There are all kinds of Detroit jokes and plays on words you could make.
Like the rest of Detroit, the Pistons are trying to create a hybrid vehicle.
But high scoring, light defending Allen Iverson guarding Rondo puts pressure on the rest of the Pistons’ defense, as Rondo had his season high and led both teams in scoring with 18. He was 7 of 11 shooting for the second straight game. Doc wanted him to be more aggressive. Done.
Simply put, the Celtics outplayed the Pistons in every aspect of the game last night.
Here is how bad it was for the Pistons…they led 13-2 to start the game. They were down by as much as 29 points at 92-63 with 5 minutes left in the game.
The Celtics outscored them 90-50 from that early lead until then.
The Big Three car companies are up at Capitol Hill making their case for a bail out for their survival.
Boston’s Big Three are making their own case for sharing the wealth. No bail out required. Detroit…not so much. They looked listless, out of gas and bailed out early, unlike Piston teams we have known in the past. The Celtics had 18 fast break points to the Piston’s 10.
Boston looked like they could get to the middle at will. I was surprised to see that they only outscored the Pistons in the paint 36-32. It looked much worse, and probably was until garbage time.
Even Pistons’ coach Michael Curry looked catatonic as the Pistons made uncharacteristically bad turnovers and missed their defensive assignments at an alarming rate. He showed little to no emotion as things got out of hand. He said before the game that this was an “attitude” game. It was indeed an attitude game – defensive by the Celtics and poor by the Pistons.
Rondo’s Very Good Night
The Celtics were led by mighty mite Rajon Rondo’s 18 points on a number of give and go lay-ups fed by both Garnett and Perkins, and straight up drives that broke through a surprisingly porous Piston defense.
Rondo made his first three point shot of the year. (Party to celebrate at The Fours later) He had 9 of Boston’s 21 first quarter points. He made 3 of 4 foul shots. He had 8 smart assists. He had three steals. He was so busy, he didn’t rebound tonight (one). All in 26:21 minutes. Whew. Is the Rondo slump over? It seems so.
Balance
Rondo led the team with 11 shot attempts. Not sure how long it’s been since that’s happened. But it was only 11 shots on a night of complete balance.
Kevin Garnett was next with 15 points on 6 of 10 in just 25 minutes, as Doc used the blow out and fine play from the bench to rest his meal Ticket and Ray and Paul. None played more than 28 minutes.
The Celtics had five players in double figures with Tony Allen at 13 points on 6 of 7 rim attacks for the most part. Tony added 6 rebounds, 3 steals, and some great defense throughout the game.
Ray Allen hit for 12 points on 3 of 7 shots. Eddie House made 2 consecutive threes in the span of 29 seconds to open up a Boston 9 point lead. House was 3 of 4 from downtown, also hoping to break his shooting slump and finished with 11 points, a steal, a rebound and a nice assist on a drive to a waiting Leon Powe. House finished with a + 17 in just 15 minutes.
Kendrick Perkins led both teams with 10 rebounds and padded his league lead in technical fouls (now seven, no one else has more than three) after saying something to Jason Maxiell, I believe.
Paul Pierce had just 9 points on 2 of 9 shooting, but he wasn’t needed for late game heroics on this evening.
All twelve Celtics played. All twelve Celtics scored. The bench contributed 42 points total.
The Celtics started in low gear once again as Detroit ran out to the 11 point lead in the first. The touring Beantown Ballers caught them by quarter’s end, and really never looked back. Once again the Celtic second unit outscored their opponents in the 2nd quarter, this time by
28-19.
The Celtics just solved the Piston defense rather easily all night. Whether it is due to the Iverson trade or not, I can’t say. But Rondo abused Allen most of the time he was in, instead of the opposite. Yet, the expected help defense wasn’t there.
An the other hand, the Celtics played a tenacious defense all night, holding the Pistons to 80 points on 42.6% shooting.
Boston is now 11-2 and by Doc’s own admission haven’t been playing their best ball. Tonight went a long way to correct things that have been problems.
Next up: Minnesota tonight in Minnesota at 8:00. Garnett’s returns to his “alma mater” should help pack the stands at the Target Center, in an otherwise dismal start to the season for the Timberwolves.
