There's a lot that can and has and will be said about last night's game and why the Celtics lost. Personally, I think there's a myriad of reasons that combined to doom the Celtics last night and not just one. But that discussion is for other threads.
What has been made extremely obvious, both in the last third of last night's game and in game 7 versus the Bulls, is that when the Celtics turn up the defensive heat and start playing defense like the championship team they are, they are better than just about anyone in the league.
Last night, once the Magic went up 28 and Scalabrine was inserted for Baby, the game changed. Scal adjusted and started playing Lewis tight and staying in front of him. Rondo adjusted and simultaneously woke up and started pressuring the ball and causing havoc from the Magic's starting point in their offense. Ray started staying close to Redick. Paul got that extra step closer to Turk that causes him fits and the rotations stopped being a full step and a half slower. Heck, I couldn't hear on TV but even the floor communication and switches seemed better.
The same thing happened during that great stretch versus the Bulls in game 7 that decided that game and the series. For some reason, unlike last year, the defensive intensity is getting switched on and off by this team and the fact they can turn it on and off really bothers me. It tells me that the problem is more than just the absence of Kevin Garnett. The problem is in the attitude of the the players themselves and the thought process that they can try to win without that intensity and when they get in trouble, they will just turn it on and everything will be okay.
Do you know what that tells the very small part of my coaching brain that exists? It tells me that this team is not mentally capable of being a champion this year. They can not turn this on and off when they are as depleted in the frontcourt and as talent lacking on the bench as they are right now. If they were at 100%, it still might be difficult. A champion has to have that hunger all the time, especially in an environment where there are teams as talent laden as they are. Cleveland and LA don't seem to have that attitude and that is why they are the favorites to get to the Finals this year.
The Celtics had the right attitude early this year but the obvious point where it just disappeared is the Christmas game against the Lakers. After that, with or without KG, this team has had the attitude that they can just turn the defensive intensity on and off whenever they needed to pull out the win and they have been proven wrong over and over again.
I only hope it's not too late and that Doc has them in the video room as we speak showing them the difference between the first 30 minutes and the last 18 minutes of last night's game. I hope he is drilling into their brains that they need to have the intensity all the time and that it starts with the starters and has to work its way down all the way to the last man on the bench.
Defense first and foremost and always. Defense will create offense. Defense wins championships. Defense, Defense. DEFENSE!!!!!
Topic: The Celtics will win if they'ld just play defense (Read 2268 times)