Well, you can’t say that this team isn’t interesting. After a disappointing loss to the Raptors following the All-Star Game break, which in itself was following a disappointing no-movement day during the Trade Deadline, some would say the Celtics needed this win tonight. The Pistons did everything they could to run a successful comeback, but the young guys for the Celtics ended up solidifying the win for their team. 104-98 Final Score.
The Game Flow
After taking just 5 shots in a loss to the Raptors last game, Horford scored first for the C’s and appeared ready to be more aggressive early on. This didn’t pan out, but luckily the backcourt picked up his lit torch and carried the team with 9 of the first 13 points. Jaylen finished the first quarter with a team-high 7 points, including a smooth catch-n-shoot 3 he got off without hesitation. Even more surprisingly, Amir Johnson beat Drummond on the boards by a count of 6-4, and the Celts took an early lead into the 2nd – 27-23.
Believe it or not, but Stevens’ choice lineup of Jerebko, Young, Olynyk, Rozier, and Smart couldn’t score to save their life at the beginning of the 2nd quarter. Eventually these players made their contributions, though, and Rozier’s aggressiveness became the highlight of a period that saw the Celts get back to their running ways. When they weren’t in transition, they were letting Marcus Smart go to work in the post or moving the ball to find the easy 3; Boston was eventually able to exploit these advantageous situations for a game-high 14 point lead. But of course, with this being the NBA, Detroit made a comeback. Led in large part by Reggie Jackson, the Pistons wound up trailing by just 4 going into halftime, but the point remained: the Celtics found their winning formula for the night.
Appropriately enough, the 3s fell in bunches during the 3rd. Crowder awoke from his slumber and opened the flood gates from the perimeter, while Isaiah Thomas sprinkled at least 3 more during the quarter – two of which came at an early “turning point” moment of the game. The Pistons had gone on an 11-0 run over the first 6 minutes of the 3rd (no coincidence: there had also been 10 foul calls during this time). Simply put- Boston was out of sync and the Pistons were dominating everywhere but the scoreboard. Then the Celtics best player/luckiest leprechaun, Mr. Isaiah Thomas, stepped up to end the drought. IT4 hit one clutch 3 and quickly followed it up by hitting another on the next possession, this time nearly straight away from deep, which officially snapped his team out of its funk. Boston maintained control of the game for the remainder of the quarter and cruised into the 4th just needing to hold on for the win.
But the Celtics never make it easy, though, do they? Boston allowed Detroit to come roaring all the way back, with Morris ultimately solidifying a tied game at 90 with about 3 minutes remaining. After a terrible call against Isaiah Thomas as Caldwell-Pope shot a 3, it became time to hit the panic button for the Green-team’s fans. The Pistons stole away the lead for the first time since it was 32-31 back in the 2nd quarter, but the C’s budding stars wouldn’t allow the game to slip away from them this time. First it was Marcus Smart, who followed a Jaylen Brown miss with a beast mode put-back to regain the lead just a minute following their deficit. After Detroit made their own crunch-time 3 to go atop 96-95, it was the C’s rookie Mr. Jaylen Brown that managed to drill a much-needed 3 and the foul while just under a minute remained. Brown missed his ensuing free throw, but Marcus Smart’s aggressive try for the rebound drew a foul call against Detroit, and Smart proceeded to drain the next two FT’s. Just like that, Marcus Smart and Jaylen Brown were responsible for a 5 point swing in the Celtics favor at the most important time of the game, and it was a wrap.
Isaiah turns on the jets and hits the reverse layup! https://t.co/jfq2Zm7zpf
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) February 26, 2017
I wanted to make it a point to showcase a layup of Thomas’ tonight. He makes this look easy on a nightly basis, but in reality this requires a burst of speed no lay-person has; not to mention an incredible amount of strength to reach that height, and INSANE body control/hand-eye coordination just to maintain the chance of making that shot. Did I mention he’s 5’9″?
The team’s major glare, rebounding deficiency, was somehow an area of strength tonight despite playing the beast that is Andrea Drummond. As Chuck pointed out to me, the Celtics out-rebounded Detroit 52-45 through out the game. What DID piss us off, though, was the 18 second chance points given back to the Pistons tonight. Many of Detroit’s offensive rebounds occurred when they missed their free throws in particular, which was often, as the Pistons shot FT 45.7% for the game. In one instance Detroit missed the free throw, scooped up the rebound, and drilled the open 3, which prompted Scal to declare, “nothing will get a coach more mad than giving up a 3 after a missed free throw”. It’s true, and you can add the fans to that list as well. BOX. OUT.
Jae Crowder had a quiet but LARGE impact on the game tonight. His final stat line says it all, as he contributed in every facet of the game, per usual: 14pts, 11rebs, 5assists. It easily could have been awarded to Isaiah Thomas, who topped out at 33pts, but if we as a fanbase need to mend our relationship with Jae after a bit of a rough trade deadline: let this be the beginning. Enjoy the fake-cigar, Mr. Crowder.
The Grid
Isaiah Thomas: 10/23 FG (43.5%), 8/9 Free Throws, 33pts, 3asts
Andre Drummond: 8/13 FG (61.5%), 1/11 Free Throws, 17pts, 15rebs
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