Your the coach, what are your adjustments?

[pearljammer10]

Plan is simple.

Continue to let Rondo dominate the offense, dont let Pierce run the show with his crap isolation hold the ball for twenty seconds throw up a prayer offense.

Keep feeding KG in the post. Jamison wont be able to defend KG on the block and that was apparent when the Celtics scored 7 straight buckets on 7 straight feeds into the post.

RUN! I know we are old but Rondo is at his best when this team runs. Dont let Pierce walk up the floor and be the last player over half court...Run. Get those transition threes, get Rondo to the line, and hit KG trailing up the middle.

Figure out how to defend a pick and roll. Which will never happen because the Celtics haven't be able to defend a pick and roll for the last 8 years.

Mooooove the ball. See Pierce and step one.. Penetrate and drive to the whole.



No Jumpers. Goooooo to the basket

[YouGotRondo d]

Plan is simple.

Continue to let Rondo dominate the offense, dont let Pierce run the show with his crap isolation hold the ball for twenty seconds throw up a prayer offense.

Keep feeding KG in the post. Jamison wont be able to defend KG on the block and that was apparent when the Celtics scored 7 straight buckets on 7 straight feeds into the post.

RUN! I know we are old but Rondo is at his best when this team runs. Dont let Pierce walk up the floor and be the last player over half court...Run. Get those transition threes, get Rondo to the line, and hit KG trailing up the middle.

Figure out how to defend a pick and roll. Which will never happen because the Celtics haven't be able to defend a pick and roll for the last 8 years.

Mooooove the ball. See Pierce and step one.. Penetrate and drive to the whole.



No Jumpers. Goooooo to the basket

Could not have said it better myself. Agree 100%

KG looked like old KG and suddenly we stop going to him?? Inexplicable.

When Rondo drives consistently everything opens up, Cle loses that intimidation factor of blocking shots and controlling the paint with James.

Their thing is they like to run you off the 3 point line and control the paint area making you take contested mid-range jumpers. Basically, exactly what Pierce did all 2nd half on tired legs.

My strategy:
-Rondo drive and score unless stopped, then kick out to open shooters.
-Continue to work the post with KG and against anyone not named Shaq.
-And yes, get the ball out in transition.

We have to break their defensive will for all 48 mins. Offensively, I believe us to be far superior. We'll see if the execution is there.

[ManchesterCelticsFan]

This game looked eerily similar to the game the C's lost to the Cavs, 108-88 except the only difference is, they tried harder (minus Sheed) which is why the C's didn't get blown out. I want NATE to get some burn and give Rondo a breather. Our offense was too stagnant with Tony at the point and Rondo in the second half. So what if we sacrifice a little on D? At least the C's should score more in theory.

[fanofgreen]

Just 6 things.....and the solution for Sheed (#5)

1. Let Rondo dominate the ball for 48 minutes, or however long he is out on the floor. if he doesn't dominate the ball while he is on the floor, then he is completely useless, because he can't shoot.....and thats why everything goes down hill, once   PP starts ball stopping and dominating the ball, especially in the 4th quarters.

2. Someone explain to me, why Doc is using the same player-rotations he used against the Heat. How do you expect to get same results, when the circumstances have changed?
--we should be seeing  a lot more Nate and Marquis....especially Nate, because Clev. likes to use the Delonte West-Mo Williams backcourt a lot.

3. Play Shelden more, especially against the active bodies of Varejao and Hickson....play Baby less.
(there is no point in hustling and play with a lot of energy, if youre going to be dumb. whats the point of going after an offensive rebound, when you aren't going to take advantage of a new 24 sec.s but, instead get your shot blocked, or get it stolen (perkandbaby))

4. Keep going into KG. nuff' said there!  

(if you went up to an atm and pressed the number 5, and $2 spit out, and you hit 5 again and $2 more dollar came out, why would go away from the atm? why would you start pressing other numbers??)

5. WHAT TO DO WITH SHEED!
what needs to happen with Sheed, is we have to get him engaged right away! The very first time he steps out on the floor, when he checks in......he needs to get 3 straight post-ups in a row. the next 3 offensive possessions should go into Rasheed.

The problem is,   when Sheed enters the game, he is allowed to float, and drift out on the perimeter, and just be another player out on the floor.

