So all of a sudden we forgot how to play defense?

[Spicoli]

Seriously? What is going on here?

[PosImpos]

Certainly seems like it, huh?

Rondo being a step slower and getting burned by Jameer Nelson certainly doesn't help.

The Hornets are having second thoughts about their offer to Thibs right now after tonight's performance, though.

[jbowen]

Tough to play defense when the whole team is in foul trouble 4 minutes into the game..

[pengaloo]

I feel bad for even thinking this, but it's creeping into my head that Thibs interviewing with the Hornets has been a distraction to the team.

[Spicoli]

Certainly seems like it, huh?

Rondo being a step slower and getting burned by Jameer Nelson certainly doesn't help.

The Hornets are having second thoughts about their offer to Thibs right now after tonight's performance, though.

They would have to be. Thibs is a good defensive coach, but where are the adjustments? The Magic adjusted their game plan, and are now shredding our defense. Thibs stock has to be falling after these last two games. All we would need to win this series, is 1 **** game of defense. I can't believe i'm even having this kind of discussion after the kind of defense i witnessed in the first 3 games.

[Spicoli]

Tough to play defense when the whole team is in foul trouble 4 minutes into the game..

The foul trouble was absurd, but our guys are scrambling out there. They can't even stay in front of JJ **** Reddick!

[get_banners]

to be fair, our defense is predicated on us being physical. we weren't allowed to be physical tonight at all. game 4, yes, poor execution overall (it happens), but we still did a decent job. oh, and rondo is clearly not 100%. he's a step slow. those cramps and hamstring issues are definitely affecting him. the illegal screens he's trying to fight through that never get called don't help matters.

[PosImpos]

Certainly seems like it, huh?

Rondo being a step slower and getting burned by Jameer Nelson certainly doesn't help.

The Hornets are having second thoughts about their offer to Thibs right now after tonight's performance, though.

I can't believe i'm even having this kind of discussion after the kind of defense i witnessed in the first 3 games.

Yeah, join the club.

[reggie35]

Donnnnaaaaaaggghhhyyy

[CoachBo]

I feel bad for even thinking this, but it's creeping into my head that Thibs interviewing with the Hornets has been a distraction to the team.

One of the legitimate questions that has to be on the table, all the tin foil refuse on this blog aside.

I'm watching this again, and the more I wade through this, the more I think Magic Johnson is right - the length of the series has caught up with us. Nelson is absolutely abusing Rondo off the dribble, Rondo is quitting on a bunch of screens on first contact, Pierce and Allen are a step late on every rotation and Garnett is being treated like a stick man inside.

I would absolutely shut this team down before Friday's game. No running, no shooting, nothing except brain work. Especially Rondo. I have my doubts that he's healthy, but in a weird way I hope he does have a minor injury. Because if he doesn't, his performance the last two nights becomes even more worrisome.

Here's the bottom line: As with Monday, Orlando played harder, with more focus and more intensity. While I'd love to stick an elbow in the top of Eddie Rush's head, he didn't cost us this game.

What's worrisome is whether we can recapture the defense of the first three games. That will depend, almost entirely, I fear, on how healthy we are.

If we cannot, Orlando is going to win the series.

[Spicoli]

I feel bad for even thinking this, but it's creeping into my head that Thibs interviewing with the Hornets has been a distraction to the team.

One of the legitimate questions that has to be on the table, all the tin foil refuse on this blog aside.

I'm watching this again, and the more I wade through this, the more I think Magic Johnson is right - the length of the series has caught up with us. Nelson is absolutely abusing Rondo off the dribble, Rondo is quitting on a bunch of screens on first contact, Pierce and Allen are a step late on every rotation and Garnett is being treated like a stick man inside.

Here's the bottom line: As with Monday, Orlando played harder, with more focus and more intensity. While I'd love to stick an elbow in the top of Eddie Rush's head, he didn't cost us this game.

What's worrisome is whether we can recapture the defense of the first three games. That will depend, almost entirely, I fear, on how healthy we are.

Even if we were healthy, the defense from the first 3 games compared to these last two are like night and day. Now there's 3 point shooters standing WIDE OPEN behind the arc, we're collapsing on guys who get into the paint but don't have a chance in the world of making a layup (JJ Redick), the rebounding is bad, everything is just bad! Health is a huge thing, but this is not Celtic defense that they're playing out there. The Magic are having their way with us.

[CoachBo]

Oh, I agree. I can't honestly recall ever seeing the level of any team's play that I was associated with deteriorate this much this rapidly.

There are any number of possible explanations, including effort and focus. But what there's no doubt about is that we will not win another game this year defending like this.

Rivers and Thibs have got to develop a solution. In a hurry.

I just ran past Rondo giving up twice on screens - when he ran into Davis blitzing before he got to the screens.

Since I played the point, I have a tendency to be pretty hard on the point guard so I'll leave it at this: I am very concerned about the precipitous drop-off in Rondo's play this week

[twinbree]

The slip in the defense the past 2 games is startling. It can't be all about the adjustments the Magic made. They just looked a step slow to everything on Monday even before the foul troubles started and tonight was even worse. I think the lack of practice time could be a factor because Doc always talks about them needing practice to work on the slippage.

Perk we know isn't a 100% but now Rondo and KG don't look too good either and those are our most important defenders in this series right there.

I feel bad for even thinking this, but it's creeping into my head that Thibs interviewing with the Hornets has been a distraction to the team.

Didn't we give up 120 points to the Cavs the last time he went for interviews?

[CoachBo]

To be honest with you, I'm not inclined to think injuries are at issue here - especially since our execution on both ends of the floor was so bad Monday night, even before these issues arose.

Everyone's nicked up.

Really, the only meaningful adjustment the Magic has made is to get serious about setting good screens - and no, they're not illegal. I'm to the 4th quarter and I've seen a whopping total of one that I didn't like - to get Rondo off the ball. Tonight, Rondo was all too willing to be knocked off the ball, for whatever reason.

Orlando's execution on both ends of the floor has improved while ours has gone in the dumpster. It's a recipe for diaster.

[Change]

First of all, all of Rashard Lewis picks are illegal.

The defense isn't broken. Jameer presents major problems for the Celtics. The difference between Cavs and Magic series, the main ball handler for Magic can shoot. Instead of going under the picks where it'd be much easier, Rondo is forced to go over the pick because of Jameer's ability to shoot. That allows Jameer to penetrates inside & break down the defense. And if you give him that shot, dude is deadly from the outside. Right now, Celtics aren't taking anything away from Jameer. He's getting wide open shots, and is able to break down the defense.