POST GAME INDY

GAME STATS

REBOUNDS - CELTICS 47 /INDY 50.....Offensive - CELTICS 9 /INDY 16 ......Defensive - CELTICS 38/INDY 34
POINTS IN THE PAINT - CELTICS 32 /INDY 44
FAST BREAK POINTS - CELTICS 11 / INDY 20
FG - CELTICS - 34/83 ( 41%) INDY 32/88 ( 36.4%)
3PM - CELTICS 7/17 ( 41.2 %) INDY 6/27 ( 22.2 %)
FTM - CELTICS 8/9 ( 88.9 %) INDY 11/14 ( 78.6 %)
TO - CELTICS 13 / INDY 14
ASSISTS - CELTICS 18 / INDY 12
STL - CELTICS 9/ INDY 9
BLK - CELTICS 8 / INDY 11
PF - CELTICS 19 / INDY 13
BENCH POINTS - CELTICS 29 / INDY 16
TOTAL TEAM TURNOVERS (Points off turnovers) – CELTICS 13 (16) /INDY 14 (13)

NEXT GAME FRIDAT - HOME - ATLANTA - 8:00PM - CSNE/ESPN


POST GAME RECAP

ESPNBOSTON.COM

Rapid Reaction: Celtics 83, Pacers 81

By Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com

INDIANAPOLIS -- Rapid reaction after the Boston Celtics defeated the Indiana Pacers 83-81 on Wednesday night at Bankers Life Fieldhouse:

THE NITTY GRITTY
Jeff Green muscled in a layup with 0.5 second remaining off a feed from Kevin Garnett on a beautifully designed final play as the Celtics overcame a 10-point, fourth-quarter deficit to stun the Pacers on their home floor. Garnett scored a team-high 18 points to go along with 10 rebounds, while Avery Bradley and Paul Pierce each had 13 points apiece. Paul George scored a team-high 16 points for Indiana, while David West (11 points, 16 rebounds) and Roy Hibbert (12 points, 12 rebounds) each had double-doubles.

THE FINAL MINUTE
The Celtics simply refused to roll over and battled back multiple times in this game. Bradley sneaked free for an uncontested layup with 81 seconds to go to tie the game at 81. After each team missed chances to pull ahead, the Celtics got a final-shot opportunity. Green fed Garnett on the left elbow, then curled around and received the ball storming the baseline. He fumbled the ball a bit, but was able to muscle it in for the winning bucket with a half second to go.

C'S CAN'T CLOSE FIRST HALF
With the Pacers threatening to open a double-digit lead, the Celtics got some momentum late in the first half, making it a one-possession game. But things unraveled in a hurry. Looking to go 2-for-1, Bradley got blocked on a baseline drive and George delivered a dunk in transition. Paul Pierce turned the ball over the next trip down and West converted a three-point play as Indy's lead went back to nine. The Pacers pushed their lead as high as 14 midway through the third quarter (Lance Stephenson 7-0 run with a dunk for a 63-49 lead).

C'S MAKE THEIR RUN
The Celtics knocked their deficit to 10 after three quarters and scored the first five points of the final frame to make things interesting again. When the Pacers went cold Boston clawed within a point, but George Hill scored eight points for Indiana in 61 seconds -- two 3-pointers and a dunk in transition after a Hibbert block -- and the lead was soon at nine (81-72 with 4:36 to go). But Boston simply would not go quietly, storming back and setting up Green's heroics.

MENACE IN THE MIDDLE
In just over eight minutes of first-quarter play, Hibbert posted 12 points (on 6-of-9 shooting) with seven rebounds and a block while absolutely dominating play at that end of the floor and the Pacers led 27-19 after the frame. He didn't score another point the rest of the night.

DJ'S DEBUT
DJ White, in his third game with Boston since inking a 10-day contract, made his on-court debut to start the second quarter. He played 3:43, grabbing two rebounds and blocking two shots, while missing his only field goal attempt.

KG JOINS TOP 10 IN BOARDS
After leapfrogging Hakeem Olajuwon last week, Garnett shuffled into the top 10 all-time in rebounds, moving past Wes Unseld into 10th place with 10 caroms on the night. Garnett has some work to do to move higher -- Walt Bellamy is 467 rebounds ahead in ninth place.

