POST GAME ATLANTA

A rare preseason game in April for the Celtics. All in all with a make shift line up with some rookies thrown in, it was a nice effort by the subs. Smart move by Doc by sitting out the big four. Why expose them to a late season injury.

Bradley keeps on impressing. He is a keeper and I am looking forward to him hooping up with Rondo and Green next year. Could be an exciting brand of basketball.

Even though he did not score much, I love this kid Moore's shot. Silky, very silky. This kid will be a natural shooter. I do not see him as a point guard but rather a shooting guard.


NEXT GAME TUESDAY AT HOME - 8PM - AGAINST MIAMI - TNT/CSNE

112288

POST GAME - WEEI 850


FAST BREAK: BRADLEY, UNDERMANNED C’S GIVE STRONG EFFORT; FALL SHORT IN ATLANTA
By Ryan Hadfield

The Celtics were without Mickael Pietrus, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, and Kevin Garnett on Friday night. To say Boston was undermanned is like saying Kevin Millar and Pedro Martinez didn’t exactly hit their marks during their speech at Fenway Park’s 100th birthday celebration earlier today.

Despite this, the B-squad put together a valiant effort against the Hawks, but fell short, 97-92. Joe Johnson led the way for Atlanta with 30 points on 11-of-18 shooting. Avery Bradley had a stellar performance for the Celtics, scoring a career-high 28 points on 12-of-22 shooting.

WHAT WENT RIGHT

‘A’ is for ‘Avery’: Avery Bradley scored 17 first-half points for the second straight game. He scored in a variety of ways: off strong cuts (his forte), penetrating to the basket, pull up jumpers — everything, really. He was 8-of-13 shooting, and carried the team offensively. In a game where he truly had to be, Bradley was exceptional and, at times, looked like a leader — keep in mind, he is just 21 years old.

Car Keys: While Bradley certainly figures to be prominently involved in the upcoming playoff run, Doc Rivers using the B-squad Friday night gave an opportunity for Keyon Dooling to show he can contribute to the Celtics cause. He started the game a perfect 4-of-4 shooting and had 10 first half points, including an impressive floating tear drop after abusing Vladimir Radmanovic off the dribble.

Hardly Intimidated: The Hawks beat the Celtics Friday night, but it wasn’t exactly a frightening performance from the potential first round playoff opponent. The Celtics hung around largely because of their offense — shooting 60 percent in the first half — and Atlanta didn’t exactly look like world beaters against the makeshift Boston lineups. In fact, the Celtics cut the lead to just one, 87-86, with just over two minutes remaining in the game. This was a closer game than it should have been from Atlanta’s perspective.

WHAT WENT WRONG

No Average Joe: A concern while starting Bradley at shooting guard is whether he can handle guarding players who can shoot over him. Bradley wasn’t tasked with covering Johnson every trip down the floor, but Johnson’s line was impressive nonetheless as he was able to post up Bradley on occasion.

In Defense of Defense: It’s certainly hard to put a great deal of stock into Friday night’s contest. After all, Boston was missing five rotational players. On the other hand, the team relented 58 first half points — the Hawks shot over 60% themselves through 24 minutes.

Bass-ically Non-Existent: Not a great night for Brandon Bass. The starting power forward scored 10 points and shot 4-of-15 from the field on a night where Boston desperately needed the few core players that were active to step up.

Didn't watch the game, so can't address specifics, but what I come away from the above quick response is:

1. Jackie Mac is wrong. Avery can score. Joe Johnson, whom so many people ooh and ahh about, only scored 2 more points than Bradley.

2. A motivated Hawks team could only beat a Celtics team with 2 starters (and those starters are new starter Bradley and Bass and not any of the Big 3 +Ray) by 5 points. That's really weak. After Johnson made such noise about the importance of homecourt and they couldn't kick the snot out of our bench?

Looking at the boxscore, the Celtics had 4 players in double figures while Atlanta only had 2. Considering they were going up against our JV squad, that's really weak. I know, this is the 2nd time I said it's really weak, but that's what it is. Going home with a 5 point win against a team without KG, Pierce, Ray, Rondo, Pietrus, JON, Wilcox might give you homecourt advantage, but it's not really a win you want heading into the playoffs with, especially not against that very same team who will be healthy and rested then. This should have been a statement game for the Hawks. Well, I guess it was, it just wasn't the statement Larry Drew would have wanted. Doc just looked down at the Atlanta bench and said "Enjoy this, because we don't need homecourt against the likes of you" and played the subs to prove it. Talk about screwing with their heads! Talk about making a statement!

We're going to be healthy, rested and very dangerous.

bob

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Bob,

This second unit has had no time to jell defensively so assignments were missed. If this group played 10 games as a unit concentrating on defense the out come would be a lot different in our favor.

112288

if we're playin atlanta in round 1... 5.1 games or less. then off to whomever awaits in r2.. nuff said.

Matty

how does one play a .1 game?

beat

beat wrote:Matty

how does one play a .1 game?

beat

beat,

Hooter's a gambler, he's just trying to avoid a "push".

I saw him do the same thing on a game on thread with Rondo's assist total.

:-)

bob

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Watch Bradley FAKE tying his shoes, make the steal and then a nice assist to Hollins.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=hXz0xAcBTUM








Bradley streaking in from the corner. Again.



E'Taun Moore, showing that he remembers why he's on this team.






bob

.

beat wrote:Matty

how does one play a .1 game?

beat

its a hooterism... lol

UU

is a hooterisum

beat

I'm with all you guys on this one. If ATL starters can only beat our SUBS by 5, first round may be a laugher. ATL may get two, but definitely over by Game 6 in Boston unless we get home court. I actually like us opeining on the road. All the pressure is on ATL to win first two at home. We can steal at least one down there.

I like the 5.1 line, though! I'm guessing there is no difference between it and say, 5.5 or 5.89? Just how close it is to the whole number indicating how the bets are leaning for 5 v. 6 games?

I need a Fix of Celtic basketball. Too long since our last game!

112288

112288 wrote:I need a Fix of Celtic basketball. Too long since our last game!

112288

Ditto!!

I can't believe the congestion of the April schedule, many back-to-backs, then a three day wait towards the end of the season.

gyso