Hookin' Up Facials, & Rimshots & Throwdowns...

Gettin' It Started 
-- As Always --
With One Of The Game's Most Emphatic Dunkers

This week, Conjunction Dunktion plays catch-up with a couple of early-season Big Ticket tear-downs, some Christmas thunder from The Truth, and season highlights from that emphatic dunker himself, Jeff Green.  

But we couldn't run the first "C.D." of the year without including a pair of "Did you see that!?!? specials from around the NBA that are so hot, they must have come straight from Jam-aica! Get your green popcorn ready, turn up the volume and enjoy!

The Baseline Of Truth

Holiday Hammerings

Howlin' At The Hoop

A Big Ticket To All That Jazz

Big "D"struction

Christmastime Crusher

And now... the rest of the NBA...

Word To Your Mamba

Mr. Smith Goes To Smashington

Celtics Comeback Roasts Hawks: Boston Wins Again -- 89-81

 

Oh, My.

What can you say about this game that would do it justice?

To sum it up in one word: Relentless.

That's what the Celtics were. Not that you would have believed it had you turned the television off somewhere in the first half where the Celtics found themselves down by 19 points having reverted to their favorite group impression of the zombies from The Walking Dead.

They were getting beaten in all facets of the game and looked to be headed for a return to the double-digit embarrassment that they had so recently and almost willingly accepted in every city during their last road trip. After a tremendous wire-to-wire defensive effort last night against the Indiana Pacers that saw the Green finally flip the tables on an opponent, scoring a double-digit blowout-of-a-win of their own (yes, Geno was taken out of mothballs, even if an ejected Kevin Garnett could only watch him from the locker room), many people wondered whether the C's had turned a corner of sorts.

Apparently, they had. Sort of. For six quarters, anyway (hey, give 'em a break...this was the second night of a back-to-back!).

Reportedly, the Boys From Boston began to bicker in the face of what was shaping up to be another crushing defeat before Captain Paul Pierce stepped up and did what leaders do...he led. As told by the man himself, Pierce calmly but forcefully suggested that his teammates begin to focus their frustrations on the men across the court and start listening to the sage direction that was being provided by their Coach.

What happened next -- and I realize that I might be giddily tripping back onto that Highway of Hyperbole once again, but -- well, it was like something straight out of Hoosiers, or Glory Road or even Teen Wolf.

The Celtics went on a bruising physical run setting the Hawks back on their heels with The Truth leading the charge. P-Double poured in 17 of his 26 points in the second quarter -- outscoring the entire Atlanta team in the process -- behind a suffocating defensive effort from which the Hawks would never recover their collective breath. His 9 rebounds, 5 assists and 1 steal provided the punctuation mark that backed up the strong words he had for his teammates.

That team, by the way, was a scratching, clawing defensive whirlwind that spun circles around the hapless, helpless Hawks on offense as well. Rajon Rondo notched his second 3-D (triple-double for the acronymically challenged) with 14 points, 11 rebounds, 10 assists and three steals while Kevin Garnett -- mirroring Rondo in points for the second straight night -- scored 14, too, along with 5 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals and a block. Brandon Bass, starting for the second night in a row, scored 10 points on 5-6 shooting. Avery Bradley once again shunned the stat sheet with intangibles as he drove the Celtics defensive engine like a train conductor with loose brakes. Rising rookie Jared Sullinger wrestled in 9 boards with 8 points, 2 assists and 1 block to make his presence felt.

Louis Williams was a thorn early and often in the side of the Celtics with 28 for the game, but if you want to know the details about which other Hawks the Celtics spotted for the lead in the first half, check the stats at the bottom. This here blog is all about the C's tonight!

Though I, against my own judgment, decided to try and put into words the thrill that was this game, I've come up with a much better way to illustrate the point:

Imagine that the Celtics are a burger that you've been hearing so much about. It's rumored to be the best of all the burgers...one that can crush all other burgers that it comes up against if there were a burger competition with a big trophy at the end of the challenge. You finally get a chance to taste that burger and all expectations have been realized. This, my friends, is what it would sound like if set to music...

Tale Of The Tape

Box Score

Pacers Pasted By Resurgent Celtics: 94-76

 

Well, folks...THIS is what it feels like. Remember? I mean, c'mon...it was only last year since the C's won, after all.

For real, though...this was a nice, old-fashioned whuppin' delivered by a team that resembled 2011-2012 much more than 2012, and hopefully will continue through 2013!

To tell you the truth...this one feels so refreshing that I almost (ALMOST...) don't even fault the refs for completely blowing the call on Kevin Garnett vs. Tyler Hansbrough (19 points) in which they called a Flagrant 2 when KG was CLEARLY sweeping down while anticipating the ball coming up. It's not the Big Ticket's fault that Hansbrough moves like a spastic cat trying to dislodge a hairball.

