Magic trick makes Celtic’s victory vanish
Feb 1st, 2010 by Aaron Hotchner
Orlando, 1/28/10 – “Defense wins championships” is bible wisdom in the NBA. Putting points on the board is great, but just plain stopping the other guy is what keeps you playing deep into the year. On a foundation of rock-solid defense the Celtics built a title winner in ’07-’08 season, but any chance of repeat disappeared the moment franchise leader Kevin Garnett went down with a knee injury in February ’09. This year the C’s have struggled to regain that championship form, as evident in a 96 - 94 loss to Orlando Friday night.
Leading by 11 with the fourth quarter beginning, Boston’s strong defensive play seemed to have sealed the deal. However, the thought of stealing one from Orlando – who knocked Boston out of the Eastern Conference Semifinals last year – on their home floor no less, must have affected their focus. In the waning moments of the fourth, after weathering a Magic comeback that saw Orlando briefly taking the lead, Boston fell apart with 1.3 seconds left on the clock.
”I can’t explain that one,” Garnett said. ”Tough loss. We had them right where we wanted them and let it slip away.”
Orlando’s Rashard Lewis is no slouch in the shooting department. Frequently called upon by the Magic to take crucial last second shots, he’s not a guy to leave uncovered with a game on the line. Strange then, Lewis ending up with the ball after a scheme designed by coach Stan Van Gundy for Vince Carter failed to materialize. Improbable then, that Lewis waltzed to the hole for a lay-up with the game ticking away.
”Turned the corner with my right hand, took it to the basket and was expecting the defense to collapse,” he said. ”I was surprised when I turned to the basket there was nobody there.”
Those two final points won the game for Orlando, led by Lewis with 23 points. Magic middleman Dwight Howard overcame early foul troubles inflicted by Celtic defenders to end with 19 points, 11 of them coming during Orlando’s fourth quarter surge. Howard also contributed 10 rebounds & four blocks, tying the entire Celtics team in that category.
While Boston ended with five players scoring in double figures, that’s poor comfort in a loss. Veteran Ray Allen paced the C’s with 20 points, joined by fellow vet Rasheed Wallace, who chipped in 17. Recently named to his first All-Star team, (as a reserve) guard Rajon Rondo – whose playmaking skills have often carried Boston through periods of injury this season – managed only 11 points, to go with seven rebounds & eight assists. Paul Pierce, who needed 16 field goal attempts to hit four shots, (a chilly 25%!) did most of his damage at the free throw line, where he was 5-5.
Any NBA team with hopes of contending – Lakers, Cavs, Hawks, etc. – saw plainly in this game what they need to do to shut the Magic down. Hang tough with Howard, put him on the line where he still shoots a measly 60%. The rest of Orlando may beat you - unless their jump shots stop falling. However, contenders also saw the Celtics make a huge mental mistake in a key moment – and key players turning in sub-par efforts.