CBW review: Celtics vs. Houston Rockets, Feb 24, 2003

[snoopy1@xxxxxxx]

Celtics vs. Houston Rockets Mon Feb 24, 2003

Once more, a raspberry to NBAtv.com and NBA Entertainment, for making
tonights game unavailable to 99% of the people who paid for the League
Pass.  Once more, Im forced to rely on the NBA ticker and hope for the
best.  Im also relying on lots of painkiller, to stay upright for
this.  Onward

This was the first home game since the rough west coast trip that turned
out surprisingly well for the Good Guys, despite the disappointment of the
two losses.  Now, they would have to deal once more with Houston, which
meant Yao Ming.  The only good news is that Houston still doesnt utilize
him very well for the most part, and that helps our cause in tonights game.

It may also be the first chance to see one of the two new Celtics players,
and find out firstpaw what he can do.  But I wasnt holding my breath.

Frankly, Im hoping this will be a close game all the way to a Celtics
win!  Ok, you got me.  I really hope the Cs take Houston down by 40 points.


First Quarter:

Tony Battie went paw to paw with Eddie Griffin to tip off the game.  He
ended up controlling the tap and scoring the Cs first basket to make it
2-0 Boston.  Houston crashed the boards to no avail as Boston took it
again, but failed to score.  Then JR Bremer stole the ball and made a three
point shot to give Boston a 5-0 lead.

Steve Francis missed his jumper attempt at the other end and JR Bremer took
the rebound.  Eric Williams got stuffed by Yao, but went back up and drew
the foul on Yao, making both at the line, and now the Good Guys had a 7-0
lead.

Griffins next shot missed, but Battie converted at the other end off and
Assist from Pierce for a 9-0 lead before Cuttino Mobley made the Rockets
first basket of the game with 8:57 left in the first, to make it 9-2 Boston.

Battie missed his next jumper and Posey dunked at the other end.  Then
Antoine Walker reminded everyone he was there by hitting a three odd a pass
from Tony Delk.  Eddie Griffin and Tony Battie then traded baskets before
Walker was fouled by Posey and went to the line, hitting 1-2, and making
the score 17-10 Boston with 6:41 to go.  Griffin finally missed and Bremer
got the ball to Pierce for a layup.  Houston called timeout with 6:14 left
in the quarter and Boston leading it, 19-10.

After time, Eric Williams stole the ball from Griffin and got it to Pierce,
whose shot missed.  Griffin tried to redeem himself, but missed his next
shot.  The teams traded misses until Posey got the pass in from Yao for a
layup.  Now it was 19-12 Boston with 5:10 to go.

Williams and Walker crashed the boards on the next Cs possession and
Williams ended up with 2.  Bremer fouled Steve Francis on his way to the
hoop, and Stevie made both as Bremer and Battie sat in favor of Delk and
Blount.  So, Mark Blount would make his first re-appearance in a Celtics
uniform.  Blount immediately contributed by rebounding Walkers next miss
and that eventually led to Pierce making a fade away shot to hike the
Celtics lead to 24-14 with 3:33 left.

The teams traded a missed basket each before Walker hit a hook shot off a
pass from Delk.  Pierce was then called for a foul as a timeout was called
with 2:49 left and the score now 26-14, Boston leading.  During the
timeout, Eric Williams sat in favor of Waltah!, and time was back in with
Francis making a running jump shot.  Then a couple of misses at both ends
led to Mobley hitting a layup and drawing a foul on Waltah! as he did
so.  One made free throw later, the score was now 26-20 with 2:07 left.

Mobley continued to make a pain of himself by stuffing Pierces next shot,
and only a foul by Griffin prevented any further embarrassment as Pierce
went to the bench with 1:47 and Bremer came back in to finish the
quarter.  Walker was fouled going up for a rebound and went to the line
making (ok, everybody together--) 1-2.  Steve Francis then turned over the
ball.  Blount, unfortunately, turned it back.  Then with 17 seconds left,
Delk was called for a foul and on the side out, Francis made the
shot.  Stevie then stole the ball from Blount, but missed his last shot to
end the quarter.  The score was now 27-22, Boston leading as the first
quarter came to a close.

Stats were pretty good for Boston in the quarter, as the Rockets shot 8-18
for 44.4%, while Boston was 10-21 for 47.6%.  The threes were also good for
Our Team,, which went 3-7 for 42.9%, while Houston was right behind with
3-8 for 37.5%  Free throws were a problem.  Not for Houston, which went
100% on 3-3.  For Boston, which went 4-6 to the tune of 66.7%.  The Rockets
didnt take care of the ball, leading in turnovers, 4-2.  The Cs had the
edge in paint points, 8-6; and in rebounds, 11-8.  Wow.  But would it hold
up?


