I'm Encouraged (V.4)

[Bahku]

Urged on by requests, I'm back with another version of ultimate optimist propaganda. Seems like each time I do this, the reasoning is a bit more simple than the one before, and this is no exception. The principle reason I'm encouraged for Game 5? The offense in game 4, or I should say, the lack of it.

The defense was great overall in Game 4 ... yes, there were short periods where our pressure lapsed, but for the most part, we played our game on the defensive end of the floor ... and that's why we won. Offensively we were also great at running plays and getting good shots for our players, but the shots just were not going through the net.

While our overall field-goal percentage for the game ended up at 44.6%, it was only raised to that level by the last-quarter efforts of the bench, primarily. Up through the entire third quarter, our field-goal percentage was absolutely atrocious, along with our tres' which ended up at 25% overall. For most of the game, the FG% was around 33%, and it doesn't matter who you play, that's just not going to get it done, (and especially against a team like Los Angeles in the Finals).

It's amazing to me that we won that game at all with the kind of shooting we displayed, and that's why I'm so encouraged. The Lakers played a much better game overall, especially with their defensive pressure, our field-goal shooting was absolutely horrible overall, and yet we still won rather convincingly in the fourth quarter. Our bench was awesome, and not only sustained the pressure, but actually increased our lead, so that when the starters came back in, they put the hammer down.

It's obvious now that we have the Lakers' number with our defense, especially with a limited, (or absent), Bynum, and all we have to do is continue that intensity on the defensive end, and increase our shooting percentage to something respectable. If we had shot closer to 50% for the game, and say 35% for threes, Game 4 would have been a huge blowout. I think that's exactly what's going to happen on Sunday ... we're due for a good game.

It's been a while since we've really had a great game where we played the way we wanted to from start to finish, with defense stifling and offense flowing, and I have a feeling that Sunday will be the game where we put it all together, and if we do, the Lakers are going to be embarrassed once again, and taught a lesson in how basketball should be played at it's highest level, and ceremoniously blown out of the building.

Yup, I really like our chances in this one, and I like the momentum from such a game that will carry us into our return to the Staples Center.

Go Celtics!

[LB3533]

I am encouraged because Game 4 re-confirmed my belief that Pierce wasn't AWOL in this Finals.

Paul's always been here and has the tools to have a big finish.

The bench, as great as they were in Game 4 to close it that game out....I am not expecting a duplicate performance.

Stars need to play like stars and that's how we will win.

[GreenFaith1819]

Nice Post once again, Bahku!

I'm Super Encouraged. My local newspaper had a very nice (And Thought-Provoking) article on The Rivalry.

The Virginia-Pilot stated how Almost 23 years ago (1987) from last night, our Boston Celtics played LA in a game 4 match-up in the Garden. With a few secs left, Magic takes the inbounds pass and proceeds to dribble near the foul line and put up a seldom-used baby hook shot over the long arms of McHale and Parish.

The shot goes in, and then Larry missed a shot with 2 secs remaining. LA wins that game to go up 3-1. Boston would eventually tie the series 3-3, but lose in seven.

My point? Well, we certainly broke ranks with 1987 with our win last night. Series tied 2-2, vice LA going up 3-1, like 1987. Sure we have to win against a very determined LA squad on Father's Day, but I love our Opportunity.

Go up 3-2, and then go into the belly of the beast and Slay the Dragon from within, I say.

[Bahku]

Nice Post once again, Bahku!

I'm Super Encouraged. My local newspaper had a very nice (And Thought-Provoking) article on The Rivalry.

The Virginia-Pilot stated how Almost 23 years ago (1987) from last night, our Boston Celtics played LA in a game 4 match-up in the Garden. With a few secs left, Magic takes the inbounds pass and proceeds to dribble near the foul line and put up a seldom-used baby hook shot over the long arms of McHale and Parish.

The shot goes in, and then Larry missed a shot with 2 secs remaining. LA wins that game to go up 3-1. Boston would eventually tie the series 3-3, but lose in seven.

