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Celtics Wrap: Boston Plays To Script, Crushes Scrappy Pacers
Boston played to its strengths Friday


NESN by Keagan Stiefel

The Boston Celtics defeated the Indiana Pacers on Friday night, leaving TD Garden with a 120-95 victory.

The C’s improved to 51-23, while the Pacers fell to 33-41.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
The Celtics played tremendously on offense throughout Friday’s game, it just took a while for the defense to catch up.

Boston gave up 32 points in the opening frame, before locking things down to allow a combined 44 points over the next two quarters. Throughout those first 36 minutes, the Celtics were impeccable offensively, scoring 92 points on 44% shooting from the floor.

It was almost as if Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla wrote the script, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown carrying the brunt of the load while Boston built its lead and Derrick White helping facilitate the closing minutes.

This game was a thumping of an inferior team in Indiana, and a pretty one at that for Boston. That’s all the Celtics can ask for as they close the season looking to compete for the Eastern Conference’s No. 1 seed.

STARS OF THE GAME
— Brown’s explosion in the third quarter essentially sealed this one. He scored 15 of his 27 points in the frame, adding seven rebounds and four assists.

— White has become a legitimate third option for Boston, stuffing the stat sheet on a nightly basis. The 28-year-old finished with 22 points, nine assists, four rebounds, one steal and one block.

— Tatum did his thing again. The 2023 NBA All-Star Game MVP finished with 34 points, seven rebounds, two assists and two steals.

WAGER WATCH
Brown was given -125 odds by DraftKings Sportsbook to surpass 35.5 total points, rebounds and assists. The all-around performance was enough to net $100 bettors a $180 payout.

UP NEXT
The Celtics will play host to the San Antonio Spurs on Sunday. Tipoff from TD Garden is scheduled for 6 p.m. ET.

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Just caught up with the recording.

Well played Celts!  Good to see RWill getting some rhythm.  When the ball moves and Tatum attacks on the move, it is great.  JB has been playing at a different level lately. Let JT also get to that level and we will be set for the playoffs.

Just caught up with the recording.

Well played Celts! Good to see RWill getting some rhythm. When the ball moves and Tatum attacks on the move, it is great. JB has been playing at a different level lately. Let JT also get to that level and we Wilma be set for the playoffs.

prakash wrote:Just caught up with the recording.

Well played Celts!  Good to see RWill getting some rhythm.  When the ball moves and Tatum attacks on the move, it is great.  JB has been playing at a different level lately. Let JT also get to that level and we will be set for the playoffs.

I heard since the road trip started, he’s shooting 47% from 3

I'm liking what I'm seeing. Same old formula we've screamed about a thousand times. Just keep it up and Banner 18 will be a reality.

The two sleepers that more than likely will be the straws that break the camel's back for the rest of whoever is in our way will be Derrick White and Doogie. And Derrick White may be removing himself from that list as he moves up into the J-Sqaured's arena with his play of late. That would promote Malcolm Brogden.

If Doogie can hit his threes on cue, look out. No one has a scouting report on that one and it's too late to put one together...if he is on. If he's not, he's a liability and just a spot filler and his clanking 3's will only help start a cornucopia o' fast breaks in the opposite direction.

Malcolm In The Middle..of the Lane, more accurately, will spell doom for anyone in our way. Stay healthy, young man and keep driving to the basket getting fouled and sinking your free throws. Your calm demeanor is really going to come in handy around the ECF.

db

P.S. PHI passing out gifts to the Celtics thanks to Golden State. Their West Coast trip is in high gear. Hopefully, they will continue to shoot themselves in the foot by the time this trip is over. Unfortunately for Doc, he might want to start dusting off his resume. Anything short of a trip to the ECF for PHI will just about do it for Doc and PHI, and if the 2/3 seeds hold, we'll be the team to drive the knife into their hearts. They did have a look of confusion last night vs. GSW toward the end of the game, actually most of the 4th quarter. Of course Harden was out so maybe this wasn't the spectacular momentum shifting game the Warriors can hang their hat on that everyone else is clamoring about. But Harden's impeccable timing throughout is illustrious career of no-showing when it's needed most is starting to raise its ugly head once again. I'm just sayin'.

db

I also hope SIASJ keeps RWIII coming off the bench.  This is really working.  He can still play starter's minutes if needed and keep tapping the ball out on an OR, blocking, stealing, and scoring if needed.  Looks like he's on minutes restriction right now.  But the team is responding well and so is RWIII. Whatever it takes.

db

B2B games with above average ball movement.  