TECHNICALLY SPEAKING
Garnett and Hibbert got matching technicals late in the fourth quarter for some post-whistle jostling. For Garnett, it's his team-leading seventh technical foul of the season.

WHAT IT MEANS
Wow, what a win for Boston. The Celtics could have rolled over on the second night of a back-to-back multiple times, but hung in there and found a way to emerge with a gutsy win. That's four in a row for Boston, which is a season-high six games over .500 now. The Celtics get a day off before hosting the Hawks on Friday night at TD Garden. They are back on the road for two games soon after, including Sunday's national-TV battle in Oklahoma City.
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CSNE

Celtics top Pacers in final seconds, 83-81

A. SHERROD BLAKLEY

Boston Celtics' Kevin Garnett (5) goes up for a shot against Indiana Pacers' Ian Mahinmi (28) during the first half of an NBA basketball game Wednesday, March 6, 2013, in Indianapolis.


INDIANAPOLIS — After a horrendous start to the season, the Boston Celtics knew they would have to steal a few wins coming down the homestretch.

That would be an apt description of what happened in Wednesday's improbable 83-81 win over Indiana.

Celtics forward Jeff Green, with an assist from Kevin Garnett, scored the game-winning basket with 0.5 seconds to play as the C's capped off an impressive 11-0 run to end the game.

With the win, Boston (33-27) extended their winning streak to four in a row and maybe just as important, secured the head-to-head series with the Pacers this season which could come in handy in case the two finish with an identical regular season record.

Just a few short days ago, Boston's West coast trip ended with a win in Utah that many believed was their most impressive victory of the season.

Wednesday's win over Indiana was arguably even more impressive when you consider the Pacers have been so dominant at home all season and they have been playing arguably the best basketball of any team not named the Miami Heat the past couple of months.

As the final horn sounded, the C's sprinted off the court in a collective surge, symbolic of the surge they are making in the Eastern Conference standings.

Not only are they making a strong push for home court advantage by claiming the fourth seed, but another week of playing like this and they could be making a run at yet another Atlantic Division crown which for weeks has been considered a given to go to the New York Knicks.

Boston's remarkable finish had a very nondescript start with a pull-up jumper by Avery Bradley in the first putting the Celtics ahead 11-8. But the Pacers responded with an 8-2 spurt to lead 16-13. Boston hung around most of the quarter, but a 7-0 Indiana run to end the first gave them a 27-19 lead.

Back-to-back 3s by Green and Bradley brought the C's within 36-34 in the second quarter, but the Pacers still managed to pull away and take a 49-42 lead into the half following a buzzer-beating lay-up by Paul Pierce.

It only took about six minutes for the Pacers to double their lead (63-49) in the third quarter and push the Celtics on the brink of getting blown out.

But the Celtics as they have done all season, battled back despite struggling to make shots and getting beat on the boards.

Boston faced a double-digit deficit (68-58) going into the decisive fourth quarter, but gradually chopped away at it before Green delivered the game-winning dagger for the Celtics.
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WEEI 93.7 FM

PERFECTLY PLAYED: C’S STEAL A HUGE ROAD WIN OVER PACERS 03.06.13 at 9:27 pm ET

By Mike Petraglia

Jeff Green was the hero with 0.5 seconds left in the game, scoring the winning basket. (AP)

Jeff Green scored on a reverse lay-up on a bullet pass from Kevin Garnett with 0.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter to lift the Celtics to an unlikely 83-81 road win over the Pacers, Wednesday night at Conseco Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

Predictably, the Pacers were the stronger team out of the blocks, shooting out to a 27-19 lead after one.

The Celtics got a layup from Paul Pierce right before the halftime buzzer as Boston cut Indiana’s lead to seven, 49-42, at the break.

Garnett made history with a defensive rebound in the first minute of the third quarter. It was his sixth of the game and No. 13,370 of his career, passing Wes Unseld for 10th all time in NBA history.

The Pacers went to their inside game to build the lead to 14, 63-49, midway through the third but the Celtics finished the quarter on a 9-5 run to close to within 10, 68-58, heading into the fourth.

