SB Nation Boston - Celtics 96, Pistons 85: Jermaine O'Neal, Boston Claim First Win Over Detroithttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48863/boston-fave.png2011-12-31T07:01:45-05:00http://boston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24348302011-12-31T07:01:45-05:002011-12-31T07:01:45-05:00Celtics Overtime: Meet The New (Better At Home) Boston Celtics
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<p><i>Celtics Overtime is a postgame feature providing extra news, notes and analysis from each game. Boston defeated Detroit, 96-85, in the home opener on Friday night.</i></p>
<p>For one night, they looked like the Boston Celtics of old. Or at least, the Celtics of a couple seasons ago. Nevermind the fact that they were playing the lowly Detroit Pistons, or that it was the only game they have won this season. On Friday night, the Celtics looked like a very good basketball team.</p>
<p>What caused such a drastic turnaround? Well, for starters, they were playing a bad teams -- one that they should be able to beat easily even on an off night. However, the same could have been said about the game against the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-orleans-hornets">New Orleans Hornets</a>, which Boston lost in blowout fashion. While the opponent helped, the Celtics played <i>much</i> better basketball.</p>
<p><b>Celtics' Offense Gets The Job Done Right</b></p>
<p>Boston shot 52.2 percent from the floor (35-for-67) and made 7-of-16 three pointers while going a perfect 19-for-19 at the free throw line. The Celtics had 25 assists while only coughing the ball up 10 times. Boston was led by Jermaine O'Neal, who scored 19 points and had seven rebounds. JO's 19 points were the most he has ever scored as a member of the C's. They didn't reach the 104- or 107-point plateau that they did in the first two games, but Boston executed very well on the offensive end and built a big lead by the end of the third quarter, allowing for their starters to get much-needed rest. After their struggles on offense against the Hornets, it was an encouraging performance to say the least.</p>
<p><b>Jermaine O'Neal, Offense Guru (OK, Not Really)</b></p>
<p>Where in the world did that game come from? O'Neal was expected to be a defensive stopper when he signed with the Celtics last offseason, and any offense was seen as an added bonus. Yet tonight, O'Neal led the team's scoring charge. We're talking about a team that boasts players like <span>Paul Pierce</span>, <span>Ray Allen</span> and <span>Kevin Garnett</span>. How did this happen? O'Neal attributed the success to extended minutes, saying that the longer he is out there, the more comfortable he can get. It's very unlikely that Boston can get a similar performance out of JO every night. But if they can, then look out.</p>
<p><b>The Truth Returns And Sets The Celtics Free</b></p>
<p>He's baaack. Paul Pierce returned to action for the first time this season after battling a bruised right heel that kept him out of almost all of training camp and the Celtics' first three games of the season. Pierce finished with 12 points, five assists and four rebounds in 22 minutes. Those certainly weren't his usual team-leading numbers on offense, but considering that he has had almost no time to practice and hasn't seen any game action, that is very impressive. Pierce will ease back into playing time, and in the meantime, expect him to have better performances each and every game.</p>
<p><b>Bottom Line: </b>Pistons or not, this was an impressive win. People were starting to question the Celtics' ability to compete this season after losing their first three games. Boston really needed a win to silence the critics (for the moment), and they got it tonight. The offense was solid, the defense was better and the team morale definitely increased after notching the all-important first win of the season. Who knows what is in store for the rest of the season, but right now, fans should be encouraged after what they saw on Friday night.</p>
<p><b>Next Up: </b>Boston travels to our nation's capital to take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> in a home-and-home series, beginning with a game in Washington D.C. on New Year's Day. After that, the Celtics will return home to host the Wizards on Monday night. </p>
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<th class="td-left"> <span>Final - 12.30.2011 </span> </th> <th>1</th> <th>2</th> <th>3</th> <th>4</th> <th>Total</th>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Detroit Pistons</a> </span></td>
<td>22</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>21</td>
<td class="highlight">85</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> </span></td>
<td>24</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>36</td>
<td>10</td>
<td class="highlight">96</td>
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<p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><span>Complete Coverage ></span></span></p>
