First Round Game 6 Boston Celtics at Atlanta Hawks 5/2/08 8:00 PM (ESPN, CSN)

[Redz]

By some of the posts here I'm starting to think Bibby was correct. Too many front runners and bandwagon jumpers. If I just read the posts here and didn't watch the game I would think we lost by 30. A little fairness in officiating and we win. A few more good plays we win. Some better coaching decisions we win.

Hard to be real happy after this one, but I'll be happy as a pig in poop if (no longer boaEdited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline.lly saying when) we win this series. 

I said it before somewhere, but if we win round 2 or beyond is anyone going to be concerned about how many games this one took?

Just get there!  PLEASE

[KJ33]

We should have won this game.

We took 13 more shots than they did.

We made 5 more field goals and 3 more 3 pointers than they did.

The rebounds were pretty even (35 to 38 Atlanta) and we committed less turnovers 9 to 12.

We should have won this game and this series should be over.

You left out the most important #s, 47-25 in free throws, advantage Hawks.  Yes, we should be taking it to the hoop more, but you can't convince me that that alone accounts for the drastic difference in free throw attempts for the whole series. 

PP gets absolutely no respect, you can be sure that no other star would be fouled out away from the ball in the crucial part of a playoff game the way he was tonight.  Every drive by the Hawks results in a foul, Horford gets no rookie treatment and Garnett and Pierce do not get star treatment the way I see every other NBA game get called.  J. Johnson elbows Sam in the chest and they T up both of them?  Pierce gets all ball on Horford down low and they call a foul?  Josh Smith can aggressively go after everything and rarely gets called for body contact. 

Also, it is time to stop talking about how many wins each of these teams had, the Celts had 63 wins against teams that were NOT the Hawks, so each of their regular season records at this point are meaningless, it is all how they play against each other that matters.  They don't hand out extra points or wins for how many games it takes to win a series so what good does it do to bemoan how hard this is and that this should never have happened?  If the C's do advance, nobody will be talking about how many games the 1st round took when we are 2-3 games into the next series, all that matters is that the C's advance.  Now if the C's somehow lose Game 7, then all the naysayers can have a field day complaining about everything they are now, but if they win, all of it is meaningless.

[Green Mountain]

By some of the posts here I'm starting to think Bibby was correct. Too many front runners and bandwagon jumpers. If I just read the posts here and didn't watch the game I would think we lost by 30. A little fairness in officiating and we win. A few more good plays we win. Some better coaching decisions we win.

So real fans accept the poor play and move on. I think not. I call it like I see it. I think most people believe that the C's will win game 7. The fact that they're in game 7 against the Hawks doesn't bode well for future rounds. This is the playoffs. Jumpshooting teams don't win championships.

[cdif911]

It astounds me that anyone cannot think that the Celts' road performance in this series has been pathetic.  The Celtics deserve all of the grief they are getting tonight for the way they have played in Atlanta.  I still cannot get that last play out of my mind with Rondo hung out 30 feet from the basket.  It looked as if no one on the floor knew how much time was left in the game.

to me it seems like Atlanta played great D, sagged off Rondo a bit, forced him into the long 3, clogged the passing lanes and combine that with no timeouts left, we're at the worst case scenario - should house or Sam been in there? probably, but give atlanta credit for their D

[vinnie]

It astounds me that anyone cannot think that the Celts' road performance in this series has been pathetic.  The Celtics deserve all of the grief they are getting tonight for the way they have played in Atlanta.  I still cannot get that last play out of my mind with Rondo hung out 30 feet from the basket.  It looked as if no one on the floor knew how much time was left in the game.

to me it seems like Atlanta played great D, sagged off Rondo a bit, forced him into the long 3, clogged the passing lanes and combine that with no timeouts left, we're at the worst case scenario - should house or Sam been in there? probably, but give atlanta credit for their D

cdif, you cannot be serious.  They looked completely unprepared for that last 8 seconds.  As if they did not know how much time was left or what the score was.  It looked like no one moved.  Ray just stood in the right corner with his man all over him.  Rondo looked like a deer in the headlights.  I understand you love the Celtics, but I just do not see how you can defend the lack of execution on that last play or how poorly they have played in Atlanta.  66 win teams with three alleged superstars should not struggle like this in the first round.  The players and coaching staff have been putrid in Atlanta.

[cdif911]

It astounds me that anyone cannot think that the Celts' road performance in this series has been pathetic.  The Celtics deserve all of the grief they are getting tonight for the way they have played in Atlanta.  I still cannot get that last play out of my mind with Rondo hung out 30 feet from the basket.  It looked as if no one on the floor knew how much time was left in the game.

to me it seems like Atlanta played great D, sagged off Rondo a bit, forced him into the long 3, clogged the passing lanes and combine that with no timeouts left, we're at the worst case scenario - should house or Sam been in there? probably, but give atlanta credit for their D

cdif, you cannot be serious.  They looked completely unprepared for that last 8 seconds.  As if they did not know how much time was left or what the score was.  It looked like no one moved.  Ray just stood in the right corner with his man all over him.  Rondo looked like a deer in the headlights.  I understand you love the Celtics, but I just do not see how you can defend the lack of execution on that last play or how poorly they have played in Atlanta.  66 win teams with three alleged superstars should not struggle like this in the first round.  The players and coaching staff have been putrid in Atlanta.

there were only 2 alleged superstars on the court for the final play - only 1 with 3 point range - posey and ray both attempted v cuts to get open but could not b/c the passing lanes were overplayed - Rondo was forced to shoot - if there was a timeout left, the celts would have got a descent shot - yes they were unprepared for the play, b/c it came after a ft... atlanta played good d, give them credit

[wdleehi]

The Celtics wings tried to run off the screens they always use. 


