Sports of Boston » Ray Allen

Avery Bradley Injury Status: Out for Rest of Postseason

Nick Bohlen — Sat, 26 May 2012 03:02:53 +0000

When the Boston Celtics embarked on the 2011-2012 season — heck, two months ago — would anyone have imagined that Avery Bradley missing the rest of the postseason would be devastating news?

After suffering innumerable shoulder separations all season, including three during the playoffs, Bradley underwent season-ending surgery on his left shoulder on Friday. According to this article by Greg Payne on ESPN Boston, sources say Bradley will have four months of rehab ahead of him.

Having missed the Celtics’ last two playoff games, Bradley was unlikely to return to play in Game 7 against the Philadelphia 76ers at the TD Banknorth Garden on Saturday night. But Bradley’s presence has been sorely missed, especially when the Celtics were in desperate need of a stop down the stretch in Game 6 but couldn’t keep the Sixers’ guards out of the lane. If (I repeat, if) the Celtics can manage to win Game 7 and advance to the Eastern Conference Finals, his absence will be even more notable against Dwyane Wade and the Miami Heat.

After a rookie season where Bradley barely saw the light of day between the lines, Bradley has emerged late this season as an integral part of the Celtics’ success. When Ray Allen went down with an ankle injury, Bradley stepped in as the starting shooting guard and didn’t miss a beat, playing so well that he held onto the starter’s job even when the future Hall of Famer returned. While his scoring has declined in the playoffs, he has still remained effective with the occasional corner three and timely backdoor cuts to keep defenses honest.

In fact, according to ESPN Stats & Info, the Celtics’ best lineup was with Bradley on the court. The starters with Bradley at the two-spot have outscored playoff opponents by 53 points; the next-best playoff lineup (Allen, Kevin Garnett, Rajon Rondo, Paul Pierce, Mickael Pietrus) has outscored the opposition by all of 18 points. In case that doesn’t illustrate his importance clearly enough, Bradley also has the best plus/minus on the Celtics roster (+63) just behind Garnett, who is merely playing at an MVP-type level so far this postseason.

Get well soon, Avery.

Celtics Loss Lowers Expectations

Michael Ricci — Fri, 25 May 2012 03:21:12 +0000

The Philadelphia 76ers didn’t show us how tough they are last night, nor how strong their will is, nor how much fortitude they have. Instead, last night, the Boston Celtics showed us how complacent they are, how uninterested they can be, and how little they want to fight.

After scoring 36 points in the first half and finding themselves ahead by three, conventional wisdom would tell us that the older, more seasoned Celtics would finish off the 76ers in the second half. But the 76ers, led by Jrue Holiday’s 20 points, proved that the Celtics weren’t ready to take advantage of a team that could barely get out of its own way. Instead, when it mattered most, the “indestructible” Celtics defense watched Holiday slice his way to the rim without breaking a sweat.

But don’t credit Holiday. It’s fairly easy to get to the basket when there’s no one trying to stop you.

Bad Defense Cost Celtics

The 76ers played a typical 76er game. They shot poorly from the free throw line. They shot poorly from the three point line. The 76ers did exactly what the Celtics expected them to do. The problem, however, was that the Celtics managed to play just as poorly, and dare I say, worse. The Celtics shot poorly from, well, everywhere (33 percent overall), including 3-14 from beyond the arc. But the Celtics certainly could have won that game in spite of their poor offensive performance.

What really cost them is that the 76ers anemic offense managed to score 27 points in the third quarter. Twenty-seven? From the same team that scored 11 points in the second quarter? Yes.

Did they all of a sudden find their shooting stroke? No. Instead, the Celtics invited them to score, and score they did.

So after the Celtics gave away a chance to beat an inferior team on the road in Game 6, it begs the question: what should we expect of the Boston Celtics?

If they lose in Game 7, should we be amicable? Are Avery Bradley’s injury and Ray Allen’s ghost-like performance enough to justify losing a series to a team whose “best player” is, well…who is their best player, again? The Celtics should beat the 76ers Saturday night, and they should be able to beat them by simply scoring over 85 points.

Boston Won’t Reach NBA Finals

If losing Game 7 isn’t an option (and it’s not), then should we expect them to beat Miami or Indiana in the Eastern Conference Finals? Without Bradley to guard Dwyane Wade, and without a two-legged Paul Pierce to guard LeBron James, do they really stand a chance? Could Kevin Garnett and Brandon Bass realistically match up with Roy Hibbert and David West in the paint?

