Celtics Flip Losing Script

http://bostonherald.com/sports/celtics_nba/boston_celtics/2014/04/celtics_flip_losing_script



Celtics flip losing script
Stevens’ crew pleases fans with elusive win



Photo by: AP
RISING ABOVE THE COMPETITION: Brandon Bass soars to grab a loose ball away from the Bobcats’ Michael Kidd-Gilchrist during the Celtics’ victory last night.

Saturday, April 12, 2014
By:  Mark Murphy

Something as simple as a hustle play from Phil Pressey was enough to jolt fans last night who have nothing more to look forward to than the May 20 ping-pong ball derby.

But the Celtics guard dove on a Chris Douglas-Roberts pass with 39 seconds left in the third quarter, and the Garden crowd roared as if he was John Havlicek, circa 1965.

Brad Stevens and his players understand that many believe the Celtics’ priority should be lottery position and losing, not correcting the sins of a demoralizing losing streak.

But there’s a disconnect here. Those in the Garden last night, and especially the players who had just lost their last nine games and 13 of their last 14, had a desperate need for their 106-103 win over Charlotte.

After blowing leads of nine and 19 points in their last two games against Atlanta and Detroit respectively, their sense of self respect had to be rescued.

And judging from last night’s reaction, the majority of the game night crowd was happy for them.

“You know, I have a job, and my job is to get this team to play as hard and as well together as they possibly can,” the Celtics coach said when asked about the friendly fire coming from those who want losses.

“And at times, (the goal is) to execute and to hopefully be on the right side of the scoreboard at the end of the day, or the left side of the scoreboard at the end of the day,” said Stevens. “And all of us are disappointed in our overall record, and all of us are certainly aware of talk, but that’s not our task.

“Our task is to play as hard, coach as hard, and do right by the game. And I think that that’s what those guys in the locker room have pretty consistently done. We’ve had a couple of clunkers, but we’ve had a lot of games like this and a lot of them that didn’t go our way, unfortunately.”

In the process, the Celtics altered the status quo with their win over Charlotte — a team that had been tied for the Eastern Conference’s sixth seed with Washington.

But that is how tangled this business has become. The Wizards took over sixth by beating Orlando — the team that had been tied with the Celtics for the third worst record in the league. The Celtics thus rose to fourth worst, a move they don’t regret.

The Magic may also have the negative edge the rest of the way, with three remaining games against Brooklyn, Chicago and Indiana. The Celtics, following tonight’s game in Cleveland, close out with games in Philadelphia on Monday and the finale at home against Washington on Wednesday.

If his team has finally caught a late spark, Orlando can start counting its odds.

And as far as the Celtics locker room is concerned, the Magic can enjoy that denigrating position.

Consider the work last night of Pressey, who started in place of late scratch Rajon Rondo (shin bruise) and produced a career night with 10 points and 13 assists. The point guard’s energy drove an offense that featured four C’s starters with 18 or more points, led by Avery Bradley’s 22. Kelly Olynyk added 12 off the bench.

There were certainly hints of another collapse last night. The Bobcats, behind a 10-point fourth quarter from Al Jefferson, took the lead twice in the last 4:35 after trailing by 13 points early in the fourth.

“We learned our lesson,” Jared Sullinger, who scored nine of his 20 points in the fourth, said of the difference. “We stayed poised and just kept playing the way we need to.”

And like his teammates, Sullinger was again impressed by the reception.

“I personally want to thank our fans,” he said. “I know this year has been up and down, and since the ’07-08 season they’ve been used to seeing the playoffs. They’ve been used to seeing a contending team, and this year we’re not in the playoffs, but they still come out and they still support us.

“I know they’re not used to it, but their sportsmanship and passion for the Celtics doesn’t go unnoticed.”



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