11.17.2008

KC Jones Actually Goes to his Bench

The Mark Acres Chronicles
2/4/88


K.C. Jones found a modus operandi last night.

Jones, not getting much from his starters, called out, "Dirk, Brad, Mark, get in there!"

The bench did the rest.

That's right, bench. The B-E-N-C-H, as in subs, as in spare parts, as in Pine Brothers, as in Green Team, as in People Who Don't Start. The Celtics would never have defeated the Indiana Pacers by any score, let alone a 118-103 accounting, were it not for the contributions of their bench.

Late in the first quarter, K.C. was perturbed over the rebounding efforts of his front-liners, not to mention their increasingly indifferent shot selection. An early lead of 13-4 was followed by a shocking stretch in which the Pacers racked up 7 straight points, and 9 of 11, on second or third shots. OK, there was a long bounce or two in there, but K.C. wasn't seeing any positive reactions on those. When the score stood at 24-19 (and should have been 34-19, since the Pacers at that
moment were 6 for 22 from the floor), he summoned Brad Lohaus and Dirk Minniefield within a four-second span. Less than a minute later, he called upon Mark Acres.

The mentor was rewarded. That trio went on to play a total of 65 minutes, meaning that no starter had to go longer than 41 on the eve of a very important game in Milwaukee. Minniefield compiled an almost fictional 25-minute line: 4 for 4, 10 points, 10 assists. Lohaus, who has made 12 of his last 13 shots over a four-game span twice interrupted by DNPs, shot 6 for 7 from the floor. Acres grabbed 5 rebounds and carried out all his assignments.

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