The Celtics issued what was essentially a wire-to-wire thrashing of the Detroit Pistons last night at The Palace at Auburn Hills. It was nice to see them do this against a sub .500 team for the first time since March 15th, 2010, against the same team. Meaning, this was the first 20+ point blowout in their favor against a sub .500 team since that game.
At any rate, this game will probably be known more for Charlie Villanueva's post-game tweeting than about say, Rajon Rondo breaking another NBA assist record. Either way, here are the highlights from an encouraging win. It would have been nice for the C's bench to put this one away in the 4th, thus keeping the starters on the bench and rested for the Bucks tonight at the Garden.
Q1:The game begins with a fantastic shot of KG doing his normal nutty pre-game routine of smashing his head against the hoop stanchion, but there is a decal of a McDonald's snack wrap that he's smashing his head against. Priceless. Other highlights include:
- Jermaine O'Neal with a nice box-out and rebound, initializing a fast break that leads to a Pierce lay-in
- KG doing work in the post on Austin Daye
- Pierce crashing the boards leading to a Rondo fast break lay-up
- Rondo firing a bullet to KG who executes a beautiful backdoor cut for an up-and-under reverse lay-up
- Beautiful block by JO leading to another Rondo fast break chance
- Rondo to Ray to JO for the slam
- Ray to KG with a touch pass to JO who gets fouled
- Rondo to KG for the alley-oop
- JO blocking a Rodney Stuckey drive
- A rare Rondo pull-up jumper off a screen
- Rondo to KG for the baseline jumper
- Solid defense leading to a Big Baby taken charge
- Ray working Ben Gordon on the baseline
- Big Baby getting a technical foul for hopping up the court
- Another charge taken by Big Baby
- Paul Pierce pouring some whiskey on Tracy McGrady's tombstone, working him on the baseline
- Semih Erden blocking Jason Maxiell
- Nate Robinson blowing by everybody
- Pierce drilling a three
- Another block by Semih on Stuckey to end the quarter
Q2:The second quarter begins with Big Baby utilizing the jump hook over Maxiell in the lane. Other highlights include:
- Nate finding BIg Baby for the lay-in on a broken play
- Von Wafer with the steal, then leading Semih with a nice pass for the two-handed slam in transition
- Good defense in the lane by Semih, eventually leading to a Wafer pull-up jumper in transition
- Solid second-unit defense with a tough rebound by Semih
- Ray Allen beating the 24-second shot clock buzzer with a jumper
- Excellent low-post combo defense by KG, JO and Pierce, forcing the turnover
- Ray to KG for the slam on a high screen-and-roll
- Pierce blowing by Austin Daye for two
- Rondo's thievery on Stuckey eventually leading to a JO bank shot
- Rondo kick out to Ray for three
- Ray breaking up a potential Detroit alley-oop
- Rondo drilling a three to end the half
Q3: The second half begins with a tough turn-around baseline jumper from KG. Other highlights include:
- A full defensive set forcing Stuckey to an outside jumper that he misses
- Pierce knocking down a three
- Rondo splitting the defense with a laser bounce-pass to JO for the slam
- Ray following his own miss, then drawing a foul
- Rondo to Pierce for the fast break slam
- Pierce, KG and JO once again with aggressive post defense
- JO with a solid pull-up jumper
- JO hustling on a Detroit fast break
- JO with a smooth baseline jumper
- Rondo with another swipe leading to a KG fast break lay-up
- An awesome (yet brief) Ray Allen/Dunkin Donuts Promo... "Drain One"
- Yet another steal by Rondo eventually leading to an impossible angle Ray Allen bank shot
- Ray all net with a baseline three
- Pierce left alone for about 24 seconds on the baseline then drains a three
- KG with the defense in the lane
- A classic pull-up jumper by Pierce
Q4: The final quarter begins with Big Baby working the baseline for two. Other highlights include:
- Marquis Daniels working the offensive glass for the put-back lay-up
- KG, Big Baby and Pierce with more post defense
- Rondo with an behind the back pass to KG for the jumper
- KG with an aggressive block followed by "GET THAT SH** OUTTA HERE"
- Rondo to Marquis who rattled in a three
- KG and CV talking smack to each other, getting double-technicals
- Luke Harangody's first official points as a Celtic on a nice fast break lay-up
- Harangody with a smooth jumper
- Semih with a nice look to a cutting Marquis