The Celtics pulled to within one, 73-72, on a Jason Terry three with just over six minutes left, capping a 20-7 run. The Pacers then responded with the next eight points to build a nine-point lead.

The Celtics are off Thursday before returning to action Friday at home against Atlanta at TD Garden. For more, visit the Celtics team page at weei.com/celtics.

112288

I like what Tom Heinsohn said after the game. This win is transferrable to the younger guys. They're getting the idea that if they can play like this together they can win games like this.

Sam

I now can add good hands to Jeff Greens attributes, as the winning play was not easy, with the initial pass a touch lows for a dunk, what a great adjustment as Sam pointed out on the Game on thread.

As I was watching this game, all the weaknesses of this team were being exposed and the strengths of the Pacers were further exposing us as we were being bullied inside and were so many times it easily looked to be going away from us. We would have a good stretch, then like at end of half they would pull away and build it back up. At end of third was a terrible stretch by us....who would have thought beginning of 4th they would stop going inside and we would tighten up the defense as KG was amazing, just kept on fighting, presto I couldn't believe it went down to 5, then 3 then one.

This game has to be so great for the young core as we shot terrible and won on balls and execution down the stretch. Jeff Green was huge, I know he didn't shoot a great FG%, but I like the way he kept playing and fighting through everything, still giving us big plays. You have to be able to contribute on nights your shot is off and Green kept attacking,he should have went to line at least 3 more times as he was hit with no calls? as was Pierce, the refs kept Hibbert in the game. AB kept on firing and made huge clutch layup to tie
the game.

The final play was a beauty, it was cause of Doc and the uniqueness of KG, a HoF player with ability to run the high post offense. We completely caught them off guard as everyone, even the ushers were looking for you know who. They were looking for him so hard that they even bunched up helping on him away from the ball, so the other HoFer also has to get credit for clutch iso reputation, Green moved without the ball, like Hondo and showed great hands and a great step in his growing process. Great play designed by Doc, hails of credit to KG, Pierce, Green and AB for dribbling at the beginning of that play.

Cow,

Actually, Doc said after the game that he had another pick-and-roll play drawn up for the last shot. But Kevin Eastman went over to Doc and said, "Hay this play worked earlier. Let's do it again." So Doc went with it, and the rest is history. Nice to be able to give Eastman some credit. He certainly must deserve a lot more credit; we just don't know about all of his contributions. And Paul Pierce deserves all the credit in the world for occupying two defenders so the ball could find Jeff.

Sam

STAND WITH RAND!

112288

Sam and his last basket, that 3 was vintage Pierce, you just knew he was gonna nail it, I think it tied the game or brought us to behind by 1.....either way he has brass balls and has delivered so many times, hes blessed with the clutch gene. Did you see him smiling and clapping his hands coming out for the last play? on my feed on NBA TV , he was just exuding confidence, good to see a guy that loves what hes doing.

Hi,
Yes, it was a gutsy win.
Horrible officiating.
PP is imprinted in the minds of all players as a go-to guy on the last possession, therefore he even got double-teamed without the ball. Doc used this perfectly. Unfortunately he can't use it often - only in absolutely-need-to-win games.
Also, Doc has to drill into minds of some Celtics players: if you have a good shot - take it, don't pass, don't get fancy.
In general, very important game to win.

AK

I know Tommy H is a homer but gee Quinn Buckner is just as big or bigger than Tommy. Every time a Pacer looked like he had committed a foul and nothing was called, he would say "good no call", then on the other side he would be saying for the Pacers, "the officials have to make that call".
At least Mike G keeps Tommy in line some.

HUGE win. HUGE. Not just because we kept pace with Atlanta (whom we play next at home and can now pick a game up on) and Brooklyn but because it took pride and cohesive play. This was the 2nd game of a road-and-road back-to-back. It would have been easy to just let it go. Winning is infectious and begets more winning. This game will produce positive results, not just feelings but results, in everybody from Pierce on down to Randolph (or Melo or whomever is bringing up the rear). HUGE.