No matter...the Celtics were in fine form, playing a brand of defense not seen around these parts since, well...sometime between "A Long Time Ago" and "Son, back in my day...".

Now, I don't want to start driving the Over-The-Top Express down the Hyperbole Highway, but Avery Bradley had a tremendous impact on the game on the defensive end, setting the tone for the rest of the Celtics with his frenetic, in-your-face hound-dog "D" every second that he was on the floor. Bradley didn't make much of a dent on the box score, but his presence everywhere else was intensely felt.

From the outset, the C's came out like tigers and never let their guard down as they built the lead to 20, veering well into Gino-Time (much to the ejected and dejected KG's chagrin) to close it out.

Rajon Rondo carried the golden mop to this waxing of the Pacers, scoring 18 points on 9-14 shooting along with 7 assists, 5 rebounds, 2 steals and a block. Rondo was joined by KG who also scored 18 points on 8-16 shooting, grabbed 7 rebounds, delivered 2 assists and snagged 1 steal while Captain Paul Pierce threw in 13 points on 5-10 shooting with 6 rebounds  5 assists, 1 steal, 1 block and one four-pointer, swishing a three as he was fouled (later sinking the freebie).

The Celtics also got solid contributions from their bench players. Coach Doc Rivers elected to start the same lineup that carried the team through most of the playoffs last year, reinserting Brandon Bass and moving Garnett back to center, which left Courtney Lee (13 points, 5 rebounds) to lead the reserves. Jared Sullenger was a board-brute, grabbing 10, scoring 7, swatting a shot and throwing many of the Pacers bigs to all corners of the paint.

As nice as this win was, and as much as I have been preaching patience to those who would sooner throw roses onto an emerald casket, it is exactly what the record shows: one win in the last five games. The Celtics are most certainly getting better, but they still have work to do before Commissioner David Stern gives up the trophy.

And, since we're taking that chill pill, can we also stop talking about Playoff seeding until we're at least a day or two on the other side of the All-Star Game? Thanks!

Still...this is a rare one to savor, Celtics fans. Did you savor it? Gooood.

Now quit yer celebratin' and get some shuteye! Atlanta is waiting.

Box Score

Tale Of The Tape

THE BUZZ:

Boston Celtics vs. Atlanta Hawks
Saturday, January 5th, 2013
7:30 p.m.
@ Phillips Arena, Atlanta, GA

We took a quick buzz around Celtics/NBA cyberspace and landed on a swarm of articles, posts and clips you'll want to see. Here's what stuck:

Message To Garnett, Rondo: Order Your All-Star Colored Sneakers -- ESPN.com, via Chris Forsberg

Fab Melo Fights Door...Door Wins -- SI.com, via Rob Mahoney

Rondo Calls Team Out On Lack Of "D" -- CSSNE.com, via Jessica Camerato

Podcast: "Celtics Old And Slow? Disappointing?" -- CBSSports.com, via Zach Harper

Tony Allen Talks About C's Missing Pieces, Bloody Celtics Jersey -- WEEI.com, via Green Street

Unlike Rondo, Thunder Fan Momentarily Stunned After Contact With Krumphries -- Youtube, via Yardbarker.com

Celtics Lightly Mauled By Grizzlies In Bradley's Debut: 83-93

Another day, another loss.

The Boston Celtics couldn't salvage a close-ish game against the Memphis Grizzlies. There were moments of brightness, such as Rondo's return to double-digit assists for the second time in seven games, a Jason Terry transformation back into "The Jet" during the only portion of the game that resembled anything that could remotely be considered "down the stretch" for the Celtics, who did make a run to cut into what was a now-familiar lead of 10+ for the Grizz.

But, the greatest ray of sunshine through an otherwise cloudy sky was -- obviously -- the return of Avery Bradley.

Bradley looked to be in fine defensive-hawkish form, harassing his assignments up and down the floor in familiar fashion and, though his shooting was expectedly rusty, he still managed 4 points on 2-3 shooting in 19 minutes.

Bradley's predecessor as defensive stopper -- Tony Allen -- returned to the Garden to torment his former team with 15 points on 6-8 shooting, 5 rebounds, 2 assists, 1 steal and lots of defensive stoppage. He was joined in the light mauling of the Celtics by point guard Mike Conley, who scored 23 points, 9 assists, 3 rebounds and 1 steal, while Rudy Gay dropped 19 points, 6 rebounds, 5 assists, 1 steal and 1 block on The Green.

Paul Pierce had 17, Garnett scored 12, and Rondo tallied 11 though none of them were able to shoot 50% for the night at Boston Garden.

Box Score

Tale Of The Tape

The Celtics next play against the Indiana Pacers on Friday, January 4th at 8:00 p.m.

Bradley Return To Savor, Not Savior

According to the latest reports, Celtics Guard Avery Bradley is set to return to the starting lineup tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies (7:30 p.m.).

