Turning Point?
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Well, I can't say that the Celtics followed my advice tonight about featuring Rondo more in the offense! Even so, tonight's game brought tears to my eyes.
I think that Bradley made a statement about statistics tonight, dominating the game with suffocating full court defense on his opposite number, inspiring his team to a record-tying defensive performance, the best basketball the Celtics have played all year, and all of this without much to show in his stat-line. And this wasn't against a weak team. The Magic are one of the best teams in the league, and for much of the game this was a very intense defensive struggle. But the Celtics seemed to break through at the end of the second quarter, piling up a ten point lead all of a sudden. In the third quarter, the Cs broke the Magic's will and then just kept the pressure on the rest of the way.
And all this was done with Rondo, Allen, Pietrus, Dooling and Wilcox out!!!
Pierce was a warrior again tonight, even though he didn't shoot well, playing an all around brilliant game. JO, Garnett and Stiemsma frustrated Howard after he had a hot start in the first quarter. Bass almost had a double double and outplayed his counterpart, Big Baby, who got a nice hand from the crowd on his return, and a nice tribute video.
Defense is the one area where the Celtics have really managed to hold it together all season, but I didn't expect this. This was championship defense! Was it the turning point or an aberration? One thing is for sure: Rondo, when you come back, be aggressive on offense, BUT NO MORE MATADOR DEFENSE!!! If Rondo would play defense more like Bradley does, I think he could do a lot of damage.
Nice interview with Bradley about the decision to pick up the Magic full court, and he also gives props to Rondo for coaching him on the bench...
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8 Comments
Let's do it all over it this Thursday!!!
jlil89 says...
I may have only seen most of the game on my phone via my ESPN gametracker app but holy **** what a win!!! Domination was everywhere to be seen! And with FIVE players out with injuries, TWO being starters against SUPERMAN himself!!! It makes me so happy to see tremendous contribution from our bench players. MAJOR props to Bradley and Bass! Bass be whoooping dat ass and Bradley is just a NASTY defender!
Let's do it all over it this Thursday!!!
If Rondo plays on Thursday, I hope he plays with the kind of defensive intensity that Bradley showed tonight! Tonight was just amazing.
Jesse says...
So far my comments on Celtics articles have been cheerleading, trying to make happy other fans. I have to go to the bench for adjustments. TOTALLY #&(!^@# AWESOME!!!!!
It's interesting, isn't it, that Doc has to be sort of forced to use the younger players? Regardless, Bradley was amazing last night. What a special moment in Celtics history!
Franklin says...
Celtics pride was out tonight, and the journey this season hasn't been finalized. The life of this team has finally came to the surface. This is without two of the big four. We now know Bradley is for real!
And he'll be starting over Rondo before long if Rondo doesn't forsake his matador defense for some Honey Badger Defense!
It bothered me some, though, that Jermaine seemed to stand up for Bradley, when he was knocked down; why doesn't anyone ever stand up for Rondo when he gets mugged, now that Perkins is gone?
paul says...
And he'll be starting over Rondo before long if Rondo doesn't forsake his matador defense for some Honey Badger Defense!
It bothered me some, though, that Jermaine seemed to stand up for Bradley, when he was knocked down; why doesn't anyone ever stand up for Rondo when he gets mugged, now that Perkins is gone?
I disagree a little on that Paul. Allen,and KG rush to Rondo. KG was their the whole time when Rondo went down.
Greg says...
I disagree a little on that Paul. Allen,and KG rush to Rondo. KG was their the whole time when Rondo went down.
KG was there for sure. Rondo has commented repeatedly that KG helped him stay calm, and Daniels commented that too.
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Oops, you forgot something.