POST GAME MEMPHIS - HOME

Rapid Reaction: Grizzlies 100, C's 93

By Chris Forsberg | ESPNBoston.com

BOSTON -- Rapid reaction after the Memphis Grizzlies defeated the Boston Celtics 100-93 on Wednesday night at TD Garden:

THE NITTY GRITTY
The Celtics spent nearly the entire game playing catch-up and trailed by as much as 19 in the first half. Despite surging within three in the final moments of a furious fourth quarter, Boston was foiled by Memphis at the finish line. Jared Sullinger turned in 23 points on 10-of-18 shooting to go along with 12 rebounds over 35 minutes. Jeff Green scored a game-high 26 points for Boston, while Brandon Bass grabbed a team-high 13 rebounds (to go along with a team-best four blocks). Jerryd Bayless, who torched Boston in the first meeting this season, was at it again. He registered 22 points (despite hitting only one 3-pointer) to pace five Grizzlies in double figures and made some big free throws to keep Boston at arm's length.

TURNING POINT
The Celtics dug themselves an early 19-point hole with much of the damage being inflicted late in the first quarter. Boston watched the Grizzlies embark on a 13-0 run during a near-six-minute stretch spanning into the second quarter. Boston missed seven consecutive shots during the stretch while Bayless scored six points as Memphis turned a one-possession game into a 16-point difference less than a minute into the second quarter. The Celtics would make some spirited runs but never got closer than nine until the final 75 seconds. The Celtics never had a chance to tie the game, but kept fighting and Memphis simply made its free throws (25 of 31 overall).

AB HIGHLIGHT REEL
Avery Bradley had an up-and-down night, particularly trying to contain Mike Conley early, but he'll find his way into the highlight reel. First, he had an emphatic two-handed putback dunk (keying a sequence that saw Bass produce a big swat at the other end before Bradley splashed a 3-pointer). Later, Bradley had a chasedown swat on old friend Tony Allen. Bass and Bradley combined for six of Boston's seven blocks.

TECHNICAL DIFFICULTIES
Gerald Wallace picked up his first technical foul of the season for jawing at the referees after he was whistled for a fourth-quarter foul. It was only the third technical for the Celtics this season (Jordan Crawford owns the other two).

LOOSE BALLS
Courtney Lee suffered a left knee sprain in the fourth quarter and did not return. ... Keith Bogans, who had missed time due to illness, was active but both he and MarShon Brooks were healthy DNPs.

WHAT IT MEANS
The Celtics can find a silver lining in their late rally, though they must fix their lackluster start. Boston watched its two-game winning streak end while falling to the Grizzlies for the second time this season. The Celtics will take Thanksgiving off before hosting the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night. The second night of a back-to-back looms in Milwaukee on Saturday, but Boston is back home for two more games (vs. Milwaukee and Denver) next week.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

FURIOUS FOURTH QUARTER COMEBACK FALLS SHORT AS CELTICS LOSE TO GRIZZLIES

By WEEI

Fresh off a two-game road winning streak, the Celtics proved unable to sustain momentum on their home floor. The C’s were outscored by the Grizzlies, 27-13, in the first quarter, and from there, Memphis cruised until the Celtics mounted a furious fourth-quarter comeback that ultimately proved too little, too late, as the Grizzlies claimed a 100-93 victory.

Memphis led, 90-77, with 2:43 remaining, the game seemingly well in hand. But the Celtics reeled off a frantic 16-6 run to move with three — at 96-93 — when Avery Bradley drained a 3-pointer with 16 seconds remaining. But the Grizzlies bounced back to score the final four points of the game and secure the victory.

Jerryd Bayless led Memphis with a season-high 22 points off the bench, while point guard Mike Conley contributed 14 points and nine assists. The Celtics, in fast, had just five more assists than Conley as a team, on a night where their execution was extremely sloppy.

