LIVE! EAST-WEST BATTLE: BOSTON CELTICS @ GOLDEN STATE WARRIORS
Boston is in their 2nd game of their 5 game West coast road trip where they've already lost to Denver last night and are in a dog-fight tonight. Andres Beidrins just got shoved to the ground. Boston continues with games at Phoenix Friday and Portland on Sunday.
Admittedly, I'm not sure what happened in the first half as I was blogging the Dallas and Phoenix games but it seems that the game started at Golden State's pace in the first quarter (ending 29-32 GS) but played more to Boston's pace in the 2nd (28-18 Bos).
Both teams match up very well with Rondo playing Monte Ellis and Baron playing Ray Allen. Kevin Garnett has been held to 5-14 shooting.
Rondo, in my opinion, is the key to Boston's success. He has made plays but more importantly been able to stop the ball on defense.
Golden State was a slight underdog in this game and they're trading blows with one of the consensus favorites to win the NBA title. The game is tied at 78 just at the end of the 3rd quarter.
Check that...fighters trading blows....Baron comes down and shoots a 3 playing a 2-for-1 opportunity and Pietrus dunks the miss in a Sportscenter highlight play....then picks Pierce clean at the top of the key to follow with another dunk. Pierce, not to be outdone, takes him to the rack at the end of the 3rd to make (and complete) a 3 point play. Boston leads 84-82 going into the last stanza.
——4TH QUARTER BLOG
Editor's note: This is the largest crowd ever to watch a game in the state of California.
What a night in the NBA tonight, this game is vintage NBA. This game has the feel of the playoffs and when can you say that when the #1 seed from one conference is playing the #7 seed from the other. The refs are letting them play and both teams are scrapping for every loose ball.
Monte Ellis has extreme hangtime. He is going to be in the NBA All Star game if not next year, but the year after that. He is virtually uncoverable and has developed an 18 foot jumpshot that he's been making at over a 50% clip the last 10 games.
The one thing stopping the Warriors from being considered in the top-tier of NBA teams is their lack of defense. They've been noted for their ability to pressure the ball and steal, but that hasn't been the case this year.
I feel like I can't even write at this point. The game is up and down the court and rather than providing analysis I just feel like a fan right now. Garnett just forced a steal (and while typing another one) as the Warriors provide the first "chink-in-the-armor" that I've seen from either team since I started watching. Boston just opened a 4 point lead.
With 6:40 left the Warriors asked Monte Ellis to run the point and he found the seemingly always open Beidrins who after the foul made 1 of 2. Monte is attracting double teams for the first time in his career. Ray Allen just buried another jump shot for his 32nd point off of a Reggie Miller-type screen cycle. Monte Ellis follows with 2 free throws after penetrating the defense.
With 5 minutes left the Warriors keep making miracle plays but they can't seem to make up ground. Monte Ellis took a rebound that touched nearly everyone's hands and buried right before the shot clock expired. Big Baby Glen Davis is destroying the Warriors inside, drawing a foul, but missed both free throws.
Down by 4, Biedrins just tipped ANOTHER rebound in. Allen misses the jumper. BARON DAVIS AND-ONE. He's a tank with Ferrari wheels. His footwork is amazing. The Golden State crowd chants "MVP, MVP". Free throw in and the Warriors lead by 1. (See my previous prediction about Baron Davis MVP voting)
Garnett gets fouled and drains both free throws as the Warriors are in the bonus. He has 17 points and 14 rebounds in just 27 minutes of play. No sooner does Monte Ellis receive the transition break pass and take it to the rim....Golden State by 1. Garnett travels in a huge possession with 3:30 to go. Beidrins scores AGAIN inside. I wonder when he is going to start getting some accolades. His bucket came after Boston double-teamed Monte who threaded the pass to the lurking Beidrins. On the other end Rondo was fouled and makes 1 of 2.
