Celtics (6-1) at Mavericks (3-2) 11/8

[vinnie]

You can't with them all and really was only a few mistakes that cost us. KG looked great tonight. Love the fact we are boarding a lot better

Agreed, but when you have them down by 5, with the ball, and a little more than two minutes left, you really should win the game. Need to close these things.

[paul]

I think an argument can be made that the Celts did amazing to almost win this, considering the Big injury problems

[Fafnir]

Through 8 games, Rajon Rondo is averaging 15 assists a game. He took that three, because the rest of his teammates were doing diddly squat. What the heck was that play with 1.5 seconds left, however? That, was bad.

Dallas played all of the movement very well and the C's had no time outs.

Its very hard to inbound the ball if teams aggressively deny and hold. The Mavericks knew the refs weren't going to call anything in that situation. Hell the refs didn't give the C's any breaks all night at all....

[PosImpos]

Tommy just said that “he didn’t have to take the three, right into the teeth of the defense SOMEBODY has to pick him up. Otherwise he gets a layup or gets fouled"

I agree.  Rondo should stop taking jumpshots in end of quarter situations and just try to run at the defense and get a foul.  He has a better chance of drawing contact and getting some points that way.

Unfortunately, he's also an unreliable free throw shooter, so opposing teams aren't afraid of fouling him, either.

[GreenFaith1819]

What was that?

17.5 seconds left and the best shot we can find is Rondo wide open for a pull up jumper?

That, folks, is why Rondo is not an MVP.  Table all this silly talk of him ever winning that award, or even being a true franchise player.  You can't be a franchise player if the other team can legitimately give you a wide open, pull-up shot at the end of the game and feel confident in that decision.

C'mon now...little harsh of our PG, huh?

We were all singing his praises just 24 hours ago.....one game isn't a season.

Dallas will be watching Boston and LA play in June, so it's all good....

I love the player Rondo has become, and I'm all for singing his praises, but people who talk about him as if he could be a MVP candidate or as a cornerstone franchise player need to get real and stop drinking so much green kool-aid.  He's a great floor general, and probably the best passer in the NBA at this point.  He isn't, however, a go-to guy, and that prevents him from entering the same discussion as guys like Deron Williams, Chris Paul, and yes, even Derrick Rose (long term..D-Rose is not better than Rondo right now). 

To be "the Man", you have to be able to score in the clutch.  You can't be an offensive liability, and that's what Rondo is in situations like the end of tonight's game.

Well, Rondo gets a Game Ball from me. The man is injured, but still plays. He obviously isn't 100%.

Our "Jason Terry" still has two more games to join us. Not worried about Dallas, or the Cowboys .

Besides, Rondo's proven to me that he's an MVP-Caliber player one day just by his play to send CLE fishing in the playoffs last year.

Rondo's shot will come. I have confidence in the man.

Ray couldn't hit tonight, either.

Boston will be fine

[Who]

Nice move putting Shawn Marion on Pierce in the fourth quarter.

Pierce had 22 points in 30 minutes prior to coming back in the fourth. Only managed four shots in the fourth, making only one of them (when Marion got caught in the pick and Terry had to rotate over).

Marion's defense on Pierce made life a lot harder on him.

[Tenacious D]

  Im not sure Id bet on them in a close game in regulation. Too many leads dribbled away. 

They just won two overtime games in a row… this is crap.

Excuse me? Dont mind a disagreement but that's rude. To the point-- how did the get in the Ots in the first place? Not closing.  As others have pointed out in this thread, the Celts dont seem to ahve a sure fire closer.

[rsan]

Tommy just said that “he didn’t have to take the three, right into the teeth of the defense SOMEBODY has to pick him up. Otherwise he gets a layup or gets fouled"

And really that was my problem with his shot. He was so wide open that he could have driven in and gotten fouled or gotten someone open.

[Fafnir]

Nice move putting Shawn Marion on Pierce in the fourth quarter.

Pierce had 22 points in 30 minutes prior to coming back in the fourth. Only managed four shots in the fourth, making only one of them (when Marion got caught in the pick and Terry had to rotate over).

Marion is still a great defender.

Argh, after that frustrating third quarter where the refs handed Dallas all of their points we still could have stolen this game.

Oh well, hopefully one of the O'Neal's can play Thursday.

[barefacedmonk]

What is wrong with JO? It seems like we gave him the MLE to get treated by the Celtics medical staff.

[xmuscularghandix]

I can't blame Rondo for taking a three to try and win it when they don't have a guy within 5 feet. Tough game, but you won't win them all. Especially on the road when you can't get to the line to save your life....

I agree, but they were up 5 with less than two minutes left and they simply could not close the deal. They had all of the momentum, too.

Actually, we _can_ blame Rondo, but not for the two. He made a _horrible_ defensive play on that Jason Terry 3 when we were three up. Why does he have to fight _over_ the screen on Jason Kid? It's Kidd! Would you rather give Kidd or Terry a wide open three! Argh!

Rondo and Ray both made poor plays on that. Ray needs to stick to his man in that situation.

A wide open layup is  still superior to a wide open three pointer. Ray made the right play.

Ray wasn't the guy who was responsible for helping on Kidd though, you can't drift so far to the point that you cannot contest a 3.

Baby helped on Kidd, and Ray covered up Chandler for Baby

[rsan]

We get a couple days to rest and gear up for the heat. Pumped up for round 2

[Who]

I can't blame Rondo for taking a three to try and win it when they don't have a guy within 5 feet. Tough game, but you won't win them all. Especially on the road when you can't get to the line to save your life....

I agree, but they were up 5 with less than two minutes left and they simply could not close the deal. They had all of the momentum, too.

Actually, we _can_ blame Rondo, but not for the two. He made a _horrible_ defensive play on that Jason Terry 3 when we were three up. Why does he have to fight _over_ the screen on Jason Kid? It's Kidd! Would you rather give Kidd or Terry a wide open three! Argh!

Rondo and Ray both made poor plays on that. Ray needs to stick to his man in that situation.

A wide open layup is  still superior to a wide open three pointer. Ray made the right play.

Yep, Ray had to move down to protect his teammates man after he rotated up to meet Jason Kidd. I think it was Glen Davis and Tyson Chandler underneath the rim. Right decision by Ray.

[xmuscularghandix]

Tommy just said that “he didn’t have to take the three, right into the teeth of the defense SOMEBODY has to pick him up. Otherwise he gets a layup or gets fouled"

I agree.  Rondo should stop taking jumpshots in end of quarter situations and just try to run at the defense and get a foul.  He has a better chance of drawing contact and getting some points that way.

Unfortunately, he's also an unreliable free throw shooter, so opposing teams aren't afraid of fouling him, either.

I think Rondo should have dribbled a couple feet inside the three, then pulled up for the jumper.

[CelticSooner]

We get a couple days to rest and gear up for the heat. Pumped up for round 2

Hopefully the C's at least have Shaq healthy for the game. Not having JO, Shaq, or Perk really evens the playing field for Miami.