Reasons for Optimism after Game 1

[banty19]

I wouldn't guarantee a Celtic comeback but there are a lot of signs that they played unusually bad. Based on the law of averages, some of this stuff should improve.

1. They shot 1-10 from 3 point range.

They've been the best 3 point shooting team in the playoffs. This will improve.

2. Ray Allen played 27 minutes due to foul trouble.

Having him out stunted the offense since defenders could play off Tony.

3. KG could have played better.

Outside of his 4 rebounds, his stats were actually pretty solid but we all know it wasn't his best game. I don't see how he'll play much worse.

4. The Celtics got abused on the boards.

I don't see them winning this battle, but once again, Pau's not going to get 8 offensive rebounds again. I guarantee that.

[hpantazo]

we let the lakers drive to the hoop at will and manhandle us on the boards, and were still within striking distance most of the way. If we can improve on both issues, even moderately, we will easily win. How can a team built on defense come out so poorly in a finals game? Unfortunately this celtics team constantly needs to be pushed to play hard, and I hope this was enough to push them.

[Rashi]

Hmm am usually not the type to cry doom-gloom through my posts once we lose a game, but I will be very honest about one thing.

That insane 47-0 (or w/e the record is) of Phil when his team is 1-0 in a series is really making me nervous.

For some reason C's did not show up the way they should have and it hurt us bad.

No one (except for mayb Pierce) brought their A game last night. It was a torture watching Pau pawn KG, Ray sitting on the bench hurt us the worst and Rondo just didn't seem to have the same energy that he usually brings.

We need to beat the Lakers in the battle of the boards and need to increase our speed. Once we get the rebound these guys need to run and get ourselves offensively set before Lakers get themselves defensively set on us.

Rebounding and TO was my main concern after Game 1...we need to fix that, and the starters really need to step it up and bring their ace game on Sunday.

Game 2 (at least for me) is a MUST WIN.

Go C's !!

[Greenbean]

Like De La Soul I'm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50NV0UX1hiM


This team has the mental toughness, coaching, talent, and passion to overcome much greater odds than being down 0-1. We played bad, LA played pretty good.


The 4th quarter was much better IMO and that's because Ray played. Give them credit for taking us out of our game early but if the rest of the series is played at the pace of last night, we will win...easily.

We couldn't have played much worse. Really.

KG has too much pride not to rebound huge in game 2. I saw broken confidence, not broken health last night. His timing was off on everything. I saw him sprinting and jumping fine.

The offense had no rythm because LA was crashing the offensive glass. Even when LA didnt get the boards it totally disrupted outlet passes to Rondo.

We will adjust. We will come back harder and more phjysical. We will not lose.

[libermaniac]

To me, it seemed like a lack of 110% effort, that's it.  That can easily be corrected.  Not to say that beating the Lakers is a gimme, but C's not outclassed in this one.

[hpantazo]

Like De La Soul I'm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=50NV0UX1hiM


This team has the mental toughness, coaching, talent, and passion to overcome much greater odds than being down 0-1. We played bad, LA played pretty good.


The 4th quarter was much better IMO and that's because Ray played. Give them credit for taking us out of our game early but if the rest of the series is played at the pace of last night, we will win...easily.

We couldn't have played much worse. Really.

KG has too much pride not to rebound huge in game 2. I saw broken confidence, not broken health last night. His timing was off on everything. I saw him sprinting and jumping fine.

The offense had no rythm because LA was crashing the offensive glass. Even when LA didnt get the boards it totally disrupted outlet passes to Rondo.

We will adjust. We will come back harder and more phjysical. We will not lose.

His timing was totally off. He jumped up for a rebound before the ball reached the rim on one play, he threw an outlet pass into the fifth row on another, and as for the infamous missed layups in the 4th, he looked like he was expecting someone to be there and bobbled the ball. The entire team looked out of synch last night except for Wallace, he negated his positive effort by picking up a needless tech. Ray and Tony barely got to stay on the floor, Perk played better offensively but was lost on the boards, and most importantly, they let the lakers go to the basket all night. I just hope they all play together in game 2 instead of each guy looking to get payback on his own.

[wdleehi]

The only reason to be optimistic after game one is the previous playoff series. 


Boston laid at least one egg in each.

[angryguy77]

People need to rememeber that LA jsut didn't miss either. Of course our D didn't help matters, but it seemed like everything they threw up went in, much like game 3 of the cavs series. I don't expect that to happen again. To me that unreal shooting is why we lost. No way in hell they do that again.

 
I do expect a better effort from our d and a looser called game on sunday. We just need to get a split and things will change dramaticaly in this series.

No need to panic, this  team didn't just change over night. Whenever this starting 5 has needed a win, they get it.

We are the better team, we beat better teams than LA to get here and that will show over the course of the series.

[Mr October]

I wouldn't guarantee a Celtic comeback but there are a lot of signs that they played unusually bad. Based on the law of averages, some of this stuff should improve.

1. They shot 1-10 from 3 point range.

They've been the best 3 point shooting team in the playoffs. This will improve.

2. Ray Allen played 27 minutes due to foul trouble.

Having him out stunted the offense since defenders could play off Tony.

3. KG could have played better.

Outside of his 4 rebounds, his stats were actually pretty solid but we all know it wasn't his best game. I don't see how he'll play much worse.

4. The Celtics got abused on the boards.

I don't see them winning this battle, but once again, Pau's not going to get 8 offensive rebounds again. I guarantee that.

TP. The Celtics have plenty of room to improve on the results of game 1. I expect to hold our own on the boards and take game 2.

[Hoops]

Everyone played like they were on anti-depressants last night. They all seemed like numb zombies out there. I guess they played hard, but there was no electricity, no fire, no passion, no extra spring in the step. This problem seems entirely curable, although it's far from guaranteed.

[K.J.]

5. We only need to win the next game to claim home court advantage.

[BostonIrishGuy]

we let the lakers drive to the hoop at will and manhandle us on the boards, and were still within striking distance most of the way. If we can improve on both issues, even moderately, we will easily win. How can a team built on defense come out so poorly in a finals game? Unfortunately this celtics team constantly needs to be pushed to play hard, and I hope this was enough to push them.

Look I'm just as big a C's fan/Laker hater as you, but there will be NOTHING EASY about this series. Wake up and smell the coffee. The Celts will need to hustle and play hard for 48 minutes and even then I don't see the Lakers backing down one bit. Make no mistake, this will be a dogfit....there won't be any games where we win "easily" as you say. GO C's

[hpantazo]

we let the lakers drive to the hoop at will and manhandle us on the boards, and were still within striking distance most of the way. If we can improve on both issues, even moderately, we will easily win. How can a team built on defense come out so poorly in a finals game? Unfortunately this celtics team constantly needs to be pushed to play hard, and I hope this was enough to push them.

Look I'm just as big a C's fan/Laker hater as you, but there will be NOTHING EASY about this series. Wake up and smell the coffee. The Celts will need to hustle and play hard for 48 minutes and even then I don't see the Lakers backing down one bit. Make no mistake, this will be a dogfit....there won't be any games where we win "easily" as you say. GO C's

I apologize, I didn't mean without effort, I meant we will win by double digits, but we have to play hard 48 minutes/game

[TitleMaster]

Odom has shown up so yeah, it'll be a dog fight till the end. Let's keep the pressure on.

[Q_FBE]

Well, we got our one bad game out of the way.