Player Grades: Spurs 95 – Celtics 93
Jul 14, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; players run across center court during an NBA Summer League game at Thomas & Mack Center. Mandatory Credit: Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports
Prior to last night, I never thought you could describe a summer league game as “crushing”; unless of course you were using it in the literal sense to describe Thursday’s game when Marcus Smart dislocated his fingers (sorry).
However, last night’s loss to the Spurs in the virtually-meaningless quarterfinals of the Las Vegas Summer League, was, somehow, crushing.
Down three with 5.4 seconds, Terry Rozier tied the game on an impressive step-back three pointer after struggling with his shot the entire game. It’s refreshing to see a rookie as fearless as Rozier, especially after having watched Kelly Olynyk shy away from numerous shots.
The excitement was short-lived, considering this immediately followed:
It’s always difficult to stomach a buzzer-beater when your team is at the receiving end, especially in an elimination game. However, it is just summer league and there’ll always be another day for the Mickey, Rozier and Hunter trio.
The Celtics played an impressive game, that for the most part, reflected a better brand of basketball than the Spurs’.
Boston, as a unit, posted 17 assists, illustrating an adherence to play within their system – which promotes team basketball. The Spurs, who popularized this team-centric style of play, only scored off 8 assists, while struggling with turnovers (12) and fouls (30). The Celtics beat the Spurs in nearly every statistical category, besides shooting percentage.
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The C’s managed to keep it close despite multiple runs by the Spurs. They consistently chipped away at deficits and remained composed until the bitter end.
Although down 70-56 late in the third quarter, it never felt like the C’s were gonners. It was to no surprise that the C’s erased a seven-point deficit with 40 seconds left in the game. This team’s tenacity means it won’t be too tough for the C’s veterans to instill their grit into these youngsters.
Next: Player Grades: R.J. Hunter