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

[Onslaught]

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.

TP.

[winsomme]

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...

our whole season has been dependent on this ever since the trade. We need a defensive center. Our system is thrown off when we don't have a center who can control the paint. It affects everything...offense, defense, chemistry, attitude...when we can't scare people with our defense we lose our edge.

Danny told us they were coming back and that's why he made the trade, so let's hope he's right because our season is hanging in the balance.

[ducksawce]

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.

Haha yeah, but they're still dogging it, and using less energy doing it.  You can tell on both ends of the ball.  The isolation ball movement, the lack of running and proper screens for a full 48 minutes.  On the defensive end, countless times Paul and Baby just let their guy shoot open 10-15 foot jumpers when the switch would prove too tiring. 

If this was a game-long thing, it might be hard to decipher, but each of the last few games they've played excellent quarters.  The 1st and 3rd quarters were fantastic tonight...yet the 2nd and 4th were equally horrible.  Much of it was effort, and despite the minutes, they didn't put out nearly the same energy as usual.  Don't let the minutes fool you...they're definitely coasting.

[j804]

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.

Haha yeah, but they're still dogging it, and using less energy doing it.  You can tell on both ends of the ball.  The isolation ball movement, the lack of running and proper screens for a full 48 minutes.  On the defensive end, countless times Paul and Baby just let their guy shoot open 10-15 foot jumpers when the switch would prove too tiring. 

If this was a game-long thing, it might be hard to decipher, but each of the last few games they've played excellent quarters.  The 1st and 3rd quarters were fantastic tonight...yet the 2nd and 4th were equally horrible.  Much of it was effort, and despite the minutes, they didn't put out nearly the same energy as usual.  Don't let the minutes fool you...they're definitely coasting.

rofl

they aren't coasting

[Onslaught]

If they come out and knock off the Bulls and Heat before the playoffs then I'll agree with you guys that this team is "coasting." And then I'll be very mad at them.

Until that time this team is in trouble and coasting to a second round loss.

[Rondo9dunx]

Pardon me for not clarifying, I forgot how people love to twist other peoples words on here.
By coast I meant "get by without putting out a lot of effort"

Again i'm sorry, didnt realize I needed to explain that.

[dlpin]

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

First, getting a bit ahead of ourselves here aren't we? So the celtics should approach the final 9 games of the season like playoff games because there is a chance they will meet the lakers in the finals and the series will go to 7 games?

Second, it is a balancing act. You can fight for HCA, or you can rest a bit.

Personally, I think that if at any point in the playoffs we need a game 7 we will be in trouble, not because of homecourt, but because of age. Might as well rest up as much as possible.

[dlpin]

rofl

they aren't coasting

Great insight and contribution, thanks!


Now, since you've backed up your point of view so thoroughly, let me do the same:

We all know the celtics aren't having regular practices, or that at least the big 4 aren't practicing to save their legs. That is pretty much a fact. We also know that at least during one quarter a game, the celtics completely obliterate the other team. That is pretty much a fact. Then we also know that the celtics end up losing or having a close game, but that happens not because the celtics stopped being successful at what they were doing, but because they stopped doing what was successful. They stop chasing shooters, fighting through screens, etc.



Which all either means that they are coasting or that they cannot play more than 1 quarter a game. Either way, with the slower pace and the more spread out schedule of the playoffs these should be lesser problems.

[ducksawce]

rofl

they aren't coasting

Great insight and contribution, thanks!


Now, since you've backed up your point of view so thoroughly, let me do the same:

We all know the celtics aren't having regular practices, or that at least the big 4 aren't practicing to save their legs. That is pretty much a fact. We also know that at least during one quarter a game, the celtics completely obliterate the other team. That is pretty much a fact. Then we also know that the celtics end up losing or having a close game, but that happens not because the celtics stopped being successful at what they were doing, but because they stopped doing what was successful. They stop chasing shooters, fighting through screens, etc.



Which all either means that they are coasting or that they cannot play more than 1 quarter a game. Either way, with the slower pace and the more spread out schedule of the playoffs these should be lesser problems.

THANK YOU!  TP+1 for that. 

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

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.

Ditto. TP.

[chambers]

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.

I beg to differ.
We should've put that series away in game 6.
We've gone out and tried to secure solutions to that problem by getting JO and Shaq aka loading up on big guys-although it is a serious gamble now that perk is gone.
We have Krstic and JO and baby all coming off the bench.
That's better than last year and fulfills the void that we had last year.
Sure losing Perk hurts in certain aspects- no one is gonna deny that. But with a healthy shaq and JO we stand a much better chance in a 7 game series without home court vs the Lakers.

[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.

Doc alludes to some of these concerns in today's Globe:

Rivers doesn’t doubt the team will find its way before the playoffs. His worry is with the new players. “They’re getting a bad example right now,’’ he said.

Link

[BballTim]

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.

Haha yeah, but they're still dogging it, and using less energy doing it.  You can tell on both ends of the ball.  The isolation ball movement, the lack of running and proper screens for a full 48 minutes.  On the defensive end, countless times Paul and Baby just let their guy shoot open 10-15 foot jumpers when the switch would prove too tiring. 

  I'm pretty sure that Doc has said he doesn't want switching, calling it the lazy was to defend.

[Chris]

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.

Doc alludes to some of these concerns in today's Globe:

Rivers doesn’t doubt the team will find its way before the playoffs. His worry is with the new players. “They’re getting a bad example right now,’’ he said.

Link

That is my biggest worry as well.  I have no concerns about the starters getting right for the playoffs.  But at some point, they need to show the new guys the "Celtic way".  

And beyond the example, I also think these guys simply need to learn the speed of the game in the C's real system.

Now, I think both Green and Krstic are not as big concerns as they could be, because they do have some playoff experience, and both are guys who have relatively even keeled games anyways, that should fit in nicely (and their weaknesses will be hidden much better when everyone else is playing with focus and intensity).  Plus, they are not PGs, which I think is by far the hardest position to integrate late in the season (see: Cassell, Marbury, Nate).  But as far as concerns go (beyond the obvious health ones), that really is the biggest concern, because it is the biggest unknown quantity.

[snowball]

make or break is up to the O'Neals...

nothing else to say.