My answer to both questions is “no.” Wade and James would run through the Celtics “tough” defense like a hot knife through butter. Garnett and Bass would make Hibbert look like Patrick Ewing (and for the record, Roy Hibbert is not Patrick Ewing).

It’s time we stopped pretending the Celtics are still a great defensive team and instead look at the reality: they’ve played Atlanta and Philadelphia in the first two rounds. These are two teams that wouldn’t know how to score during a playoff game if the rim was as big as a swimming pool. It will be the Celtics defense, and its defense alone, that undoes their season. Not injuries. Not age. Not lack of depth.

As we heard Doc Rivers say to his team during a huddle in Game 4: “It’s about defense.”

Brandon Bass Scores Playoff-High 27, Boosts Celtics Past Sixers

Nathan — Tue, 22 May 2012 03:34:35 +0000

Brandon Bass set a playoff-high and tied his career-high with 27 points, as the Boston Celtics cruised past the Philadelphia 76ers, 101-85, in Game 5 Monday night at TD Garden. The Celtics now hold a crucial 3-2 over the Sixers in their best-of-seven Eastern Conference Semi-final series.

Rajon Rondo recorded 14 assists and 13 points, scoring seven crucial points in the fourth quarter to push the Celtics’ lead to double-digits. Kevin Garnett scored 20 points, and Paul Pierce added 16.

Pierce struggled from the field but imposed his will on the game by getting to the foul line, going 9-for-9 on free throw attempts. Pierce said that his right knee is at “20 percent.”

Bass Stars in Strong Third Quarter

Bass, who was the certainly star of the Celtics on Monday night, made nine of his 13 field goal attempts, pulled in six rebounds, blocked two shots and grabbed two steals.

The Celtics trailed by three at the half but came out on fire in the third quarter, outscoring the Sixers, 28-16, behind 18 third-quarter points from Bass. Seven Sixers turnovers aided the strong quarter for the Celtics.

Iguodala, Sixers Struggle with Consistency

Elton Brand led the losing effort for the Sixers with 19 points. Evan Turner had 11 points and 10 rebounds but connected on just five of 13 shots. Jrue Holiday recorded 10 points, seven assists and four turnovers in a flawed Sixers effort that saw them shoot over 50 percent in the first half and under 40 percent in the second.

After willing the Sixers to a Game 4 comeback victory, Andre Iguodala struggled to get his game going in Game 5. Iguodala scored just eight points and shot 30 percent.

Stiemsma, Celtics’ Bench Help Put Sixers on the Brink

With Ray Allen starting for the injured Avery Bradley, the Celtics’ bench stepped up and scored 20 points. Greg Stiemsma led the Celtics’ reserve effort with 10 points and three blocks. Bradley sat out for the first time in the postseason because of shoulder soreness. He is listed as day-to-day going forward.

The Celtics face the Sixers in an elimination game Wednesday night in Philadelphia. If the Sixers win, Game 7 will be played back in Boston Friday night. If the Celtics win Wednesday they will await the winner of the Pacers-Heat series to determine who they will face in the Eastern Conference Finals.

Celtics Implode in Second Half of Game 4; Series Tied 2-2

Matt Goisman — Sat, 19 May 2012 06:20:23 +0000

The Boston Celtics built a big lead Friday night in Philadelphia, then quit.

The Philadelphia 76ers, on the other hand, never quit. And once they pulled back into the game, that sustained effort translated into unstoppable momentum, a 92-83 victory over the Celtics in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals, and a 2-2 series tie.

Game 5 takes place Monday back in Boston.

Bad Third for Celtics Keys Comeback Fourth for 76ers

The Celtics built a 17-point lead on a Paul Pierce (game-high 24 points) technical just over two minutes into the third quarter. Elton Brand picked up the technical, but his physicality ignited the previously lazy 76er defense. Over the first seven minutes of the third, the Celtics didn’t score a field goal. The 76ers, meanwhile scored 10 unanswered to cut the Celtics’ lead to 50-43.

Pierce’s three-pointer (one of four) built Boston’s lead back to 54-46 with five minutes left, but Philadelphia played the rest of the game fully confident they could win. Boston held just a 63-59 lead after three, and Philadelphia tied the game on back-to-back buckets from Thaddeus Young to start the fourth.

