If anyone believes the Celtics won't bring it game 3, think again.

[Senninsage]

I don't need to say much, but the Celtics realize that they really let this one get away from them today. I say they go into Philly and take both. Remember I said this.

[Celtics18]

I definitely think they'll bring it in game 3, just like they always do.

Hopefully, they can regain home court advantage.

[apc]

I am not as confident as you are (i wish i was).
I will not be surprised if its a blowout going there way.
those Sixes have a lot of guys who can shoot the ball, and they just got way more confident after tonight

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I am not as confident as you are (i wish i was).
I will not be surprised if its a blowout going there way.
those Sixes have a lot of guys who can shoot the ball, and they just got way more confident after tonight

Nor am I as confident. I can see Boston losing Game 3 and finding itself in a virtual must-win Game 4 (in order to regain some momentum). Boston specializes in playing down to lesser opponents and giving them confidence, instead of just taking care of business the first time.

[Kane3387]

I think we will win both games in Philly.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

I think we will win both games in Philly.

I atee with you. Tody was a case of circus shots falling for Philly. I bet it wouldn't happen again.

[esel1000]

I can see them taking at least one...im not that optimistic that they'll take both, thanks to tonight this may very well have gone from a 5/6 game to a 7 game series...and thats not necessarily with the celtics winning it. bad bad loss

[Senninsage]

The Celtics will not want to put themselves in a situation where they are down 2-1. I just don't see it happening. Consider what Philly needed to win tonight. Those are some straight out of the circus shots. And they needed us to have the worst offensive stretch we've had all season long in the 3rd quarter of tonight's game, and even then we still nearly won.

[17wasEZ]

I don't need to say much, but the Celtics realize that they really let this one get away from them today. I say they go into Philly and take both. Remember I said this.

It? Luggage? Uniforms? Practice gear?  What is "it" of which you speak?    J/k  I fully expect the Celtics to treat game 3 as a must win.  Funny, but I can now envision this series going to a game 7. 

[guava_wrench]

They will bring it, and so will Philly. Hopefully we can win.

[cman88]

When their backs are against the wall the celtics usually come up big...see game 2 vs. Atlanta.

So I fully expect the c's to come out with some urgency and take game 3

[jgod213]

C's shoulda lost by 15+ tonight.  That was one of the ugliest offensive performances i've ever been forced to witness.

The 6ers won by 1.

This series is still over in 5, maybe 6.  I'm going to go ahead and jump in with Kane.  Celtics take 2 in Phili.

[mctyson]

I don't need to say much, but the Celtics realize that they really let this one get away from them today. I say they go into Philly and take both. Remember I said this.

Unfortunately that is not the point.  We are playing our starting SF almost 38 minutes a game and this is what we are getting from him:

PER: 17.10  Rank: 47th

Our starting PF is getting 30 minutes and is giving us this:

PER: 10.75  Rank: 107th  Value Added: -2.7

Here is what we are getting at the SG:

Bradley -  25 Minutes, PER: 8.16  Rank: 128th  Value Added: -7.0

Ray - 30 Minutes, PER: 16.12  Rank: 51st 

Remember that the average NBA player has a PER of 15.  By my rough calculations, that is a (weighted) average of PER = 13.3 for those 4 players.

Getting those numbers from our starting SGs, SF and PF, who are combined taking up 53% of the entire team's minutes, just isn't going to cut it. 

Our backup for Pierce (Pietrus) ranks almost last in PER these playoffs, and we don't really have a backup PF. Hollins and Stiesma are both in the bottom ranks of PER.  The only bench player we have at the PER average is Dooling.

So it really isn't a matter of bringing it.  Our team, as a whole, is not performing well right now, including the Atlanta series.  Everyone besides KG and Rondo are playing like average to below average NBA players. 

So either our two superstars (KG and Rondo) carry us in Games 3 and 4, or someone in the above group changes course and does something for us.  I think it has to be a combination of players slightly upping their game.  The only ones who can really turn it around for us are Bass and Bradley, who are playing 3-4 points below their regular season PERs.  Pierces is 2 points lower, but I don't think he can raise his game with the knee problem.

We need to play to our capabilities or we will lose this series. 

[Q_FBE]

I am sure the Celtics will give it their best effort. They just need to play better in all three phases of the game and stay strong mentally. I know they can play better. I am not sure Philly can play better.

[17wasEZ]

I don't need to say much, but the Celtics realize that they really let this one get away from them today. I say they go into Philly and take both. Remember I said this.

Unfortunately that is not the point.  We are playing our starting SF almost 38 minutes a game and this is what we are getting from him:

PER: 17.10  Rank: 47th

Our starting PF is getting 30 minutes and is giving us this:

PER: 10.75  Rank: 107th  Value Added: -2.7

Here is what we are getting at the SG:

Bradley -  25 Minutes, PER: 8.16  Rank: 128th  Value Added: -7.0

Ray - 30 Minutes, PER: 16.12  Rank: 51st 

Remember that the average NBA player has a PER of 15.  By my rough calculations, that is a (weighted) average of PER = 13.3 for those 4 players.

Getting those numbers from our starting SGs, SF and PF, who are combined taking up 53% of the entire team's minutes, just isn't going to cut it. 

Our backup for Pierce (Pietrus) ranks almost last in PER these playoffs, and we don't really have a backup PF. Hollins and Stiesma are both in the bottom ranks of PER.  The only bench player we have at the PER average is Dooling.

So it really isn't a matter of bringing it.  Our team, as a whole, is not performing well right now, including the Atlanta series.  Everyone besides KG and Rondo are playing like average to below average NBA players. 

So either our two superstars (KG and Rondo) carry us in Games 3 and 4, or someone in the above group changes course and does something for us.  I think it has to be a combination of players slightly upping their game.  The only ones who can really turn it around for us are Bass and Bradley, who are playing 3-4 points below their regular season PERs.  Pierces is 2 points lower, but I don't think he can raise his game with the knee problem.

We need to play to our capabilities or we will lose this series. 

Thank you for the break down!