Stevens said having Nets’ draft pick isn’t part of focus for Celtics coaches, players or team and said he hasn’t heard the subject come up.
— Bill Doyle (@BillDoyle15) November 20, 2015
Looking for a double win tonight
— bee (@ibee32) November 21, 2015
We know this for sure: players and coaches don’t think the way fans and media do. For us, any game against Brooklyn is all about the Nets’ 2016 first-round pick that the Celtics own via trade. It has the potential to be the top pick in the draft. So no matter what Brad says, beating the Nets is twice as good as a win over any other team.
That’s why Friday’s game at the Garden was so sweet. The Celtics destroyed the Nets, 120-95, in the first of two home-and-home contests versus Brooklyn this weekend. Boston broke open the game with a 43-point second quarter and cruised home, leading by 20-plus points the rest of the way.
The Celtics finished with a season-high 39 assists and 51 field goals, both team highs for the season, and shot 58.6% from the field, best in the league so far this year. Avery Bradley led with 21 points on 10-13 shooting off the bench. Jae Crowder set the aggressive tone early and finished with 19 points (8-12 shooting) and three steals. Isaiah Thomas added 18 points with nine assists. Brooklyn was led by Thaddeus Young and Brook Lopez with 14 apiece.
The C’s starting lineup was unchanged from recent nights: Marcus Smart, Thomas, Crowder, Jared Sullinger and Amir Johnson.
No one could pull away early as there were four lead changes and five ties in the first quarter. Crowder stood out for Boston with 11 points on 5-7 shooting plus three rebounds and two steals. Thomas couldn’t buy a hoop (0-6 from the floor) but did tally five assists. The Celts shot just 11-26 and only 1-7 from three, yet led 23-19 at the break. Brooklyn was led by Young with eight points, but the Nets were hurt by seven turnovers, five of them on steals by the Green Team.
The second quarter was a whole different story. David Lee came off the bench to score a quick seven points as Boston made their first six shots to surge ahead, 36-25. Bradley added six points and Evan Turner four in three-and-a-half minutes. Bojan Bogdanovic got Brooklyn back into it briefly with two straight treys and a 20-footer. The Nets got as close as 40-35, then the Celts’ offense exploded.
Isaiah made four straight threes and Crowder added two as Boston ripped off a 26-7 burst over the last six minutes of the quarter. The Cs finished the half with a 66-42 lead on 29-42 shooting (61.7%), including 7-16 from the arc (43.8%) and 38 points in the paint. Boston also forced 11 Brooklyn turnovers in the half. Jae led the way with 17 points for the half.
The third quarter saw Boston extend the lead to 30 points before hitting a wall. Brooklyn scored eight straight points but still trailed by 22. Bradley restored order by hitting two consecutive mid-range jumpers. The Cs led 91-67 at the buzzer. The fourth quarter was your typical NBA garbage time, including a Gino appearance.
The Green:
- In the second quarter, Boston shot 18-21, for 85.7% from the floor (!!). That included 6-9 on threes and 20 points in the paint on 10-10 shooting, with 15 assists. Thomas had 14 points in the quarter (5-5 shooting, 4-4 from the arc) and Lee added 11 points, also on 5-5 shooting.
- The Celtics scored 43 points in the second period, their highest for a quarter this season – and the most for a Celtics squad in any second quarter since 1984.
- Boston had 23 assists on 29 first-half hoops.
- Celts made seven straight three-pointers from the late second quarter to the early third.
- Unlike the last game, free throws and officiating were no factor.
The Gross:
- Smart had a brain fart just before halftime when his inbounds pass was batted back at him, and he caught it while standing out of bounds. Nets ball.
- Thomas was tied up and on the jump ball didn’t jump, but ran to grab the ball after the Nets player tipped it. Uh-uh.
- Tommy on Lopez: “If he played in the ’60s, he would’ve been all-pro every year.” He meant it as a compliment, but it is 2015.
- Smart took a fall and then limped to the locker room in the fourth quarter. Abby Chin reported it as a bruised left knee.
The Greenlights:
Lee two-hand jam.
Nets GM Billy King, ladies and gentlemen!
This guy will never pay for a meal in Boston again. https://t.co/SQM3dLNCMS
— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg) November 21, 2015
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The Grid:
- Points in the Paint: Nets 40 (20/47), Celtics 68 (34/46)
- 2nd Chance Points: Nets 14 (6/14), Celtics 6 (3/6)
- Fast Break Points: Nets 8 (3/5), Celtics 20 (9/14)
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