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<p><i>For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">our team page</a> and blog, <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com/" target="_blank">CelticsBlog</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-celtics/2011/12/31/2671950/boston-celtics-2011-2012-nba-news-jermaine-oneal-paul-pierceGethin Coolbaugh2011-12-31T00:02:45-05:002011-12-31T00:02:45-05:00Celtics Vs. Pistons: TD Garden Advantage Carries C's To First Win
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<p><b>BOSTON - </b>Welcome to the Jungle, where they Boston Celtics brought their 'A' game. Boston was propelled on by a sellout crowd of 18,624 screaming fans at TD Garden as the C's posted a 96-85 win over the Detroit Pistons in their home opener on Friday night.</p>
<p>It was the first game played at TD Garden since last May (when the Celtics were swiftly eliminated by the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.hothothoops.com/">Miami Heat</a> in the playoffs) and was the first game post-lockout played in Boston. As expected, it was great to be back for the Celtics.</p>
<p>"It's always fun to be back in the garden," said Jermaine O'Neal, who finished with a team-high 19 points and seven rebounds in Boston's first victory of the 2011-12 season. "It's an energy boost for us, even when we physically feel tired the fans always find a way to give us some energy, so it feels good to get back home and get a win. It's always tough trying to get a win after losing a couple in a row, it was a great team effort."</p>
<p>The Celtics won't play at home again for the rest of the year (there's only one more day in 2011, you know), as they will take on the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/">Washington Wizards</a> in the first game of a back-to-back swing on New Year's Day. Boston will return home on Jan. 2 to host the Wizards, where they will look to improve to 2-0 at home. The C's were 33-8 at home last season.</p>
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<th class="td-left"> <span>Final - 12.30.2011 </span> </th> <th>1</th> <th>2</th> <th>3</th> <th>4</th> <th>Total</th>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Detroit Pistons</a> </span></td>
<td>22</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>21</td>
<td class="highlight">85</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> </span></td>
<td>24</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>36</td>
<td>10</td>
<td class="highlight">96</td>
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<p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><span>Complete Coverage ></span></span></p>
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<p><i>For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">our team page</a> and blog, <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com/" target="_blank">CelticsBlog</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-celtics/2011/12/31/2672000/celtics-vs-pistons-jermaine-oneal-td-gardenGethin Coolbaugh2011-12-30T23:16:02-05:002011-12-30T23:16:02-05:00Celtics Vs. Pistons: Jermaine O'Neal, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce Press Conferences
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<p><b>BOSTON - </b>Jermaine O'Neal had one of his best games as a Celtic, totaling 19 points and seven rebounds as the Boston Celtics coasted to a 96-85 win over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Detroit Pistons</a> to claim their first win in the home opener on Friday night at TD Garden.</p>
<p>O'Neal started strong with six points by the five minutes mark and finished the game strong, thanks in part due to extended minutes that allowed him to establish a flow. Meanwhile, <span>Paul Pierce</span> returned to action for the first time this season and finished with 12 points, five assists and four rebounds. <span>Kevin Garnett</span> had eight points and three boards in 25 minutes.</p>
<p>O'Neal, Garnett and Pierce spoke to the media following the C's first win.</p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/842123/VN-20111230-00003__1_.amr"><b>AUDIO: Jermaine O'Neal Postgame Press Conference (12-30-11)</b></a></p>
<p><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/842124/VN-20111230-00004.amr"><b>AUDIO: Kevin Garnett Postgame Interview (12-30-11)</b></a></p>
<p><b><a href="http://assets.sbnation.com/assets/842125/VN-20111230-00005.amr">AUDIO: Paul Pierce Postgame Interview (12-30-11)</a> </b></p>
<p><i>For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">our team page</a> and blog, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.celticsblog.com/">CelticsBlog</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-celtics/2011/12/30/2671920/celtics-vs-pistons-2011-paul-pierce-jermaine-oneal-kevin-garnett-press-conferenceGethin Coolbaugh2011-12-30T21:57:51-05:002011-12-30T21:57:51-05:00Celtics Vs. Pistons Final Score: Boston Cruises To First Win, 96-85
