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Celtics Wrap: Reserve Players Shine In Win On Back-To-Back
The Celtics are rolling


NESN by Keagan Stiefel

The Boston Celtics picked up a league-leading 17th victory Monday night with a win over the Charlotte Hornets, 140-105, at TD Garden.

The Celtics improved to 17-4 on the year, while the Hornets dropped to 6-15.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
Coming into a back-to-back with the NBA’s best record, following a win, without a pair of starters — the Celtics had every right to look sluggish in the opening minutes of this matchup. Instead, they looked flat-out dominant.

Boston came out firing on all cylinders, scoring 45 points in the first quarter of an eventual blowout of Charlotte. The win, in which the Celtics deployed all 12 active players, showed off just how incredible Boston’s depth truly is. It didn’t matter who was on the court, either. Blake Griffin turned back the clock in his first start of the season, showing off unlimited hustle (and bounce) in his limited minutes. Luke Kornet continued to show improvement as a defender while serving as a legitimate rim-running threat offensively. Marcus Smart, Malcolm Brogdon and Derrick White all ran the offense at various points, and combined to turn the ball over a total of six times while dishing out 27 of Boston’s 40 assists.

Jayson Tatum looked like his usual superstar self, but he wasn’t needed Monday night. Boston shot 64% from the floor and combined for 36 assists before the end of the bench came in for the final eight minutes. Someone from the Maine Celtics could have gotten the start and Boston still would have won.

STARS OF THE GAME
— Luke Kornet was electrifying Monday, finishing with nine points, eight rebounds and a block off the bench. It’s about time everyone apologized to Brad Stevens — who was a believer in the Green Kornet from the very start.

— Blake Griffin got his first start of the season against Charlotte and turned back the clock in an energetic performance. The six-time NBA All Star finished with nine points and four rebounds, but really made waves with a vintage dunk.

— Tatum did his thing, finishing with 35 points, three rebounds, three assists, two steals and a block in 30 minutes.

WAGER WATCH
DraftKings Sportsbook set Marcus Smart’s total Points-Rebounds-Assists at 23.5, giving him -110 odds of surpassing the number. He did so before halftime, finishing with 22 points and 15 assists. A $100 bet would have netted a total payout of $190.91.

UP NEXT
The Celtics will continue their extended homestand Wednesday night against the Heat, opening up a two-game set with Miami at TD Garden. Tipoff is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. ET.

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Kind of wish they had Hayward, Rozier and Bridges, not that any of them can defend. We still shouldn’t be doing all this, this new offense is just blowing out teams, once we find our rhythm, we are as unstoppable as any offense I’ve ever seen. Actually never seen an offense like this ever, the guys so freely share the ball and everyone can hit 3’s or drive in wide open lanes created off of ball and player movement. Joe must be some kind of offensive genius, I’m sure Brad is also giving input too as he knows something about coaching.

I can’t imagine how much better we can look with more fast break opportunities off the defense once Rob gets back. We have the deepest backcourt in the league and our 2 superstars have lower 3point % than the rest of the team, that’s how deep we are and how many good/great shooters we have….and we have the Luke, he just comes in and takes care of business.

Another almost team effort 50/40/90.  That's impressive, Gus.  Since the FT's were the offender, we can take some percentage points from the other two, add it to the FT's and call it a faux 50/40/90.  Close enough.  I'm pretty sure no one from around the league is going to argue.  They're having too many secret meetings.    

Here's what I see.  Our play almost looks unplanned/random but in a good way.  One play or two you see ISO JT eventually driving to the lane, scoring and getting fouled.  The next play you see stellar ball movement resulting in a practice 3 or Globetrotter-style dunk/layup.  Next ten plays, we go 10-10 from 3 all so wide open I could make it.  I can completely understand the look of WTF/WTH on the opposing coaches faces.  It's outside/in, inside/out, outside/outside, inside/inside all perfectly selected/executed as to have the opposing defense having absolutely no clue what the next play is going to be.  I'd have to dig up some 60's and 80's footage, but I don't recall seeing anything like this ever.  It's like the team has a random number generator for play calls where you'd expect the overall results to be absolute chaos, yet it's beautiful poetry in motion from start to finish.  Every play.  Priceless.

I'd mention the 13 TO's as they tend to be breathers not only for the players but for those of us watching!  That style of play is going to produce what looks like carelessness handling the ball.  That can improve with better communication as Brogden pointed out in his halftime interview.  Against a better team like say a BKN it may be magnified.  We'll see.            

Want to almost feel sorry for the Hornets and all the bad luck with personnel, injuries, crappy FO, etc. but I can't.  We made it through, so can they.  Come on, Michael.        

Regarding the waiting for return of RWIII.  Initial help or hinderance?  Do you want him starting right out of the gate or warming up and coming off the bench.  My vote would be warm him up briefly coming off the bench.  If he goes gangbusters and shoots out of the cannon, put him back as a starter.  Either way, he's going to crush it.  Longing for that dynamic as we all are.    

What's Kornet eating these days?!!  And what's with the Eagle's wings?!!  Good to see them having a good time.  I'm sure an explanation is coming soon for that.

"Playoff" set in Boston vs. Heat Wednesday and Friday.  Winning two by either team will be tough.  Looks like a split initially.  We'll see.  Coach Spo is no joke.  He's coming in to win two.  A good set of games vs. a team we played in the playoffs.  Spo wants a little "r-e-v-e-n-g".  (Come on, worcester!  I'm sure I've quoted and given this answer before!)  No better time to pull that off while we're hot and derail the Express.    

@ BKN on the horizon come Sunday as well, I see.  That will be another good showdown/comparison of where we and BKN stand since we played them in the playoffs.