My point? Well, we certainly broke ranks with 1987 with our win last night. Series tied 2-2, vice LA going up 3-1, like 1987. Sure we have to win against a very determined LA squad on Father's Day, but I love our Opportunity.

Go up 3-2, and then go into the belly of the beast and Slay the Dragon from within, I say.

I remember that game ... and I agree. I really want to go back to LA up a game, then we have two chances to get it done, and yet still with the "underdog" position. I think whatever happens, most of the expectations are on the shoulders of LA, and not having played our best ball yet, that makes for a great "go-for-it" atmosphere ... and with Roy's TP donations thread, no WAY can we go wrong! The team sacrifices for us, so we will sacrifice for them ... it would be cool if they got wind of it somehow. Great post, GF! (TP)

[GreenFaith1819]

Nice Post once again, Bahku!

I'm Super Encouraged. My local newspaper had a very nice (And Thought-Provoking) article on The Rivalry.

The Virginia-Pilot stated how Almost 23 years ago (1987) from last night, our Boston Celtics played LA in a game 4 match-up in the Garden. With a few secs left, Magic takes the inbounds pass and proceeds to dribble near the foul line and put up a seldom-used baby hook shot over the long arms of McHale and Parish.

The shot goes in, and then Larry missed a shot with 2 secs remaining. LA wins that game to go up 3-1. Boston would eventually tie the series 3-3, but lose in seven.

My point? Well, we certainly broke ranks with 1987 with our win last night. Series tied 2-2, vice LA going up 3-1, like 1987. Sure we have to win against a very determined LA squad on Father's Day, but I love our Opportunity.

Go up 3-2, and then go into the belly of the beast and Slay the Dragon from within, I say.

I remember that game ... and I agree. I really want to go back to LA up a game, then we have two chances to get it done, and yet still with the "underdog" position. I think whatever happens, most of the expectations are on the shoulders of LA, and not having played our best ball yet, that makes for a great "go-for-it" atmosphere ... and with Roy's TP donations thread, no WAY can we go wrong! The team sacrifices for us, so we will sacrifice for them ... it would be cool if they got wind of it somehow. Great post, GF! (TP)

Thanks, Man.

I remember that game vividly, too - I think that my collective Dislike for LA reached a summit with that shot going in like that.

I saw Magic go right at McHale and Parish, for crying out loud .....all I could envision was either of those two sending it back in Magic's face. But it didn't happen.

I was so pumped after last night's game, and then I read that article and it really got me to thinking about what The Boston Celtics are fixin' to accomplish here.....

[jimmehx]

Great post again Bahku. TP.

I'm encouraged too. I was almost demoralised when we went down ~7 towards the end of the 2nd Q and my confidence faltered. I didn't think the starters had the shots in them and I didn't think the bench would see any pt down the stretch.

But with some incredible coaching and some even better "hustle", we pulled this one out and I am VERY encouraged with the momentum we're taking into Game 5.

It's going to be absolutely electric in there and I know the Cs are going to be looser but still giving it their all. I can't wait!

[tenn_smoothie]

yeah Green Faith - i remember that nightmare game 4 in 1987 - but your memory is a little hazy ............. the Celts had a double-digit lead going into the 4th qtr. there and turnovers killed us down the stretch. also Bird had just hit an amazing 3-pointer from the corner to put the Celts up before we foul the Lakers only to have them miss the 2nd free throw and then the disaster -McHale loses an easy foul shot rebound off his hands out of bounds, which led to Johnson's shot that they will never stop playing on tv. i drove around knoxville for a couple of hours in the middle of the night after that loss - maybe the most painful of my career as a Celtics fan since the 60's (though game 7 at home in the eastern finals in 1973 to the Knicks is right up there.)

that nite, the Celts went down 3-1 in the series. they came back and won game 5 with a very solid effort, but did not tie the series at 3-3 as you remember. we went back to LA and lost game 6 along with the title. very bad memories.

