What tonight's win tells us

[hpantazo]

It's a good thing Ray wasn't one of the 10 players who donated $1K per point for every point scored tonight to haiti, it would have looked really bad!

[scoop]

Portland OR% - 0.34
Boston OR% - 0.16

With this kind of rebounding differential it's tough to win games.

This team needs to find a way of getting boards, even if it implies personnel changes (ideally they'd just step up). Otherwise, they're merely contenders on paper.

[GreenFaith1819]

Tonight's win tells me that the C's had to go to overtime at home to beat a depleted Portland team with 8 players. It tells me that the problems are much depper than KG. It tells me that if at least one of our two shooting guards don't get it going soon, this team is going nowhere beyond the first or second round of the playoffs. It tells me that KG is incredibly important to this team on both ends, but we already know that.

I am happy, but not excited at all about this win tonight.

  All of the lineup changes have knocked the team out of sync. I don't think the problems go too deep although I'm also getting a little concerned about Ray.

I've been concerned. The guy is clutch but not worth what he's getting paid.

I really think that Ray is injured...he's just not himself the last few games. And knowing him he won't tell anyone.

He hasn't shot the ball well last few games, but he'll snap out of it.

And tonight proves that he's still Clutch with a Capital "C"

I've checked WebMD. They don't classify old legs as an injury.

Good Point. I'll be glad when Marquis comes back.

[jdpapa3]

A team with Andre Miller, Rudy, Webster and Aldridge is going to give you problems when you are struggling. That is reality.

Also, i feel we would've blown them out with a well reffed game.

[Atzar]

I went to the game tonight.  I'd like to add my own thoughts to this thread really quick.

Only one person really stood out with a pretty good game tonight.  Ray sucked on both ends of the ball - he couldn't guard anybody, and even the three he made in OT looked ugly.  Pierce and Rondo would make a brilliant play and then follow it up with a bad one - that was a theme all night.  KG couldn't hit his jumpshot.  Perk couldn't stay on the floor.  Eddie sucked.  Baby was a nonfactor.  Sheed erupted in the first half and nearly shot them out of the game in the second half.  Which leaves...

TA.  His boxscore isn't going to wow you, but his defense was the reason we won this game - Andre Miller destroyed everybody else we put on him.  Rondo isn't big enough, Ray isn't quick enough, Eddie isn't good enough, but TA was the only one with the size and quickness to stay with him and contest his shots.  I was glad to see Doc leave TA in the game for much of the fourth quarter, rather than sticking Ray back in to get torched some more.

Refs made some questionable calls tonight - Doc was pretty irritated, kinda surprised he didn't get T'ed up at one point.  Fernandez flops a lot!

Rebounding remains a problem - but I'll give them the benefit of the doubt tonight.  KG just came back, and he wasn't much of a factor on the boards tonight.  I expect that to change as he knocks the rust off. 

I'm officially sick of the Pierce iso play.

Did I mention how awful Ray was on defense?  He couldn't guard anybody, with the exception of Fernandez in the second half.  When he guarded Bayless, Bayless beat us.  When he guarded Miller, Miller burned us.  When he guarded Webster, Webster hurt us.  I know he's never been a defensive stalwart and that he's not getting any younger, but I don't know that I've ever seen him struggle that much on D in a C's uniform.  I wonder if he's got some nagging injury that's messing with him a bit, because that didn't just seem to be a case of old legs.  I'm not sure he could have guarded me tonight...

[jdpapa3]

Yeah, Atzar. Ray made Andre Miller look like a trackstar.

[vinnie]

A team with Andre Miller, Rudy, Webster and Aldridge is going to give you problems when you are struggling. That is reality.

Also, i feel we would've blown them out with a well reffed game.

They had EIGHT players and it still took overtime. Juwan Howard as their big man, backed up by Pendergraph and they still outreboud the C's by 10? If those four guys you list are going to give the Celtics trouble, then this team is worse off than even I thought.

[beantownboy171]

It tells me, that no matter what, if kevin garnett is not healthy, we will not win a championship.

So we should probably stop caring about whether or not we win when he's out. We need him to get the end goal.

[PLamb]

Gotta think tonight was the beginning of a new start

Everyone has to get into their roles again and everyone has to get used to playing with each other again

The same will happen when Daniels returns

The same will happen if there is a trade for a good rotation player

Obviously there are flaws, rebounding being the most glaring but I think this win went a ways to establishing a new confidence and a new energy within the team

Patience, it is still only January after all and we only hit the halfway point of the season while having the league's third best record 

Not bad for a team that has missed

5 games from Pierce
11 games from Garnett
1 game from Rondo
3 games for Wallace
1 game for House
21 games for Tony Allen
28 games for Davis
22 games from Daniels

So out of their top 10 players that would give them 410 players games the Celtics have missed 92 player games or 22% of their possible player games due to injury

[MaxwellSmart86]

Well, it tells me one of these two:

Ray Allen is FINISHED

or maybe Doc should run MORE plays for Ray Allen-from the opening tip...UNTIL he gets his rhythm going.

[radiohead]

This team kinda reminds me of the '87-'88 Celtics when the big 3 were beginning to show their age. Two years removed from their last championship, the team still managed to win 57 games in the regular season, good enough for the best record in the eastern conference. However, they simply couldn't keep up with the younger, more athletic teams in the playoffs, barely beating the hawks (4-3) and eventually losing to the pistons (2-4).

This year's team is two  years removed from championship #17 and is still one of the best teams in the east. But it's become clear that the young athletic teams like atlanta and chicago give us fits. Those 2 straight defeats at the hands of the hawks should be a real eye opener. Some people say that there is no way we lose to the hawks in a 7 game series. But hey, they beat us at home and on the road in a span of 3 or 4 days. That's as close to playoff basketball as you could get. Don't get me wrong, I'm still hoping for banner #18 this year, but I feel that the team has to kick it up a notch or two for that to happen. Hopefully come playoff time we'll be back in our winning ways. Go Celtics!

