Why can't this team score in the 4th quarter?

[KungPoweChicken]

Why can't they score? Vs. the Hawks last night: Glen Davis and Rondo combined for 26 field goal attempts. Garnett and Allen combined for 18. That's why.

[BballTim]

Why can't they score? Vs. the Hawks last night: Glen Davis and Rondo combined for 26 field goal attempts. Garnett and Allen combined for 18. That's why.

  So that's why we couldn't score against the Spurs the other night? Because Rondo and Baby took more shots than KG and Ray?

  Oh, wait...

[Donoghus]

Why can't they score? Vs. the Hawks last night: Glen Davis and Rondo combined for 26 field goal attempts. Garnett and Allen combined for 18. That's why.

  So that's why we couldn't score against the Spurs the other night? Because Rondo and Baby took more shots than KG and Ray?

  Oh, wait...

When their shots are falling it seems to be that is all fine.  When its not, its a big problem. 

Regardless of the shot numbers, the bigger problem I have with them (and the others to an extent) is some pretty horrendous shot selection. 

[BballTim]

Why can't they score? Vs. the Hawks last night: Glen Davis and Rondo combined for 26 field goal attempts. Garnett and Allen combined for 18. That's why.

  So that's why we couldn't score against the Spurs the other night? Because Rondo and Baby took more shots than KG and Ray?

  Oh, wait...

When their shots are falling it seems to be that is all fine.  When its not, its a big problem. 

Regardless of the shot numbers, the bigger problem I have with them (and the others to an extent) is some pretty horrendous shot selection. 

  Rondo's taken a few shots that would fall into the category of bad shot selection but I don't really mind because it's more important that he's amping up his aggressiveness for the playoffs. Davis is a black hole though.

[Roy H.]

This sums it up in large part (the new Celtics team anthem):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRYmKQeIiNs&feature=related

(Apologies to anybody who doesn't appreciate the Kids humor).

[KungPoweChicken]

Why can't they score? Vs. the Hawks last night: Glen Davis and Rondo combined for 26 field goal attempts. Garnett and Allen combined for 18. That's why.

  So that's why we couldn't score against the Spurs the other night? Because Rondo and Baby took more shots than KG and Ray?

  Oh, wait...

In the last 10 games, except the Spurs game, the Celtics have lost every game where Rondo and Davis have attempted the same amount, or more, shots than two of the big three who shot the fewest.


This is not a recent trend either. If you do the research, like I have, you will find that the chances of winning greatly increase when two of The Big Three, who shoot the fewest, attempt more shots than Rondo and Davis.

[MBz]

Why can't they score? Vs. the Hawks last night: Glen Davis and Rondo combined for 26 field goal attempts. Garnett and Allen combined for 18. That's why.

  So that's why we couldn't score against the Spurs the other night? Because Rondo and Baby took more shots than KG and Ray?

  Oh, wait...

In the last 10 games, except the Spurs game, the Celtics have lost every game where Rondo and Davis have attempted the same amount, or more, shots than two of the big three who shot the fewest.


This is not a recent trend either. If you do the research, like I have, you will find that the chances of winning greatly increase when two of The Big Three, who shoot the fewest, attempt more shots than Rondo and Davis.

I agree 100%.  Those guys are just shooting the ball way too much.  They need to get Ray Allen and KG more involved.  I think Ray needs to be option 1B to Pierce's 1A.  At least in terms of shots attempted, I think both should be attempting about 15-17 a game.

[Chris]

Why can't they score? Vs. the Hawks last night: Glen Davis and Rondo combined for 26 field goal attempts. Garnett and Allen combined for 18. That's why.

  So that's why we couldn't score against the Spurs the other night? Because Rondo and Baby took more shots than KG and Ray?

  Oh, wait...

In the last 10 games, except the Spurs game, the Celtics have lost every game where Rondo and Davis have attempted the same amount, or more, shots than two of the big three who shot the fewest.


This is not a recent trend either. If you do the research, like I have, you will find that the chances of winning greatly increase when two of The Big Three, who shoot the fewest, attempt more shots than Rondo and Davis.

I agree 100%.  Those guys are just shooting the ball way too much.  They need to get Ray Allen and KG more involved.  I think Ray needs to be option 1B to Pierce's 1A.  At least in terms of shots attempted, I think both should be attempting about 15-17 a game.

The problem is, Baby and Rondo shooting so much late in games is not the actual problem, it is a symptom. 

