Just got home from the game.....

[BC1996]

Just wanted to say a few things.  I'm a long time lurker but I rarely post.  Part of the reason I'm not an active poster is because I get extremely frustrated with some of the negativity during rough patches.  With that being said, I would like to say a few things on behalf of all the die hard fans who never lost faith.

1.  I NEVER wanted this team to get blown up.  The culture of pride, grit, and pure determination that has developed over the past five years isn't worth losing.  Many people don't understand the importance of continuity going forward.  I've always been a proponent of bridging the gap between the present and future.  The culture within this team is special and should be a huge factor in determining our direction going forward.

2.  We should all feel extremely fortunate to have a group of players like this, as well as a coach who refuses to let them lose faith in their ability to win as a team.

3.  As fans we need to recognize character and mental toughness in our role players even when times are tough.  Guys like Dooling and Marquis are perfect examples.  I have seen numerous threads about how these guys should have been released or traded.

As a fan I try to look at the big picture.  I realize that certain players will go through lengthy stretches of poor play.  However, I always believe that they will come up with a great effort at some point during a game in the playoffs.  This belief goes hand in hand with the organizations culture. 

Nate Robinson's performance in 2010 is another example.  His impact was minimal for large portion of the postseason but he managed to rise to the occasion at the right time.

I'll end this by saying that I love this team and I'm extremely optimistic about both the present and future.

GO CELTICS!   

   

[Bahku]

Just wanted to say a few things.  I'm a long time lurker but I rarely post.  Part of the reason I'm not an active poster is because I get extremely frustrated with some of the negativity during rough patches.  With that being said, I would like to say a few things on behalf of all the die hard fans who never lost faith.

1.  I NEVER wanted this team to get blown up.  The culture of pride, grit, and pure determination that has developed over the past five years isn't worth losing.  Many people don't understand the importance of continuity going forward.  I've always been a proponent of bridging the gap between the present and future.  The culture within this team is special and should be a huge factor in determining our direction going forward.

2.  We should all feel extremely fortunate to have a group of players like this, as well as a coach who refuses to let them lose faith in their ability to win as a team.

3.  As fans we need to recognize character and mental toughness in our role players even when times are tough.  Guys like Dooling and Marquis are perfect examples.  I have seen numerous threads about how these guys should have been released or traded.

As a fan I try to look at the big picture.  I realize that certain players will go through lengthy stretches of poor play.  However, I always believe that they will come up with a great effort at some point during a game in the playoffs.  This belief goes hand in hand with the organizations culture. 

Nate Robinson's performance in 2010 is another example.  His impact was minimal for large portion of the postseason but he managed to rise to the occasion at the right time.

I'll end this by saying that I love this team and I'm extremely optimistic about both the present and future.

GO CELTICS!   

   

TP ... great post.

Posey and Powe are two others who perfectly demonstrated that Celtic Post-Season Pride, IMO ... digging down deep to find that extra spark.

I love this team.

[BC1996]

Just wanted to say a few things.  I'm a long time lurker but I rarely post.  Part of the reason I'm not an active poster is because I get extremely frustrated with some of the negativity during rough patches.  With that being said, I would like to say a few things on behalf of all the die hard fans who never lost faith.

1.  I NEVER wanted this team to get blown up.  The culture of pride, grit, and pure determination that has developed over the past five years isn't worth losing.  Many people don't understand the importance of continuity going forward.  I've always been a proponent of bridging the gap between the present and future.  The culture within this team is special and should be a huge factor in determining our direction going forward.

2.  We should all feel extremely fortunate to have a group of players like this, as well as a coach who refuses to let them lose faith in their ability to win as a team.

3.  As fans we need to recognize character and mental toughness in our role players even when times are tough.  Guys like Dooling and Marquis are perfect examples.  I have seen numerous threads about how these guys should have been released or traded.

As a fan I try to look at the big picture.  I realize that certain players will go through lengthy stretches of poor play.  However, I always believe that they will come up with a great effort at some point during a game in the playoffs.  This belief goes hand in hand with the organizations culture. 

Nate Robinson's performance in 2010 is another example.  His impact was minimal for large portion of the postseason but he managed to rise to the occasion at the right time.

I'll end this by saying that I love this team and I'm extremely optimistic about both the present and future.

GO CELTICS!   

   

TP ... great post.

Posey and Powe are two others who perfectly demonstrated that Celtic Post-Season Pride, IMO ... digging down deep to find that extra spark.

I love this team.

I couldn't agree more.  When it comes to role players I can deal with tough stretches, especially on the offensive end.  What you want is a group of guys who play with maximum effort and understand the system.  Eventually the big games will come   even if it's the last guy off the bench.

It's obviously nice to have a true 6th man type, but I'll take a group of players who "buy in" and are able to remain poised throughout the ups and down of the postseason.

[frombirdtogarnett]

Why are we all acting like we won the series? We won ONE game. Lets win a few more before posts like this.

[Bahku]

.

[Terry3]

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[Bahku]

Why are we all acting like we won the series? We won ONE game. Lets win a few more before posts like this.

Having been "around these parts" for some time now, I don't think there's any danger of there being too much optimism on this blog, or too much excitement from a win, (after being robbed of one two days before).

After all the discouragement, injuries, old age slams, horrendous officiating, and negativity, I find threads and posts like these a breath of fresh air.

I like fresh air, (and I don't think anyone assumes we've won this series) ... let's take a deep breath for a change.

[BC1996]

Why are we all acting like we won the series? We won ONE game. Lets win a few more before posts like this.