That's enough.  WOW!!....AGAIN!!!    

P.S. As always, good to see the Lakers blow a 17-point lead in the 4th and lose on a buzzer beater. We know exactly where they are and that ain't getting fixed anytime soon, this season or next. Perfect evening.

The difference between a good team and a Championship team is that a good team will beat the teams they are expected to beat but will lose to teams they shouldn't lose to because they play down to their opponent's level (i.e. "Trap Games") while Championship teams always try to play up to their own level.  That's what we've been seeing all season, without RWill and yet still having the best record in the league, and have absolutely seen the last two games against Washington and Charlotte despite being without Jayson for one and without Jaylen and Al in the other.  We played up to our abilities and not down to theirs.  Charlotte was ridiculously depleted, I'm not saying this game should have been even close, but we buried them because we played like Champions.  There was no lack of energy or focus in this game.  They had a little mini-run in the 4th that got the lead down below 40.  That's about it, and that's not bad since Joe had emptied out the bench at that point.  Kabengele, Vonleh and Jackson played 8-9 minutes of the 4th.  That's when 100% pure, unadulterated garbage time started.  Not only was it an early Gino Time, he was able to do two sets.

Tatum was 15-28 for 35 points, but he was 4-14 from 3.  Which part of 11-14 from 2 does he not see?  I know all about the "Shooter's Memory", and how important it is to have amnesia about your last miss so you can believe the next one is going in, but at some point...?  I need to talk myself off the ledge and onto the couch because, at this point, Jayson Tatum will shoot wtf he wants to shoot and Joe will never tell him, nor any other player, not to take a 3.

I loved what Blake Griffin gave us last night.  Joe starts him for Al, and apparently inserts him at no other time, and he always comes out with energy.  His body takes a beating because he is not afraid to take a charge.  He took two, and the 2nd one was bruising.  Easy does it, Pops, we're gonna needya later.  There were several 2nd chance opportunities we got because he was contesting for the offensive rebound and was able to tap it out to another Celtic.  When you're shooting 59% from the floor for the game those extra possessions will yield extra points.  Blake was only given credit for 4 rebounds, 2 of them offensive, but there were a couple more that were awarded to someone else because he kept it alive for them.  There were two in the same set of possessions.  What a luxury to not only have a 6X All-Star coming off our bench, but coming off the end of our bench and playing like he's getting regular minutes.  We're 3-0 in the games where Blake started in place of Al.  Jayson got the points, but Blake gets the highlight film tribute.




Smart and Brogdon were great too.  Smart with a career high 15 assists and only 3 turnovers.  22 points 8-11 from the field, 6-9 from 3.  We are unbeatable when Smart is playing like that.  We are unbeatable when he's running the offense and hitting his shots because we all know that it's his defense and competitiveness that keeps him on the court and not his offense or offensive contributions.  However, to give credit where credit is due, Smart's 3pt fg% is now up to 35.1%.  Not great, but much better and not hurting us as long as he doesn't have one of his 3-13 games.




We have the 2016-2017 Rookie of the Year coming off our bench.  The Big Smooth is so much fun for me to watch.  I love smart players who play well without the advantage of uber-athleticism, reinforcing my belief that basketball is not a game about running fast or jumping high but about being at the right place and doing the right thing at the right time.  It's a simple game when it slows down for you and that's crafty Malcolm Brogdon.  




8 rebounds and 9 points in 18 minutes for Luke.  He is definitely turning me into a believer and I never thought that was going to happen.  The famous Irish satirist Jonathon Swift (mostly famous as the author of "Gulliver's Travels") once said that "you should never be ashamed to admit you were wrong.  It only proves you are wiser today than you were yesterday".  Well, I was wrong about Luke not deserving to be in the NBA.  He is showing he can be a solid first center off the bench and not just a "break glass in case of emergency" one.

In margin notes:  Kabengele came off the bench in garbage time and had 4 rebounds, 3 of them offensive, and 2 points in 8 minutes.  He just looks and plays so much stronger than Vonleh, who might be more skilled and experienced but seems to me to be a little slow on his rotations.  Fi is a bull in a china shop, the type of player me and Cowens love and the type of player we don't have on our regular roster.  Mfiondu Kabengele will not be outmuscled.

Our #1 offense went up from 120.4ppg to 121.3ppg because of this game.  #2 is Sacto @ 119.0ppg.  Our MoV is now a league leading +8.4.  #2 is Phoenix @ #6.8.  Our defense is 14th, giving up 112.9ppg.  A big improvement from where it was earlier this season but still mediocre.  For all our history the Boston Celtics have always strived to be the best at defense.  The Russell Celtics were high scorers too but their defense, led by Russ, was also elite.  What we're seeing is how much the league has changed.  The league wants scoring more than defense.  I don't like this change, I love defense, but it is what it is.  That's why having the best offense in the league while having a very mediocre defense is giving us the #1 record in the NBA.  I know this is hard to swallow, especially for me and Cowens, but we won't win #18 playing the same game we played in 2008, much less 1986.

Sean Grande @SeanGrandePBP
about 8 hours ago
The Celtics now have five of the top fifteen 3-point shooters in the NBA. Malcolm Brogdon has hit 15 of his last 21 from distance to move into the top ten. (The Celtics are shooting over 40% from 3, and neither Jayson Tatum nor Jaylen Brown is in the top 100...yet.)

Sam's #3, Al is #6, Malcolm is #10, Derrick is #14 and Grant is #15.  The full list is here:  https://twitter.com/SeanGrandePBP/status/1597474330580897792


Our team stats, as mentioned by dbrown, are 49.6/40.3/85.2.  So we're real close on fg%, slightly over on 3pt fg% but need to up our ft%.

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401468456


Bob


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