I have to admit, when we were down 14 with half the 4th gone and playing the second game of a back-to-back, I thought we might have been running out of gas. Then, when we were down 9 points, after George Hill hit 2 straight 3s and a breakaway and Paul George hit a 3, with 4:36 left, I thought we might have been done. After a game of not being able to put points on the board they now had two players combining for 11 points in less than 2 minutes and our transition D broke down. Boy, am I ever glad to be wrong, but how could I have known those would be the last points scored by Indy in the game?

1. Pierce shot 4-15 for the game, but was clutch down the stretch. A big 3 and an excellent backpick on Mark West to free Jeff Green up for the game winner. We all complain about Doc running Pierce isos at the end of periods and games, but it is Pierce's obvious threat that perhaps made West not run through that pick as hard as he could have. Other than winning the championship in 2008, have you ever seen a happier Paul Pierce after a game?

2. Bradley shot 3-9 in the first half and ended up a respectable 6-15. 4 assists and 2 TOs, he's turning into something that none of us ever thought he would become, a point guard. He's doing a good job on the offensive side, and that is not his forte. Is he Rondo? Hell no, but is our memory so short we don't remember how we used to cringe whenever he dribbled and tried to run the offense? Not anymore. He might not have come out of U Texas like he was shot out of a gun, but he sure is hitting his stride now. Quinn Buckner, who knows something about playing good defense on point guards, said that Bradley is the best on-the-ball defender in the league. And Indy is the biggest team in the league. On the Game On thread, Cowens noted that Brandon Bass looked like a midget out there.

3. DJ White played 4 minutes only, but got 2 rebounds and 2 blocks. If plays like that, he's sticking around. I'd be ecstatic if he were to grow another 2-3 inches next week, but he's a physical player and I'll take that.

4. Jeff Green was 5-14 last night. So he did NOT have a good shooting night, but his cut off of Pierce's backpick for the layup has far more reaching impact than his shooting. Green's bugaboo is his confidence. When he's down, he becomes more passive. Other players, Pierce and JET come to mind, who are struggling become even more aggressive to try and pull themselves out of the slump. Not so with Jeff. I'm expecting last night's game winner to lift him to new levels as he realizes that over the next few years this could become his team. No, I haven't forgotten about Rondo, but even Rondo defers to Pierce in moments like that. Rondo is not Pierce's heir apparent in these clutch, buzzer-beating go-to plays, but Jeff Green might be. And now, because of last night, perhaps the first time ever (certainly in green), he (not Durant, not Westbrook, not Pierce) was "da man", and he delivered.

5. Jordan Crawford makes me crazy. He's a sugar rush in green. Sugar crash too. I know it's not fair to compare him to former NBA 6th man Leandro Barbosa, but damn! Doc calls him his "wild card", but does he have to be SO wild? He crams so much good and so much bad into such a relatively short floor time. I'm a mess from the ear pops and nose bleeds he gives me from the sudden altitude changes.

6. Indy took 27 3s. Don't they know anything else? Who do they think they are, the Knicks?

7. Larry Legend's protege, Lance Stephenson, went wild for a while last night. He has had personality problems (not like Delonte, but just being a good force in the locker room) but Larry defended him and kept him and now he is paying off on Larry's loyalty, like what Bradley is doing for Danny.

8. That was one helluva great 1st quarter by Roy Hibbert. Someone on the coaching staff should have reminded him there were 3 quarters more.

9. We had 9 TOs in the first half. 9. We ended up with 13. A little better shooting in the 2nd half, a lot better taking care of the ball, consistently good defense and that's what did it for us.

10. Gerald Green was a coaches DNP. Talk about a sugar rush, that didn't take long for him to return to the dog house, did it? In the past 10 games, he played in only 5 of them, averaged 7.2ppg and shot 16.7%.

11. Indy shot 36.4% for the game, are young, athletic and are the biggest team in the league. Gee, I guess basketball really isn't about being tall and running fast and jumping high after all? This is where they miss Danny Grainger. They miss his IQ and leadership.


What an incredibly gritty win by our grinders. In the last few minutes, in the huddle and the Celtics down by 5 or so, Pierce was smiling and happy and telling his teammates "we got 'em, we got 'em". He was right, and that's leadership.

A day off and then another statement game against Atlanta, who is only 1 game ahead of us. We win Friday, and we're in a 3-way tie for 5th place with Chicago and Atlanta, with Brooklyn only being 1 game ahead of us.


