Led by a game but hurting Rajon Rondo, the injury depleted Celtics dropped their third straight road game, ending the year on a losing note. But to keep a balanced outlook heading into the new year… being 23-8 after dropping three games in a row ain’t that bad.
Amare Stoudamire and Channing Frye scored 26 points each to defeat the short-handed Celtics and sweep the season series 2-0. They are now 21-12 and a surprise team in the west.
Key off season acquisition Channing Frye (who would have thought I’d be saying that) took advantage of slow defensive reactions to drop in 6 three pointers along the way. His 26 points were his season high. He also led both teams with 10 rebounds, and added 2 blocks and 2 steals.
Picked up from the Portland scrap heap, Frye has become a deadly three point shooter (5.6 attempts per game with red hot 43% accuracy) and a cog in the run-and-gun Phoenix offense. After being buried on the plodding Trailblazers’ bench, may he give thanks for his good fortune. Credit the Suns for seeing the potential and to Frye for coming through when given the chance.
Talking about players in the right situation, Eddie House led the Celtics with 19 points in 21 plus minutes off the bench. He hit 5 of 7 three point shots. Shelden Williams added a season high 14 more in 19 minutes in a losing effort. Ray Allen added 15 points to lead the starters.
Other than the hot Eddie House, the Cs shot 1 for 16 from downtown. No three point contagion on this team on this evening.
If we want to take something positive from this, it would be the offense by the two bench players, House and Williams.
Tony Allen started for Paul Pierce again and filled up the stat sheet with 12 points, 6-6 from the free throw line, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals but 4 turnovers in 31 plus minutes. While not his best showing, Tony continues to be a productive player with the minutes he has been given. Along with Rondo, Tony is disruptive defensively when he is out there.
This now sustained effort by TA can either work toward redemption with the team or, at least, make a trade much more possible, as the February 18 deadline approaches. Either way, it is a good thing for the Celtics and a player who has had some major ups and downs in his career. Tony is balling again.
Early Celtic Cave In
After opening the game 12-8, the Celtics disappeared over the next 5 plus minutes. A 16-0 Sun run turned into a 20-2 avalanche to go up 28-14. The Celtics would try but would never get closer than 9 after the first quarter.
Facing a Celtic frontline without nemesis Kevin Garnett, Amare Stoudamire smelled blood and wreaked immediate havoc. He made his first 8 shots, 9 of 10, and scored 18 points in the first quarter. The only thing keeping Stoudamire from having a bigger game was himself. He got into foul trouble with 2 right away and then got a 3rd when he tried to return midway in the second quarter. He played only 22 minutes on the night.
Channing Frye-d the Celtics the rest of the way with 15 second half points when the Suns built a 23 point lead.
The Suns continue to play excellent basketball after beating the Lakers a couple of nights ago and the Celtics last night. They are now 21-12, ahead of all preseason predictions and are 12-2 at home for the 3rd best home record in the league.
Celtic Defense? Not tonight.
With Paul Pierce and Kevin Garnett out, decommissioning two thirds of the Big Three, Rajon Rondo played hurt. Marquis Daniels and Glen Davis were also out. We knew it would take a strong effort by players who aren’t used to carrying the load to win this game against one of the toughest home teams in the league.
The chances of the Celtics pulling out a victory against the speedy Phoenix Suns were slim. After the first quarter they were none.
Seeing Rajon Rondo get beat regularly by Steve Nash, we now know why Baron Davis and Monte Ellis had big games against a point guard who prides himself on defense. Rondo has been bothered by a lingering hamstring injury and it showed, as Nash got by Rajon far too easily.
In ordinary circumstances, Rondo might not have played at all. All things considered, he actually played fairly well offensively and gamely the entire contest. Rondo finished with 13 points, 8 assists and 2 steals.
The problem was that Rondo’s defense had an excuse. Rasheed Wallace’s and Kendrick Perkins’ didn’t. Even the Sun’s announcers made light of it with the following observation…
“Channing must be the invisible man, because the Celtics don’t see him.”
Right from the start, Celtic rotations, particularly Wallace and even Perkins to some extent were late to non-existent. Wallace just didn’t get around quickly at all. Even when the Celtics opened the game 12-8, Stoudamire was able to score much too easily. He made his first 8 shots.
Wallace was more effective on the post last night and should have had a field day against Channing Frye. But he continues to like the long ball, though he is shooting just 28% and was 0-4 in this game.
Rasheed finished with 6 points, 4 rebounds, a block and a steal, but generally not the best overall effort for a guy with a high basketball IQ.