All the Hawks players knew it was coming.  Ray should have gone to Rondo and got the ball as soon as possible. 

[cdif911]

By some of the posts here I'm starting to think Bibby was correct. Too many front runners and bandwagon jumpers. If I just read the posts here and didn't watch the game I would think we lost by 30. A little fairness in officiating and we win. A few more good plays we win. Some better coaching decisions we win.

So real fans accept the poor play and move on. I think not. I call it like I see it. I think most people believe that the C's will win game 7. The fact that they're in game 7 against the Hawks doesn't bode well for future rounds. This is the playoffs. Jumpshooting teams don't win championships.

and its not saying don't be upset, its saying, be a fan, support the team, don't be a jackhole, have a little faith, it can go a long way

[vinnie]

I wonder how all of these other top seeds are managing to win by huge margins on the road during the playoffs?  It is amazing that Cleveland beat Washington tonight by 17 in Washington.  Even more amazing how the Lakers blew the doors off Denver in Denver.  And how about how Detroit beat Philadelphia by like a million in game 6 in Philly.  I know, Atlanta is better than all of those teams that are getting blown out at home.   Please, people, quit making apologies for three awful performances.

[Casperian]

I wonder how all of these other top seeds are managing to win by huge margins on the road during the playoffs?  It is amazing that Cleveland beat Washington tonight by 17 in Washington.  Even more amazing how the Lakers blew the doors off Denver in Denver.  And how about how Detroit beat Philadelphia by like a million in game 6 in Philly.  I know, Atlanta is better than all of those teams that are getting blown out at home.   Please, people, quit making apologies for three awful performances.

TP for you, vinnie.

Additionally, I think it`s sad to see some fans rather attack other fans than to adress the real problems on the court, Doc and the players and their crappy performances.

[CoachCowens]

I wonder how all of these other top seeds are managing to win by huge margins on the road during the playoffs?  It is amazing that Cleveland beat Washington tonight by 17 in Washington.  Even more amazing how the Lakers blew the doors off Denver in Denver.  And how about how Detroit beat Philadelphia by like a million in game 6 in Philly.  I know, Atlanta is better than all of those teams that are getting blown out at home.   Please, people, quit making apologies for three awful performances.

I wonder how many of them played a team that got twice as many foul calls as they did.

[cdif911]

I wonder how all of these other top seeds are managing to win by huge margins on the road during the playoffs?  It is amazing that Cleveland beat Washington tonight by 17 in Washington.  Even more amazing how the Lakers blew the doors off Denver in Denver.  And how about how Detroit beat Philadelphia by like a million in game 6 in Philly.  I know, Atlanta is better than all of those teams that are getting blown out at home.   Please, people, quit making apologies for three awful performances.

TP for you, vinnie.

Additionally, I think it`s sad to see some fans rather attack other fans than to adress the real problems on the court, Doc and the players and their crappy performance.

its not that we don't see problems on the court, they are glaring, but the problem is with many boston sports fans, they give up on their teams too easily - when things get bad, they say we suck, and to be honest, we don't - best team in the league in the regular season, can easily bounce back from this, learn from mistakes and move on - its not that problems don't need to be corrected on the court, they do - its that the fanbase is pathetic for turning rabid so fast, the series is tied, we're not down 3-2, and we're coming home, there's opportunity for optomism

[jay_jay54]

I wonder how all of these other top seeds are managing to win by huge margins on the road during the playoffs?  It is amazing that Cleveland beat Washington tonight by 17 in Washington.  Even more amazing how the Lakers blew the doors off Denver in Denver.  And how about how Detroit beat Philadelphia by like a million in game 6 in Philly.  I know, Atlanta is better than all of those teams that are getting blown out at home.   Please, people, quit making apologies for three awful performances.

I agree with you here..no excuses,for it.I have seen some things in my day,but this has to go up towards the top of the list...a tp for you also.

[Frontierboy]

Why wasn't House in the lineup for the last possession?  Instead we have Rondo taking a 3ptr..... What I've noticed is that Rondo needs to understand he isn't the superstar who should be taking the last shot of the game, that is Garnett,Ray, and Pierce's job. 

Ray's last shot, I can live with cause it was an open shot..... I've always believed on the road, you go for the win, at home, you go for the tie....

Dumb technical for Pierce tonight.... when will he ever learn..... sometimes it looks like he grows up but then he has a brain fart.....

BTW, Doc is gone if we don't win game 7.....

The scary thing is, the Hawks are bound to have a good game at the Garden eventually, especially since they haven't all season so they are due and it looks like it might be this Sunday.

[wdleehi]

Why wasn't House in the lineup for the last possession?  Instead we have Rondo taking a 3ptr..... What I've noticed is that Rondo needs to understand he isn't the superstar who should be taking the last shot of the game, that is Garnett,Ray, and Pierce's job. 

Ray's last shot, I can live with cause it was an open shot..... I've always believed on the road, you go for the win, at home, you go for the tie....

Dumb technical for Pierce tonight.... when will he ever learn..... sometimes it looks like he grows up but then he has a brain fart.....

BTW, Doc is gone if we don't win game 7.....

The scary thing is, the Hawks are bound to have a good game at the Garden eventually, especially since they haven't all season so they are due and it looks like it might be this Sunday.

Nobody that is a three pointer came and got the ball.


Rondo, unfortunately, was better off firing the shot then trying to make the bad pass.