I've always said this about sheed, but If Sheed knew that the very second he checked into the game, and was gonna get the next 3 offensive possessions in the post no matter what, he would be so much more engaged and give a lot more effort, and would probably be a candidate for 6th man of the year.

6. Get Ray more looks...i would also like to see Ray, just pull up and take the shot, when he's dribbling beyond the 3pt. line,,,,he did it in the Miami series, where he kind of lulled the defender to sleep, dribbling, and then just rose up and let it fly.

[cdif911]

Rasheed waves a towel and likes it for at least one game.  Give his minutes to Shelden, we need someone who fights for loose balls and rebounds alongside Baby...I know we give up a ton of height, but a 7 footer (Sheed) who doesn't work hard is just as good as a 6'5 guy at center...

[pengaloo]

Rasheed waves a towel and likes it for at least one game.  Give his minutes to Shelden, we need someone who fights for loose balls and rebounds alongside Baby...I know we give up a ton of height, but a 7 footer (Sheed) who doesn't work hard is just as good as a 6'5 guy at center...

Rasheed would probably be perfectly happy waving a towel from the bench for the next two years. He seems to have no interest in playing anyway. Problem with Shelden is that he doesn't seem to know the defensive schemes. He's more often than not out of place. But that's no worse than Sheed. At least Shelden would pull in some rebounds and get in Mo's face like he did in a preseason game.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcfX7ABLq2w

I would love to see Shelden knock Mo Williams down a couple more times

[housecall]

Time management is key in this series...i noticed from the last game we lost in the regular season how Lebron managed his minutes(effort)well.Last night Rondo goes all out in the first half,expends to much energy.Somewhere Doc has to keep Rondo fresher for closing out games,and maybe limit 2 of the Big 3 in the third.Lebron & cast is basically keeping the game within reach and not going full steam for 3qrts,then he turns up the heat in the fourth.

Over the years Lebron has figured we can beat them when he plays 40-45minutes in 4th gear,has learned how to pick his spots to keep things from getting out of hand.As the coach,i would rearrange my game plan for how much i play Rondo in the third,fourth qrts.Probably use Quis more and possible see what Nate can give me in the third.
  

[CoachBo]

Minutes, true.

But there's really not a lot that need be done differently than try to remember and stick to what was an outstanding plan in Game 1.

Fundamental basketball: Make the extra pass, rebound (I know, wishful thinking with this group), find the mismatches and attack them offensively, defend every possession, play strong - a total, abject failure in the second half last night.

It's not overly complicated. We played stupidly and ineptly in the second half last night, and we richly deserved to lose.

[wdleehi]

1) Make your fouls count.

2) Never stop attacking on offense.

3) Expect Ray and Pierce to shoot better.

[indeedproceed]

I have been avoiding saying this all season, but whenever Andersen Varejao is in the game, I put Shelden Williams in there to match him and instruct shelden to play without inhibition, and tell him that as long as his motor is red lining, he can stay in the game.

I'm convinced that Sideshows super hustle is a game changer against us. Maybe no in a box score kinda way, but in a heart kinda way. KG, Perk, and BBD can't be racking up 3 fouls in 10 mins while they stomp on AV's head, but Shelden can...and should.  

[Meadowlark_Scal]

I wonder how Nate would cover Mo...that is needed, also to give rondo a break and make sure he doesn't have 3 fouls in the 3rd, or keep getting whacked.....Sheldon for sure, 100% improvement over sheed (The Ghost) sheed is no where, dumb 3's that aren't ever close, 2 things wrong with his threes, he misses, he isn't inside to rebound it...he is Mr opposite.we have 3 point guys, we need rebounders and post guys..along with D...Perk need to remember a guy named Shaq...how can perk lose him,,,,perk comes close to being very good, but then ruins it being sooo dumb, basic dumb too, shaq open at the free throw line, power in alone for a dunk, oh come on...what happened to power perk, dunking perk...wel, he always gets lost on D..he could follow  oneal jr for some reason....guess he just didn't move..the only other big breakdown was on Mo W.....how did he get to run THE WHOLE FLOOR alone to dunk, from the inbounds, where was everyone...? That alone got him juiced, should have gave HIM what cleve gave Rondo= whack....! Whackmo....! For you  PC gentle guys, a clean hard playoff style foul...just like shaq did to rondo.....TA was scoring pretty well, he needs more time earlier...PP will get less fouls, less tired, a nice 2 pronged lebron attack, an inside and an outside guy, well pp is both.....

