To me, it's simple...

[ScoobyDoo]

If we come out tonight and play smashmouth basketball we win and take a commanding 2-0 series lead. If we come out lackadaisical and without a smashmouth attitude, we probably won't win.

What's smashmouth to me? Here's what it is and it's what this team is best at, which is why we need to play it:

1. We absolutely attack the rim offesnively like our life depended on it. We attack,attack, attack.

2. We play a very clean but very, very physical brand of basketball on both ends of the floor. LA is much like Detroit in that they simply cannot hang and bang with us in the paint. Therefore we need to exploit this for 48 minutes, in a relentless fashion.

3. We have an attitude like we want to punch them right in the nose from the opening tip.

4. Our primary goal is to completely demoralise them in this game.

5. We realise that it is "ok" to "hate" this Lakers team in the sense of hating them because they are standing in the way of what we want and we also understand that it is therefore ok to stomp on them if we can tonight.

5. The above four bullets constitute what I would call a "killer instinct".

Having a "killer instinct" as a team means you know when to take our the dagger and how to use it.

Tonight is the time and place to do that.

The goal should not be to beat the opponent, it should be to crush the opponent.

It's simple.     

[connerhenry43]

one nba coach. may have been d'antoni, but i foget, said one of the things that make the c's so good is they can play up and down, they can run, they cal slug it out. they can win almost any style of game.

but i agree with you, scooby-doo. i may even give you a tommy point, though i am currently out of scooby snacks. the c's need to be aggressive and attack. this team can get a ton of offensive boards, and beat them by being more aggressive. set the tone early.

[fan33]

Yep, agreed! Smashmout with smarts!

I also think a cross body block to Odem at some point is due to be avenged for his dirty hit on Ray Ray...

Perhaps save the hit durring some game that gets out of reach, like that might ever happen, but you never know... Just somethin' for Odem to be told and for him to think about

Other than that, I like your thinking!

Simple~

[tenn_smoothie]

absolutely agree - attack, attack, attack.

my concern is that this Celtic team has not had much of a killer instinct in these playoffs - maybe we saw them learn something by the detroit series and it will show up tonite.

not sure why all the talking heads have been picking the Lakers - i think Boston just flat out is a better team ........  when they play.

[JAM]

Agreed.  Show no mercy.  Play Celtic basketball, and take a commanding lead in the series.

[SShoreFan 2.0]

Bang the boards, drive inside, eliminate the opportunity for long rebounds and get their front line in foul trouble.

[2short]

Unfortunately we've seen 2 different no 3 different celtic teams during the playoffs.
A dominant team that can blow ANYONE in the league out, make the opposing team "miss bunnies" shoot 30% or worse etc.  A vet team good enough to win the close games that shouldn't be that close.  And the team that went 7 games with Atlanta.  Sometimes playing great other times coasting

[ScoobyDoo]

Thanks ConnerHenry, appreciate the props and suggested Tommy point. Like most dogs, points in any form are acceptable...

I agree the coach that said that is right, we can play any style and that is a great advantage. In this series I feel that smashmouth basketball, like with Detroit is our biggest advantage. Neither Detroit or LA has the muscle to bang with us

I agree as well fan33, odom is a little dirty.

The Celtics coasted in the fourth for sure. I think they came out with the killer instinct last night, they just forgot to follow through. Hopefully a lesson learned.