Celts Move to 5-1

November 8, 2008

The last two Celtics victories look just fine in the standings, but they're not doing much to smooth out coach Doc Rivers' worry lines. Last night against the Bucks, the Celts again managed to triumph with one quarter tied behind their back. After surviving Oklahoma City's 29-point opener Wednesday, they surrendered 30 to Milwaukee in the first inning before eventually pulling away for a semi-deceiving 101-89 win.



In that the Bucks were without their best player, the injured Michael Redd, this one simply shouldn't have been as interesting as it was for a little more than three periods. But give the guests credit for a game effort under new coach Scott Skiles. And if it's excitement you were seeking, you can thank the Celts for continually tossing the Brew City crew a life preserver in the form of some uninspired play. With Bob Weir of the Grateful

Dead sitting courtside, they were, at times, only technically alive. Eventually they decided they'd had enough, but for a good deal of the evening it was Milwaukee that looked as if it wanted this one more. Though the Celtics had appeared to put the hammer down a few times, the Bucks remained in the discussion. The C's needed a Glen Davis jumper with six seconds left to get into the last quarter with a 75-70 lead.

Milwaukee took the ball to open the final frame, and with the Celtics digging in on defense, the Bucks failed to get up a shot in 24 seconds. Paul Pierce compounded the turnover by hitting two free throws. After a Ramon Sessions runner and a Leon Powe foul shot, some smaller Celts got big. First, Tony Allen came up with a steal and raced down for a dunk. Then Rajon Rondo picked Sessions clean and flew down for a layup to give the locals a 10-point advantage.

The margin was up to 11 a few moments later when Leon Powe pretty well explained Rivers' affection for him. The big man blocked a Luke Ridnour layup attempt then made it down the floor to take an Allen pass for a dunk. The Celts gave up eight of the game's first 10 points and fell behind by as many as 13 in the frame.

A late 11-3 run brought the home team back within five, but Eddie House inexplicably fouled Sessions on an inbounds play in the backcourt - that's 94 feet away from the goal - with just 2.9 seconds left on the clock. Sessions hit the two free throws (the Celts were over the foul limit) to give the Bucks a 30-23 lead after one. And it would have been worse had not Kendrick Perkins blocked three shots.

Richard Jefferson was able to score far too easily, hitting 6-of-8 shots from the floor (2-of-3 on 3-pointers) on the way to 14 points. Pierce must have been gassed trying to chase him because he went 1-for-5 at the other end. But the Celts finally found their stride, outscoring Milwaukee, 21-7, over the last 6:35 of the half to take a 55-47 lead into the break.

While holding the Bucks to 5-for-18 shooting and 17 points in the period, the Celtics scored on nine of their last 13 possessions. They got their first lead on a beautiful fastbreak, with Rondo hitting a rumbling Kevin Garnett on the trail for a jam and a 44-42 edge.