The Warriors gave the ball to Monte who looked like he may have been fouled on a spectacular drive. Ray Allen ends up with the ball at the 3 point line and uncharacteristically bricked the shot. Pietrus leaked out and Harrington found him after securing the rebound open with nobody around....Tony Allen (who has been covering...or trying to cover Baron Davis tonight) fouls Pietrus hard and the officials will discuss if it's a flagrant during the commercial break. 2:45 to go, Warriors by 2, 17 lead changes tonight.
Not a flagrant foul (good call). Pietrus sinks the first. He's a player that has Gerald Wallace like qualities (under the radar, an even better shot, and amazing leaping ability). Pietrus sinks the second. On the other end he shuts down Pierce which leads to a Monte Ellis fast break drive, shot, miss...followed by a Baron Davis rebound/foul. He misses the first and rattles home the second. (UP BY 5).
On the other end Pietrus blocks Kevin Garnett leading to another Monte Ellis fastbreak who soars to the rim only to miss the layup. Harrington fouls Tony Allen on the rebound (makes 1). Warriors up by 4. 2 minutes left. Monte misses the jumper on good defense by Boston. Paul Pierce buries the 3 on the next possesion. Warriors lead by 1 with 1:30 left.
Monte has the ball in clutch time. He's held up pretty good by Rondo and passes to Harrington who promptly buries the jumpshot. Warriors lead by 3. Steven Jackson (who I've neglected to mention is on the bench tonight) has been the epitomy of "good teammate" and is the first one onto the court to greet the players. He deserves the team captain role and it makes you wonder what went wrong in Indiana (and in general). Give props to Nellie for making that decision. Him and Baron Davis have become the heart and soul of not just this team, but of Bay Area basketball. They'll be remembered even more than the RUN-TMC crew.
Rondo just drove and scored with 1:15 to bring it to a 1 point difference. Monte Ellis buries a 3. You are seeing 2 young players light it up. Paul Pierce misses a game tying 3 point shot and the Warriors secure the rebound. Rondo fouls when he doesn't need to, his first mistake of the game. Baron Davis misses the free throw AGAIN, highlighting the fact that while he is a clutch-shooter, he isn't a great shooter.
Up by 4 with 34 seconds I look for Boston to get something towards the hoop with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in a 2-for-1 approach. Golden State is weak inside defensively so Golden State fans should be scared.
Pierce at the top of the key drives on Azebuke (brought in for defense) and Pietrus stepped up too late outside of the restricted zone so Boston gets their wish (Pierce is 8-9 at the line). He buries the first. Beidrins is brought in for the rebound (a foul shooting liability I might add). Interestingly, he face-guards Garnett when playing the rebound. Pierce buries the second. Golden State is up by 2 with the ball and 28.7 seconds left.
The Warriors go with Monte, Barnes, Harrington, Pietrus, and Baron. They give it to Monte who doesn't do a lot with it, hands it off to Barnes who drives and airballs a scoop shot. Pierce gets the rebound and apparently calls a time out before he travels securing the rebound. Boston now has the ball needing 2 to tie 3 to win with 12.3 seconds left. You have to wish you have Steven Jackson on the court if you're a Golden State fan.
Golden State will double Ray Allen on everything. Pierce gets it at the top, drives to the hoop, the ref at the bottom calls a charge and the top-side ref calls Harrington in the restricted zone and calls a block. The Oracle Arena goes wild but it looks like a good call. Pierce needs to make both. He buries the first. There are 6.5 seconds left so Golden State will have a shot no matter what. Pierce is an 83% foul shooter and he buries the second. The Warriors call timeout tied at 117. They need to be careful that they don't foul on the rebound as Boston doesn't have any timeouts. They need to get something going towards the basket, with either Baron, Monte, or Barnes.
The Warriors pass it into Baron. He doesn't get great penetration at first but gets Tony Allen off balance and then....GOOD! As the announcer say, "Do you believe in the Warriors now!" 20,711 fans (I wonder if any of them left for this classic) go nuts! Tony Allen looks like he thought Baron was going to drive and slipped at the last second. We're nearly 5 minutes after the make and Baron's getting interviewed and fans are still going nuts despite him being blasted over the PA system. Baron calls Boston the number one team in the league. Fans are still going nuts. Baron calls Monte Ellis the most talented person on Golden State's team and credits Beidrins for his defense on Garnett.
