Grit & Balls by the C's tonight. This team has serious heart. Stevens is legit.

[chambers]

The first half was terrible. We came out in the second half and put it on the line.
*Rondo was brilliant after a poor first half- he adjusted accordingly and got everyone involved.
*Avery decided to put his defensive stamp on the game and it sparked our offensive and defensive energy and ball movement- our identity.
*Marcus Smart is the new KG on this team on the defensive end. He's physical, never gives up on any play and does what's needed to win. Wait till we start getting his offense going and getting him attacking the basket.
*Sullinger was fantastic in the third quarter and his rebounding kept us in the game and kept our transition play going.
 
*Green was aggressive, getting to the hole and not waiting for the play to evolve- this was a strategy of Stevens' to get Green going early and it paid off in spades. Remember that first dunk he made where Nowitzki fouled him? It got the blood going and Uncle Snooze's alarm clock went off howling.

That was one of the best Celtics games I've watched for a while and after being disappointed with their first half effort, I can honestly say that they have some serious potential when they just do what Stevens asks.

Reminded me of the comeback win vs the Magic with KG and Pierce.

Brad Stevens is a very, very good coach. His communication and getting the offense going through Rondo in the second half was brilliant.
Getting this coach is looking like a genius move by Ainge. He even got us a Clippers pick in the process 
There aren't too many coaches who would run Rondo, Bradley and Smart vs the Mavs but it was a defensive onslaught on their guards and it almost won us the game.

I don't care that we lost- as Mike Gorman said; we learned a lot about this team tonight.

ps. anybody else loving Scalabrine's commentary? I'm loving it.

[GratefulCs]

The first half was terrible. We came out in the second half and put it on the line.
Rondo was brilliant.
Avery decided to put his defensive stamp on the game and it sparked our offensive energy and ball movement- our identity.
Marcus Smart is the new KG on this team on the defensive end. He's physical, never gives up on any play and does what's needed to win. Wait till we start getting his offense going and getting him attacking the basket.
Sullinger was fantastic in the third quarter and his rebounding kept us in the game and kept our transition play going.
Green was aggressive, getting to the hole and not waiting for the play to evolve- this was a strategy of Stevens' to get Green going early and it paid off in spades. Remember that first dunk he made where Nowitzki fouled him? It got the blood going and Uncle Snooze's alarm clock went off howling.

That was one of the best Celtics games I've watched for a while and after being disappointed with their first half effort, I can honestly say that they have some serious potential when they just do what Stevens asks.

Reminded me of the comeback win vs the Magic with KG and Pierce.


Brad Stevens is a very, very good coach. His communication and getting the offense going through Rondo in the second half was brilliant.
Getting this coach is looking like a genius move by Ainge. He even got us a Clippers pick in the process 

I don't care that we lost- as Mike Gorman said; we learned a lot about this team tonight.

ps. anybody else loving Scalabrine's commentary? I'm loving it.

Agree on all points. Including scal. He's gotta be the heir to Tommy's throne

The aggressiveness/toughness this year seems to be on a whole new level. Having a guy like smart just gets the whole team jacked up!

[Celtics18]

The first half was terrible. We came out in the second half and put it on the line.
*Rondo was brilliant after a poor first half- he adjusted accordingly and got everyone involved.
*Avery decided to put his defensive stamp on the game and it sparked our offensive and defensive energy and ball movement- our identity.
*Marcus Smart is the new KG on this team on the defensive end. He's physical, never gives up on any play and does what's needed to win. Wait till we start getting his offense going and getting him attacking the basket.
*Sullinger was fantastic in the third quarter and his rebounding kept us in the game and kept our transition play going.
 
*Green was aggressive, getting to the hole and not waiting for the play to evolve- this was a strategy of Stevens' to get Green going early and it paid off in spades. Remember that first dunk he made where Nowitzki fouled him? It got the blood going and Uncle Snooze's alarm clock went off howling.

That was one of the best Celtics games I've watched for a while and after being disappointed with their first half effort, I can honestly say that they have some serious potential when they just do what Stevens asks.