The two teams traded baskets throughout most the final quarter, with neither team building too big a lead. Pierce’s free throws put the Celtics up 74-72, but Young tied it again, then backup point guard Lou Williams hit a jumper for a 76-74 76er lead.

Ray Allen‘s three-pointer – his only field goal of the night – put the Celtics back up by one, and Kevin Garnett‘s free throws stretched the lead to 79-76. But the 76ers answered again, with Andre Iguodala tying the game with a three. Iguodala scored eight of his 16 total points in the closing 3:11, combining a jumper with a three-pointer to break an 83-83 tie and put the 76ers up five.

The Celtics couldn’t answer the 76ers again, and the 76ers finished the game on a 9-0 stretch. They out-rebounded the Celtics 52-38 Friday, using a 17-5 advantage on the offensive glass to extend possessions and exhaust a Celtics defense that had held them to 23 percent shooting in the first half.

Celtics Bench Useless

As Garnett has struggled or succeeded during these playoffs, so have the Celtics. But Garnett (nine points on 3-for-12 shooting) can’t perform every single night, especially when a defense focuses on him the way the 76ers did in Game 4. And either due to fouls or the basic human need to rest every once in awhile, Garnett has to sit now and again, as does every starter.

So far, the Celtics’ reserves have had numerous chances to prove their worth, and they’ve failed every single time. Celtics fans cringe whenever they sub in.

Five Celtics bench players combined for a whopping 12 points in Game 4. They shot a horrific 4-for-16 from the floor, forcing Doc Rivers to play Garnett, Pierce (looking even more recovered from his MCL sprain) and Rajon Rondo (15 points, 15 assists) for 40-plus minutes apiece.

By comparison, four 76er reserves combined for 44 points on 46.9 percent shooting. Williams (15) and Young (12) scored in double figures, as did Iguodala, Evan Turner (16) and Jrue Holliday (11) from the starters. And while backup power forward Lavoy Allen only scored eight, he grabbed 10 rebounds – one more than the entire Celtics bench.

All of Philadelphia’s bench players posted positive plus-minus ratings. All of Boston’s posted negative ratings.

Celtics Take Crowd Out Early

Though the Wells Fargo Center boomed with thunderous cheers by the end of the game, the crowd remained silent through much of the first half, save for occasional booing. The Celtics crushed the 76ers in the first half, out-scoring them 46-31 and mixing dynamic offense with smothering defense.

The Celtics opened the game with a 14-0 run that showed off Pierce’s mobility, Rondo’s always-mesmerizing passing and Garnett’s defensive prowess. A Garnett steal turned into an Avery Bradley three-pointer on the other end that made it 12-0. Brandon Bass (15 points, 6-for-10 shooting) then hit a jumper to cap the run.

The 76ers didn’t get on the board until the 8:25 mark in the first, but a beautiful bounce pass from Rondo to Pierce in traffic put the Celtics up 18-3, and they finished the first up 24-12.

Missed free throws kept the 76ers from cutting too much into the Celtics’ lead in the second, but the 76ers finished with 17 more free throw attempts (36-19). And despite a lack of execution in the paint and at the line, the 76ers realized in the second their front-court depth gave them a significant advantage inside.

That advantage meant more opportunities, and in the second half the 76ers finally tuned those opportunities into points.

Celtics Miss Shots, Opportunity and Fall to Sixers in Game 2

Nathan — Tue, 15 May 2012 03:04:48 +0000

Evan Turner hit two go-ahead buckets and a pair of free throws late in the fourth quarter to lift the Philadelphia 76ers over the Boston Celtics, 82-81. Turner finished the game with 10 points and 6 rebounds and was aided by teammate, Jrue Holiday’s 18 points as the Sixers pulled even with the Celtics in their Eastern Conference semifinal matchup, 1-1.

Celtics Fail to Execute Despite Strong Performance From Allen

The Celtics had a chance to extend a one-point lead with under two minutes to go, but settled for a Rajon Rondo jump shot late in the shot clock. With 12 seconds to go and the Celtics down three, Kevin Garnett was called for an illegal screen on Andre Iguodala that essentially ended the game.

Ray Allen led the Celtics with 17 points off the bench while Garnett added 15 points and 12 rebounds. Brandon Bass scored 8 points in the first quarter to get the Celtics off to a hot start, but a 5-15 shooting performance hurt himself and his teammates the rest of the way. Bass finished with 12 points.

