this is why Rest is overrated

[cltc5]

It was an off night.  It happens

[Q_FBE]

We already have one Debbie downer thread. Only Sixty Six to go. The Celtics got outplayed tonight. Just like twice in Toronto, twice in Philly, twice against Detriot, and now probably twice against Atlanta.

[gpap]

I didn't like the decision to sit our starters during the Atlanta game, but I still think we'll win this series.

Well said. If the Celts won that last reg season game in Atlanta, then the Celts have HCA and the series takes on a different complexion.

[Celtics4ever]

Our guys could have rested or played up to the game it would not have mattered.  ATL was hot and as hot as I have ever seen them, they made some ridiculous shots.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

Atlanta was SMOKING hot in the first half. The Celtics could've had no rest and be ready and did all the things they might have forgotten to do, and they still would be getting roasted this game.

Let's move on and worry about Game 2.

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

I love how we are assuming rest is to blame because they are out of "rhythm" what a load of crap.

Why don't think get out of "rhythm" after say the all star break, or a 3 or 4 day period between games..?

So sitting on the bench and watching the team play a game or two causes them to lose "rhythm"?

Love the sports cliche's. Sitting out a couple days is NOT negative by any stretch. Be real.

All Star was like 3-4 days, our guys sat for almost 2 weeks! PP forced Doc to play him during that Mia game because he said he NEEDS rhythm! You can see KG needs it too because once he got into the flow SECOND half he started making his shots!

If these guys didn't get most of their points off jumpers, rhythm wouldn't mean much but they do! That's why we looked like garbage earlier in the season, we had no rhythm!! We started to get it together b4 All Star and it got even better after!


We will win game two because it looks like most of our guys knocked the rust off second half! LET'S GO!!

[banty19]

I think the rest angle is definitely legitimate. Sure, they were still practicing and preparing for the game, probably a lot. But there's a huge difference between practice speed and playoff speed. And I think there's something to be said for basically mentally checking out over the last week or so. Basketball's a game of rhythm and they certainly didn't have it to start.

[ManchesterCelticsFan]

Rest is about the long-run, so the C's won't get gassed again like in the 4th Quarter of Game 7 of the 2010 NBA Finals. I'd rather sacrifice some rhythm in 1st Quarter or Half of Game 1 of the Playoffs than sacrifice the alternative.

[gar]

I think there are two issues. Rust and conceding the Atlanta game when we could have easily won home court. They are obviously related. But Garrnet and Pierce have always had trouble coming off of long rests and should not have been a surprise. If Doc is going to make these decisions, it is his responsibility to get the team ready and they didn't seem ready.

[LB3533]

I did a quick look over our schedule this season.

Looks like we went 4-4 in games when we had 2 or more days of rest in between games.

Our offense was something like 87.6 points per game, so that tells you we probably won those 4 games mostly based on our defense.

If you look at the Hawks in Game 1, they were not that great on offense, save for the 1st Quarter. But our offense was putrid, save for limiting our turnovers. (Which was the only reason why this wasn't a 20+ point blowout.)

[bfrombleacher]

I think it's injury prevention just as much as rest.

Dude. How many of you have played basketball your entire lives? Eat, sleep, breathe.

You don't lose it after a couple days off. PLAIN AND SIMPLE. Pierce was garbage tonight. It wasn't because of rest. Tired of the lame excuses.

They lost because they played terrible.

This isn't basketball...this is professional basketball. I'd imagine there's a difference.

[Kane3387]

Rest or no rest there was no sense of urgency in the first qtr. We fell down by 17-19 points and were never able to climb out of that hole. The sense of urgency will hopefully change.

[mctyson]

the celtics look RUSTY...you can tell they are a team that hasnt played in the last couple of weeks.

pierce/KG look out of sorts. I think we will be much better tuesday..but im not liking how out of sorts we look out there

Who looked the worst on the court for the C's last night? 

Brandon Bass.

Bass got no preferential treatment or rest at the end of the season.