so close we just ran out of GAS

[j804]

this is what hurts the most we didnt lose by 10-15. we werent dominated. we were the ones dominant through most of the game. isnt that what it seemed like? our bodys couldnt keep up with the intensity and level of d needed, especially given our offensive struggles.

im not ready for rebuilding mode just yet this ones tough.

[TerreHaute]

This is where I think Doc actually hurt us last night (using the bench). I was worried 2 minutes into the 3rd quarter, because we were already walking the ball up the floor. There is no way we could do that and win the game. Even if it was for 3-4 minutes, I wish Doc would have gone to Nate and Tony to give a breaher to some guys, but more importantly, to keep the pace we needed to win the game. We absolutely had to run to maintain our lead and get open shots. Once we slowed it down, the Lakers were playing too well defensively for us to get good looks. We simply did not keep the offensive pressure on them, and it allowed them to wear us down. Just my two cents.

[guava_wrench]

In retrospect, shortening the rotation might have backfired. We were really tired at the end.

Sheed was just not in good physical condition. The bad back plus cramping really took him out of the post.

[FallGuy]

In retrospect, shortening the rotation might have backfired. We were really tired at the end.

Sheed was just not in good physical condition. The bad back plus cramping really took him out of the post.

Agree. Gamble backfired. But I think it was a worthy one.

[chelsearules]

we had just enough gas left in the tank to be right there at the end...fate was not on our side...fresh legs don't help with a 17-6 run at the free throw line

[makaveli]

I'm not pointig fingers, but even tho Perk was out, there was no reason for Doc to change our whole rotation durring the whole game. The subs were not rightly timed and I noticed that right away(Tony and Nate should have played more in the first 3 qtr). And the topic is right on the mark, the were flat out tired and unable to make an extra D effort that was so much needed

[looseball]

This is where I think Doc actually hurt us last night (using the bench). I was worried 2 minutes into the 3rd quarter, because we were already walking the ball up the floor. There is no way we could do that and win the game. Even if it was for 3-4 minutes, I wish Doc would have gone to Nate and Tony to give a breaher to some guys, but more importantly, to keep the pace we needed to win the game. We absolutely had to run to maintain our lead and get open shots. Once we slowed it down, the Lakers were playing too well defensively for us to get good looks. We simply did not keep the offensive pressure on them, and it allowed them to wear us down. Just my two cents.

What you said is worth more than two cents.  It's a two dollar explanation for why we faded. 

[TerreHaute]

This is where I think Doc actually hurt us last night (using the bench). I was worried 2 minutes into the 3rd quarter, because we were already walking the ball up the floor. There is no way we could do that and win the game. Even if it was for 3-4 minutes, I wish Doc would have gone to Nate and Tony to give a breaher to some guys, but more importantly, to keep the pace we needed to win the game. We absolutely had to run to maintain our lead and get open shots. Once we slowed it down, the Lakers were playing too well defensively for us to get good looks. We simply did not keep the offensive pressure on them, and it allowed them to wear us down. Just my two cents.

What you said is worth more than two cents.  It's a two dollar explanation for why we faded. 

Is two dollars a lot?

[PosImpos]

If Perk had played last night, I seriously believe the C's would have won.

Losing Perk meant that the Celtics' front court ran out of gas before they reached the finish line, and they were dominated on the boards all game long.  I have to believe that Perk would have made at least a 4 pt difference in that regard.

[guava_wrench]

This is where I think Doc actually hurt us last night (using the bench). I was worried 2 minutes into the 3rd quarter, because we were already walking the ball up the floor. There is no way we could do that and win the game. Even if it was for 3-4 minutes, I wish Doc would have gone to Nate and Tony to give a breaher to some guys, but more importantly, to keep the pace we needed to win the game. We absolutely had to run to maintain our lead and get open shots. Once we slowed it down, the Lakers were playing too well defensively for us to get good looks. We simply did not keep the offensive pressure on them, and it allowed them to wear us down. Just my two cents.

What you said is worth more than two cents.  It's a two dollar explanation for why we faded. 

Then again, the shortened rotation may be the reason we were as competitive as we were.

[looseball]

This is where I think Doc actually hurt us last night (using the bench). I was worried 2 minutes into the 3rd quarter, because we were already walking the ball up the floor. There is no way we could do that and win the game. Even if it was for 3-4 minutes, I wish Doc would have gone to Nate and Tony to give a breaher to some guys, but more importantly, to keep the pace we needed to win the game. We absolutely had to run to maintain our lead and get open shots. Once we slowed it down, the Lakers were playing too well defensively for us to get good looks. We simply did not keep the offensive pressure on them, and it allowed them to wear us down. Just my two cents.

What you said is worth more than two cents.  It's a two dollar explanation for why we faded. 

Then again, the shortened rotation may be the reason we were as competitive as we were.

Did you happen to watch the games we WON?

[mahonedog88]

It's tough.  I can understand why Doc kept with his starters so much for game 7.  Heck, it's game 7.  You gotta stick with who you trust the most and thats the starters.

It's just unfortunate that thats what started the entire downfall of that game.  It was the fact that they just got so tired because they were expending all their energy in the first 3 quarters on the defensive end.  It shows that you can't play at that high of a level for an entire game.  Your body just can't do it.

So they were gonna need a break eventually, it's just unfortunate it came at the worst time.

[Andy Jick]

So who out on the floor late looked tired or was sucking wind?  Funny, but that game had MANY stoppages in play due to the number of fouls called...

Sorry, but this thread or argument doesn't really hold water.  Someone ask the players if they were tired.  I didn't see it.

What I saw was a Laker team playing on their home floor that was just as hungry as we were.  And the fact that they made a few more key plays down the stretch and that they got a number of calls their way late - THAT'S what won that game...

I saw no one on that floor that was tired...  And if you checked the box score you'd see that Phil Jackson played 3 of his starters well over 40+ minutes as well...

[TheReaLPuba]

I don't think we were tired.

I think the refs didn't call it evenly in the 4th and the C's couldn't attack the basket because they would get fouled and no call would be made.

We missed shots we normally make as well...the Lakers got every 50-50 call down the stretch and they needed everyone of them to generate points because they flat out couldn't score.

[FallGuy]

So who out on the floor late looked tired or was sucking wind?  Funny, but that game had MANY stoppages in play due to the number of fouls called...

Sorry, but this thread or argument doesn't really hold water.  Someone ask the players if they were tired.  I didn't see it.

What I saw was a Laker team playing on their home floor that was just as hungry as we were.  And the fact that they made a few more key plays down the stretch and that they got a number of calls their way late - THAT'S what won that game...

I saw no one on that floor that was tired...  And if you checked the box score you'd see that Phil Jackson played 3 of his starters well over 40+ minutes as well...

Rasheed asked out of the game with exhaustion/cramps issues at one point in the fourth quarter. Doc specifically noted that he was too tired/beat up to work in the post late in the game. So, that's one guy at minimum. But I'm almost sure Doc's on record as saying he had a couple guys or more running low on gas down the stretch.