Game #66: How could there not be a great game on St. Patty’s Day?

93-91 Celtics at San Antonio: Make it two straight: two straight on the roadtrip, two straight against the Spurs this year, two straight W’s without Ray Allen and two straight wins on St. Patrick’s Day at San Antonio. Some quick thoughts:

KG threw the ball away up two with 4.5 seconds left and ‘Big Shot Bob’ missed an impossible fall away three with two guys in his face from 27 feet out on the right wing. Two things Kevin: A: call a timeout, please! or B: run the baseline! After Parker’s made hoop run the baseline and at the veerrry least throw it 60 feet so that the Spurs can’t get a good look.

Very interesting to see Doc’s substitution patterns at point guard down the stretch. Cassell played it out all the way and was joined by House for most of the way until Rondo checked in with about 1:15 left. Incidentally, Cassell hit a 22 footer and a huge 3 to give the C’s the lead with 48 seconds left, House hit a clutch 3 while in (his only FG) and Rondo came up with a big offensive rebound with the Celts up two with 15 seconds left.

The Spurs did a great job at stepping out and preventing Garnett from having open 20 foot jump shots. the numbers: 7-15 FG, 21 pts, 8 reb. but only 2 assists because there was a guy in his face. Conversely, the C’s defense was much much more solid after the first quarter. I think SA had as many open jumpers in the first that they did the rest of the game.

James Posey became what Tony Allen was supposed to be when TA started: a good defender and a guy to move the offense. Allen did neither and the Celts were down 20 in the first half. And yet Celtics win. Other online commentary from this game: celticsblog.com, greenbandwagon.com and Pounding the Rock (spurs blog).

Cheers!