Ainge radio interview on WEEI Boston

[Snakehead]

Yup.  Ainge also said that the Celtics played their best defensive game of the season in Game 7 (holding the Lakers to 34% from the field).  Ray was a big part of that.

If only we could have played some D on those free throws 

I think defensive rebounding is part of defense.

We didn't play our best game of the year because of that....

Lakers are about the longest, most athletic team, and a great rebounding team.  You are right, but again with Perkins, even if he doesn't grab the boards himself, he boxes guys like Bynum and Gasol out.  If he plays we give up far less offensive boards and get more defensive ones and win the game.

[Birdbrain]

If Ray Allen had a thigh bruise, and it was affecting him ENORMOUSLY in his shooting, then maybe the Celtics should have put a healthy player in instead!  Why not Tony?  Why not anyone?  I'm still mad about that..

Me too.  I think that's a big factor in Tony leaving.  He wanted a bigger role and Doc didn't even see fit to use him in game 7 to try to help win a championship, after he had been playing well too. Instead he ran an aging, ailing and slumping Ray into the ground!  

I actually think Nate should have gotten more burn then anyone else who hardly did in game 7.  But that is just my opinion.

It is also my opinion that our poor performance in game 6 of this years finals was one of the major reasons...we will be not putting up banner 18 on opening night.

To not win the game is one thing but to look and play so poor in that situation...I could write a novel on my feelings about that game without even talking about game 7.

I could see this (not Tony Allen)  and was in fact calling for it throughout the game.  The Defense was stifling we needed someone to hit an open shot. And you aren't losing much in the rebounding department from Ray to Nate. 

Even on 1 leg Ray should make wide open jumpers.  Sorry I'm not buying Rays shooting slump on injuries because we've seen it before.  I am buying the distraction the health of a child might have on you.  Let's hope if we make it back to the Finals Rays his kid doesn't have another episode.  Bad luck can't happen 3 times can it?

[housecall]

And to add to the great job the Celtics did in game 7 despite losing by a narrow margin,Pau Gasol recently told reporters in an interview"game(7)was the toughest/hardest game he ever played in his career".That says something about the Celtics toughness defensively,regardless of not having Perk.  

Im still very proud of this team,even with coming up a little short.Ron Artest took care of Ray's thigh in game#3,among a few other dirty plays he got away with.

[Spilling Green Dye]

If Ray Allen had a thigh bruise, and it was affecting him ENORMOUSLY in his shooting, then maybe the Celtics should have put a healthy player in instead!  Why not Tony?  Why not anyone?  I'm still mad about that..

Me too.  I think that's a big factor in Tony leaving.  He wanted a bigger role and Doc didn't even see fit to use him in game 7 to try to help win a championship, after he had been playing well too. Instead he ran an aging, ailing and slumping Ray into the ground!  

By playing well you mean standing around the perimeter on offense and turning the ball over because the Lakers weren't guarding you?

Tony played very well on one end in the finals, as for the rest yuck.

All you guys crying for Tony... Tony Allen we're talking here right?  You can't start Tony the Turnover Allen in the Finals Game 7, sorry.  Ray couldn't hit a three but he played well otherwise, on defense and his offense besides his three shooting was good.  Tony does not win us that game.  We get worse if he plays more minutes.

We only lost because Perk was hurt.  Case closed. I mean, Ray hitting a three or two changes the game up but the clearest thing to point to is the Perk injury.  He would have kept Bynum/Gasol off the boards.

How did Ray play well in game 7?  Please, enlighten me.  He had numerous turnovers, all of which led to easy fast break points for the Lakers.  He gave up more turnover fast break points than he actually scored himself. 

Defensively, as well as Ray did, Tony would have done better.  It's just how it is.  Yes, Tony is a bad shooter, but he couldn't have been worse than Ray.

I'm not even talking about just game 7.  Danny, Ray, and Doc all apparently knew that Ray was injured, and it was extremely apparent that it caused him to miss some 80%+ of his shots.  The goal of the finals is not to play politics and "nice" but to win.  Some think it is honorable for Ray to keep forcing himself out there, but at some point even he had to realize it was to the detriment of the team.  I'm all for Ray starting, but he shouldn't have gotten most of the minutes at SG.  It should have been split evenly between Tony, Ray, and Nate.

Nate in game 7 couldn't have hurt.. really.. 

[Birdbrain]

And to add to the great job the Celtics did in game 7 despite losing by a narrow margin,Pau Gasol recently told reporters in an interview"game(7)was the toughest/hardest game he ever played in his career".That says something about the Celtics toughness defensively,regardless of not having Perk.  

Im still very proud of this team,even with coming up a little short.Ron Artest took care of Ray's thigh in game#3,among a few other dirty plays he got away with.

People need to remember this. They may struggle from time to time throughout 2010 but, they aren't going down without a fight.  We have kept the heart of this team in tact. I gained a lot of respect for Pau throughout the Finals.  He had great games, he had some mediocre games but, he played tough and was in fact the Finals MVP.

