Raptors (4-2) at Celtics (6-1) 11/10

[RebusRankin]

What a 4th by Pierce and the defense from the mid 3rd Q to the end was beautiful.

[Chief]

Pierce had a great game but Sam Mitchell is an awful coach. Kapono on Pierce? What a dope!!!

yeah what was up with that.  Even when Ray Allen came back in the game, he had Anthony Parker covering Ray, and kept Kapono on Pierce.

I think Graham or Moon would have gave Pierce more trouble. They did in the first half.

[Andrew Celtic Nation]

Im not complaining if Mitchell wants to put Kapono on Pierce whenever we play the Raptors Nothing gets me more excited then games where Paul takes over the 4th quarter. His wrist has been bothering him anad his shooting was atrocious in the first round but it seemed like his free throws started to get his mid range jumper rhythm back.

[zerophase]

apparently pierce has a "sprained hand." explains his slump.

[Fafnir]

I liked so much about that fourth quarter. I liked that Doc called several set plays for Ray right after Garnett and Ray came back in the game. The first resulting in a nice three. Pierce was pretty gassed at the end and Ray was fresh off the bench. Even though the second/third play call didn't work. (Rondo ended up holding the ball and shooting a bad jumper after the initial screen and the reset didn't get Ray free) Good coaching by Doc.

Then Pierce refused to give the ball up to Rondo because he wanted to finish the game himself, which he did with the huge buckets to clinch it.

[Big Ticket]

I only saw parts of the ugly 1st half.

Question... who was guarding Bosh most the night?  I have to assume KG while they were both in.  People are raving about Pierce's 2nd half/4th quarter, and deservedly so, but I think by far the most impressive stat of the night is 9 points on 3-8 shooting for Chris Bosh.

[Fafnir]

I only saw parts of the ugly 1st half.

Question... who was guarding Bosh most the night?  I have to assume KG while they were both in.  People are raving about Pierce's 2nd half/4th quarter, and deservedly so, but I think by far the most impressive stat of the night is 9 points on 3-8 shooting for Chris Bosh.

KG guarded Bosh for almost the entire game. KG did do a very good job guarding him but for some reason they gave almost every low post touch to Jermaine O'Neal. It worked out okay in the first half but he was awful the entire second half. Both offensively and defensively. He also slowed down the entire Raptor team while he was in.

Pierce was the best player for the Celtics, but KG was a close second. His line was great again tonight, as it usually is. Pierce's fourth quarter spree just overshadowed KG tonight.

[Big Ticket]

I only saw parts of the ugly 1st half.

Question... who was guarding Bosh most the night?  I have to assume KG while they were both in.  People are raving about Pierce's 2nd half/4th quarter, and deservedly so, but I think by far the most impressive stat of the night is 9 points on 3-8 shooting for Chris Bosh.

KG guarded Bosh for almost the entire game. KG did do a very good job guarding him but for some reason they gave almost every low post touch to Jermaine O'Neal. It worked out okay in the first half but he was awful the entire second half. Both offensively and defensively. He also slowed down the entire Raptor team while he was in.

Well, I guess the best defensive tactic is still ball deniable.  Can't score if you can't get the ball.  I remember when KG shut down Amare in the 2nd half of a game last year he kept saying after that he did everything he could to make sure Amare didn't get the ball and/or couldn't get comfortable. 

He's becoming wise in his old age.

[Fafnir]

I only saw parts of the ugly 1st half.

Question... who was guarding Bosh most the night?  I have to assume KG while they were both in.  People are raving about Pierce's 2nd half/4th quarter, and deservedly so, but I think by far the most impressive stat of the night is 9 points on 3-8 shooting for Chris Bosh.

KG guarded Bosh for almost the entire game. KG did do a very good job guarding him but for some reason they gave almost every low post touch to Jermaine O'Neal. It worked out okay in the first half but he was awful the entire second half. Both offensively and defensively. He also slowed down the entire Raptor team while he was in.

Well, I guess the best defensive tactic is still ball deniable.  Can't score if you can't get the ball.  I remember when KG shut down Amare in the 2nd half of a game last year he kept saying after that he did everything he could to make sure Amare didn't get the ball and/or couldn't get comfortable. 

He's becoming wise in his old age.

Which is why I love that he's a Celtic. Of all the elite big men in the game currently I think KG will age the best. He doesn't carry a lot of weight for his size so he's much less likely to break down. Plus he has a great jump shot and he's always been a defensive game changer. Those are two things that a big man can use to continue to impact the game well past his prime.

[Levis107]

I only saw parts of the ugly 1st half.

Question... who was guarding Bosh most the night?  I have to assume KG while they were both in.  People are raving about Pierce's 2nd half/4th quarter, and deservedly so, but I think by far the most impressive stat of the night is 9 points on 3-8 shooting for Chris Bosh.

