Time For the Stars To Shine!

[jay_jay54]

I actually thought KG did a good job in the 4th of not settling for jump shots and taking it to the basket.  The only problem was the ball just wasn't going in.  But I agree that Ray should've been found more.  There should've been more screens set for him coming off the ball, rather than after he already had it.

A couple of his misses might have been converted into baskets if Perk had actually tried crashing the boards instead of watching.  That's why he's in there and he was nowhere to be found at crunch time in that game.

Perkins grabbed 9 rebounds in 25 minutes this game.  Maybe if he was used more in the 2nd half, the Celtics rebounding would have been better.

Another excellent point,i have been saying this all alone.Where is Perk in crunch time.This was the same in the regular season,no Perk in the time of need.

[CelticsWhat35]

Perkins grabbed 9 rebounds in 25 minutes this game.  Maybe if he was used more in the 2nd half, the Celtics rebounding would have been better.

He was out there the last 3 minutes and on at least two offensive misses he was nowhere near the basket and at least twice allowed the Hawks to get key offensive rebounds down the other end during the same period.

He was one of the big reasons they blew the game.

Because he is the only one that can grab a defensive rebound? 

Because he is constantly pulled away (like KG) from the basket as a help defender? 

The Celtics were already down when he was put back in.  They had already blown a 10 point lead in the 4th.  Kind of hard to blame it on him.

That's true.  They were down 5 when Perk came in after going into the 4th up 10.  You can't put that on him.  Granted, the team got that 10 point lead when Perk was on the bench as well, but he wasn't the reason they blew it either.  They couldn't stop Johnson and they couldn't put the ball in the basket.  That's what did them in in the 4th.

[wdleehi]

Perkins grabbed 9 rebounds in 25 minutes this game.  Maybe if he was used more in the 2nd half, the Celtics rebounding would have been better.

He was out there the last 3 minutes and on at least two offensive misses he was nowhere near the basket and at least twice allowed the Hawks to get key offensive rebounds down the other end during the same period.

He was one of the big reasons they blew the game.

Because he is the only one that can grab a defensive rebound? 

Because he is constantly pulled away (like KG) from the basket as a help defender? 

The Celtics were already down when he was put back in.  They had already blown a 10 point lead in the 4th.  Kind of hard to blame it on him.

That's true.  They were down 5 when Perk came in after going into the 4th up 10.  You can't put that on him.  Granted, the team got that 10 point lead when Perk was on the bench as well, but he wasn't the reason they blew it either.  They couldn't stop Johnson and they couldn't put the ball in the basket.  That's what did them in in the 4th.

The non defense blew the game.  30+ points in the 4th to the hawks. 

[Kuberski33]

I'm not blaming it entirely on him, but a couple of key rebounds in those situations (in my opinion) would have turned the game around.  He certainly had plenty of help.  Pierce's missed layup was a killer because that would have made it a 2 point game, and Doc's coaching blunders have been certainly well documented here - and you can blame Doc and everyone on the court for the defensive breakdowns.

But Perk is out there for defense and especially rebounding and he failed at a point where good players tend to come through.

Again must my opinion but the last few minutes of a road playoff game is to me where you separate the winners and the really good players from the losers and the JAG's (just another guy types).  Perk's definitely not a loser.  But he is a JAG who's value is greatly enhanced by the talent surrounding him.

[Roy Hobbs]

I generally agree with Bahku, so long as that dominance is done within a team structure.  It needs to be one of those "feed KG the ball every time down" or "give it to PP and get out of his way" sort of things; it can't be a guy just taking control on his own.

It's also a fine line; Paul Pierce has won a lot of games by taking over down the stretch, but we've probably lost a few (in previous years) by relying *too* much on Paul Pierce isos.  It's important to have a go-to guy, but we also have too much talent on the floor to allow the other players to be wallflowers.

Basically, what we need is for one of our superstars to somehow play like Larry Bird; somebody with the ability to get all his teammates involved, while at the same time being the undeniable man in crunch time and indisputable leader that his teammates look up to on the floor.  I'm not sure if any of our "big three" is capable of that, but I agree it's basically one of the aspects of this team that could be better.

[wdleehi]

I'm not blaming it entirely on him, but a couple of key rebounds in those situations (in my opinion) would have turned the game around.  He certainly had plenty of help.  Pierce's missed layup was a killer because that would have made it a 2 point game, and Doc's coaching blunders have been certainly well documented here - and you can blame Doc and everyone on the court for the defensive breakdowns.

But Perk is out there for defense and especially rebounding and he failed at a point where good players tend to come through.

Again must my opinion but the last few minutes of a road playoff game is to me where you separate the winners and the really good players from the losers and the JAG's (just another guy types).  Perk's definitely not a loser.  But he is a JAG who's value is greatly enhanced by the talent surrounding him.

Both him, Posey and Rondo were stuck back in there to late. 


Had all three gotten in there sooner, the Celtics could have stop the tide. 

[wdleehi]

I generally agree with Bahku, so long as that dominance is done within a team structure.  It needs to be one of those "feed KG the ball every time down" or "give it to PP and get out of his way" sort of things; it can't be a guy just taking control on his own.

It's also a fine line; Paul Pierce has won a lot of games by taking over down the stretch, but we've probably lost a few (in previous years) by relying *too* much on Paul Pierce isos.  It's important to have a go-to guy, but we also have too much talent on the floor to allow the other players to be wallflowers.

