POST GAME CHAR HORNETS - HOME

Celtics get squashed by the Hornets, 114-100

CSNNE

By A. Sherrod Blakely

BOSTON—Few NBA coaches seem to embrace remaining “in the moment” as well and as consistently as Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens.

But the sooner the Celtics can move on from tonight’s beating, the better.

In a game with significant playoff implications for both Boston and Charlotte, it was the Hornets that played with the kind of desperation needed to emerge victorious.

And as the final horn sounded and the Celtics faithful – those that decided to hang around in a game that became a blowout from about the second quarter to the end – Boston will limp into its season finale on Wednesday licking its wounds following a resounding 114-100 beating at the hands of the Hornets.

Charlotte, which led by as many as 28 points, won this game far more decisively than the final score would indicate.

Both teams cleared their benches in the final minute or two and the Celtics made the most of that time with a few baskets to make the final score more respectable.

The Celtics showed some signs of making things interesting in the fourth when they were able to cut Charlotte’s lead to as little as 15 following a 3-pointer by R.J. Hunter about halfway through the fourth. Hunter made the most of his minutes in scoring 11 points off the bench on 4-for-6 shooting.

The game’s intensity had clearly picked up in the fourth to a point where it actually looked like a game where both teams were heavily engaged in doing whatever they could to get the victory.

But down the stretch, the Celtics were unable to make shots when they desperately needed points.

And with each empty offensive trip, Boston found itself inching all that much closer to what was one of the more disappointing performances this season.

Boston (47-34) closes out its regular season against the Miami Heat who like the Celtics and Hornets (47-34), are also battling to improve its playoff seeding.

Monday’s game was very much an exercise in systematic destruction on the part of the Hornets.

They began the game by feeding ex-Celtic Al Jefferson a steady diet of touches in the paint. And he did what Big Al always – get buckets a few feet from the rim.

Jared Sullinger was no match for Jefferson’s assortment of low-post, up-and-under, pivot moves. Jefferson finished with a double-double of 16 points on 8-for-11 shooting, to go with 11 rebounds.

And then there was Harvard’s own Jeremy Lin who was having one of those Linsanity moments in the second quarter when he went on an 11-0 Lin run that was part of a blistering surge by the Hornets. He led all scorers with 25 points to go with seven rebounds and five assists.

The Celtics found themselves looking up at a 63-41 halftime deficit, the kind of hole few teams ever fully come out of.

Boston spent most of the third quarter trailing by 20 or more points with the frustration of the huge deficit beginning to wear on the players.

Isaiah Thomas drove into the lane and was whistled for an offensive foul. He didn’t like the call and rolled the ball towards official Ben Taylor who made the ball.

Taylor hit him with a technical and Celtics head coach Brad Stevens, well aware that his star player was losing his composure, took him out of the game to cool off.

Thomas finished with 17 points and shared team-high scoring honors with Avery Bradley. Boston got a double-double from Kelly Olynyk off the bench as he finished with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
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Studs and Duds: Jeremy Lin, Hornets blow past Celtics

WEEI

By Josue Pavon

Hornets guard Jeremy Lin (7) scores two of his 25 points against the Celtics. (Bob DeChiara/USA Today Sports)

Hornets guard Jeremy Lin (7) scores two of his 25 points against the Celtics. (Bob DeChiara/USA Today Sports)

In a game with playoff implications for both teams on the line, the Hornets dominated the Celtics en route to a 114-100 win at TD Garden on Wednesday.

Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley each netted 17 points for the Celtics, and Kelly Olynyk scored 10 off the bench, but it wasn’t nearly enough to hang on.

Led by Bradley’s 11 first-quarter points, the Celtics grabbed a 28-24 lead at the end of the quarter — but it didn’t last long. Charlotte outscored the C’s 39-13 in the second quarter and used a 9-3 run at the start of the third to take a 28-point lead they wouldn’t relinquish.

Desperate to find his offensive rhythm, Thomas came out aggressive in the second half, scoring 10 points on five shots before his aggression boiled over at the 3:55 mark. Thomas earned a technical foul for tossing the ball at official Ben Taylor’s legs in reaction to an offensive foul call. Thomas never returned to the game.

With the loss, the Celtics (47-34) are now tied with the Hornets fifth in the Eastern Conference. There are tiebreakers aplenty with all four teams seeded third through sixth capable of tying each other, but if the C’s take care of the Heat on Friday night, they will in all likelihood be hosting a playoff game this weekend.

