Skip to main content

Jay Walkers and Hayward, healthy and hot, destroy Lakers, 139-107

It is amazing what health and hot hands can accomplish. The Jay Walkers trio of Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Kemba Walker, assisted by Gordon Hayward, combined for 83 points, 19 rebounds and 21 assists to take out Lebron James' Lakers, 139-107. Make no mistake - this victory was vital and convincing. Brad Stevens, never one to overstate an issue, had this to say about his troops all being able to hit their shots in the same game (per NBA's Jimmy Golen):

''We were fortunate to put the ball in the basket quite a bit,'' said Stevens, whose team shot 56% overall. ''The ball going in masks some things.''


Fortunate, indeed! With all of the injuries behind them, Walker, Tatum, Brown and Hayward shot a combined 30-of-57 (53%) from the field and 11-of-22 (50%) from beyond the arc. The Green's offensive attack was just too much for the Lakers to handle. Although Stevens mention of "fortunate" and "ball going in masks some things" infers his feeling that the foursome's accuracy had a bit of luck attached to it, and the play of his crew still needs work - but that's Brad.

This game had a landmark quality to it. This was Kemba Walker's first win over a Lebron-led team in 29 attempts (per NBA's Jimmy Golen):

'I'm happy I got one at least, before he goes,'' Walker said with a laugh after the Celtics snapped their three-game losing streak. ''Who knows how long he can play, because he's just incredible. But you know, it's only one. One and 28.''


What also needs to get mentioned was the significant contribution of Enes Kanter. His double-double of 18 points and 11 boards encompassed 8-of-10 shooting and six of his 11 rebounds being off the offensive glass. His offensive rebounding and scoring efficiency and effectiveness were certainly on display in the win.

With everybody healthy, we got a look at the rotation Brad is leaning towards going forward. Marcus Smart and Kanter came off the bench for 26 and 24 minutes, respectively. Semi Ojeleye logged 19 minutes, contributing five points five boards and one block. Grant Williams was only on the floor for five minutes, scoring three points and taking down three rebounds. Barring a trade, this may be the 9-man rotation we see when the entire crew is healthy.

Follow Tom at @CelticsSentinel, @CausewayStreet and Facebook



Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Elm Street Nightmare

 A true-and-suspenseful horror tale of haunting, homicides and the hunt for triple-murderer, Daniel Laplante - as told by the cops that were there By Lt. Thomas Lane (Ret.)  Daniel Laplante - cold, calm, clever, calculating- Photo: YouTube   Elm Street  surfaces on six (6) occasions in the Laplante saga: 1.) He  resided on Elm Street  in Townsend, Massachusetts  2.) He  kidnapped a woman  at gunpoint on  Elm Street, Pepperell , Massachusetts 3.) That kidnapped woman fled to the Gillogly residence on Elm Street after escaping from the armed fugitive, Laplante. 4.) He was arrested and transported to Massachusetts State Police Barracks on Elm Street in Concord . 5.) He was  tried, convicted   and sentenced for the murders at  Superior Court , corner of  Elm Stree t and Gorham Street, Lowell, Massachusetts. 6.) The author, Thomas Lane, lived on Elm Steet, Pepperell, Massachusetts while a police Sgt./Lt. for the town police force. When evil and cleverness reside in the same mind, the st

Did the Celtics Kevin McHale really have a wingspan of 8-feet?

According to many sources, the Celtics Kevin McHale did indeed have an estimated wingspan of 8-feet. One of those sources is Wikipedia, as seen below: Kevin McHale American basketball player DescriptionKevin Edward McHale is an American retired basketball player who played his entire professional career for the Boston Celtics. He is a Basketball Hall of Fame inductee, and is regarded as one of the best power forwards of all time. He was named to the NBA's 50th Anniversary All-Time Team. Wikipedia Born: December 19, 1957 (age 61 years), Hibbing, MN Wingspan: 8′ 0″ Height: 6′ 10″ Spouse: Lynn McHale (m. 1982) NBA draft: 1980, Boston Celtics (Round: 1 / Pick: 3) Hall of fame induction: 1999 Number: 32 (Boston Celtics / Power forward, Center) Kevin was listed at 6'10" tall when he was drafted with the 3rd pick in the 1980 draft. Red Auerbach, in yet another heist, brought in both McHale and center Robert Parish (via trade) prior to the Celtics' 1980-81 Champion

In defense of Marcus Smart

 Let me make it clear first of all that I am totally against making a threat of any kind that even hints at harming, or certainly killing, another human being. Marcus Smart was wrong in doing so in the Celtics loss to the tanking Oklahoma City Thunder , and he deserved the one-game suspension. But to be honest, part of me loved that it occurred. . This type of thing can happen when a player gets to a point "beyond frustration" and is having a bad game. Marcus and his teammates have been under-performing generally - were in the process of losing to a pathetic-and-tanking Thunder team - and Smart was having a bad game . And he let loose verbally at the closest target - an NBA official. Wilt Chamberlain did a similar act versus referee, Earl Strom when Wilt was having his usual tortuous time at the free throw line (per Chicago Tribune's Sam Smith): ''He was in one of those 1-for-13s,'' recalls referee Earl Strom. ''Nothing was getting close. S