Basically, what we need is for one of our superstars to somehow play like Larry Bird; somebody with the ability to get all his teammates involved, while at the same time being the undeniable man in crunch time and indisputable leader that his teammates look up to on the floor.  I'm not sure if any of our "big three" is capable of that, but I agree it's basically one of the aspects of this team that could be better.

KG in the low post.  Not only can he take any Hawk defender one on one, he is great at finding the open man for the good shot out of the double teams. 

[CelticsWhat35]

I generally agree with Bahku, so long as that dominance is done within a team structure.  It needs to be one of those "feed KG the ball every time down" or "give it to PP and get out of his way" sort of things; it can't be a guy just taking control on his own.

It's also a fine line; Paul Pierce has won a lot of games by taking over down the stretch, but we've probably lost a few (in previous years) by relying *too* much on Paul Pierce isos.  It's important to have a go-to guy, but we also have too much talent on the floor to allow the other players to be wallflowers.

Basically, what we need is for one of our superstars to somehow play like Larry Bird; somebody with the ability to get all his teammates involved, while at the same time being the undeniable man in crunch time and indisputable leader that his teammates look up to on the floor.  I'm not sure if any of our "big three" is capable of that, but I agree it's basically one of the aspects of this team that could be better.

KG in the low post.  Not only can he take any Hawk defender one on one, he is great at finding the open man for the good shot out of the double teams. 

Absolutely, but they need to try and get it to him closer to the basket, because the farther out he receives the ball, the more time the defense has to react if he takes it to the basket.

[BringToughnessBack]

I totally agree with Bahku on this(TP for him) and was actually surprised by Charles comments as well for the first time. Agreeing with Charles was quite unsettling.

For this series and for us to re-assert ourselves as the best, KG needs to rise up and shine at the end of the game. He needs to find that scowl that has been missing these past few games and fire his team up like he did this season. We also need our best lockdown defender on there hot shooter at the end..not rocket science Doc.

In addition to our Stars shining, we also need our Coach to be at the very least, dim and not completely like a Black Hole...

Star Shine + Coach Dim = Celtics in 6

Star Shine + Coach Shine = Celtics in 6 by 20 plus each game

Star Shine + Coach Black Hole = God Knows in 7

Star Invisible + Coach Black Hole = A trip to the unemployment line for Doc and the worst collapse in the history of NBA playoffs

I am pulling for the first or 2nd scenario. For the record, we should win by 25 tonight and by 10 in Game 6. No excuses.

[Kuberski33]

Both him, Posey and Rondo were stuck back in there to late. 

Had all three gotten in there sooner, the Celtics could have stop the tide. 

I agree with you 100% on Posey and Rondo.  Both of those guys need to play 30+ minutes for the rest of this series.  Rondo I'd play 40.  If given the chance, he will come through.  So will Posey.

[wdleehi]

I generally agree with Bahku, so long as that dominance is done within a team structure.  It needs to be one of those "feed KG the ball every time down" or "give it to PP and get out of his way" sort of things; it can't be a guy just taking control on his own.

It's also a fine line; Paul Pierce has won a lot of games by taking over down the stretch, but we've probably lost a few (in previous years) by relying *too* much on Paul Pierce isos.  It's important to have a go-to guy, but we also have too much talent on the floor to allow the other players to be wallflowers.

Basically, what we need is for one of our superstars to somehow play like Larry Bird; somebody with the ability to get all his teammates involved, while at the same time being the undeniable man in crunch time and indisputable leader that his teammates look up to on the floor.  I'm not sure if any of our "big three" is capable of that, but I agree it's basically one of the aspects of this team that could be better.

KG in the low post.  Not only can he take any Hawk defender one on one, he is great at finding the open man for the good shot out of the double teams. 

Absolutely, but they need to try and get it to him closer to the basket, because the farther out he receives the ball, the more time the defense has to react if he takes it to the basket.

And the less likely they will have to double team.

[Kuberski33]

Star Shine + Coach Black Hole = God Knows in 7

Star Invisible + Coach Black Hole = A trip to the unemployment line for Doc and the worst collapse in the history of NBA playoffs

I hate to be a pessimist, but that game on Monday opened the door to the possibility of that last one occurring.  I think we're on the edge of a twilight zone where these guys are thrown into such a funk that it all spirals downhill.  Let's hope Doc doesn't push us over that edge......

Where's Larry Bird when we need him...... 

[BringToughnessBack]

Star Shine + Coach Black Hole = God Knows in 7

Star Invisible + Coach Black Hole = A trip to the unemployment line for Doc and the worst collapse in the history of NBA playoffs

I hate to be a pessimist, but that game on Monday opened the door to the possibility of that last one occurring.  I think we're on the edge of a twilight zone where these guys are thrown into such a funk that it all spirals downhill.  Let's hope Doc doesn't push us over that edge......

Where's Larry Bird when we need him...... 

I would settle for K.C. Jones and one of our stars rising up to the challenge.
Today, I am going to be an blind optimist and expect our team to claw its way out of this slide with a dominating performance. I am sticking with one of my first 2 scenarios happening

[Redz]

Where's Larry Bird when we need him...... 

Ummm...Larry's not coming through that door

Didn't we already cover that one?

Doc might have pull that line out though for all the questions he's going to have to answer to the media if the C's lose this series.

[Kuberski33]

Today, I am going to be an blind optimist and expect our team to claw its way out of this slide with a dominating performance. I am sticking with one of my first 2 scenarios happening

All logic points to that happening, but you nailed it right on the head -- we really did have a black hole in the head coach's seat on Monday.  And I think the guy has actually done a good job for the majority of the season.