[GreenFaith1819]

yeah Green Faith - i remember that nightmare game 4 in 1987 - but your memory is a little hazy ............. the Celts had a double-digit lead going into the 4th qtr. there and turnovers killed us down the stretch. also Bird had just hit an amazing 3-pointer from the corner to put the Celts up before we foul the Lakers only to have them miss the 2nd free throw and then the disaster -McHale loses an easy foul shot rebound off his hands out of bounds, which led to Johnson's shot that they will never stop playing on tv. i drove around knoxville for a couple of hours in the middle of the night after that loss - maybe the most painful of my career as a Celtics fan since the 60's (though game 7 at home in the eastern finals in 1973 to the Knicks is right up there.)

that nite, the Celts went down 3-1 in the series. they came back and won game 5 with a very solid game, but did not tie the series at 3-3 as you remember. we went back to LA and lost game 6 along with the title. very bad memories.

Ah - Thanks for the correction, Man. All I remember is that Baby Hook going in....that thing stays with me to this day. Thanks for clearing it up for me.

[tenn_smoothie]

Urged on by requests, I'm back with another version of ultimate optimist propaganda. Seems like each time I do this, the reasoning is a bit more simple than the one before, and this is no exception. The principle reason I'm encouraged for Game 5? The offense in game 4, or I should say, the lack of it.

The defense was great overall in Game 4 ... yes, there were short periods where our pressure lapsed, but for the most part, we played our game on the defensive end of the floor ... and that's why we won. Offensively we were also great at running plays and getting good shots for our players, but the shots just were not going through the net.

While our overall field-goal percentage for the game ended up at 44.6%, it was only raised to that level by the last-quarter efforts of the bench, primarily. Up through the entire third quarter, our field-goal percentage was absolutely atrocious, along with our tres' which ended up at 25% overall. For most of the game, the FG% was around 33%, and it doesn't matter who you play, that's just not going to get it done, (and especially against a team like Los Angeles in the Finals).

It's amazing to me that we won that game at all with the kind of shooting we displayed, and that's why I'm so encouraged. The Lakers played a much better game overall, especially with their defensive pressure, our field-goal shooting was absolutely horrible overall, and yet we still won rather convincingly in the fourth quarter. Our bench was awesome, and not only sustained the pressure, but actually increased our lead, so that when the starters came back in, they put the hammer down.

It's obvious now that we have the Lakers' number with our defense, especially with a limited, (or absent), Bynum, and all we have to do is continue that intensity on the defensive end, and increase our shooting percentage to something respectable. If we had shot closer to 50% for the game, and say 35% for threes, Game 4 would have been a huge blowout. I think that's exactly what's going to happen on Sunday ... we're due for a good game.

It's been a while since we've really had a great game where we played the way we wanted to from start to finish, with defense stifling and offense flowing, and I have a feeling that Sunday will be the game where we put it all together, and if we do, the Lakers are going to be embarrassed once again, and taught a lesson in how basketball should be played at it's highest level, and ceremoniously blown out of the building.

Yup, I really like our chances in this one, and I like the momentum from such a game that will carry us into our return to the Staples Center.

Go Celtics!

Bahku - -a couple of points of discussion. your analysis is a good one ................ but i almost feel more concerned after last night's win than i did after the game 3 loss. why ?


because last nite's win took what impressed me as a super-human effort to get a 7-point win at home when the Lakers played good but not great. our offense is yet to click in this series and it simply may not happen.the Big 4 have not shown up offensively for the same game yet - in fact, only one out of the four has shown up offensively at a time in this series - is it the Laker defense or are we simply drained from having to beat cleveland & orlando to get here ?

unless we start getting easier baskets, we are just having to work too hard to keep pace with a Laker team that has Gasol and Bryant scoring consistently well every nite out so far.


on the other hand - the Celts went thru a very similar scenario back in 1984 when they barely stayed in the series with the Lakers thru the first 3 games until they gutted out one of their greatest wins of all time in that magical overtime game 4 win in los angeles, which turned the series around. the Celts came home and played a great game 5 which they won handily and then outplayed the lakers the rest of the way and won the title in 7 games.


i'm hoping that last nite's win turned the momentum of this series towards our Celts and we can maintain it all the way to #18..

