Screw it... lets just coast into the playoffs with our team.

[Rondo9dunx]

I mean really, at this point, that's all we can do. Even if they were to win every game from here on out we probably still wouldn't get HCA over the bulls or the lakers. I think it's pretty clear that they have kinda shut it down for the rest of the season. They made it to the finals after checking out 28 games in last year, so lets just hope they have enough of a chip on thier shoulder from last year to finish the lakers in LA.

I've decided to stop getting so emotional over these losses. Either our team sucks or they are actually just not trying as hard because they are savin gas for the post-season. It's one of those two things, and I still don't think we suck even though we're like 5-12 or so over the last 17 games...

Come crunch time our starters are gonna be playing a lot more minutes...let's hope that's why they are playing so little now.


Also, I know the chance is small, but if Shaq or JO do come back and are able to contribute 15mpg we're talking a whole nother celtics team...

[stylo617617]

i think shaq will play 28 mins max & j.o will have the rest maybe even more if he plays well ,jermaine's the healthiest he's been since heck the boston/mia 1st round ur right a whole other celtics team with those 2 at center and BBD backing up kg in his true PF position

[Megatron]

Weve already been coasting. But I firmly believe that the Starters should be benched until the playoffs.

[dlpin]

To me it is so clear that this is what's happening that all the doom and gloom is puzzling. Every game in this losing stretch the celtics absolutely obliterate the other team for one quarter. Then they clearly put no effort and lose or win close.

36-24 against the pacers
32-13 against the wolves
24-16 against the bobcats
33-17 against the knicks
27-13 against the hornets


And these quarters have come both at the beginning and late in games. And then they clearly coast. Settle for too many 3 pointers, don't chase shooters, etc.

All indications that it is not a matter of ability, it is a matter of effort.

[KobeShesNotConsenting!]

Once again we're goin to lose to LA on their home floor in game 7. Sucks but i dont think we have what it takes to overcome homecourt-biased officiating

[Roy H.]

Here's the problem I have with coasting:  big parts of our rotation still don't know the Celtics offensive or defensive rotation.  When the other players aren't playing sharply, it makes it infinitely harder for all the newer players to learn, and for the rusty / injured players to get back into the swing of things.

We need Green and Krstic to be playing fully in-sync in the playoffs, and it's tough to ask that from them when the players around them aren't playing championship basketball.

[celticinorlando]

You talk about hot starts....but really they have struggled to start....down double digits early to the clippers...sixers.....rockets....hornets...nets...now they have reversed to not being able to close. It just shows they are very inconsistent

[dlpin]

Here's the problem I have with coasting:  big parts of our rotation still don't know the Celtics offensive or defensive rotation.  When the other players aren't playing sharply, it makes it infinitely harder for all the newer players to learn, and for the rusty / injured players to get back into the swing of things.

We need Green and Krstic to be playing fully in-sync in the playoffs, and it's tough to ask that from them when the players around them aren't playing championship basketball.

Sure, but it is a balancing act.
I am not saying that everything is fine. The fact that we are having to so clearly coast is indicative of our age.
So Doc and the staff have to balance it out: the need to integrate players into the system and the rotation with the need to save legs. Right now the compromise seems to be that they will play hard, aggressive basketball for one quarter and then coast the rest.

[dlpin]

You talk about hot starts....but really they have struggled to start....down double digits early to the clippers...sixers.....rockets....hornets...nets...now they have reversed to not being able to close. It just shows they are very inconsistent

Or it shows that it is not about getting tired at the end of games, it is about effort, and clearly coasting through bits.

[GreenNote]

I would agree with you but just imagine if they had won this game, the bulls would have felt more pressure to win their remaining games especially with the upcoming game against Boston.

I understand that rest is important but coasting develops bad habits that some how reappear at some stage.

I think I need to coast into the playoffs and not watch the games live in order to save time and peace of mind

[Mazingerz]

I now vow never to see any regular season game until the playoffs. Too stressful on my part

[ducksawce]

The Celtics are obviously coasting, and I'm fine with it.  Given the schedule ahead, they're not getting home court advantage over the Bulls, Lakers or Heat.  Again, fine.  Now that the temptation of burning out in the regular season for seeding is basically gone, the starters can have their minutes reigned in.  Fantastic.

Now all that's needed is calibration.  Shaq will take little to no time to get back with the starters.  JO provides exactly what the bench is lacking...rebounding and defense....so as long as he's somewhat healthy, it won't take much adjustment for him.  Really, who we're talking about when it comes to true adjustment is Delonte and Green.  The consistency is not yet there, but I've seen good things when they play with the starters i.e Delonte 1st half of T'Wolves game...or Green 3rd quarter of tonight's Pacers game. 

With limited starters minutes, and games that aren't crucial to win, this is actually the PERFECT time for the two new guys + Shaq and JO to get adjusted.

[kozlodoev]

The Celtics are obviously coasting, and I'm fine with it. 

This must obviously be the world's worst coasting routine, since the team's main players log between 36 and 40 minutes per game on a regular basis.

[Kuberski33]

Key to succeeding in the playoffs - apart from getting something out of the center position defensively and off the boards - is getting the most they can out of Green, Delonte & Kristic,  Those guys need to be integrated, along with Shaq & JO who've never played with the new guys.

I'm starting to think the only way to do that, is treat the rest of the season like a training camp.  Focus on integrating those 5 with the core of the team.  May be the C's best chance for success.

[Onslaught]

To me it is so clear that this is what's happening that all the doom and gloom is puzzling. Every game in this losing stretch the celtics absolutely obliterate the other team for one quarter. Then they clearly put no effort and lose or win close.

36-24 against the pacers
32-13 against the wolves
24-16 against the bobcats
33-17 against the knicks
27-13 against the hornets


And these quarters have come both at the beginning and late in games. And then they clearly coast. Settle for too many 3 pointers, don't chase shooters, etc.

All indications that it is not a matter of ability, it is a matter of effort.

Are people ok with this? If the Lakers get HCA again and we make it to the Finals we'll lose again.