Pierce Struggles; Celtics Out-Hustled

Paul Pierce struggled mightily for the Celtics with just 7 points, 2 made field goals, and a whopping 5 turnovers. The Celtics were terrible in the third quarter and made just 4-of-17 field goal attempts.

Pierce and the Celtics were simply out hustled when it mattered. The Celtics turned the ball over 17 times, were out rebounded 47-36, and shot 9 free-throws to the Sixers 21.

Bradley Re-injures Shoulder as Celtics’ Health Remains a Concern

Avery Bradley left the game in the second quarter when he appeared to dislocate his injured left shoulder on a drive to the hoop. Bradley would return and hit a big three in the fourth quarter. Bradley (shoulder), Allen (ankle), Pierce and Mickael Pietrus (knees) all remain question marks going forward.

Health permitting, the Celtics will put this one behind them and focus on coming out strong in Game 3, Wednesday night in Philadelphia.

Celtics Playoff Report Card: A Moment of Appreciation

Nick Bohlen — Mon, 14 May 2012 19:53:12 +0000

If you had told me two months ago that the Boston Celtics would host the first two games of a second-round playoff series, I would have laughed. Or maybe I would have scoffed and said I’m just looking forward to Red Sox season.

Either way, I would have been very, very wrong.

Before the Celtics blow a golden chance at the Eastern Conference Finals (dare I say the NBA Finals? No, you’re right, I dare not.), let’s look back and appreciate their Round One match-up against the Atlanta Hawks.

Suspensions, bone spurs, MCL sprains, extra gas, and heaven-sent 22-footers straight from the Gospel of Josh Smith? We’ve got it all in the Celtics Report Card: Playoff Edition.

Starting Backcourt: B+

16.8 points per game, 11.8 assists per game, one triple-double, the audacity not to tally double-digit assists in Game Six, one ejection, a botched wide-open layup, and one ongoing enigma of a player. Ladies and gentlemen, Rajon Rondo! Alternately indifferent and exceptional, Rondo managed to both single-handedly almost sabotage and then salvage the Celtics season. There was the inexplicable/inexcusable referee chest bump that could have easily derailed the Celtics, then a 17-12-14 the game after his suspension to put the C’s in the driver’s seat. There were dazzling bounce passes through the smallest of windows, and puzzling passes with a wide open layup right in front of him (not to mention the non-pass to end Game 5). I give up.

Separated left shoulder? No problem! Avery Bradley may not have continued the scoring pace he had before (12 ppg pre-injury vs. 4.7 after), but he still applied manic defense to Jeff Teague and even the six-inch-taller Joe Johnson (then again, he’s still Joe Johnson, no matter how tall he is). Bradley and Rondo will be crucial in setting the tempo and keeping pace with the Sixers on the break.

Starting Frontcourt: A-

Paul Pierce continues to be nothing short of a warrior on the court for the Celtics. With Rondo suspended for Game 2, Pierce submitted a heroic 36-point, 14-rebound, four-assist refuse-to-lose effort. Then, after hurting his knee in a shootaround and tweaking it further in the second quarter of Game 4, Pierce dragged his bum leg up and down the court for another 38 minutes per game in Games 5 and 6. I can’t dock him too many points for shooting under 50 percent in those two games.

It’s probably for the best that Brandon Bass didn’t play a crucial role in Round One, taking no more than ten shots in any one game. He has been the weak link in the Celtics starting frontcourt, shooting just over 41 percent from the floor. Luckily for him, though…

…Kevin Garnett has been playing out of his mind, which is separate from my assumption that he’s borderline insane. He averaged 18.7 points and 10.5 rebounds, and that doesn’t even begin to quantify his contributions on the court. Closing out the Hawks at home, Garnett took a trip back to 2004, abusing the Hawks in the post and submitting a vintage 28 points, 14 boards, two assists, three steals, and five (!) blocks.

My sincerest thanks to Hawks owner Michael Gearon, Jr. Keep on flapping those gums and pretending they’re wings.

Bench Backcourt: B-

If I weren’t a scrawny, pasty six-footer with the athletic ability of a 53-year-old, I would absolutely donate my ankles to Ray Allen. God knows the bench needs his scoring (over 11 ppg against Atlanta), and maybe then the pain wouldn’t make him clank four (!) free throws in Games 5 and 6. A healthy Allen also keeps Sasha Pavlovic and Marquis Daniels (and his stupid inbounds fouls) from seeing the light of day.