It's hard to imagine that the Warriors are barely making the playoffs at this point.
Admittedly, I'm not sure what happened in the first half as I was blogging the Dallas and Phoenix games but it seems that the game started at Golden State's pace in the first quarter (ending 29-32 GS) but played more to Boston's pace in the 2nd (28-18 Bos).
Both teams match up very well with Rondo playing Monte Ellis and Baron playing Ray Allen. Kevin Garnett has been held to 5-14 shooting.
Rondo, in my opinion, is the key to Boston's success. He has made plays but more importantly been able to stop the ball on defense.
Golden State was a slight underdog in this game and they're trading blows with one of the consensus favorites to win the NBA title. The game is tied at 78 just at the end of the 3rd quarter.
Check that...fighters trading blows....Baron comes down and shoots a 3 playing a 2-for-1 opportunity and Pietrus dunks the miss in a Sportscenter highlight play....then picks Pierce clean at the top of the key to follow with another dunk. Pierce, not to be outdone, takes him to the rack at the end of the 3rd to make (and complete) a 3 point play. Boston leads 84-82 going into the last stanza.
——4TH QUARTER BLOG
Editor's note: This is the largest crowd ever to watch a game in the state of California.
What a night in the NBA tonight, this game is vintage NBA. This game has the feel of the playoffs and when can you say that when the #1 seed from one conference is playing the #7 seed from the other. The refs are letting them play and both teams are scrapping for every loose ball.
Monte Ellis has extreme hangtime. He is going to be in the NBA All Star game if not next year, but the year after that. He is virtually uncoverable and has developed an 18 foot jumpshot that he's been making at over a 50% clip the last 10 games.
The one thing stopping the Warriors from being considered in the top-tier of NBA teams is their lack of defense. They've been noted for their ability to pressure the ball and steal, but that hasn't been the case this year.
I feel like I can't even write at this point. The game is up and down the court and rather than providing analysis I just feel like a fan right now. Garnett just forced a steal (and while typing another one) as the Warriors provide the first "chink-in-the-armor" that I've seen from either team since I started watching. Boston just opened a 4 point lead.
With 6:40 left the Warriors asked Monte Ellis to run the point and he found the seemingly always open Beidrins who after the foul made 1 of 2. Monte is attracting double teams for the first time in his career. Ray Allen just buried another jump shot for his 32nd point off of a Reggie Miller-type screen cycle. Monte Ellis follows with 2 free throws after penetrating the defense.
With 5 minutes left the Warriors keep making miracle plays but they can't seem to make up ground. Monte Ellis took a rebound that touched nearly everyone's hands and buried right before the shot clock expired. Big Baby Glen Davis is destroying the Warriors inside, drawing a foul, but missed both free throws.
Down by 4, Biedrins just tipped ANOTHER rebound in. Allen misses the jumper. BARON DAVIS AND-ONE. He's a tank with Ferrari wheels. His footwork is amazing. The Golden State crowd chants "MVP, MVP". Free throw in and the Warriors lead by 1. (See my previous prediction about Baron Davis MVP voting)
Garnett gets fouled and drains both free throws as the Warriors are in the bonus. He has 17 points and 14 rebounds in just 27 minutes of play. No sooner does Monte Ellis receive the transition break pass and take it to the rim....Golden State by 1. Garnett travels in a huge possession with 3:30 to go. Beidrins scores AGAIN inside. I wonder when he is going to start getting some accolades. His bucket came after Boston double-teamed Monte who threaded the pass to the lurking Beidrins. On the other end Rondo was fouled and makes 1 of 2.
The Warriors gave the ball to Monte who looked like he may have been fouled on a spectacular drive. Ray Allen ends up with the ball at the 3 point line and uncharacteristically bricked the shot. Pietrus leaked out and Harrington found him after securing the rebound open with nobody around....Tony Allen (who has been covering...or trying to cover Baron Davis tonight) fouls Pietrus hard and the officials will discuss if it's a flagrant during the commercial break. 2:45 to go, Warriors by 2, 17 lead changes tonight.