We got 'em!


bob


.

Cow and BobH,

Pierce looked so ecstatic just before the Celts' last possession that I was actually concerned I had fallen asleep and they had already run the play. I've seen him look confident before, but that display approached ridiculous proportions. It was almost as if he were thinking, "Oh boy, you Indy guys. Wait until you see what's in store for you." Or maybe he was mentally recapturing a nice little tryst with his wife.

Whatever else it was, it seemed to be a sign of pure joy—even in the midst of a grueling comeback.And it was very nice to see.

Sam

Here's the Celtics' shot chart last night. NOTE the success in the mid-range game, as identified by the box.

The right elbow was berry, berry good to us last night.

So, who shoots a lot from straight away and from the elbow out to the 3pt line? Hmm. Is he tall? Is he long? Does he live and die green?






bob


.

This was a perfect display of the essence of both of these teams - and why the Pacers are NOT championship material - and even with all the adversity, the Celtics still have a championship pedigree.

On par, the Pacers are bigger, stronger, faster, more athletic, more physical - but they dont have a good head for the game, and more so - they dont have that killer instinct that so many of the Celtics have.

Stephenson is a perfect example of this - in microcosm. When he puts his mind to it, he is an overwhelming talent - who is just too strong, fast, explosive to handle. But over the course of 48 - his lack of focus, lack of discipline and overall lack of basketball IO will bear out. He scores in bunches in the 2nd and 3rd quarter. But when the game slows down and you have to do more than just run around and try to jump out of the gym - the guy folds like a deck of cards.

Same with David West and Hansboro. They both play the bully all night, when the game doesnt matter. But when you hit them back - they basically fall apart.

I love the make up of this Celtics team and the way they are coming together. Win or lose - this is a team I feel gives you all they have and you can be assured it will be a fun ride every night.

The Pacers want no part of this team in a play off series. And you can BET the Heat, Knicks, Nets and everyone else in the East feels the same way.

sam wrote:Cow and BobH,

Pierce looked so ecstatic just before the Celts' last possession that I was actually concerned I had fallen asleep and they had already run the play. I've seen him look confident before, but that display approached ridiculous proportions. It was almost as if he were thinking, "Oh boy, you Indy guys. Wait until you see what's in store for you." Or maybe he was mentally recapturing a nice little tryst with his wife.

Whatever else it was, it seemed to be a sign of pure joy—even in the midst of a grueling comeback.And it was very nice to see.

Sam

Sam - my feeling is that the Pacers are a team full of talkers. And the Celtics, well we know KG, Pierce and Terry are going to the smack talk hall of fame. I think the Pacers have been trying to beat the Celtics for years - and when they were up 14 and getting ALL the calls, they were talking shit.

As the Celtics came back on the floor knowing they were getting the last shot, the Pacers fell silent. And Pierce LOVED it and wanted to rub it right in their faces. Such a fierce competitor....and THAT is why you dont trade Paul Pierce for some bum like Kris Humphries.

mrkleen09 wrote:

sam wrote:Cow and BobH,

Pierce looked so ecstatic just before the Celts' last possession that I was actually concerned I had fallen asleep and they had already run the play. I've seen him look confident before, but that display approached ridiculous proportions. It was almost as if he were thinking, "Oh boy, you Indy guys. Wait until you see what's in store for you." Or maybe he was mentally recapturing a nice little tryst with his wife.

Whatever else it was, it seemed to be a sign of pure joy—even in the midst of a grueling comeback.And it was very nice to see.

Sam

Sam - my feeling is that the Pacers are a team full of talkers. And the Celtics, well we know KG, Pierce and Terry are going to the smack talk hall of fame. I think the Pacers have been trying to beat the Celtics for years - and when they were up 14 and getting ALL the calls, they were talking shit.

As the Celtics came back on the floor knowing they were getting the last shot, the Pacers fell silent. And Pierce LOVED it and wanted to rub it right in their faces. Such a fierce competitor....and THAT is why you dont trade Paul Pierce for some bum like Kris Humphries.

Hasn't been that many years. I seem to recall the Pacers knocking the Celtics out of the playoffs in back-to-back years: '04 when they swept us in four straight and '05 when they humiliated us on our own court in Game 7 97-70. And we haven't played them in the playoffs since.

