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

[Fafnir]

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!

There are facts, and there are your "facts". You know who you remind me of:



The offense was bad in the fourth quarter, but the refs also swallowed their whistles. The C's tried wide open jump shots, and missed. So they started taking it to the wrack but the refs refused to send either team to the line. Besides I don't think a gimpy Kobe helps the Lakers in this game. Taking away shots from Bynum/Gasol/Odom would have hurt them.

*shrug*

[CelticSooner]

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.

+1

The Lakers played with passion as well which makes the win even more enjoyable.

[Thruthelookingglass]

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.

Paul got away with initiating contact and drawing the foul for years.  Now the refs have gone to the other extreme and aren't calling anything but the most obvious of fouls.  It's affected Paul's game tremendously and I'm actually surprised that he's still so effective without really adjusting to the new circumstances. 

FWIW, I also don't think Pierce is very healthy right now either.

[Celtics31]

Kenny picking us to make it to the finals....at least someone believes

[Kuberski33]

Pierce will be more effective as he gets healthier.  Tonight he had the energy, it's just obvious he doesn't have the legs back yet.  Once that happens, the offense down the stretch will improve.  He looked motivated tonight for the first time in awhile, so that was good to see.

[dlpin]

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!

The reason this game was close has nothing to do with the big 3, who were all positive on the +/- (including a team high +16 for KG, and everything to do with Doc leaving a front court of Sheed/BBD in for 6 minutes as the lakers had a line up of gasol-odom-bynum.

[Fafnir]

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 :/

Doc benched Rondo for House for long periods when Rondo wasn't aggressive. He also tends to stick with the hot hand, it'll happen a few times.

That wasn't a problem tonight, the refs just allowed the both teams to wack away without sending anyone to the line. That makes it hard for Rondo to penetrate.

[jdpapa3]

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 :/

Ehh, probably not crunch time, but those last minute possessions. Doc has been going with House there anyways.

And I am all right with Pierce iso's as long as you let Rondo get it over half court and give it to Pierce at the top with 12 left. I was cringing when I saw Pierce with the ball at the top of the key with 20 seconds left and Artest on him.

Sure hope KG finds his shooting stroke again. Just a few of his j's would've helped.

[jadams5214]

The difference is many people on this board would be typing this right now if the Lakers had won and the Celtics were missing Pierce, KG, Ray or anyone else...

"The Lakers got lucky.  The refs gave them all the calls and the Celtics are injured and fatigued.  Once they get healthy the C's will fix their problems and win another title"

When the Celtics win facing a team with similar obstacles those excuses are dismissed.  It has to go both ways, excuses are excuses no matter what team you root for.

Great defense tonight it really was nice to see Perk so aggressive down the stretch.  The refs really let both teams play in the 4th quarter which was great.

Still hard to believe the BIG THREE came up with a BIG ZERO in the 4th quarter.  Definitely expect more from such great players than a combined ZERO points...

[Ersatz]

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 at the end at least yielded a layup attempt (that he was fouled on), which is way better than the 20-foot jumpers by Rondo and Garnett they'd been living on in the fourth.

[Change]

Why was MArquis upset when he was subbed out? That MOFO had +/- (-19). You sucked marquis have seat at the bench.

[fairweatherfan]

The difference is many people on this board would be typing this right now if the Lakers had won and the Celtics were missing Pierce, KG, Ray or anyone else...

"The Lakers got lucky.  The refs gave them all the calls and the Celtics are injured and fatigued.  Once they get healthy the C's will fix their problems and win another title"

When the Celtics win facing a team with similar obstacles those excuses are dismissed.  It has to go both ways, excuses are excuses no matter what team you root for.

Great defense tonight it really was nice to see Perk so aggressive down the stretch.  The refs really let both teams play in the 4th quarter which was great.

Still hard to believe the BIG THREE came up with a BIG ZERO in the 4th quarter.  Definitely expect more from such great players than a combined ZERO points...

[Fafnir]

The difference is many people on this board would be typing this right now if the Lakers had won and the Celtics were missing Pierce, KG, Ray or anyone else...

"The Lakers got lucky.  The refs gave them all the calls and the Celtics are injured and fatigued.  Once they get healthy the C's will fix their problems and win another title"

When the Celtics win facing a team with similar obstacles those excuses are dismissed.  It has to go both ways, excuses are excuses no matter what team you root for.

jadams you're entitled to your opinions, but avoid straw men.

Don't make up what "we'd" say and then use it to fuel your own argument.

Neither team got lucky, it was a dog fight and the C's won. KG was moving better than I've seen in a month, and they beat the second best team in the league on the road. I find it hard to be negative about this game.

[Fafnir]

Why was MArquis upset when he was subbed out? That MOFO had +/- (-19). You sucked marquis have seat at the bench.

He was angry at his poor play. He made 4 or 5 really bad mistakes and each time was beating himself up about it.

He did it on the missed box out of Sasha for a layup and a few other times.

[snively]

Why was MArquis upset when he was subbed out? That MOFO had +/- (-19). You sucked marquis have seat at the bench.

He was ****ed at his poor play. He made 4 or 5 really bad mistakes and each time was beating himself up about it.

He did it on the missed box out of Sasha for a layup and a few other times.

That play and losing Shannon Brown at the end of the 1st were big and uncharacteristic mistakes from Marquis.  Sheed was even worse however so he shouldn't really feel all that bad.

But the moronic play of the night goes to Pau for trying to force a pass into Shannon Brown on the baseline.  I was really fearing the Lamar iso on that play.