Celtics (49-19) at Knicks (35-34) 3/21

[Errn]

Rondo and West both had great interior passing, but the finishing was the problem (i.e. Davis getting blocked).

I saw one good finish that Krystic had, but he had some terrible defensive plays. We need our other bigs back.

Green still cannot play defense. He gives his man too much space. So much potential, so little aggressiveness.

[Megatron]

Why the heck couldnt just let Von Wafer back up Pierce and keep Perkins and deal with it in the offseason?

[barefacedmonk]

In the meantime, who do you guys think will be sweeping us in the playoffs?

Ainge, Shaq, JO, Krstic and The refs.

lol TP.

Although Shaq could actually be our savior. If he plays like 36 minutes a game.

I was jk...We need Shaq and JO to make any sort of respectable playoffs run...and if we don't get them back and have to play Krstic as our starting 5..then we could very well be looking at a second round exit...if that happens, Ainge and Krstic will be blamed.

[kg is king]

Despite the ugly first half, let's all remember that New York played last night so that'll only aid our chances of coming back in the second half as they run out of steam.

[celticinorlando]

another game where the C's are down big at the half...saw this vs the clipper, sixers, rockets and hornets...i am just broken

[CoachBo]

After watching Perkins get abused last night on the pick and roll, shall we bring him back at the half and watch Amare get 50?

Bad, really bad defensive performance at every position. One player or one position changes very little.

[GrandTheftRondo]

Why the heck couldnt just let Von Wafer back up Pierce and keep Perkins and deal with it in the offseason?

I ask myself this every day. I don't know what other championship contender would destroy their core the way the C's did.

[LilRip]

shocking, but we have 4 assists the entire half as a team. 4 assists!!! where's the ball movement?

as for the negativity train, it's valid to an extent. this effort extends beyond one game. i choose to remain positive but even with that Hornets win, we won ugly. if we win this game, we'll win ugly as well. we're playing ugly. remember when we went on that... what was it, 18 game win streak or something last season? At the tail end of that, you could tell that the C's weren't playing the right way and were just eking out wins based on talent or luck (e.g. Pierce's game winner against the Hawks). right now, these C's aren't playing like contenders.

[ejk3489]

Why the heck couldnt just let Von Wafer back up Pierce and keep Perkins and deal with it in the offseason?

And that would help us how? Von Wafer likely won't even get back on the court this season.

[Megatron]

After watching Perkins get abused last night on the pick and roll, shall we bring him back at the half and watch Amare get 50?

Bad, really bad defensive performance at every position. One player or one position changes very little.

Perkins was our best player and leader, his presence and toughness alone made this team what it was. We cant look past that.

[celticinorlando]

After watching Perkins get abused last night on the pick and roll, shall we bring him back at the half and watch Amare get 50?

Bad, really bad defensive performance at every position. One player or one position changes very little.

this team is just on auto pilot and that is frustrating. every other team is gearing up and boston is just limping in...

[Roy H.]

I absolutely refuse to lay this defensive funk on the lack of Perk. 

Perk played in 12 games for this team this year.  We were a top defensive team before he returned.  No Shaq, No Perk, No JO is why we are weak in the middle right now.  2 of those 3 will return.  Shaq/Krstic/Baby will be fine for the playoffs -- even if JO gives us nothing.

Let's at least let this game play out before drawing the same ugly conclusions folks were ready to draw at half-time on Saturday.
 

This game is definitely winnable, and I'm sure 100% of the people posting in here are rooting for that.

You're also correct that the potential return of Shaq and/or JO could be huge for this team in the playoffs.

However, none of that changes the fact that Krstic is horrific at defending against penetration.  Like, Mikki Moore wearing cement shoes bad.

[Megatron]

Why the heck couldnt just let Von Wafer back up Pierce and keep Perkins and deal with it in the offseason?

And that would help us how? Von Wafer likely won't even get back on the court this season.

So we were screwed with the trade, and we were screwed without it.

God hates the Celtics.

[CoachBo]

shocking, but we have 4 assists the entire half as a team. 4 assists!!! where's the ball movement?

as for the negativity train, it's valid to an extent. this effort extends beyond one game. i choose to remain positive but even with that Hornets win, we won ugly. if we win this game, we'll win ugly as well. we're playing ugly. remember when we went on that... what was it, 18 game win streak or something last season? At the tail end of that, you could tell that the C's weren't playing the right way and were just eking out wins based on talent or luck (e.g. Pierce's game winner against the Hawks). right now, these C's aren't playing like contenders.

You just defined the offensive problems in a nutshell. The PG play tonight - from all three - has been nothing short of atrocious. Rondo still isn't executing at the position, at all, in addition to the fact he's not defending.

When the ball starts moving from side to side again - or if, as I see no indication that this issue is moving toward a resolution - the points will come.

As will the defense when all five players start playing it with their feet, rather than their hands.

Simple issues, quite resolvable by this group - if they're smart enough.

[GrandTheftRondo]

After watching Perkins get abused last night on the pick and roll, shall we bring him back at the half and watch Amare get 50?

Bad, really bad defensive performance at every position. One player or one position changes very little.

Perkins was our best player and leader, his presence and toughness alone made this team what it was. We cant look past that.

Sarcasm, right?