I'm Encouraged (V.3)

[action781]

I've had the same general state of mind since the last few minutes when I suddenly realized it was only a 10 point game.  "Wow, we played this crappy all game and are only down 10?  That's pretty good."

Then I started thinking, yeah, thats good, but Kobe Bryant was coasting this game.  We can step it up a lot, but we need to hope we do enough to stay above the Lakers when Kobe elevates his game as well.  I'd say that is still an unknown.

[Bahku]

I've had the same general state of mind since the last few minutes when I suddenly realized it was only a 10 point game.  "Wow, we played this crappy all game and are only down 10?  That's pretty good."

Then I started thinking, yeah, thats good, but Kobe Bryant was coasting this game.  We can step it up a lot, but we need to hope we do enough to stay above the Lakers when Kobe elevates his game as well.  I'd say that is still an unknown.

I don't know ... Kobe could step it up a bit, but he was working pretty hard on defense. I don't think he was just coasting, but even if he was, he's still just one guy. I'm honestly just not that worried, (but I know what you're saying). A lot of the negative posts and press seem to think that we were supposed to win both games in Los Angeles, and that since we lost the first one, the series is as good as over. But when it comes right down to it, I don't think anyone truly expected us to win the first two games.

[vinnie]

The one thing that concerns me is that I do not think Kobe had to work hard at all. He sagged off of Rondo almost the entire game and on offense, whenever he wanted to get somewhere he got there. I absolutely think Kobe coasted in this game and he still had 30 points.

[angryguy77]

I've had the same general state of mind since the last few minutes when I suddenly realized it was only a 10 point game.  "Wow, we played this crappy all game and are only down 10?  That's pretty good."

Then I started thinking, yeah, thats good, but Kobe Bryant was coasting this game.  We can step it up a lot, but we need to hope we do enough to stay above the Lakers when Kobe elevates his game as well.  I'd say that is still an unknown.

I don't know ... Kobe could step it up a bit, but he was working pretty hard on defense. I don't think he was just coasting, but even if he was, he's still just one guy. I'm honestly just not that worried, (but I know what you're saying). A lot of the negative posts and press seem to think that we were supposed to win both games in Los Angeles, and that since we lost the first one, the series is as good as over. But when it comes right down to it, I don't think anyone truly expected us to win the first two games.

Exactly. I just hope to get one game in LA. The first would have been nice to take the pressure off, but we can get game 2. I will give credit to LA because they played a hell of a game. But I don't see Boston playing that bad and lazy again. I believe that was LA's best shot, I'm not going to get excited because we kept it close because teams with a big lead do tend to relax. However I do know that we are more than capable of plaing better against this team than we did last night.

When you look at it, LA played a better fundamental game than we did. Rebounding, boxing-out, hustle, shot selection, defensive rotaion are all basketball basics. If we can do better in  these areas we will win the series. LA took us out of it in some areas, but we were not commited to doing the little things that helped win us 3 series. It's going to be up to Doc to get our guys back to basics and the rest will flow from there.


If we get game 2 that shifts everything in this series and give us a huge advantage with 3 home games in a row. Lose game 2 and I don't think we recover to be honest. But I really don't see a repeat of both teams performance last night.


If LA was the sole reason for our play last night, then the Cavs and Magic would have been able to do the same thing to us. That was not the Celtics last night, and we know that they can and will play better.

[Chris]

The one thing that concerns me is that I do not think Kobe had to work hard at all. He sagged off of Rondo almost the entire game and on offense, whenever he wanted to get somewhere he got there. I absolutely think Kobe coasted in this game and he still had 30 points.

That is true.  I also think Kobe was the biggest reason Gasol was able to do so much damage, because he was getting into the lane.  However, if the C's tighten up their defensive rotations, I think that will solve both problems. 

[sofakingwetatid]

And here is the problem with the rose colored glasses of fandom. You tend to only see the things that didnt go right for your team, and completely discount when things dont go well for the opposition.

Heres what I took away from that game.

The lakers visibly let up at about the 6 minute mark and stopped looking to take the best shot, and started looking to run clock. This led to the lakers winding down the clock and taking any old shot at the end of the clock, those are the "stops" that allowed the celtics to make the 20 point blowout a 9 (real)point loss.
Kobe was inefficient, forced the ball,and took some questionable shots, yet still logged 27 (real points).

Lamar odom was essentially a non-factor, and the laker bench's contribution in general other than against finely was pretty weak, they contributed a total of 14 points. Lamar went off for 19 against the suns and has consistently been in the teens.

Point being this isnt the best out of either team.

