If the Celtics as we know them are making their last stand, they’ve started to make a pretty good go of it. Since the All-Star break, the Celtics have gone 13-5, and that has gotten them into an all-important tie for the lead in the Atlantic Division. As it stands, the Celtics have the No. 7 seed, which means a first-round matchup with the Heat, so it certainly behooves Boston to do all it can to move out of that spot.
The schedule, however, is imposing. The Celtics had a very hot Utah team in town Wednesday and were able to get a win, but they travel to Minnesota on Friday before getting the Heat in a matinee Sunday. Starting with that Miami game, the Celtics will play seven opponents with an average winning percentage of .633, and they follow that stretch with a back-to-back-to-back on the road.
One of the keys for the Celtics surge has been a bit of a surprise—35-year-old Kevin Garnett, who dislikes playing center but has thrived in the spot in the absence of Jermaine O’Neal. Garnett had 23 points and 10 rebounds against Utah, and since the All-Star break is averaging 17.3 points on 53.0 percent shooting, with 8.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists.
“Kevin’s been amazing,” coach Doc Rivers said. “I was joking, but it is true, if you had an All-Star vote at the center spot in the league right now, he’d be right up there, because that’s what he’s been since the break. He’s a 5 and he’s been terrific. Just don’t tell him that.”
Deveney: Doc Rivers knows son, Austin, could be available
Player to watch: Kawhi Leonard, Spurs
Over the course of the year, no team has layered on the depth quite like the Spurs, and in the last two weeks, they have added Boris Diaw, Patty Mills and Stephen Jackson, while bringing back Manu Ginobili from injury. Their veteran depth should be a big part of them finishing strong in the Western Conference—but don’t discount the play of the Spurs’ youth. “We didn’t have this kind of depth last year,” Spurs coach Gregg Popovich said. “Our young players allow us not to overplay our veterans like Timmy (Duncan) and Tony (Parker).” Performing particularly well lately has been Leonard, the rookie the Spurs acquired in a draft day trade for George Hill. Leonard had 19 points and nine rebounds in the Spurs’ win over the Kings on Wednesday, and over his last five games he has averaged 12.8 points and 8.2 rebounds, while shooting 55.1 percent from the field and 41.7 percent on 3-pointers.
Deveney: Drama continues with Lakers
Matchup to watch: Luol Deng vs. Kevin Durant, Bulls at Thunder, Sunday
For the second straight Sunday, the West-leading Thunder will host a potential Finals foe—they handled the second-seeded Heat last week, now look to do the same against the top-seeded Bulls. Kevin Durant seemed especially keyed up for his individual matchup with LeBron James last week on both ends of the floor, and he’ll get a much different small forward against Chicago in Luol Deng. In five games in his career, Deng has played well against Durant, averaging 16.8 points. Durant has averaged 25.6 points in those games but has shot just 43.5 percent from the field and 33.3 percent from the 3-point line.
Deveney: Ty Corbin has Jazz fighting for playoffs
On a roll: Clippers
A week ago, it looked like coach Vinny Del Negro could be in some trouble with his slumping Clippers, who seemed to have abandoned whatever defensive progress they’d made this year and were playing far too much one-on-one offense. Since then, the Clippers have pulled together three straight wins, all at home, and seemed to have rediscovered their defense—they have allowed opponents 85, 85 and 86 points in those three wins. They will have a back-to-back at home this weekend, with Portland on Friday and Utah on Saturday.
Getting desperate: Cavaliers
The future may be bright for the Cavaliers and No. 1 pick Kyrie Irving, but the present is getting to be a grind. Irving still has a solid hold on the league’s Rookie of the Year award, but the Cavaliers have lost eight of their last nine games (they failed to crack 90 points in six of those contests) and the nonstop nature of this year’s schedule seems to be wearing on Irving. Over his last 10 games, Irving is shooting 43.4 percent from the field.
没有评论:
发表评论