Lakers (36-11) at Celtics (29-15) 1/31

[MattG12]

where was tony allen in the second half?

IDK. Where was Rondo most of the game? I guess Doc loves this stand around take a wild shot as the buzzer goes off offense.

Did you watch this game at all? Rondo was dominant.

Yes I did. I saw Rondo sitting most of the second half.

Rondo played 38 minutes... more than any other Celtic.

[MaxwellSmart86]

Ha, Doc blaming "Lack of stops" for the loss?....Really Doc?...How about you get your team to stay aggressive offensively?

frustrating when your coach has ZERO clue on offense.

[byennie]

The Celts last 10 games or so are quite troubling, but losing this one... just bad luck. Fans love to talk about "heart" and "finishing games", but the fact is that when Kobe hits a contested shot and Ray Ray misses an open one, that's just bad luck. 80% of the time that sequence is going to end with a W.

That's not to say they shouldn't have closed out the game, but it was still bad luck to lose it that way.

Let's beat up on a few lesser teams and forget about this horrid stretch. If we do the right things for the next 40 games, we have a very legit shot in the playoffs. There used to be a time... you know, like every year for about 20 years, that being in our current position would be EXCITING. Let's enjoy how good we still are.

[celticinorlando]

The team and coaching staff is going to learn from this.

I hate to say it but this was an encouraging loss.  Celtics played extremely well for a large duration of this game and illustrated that they can still play with the best.  The loss is tough to take but the Celtics still managed to take a step in the right direction.

How will they learn from it? You make it sound like the C's are an upcoming team. They were picked to win the East for god's sake! It's one thing to play inspired ball it's another to continually lose games you have no business losing.

Well, for one, you think they're going to learn from the 7 turnovers in the first quarter they made?  

Two, offensive execution down the stretch?  I think its reached a point now where the coaching staff is going to realize that you can't take the game out of Rondo's hands just because there's 2 minutes left in the game.  I think this may be the straw that breaks the camel's back.

They just lost a game in January.  This team is getting healthier and played a heckuva game today despite this lose.

The "sky is falling" cry is overplayed.  This team is making small strides.

i have to disagree...this is a team with a championship in tow...they should not have to make small strides. the blown lead thing is not a trend...it is killing this team game after game.

[jdpapa3]

Is it the players that are slowing the game down in crunch time with a lead or is it the coaching? I think it might be the coaching: a Pierce "take the time off and dribble into a pick and roll" was called out of a timeout.

Rondo makes good decisions with the ball, won't turn it over, and has even gotten great looks in past weeks when he has it. Too many bad things can happen in Pierce's hands.

Maxwell: Doc saying lack of stops is discouraging. He seems to not be seeing what I am.

[Casperian]

This team needs a trade.

[Bankshot]

where was tony allen in the second half?

IDK. Where was Rondo most of the game? I guess Doc loves this stand around take a wild shot as the buzzer goes off offense.

Did you watch this game at all? Rondo was dominant.

Yes I did. I saw Rondo sitting most of the second half.

Rondo played 38 minutes... more than any other Celtic.

Not enough.  In this game, Rondo should have played 42 minutes.  He's young, the others are old and need the rest.

[ejk3489]

Rondo wasn't dominant in the last six minutes of the game, when we need him to be.

Yeah he didn't play as well as he could've of in the 4th...but it would've of been nice if one of his teammates stepped up in his place.  

[Tenacious D]

Granted there were good signs (see Hoobs). But. Closing is still a major problem. They stop attacking in the 4th and play to defend the lea, not to win. Pound the ball. get tentative. P-dub needs to understand he does not get an automatic And-1 in the lane anymore. The rest of the guys have to stop settling for jumpers. Gasol had 4--why didnt they work him? arrgh

[Bankshot]

Is it the players that are slowing the game down in crunch time with a lead or is it the coaching? I think it might be the coaching: a Pierce "take the time off and dribble into a pick and roll" was called out of a timeout.

Rondo makes good decisions with the ball, won't turn it over, and has even gotten great looks in past weeks when he has it. Too many bad things can happen in Pierce's hands.

Maxwell: Doc saying lack of stops is discouraging. He seems to not be seeing what I am.

He sees it, he's just not going to blame himself.

[CelticSooner]

where was tony allen in the second half?

IDK. Where was Rondo most of the game? I guess Doc loves this stand around take a wild shot as the buzzer goes off offense.

Did you watch this game at all? Rondo was dominant.

Yes I did. I saw Rondo sitting most of the second half.

Rondo played 38 minutes... more than any other Celtic.

In a game like this he should have never left the game. He was killing the Lakers and no one could stop him. Doc's substitutions frustrate me to no end sometimes.

[celticinorlando]

here is something...when this team played slow today like they were in mud was in the 1st and 4th quarter...1st quarter got them down 13...doing it again in the 4th allowed them to choke away an 11 point lead. coincidence? middle of the game they went fast...let rondo create and pushed....

[Tenacious D]

Rondo wasn't dominant in the last six minutes of the game, when we need him to be.

Yeah he didn't play as well as he could've of in the 4th...but it would've of been nice if one of his teammates stepped up in his place.  

 gassed? In any case, the need for a sub for rondo is so obvious. Hope DA is not assuming that having Q back will take care of that.

[MattG12]

where was tony allen in the second half?

IDK. Where was Rondo most of the game? I guess Doc loves this stand around take a wild shot as the buzzer goes off offense.

Did you watch this game at all? Rondo was dominant.

Yes I did. I saw Rondo sitting most of the second half.

Rondo played 38 minutes... more than any other Celtic.

Not enough.  In this game, Rondo should have played 42 minutes.  He's young, the others are old and need the rest.

If the rest of the team is "old and needs rest"... this team is going nowhere. Nobody should be resting against the Lakers. These games were supposed to show us what level the Celtics are on, Doc said it himself. Looks like we are not as good as the Lakers, Magic or Hawks. It doesn't matter if the Lakers won by a "lucky late shot". They actually won by not giving up while the Celtics did. The Lakers fought their way back into it and the Celtics let them. We won't beat the Hawks if we play them in the playoffs. I could see us beating other teams if we're completely healthy... but we can't beat the Hawks, they are too young and are unwavering to fatigue.

[jdpapa3]

Another thing: enough with the entire bench in at once. We had the opportunity to push the lead further, but Doc again waited until the beginning of the 4th to sub the guys, instead of a few minutes left in the 3rd. I'm sick of that.