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<p><b>BOSTON - </b>Jermaine O'Neal finished with 19 points and seven rebounds as the Boston Celtics finally broke into the win column, defeating the <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Detroit Pistons</a>, 96-85, to claim win number one in their home opener on Friday night at TD Garden.</p>
<p>"Playing extended minutes, you can get a rhythm, you can get a flow, you can get comfortable with what the team was doing," said O'Neal. "In the first couple of games I was in and out of there so fast it was almost impossible to get any flow to the game."</p>
<p><span>Ray Allen</span> scored 17 points on 5-of-9 shooting for Boston, which made 35-of-67 field goals to shoot 52.2 percent. <span>Paul Pierce</span>, playing in his first game of the season after missing the team's first three games with a bruised right heel, scored 12 points and had four rebounds and five steals in 22 minutes. <span>Kevin Garnett</span> added eight points and three rebound in 25 minutes while <span>Rajon Rondo</span> totaled nine points and five assists in 24 minutes for Boston. Off the bench, <span>Brandon Bass</span> had 17 points in 21 minutes to lead the Boston reserves.</p>
<p><span>Greg Monroe</span> was the game's leading scorer, finishing with 22 points and eight rebounds for Detroit. <span>Tayshaun Prince</span> and Jonas Jerebko scored 10 points a piece, <span>Ben Gordon</span> had nine points and <span>Brandon Knight</span> added 10 points off the bench for the Pistons, who shot 43.0 percent. <span>Austin Daye</span> also added 11 points and five boards for Detroit.</p>
<p>The Celtics fell behind 15-13 with 5:32 to play and ended the first quarter with a 24-22 lead. Boston used a 12-4 run to open the second quarter and the Pistons were never able to recover. In the third quarter, Boston outscored Detroit 36-21 to build a big lead. With reserves ruling the quarter for Boston, the C's gave up 21 points in the final quarter while only scoring 10 themselves.</p>
<p>Boston return to action on New Year's Day against the <a href="https://www.bulletsforever.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Washington Wizards</a> in D.C.</p>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Detroit Pistons</a> </span></td>
<td>22</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>21</td>
<td>21</td>
<td class="highlight">85</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> </span></td>
<td>24</td>
<td>26</td>
<td>36</td>
<td>10</td>
<td class="highlight">96</td>
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<p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><span>Complete Coverage ></span></span></p>
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<p><i>For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">our team page</a> and blog, <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com/" target="_blank">CelticsBlog</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-celtics/2011/12/30/2671748/celtics-vs-pistons-final-score-jermaine-oneal-ray-allen-paul-pierce-greg-monroe-nba-newsGethin Coolbaugh2011-12-30T21:24:21-05:002011-12-30T21:24:21-05:00Celtics Vs. Pistons Score Update: Boston Leads, 86-64, After Third
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<p><b>BOSTON - </b>Jermaine O'Neal has 16 points and seven rebounds and the Boston Celtics hold an 86-64 lead over the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Detroit Pistons</a> after three quarters in their home opener at TD Garden on Friday night. <span>Ray Allen</span> has 17 points, <span>Paul Pierce</span> has 12 points and <span>Brandon Bass</span> has 15 points off the bench for Boston.</p>
<p><span>Greg Monroe</span> is the game's leading scorer with 20 points and also has eight rebounds for Detroit. <span>Tayshaun Prince</span> and Jonas Jerebko each have 10 points and <span>Ben Gordon</span> has eight points for the Pistons.</p>
<p><i>For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">our team page</a> and blog, <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com/" target="_blank">CelticsBlog</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-celtics/2011/12/30/2671729/celtics-vs-pistons-score-update-third-quarter-jermaine-oneal-ray-allen-greg-monroe-nba-newsGethin Coolbaugh2011-12-30T20:44:31-05:002011-12-30T20:44:31-05:00Celtics Vs. Pistons Score Update: Boston Takes 50-43 Lead At Half
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<p><b>BOSTON - </b>Jermaine O'Neal scored 10 points and grabbed three rebounds while <span>Ray Allen</span> scored nine points on 3-of-5 shooting as the Boston Celtics took a 50-43 lead over the Detroit Pistons into halftime in their home opener at TD Garden.</p>
<p><span>Paul Pierce</span>, who saw action for the first time this season, scored six points and had four rebounds in 13 minutes for Boston, which made 17-of-33 shots to shoot 51.5 percent in the half. <span>Brandon Bass</span> had six points off the bench and <span>Sasha Pavlovic</span> added five points for Boston.</p>
