Celtics (54-23) at Bulls (57-20) 4/7

[Kuberski33]

PS Chicago getting Thibs is a bigger offseason score than Miami getting LeBron.  Jeezus that Bulls defense was physical, active, quick. Just killed us.

Their defense is best in the NBA right now.  I think our starting 5 is good enough to execute their offense against them. That's not the real problem.  The real problem is defending these guys and getting your bench to do enough positive things to make a difference.

[Roy H.]

Enough infighting and calling each other out.  There's no need to call others "fairweather", or koolaid drinkers, or "quitters", or to accuse them of having "agendas" (one way or the other).  Feel free to disagree, but do it respectfully and stop making stuff so personal.

[JohnBagleyValueMeal]

The worst part about these threads is how transparent some people's agendas are. Really? So we are losing this game this way because of Jeff Green?

And it would be incredibly helpful if all those spreading rumors about how Green is unhappy, wanting out, etc etc at least present a source.

I get the impression before long the source for this will be people's vague memories of hearing it from each other. 

Crappy game, no other way to put it.  Bulls were more up for the game than we were, and Rose played exceptionally well even for him.  But we played very poorly and were still in it til the 4th, when we collapsed.  They were the better team tonight, and they deserved to win.

I'm looking forward to seeing this team in the playoffs, if they get past Orlando.  Should be a battle. 

I'm not at all looking forward to facing Chicago. Not after what I just saw. I don't believe the Celtics "didn't show up" tonight. I actually think it's worse--they showed up, but just weren't as good as the Bulls. I don't think I've felt that way all this season.

What's weird about the Perkins trade isn't that they miss the player himself (although Ray definitely misses his screens), but they miss the confidence/belief they had as a 5 man unit. I really believe that. Going through all these tough times while trying to teach new guys that just aren't up to snuff...I think it saps the team's confidence, where instead of knowing they're the best team on the court, those guys are constantly thinking "we aren't as good anymore". Even if it isn't true, it's in their heads just like it's in ours.

It isn't in my head - I worry about the team's cohesiveness and their health, but not their talent level.  Can't speak for theirs, though. 

Anyway, I like to watch tough competitive basketball and Chicago will bring it if we play them.  We'll beat them if we deserve to, and if we can't get it done, so be it. 

Plus unlike Miami and LA I don't really have anything against them as a franchise.  So a loss wouldn't sting quite as badly.  But ultimately I just think it'll be an awesome series.

To be clear, I don't think anybody (us or the players) should be concerned with the Celtics' talent post-trade. It's exactly the cohesiveness that is lacking, and that cohesiveness is exactly what they ditched when they flipped half the roster.

I don't think the Celtics problem was that they didn't get talent back in the trade. They unquestionably have more talent now. But "talent" wasn't what the Celts chanted in pre-game huddles, and it wasn't what made them confident--they had a belief in that particular team that was really really strong, and I think the team is struggling to find that faith again.

[Green Hell]

Here's an article on Jeff Green wanting out of Boston.

http://blog.newsok.com/berrytramel/2011/03/02/thunder-does-jeff-green-regret-not-signing/

Essentially, he was in the same spot as Perk, played chicken with his contract extension and got burnt.

Really makes the trade look stupid if both players wanted to stay where they were in the first place.

The article is not about Green wanting out of boston. That article is about the columnist saying that Green looked lost and wondering if he wanted out of boston.

This isn't the be all, end all article about it. Just the easiest one I could find but you still get the gist of what people have been saying.

[celticinorlando]

The worst part about these threads is how transparent some people's agendas are. Really? So we are losing this game this way because of Jeff Green?

And it would be incredibly helpful if all those spreading rumors about how Green is unhappy, wanting out, etc etc at least present a source.

LOL LOL it is so comical, i swear. All this doom and gloom
You know the reason why they are angry? For bragging rights, to tell non-Celtic fans how good their team is playing

Lakers and Heat all had their bad stretches, but they are still the favorites to win. But somehow with the Celtics its no hope for them smh..

you know why we are angry? because we love the boston celtics. for me they are my favorite of favorites. has noting to do with bragging rights.

but a lot of us see the issues with this team and prefer to not ignore them. they are not plating good enough basketball to win right now. that is a fact. and there isn't much time to correct it.

this isn't like last year. last year they had the majority of the team together all year...that allowed them to cruise. this year they are still trying to figure things out with 5 games to play. they have not looked good for the majority of games after the all star break. so there is some real concern..doesn't mean they are less of a fan...but the way they are playing right now...it is hard to see them getting past miami in round 2...

i have watched this team since 1981. through the good and bad..so don't you dare imply that i am some johnny come lately.

[Original Creation]

The worst part about these threads is how transparent some people's agendas are. Really? So we are losing this game this way because of Jeff Green?

