The Celtics had a busy weekend schedule, facing the Toronto Raptors in Toronto on Friday night, then traveling to Hartford, CT for their second tilt with the Knicks. First, we'll get to the highlights against the Raptors. The Celtics came out with a bang and sustained their dominance through three quarters. Unfortunately they let their guard down a bit as Toronto made a game of it in the fourth.
Q1: The first quarter begins with a nice aerial shot of Toronto, followed by Shaq singing the Canadian National Anthem. Classic stuff by the diesel. Other highlights include:
- a brief spot of Jermaine O'Neal discussing the chemistry that's already developed on this Celtics team
- A nice post up move by Marquis Daniels
- JO with a nasty block
- Ray Allen with a good steal from fronting his man
- Rondo in the post
- KG working Andrea Bargnani in the post
- JO doing the same type of work on Reggie Evans
- Solid one-on-one defense by Ray, who receives a transition lay-up for his efforts
- Rondo sneaking in to steal a rebound from Evans, off a JO missed free throw... Evans gets a technical for his reaction
- KG looking extra-active on defense
- Excellent team defensive sets
- Quis putting on a scoring clinic
- DeMar DeRozan's violent slam over Big Baby
- Rondo/KG's quick retaliatory alley-oop
- Rondo with a three as the shot clock expires
- Yet another beautiful Ray Allen three... never gets old
- Marquis' bomb to end the quarter
Q2: The second quarter begins the same way the first one ended: a Marquis three, albeit this one a basic top-of-the-key three. Other highlights include:
- A Quis deflection leading to a transitional attack by Nate Robinson, who draws a foul
- Big Baby working the jump hook in the post
- An exceptional defensive set by the second unit
- Nate's blazing speed (and travelling) to the basket for a lay-in
- More Nate attacks to the rack
- Von Wafer with a smooth baseline jumper
- Luke Harangody with a smooth spot up jumper
- Nate raining threes
- Another solid defensive set
- Von Wafer knocking down a three
- Reggie Evans taking out Nate on a screen
Q3: The second quarter begins with Rondo picking off a pass, leading to a transitional foul, getting Marquis to the free throw line. Other highlights include:
- Ray attacking the basket
- More driving and scoring by Quis
- A long discussion between Mike Gorman and Tommy Heinsohn about where Rondo ranks amongst the best point guards in the NBA
- Rondo driving to the hoop in transition, scoring, leading to an extra-energetic reaction by KG
- Textbook give-and-go starring Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett
- KG with some of his classic post-defense, blocking a shot, then out-letting to Rondo who gets fouled in transition
- Rondo losing his footing, dribbling from the floor, then still finding JO underneath the hoop
- Big Baby's ridiculous technical foul
- Rondo posting up and drawing a foul on Jarret Jack
- KG giving JO some lively instructions on the bench
- Rondo blowing by Marcus Banks
- Semih Erden with some nice hustle work on the offensive boards
- Wafer drilling a transition three
- Nate voicing his displeasure after missing the free throw
Q4: The final act was a bit rough for the C's. However, it does begin with a nasty help-side elevation block by Nate. Other highlights include:
- Shaq blowing bubbles on the bench
- Another Wafer three-pointer
- Nate again with the help-side recovery block. Watch closely as he shoves Amir Johnson down in retaliation for the previously set screen by Johnson
- Wafer with a nice hustling transitional steal
- Nate attacking the hoop, getting fouled, and making a Jordan-esque reverse lay-up as he gets fouled
- A smooth Erden mid-range jumper with the shot clock winding down
- Nate drilling a mid-range jumper of his own, then commanding his teammates to get a stop, albeit with a bit more X-rated language
- Nate doing his best Bob Cousy impersonation, trying to run the clock down
- Sonny Weems clotheslining Nate, who ices the game at the free throw line
