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

[RAcker]

I know we can all say let downs happen, but anyone who watched that display saw more than just a let down.  I'm so mad at our guys right now that I can't even go to sleep.  They were visually taking this team lightly and cost themselves the game. I'd love to hear from the CB folks that were there.

This was an across the board turd we just laid out there for everyone to see.  I'd like to give props to the Clippers, but they didn't even play that well.  Randolph was 12-30 shooting for crying out loud.  For those that will only see the highlights (if you want to call them that), here is a summary of the stuff making me sick to my stomach at this early morning hour:

1) Rondo's behind the back no look pass to Eddie that wasn't even close and sailed out of bounds.

2) Multiple 3 second calls on the offensive end on Big Baby and Perk due to other guys passing up shots.   

3) Paul simply getting blazed by Mardy Collins.  They even started calling plays for him late in the game so that he could go at the Captain 1 on 1.   

4) A 5 second call on a baseline out of bounds play.  Rondo can't get the ball in.   

5) Missed freethrows by Pierce, Rondo and BBD down the stretch killed us.  This is going to happen from time to time, but still frustrating added to the other stuff.

6) Leon just gets in a funk sometimes where he can't hit jack squat and starts doing that "I hope I get fouled" stuff around the basket instead of just trying to finish. Tonight, he put on a clinic for how to do that (1-6 shooting).

7) Paul and Ray showed the minutes they have been racking up down the stretch.  Tired legs. Another thing we knew would happen, yet frustrating when it adds up to a loss to the Clippers.

8 ) Eddie House's ballhandling is always suspect, but he attempted a careless pass towards Ray at the top of the key (which was stolen) that any of us could have picked off. Just laziness. He also led a break and instead of a lay in, he tries to drop off to Mikki Moore and gets it stolen.

9) SEVERAL moving picks called (and these were mostly good calls).  Can someone show BBD and Perk how to do this for the love?!   

10) Also multiple missed assignments or defensive miscommunications leading to wide open layups for the likes of Zach Randolph who Perk played pretty well when he wasn't fouling.  No one else played Randolph well and it added up to 30 points by game's end.


In conclusion: 20 TO's, 22-32 FT's, gave up 13 OREB, only managed to win 1 of 4 quarters (2nd).  Good thing I don't have a dog or he might have gotten a swift boot up his sniffing place.

 

[celticinorlando]

the poor free throwing shooting was huge..as well as the turnovers...a lot of standing around tonight and not a lot of uptempo basketball that they played with the other games

[xmuscularghandix]

the behind the back pass was because Eddie went one way when Rondo thought he was going another, now the horrible alley-oop attemp to Mikki from House (though a good idea) was a huge fail.

[Andy Jick]

bear in mind this was a "getaway" game (ie. last game of a road trip).  they are historically one of the worst games played during one, so i'm not surprised by this.

we were missing our key player, had a guy playing who didn't know the plays, and guys were playing roles not accustomed to.

all that said, we lost by a basket...yeah, it sucks, but not the end of the world.

[RAcker]

Fellas, I'm just glad I'm not the only one losing sleep over a regular season loss.  We are indeed fanatics.  Give me a few hours...I'll settle down.

[Change]

TP, that sums up everything. two thing that i noticed.

One is how rondo just stopped playing ball. He dropped the ball on this one. Slowing the game down, turing the ball over, just bunch of reckless stuff. Rondo needs to knows that his ineffectiveness increases in half-court game, just speed up the game & get layups.

Second is how mardy collins punk'd PP & Ray. Mardy Collins was out for blood and no one retaliated. This is where one of our guys (Perk, BBD, Moore) should've laid the hammer on his head. KG would've showed him who's boss. PP made him look like Lebron for a second. lol

[RAcker]

TP, that sums up everything. two thing that i noticed.

