Last week, I wrote this of Jared Sullinger:
There was a time this summer that Sullinger was one of the pieces talked about in a trade for Kevin Love. Now he is hoping to become a sort of Love clone. Sullinger prides himself on rebounding, and he is a big fan of shooting the 3-pointer. He’s also shown an ability to back guys down in the post and use his body well to keep from getting shots blocked.
This afternoon, Sully reeled off a Love-like game that earned him a new nickname.
@RedsArmy_John 19 PTS, 18 REB (6 ORB), 3-5 threes… Jared Lovenger
— Jay O (@MrTrpleDouble10) October 19, 2014
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Sully finished with 21 points and 19 rebounds in a consistent performance on a night where the Celtics were anything but. They fell behind by as many as 17, but turned it around and beat a probably still jet-lagged Nets team (they started their preseason in China), 95-90
The 1st quarter was mostly horrible. Aside from a couple of flashes of D from Avery Bradley and Marcus Smart, the team largely napped on D. They got beat in transition, off the dribble, off the pick-and-roll… everything.
It took the Celtics about a quarter and a half to wake up. Their shooting dipped down into the mid-20 percent range early in the second quarter, but a Kelly Olynyk put-back took the cover off the rim, sparking the Celtics offense to score 21 points over the final 6:25 of the quarter.
That continued into the 3rd quarter, where the Celtics whipped off 33 points. The Nets, meanwhile, shot 26% on their way to 14 points. Jeff Green had 10 in the 3rd to lead the C’s. The Celtics held off a Nets charge in the 4th, mainly because they finally turned up the defensive intensity, and forced 7 4th quarter Nets turnovers.
The big key today’s win was rebounding. The Celtics grabbed 20 offensive rebounds in the game, leading to 20 second chance points to Brooklyn’s 2. I can’t even remember the last time that happened.
The Green
Sully, obviously, leads this category off. He was efficient (7-15 fg, 3-5 3pt), backing guys down when he had the advantage and shooting from deep when his defender lagged too far off him. He was chomping glass all day long, with 6 of the Celtics 20 offensive rebounds. He even had 2 steals.
Brandon Bass was a big reason the Celtics had the 3rd quarter that they did. Bass dropped 8 quick points in 6 minutes, including a corner 3 to beat the shot clock. Bass finished with a very nice 16 points, 6 rebounds, and 3 assists.
Marcus Smart is learning a lot out there, and his shot is definitely a work in progress, but his defense is just so much fun to watch. The kid is a big-time defender who not only got 3 steals, but also took charges and hounded guys all over the floor.
The Gross
The Celtics still have problems from time to time with their transition defense, which frustrates me to no end. That’s mainly a lack of effort. I don’t care if it’s preseason… this is about building good habits on a young team. The Spurs can get away with stuff like that, the Celtics can’t.
Evan Turner never quite got into a groove. He finished with 3 points on 1-9 shooting.
The Greenlights
Smart with the steal, and Jeff Green finishes with a follow dunk
Sully with some nice work on the post
Marcus Smart with the tough and-1
Kelly Olynyk with the sweet touch pass of an offensive rebound to Bass for the dunk.
Ahhh… preseason
Brandon Bass with the corner 3
The Grid
- Celtics: 90 field goal attempts. 29 were 3’s.
- Nets: 71 field goal attempts, 17 were 3’s.
- Second chance points: Celtics-20, Nets-2
- Total rebounds: Celtics-50, Nets-42
- Offensive rebounds: Celtics-20, Nets-7
This was the experimental 11-minute quarter game. It felt a little different, but I still don’t think that’s how to speed up these games. I stand by my original assertion… the big problem in NBA games is end-of-4th quarter drudgery. Make those timeouts :20 only or limit them even further somehow. The extra minute is no big deal. I liked the one-less timeout today more than anything.
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