Celtics Hope For Better Start In Game 2 Against Knicks
BOSTON (CBS) – The Celtics have a chance to take a 2-0 series lead against the New York Knicks on Tuesday when their Eastern Conference Quarterfinals series resumes at the TD Garden.
Game two is important to the Celtics, but just because it is the next game.
"I just take them one at a time," head coach Doc Rivers said at practice on Monday. "I don't know if I put importance on one game more than another because Game one was really important. So now Game two will be. I'm hoping we play better."
It looked like the Celtics were sleepwalking through the first half Sunday night, and found themselves in a 49-39 halftime hole. They bounced back but still needed a Ray Allen jumper with 11 seconds left to secure the 87-85 Game one victory. A slow start is something they hope to avoid this time out.
"We've got to get off to better starts, especially in the first half," Captain Paul Pierce said. "We can't get down and say we're going to turn it up to try and get back into the game. We need to be consistent for four quarters."
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"Our defensive game plan has to be run early," Rivers stressed. "We really got away from what we worked on and what we were doing. We were kind of making up stuff. That happens when you're just excited about playing; you try to do too much. Then you put your entire team in problems and I thought we did a lot of that."
Rivers hopes the Celtics will push the ball more when they get defensive stops, keeping the Knicks defense on their heels throughout the game.
New York will likely be without point guard Chauncey Billups, but the Celtics are not going to back off just because the Knicks will be without their floor general.
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"For us, we have to be even more focused," Pierce said. "We haven't done a good job when star players sit throughout the season."
Second-year guard Toney Douglas will get the bulk of the action if Billups cannot go, and the Celtics will not take him lightly.
"We lost quiet a few games with the other teams stars missing," Pierce added. "I don't know if we were taking it for granted because their star player is missing."
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"If you take someone lightly in the playoffs, then shame on you," Rivers said. "Everybody is capable of playing. They went on a winning streak when Douglas was playing and Chauncey was out. I don't think it will affect the game."
Douglas averaged 10.6 points per game while shooting nearly 42-percent from the field.
Without Billups, even more of the scoring duties will fall on Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, who combined for 43 points in Game one.
Pierce is in charge of guarding Anthony this series, a challenge he proudly accepts.
"I enjoy just playing against the best, just to kind of see where I'm at," Pierce said of trying to stop Melo. "It's something that's always been in me. I've never walked away from a challenge. Definitely this is a big challenge, playing against Carmelo in a series because I've never done it."
Paul Pierce Talks About Guarding Carmelo Anthony
"I have to be great on both sides of the ball, that's the way I'm looking at this series," he continued. "I have to be the scorer the Celtics need me to be, and I have to be the defender because I'm guarding one of the premier players in the game. It's a lot of responsibility, but a responsibility I've been used to. That's the way I approach it.
"It's not going to be easy, and Doc's always saying winning isn't easy."
