Not Liking the "No Pressure" Comment

[Redz]

I don't like hearing The Captain say there's no pressure on the Celtics in this series.  Just because the team sucked during the regular season, does that let them off the hook if they lose in Round 2?  Last fall there was talk of these guys being the "best defensive team ever" and "win 72 games" etc...A bit of hyperbole perhaps, but they were supposed to be a title contender.  So far they've been a huge disappointment.  

Yeh, based on the fact that they've grossly underachieved,  expectations have been adjusted hugely, but those great expectations were there at the start.

There's pressure on the Celts in my book and I don't think it's a good sign that they feel like there isn't.

Are the Cavs under pressure to win after choking last year against Orlando, and dropping out in the 2nd round the year before to the C's?  Sure.  Absolutely they are, but this doesn't absolve the Celtics of being under pressure here too.  

A first round win doesn't get these guys off the hook.  We're supposed to be the CELTICS, where banners are what matters.  If the C's want to redeem themselves, show that they belong amongst the great C's teams their `08 banner shares a corner of the immortal Garden rafters with.  All of those teams won at least a couple.

There's pressure fellahs.  Don't be satisfied with 1 banner.  This could be your last shot.

You can do it!

[BuckeyeCelt]

Hopefully , at a minimum Rasheed is feeling some presser...

[PosImpos]

He just means they aren't expected to win.  They are the underdogs.  The Cavs will be feeling the heat if they get down in this series, not the Celtics.

I don't think it says anything about Paul's competitive drive.  The underdog team always says that - "there's no pressure on us, it's all on them."  It's a good thing, a good place to be.  As the underdog, your whole goal is to be the spoiler, to "shock the world" as Big Lanky and Ugly is now famous for saying.  That's all you have to focus on.  The other team's goal is to not get embarrassed by a team they're supposed to beat without much trouble (according to the media and the fans).

[Redz]

He just means they aren't expected to win.  They are the underdogs.  The Cavs will be feeling the heat if they get down in this series, not the Celtics.

I don't think it says anything about Paul's competitive drive.  The underdog team always says that - "there's no pressure on us, it's all on them."  It's a good thing, a good place to be.  As the underdog, your whole goal is to be the spoiler, to "shock the world" as Big Lanky and Ugly is now famous for saying.  That's all you have to focus on.  The other team's goal is to not get embarrassed by a team they're supposed to beat without much trouble (according to the media and the fans).

Oh, I have no doubt the C's will come out and bust their tails in this series, I just don't don't want them to believe they are the underdogs everyone has now pegged them for.  I want to see them believing in themselves and performing like the team I was expecting them to be.

[PosImpos]

He just means they aren't expected to win.  They are the underdogs.  The Cavs will be feeling the heat if they get down in this series, not the Celtics.

I don't think it says anything about Paul's competitive drive.  The underdog team always says that - "there's no pressure on us, it's all on them."  It's a good thing, a good place to be.  As the underdog, your whole goal is to be the spoiler, to "shock the world" as Big Lanky and Ugly is now famous for saying.  That's all you have to focus on.  The other team's goal is to not get embarrassed by a team they're supposed to beat without much trouble (according to the media and the fans).

Oh, I have no doubt the C's will come out and bust their tails in this series, I just don't don't want them to believe they are the underdogs everyone has now pegged them for.  I want to see them believing in themselves and performing like the team I was expecting them to be.

I think they believe in themselves, it just means they know the other team will be feeling extra pressure if they get down.  The Celtics know people expect them to lose; it doesn't mean they believe they will or that people shouldn't expect to win.

[Mr October]

To be honest, I like their no pressure stance. We know they will play hard. The no pressure mentality means they should be more loose and free. I like that. If you play tight and full of pressure the rim shrinks on you. We saw that a lot in 2008 before the C's got loose in the Detroit series.

[guava_wrench]

I don't like hearing The Captain say there's no pressure on the Celtics in this series.  Just because the team sucked during the regular season, does that let them off the hook if they lose in Round 2?  Last fall there was talk of these guys being the "best defensive team ever" and "win 72 games" etc...A bit of hyperbole perhaps, but they were supposed to be a title contender.  So far they've been a huge disappointment.  

Yeh, based on the fact that they've grossly underachieved,  expectations have been adjusted hugely, but those great expectations were there at the start.

There's pressure on the Celts in my book and I don't think it's a good sign that they feel like there isn't.

Are the Cavs under pressure to win after choking last year against Orlando, and dropping out in the 2nd round the year before to the C's?  Sure.  Absolutely they are, but this doesn't absolve the Celtics of being under pressure here too.  

A first round win doesn't get these guys off the hook.  We're supposed to be the CELTICS, where banners are what matters.  If the C's want to redeem themselves, show that they belong amongst the great C's teams their `08 banner shares a corner of the immortal Garden rafters with.  All of those teams won at least a couple.