And it would be incredibly helpful if all those spreading rumors about how Green is unhappy, wanting out, etc etc at least present a source.

LOL LOL it is so comical, i swear. All this doom and gloom
You know the reason why they are angry? For bragging rights, to tell non-Celtic fans how good their team is playing

Lakers and Heat all had their bad stretches, but they are still the favorites to win. But somehow with the Celtics its no hope for them smh..

you know why we are angry? because we love the boston celtics. for me they are my favorite of favorites. has noting to do with bragging rights.

but a lot of us see the issues with this team and prefer to not ignore them. they are not plating good enough basketball to win right now. that is a fact. and there isn't much time to correct it.

this isn't like last year. last year they had the majority of the team together all year...that allowed them to cruise. this year they are still trying to figure things out with 5 games to play. they have not looked good for the majority of games after the all star break. so there is some real concern..doesn't mean they are less of a fan...but the way they are playing right now...it is hard to see them getting past miami in round 2...

i have watched this team since 1981. through the good and bad..so don't you dare imply that i am some johnny come lately.

Come on with it, man.  Don't feed us this "obviously this team was just cruising last year" job.  NO ONE on this board, save for one or two lonely optimists was singing that tune.  I'd say 95% of the "diehards" on here were calling for a first-round ouster due to the "cruising" that was ongoing. 

[OsirusCeltics]

The worst part about these threads is how transparent some people's agendas are. Really? So we are losing this game this way because of Jeff Green?

And it would be incredibly helpful if all those spreading rumors about how Green is unhappy, wanting out, etc etc at least present a source.

LOL LOL it is so comical, i swear. All this doom and gloom
You know the reason why they are angry? For bragging rights, to tell non-Celtic fans how good their team is playing

Lakers and Heat all had their bad stretches, but they are still the favorites to win. But somehow with the Celtics its no hope for them smh..

you know why we are angry? because we love the boston celtics. for me they are my favorite of favorites. has noting to do with bragging rights.

but a lot of us see the issues with this team and prefer to not ignore them. they are not plating good enough basketball to win right now. that is a fact. and there isn't much time to correct it.

this isn't like last year. last year they had the majority of the team together all year...that allowed them to cruise. this year they are still trying to figure things out with 5 games to play. they have not looked good for the majority of games after the all star break. so there is some real concern..doesn't mean they are less of a fan...but the way they are playing right now...it is hard to see them getting past miami in round 2...

i have watched this team since 1981. through the good and bad..so don't you dare imply that i am some johnny come lately.

And Lakers and Heat are playing well right now right?? Lakers are on a 3 game losing streak, Spurs have been inconsistent and Heat keep losing to bad teams, but no one says anything!
See, thats where Celtics fans become irrational.

[Original Creation]

In fact, I invite you go re-visit the game thread following the home loss to the Nets last year.  Anyone think the C's were just "cruising" in the wake of that awful loss?

[LB3533]

The worst part about these threads is how transparent some people's agendas are. Really? So we are losing this game this way because of Jeff Green?

And it would be incredibly helpful if all those spreading rumors about how Green is unhappy, wanting out, etc etc at least present a source.

LOL LOL it is so comical, i swear. All this doom and gloom
You know the reason why they are angry? For bragging rights, to tell non-Celtic fans how good their team is playing

Lakers and Heat all had their bad stretches, but they are still the favorites to win. But somehow with the Celtics its no hope for them smh..

you know why we are angry? because we love the boston celtics. for me they are my favorite of favorites. has noting to do with bragging rights.

but a lot of us see the issues with this team and prefer to not ignore them. they are not plating good enough basketball to win right now. that is a fact. and there isn't much time to correct it.

this isn't like last year. last year they had the majority of the team together all year...that allowed them to cruise. this year they are still trying to figure things out with 5 games to play. they have not looked good for the majority of games after the all star break. so there is some real concern..doesn't mean they are less of a fan...but the way they are playing right now...it is hard to see them getting past miami in round 2...

i have watched this team since 1981. through the good and bad..so don't you dare imply that i am some johnny come lately.

And Lakers and Heat are playing well right now right?? Lakers are on a 3 game losing streak, Spurs have been inconsistent and Heat keep losing to bad teams, but no one says anything!
See, thats where Celtics fans become irrational.

I think those respective fans are freaking out too.

[celticinorlando]

The worst part about these threads is how transparent some people's agendas are. Really? So we are losing this game this way because of Jeff Green?

And it would be incredibly helpful if all those spreading rumors about how Green is unhappy, wanting out, etc etc at least present a source.

