addByline("Marc D'Amico", "Celtics.com", "Marc_DAmico");
PORTLAND, Ore. – Brandon Bass hadn’t had this feeling in a long time – 282 days, to be exact.
It seems as if he likes this feeling, and he wants to feel it more often.
“Starting, to me, it means a lot,” a smiling Bass said Thursday night after his first start of the season. “It just felt good.”
It looked good, too.
Bass was on the court for the opening tip for the first time since April 16, 2014, when he started at power forward during Boston’s final game of the 2013-14 campaign. Nine months is a long time without a start, but Bass didn’t experience any amnesia Thursday night when it came to the feeling of starting an NBA basketball game.
“I just went back to my normal routine,” he said, “the things I did when I was starting every night.”
Oh, you mean canning open jumpers? You mean rebounding at a high level? You mean providing wide-ranging defense?
Yes, yes, and yes.
And then some.
Bass got it going right from the opening tip Thursday night. The first basket of the night came off his hands. He canned one of his patented midrange jumpers just 42 seconds into the contest, and then tacked on another jumper a minute later to account for Boston’s first four points of the night.
The importance of those jumpers cannot be overstated. This is a Celtics team that has struggled of late to put the ball through the basket during the first quarter. Heading into Thursday’s game, they had averaged just 20.5 points on 39.4 percent shooting during their last 10 first quarters. The addition of Bass’ midrange jumper opened things up for his teammates and allowed the offense to operate at more efficient rate.
“It definitely helps us because he gets in his wheelhouse and starts making our offense a little bit harder to guard,” Evan Turner said, “because people are worried about him a lot because they know he can make that shot.”
Boston went on to score 23 points on 45.5 percent shooting during the first quarter. Bass also scored two of Boston’s first three buckets to start the second half, sparking the C’s to a 23-point third quarter on 55.0 percent shooting.
The big man finished the contest with 13 points on 5-of-10 shooting, but his rebounding outshined his scoring.
Bass provided the Celtics with a team-high 10 rebounds on the night. That number doesn’t even include the most important rebound of the game, which unfortunately was not credited to Bass.
Jared Sullinger attempted a potential go-ahead 3-pointer with 14.9 seconds left in the game. His shot missed, and had Portland grabbed the rebound, it could have sealed a victory with free throws. Bass, however, did not allow that to happen.
Bass rose high above every player on the floor and pulled the rebound away from his defender, who was in perfect position to grab the loose ball. Bass was not given credit for the rebound because he was unable to completely control the ball before it fell into Sullinger’s hands.
That rebound, as Brad Stevens said, “gave us a chance.” Boston went on to capitalize on its additional possession by way of a game-winning 3-pointer from Evan Turner.
Bass’ 13 points and 10 boards accounted for his first double-double since April 4 of last season. It’s no coincidence that he started that game, too.
Let’s also not forget that Bass defended multiple positions throughout the game, including a stretch against small forward Dorell Wright. Additionally, he dished out a career-high five assists, prompting the big man to joke, “That’s what I do, man. I drop dimes.”
Bass had plenty of reason to be joking and smiling after this game. He was able to experience the sweet feeling of starting for the first time in nine months, and he capitalized on the opportunity by providing a game-changing performance.
It may be safe to say that Bass won’t go nearly as long before his next start for Boston. Maybe not even 24 hours.