The Celtics shot a respectable 43 percent from the floor, but they committed 15 turnovers and had just 14 assists. Jeff Green (9-of-19 shooting) led the Celtics with 26 points while Jared Sullinger (10-of-18) contributed 23, but in contrast to the well-balanced scoring efforts at the end of the roadtrip, the Celtics had just three scorers in double figures as they fell to 2-5 at home.
XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

C's comeback falls short, Grizzlies win, 100-93


CSNE

A. SHERROD BLAKLEY


BOSTON — The Celtics finally put together efficient offense with timely defense against the Memphis Grizzlies.

There was just one problem: the hole they dug themselves was too deep.

So, once again, the Celtics had to settle for a "good try, good effort" performance as Memphis held on for a 100-93 win.

Trailing 90-77 with about two minutes to play, Celtics fans who made their way towards the TD Garden concourses really needed to do a U-turn as Boston finally began playing with the sense of urgency that was lacking most of the game.

Three-point bomb after another started to rain for Boston which included a bank-shot 3-ball by Jeff Green that cut Memphis' lead to 94-90 with about 20 seconds to play.

Boston wasn't done.

In a textbook series of passes where the ball barely touched the floor, Avery Bradley drained a corner 3-ball that made it a one-possession game, 96-93, with 14.4 seconds to play.

A Grizzlies timeout was about the only thing that was slowing down the late-game momentum the Celtics were riding.

To Memphis' credit, they made all their free throws to secure the victory.

Green led all scorers with 26 points, while Jared Sullinger had 23 points along with 12 rebounds for the Celtics. Memphis got a team-high 22 points from Jerryd Bayless while Mike Conley had 14 points and nine assists.

The loss ended a two-game winning streak for Boston (6-11) while extending to four their losing streak to Memphis.

Boston fell behind from the outset, and never fully recovered as Memphis led by as many as 19 points in the first half.

Conley seemed to get to the paint whenever he wanted to, scoring 10 points in the first quarter - all lay-ups.

The Grizzlies made 12 field goals in the first, nine of which were lay-ups or dunks.

Boston made a mini-surge in the second quarter when Bradley scored on a put-back basket and moments later, nailed a 3-pointer that brought the Celtics within 45-34.

Unable to inch any closer, the Celtics trailed 49-36 at the half and spent the bulk of the third quarter digging themselves out of a double-digit deficit.

112288

Boston only had 14 assists in this game. 14. That is not going to win you any games. They also only managed 11 fast break points. Boston also had 15 TOs.

I'm wondering when they're going to realize that they have to push the pace in order to win. Walking the ball up and allowing MEM's tough defense to set up is not a recipe for victory.



KJ

Celts did all they could with this one.  Memphis is too tough a matchup for us overall.

Good showing for Sullinger.

On to the next.

KJ,

Their outside shooting was cold in the first half and they gave up too many points in the paint in the first half.

Interesting Brooks is getting 0 minutes..........if the guy is a goner trade him or release him and get someone else in.........I say play him so he can get some time to show or no show if he belongs in the NBA.

Maybe it's attitude?


112288

Nice to see Avery get back on the shooting track. Interesting to note that Pressey got only 5 minutes after a good showing. He and Crawford played a total of 41 minutes, so someone else must have played the other 7 at PG. Maybe someone who saw the game can tell me whether that was Lee or someone else. Crawford didn't have a great shooting game, but he did have 7 assists. 17 turnovers—too high (as is anything of 15 or more).

Somehow, I have the feeling that the rotation is a nightly adventure for Brad. Different starters from night to night. Differing amounts of minutes for players from night to night. Different combinations in similar situations from night to night. I guess this season may become known as "The Great Experiment."

Well, they're hanging in there, and they're not quitting. So that suggests that morale isn't a big problem a present.

Sam

Sam,

It was Avery.


KJ

112288,

No one is getting many open looks. That means two things:

1) No "motion" to the motion offense

2) Dribble penetration is lacking.

The offense was poor in the first half, but so was the defense. Stevens looked even more visibly aggravated than I've ever seen him. He may be reaching his tipping point with players not doing what they are supposed to be doing, particularly on the defensive end.

I wouldn't be surprised if there happens to be an uncharacteristic outburst on his part.



