the timeout, thus far in the final quarter Boston had outscored 
Chicago 9-1.  This increased in Boston's favor when Walker hit another 
basket for two.  It was now a one-point game with 7:22 go.  Jalen Rose had 
a basket, to up to lead to three.  The Celtics next possession came up 
empty.  Pierce fought for a rebound on the next play, preventing the Bulls 
from scoring again.  The Good Guys tried to put the ball through at the 
other end, only to be blocked by Chicago; which then scored on a hard 
basket of its own.  They missed the free throw, but Marcus Pfizer of 
Chicago got fouled going up for the rebound of the missed free throw, 
resulting in sending Pfizer total line for two.  Justice prevailed as 
Marcus missed the first.  Unfortunately, he made the second.

Bremer took up the ball into Baker, for an easy two.  Then Paul Pierce 
stole the ball and was fouled putting up a shot.  Pierce made both free 
throws-great!  It was now a two point lead again with 5:42 Chicago leading, 
73-71.

Only Bakers foul prevented Marshall from scoring an easy two on the 
following Chicago possession.  He made both free throws, pushing the lead 
up to four points.  Then Baker's missed shot on the next possession 
rebounded back to Chicago.

Walter McCarty tried to take a rebound, and ended up sending Chicago to the 
line again.  The Celtics were in danger of losing their 1/2 game lead in 
the Atlantic division.  Pierce was fouled driving to the hoop.  That gave 
Marshall his fifth foul.  Not that it made a difference.

Pierce somehow got a shot to go in, and it was a four-point game yet 
again.  But Donyell Marshall promptly sank a three-point shot to make the 
Celtics take a timeout with 4:02 to go--and the lead back up to seven points.

Following the timeout, Marshall blocked another Boston shot.  The rebound 
on Chicago's missed shot went back to Boston, and Eric Williams went for 
the three.  He missed.  Chicago took the ball again and missed again, 
thanks to Paul Pierce grabbing the rebound.  Pierce drove to the hoop once 
more and got two as he was fouled.  He made the free throws, to drop the 
lead to 4 with 3:00 to go.  Chicago took to ball over halfcourt, Jay 
Williams then sank a three.  Pierce got called for traveling, turning the 
ball back over to Chicago.  Walter McCarty tried to steal the ball and 
failed. Antoine Walker then fouled out of the game with 2:18 to go to.  He 
had 16 points and nine rebounds.

Chicago sank both free throws among and things did not look good for 
Boston.  Pierce's shot was again blocked, this time by Jay Williams.  When 
things go bad, they just go completely bad.  The Celtics got back quickly 
on defense, and Chicago played time off the clock.  The ploy worked as the 
made a shot clock basket and a score with 1:14 to go was 87-79 favoring 
Chicago.

The Bulls had another break grow their way when the rebound went out of 
bounds supposedly off Boston.  The parade to the free throw line began with 
1:06 to go.

The game depended on Chicago making its free throws-which so for they had 
not done so well-and Boston being able to score quickly-which THEY had not 
done so well.  At first, it worked, as the first free throw shooter for 
Chicago went one out of two.  With Walker out of the game coach Jim O'Brien 
obviously depended on Paul Pierce for all his offense.  But, despite 
Boston's best efforts, they could not score, while Chicago seemingly could 
not be stopped.  The game ended as Chicago beat Boston 94-83.


And make no mistake here, kidscant blame the refs for this onethe Bulls 
beat Boston, by playing tougher defense, and making the second quarter a 
Celtics nightmare.  That one went 24-14.  The last two quarters were dead 
even in points, and Chicago outscored Boston by one point in the 
first.  This game, lacking a serious Celtics run, was over at halftime.

Now, the bulls are making playoff noises, while the Cs leave town with 
paper bags over their heads.  Outrebounded 58-46, outshot from the arc, and 
the tough Celtics could not muster the strength to overwhelm a team that 
is in every respect, younger, weaker, and less experienced.  About the only 
bright spot was that the Celtics finally went 20-25 at the free throw line 
for 80%.  Even Walkers having one of his better games against Chicago was 
negated by his fouling out.  Pierce was doing what he could, but I didnt 
see anyone else stepping up and saying, Give me the ball, I can do 
it.  Because no one was doing it.  Take away the rash of bad three 
attempts and the only one with a decent shooting percentage is Tony Battie.


There were no heroes in this game, kids.  They should have won this one 
going away.  What went wrong?  Name it, it happened.  Bad shot selection, 
no movement on offense, not a heck of a lot of rebounding against a team 
thats not exactly a bunch of giants.  Silly fouls.  The list goes 
on.  Call it a really bad night.  But the Celtics cant afford nights like 
this.  Its why people dont mention the Celtics as likely contenders for 
the Playoffs.  Its why people laugh out loud when suggesting that Walker 
and/or Pierce should make the All-Star team.  Yes, its rightly impressive 
when they put the big teams down.  But they should be taking down the 
lesser teams, too.  Yes, in about three yearsassuming Jerry Krause doesnt 
do anything stupid come the trade deadlinethe Bulls are going to have a 
heck of a team.  But its not there yet, and it should not be coming at the 
expense of the Celtics.

The Miami Heat come up next.  Theyre in something of a funk, and Pat Riley 
is in a snit over the refs, too.  Theyre going to be looking for someone 
to pound on, and Patty has never minded a win at the expense of the 
Celtics.  If Boston wants to be taken as a serious team, then they need to 
look at Wednesdays game as a demonstration of getting their stuff together 
and keeping it that way.  Anything less than a 20 point blowout is going to 
be a moral victory for Miami and more ammunition for those who do not like 
the Celtics.

And thats the view from the doghouse.