A real problem

[Kenhov]

I have seen it and a few other have as well. It was shown even in Game 3 when Paul pushed Rondo aside when he wanted to bring up the ball himself.

It was seen even in giving props to Rondo on the dive and rescue and score scenario which will be replayed ad infinitum. Paul P referred to himself even in giving praise. It had to be about him.

Paul Pierce is having major issues with Rondos new stardom and the media focus on him.

In fact one thing that did make me cringe was the separation of the Big 3 on the halftime show on ESPN.

Its no longer a Big 3, but a Big 4 ! WHy wasnt Rondo there with them ? Why were they representing themselves as the 'important' entity within the team at a time when Rondo was taking hold of the team. Doesnt anyone see what that can do to the psyche of someone who can say, look I played the support role when you all were everything, why cant you now do the same for me.

Even the subliminal matter of Paul Pierce in the interviews speaking first, gives off all kind of red flags. The 'this is still my team' red flags. Mix that in with his posturing after game three etc, and we have a real problem.

Paul needs to be bottled and someone needs to tell him to let Rondo have the stage, and be one of the supporting actors. Dont just say you will, do it !

I am not saying that all of this affected Rondo, but he senses it. He let PaulP take over much of the decisions because he knows Paul P is going through his own internal crisis of importance. Now its time for PP to recognise and let go.

[celticinorlando]

pierce wanted to be hero in the 4th quarter and OT...and he was too gassed to do it...and it cost boston.

[Roy Hobbs]

Last night, Rondo didn't deserve the stage.  He played very poorly.  That's not Paul's fault.

I agree generally that focus should be taken off the "big three", and should be placed on the team as a whole (or, if it needs to be segregated, on the "big four".)  However, I think overall the team has done a fantastic job in these playoffs of getting everyone opportunities when they're playing well.

There did seem to be some tension between Rondo and Pierce at points in last nights game, which is unfortunate.  However, I'm sure it will be smoothed over, if it exists in the first place.  What we need is Rondo to play like he normally does in Game 5.  If that happens, all wounds will be healed.

[Bankshot]

pierce wanted to be hero in the 4th quarter and OT...and he was too gassed to do it...and it cost boston.

Yep.  But that's not the reason we lost.  The reason we lost was because no one except for Pierce, Baby and Ray (at the end) showed up to play.  And the biggest reason is our floor general had his worst game of these playoffs.  People need to look at what the others didn't do rather than blame Paul, who had 34 points and 11 rebounds.

Perk, 3 points 4 rebs
Wallace, 4 points 3 reb
Rondo 9 points
TA 2 points

and KG's technical foul and turnover

I look to all these reasons before I even get to Paul.

[celticinorlando]

i don't blame paul...but he was trying to do a ton of one-on-five basketball in the late stages of the game. the ball just stopped in his hands. there are a ton of play we can point to that lost it for boston...but the bottom line is the defense was bad in the first half and it cost boston.

[Mr October]

The real problem is that the Celtics lost their focus for a game. A "B" game is not going to get it done. Then the Celtics each tried to do it themselves.

I expect to see the Celtics of games 1-3, tomorrow night. The defense will be more intense.

[jdpapa3]

I think there's a decent chance he was about to pass it to Ray on that last play, but lost control of the ball. And I have trouble blaming him at all when he basically got us to the point of being in the game at the end.

[Birdbrain]

I have seen it and a few other have as well. It was shown even in Game 3 when Paul pushed Rondo aside when he wanted to bring up the ball himself.

It was seen even in giving props to Rondo on the dive and rescue and score scenario which will be replayed ad infinitum. Paul P referred to himself even in giving praise. It had to be about him.

Paul Pierce is having major issues with Rondos new stardom and the media focus on him.

In fact one thing that did make me cringe was the separation of the Big 3 on the halftime show on ESPN.

Its no longer a Big 3, but a Big 4 ! WHy wasnt Rondo there with them ? Why were they representing themselves as the 'important' entity within the team at a time when Rondo was taking hold of the team. Doesnt anyone see what that can do to the psyche of someone who can say, look I played the support role when you all were everything, why cant you now do the same for me.

Even the subliminal matter of Paul Pierce in the interviews speaking first, gives off all kind of red flags. The 'this is still my team' red flags. Mix that in with his posturing after game three etc, and we have a real problem.

