Cavs Series Will/Will Not Bring Clarity

[ZoSo]

From the time Bill Walton got hurt riding a stationary bike in August of 1986 until KG was acquired in July of 2007, being a Celtics fan reduced your basketball life to one simple truth: you’re favorite team stood no realistic chance at winning an NBA championship.

It sucked, as did watching the Lakers close within two titles of the Celtics. But there were other things to do. Read a book, take in a movie, get a job, maybe even start a family.

Once KG was acquired, life was just about as simple: eat, breath, and sleep the Celtics. Having suffered through 22 years of futility, Celtics fans weren’t about to miss a second of anything green-related this year.

Losing three games to the worst team in the playoffs changed everything from black and white to a hazy shade of gray.

Some observers think the Celtics played hard, and that the Hawks just outplayed them at home (those observers like the Cavs in 6). Other observers would swear KG coasted through the road games (those observers like the Celtics in 6).  Indeed, the Celtics do seem overly obsessed with the fact that they own home-court throughout the playoffs, which would suggest that they aren’t taking the road games as seriously as they should.

Nonetheless, almost everyone agrees that the Celtics defense let them down in each of the road losses, in one game failing to stop Atlanta from scoring on 17 consecutive possessions (a fact that concerns even those predicting the Celtics in 6). Their inability to get stops against Atlanta, of course, is in stark contrast to the regular season, where, one might argue, the Celtics had their way in every game they really wanted to win except for the first Detroit game.

I’d like to think that the Cleveland series will return clarity to the big picture.

But I suspect whatever questions are answered, others will be raised, and it won’t be until the Celtics either hoist a banner or get eliminated that the questions first posed by the Atlanta series will ever get put to rest.

[Redz]

The Celtics can continue being an enigma so long as they keep winning series.

This will be more of a "normal" series.  The games should be more consistently competitive and that should keep our boys focused. 

[CT34]

I'm getting sick of the lack of focus excuse on the court as the reason why the Cs went 7 game with Atlanta.  Atlanta as a city has a lot to offer young and not so young guys.  The night life is great, the club stay open until 6 am. They have plenty of those strip club.  What I'm trying to say is that Atlanta the city can be one heck of a distraction. 

I know because I've been told by a number of people some close to the team and some not that so close to the team.  All tell me that those guys was clubbing hard.  I have the pictures to prove it.  I mean come-on I was watching the ladies in the crowd when the team was down in Atlanta more then I was watching the game. I know those guys had a good time down there.  So when they did play in Atlanta those guys did run out of steam during the 4th quarter.  Blame it on the late nights or should I say early mornings

I know for sure Doc didn't put any time limits on those guys.  So they was free to do whatever.  I blame those 3 Ls in Atlanta on the Night Life, Women and Adult drinks and entertainment.

Thank God Cleveland is just like Boston when it comes to night-life.  But going to Atlanta is like going to South Beach.  Trust me I should know I have a house down there.