Revelation of the First Round: Keyon Dooling might actually be kind of somewhat mildly reliable off the bench. He brought the ball up the floor without causing me too much stress, hit a couple of big corner threes despite the ugliest looking jumpshot this side of Blake Griffin, and even pulled off the Nelly Band-Aid look surprisingly well.

Bench Frontcourt: B-

Who are you, Ryan Hollins, and what have you done with Greg Stiemsma? For whatever reason, Stiemsma is out of the rotation and Hollins is in. Not that there is much of a difference between the two – each gives you a handful of rebounds, a couple of blocks, maybe a putback or two, and fouls. Lots and lots of fouls. Maybe Hollins has finally figured out enough for the Celtics to put his athleticism to use defensively.

Meanwhile, Mickael Pietrus is struggling to find his shot from three-point range but still chipping in on defense with his length and versatility. Nonetheless, the Celtics could really benefit from him stretching the floor, giving them some spacing so Rondo can penetrate into the lane or Garnett can go to work on the block without an immediate double-team.

Coaching: A-

Doc Rivers has leaned heavily on his starters, playing an aging Garnett and an injured Pierce especially long minutes. But I can’t say he’s had much of a choice, considering the Celtics’ bench scoring. Strategically, his decisions to end Game 6 (foul up by three, let Rondo win a track meet to run out the clock) went brilliantly – even if it left me with my heart in my throat pondering every imaginable way it could horribly backfire.

Now I can only hope home court advantage and a win in Game 1 against the Philadelphia 76ers means a more straightforward road to clinching (and grading) Round Two.

Celtics-76ers Round 2 Preview: Can Ray Allen Contribute?

Nathan — Sat, 12 May 2012 18:09:37 +0000

The Boston Celtics and Philadelphia 76ers are no strangers to each other. Along with sharing the same division and the rivalry that goes along with it, the Celtics and Sixers have had stretches in history where the two have had to battle each other in the playoffs for Eastern Conference supremacy year after year.

Historical Precedent

Whether it was the Wilt Chamberlin-Bill Russell era, the Larry Bird-Julius Erving era or the early part of this century when the up-and-coming Celtics, led by youngster Paul Pierce, were destined to meet Allen Iverson’s Sixers in the playoffs, the Celtics and Sixers have fought in some memorable series.

If history is any precedent, than the upcoming Celtics-Sixers matchup in the Conference Semifinal round of the 2012 NBA Playoffs looks to be a contested one.

Celtics X Factor: Ray Allen

Allen was relatively quiet in the four games he played for the Celtics in their series with the Atlanta Hawks. The bone spurs in Allen’s ankle obviously hindered his performance, as he shot just 6-for-18 from 3-point range and just 60 percent from the free-throw line.

With the Celtics’ offense struggling and the long and staunch Sixers defense awaiting them, Allen’s ability to connect from deep could be the difference between a short series and a lengthy grueling one.

Sixers X Factor: Andre Iguodala‘s Two-Way Game

Iguodala is the heart and soul of the Sixers defense (like a Kevin Garnett lite), so it is only fitting that he draws Pierce in this series. The Celtics’ Captain is having as good a year as he’s ever had, and for the Sixers to have a chance, he has to be stopped by Iguodala.

Iguodala rarely puts his team on his back offensively, but when he does- look out. In Game 6 against the Bulls, Iguodala exploded for 20 points and scored the game-winning free throws on an aggressive full court drive. Iguodala’s aggressiveness on offense in Round 1 made the difference for the Sixers. Can he do it in Round 2?

Key Matchup: Brandon Bass vs Elton Brand

If there is a current NBA player for Brandon Bass to shape his game after, it’s Elton Brand. Both are undersized and have an unmatched knack for knocking down 18-footers. Bass’s post game and rebounding ability are miles away from Brand’s and that’s what he can learn from the veteran.

Bass struggled against the quicker, more athletic front line of Atlanta, but with the slower, more stationery Brand matched up against him now, Bass has to be on the attack. The Celtics desperately need Bass to rebound better and there’s no better place to start than with boxing out Brand.