KJ

Sully Sully Sully

We have a new force under the boards and hes just a baby learning the game. Gotta love the way he uses his strength and hands, forearms, elbows to move people easily as he carves out his position, cleaning the glass. Kid is a bull with subtle skills, great touch in his hands for tip ins and sweet stroke on turnaround, jump hook and 3 point shot. Had 17 point explosion in 4th that was all Silas/Moses like. On one tip he missed at end was still such beautiful board work, nobody could keep him off the boards. If we can just get a legit 7 foot shotblocker to pair with him, Sully would make that 5 better and Sully unleashed as a 4 has dominance for a decade written all over it.

This team is not that far from contending, once we get Rondo back all these type games will be alot different....all we need is a legit 5, then we'll be right there.

cowens/oldschool wrote:Sully Sully Sully

We have a new force under the boards and hes just a baby learning the game. Gotta love the way he uses his strength and hands, forearms, elbows to move people easily as he carves out his position, cleaning the glass. Kid is a bull with subtle skills, great touch in his hands for tip ins and sweet stroke on turnaround, jump hook and 3 point shot. Had 17 point explosion in 4th that was all Silas/Moses like. On one tip he missed at end was still such beautiful board work, nobody could keep him off the boards. If we can just get a legit 7 foot shotblocker to pair with him, Sully would make that 5 better and Sully unleashed as a 4 has dominance for a decade written all over it.

This team is not that far from contending, once we get Rondo back all these type games will be alot different....all we need is a legit 5, then we'll be right there.

Cow

hitting the o boards with what I call smarts.... leaning on the other person ( if he can't get inside) and pushing him under the basket so that in effect the only ball that guy will get is the one that goes thru the net. He is bull moose strong. Many have said he needs to drop weight, I'm not so sure that will help him. Certainly he can change that bulk to a little more muscle but if he wants to have an extra helping of Turkey and Dressing today.......I'm not telling him no!

beat

As these two teams have played two games, I think now would be an appropriate time to compare these two meetings.


Game 1: Boston was only down three at the end of the 1st quarter, 27-24, and had a lead going into the 4th quarter. The C's finished 33-70 (47.1% FG) and the Grizzlies were 36-74 (48.6% FG). Boston was -9 in ast with 14, -4 in rebs with 32, +4 in fast break points with 14, and -4 points in the paint with 30. Boston committed 25 total team TOs. Marc Gasol was also healthy for this game.

Game 2: Boston came out flat in the 1st quarter and was down by 14 points. In fact, Memphis kept them at bay all game long, even stretching the lead to 19 before Boston mounted a comeback late in the 4th. Boston finished 38-89 (42% FG) and Memphis was 36-80 (45% FG). Boston was -10 in ast with 14 (what a coincidence), +6 in reb with 46, -7 fast break points with 11, and +8 points in the pain with 48. Boston committed 15 total team TOs. Marc Gasol didn't play in last night's game.

Boston played significantly better on the boards and in the paint but they were still facing a deficit in assists and fast break points. In addition, Memphis was 25-31 FT, compared to 10-13 for Boston.

Boston has got to start pushing the pace. Most of the time, they were walking the ball up the court. Also, I noticed Pressey only played 5 minutes after having a productive game previously against the Bobcats. If Pressey isn't going to get any minutes, then it falls on Crawford to break down the defense more.

Coming out slow in the 1st quarter seems to be a recurring trend lately and it's very difficult to play from behind, catch up, and hold a lead for a win.

As I mentioned before, Stevens looked quite irritated on the sidelines as guys aren't doing their jobs, mostly with defense. Despite the final score, which I'd say is inflated because Memphis went lax, the game was never really seemed close.



KJ

The Grizzlies came to Boston on a 2 game losing streak and played like that bothered them.  We came home with a 2 game winning streak and played like we "have finally got it together".  What we got was our heads handed to us.

A lot of people think the 27-13 first quarter killed us.  Well, the 3rd quarter killed us too because, while we finally started putting the ball in the hole, we didn't do a much better job of stopping them from putting the ball in the hole.  Their lead yo-yo'd from 8/9-12/13 that whole 3rd quarter, despite Bradley coming out like a house on fire, because we still weren't getting stops.

