Observations at Halftime

[Snoopy the Celtics Beagle]

Here's some thoughts on the first preseason game, against teh 
Cleveland Cavaliers.

Since I now live in Ohio, I'm stuck with the local feed. Turns out 
they're not too bad, crediting the C's where due.  Also good since my 
local cable company screwed up the League Pass.

Remember, it's preseason for ME, too.  :)

First Quarter:

The Cavs came out on fire, picking up where they left off, running 
the court and scoring nearly at will.  Unfortunately, the C's ALSO 
started where the left off, getting beat at both ends and playing 
like they'd never been on the court together before...oh,wait, they 
haven't.  Ok

Drew Gooden was apparently left off the scouting report for Boston, 
nobody's guarding him.

No Delonte West, and it showed.

Cavs went up eleven and it looked Very Bad for the Good Guys.  but 
the C's closed it a bit by the end of the first.

Second Quarter:

God what a difference a quarter makes.  I am shocked to see the 
Celtics closing the gap with a HALFCOURT GAME!!  The Celtics put in 
the bench guys and the difference was astounding.  Part of this was 
the Cavaliers clearly not staying with the running game, as the C's 
closed the gap and took a lead.

Gerald Green is a frog in a Celtics suit.  I swear he jumped OVER a 
defender on the way to the hoop.

Al Jefferson moves a LOT better down low with less weight.  The new 
guys are playing like new guys, I know almost zip about Rondo, 
Telfair, etc.  They look ok, so far.

Nobody gets cookies for free throws.  The cavs are handing them 3 
second violations and nobody--Pierce included--is doing well at the 
line.  I'm tempted to blame the ball, but more likely it's preseason.

Speaking of the ball, even the Cavs announcers have nothing good to 
say about the compost...er, composite ball.

Despite getting run over by the Cavalier express in the first 
quarter, the C's came all the way back for a 61-59 halftime lead.

The fact is, at this point in preseason, the Cavaliers are playing 
more cohesively then the Celtics by dint of actually having played 
together.  If the Celtics can keep the cavaliers out of the running 
game, stop Drew Gooden and drag Ilgauskas away from the defensive 
basket, the Celtics have a good chance to win this.

Boston needs to just work on playing as a team, and moving the ball 
faster--right now, the Cav defense is still a step ahead and only the 
foul calls are keeping the Celtics offense really going.

Though Pierce is the high scorer to this point, it's been a pretty 
quiet game for him.  He's still stuck with the ball when the shot 
clock winds down and still gets to the line, but we can't rely on 
that.  The other guys need to make better offensive sets and stop 
serving the ball up to the Cavalier defense.

Now, some chocolate milk, chocolate chip cookies, deep breathing, and 
back to the second half.

We got mugged, but we're gonna win anyway!!!!

Snoopy the Celtics Beagle
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