Celtics @ Suns Game Thread 2-22-13

[Mainstreet]

He looked like an all-star tonight.

The Suns do that to opposing players.

 

[AzStevenCal]

A deeper, darker sense of reality has sunk in today. The Celtics viewed the Suns as easy pickings even without Garnett. More than that, they knew they could out play the Suns with just about any unit they put on the court with defense and execution. The Celtics are quick, athletic and play within a system, something the Suns do not.

OR. They took a look at their team and realized that the reason they were getting blown out by the Western Conference teams is that Garnett forces them into a very extreme slowdown half court game and they were tired of being blown out so they decided to rest the most overrated player in the game today. Garnett used to be great, now he holds, pushes, shoves, grabs, elbows and hips his way to mediocrity. The Celtics, especially on the road where Garnett is far less likely to be give superstar calls by the refs, are a far better team when they play without the guy.

Steve

 

[Mainstreet]

OR. They took a look at their team and realized that the reason they were getting blown out by the Western Conference teams is that Garnett forces them into a very extreme slowdown half court game and they were tired of being blown out so they decided to rest the most overrated player in the game today. Garnett used to be great, now he holds, pushes, shoves, grabs, elbows and hips his way to mediocrity. The Celtics, especially on the road where Garnett is far less likely to be give superstar calls by the refs, are a far better team when they play without the guy.

Steve

So if we leave Garnett out of the equation, how does one explain Pierce contributing only 8 points and the Celtics still blow out the Suns.

 

[AzStevenCal]

So if we leave Garnett out of the equation, how does one explain Pierce contributing only 8 points and the Celtics still blow out the Suns.

It seems like there might be a point in your question but I'm not sure what you're getting at. I think Boston is a better team than us when they are healthy. But I think they are an even better team when they use Garnett sparingly or not at all, especially away from the ref-friendly confines of Boston. Even without Pierce, Rondo and Garnett, they have more talent than we do.

Steve