We just aren't as hungry as 08

[GreenFaith1819]

I think there is some serious over reacting going on in this thread.

And coming from the Man Himself...I have seen Nickagneta's mindset as far as his posts, and IMO he is the most critical (in a good way, I think) of the team and players...this statement coming from him means something, lol..

[KJ33]

TP for the OP. Let's look at the troubling trend:

76'ers -- 15 point lead blown = loss AT HOME
Clippers -- 10 point lead blown = loss
Warriors -- 18 point lead blown = loss

Never would have happened last year or the year before. NEVER

While so many are quick to poo poo these losses, call them meaningless, etc., I think it clearly points out that this team, right now, does not have the fire in its belly. Hopefully they can get it back, but I don't believe you can turn it on and off like that.

If you need some really quick proof that you can indeed turn it on and off think all the way back to Christmas Day in Orlando.

So how do you or others explain losing large leads against vastly inferior competition?

Easy.  It happens to every team, including the mighty Lakers.  How about giving the other teams some credit?  They are professional basketball players after all.  Each game has an ebb and flow as does this season.  Completely unrealistic to think large leads can be maintained all the time, and that losing them represents some terminal problem.  There are so many possessions in an NBA game, you cannot "hold" leads, it is not how the game is played.  Each team must shoot in 24 seconds, not much ability to shorten the game, or milk leads.  Teams get cold, other teams go on runs, it is the nature of the beast.  I think you are putting the C's on way too high a pedestal in the first place, thinking they can get up 10+ and then never have that go the other way.

[nickagneta]

It's just so hard to comment on a team's "fire" or "desire" or "mindset". I think to say that they aren't as hungry is stretching things quite a bit and over reacting. I mean, come on, do any of us even talk to these guys let alone know them to think we can gauge how much they "want it" this year?

This is a different team in a different year and not every team plays the same. Not every team has success against the same type of teams. Different times and different sets of circumstances mean different sets of results. They've lost to some bad teams. So what? They've also beaten just about every good team they have faced. this team is different than 2007-08. That team wanted to win every game they ever played. This team wants to win a championship. Winning games in December, in the long and short of things, doesn't mean very much or effect much in regards to their goal.

[Bahku]

It's just so hard to comment on a team's "fire" or "desire" or "mindset". I think to say that they aren't as hungry is stretching things quite a bit and over reacting. I mean, come on, do any of us even talk to these guys let alone know them to think we can gauge how much they "want it" this year?

This is a different team in a different year and not every team plays the same. Not every team has success against the same type of teams. Different times and different sets of circumstances mean different sets of results. They've lost to some bad teams. So what? They've also beaten just about every good team they have faced. this team is different than 2007-08. That team wanted to win every game they ever played. This team wants to win a championship. Winning games in December, in the long and short of things, doesn't mean very much or effect much in regards to their goal.

Well said, Nick ... I don't think the team is any less "hungry" than they were over the last two seasons, I think they just have a different chemistry and different set of problems to overcome. If anything, I would bet that they are even more hungry than before, because they realize that to be considered among the truly "Elite" teams of the past, they need to win more than just one championship. I think that need to prove themselves as more than just a "one-hit-wonder" is a very real and imminent urgency, and one they take as seriously, if not more, than they did in '07-'08.

[Tai]

TP for the OP. Let's look at the troubling trend:

76'ers -- 15 point lead blown = loss AT HOME
Clippers -- 10 point lead blown = loss
Warriors -- 18 point lead blown = loss

Never would have happened last year or the year before. NEVER

While so many are quick to poo poo these losses, call them meaningless, etc., I think it clearly points out that this team, right now, does not have the fire in its belly. Hopefully they can get it back, but I don't believe you can turn it on and off like that.

January 9th, 2008: Bobcats 95 - Celtics 83

The Celtics looked like they were in for another easy night at home when they opened a 35-24 edge midway into the second half, but the Bobcats responded by scoring the next 14 points en route to a 45-41 halftime edge.

January 12th, 2008: Celtics 78 - Wizards 85

The Wizards rallied from a seven-point, fourth-quarter deficit to hand the Celtics their second loss in three games and only their fifth defeat of the season

January 14th, 2008: Wizards 88 - Celtics 83

Trailing by 14, the Wizards went on an improbable 19-4 run to take an 82-81 lead with 40.1 seconds remaining capped off by a Butler lay in and foul shot after being fouled by Kendrick Perkins.

January 23rd 2008: Raptors 114 - Celtics 112

Tony Allen scored 14 straight points for the Celtics early in the second quarter, single-handedly delivering a 12-2 run that gave them a 43-32 lead. But Boston soon went cold, giving up 12 straight points to allow Toronto to tie it 49-all, and then take a 57-51 lead on Parker's 3-pointer with 31 seconds left in the half.

(14 straight pts by TA!  )

February 20, 2008: Celtics 117 - Warriors 119. Largest C's Lead: 12.

March 22nd 2008: Celtics 106 - Hornets 103

David West scored 37 points and the New Orleans Hornets overcame an early 15-point deficit to beat Boston 113-106 on Saturday night...Boston shot 75 percent in the opening period and was up 60-45 in the second before New Orleans closed to 65-55 at halftime...Boston committed 21 turnovers, leading to 32 Hornets points.