Second Quarter:

The teams spent the first minute trading misses before Mobley and Pierce
traded baskets.  Now it was 29-25 Boston with 10:49 left.  Houston hit the
offensive boards with abandon before Delk was called for a foul.  Maurice
Taylor went to the line and made both as Bremer came in for Delk, who sat
with 2 fouls.  Battie missed a shot, and Taylor took the rebound, but
Rices shot missed.  Pierce then compounded a miss with and offensive foul
and sat with 2 fouls.  To make things worse, Glen Rice made a basket to tie
the game at 29 with 9:25 left.

But Walker got the ball out to Waltah! and another three points went up for
the Good Guys.  Walker kept busy, rebounding Catos miss at the other end,
though Kedricks shot didnt go.  Brown made up for it by stealing the
ball, which led to another Walker three.  Brown and Walker continued to
help each other as Kedrick stole the ball, passed to Walker, who gave it
back to Brown for a dunk.  Houston called time out, much to the relief of
the scorekeeper, who probably had whiplash by this time.  There was 7:26
left and Boston led 37-29.

Mobley sat and Steve Francis came back in as time resumed.  Battie also
came in for Blount.  It didnt change things much as Waltah! got the ball
to Walker for another basket under the hoop.  Francis got it back on the
next possession and then the teams cooled off for a minute, as some misses
took place before Blount fouled while going for the rebound.  Timeout was
called with 5:58 left and the score now 39-32 Boston.

After the timeout Cato made both his free throws, and the game
resumed.  Bremer hit a three point shot and then Yao turned the ball over
just after entering the game.  The Cs attacked the offensive boards and
came away with the basket from Brown.  Unfortunately, Blount then fouled
Francis at the other end.  Stevie went to the line and made bothwhy cant
WE do that??

Kedrick took a jump shot, which was gathered up by Yao on the miss.  Blount
looked better for a few moments as he stole the ball, which led to a
basket.  Then he committed his third foul.  Bye, bye, Blount.  Hello, Tony
Battie.  Yao was fouled, going 1-2 at the line, and Tony Delk was back for
Bremer.  It was now 47-37 Boston with 3:40 left.

The teams traded possessions before Francis once more went to the line for
two, missing the second, as Williams took the rebound.  Browns shot at the
other end missed and Houston took possession and a timeout with 2:39 left
and Boston still up 47-38.

After the timeout, Mobley hit a three, and Battie replied with a
dunk.  Houston then worked the offensive boards and came away with another
three to make it 49-44 with 1:52 left.  Morris then fouled Walker who
wentaw, you know already.  Yao took the rebound and Williams committed a
foul, sending Mobley to the line.  He went 2-2.  Now it was 50-46 with 1:22
left.

Walker and Mobley traded baskets before Houston committed a foul to
turnover the ball.  Williams went to the line and made both.  Steve Francis
made a layup at the other end and closed the gap to 54-50.  The Cs took
the last shot of the quarter, from Walker, which missed.  Halftime arrived
with the Good Guys holding on to a 54-50 lead.


HALFTIME

Cookie Break!!

Halftime stats showed the Cs were doing better than expected against one
of the more talked-about teams in the Western Conference.  The Rockets were
now 15-31 for 46.9% from the field, while Boston was 20-41 taking
48.8%.  The Rockets were launching threes at a 58.3% clip, going 7-12;
while the Cs were close behind with 46.7% on 7-15 shooting.  Free throws
favored the Rockets, who were now 13-15 for 86.7%.  Boston was 7-10 for
70.0%.  Turnovers showed that Houston was still careless, as the led
8-3.  Boston still held the lead in paint points, 18-10; and in rebounds,
20-19.

So far, so good.  The game was playing closer than Id like, but the Good
Guys were ahead and I hoped it would stay that way.  Steve Francis and
Cuttino Mobley each had 15 points and the Cs really needed to slow those
two down fast.  For Boston, Walker, Battie and Williams were all in double
figures at halftime.  That was good news considering that Paul Pierce had
played 13 minutes and scored 4 points.  That needed to improve, unless the
Cs passing was crisp and accurate in the second half.

Now, the Cs had to keep pushing on the boards.  Theres no reason a team
with Yao Ming shouldnt be getting nearly every rebound over Boston, yet
the Celtics were holding their own so far.  Let it continue and improve for
the Good Guys.



