Monday, October 15, 2012

Green Shows How he has Come Back Strong in loss to Knicks

Green continues to impress with his scoring ability
Jeff Green keeps passing tests in his comeback from heart surgery. Green, the Celtics' leading scorer in this young exhibition season, showed he can still get to the hoop and finish with the best of them in the Celtics' 98-95 overtime loss to the New York Knicks Saturday night at the XL Center.

Green scored 12 points, 10 in the second quarter, as Green scored in a variety of ways. He displayed versatility, dunking twice and hitting a 3-pointer on the next possession of that dunk. But this wasn't an ordinary dunk that Green pulled off, Green did his best James Worthy impression while soaring over Jason Kidd and a nameless Knick for the one-handed jam.
"Of course, I wanted to be aggressive to the rim," Green said. "I didn't know who was there, and whoever was in my way got dunked on. It feels good to be on the court and especially to do something like that, show people I've still got it."
Green was diagnosed with an aortic aneurysm during preseason training last year. He was cleared to return this season and has been participating in workouts with the team since September 4.

The Celtics starters built a 12-point lead in the third quarter before Rivers went with his reserves. Both teams went deep into their benches. But it was Knicks' Chris Copeland that did the most damage for New York in the second half. He entered the game late in the third quarter and scored in bunches for the Knicks. The Pervis Ellison look-alike scored 21 points in 20 minutes and led the way for New York. Copeland has been fighting for a roster spot on the Knicks and displayed why New York may want to consider signing him.

Late in overtime, Celtics had a chance to tie the game with a 3-pointer to send the game into a second overtime. Christmas, who is considered to be the frontrunner for one of the team's final roster spots, didn't run the set correctly that was designed to get Jamar Smith an open look at a potential tying 3-pointer.
"I thought Coach said one thing and it was another. It was a whole communication problem," Christmas said after the game. "Things like that can't happen if we're going to win games, so that's something we're definitely going to change and get out of my system- one and done for that." 
Celtics continue their preseason schedule tonight against the Philadelphia 76ers.



Josue Pavon

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