@ STARTERS (TOR): BENCH: F Andrea Bargnani #7, G Roko Ukic #1, F Jason Kapono #24, G/F Hassan Adams #3, F/C Kris Humphries #43, G/F Joey Graham #14, G Will Solomon #5 STARTERS (BOS): BENCH: G/F Tony Allen #42, F Leon Powe #0, G Eddie House #50, F/C Glen Davis #11, G/F Bill Walker #12, G Gabe Pruitt #13, C Patrick O'Bryant #26, F Brian Scalabrine #44 11/10/08; 7:30 P.M. ET; CSN-NE, Raptors TV; TD Banknorth Garden
I got caught up in the Toronto version of this. The Celtics came back from 15 down to win. Pierce went nutty in the 4th.
Objectively speaking, the way the Celts just spontaneously turned up the defensive pressure in the 3rd quarter was damned impressive. We went from scoring at any time we wanted, to being relegated solely to contested jumpshots.
It's pretty incredible how that seems to happen. After the tip against the Pistons the other day, it was defense until the Pistons just couldn't take it anymore. In the second half, the C's looked like they had already made their point, and didn't feel it was necessary to take it any further. They definitely flip the switch on a regular basis, but have you seen a team recently do it with this much success? They seem to know exactly the right time to do so, and have proven themselves to be formidable just as soon as they do.
Awesome game, the defensive tenacity combined with Pierce's excellence in the 2nd half was beautiful.
The Raptors looked like a handful until Pierce went bonkers in the 4th and the C's turned up their D. I love how one night KG and Pierce don't shoot the ball well and Tony A comes off the bench and provides a lift, then Paul has and KG have a strong night to win, Ray Allen has been fairly steady and his helping out on the boards. Who do you stop on this team to win? There is always someone else stepping up to provide a lift. I think the C's can win 60 games again this year and should make the ECF's at the least.
