Some perspective

[libermaniac]

The LA Times yesterday was criticism Pau Gasol for playing soft and wondering if he could regain his "old" form.  This after 1 loss in the past month.

Yes, the Celtics have lost 4 straight road games, but they are up 2-1 in their series, which is the same as all the other series started.

The Pistons looked in trouble before yesterday's game with Billups out.  Now, they are on the verge of putting Orlando away.

It's normal for us to overreact to losses.  It doesn't mean all hope should be lost!  Things need to get better in future series, but there is certainly hope that they can.

Go Celtics!

[cdif911]

yeah but everyone knows LA is dumb

we should never want to be compared with them, whatever they do, we do the opposite! (fans I'm talking about here, I'd like us to copy their winning)

[Redz]

Agreed.  Each game in the playoffs is certainly magnified, but it's not like it's the NFL (if it was we'd be in great shape though)

[jay_jay54]

The LA Times yesterday was criticism Pau Gasol for playing soft and wondering if he could regain his "old" form.  This after 1 loss in the past month.

Yes, the Celtics have lost 4 straight road games, but they are up 2-1 in their series, which is the same as all the other series started.

The Pistons looked in trouble before yesterday's game with Billups out.  Now, they are on the verge of putting Orlando away.

It's normal for us to overreact to losses.  It doesn't mean all hope should be lost!  Things need to get better in future series, but there is certainly hope that they can.

Go Celtics!

The media always single out one player to attribute a lost to,and if they win the next one,he's a hero to the media...and as you stated,things need to get better,and i feel it will next game.Go Celts!as well.

[NoraG1]

yeah but everyone knows LA is dumb

we should never want to be compared with them, whatever they do, we do the opposite! (fans I'm talking about here, I'd like us to copy their winning)

We are so far in this series.

[Roy Hobbs]

0-4 on the road is a big deal, and psychologically, it's going to become an even bigger deal with each  consecutive road game they lose.  This is an issue the team *needs* to fix, or it's going to snowball even further.

There is absolutely, unequivocally something wrong with the Celtics when they're not at home.  I don't think any amount of perspective takes away from that fact.  Whatever the issue is, the players and coaches need to collectively solve it.

[DrD]

0-4 on the road is a big deal, and psychologically, it's going to become an even bigger deal with each  consecutive road game they lose.  This is an issue the team *needs* to fix, or it's going to snowball even further.

There is absolutely, unequivocally something wrong with the Celtics when they're not at home.  I don't think any amount of perspective takes away from that fact.  Whatever the issue is, the players and coaches need to collectively solve it.

Exactly Roy.
This was the basis of my whole topic which was posted under the cynical title of "They simply don't want it anymore".

[WedmanIsMyHero]

I agree as well.  As I have posted in other forums, I think that the legacy of losing in the playoffs throughout the careers of the Big 3, as well as Doc Rivers as a player and coach, matters. . . it makes it harder to be loose and overcome in road games, since they have NEVER done it before, etc.

[SShoreFan]

I agree as well.  As I have posted in other forums, I think that the legacy of losing in the playoffs throughout the careers of the Big 3, as well as Doc Rivers as a player and coach, matters. . . it makes it harder to be loose and overcome in road games, since they have NEVER done it before, etc.

I think it's why they are now I see their play based on emotion as opposed to fundamentals.  I think fear of labels is indeed hanging over their head and it's causing some unneeded panic.

I posted earlier today that the Celts could stand to steal a page out of Manny's book and just relax a bit.

Let the game come to them and not force so many things on the offensive end.

[Redz]

I'm not completely discounting the mounting pressure of starting the playoffs 0-4.  Or that last night was part of some pattern, but that 0-4 start, and that pattern are only as valid as the next game.  I'm not happy about the way they've played on t he road, but doesn't mean a hill of beans if they can break pattern and come home up 3-1.  I'll be as bugged out as anyone if they lose tomorrow, but I'm not going to get bugged out until that point.  I still have complete faith that this team will figure it out. Maybe that faith is unfounded at this point, but I think it's a waist of energy to worry about last night until we've seen the whole of the two game trip to Cleveland.

