David Butler/USA Today
Of all the expectations/predictions surrounding this team, a top 5, lock-down defense was the most common and most realistic.
Or so I thought.
The C’s opened the season with a 122-117 victory over the Brooklyn Nets. And while any victory is a good victory, this game was troubling for two reasons: 1) the hapless Nets scored 117 points and 2) the Celts let a 23-point lead in the 4th quarter dissolve into a 3-point nail biter in the final seconds.
If anything Boston was relatively consistent with its lack of defense. Brooklyn drained 5 3s and shot 55% in the 1st quarter. The Celtics led 33-31 in large part to Jae Crowder’s hot start (10 points on 4-6 FGs). Jaylen Brown was the first off the bench and the kid looked comfortable out there (more on him later).
The 2nd unit – led by Jonas Jerebko, Terry Rozier and Gerald Green – stretched the lead to 12 points and you started to get the feeling Boston was going to pull away. Granted, I haven’t watched Green closely in about 9 years, but the guy looks smooth and under control. Still, Brooklyn hung around and the lead was just 6 at the half.
Isaiah Thomas (25 points, 9 assists) cranked up his scoring in the 3rd quarter. He dropped 7 quick points in the last minute as the Celtics lead reach 16 points. Finally, we were going to put away the Nets.
The reserves should get blame for going scoreless over a 4 minute stretch (11-0 Nets run) that allowed Brooklyn back in the game. But the starters didn’t slam the door either. It was two awful turnovers (by Crowder & Thomas) that put this game into panic mode. Bojan Bogdanovic was a millimeter off from tying this game with 20 seconds to go.
The Green
Al Horford (11 points, 5 rebounds, 6 assists, 4 blocks, +13) looked marvelous. His passing and ball handling skills really helped the offense. He wasn’t supposed to improve rim-protection, but he swatted away 4 shots. The guy truly helps in all phases.
Jaylen Brown (9 points, 2 rebounds) is going to contribute. He’s young and raw, but he doesn’t look scared or overmatched out there. I’m sure he’ll hit some rough patches, but his court presence is noticeably different when compared to other young guys (see Young, James or Hunter, RJ).
The Gross
With about 5 minutes remaining and the Celtics up 19, Brad Stevens had all of his starters on the bench. Within 3 minutes the lead was reduced to 8 and Stevens was forced to put them all back in. Unacceptable.
Who the hell is Justin Hamilton and why was he permitted to score 19 points in 25 minutes?
Luis Scola has always been a gritty, scrappy player but he’s morphing into a dirty player.
Greenlights
IT steal, Crowder finish
Crowder pokes the ball away from his man and IT rewards him on the break: pic.twitter.com/gJGNUDqc5Z
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 27, 2016
Brown on the block
Jaylen Brown is a smooth operator on the block! The rook makes this turnaround bank shot look easy: pic.twitter.com/VBQ7jTtNaA
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) October 27, 2016
Brown gives Hamilton a vasectomy
The Grid
- Avery Bradley’s 9 rebounds led the team
- Boston’s 36 assists was most by any NBA team in season opener since 2001
- Boston is now 44-27 in season openers
