The objective of these is not to tell a narrative, it’s to share different things I see. Hence the bulletpoints. See, I’m not lazy. Some of these are from Twitter. Just a head’s up.

/lazybones

• The Magic have now won 9 of the last 15 meeting with Boston, a team that won the championship two years ago and is considered the Eastern elite by many. So perhaps it might be time for Boston and its fans to quit dismissing them. I can understand it, it doesn’t sound intuitive. “Orlando is as good as Boston.” It sounds wrong. But that’s what’s happening. And the matchup problems are apparently not solved by El Tigre Monstruoso.
• One of the reasons that he wasn’t the difference maker is that KG is defending at around 12 feet. I don’t know if it’s because he doesn’t want to press the knee to try and cover the head fake and drive, or if he’s just trying to maintain the Celtics’ commitment to clogging the lane.  But Lewis is not a guy you can give the ball to and let him evaluate what he wants. Then later, he overplays the screen which gives up a wide open banker to Lewis. The Celtics’ defense is set to recover from that, but only if the player goes right to the paint, which means the weakside can recover. Lewis takes a step off and that gives him all the space in the world. Range gives the Celtics’ problems normally, but Garnett’s inability to cover ground gave up a few buckets tonight.
• When I’m actively rooting for the other team, Kendrick Perkins is one of my least favorite C’s. When I’m just watching him play, he’s possibly my favorite. Early in the game, he went low, shielded himself from the official, and just flat out elbowed Howard to get him off and banked it in. He’s willing and able to do any manner of dirty moves in order to get the job done. Love the perpetual scowl, too. I don’t think he’s a premier center in the league, and I think on some level, he’s largely made better by those around him. But still, the fact that he’s so willing to work and takes every play as something to care about is really something to watch. Plus, I’m afraid if I don’t say something nice about him he’ll throw me through a pane-glass window.
• Mikael Pietrus not only is phenomenal at shooting in the flow of this offense, but he’s rocking an 80′s soul singer haircut that keeps making me hear sax solos in the background. Versatile!
• JVG touched on this in the telecast, but Rondo’s work when the defense sags after the pick is brilliant. It’s the moment of highest vulnerability, both offensively and defensively, as both sides are adjusting to the new world of that possession, as it were, (wank-wank), and most points want to see where everything is before they decide. Rondo relishes in chaos. He takes that split second and that’s where he makes his decision. That takes a phenomenal amount of confidence and capability. It sets him apart. Alongside, you know, being the equivalent of a wrestling heel. I’m waiting for him to come out with a microphone on the road and tell the crowd their mommas are hobos or something.
• That’s the good Rondo, here’s the bad. Bro made a ton of really shakey fouls in this game. Not even “in position, just overplayed it.” The “Oh, hey, Dwight Howard has wide open lane and is driving, I’m not in position,and he’s a Goddamn freight train. I know! I’ll tackfoul his arm! That should work!” DUNK. FOUL. THANKYOUCOMEAGAIN.
• Marquis Daniels was on the floor for way too short a time. Hmm. Big long defender that can handle the ball and can create scoring opportunities? Nah, let’s only play him 20 minutes when two heavy usage guys are on the floor. That should do it. Ah, Doc. More inpsirational motifs, please!
• On a mid-4th quarter rotation, Allen drove, sucked in the defense, and found House, with Quis on the right, sCal on the right. I’d really like to be in House’s head on the following decision. “Hmm. Better shooter, more talented athlete, the highest percentage three point location on the floor, actually an NBA player….OR… SCALABRINE! MAKE MAGIC HAPPEN, BABY! Clang.
• Vince Carter’s about what you’d expect. Terrific on some plays, terrible on others. Scores because of great effort on one play. Dogs it for another four minutes. High turnovers in a pass-heavy offense. So you get elite for 1/3 of the plays, average for 1/3, lackadaisical for 1/3 versus Hedo who was just slightly above average for 2/3, lackadaisical for 1/3. Redistribution. Economy’s tough, after all.
• Orlando gives up 37.8% from three. Boston shoots 30%. Boston shot 11%. So yes, there was some statistical oddity here. I’d chalk it up to half Orlando’s defense, half Boston having a bad night. You’re tempted to just say Boston had a bad night, but again, 9 of 15. They’re doing something right.
• Garnett does still have bursts, like on the block with 1:41 remaining. He’s also working much better on offense in the pick and roll rather than spot up or creating his own. Realizing he can’t  do everything on his own is important for this stage in his career.
• Versus Vince Carter, who needs to realize he’s not on the Nets anymore. Ball movement? Good. High usage? Bad.
• The Pierce foul with 58 seconds left wasn’t as bad a call as it first looked. On a shot attempt, it’s probably not called. But Pierce impeded his movement with his shoulder across the body, made contact, and reached across. Oddly enough, it’s what Pierce usually does to draw fouls. Sucker them in on one side, pull them to the other, then lean in. Pierce had drawn two that way. Was it ticky-tack? I can’t argue with you if you say it was. Either way, I can understand it being called. In the context of the game, it was a bad time, but then, you can always make the argument that officiating needs to maintain consistency. Tough one. Of course, if the Celtics weren’t building a fort last night from the arc, it wouldn’t have mattered.
• Liked seeing Garnett give Rashard the brohug after the game. Every little ounce of good sportsmanship from him is important to note in the avalanche of brashness.
• So yeah, about that poodle thing…