One of the most sickening displays of overconfidence I've ever seen

[celticinorlando]

i feel like we have been sent back in time to the hawks and cavs series...so many people counted boston out last year...they were uninterested and didn't mentally show up...i expect them to get moving against the pacers at home

[Carhole]

The only real issue i have relating to overconfidence with this team is their complete lack of respect for possessions. The way we turn the ball over and with such a nonchalant attitude is terrible. The C's have the highest team pps in the league and we have lost multiple games with 20+ turnovers. There is no excuse to have 20+ to's against the clippers, they play no defense.

We lost last night b/c the clippers scored 93 points on 83 shots while we scored 91 on 66 shots!

This team needs to understand the value of each possession more. Maybe it is just a regular season thing, but it is a worrisome habit.

If we could get our 16 turnovers a gamedown to 13, continue to rebound well and make our frickin free throws. We will be the best team. If we continue to throw away possessions we can not get by cleveland or the lakers.

[twinbree]

Their efficiency on the offense is what makes their turnovers so maddening because they lose so many possessions where they have a high chance of scoring.
The offense yesterday seems especially poor. I missed part of the 1st quarter yesterday but it seemed to me the solution to this problem was to run the offense through Pierce. Pierce is the only one who can heat up quickly regardless of how slow he starts so the first quarters have to focus in getting the backcourt going.  Rondo gets to start the game being aggressive and Ray gets in rhythm. When Rondo is becomes a spectator it hurts the offense he’s passive, his defender sags off to double and Ray often disappears too.

[celts55]

I only saw the first half (way past my bedtime) but I thought the team looked tired. Rondo continued to walk the ball up nad I can't really remember him driving and dishing. I'm had pressed to believe he couldn't go around Davis at will. The secong thing that I couldn't miss was Pierce insistant on dribbling the ball, and mostly in traffic. How many times does he need to get the ball stolen before he realizes that's a bad idea.

That being said, I figure it was the end of a long trip, they were tring to work a new player into the rotation, and sometimes you just have a bad game.

I don't think it's the end of the world, or even the season for that matter. Every team (lakers and Cavs includes) have stinkers. And at that, they only lost by two.

[Andy Jick]

not only were the celtics overconfident, but apparently one of them had his post-game plans already in line.

[RAcker]

The worst display of overconfidence I saw was Rondo refusing to attempt a half-court heave at the end of the 3rd.  We NEVER seem to do that - that's the sort of move made by players who care more about their shooting %s than the game.  That really worried me when it happened, and my worries were validated by the 4th. 

I noticed that too and should have included that in my list of things that disgusted me. 

[Roy Hobbs]

The worst display of overconfidence I saw was Rondo refusing to attempt a half-court heave at the end of the 3rd.  We NEVER seem to do that - that's the sort of move made by players who care more about their shooting %s than the game.  That really worried me when it happened, and my worries were validated by the 4th. 

I noticed that too and should have included that in my list of things that disgusted me. 

Normally I'd say that was nothing, but I recently read a quote in ESPN the Magazine from Rondo suggesting that his 3PT% is reduced by the number of buzzer-beaters that he shoots.  So, maybe there's something to that. 

[kenmaine]

Geez, calm down people.
It was an ugly game. They were obviously overconfident, and figured they could just hang around and pull it out at the end. Came down to a few missed free throws and bad plays. Zach Randolph may look like the Michelin man, but he can score.
And my man Rondo played probably his worst game of the year(that may be the first time I've ever criticized him), Leon didn't do much of anything, etc. etc.
And if I'm not mistaken, missing KG and Scal, and even TA does matter.

[gar]

Sounds like adding Someone with Marbury's skills to the mix may be just what is needed. Also on the positive side Moore looked like a promising addition. Unfortunate; but am sure Moore will work extra hard to get up to speed quickly (if only he was a better rebounder).

[Fan from VT]

The worst display of overconfidence I saw was Rondo refusing to attempt a half-court heave at the end of the 3rd.  We NEVER seem to do that - that's the sort of move made by players who care more about their shooting %s than the game.  That really worried me when it happened, and my worries were validated by the 4th. 

I noticed that too and should have included that in my list of things that disgusted me. 

Normally I'd say that was nothing, but I recently read a quote in ESPN the Magazine from Rondo suggesting that his 3PT% is reduced by the number of buzzer-beaters that he shoots.  So, maybe there's something to that. 

This stuff goes on all the time. That NY Times article about Battier and the Rockets mentioned how everyone in the Rockets organization notices that at the end of quarters, Battier will intentionally let the clock expire before "trying" a last second shot. In fact, in the article, they mention how Rockets officials have approached Battier and told him that they do not count last second shots in their stats, but Battier still does it because the league and/or other teams may not make such an adjustment. And Battier is one of those guys that everyone always talks about is a team first, doesn't-care-about-his-stats kind of guy, yet he does this too!