About 45 minutes before last night’s game, The Celtics looked up from their pre-game routines and saw a familiar face. Doc Rivers walked through the door… after attending his father’s funeral earlier that morning.
“It was a great example,” Kevin Garnett said. “Everybody perked up like little kids when their pops comes through the door. It was a cool moment.”
“It was a great boost of confidence,” Paul Pierce said. “It was a tough situation for him. He could have easily not come. It definitely brought my spirits up when I looked up and I saw him.”
Seems to me that the Celtics were starting get those back-end of a back-to-back blahs. They showed it early in the game… letting the Nets shoot 70+% in the first quarter before starting to assert themselves in the 2nd and pulling away with a 28-14 3rd quarter. They relaxed in the 4th…. and won it 112-101 (recap | box score | highlights)
“A long day for me,” Rivers said. “A tough game for me. I was going to stay home and my mom said, ‘Go to the game. Just go to the game.’ That’s what my dad would want. But it was tough. Very emotional. Still very emotional.
“I needed this more than probably anybody. I told [the players] that after the game.”
I like Garnett’s quote. It really lets you get a sense of how much of a family these guys have become.
As far as the game… did the referees get a mandate from the league or something to make sure we got as many infuriatingly late calls as possible? I mean… at this point… they might as well wait for the whole play to develop… and then go back at the end and retroactively call fouls. I’ve noticed this in two straight games… and I’m kinda getting sick 
of it. Oh… Paul Pierce had a game high 28, Ray Allen had 27 points and 10 rebounds (yeah, rebounds), KG had 18 points and 14 boards, and Rajon Rondo and Eddie House combined for 24 points, 8 rebounds and 7 assists… which is nice production out of your point guard spot. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t notice the contributions of Glen Davis, who came into the game in the second quarter and provided a spark for the C’s. He ended up with 6 points and 8 rebounds (6 offensive), but a bulk of that was done in a short stretch in the late second…. where the Celtics started to get a little breathing room.
And I’ve gotten a few notes from some of you who laid some cash down on the C’s (who ended up at a -3 I think… which means the line moved 5 points overnight). You’re welcome. Feel free to spend your cash in the our store (I’m such a whore).
Herald: C’s cut down Nets | Grieving Rivers makes it back | KG a 20-20 vision of Wicks | The tide is turning | Souza: C’s getting defensive | Globe: C’s answer challenge | Rivers back in time | Strength in their numbers
Their Papers: Celts put on show at Nets expense | Celtics blast Nets | Nets hit a wall | Celts show Nets how much they’ve improved
And checking in on our former Celtics: The Timberwolves are still winless
[...] expense NY Times Celtics show Nets that new really is better Red’s Army Doc needed this more than anybody Rana1985 Grieving Rivers leads Celtics over Nets Hoopsvibe Boston Celtics: [...]
[...] Red’s Army Doc needed this more than anybody [...]
The fact that KG has bought into Doc has been a very underrated aspect of the C’s early success. With KG buying in, it means everyone else will get in line. I cant believe how lucky we are to have KG. There are very few players in the NBA that are as good as him, with the work ethic he has, and the leadership skills he possesses. What’s even more rare is when a player like that becomes available in a trade. To think, people thought the C’s gave up too much for him. Look at the records the Celtics are 5-0, and the Minnesota bizarro-Celtics are winless.
Hey…I’ll admit I was among those who said “don’t trade everyone for KG”. And I’ll admit.. I was way off. I never ever knew about all the intangibles he brings. It’s amazing.
I remember seeing KG twice a year before and can’t remember him playing this good against us. I think KG, Paul and Ray are all making each other so much more efficient. It’s fun to watch. By the way, you are so right about the delayed whistles. It was driving me crazy on Saturday night. Also no delay of game when KG was shooting free throws. Those refs really sucked.