Celtics (52-22) at Hawks (43-32) 4/1

[celticinorlando]

Three seed!!! Yes! Another 4th quarter collapse...yea...tired legs...whatever

[Rondo No Look]

half court offense willl be the end of this team in the playoffs

No, our lack of big men and crappy bench will kill this team.

Finally someone said it. This older team needs consistent support from the bench. We don't get it and we are also forced to play a 6'6 center. Not a good formula.

you really think Doc is gunna roll more than 8 or 9 deep at the max for the playoffs. its gunna be West, Green, Baby and maybe JO/Kristic depending on the situation

[PseudoElite]

As usual, they let bad teams score a million points in the 4th quarter and blow a lead.

I've been optimistic the whole time during this slump, but I really think age is catching up with the Big 3. Placing all of our chips on the O'Neals feels stupider and stupider by the day.

[LilRip]

but in reality, i think the lineup of Rondo-West-Pavlovic-BBD-Green really killed us. wasn't that when the lead dissipated because we couldn't get stops nor could we score?

[birdwatcher]

Bench horrendous. Jeff green is a huge disappointment. Dominated by a journeyman backup center. Discouraging.

The way we use Jeff Green is a huge disappointment. You need the ball to score, and we know he gets stuck defending 4's.

[hpantazo]

2nd Round Exit as the 3rd Seed here we come!  Hooray!

total overreaction. We had Davis starting at center a JO with serious minute limitations and we had plenty of chances to win this game down the stretch on the 2nd night of a tough back to back. Good game imo, great effort.

[PosImpos]

2nd Round Exit as the 3rd Seed here we come!  Hooray!

Come on, you know teams don't play back to backs in the playoffs.

They came out with a lot of energy but just couldn't hold on to it for the rest of the game. Plus played to much hero ball (Pierce).

I'm not confident in this team's ability to close out tough games against opponents with players who are good at closing and getting to the line. 

I won't be at all surprised to see them run out of gas somewhere in the second round.  They'll be on the road, too, which won't help.

Best case scenario is getting out-hustled and out-defended in the ECF against the Bulls.

[Green Hell]

As usual, they let bad teams score a million points in the 4th quarter and blow a lead.

I've been optimistic the whole time during this slump, but I really think age is catching up with the Big 3. Placing all of our chips on the O'Neals feels stupider and stupider by the day.

TP for being honest, something a lot of people on this board have yet to come to terms with.

[Rondo No Look]

half court offense

HALF COURT OFFENSE

HALF COURT OFFENSE!!!

[birdwatcher]

but in reality, i think the lineup of Rondo-West-Pavlovic-BBD-Green really killed us. wasn't that when the lead dissipated because we couldn't get stops nor could we score?

Yeah, Green & BBD on the floor on the same time as our 4 & 5 is a recipe for disaster. And I know, I'm a chef.

[Cman]

It was a tough loss tonight, bunch of missed opportunities, but in general, over the past two games, I'm more encouraged by this team than I was, say, a week ago.

Also, I don't get the J. Green hate.  He had some nice plays out there.  

[blink]

Can someone tell me why we weren't fouling with 30 sec left down 3?  They basically held the ball for the rest of the clock, and scored on us. I have seen this strategy before by Doc and I completely don't understand it.  I know they were hitting their free throws, but you need to Extend the game and give Ray and Paul a chance to hit some 3's and come back.

Playing defense and NOT fouling for the full shot clock with 30 seconds left is NEVER going to win you the game.  Shheeeeshhhh
This loss hurts...

[PosImpos]

2nd Round Exit as the 3rd Seed here we come!  Hooray!

total overreaction. We had Davis starting at center a JO with serious minute limitations and we had plenty of chances to win this game down the stretch on the 2nd night of a tough back to back. Good game imo, great effort.

Yes, but the reason I said what I did is because we're going to be the 3rd seed.  We can't win these games down the stretch because the team has no depth and they are running out of gas.  We're not going to have home court advantage, and our primary rivals are all rounding into form right as we're losing it.

[outcry]

I wish everybody who said they weren't going to watch any more games actually wouldn't.

tough loss. dumb decisions, some bad breaks, and really awful bench play. delonte was good but green was invisible and JO didn't do anything for us.

Oh, believe me when I say I'm done with the rest of the regular season this time. There's a team that actually cares about playing out the rest of the regular season and a team that just started and will do just fine (Bruins and Red Sox respectively).

[Errn]

BBD having a bad night. Green was a defensive liability. Shaquille can't come back soon enough.

Offense looking anemic. Probably because they are doing their "coasting" thing. I prefer to call it stupidity. The Celtics need to understand that they can't simply turn it on. There will be a time in the playoffs when a silly mistake will cost us the series and a chance at 18.

Ugh. Baby just took the 3 there. This team is not looking like a team. Seen the Lakers last night? They know how to play defense.