A couple blowouts & Momentum

[ScoobyDoo]

It's important to be able to adjust on the fly. I recalibrate my goals to 15-4 over our last 19 games, and I reserve the right to adjust that goal, again.

Oh well, can't win them all. But even though we lost, the way we lost was dramatically different than the blow out losses we'd been seeing. These Celts were at least dialed in and trying hard, that's all you can ask for. If the ball had bounced a few different ways, we still had a shot.

Tough night, hoping for a bounce back win against Denver...and seeing us go on another roll...   

[vinnie]

Must have been watching a different game. From two minutes left in the second quarter to about mid third quarter the Jazz went on a 31-9 run, which included a 16-0 blitz. Tried, yes, but the Celts stopped rebounding and playing defense with 2 minutes left in the first half. At one point they were outrebounding the Jazz by 10 boards.

[BudweiserCeltic]

Ray and Pierce played 30 minutes, tops for our team. Not going to worry about this.

[twinbree]

I do think a loss like this is a momemtum killer like the Denver one after the break. The thing is for them to not falter afterwards like they did the last time and use the next game to continue to build on the improvement in their play at home. The team is healthy now and they need to string together a solid 4 quarter effort every game from now on.

[BudweiserCeltic]

I do think a loss like this is a momemtum killer like the Denver one after the break. The thing is for them to not falter afterwards like they did the last time and use the next game to continue to build on the improvement in their play at home. The team is healthy now and they need to string together a solid 4 quarter effort every game from now on.

The momentum killer was Pierce going down with an injury, not that loss in particular. In fact, we beat New York after that game and played a great first half against the Cavs, it went downhill from there for a couple of games. But in no way was that Denver loss a "momentum killer".

[ScoobyDoo]

Correct call Vinnie, I made my comments after watching the 1st half. I just checked in during the second half as I had other things going on. So from my perspective, they played hard in the first half.

When I checked back and saw the Jazz were on a 16-4 run to open the second half, I switched to something else.

Good thing I did because the only thing I can't stand about losing is if the effort on D and the boards isn't there.

Anyway, what I watched of these guys lately tells me they are not the same team I was watching against Memphis, or any number of other infuriating losses I watched this season.

I'm staying optimistic that, apparently now healthy, they have also turned the mental corner and are "bringing it" more often than not.

I'd like to see a real fist fight on Wednesday night (and a win) to buffer that sentiment of mine though.   

[Meadowlark_Scal]

one thing that i saw that i didn't like was in the first part of the third quarter, PP was reverting to his selfish days, allpaulball......taking bad shots when he wasn't "on" bad layups, and trying to do too much alone....Ray-Ray was out there, and hitting his shots bangbang......I hate when he does that.....Sometimes he doesn't wait for his opportunities......doesn't bring the other guys with him...

 On another note, BBD is BRINGING it.....he must have read something here....he is going after it as hard as he can....following shots, rebounding, and his putbacks are a lot better.......KG did not guard Okur well...there isn't anymore "KG fear or respect", so he needs to get on it with these guys.....They let the Jazz back in...but it was a tough road trip...and Utah is very good at home...!

[ScoobyDoo]

I didn't love the Utah game...but I'm still feeling the momentum right now. We're blowing out the teams we should and just went 3-1 against Houston, Dallas, Utah and Denver ( three of them on the road...)

I would like to see some real dominance over these next five games at home and I'll be feeling pretty good. 

[Redz]

I didn't love the Utah game...but I'm still feeling the momentum right now. We're blowing out the teams we should and just went 3-1 against Houston, Dallas, Utah and Denver ( three of them on the road...)

I would like to see some real dominance over these next five games at home and I'll be feeling pretty good. 

Viewed in a vacuum the Utah game was an understandable letdown (playing the last game of a trip, in a tough gym, on the back end of two-games in two-days, against a good team etc...).  The problem we have is that our memory is still so fresh of the way they've played the last couple of months. 

What leads me to believe that the Utah loss was attributable all of the stuff in the parenthesis, not all of the annoying stuff from the last couple of months, is the way they bounced back tonight.

Good signs abound.

[twinbree]

Very good bounce back game. At home. We countered their runs with runs of own. Very encouraging. The Big 3 continue the stretch of collectively playing well. The starters are looking better. I hope the offensive rebounding tonight was a sign of good things to come both on the offensive and defensive boards. Hope the trend continues. And Rondo is just ridiculous now.

[Fafnir]

Very good bounce back game. At home. We countered their runs with runs of own. Very encouraging. The Big 3 continue the stretch of collectively playing well. The starters are looking better. I hope the offensive rebounding tonight was a sign of good things to come both on the offensive and defensive boards. Hope the trend continues. And Rondo is just ridiculous now.

Garnett's line of 20/10/5 is something we'll need more of in the playoffs.

[Mr October]

Notice that the better Pierce and Garnett get, the better the entire team play gets. It all starts with those 2. The offensive and defensive firepower and that swagger! Man that nasty swagger is creeping back in there. Look out NBA!!! The Celtics are very close to being back.

[ScoobyDoo]

Yep, agreed on all. Good bounce back game for sure. Also, that the big three all played less than 30 minutes in Utah probably affected the outcome of that game as well...

Let's keep the momentum rolling. Pierce and KG need to keep it physical around the boards. It was nice to see Pierce mixing it up a little on the boards last night as well.

If KG and PP, as you guys stated, are truly getting healthy and back, we will become very dominant in short order here.

It's not if we have the talent to be the ebst in the league, it's the focus and intensity and the health to put forth the physical effort along with it.

I see #18, if those things continue to Gel. I don't even Cleveland will have a chance with us.

Don't forget most of our losses to Atlanta, the Lakers, the Cavs and Magic were with a short manned, phsically struggling PP and Kg and a genrally non cohesive team due to all the injuries.

Much different animal, this team, when healthy and cohesive.   

[Evantime34]

I believe that this team hinges on rebounding and turnovers. Last night they did not turn the ball over a lot and crashed the boards. I feel the Celtics can beat anytime when they take care of those two factors, like they did last night. Recently they have been improving in those areas which will net us wins against every team in the league.

[BballTim]

I believe that this team hinges on rebounding and turnovers. Last night they did not turn the ball over a lot and crashed the boards. I feel the Celtics can beat anytime when they take care of those two factors, like they did last night. Recently they have been improving in those areas which will net us wins against every team in the league.

  In both of the last 2 years they significantly decreased their turnovers in the playoffs.