Four games left, and the Celtics don't "know who [they] are"...

[Roy H.]

Does this concern anybody else?

"We made all the moves, so it's tough to really know who you are," Rivers said. "We knew that when we decided to do this. But we'll discover that and we've got to do a better job of figuring that out."

"We need to look in the mirror and find out who we are," added Jeff Green.

Link.

As Ken Berger says,

During their four-year run of relentless success, the Celtics have always been the team with no doubts about who and what they were. Until now.

Also from Doc:

Rivers said typically the team has a sense of its identity going into the playoffs. Asked if that sense was missing, Rivers said, “I would say that’s true, yeah.’’

Link.

I worry about this stuff.  I know a lot of people don't buy into the chemistry issue, but when the coach says that after 78 games the team doesn't have an identity, I worry. 

I'm hoping for the best with the playoffs.  There's a lot more downtime after the season and in between playoff games than normal, so hopefully this team can find a way to gel.  However, I'd be lying if I said I was particularly encouraged right now.

[Rondo2287]

Does this concern anybody else?

"We made all the moves, so it's tough to really know who you are," Rivers said. "We knew that when we decided to do this. But we'll discover that and we've got to do a better job of figuring that out."

"We need to look in the mirror and find out who we are," added Jeff Green.

Link.

As Ken Berger says,

During their four-year run of relentless success, the Celtics have always been the team with no doubts about who and what they were. Until now.

Also from Doc:

Rivers said typically the team has a sense of its identity going into the playoffs. Asked if that sense was missing, Rivers said, “I would say that’s true, yeah.’’

Link.

I worry about this stuff.  I know a lot of people don't buy into the chemistry issue, but when the coach says that after 78 games the team doesn't have an identity, I worry. 

I'm hoping for the best with the playoffs.  There's a lot more downtime after the season and in between playoff games than normal, so hopefully this team can find a way to gel.  However, I'd be lying if I said I was particularly encouraged right now.

I think 3 out of the four back up your statements roy, but the Jeff green quote I take more to mean whether or not they are true contenders or if they are going to roll over.  Not what the team identity is, like the other have been tough and great defensively etc.

[Rondo2287]

And yes, Im usually a positive guy, but between the celtics and sox im not having a good week 

[Who]

Once Shaq returns and Jermaine is no longer minutes limited, the team will have it's identity.

Until then, it doesn't.

[Rondo2287]

Once Shaq returns and Jermaine is no longer minutes limited, the team will have it's identity.

Until then, it doesn't.

What if shaq doesn't come back but Jermaine isnt minutes limited.  Will we have what it takes?

[BballTim]

  I think people would be more concerned if they said they didn't have any issues at all.

[Who]

Once Shaq returns and Jermaine is no longer minutes limited, the team will have it's identity.

Until then, it doesn't.

What if shaq doesn't come back but Jermaine isnt minutes limited.  Will we have what it takes?

If Jermaine can play around 30 minutes a night, that will be enough to give the Celtics a shot at a title.

It'll be a weakened team but still very talented and dangerous.

[kozlodoev]

Once Shaq returns and Jermaine is no longer minutes limited, the team will have it's identity.

Until then, it doesn't.

It's sad to think that a team with 3 hall of famers and 1 all-star needs the fifth guy in the starting lineup to come back so that they gain an identity.

They played more than half a season with Garnett out not so long ago -- and they knew perfectly well who they were.

[cman88]

Once Shaq returns and Jermaine is no longer minutes limited, the team will have it's identity.

Until then, it doesn't.

What if shaq doesn't come back but Jermaine isnt minutes limited.  Will we have what it takes?

probably not....right now the celtics are playing small..possibly to ensure that JO doesnt get injured after what happened to shaq tweaking his calf...

we need Shaq/JO to give us 15-20minutesw each during the playoffs to give us size and defense in the post...something we dont have right now

we need a real center playing at the 5 for the celtics to be effective....BBD/Kristic arent that

[Roy H.]

  I think people would be more concerned if they said they didn't have any issues at all.

Maybe.  With me personally, I'd feel a lot better if guys were saying that they're trying some things out, trying to maintain energy for the playoffs, etc.

What worries me is that what we keep hearing is "We're trying, but we're just not good enough" or "We don't have an identity" or "We're still trying to build on court chemistry".  That's not encouraging to me.

I absolutely think that Shaq will make a difference if he's healthy.  However, I'm not sure if he'll be enough to suddenly restore the identity that Doc seems to think was lost.

[Evantime34]

Hopefully they take the first round to discover there identity. The first round should allow them to work some stuff out because they have less of a chance of losing games.

[cman88]

The C's are just such a soft team right now with Kristic/Baby taking most of the Center minutes...teams are pushing them around...

I think once you get shaq back, and JO plays extended minutes in the playoffs the C's will have their identity back

[Who]

It is not so much that the fifth starter (Shaq/JO) creates the identity as they enable the identity that already exists to flourish.

Which is as much about the replacement players (BBD, Krstic, T.Murphy) as it is about Shaq and JO. It's their inability to provide adequate defense/rebounding/physical presence that is causing inconsistencies in the Celtics play.

Once those inconsistencies are minimized, the team will regain it's form and confidence in who they already are.

And you can see that in how they play when Jermaine is on the floor since he has returned.

[Who]

Which is as much about the replacement players (BBD, Krstic, T.Murphy) as it is about Shaq and JO. It's their inability to provide adequate defense/rebounding/physical presence that is causing inconsistencies in the Celtics play.

I don't mean to knock Glen Davis too much here. He is part of the solution going forward ... Davis is a guy that can provide physical play and solid defense.

However, Glen Davis is playing too many minutes and has too responsibility on his shoulder ... and frankly, he looks wrecked. Knackered. Fatigued. Burnt out.

He doesn't have the freshness / energy / intensity that he normally plays with ... and it's hurting his game (especially on the defensive end). He needs to be given some rest.

[Rondo2287]

It is not so much that the fifth starter (Shaq/JO) creates the identity as they enable the identity that already exists to flourish.

Which is as much about the replacement players (BBD, Krstic, T.Murphy) as it is about Shaq and JO. It's their inability to provide adequate defense/rebounding/physical presence that is causing inconsistencies in the Celtics play.

Once those inconsistencies are minimized, the team will regain it's form and confidence in who they already are.

And you can see that in how they play when Jermaine is on the floor since he has returned.

Even if he is a non-factor offensively, werent we told that troy murphy could help on the defensive glass?  that is where we have been getting killed.