LOL LOL it is so comical, i swear. All this doom and gloom
You know the reason why they are angry? For bragging rights, to tell non-Celtic fans how good their team is playing

Lakers and Heat all had their bad stretches, but they are still the favorites to win. But somehow with the Celtics its no hope for them smh..

you know why we are angry? because we love the boston celtics. for me they are my favorite of favorites. has noting to do with bragging rights.

but a lot of us see the issues with this team and prefer to not ignore them. they are not plating good enough basketball to win right now. that is a fact. and there isn't much time to correct it.

this isn't like last year. last year they had the majority of the team together all year...that allowed them to cruise. this year they are still trying to figure things out with 5 games to play. they have not looked good for the majority of games after the all star break. so there is some real concern..doesn't mean they are less of a fan...but the way they are playing right now...it is hard to see them getting past miami in round 2...

i have watched this team since 1981. through the good and bad..so don't you dare imply that i am some johnny come lately.

Come on with it, man.  Don't feed us this "obviously this team was just cruising last year" job.  NO ONE on this board, save for one or two lonely optimists was singing that tune.  I'd say 95% of the "diehards" on here were calling for a first-round ouster due to the "cruising" that was ongoing. 

i think a lot of people felt they were cruising last year. i mean even sheed said it. my point is they really only have 5 guys that have been here. they are trying to break in 7-8 guys in on the fly. it is very tough to do that. that is why i am concerned about them getting on a run.

we cannot assume just because they did it last year that they will be able to do it again...esp b/c the east is so much better this season

[celticinorlando]

lakers went 17-1 before these 3 losses. plus they have their core together

-spurs have clinched home court in the west

-miami holds a good chance of getting the 2 seed

-boston? most likely a 3 seed with more questions than any of those other teams

[dlpin]

i think a lot of people felt they were cruising last year. i mean even sheed said it. my point is they really only have 5 guys that have been here. they are trying to break in 7-8 guys in on the fly. it is very tough to do that. that is why i am concerned about them getting on a run.

we cannot assume just because they did it last year that they will be able to do it again...esp b/c the east is so much better this season

Last year the celtics only had 6 guys who had been here long term.

The struggles, whatever they are, have other causes than simply integrating players. Not saying it is not a fact, but even before the trade the celtics went 4-3 with Perkins as the starter, despite 6 of those games being at home.

[Original Creation]

The worst part about these threads is how transparent some people's agendas are. Really? So we are losing this game this way because of Jeff Green?

And it would be incredibly helpful if all those spreading rumors about how Green is unhappy, wanting out, etc etc at least present a source.

LOL LOL it is so comical, i swear. All this doom and gloom
You know the reason why they are angry? For bragging rights, to tell non-Celtic fans how good their team is playing

Lakers and Heat all had their bad stretches, but they are still the favorites to win. But somehow with the Celtics its no hope for them smh..

you know why we are angry? because we love the boston celtics. for me they are my favorite of favorites. has noting to do with bragging rights.

but a lot of us see the issues with this team and prefer to not ignore them. they are not plating good enough basketball to win right now. that is a fact. and there isn't much time to correct it.

this isn't like last year. last year they had the majority of the team together all year...that allowed them to cruise. this year they are still trying to figure things out with 5 games to play. they have not looked good for the majority of games after the all star break. so there is some real concern..doesn't mean they are less of a fan...but the way they are playing right now...it is hard to see them getting past miami in round 2...

i have watched this team since 1981. through the good and bad..so don't you dare imply that i am some johnny come lately.

Come on with it, man.  Don't feed us this "obviously this team was just cruising last year" job.  NO ONE on this board, save for one or two lonely optimists was singing that tune.  I'd say 95% of the "diehards" on here were calling for a first-round ouster due to the "cruising" that was ongoing. 

i think a lot of people felt they were cruising last year. i mean even sheed said it. my point is they really only have 5 guys that have been here. they are trying to break in 7-8 guys in on the fly. it is very tough to do that. that is why i am concerned about them getting on a run.

we cannot assume just because they did it last year that they will be able to do it again...esp b/c the east is so much better this season

I agree we cannot assume the C's can flip the switch again, but you also cannot say that this year's swoon is completely alien to last year's.  The rotation is being tinkered with by Doc, and he's willing to sacrifice a little bit now to have it right by the time Game 1 of the Real Season begins.

As far as the East being better this year, I very much disagree.  Last year's Cavaliers team was the best regular season team in the NBA by a long shot.  No contest.  People thought they would just roll to the Finals.  On top of that, Orlando was much better last year; Atlanta was much better last year.  The Bulls are a VERY good team this year, make no mistake.  But they aren't scripted to be world beaters.

[CelticG1]

Last week we beat the best team in the league this week we lose to the second best team.

Since it's not the beginning of the season we don't need any speculation or analyzing. We just need to wait a little over a week and we will be able to tell if this team has just been chillin recently or if they are flawed (just like last year). Tell me where im wrong?

[celticinorlando]

they have many more questions this year going into the playoffs than they did last year. health....chemistry...