Celtics Preseason Game 4: Celtics win first preseason game by 30 (111-81)
Brad Stevens has officially won his first game in the NBA. After the Celtics dropped their first three games of the exhibition season. The Celtics led this thing from start to finish. The Celtics jumped out on the Knicks on a 20-4 run in the first quarter behind 4-4 shooting from behind the three-point line. I think the final score of 111-81 indicates the energy level from Saturday nights game. A big change from Friday's game against Philly.
Jeff Green's energy level showed signs of improvement. Jeff had 11 points, but his shot choice is still questionable. Green was 3-12 from the field, and 2-6 behind the arc. Green had a team best +24.Kelly Olynyk scored a team high 15 points, he also had an impressive 6 rebounds. The Celtics also had three players knotted at 13 apiece, Bradley, Crawford, and Brooks with 13 points.
Vitor Faverani had another solid game with 7 points,and 5 rebounds with 16 minutes of work. Sully also another strong game behind 12 points, and 5 rebounds. The Celtics defense was dialed in all night holding the Knicks to 33% on the night, and Stevens felt like Bass was the anchor behind that in the first half. As most of you know, the Knicks didn't play Melo, Felton, Chandler,and peace.
With them out, you would expect the Celtics to win big, and they did Saturday. Brad Stevens must feel like he's gotten a monkey off his back with his first win.
I think my one takeaway from this game isn't anything about the X's and O's. What the heck is up with all these delay of game warnings? The NBA wants to speed up the game, but they did the opposite in this game. Dave Cowens was annoyed most of the night because of it, and I think most of you were as well. This reminds me of the 2010-11 season when the league wanted to clean up the overreaction to calls. When a player shrugged, or rolled their eyes the refs would call a technical foul, that practice ended quick because it was bogus, much like the new delay of game rule.
Box Score
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Photo From Boston Globe