Paul needs to be bottled and someone needs to tell him to let Rondo have the stage, and be one of the supporting actors. Dont just say you will, do it !

I am not saying that all of this affected Rondo, but he senses it. He let PaulP take over much of the decisions because he knows Paul P is going through his own internal crisis of importance. Now its time for PP to recognise and let go.

Jackie was the i-n-t-e-r-v-i-e-w-e-r.  She makes the call as to who she i-n-t-e-r-v-i-e-w-s. 

It is Paul's team and will be until he retires or gets traded.  Also Rondo played poorly last night.  Maybe it had something to do with him being injured.

' red flags ' = Red Sox nation. : (

Where was this post yesterday?

[Prof. Clutch]

I think the biggest problem right now is that Tony's ankle is hurting him to the point where they thought he wasn't going to be able to play in game 3 and Rondo had problems with back spasms in the last game.

Those two and their constant aggressive play are key to the celtics success right now.

[vinnie]

I think the biggest problem right now is that Tony's ankle is hurting him to the point where they thought he wasn't going to be able to play in game 3 and Rondo had problems with back spasms in the last game.

Those two and their constant aggressive play are key to the celtics success right now.

Rondo had muscle spasms in his leg, not back, from everything I have heard and read. Tony looed fine, physcially, and like the old Tony, mentally.

[Prof. Clutch]

I think the biggest problem right now is that Tony's ankle is hurting him to the point where they thought he wasn't going to be able to play in game 3 and Rondo had problems with back spasms in the last game.

Those two and their constant aggressive play are key to the celtics success right now.

Rondo had muscle spasms in his leg, not back, from everything I have heard and read. Tony looed fine, physcially, and like the old Tony, mentally.

Oh, I read here it was back spasms but you may be right:

He scored 9 points and dished out 8 assists in 43 minutes of playing time, and left the court a minute before halftime to go to the locker room with what the team said were back spasms.

http://www.boston.com/sports/basketball/celtics/extras/celtics_blog/

Tony has seemed noticeably less aggressive to me on both ends of the floor in the last two games.  From the same article:

Celtics guard Tony Allen said he injured his ankle during Game 2. He was limited to 18 minutes in Game 3.
"I think it definitely effected him in Game 3," said Rivers. "He didn't practice that whole time off."

It was so severe they had Nate Robinson practicing with the second unit the last few days since they thought Tony wasn't going to be able to play.

[housecall]

If you believe in body language,take a look at the end of game#3,KG was giving high fives after the victory to all the players...if looks could kill KG would be a dead man when he approached Rondo to give him a high five.His facial expressions,eyes was the look of a person who was peeved,unhappy,or dissatisfied but not the look of being glad they won.As i say,its only an observation of body language,no facts.Any one else notice it?

[SalmonAndMashedPotatoes]

If you believe in body language,take a look at the end of game#3,KG was giving high fives after the victory to all the players...if looks could kill KG would be a dead man when he approached Rondo to give him a high five.His facial expressions,eyes was the look of a person who was peeved,unhappy,or dissatisfied but not the look of being glad they won.As i say,its only an observation of body language,no facts.Any one else notice it?

Rondo had that expression for the entire 4th quarter.  It didn't have anything to do with KG.  To me, Rondo either looked angry about something that happened on the court (there were some sloppy possessiosn and missed free throws from him before he finally left the game), or he was somewhat in pain from an injury.  Who knows?  Rondo, out of any Celtic, is probably the hardest one to read.  

[celticinorlando]

i think the early fouls hurt rondo the most. this was the first time in the playoffs where he had to sit b/c of fouls. and doc went way too long with finley on the court...as well as PP....PP played most of the first half and it caught him in the end.

rondo needs to attack

[Chris]

pierce wanted to be hero in the 4th quarter and OT...and he was too gassed to do it...and it cost boston.

Unfortunately, I don't think Pierce had much of a choice last night.  Rondo was completely useless.  He could not get any separation to get to the hoop, which meant the best you could hope for him, given the way the defense was playing the passing lanes was launching up a long distance shot. 

Don't get me wrong, I hated Pierce's play at the end of the game, but given the way Rondo was playing, and the way they were blanketing and denying Ray, a Pierce ISO was the right call.  He just needed to execute better.

Hopefully, Rondo wakes up (or gets healthy) for next game.