2008 Boston Celtics Playoff Game thread

[rician blast]

BTW, Lebron pulled quite the act after being "flagrantly" fouled...yeah there was some fairly decent contact, but his dramatic display was much overdone.

[See Red]

Sam Cassel?

 

One player who's in the twilight of his career. and averaging 6, 1, and 1 a game in the postseason... color me unimpressed. The big three are career losers. Not saying they can't win it all, but I think we maye should've expected their road troubles -- though not to this extent.

[Mr Crunchy]

the big 3 along with their head coach are career losers.

that said

how do you manage to beat teams at home by 25-30 a night and lose badly on the road despite having the best road record in the league?

its a combination of leadership and experience

the guards set the tone offensively and need to hold onto the ball and make the open shots

the big men need to box out and occasionally remind lebron james that despite his millions he isnt entitled to anything,theres nothing wrong with an occasional elbow to the chops or a knee to the thigh to remind him hes in a fight and finally,the big men need to move without the ball,they need to bounce up and down from the box to the top of the key,setting screens and rolling off them,its time for paul pierce to step it up and its time for ray allen to break 40% from the perimeter...i think the damage to rondo's psyche is official,rivers f***ed this kids head up in game 6 in atlanta and he isnt the same player,he seems extremely tentative...a big win tonight would go a long way to solving their road woes,a loss puts cleveland back in the saddle and all the pressure falls back on the celts.

anything less than a shot at detroit will cost rivers his job i feel

[Paradisecity]

Sean- I know we ar ethe best team in the league, but if you look across the board, the favored teams were blowing out their oppostion at home and losing on the Road. New Orleans and LA come to mind.

 

It isn't leadership and experience so much as it is officiating. The NBA wants these series to last.

[TheKilo]

Kilo nailed it. 50/50 calls -- which there tend to be a lot of throughout a game, go more to the home team.

 

Celtics better learn how to win on the road. You need to have a winning mentality and it's tough to do when nobody on your team has ever won anything.

 

Allen Iverson

Marcus Camby

Carmelo Anthony

 

Also career losers.

 

[ORS]

Per game post-season stats....

 

[table]Team|Home FTA|Road FTA|Home:Road

Atlanta|35.7|28.3|1.26

Boston|23.3|23.0|1.01

Cleveland|33.8|25.2|1.34

Dallas|27.0|32.0|0.84

Denver|21.5|36.5|0.59

Detroit|19.2|21.4|0.90

Houston|24.7|27.7|0.89

L.A.|36.3|31.3|1.16

N.O.|22.4|16.8|1.33

Orlando|22.8|25.3|0.90

Philadelphia|31.3|28.7|1.09

Phoenix|28.0|32.0|0.88

S.A.|23.8|20.8|1.14

Toronto|15.5|21.7|0.71

Utah|32.4|21.8|1.49

Washington|30.7|27.3|1.12[/table]

 

8 of 16 got favorable treatment at home, 1 was too close to call, 7 of 16 were treated better on the road. I don't think it's a strict home/road bias. I do note that the usual suspects, ie the teams you would think the NBA has interest in making it deep into the playoffs, all, with the exception of Boston (and maybe Phx), are on the list of those getting home cooking.

[See Red]

Allen Iverson

Marcus Camby

Carmelo Anthony

 

Also career losers.

 

 

And I'm hoping two of the three are playing elsewhere next year.

 

And the difference between Boston, Los Angeles, and New Orleans is that the Lakers are playing the best home team in the League in the Jazz and the Hornets are playing th Spurs, a team that simply makes better adjustments over the course of a series than any team they play. Both teams a bit better than the Cavaliers and miles ahead of the Hawks.

 

And ORS, great stat but I'm not sure it's completely telling. I'd be interested in seeing how many free throws the opposing team has shot as well.

[ORS]

And ORS' date=' great stat but I'm not sure it's completely telling. I'd be interested in seeing how many free throws the opposing team has shot as well.[/quote']

I agree, it's not perfect. The assumption I've made is that a team's aggressiveness to the rack, and thus their ability to get to the line, is static.

[TheKilo]

And I'm hoping two of the three are playing elsewhere next year.

 

And the difference between Boston, Los Angeles, and New Orleans is that the Lakers are playing the best home team in the League in the Jazz and the Hornets are playing th Spurs, a team that simply makes better adjustments over the course of a series than any team they play. Both teams a bit better than the Cavaliers and miles ahead of the Hawks.

 

And ORS, great stat but I'm not sure it's completely telling. I'd be interested in seeing how many free throws the opposing team has shot as well.

 

The Cavaliers have arguably the best player on the planet and won one game at home.

 

I'd be lying if I said I wasn't concerned but I'm expecting a close game tonight. If I had to pick I'd say the Celtics win by 3-5. Delonte West and Joe Smith won't have the game they did tonight.