The reason they are shooting is because the defenses are taking everything else away, and as the legs tire (and more importantly, the mental fatigue), the movement off the ball, as well as the ball movement itself falls off, so they can't "beat" the defense to get the ball to the better options in a position to do anything with it.  Instead, it leaves them scrambling as the shotclock winds down, and the ball ends up in the hands of the guys who the defenses know are the least likely to score...Davis and Rondo.  And the shots that they take are generally flatfooted, and out of rhythm, because they are desperation shots, rather than part of the offense.

[BballTim]

Why can't they score? Vs. the Hawks last night: Glen Davis and Rondo combined for 26 field goal attempts. Garnett and Allen combined for 18. That's why.

  So that's why we couldn't score against the Spurs the other night? Because Rondo and Baby took more shots than KG and Ray?

  Oh, wait...

In the last 10 games, except the Spurs game, the Celtics have lost every game where Rondo and Davis have attempted the same amount, or more, shots than two of the big three who shot the fewest.


This is not a recent trend either. If you do the research, like I have, you will find that the chances of winning greatly increase when two of The Big Three, who shoot the fewest, attempt more shots than Rondo and Davis.

  How well were PP/RA/KG shooting in those games? How active were they? If those three are aggressive and making any shots Rondo will sit back and pass to them all game. If they aren't stepping up and contributing then that's the problem and Rondo and Baby shooting is just a symptom.

[mobilija]

Why can't they score? Vs. the Hawks last night: Glen Davis and Rondo combined for 26 field goal attempts. Garnett and Allen combined for 18. That's why.

  So that's why we couldn't score against the Spurs the other night? Because Rondo and Baby took more shots than KG and Ray?

  Oh, wait...

In the last 10 games, except the Spurs game, the Celtics have lost every game where Rondo and Davis have attempted the same amount, or more, shots than two of the big three who shot the fewest.


This is not a recent trend either. If you do the research, like I have, you will find that the chances of winning greatly increase when two of The Big Three, who shoot the fewest, attempt more shots than Rondo and Davis.

I agree 100%.  Those guys are just shooting the ball way too much.  They need to get Ray Allen and KG more involved.  I think Ray needs to be option 1B to Pierce's 1A.  At least in terms of shots attempted, I think both should be attempting about 15-17 a game.

The problem is, Baby and Rondo shooting so much late in games is not the actual problem, it is a symptom. 

The reason they are shooting is because the defenses are taking everything else away, and as the legs tire (and more importantly, the mental fatigue), the movement off the ball, as well as the ball movement itself falls off, so they can't "beat" the defense to get the ball to the better options in a position to do anything with it.  Instead, it leaves them scrambling as the shotclock winds down, and the ball ends up in the hands of the guys who the defenses know are the least likely to score...Davis and Rondo.  And the shots that they take are generally flatfooted, and out of rhythm, because they are desperation shots, rather than part of the offense.

This,I buy. Lack of scoring in the 4th has been a problem for at least two years. And came to head in the finals last year game 7.

This team steamrolled everyone in it's first year together, no one knew what to expect, but now...


The team is old and their legs may be tired, but the problem is far more chronic than this being the main reason. The Playoff formatt will help with this.


The offense may be too predictable. Working in some J.Green sets, replacing baby in the 4th, attacking the rim, posting up Garnett. I don't know.

[tenn_smoothie]

Tired legs.  

No No No.

didn't you know that Danny fixed our depth issue and brought in young backups after Marquis went down specifically to prevent late game meltdowns ? he may have traded away our team's identity and defensive presence that won a took us to the finals twice, along with our interior defense, but we won't be getting tired any more - be assured that Pierce and Allen will be rested for the 4th quarter the rest of the way.

[LB3533]

The majority of the shots we got in the 4th quarter last night were good shots.

They just didn't fall.

[BballTim]

Tired legs.  

No No No.

didn't you know that Danny fixed our depth issue and brought in young backups after Marquis went down specifically to prevent late game meltdowns ? he may have traded away our team's identity and defensive presence that won a took us to the finals twice, along with our interior defense, but we won't be getting tired any more - be assured that Pierce and Allen will be rested for the 4th quarter the rest of the way.

  Does KG know that Danny traded his identity away? That's a little melodramatic.

[wdleehi]

Maybe they have been giving up to many offensive rebounds in the 4th thus having to spend more energy defending and having less offensive opportunities? 

[celtics2]

We can still play half a game for another season and look respectable. Check WebMd.com and aging. Soon a few of our starters will be good for parades. Rigor Mortis sets in after 2 quarters. Mileage wear. How much stock would you put into a car with 100k's? The NBA is on to our team. We can fool them once, almost twice, but now the party's over. Turn out the lights.