<p><span>Greg Monroe</span> has a game-high 14 points and had four rebounds and three steals in the first half for Detroit, which shot 44.2 percent in the half. <span>Tayshaun Prince</span> scored eight points and <span>Ben Gordon</span> added six points for the Pistons.</p>
<p>Boston opened the quarter on a 12-4 run and built a 36-26 lead with 7:50 left before halftime. Detroit closed out the half on a 17-14 run to keep themselves in the game.</p>
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<th class="td-left"> <span>Intermission</span> </th> <th>1</th> <th>2</th> <th>3</th> <th>4</th> <th>Total</th>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="undecided"> <a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Detroit Pistons</a> </span></td>
<td>22</td>
<td>21</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="undecided"> <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> </span></td>
<td>24</td>
<td>26</td>
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<td class="highlight">50</td>
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<p><i>For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">our team page</a> and blog, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.celticsblog.com/">CelticsBlog</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-celtics/2011/12/30/2671637/celtics-vs-pistons-score-update-jermaine-oneal-greg-monroe-nba-newsGethin Coolbaugh2011-12-30T20:10:57-05:002011-12-30T20:10:57-05:00Celtics Vs. Pistons Score Update: Boston Takes 24-22 Lead After 1st
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<p><b>BOSTON - </b><span>Ray Allen</span> scored seven points and Jermaine O'Neal added six points as the Boston Celtics took a 24-22 lead after the first quarter of play in the home opener on Friday night at TD Garden.</p>
<p>Boston and Detroit traded baskets in the early going, but the Celtics pulled away for a 20-15 lead with 3:25 left in the quarter thanks to five straight points from Ray Allen. Detroit closed out the quarter on a 7-4 run to cut the deficit to two.</p>
<p><span>Paul Pierce</span>, who started and played five minutes in the quarter, had two points. Pierce's first and only basket came on a drive to the basket. Pierce's only other shot attempt was a three-pointer from the corner, which was off target.</p>
<p><span>Greg Monroe</span> had eight points, three rebounds and two assists to lead the <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Pistons</a>.</p>
<p><i>For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">our team page</a> and blog, <a href="http://www.celticsblog.com/" target="_blank">CelticsBlog</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-celtics/2011/12/30/2671610/celtics-vs-pistons-score-update-first-quarter-ray-allen-greg-monroe-nba-newsGethin Coolbaugh2011-12-30T19:05:22-05:002011-12-30T19:05:22-05:00Boston Celtics (0-3) Vs. Detroit Pistons (0-2): Greetings From TD Garden
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<p><b>BOSTON - </b>Greetings from TD Garden in Boston, MA, where I am courtside covering tonight's Boston Celtics home opener against the Detroit Pistons on Friday night.</p>
<p>Boston and Detroit enter the game with a combined 0-5 record, with the Celtics losing their first three games of the season and the Pistons dropping the first two games they have played. Tonight, the Celtics will look to turn the tables on the worst start of the new Big Three era.</p>
<p>Very good news for Celtics fans, as <span>Paul Pierce</span> will see his first action of the 2011-12 season and will start. Pierce missed the majority of training camp with a bruised right heel and was held out of the Celtics' first three games of the season.</p>
<p>On paper, this appears to be a matchup that favors the Celtics. Sadly, games aren't played on paper. If they were, Boston would have defeated the <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/nba/teams/new-orleans-hornets" class="sbn-auto-link">New Orleans Hornets</a>, and they didn't. Can the Celtics notch win No. 1? We will find out shortly.</p>
<p>Until then, enjoy the game and have a relaxing evening. Go Celtics!</p>
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<p class="game-title"><a href="https://www.detroitbadboys.com/">Detroit Pistons</a> <br> <span>@ <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">Boston Celtics</a> </span></p>
<p class="game-info"><span>Friday, Dec 30, 2011, 7:30 PM EST</span><br> TD Garden</p>
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<p><i>For more Boston Celtics coverage, visit <a href="https://www.celticsblog.com/">our team page</a> and blog, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.celticsblog.com/">CelticsBlog</a>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-celtics/2011/12/30/2671514/celtics-vs-pistons-2011-2012-paul-pierce-nba-newsGethin Coolbaugh