[The Dustball]

Tied at 41. Celts are taking advantage of Lebrons foul trouble. They are on an 8-0 run since hes been out.

[schillingouttheks]

They're playing SO MUCH better tonight. Thank God.

 

....gotta keep it up though.

[schillingouttheks]

This game is pretty much over.

 

Thank God they have home court, because they aren't going to win on the f***ing road.

[The Dustball]

Well series tied at 2. Missed Oppurtunities in the 4th quarter killed the Celtics tonight. Someone has to step up in a critical spot if this team is going to have a chance to win. Lebron finally stepped up at the end as we've been waiting for him to do the entire series. I don't understand how a team that domianted on the road in the regular season can be so pathetic in the playoffs. Whatever. Keep winning at home I guess

[See Red]

Better pray they don't drop a game at home...

[schillingouttheks]

What I noticed is that whenever it was a one-possession game favoring the Cavs, the Celtics took horrible shots or just failed. It was a 3-point lead for the Cavs for quite some time in the 4th if I remember, and the Celts failed to cut the deficit at all. When they finally were down by 5, they'd make a shot to bring it back to one possession. I just don't get it.

 

Cleveland can win a game on the road. The Celtics are going to have to grow a pair and f***ing win in Cleveland. If the Cavs win game 5, we won't see a game in Boston again.

 

The Celtics are certainly making a case to be the worst team that is still in the playoffs.

 

EDIT: Oh, and I might just go wait with YanksHater for Doc Rivers at Logan and beat him senseless.

 

EDIT again:

yankshater213: i could coach this team better if i had down syndrome was blind and deaf an dhad no limbs and was a f***ing woman

 

That says it all.

[See Red]

Meaningless stat of the night: the Lebron era Cavaliers are 2-0 in Game 5's on the road.

 

I think the Celtics take game 5, and this series heads 7.

[schillingouttheks]

Meaningless stat of the night: the Lebron era Cavaliers are 2-0 in Game 5's on the road.

 

I think the Celtics take game 5, and this series heads 7.

 

I hope you're right, because if the Cavs win game 5 then the Garden will have seen its last game.

[Mr Crunchy]

12 4th q points and another L on the road

they are indeed f***ing pathetic on the road,no confidence no flow to the offense and a tremendous lack of tuffness being displayed by the so called leadership of this team.

they dont have to win on the road to win the title

but to think that they can sweep at home is naive and rather gullible despite the early returns of the home teams kicking everyones asses.

[SCM33]

Even if they win the championship, I feel that the struggles on the road have already taken something away from whatever they accomplish due to the expectations. That Atlanta (.451 WP%) series already kinda took something away from me...it woulda been the Sox struggling with the 72-90 (.444%) White Sox, or 75-87 Rangers (.463 WP%) in the first round of the MLB playoffs with them taking them 7 games to beat them. This is getting ugly.

 

Kevin Garnet has become a jumpshooter rather than a power foward, terrified to step into the paint.

 

Ray Allen is donating some amount of money to a charity for every three he hits during the playoffs.......Im really starting to think he hates his charity.

 

Paul Pierce has become the same old selfish player he used to be.

 

Kevin Garnett scores 2 points, gets 2 rebounds....and goes to the line zero times in the fourth quarter. Absolutely pathetic.

 

Why is James Posey not playing?

Why is Leon Powe not playing?

Why is Eddie House not playing?

Why is Sam Cassell playing regardless of the fact he is 3-26 shooting on the road?

Why is Doc screwing with Rajons head by pulling him out every time he misses a shot?

Why does he leave players in the game who are obviously completely gassed?

Why did he stick Big Baby in the game last night, for the first time of the night....in a big time situation, when it was clear we needed Garnett out there.....oh yeah thats right, Garnett was garbage at that time sucking major wind.

 

The head scratching could go on for days....

 

Why has Doc changed everything that made them succussful during the regular season during the playoffs. He saved all his players all season long only to run them in to the ground during the playoffs? They are absolutely gassed, and will lose this series, or sometime during the playoffs by constantly overusing players and mismanaging minutes.

 

End of Rant.

[rician blast]

Easy buckets. That's what the Celts are not getting...easy buckets.

 

In my opinion it is not the "stellar" Cavs 'D' that is responsible...it's lousy perimeter shooting coupled with zero movement without the ball and lack of gonads on the inside. The outside shot will open up things up...if someone will start hitting.

[Mr Crunchy]

if doc dont get them thru this series he's unemployed come june and justifiably so.

leadership and guard play are the keys to winning on the road

they have shown nothing down the stretch that indicates they have what it takes to win on the road

can they go 16-0 at home and 0-12 on the road?

ya

will they?

probably not,its never been done to my knowledge and sam cassell rajon rondo and the big 3 dont appear to have it in their make up to get it done.

[TheKilo]

Even if they win the championship' date=' I feel that the struggles on the road have already taken something away from whatever they accomplish due to the expectations. [/b'] That Atlanta (.451 WP%) series already kinda took something away from me...it woulda been the Sox struggling with the 72-90 (.444%) White Sox, or 75-87 Rangers (.463 WP%) in the first round of the MLB playoffs with them taking them 7 games to beat them. This is getting ugly.

 

I should have just stopped reading right there. Are you serious??? How spoiled have Boston fans become?

 

Kevin Garnet has become a jumpshooter rather than a power foward, terrified to step into the paint.

 

Ray Allen is donating some amount of money to a charity for every three he hits during the playoffs.......Im really starting to think he hates his charity.

 

Paul Pierce has become the same old selfish player he used to be.

 

Kevin Garnett is revealing himself to be the biggest fraud or pussy in the history of Boston sports, and while that may be a bit harsh you'd be hard pressed to find a bigger front-runner in the playoffs.

 

Ray Allen is struggling, no doubt about it. There have been flashes in Game 2 and Game 4 but his play has been unacceptable.

 

You'll have to explain the one about Pierce being selfish. I think he's doing a hell of a job on the defensive end (like LeBron with him), but unlike Lebron he's not attacking the rim and getting his points that way.

 

Kevin Garnett scores 2 points, gets 2 rebounds....and goes to the line zero times in the fourth quarter. Absolutely pathetic.

 

No argument here.

 

Why is James Posey not playing?

Why is Leon Powe not playing?

Why is Eddie House not playing?

Why is Sam Cassell playing regardless of the fact he is 3-26 shooting on the road?

Why is Doc screwing with Rajons head by pulling him out every time he misses a shot?

 

Posey's playing right in line with his season averages.

Powe played like s*** last night.

House - can't explain too much. I think he should be getting some of Allen's minutes.

Cassell is playing because Rondo, for the most part, has played like s*** this series.

Even when he plays like s***, Rondo has been playing close to his season average in minutes.

 

Why does he leave players in the game who are obviously completely gassed?

Why did he stick Big Baby in the game last night, for the first time of the night....in a big time situation, when it was clear we needed Garnett out there.....oh yeah thats right, Garnett was garbage at that time sucking major wind.

 

What's your complaint? He should play Garnett more even though he was playing like s***?

 

[The head scratching could go on for days....

 

Why has Doc changed everything that made them succussful during the regular season during the playoffs. He saved all his players all season long only to run them in to the ground during the playoffs? They are absolutely gassed, and will lose this series, or sometime during the playoffs by constantly overusing players and mismanaging minutes.

 

End of Rant.

 

Explain again. The purpose of "saving his guys" is to have them fresh in the playoffs by playing 40+ minutes every night.

 

Look, it's easy to blame Doc for these struggles. It's harder to say the players are playing like pussies, led by KG.

[SCM33]

I should have just stopped reading right there. Are you serious??? How spoiled have Boston fans become?

 

 

 

Kevin Garnett is revealing himself to be the biggest fraud or pussy in the history of Boston sports, and while that may be a bit harsh you'd be hard pressed to find a bigger front-runner in the playoffs.

 

Ray Allen is struggling, no doubt about it. There have been flashes in Game 2 and Game 4 but his play has been unacceptable.

 

You'll have to explain the one about Pierce being selfish. I think he's doing a hell of a job on the defensive end (like LeBron with him), but unlike Lebron he's not attacking the rim and getting his points that way.

 

 

 

No argument here.

 

 

 

Posey's playing right in line with his season averages.

Powe played like s*** last night.

House - can't explain too much. I think he should be getting some of Allen's minutes.

Cassell is playing because Rondo, for the most part, has played like s*** this series.

Even when he plays like s***, Rondo has been playing close to his season average in minutes.

 

 

 

What's your complaint? He should play Garnett more even though he was playing like s***?

 

 

 

Explain again. The purpose of "saving his guys" is to have them fresh in the playoffs by playing 40+ minutes every night.

 

Look, it's easy to blame Doc for these struggles. It's harder to say the players are playing like pussies, led by KG.

 

The first quote was probably just out of frustration.....it is very aggravating knowing that we have better talent than these teams......on the road or not.

 

Kevin Garnett is not a pussy......but he needs to get in to the paint man....no excuse.

 

We agree about Ray Allen.

 

Pierce is a wash I believe....he is doing a hell of a job on the D side, but he is throwing ill attempts on the O side...but then again, many of them are, I guess I just expect more from a hungry Pierce.

 

Posey...I see your argument.

 

Powe I think needs more minutes, earlier in the game to get his feet wet so hes prepared. He needs to give guys a breather.

 

House....we agree....why save him until you NEEED big shots, put him in earlier, hes been more than serviceable.

 

Cassel....while that may be true, but they both have, and Rondo offers more defensively......he is way too quick with the hook.

