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Taking Stock: Celtics - Thunder

After every game, we'll take stock of how each individual performance affects the player's overall value.

Starters

Avery Bradley:  Not a bad performance on the offensive end, though he's still nowhere near good enough to be a primary ball handler yet.  And I guess we're all looking at Avery's 3 blocks and not Westbrooks 31 points and dribble pentration as a marker of his defense?  Is that right?  Avery played pretty well last night, but he's still got plenty of room for improvement on both ends.

 Paul Pierce: When the shots weren't falling (5-15 fg) he got to the line (12-16 ft).  And that's what you need to do as a primary scoring threat. 

Kevin Garnett: Call him older, slower, whatever.  His impact on the Celtics offense is palpable.

 Mickael Pietrus:  I was debating on whether to give him the uptick in value or not, but his shot seems to be falling and he took more 2's than 3's.  He was in a tough situation, though, and he was only a -1 in a 15 point loss. 

  

Ray Allen:  More than his good shooting, I loved his 7 assists.  Ok, not more than his shooting.  We need his shooting more.  I'm just glad he can shoot again.   

Bench

Taking Stock: Celtics - Mavericks

After every game, we'll take stock of how each individual performance affects the player's overall value.

Starters

Avery Bradley:  He was actually hitting jumpers last night.  JUMPERS!!!  If Bradley can do that more often, then we've got ourselves a decent combo guard.  His ball handling/passing/decision making still need work, but first things first.  The jumpers were nice

 Paul Pierce: A much better offensive night for the Truth.

 

Chris Wilcox: Not his best day.  Obviously guarding Dirk would be tough.  1 rebound in 13 minutes is no good.  And now he's hurt.

 J

ermaine O'Neal: 

Hey, at least he can still block shots.  Oh, he's hurt again?  Great.

  

Ray Allen:  He seems like he might be emerging from his slump.   

Bench

Taking Stock: Celtics - Bulls

After every game, we'll take stock of how each individual performance affects the player's overall value.

Starters

Rajon Rondo:  After two huge scoring games, Rajon settled back into more of an all-around mode.  A 17-8-7 night is pretty damn good.  Of course, that's not good enough for some people, but Rondo was doing a bit of everything out there.  Had some people hit shots they normally make, Rondo would have probably had a 12 assist night. 

Paul Pierce:  He's one of those missing shots he'd normally make.  Pierce came out hot early, but after 6 early points, he only hit for 8 the rest of the way.  He's been off lately, and I'm wondering why.

Kevin Garnett: 18 points and 10 rebounds should be enough from KG on most nights.  Not sure what else to ask of the guy.
 

Jermaine O'Neal:  6 points, 4 rebounds, and a -18.  He was KILLED on the boards out there... he sets bad screens for Ray Allen... and he's a liability on offense.  He got a pass a foot from the basket last night and dribbled, spun, and shot a fadeaway that missed.  Bench him and start Wilcox.  It's time.

  

Ray Allen:  This has nothing to do with his shooting. Guys get cold... I get that.  But Ray's biggest problem right now is he cost us a few plays last night defensively.  And Ray's dribbling and passing abilities have gotten worse.   

Bench

Taking Stock: Celtics - Raptors

After every game, we'll take stock of how each individual performance affects the player's overall value.

Starters

I'm not going to bother going through them all individually.  I'm sorry KG gets swept in this because he had a decent game.. but even he needed to do more.  If you're the only guy hitting them, then you need to be the guy taking them.  Sometimes, your job isn't to get other guys going, it's to start carrying the team yourself.  And let's not start on Rondo's night.  One of his worst games as a Celtic.

Bench

Same goes for the bench.  Avery Bradley and Mickael Pietrus get swept up in the putrid display.  They at least did something. But this is like standing next to the guy who got sprayed by a skunk.  It's going to get on you too... and it's impossible to get that stink out. 

