Celtics 4-game West Coast Trip mostly a success
AP Photo
By: Dan Massar, YaekryTalkies Staff Writer
It wasn’t a perfect trip, but the Celtics will take it. Team Green went 3-1 on a west coast trip that came right out of the All Star Break. For a team that has struggled since Christmas, it was a good way to get back on track.
The trip started with a victory over the Kings. This seemed like the only sure victory on the trip, so it was a good way to get it going. The Celts then traveled from Sacramento to LA for a battle with the Lakers.
The contest with the Lakers had a must win feel for the Celtics with Kobe Bryant sitting it out. For a little while it looked like the game would have a familiar ending for the Celtics. Get a decent lead heading into the 4th and then blow it at the end. But the Celtics held on and won by 1. It was a win they had to have and they got it. Ray Allen led the way with 24 points as the Celtics improved to 2-0 on the trip.
While the win over the Lakers was certainly sweet, the best win of the trip came the next night at Portland. The Celtics could have easily had a big letdown against the Blazers and dropped a stink bomb at the Rose Garden. Instead though, the Celtics came out and dominated the Blazers. They won by 20 and were led by Ray Allen’s game high 21 points and Kevin Garnett chipped in with 16. Allen’s strong back to back games are a great sign and made a statement after rumors he’d be traded. The veteran guard doesn’t have to worry about trade rumors anymore and can just go out and do what he does best, shoot the ball.
Finally on Sunday the Celtics fell to the Denver Nuggets. No shame in that, the Nuggets have the second best record in the West. The Celtics didn’t have it defensively and looked tired. Finally their age shined through once again on the road trip, but they will take going 3-1 and be satisfied with it whether they admit it or not.
Tuesday we finally get to see what Nate Robinson brings to the team. He didn’t join the team out west because he was battling the flu. Is he a definite upgrade over Eddie House? Not necessarily. He definitely can provide scoring punch off the bench and the Celtics seem to think he can be a solid backup point guard, but is he a game changer in the Eastern Conference race? The answer is probably not. The game changer for the Celtics will be being able to finish games and be more consistent on both ends of the floor in the 4th Quarter. A 3-1 record on a tough west coast trip is a good start to getting back to where they were at the beginning of the season.
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The C’s lost that game cause paul couldn’t shoot. He had what 2/4 points in that game. If he is healthy he has another 12/14 which would make up the difference. Krypstonate will be a big improvement over House. House is a great shooter, but I still have nightmares of linsey Hunter stealing the ball from him when the C’s use to play the pistons in the playoffs. With Nate, Rondo and TA, the C’s can go small and cause a lot of problems pressuring the ball. Nate will draw fouls something that House never did, despite the fact that he was an amazing free throw shooter. It also makes the bench much deeper. I’m all for Ray Allen playing less then 40 mins a game. Some day Doc…. Some Day….