Celtics fall in OT to Pelicans, 121-120
By Trey Adell
Mar 16, 2014; New Orleans, LA, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jeff Green (8) shoots over New Orleans Pelicans forward Al-Farouq Aminu (0) during overtime of a game at the Smoothie King Center.The Pelicans defeated the Celtics 121-120 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Once again the Celtics fail to execute in a close game down the stretch. This time I can’t really describe how they really lost this one. I could say it was because they inexplicably didn’t foul down one point with 5 seconds left in the game, or I could tell you that Anthony Davis had a 40/20 game, or I could tell you that the Celtics allowed the Pelicans to score 70 points in the paint. It could be any one of those reasons, or it could be all of them.
Anthony Davis is special. I don’t mean the type of special that a parent would call their moderately talented 7 year-old kid who can play two songs on the piano, I mean the earth-shattering, game-changing, could-one day-be-the-best-player-in-the-league kind of special. He’s the type of player that I think there might only be two players in the league I wouldn’t give up for him, — Lebron and Durant — not saying he’s the third best player in the league yet — but lets not kid ourselves, he’ll be there soon and may even pass it — but he’s only 21-freaking-years-old. He hasn’t even hit his athletic peak yet and I’m already saying I wouldn’t trade him for Dwight Howard or the Point God Chris Paul for him. It’s insane how easy this kid has already matured in just his 2nd year in the league. The Celtics are usually helpless against talented big men on account of none of their bigs having any length whatsoever and that was only amplified by playing Davis. Alright, I’m done gushing about Davis, I promise.
One the Celtics side of things, Mr. Potential, Jeff Green had a great night. 39 points on 12-23 shooting and 11-12 from the free throw line. That’s all I’ll say about Jeff so I don’t get anyone who just started watching basketball’s hopes up that this could possibly a frequent thing.
Rondo was quite abysmal from the field and is still struggling to finish at the rim. He finished shooting 3-14, but made up for it with his 8 rebounds and 14 assists. He won’t suit up tomorrow as the “no back-to-backs” rule is in effect for what I believe to be the rest of the season.
Humphries continued his solid play this season with his game-tying buzzer beater that sent the game into overtime. I keep thinking that he’s going to disappoint me somehow but he never does and has been a constant source of entertainment for this season.
The rest of the team was pretty meh. Olynyk played some solid defense, Sully hit a couple of threes, and Avery somehow almost cost the Cs the game in regulation with a turnover. Just your typical Celtics.