The Celtics began their difficult four game road trip with an impressive win at the Ford Center in Oklahoma City against the Thunder. Typically, a team like OKC gives Boston all sorts of issues due to their speed and athleticism. But just like last season, the Celtics strolled into the OK Corral and essentially beat the Thunder wire-to-wire. Below are the highlights, including Nate Robinson's circus shot to end the first half.
Q1: The first quarter begins with Rajon Rondo penetrating the Thunder defense, then kicking it to Kevin Garnett for the vintage baseline jumper. Other highlights include:
- Paul Pierce turnaround elbow jumper
- Solid defensive set, KG throwing away the outlet pass, but then recovers nicely to get the ball back
- Celtics defense forcing a Kevin Durant turnover
- An elbow jumper by Rondo
- Rondo to KG alley-oop
- Good post defense by Jermaine O'Neal
- Rondo baiting Russell Westbrook into a foul
- A couple of Ray Allen jumpers
- KG finding Marquis Daniels underneath from a broken play
- Another forced Durant turnover leading to a Marquis lay-up
- More good defense leading to a Quis transition lay-up, and 1
- The Boston Bench Mob 'doin work on the boards
- Nate drilling a jumper
- Nate, Big Baby and Semih Erden running the "4-5" play, leading to a Semih hoop, and 1
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=33DKwQHgI90&w=445&h=275]
Q2: The second quarter begins with a nice evening shot of OKC, followed by a nice block by Big Baby who outlets it to a streaking Semih for the two-handed slam. Other highlights include:
- Big Baby taking yet another charge, this time James Harden is the victim
- Nate burying a jumper
- Semih diving for a loose ball
- Rondo with a transition scoop lay-in
- Pierce with a nice lay-in from a Marquis feed
- Rondo poking away Westbrook's post-up attempt
- Another Big Baby charge, this time Russell Westbrook is the victim
- JO with a nice block, leading to a transition hoop
- Ray Allen with a smooth baseline three
- JO with another block
- A Rondo tip-in off a Ray floater miss
- Solid team defensive sets
- Nate's bomb to end the half
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJ1e7vo8Fys&w=445&h=275]
Q3: The third quarter was an ugly one for the Celtics. Not much to show here, but the highlights include:
- A solid team defensive set to open the quarter
- JO diving for the ball and saving the possession leading to a Pierce jumper
- JO with the jumper
- JO keeping another possession alive
- A Ray Allen jumper
- Pierce banking in the jumper
- Rondo to Ray for a transition three
- Rondo with a smooth straight-away jumper
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7H8dQwe8bGw&w=445&h=275]
Q4: The final stanza begins with a huge Big Baby jumper. Other nightlights include:
- Another "4-5" set for the Big Baby jumper
- Semih working both the defensive and offensive glass
- Nate with an impressive left-handed drive to the hoop
- Semih 'doin work under the hoop, drawing the foul
- Another clutch Big Baby jumper
- Nate with some impressive one-on-one defense on Kevin Durant
- Big Baby with the offensive board, kicking it out to Ray for a three
- Solid team defensive sets including another Semih rebound
- KG abusing a weak double-team in the post
- Rondo with a quick flip-up lay-up for two
- KG rejecting Westbrook
- Pierce baiting Durant into a technical foul
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LUYWBbLAE3w&w=445&h=275]
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