Celtics/Wizards game 4/4/04 4th quarter

[Snoopy the Celtics Beagle <snoopy@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Banks opened things with a layup twelve seconds into the quarter.  Now, 
THAT's fast.

Then Davis stole the ball, causing Arenas to foul Jones on his way to the 
basket.  Jones went 1-2 at the line.

Butler rebounded the missed free throw for the Wiz and Hayes turned it into 
two points. Hayes then stole the ball from Jones, and fed the pumpkin to 
Butler in a reverse of the previous possession.

This sparked a Wizards run and the C's called time with 9:30 left in the 
game and the Wiz now enjoying a comfy 90-83 lead.

Jiri Welsch came in for Ricky Davis, and it seemed to be paying quick 
dividends as Jiri was fouled and sent to the line, making 1-2.

But Jones stole a pass and Banks converted a zippety-fast layup courtesy of 
a pass from Pierce.

Then Jones stole the ball AGAIN, though Jiri's shot missed.  banks then 
stuffed Arenas, a novelty for both, I'm sure.  Unfortunately, Arenas then 
stole the ball from Pierce, and the Wiz called timeout with 8:14 left and 
the Wiz lead much smaller--90-86.

coming out of the break, Hughes missed his shot, and Banks pulled down the 
ball.  He got the ball to Pierce, whose shot did not fall, and Thomas took 
the Wiz rebound.  Jones then was called for a foul.

Hughes went 1-2, then Pierce made a layup at the other end.  Pierce then 
connected with Banks for another layup.  Then the Wiz scored on consecutive 
possessions whilst keeping the Good Guys from responding.

The teams traded turnovers, with the C's getting the best of it as banks 
scored again.  But the C's kept sending the Wiz to the line, and couldn't 
gain ground.

Pierce cut the Wiz lead to 4 with a fadeaway jumper after Jiri Welsch came 
back in for Ricky Davis.

The teams traded quick scores before Pierce went once more to the line, 
going 1-2-then when Pierce rebounded his own missed free throw, Hayes 
stuffed him--AAUGH!!

Timeout was called with 2:44 left in the game and the Wiz now ahead by six 
points, 103-97.

Coming out of the timeout, the C's traded scores with the Wiz, to make it 
105-99, but Hughes stuffed Ricky's next shot, and Hayes took the rebound., 
and Arenas made a shot as Banks fouled him.  One free throw later, timeout 
was called with 1:25 left and the Wiz ahead 109-99.

When time came back in, the C's made the most of their slim chances, as 
Banks hit the three.  Of course, a foul was needed, and Banks gave it, 
watching Jeffries make 1-2.

Davis missed, and Brown took the rebound.  One foul--and a trip to the free 
throw line--later, Hughes had added two more points to the Wiz lead.

There would be no more scoring as the Waltah! three missed, and Brown--once 
more--rebounded the ball.

The game ended with the Wizards winning it, 112-102.

WAAH!!

Cookies and Crumbs

Cookies given to:

The C's running game. They seemed to get that they need to move faster.

Crumbs left for:

The C's lack of rebounding, especially down the stretch.

The silly fouls early on--they proved costly.

The loss--let's face it, this is the kind of game the C's should expect to 
win, especially with the playoffs at stake. Are you going to sit there with 
a straight face and say this game meant more to WASHINGTON??

Paul Pierce--real leadership means not picking up technical fouls for what 
I have little doubt was a matter of mouthing off to the refs.  Shut up and 
play. You wanna complain, do it after the game and pony up the extortion 
exacted by the League in defense of it's Official incompetence.

The Refs--there's no way the C's played THAT sloppy as to send the Wizards 
to the line every other second.

And, of course,  ABC, NBA Entertainment, and the unrepentant son of a 
muppet who schedules the Celtics games.

And that's the obstructed view from the doghouse.