[get_banners]

well, last night was a stinker, but the losses in atlanta were actually pretty close. and when you account for the really questionable refereeing in those games (which i contend totally forced us to play a different style of basketball or risk getting our players hurt and/or fouled out), they really weren't that bad. plus, everyone on cleveland (minus lebron) shot better than normal - yes, our D wasn't stellar, but still, they don't usually shoot that well. game 3 is the one away teams rarely seem to win because the energy is so high for the home team, especially if they're down 2-0. if it wasn't for that huge hole we dug in the 1st quarter yesterday, we definitely could have won that game. i'm not happy with our play, but i'm not ready to freak out that much...yet. home court is a big deal in the playoffs. that's why everybody talks about just stealing one on the road. i think/hope this 0-4 road record helps hammer into our guys the importance of staying focused and sticking to the game plan tomorrow night.

[NoraG1]

Still not going to 'bug out' if they lose game 4 and go home 2-2 (Lakers are in that boat now) If they lose a home game then I will start to worry. Just glad the C's got home court advantage which they will still hold no matter what happens in the next game.

[jaketwice]

0-4 on the road is a big deal, and psychologically, it's going to become an even bigger deal with each  consecutive road game they lose.  This is an issue the team *needs* to fix, or it's going to snowball even further.

There is absolutely, unequivocally something wrong with the Celtics when they're not at home.  I don't think any amount of perspective takes away from that fact.  Whatever the issue is, the players and coaches need to collectively solve it.

I think that the issue is related to "home court advantage."

well, last night was a stinker, but the losses in atlanta were actually pretty close. and when you account for the really questionable refereeing in those games (which i contend totally forced us to play a different style of basketball or risk getting our players hurt and/or fouled out), they really weren't that bad. plus, everyone on cleveland (minus lebron) shot better than normal - yes, our D wasn't stellar, but still, they don't usually shoot that well. game 3 is the one away teams rarely seem to win because the energy is so high for the home team, especially if they're down 2-0. if it wasn't for that huge hole we dug in the 1st quarter yesterday, we definitely could have won that game. i'm not happy with our play, but i'm not ready to freak out that much...yet. home court is a big deal in the playoffs. that's why everybody talks about just stealing one on the road. i think/hope this 0-4 road record helps hammer into our guys the importance of staying focused and sticking to the game plan tomorrow night.

I am really losing faith not in the Celtics, but in the NBA. 

At least when I personally play basketball - the game is more about shooting at the basket than a bunch of clowns in striped shirts.

I understand that the players are a "product" for the NBA - but there would be no "product" without the game.

The way these games are being refereed - both on the road AND in Boston, with so many free throws being shot, it's disrespectful to the game of basketball. Dr. Naismith is rolling over in his grave.

[Who]

I agree as well.  As I have posted in other forums, I think that the legacy of losing in the playoffs throughout the careers of the Big 3, as well as Doc Rivers as a player and coach, matters. . . it makes it harder to be loose and overcome in road games, since they have NEVER done it before, etc.

I think it's why they are now I see their play based on emotion as opposed to fundamentals.  I think fear of labels is indeed hanging over their head and it's causing some unneeded panic.

I posted earlier today that the Celts could stand to steal a page out of Manny's book and just relax a bit.

Let the game come to them and not force so many things on the offensive end.

There's definitely a lot of fear. They're not handling the pressure well. They keep going away from the game plan and trying to play one-on-one instead of playing their game. Why is that? Fear. Lack of belief in what they're doing.

There's only two players on this team that have shown consistent composure during the playoffs and they are James Posey and Sam Cassell. It's becoming an issue that nobody in the starting lineup has kept it together.

[BASSTHUMPER]

we've got sum questionable calls too..they have a tuff job and ref's never really had fans..we need to make those easy bucket..we get great looks but cant make it fall...before i blame refs i'll blame doc..if it aint workin dont wait till we 20 points down...pull our stars out early and get the bench in...when the starters are playin poorly the bench comes in...score bucket which gets are starters goin...doc should do that more so on the road..