Things likely to change in game 2? Ray allen on the floor, thats is about it. Ray allen will increase the offensive output of the celts for sure, but he is a liablity on defense. What is that offset going to mean going forward?
I think personally its a blessing and a curse, in that the game will have a higher score, but I dont think higher scoring games favor the celts.

Additionally, I think too much is being made of Allen's absence, when he plays well hes usually in the 20 point range, he had 12, 8 more points is still a loss, by one point which resembles the game these two teams played when at full strength earlier in the year.

Heres my X factor, nate mother f'n robinson. If all things revert to the norm he is the only thing that can get the celts over the hump.

[Bahku]

The one thing that concerns me is that I do not think Kobe had to work hard at all. He sagged off of Rondo almost the entire game and on offense, whenever he wanted to get somewhere he got there. I absolutely think Kobe coasted in this game and he still had 30 points.

That is true.  I also think Kobe was the biggest reason Gasol was able to do so much damage, because he was getting into the lane.  However, if the C's tighten up their defensive rotations, I think that will solve both problems. 

Defense is definitely the key, and Gasol owes most of his current success to Kobe ... yeah, he's a great player in his own right, but playing alongside Kobe makes him the stand-out performer he is right now. Kobe, like LeBron, is going to do his damage, and you limit the bleeding if you can, but we can effectively tighten up the paint and need to do just that. High-scoring games favor the Lakers, and once again, our defense is what we need to lean on, and the one focus that will get this done for us. I think the Celtics realize that, and will be the formiddable defensive force they should be on Sunday.

[PosImpos]

Game 1 felt like a reverse of Game 6 of the '08 Finals...I think the Lakers were still a little mad about that.  Now that the Celtics have felt what it's like to get embarrassed in the Finals (although not closed out), hopefully they will respond.

[Bahku]

Great win ... and even greater to me because it encouraged me further. Why? Because we still did not play our best ball ... KG had minimal impact, Pierce was minimal on offense, there were many careless mistakes, the officiating was as unbalanced as you can get, (in favor of LA), and our team field-goal percentage wasn't very good. We can still play better ... much better, and I think we'll do so in Game 3, and finish this thing without coming back to La-La-Land. Go Celtics!

[misha]

TP. Bahku is never wrong

[Bahku]

TP. Bahku is never wrong

LOL! I wish that were even a little bit true ... and I wish my ex-wife could hear it, lol! (TP back atcha, Buddy)

[barefacedmonk]

TP, Bahku....I'm sooooo glad you were around to keep the sanity in check during the regular season. Congrats, buddy. Lets get banner 18.....


and..thanks to Nick for the "Optimism" thread...its probably my fav. thread on this blog.

[Birdbrain]

And here is the problem with the rose colored glasses of fandom. You tend to only see the things that didnt go right for your team, and completely discount when things dont go well for the opposition.

Heres what I took away from that game.

The lakers visibly let up at about the 6 minute mark and stopped looking to take the best shot, and started looking to run clock. This led to the lakers winding down the clock and taking any old shot at the end of the clock, those are the "stops" that allowed the celtics to make the 20 point blowout a 9 (real)point loss.
Kobe was inefficient, forced the ball,and took some questionable shots, yet still logged 27 (real points).

Lamar odom was essentially a non-factor, and the laker bench's contribution in general other than against finely was pretty weak, they contributed a total of 14 points. Lamar went off for 19 against the suns and has consistently been in the teens.

Point being this isnt the best out of either team.

Things likely to change in game 2? Ray allen on the floor, thats is about it. Ray allen will increase the offensive output of the celts for sure, but he is a liablity on defense. What is that offset going to mean going forward?
I think personally its a blessing and a curse, in that the game will have a higher score, but I dont think higher scoring games favor the celts.

Additionally, I think too much is being made of Allen's absence, when he plays well hes usually in the 20 point range, he had 12, 8 more points is still a loss, by one point which resembles the game these two teams played when at full strength earlier in the year.

Heres my X factor, nate mother f'n robinson. If all things revert to the norm he is the only thing that can get the celts over the hump.

I guess too much wasn't being made of Ray being able to play game 2.  And there were more than a few good omens from game 1.  You were correct about some good minutes from Nate though which will only make this team stronger going back to Beantown.

[Birdbrain]

Great win ... and even greater to me because it encouraged me further. Why? Because we still did not play our best ball ... KG had minimal impact, Pierce was minimal on offense, there were many careless mistakes, the officiating was as unbalanced as you can get, (in favor of LA), and our team field-goal percentage wasn't very good. We can still play better ... much better, and I think we'll do so in Game 3, and finish this thing without coming back to La-La-Land. Go Celtics!

Exactly the C's still haven't played their A game yet.  Look for the bigs to be able to play a bit more in Boston and that may lead to some BIG leads.

Go C's.