Celtics (33-18) at Lakers (42-13) 2/18

[CelticSooner]

Pierce isn't effective at getting to the free throw line anymore for whatever reason. At this point in his career he's becoming a straight jump shooter.

[jdpapa3]

I wouldn't be too surprised if Nate got crunch time minutes over Rondo.

[Jack_Frost]

Complain, complain, complain...

WE BEAT LA

WE BEAT LA

WE BEAT LA

WE BEAT LA

WE BEAT LA

[crownsy]

So sick of the Pierce isos, however he was effective in getting to the rim that last play. Tough break for the refs not to make a call on that. I'll take the win...Kobe or not

They didn't run many Pierce Isos.

What's wrong with them running it some though? They run plenty of triple screens for Ray, and posts for KG.

It's not the quantity, it's the timing. They go to them down the stretch, and it doesn't seem to work. There could have been a foul called, sure, but the bottom line is we dribbled for 24 seconds and got a bad shot.

That's pretty much what every team does though.

It stems from coaches not having the nuts to run sets with under a minute left, because lord forbid you get a good look early in the shot clock within your offense.

NBA logic seems to be "rather have an easily defensible iso with a pick at 5 second in the shot clock than run our stuff and leave time on the clock."

[Kuberski33]

Sheed and Marquis both got signed for games like this and tonight they both no showed. 

[jadams5214]

And the Pierce isolation ends with another miss.

Has to be the worst offensive display by the Big Three in a 4th quarter since they were put together.  It's hard to fathom that the best players of the Celtics combined for ZERO points in a crucial 4th quarter.  Hard to believe but they all failed miserably, especially KG and Pierce.  Choking down the stretch is painful to watch.  The 2 missed free throws by Pierce almost cost them this game.

Well the Celtics managed to beat a Kobe-less Laker team tonight.  The defense in the 4th quarter was outstanding there is no question.  Of course it helped that Kobe wasn't on the floor which made a huge difference.  

It is nice to win a game like this for once instead of choking it away.  Of course it has to be said that the C's managed to barely hang on against a team missing it's best player.  They scored 11 points in yet another miserable offensive quarter which has become normal in recent weeks.  The C's are just old, tired and worn out by the end of the game.

The BIG THREE choked miserably in the 4th quarter.  Hard to believe these guys couldn't make one basket combined in the last 12 minutes.  Maybe Nate Robinson will make a difference?  The Celtics better hope so because there are no other answers coming to town...

lol, do you always follow something positive with a negative?

Its his thing.

Yeah for better or worse it's what I do.  Of course every single thing I typed is true even if it is hard to believe that the Big Three came up with zero points in the 4th quarter.  It really is true!

[Celtics31]

So sick of the Pierce isos, however he was effective in getting to the rim that last play. Tough break for the refs not to make a call on that. I'll take the win...Kobe or not

They didn't run many Pierce Isos.

What's wrong with them running it some though? They run plenty of triple screens for Ray, and posts for KG.

None of which down the stretch. It was all Pierce up top, who isn't a great ball handler to begin with. He has trouble advancing toward the hoop and just keeps his back to the basket killing the clock resulting in a bad offensive possession usually.

Like I said, he was effective on that last play. He got to the hoop and could have easily got the call. That said, Doc needs to realize, it's not working.

[vinnie]

I'm out. Hopefully Nate proves wrong everyone calling the Celts a loser in the trade wars. Pleasure being with you all tonight and it will be much easier to sleep. Can't wait until tomorrow night's game. I gotta tripleheader tomorrow. Son's freshman game at 5, UMass-Merrimack hockey at 7 and Celts-Blazers at 10:30. WOOHOO.

[Fafnir]

Sometimes I wish we had a PG who can shoot. Rondo disappearing act is getting old. Shoot the dam ball

He took 17 shots, you really want him to shoot more than that?

Shoot and make a shot. He disappears in close cause he can't make a shot. 4years and still can't make a midrange J

He took 8 and made 2.

