<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE </div><div class='quotemain'>If the Celtics are to make the playoffs, they?ll need to pass two teams in the Eastern Conference standings. And they?ll need to pass the ball the way they did in the final quarter against the Raptors last night at TD Banknorth Garden. With 4 minutes left and Toronto within a reasonable seven, the Celts all but closed the door when they moved the ball around the horn and back until Wally Szczerbiak found Paul Pierce for an open trey. It was Szczerbiak?s second assist on a 3-pointer in as many possessions and a lesson the club has probably learned too late to extend their season. But in this one it was good enough for a 110-96 pull-away victory, keeping the Bostonians four games behind eighth-place Philadelphia (win over Atlanta) and moving them within a half-game of Chicago (loss to Indiana) in ninth. ?That?s when we can be our best, when we find the open man out of double-teams and we swing (the ball) and make the extra pass,? Pierce said after the Celts had assists on six of their seven fourth-quarter buckets. Pierce finished with 32 points, edging out Mike James, who had just two of his 31 points in the last quarter (0-for-2 from the floor) as the Celts hit him with traps. It was a satisfying night in many regards for the citizens of the season?s 12th sellout. From Brian Scalabrine coming out of mothballs for eight points in 25 minutes to Gerald Green?s acrobatic dunk on a Tony Allen pass off the backboard in the final seconds, there was enough to hold the interest against a team that?ll be crossing the border to attend the draft lottery in May. ?At the end of the game, that?s how you play,? Doc Rivers said. ?The ball kept moving and moving until it found the open guy. I mean, that is so nice to see, and it?s so fun to play that way. The question is, why not every night? Well, we wish. We work on it, (but) the human brain comes into play at some point and takes you away from it, I guess.?For the third straight game, the Green went largely with a bench brigade to open the fourth quarter and for the second time it worked. By the time a rested Pierce re-entered the game with 5:54 left (he tried a bit earlier, but Allen was busy making free throws), four subs and Ryan Gomes had more than held the fort, increasing the lead by three. Gomes had seven points, with five of them coming from the line, and Allen added five freebies in six attempts. Scalabrine had actually gotten some fans on his side by making his first three shots in the game (two of them treys), but the boos were back when he airballed a trey from the left corner in the fourth.He credited a hit he?d taken on a previous possession (leaving a nice bruise on the left side of his face) for the errant shot. ?I mean, maybe I could have hit the rim,? he said with a grin. Scalabrine had been a DNP in the previous two games and had gone just 22 seconds in the one before that, but with Al Jefferson out resting his right ankle, he made the most of his chance. ?We called his number and he was ready,? Rivers said. ?I thought his energy was huge for us.? So was 15-for-21 shooting from the Celtics? starting backcourt. Delonte West (8-for-12) had 21 points and Szczerbiak (7-for-9) added 19. Each had five assists as the C?s moved the rock and were aggressive to the hoop when the openings presented themselves. The hosts took 40 free throws to Toronto?s 24, easily overcoming the Raptors? 15-5 edge in second-chance points. The playoff gap, however, will be harder to traverse. ?We just have to win,? Rivers said. ?Every game is a must win for us, when you look at the percentages of being down four games with 13 to play. It?s not going to be easy, but it still gives us something to chase after.?</div> sorry the format is a little sloppy, but it's a good article. I have been saying this ever since the Wally trade.
I love the Celtics so much it's not funny. They have such a young team, with such a great player at the helm. Paul Pierce is a guy I look forward to seeing over the next few years, because he really does not rely on athletisicm that much. He is going to continue to be a 25,5,5 guy until he hangs up his uniform, and if this young team continues to progress, we could see great things.
Agreed KMart, I really can't see Paul going anywhere, he's comfortable here in Boston and I think he realizes the potential of this team
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (KMart @ Mar 25 2006, 04:31 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}></div><div class='quotemain'>I love the Celtics so much it's not funny. They have such a young team, with such a great player at the helm. Paul Pierce is a guy I look forward to seeing over the next few years, because he really does not rely on athletisicm that much. He is going to continue to be a 25,5,5 guy until he hangs up his uniform, and if this young team continues to progress, we could see great things.</div> :worthy: :rock:
