The first quarter is what lost the Celtics this game.

[Senninsage]

11 points in the opening quarter is inexcusable, period. With just a better first quarter, possibly only down by 2, maybe 3, this game doesn't look nearly as ugly, and instead of having to do so much just to catch-up to the heat, the strong second quarter would have given us a really nice lead heading into the half time, instead of merely just a tie.

The first quarter lost this game for the Celtics. The first quarter is what beat us. It gave the Heat all sorts of confidence, and it made the Celtics' margin for error that much smaller.

[pearljammer10]

obvi

[Senninsage]

Just hope more people realize that this is what really killed us this game. You can talk about whatever else took place, but it's the first quarter that doomed the Celtics in this game.

Ray didn't have a hot game, but then neither did Pierce or Bass.

[syfy9]

Well the Heat beat us the other 3 quarters too.

[EJPLAYA]

Sorry. We were tied at half time. I would think that means that the third or fourth would have to be the reason. No it didn't do us any favors, however it wasn't what cost us the game.

[guava_wrench]

The margin of victory was more than the margin after 1. I am more likely to accept that the second quarter was the fluke since 35 points is very uncharacteristic of us. Drop the 2nd quarter and we got crushed.

[Q_FBE]

Miami simply whipped us in every facet of the game. Whip, Whip, Whip!!

We are simply horrible right now and until that changes, this will be an excersise in misery.

[LarBrd33]

hate to say it, but even against the lowly 76ers our offense was looking pretty dreadful.  Pierce isn't right and without him we really don't have a single player on the team that can create his own shot consistently.  KG has been amazing and has been carrying us on his back, but there's only so much he can do alone.  Our defense against Miami wasn't actually all that bad... it's just that scoring the basketball is a massive task for us right now with the players we have.  Bass is an ok mid-range shooter.  KG is getting it done.  Pierce is hobbled.  Rondo is borderline inept offensively and Ray Allen's ankles are toast.  Our bench is garbage... and Miami may predictably steamroll us as everyone anticipates.

No worries.  We weren't supposed to get this far anyways.  Would have been owned by a healthy Chicago team in round 2.

[Renee2]

more than words

[Celtics4ever]

I thought it was the third that lost us this game.   We played well in the 2 nd but came out flat in the third and it cost us.

[Kwhit10]

I think it was everything besides the 2nd quarter.  When you get almost half your total points from 1 quarter you're not doing it right.

[Rondo2287]

I think it was everything besides the 2nd quarter.  When you get almost have your total points from 1 quarter you're not doing it right.

Agree, I was sitting there last night saying, wow, are we gonna really only play one non-sucky quarter tonight?

[mctyson]

11 points in the opening quarter is inexcusable, period. With just a better first quarter, possibly only down by 2, maybe 3, this game doesn't look nearly as ugly, and instead of having to do so much just to catch-up to the heat, the strong second quarter would have given us a really nice lead heading into the half time, instead of merely just a tie.

The first quarter lost this game for the Celtics. The first quarter is what beat us. It gave the Heat all sorts of confidence, and it made the Celtics' margin for error that much smaller.

Wrong.  The 3rd quarter lost it.  We were tied at halftime.

[BballTim]

hate to say it, but even against the lowly 76ers our offense was looking pretty dreadful.  Pierce isn't right and without him we really don't have a single player on the team that can create his own shot consistently.  KG has been amazing and has been carrying us on his back, but there's only so much he can do alone.  Our defense against Miami wasn't actually all that bad... it's just that scoring the basketball is a massive task for us right now with the players we have.  Bass is an ok mid-range shooter.  KG is getting it done.  Pierce is hobbled.  Rondo is borderline inept offensively and Ray Allen's ankles are toast. 

  Rondo's not inept offensively. If you look at the team we're putting out on the court with him (PP and Ray hobbled, Bass with the deer in the headlights look, and no offense off of the bench) the fact that he's getting 50% more assists a game in the playoffs than any other player is almost astonishing. You're thrilled with KG's offense, he's getting us 4 more points than a borderline inept player. He also has more turnovers than assists for the playoffs. Not that KG's playing poorly, mind you, but neither is Rondo.

[pearljammer10]

11 points in the opening quarter is inexcusable, period. With just a better first quarter, possibly only down by 2, maybe 3, this game doesn't look nearly as ugly, and instead of having to do so much just to catch-up to the heat, the strong second quarter would have given us a really nice lead heading into the half time, instead of merely just a tie.

The first quarter lost this game for the Celtics. The first quarter is what beat us. It gave the Heat all sorts of confidence, and it made the Celtics' margin for error that much smaller.

Wrong.  The 3rd quarter lost it.  We were tied at halftime.

Yes but a better start would have allowed us to have a lead at half time and might have given us more momentum for a better second half.