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

[Bahku]

Should Rondo have made at least one of those free-throws? Absolutely ... Basketball 101 and no excuse for that, but this game was lost by lack of defense and a failure to attack the basket on offense when instead they were shooting jumpers. Some really poor decisions by everyone, and not an intelligently-played game at all. No way they should lose to the Clippers, even without Paul, but tonight, (once again), they snatch defeat from the jaws of victory. (This one hurts more than usual ... not sure why).

[houseonfire09]

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

Look at the loss column.  GB doesn't matter because everyone plays 82 games anyway.  As far as I'm concerned, 3 more losses than the C's = 3 GB.

[Rtpas11]

I believe this will be my 2nd time saying this... I love Doc, but yet his coaching once again stunk tonight. I Soley blame Doc's coaching on this game particularly towards the end. It happened when the C's played the sixers "Doc took TA out of the game for no reason and he'll playing fine to subb in Pierce, and the game totally changed". Outcome we lost by 1 point. Tonight we're up by the points and TA is playing great defense and what Doc does again? He subbs TA out with Perkins and inserted Rasheed to brick yet another three and eddie house to be a stand still, resulting in no point scored and no defenders in the game to bother the shot of Rasual Butler shooting a three to tie the game over Ray Allen in transition. Doc messed this game up!!! Baaaaaad Coaching...

[ManUp]

Rondo choked, but it's not the end of the world. Hopefully he takes it as a lesson and builds off of it. This type of loss will definitely have him taking more free-throws after practice. That is, If he has any pride it will. This will be an experience he never wants to have to repeat and hopefully he'll put in the time to ensure it doesn't.

[RAcker]

Bottom line is, Doc left Rondo out way to long in the 4th quarter...we had a defensive lapse that gave up a wide open corner 3...we missed key FT...Davis hits a bit shot.  

It was not one thing unfortunately like many of us seem to want to think it was.  

The Clippers just seem to always "surprise" us in LA for some unknown reason.  Please alert the team not to take GS lightly, Doc.

[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

Look at the loss column.  GB doesn't matter because everyone plays 82 games anyway.  As far as I'm concerned, 3 more losses than the C's = 3 GB.

yes....but try telling that to cav fan...they dont know how to apply real logic

[the TRUTH]

One other thing...what play were we running offensively on that last possession? Rondo didn't even start attacking the basket until 3 seconds were left. We had Ray Allen, House, Garnett and Sheed on the floor with him - all good/great shooters. Why not get one of them the ball? Definitely missed Pierce badly there.

[jadams5214]

Instead of the normal softball questions for Doc he needs to answer two things ---

1.  Why did he leave Rondo out for so long in the 4th.  It's not as if the C's were adding big to their lead or something.  The point guard who runs the offense and is the most energetic and young player needs to be in the game.

2.  What happened on the Butler 3?   Did Ray simply blow it?  Was there a missed rotation?  HOW IN THE HELL can you leave the best Clipper shooter wide open to tie the game.  Doc needs to answer that

[Rondo_is_better]

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

Look at the loss column.  GB doesn't matter because everyone plays 82 games anyway.  As far as I'm concerned, 3 more losses than the C's = 3 GB.

yes....but try telling that to cav fan...they dont know how to apply real logic

celticinorlando, I HATE those guys. Fans who just stick their fingers in their ears like little retards and yell and grin and jeer. Makes me wanna punch them in the face.

[Kiorrik]

If I you really want to put the blame on anything, blame it on 8% from three. 1-12 is really, really bad.

It's easier to blame statistics than it is to blame individual plays.

I'm not going to go and be all "OMG WHAT HAPPENED TO US" over a game as close as this one. Especially not with the stupid things we've done.

Today I saw a championship caliber team play a messy game.

But I still saw a championship team.

[RAcker]

One other thing...what play were we running offensively on that last possession? Rondo didn't even start attacking the basket until 3 seconds were left. We had Ray Allen, House, Garnett and Sheed on the floor with him - all good/great shooters. Why not get one of them the ball? Definitely missed Pierce badly there.

I agree with the criticism of the "Rondo holding the ball" at the end of quarters play.  Waaaaaay to long.  If you are going to the basket, you'd better finish when you know you only shoot 50 % from the line.

I don't agree with those that say Rondo choked.  How did he choke when he did exactly what everyone knew he'd do when you play percentages?  If it was Ray that missed 2 at the end, that's a choke.

[houseonfire09]

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

Look at the loss column.  GB doesn't matter because everyone plays 82 games anyway.  As far as I'm concerned, 3 more losses than the C's = 3 GB.

yes....but try telling that to cav fan...they dont know how to apply real logic

Cavs fans don't use the standings anyway.  Their argument is basically "we hav teh Lebron and teh Shaq so we r teh best EVAR!!!!11!!11!!!one"

[celticinorlando]

tomorrow at 1030 cant get here soon enough

[Rondo_is_better]

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

Look at the loss column.  GB doesn't matter because everyone plays 82 games anyway.  As far as I'm concerned, 3 more losses than the C's = 3 GB.

yes....but try telling that to cav fan...they dont know how to apply real logic

Cavs fans don't use the standings anyway.  Their argument is basically "we hav teh Lebron and teh Shaq so we r teh best EVAR!!!!11!!11!!!one"

hahahahahaha

L3BR0N!1!!1111 BEST PLYR EVER I KNW CUZ IVE BEEN WACHING THE CAVS FOR LIKE 2 YRS, SINCE THEY WERE GOOD, S0 I HAVE LOTZ OF PERSPECTIV!!!!!

[celticinorlando]

cav fans suck....you cant have a rational sports conversation with them ever.