STUD OF THE NIGHT: Jeremy Lin.

On Asian-American appreciation night, Lin dominated the Celtics, especially in the second quarter, where he scored 19 of his 25 points. Bradley and Marcus Smart simply couldn’t stop his dribble penetration. Lin also picked up five steals, as the Celtics seemed to drive into the paint with reckless abandon.

DUD OF THE NIGHT: The Boston Celtics.

The entire staff, record label and crew was awful tonight.

WHINE OF THE NIGHT: Lack of mental toughness.

In the second quarter, while the Hornets were making their huge run, the Celtics looked lethargic and played incredibly sloppy basketball. This is one of the only times this season that the team’s effort has to be called into question. After falling down big, the C’s also let the refs get in their heads. Thomas got his technical, and Evan Turner jumped around looking like a toddler throwing a tantrum after a no-call.

STAT OF THE NIGHT: 8:51.

That was the time between Celtics field goals in the second quarter. With 9:17 left, Turner’s layup put the C’s up 37-32. The next made shot did not come until the 1:26 mark, when Smart’s tip-in cut the deficit to 58-41.

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Celtics sign former Boston University star John Holland

WEEI

By Mike Petraglia

John Holland can come home again, at least to where he played his college basketball.

The former standout guard from Boston University signed a contract Monday with the Celtics after appearing in 37 regular season contests for the D-League Canton Charge this year.

The 6-foot-5 guard averaged 16.0 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 1.2 steals in 30.2 minutes per game. He shot 52.0 percent from the floor, 36.9 percent from beyond the arc and 85.2 percent from the free-throw line during the regular season.

During the 2015-16 D-League Playoffs, Holland has averaged 28.5 points, 4.5 rebounds, 4.0 assists and shot 62.5 percent from the field and 58.8 percent from the three-point line.

“Obviously John has had a good D-League year,” Brad Stevens said before Monday’s game. “He’s played overseas since he left Boston U. Obviously, he had a great career at Boston U. He played really well against us in the D-League and the D-League tournament in the first round of the playoffs.

“He’s a good player. He brings shooting. He brings pretty good size for a perimeter player. He brings the ability to switch. And he’s another person that we can add as depth, should we need some perimeter depth.”

Holland, the 40th Gatorade D-League call-up this season, was named the America East Conference Player of the Year as a Boston University senior when he led the Terriers to the 2011 NCAA Tournament. He finished his collegiate career as just the second player in America East history with at least 2,000 points, 700 rebounds and 200 steals.

A native of the Bronx, N.Y., Holland has played professionally in France, Spain and Turkey, and was in training camp with the San Antonio Spurs in 2014.

112288

GOING BACKWARDS!

112288

Very disappointing effort. Although IT has had a great season he's starting to display again some disturbing characteristics that showed up last year in the playoffs. Forcing dribble penetration were it doesn't exist. He loses his cool and like an alcoholic keeps doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. While no one can deny his talent and heart one has to wonder about his judgement especially at playoff time. While he was not the only one responsible for this loss it seemed to me that the ball moved a lot better when he was riding the pine.
One can only hope that Stevens can show him how to overcome this problem. Although the NBA game is completely different than the NFL there is some wisdom in the football saying: take what the defense gives you.

Berlin-T

After falling down big, the C’s also let the refs get in their heads. Thomas got his technical, and Evan Turner jumped around looking like a toddler throwing a tantrum after a no-call.



I've been saying this for a while now, this crybaby stuff to the refs has afflicted the whole team now. ENOUGH!!!

I cannot STAND players and teams that cry about the refs constantly. get over it!!

play HARDER.

ADJUST TO THE WAY the GAME IS BEING CALLED.

Let the COACH get on the refs when needed...that's part of HIS job.

IMO, Stevens should tell the players that if ANYONE says a word to the refs from this point on you are benched....PLAY THE GAME.

We're acting like a team full of D. Wade's out there for Christ sake.

we are now 0-2 in the "playoffs" after losing to Atlanta and Charlotte.

Can Brad right the ship?

I agree with most of the comments so far, both from our board members and from the media.