He also took 17 shots. Rondo shot plenty, and he can make shots just not consistently.

[n8thegr8]

So sick of the Pierce isos, however he was effective in getting to the rim that last play. Tough break for the refs not to make a call on that. I'll take the win...Kobe or not

They didn't run many Pierce Isos.

What's wrong with them running it some though? They run plenty of triple screens for Ray, and posts for KG.

It's not the quantity, it's the timing. They go to them down the stretch, and it doesn't seem to work. There could have been a foul called, sure, but the bottom line is we dribbled for 24 seconds and got a bad shot.

That's pretty much what every team does though.

It stems from coaches not having the nuts to run sets with under a minute left, because lord forbid you get a good look early in the shot clock within your offense.

NBA logic seems to be "rather have an easily defensible iso with a pick at 5 second in the shot clock than run our stuff and leave time on the clock."

It's what makes sense. Avoid turnover + proper clock usage > potential better shot.

Nate Robinson will solve the problem of scoring on isolations.  

[crownsy]

I wouldn't be too surprised if Nate got crunch time minutes over Rondo.

I would, unless he suddenly learns to pass. his assist numbers are atrocious.

Also, i'm not sure you want a 5'9 guy on the floor when you want a strong defensive front.

I'm interested to see what nate brings, but not in seeing him close out games over rondo, if for no other reason than the huge defensive liability it creates for the other team to attack with a pick and roll out of an iso.

I hate when teams do that and get a wing on rondo, never mind nate :/

[RJ87]

And the Pierce isolation ends with another miss.

Has to be the worst offensive display by the Big Three in a 4th quarter since they were put together.  It's hard to fathom that the best players of the Celtics combined for ZERO points in a crucial 4th quarter.  Hard to believe but they all failed miserably, especially KG and Pierce.  Choking down the stretch is painful to watch.  The 2 missed free throws by Pierce almost cost them this game.

Well the Celtics managed to beat a Kobe-less Laker team tonight.  The defense in the 4th quarter was outstanding there is no question.  Of course it helped that Kobe wasn't on the floor which made a huge difference.  

It is nice to win a game like this for once instead of choking it away.  Of course it has to be said that the C's managed to barely hang on against a team missing it's best player.  They scored 11 points in yet another miserable offensive quarter which has become normal in recent weeks.  The C's are just old, tired and worn out by the end of the game.

The BIG THREE choked miserably in the 4th quarter.  Hard to believe these guys couldn't make one basket combined in the last 12 minutes.  Maybe Nate Robinson will make a difference?  The Celtics better hope so because there are no other answers coming to town...

lol, do you always follow something positive with a negative?

Its his thing.

Yeah for better or worse it's what I do.  Of course every single thing I typed is true even if it is hard to believe that the Big Three came up with zero points in the 4th quarter.  It really is true!

You know what, this team showed PASSION tonight - something that's been seriously lacking. We played hard the whole way through and we won. So yea, I'm happy with the win and that's what I'm focusing on tonight.

[fairweatherfan]

Kenny Smith standing up for us bigtime right now.  Good work, Jet.

[Larry for 3]

I wouldn't be too surprised if Nate got crunch time minutes over Rondo.

Why , because he had 1 bad shooting game?? Let's not get crazy, Nate's even more erratic than rondo by far, like being a knucklehead ect.........

[snively]

So sick of the Pierce isos, however he was effective in getting to the rim that last play. Tough break for the refs not to make a call on that. I'll take the win...Kobe or not

They didn't run many Pierce Isos.

What's wrong with them running it some though? They run plenty of triple screens for Ray, and posts for KG.

The Pierce iso might be the worst play in the NBA right now. He is so slow he usually cannot beat anyone.

Its not, its actually one of the Celtics best plays.

Not against good teams.  With Rondo controlling the ball the C's got the two go-ahead buckets (a missed lay-up that led to Perk's dunk and Rajon's bucket) as well as several makeable looks (Rajon's airball and KG's 2 or 3 missed but open Js).  With Pierce we got several shots that had no chance without a foul being called.