[ScoobyDoo]

Glad to make you laugh Brendan, always a good thing. But true huh? If I'm Baby or Perk I'm putting someone on the floor after I see the shots Rondo takes. And not because I think the shots he took were necessarily flagrant by any means. However, i do beleive that whatever is good for Rondo is also "very good" for Mo or LeBron.

I agree with Looseball, it's all on Doc, 100%. Not the player's effort, that's on them. But not being cognizant of the fact or at least having the mental acuity to ponder the following "is it possible that my team looks like their feet are in the sand often times when the 3rd quarter starts? Might it be that they looked great in the first half and might be pacing themselves throught the 3rd trying to conserve for the 4th. Maybe they are doing it unconsciously because they are older now? Maybe it is because Ray and KG have logged almost record NBA minutes..?
Maybe I need to therefore help them help themselves by subbing a bit more early in the 3rd. Mix in some energy?

This is where it is absolutely on Doc, IMHO.

Bring in Shelden ( Not Rasheed) with Baby. Bring in Tony and Nate with Pierce or Ray ( you have to keep one of them out there and ideally Pierce for more rebouding in that line up.

Rondo can dominate this team. Channeling Doc....MUST-REST-RONDO. Preferably EARLIER IN THE GAME DOC, so THAT HE IS MORE FRESH FROM THE MID 3RD QUARTER THROUGH THE FINISH. Rest him at the end of the 1st and 2nd quarters and then early in the 3rd.

USE YOUR OTHER POINT GUARD. IF HE HAS LIMITS ON D, PUT HIM IN WITH TALLEN, PIERCE, KG AND PERK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

They should be able to MAKE UP FOR HIS SHORTCOMINGS ON D DOC...

ALSO DOC, YOU GET THE BENEFIT OF THE eNERGY OF NATE AND TA WITH PIERCE AND KG DOC!!!!!!

Then come back with RONDO, RAY, MARQUIS ON LEBRON, SHELDEN AND BABY.

DOC!!!! ....SHELDEN AND BABY ARE A GOOD MATCH UP FOR VAREJO AND HICKSON.

It's not that complicated DOC, BUT YOU MUST REALISE THIS ISN'T MIAMI AND YOU NEED TO USE SOME OF THE OTHER GUYS ON YOUR BENCH IN THIS SERIES TO MATCH THE DEPTH OF THE CAVS DOC...

OTHERWISE DOC, YOUR VETERANS WHO HAVE LOGGED 15, 14 AND 13 HARD SEASON WON'T HAVE THE JUICE DOWN THE STRETCH DOC!!!!

Go deep into our bench, keep the effort at level 10 for 48 by doing that, we blow the cavs out.  

[Meadowlark_Scal]

oh yea, do like mo w....after the foul you just did, whack the guy again, like he did to rondo...the ref won't call it...make it look like a follow thru...BBd needs to set a few "ceckup " pics, on MO, & Jamison...jamison was in love with KG's arms...always wanting to hold 'em..i almost forgot about that "extra" hit by mo on rondo...did you "PC" guys see that...?  maybe his arm was tired from the initial hard foul so he lowered it again on rondo......

[ScoobyDoo]

TP fanofgreen, when Rondo is in the game, I dont' want to see anyone else initiaitng the offense, ever. In fact I'd be very happy if Pierce never has the ball at the top of the key ever again in his career.

It's mind boogling, you have one of the best ball handlers/passer to ever play the game (and yes I think that is a fair assessment to say of Rondo) and I've got Paul Pierce running my offense? Paul Pierce? I lvoe Paul but he is far from being even a decent ball handler and passer.

He is more likley to get it stolen than make a play up there. If he wants it on the foul line let Rondo work the pick and switch and then let PP work his guy at the foul line, that's actually a good play because Rondo sets PP up exactly where he needs it.

Also, TP to indeedproceed, you have guy like Varejo you look down your bench and ask, who's a good match up for that. Baby's energy is but not his length. Shelden is the obvious choice, Rasheed the worst possible choice.

[Meadowlark_Scal]

Dern scoobs i couldn't have said it better....that is right on.....I'd give ya a TP but we are neck-n-neck....i worked dern hard to get these crazy things.....!