They simply don't want it anymore!

[DrD]

Amazing as it may be, this team has spoken. Unfortunately, I've heard their voice loud and clear. Their play has spoken volumes all season long and it is no different now.

If you listen as well, you'll no doubt agree. They've already accomplished all that they set out to for this season.
NBA best regular season record.
Defensive stat leader in numerous categories for the regular season.
Defensive Player of the Year.
Two all NBA players.
Sweep of the Texas triangle.
Put up a 25-5 record against the almighty Western Conference.
Put an end to the regular season winning streak of the Rockets that no other team could lay claim to.

Yes, those are just a few of the highlights of this past season. And we loved every minute of it.

Well, I'm sorry to report that it's over for us now. The fire is gone. The "gotta want it" is gone. Why? Because they already accomplished everything they
wanted to.

When they "wanted it" they went into the most hostile NBA environment and out-toughed the tough Utah Jazz on their home floor in SLC.
 
When they "wanted it", this team could whip any team in the league, at home or on the road.

When they "wanted it" this same team went into Detroit early in the season and showed the Pistons who we were.

When they "wanted it", they showed the Champion Spurs they could whip 'em with or without KG.

When they "wanted it", they showed those Showtime Lakers they could whip 'em in Boston or LA.

Yes, they've done all that. But it's all over now.

Atlanta ??
Cleveland ??

Sorry. You can talk all you want about playoff atmosphere, but the Hawks and Cavs couldn't warm this  team up when they "wanted it".

Unfortunately, I've heard their voice loud and clear.

They simply don't want it anymore.

Don't blame the coaches.
Don't blame the refs.
Don't talk of match-ups.
Don't talk of conspiracy.

Just watch when they play.................and listen to what they say.

[NoraG1]

Every team wants to win a championship even if they lose a game or 2 on the road.

I guess all home court teams don't want it so far this series because they have all lost game 3. Cavs then didn't 'want it' at the Garden either.

[Slugger]

Is this guy for real?

They beat Atlanta and have a 2-1 lead on Cleveland.  I think theyre Ok.

[cdif911]

last I checked the series is 2-1...

worst thread ever

[Bahku]

Sorry ... WAY wrong here. Because they haven't won on the road they don't "want" it?!? Please, walk up to KG, or Paul, or Ray, or ANY member of this team and tell them they don't "want" it ... I think they may have a word or two to say about it, and it'll be nothing you can post here.

They're struggling, yes, because these boys just traded phone numbers a few months ago, for crying out loud! Don't sell these extremely hard-working, dedicated, lion-hearted young guys short by saying they don't "want" it. That's truly an insult to all they've done in such a short time, and not remotely fair to a team who has set the standard for defense, team-play, and exceeding expectations.

These guys have as much heart, desire, and determination as any team ... and they "want" it as much as anyone ... absolutely!

[ChampKind]

Yeah, it's true that there are absolutely no differences between playoff basketball and regular season basketball.  This team made a point to battle every game and fight with intensity since game one.  Other teams don't buy into this mantra as much as our Celtics did this year.  Should we be surprised that other teams have ratcheted up the intensity during playoff season?  Or is it just easier to be shocked that there isn't a setting higher than ten for our team's mentality. 

We've been on 10 throughout the season, which led to some big wins.  Every game had a playoffs atmosphere for us.  Now it truly is a playoff atmosphere, and the good teams are harder to beat.  But please keep in mind that we're beating the former conference champions 2-1 right now.  And we've won the games we've had to at home.

[celticmaestro]

why is this thread still alive?

most inaccurate and infuriating thread i've read in a long, long time.

[shbanua]

can you say "another overreaction thread"?

yes, this team is a shambles on the road in the playoffs but i don't think that would constitute "not wanting it anymore".. i'm sure there're more logical basketball-related ways of explaining these road woes than "they don't want it".

[TheReaLPuba]

This is the first time THIS C's team has played in the playoffs and so far they haven't passed the test on the road.

It's hard to point to any one area and say it's the reason we're playing so bad on the road but one thing is for sure....if the C's don't play solid defense they're a vulnerable team.

Offense comes and goes but the team's collective defense has to stay strong all game long...each game.

I didn't like the approach the C's had to Game 3...they had an offensive mentality that really took them out of their identity.

You had both Perk and Rondo taking whacky shots and you had missed rotational defenses out of the wazoo.

Doc not calling a time out fast enough really helped the Cavs momentum. I mean this team scored the first 4 points then gave up the next 10 or 12 in a row.

That is poor defense right there....allowing the Cavs to shoot 65% and score 40+ points in a quarter? That hasn't happen all year and it's unacceptable.

Doc says this a lot when he's a game analyst on TV: "Do what you do"

Our guys need to start doing what they do normally...

Rondo: Run the offense, play lock up defense

Perk: Rebound the ball, play solid defense - stop shooting fadeways please!

KG: Be KG

Pierce: Get to the line and take some more shots [dang] it!

Allen: Start hitting some open J's and stop dribbling the ball without purpose

Posey: Be Posey

Rest of the Bench: Do something....any one thing productive please...rebound...stay with your man...anything. Can not come up with this garbage productivity on the road...it's embarrassing.

[Slugger]

This is the first time THIS C's team has played in the playoffs and so far they haven't passed the test on the road.

It's hard to point to any one area and say it's the reason we're playing so bad on the road but one thing is for sure....if the C's don't play solid defense they're a vulnerable team.

Offense comes and goes but the team's collective defense has to stay strong all game long...each game.

I didn't like the approach the C's had to Game 3...they had an offensive mentality that really took them out of their identity.

You had both Perk and Rondo taking whacky shots and you had missed rotational defenses out of the wazoo.

Doc not calling a time out fast enough really helped the Cavs momentum. I mean this team scored the first 4 points then gave up the next 10 or 12 in a row.

That is poor defense right there....allowing the Cavs to shoot 65% and score 40+ points in a quarter? That hasn't happen all year and it's unacceptable.

Doc says this a lot when he's a game analyst on TV: "Do what you do"

Our guys need to start doing what they do normally...

Rondo: Run the offense, play lock up defense

Perk: Rebound the ball, play solid defense - stop shooting fadeways please!

KG: Be KG

Pierce: Get to the line and take some more shots [dang] it!

Allen: Start hitting some open J's and stop dribbling the ball without purpose

Posey: Be Posey

Rest of the Bench: Do something....any one thing productive please...rebound...stay with your man...anything. Can not come up with this garbage productivity on the road...it's embarrassing.

The Cavs scored 32 in the 1st qtr - their most in a quarter this game.  Far from 40+   

As for Doc not calling time-out during that 1st qtr run, alot of coaches prefer or allow their players to "fight" through runs like this.

Also, their were 2 3-pointers involved in that run.  Hardly reason to talk things over at that point.

[Yakmanev]

Its not such a bad thread. Hopefully, someone who matters will read it show it to the players and they will respond with a statement.

So far this playoffs on the road the team acts like they've never played a game together and something needs to change because it ain't likely we win 100% home playoff games.

If it does I bet we will be the first team ever to win a title without a single road playoff win.

[DrD]

why is this thread still alive?

most inaccurate and infuriating thread i've read in a long, long time.

1) This thread is alive because we have a right of free speech and opinion, which is also the reason why this Celtics Blog is alive.

2) It is infuriating to me as well, but what is infuriating is the way this team has consistently played in four different road games.

3) Perhaps the part you refer to as inaccurate is the interpretation of the words "don't want it". If that is the case, then I'll acknowledge my inflammatory choice of words and attempt to rephrase it a different way.

The level of "fire and determination" that I used to see this team play with - on the road - throughout the regular season does not seem to be present in the four playoff road games thus far. Maybe you didn't see some of those games that I referred to above, but I watched every minute. And when they beat Detroit in Detroit, LA in LA, Utah in Utah, SA in SA, Houston in Houston, Dallas in Dallas - etcetera - there was a strong sense of proving something to the NBA world.

There were doubters when the C's went what 29-3 or something. Everyone said "wait till they go out West, where they play real basketball". Well, the C's went "out West" and they played with fire and determination and a sense of  having to prove their worth. They accepted the challenge, knew what they had to
do and did it. Why? Because they wanted it, wanted to prove the pundits wrong, wanted to show they had what it takes to win an NBA title.

