Lose after having an 18 point lead?

[ScoobyDoo]

I can understand losing a game to the Clippers or the Warriors on the raod and with a few guys down. And we can debate about who we would miss more, KG or Pierce or whaoever...

But what I cant' understand, have no comprehension for, is losing a game after being 18 points up.

I knwo some will say it's the NBA, anything can happen. But I've never played a game where you're that far up and lose. You just step on people at that point. It's over.

I know there is NBA talent on the other team and anything is possible. But there is also much better NBA talent on our team in last night's case.

I just can't accept that. Losing, fine. Losing after having an 18 point lead, not acceptable.

That's complete and total mental weakness, lack of discipline and motivation. Those aren't determined by talent.

Watching that happen digusts me and I think it should disgust the players as well.

I just don't understand how that can happen.

[SamuelAdams]

Imagine how Chicago must feel...

[Redz]

The way to lose an 18 point lead quickly is to continue to do the things you were doing successfully after the team has made adjustments.  The forced passes to Ray Allen were simply ridiculous.

[BballTim]

I can understand losing a game to the Clippers or the Warriors on the raod and with a few guys down. And we can debate about who we would miss more, KG or Pierce or whaoever...

But what I cant' understand, have no comprehension for, is losing a game after being 18 points up.

I knwo some will say it's the NBA, anything can happen. But I've never played a game where you're that far up and lose. You just step on people at that point. It's over.

I know there is NBA talent on the other team and anything is possible. But there is also much better NBA talent on our team in last night's case.

I just can't accept that. Losing, fine. Losing after having an 18 point lead, not acceptable.

That's complete and total mental weakness, lack of discipline and motivation. Those aren't determined by talent.

Watching that happen digusts me and I think it should disgust the players as well.

I just don't understand how that can happen.

  It happens to pretty much every team in the league at some point in time. Look at the Lakers in the '08 finals, or look at how they almost beat us when we were killing them in the 3rd quarter. Also, it was a first quarter lead. It's not really amazing for a big lead to evaporate over 38 minutes or so.

[GreenFaith1819]

Well..at least we didn't lose a lead like this in the Playoffs or in "Game 4 of the 2007-2008 NBA Finals", lol....

I just don't think LA has recovered from that..even now. And I think this will give us a psychological edge when we meet them in June.

I'll take one like this on the chin now, vice May or June. Doing this then would certainly be demoralizing.

[nickagneta]

I can understand losing a game to the Clippers or the Warriors on the raod and with a few guys down. And we can debate about who we would miss more, KG or Pierce or whaoever...

But what I cant' understand, have no comprehension for, is losing a game after being 18 points up.

I knwo some will say it's the NBA, anything can happen. But I've never played a game where you're that far up and lose. You just step on people at that point. It's over.

I know there is NBA talent on the other team and anything is possible. But there is also much better NBA talent on our team in last night's case.

I just can't accept that. Losing, fine. Losing after having an 18 point lead, not acceptable.

That's complete and total mental weakness, lack of discipline and motivation. Those aren't determined by talent.

Watching that happen digusts me and I think it should disgust the players as well.

I just don't understand how that can happen.

You must really not played in a lot of games at a high level of talent then. I've been part of big to decent comebacks in baseball, football and basketball at an organized level. It really is a very common occurrence in all sports, especially at the higher talent levels. Heck didn't Chicago lose a 35 point lead earlier this season? Didn't the Celtics once come back from a 20 point fourth quarter deficit DURING A PLAYOFF GAME?!?! Did they come back from a 22 point deficit in the NBA FINALS?!?!?!

This stuff happens all the time. What exactly is so hard to understand?

[davemonsterband]

Why? What team's not capable of being outscored 18-0, 22-4, etc.? Not a big deal. Teams like GS and Pho are capable of doing that to any team any night of the weak, 3-4 times a season. It's unfortunate but without Paul it doesn't matter. These losing teams weren't exactly all slouches...
http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20090502195935AAHzcO1

[vinnie]

To me, it is not just losing the 18-point lead against Golden State. They also lost after having a 10-point lead against the Clippers and a 15-point lead against Philadelphia. Every once and awhile I can understand this happening, but not 3 times within a couple of weeks.

[GreenFaith1819]

To me, it is not just losing the 18-point lead against Golden State. They also lost after having a 10-point lead against the Clippers and a 15-point lead against Philadelphia. Every once and awhile I can understand this happening, but not 3 times within a couple of weeks.

I certainly understand...it's like they put their feet on an opponent's necks and then lift it off.

Well..if it's any consolation...The Lakers lost last night, too. And Kobe is one stray pass away from further injuring that fractured finger of his. I wish he'd just get the thing fixed. I can see him now on Jan 31, 2010: After a Celtics pounding of 110 - 83, Kobe Cryant says: I would've been more competitive if it wasn't for my finger."....

[BASS_THUMPER]

kaman is that dude..def baron is a balla..a couple of young kats with ability...last year we thought we were gonna run thru atl...

[ChainSmokingLikeDino]

Well..at least we didn't lose a lead like this in the Playoffs or in "Game 4 of the 2007-2008 NBA Finals", lol....

I just don't think LA has recovered from that..even now. And I think this will give us a psychological edge when we meet them in June.

I'll take one like this on the chin now, vice May or June. Doing this then would certainly be demoralizing.

The Lakers did win the NBA Championship last year, and beat The Celtics on Christmas day so I think they may have recovered a bit.

Also, in response to the OP I am going to be lazy and repost a reply of mine from a similar thread:

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.

[GreenFaith1819]

Well..at least we didn't lose a lead like this in the Playoffs or in "Game 4 of the 2007-2008 NBA Finals", lol....

I just don't think LA has recovered from that..even now. And I think this will give us a psychological edge when we meet them in June.

I'll take one like this on the chin now, vice May or June. Doing this then would certainly be demoralizing.

The Lakers did win the NBA Championship last year, and beat The Celtics on Christmas day so I think they may have recovered a bit.

Also, in response to the OP I am going to be lazy and repost a reply of mine from a similar thread:

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.

Good Point..LA did win the Championship last year..against the Magic. Great team, but they didn't win it against US. No disrespect to either team last year, but Boston wasn't there.

[ChainSmokingLikeDino]

Well..at least we didn't lose a lead like this in the Playoffs or in "Game 4 of the 2007-2008 NBA Finals", lol....

I just don't think LA has recovered from that..even now. And I think this will give us a psychological edge when we meet them in June.

I'll take one like this on the chin now, vice May or June. Doing this then would certainly be demoralizing.

The Lakers did win the NBA Championship last year, and beat The Celtics on Christmas day so I think they may have recovered a bit.

Also, in response to the OP I am going to be lazy and repost a reply of mine from a similar thread:

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.

Good Point..LA did win the Championship last year..against the Magic. Great team, but they didn't win it against US. No disrespect to either team last year, but Boston wasn't there.

The Celtics played The Lakers twice last year. They lost both times.

[GreenFaith1819]

Good Point, Chainsmokinglikedino..you win...at least until Jan 31 .

Sorry for hijacking the thread, people.

[ChainSmokingLikeDino]

Good Point, Chainsmokinglikedino..you win...at least until Jan 31 .

Sorry for hijacking the thread, people.

Well, hopefully the Celtics win and thus we all win! tp