Celtics (23-5) at Clippers (12-17) 12/27

[ChainSmokingLikeDino]

Refs really put a lot of time on the clock after the Rondo foul.

Nah.

It was a big shot guys, let's take it like champs and move on Slipups happen. Next game plz. Now. Plz. Next game. Stop talking to Baron please mister reporter. Next game. Boston. Cmon!

That is WAY too rational. It should be all, "this team is a joke" "rondo stinks" "what a disgrace" "pathetic" etc. The chicken little's return...You can't call Rondo an all-star one day and after he misses the free-throws here call him a bum.

I seem to remember The Captain missing some free throws in games far more important than a regular season game...And I sure as s*** want him as our Captain still.

The NBA is a LONG season. It is not made in missed free-throws here an good shots by opponents there...It is 82 games. To use one instance as the be all end all is a little extreme.

[RJ87]

Refs really put a lot of time on the clock after the Rondo foul.

Nah.

It was a big shot guys, let's take it like champs and move on Slipups happen. Next game plz. Now. Plz. Next game. Stop talking to Baron please mister reporter. Next game. Boston. Cmon!

That is WAY too rational. It should be all, "this team is a joke" "rondo stinks" "what a disgrace" "pathetic" etc. The chicken little's return...You can't call Rondo an all-star one day and after he misses the free-throws here call him a bum.

I seem to remember The Captain missing some free throws in games far more important than a regular season game...And I sure as s*** want him as our Captain still.

The NBA is a LONG season. It is not made in missed free-throws here an good shots by opponents there...It is 82 games. To use one instance as the be all end all is a little extreme.

TP.

[celticinorlando]

Tonight's loss to a bad team without its best defensive player totally wipes out the positives that resulted from the Christmas day win. Sorry, but it's another loss to another bad team.

yessir...it sure does.....no excuse to even be in a close game with the lakers little brothers....sad....need to salvage this road trip with a win at GS and hopefully at the suns

[jadams5214]

Good point about the Orlando win --- it's now been counteracted by this pitiful loss.  Hard to believe the C's could lose to the Clippers again after last years debacle.

The worst part is that it wasn't one play.  Veteran, championship caliber teams execute down the stretch.

To see the C's unable to score and ice the game, unable to preven the CLippers best shooter from getting a wide open 3 pointer is just shocking.
And to see Doc leave Rondo on the bench for so long made absolutely no sense. The Celtics failed miserably down the stretch tonight in every aspect of the game and came away with a much deserved loss.

Rondo missing the free throws isnt really shocking as he just choked.  Hopefully it doesn't stick with him in the future --- add to it Davis hitting the game winner in his face and it could really damage his psyche.

[B-Reg]

Their should have been 0.9 seconds left when rondo was fouled, the clock is suppose to stop when the ref puts his hand up, which  was 0.9 seconds so Baron's shot wouldn't have counted.

[celticinorlando]

Refs really put a lot of time on the clock after the Rondo foul.

Nah.

It was a big shot guys, let's take it like champs and move on Slipups happen. Next game plz. Now. Plz. Next game. Stop talking to Baron please mister reporter. Next game. Boston. Cmon!

That is WAY too rational. It should be all, "this team is a joke" "rondo stinks" "what a disgrace" "pathetic" etc. The chicken little's return...You can't call Rondo an all-star one day and after he misses the free-throws here call him a bum.

I seem to remember The Captain missing some free throws in games far more important than a regular season game...And I sure as s*** want him as our Captain still.

The NBA is a LONG season. It is not made in missed free-throws here an good shots by opponents there...It is 82 games. To use one instance as the be all end all is a little extreme.

no way to spin this...it was a bad loss to a bad team...and the trend continues of struggling vs very poor teams

[celticinorlando]

Their should have been 0.9 seconds left when rondo was fouled, the clock is suppose to stop when the ref puts his hand up, which  was 0.9 seconds so Baron's shot wouldn't have counted.

it shouldn't have come down to rondo FTs or a baron daivs miracle shot...boston gacked away the 3rd quarter lead and couldnt extend the lead...plus technicals and 2 stupid perk fouls

[Rondo_is_better]

WOW. Edited.  Profanity and masked profanity are against forum rules and may result in discipline..

[houseonfire09]

See y'all at the Zakim Bridge.  Seriously, how do losses like this happen to legitimate contenders?  Oh yeah, and THE REFS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH THIS.  WHEN DEFENSE BREAKS DOWN LIKE THAT IN THE LAST TWO MINUTES, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW MANY TENTHS OF SECONDS ARE ON THE CLOCK ON THE LAST PLAY OF THE GAME IF YOU DON'T PLAY DEFENSE.  STOP WHINING ABOUT THE REFS.

[jadams5214]

Right Orlando === no rationalizing yet another loss to a poor team.

Especially the way it happened - with complete failure on offense and defense.  The game winning shot is fine as miracles happen but there is NO EXCUSE for how the C's wound up in that position.

How in the hell did the C's leave Butler wide open for 3 to tie the game.  So what if Baron Davis drove to the hoop and hit a layup the C's still would have been up 1 point with the ball!   The worst end of game defense you will ever see.

As for Rondo --- he just choked plain and simple.  He is a great talent but definitely showed he can't be counted on to win games yet on a regular basis.  Have to hit one free throw there no excuses.

[Ahlaker]

What's the rule on clock stoppage after a foul? Does the clock run as part of the continuation or does it stop when the actual fouls occurs?  Clearly based on the refs putting 1.5secs back on the clock they reckon clock stops when foul occurs. 

I'm not too worried about the loss - these things will happen.  Great teams will invariably play down to the opposition level; we've seen it a lot (esp. from these C's).  The big thing is for Rondo to learn from this pressure situation and cool the blood in his veins ... next time he gets the chance (in the playoffs?) he won't choke!

[celticinorlando]

and the cavs are only .5 out of the best record in the east now.....as poor as they have played...they are right there.....living in ohio with cav fans is bad enough...but when they are in first place over boston...it is worse...horrible

[the TRUTH]

A few quick points to make.

1. How does Ray Allen leave Butler wide open with a 3 point lead? And if Ray is going to leave his man, he needs to foul the penetrator. We did the same thing on Friday when Lewis hit that 3. Stupid plays by the players, but the coaches have to be held accountable for that too.

2. Rondo clearly needs to hit at least one. No need to elaborate there. Thing is, like others have said, there's no way in the world they should have put 1.5 seconds back on the clock, and that did make the difference.

3. Once again, we dont guard the man throwing the ball in bounds. Doc has made this same stupid mistake on a regular basis ever since he came to Boston. Hope this is the last time it happens.

[BigBaby]

hopefully this loss wakes the guys up. we should not be hanging around with such a terrible team. what an embarrassing loss. but i must give props to baron and the clippers.

[Kiorrik]

Refs really put a lot of time on the clock after the Rondo foul.

Nah.

It was a big shot guys, let's take it like champs and move on Slipups happen. Next game plz. Now. Plz. Next game. Stop talking to Baron please mister reporter. Next game. Boston. Cmon!

championship teams win games like this.

Today, a championship team *lost* a game like that.