BOSTON - The Celtics thrive off pushing the pace, and that was bad news for a Blazers team playing their fourth game in five nights - all on the road.
While the Blazers may have been able to keep up for a bit, it was only a matter of time before the Celtics' pace was too much for Portland.
The Blazers came into the game allowing just 10 fast break points per game, but the Celtics ran all over them to the tune of 30 points on 12-for-16 from the field.
It didn't help that the Blazers shot just 39-percent through three quarters, allowing the Celtics to turn defense into offense much more often than not.
“They got after us, I think it’s that simple," Damian Lillard said. "You know to start the game I thought we were doing pretty well you know, but one thing we coming into the game was they push the ball up quick and they attack. In early huddles we kept saying we got all five guys back as quick as possible so they can see bodies and make them play in the half court. The entire game we just couldn’t get that under control, for the most part I thought we competed over the top of screens, we contested shots, they just had a little bit more of a bounce with them tonight."
Boston took 23 more shots than the Blazers did (107 to 84) partly due to the pace they were playing at. Jared Sullinger said that both Isaiah Thomas and Avery Bradley were well aware that the Blazers could be coming in on tired legs. They were definitely on to something.
"Yeah, I think the pace we had is something we want to play at," Thomas said. "We got stops and that got us going. We wanted to attack not just their team, but their guards. Make them play defense as well. We did a good job of that tonight."
Fast break points were a huge part of the Celtics' 116-93 win, but here are some players who were also a big part of it - for better or worse.
STARS
Isaiah Thomas
Another game, another star point guard battle that Isaiah Thomas wins. All the hype was surrounding a Blazers backcourt featuring Damian Lillard and C.J. McCollum - and rightfully so. Those two have been tearing up the league. But it was Thomas who was scoring from all over, finishing with 30 points on 11-for-20 from the field.
Jared Sullinger
Give it up for the big fella! Sullinger came up huge for the Celtics in this one, scoring nine points in the third quarter that saw the Celtics break open the game. He finished with 15 points, 11 rebounds and two blocks. Nobody is going to forget that spin move followed by the dunk, either.
STUDS
Marcus Smart
Another strong outing for the second-year guard who played a physical style of basketball Wednesday night. Smart had eight rebounds in the first half alone, and finished with 11 total. He also added 15 points. Brad Stevens credited him for being a big reason the C's climbed back into the game in the first quarter.
Avery Bradley
Bradley finished with a quiet 17 points on the night, but you know he's going to be smiling tonight seeing that both Lillard and McCollum scored 17 points each, too. Those guys are counted on to score more, and Bradley did his job by making things tough on them.
DUDS
Damian Lillard
It wasn't a terrible night for Lillard by any means. He shot 7-for-16 for 17 points. But that ain't the Lillard of late. The Lillard of late has scored 30-plus in eight of the last nine games. He didn't add much else to his box score either - just one assist and four rebounds. This wasn't a game that will make the highlight reel.
C.J. McCollum
McCollum started off real hot. In fact, I was already lining up my sidebar on him halfway through the second quarter. But then he went very, very cold. McCollum scored 17 points in the game . . . but zero in the second half.
“I just didn’t make shots," McCollum said. "I attacked the basket and didn’t finish in the lane, I missed a couple jump shots and that was pretty much it. They went on a big run and the game was over.”