Whether this is or isn't yet the case, I feel that there are certain things Celtics fans need to get straight before his name is ever announced to take the court for the first time this season since double shoulder surgery sidelined him from the middle of the 2011-2012 Playoffs to the present.

First, here's what Bradley is NOT:

The Messiah, Superman or Harry Potter. He's also not Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson or Larry Bird. He's not even Joe Dumars (yet, though he certainly has the skillset and determination to someday take a seat at the same table). Hell, until he gets his wind back and rust off, he may not even be Tony Allen, who he figures to see some time guarding tonight, if reports are correct.

What I'm trying to say here is that there are many out there who would have you think that the return of Bradley is going to be all it takes for the Celtics to regain last year's Playoff form and as soon as he suits up for the team, it's lights out for the rest of the NBA. That he'll come back and his dogged, tenacious and ferocious brand of defense will somehow erase the fact that there are still 8 new teammates who have never shared the court with him as a Celtic and two more who didn't share much if any significant playing time with him last year, either.

The defensive (and offensive) lapses that the Celtics have suffered that have been costing them a slew of winnable games are attributable to those new players on the team not yet grasping the "Celtic Way." These are things that Bradley can undoubtedly help them with, but not save them from. The work will have to be done on the practice court, in the video room and during games and it has to come from everyone, not just Bradley.

Here is what Bradley IS:

He is a 6' 2" shooting-guard-trapped-in-a-point-guard's body with a career scoring average of 5.6 who also happens to carry a trunkload of that aforementioned ferocious, tenacious, dogged and scrappy energy mixed with tremendous athleticism that allows him to overcome his lack of size against taller offensive players and score against just about anyone who dares guard him with an array of cutting, slashing drives and an accurate 3-point stroke.

Bradley is, to be sure, a major defensive cog in any machine that the Celtics hope to drive through the Playoffs and towards the Finals and his presence will pay major dividends for this team once he gets his legs underneath him and his stroke free from 7 months worth of cobwebs.

That said, the chances of Bradley fulfilling his potential is VERY strong. Based on his track record, he ranks as one of the most mentally tough (he fought through a rookie year filled with adversity that included a broken ankle, a year-long shooting slump and almost zero playing time) and physically toughest (this kid played through not one shoulder dislocation, not two dislocations but three reported shoulder dislocations and played through the playoffs while suffering the injury repeatedly until doctors advised him that he might do lasting damage if he continued to play!!!) players in today's NBA.

The key for everyone to remember is that Bradley underwent 2 shoulder surgeries (each shoulder!) and the jury is going to be out as to whether his physical troubles are behind him until he makes it through the playoffs without incident. Fans have to be patient with him and not expect rainbows dropping Skittles from the skies in his first, fourth, or even fifteenth game back. What we SHOULD all do is savor the fact that he HAS returned and watch him do what he does best -- something that the entire Celtics roster and even those around the rest of the NBA can learn from -- play lock-down, knock-down defense. The individual and team success will come in time.

 

The following post is the partial regurgitation of a story so good, we wish we wrote it ourselves! Follow the link at the end to catch the full story where it lives.

 

{The Following Story Originated On SB Nation's Celtics Blog}

PANIC AT THE DISCO: TUNE UP OR TOTALED?

 By Eric Weiss on Jan 1, 12:00p

USA TODAY Sports

 

There is a growing sense of dread surrounding this team. As the losses pile up and frantic fans search for understanding, many are beginning to believe that the team is simply far worse than initially advertised. The days of Gino dancing to Celtics domination have given way to a bitter certainty that the good times are gone.

Before we all jump off the proverbial cliff, allow me to paint a less dire picture. The observations offered below may not sit well with some and are certainly not in line with the collective conventional wisdom of the team's media coverage. However, there are points that need to be addressed in light of this teams seemingly annual ability to find itself when it matters most.

JUST THE FACTS

The perimeter defense is clearly the biggest weakness of this team - not rebounding, not scoring, not "rim protection" - all of this boils down to controlling the perimeter.

Boston needs an upgrade to the frontcourt. Whether its internal production or the ever-growing probability of outside help, its a known issue area. but it can come from either the 4 or the 5 as long as the skills required are there. Most 4/5's are interchangeable. Boston's dearth of "length" in the frontcourt has made the damage caused from perimeter penetration that much more pronounced.

That being said, it doesn't appear that the team needs a massive overhaul at all - Lee, Green, and Sullinger have all played much more consistently over the past 14 games. People are overreacting to the end result of losses and not seeing the dynamics of the individual players. While winning is the bottom line, finding a solution to get back to the winning ways requires a thorough grasp of how everyone is performing. These three actually are, in fact, starting to "fit" together better with the team concept. Whether or not they must be used in trade is another matter, but they look much improved from season's beginning... {For the rest of the story, click this link or visit: www.celticsblog.com}