Bahku,
I would like to pick your "green" brain for a second if you don't mind.
1. What are "tommy points" and how do they work?
2. What is the price of gas there? Just curious. About $4.15 for regular unleaded here.
3. Do you guys have a "Luke Walton"? Meaning do you guys have a player that the media and (by default) other teams fans think is a good player, but you know he really sucks.
4. What are your teams weaknesses and strengths? Be honest.
5. Are you guys really confident in your teams abilities, or do you really think we are overrated? I realize this is a leading question, but I am just following the tone of the posts. The Laker blog is the same way.
6. Are you going to any games at TD? I am going to game 5 at Staples, and maybe game 4, not sure yet.
Thanks
I'm not Bahku but i'll try
#1 - Tommy Heinsohn is a legendary former Celtic and is the TV color commentator during Celtics games. When someone has a hustle point (dives for a loose ball or something) he awards them a "Tommy Point". This forum has "tommy points" basically to give someone kudos for a good post.
#2 - Dunno bout gas in Boston, but it's 4.15 in Seattle
#3 - A "Luke Walton"? Well... seems like some of the media (read some Laker articles today) talk about Sam Cassell like he's still going to make an impact on the series. The guy is a corpse at this point. He should only be playing garbage time at this point. Total freakin waste. He's like 3 for his last 40. Look it up. Terrible defense, messes up our offense and forces every other shot. If this team unravels and starts playing selfish, I'll point the finger at Sam Cassell. loser.
#4 - Weakness? Mentally soft at times. You don't lose 3 to Atlanta by being focused. I think the expectations worked against them. When we were expected to dominate, we struggled. When we were slight underdogs (against Detroit) we showed up. This is why im happy we are considered overwhelming underdogs against the Lakers. If we play our game and play the players who got it done in the regular season... we can and will beat the Lakers. Strength? Defense and intensity. Obviously.
#5 - We had the best record in the NBA. We have met every challenge we have faced. Yeah... we are confident in our teams abilities as long as they play like they can. We have not played 100% during these playoffs. If we do play 100%... Lakers aren't going to have a cakewalk. My personal interpretation of the Lakers is that they are a very good team... but replacing Bynum with Pau doesn't suddenly mean they sweep the Celtics. We handled Kobe and your team in the regular season... KG can handle Pau in the post season. Again... it just comes down to if we play our game. If we play up to our capabilities I am fully confident we will beat the Lakers. If we play mentally soft and choke like we did at various times during the first 3 rounds... we're screwed. It's that simple. But personally (and I can only speak for myself here) I don't buy the media hype that the Lakers are a much better team. Don't buy it at all. We won 66 games this year and at times we played like we were unbeatable. In the playoffs?... we only lost when we beat ourselves and it has frustrated the entire fanbase. Seriously.
Hey, PS ... I must have ditched before I saw your post ... sorry. LB pretty much nailed it, though.
Can't expound any on #1 ... it is what it is (inside joke), and basically just a reward system created by Tommy on Comcast local broadcasts of C's games.
The price of gas where I live, (in Maine), is just now over $4.00, like $4.05 most places, but I think it's a little higher in Boston.
#3 would definitely be Sam ... there were some of us who really didn't want him coming here, me included, and we got bashed at the time for even talking about it. Now he's here, he's playing just exactly like we said and
thought he would ... like he always has ... pounding the ball, looking for his shot, being selfish, and a complete tempo-destroyer. Go figure. Tony Allen is a major disappointment, too, and can't seem to get beyond his injury and the emotional trauma from the extensive rehab he went through ... and it's a shame ... a lot of talent there. But anyway, I don't think Luke's much good, either, so we agree there.
#4 - I just wrote this whole thing on the weakness thread, so here it is:
Just mainly reiterating what Roy already nailed down, but consistency is definitely the C's biggest weakness, and I think it's mainly from the lack of history/playing time with each other. The more games we play, obviously, the better it gets, but we're still a ways from being consistent, at least on a consistent basis, that is. (Sorry) This team is so up-and-down, (or hot-and-cold), and can be playing huge on both ends for ten minutes, then have these complete lapses and totally let down ... it's extremely frustrating to watch.
