3 Dumb Plays

[EJPLAYA]

There were 3 very bad choices made in the last 3 minutes of the game that almost cost us that one.

1 and 2- Rondo's poor decision to go to the basket early in the shot clock and come away without even a reasonable shot attempt. He's got to be smarter than that. Up 13 you can't make those plays.

3- Ray choosing to drive it all the way in with under 2 min remaining. That resulted in the jump ball from Rondo which we lost and they go down and score again.

Great 3 quarters of basketball by the Celtics, but we slipped back into our bad habit of playing poorly in the 4th. You might get away with that up 20 during the 3rd, but that won't likely happen again. Come on guys. Play smart basketball all the way through and you can keep in their heads. Let's take the second one!

[BudweiserCeltic]

Sorry, but what Ray did wasn't a dumb play. It was unfortunate. Single coverage on a fastbreak you go hard to the basket.

[PosImpos]

I think Rondo was frustrated and wanted to assert himself as an important member of the team late in the game (he was having a kind of mediocre game, getting outplayed by Nelson).  He needs to be smarter than that.

[fairweatherfan]

Sorry, but what Ray did wasn't a dumb play. It was unfortunate. Single coverage on a fastbreak you go hard to the basket.

I agree - Ray's idea wasn't dumb with only Nelson on him, but he executed it poorly. 

Rondo was trying to force a lot down the stretch...some things worked and some didn't, but he has to cut down on the low % plays going forward.

[Tai]

Sorry, but what Ray did wasn't a dumb play. It was unfortunate. Single coverage on a fastbreak you go hard to the basket.

Agreed. It was Redick, not Howard. Ball doesn't go off Ray's foot, and an And 1 was very possible, but worst case scenario after losing the ball is Ray Allen being fouled.

We can live with Ray Allen being fouled, right guys?

[Fafnir]

Sorry, but what Ray did wasn't a dumb play. It was unfortunate. Single coverage on a fastbreak you go hard to the basket.

I agree on this one, Ray was making a good play. You just have to execute when you drive like that.

I didn't like Rondo's decisions for the most part late in the game, the Magic did a much better job of taking away our best options on offense.

Still a win is a win.

[nickagneta]

Gotta completely disagree. Your on a scoring skid and nothing is going down, take it to the basket. Play your offense not the clock. Be aggressive, go for the lane and contact. I had no problem with any of those three plays. All excellent aggressive basketball.

Sometimes you just have to tip your hat to the other side for doing a great job and Reddick and Howard defensively sparked that team that led to eventual offense because they held the C's at bay so long.

[Roy Hobbs]

Sorry, but what Ray did wasn't a dumb play. It was unfortunate. Single coverage on a fastbreak you go hard to the basket.

Agreed.  I think Rondo made some poor decisions -- this is one of the times when the ball would have been better left in Paul's hands, I think -- but the Ray play was fine.

[Drucci]

Sorry, but what Ray did wasn't a dumb play. It was unfortunate. Single coverage on a fastbreak you go hard to the basket.

Agreed.  I think Rondo made some poor decisions -- this is one of the times when the ball would have been better left in Paul's hands, I think -- but the Ray play was fine.

Yep, Ray lost the ball but it was a good decision.

Rondo on the other hand disappointed me with his decision making, poor shots and clock management late in the game. He had a solid game overall and did a good job defensively (except to start the 3rd) but it wasn't one of the nights where you feel you can't lose the game because Rondo is controling the game. Hopefully he bounces back in game 2, but the important thing is that we got the win anyway.

[pengaloo]

Rondo needs more rest. He played 46 minutes today but the last 12 minutes were full of bad decisions and slow play. You can tell that Rondo's tired when he couldn't even win a jump ball against Redick.

[Frezz]

I think you missed the dumbest play of all. With 6 or 7 minutes left Rondo inexplicably doubled Dwight Howard and Dwight quickly found Jason Williams for a three, and that's what started that whole fourth quarter near collapse. Just no reason for that, your plan for single coverage was working all game.

[nickagneta]

I think you missed the dumbest play of all. With 6 or 7 minutes left Rondo inexplicably doubled Dwight Howard and Dwight quickly found Jason Williams for a three, and that's what started that whole fourth quarter near collapse. Just no reason for that, your plan for single coverage was working all game.

That I will agree was a bad play, though it might have been designed out of the time out as a way to show Howard a different look and steal a turnover. Can't tell. It almost seemed scripted.

[BudweiserCeltic]

What I didn't like was the play called out of a time out in a 4th quarter which was a quick 3 with Ray coming off a screen. That's just a dumb play to call in that situation.

[tenn_smoothie]

you would think a vet team would eventually learn - but sometimes, you are what you are.

if Rondo is now the alpha dog - he may feel more freedom to try to make those plays in the 4th quarter - but he cannot confuse "leader" with "i can take any shot i please, no matter how bad it might be."

[celtics2]

Sorry, but what Ray did wasn't a dumb play. It was unfortunate. Single coverage on a fastbreak you go hard to the basket.

The Celts just have too much Fire Power for Orlando and should win another Ring. I don't see 4 starters equivalent to what we have. Pierce, Allen, Garnett and Rondo all capable of picking the others up when needed. Playoffs are half court games for the most part. Right up our alley.