Our youth shows when the refs don't give us the calls we think we deserve.  In particular, I am starting to question Thomas' state of mind.  When he doesn't like the way the refs are calling the game (or not calling) he loses it.  He gets angry and petulant.  He goes harder and doesn't go smarter.  I don't think he'll get suspended for last night but it was still an example of lack of leadership.  No wonder he wants to talk to Tom Brady about "what it takes to win it all", he really doesn't understand how to play well through anger.  He was 6-13, which isn't bad, but he also had 6 TOs.  When he goes bad he goes really bad.  It's almost like he doesn't recognize that the defense has been stacked to take things away from him, he thinks he can just keep doing it, just harder, and that will work.  He is an 89% frito shooter but shot 4-7 last night.  Those are Amir or Sully numbers.  His brain just melts.

Our starting front court of Amir, Sully and Jae were a combined 4-14, 11 points, 11 rebounds in 60 minutes of combined play.  That's a quarter of the total 240 player minutes available in a regulation game and they were 29% shooting. Amir had 6 boards, Sully had 5 assists (more than IT) but Crowder was a complete no-show.  NOBODY will win with their front court like that.

Bradley was 7-12 and 3-5 from 3 but his defense on Jeremy Lin was a revolving door.

Bradley picked up his 4th foul in the 2nd because Brad didn't move fast enough to send in Smart and the Hornets, quite astutely, ran a play that went right at Bradley.  NOT good coaching last night.  Didn't Sully look at any film before this game?  Hasn't he played against Al Jefferson before?  Doesn't he know that you must take away his right hand, you must force him left?  Doesn't he know that Al almost always sets up on the left side of the lane and wants to go towards the middle?  Big Al tortured Sully because he'd back him down to the low blocks and then turn to his left to get his defender on his left hip and do that little flip shot with his right.  It is almost unstoppable.  When his back is to the basket you must force him to spin to his right if you want to have any chance whatsoever.  Sully didn't and Al scored easily everytime.  Zeller didn't watch any of those films either, since he let Al do the exact same thing.  The only one who did force Al to go baseline was Kelly.  Can you believe that?  The worst defending big we have at least had done his freaking homework and made Al do what he didn't want to do.  There were mixed results, Al did a really nice spin drop step for a layup on Kelly, but he also took and missed some tough shots because he was taking them from the baseline and not out front and with his right side, his shooting side, closest to the defender.  Al Jefferson is a very talented offensive player, shutting him out is impossible, but he doesn't have to be 8-11 talented, unless you let him be.

Jeremy Lin, All-Star.  Ugh.  How embarrassing.

13 Celtics played (???  I thought only 12 players could suit up).  Everyone but James Young took a fga.  Only Bradley, Thomas, Olynyk and deep bencher RJ Hunter shot over 40%.  8 Celtic players shot under 40%.  I mentioned our 4-14 front court, but Jerebko was 1-4, Zeller was 0-2, Smart was back to his more normal 1-8, Rozier 0-2, Turner 6-16.  That is just a team-wide ineptness on offense.

Turner with 4 TOs, IT with 6.  There's 10 of our team 12 TOs and two of our biggest whiners.

They shot almost 51%.  Our defense has disappeared over the past couple of weeks.  We beat Milwaukee but we didn't do it with defense, we did it with offense.

Brad benched the starting unit, all of them, for the entire 4th quarter.  They never got off the bench.  Good, they sucked.  What I don't like is that they sat there, on their hands, while the bench went out and cut the 28 point deficit they inherited from the starters down to 15.  No cheering, no "hold me back!" energy when RJ hit 2 3s, or when Kelly sliced to the rim for a layup.  They sat there like a bunch of sulking little prima donnas.  You know Danny was at the game and you know he could not have liked anything about that.

Well, now it is down to tomorrow.  5 of our next 5-8 games are against Miami.

Helluva time for the wheels to come off.


bob


.

Shocked AB off his usual great defensive game, made Jeremy Lin look like an all NBA player. Big Al is a player with alot of faults, but his offense and defense is probably better than Sully's. We are suddenly off after that great Milwaukee game. Were still a young team ahead in the rebuild, wonder which team is gonna show up for playoffs?

The constant concerns about the officiating is wearing on me.

Officials have a tough job trying to see everything that can happen on a small court with giant players moving at almost supersonic speed. They (officials) make mistakes every game, and I don't see the Celtics doing any where near as much complaining when they actually show up to play opposed to when they mail in an effort (like last night).

Most definitely time to drop the concept of blaming the refs for a poor mental approach to a game as it just CAN NOT help in any way. Playoffs are right around the corner.

The overall inconsistent season from Day 1. Nothing to really hang our hats on. some improvement, some regression and some parts showing no change at all.