Steve

How many players on the current Pacer's roster were with the team in 2005?

mrkleen09 wrote:Steve

How many players on the current Pacer's roster were with the team in 2005?

That's not the point. They've ended our season the last two times we faced them in the playoffs so to say they've been trying to beat us for years - and supposedly haven't - is wrong.

steve3344 wrote: That's not the point. They've ended our season the last two times we faced them in the playoffs so to say they've been trying to beat us for years - and supposedly haven't - is wrong.

Pacers havent won a meaningful playoff series in nearly a decade - you are REALLY reaching here Steve.

My point is that in the Garnett Era in Boston, the Celtics and the Heat have been perceived the measuring stick by which all teams in the East are measured. The Pacers have been creeping up the rankings and getting better every year. 2 years ago they were the 8th seed. Last year the 3rd Seed. This year, they are currently 2nd in the East.

Yet they still have an inferiority complex - and a feeling like they are just waiting for the other shoe to drop (as witnessed by their fans reactions in the other thread). Until they break through and make it to the finals - something they are not going to do anytime soon - they will continue to have a major inferiority complex. Especially against the Celtics.

mrkleen09 wrote:

steve3344 wrote: That's not the point. They've ended our season the last two times we faced them in the playoffs so to say they've been trying to beat us for years - and supposedly haven't - is wrong.

Pacers havent won a meaningful playoff series in nearly a decade - you are REALLY reaching here Steve.

My point is that in the Garnett Era in Boston, the Celtics and the Heat have been perceived the measuring stick by which all teams in the East are measured. The Pacers have been creeping up the rankings and getting better every year. 2 years ago they were the 8th seed. Last year the 3rd Seed. This year, they are currently 2nd in the East.

Yet they still have an inferiority complex - and a feeling like they are just waiting for the other shoe to drop (as witnessed by their fans reactions in the other thread). Until they break through and make it to the finals - something they are not going to do anytime soon - they will continue to have a major inferiority complex. Especially against the Celtics.

I'M reaching?? You're the one reaching. Everyone tries to beat everyone else every year. Pacers are no different than anyone and have had our number the last two times we faced them in the playoffs. We haven't faced them in the Garnett era.

OK...your are right. No one circles Celtics game's on their schedule...it is just another game.

EVERYONE looks forward to playing the Celtics because of their history and because Boston puts a few extra fans in their arena bringing in more money for them. But I guarantee you Indiana considers games against their division rivals the Bulls - as well they should - as more important than games against us. And Pacers have more of a rivalry with Miami than us because of their recent playoff history against them.

But EVERY0NE pays a little extra attention when Boston and the Lakers come to town - not just the Pacers - because those two have obviously been the two most dominant franchises in the NBA.

And I didn't see any extra gloating or boasting (or "talking sh*t") when Indy took that 63-49 lead against us and no one from Boston reacted at all other than to get super focused about their game.

Jeff Green Emotion Alert!











Nobody else on the Celtics has the length and athleticism to have grabbed that pass from KG except Green.

bobheckler wrote:









Jeff Green Emotion Alert!











Nobody else on the Celtics has the length and athleticism to have grabbed that pass from KG except Green.

Green actually bailed KG out as that pass was much higher than it should've been and was a very tough catch. So tough in fact, Green had to come down first before going back up on the other side of the basket to lay it in. Great save by Green. It could have easily gone off his fingertips.

Funny how the Celts come back from down 14 and there's not a whisper about it on ESPN, but the Lakers coming back against the Hornets - well part the waters Moses! Here's a real big deal.

WHEN AB gets recognition on ESPN it's for scoring 22 points, but nary a word about his tenacious D night in and night out. Sportscasters are so superficial in their analyses. Except for Tommy, and I mean that sincerely.

Paul is a professional scorer and everyone respects him for that and expects taht from him. Sure came in handy last night. Reminded me in a way of MJ passing off to Steve Kerr to win a game 7.

The win coming on the back end of a back 2 back on the road no less was monsterous. The team can take pride in this and can use it as a confidence booster. Big UPS to the guys in Green! I loved Bob's shot chart!

MD!