Post by FLCeltsFan on Mar 8, 2008 9:23:45 GMT -5
www.enterprisenews.com/sports/pros/x807478269
Ole! C’s dispose of Bulls
There’s no letdown following Wednesday night’s victory over the Pistons.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
By Jim Fenton
ENTERPRISE STAFF WRITER
Posted Mar 07, 2008 @ 11:34 PM
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
BOSTON — The first time they defeated the Detroit Pistons this season, the Boston Celtics followed the emotional victory with an immediate letdown.
The Celtics made sure not to repeat that scenario on Friday night, 48 hours after their latest win over the Pistons.
There was no letdown this time around as the Celtics had little trouble disposing of the Chicago Bulls, 116-93, at the TD Banknorth Garden, extending their latest winning streak to seven games.
“The Bulls are playing good basketball,” said Coach Doc Rivers in his pregame meeting with the media. “If it’s a letdown game, then shame on us.
“I think they’re going to be in the playoffs. They could be our first-round opponent. You can’t take any of these games lightly. We haven’t achieved anything to have our guard down, as far as I’m concerned.”
The Celtics, who won their season series from the Pistons in a charged-up atmosphere on Wednesday, were focused from the start against the Bulls. The last win over Detroit was followed by a rare loss at home to the sub-.500 Charlotte Bobcats.
Chicago, which had knocked off LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers one night earlier, fell behind the Celtics by double digits late in the first quarter and rarely challenged the rest of the way.
Paul Pierce led the Celtics with 22 points in just 25 minutes after having just six points at halftime. Kevin Garnett had 16 points and eight rebounds before calling it a night with 4:21 left in the third quarter.
Kendrick Perkins recorded his third consecutive double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds, Rajon Rondo added 16 points and Ray Allen had 11 as the Celtics finished the homestand 5-0.
With a 48-12 record, the Celtics have doubled their win total of a year ago with 22 games still remaining. Boston plays seven of its next nine games on the road, starting tonight in Memphis against the Grizzlies (8:05, TV: Comcast SportsNet; radio: WEEI-850 AM).
The easy victory over the Bulls (24-37) enabled Rivers to sit Garnett, Pierce and Allen for part of the third quarter and the entire fourth period, always a plus in a back-to-back situation. Four of the Celtics’ starters were in double figures by halftime, and Pierce joined them in the third quarter.
The Celtics held a 32-20 lead after one quarter with Perkins leading the way with 10 points, and Boston closed out the second quarter with a 19-7 run to open a 63-43 advantage at the break.
Garnett, who was going against rookie Joakim Noah at times, had 12 of his points by halftime while Perkins, Allen and Rondo had 10 each.
While the starters shared the wealth on offense, the Celtics’ defense was again superb as the Bulls made just 36 percent of their first-half shots.
The Celtics have picked up their defense since stumbling prior to and immediately after the All-Star break. During the recent West Coast trip, the Celtics gave up 124 and 119 points in consecutive losses to Denver and Golden State.
“We’re starting to play defense again,” said Rivers. “We got out on the West Coast trip, and even before that, I think our guys felt we had to outscore people. It was a good lesson for us. Now we’re competing defensively every night.”
After building the 20-point halftime lead, the Celtics continued to dominate the Bulls in the third quarter, putting them away early. Pierce had 16 points as the lead reached as high as 28 points at 77-49. Pierce made 4 of 7 shots and hit a pair of 3-pointers in the quarter, which ended with Boston in front, 95-73.
With the Celtics comfortably in front, forward P.J. Brown made his Celtics’ debut with 1:24 remaining in the third quarter and had six rebounds and three points in six minutes.
