The Celtics returned to the TD Garden for the first time since Game 5 of the NBA Finals in June last night for an exhibition against the Toronto Raptors. The Raptors, in their inaugural season sans all-franchise-leader Chris Bosh, made a game of it, but in the end, the "Boston Bench Mob" pulled out the victory to improve to a meaningless 3-0 in the pre-season. Below are some highlights from the game, once again broken down by quarter.
Q1: This begins with a nice and brief video montage by CSNNE, spotlighting Jermaine O'Neal. Other highlights include:
- Tommy Heinsohn discussing the Celtics' potential as title contenders
- KG knocking down some jumpers (something he was struggling with in the first two games)
- Tommy asking how a foul can be called for saying "I love you"
- Shaq with a nice spin move on Reggie Evans
- KG with a steal that leads to a Ray Allen fast break lay-up, in which he "pulls a Rondo"
- KG/Shaq combining on multiple blocks against Evans underneath the hoop (think Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen on Charles Smith, circa Game 5: 1993 ECF) which leads to a Ray Allen up-and-under transition lay-up
- Andrea Bargnani getting stripped a couple of times, leading to transition baskets
- A block party by Jermaine O'Neal
- Rajon Rondo setting up shop in the low post
- Tommy displaying how he is "fair and balanced" by saying a JO taken-charge was a bad call
Q2: The second quarter begins with a beautiful evening shot of Boston, followed by the Glen Davis "nose contusion" injury. Other highlights include:
- Well executed pick-and-roll play with Delonte West and Semih Erden
- Delonte and Marquis Daniels showing off their driving and slashing abilities
- A handful of solid defensive sets
- Nate Robinson drilling some threes
- Shaq with a solid foul on Julian Wright
- Big Baby looking a little woozy on the bench
- Rondo knocking down some jump shots
- Rondo to Shaq for a pseudo-alley-oop play, and 1
- Sonny Weems with a violent dunk to end the half
Q3: The second half begins with a Rondo to a cutting Pierce lay-up. Other highlights include:
- Rondo with an under-handed alley-oop to Shaq, who throws it down with one hand
- Pierce draining a baseline jumper in isolation... classic Paul Pierce
- A nice defensive set that includes everyone working in rhythm
- Rondo knocking down another baseline jumper
- Jarret Jack running into "The Big Brick Wall." Ray Ray also feels the brunt of it
- Delonte with a couple more impressive drives to the basket
Q4:The final stanza begins with a bang, collision actually. A three-way wreck featuring Semih Erden, Nate Robinson and Jose Calderon leading up to Semih's initiation into the Celtics' technical foul fraternity. It's actually quite an honor. Other highlights include:
- Semih with a two nice feeds to a back-door cutting Marquis
- Nate with a nice steal, leading himself to a coast-to-coast lay-up
- Some lively defense by the bench
- Delonte with a slashing spin-move leading to a Marquis corner three
- Nate with some unbelievable hang time that should have resulted in an and 1
- Delonte working the baseline like a fiddle
- Stephane Lasme's monster tomahawk jam
- Nate's luck of the Irish three-pointer
- Rondo and Delonte having some fun during a timeout
- Delonte's block that ices the game
