Lex Nihil Novi - Bird Happy for "Our" Fans, Watches C's Dump Pacers

by **bobheckler** Sun Nov 19, 2017 9:22 am

http://lexnihilnovi.blogspot.com/2017/11/bird-happy-for-our-fans-watches-cs-dump.html

Bird Happy for "Our" Fans, Watches C's Dump Pacers

11/14/2007

INDIANAPOLIS - Twenty years ago, Larry Bird was the Celtics' star as they started the season 6-0. Last night, Bird was in the stands to see the first Celtics squad since his 20 years ago to start off 6-0.

Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parish were the star trio back in 1987. Now led by a star trio of Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce, and Ray Allen, the NBA's only unbeaten squad defeated the Pacers, 101-86, at Conseco Fieldhouse. Pierce scored a game-high 31 points and also had 11 rebounds and 6 assists.

"Obviously, their chemistry is very good," said Bird, now president of basketball operations for the Pacers. "You don't come out and win five or six in a row if your chemistry is not good. It's good to see because I always thought that chemistry is a major part of winning basketball games.

"I know that they have chemistry because I read a lot about them. A lot of teams should take notice. Ball movement, playing together, and having great chemistry will get you a long way in this league."

Bird spoke about the past and present of the Celtics prior to the game. Last season, he and two other ex-Celtics teammates, Danny Ainge (Boston) and Kevin McHale (Minnesota), were all in a rebuilding mode as team executives. But after Ainge acquired Allen in a trade from Seattle and Garnett in a trade from the Wolves, the Celtics instantly went from doormat to contender.

"I'm very happy for Danny," Bird said. "He went through a rough period like me and Kevin's been going through. If you're going to pat somebody on the back, pat McHale on the back."

Celtics swingman James Posey and forward Brian Scalabrine were back on the active roster and cleared to play without restriction. Posey had missed two games with back spasms, while Scalabrine missed the previous game with a concussion.

Posey, who scored 6 points, entered the game for Pierce with the Pacers up, 23-19, and 2:49 left in the first quarter. One good sign that Posey's back is fine was that he took a hard hit and also landed a defensive foul while trying to take a charge with 36.6 seconds left in the period. It was also his second foul and he was replaced by Scalabrine.

Scalabrine (9 points) wasted little time showing that he felt good as he nailed a 3-pointer with 15 seconds left to give Boston a 26-24 lead. The Celtics shot 44.4 percent from the field in the first quarter, and their leading scorer was reserve guard Eddie House with 5.

With both teams shooting badly, some trash-talking started up late in the first half, and that woke up Pierce. With Garnett having his way with Indiana's Jermaine O'Neal, House began saying, "Way to beast him, 'Ticket."' O'Neal took exception and exchanged words with an unfazed House.

Speaking of unfazed ...

With 3:06 left in the second, Pierce got upset when he was slapped on the top of his head on a foul by Jamaal Tinsley. After Pierce made the first of two free throws to give the Celtics a 40-38 lead, he did two pushups on the hardwood and said, "That don't faze me. That don't faze me."

It did faze Indiana, though.

Pierce made a highlight-reel dunk on three Pacers with 2:43 left in the second to give Boston a 42-39 lead. He scored 17 points in the second on 5-of-8 shooting and made all seven free throw attempts while playing the entire quarter to lead the Celtics to a 52-43 halftime lead.

The Paul Pierce Show turned into the Ray Allen Show in the third quarter.

Allen was scoreless on four shots in the first half. But he heated up to score 13 of the Celtics' first 17 points and nail two 3-pointers in the third quarter to give Boston a 69-54 lead at the 3:53 mark. Allen scored 15 of his 17 points on 6-of-8 shooting in the third as the Celtics took a 76-65 lead.

With the Celtics up, 87-73, and 6:09 remaining, House left with a sprained left ankle and didn't return.

Tinsley's lay-in with 4:07 remaining trimmed Boston's lead to 89-82, but the Pacers didn't make a strong challenge the rest of the way.

Surely Bird doesn't like to see his Pacers lose. But considering his Celtic pride, maybe this one didn't hurt as badly.

"Our fans went through a tough time there for a long period," Bird said. "Boston is one of the greatest if not the greatest sports town in America. So I'm happy for them."

bob

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