Reminded me of the comeback win vs the Magic with KG and Pierce.

Brad Stevens is a very, very good coach. His communication and getting the offense going through Rondo in the second half was brilliant.
Getting this coach is looking like a genius move by Ainge. He even got us a Clippers pick in the process 
There aren't too many coaches who would run Rondo, Bradley and Smart vs the Mavs but it was a defensive onslaught on their guards and it almost won us the game.

I don't care that we lost- as Mike Gorman said; we learned a lot about this team tonight.

ps. anybody else loving Scalabrine's commentary? I'm loving it.

Yes.  I love Scal's commentary.  Sometimes he's a bit embarrassing, but he's knowledgeable enough and funny enough that he more than makes up for those moments.

I honestly think he has the chops (the enthusiasm, the personality, the basketball smarts) to eventually fill Tommy Heinsohn's very big shoes. 

And, Mike really seems to like him and riff with him fairly well. 

Oh, yes, and great game.  TP to you, chambers. 

[CelticSooner]

Simply awesome. Listening to that first half was brutal. Dallas couldn't miss a three. This team is well coached. If they a legit rim protector no telling how good they could be.

[Q_FBE]

I am glad I continued to watch after the Celtics were down 30. They learned a lot about themselves and hopefully the lessons learned will translate to some wins down the road. The Celtics get kudos for not giving up and having several opportunities to win an impossible game to win. Dallas' skill and talent get them a thirty point lead early. The Celtics effort and intensity in the 2nd half made it a tale of two halves.

Celtics 62
Mavericks 41 

is a good half to write home about. Hopefully they build off of this. Marcus is a keeper folks. (I think the Lakers were going to pick Smart had they lost those last two games last year).   

[PickNRoll]

Yeah, Scal is growing on me.  He makes you wince now and then, but the guy knows his basketball.  I liked how he took a few digs at the refs tonight, but in a very lighthearted way.

[SHAQATTACK]

Might as well watch when down 30 ......blood and gore is over ......it's down hill from there


Stevens did all right ....he didn't panic and run up the white flag.


But he needs to have the team .....not stand there and take it on the jaw .....at the beginning of each game .

Have them play n full out from the get go.

[tstorey_97]

Smart really lit it up...they all did, great fight. Mav's were sweating bullets.

[timobusa]

Yeah, Scal is growing on me.  He makes you wince now and then, but the guy knows his basketball.  I liked how he took a few digs at the refs tonight, but in a very lighthearted way.

I actually like when he tells embarrassing stories, cause that's what makes it more fun and organic sounding. I hate broadcasters who hype up players and talk about them like they're some demi god or something. I like that Scal brings them down to a more human level. I love Scal!

[celticmania]

I was extremely impressed and proud of the Cs tonight. I don't care if the don't win another game, if they just okay hard and give this type of effort every night, I can really get behind this team. I can tell I'm gonna enjoy this season.

[LarBrd33]

Games like tonight are why I watch basketball.  So much fun.  I love moral victories like that.  I'm hopeful our Tank 2.0 will be filled with exciting losses like that this year.   

[greenhead85]

Really Wow! JGreen, ABradley and Rajon were amazing in the second half.

The stat that really struck me was 102 FGAs! When was the last time the Celtics (or any team) jacked up as many shots as this one?  That tells a lot about this team's energy.

[Sixth Man]

Reading post-game threads on this board is like being violently slammed between two parallel universes, repeatedly...

[ederson]

The sample size is too small to say that the team has heart or it just happened. And  one could argue that the Cs  have no heart based on the first half.

So far what we ve seen is one dominating game , one bad and one mixed. Who can say which one is the real Cs ? I d like to believe that they are building a warrior`s character but we should wait a bit longer ..... 

[86MaxwellSmart]

Great hustle in the 2nd half....would have been NICE to get ONE call from the refs....especially that BS charging call on Rondo---when it was Obvious that Ellis was moving to the right---Rondo made the basket---might have been a 3 point play.