(The Hornets were a decent team, but still, same issues in the '08 squad)

March 24th, 2008: 76ers 95 - Celtics 90

Andre Iguodala scored 10 straight points during a 19-0 run that brought Philadelphia back from a double-digit, fourth-quarter deficit Monday night, and the 76ers beat the Boston Celtics 95-90...House hit another 3 early in the fourth to make it 78-68, and he added a left-side jumper to give the Celtics an 80-69 lead with 8:20 left. The Sixers scored the next 19 points -- five by Young, four by Louis Williams and a steal and emphatic breakaway dunk by Iguodala to tie it.

TP.

I think I'm also one of those overreacters that nickagenta was talking about. I think it's time we stop worrying. We ARE injured, we aren't our healthiest, and yet it takes every bit of the Clippers and Warriors to beat us. We'll be fine.

[Redz]

TP for the OP. Let's look at the troubling trend:

76'ers -- 15 point lead blown = loss AT HOME
Clippers -- 10 point lead blown = loss
Warriors -- 18 point lead blown = loss

Never would have happened last year or the year before. NEVER

While so many are quick to poo poo these losses, call them meaningless, etc., I think it clearly points out that this team, right now, does not have the fire in its belly. Hopefully they can get it back, but I don't believe you can turn it on and off like that.

If you need some really quick proof that you can indeed turn it on and off think all the way back to Christmas Day in Orlando.

So how do you or others explain losing large leads against vastly inferior competition?

Easy.  It happens to every team, including the mighty Lakers.  How about giving the other teams some credit?  They are professional basketball players after all.  Each game has an ebb and flow as does this season.  Completely unrealistic to think large leads can be maintained all the time, and that losing them represents some terminal problem.  There are so many possessions in an NBA game, you cannot "hold" leads, it is not how the game is played.  Each team must shoot in 24 seconds, not much ability to shorten the game, or milk leads.  Teams get cold, other teams go on runs, it is the nature of the beast.  I think you are putting the C's on way too high a pedestal in the first place, thinking they can get up 10+ and then never have that go the other way.

This is one of my major pet peeves.  Lots of people tend to forget that (in most cases) the opponent is trying really hard to prevent the other team from winning.

[Drucci]

Let's wait until the playoffs to see if this team is not as hungry. I agree with what have been said : in 07-08, the team was living its first year together and wanted to show the league that the Celtics were really serious. They wanted to win every game, maybe even more because of the cumulated frustration of the Big Three of playing individually in poor team for years and not making the playoffs.

And don't forget they needed 7 games to beat the Hawks and then the Cavs after cruising through the season and on the road... so, although I would like us to keep our little advance and extend it to get HCA over Cleveland or Atlanta, and even if these losses frustrate me like every other fan, I think it's not a reason to overreact. You will have forgotten these losses in two weeks. Not to mention that we don't have Paul Pierce at the time and that the injuries are bugging us.

[GreenFaith1819]

TP for the OP. Let's look at the troubling trend:

76'ers -- 15 point lead blown = loss AT HOME
Clippers -- 10 point lead blown = loss
Warriors -- 18 point lead blown = loss

Never would have happened last year or the year before. NEVER

While so many are quick to poo poo these losses, call them meaningless, etc., I think it clearly points out that this team, right now, does not have the fire in its belly. Hopefully they can get it back, but I don't believe you can turn it on and off like that.

If you need some really quick proof that you can indeed turn it on and off think all the way back to Christmas Day in Orlando.

So how do you or others explain losing large leads against vastly inferior competition?

Easy.  It happens to every team, including the mighty Lakers.  How about giving the other teams some credit?  They are professional basketball players after all.  Each game has an ebb and flow as does this season.  Completely unrealistic to think large leads can be maintained all the time, and that losing them represents some terminal problem.  There are so many possessions in an NBA game, you cannot "hold" leads, it is not how the game is played.  Each team must shoot in 24 seconds, not much ability to shorten the game, or milk leads.  Teams get cold, other teams go on runs, it is the nature of the beast.  I think you are putting the C's on way too high a pedestal in the first place, thinking they can get up 10+ and then never have that go the other way.

This is one of my major pet peeves.  Lots of people tend to forget that (in most cases) the opponent is trying really hard to prevent the other team from winning.

Good Point, Redz (TP)...we also have to respect our opponents..there are some good ones out there..I think Parity this year is more evident than recent years...even the bottom dwellers are better.

[KungPoweChicken]

We lost two close games without, perhaps, our best player. What's the panic for?

[BballTim]

  I don't think any team in the league is as hungry as we were in 08. I don't think it's close.

[Redz]

  I don't think any team in the league is as hungry as we were in 08. I don't think it's close.

I don't know if there's been a team that hungry in a long, long time.

speaking of hungry, it's dinner time 

[Bankshot]

I get the whole thing about we can beat the elite teams but we need to crush the poor teams! We really do I am sick of this teams being able to hang around! We need to stomp on everyone!

I like your attitude.

[EJPLAYA]

We lost two close games without, perhaps, our best player. What's the panic for?

Because they suck and those two games very well may cost us home court throughout the playoffs. That's why...

[RAcker]

I think the point about us perhaps missing PP more than some anticipated is the main cause for some of the overreacting that nickagneta is talking about.

Imagine if LA was without Kobe the Ripper for a handful of games.  How would they do on a road trip?

[davemonsterband]

In the regular season, no, playoffs, cf course. Same old same old.