[Bahku]

Urged on by requests, I'm back with another version of ultimate optimist propaganda. Seems like each time I do this, the reasoning is a bit more simple than the one before, and this is no exception. The principle reason I'm encouraged for Game 5? The offense in game 4, or I should say, the lack of it.

The defense was great overall in Game 4 ... yes, there were short periods where our pressure lapsed, but for the most part, we played our game on the defensive end of the floor ... and that's why we won. Offensively we were also great at running plays and getting good shots for our players, but the shots just were not going through the net.

While our overall field-goal percentage for the game ended up at 44.6%, it was only raised to that level by the last-quarter efforts of the bench, primarily. Up through the entire third quarter, our field-goal percentage was absolutely atrocious, along with our tres' which ended up at 25% overall. For most of the game, the FG% was around 33%, and it doesn't matter who you play, that's just not going to get it done, (and especially against a team like Los Angeles in the Finals).

It's amazing to me that we won that game at all with the kind of shooting we displayed, and that's why I'm so encouraged. The Lakers played a much better game overall, especially with their defensive pressure, our field-goal shooting was absolutely horrible overall, and yet we still won rather convincingly in the fourth quarter. Our bench was awesome, and not only sustained the pressure, but actually increased our lead, so that when the starters came back in, they put the hammer down.

It's obvious now that we have the Lakers' number with our defense, especially with a limited, (or absent), Bynum, and all we have to do is continue that intensity on the defensive end, and increase our shooting percentage to something respectable. If we had shot closer to 50% for the game, and say 35% for threes, Game 4 would have been a huge blowout. I think that's exactly what's going to happen on Sunday ... we're due for a good game.

It's been a while since we've really had a great game where we played the way we wanted to from start to finish, with defense stifling and offense flowing, and I have a feeling that Sunday will be the game where we put it all together, and if we do, the Lakers are going to be embarrassed once again, and taught a lesson in how basketball should be played at it's highest level, and ceremoniously blown out of the building.

Yup, I really like our chances in this one, and I like the momentum from such a game that will carry us into our return to the Staples Center.

Go Celtics!

Bahku - -a couple of points of discussion. your analysis is a good one ................ but i almost feel more concerned after last night's win than i did after the game 3 loss. why ?


because last nite's win took what impressed me as a super-human effort to get a 7-point win at home when the Lakers played good but not great. our offense is yet to click in this series and it simply may not happen.the Big 4 have not shown up offensively for the same game yet - in fact, only one out of the four has shown up offensively at a time in this series - is it the Laker defense or are those guys just drained from having to beat the two best teams from the regular season to get here ?

unless we start getting easier baskets, we are just having to work too [dang] hards to keep pace witht he Lakers who have Gasol and Bryant scoring consistently well every nite out so far.


on the other hand - the Celts went thru a very similar scenario back in 1984 when they barely stayed in the series with the Lakers thru the first 3 games until they gutted out one of their greatest wins of all time in that magical overtime game 4 win in los angeles, which turned the series around. the Celts came home and played a great game 5 which they won handily and then outplayed the lakers the rest of the way and won the title in 7 games.


i'm hyoping that last nite's win turned the momentum of this series to Boston and we can maintain it and win anther championship.

Exactly ... which is why I'm saying "they're due". They've yet to have a real good offensive game in this series, and I think they're about to. The problem last night was not in getting good looks or good shots, because they were, the problem was the ball going through the net. That's just an odds thing ... they're going to start dropping, and after last night's drought, the odds are in our favor. The fact that we shot so incredibly bad and still beat a great Lakers team, is why I'm so encouraged. I think we're going to have one of our "great" games on Sunday, and the Lakers will be on the receiving end.