It is really difficult to say which team will show up starting this weekend. It could be another 1st Round Broomsville or we could make it to the ECF. That's quite a range but very realistic.

Regardless, it will be exciting and telling as all NBA Playoffs are. But our real focus lies beyond in Dannyville immediately after our exit this postseason. Doing nothing is not an option. Big Stakes. Really Big Stakes. We also know Danny never does what any of us think should be done. So we will be surprised once again...

db

Sounds like Heinsohn's gotten into their heads.



swish

Quite honestly, everyone is asking way too much of this team. I am no fan of the ref's believe me, but the Celtics have reached their high level mark for the year. Will they be exciting in the playoffs, ya. Can they win a series, ya. Are they going to the EC Finals..........only if Red and Sam can work some magic!

So look at the team as it currently stands.............the team:

1 - Is well coached,
2 - They have bought into Stevens system and play as a coordinated unit - "TEAM BALL"
3 - They cover up their deficiencies fairly well - i.e. too small, no center, no superstar, young team, no outside shooting > by playing tough defense, being quick off the rebound, and use the fast break to gain a step on their opponents for easy scores.

47 or 48 wins is a great achievement in only their 3 rd year of the rebuild. I would even label it their second year of rebuild, because you do not gain the young assets in the draft until the end of the season.

They are set to be a 55 - 60 win team next year if they can draw a few noted superstars and that has become much easier to achieve because of Stevens coaching ability.

Sit back, root for a win by PHO and a loss by Crooklyn and we way just get a real shot at #1 or #2 in the draft.

But most of all, relax and stop complaining.........we are blessed by having a great coach and President/GM.

112288

112288 wrote:Quite honestly, everyone is asking way too much of this team.  I am no fan of the ref's believe me, but the Celtics have reached their high level mark for the year.  Will they be exciting in the playoffs, ya.  Can they win a series, ya. Are they going to the EC Finals..........only if Red and Sam can work some magic!

So look at the team as it currently stands.............the team:

1 - Is well coached,
2 - They have bought into Stevens system and play as a coordinated unit - "TEAM BALL"
3 - They cover up their deficiencies fairly well - i.e. too small, no center, no superstar, young team, no outside shooting > by playing tough defense, being quick off the rebound, and use the fast break to gain a step on their opponents for easy scores.

47 or 48 wins is a great achievement in only their 3 rd year of the rebuild.  I would even label it their second year of rebuild, because you do not gain the young assets in the draft until the end of the season.

They are set to be a 55 - 60 win team next year if they can draw a few noted superstars and that has become much easier to achieve because of Stevens coaching ability.

Sit back, root for a win by PHO and a loss by Crooklyn and we way just get a real shot at #1 or #2 in the draft.

But most of all, relax and stop complaining.........we are blessed by having a great coach and President/GM.

112288

If we can add "a few noted superstars" to next year's team I'l be a happy guy.  I'll take one.

112288

I really like your comments.

They are realistic and very positive. Obviously there are a lot of changes that will be taking place but for now this team will be in the playoffs and will not have to face either the Cavs or Raptors in the first round. I think we get a first round win and anything after that is gravy. But if we do not get a first round win we still have a lot of good things to look forward to.

dboss

dBoss

Thank you and agree!

112288

112288 wrote:Quite honestly, everyone is asking way too much of this team.  I am no fan of the ref's believe me, but the Celtics have reached their high level mark for the year.  Will they be exciting in the playoffs, ya.  Can they win a series, ya. Are they going to the EC Finals..........only if Red and Sam can work some magic!

So look at the team as it currently stands.............the team:

1 - Is well coached,
2 - They have bought into Stevens system and play as a coordinated unit - "TEAM BALL"
3 - They cover up their deficiencies fairly well - i.e. too small, no center, no superstar, young team, no outside shooting > by playing tough defense, being quick off the rebound, and use the fast break to gain a step on their opponents for easy scores.

47 or 48 wins is a great achievement in only their 3 rd year of the rebuild.  I would even label it their second year of rebuild, because you do not gain the young assets in the draft until the end of the season.

They are set to be a 55 - 60 win team next year if they can draw a few noted superstars and that has become much easier to achieve because of Stevens coaching ability.

Sit back, root for a win by PHO and a loss by Crooklyn and we way just get a real shot at #1 or #2 in the draft.

But most of all, relax and stop complaining.........we are blessed by having a great coach and President/GM.

112288

112288,

Nicely summed.


bob


.

Thanks Bob, Hope all is well!

GO CELTICS!

112288