I also thought that Bill Walker might see some meaningful minutes. But he was the last to get any PT and only came in for the last 3:23 of garbage time. J.R. Giddens led the ‘end of game’ unit with 7 plus minutes and hit a jumper and another shot, while grabbing 3 boards.
Lester Hudson played about 5 minutes with 2 points, an assist, a rebound, and 2 turnovers.
Kendrick Perkins tried to help defensively a number of times but there was no ‘helping the helper’ and KP was slow to go and guard the three point line as well. Kendrick finished with 13 points, 7 rebounds, but was 1 of 5 on free throws. Perkins also got another technical foul for arguing with the refs.
The Boston Celtics lost their 3rd straight road game on their “That’s not supposed to happen” west world road trip.
After starting the season 13-1 on the road, thoughts of the Beantown Ballers threatening to make a new record were visualized in some conversations. Like winning 73 games, we can put that thought to bed now.
Not that a Celtic win wasn’t possible. It was. But it wasn’t going to happen with the lack of team defense the Celtics played. All Celtic scoring was met by equal Sun scoring and more, including Leandro Barbosa chalking up 17 points with 10 in the final quarter.
The Suns finished shooting .506 to the Celtics’ .422. The Celtics actually had 20 fast break points to the Suns 11.
Inside scoring was about equal at 46-40 (Celtics)
Rebounding: 42-38 Suns
Points Off Turnovers: 13-13
Second Chance Points: 18-19 (Suns)
The Celtics next game is Sunday January 2, 2010 against the Toronto Raptors in Boston.
Happy New Year everyone!
** Seeing Rajon Rondo get beat regularly by Steve Nash, we now know why Baron Davis and Monte Ellis had big games against a point guard who prides himself on defense. Rondo has been bothered by a lingering hamstring injury and it showed, as Nash got by Rajon far too easily **
(Tom)
While I feel sorry, reference Rondo’s hammy injury, gotta say you do not have to expend any more energy by “playing too much, from behind the one you are deending, THAN by doing it right and staying in front of the guy (Monta, Baron Davis, Nash and all others, I figure that also it can’t be CHIEFLY attributed to a hammy injury (the comparison just doesn’t seem right to me, that the bigger fault lies with that injury.
mustyceltic (Joe)
Comment by Joe Moriarty — December 31st, 2009 @ 9:21 am
Hey Joe,
If you are referring to Rondo’s penchant for not staying in front of his man, it’s possible that could be part of it.
But in watching last night’s game, you see that Rondo started in front of Nash but wasn’t able to stay there very long. He was also brushed off rather easily on picks…which is something that Doc wanted him to work on this season.
Still, until he’s healthy, I think you have to give him a bye and just be happy that he was able to play. To me it was a gutty performance by a player who doesn’t ask out for reason. Rondo, like Pierce, KG and Ray, plays hurt all of the time.
While that could be dangerous, it is also admirable.
Thanks for the thoughts and Happy New Year!
T
Comment by Thomas Halzack — December 31st, 2009 @ 12:11 pm
**But in watching last night’s game, you see that Rondo started in front of Nash but wasn’t able to stay there very long. He was also brushed off rather easily on picks…which is something that Doc wanted him to work on this season. **
With the Cs starting , for bigs, Sheed and Perk, against the Suns (I know; Garnett was out, Pierce was out), so this was a slowish lineup plus rather smallish (Tony, Rondo, Ray. Right off we had a not very well at all balanced defense as assembled. This immdiately was going to be tough – to have some one stay on Amare. Perk can’t do it, Sheed not that much able , anyway. This starts it all as SHAKY for having a balance in defense, which is NOT enhanced at ALL with Rondo not being either able or willing (hurt or not), to stay in front of Nash. If RR simply gives Nash a green light, it compounds what we’re already hard put to do. It deteriorates the balance right AT the green light. Notice, right away 1st Qtr Amare “went wild” on easy opportunities, racking up scores. I know its tough to stay in front of great point guards, BUT you just about have to try and keep trying, or your balance is in shambles, where Nash then is free to throw ball to practically any other Sun. Too much of advantage to give to a Phoenix Suns team, with Nash. I wrote I’m sorry RR is hurt, but we have no suitable back up, and I don’t understand why this has not been fixed, by now
Joe
Comment by Joe Moriarty — January 1st, 2010 @ 1:41 pm
Ahh, there’s the rub. The back up at point guard. Hmm….
Comment by Thomas Halzack — January 1st, 2010 @ 3:06 pm