Third Quarter:

Mobley started things off by missing a shot, and Boston took full
advantage, as Battie made his next attempt.  Mobley missed again at the
other and Francis committed a foul during the rebounding action.  The
Celtics and Rockets traded misses at both ends before Griffin was called
for traveling.  Then Yao Ming fouled Pierce, who went to the line for two
and made both, to up the score to 58-50, Boston leading.

Then Bremer committed his third foul and Steve Francis made the most of the
errorwhich was compounded when Bremer then lost the ball.  Sigh.  Posey
made a jump shot for three and Walker turned the ball over.  The teams
traded possessions until Battie sent Yao to the line.  As Yao made his
first free throw, Delk, McCarty, and Blount came in for Bremer, Williams,
and Battie.  Then Yao made the second, and the score was 58-57 Boston with
8:02 left.

Pierce then stole Mobleys rebound, but missed the shot.  Then Griffin
stole the ball back from Pierce.  Mobley made it good and gave Houston its
first lead of the game at 59-58 with 7:17 left.  Then Yao made a layup,
whereupon Boston called timeout with 5:57 left and Houston now leading 61-58.

During the timeout, Blount came back in for Battie.  That was a good idea,
as Battie made the next basket after the timeout.  Then Posey missed a
shot, which Walker rebounded.  Then Posey stole the ball back when Walker
made an errant pass.  The teams traded empty possessions before Battie and
Francis traded shots.  Now it was 63-62 Houston with 4:09 left in the third
quarter.

Pierce made a deep two and gave Boston the lead, whereupon Francis
committed an offensive turnover and coughed up the ball to Boston.  Battie
sat for a rest as Eric Williams came back in.  Eric immediately got the
ball to Delk who hit for two, making it 67-63 Boston leading with 3:13
left.  Houston then took timeout with 3:04 to go.

Yao sat during the timeout, replaced by Terence Morris.  When time went
back in, Walker stole the ball and got it to Pierce, but Pierce blew the
layup.  Fortunately, Poseys own layup missed, and he fouled Walker at the
other end.

Wow.  Antoine made both free throws!!  YAY!!!!

Steve Francis missed on the other end and Walker cleaned up the
rebound.  Glen Rice then fouled Pierce, who went (everyone together) 1-2 at
the line.  Grant Long came in to give Walker a rest with 1:30 left.  The
next few possessions were uneventful, scoring wise, as time ran down in the
third and Boston still held a 69-63 lead.

With less than a minute to go, Taylor fouled Pierce who
wentyeah.  Sigh.  It was now 71-63 with 44 seconds left.  Steve Francis
then drew the foul as he made the basketand the free throw, to make the
score 71-66 with 28 seconds left.  Then Taylor committed the foul at the
other end with seven seconds left, and Pierce made both!!  YAY!!!  Houston
was unable to score on the last possession of the quarter, which ended with
Boston leading it, 73-66

After the third quarter, the Rockets were finally cooling off, going 20-51
for 39.2% after three quarters.  Boston was shooting 25-58 for 43.1%.  But
Houston was still hitting the three, going 8-18 for 44.4%; while the Good
Guys were 8-21 and 38.1%.  Free throws, will the Celtics EVER LEARN??
Houston was 18-20 for 90.0%, while Boston was 15-20 for 75.0%.  That,
incredibly, represented an improvement.  The Rockets still lost the ball
routinely, with 13 turnovers to Bostons 7.  Paint points still favored
Boston, 22-16.  Somehow, the Cs were also out rebounding the Rs, 32-30.


Fourth Quarter:

Rice fouled Eric Williams to open the quarter and Eric wentyep.  At least
Eric took the defensive rebound off the next Houston miss.  Taylor had a
bad possession as first Antoine blocked his shot, then Waltah! stole the
ball from him.  Waltah! turned that into a layup.  Then the Cs forced a
24-second violation at the other end.  The Cs went inside, and then out as
Walker hit a three, leading to a Houston timeout with 9:51 left and the
Good Guys ahead, 79-66.

After the timeout, Francis drew the foul on the basket, but missed the free
throw.  The Cs next shot missed and Houston took the rebound.  Pierce then
stole the ball, but the teams traded several possessions with no change in
the score.  Waltah! finally stole the ball and dunked it to give Boston an
81-68 lead with 7:46 remaining.  Pierce rebounded Glen Rices miss for two
more, and Houston called time with 7:11 left and the Celtics now up 83-68.