After finishing the regular season with the best record in the league, they were labeled the favorite, the team to beat for the title. # 17 is all but ours. Just show up for tip-off.

If you understand the entire psychological picture and how it has changed from
early in the season, it may better help describe the way I "hear" what the body language of this team is saying.

I am there behind this team for every game. Like you, I get frustrated with the way they have played on the road. Not the home games, the road games. And yes, I know that all they have to do is win every home game and the title is theirs.
But do you really think they can walk that tightrope when Detroit, Orlando, San Antonio, LA, Utah or New Orleans comes to town?

Perhaps my measure is too high? Maybe I ask too much of this team? It's just that I have seen them play in hostile environments all season long with the proverbial "bullseye" on their back. And nearly every time it was this Celtic team that hit their target......not the opponent. I'm asking for more of the same if they "want" #17.

[PRIDE]

They lost a game on the road. You cant let failure distract you. That game is over. Theres no need to panic because we lost a game on the road. We can win the next one and you'll be saying the series is over. You cant judge a season on 1 game. They played TERRIBLE to start the game. They couldnt get the offense rolling and the defense suffered because of it. It was just bad basketball. They evened out for the rest of the game. Clevelands role players hit a lot of shots and played pretty well. I'm not convinced they will do that again next game. Wally doesnt scare me, Boobie doesnt scare me. No one else can get it done on a consistent basis. The only one that scares me besides Lebron is Delonte, just because he trys so hard and he can light it up once in a while.

[Yakmanev]

why is this thread still alive?

most inaccurate and infuriating thread i've read in a long, long time.

1) This thread is alive because we have a right of free speech and opinion, which is also the reason why this Celtics Blog is alive.

2) It is infuriating to me as well, but what is infuriating is the way this team has consistently played in four different road games.

3) Perhaps the part you refer to as inaccurate is the interpretation of the words "don't want it". If that is the case, then I'll acknowledge my inflammatory choice of words and attempt to rephrase it a different way.

The level of "fire and determination" that I used to see this team play with - on the road - throughout the regular season does not seem to be present in the four playoff road games thus far. Maybe you didn't see some of those games that I referred to above, but I watched every minute. And when they beat Detroit in Detroit, LA in LA, Utah in Utah, SA in SA, Houston in Houston, Dallas in Dallas - etcetera - there was a strong sense of proving something to the NBA world.

There were doubters when the C's went what 29-3 or something. Everyone said "wait till they go out West, where they play real basketball". Well, the C's went "out West" and they played with fire and determination and a sense of  having to prove their worth. They accepted the challenge, knew what they had to
do and did it. Why? Because they wanted it, wanted to prove the pundits wrong, wanted to show they had what it takes to win an NBA title.

After finishing the regular season with the best record in the league, they were labeled the favorite, the team to beat for the title. # 17 is all but ours. Just show up for tip-off.

If you understand the entire psychological picture and how it has changed from
early in the season, it may better help describe the way I "hear" what the body language of this team is saying.

I am there behind this team for every game. Like you, I get frustrated with the way they have played on the road. Not the home games, the road games. And yes, I know that all they have to do is win every home game and the title is theirs.
But do you really think they can walk that tightrope when Detroit, Orlando, San Antonio, LA, Utah or New Orleans comes to town?

Perhaps my measure is too high? Maybe I ask too much of this team? It's just that I have seen them play in hostile environments all season long with the proverbial "bullseye" on their back. And nearly every time it was this Celtic team that hit their target......not the opponent. I'm asking for more of the same if they "want" #17.

I agree with this. They are an all together different team on the road and the playoffs isn't the time for that to happen.

I didn't get to see last nights game because of freakin special all points bulletin weather coverage.(There are five major stations in Memphis and the ABC affiliate carrying the Boston Celtics playoff game was the one that preempted their programming 100%)

However the three Games in Atlanta went all exactly the same way. And it was the Celtics handing it over each and every time. KG couldn't even make a pass for goodness sakes in one of them.

[Celtic]

Every one needs to vent after a loss, but to say they simply don't want in any more, is simply incorrect. How can some people abandon their team so quickly? After the C's crushed the Cavs in game 2 spirits were so high, and all it takes is one loss to make you jump ship. The question isn't do they want it anymore, but rather do you want it anymore.