The first quarter, though, was ugly.  Memphis' first 20 points were all in the paint, most of them layups by Mike Conley.  We, on the other hand, had no movement and weren't hitting shots.  

1.  After one period, they shot 52%.  When I saw that I questioned it because it sure looked like they got to do whatever they wanted and scored on every possession.  After 1, we shot 28%.  We had 6 TOs, they had zero.  In addition to Conley's 10 points he also had 3 assists and 2 steals, and that was the first quarter.  Our perimeter defense was virtually non-existent.  Someone set a screen for Conley high and he'd come around it and nobody would pick him up, so he got a layup.  

2.  Bradley was the one getting picked off.  Conley is one of the fastest players in the NBA, you cannot let him get a head start on you and think you're going to catch up.  Nobody stepped up.  I've been down on Vitor for this but he can't be blamed for this.  Bradley, offensively, came out hot for the 3rd quarter.  Unfortunately, we still didn't get any stops and couldn't make any progress.  Tony Allen picked Crawford's pocket and raced down court for a score.  Chasing him was Bradley and got the clean block.  Two of the league's top defensive back court players showing why.  Allen with the open court steal, Bradley with the chase down from behind block, all in the same sequence.  Allen, to his credit, gave Bradley a smile after the block.  Professional respect from last year's 1st team NBA All-Defense guard to last year's 2nd team NBA All-Defense guard.  They might be both be starting on that team this year.

3.  There's a thread that asks the question "Is Sully a legit building block?".  Well, if the 4th quarter is any indication the answer is "Hell Yeah!".  17 points on 7-9, including 2-2 from 3 in the 4th, 23 total for the game, he almost singlehandedly made this a game.  We got it down to a one possession game by riding Sully's prodigious backside.  One of his buckets in the 4th was from the low left block but the last 4 were all right there at the rim.  Zack Randolph isn't known for his defense, but he sure as hell is a load-and-a-half.  His game is very similar to Sully's in that they are both below the rim players who are very wide and strong.  Sully showed his offensive versatility last night with the 3s.  Sully had 12 rebounds, 5 of them offensive to go with his 23 points and 3 assists.  Randolph ended up with 13 points on 5-16 and 7 rebounds (2 offensive).  If there was a blot on Sully's game last night, it was his 4 TOs, but one of them was him going to the floor after having the ball poked away from him and throwing the ball away while on his back trying to avoid a jump ball.  Sully won the Dinosaur Ballet last night and it was against a 2x All-Star.  Another game, another statement made by Sully.

4.  Crawford had 7 almost invisible assists.  I know he had a couple of his usual "start to drive off a pick-and-pop and then throw it back over his shoulder to the popper" assists, but other than that I really can't remember any.  He was 2-8 shooting.  He's been playing really, really well, so I suppose he's entitled to an off night, and that's what this was.  Tony Allen had 3 steals.  I know at least one of them was against Crawford, but there was just an overall smothering of Crawford by Allen.

5.  Pressey had a 5 minute cameo, in which he did very little.  In fact, while Bradley had a decent scoring night (16 points on 7-13) and Crawford racked up mystery assists, none of our back court players had a good game.  This is odd considering that our back court have been doing a heck of a job the last week or so and was the difference last game against Charlotte.  Then again, it was against Charlotte and Memphis, even without Gasol, is no Charlotte.

6.  Their bench scored 45 points on 13-21 with Jerryd Bayless leading the way with 22.  Why does Bayless hate us so much?  He was the worst shooter in the league coming into last night but when he sees green he turns into Kobe.  He was 9-11 from the line.  The entire Celtic team was only 10-13.  The Griz took 31ftas, and we took 13.  It really is something that we were able to get this down to a one possession game with a free throw disparity like that.  13 rebounds, 9 assists, 3 blocks and 4 TOs was the rest of their bench's collective boxscore.  Calathes, last year's MVP of the Euro Cup, had 7 assists.  OUR bench, on the other hand, scored only 17 points on 8-25, had 12 rebounds (Hump with 6), 2 assists and 3 TOs.  They were completely outplayed.  Considering we have "starters" like Wallace, Hump and Lee coming off our bench, that's pretty bad.  

