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

[Roy Hobbs]

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.

I don't think any game is meaningless at this point.  We're chasing the Cavs for home court, and Orlando isn't too far back from us for the #2 seed.  The more games we lose to bad teams in the regular season, the harder it will be in the playoffs.

The problem is, we've now lost to 5 teams below .500:  Indiana (25-35), Golden State (20-37), New York (24-33), Charlotte (23-35), and the Clippers (15-43), plus we lost to a Portland team without Brandon Roy.  Things like that can't happen if you value home court in the playoffs.

[CoachBo]

And without home court ...

Ah, never mind.

Just a terrible, terrible performance. If there's anyone on this club who thinks we play meaningless games, then we've got a HUGE problem. Unacceptably bad for this point of the season. There isn't, and shouldn't be, an acceptable excuse for losing to an outfit as bad as the Clippers. EVER.

[celticinorlando]

the cavs have lost to some bad teams also: chicago, washington and indiana...took a buzzer beater to bea the warriors....i just think the clippers loss is bad

[the_Bird]

I only watched the first half, but even though we went into the break with the lead, we clearly were in trouble.  We're not a team that can just go through the motions; when we're aggressive, pushing the ball, we've got quick passes around the perimeter, no one's better.  When we're playing at half-speed, we're mediocre. 

They just looked really, really tired, like a team that's been on the road for a month (I can't imagine how the Spurs do it when they leave town for the rodeo).  You have to wonder, too, if all the Starbury talk becomes a bit of a distraction; you'd hope not, and I doubt it - but it IS a possibility.

[Redz]

Fellas, I'm just glad I'm not the only one losing sleep over a regular season loss. 

Thankfully that's a literal statement for me (I am so glad stay up for that - the first half was hard enough to watch)

[Redz]

Pre-trip if you knew you were going to lose KG in the 3rd game, would you accept a 4-2 record?

[Carhole]

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.

Maybe the most ridiculous thing I have heard. The leagu "knows" that the Champions "fold" when presented with resistance? Seriously? So every game we lose resistance is shown and when we win, it is just b/c other teams roll over?

Last nights loss was a terrible terrible display but B/c some rookie from the bobcats made a ridiculous statement it is now "widely known throughout the leage". The C's get teams best shot 95% of the time. Please explain what resistance is? And also what folding is. Because the majority of Celtics losses are in very tight games that are one possession games with a minute left LA, San Antonio, bobcats, blazers, Utah etc. And in last years playoffs they had the greates comeback in finals history, i suppose that wasnt resistance.

Horrible game, puts us in bad position for HCA but some people really need to get a grip

[illantari]

Pre-trip if you knew you were going to lose KG in the 3rd game, would you accept a 4-2 record?

If you had told me that second loss would be to, say, Denver, yes.  But we didn't lose to Denver.  We lost a give-me game that would have kept us a game ahead of the Cavs and now instead we're behind.  We can't afford to lose the give-me games this year.  Furthermore, we are now 0-2 in the Staples Center.  Not really significant, just noting.

Also, on a non-serious note, the curse of Starbury begins.  It was our two young point guards doing the boneheaded things last night/this morning after all.

We need Scal back!

[QuinielaBox]

Doc was worried about this game long before any of us were. These Clipper announcers are pretty sharp followers of the game (and really love their job).

This was a Celtic lemon throughout. They were beyond flat. They were awful throughout the game and really threw it away on horrible mistakes. As well as Rondo played in Denver and Phoenix he was terrible in Clipperland.

Plus who the hell is Marty Collins anyway? Word.

[2short]

The c's were doing just enough to win game (maybe).  Since I've stuck up for doc a few times recently    .  I'll put more 2 pts in as a coach, this is the game when you put walker in to prove he deserves the minutes (add in other sub names).  These guys will be hungry and hustle if the starters are lollygagging it.

[huzy]

Without making too big a deal of this loss, last game of the longest road trip of the season without KG, the most frustrating thing was Paul’s display in the final 3:00 minutes.

I think three vices in Paul’s game reared their ugly heads last night:

1.)   Inability to consistently hit late game free throws. This was a problem across the board. But for Paul, a career FT percentage of 80%, season, 85%, going 1 for 2 in the final minutes of a close game for a championship caliber team is sub par. As the captain of this team and marquee go to man in that situation, these should be automatic.
2.)   Ability to keep his head about him. I think Collins’s continuous attempts at whacking Pierce’s injured thumb were “bush-league” and warranted a response. However, to draw a technical in the last 2:00 minutes of the game responding to him is below Pierce’s level of professionalism at this point of his career. Again, I think his reaction was warranted and Jones missed the free throw, just with 2:00 min,. remaining in a tie game, this is a bone head play.
3.)   Finally, this “Isolation-Drive-Pullup Jumper” in a big spot needs to stop!!! For a team whose offense is so driven around the concept of ball movement and activity away from the ball, to have an iso at the top of the key in a big spot is so [dang] frustrating! We have two very capable shooters (Ray/Eddie) standing still, while Paul holds the ball and stares at the clock. This is not an effective approach to an end of the game possession. I don’t know if Doc’s drawing this up or Pierce is taking it on himself to isolate the offense, but with this team, that is NOT our best option in a big possession. Not even close!!

Again, last game of a long road trip on a injury depleted team. I’m taking perspective with this one. However, these Isolation -Sets during big possessions drive me crazy!!!

[Cman]

RAcker, I agree with you.  A terrible game, and the only way I could fall asleep was imagining what draft pick the Pats might trade Cassell for (I still say high 2nd round  ).

On the upside, Doc appeared to call out the team in today's Herald.  You can bet it will an unpleasant couple of days while the Cs get ready for Indiana...

[wdleehi]

It sure sucks losing an important player.

Signed,
Lakers minus Bynum.

Yep.


Celtics need Scali back.

[Redz]

Pre-trip if you knew you were going to lose KG in the 3rd game, would you accept a 4-2 record?

If you had told me that second loss would be to, say, Denver, yes.  But we didn't lose to Denver.  We lost a give-me game that would have kept us a game ahead of the Cavs and now instead we're behind.  We can't afford to lose the give-me games this year.  Furthermore, we are now 0-2 in the Staples Center.  Not really significant, just noting.

Also, on a non-serious note, the curse of Starbury begins.  It was our two young point guards doing the boneheaded things last night/this morning after all.

We need Scal back!

Right, but big picture...what's the difference?

It all looks the same in W-L column.

Celts played just above .500 in the playoffs for two rounds and won a championship. 

A 4-2 trip is a 4-2 trip.

Unfortunately, I think that must have been their mindset going in as well.

[fairweatherfan]

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. 

Problem is, we decided to play like the Clippers - sloppy, half-speed basketball with lots of bad passes.  Ray was the only one who looked smooth on offense, and we couldn't even get him the ball in the 2nd half. 

I just can't believe we lost to a Clips team with no Kaman, no Eric Gordon, no Davis (at the end), and Zach Randolph throwing up 30 FGA, about half of which were awful, forced shots.