[radiohead]

yeah Green Faith - i remember that nightmare game 4 in 1987 - but your memory is a little hazy ............. the Celts had a double-digit lead going into the 4th qtr. there and turnovers killed us down the stretch. also Bird had just hit an amazing 3-pointer from the corner to put the Celts up before we foul the Lakers only to have them miss the 2nd free throw and then the disaster -McHale loses an easy foul shot rebound off his hands out of bounds, which led to Johnson's shot that they will never stop playing on tv. i drove around knoxville for a couple of hours in the middle of the night after that loss - maybe the most painful of my career as a Celtics fan since the 60's (though game 7 at home in the eastern finals in 1973 to the Knicks is right up there.)

that nite, the Celts went down 3-1 in the series. they came back and won game 5 with a very solid effort, but did not tie the series at 3-3 as you remember. we went back to LA and lost game 6 along with the title. very bad memories.

Yup, The C's lost that one, 4-2. If i remember correctly, it was Danny Ainge who provided the spark in the game 5 blowout as he scored 5 or 6 threes in that game. It was also the last finals game ever at the original Boston Garden. Wow, 23 years ago? The memory of that Magic baby hook and Bird's miss from the corner is still very vivid in my mind. I really thought that Larry would nail that corner three.

[FallGuy]

I'm encouraged too. I was pretty disgusted at halftime last night. We just couldn't seem to hit a shot and seemed on the verge of going down 3-1 after two poor shooting nights. But then we had the magical fourth quarter.

I think there have been two key turning points in this series so far.

The first was Phil Jackson burning out an injured Andrew Bynum in the first three games of the series, limiting him for use in game four, and perhaps beyond.

The second was the fourth quarter last night, where our degenerate bench mob, filled with emotional unstables like Nate and Sheed, guys who can't shoot like TA, and guys who are undersized, like Baby - took it to the Lakers starters. I think that quarter was the first indication their will is breaking. Odom's a headcase, Jackson seems bewildered and overmatched against Doc, and Kobe is struggling to dominate games with anything but his great outside shooting. If they lose game five, I wonder if they'll wither.

We broke Orlando's spirit and we broke Cleveland's. I think L.A. is next.

[Yugocelt]

Urged on by requests, I'm back with another version of ultimate optimist propaganda. Seems like each time I do this, the reasoning is a bit more simple than the one before, and this is no exception. The principle reason I'm encouraged for Game 5? The offense in game 4, or I should say, the lack of it.

The defense was great overall in Game 4 ... yes, there were short periods where our pressure lapsed, but for the most part, we played our game on the defensive end of the floor ... and that's why we won. Offensively we were also great at running plays and getting good shots for our players, but the shots just were not going through the net.

While our overall field-goal percentage for the game ended up at 44.6%, it was only raised to that level by the last-quarter efforts of the bench, primarily. Up through the entire third quarter, our field-goal percentage was absolutely atrocious, along with our tres' which ended up at 25% overall. For most of the game, the FG% was around 33%, and it doesn't matter who you play, that's just not going to get it done, (and especially against a team like Los Angeles in the Finals).

It's amazing to me that we won that game at all with the kind of shooting we displayed, and that's why I'm so encouraged. The Lakers played a much better game overall, especially with their defensive pressure, our field-goal shooting was absolutely horrible overall, and yet we still won rather convincingly in the fourth quarter. Our bench was awesome, and not only sustained the pressure, but actually increased our lead, so that when the starters came back in, they put the hammer down.

It's obvious now that we have the Lakers' number with our defense, especially with a limited, (or absent), Bynum, and all we have to do is continue that intensity on the defensive end, and increase our shooting percentage to something respectable. If we had shot closer to 50% for the game, and say 35% for threes, Game 4 would have been a huge blowout. I think that's exactly what's going to happen on Sunday ... we're due for a good game.