Not a flagrant foul (good call). Pietrus sinks the first. He's a player that has Gerald Wallace like qualities (under the radar, an even better shot, and amazing leaping ability). Pietrus sinks the second. On the other end he shuts down Pierce which leads to a Monte Ellis fast break drive, shot, miss...followed by a Baron Davis rebound/foul. He misses the first and rattles home the second. (UP BY 5).
On the other end Pietrus blocks Kevin Garnett leading to another Monte Ellis fastbreak who soars to the rim only to miss the layup. Harrington fouls Tony Allen on the rebound (makes 1). Warriors up by 4. 2 minutes left. Monte misses the jumper on good defense by Boston. Paul Pierce buries the 3 on the next possesion. Warriors lead by 1 with 1:30 left.
Monte has the ball in clutch time. He's held up pretty good by Rondo and passes to Harrington who promptly buries the jumpshot. Warriors lead by 3. Steven Jackson (who I've neglected to mention is on the bench tonight) has been the epitomy of "good teammate" and is the first one onto the court to greet the players. He deserves the team captain role and it makes you wonder what went wrong in Indiana (and in general). Give props to Nellie for making that decision. Him and Baron Davis have become the heart and soul of not just this team, but of Bay Area basketball. They'll be remembered even more than the RUN-TMC crew.
Rondo just drove and scored with 1:15 to bring it to a 1 point difference. Monte Ellis buries a 3. You are seeing 2 young players light it up. Paul Pierce misses a game tying 3 point shot and the Warriors secure the rebound. Rondo fouls when he doesn't need to, his first mistake of the game. Baron Davis misses the free throw AGAIN, highlighting the fact that while he is a clutch-shooter, he isn't a great shooter.
Up by 4 with 34 seconds I look for Boston to get something towards the hoop with Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett in a 2-for-1 approach. Golden State is weak inside defensively so Golden State fans should be scared.
Pierce at the top of the key drives on Azebuke (brought in for defense) and Pietrus stepped up too late outside of the restricted zone so Boston gets their wish (Pierce is 8-9 at the line). He buries the first. Beidrins is brought in for the rebound (a foul shooting liability I might add). Interestingly, he face-guards Garnett when playing the rebound. Pierce buries the second. Golden State is up by 2 with the ball and 28.7 seconds left.
The Warriors go with Monte, Barnes, Harrington, Pietrus, and Baron. They give it to Monte who doesn't do a lot with it, hands it off to Barnes who drives and airballs a scoop shot. Pierce gets the rebound and apparently calls a time out before he travels securing the rebound. Boston now has the ball needing 2 to tie 3 to win with 12.3 seconds left. You have to wish you have Steven Jackson on the court if you're a Golden State fan.
Golden State will double Ray Allen on everything. Pierce gets it at the top, drives to the hoop, the ref at the bottom calls a charge and the top-side ref calls Harrington in the restricted zone and calls a block. The Oracle Arena goes wild but it looks like a good call. Pierce needs to make both. He buries the first. There are 6.5 seconds left so Golden State will have a shot no matter what. Pierce is an 83% foul shooter and he buries the second. The Warriors call timeout tied at 117. They need to be careful that they don't foul on the rebound as Boston doesn't have any timeouts. They need to get something going towards the basket, with either Baron, Monte, or Barnes.
The Warriors pass it into Baron. He doesn't get great penetration at first but gets Tony Allen off balance and then....GOOD! As the announcer say, "Do you believe in the Warriors now!" 20,711 fans (I wonder if any of them left for this classic) go nuts! Tony Allen looks like he thought Baron was going to drive and slipped at the last second. We're nearly 5 minutes after the make and Baron's getting interviewed and fans are still going nuts despite him being blasted over the PA system. Baron calls Boston the number one team in the league. Fans are still going nuts. Baron calls Monte Ellis the most talented person on Golden State's team and credits Beidrins for his defense on Garnett.
It's hard to imagine that the Warriors are barely making the playoffs at this point.
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