Last night's game between the Celtics and Nets was downright ugly at times, let's not kid ourselves. However, there were surprisingly a number of highlights from each quarter. Since this was the case, I've decided to separate the highlights by quarter for this game.
Q1: Begins with a hysterical Greg Dickerson/Rajon Rondo interview clip, with Rondo providing a short answer to his question about how good the bench will be this season. Mike Gorman can't help but chime in shortly after. Other highlights:
- Good defense followed up with solid transition/fast break plays
- Rondo and KG working the old Antoine Walker/Paul Pierce transition sealed-off post play'
- Shaq backing down Brook Lopez for the power slam, reverting into Orlando Shaq
- Tommy Heinsohn gives Mike Gorman a technical foul, not a Tommy Point
- Pierce with a tough drive to the basket, and 1
- Ray Allen with a smooth reverse left-handed lay-in
Q2: The second quarter begins with Gorman comparing it to a Snickers bar, which draws a bit of snickering from Tommy. These two are the best announcing duo in sports, hands down. Other highlights include:
- How the bench brought the C's back to life on both ends of the court
- Big Baby scoring with deep jumpers, and solid post play
- Marquis Daniels driving to the basket for the lay-up, and 1
- Semih Erden playing good post defense, boxing out, rebounding and being generally active
- Semih's Kevin McHale-esque spin move for the left-handed lay-in
- Nate Robinson hitting transition and spot-up threes
- Quis, and Nate diving for a loose ball
- Tommy sharing Doc's feeling about the "parade of technical fouls" being called
- Derrick Favors missing a power jam, leading to Delonte West drilling a three in transition
- A cornucopia of Delonte and Big Baby offensive sets leading to baskets, highlighted by a sensational two-handed Big Baby slam to end the half
- Big Baby leaves KG hanging on a high-five
Q3: The second half begins with a sweet Ray Allen jumper, followed by a Paul Pierce three baseline three, from an baseline dead-ball play. Rondo hit them both up. Other highlights include:
- An active Shaq put-back
- Paul Pierce partying like it's 1999 (rookie year) with a beautiful transition spin-move for the lay-in
- Pierce diving for the loose ball, earning a Tommy Point
- Shaq with a power and 1 lay-up
- Pierce with an up-and-under reverse lay-in
- Mike and Tommy dissect a solid screen set by Erden, who was whistled for a foul
- Three consecutive quality defensive sets, with Big Baby playing a key role in each
Q4: The final quarter begins with Nate finding Luke Harangody for a nice drive, then another drive to the basket by Marquis. Other highlights include:
- Stephane Lasme with the active weak-side help defense
- Lasme's activity on the offensive glass, leading to a Nate three
- Marquis Daniels' clutch three-pointer to seal the win
- Nate's icing-on-the-winning-cake free throws
- Some funny facial expressions by Avery Johnson and Brook Lopez
- Big Baby saying hello to the TV audience in an interesting way