Inspired Celtics regain some swagger with win over Heat

By Couper Moorhead, for NBA.com
Posted Thursday February 4, 2010 12:21AM

BOSTON (NBA.com exclusive) -- For all the inconsistencies the Boston Celtics have inflicted on themselves during the past month, none have been more crippling than their weakness on the glass.

So, having lost six of their past nine amidst rumors of trades and internal turmoil, the Celtics responded with not only their best rebounding performance of the new year, but their most consistent offensive showing as well. In beating the Miami Heat, 107-102, Wednesday night, the Celtics were a team while the Heat were simply Dwyane Wade.

There was room for a little more hyperbole after that. On top of the team accolades of 15 offensive rebounds -- with a plus 10 overall margin on the boards -- and 29 assists on 37 field goals, the Celtics got the absolute best version of Kevin Garnett they've seen since his return from a knee injury.

"I'm OK," Garnett said. "I'm doing the small things, I'm trying to fulfill my role and what I have to do on this team."

With Boston's offense running through him more than usual, Garnett completed the first half with six assists and was on triple-double watch until the final minutes, winding up with a season-high nine helpers. The trendsetter, however, was Rajon Rondo.

"There's times where you're mad at Kevin for being a ball mover," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "There are times when you say, 'let's just go ahead and shoot that one.' Him and Rondo do that at times. But that's a disease I would rather have -- overpass -- rather than the other way."

Responsible for nearly half of Boston's output with 22 points and 14 assists, Rondo reached those numbers with his traditional slice-and-dice play with a little extra thrown in, hitting 2-of-3 from beyond the arc while earning 14 attempts at the free-throw line, 11 above his average.

"It was contagious," Rondo said. "When guys are moving the ball, we are a great team. We are fun to watch. Just can't give our guys enough credit."

It was a familiar story for the Heat. As with Rondo, between his 13 assists and 30 points, Wade personally accounted for more than half of his team's points. Unlike the Boston point guard, Wade didn't have anyone making plays for him down the stretch. And often the plays they did make, like fouling Rondo on a mid-court heave at the end of the half, technicals, and fouling Kendrick Perkins in the final minute before the ball was inbounded, were wounding.

"Some of those, those are emotions and plays of passion," Miami coach Erik Spoelstra said. "We've got to show up tomorrow and fight the fight. We can't feel sorry for ourselves."

After a Ray Allen (23 points) putback late in the third quarter put the Celtics up seven, Wade kept things in hand with a quick six-point burst. But as the fourth quarter got going, Boston began sending double teams at Wade the moment he touched the ball, with most pick-and-rolls resulting in two men on Wade on the wing and a free man left for the help defense.

With the defense of their reputation -- which they have lost touch with lately -- the Boston help rotations won out. The play of the game came with 46 seconds remaining in a one-possession game. Wade tried to split two defenders and get to the rim, but recovering from a screen, Tony Allen tipped and stole the ball, forcing a foul and giving Boston a five-point lead.

"I needed that confidence," Allen said. "I was struggling offensively tonight but my bread and butter is defense."

And then the offense, with assists on eight of nine fourth-quarter field goals, closed things out with fourteen consecutive free-throw attempts.

• Heat: Chalmers, Diawara
• Celtics: Daniels, Giddens

• Heat: Alston, O'Neal
• Celtics: --

• Lead Changes: 9
• Times Tied: 9

• Arena: TD Garden, Boston, MA
• Officials: #9 Derrick Stafford, #33 Sean Corbin, #59 Gary Zielinski
• Attendance: 18624
• Duration: 2:50