We know that this team is loaded with high quality shot makers but unless they share the ball it bogs the offense down.  We all know this and when you see the rock moving, it is beautiful basketball.

RW completes the defense.  He gives us the 'S' in Swag.

During the post game presser, CJ was asked about going with the 2-big lineup.  We have had discussions about that throughout the season.  He stated that it depends on matchups.

Of course he is right about that.  It does depend on matchups.

The Cavs and the Bucks are ranked #1 and #2 ( defensive ranking)  at # 3 is Memphis and The Celtics are #4

All 3 of those teams play with a 2 big lineup. (although Adams has been out since late Jan with a knee issue)

I think using a 2-big lineup against the Bucks and the Cavs makes a lot of sense.  

I am sure that CJ will figure that out and with the Bucks coming up in 5 days we may get a preview of what to expect.

Derrick White has been playing excellent basketball and he is a fit in guy.  He has proven to be a worthy starter.

The Celtics probably have more options in terms of lineups that CJ can put on the floor.  With a healthy Rob there are no depth issues.  We know that the playoffs usually results in shorter rotations.  If Rob is ready we are looking at a solid 8 man rotation plus Hauser.  Other guys on the team are looking at a minute or 2 here or there.  

If the Celtics can finish the remainder of the regular season fully locked in at both ends, they will be ready to compete at a high level in the playoffs.

dbrown4 wrote:I also hope SIASJ keeps RWIII coming off the bench.  This is really working.  He can still play starter's minutes if needed and keep tapping the ball out on an OR, blocking, stealing, and scoring if needed.  Looks like he's on minutes restriction right now.  But the team is responding well and so is RWIII.  Whatever it takes.  

db

I wrote my post before I read your.

I agree with CJ on the matchup situations dictating lineups.  Did you know that the Bucks are #1 in rebounding?  That is one of the reason why they are #1 #2 in defensive rating.

There is one more piece to fall into place. Marcus Smart.

Marcus has been struggling lately and has been resorting to his antics more than usual. That whole act of screaming as if Mathurin had actually hit him in the groin area was out of line for me. The refs never reacted to that and Joe pulled him out of the game.

Need him to figure it out.

prakash wrote:There is one more piece to fall into place.  Marcus Smart.

Marcus has been struggling lately and has been resorting to his antics more than usual.  That whole act of screaming as if Mathurin had actually hit him in the groin area was out of line for me.  The refs never reacted to that and Joe pulled him out of the game.

Need him to figure it out.

I thought Marcus played solid basketball last night.  Yes he did get hit in the....again.  He may want to remove the 'ring my bell' sign for service.

dboss wrote:

prakash wrote:There is one more piece to fall into place.  Marcus Smart.

Marcus has been struggling lately and has been resorting to his antics more than usual.  That whole act of screaming as if Mathurin had actually hit him in the groin area was out of line for me.  The refs never reacted to that and Joe pulled him out of the game.

Need him to figure it out.

I thought Marcus played solid basketball last night.  Yes he did get hit in the....again.  He may want to remove the 'ring my bell' sign for service.

Smart played 27 mins for 6 pts and 5 assists. White played 38 mins.

prakash wrote:There is one more piece to fall into place.  Marcus Smart.

Marcus has been struggling lately and has been resorting to his antics more than usual.  That whole act of screaming as if Mathurin had actually hit him in the groin area was out of line for me.  The refs never reacted to that and Joe pulled him out of the game.

Need him to figure it out.

I dont know about that. Players know when other players are going for the family jewels and other sneaky shenanigans. What we see is not exactly what they know. I don’t think Smart was acting out on that.

Ktron wrote:

prakash wrote:There is one more piece to fall into place.  Marcus Smart.

Marcus has been struggling lately and has been resorting to his antics more than usual.  That whole act of screaming as if Mathurin had actually hit him in the groin area was out of line for me.  The refs never reacted to that and Joe pulled him out of the game.

