The Debut of the Boston Celtics' BIG THREE

Posted by Matt McCready on 10.08.2007

411mania.com's Matt McCready gives a quarter-by-quarter review of the first exhibition game of the Boston Celtics as they took on the defending Atlantic Division champion Toronto Raptors. How did Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce and Ray Allen mesh?

With regards to the New Jersey Nets, the battle for the Atlantic Division crown will probably boil down to a fight between the Toronto Raptors and the Boston Celtics. The Raptors are the defending champs while the Celtics have added former MVP Kevin Garnett and one of the league's premiere scorers in Ray Allen. Those two, along with returning star Paul Pierce, comprise the Big 3 that Boston fans hope will carry them all the way to the championship. On Saturday afternoon, the Celtics battled the Raptors in the first exhibition game, live from Rome Italy.


1st Quarter

- In front of a packed crowd of eleven thousand, the Celtics who receive the biggest cheers are Ray Allen and Kevin Garnett. Jorge Garbajosa and Anthony Parker are cheered loudly as well but the roof comes down for the fellow Italian, last year's first overall pick, Andrea Bargnani.

- Both teams are wearing Italian themed jerseys. The word ‘Boston' is spelt with red, white and green letters (the colours of the Italian flag) while the Raptors outfits have a green stripe down the side to go along with the team colours of red and white.

- Big question with both RayRay and Pierce on the wings, who will be the go-to-guy for the Celts.

- Two quick fouls start the game, proving that Timmy Don-don still lives on in our hearts

- A very quick tempo for both sides. Despite it being the first exhibition game, both starting line-ups come out with something to prove.

- Bargnani is on fire to start the game. Dude has ice-water in his veins and is not intimidated by the crowd or Kevin Garnett.

- Garnett comes the other way and attacks Barg, he blows by him and throws down a monster jam. And one.

- Barg returns the other way, pump fakes at the three point arc, drives to the basket and is fouled on a dunk attempt.

- Boston center Kendrick Perkins commits a foul on a Bosh pump-fake. He'll have to avoid those types of fouls if Boston wants any sort of size in their frontcourt.

- Bosh and Bargnani both look bigger than last year. Pierce and Rasho Nesterovic both look thinner. All this is good news to their teams.

- Interesting match up between Jason Kapono and Allen, two of the best shooters in the NBA.

- First substitutions come in. Pretty even match up as Raptors starting line-up outscores the Celtics' by 2.

- T.J. Ford will have to be able to hit the three as that shot will be open for him all game.

- Pierce seems forgotten so far.

- Eddie House, the Celtics backup guard, cannot play the point guard position. He can hit open threes though, and he'll get a lot of those on this team.

- Pierce wakes up.


2nd Quarter

- K-OS is being played between quarters, here's a sample:


- Good D played by Carlos Delfino on Ray Allen. Allen scores inside anyways, he's pretty good.

- The help defence is bad for both teams which isn't too surprising seeing it's the first pre-season game.

- The Boston reserves are getting schooled on the boards by Rasho Nesterovic and Kris Humphries of all people.

- As I write that, Kevin Garnett is inserted for Brian Scalabrine. That will help.

- Garnett finds a wide open House with a nice pass for a three pointer.

- Delfino is having a good game and is active on both sides of the floor

- Joey Graham's acne has cleared up a bit. That's nice.

- Garnett and Pierce are looking like Axe & Smash of Demolition when they foul Graham on a drive.

- Graham is playing well.

- When House is on the floor at the point, the play runs through Garnett, which makes sense.

- A beautiful no look pass from Garnett leads to an easy Perkins dunk.

- Delfino and Kapono both have the same haircut. I'm constantly getting them confused.

- A really big question for Boston, can Rondo finish at the basket? He hasn't so far.

- Expect Garnett to have a career high in assists this year.

- Bosh and Garnett own the boards for their respective teams. Looking at the rosters, they'll have to.

- An ugly defensive possession for Bargnani, he gives up the open shot then is beat for the board when it doesn't go in.

- Paul Pierce is exposing Kapono defensively.


3rd Quarter

- Much like the first quarter, Bargnani comes out hot again.

- When there's nothing happening in the Boston offence, Pierce can still create his own shot.

- Garnett gets T'eed after hanging on the rim after a HUGE putback slam off a miss. The T gets overturned.

- These guys are REALLY hustling out there, considering where they are in the schedule. At one point Bosh, Garnett AND Pierce all dive to the floor for the same loose ball.

- The Boston starters are logging big minutes so far.

- Ford breaks Paul Pierce's ankles with a crossover.

- Rajon Rondo is a poor man's T.J. Ford in every offensive facet.

- Ford is leading a deadly fast-break attack every time Boston turns the ball over.


4th Quarter

- My relatives have arrived, meaning it's now very difficult to focus on the game, writing and hearing about their day.

- Tony Allen throws down a monster dunk, making me believe the knee is fine.

- Tony Allen lands from said dunk. He is noticeably limping and comes out of the game. All my beliefs mean nothing.

- Its garbage time and the stars are nowhere to be seen.

- Raptors walk-on Jamario Moon is shockingly athletic. He's taken, and missed, a few three point attempts but his form looks good.


Final Notes

This was actually a really fun game to watch for 3 quarters as both teams came out with something to prove. The Boston attack looks deadly. Garnett completely controlled this game and with the best supporting cast of his career, it's easy to see why some think the Celtics will win the East.

However, Boston's deficiencies were on display as well. Their frontcourt is atrocious outside of Garnett and they were destroyed on the glass when he wasn't playing. If Garnett is to miss any time this year, the Celtics will struggle.

The Raptors had the second most productive bench in the NBA last year (behind San Antonio) and they showcased that here. They are a team that can run ten men deep and even twelve if they include Humphries and Dixon in the rotation. Bargnani looked really good and if he steps up this game could be a preview of the Eastern Conference Finals.