5.  Jeff Green started off aggressive and stayed aggressive.  26 points on 9-19.  Aggressive, in general, is better but the difference between Jeff Green playing aggressively and taking the ball north-south and not playing aggressively and settling for jumpshots is like night and day.  I think one of the most important things Brad Stevens can do, to get this team off to a good first quarter start, is to run (and I do mean "run") some plays for Green early one.  Set some screens for him.  Open the floor and let him take his man one-on-one.  I'm not usually a fan of isos, but Green is so game-by-game confidence-driven (as opposed to players like Kobe and Pierce and Durant who never, ever lack for confidence in their shots) that starting him off on the good foot is important.  Figuring out how to get Jeff Green to think "north-south, north-south" and not "go to my spot and wait for the ball to take a jump shot" without icing down the rest of the team would pay big dividends, I believe.

6.  Overall, our starters did pretty well against their starters.  If you want to look at Sully's monster 4th quarter and claim that was an aberration, then maybe not so well, but still not bad against a team that was in the WC Finals last year.  Our bench imploded.

7.  In fairness to Hump, he did his job.  He had 8 points on 4-10 and 6 rebounds, 3 of them offensive, in 16 minutes.  The real let down was Wallace and Lee, both of which have been playing well, especially Lee.  Bayless owned both of them, lock-stock-and-smoking-barrel.

8.  We had 15 TOs.  Not great, not bad, probably close to the league average.  They had 8 TOs.  Once again, it was Sully's HUGE 4th quarter that made this even close.  They just did not know what to do about him.

9.  We had a total of 14 assists on 38fgm.  A lot of it was Sully and Green carrying the team on their backs.  It's good they can do that, there will always be games when players need to take over, but we need to stay focused on running and movement to win games.  We lack size, we lack experience, we lack balance.  What we do not lack is youth and energy.  You gotta work with what you got.

10.  I don't know if this is bad scouting, bad coaching or brain farts by the players, but we didn't play to take away their strengths.  When you defend a player, you play to take away their strengths and force them to do something they'd rather not do.  For example, with "The Little General" Avery Johnson, you always always always wanted to force him right because if he went left he owned you.  Mike Conley is a lefty, and Bradley kept overplaying him to make him go to his left, not his right.  He made us pay with layup after layup after layup.  Tayshaun Prince is a lefty too.  Green kept over running his left hand, to try and get on his right hand, and that gave Prince open shots.  Bayless is a righty, and we kept letting him go to his right.  I could see where Green's play is a brain fart, but the rest?  Why was Bradley forcing Conley to his left for the entire first quarter even though he was killing us?  It was clearly, to me at least, part of a strategy to force him in that direction.  I know that it is rare to encounter a team with so many lefties on it (Zack Randolph is a lefty too) but it's not like lefties are unicorns.  This actually irked me more than just about anything else this game.

Some good news out of this is that Brooklyn and Atlanta both lost too. I never thought I'd say this, and I may never say it again, but thank you Lakers for making me a happy man.



bob


.

bob love your coverage, best in the buisness

Thanks, KJ.

Sam

The Celtics outscored the Grizz in QTR's 2, 3 and 4.  So statistically everything points to the slow start as the main reason why we lost this game.

The bottom line is that the Grizz made it to the final 4 last season and are just a better team than the Celtics.  They have played together for a while and understand their strengths.

The issue with defending the pick and role continues to be the single biggest defensive issue facing the Celtics.  While I did notice a bit more aggressiveness on the part of the Celtics, they are still a day late and a dollar short.

Other observations.

Sully and Bass combined for 25 rebounds.  

The Celtics really do not miss anything with KO out because Kris Humphries is a better defender

Minutes off the bench continue to be very unpredictable.  How can Brad expect any level of consistency if he does not give the guys consistent minutes.  Lee and Pressey combined for 14 minutes.

Through 17 games we still do not know who this team is.  

We miss having a q-back.

dboss