Celtics Central

Boston Celtics

Celtics Vs Hornets Pre-Game Comments

November 1, 2009 at 5:30 pm by Thomas Halzack

The Boston Celtics continue an early heavy schedule and start a run of 5 games in 7 days with a 6 o’clock start against the New Orleans Hornets in Boston today.

They are undefeated at 3-0 and really untried so far. After a 6 point win that wasn’t as close as the score would indicate (95-89) against the Cavaliers, they blew out both the Charlotte Bobcats (92-59) and Chicago Bulls (118-90) in the friendly confines of TD Garden. They have displayed both inscrutable defense in all three games and superb offense against the Bulls.

Shelden Williams – The Right Player, The Right Place, The Right Time
Shelden Williams has been an early season surprise. After 3 games he averaging 8.7 points, but is leading the team with 7.3 rebounds, and is throwing in a surprising 1.7 assists in just 19 plus minutes. He is replacing Glen Davis while Glen recovers from a broken hand received in a well known altercation with a friend.

Leading the Celtics scoring scoring is Paul Pierce with 20 points, followed by Ray Allen with 18 points.

Rajon Rondo looks very sharp in the early going averaging 12.3 assists

Celtics Long Distance Guns are Blazin’
The Celtics are shooting 44.7% from the three point line as a team. Paul Pierce is stroking it at a lofty 58.8% on 10-17 right now. Ray Allen follows with 8-17 and 47%, and Eddie House is 6-14 for 42.9%.

Making Them Count – The 50% (and up) Club
Rajon Rondo is shooting 62%. House is shooting 56% overall. Kendrick Perkins is shooting 54.6%. Kevin Garnett is shooting 53.1%. Paul Pierce is at 52.9% Shelden Williams is right 50%.

Celtics Stingy Defense
The Celtics are number in points allowed with 79.3. Number one at three point defense allowing just 19.1%, and number two in total shooting percentage defense with 38.1%

Doc Rivers said he wanted this team to be one of the best defensive teams ever and they are off to a good start.

Charlotte is 1-1 but barely beat the lowly Sacramento Kings, thanks to new addition Emeka Okafor’s last minute blocks, after losing 113-96 to the Spurs.

Chris Paul is only averaging 6.5 assist so far. That number will head north very soon, I’m sure.

Thomas Halzack

Celtic fan since the latter years of Bill Russell’s unprecedented run. Played (not very well) lots of ‘school lot’ ball growing up on the mean streets of Stratford. Okay, so Stratford doesn’t have mean streets. Loved the game then. Still do. With a Stevie Wonder jump shot, I prided myself on defense. And pretty good passing. Though witnesses have yet to come forward to corroborate those statements. B-ball is the most interesting game in the world, requiring the widest variety of mental and physical skills of any major team sport ever created. The games within the game multiply its attraction. Birth of a Blogger About six years ago, I discovered internet message boards for Celtic fans. Four years ago, in cooperation with the Connecticut Post, we created CelticsCentral. The timing was fortuitous. As a writer with press credentials, I observed up front the Celtics amazing run to their 17th championship banner. I now write for Celticsblog.com, as well, one of the top sites for Celtic basketball information. I have written for CelticsStuffLive at Wicked Good Sports, Comcast Sports Net –New England. My writing has also appeared on Bleacherreport.com and Foxsports.com (Court Awareness) Agree or disagree, but feel free to join me in the conversation.

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