KG guarded Bosh for almost the entire game. KG did do a very good job guarding him but for some reason they gave almost every low post touch to Jermaine O'Neal. It worked out okay in the first half but he was awful the entire second half. Both offensively and defensively. He also slowed down the entire Raptor team while he was in.

Pierce was the best player for the Celtics, but KG was a close second. His line was great again tonight, as it usually is. Pierce's fourth quarter spree just overshadowed KG tonight.

It wasn't just Pierce's 4th quarter spree that overshadowed KG, Pierce just had a better game, a better line as well.  Pierce 36, 9, and 4 and KG with 21, 10, and 3.  KG was definitely the 2nd best player in the game though for providing a spark with his defensive play.

[NoraG1]

I only saw parts of the ugly 1st half.

Question... who was guarding Bosh most the night?  I have to assume KG while they were both in.  People are raving about Pierce's 2nd half/4th quarter, and deservedly so, but I think by far the most impressive stat of the night is 9 points on 3-8 shooting for Chris Bosh.

KG guarded Bosh for almost the entire game. KG did do a very good job guarding him but for some reason they gave almost every low post touch to Jermaine O'Neal. It worked out okay in the first half but he was awful the entire second half. Both offensively and defensively. He also slowed down the entire Raptor team while he was in.

Pierce was the best player for the Celtics, but KG was a close second. His line was great again tonight, as it usually is. Pierce's fourth quarter spree just overshadowed KG tonight.

It wasn't just Pierce's 4th quarter spree that overshadowed KG, Pierce just had a better game, a better line as well.  Pierce 36, 9, and 4 and KG with 21, 10, and 3.  KG was definitely the 2nd best player in the game though for providing a spark with his defensive play.

I think KG can also be credited with the bringing life back into the team with his energy.

[BudweiserCeltic]

We can also credit Ray Allen with keeping the team within striking distance. Although he's 3's weren't falling, of the big 3, he was the only one "playing" in the first half.

[crownsy]

I only saw parts of the ugly 1st half.

Question... who was guarding Bosh most the night?  I have to assume KG while they were both in.  People are raving about Pierce's 2nd half/4th quarter, and deservedly so, but I think by far the most impressive stat of the night is 9 points on 3-8 shooting for Chris Bosh.

KG guarded Bosh for almost the entire game. KG did do a very good job guarding him but for some reason they gave almost every low post touch to Jermaine O'Neal. It worked out okay in the first half but he was awful the entire second half. Both offensively and defensively. He also slowed down the entire Raptor team while he was in.

Pierce was the best player for the Celtics, but KG was a close second. His line was great again tonight, as it usually is. Pierce's fourth quarter spree just overshadowed KG tonight.

It wasn't just Pierce's 4th quarter spree that overshadowed KG, Pierce just had a better game, a better line as well.  Pierce 36, 9, and 4 and KG with 21, 10, and 3.  KG was definitely the 2nd best player in the game though for providing a spark with his defensive play.

does it really matter who had a better night? all three of them were instrmental in the victory.

[nickagneta]

I don't think any one player won this game although it can be said that Pierce might have been most instrumental in the victory. Without the defense that Eddie House, Tony Allen(which I was glad to see he was doing even when his layups and shots weren't falling and he was  charging towards the basket with his head down without abandon), Big Baby, Rondo, Perk and Powe.

The Raptors scored 9 points in 3 minutes and 46 seconds to start the second half and the score was 57-42. The Celtics outscored the Raptors 52-30 form that point on and every single layer that hit the court was responsible because the most stifling defense played this season was displayed for the last 20:14 of that game. It was a defensive coaches wet dream.
Simply a thing of beauty and as much as Pierce and Ray and KG led the scoring and were all clutch from that point forward, this game is lost if not for the total team defense that exhibited by every player that hit the floor.

[Redz]

I only saw parts of the ugly 1st half.

Question... who was guarding Bosh most the night?  I have to assume KG while they were both in.  People are raving about Pierce's 2nd half/4th quarter, and deservedly so, but I think by far the most impressive stat of the night is 9 points on 3-8 shooting for Chris Bosh.

KG guarded Bosh for almost the entire game. KG did do a very good job guarding him but for some reason they gave almost every low post touch to Jermaine O'Neal. It worked out okay in the first half but he was awful the entire second half. Both offensively and defensively. He also slowed down the entire Raptor team while he was in.

Pierce was the best player for the Celtics, but KG was a close second. His line was great again tonight, as it usually is. Pierce's fourth quarter spree just overshadowed KG tonight.

It wasn't just Pierce's 4th quarter spree that overshadowed KG, Pierce just had a better game, a better line as well.  Pierce 36, 9, and 4 and KG with 21, 10, and 3.  KG was definitely the 2nd best player in the game though for providing a spark with his defensive play.

does it really matter who had a better night? all three of them were instrmental in the victory.

I'll have an MVP Poll up in a few minutes and we can settle this like men...er women...ummm...responsable mature blogging type people...