Prediction: Celtics in 7

The Sixers scored less than 80 points in three of their six games against Chicago and barely shot 40 percent on the series. The Celtics allowed just 82 points a game against a Hawks team that averaged 97 on the season. I wouldn’t be surprised if the Celtics won a game in this series by holding the Sixers to 60 points. Basically, the first team to 80 wins.

The stats suggest the Celtics should win this series easily, but they won’t. Pierce, Allen and Avery Bradley are all playing with injuries that would take a full week of rest to heal if it were the regular season. Compounded with health is the Celtics’ collective penchant for falling asleep for long stretches of games. If they do this frequently, the Sixers will make them pay.

If Rajon Rondo controls the pace and the ball consistently and if Garnett can stop the bleeding on the glass, this series could be easy.

What’s really going to win this series, though? Home court.

Horford, Hawks Survive Celtics to Force Game 6

Nathan — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:55:42 +0000

Al Horford recorded 19 points, 11 rebounds and three blocks, helping the previously lifeless Atlanta Hawks survive the Boston Celtics Tuesday night, 87-86, to force a Game 6.

Rajon Rondo stole a Josh Smith inbounds pass with 10 seconds left in the game, giving the Celtics a chance to win the game. Horford and Smith forced Rondo along the baseline, and Rondo lost the ball as time expired. Rondo led the Celtics with 13 points, 12 rebounds and five steals.

Pierce’s Banged Up Knee Squanders Celtics’ Opportunity

Paul Pierce hit a three to bring the Celtics within one with 50 seconds left, but he airballed the go-ahead basket on the Celtics’ next possession.

Pierce was questionable going into Tuesday’s contest with a sore left knee, and his injury appeared to hurt his performance. Pierce shot 7-for-17 for the game and missed a key open layup late in the fourth when he attempted to jump off his left leg. Pierce finished with 16 points and six rebounds.

Allen, Hollins and Celtics’ Bench Strong

Kevin Garnett finished with 16 points and seven rebounds, and Brandon Bass added 14 and seven. Ray Allen‘s 15 points led a 25-point effort from the Celtics bench.

Ryan Hollins also had a strong outing off the Celtics’ pine. Hollins and Rondo hooked up for two thunderous, momentum shifting alley-oops in the second half after the Celtics had fallen down 12 points in the third quarter. Hollins has seemingly moved ahead of Greg Stiemsma in Doc Rivers’ rotation.

Hawks Get All Starters in Double Figures

All five Hawks starters scored in double figures, getting the most notable performance – outside of Horford’s – from Smith, who finished with 13 points, 16 rebounds and six assists. Jeff Teague aided the effort with 16 points and five assists.

The series now shifts back to Boston for a pivotal Game 6 on Thursday night. The Celtics lead the series 3-2.

Pierce, Rondo Help Celtics Crush Hawks in Game 4

Matt Goisman — Mon, 07 May 2012 03:31:15 +0000

Atlanta Hawk Joe Johnson drained a jumper 19 seconds into Sunday’s Game 4 against the Boston Celtics at the TD Garden.

The Hawks never led after that. What should have been a basketball game turned out to be a massacre.

Between Paul Pierce‘s lethal shooting and Rajon Rondo‘s mesmerizing passing, the Celtics crushed the Hawks, 101-79, taking a 3-1 series lead in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

Pierce Lights Up Hawks Early

Pierce only played about 16 minutes Sunday, but while on the court he couldn’t be stopped. The Hawks put as many as three players in Pierce’s face, and he still knocked down jumpers using his trademark step-back shot.

Doc Rivers didn’t have Pierce waste energy guarding Johnson on defense, and Pierce rewarded Rivers with 24 points on 10-of-13 shooting. He knocked down four three-pointers, grabbed four rebounds and blocked two shots.

Pierce scored 10 first-quarter points, including the Celtics’ first basket on the first of 16 assists from Rondo. Between Pierce’s penetration and Kevin Garnett‘s domination in the low post (13 points on 6-of-8 shooting), the Celtics built a 32-19 lead after one quarter. Pierce continued humiliating the Hawks in the second, hitting two more three-pointers without even noticing defenders around him.

Only tangling with Hawks power forward Josh Smith (team-high 15 points) midway through the second could derail Pierce’s offense, and Pierce fell to the parquet after banging knees with Smith. Pierce got up and walked off on his own power, but he immediately went to the locker room and did not return in the first half.