[Surferdad]

IMO, the series was lost in Game 6.  We all knew going in that they HAD TO WIN that game, and they didn't show up.  Sorry, I'm p---ed about that more than what happened in Game 7.

[Assassin70]

And to add to the great job the Celtics did in game 7 despite losing by a narrow margin,Pau Gasol recently told reporters in an interview"game(7)was the toughest/hardest game he ever played in his career".That says something about the Celtics toughness defensively,regardless of not having Perk.  

Im still very proud of this team,even with coming up a little short.Ron Artest took care of Ray's thigh in game#3,among a few other dirty plays he got away with.

People need to remember this. They may struggle from time to time throughout 2010 but, they aren't going down without a fight.  We have kept the heart of this team in tact. I gained a lot of respect for Pau throughout the Finals.  He had great games, he had some mediocre games but, he played tough and was in fact the Finals MVP.

Co Sign

[clover]

And to add to the great job the Celtics did in game 7 despite losing by a narrow margin,Pau Gasol recently told reporters in an interview"game(7)was the toughest/hardest game he ever played in his career".That says something about the Celtics toughness defensively,regardless of not having Perk.  

Im still very proud of this team,even with coming up a little short.Ron Artest took care of Ray's thigh in game#3,among a few other dirty plays he got away with.

People need to remember this. They may struggle from time to time throughout 2010 but, they aren't going down without a fight.  We have kept the heart of this team in tact. I gained a lot of respect for Pau throughout the Finals.  He had great games, he had some mediocre games but, he played tough and was in fact the Finals MVP.

Co Sign

Tangent?

[Andy Jick]

At least Paul and Ray didn't use their minor injuries as excuses like JO did.

Way to throw our new guy under the bus...

[Evantime34]

At least Paul and Ray didn't use their minor injuries as excuses like JO did.

Way to throw our new guy under the bus...

If you listened to the interview you heard Ainge say that a lot of players lobbied for us to sign him saying that he was the best free agent big that would take the MLE on the market. If the players are advocating for him you should be too.

[footey]

Lakers won because they matched our defensive intensity and toughness in game 7.  That's just the reality. I came away respecting them after the series. It wasn't all about Kobe. That team matched our toughness. And they had home court advantage.

[the_Bird]

Lakers won because they matched our defensive intensity and toughness in game 7.  That's just the reality. I came away respecting them after the series. It wasn't all about Kobe. That team matched our toughness. And they had home court advantage.

Pau Gasol was the reason they won.  Take him away, and the C's have it.  Developed a lot more respect for the guy during the series, anyone who wants to call him soft is more interested in perpetuating stereotypes than in actually watching basketball.  Gasol's a helluva good player.

[Surferdad]

Lakers won because they matched our defensive intensity and toughness in game 7.  That's just the reality. I came away respecting them after the series. It wasn't all about Kobe. That team matched our toughness. And they had home court advantage.

Pau Gasol was the reason they won.  Take him away, and the C's have it.  Developed a lot more respect for the guy during the series, anyone who wants to call him soft is more interested in perpetuating stereotypes than in actually watching basketball.  Gasol's a helluva good player.

Correct.  Home court was completely irrelevant in that series as both teams won on the road.  That said, C's should have won Game 6 at home.

[moiso]

At least Paul and Ray didn't use their minor injuries as excuses like JO did.

Way to throw our new guy under the bus...

If you listened to the interview you heard Ainge say that a lot of players lobbied for us to sign him saying that he was the best free agent big that would take the MLE on the market. If the players are advocating for him you should be too.

Everyone wanted Sheed too.  Sometimes players overestimate former stars.  I saw a poll regarding McGrady a few months back and half of the players still think he's a great player.

[Assassin70]

Lakers won because they matched our defensive intensity and toughness in game 7.  That's just the reality. I came away respecting them after the series. It wasn't all about Kobe. That team matched our toughness. And they had home court advantage.

Pau Gasol was the reason they won.  Take him away, and the C's have it.  Developed a lot more respect for the guy during the series, anyone who wants to call him soft is more interested in perpetuating stereotypes than in actually watching basketball.  Gasol's a helluva good player.

Correct.  Home court was completely irrelevant in that series as both teams won on the road.  That said, C's should have won Game 6 at home.

We played Game 6 in LA...but I know what you mean.

Game 6 was the MUST win game and we just didn't bring it.  Maybe the Perk injury had something to do with it but I still cant get that out of my head.

Worst part is this was LA's version of our Shrek & Donkey game.  The role players played out of their minds and got they tons of confidence.  This is what turned the tide of the series in my opinion.  We had the Lakers on the ropes and we didnt even keep punching.

Like Dennis Green said "We left em off the hook"!

It reminded me of final fight in Rocky 3.  (Which was just on last night hence the reference) We were Mr. T without any counter punches...with the Lakers being Rocky dancing around us saying "you aint so bad...you aint so bad!" 

It still hurts even thinking about it.  We played well in stretches for game 7 and we coulda/woulda/shoulda won...but we should'nt have been playing game 7 to begin with.