 

Garnetts minutes......that argument is more in reason with the fact that Doc needs to get him rest earlier......if he stuck with his rotation that he had during the regular season, Garnett would be more fresh for the 4th quarter to give us some good series.

 

Doc saved his guys all season.....but they now appear to be gassed during major stretches of the game....specifically during the 4th quarter......the rest he gave them doesnt seem to be working out.

 

It is easy to blame Doc because he is not making adjsutments, and grinding his players in to the ground. After watchign this series, if they lose there is no one to blame but Doc, because he overused the big three during the playoffs.

[TheKilo]

The first quote was probably just out of frustration.....it is very aggravating knowing that we have better talent than these teams......on the road or not.

 

Kevin Garnett is not a pussy......but he needs to get in to the paint man....no excuse.

 

Did you watch David West last night? Sprained back and still willed the Hornets to victory.

 

 

Pierce is a wash I believe....he is doing a hell of a job on the D side, but he is throwing ill attempts on the O side...but then again, many of them are, I guess I just expect more from a hungry Pierce.

 

I agree, Pierce needs to attack the rim, but I don't think you can call him "selfish". He's just playing really badly.

 

 

Powe I think needs more minutes, earlier in the game to get his feet wet so hes prepared. He needs to give guys a breather.

 

I'd put in Powe over Davis, but again, if he's playing poorly there's nothing Doc can do.

 

Cassel....while that may be true, but they both have, and Rondo offers more defensively......he is way too quick with the hook.

 

I'm not going to defend the way Cassell has played (although they don't win game 1 without him), but defenses have to honor his shot more than Rondo's. Rondo is playing similar minutes that he did in the regular season, the problem as I see it is House is sitting instead of Cassell.

 

Garnetts minutes......that argument is more in reason with the fact that Doc needs to get him rest earlier......if he stuck with his rotation that he had during the regular season, Garnett would be more fresh for the 4th quarter to give us some good series.

 

Can't really argue. But the question is this - Who do you play, a s***** Davis, a s***** Powe, or a s***** KG?

 

Can't fault Doc for sticking with KG.

 

Doc saved his guys all season.....but they now appear to be gassed during major stretches of the game....specifically during the 4th quarter......the rest he gave them doesnt seem to be working out.

 

It is easy to blame Doc because he is not making adjsutments, and grinding his players in to the ground. After watchign this series, if they lose there is no one to blame but Doc, because he overused the big three during the playoffs.

 

Grinding his players into the ground?

 

Rondo and Posey are playing similar minutes. There aren't any viable alternatives to KG or Pierce. Allen should probably be getting less burn.

 

Why does Doc get all of the heat? What should he do differently? The players need to step up.

[See Red]

Lebron's already got 11 in the first and he's made Posey look bad a few times... might be a long night for the C's.

[The Dustball]

This is f***ing ridiculous. Cassell needs to sit, hes deadweight right now.

[Cityofchampions33]

Good game from the Celts, seemed to get a lot of their offensive swagger back. Pierce was as he should be, Allen showed hints of returning to form, KG was beastly,a dn even Doc was good or maybe lucky with his substituton with Big baby.

[schillingouttheks]

Good game from the Celts' date=' seemed to get a lot of their offensive swagger back. Pierce was as he should be, Allen showed hints of returning to form, KG was beastly,a dn even Doc was good or maybe lucky with his substituton with Big baby.[/quote']

 

They fell apart at the end. There was no excuse for getting trapped like they did. If Wally hits that wide-open three that landed in his hands, the Cavs are down 3 with a minute left and we may be here wanting to string up Posey for passing backwards behind half-court. Dumb s*** almost f***ed them in the ass.

[See Red]

Both teams played like s*** towards the end... Celtics had the lead to where they could kind of afford to. Missed free throws, that missed opportunities from Wally, and some terrible defense in the fourth quarter from Cleveland. As good as that defense has looked at times, they looked bad in the second half.

 

Good win for the Celtics. I still think we'll see a game 7.

[SCM33]

Why does Doc get all of the heat? What should he do differently? The players need to step up.

 

Doc gets the heat bc he controls the game plan, and he controls who is in during any given situation......you are right, the players must execute, but when you have nothing left in the tank I think it is asking too much. The Celts are were not losing those games early in the game.....it was the 4th quarter, and I think it was because the guys were given too many minutes.

 

The plan all season long was to cut the big threes minutes, but now I wonder if that only hurt them more.....because they are being asked to do more than they have all year, and do not seem to be conditioned to handle it.

 

If Doc stuck with what got him there, this wouldnt be a question. They won 60+ games with the regular season rotation. They were the best road team in the NBA with their regular rotation. I understand that this is the playoffs and you want your best team on the floor at all times.....but the Celts beat these teams all year long giving the big three more than enough time to rest up.