Reality check

[Scribbles]

TP Mr. O...great post.

[CoachBo]

Champions don't take games off. This team didn't last year.

Disagree - see Game 5 of the Finals (excluding Pierce) for the biggest example.  Difference was last year we were talented and fresh enough to stay in the game against the 2nd best team in the league even without top effort.  That's no longer the case this year.

Disagree - the Lakers were better in Game 5, as they were for much of Game 4.

This team lacks the focus and intensity to be a champion  - and they have for quite awhile.

[Jon]

Quite frankly, as disgusted as I am by the way they played last game, I think it's also pretty pathetic how bad Orlando is.  The C's are injured and playing some of their worst basketball of the season (missing open jumpers and layups) and Orlando still isn't running away with this series.  

It's also scary how good this team would be at full speed.  I really hope everyone's healthy for next year.  If they are, I think they will finally beat the Bulls single season record for wins and easily take the title.  An All Star level Rondo, plus the Big Three, plus Perk and Baby will easily beat any team in the NBA.  

[Mr October]

Champions don't take games off. This team didn't last year.

Disagree - see Game 5 of the Finals (excluding Pierce) for the biggest example.  Difference was last year we were talented and fresh enough to stay in the game against the 2nd best team in the league even without top effort.  That's no longer the case this year.

Disagree - the Lakers were better in Game 5, as they were for much of Game 4.

This team lacks the focus and intensity to be a champion  - and they have for quite awhile.

Having a healthy Garnett would have been enough to give this team the needed focus and energy. They just don't have the energy. I see Pierce - the effort is on his face, but his body isn't willing. At times he seams to be stuck in slow motion. A shadow of his regular season performance, or his playoff performance last year.

The current Celtics need all parts moving as 1 in order to contend. The parts are damaged and worn out. Should they have played harder in game 3? Yes. But can they play hard each and every game? I don't think so... The body just isn't willing. And if one part slips, the whole machine breaks down.

I do expect a much stronger showing in game 4. It should be a good one. Both teams have a lot to prove.

[Neurotic Guy]

Champions don't take games off. This team didn't last year.

Disagree - see Game 5 of the Finals (excluding Pierce) for the biggest example.  Difference was last year we were talented and fresh enough to stay in the game against the 2nd best team in the league even without top effort.  That's no longer the case this year.

Disagree - the Lakers were better in Game 5, as they were for much of Game 4.

This team lacks the focus and intensity to be a champion  - and they have for quite awhile.

What this team lacks right now is healthy talent.  For all the talk about Danny's lackluster off-season, who among us questions that with a healthy KG and Leon that this team would be very much in the running to repeat.  

Today's conversation turns around completely with a win tomorrow, just as the conversation reversed after game 1, and again after game 2, and again after game 3.  

[BballTim]

Beyond that, you're correct. Pierce needs a summer off, someone's got to get through to Rondo and Ainge simply cannot have the kind of abysmal, accomplish-nothing summer that he had last year.

  Right. Because Rondo didn't show any improvement this year, right?

[Redz]

2006 Finals - Game 2: Champion Heat lose by 14 to Mavs, but shaved 10 points off of a blowout score in Garbage time.

2005 Finals - Game 4: Champion Spurs lose by 31 to Pistons

2000 Finals - Game 5: Champion Lakers lose by 33 to Pacers

Those are in the Finals only...I'm sure there are plenty of other examples of champions taking the night off.

There's a distinction between being "champions" and being "defending champions" I guess in the case of this years C's.  They clearly can not afford to take a night off, if they're going to win a game, but as long as they keep bouncing back, they can take a night off and still win a series.

[BballTim]

2006 Finals - Game 2: Champion Heat lose by 14 to Mavs, but shaved 10 points off of a blowout score in Garbage time.

2005 Finals - Game 4: Champion Spurs lose by 31 to Pistons

2000 Finals - Game 5: Champion Lakers lose by 33 to Pacers

Those are in the Finals only...I'm sure there are plenty of other examples of champions taking the night off.

There's a distinction between being "champions" and being "defending champions" I guess in the case of this years C's.  They clearly can not afford to take a night off, if they're going to win a game, but as long as they keep bouncing back, they can take a night off and still win a series.

  The 84 Celts lost by 30+ points to the Lakers. Bird said something like "we played like girls". The 85 Lakers lost by 30+ points to the Celtics.