We use up 10-12 seconds just to find Ray.

[wdleehi]

The picks and screens have not been as effective.  Ray is not getting the same amount of space. 

In the NBA, it is rare to get much space.  Ray just needed that little.  That little is even smaller now. 

[Chris]

The picks and screens have not been as effective.  Ray is not getting the same amount of space. 

In the NBA, it is rare to get much space.  Ray just needed that little.  That little is even smaller now. 

I think its a combination of the picks and screens being slightly less effective (although I don't think this has been as bad as some suggest), Rays legs are just a little slower (from fatigue, but also the mental fatigue of being at this point in the season), and defenses know exactly what's coming.

I really think the best way to get Ray back into it, is to stop looking for him.  Currently, they are zeroing in on him, like Brady would on Moss, and defenses are just taking it away.  In order for it to open back up, they are going to need to make a concerted effort to run some different plays. 

[MBz]

The picks and screens have not been as effective.  Ray is not getting the same amount of space. 

In the NBA, it is rare to get much space.  Ray just needed that little.  That little is even smaller now. 

I think its a combination of the picks and screens being slightly less effective (although I don't think this has been as bad as some suggest), Rays legs are just a little slower (from fatigue, but also the mental fatigue of being at this point in the season), and defenses know exactly what's coming.

I really think the best way to get Ray back into it, is to stop looking for him.  Currently, they are zeroing in on him, like Brady would on Moss, and defenses are just taking it away.  In order for it to open back up, they are going to need to make a concerted effort to run some different plays. 

The other thing is we have no inside scoring.  Rondo and Pierce need to start attacking the basket more to open things up on the outside so Ray can get that space.  Though I do think the screens could improve, I don't think the screens being set are so bad that it's having a major impact.  KG is another guy who needs to get inside and start playing with his back to the basket a little.  Right now, the first option for everyone on this team is a jump shot and sometimes that's fine, but you need to have that inside presence to start the game so those jump shots become available.  I thought we had issues with this last season as well, where we stopped looking inside and started settling on 15-18 footers.  I understand with no Shaq that it is going to be tough to get points inside, but we're going to have to start having guys who wouldn't normally post up to do so.  Pierce and Allen used to have good post up games, but they've seem to gone away from it as of late.  Depending on match ups, I'd have no issue getting those guys on the block.

[ballin]

We were trying to get Ray going is what you want to do only they knew all our fricken plays.

This is so true. Even casual observers should be familiar with all our plays by now. I mean, the Ray Allen curl is one of the pre-programmed plays in freaking NBA 2k11. It's even run with Ray Allen curling to his right, exactly as he does in-game. I mean, I don't think I've ever even seen him switch up sides.

Most teams know most other teams' plays; that shouldn't make a play worthless and it usually doesn't. However, it seems like Thibs has gone the extra mile to get his guys to anticipate the plays and react accordingly. Especially against the C's.

We can't keep running the same stuff and expecting it to work.

[LarBrd33]

Chicago's defense is legit, but Boston's offense has been crap right now.  I think they can still get it together.

[EJPLAYA]

Definitely too much pounding the ball by Rondo at times, but I gotta give Ray props, he was working hard off the ball to get open tonight, but Bogans was getting away with murder, holding Ray, hooking his arms, fouling people getting around picks ... he should've had six fouls by halftime! Seriously, Ray was getting mugged by Bogans all night long, and I think he only had like two or three whistles.

Thats when we need to have KG set a "painful knock you down" pick to teach Bogans a lesson. I'll live with the offensive foul or even the technical from it. That or bring in a bench guy to do it. He'll think next time he tries to go through that pick.