An old formula works to perfection

Houston missed 12 of 17 from long range and the Celtics limited their turnovers (11) to limit Rockets fast-break points. What’s more, the Celtics scored more points on the break (20) than the Rockets (13), so the old men at the schoolyard showed the youngsters about controlled tempo.

Controlled is the key word. The Celtics didn’t run at every opportunity. They pounded the ball in the paint, ran their offense, continued their recent emphasis on ball movement, and spread the wealth with shot selection.

Paul Pierce, who is on Day 7 of his media boycott, scored 26 points on just 14 shots. And then the Celtics needed him to stave off Rocket rallies in the fourth, delivering 15 points down the stretch, mostly on shots that he had been missing the past few months.

This was vintage Celtics. They are finally getting the message that the way to beat athletic teams — Atlanta, Milwaukee, Orlando — is by containing what athletic teams like to do.

The Celtics scrapped their past pattern of trying to run with athletic teams and maintained a lead throughout most of the game with hard-nosed defense. The Rockets attempted to speed up the pace but couldn’t produce fast-break points, allowing the Celtics to slow things down.

“We controlled the tempo and we got good shots,’’ Celtics coach Doc Rivers said. “At the beginning of the game, we took awful shots. If we would have continued doing that, we would have lost by 50 tonight. Instead, we stopped [hurrying] we started making the second pass, the second pick. Guys started getting great shots and that’s tough to play against.

“You are on defense longer, you’re fighting through picks, it’s tough to run when you get through all that.’’

This is the way the Celtics have to play in the postseason, where they will face more athletic teams that want to run. This should be an advantage for Boston because postseason games are played as a slow pace and half-court defense will be a critical factor.