Down Go the Nets for C's 7th Straight W

11/15/2007

While the Celtics might have won ugly again, their record is still pretty.

Boston pushed its perfect start to 7-0 with a 91-69 victory over the New Jersey Nets last night at TD Banknorth Garden. The NBA's lone unbeaten team matched the franchise's fourth-best start, joining the 1963-64 edition. The best start in franchise history is 14-0 in 1957-58.

The Celtics' star trio had an off night offensively, as Kevin Garnett (16 points), Paul Pierce (15), and Ray Allen (14) combined for 45 points. The supporting cast picked up the slack, however, as Rajon Rondo scored 13 points, and Tony Allen had 13 off the bench. Boston scored a season low for points, but submitted their best defensive effort of the season.

The Patriots have been humble about their 9-0 start and have often talked about being focused on what they need to do to get better. While the sport is different, the words are similar from the Celtics.

"You're honest by saying that," said Celtics coach Doc Rivers. "You're almost repeating [the Patriots]. Now, on the news they're saying they sound like the Patriots. But it's truth. I don't know in their case because I'm not smart enough or know enough about football. But I know in our case it's a fact."

Rivers added that the Celtics had not played well in their most recent wins, over New Jersey and Indiana.

While Rivers said he didn't have enough time before the game to talk about all the issues, he did say the Celtics were gambling too much defensively and not closing out quarters and games they way he likes. He added that such play has caused his key players to be on the floor for more minutes than he prefers.

"There are things we want to get better on," Ray Allen said. "We want to be perfect on both sides of the floor even though we are not perfect. It's like me from the free throw line trying to make a swish."

A night after playing at Indiana, the Celtics started slowly. The rested Nets held a 23-17 lead after limiting the Celtics to 35.7 percent shooting, and scoring 6 points off five turnovers in the first quarter. Boston's 17 first-quarter points were their fewest of the season.

The Celtics earned their first tie since 2-2 when Pierce scored off a steal to make it 30-30 with 5:41 left in the second quarter. Pierce gave Boston its first lead (36-34) on a 17-foot turnaround jumper with 0.1 seconds left before halftime.

Boston shot 43.8 percent for the half, while Vince Carter-less New Jersey shot 36.1 percent. The Celtics missed all five 3-point attempts and 5 of 13 free throw attempts, while the Nets missed 7 of 12 attempts from the stripe. Nets guard Jason Kidd had 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists in the first half, while Pierce scored a team-high 11 points.

The Celtics' offense heated up in the third quarter as they opened it with a 14-7 run to take a 50-41 lead on a Garnett jumper. Garnett, however, went to the bench with his fourth foul with Boston up, 54-46, with 4:38 left in the third. With Garnett watching, Tony Allen nailed a running jumper to give Boston a 62-54 lead with 2.4 seconds left in the quarter.

The Celtics made half of their 20 shots in the third and 5 of 6 free throws. Through three quarters, Ray Allen was struggling, shooting 1 for 10.

The Celtics opened the fourth quarter with a 6-0 run to take a 68-54 when James Posey nailed a 3-pointer with 10:20 remaining. With Garnett still watching, Ray Allen finally began knocking down shots, as his 3-pointer pushed the Celtics ahead, 73-58 with 8:02 left.

After a lengthy rest, Garnett returned with 7:17 left with Boston up, 74-58. After a missed layup by Garnett, Allen's layup off a steal with 6:24 left pushed Boston ahead, 76-58. With Garnett, Pierce, and Ray Allen on the bench, Tony Allen's layup with 2:43 remaining gave the Celtics a comfortable 20-point lead at 86-64.