There's pressure fellahs.  Don't be satisfied with 1 banner.  This could be your last shot.

You can do it!

I agree with you.

Still, I think he is just spouting sports talk. People say all sorts of cliches when they get interviewed. I would agree that there is less pressure than 2 years ago because the legacies of 3 players were on the line. I would say there is more pressure this year than last year because KG is healthy, and because it is hard to imagine being any better next year at this point of the year.

It feels to me like there should be last chance pressure.

I don't want neurotic players, but I also want to see guys leave it all on the floor.

[guava_wrench]

It seems to me that Pierce should feel more pressure than Lebron, since Lebron will have many more opportunities. This might be Pierce's last unless he decides to go discount title hunting. Shaq should feel zero pressure, Jamison should feel incredible pressure.

[Redz]

I'm not saying they should be nervous.  They're vets who have done it before. They should know how to respond to pressure (not have any more jitters like Mr O. noted they had in 2008).  All I'm saying is, they should feel no less pressure to win this series than the Cavs do.  Anything less than a title is a big letdown still.  

Just be the team you were supposed to be.  It's not too late.

[PosImpos]

I'm not saying they should be nervous.  They're vets who have done it before. They should know how to respond to pressure (not have any more jitters like PosImpos noted they had in 2008).  All I'm saying is, they should feel no less pressure to win this series than the Cavs do.  Anything less than a title is a big letdown still.  

Just be the team you were supposed to be.  It's not too late.

Actually it was Mr. October that mentioned the jitters (which was a good point).  Regardless, I agree. 

Although from my point of view after everything that's happened I'd be absolutely thrilled if the Celtics simply made the ECF and I'll be satisfied though not particularly happy as long as they win 3 games against the Cavs.

[Redz]

I'm not saying they should be nervous.  They're vets who have done it before. They should know how to respond to pressure (not have any more jitters like PosImpos noted they had in 2008).  All I'm saying is, they should feel no less pressure to win this series than the Cavs do.  Anything less than a title is a big letdown still.  

Just be the team you were supposed to be.  It's not too late.

Actually it was Mr. October that mentioned the jitters (which was a good point).  Regardless, I agree. 

Although from my point of view after everything that's happened I'd be absolutely thrilled if the Celtics simply made the ECF and I'll be satisfied though not particularly happy as long as they win 3 games against the Cavs.

oops, will go edit Mr. O in 

[colincb]

I'll be thrilled if the Cs win a WC. Anything less is a speck of dust. Just like PP's media comments.

[BballTim]

He just means they aren't expected to win.  They are the underdogs.  The Cavs will be feeling the heat if they get down in this series, not the Celtics.

I don't think it says anything about Paul's competitive drive.  The underdog team always says that - "there's no pressure on us, it's all on them."  It's a good thing, a good place to be.  As the underdog, your whole goal is to be the spoiler, to "shock the world" as Big Lanky and Ugly is now famous for saying.  That's all you have to focus on.  The other team's goal is to not get embarrassed by a team they're supposed to beat without much trouble (according to the media and the fans).

Oh, I have no doubt the C's will come out and bust their tails in this series, I just don't don't want them to believe they are the underdogs everyone has now pegged them for.  I want to see them believing in themselves and performing like the team I was expecting them to be.

  Without the benefit of having seen Paul's comment, I think it's pretty clever gamesmanship to come out and say that all the pressure to win the series is on Cleveland.

[Roy Hobbs]

Whatever it takes to get their motivation up.  If they want to paint themselves as underdogs who nobody believed in, that's fine with me.  It worked for the 2001 Pats, right?

[hpantazo]

He just means they aren't expected to win.  They are the underdogs.  The Cavs will be feeling the heat if they get down in this series, not the Celtics.

I don't think it says anything about Paul's competitive drive.  The underdog team always says that - "there's no pressure on us, it's all on them."  It's a good thing, a good place to be.  As the underdog, your whole goal is to be the spoiler, to "shock the world" as Big Lanky and Ugly is now famous for saying.  That's all you have to focus on.  The other team's goal is to not get embarrassed by a team they're supposed to beat without much trouble (according to the media and the fans).

Oh, I have no doubt the C's will come out and bust their tails in this series, I just don't don't want them to believe they are the underdogs everyone has now pegged them for.  I want to see them believing in themselves and performing like the team I was expecting them to be.

  Without the benefit of having seen Paul's comment, I think it's pretty clever gamesmanship to come out and say that all the pressure to win the series is on Cleveland.

It's clear gamesmanship, just look at what Paul posted after the hawks lost last night, something like "atlanta now knows that things are different when you go from being the hunter to being the hunted". Well, Pierce want to make the cavs feel like the hunted.