The next biggest weakness I see is shot selection, or I should say play selection, to be more accurate. This team seems to have a propensity to be a bit lazy, and not continue to attack the basket, even when it's proving to be successful, (which is most of the time). Everybody loves to hit the "Big Shot" and is plagued by the temptation to do so, but we fall back on it far too often, and choose to take a three, even when there's a clear lane to the basket ... it's truly baffling at times.
Following on the list for me would be foul-shooting. This drives me completely nuts, and there's really no good excuse for it. Free-throws are Basketball 101, and for the best team in the NBA to miss so many foul-shots, especially in the playoffs, when every point is crucial, is just absurd to me. Honestly, if I were Doc, I'd spend way more time and energy getting these guys to tighten up from the stripe. Maybe he does already, but it sure as heck isn't enough. These guys should be a bit embarassed about it, and take it upon themselves to do much better. They could have had a much easier time this season, if they'd just hit more of their free-throws.
Fourth in line, I feel, is foul trouble. There have been many games this year, including the post-season, where two or three of the starters, (usually KG, Perk, or Rondo), have been sitting on the bench with two fouls by the middle of the first period. This is really unacceptable, and while the poor officiating has had much to do with it, we should be taking that into consideration, and minimizing the damage as much as possible. There have been so many games where we came out and got off to a great start, then KG and Perk got two quick fouls, and the wind was totally gone from our sails. It kills the momentum, and changes the face of the game.
Keeping it to five, I'd have to say lastly also, that it's the coaching. I think the Detroit series was a step in the right decision ... Doc made some great adjustments and called some very smart offensive plays, especially halftime changes. But unfortunately, there were still times when it was painfully obvious that the wrong players were on the floor, and the match-ups weren't right. Eddie House especially, should be the first one off the bench for Rage, not Sam, and Leon should be used far more than he has been. I also think that the "two-big" or "three-big" line-up should be used more for the subs, especially with LA, and that Sam should be used more as a two-guard, and play with Rondo, not in place of him.
Have to add one more, as it's been on my mind: Lack of aggressiveness. There seems to be, as a result of the very positive "team" concept, (indirectly), a reluctance by the three superstars to step-up and take over a game. Paul finally did it at a very important Detroit game, and Ray as well in another one, but we need this to happen more often. I honestly don't think the "We Not Me" thing suffers at all, on the contrary, I think even the closest of units need a leader, and becomes stronger by following the lead of the one being aggressive, and by gaining confidence in knowing that that person is the foundation. I'd like to see more of the Big Three scoring big points, especially Paul and KG, as their match-ups are key against the Lakers.As far as strengths, defense is the obvious one, being tops in the league. It's become absolutely proven by this team this year, that defense can win games ... without a doubt, and it's a joy to watch it in action, (although they don't do it consistently enough). Also huge is the "ubuntu" and "We Not Me" philosophy ... I've never seen a bunch of guys together in their first season who mesh as well ... who all made a commitment from day one, to put aside their egos and personal agendas for the good of the "Team" and a chance at the Championship. The results are obvious ... and when they're really playing their best, it's truly the perfect example of how a team should play basketball ... so sweet. If
I was an NBA coach, I would hope for little more than a monster defense, and an unselfish team ... very powerful weapons! (oh yeah ... and there's those Big Three guys, too ... what are their names again?
)
#5 - I'm very confident in this team's abilities, just not confident in their consistency. But when they play their best, there's no one that can beat them. Problem is, they don't do that all the time, and are very up and down. I don't think your team is over-rated, but I do think the media is under-estimating these Celtics, and that they may just get a wake-up call to how really impressive the Celts can be when they're at their best. Frankly, I love the fact that we're underdogs!
#6 - It depends on my daughter's work schedule and her boyfriend, but there's a good chance I'll be going to at least one home game ... and I'm psyched! It's her Father's Day gift to me .... what could be better?!?
OK, PSLakerFan ... now it's your turn - I'd like to see your answers to the same questions! Thanks!