The Celtics are an incredibly frustrating team to watch at times, and they did nothing to wash themselves of that image despite a eight point victory over the Phoenix Suns tonight. The Celtics held large double digit leads on the Suns on multiple occasions, only to blow both back down to single digits, or giving up the lead entirely. The Celtics held a 12 point lead at halftime, only to come out of the half and get outscored, out rebounded, and out hustled by the Suns in the third all by significant amounts. Thankfully, a slightly better fourth quarter was enough for the Celtics to take a home victory against a 12-25 team who are losers of four straight….
The Good:
Jeff Green-Green had one of his Dr. Jekyll games tonight. Unfortunately Mr. Hyde shows up more often than Jekyll thus far. He was aggressive on both ends of the floor. He was 5-9 for 14 points had a block and a steal heck he even grabbed three rebounds! Oh thats right, a 6’9” long limbed forward averaging 3 rebounds a game isn’t what we would call great but heck if he can give them the defense and offense he did tonight I’ll take it.
Jared Sullinger- The best game of his young career. Sullinger had a double double 16 rebounds 12 points. He was very good in the paint on both ends of the floor, very nice to see especially given that interior defenders are the only thing that the Suns really have any of.
The Gross:
Celtics Killer Instinct – Put bluntly, there is none . When the Celtics face an inferior opponent that we all expect to get blown out of the water, the Celtics play down to their competition and allow the game to stay tight, preventing their starters from getting much needed rest. When the Celtics build double digit leads at the half, instead of putting the game out of reach for the start of the fourth, they lose their lead and have to play their key players until the two minute mark remaining in the fourth. The Celtics just flat out don’t put their foot on the throat of inferior teams, its kind of like a lion that has ripped the legs off a Gazelle, but plays around with it as it slowly kicks the bucket…we all know the Gazelle is going to croak why not just get it over with, stop letting it suffer. The Boston Celtics are a lion that plays with its food.
Greenlights:
Jeff Green Dunk on Jermaine O’Neal
[youtube id=”vXWZdeC5JPE” width=”620″ height=”360″]Avery Bradley to Jeff Green alley oop
[youtube id=”WlsMZetmb9Q” width=”620″ height=”360″]The Grid:
The Celtics shot 3-14 from three tonight but 45% from the field while holding the Suns to 39%
Jared Sullinger lead the team in minutes played with 34, Bradley played only 18
Celtics were out-rebounded 47-42 and gave up 19 offensive rebounds
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