Nov

17

Celtics Barely Keep Streak Alive Beat Miami 92-91

Posted by Jeff Sack under Main 

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The Boston Celtics are very, very, very, lucky that they are not 7-1, instead of still being the only unbeaten team in the NBA at 8-0. Boston allowed a big lead that they held on the Miami Heat in the second half due to sloppy and lackadaisical play. But a key layup by Paul Pierce and some scrappy defense off the bench in the form of James Posey allowed Boston escape with a 92-91 win over Miami.

The Celtics who in their first 7 games had a laser like focus for 48 minutes each night, did not deserve this win. Granted Dwyane Wade was back in the Heat starting lineup for the first time all season and had a very nice game, scoring 23 points, and a team high 6 assists. Yes Shaquille O’Neal seemed more motivated then he has in the last few games scoring 17 points, and getting 9 rebounds. And yes former Celtics player Ricky Davis got 20 points off his old mates. None of those reasons are why Miami came back from a 15 point deficit to take the lead in the waning moments of the game. The reason Miami came back was Boston allowed?them to.

The game started out as a well played game on both ends of the floor as the teams were tied at 24-24 at the end of the first quarter. Boston took the lead at the half, 52-46, and at the end of the third quarter led the Heat 76-65. Early in the fourth quarter Boston led by as much as 15 points at 86-71. Then with 8:12 left in the game Miami went on a 15-0 run while Boston basically stood around flat footed. Miami tied the game at 86-86. Boston then got the lead back up to four at 90-86, but Miami scored 5 points on a basket by Wade, a basket by Daequan Cook, and a free throw from Udonis Haslem. Miami led 91-90 when with 25 seconds left Paul Pierce had the layup giving Boston the one point margin of victory.

Kevin Garnett, led the Celtics with 26 points, 11 rebounds, Ray Allen had 19 points and 7 assists. Posey scored 13 off the bench, Pierce had 12, and center Kendrick Perkins had 10 points in the win. Rajon Rondo scored 9 points, but had a game high 10 assists. Look, Boston is not going to go 82-0, even the biggest Boston Homer knows that will not happen. There will probably come a?period this season where they may lose a stretch of games. As long as the effort is there no one can fault you for losing. But there is no excuse for losing a game due to sloppy or lazy play.

? Copyright 2007 thesackattack.com


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