Celtics trainers called it a soar knee, and Pierce returned to start the second half with the Celtics up 64-41. Clearly hobbled by the collision, Pierce played just the first 3:37 of the third before subbing out for good. In that brief time, Pierce hit two more treys to make it 77-43 Celtics – they led by as many as 37 – and effectively turn the second half into garbage time.

Starters Back Up Pierce

Boston’s starters shot better than 60 percent Sunday night, with four of them scoring in double digits. Rondo backed up his 16 assists with 20 points, stroking jump shot after jump shot, including two three-pointers. He stole three passes, including one which he turned into a 17-9 layup in the first, and didn’t turn the ball over until the game was well out of reach. He also scored on a fake behind-the-back pass with 1.9 seconds left in the third for a 90-63 lead.

Rondo’s 72.7 percent shooting in Game 4 ranks second behind a Jan. 18 win over the Raptors in accuracy this season. His usual assortment of dazzlingly creative yet always on-target passes paved the way for 56 more Celtics points. Brandon Bass in particular loved having Rondo on the court, with two of his three baskets coming off passes from Rondo. Bass finished with 10 points.

Only Avery Bradley didn’t score in double digits Sunday, but he made his mark defensively, helping force 17 turnovers (he stole one himself) and hold the Hawks under 41 percent shooting. Bradley also broke a 6-6 tie early in the first by scoring five on back-to-back baskets that put the Celtics ahead for good.

Allen Leads Well-Used Bench

Ray Allen and Keyon Dooling scored most of the Celtics bench’s points, kicking in 12 and 10, respectively. Back-to-back three-pointers from Rondo and Allen broke a third-quarter scoring drought of seven-plus minutes following Pierce’s exit, pushing the lead to 88-60. Dooling, meanwhile, scored the first two baskets of the second and the final basket of the game (a three-pointer, the Celtics’ 11th).

While the other six Celtics combined for just six points – Marquis Daniels scored four, Greg Stiemsma two – they played solid enough defense for Rivers to keep them on the court for extended minutes. With the Big 4 averaging over 43 minutes apiece in Friday’s Game 3, the Celtics happily traded scoring for extended rest during the fourth quarter.

The Celtics reserves barely scored, but they kept the Hawks off the board while getting some valuable playoff experience. And with Game 5 looming Tuesday, Celtics fans hope the extra rest the starters got translates into an equally dominating performance in Atlanta.

Should that happen, the Celtics can enjoy a lot more than 20 minutes off their feet.

Rondo’s Triple-Double Gives Celtics 2-1 Series Lead in Overtime

Nathan — Sat, 05 May 2012 04:46:08 +0000

Rajon Rondo had his 7th career triple-double with 17 points, 14 rebounds and 12 assists to lead the Boston Celtics past the Atlanta Hawks in overtime, 90-84, Friday night at the Garden. The victory gave the Celtics a crucial 2-1 series lead over the Hawks in the Eastern Conference quarterfinals.

Joe Johnson scored 29 points for the Hawks and put in two huge buckets to tie the game as the end of regulation neared. Jeff Teague continued his strong play in the series by adding 23 points.

Big Three Backup Inconsistent Rondo

Paul Pierce back-rimmed the potential game-winner at the end of regulation and finished with 21 points, while Kevin Garnett scored 20 and grabbed 13 rebounds. Both Garnett and Pierce played over 40 minutes.

Fresh off missing 11 games, Ray Allen returned for the Celtics and played a whopping 38 minutes while chipping in 13 points off the bench.

Rondo’s performance was both brilliant and perplexing, as he finished with six turnovers and shot just 7-for-22 from the field to accompany his triple-double. Rondo made the first two buckets in overtime but proceeded to miss his next two layups. Luckily for Rondo and the Celtics, Garnett was there to put back Rondo’s second miss and all but seal the game.

On the whole, this was an ugly game for both sides. The Celtics and Hawks combined for 30 turnovers, neither team topped 41 percent shooting.

Smith, Bradley Injuries Could Impact Game 4

Josh Smith missed the game for the Hawks with a sprained knee, and his status for Game 4 is questionable. Avery Bradley’s left the game in the fourth quarter with a dislocated shoulder. Bradley’s availability moving forward is undetermined.

Game 4 takes place Sunday in Boston, as the Celtics look to put the Hawks on the ropes heading back to Atlanta