It's been a while since we've really had a great game where we played the way we wanted to from start to finish, with defense stifling and offense flowing, and I have a feeling that Sunday will be the game where we put it all together, and if we do, the Lakers are going to be embarrassed once again, and taught a lesson in how basketball should be played at it's highest level, and ceremoniously blown out of the building.

Yup, I really like our chances in this one, and I like the momentum from such a game that will carry us into our return to the Staples Center.

Go Celtics!

Bahku - -a couple of points of discussion. your analysis is a good one ................ but i almost feel more concerned after last night's win than i did after the game 3 loss. why ?


because last nite's win took what impressed me as a super-human effort to get a 7-point win at home when the Lakers played good but not great. our offense is yet to click in this series and it simply may not happen.the Big 4 have not shown up offensively for the same game yet - in fact, only one out of the four has shown up offensively at a time in this series - is it the Laker defense or are those guys just drained from having to beat the two best teams from the regular season to get here ?

unless we start getting easier baskets, we are just having to work too [dang] hards to keep pace witht he Lakers who have Gasol and Bryant scoring consistently well every nite out so far.


on the other hand - the Celts went thru a very similar scenario back in 1984 when they barely stayed in the series with the Lakers thru the first 3 games until they gutted out one of their greatest wins of all time in that magical overtime game 4 win in los angeles, which turned the series around. the Celts came home and played a great game 5 which they won handily and then outplayed the lakers the rest of the way and won the title in 7 games.


i'm hyoping that last nite's win turned the momentum of this series to Boston and we can maintain it and win anther championship.

Exactly ... which is why I'm saying "they're due". They've yet to have a real good offensive game in this series, and I think they're about to. The problem last night was not in getting good looks or good shots, because they were, the problem was the ball going through the net. That's just an odds thing ... they're going to start dropping, and after last night's drought, the odds are in our favor. The fact that we shot so incredibly bad and still beat a great Lakers team, is why I'm so encouraged. I think we're going to have one of our "great" games on Sunday, and the Lakers will be on the receiving end.

Great post man, TP!

About the shots not going through the hoop, I really think they're trying to do too much.  They drop the shot but don't spend that extra second to make sure they've actually made it.  I like the energy but they need to go through the complete motion to make sure the [dang] ball goes through the net 

[tenn_smoothie]

yeah Green Faith - i remember that nightmare game 4 in 1987 - but your memory is a little hazy ............. the Celts had a double-digit lead going into the 4th qtr. there and turnovers killed us down the stretch. also Bird had just hit an amazing 3-pointer from the corner to put the Celts up before we foul the Lakers only to have them miss the 2nd free throw and then the disaster -McHale loses an easy foul shot rebound off his hands out of bounds, which led to Johnson's shot that they will never stop playing on tv. i drove around knoxville for a couple of hours in the middle of the night after that loss - maybe the most painful of my career as a Celtics fan since the 60's (though game 7 at home in the eastern finals in 1973 to the Knicks is right up there.)

that nite, the Celts went down 3-1 in the series. they came back and won game 5 with a very solid effort, but did not tie the series at 3-3 as you remember. we went back to LA and lost game 6 along with the title. very bad memories.

Yup, The C's lost that one, 4-2. If i remember correctly, it was Danny Ainge who provided the spark in the game 5 blowout as he scored 5 or 6 threes in that game. It was also the last finals game ever at the original Boston Garden. Wow, 23 years ago? The memory of that Magic baby hook and Bird's miss from the corner is still very vivid in my mind. I really thought that Larry would nail that corner three.

McHale played that series on a broken foot - if only, if only Len Bias had been on that team .............

[twinbree]

TP Bahku. I love the optimism and thoughtfulness of your posts.

Definitely feel the starters have to start playing better from Sunday. None of our main offensive options have shown up in the same half all series. That's an aberration I can't imagine will continue. If we get 2 going at the same time it makes life much easier for us. Defensively we have to stay sharp and hopefully the refs let them play. And we need to control the boards. That's the key. Go Celtics!