No more small ball!

[wdleehi]

It plays to the lakers strength.  Stay big.  Own the inside.  Own the boards. 


Once the Celtics went small, they spent most the time shooting from the outside.  The were out rebound 7-3.


KG will have to guard Radmonivic

[wdleehi]

With that said, Celtics lead 2-0.  Take the win.  Be happy. 

[DannyZ]

I agree.  There was no reason to take Leon out.  Posey was playing horrible defense.  He can't even slightly bother Kobe.  Ray Allen plays him much much much better.

Terribly coached 4th by Doc.

[wdleehi]

I agree.  There was no reason to take Leon out.  Posey was playing horrible defense.  He can't even slightly bother Kobe.  Ray Allen plays him much much much better.

Terribly coached 4th by Doc.

I would have even tried Perkins as well.  He was doing a great job creating extra opportunities.   Played good help defense. 

[Chief]

Doc just loves small ball. If Phil figures that out and goes small, it could get scary. 

[Roy Hobbs]

Yeah, beautiful game for 3 1/2 quarters, and then Doc and the players conspired to try to throw it away.

I understand why Doc tries small ball.  I don't understand why he sticks with it when it's not working.

[DannyZ]

And Doc also sat Ray for WAAAAAY too long in the 4th.  Ray should play whenever Kobe is playing.

Ray, KG, Pierce, Rondo, and Powe should have finished the game.  That lineup wouldn't let up 41 points in a quarter.  Powe could easily guard Radmonivic.

[wdleehi]

Yeah, beautiful game for 3 1/2 quarters, and then Doc and the players conspired to try to throw it away.

I understand why Doc tries small ball.  I don't understand why he sticks with it when it's not working.

I understand the idea.


but I just see that it takes away the biggest Celtic advantage (inside play and rebounding) and allows the Lakers to play a three point shooting game, which they have the advantage over the Celtics. 



I understand matching up.  But when you are up because of bulk and size, don't go away from it.  KG can cover Radim on the outside.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I don't mind the small ball, just because we didn't lose the lead because of our small ball... this was clearly the least of our concerns. We stopped playing period. If we were actually playing and ended up losing the lead like we did, then sure I might look at this small ball thing, but this factor was the least of our problems.

They were getting easy looks before we went small, so this is kinda of irrelevant to me at the moment.

All you guys need to see is the touches Ray is getting on the offensive side, and you can come into a safe conclusion on how the moment is being played out.

When Ray is getting touches, it means that our team is active, and this means both in the offensive side and defensive side. When he isn't getting touches, it means that we're not into the game and going through the motions.

[wdleehi]

I don't mind the small ball, just because we didn't lose the lead because of our small ball... this was clearly the least of our concerns. We stopped playing period. If we were actually playing and ended up losing the lead like we did, then sure I might look at this small ball thing, but this factor was the least of our problems.

They were getting easy looks before we went small, so this is kinda of irrelevant to me at the moment.

it took away the biggest advantage the celtics had had through 7 quarters.  Size and strength inside.


lakers strength is perimeter shooting.  Playing small allows the Lakers to throw out 4 of those guys with out any of them having to defend down low.



Play to your strength, not the other teams strength. 

[DannyZ]

The Celtics can't clog the lane against Kobe like they need too when Posey is playing the 4.  Kobe shredded our D in the 4th.  Why would Doc play that lineup for the first time all game in the 4th?  It makes no sense.  We almost gave up the biggest comeback in NBA history.  Thank God for Paul Pierce.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I don't mind the small ball, just because we didn't lose the lead because of our small ball... this was clearly the least of our concerns. We stopped playing period. If we were actually playing and ended up losing the lead like we did, then sure I might look at this small ball thing, but this factor was the least of our problems.

They were getting easy looks before we went small, so this is kinda of irrelevant to me at the moment.

it took away the biggest advantage the celtics had had through 7 quarters.  Size and strength inside.


lakers strength is perimeter shooting.  Playing small allows the Lakers to throw out 4 of those guys with out any of them having to defend down low.



Play to your strength, not the other teams strength. 

If it were just that easy. We stopped playing period. I'll tell you one thing though, with Powe in there this wouldn't have happened because he never stopped playing, he had a ton of energy he was never complecent. This had more to do with what the mindset of the players in the floor had than if we were small or big.

Lakers were 5 for 7 if not mistaken before Powe got taken out. That's all I'm saying. We weren't getting stops anyways and they were getting easy looks with us big.

[TheReaLPuba]

Leon isn't all that big though so I don't see how leaving him in would be considered playing "big ball".

Fact is Leon played like a man on a mission.

He willed his presence on to the Lakers and they couldn't do anything to stop him.

When we play small we might lose the battle on the boards but it won't be on the effort side. If you want the ball, you'll get the ball - it doesn't matter how big you are or how high you can jump.

Rebounding is about desire.

Fact is we get into the paint easier and that sets up a lot of the inside scoring and the inside-outside scoring.

I like having more speed and quickness as opposed to pure "bigness".

[wdleehi]

I don't mind the small ball, just because we didn't lose the lead because of our small ball... this was clearly the least of our concerns. We stopped playing period. If we were actually playing and ended up losing the lead like we did, then sure I might look at this small ball thing, but this factor was the least of our problems.

They were getting easy looks before we went small, so this is kinda of irrelevant to me at the moment.

it took away the biggest advantage the celtics had had through 7 quarters.  Size and strength inside.


lakers strength is perimeter shooting.  Playing small allows the Lakers to throw out 4 of those guys with out any of them having to defend down low.



Play to your strength, not the other teams strength. 

If it were just that easy. We stopped playing period. I'll tell you one thing though, with Powe in there this wouldn't have happened because he never stopped playing, he had a ton of energy he was never complecent. This had more to do with what the mindset of the players in the floor had than if we were small or big.

Lakers were 5 for 7 if not mistaken before Powe got taken out. That's all I'm saying.

It has a lot to do with it.

1)  Lakers took controll of the boards when the Celtics went small.
2)  KG was the only low post player on offense.  Lakers just double him and force out side shooting
3)  Can't clog the lane.  Allows Lakers to penitrate and kick.




If Celtics stay big, even if the Lakers hit their outside shots, Celtics control the boards.  There is that open 2nd big man near the hoop.   celtics score more, keep it from getting that close. 

[Bahku]

I have no problem with "small ball" ... if it's used intelligently, and that's the problem here. This game should have been a blowout, and it would have been if some really horrible, nonsensical substitutions weren't made, and the Celtics didn't go to sleep on defense 6 minutes too early. Small ball can be very effective if used at the right times, against the right match-ups, and with the intent that you're going to use speed and agility as a tool, and not get swallowed up by using it at the wrong time.