Coaching

Doc Rivers:  I loved the outburst.  Those guys deserved it.  But why didn't E'Twaun Moore get any playing time at all?  Were you punishing Rondo by keeping him in there?  Even if you were, not getting Moore any time in a game like that is a problem for me.  Bench all the starters and let the bench try to do something.

OVERALL 

What the hell can you take out of a game like this?  Everyone mailed this one in and thought they could sleep walk through a win.  They got crushed.  And Doc said it all... if you think you're going to pin a loss like this on the previous night's loss... then you're mentally weak.  

The Celtics need to bounce back against Chicago... or else there will be very serious questions asked about the future of this team.

Taking Stock: Celtics - Lakers

After every game, we'll take stock of how each individual performance affects the player's overall value.

Starters

Rajon Rondo:  His numbers looked ok in the box score and he certainly had some amazing moments in the game.  But he got too passive down the stretch for my liking.  I know the Lakers have trees back there in Bynum and Gasol.  And I know that it's no fun flinging yourself into those trees time and time again.  But that's what you get paid $10 million to do.  Rondo needed to attack a lot more and get those guys into foul trouble or out of position so other guys could get to the rim. 

Paul Pierce:  Aside from the tough shooting night, Pierce missed Ray Allen who was open just long enough to get a good shot off in regulation, and then he missed a game winner in OT.  He did rebound and pass well, but it was a tough ending.

Kevin Garnett:  He just couldn't hit a shot.  6-23?  KG has been on lately, but he was decidedly off last night.  And there's no way in hell KG should miss 4 of 8 shots at the rim.  The 12 rebounds were nice, but a 13th at the end of the game somewhere would have been better.
 

Jermaine O'Neal:  This is where the real blame lies in the rebounding mess.  Andrew Bynum got 7 offensive rebounds.  I will not judge you by your offense, Jermaine, but I will judge you by not keeping Bynum off the boards.  I know he's bigger, faster and stronger... but you can find him and box him out.  I would have been THRILLED if Jermaine got zero defensive rebounds, but his boxing out kept Bynum from getting 4 or 5 of his offensive boards.  This, more than anything, cost Boston the game. 
  

Ray Allen:  He hounded Kobe Bryant and played some pretty good defense on him down the stretch.  He hit one clutch 3 to put the C's up 2 with 1:07 to play, he got himself open for a potential game winner at the end of regulation, and he got an offensive rebound to almost win the game in OT.  Pau Gasol made a great heads up play to block what would very likely have been a game winner.  

Bench

Taking Stock: C's - Bobcats

After every game, we'll take stock of how each individual performance affects the player's overall value.

Starters

Rajon Rondo: A 14-to-1 assist to turnover ratio is pretty damn good. Most of his passes were crisp and he played under control the entire night. No signs of rust from the wrist injury. 

Paul Pierce: I generally don't hand out praise to a player who misses 12 of 18 shots, but Pierce nearly recorded a triple double (8 rebounds, 9 assists). I'll also cut him slack for playing under tremendous, Larry Bird-induced pressure.

Ray Allen: While he made just 1 of 5 from beyond the arc, Ray did nail 7 of 9 from inside the arc.

 Kevin Garnett:  Another great offensive game. 22 points in 27 minutes is a ratio I'll take every game. Missed a couple of bunnies. Seems like he's overly concerned of having his shot blocked around the hoop.

Jermaine O'Neal:  8 rebounds and 1 block in 19 minutes. He also played flexed his tough guy muscles on a couple plays.

Bench

Taking Stock: Celtics - Grizzlies

After every game, we'll take stock of how each individual performance affects the player's overall value.

Starters

Rajon Rondo:  I know we want guys to be robots and step right back into playing without missing a beat, but that's not how it works.  Doc said it best last night... it's his second game playing after missing time due to an injury that hasn't even fully healed yet.  And he hasn't practiced.  I think a 14 assist game is a nice second game.

Paul Pierce:  10 more to pass Larry Bird and become the C's second all time leading scorer.  21, 6 and 6 = doing it all (again).  His value to this team is insane.