[Who]

This team kinda reminds me of the '87-'88 Celtics when the big 3 were beginning to show their age. Two years removed from their last championship, the team still managed to win 57 games in the regular season, good enough for the best record in the eastern conference. However, they simply couldn't keep up with the younger, more athletic teams in the playoffs, barely beating the hawks (4-3) and eventually losing to the pistons (2-4).

This year's team is two  years removed from championship #17 and is still one of the best teams in the east. But it's become clear that the young athletic teams like atlanta and chicago give us fits. Those 2 straight defeats at the hands of the hawks should be a real eye opener. Some people say that there is no way we lose to the hawks in a 7 game series. But hey, they beat us at home and on the road in a span of 3 or 4 days. That's as close to playoff basketball as you could get. Don't get me wrong, I'm still hoping for banner #18 this year, but I feel that the team has to kick it up a notch or two for that to happen. Hopefully come playoff time we'll be back in our winning ways. Go Celtics!

In comparison to the top contenders this season -- Cavs + Magic in the East and the Lakers + Spurs in the West.

Are this year's Celtics at a significant athletic disadvantage?

I agree with the concerns on the Celtics quickness + overall athleticism but I'm not sure the other contenders are strong enough in those areas to take advantage of it.

[dlpin]

Well, it tells me one of these two:

Ray Allen is FINISHED

or maybe Doc should run MORE plays for Ray Allen-from the opening tip...UNTIL he gets his rhythm going.

I don't think Allen is finished. Shooters don't lose the shooting touch in old age.

The problem is twofold: tonight he was cold. The other nights, against the pistons, etc., Doc's offensive schemes where he is cutting and coming off of screens are somewhat predictable by now, so by the second half defenses have adjusted.

The answer to that is low post scoring. But Perk has been too inconsistent down there, and sheed... well we know sheed. But hopefully KG can help that a bit.

[radiohead]

This team kinda reminds me of the '87-'88 Celtics when the big 3 were beginning to show their age. Two years removed from their last championship, the team still managed to win 57 games in the regular season, good enough for the best record in the eastern conference. However, they simply couldn't keep up with the younger, more athletic teams in the playoffs, barely beating the hawks (4-3) and eventually losing to the pistons (2-4).

This year's team is two  years removed from championship #17 and is still one of the best teams in the east. But it's become clear that the young athletic teams like atlanta and chicago give us fits. Those 2 straight defeats at the hands of the hawks should be a real eye opener. Some people say that there is no way we lose to the hawks in a 7 game series. But hey, they beat us at home and on the road in a span of 3 or 4 days. That's as close to playoff basketball as you could get. Don't get me wrong, I'm still hoping for banner #18 this year, but I feel that the team has to kick it up a notch or two for that to happen. Hopefully come playoff time we'll be back in our winning ways. Go Celtics!

In comparison to the top contenders this season -- Cavs + Magic in the East and the Lakers + Spurs in the West.

Are this year's Celtics at a significant athletic disadvantage?

I agree with the concerns on the Celtics quickness + overall athleticism but I'm not sure the other contenders are strong enough in those areas to take advantage of it.

We do match up quite well with the top contenders. But we probably still have to go through the "second tier" teams like the hawks and the bulls in order to advance. Remember what happened last year when chicago took us to seven games and we just simply looked winded out in the orlando series. It would be interesting to see what adjustments the team makes as they head on a tough stretch against the hawks, cavs, and lakers in the next couple of weeks.

[Who]

This team kinda reminds me of the '87-'88 Celtics when the big 3 were beginning to show their age. Two years removed from their last championship, the team still managed to win 57 games in the regular season, good enough for the best record in the eastern conference. However, they simply couldn't keep up with the younger, more athletic teams in the playoffs, barely beating the hawks (4-3) and eventually losing to the pistons (2-4).

This year's team is two  years removed from championship #17 and is still one of the best teams in the east. But it's become clear that the young athletic teams like atlanta and chicago give us fits. Those 2 straight defeats at the hands of the hawks should be a real eye opener. Some people say that there is no way we lose to the hawks in a 7 game series. But hey, they beat us at home and on the road in a span of 3 or 4 days. That's as close to playoff basketball as you could get. Don't get me wrong, I'm still hoping for banner #18 this year, but I feel that the team has to kick it up a notch or two for that to happen. Hopefully come playoff time we'll be back in our winning ways. Go Celtics!

In comparison to the top contenders this season -- Cavs + Magic in the East and the Lakers + Spurs in the West.

Are this year's Celtics at a significant athletic disadvantage?

I agree with the concerns on the Celtics quickness + overall athleticism but I'm not sure the other contenders are strong enough in those areas to take advantage of it.

We do match up quite well with the top contenders. But we probably still have to go through the "second tier" teams like the hawks and the bulls in order to advance. Remember what happened last year when chicago took us to seven games and we just simply looked winded out in the orlando series. It would be interesting to see what adjustments the team makes as they head on a tough stretch against the hawks, cavs, and lakers in the next couple of weeks.

I am concerned about Atlanta. They're the one team with enough talent (combined with quickness/athleticism) to make it interesting. They're good enough to beat the Celtics. I don't think they're good enough to go on and win four playoff series en route to a title but that's fairly irrelevant if they've knocked the Celtics out first. They're a threat.

The next four playoff teams in the East are too weak to threaten the Celtics though. Whoever the C's play in the first round should be a comfortable series. Maybe one or two tough games (losses) but overall they'll be fine. The talent level of those teams is just too low (around .500).