Need him to figure it out.

I dont know about that. Players know when other players are going for the family jewels and other sneaky shenanigans. What we see is not exactly what they know. I don’t think Smart was acting out on that.

If you watch the replay, there was the first contact. Smart didn’t react to it. That one was more probable. Then he screamed at the second one. I don’t think that that one was even close.

The refs didn’t even bother with anything. Review and such. Seems like they saw what I saw.

From where I stand, Marcus is struggling. We need him to be Marcus, the basketball player, come playoffs. Marcus, the Hollywood star doesn’t serve us that well.

Marcus clearly got hit in the huevos.It didn't appear deliberate.He may have overreacted because he's been getting hit there pretty regularly. I thought MS played fine last game. He moved the ball instead of jacking up shots. We din't need him to score.

prakash wrote:

Ktron wrote:

prakash wrote:There is one more piece to fall into place.  Marcus Smart.

Marcus has been struggling lately and has been resorting to his antics more than usual.  That whole act of screaming as if Mathurin had actually hit him in the groin area was out of line for me.  The refs never reacted to that and Joe pulled him out of the game.

Need him to figure it out.

I dont know about that. Players know when other players are going for the family jewels and other sneaky shenanigans. What we see is not exactly what they know. I don’t think Smart was acting out on that.

If you watch the replay, there was the first contact. Smart didn’t react to it. That one was more probable. Then he screamed at the second one. I don’t think that that one was even close.

The refs didn’t even bother with anything. Review and such.  Seems like they saw what I saw.

From where I stand, Marcus is struggling.  We need him to be Marcus, the basketball player, come playoffs.  Marcus, the Hollywood star doesn’t serve us that well.

Agree. Marcus it’s struggling but I’m more than optimistic that Marcus will be there when we need him future forward.

I don’t put as much weight on replay as you do. They can show it from different angles, slow it down or replay it in real time. Very seldom is it clear cut and definitive. When it is clear cut we can rely on it being real. How often do we see that? Not very.

I know it sounds like mumbo jumbo, but to me thats what replay is. This is why it takes 3 officials and a resident genius in Secaucus to take what seems to be hours to decide what they saw and agree on it only to get it wrong on too many occasions. Personally I would love it if it went away and never comes back. I’ve said it before, Its a game. Its never going to be perfect so they need to stop trying to make it so.

Smart may have been over acting but that is part of his and many other players game. It doesn't mean that it didn't happen. It more or less means that it wasn't as severe as Marcus was displaying.

Players recognize shenanigans or dirty actions coming from other players. It can look unintentional but that doesn't mean it was. So if I'm Marcus and I’ve been hit “down there” more often than not, I know whats being attempted is real and I’m going to address it.

I like the Marcus that takes the least shots as possible and passes the ball….we don’t need him to score

cowens/oldschool wrote:I like the Marcus that takes the least shots as possible and passes the ball….we don’t need him to score

I agree Cow...when Marcus plays the role of a pass first point guard the offense is more efficient.

has anyone out there experienced a delayed reaction when they got hit where the sun don't shine?

It takes a while for the brain to catch up with the ringing of the bell.... lol

dboss wrote:

cowens/oldschool wrote:I like the Marcus that takes the least shots as possible and passes the ball….we don’t need him to score

I agree Cow...when Marcus plays the role of a pass first point guard the offense is more efficient.

With Brogdon, White and obviously Jaylen there is plenty of offensive firepower in the backcourt, Tatum is another lethal high volume scorer/shooter that plays all over the floor….we don’t need Smart taking 6-8 3’s a game.

The taller a person is, the longer it takes for a pain signal to reach the brain, but still it usually happens in a second or less (3 to 30 meters/second). However, for people with thicker wrists, conduction is faster, so I assume Marcus has thick wrists and hence would feel pain impulses faster, not slower than most. Nevertheless, groin pain is a function of compression. The larger the sack, the longer it takes to get fully compressed and thence generate a pain signal; thus in that regard, Marcus may take longer to evince a pain signal from a groin injury. Here's some insight into nerve conduction speeds:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nerve_conduction_velocity