Kevin Garnett:  OMG HE KEEPS SHOOTING THREES!!!!.  KG's shooting overall has been great.  His season FG% is just over 49%, but in his last 5 games he's shooting 55.8%.  And his passing has been just spectacular. 
 

Jermaine O'Neal:  Nice work on the boards, plus two more blocks and a charge.  He did his job well.  
  

Ray Allen:  Everyone's entitled to an off night.  He hit them when it mattered, though.

Bench

Taking Stock: Celtics - Raptors

After every game, we'll take stock of how each individual performance affects the player's overall value.

Starters

Avery Bradley:  He has adjusted his game thanks to Doc Rivers, who has told him to mimic Andre Miller: "Instead of looking at the ball, we told him, just look at your man. Right when he turns his head, cut behind him, he’ll never know you’re gone"  That resulted in 4-4 shooting at the rim for Avery last night, and 1-2 shooting from 3-9 feet.  HUGE adjustment that has paid off.

Paul Pierce:  He filled the stat sheet once again with 17 points, 8 assists and 6 rebounds in just 26 minutes.  Every one of those numbers makes me happy.

Kevin Garnett:  Stat of the night: 17 minutes for KG.  7 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists in that amount of time is great, too.  Double all those numbers and you get a near triple double in 34 minutes of play (I know that's not how it really works... but humor me).  KG's passing lately has been impeccable.  Avery Bradley is probably the biggest beneficiary of KG's passes, too.  Plus... he hit a 3.  That's always a plus.
 

Jermaine O'Neal:  Just 14 minutes for Jermaine but he drew 3 charges and blocked a shot and grabbed 3 rebounds.  That's seven defensive stops he can personally stake a claim on.  Not bad at all for 17 minutes of play.    
 

Ray Allen:  

5-9 shooting, 2-3 from distance, and 5 assists to boot.  Nice night for Ray.

Bench

Taking Stock: Celtics - Cavaliers

After every game, we'll take stock of how each individual performance affects the player's overall value.

Starters

Avery Bradley:  His D wasn't nearly what it was in the last Orlando game, and the 5 turnovers (a couple of them were really bad) were a problem.  And if E'Twaun Moore is going to play like he did last night, Avery... defense and all... will lose minutes.

Paul Pierce:  He had a stretch where he was just awesome.  But he also had 7 turnovers in the game. 

Kevin Garnett:  Not a bad night for KG.  14 and 7 is ok for him.  But I thought he was on his way to a 20-10 night the way he started out.  
 

 Brandon Bass:  I don't know if I'm being hard on everyone because I still have that sour taste in my mouth, but Bass had an OK but not great game.  His production in the books wasn't bad, but I just thought he could have been a difference-maker with some energy that was clearly missing elsewhere.    
 

Ray Allen:  

Didn't seem to miss a beat, did he?

Bench

Taking Stock: Celtics - Magic

After every game, we'll take stock of how each individual performance affects the player's overall value.

Starters

Avery Bradley:  His D wasn't nearly what it was in the last Orlando game, and the 5 turnovers (a couple of them were really bad) were a problem.  And if E'Twaun Moore is going to play like he did last night, Avery... defense and all... will lose minutes.

Paul Pierce:  10 More assists for The Truth.  The man just gets it done.  He's averaging 8 assists per game over his last 5.  That's a leader.

Kevin Garnett:  Are you kidding me?  He gets the bump just for the post game interview.  KG was taking (and making) shots, he was rebounding, and he more than held his own defending Dwight Howard.  It's a little inexcusable for Dwight, since he's twice KG's size.  But KG played him very very tough, which was key to the comeback
 

 Brandon Bass:  Early foul trouble took him out of his rhythm.  But the 4-12 shooting is still not great, especially when no shots come at the rim.  I harp on it for a reason... Bass is at his best when he's taking a variety of shots.  He did contribute, though, in the comeback... finishing a with +10.  
 

Mickael Pietrus:  

 Good first half. Looks like I'm going to have to accept that he's just going to be Mr. Bombs Away from 3.  8 attempts from long range?  That's a lot.

Bench