One is how rondo just stopped playing ball. He dropped the ball on this one. Slowing the game down, turing the ball over, just bunch of reckless stuff. Rondo needs to knows that his ineffectiveness increases in half-court game, just speed up the game & get layups.

Second is how mardy collins punk'd PP & Ray. Mardy Collins was out for blood and no one retaliated. This is where one of our guys (Perk, BBD, Moore) should've laid the hammer on his head. KG would've showed him who's boss. PP made him look like Lebron for a second. lol

I take it you are referring to Collins and others taking whacks at PP's injured thumb.  Heck, I'd be lying if I said I wouldn't get physical with a guy that was showing he was hurt, but for Paul to let that get in his head along with getting roasted on defense?  Please.

[guava_wrench]

I think one of the dumbest ideas in Basketball is "making the extra pass". When "the extra pass" leads to a shot that goes it, they mention this. When "the extra pass" leads to a miss, they say the first guy should have take the shot.

Another example of cliche that falls apart upon analysis. In our 20+ turnover games, a lot of those turnovers are the extra passes.

[twinbree]

I don't think it was overconfidence at all. They probably did come in hoping the Clips would roll over but I don't think they took the game lightly. Their usual weaknesses and mental lapses were just magnified in this game. Its the end of their road trip 4th game in 3 nights. Its the kind of sloppy play I expect from them this season when they're tired and/or haven't practiced. It sucks but after losing to the Pacers/Bobcats/Knicks/Warriors I'm not taking this one particularly hard.

[WayneKreklow]

I was there and had amazing seats and can tell you that this was one amazingly physical game played at a playoff atmosphere. The Clips were definitely pushing the limits on dirty play and it completely took the Celtics out of their game. Randolph was pushing and bumping Perk even before the ball was in-bounded, Collins was hammering Pierce and Rondo just never seemed into it or wanted to play. The only guy who showed up tonight was Ray, who really had no plays run for him in the 4th.

Clips also managed to drive the lane at will and the lack of height really hurt us, as Camby and Randolph got positioning far to easily.

[Discoflux]

It sure sucks losing an important player.

Signed,
Lakers minus Bynum.

[Change]

I was there and had amazing seats and can tell you that this was one amazingly physical game played at a playoff atmosphere. The Clips were definitely pushing the limits on dirty play and it completely took the Celtics out of their game. Randolph was pushing and bumping Perk even before the ball was in-bounded, Collins was hammering Pierce and Rondo just never seemed into it or wanted to play. The only guy who showed up tonight was Ray, who really had no plays run for him in the 4th.

Clips also managed to drive the lane at will and the lack of height really hurt us, as Camby and Randolph got positioning far to easily.

Its widely known around the league that when the C's see the least bit of resistance they fold. We had the same problems last year in the playoffs with the hawks/cavs. They fought back and never gave an inch, so what happened C's folded six away games.

All the clips did was fighting back & being the aggressor. Doc still needs to tweak some things.

Glad you enjoyed the game, just sux that we lost.

[davemonsterband]

These kinds of letdowns are to be expected, I know that's an obvious statement but this game was so meaningless I could give a darn. No offense to you, I just think it was too meaningless for anyone to care either way.

[jimmehx]

These kinds of letdowns are to be expected, I know that's an obvious statement but this game was so meaningless I could give a darn. No offense to you, I just think it was too meaningless for anyone to care either way.

It's not that the loss has made us insecure about our team but rather that we're another loss from HCA.

[Fafnir]

bear in mind this was a "getaway" game (ie. last game of a road trip).  they are historically one of the worst games played during one, so i'm not surprised by this.

we were missing our key player, had a guy playing who didn't know the plays, and guys were playing roles not accustomed to.

all that said, we lost by a basket...yeah, it sucks, but not the end of the world.

TP for some perspective. People are starting threads about how players suck, home court is gone, and in general all is lost.

Sometimes you team doesn't show up on the road. It sucks and shouldn't happen. But it does and you just have to deal with it.