Post by FLCeltsFan on Nov 13, 2008 10:35:36 GMT -5
forum.connpost.com/celticscentral/2008/11/the_truth_superman_and_the_tra.html#
The Truth, Superman, and Transformers: Celtics Win 103-102
Paul Pierce put on his Superman cape, scored 34 points, and brought the house down by hitting the winning shot over Al Horford with .5 seconds left, delivering a championship performance for the second game in a row. That is.... the Truth.
Eddie House on Pierce:
Superstar, man. Superstar....Man, he's got a cape on his back sometimes. We got to get off his back, taking a load. ...It's been the Paul Pierce Show for the last two games in the fourth quarter. I'm glad he's on my team.
The winning shot came just after Marvin Williams hit a pressure packed three pointer from the corner to give the Hawks the lead with 7.5 seconds left.
Kevin Garnett had a huge game himself with 25 points, 12 rebounds and smothering yet another league stud power forward in Al Horford.
Ray Allen added 17 points but he and Eddie House must not have paid their long distance bills as they could not connect from the arc. They combined for 2 of 16 from downtown.
This was a hard fought game for 48 minutes, as the Hawks put forth an effort worthy of their undefeated (until last night) record.
Coach Rivers:
It was a hell of a game. If you were a fan, you probably enjoyed it. Woody(Mike Woodson) and me, I don't think it was as fun for us as it was. Because it was frustrating just trying to get a stop.
You've got two of the four top defensive teams in the league and every possession the other team kept scoring.-------I mean, they made amazing shots. For the fans, it was fun.
I think he means Celtic fans, though Atlanta fans and players can take a lot from this game, too.
Joe Johnson led the Hawks with 28 points, but got big help from bench players Flip Murray (14 pts.) and Maurice Evans (13 pts.). Mike Bibby added 16 points.
The Hawks are transforming into a nasty team. Nasty. And the Celtics transform from one thing in the first quarter, to the real Celtics after that.
So, there are two major stories here.
The first is that the Celtics continue to find the will to win, though they aren't playing their best basketball yet.
The second is that the Hawks are indeed for real.
Paul Pierce...
The Hawks have been playing really well and with the wins that they've got this year, we knew it was going to be a tough game. We watched film on them, how hard they play. They are one of the best defensive teams this year. They have a lot of talent.
With Joe Johnson as their leader, he's playing MVP type basketball. We knew it was going to be a tough game.
Even though they came on a back-to-back they're a young team and they play hard and they have their defense together and we know what they can do offensively. So we didn't expect this game to be easy.
The Celtics won the battle, but they were metaphorically bloodied by the Hawks in the effort.
The Hawks jumped on the Celtics from the opening bell with a tenacious defense previously unseen from them before. In fact, they looked a lot like the Celtics. Pack it in the middle and aggressively defend the perimeter. It works. They have learned their play-off lesson well.
Before you know it, the Celtics dug themselves yet another first quarter hole, 31-24. In this case, the bench players were no better, as the deficit grew to 16 at 44-28 at the 7:07 mark of the 2nd. The Hawks came ready to play. The Celtics were running late again. Doc calls a time out.
Enter the starters, I mean the Transformers. The real Celtics were now on the court, the ones who play as a team and defend always, not their first quarter doubles. They held Atlanta to just two more points until there was a minute left. They ended the half tied at 51, due to a 23-7 closing run.
The third quarter was played about dead even (26-25) with eight ties and umpteen lead changes. Lots of physical play meant the whistles blew for both sides, especially in the 2nd half. Pierce and Garnett lead the Celts in the 3rd with 12 and 10 points.
The Hawks mounted numerous charges in the final period to regain the lead early in the quarter, tied it 4 times and appeared to steal a win on Williams shot with 7.5 seconds left.
Garnett...
The final play was drawn up, get the ball to Pierce, get the hell out of the way. Superman is in the booth. Let's go home. That was the play and if you don't believe that, ask Doc Rivers, and he'll say exactly the same thing.
Coach Woodson...
Well, you know they have a great team, and you got to tip your hat to Doc and his staff and what they have accomplished over the past year. A great player hit a great shot. But I applaud my guys. You know, we never quit. We got in late this morning and we competed from the beginning to the end.
Though Coach Woodson denied that it was a a moral victory, the mood in the Hawks locker room said differently. It is like they are discovering how good they really are. And they are very good.
It is early in the season, but add another name to the list of teams that Boston will have to truly contend with in the east. Remember, the Hawks did this on the road on the second night of a back-to-back and with Josh Smith in street clothes. They lost, but compared to where they were last year, they won.
The Celtics pass another test, but just barely, as another gunslinger measured himself against the NBA's best.
According to Doc Rivers:
But overall, I just thought, a good win for us. And another win were we didn't play great. But we're still winning games. And that guys....is a good sign, not a bad one.
It is too early to make judgments and they are winning, but...I hope Doc is right.
In any event, things are getting interesting downright in the East.
Next up: Denver Nuggets come to Boston on Friday. They are 3-0 with newly acquired Chauncey Billups.