Twenty seconds later, Steve Francis hit a three to close the gap, and
Boston went back the other way, first with Delk, who missed.  Then, with
Delk again, who missed once more.  Posey took the next rebound and Walter
McCarty committed the foul to send Houston to the line for two.  Posey
evidently paid too much attention to the Cs free throw shooting as he went
1-2.  Tony Battie was then called for three seconds and the officials
called timeout with 5:50 left and Boston up, 83-72.

After the timeout, Bremer came in for Delk and Posey hit a fade away
basket.  Steve Francis then stuffed Batties shot, and Pierce got the ball
stolen from him by Posey.  Griffin capped it by hitting a three to make it
83-77 with 5:09 left.  Griffin stuffed Battie again, but Battie took
exception and forced a jump ball.  Houston won the jump, and Yao Mings
hook shot made it 83-79 with 3:47 to go as the Celtics called timeout.

After the timeout, Eric Williams came in for Walter McCarty and Griffin
committed a foul.  The Cs took it out the side and Pierce drew the foul on
the made basketand promptly sank the free throw to make it 86-79 with 3:28
to go.  But Houston made two consecutive baskets courtesy of Mobley to make
it 86-84 with 2:50 left.  Then Walker was called for the foul on the second
basket.  Mobley made the free throw and the lead was now one.

Pierce came through with a fade away to make it 88-85 with 2:29 left.  The
teams traded misses until Pierce lost the ball to Francis, who got it to
Mobley.  Mobley sank the hoop and the score was now tied at 88 with 1:29
left.  The Cs crashed the boards on the offensive end, to no avail, as
Francis finally tore down the rebound, and Houston called timeout with 39
seconds left, and the score still tied at 88.

After the timeout, the Cs cranked up the defense and forced a 24-second
violation, taking possession with 22 seconds to go.  The Cs now had a
chance to win it in regulation.  They worked it into Pierce, but his shot
missed, and the game wasnt over.

OVERTIME

Bremer and Griffin jumped to start the five-minute overtime.   Pierce made
the first shot of the OTa threeoff an assist from Bremer.  Then Battie
stole the ball from Mobley. The Cs tried to score to no avail as Posey
ended up stealing the ball from Bremer and got it to Francis for two.  Now
it was 91-90 with 3:32 left in OT.

Both teams traded quick shots and quicker misses before Mobley made a
basket to give Houston the lead at 92-91 with 2:18 left.  Boston called
timeout with 2:07 left in the overtime.  Following the timeout, the Celtics
got the Ball to Walker for two, but Mobley replied with a three, to make it
95-93 with 1:40 left.  Walkers next attempt missed and Mobley got the
rebound.  Battie picked up his 5th foul, sending Yao to the line.  He made
both, and Boston called timeout with 1:08 left and the Good Guys down 97-93.

After the timeout, Bremers shot missed and Francis took the
rebound.  Poseys shot missed, and Battie got the layup, making it 97-95
Houston with 22 seconds left.  Then Bremer fouled Francis, who went to the
line for two, making both.  Boston then called timeout with 20 seconds left
and the score now 99-95 Houston.

Following the timeout, Pierces jump shot missed, and Steve Francis slammed
it in at the other end.  The Cs tried in vain to make another basket, but
it wasnt enough, as the Rockets won it, 101-95 in overtime.

At the end, the Rockets had gone 32-72, shooting 44.4%, while Boston went
34-91 for 37.4%.  The Threes mounted at the end, as Houston shot an
impressive 13-28 for 46.4%, while Boston lost the touch at the end,
ultimately going 10-35 for 28.6%.  Free throws made a difference, as the
Rockets were 24-28, shooting a decent 85.7%.  Boston went 17-23, for an
INdecent 73.9%.  The Rockets turned the ball over 19 times, to Bostons 11,
and the Cs did go inside, leading in paint points 32-26.  Boston even out
rebounded Houston 48-44.

In the end, the shot selection probably killed the Cs.  Boston had a lead
for 99% of the game, including the majority of the overtime.  Thats a game
they shouldnt lose.  But lose they did, and thats too bad, as it could
have been a great morale boost after a positive road trip.  Now, theyre
condemned to more gloomy predictions of doom from the staff of TNT.

Now, the Cs must gird themselves for the next game, on Wednesday against
the Pacers.  The Cs in general have something to prove.  Walker and Pierce
in particular would like to explain their dissatisfaction with that poor
excuse for a coach, Isiah Thomas.  Preferably with a decisive win.  But
theyre going to have to work even harder to be taken half as seriously.

And thats the view from the doghouse.



Snoopy the Celtics Beagle
Please visit the
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