Recap: Heart attack Celtics win their first game

The Boston Celtics, at one point, were down 16-3.  They roared back and overcame that deficit, ultimately taking a lead as high as 25 with just under 6 minutes to go in the third quarter.  They subsequently blew most of that giant lead, and found themselves leading by only 6 with 4:29 left to play.

But Brandon Bass… yeah, that Brandon Bass… would not let them lose.  He scored 9 of his team-high 20 points in the 4th quarter, and the Celtics held on for their first win of the season, 97-87 over Utah.

The Green

WE WON!!! WE FINALLY WON!!!!! AAHHHHHHHH!!!!!! (spare me the Wiggins/tanking stuff.  We can win every once in a while and still be in just fine position in the lottery.  The team needed a win, and PLENTY of losses are around the corner)

I’ll start with Bass, who, despite falling into a bunch of isolation stuff, was the only reliable scorer for the C’s in the 4th.  Someone had to step up, and he made clutch shots.

That said, Jared Sullinger was probably the most noticeable difference maker in this game.  He was a +18 for a reason.  Hell, I’ll expand this to the Sully, Wallace, Olynyk combination.  Those 3 guys, on the floor, at the same time, were mostly fantastic tonight.  It’s no surprise they were the only three to have double-digit, positive +/- tonight.  Tonight, that stat is an accurate one for them.

Kudos, by the way, to Gerald Wallace, who played well of the bench.  Tommy was raving about him all night, and for good reason.  Now if only he’d realize that playing an important role off the bench benefits him, we’ll all be happy.

Phil Pressey did a nice job in the 17 minutes he was in the game. Some ups, some downs, but mostly positive because he got the guys running.

The Gross

Vitor Faverani played the first 6 minutes of the game and got absolutely torched.  It was his worst 6 minutes as a Celtic.  He missed all four shots he took, and Enes Kanter had his way with him.  I don’t know what happened to Vitor tonight, but he earned the benching he got.

That 4th quarter was yet another abomination.  Just another example of why they need Rondo back.  This team needs a veteran with some poise and the ability to simply take over when everyone else seems to shit their pants.  Fans should have gotten Gino time tonight… instead they got heartburn.

The Greenlights

Jeff Green, up the right side (of course), using the hesitation to get past one defender and then get the and-1.

The Grid

• Utah: 1-9 3pt fg
• Boston:  7-20 3pt fg
• Celtics:  22 assists (season average entering tonight: 14)
• Turnovers:  Utah 22 (2o points) – Boston 15 (11 points)
• Green:  18 points (6-13 fg, 3-4 3pt, 3-3 ft), 3 reb, 4 ast
• Olynyk:  14 points (6-14 fg, 0-3 3pt, 2-2 ft), 8 reb, 3 ast
• Wallace:  9 points (3-5 fg, 2-2 3pt, 1-1 ft), 9 reb, 3 ast
• Sullinger:  12 points (6-11 fg, 0-2 3pt), 5 reb

Oh, Kris Humphries played just under 6 minutes tonight.  He hit a basket, he had a turnover, and that’s it.  So anyone hoping to get trade value out of his expiring deal might as well forget it.  The Celtics will probably just let him walk and take the cap space if this continues.  Considering the Wallace/Sully/Olynyk combo plus Faverani’s ability to generally play solid ball (tonight notwithstanding), Humph might be done.

Congrats, Brad Stevens on win #1.

Box Score