Raptors (7-9) at Celtics (11-4) 11/27

[Neurotic Guy]

Actually, the C's have turned up the D in this one.  The Raptors are turning it over at a very high clip right now due to the C's D.  

[RJ87]

Good thing Calderon has a hamstring problem or he would probably have blown by Rondo 5 tgimes for uncontested layups in the firat half so far insterad of only 2.

yea, Rondo is playing awful

[celticinorlando]

going to be a long long second half unless boston defends better

[Drucci]

I do agree that we are almost always biting on fakes, which often leads to easy shots for the opponent. But we managed some good steals and blocks here, and force the Raptors to shoot the ball instead of getting to the hoop.

[Kiorrik]

Bad shot selection the past couple of runs down court. Other than that, we've been great on offense.

We got invisi-Rondo again though.

[Neurotic Guy]

I just can't cope with the fact that the C's cannot seem to extend and hold a lead anymore.  It is frustrating and I have to beleive that the C's are letting up in intensity every time they get a 2 possession lead.

[jadams5214]

Turned up the D?  Wow the expectations for this team are just falling every game.  The Celtics are shooting 70% and LOSING!  I would bet that has happened less than 5 times in the last 3 years that they have shot such a high percentage and don't have a big lead.

The Raptors are shooting almost as well as the Celtics tonight it's just pitiful.  

Somehow in the last 3 weeks the expectations for this team have gone from being one of the best defensive teams EVER to being happy with holding a team to under 70% wow...

[vinnie]

ANother mediocre team, another poor defensive display and another first half deficit. Question for all the "don't worry" guys out there tonight. Just when this year should we expect this team to really start playing defense?

[Surferdad]

Guys that's exactly the point --- for some reason this team can no longer play great defense except in small spurts.  All the rest they have had recently, the extra practice time, watching film, playing at home none of it makes a difference.

Whatever happened to this team since the first 8 games of the year is anyone's guess but it's painfully obvious that the C's aren't just waiting to turn up the defense.  They just can't do it...

TP for you.  This team has lost its identity.

[Drucci]

Turned up the D?  Wow the expectations for this team are just falling every game.  The Celtics are shooting 70% and LOSING!  I would bet that has happened less than 5 times in the last 3 years that they have shot such a high percentage and don't have a big lead.

The Raptors are shooting almost as well as the Celtics tonight it's just pitiful.  

Somehow in the last 3 weeks the expectations for this team have gone from being one of the best defensive teams EVER to being happy with holding a team to under 70% wow...

There is a difference between shooting 70% on open shots or easy baskets in the paint. The C's are doing what they want in the paint while the Raptors are shooting from long distance. Sure, they got a lot of open looks but they also hit contested shots that were really tough to nail. Plus, they have 14 turnovers, which shows the efficiency of our D. And they have scored only 20 points in the paint on 55 points scored...

But when you have yourself 10 turnovers on the other side, it helps the score being that close. I'm not saying the C's played great D, far from it, but it wasn't as bad as it was in the last games, and sometimes the opponent is just hot. I think Toronto will cool off in the second half.

[Surferdad]

This team built it's identity as not a good but DOMINANT defensive team.  Did you all forget already how Doc and the guys talked about this year cementing their legacy as one of the best defensive teams EVER???

The will is there this team just isn't able to perform at that level anymore.  The so called dominant defensive team gave up 110 to Philly and is on pace to give up 100 again tonight at HOME and after a day off.  There just aren't anymore excuses...

Sure there are, how about injuries to key guys?  Um, never mind...

[pengaloo]

Not sure why Eddie has played so many minutes.. I think Doc should have put Rondo back in earlier.

[celticinorlando]

70 percent shooting and you trail at the half..what does that tell you about this team? just no heart on defense....i don't see any improvement from night to night...no matter how many nights they have off....not trying to be a debbie downer but this is not a good basketball team.

[Tai]

ANother mediocre team, another poor defensive display and another first half deficit. Question for all the "don't worry" guys out there tonight. Just when this year should we expect this team to really start playing defense?

With the Raptors put up every shot possible and wow, it goes in. Early on, mostly the 1st quarter, they were driving, and I hated that. Now, in the 2nd quarter, they're just stopping and putting up jump shots, and thank their lucky stars they're going in.

I don't think it can last all game.

[Kiorrik]

I lowered my expectations to enjoy the game of basketball again. The C's are second to the game, to me.

And honestly, I like seeing us right now. Yes, we have some flaws on D, but I don't think they're too big. And since there's no change in our D, I'd rather stop discussing it too much 'cuz it aint helping and we all agree on its suckiness. We have an eleven and four record, don't we? That's pretty great. There's a lot of teams that would murder for that.

So yes, we're playing lackluster D lately. Yes we've had a shooting slump. Good thing to take from today: shooting slump is over.

That's what I'm going with, and to hell with all the talk about how we suck, 'cuz I've definitely heard more than enough of that.