It's funny you say that because my post is rooted in thoughts that I've had since the beginning of the season.  Never did I say anything about winning the series.  Everything I said stands true   in mind regardless of what happens the rest of the way.  I just think we are very fortunate fans to be rooting for a group like this.

[Celtics4ever]

We avoided the broom which is always good....

[clover]

Thinking Danny should make moves to retool isn't necessarily 'negativity', it's an opinion on best next steps for the team going forward.  He can't keep rolling out the same team forever into the future.

That said, it's good to see the players dig down and play their best any time of the year, but especially the deeper into the playoffs they go.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

We avoided the broom which is always good....

yeah, well, let's focus now on one game at a time and the fact as of right now, every game is a must win for us in reality because we know we will not get any breaks in a game 7 in miami if it goes to that. Heck we will probably have to steal game 5 in miami. Game 4 will be the true test to see if we can get back in the series and maybe, just maybe start casting some doubt in the miami cheats heads. Frustrate Lebron and Wade maybe? It looked like Lebron carried that team in the 4th quarter. I do not like the fcat we were detroying them by 24 and we could only hold on to a 10 point win? we lost 14 of those point! Can we hold on to the majority of our leads from here on out?? I could live with the heat cutting it to 18 or maybe even 16 but not down to 10. I am not trying to be picky but letting them cut that much into our once lead is concerning to me. we really need to stop these miami runs. that is how you frustrate them. never let them get a run going. never. answer the bell everytime on offense. 

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Just wanted to say a few things.  I'm a long time lurker but I rarely post.  Part of the reason I'm not an active poster is because I get extremely frustrated with some of the negativity during rough patches.  With that being said, I would like to say a few things on behalf of all the die hard fans who never lost faith.

1.  I NEVER wanted this team to get blown up.  The culture of pride, grit, and pure determination that has developed over the past five years isn't worth losing.  Many people don't understand the importance of continuity going forward.  I've always been a proponent of bridging the gap between the present and future.  The culture within this team is special and should be a huge factor in determining our direction going forward.

2.  We should all feel extremely fortunate to have a group of players like this, as well as a coach who refuses to let them lose faith in their ability to win as a team.

3.  As fans we need to recognize character and mental toughness in our role players even when times are tough.  Guys like Dooling and Marquis are perfect examples.  I have seen numerous threads about how these guys should have been released or traded.

As a fan I try to look at the big picture.  I realize that certain players will go through lengthy stretches of poor play.  However, I always believe that they will come up with a great effort at some point during a game in the playoffs.  This belief goes hand in hand with the organizations culture. 

Nate Robinson's performance in 2010 is another example.  His impact was minimal for large portion of the postseason but he managed to rise to the occasion at the right time.

I'll end this by saying that I love this team and I'm extremely optimistic about both the present and future.

GO CELTICS!   

   

I love this team.

agreed.KG is a warrior. just a warrior! finally our bench is stepping up. finally we are playing smarter going to the rack more and more.

[RyNye]

I was at the game too! I have never seen a crowd more ruthless than the one in the Garden last night.

During most of the 4th quarter, the referees were doing everything they could to give the game to the Heat. Seriously, the calls down that stretch were even worse than the ones down the stretch of game 2 that cost us that ball game. Some of these were just atrocious: there was KG grabbing the offensive rebound, getting grabbed on both arms by two Heat players (neither of them even touched the ball), and getting a technical called on HIM; there was Brandon Bass getting an offensive foul cal even though the defender was about a foot inside the circle; there was Lebron James hitting Paul Pierce on the head and not getting called; there was Chalmers not getting touched at ALL on a baseline drive and getting a call; there were several times the refs swallowed their whistles until AFTER the Heat missed a shot then gave them a bail-out; uncalled travels (although Marquis Daniels got away with one of those, too, so I can't complain that much); etc. etc.

With about 3 minutes left, I think the refs realized that the crowd would literally not let them out of there alive if they kept up the terrible calls. They knew what they were doing, and realized that everyone else did, too, and promptly gave Rondo and Pierce a couple of calls their way, and the rest was of the game was smooth sailing.

Love that home cookin'!

[KevinGamble]

I was at the game too! I have never seen a crowd more ruthless than the one in the Garden last night.

During most of the 4th quarter, the referees were doing everything they could to give the game to the Heat. Seriously, the calls down that stretch were even worse than the ones down the stretch of game 2 that cost us that ball game. Some of these were just atrocious: there was KG grabbing the offensive rebound, getting grabbed on both arms by two Heat players (neither of them even touched the ball), and getting a technical called on HIM; there was Brandon Bass getting an offensive foul cal even though the defender was about a foot inside the circle; there was Lebron James hitting Paul Pierce on the head and not getting called; there was Chalmers not getting touched at ALL on a baseline drive and getting a call; there were several times the refs swallowed their whistles until AFTER the Heat missed a shot then gave them a bail-out; uncalled travels (although Marquis Daniels got away with one of those, too, so I can't complain that much); etc. etc.

With about 3 minutes left, I think the refs realized that the crowd would literally not let them out of there alive if they kept up the terrible calls. They knew what they were doing, and realized that everyone else did, too, and promptly gave Rondo and Pierce a couple of calls their way, and the rest was of the game was smooth sailing.

Love that home cookin'!

Nice post. 
I just got back from a roadtrip to see the Celtics win game 3, and it was awesome.  you know the crowd looks so lame and uninterested and quiet the way Comcast shows it on tv most the time, but being there was a blast.  I yelled my head off all 4 quarters from way back in nose bleed island.  The garden was rocking and the energy was tangible on the court.

I pass the torch to all of you going for game 4, and...If you go to the game, remember: you can always yell louder than you think you can.

[Russell1]

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