Exhibition season continues for the Boston Celtics, as the first half of today's matinee against the Nets is in the books. Celtics up one at the half. The overall intensity level is better on both sides, getting closer to a regular season game. But the level of play is mired in NBAx. With eight minutes to go in quarter number 2, the two teams had combined for 16 turnovers. They finished the half with 20, which seemed like an error, because the Celtics are throwing the ball away indiscriminately.
Brook Lopez is a player. Over the course of two minutes, he took it to the hoop against Kendrick Perkins, Rasheed Wallace and Kevin Garnett, scoring on each play. How many players in the NBA can say that? Garnett must not have been too happy with the Celtics' play, as he seemed to manufacture a jawing match with Yi for no better reason than to strike some life into the green. KG has looked good, hitting his first five shots. Still no play above the rim, no alley-oops, dunks, or blocks.
Squisy is playing well again, posting a nice rejection that started a fast break, a steal for a break-away layup, a patented knife through traffic that drew a foul, and two dribble-drive-kick-backs to wide open Celtics--Pierce one time and Sheed the other--both of whom missed. Sheed never quits shooting though, and made one of the four shots he took. Over his career, Sheed is 50% from 2 and 34% from three, which explains his overall sub-par shooting percentage, especially since more and more of his shots come from 3.
Pierce started the game with a couple of quick smooth-as-silk jumpers, and you got the feeling it might be one of those games. Then he seemed to quit shooting for a while, before reasserting himself toward the end of the half, finishing with 18. So maybe he will go for 30+ afterall.
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