Smart Play/Smart Coaching...Is That Too Much To Ask For?

[X Man]

I'm starting this topic to get everyone's opinion as to why the C's have been playing these Jekyll and Hyde type games in the playoffs.  I believe its the lack of smart play and smart coaching that has made this post season so unpredictable.  Here are some of the most popular theories below with a quick thought from me as to why I feel they're valid or invalid.

1."Its the natural ups and downs of the post season"

I could buy into this theory if the Celt's didn't change the way they play every other game.  Out of all the teams in the post season Boston is the most inconsistent by far (based on win lose margin).

2. "Its a different ballgame when you have to play the same team multiple times"

TRUE, but if you watch the games closely you see how its the lack of execution that seems to beat the C's, not any adjustment the other teams make on defense or offense.

3. "There's nothing like home cooking"

Yes, home court advantage does make a difference.  After all, that's the whole point of the regular season (which is kind of dumb but, whatever) BUT its different to shoot well at home and not shoot well on the road than to take good shots at home and take bad shots on the road.

4. "The refs are inconsistent with the whistle from game to game"

I can see that, but again, this factor can be neutralized if you play aggressive and force the refs to make the call.  You might not get the call the first, second, or sometimes, third time you take the ball to the basket but eventually the ref will have no choice but to blow the whistle, if again, you stay aggressive.

IMHO, The real reason for the inconsistency that we're witnessing from this team is being caused by the lack of experience this group's had together as a unit in moments of adversity.  I would also suggest that the growing pains that we expected to see throughout the course of the season have reared they're ugly head during these playoffs.  Doc is also not helping by changing the rotations every other game (Hence the "smart coaching" part of the title of this post) which makes finding continuity and permanent team chemistry even more difficult for this first year squad.   

With all that being said, let the conversation begin....thank you so much for reading!!

[Bahku]

I'm starting this topic to get everyone's opinion as to why the C's have been playing these Jekyll and Hyde type games in the playoffs.  I believe its the lack of smart play and smart coaching that has made this post season so unpredictable.  Here are some of the most popular theories below with a quick thought from me as to why I feel they're valid or invalid.

1."Its the natural ups and downs of the post season"

I could buy into this theory if the Celt's didn't change the way they play every other game.  Out of all the teams in the post season Boston is the most inconsistent by far (based on win lose margin).

2. "Its a different ballgame when you have to play the same team multiple times"

TRUE, but if you watch the games closely you see how its the lack of execution that seems to beat the C's, not any adjustment the other teams make on defense or offense.

3. "There's nothing like home cooking"

Yes, home court advantage does make a difference.  After all, that's the whole point of the regular season (which is kind of dumb but, whatever) BUT its different to shoot well at home and not shoot well on the road than to take good shots at home and take bad shots on the road.

4. "The refs are inconsistent with the whistle from game to game"

I can see that, but again, this factor can be neutralized if you play aggressive and force the refs to make the call.  You might not get the call the first, second, or sometimes, third time you take the ball to the basket but eventually the ref will have no choice but to blow the whistle, if again, you stay aggressive.

IMHO, The real reason for the inconsistency that we're witnessing from this team is being caused by the lack of experience this group's had together as a unit in moments of adversity.  I would also suggest that the growing pains that we expected to see throughout the course of the season have reared they're ugly head during these playoffs.  Doc is also not helping by changing the rotations every other game (Hence the "smart coaching" part of the title of this post) which makes finding continuity and permanent team chemistry even more difficult for this first year squad.   

With all that being said, let the conversation begin....thank you so much for reading!!

X-Man, this is really a great post, and I agree with the majority of it (TP for you). As I've stated elsewhere, it's not so much the losses that really get to me, but more the incredible extreme opposites that this team takes on from game to game. I honestly can't remember a team that was as two-faced as this one, and despite all the analysis, I've yet to hear a reasonable explanation or a clear reason why this is happening.

Honestly, the loss the other night would be much easier to take if they had played well, or played even remotely like they did the game before. This dichotomy is truly troubling, and unless this team gets it figured out, they'll be struggling on a consistent basis. There's just so much that's up in the air about this team's performances, and it's a bit unsettling to not know from night-to-night which team is going to show up!

[Casperian]

[Eeyore III]

Nice post X.  I have three additional ideas: (1) the Atlanta series took the Cs by surprise, knocked them off balance, disturbed their confidence, and they haven't fully recovered; (2)Ray Allen's wild slump has screwed up the team's chemistry; (3) the Brain Doctor is off with Danny scouting draft picks, and isn't around to keep KG and the other head cases in line.