4up/4down Celtics vs. Pacers (Game 34 of 82)

UP

1. Avery Bradley getting hot
We’ve seen time and time again that Avery Bradley is a streaky shooter and nothing brought that out more than last night. After a horrendous shooting performance in the 1st half he went crazy in the second half and was a big reason for Boston’s late surge that almost won the game. His game-tying 3 was probably the highlight of his night, and his defense was good for the most part. This is the type of performances we need more consistently from Bradley.

2. Marcus Smart showing up when it matters 
After a very quiet 3 quarters, Marcus Smart turned it up 4 notches like he usually does when the game gets late. Smart had 10 points, 3 rebounds, and 2 assists in the fourth quarter going 3/7 from deep (2 of those misses could have been called for fouls). We still know Marcus Smart has a ways to go before he becomes the player he will be, but his uncanny ability to play his best late in games right from the jump should be a welcoming sight for Celtics fans. Personally, I believe he would have won us the game, but we’ll get to why that didn’t happen.

3. Jae Crowder energy 
One thing that the Cetics will benefit from by Jeff Green’s departure is the tenacious hustle they will get from Jae Crowder for longer doses. The forward made his first start tonight, and he looked great. He played excellent defense, he rebounded well, and he provided a bit of of scoring punch as well. Obviously, Crowder’s offensive skill isn’t on the level of Green’s, but his young (only 24) and can still into a reliable scoring option. He finished with 11 points, 7 rebounds, and 2 assists.

4. Sharing the ball
Without a guy who can throw you 10 assists a game, Boston knew they had to pass the ball by committee. Tonight was a great example, the Celtics finished the game with 25 assists and 7 players threw multiple assists. It wasn’t always the most beautiful basketball, but selfless basketball is what builds chemistry among teammates.

DOWN

1. Containing Roy Hibbert
Last nights game reminded us all how desperately we needed a legit starting center. Roy Hibbert had his way with anyone who was assigned to him straight up and it took a zone defense to finally slow him down late in the game. Having a guy who could have contained him one on one would have made this game extremely almost a certain win. Instead, Hibbert finished the game with 19/11.

2. Boards 
Only with being outmuscled by Hibbert the Celtics gave up 16 offensive boards. When your playing a team that struggles to score, the last thing you want to do is give them 2nd and 3rd opportunities, Boston did just that.

3. Free Throws 
Boston shot 16 free throws, Indiana shot 34, and made 30 of them. Their were a lot of questionable calls made by the refs, and it didn’t feel like Indiana was gifted a few of them. However, Boston has to be more aggressive going to the rim, without a guy who constantly create his own shot, they have to be able to win themselves shots at the line.

4. The Lineups 
I don’t question Brad Stevens’ basketball mind and he’s a lot smarter than me, but it doesn’t take a savant to see his lineups are beyond ridiculous. Marcus Smart is our destined Point Guard of the future, he was having a bad game for 3 quarters, and finally when you give him the reins as the point guard in the 4th he gets hot, leads a furious comeback, and gets it down to a back and forth game coming down the stretch. Instead of leaving your eventual starting PG in, you inexplicably put Evan Turner at the 1, and move him off the ball. He never scored again, Turner didn’t make a difference, and we lost the game. Now this isn’t a shot at Turner, he’s been a solid player for us, and though he had a bad shooting night he was our leading assist man and rebounder. That doesn’t take away from the fact that he’s extremely ball-dominant, and he really doesn’t make any of his teammates better like his assist numbers would mired you into believing.

With the Celtics two games out of playoff spot I understand the want to maybe chose winning over development. But we’re not asking him to throw in project players, Smart can be winning you games right now when given the opportunity, and in a game where Turner didn’t have it going it would have been the smart move to keep in him, and live with how he finished the game. Same goes for James Young, in a game where Thornton couldn’t buy a bucket (1/7) there is no reason why you don’t keep James Young in and give him more experience. Stevens has to seriously reconsider how he’s playing his roster because a case could be made that playing younger in terms of more time at the 1 for Smart, and more minutes for Young actually fulfills both winning and development. Even if it comes at the price at not showcasing some of the vets.