Keys to game 5 in Miami

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

no nonsense, let's get right to it.

1) Play great team defense for 48 minutes. get stops,get rebounds,  get turnovers, steals, loose balls, etc. 

2) Some big guy (Steamer, Hollins, or maybe even Williams) can get in and protect the basket when KG is out. I really think this is a huge key to the game. whatever it takes make this happen. Somebody please step up.

3) Limit Miamis runs. We cannot afford anymore double digit runs which make our leads vanish better than Keyser Soze. Limit them to 4 or 5 points MAX.

4) We must be aggressive and attack the rack all game for 48 minutes with ALL PLAYERS. Try to get around defenders to avoid charges if he is close to planting his feet in order to draw the charge. draw fouls. get easy buckets.

5) Use young fresh legs on the bench if for no other reason than to run on miami in transition to possibly get some easy bucket. Let Daniels, Dooling, and maybe Moore run while others rest.

6) make miami beat us from outside. no more easy baskets for them.play zone if need be.

I am not sure if Bosh is playing, if so we will have to see what we have to adjust to. if not, keep shutting down wade and make lebron get the points and try to limit chalmers and miller and battier and haslem. Anyone else feel free to add you feelings.

[slamtheking]

Biggest key to the game: having more points at the end of the game.

I can't see Miami coming out and laying an egg to start the game.  would love it, but can't see it.  Also would love a fairly officiated game tonight but can't see that either playing in Miami.

I think it comes down to the C's weathering the initial Heat surge in the 1st and 3rd quarters and staying close enough to snatch a victory at the end.

[anthony83]

no nonsense, let's get right to it.

1) Play great team defense for 48 minutes. get stops,get rebounds,  get turnovers, steals, loose balls, etc. 

2) Some big guy (Steamer, Hollins, or maybe even Williams) can get in and protect the basket when KG is out. I really think this is a huge key to the game. whatever it takes make this happen. Somebody please step up.

3) Limit Miamis runs. We cannot afford anymore double digit runs which make our leads vanish better than Keyser Soze. Limit them to 4 or 5 points MAX.

4) We must be aggressive and attack the rack all game for 48 minutes with ALL PLAYERS. Try to get around defenders to avoid charges if he is close to planting his feet in order to draw the charge. draw fouls. get easy buckets.

5) Use young fresh legs on the bench if for no other reason than to run on miami in transition to possibly get some easy bucket. Let Daniels, Dooling, and maybe Moore run while others rest.

6) make miami beat us from outside. no more easy baskets for them.play zone if need be.

I am not sure if Bosh is playing, if so we will have to see what we have to adjust to. if not, keep shutting down wade and make lebron get the points and try to limit chalmers and miller and battier and haslem. Anyone else feel free to add you feelings.

I agree, but beyond all, the direction of Rondo will once again be crucial, he has to keep entering and trying not to lose balls. Also, if we get a lead on the scoreboard, we must know how to manage this, this is a problem for a while. The rebound, not to grant quick game to Miami ... and especially Ray Allen have a great day in the shot, I see Ray better, he seems to be better physically. Our bench, Dooling, Daniels played very well, Pietrus not. And obviously our Paul Pierce, control with foul trouble.  KG, once again is our soul on the court, their defense and consistency. Go Celtics

[rayallen1934]

good post



but its still hilarious how board members still try to fit in Moore and even Sean Williams into the equation. I dont understand what the thought process is when you guys say these things. 

Tongue and cheek though

[Fafnir]

Biggest key to the game: having more points at the end of the game.

Thanks Madden.

My biggest thought is that getting out to a good start, especially against Bosh will be big. The Heat will have big runs and the C's will have some scoreless stretches. The best way to survive those two things is to have a cushion.

[D Dub]

Rondo needs to stay aggressive in the 2nd half & keep taking the open 17 footer.

Also, we need find out if Bosh can defend the rim.  Going up to challenge a shot is essentially the same motion that got him injured, he could be a huge defensive liability for Miami...

[Celtics18]

Biggest key to the game: having more points at the end of the game.

Thanks Madden.

My biggest thought is that getting out to a good start, especially against Bosh will be big. The Heat will have big runs and the C's will have some scoreless stretches. The best way to survive those two things is to have a cushion.

I like that we were able to get out to big leads and preserve them back in Boston.  This may sound crazy, but I'm starting to think we might just be better off being close at halftime, forcing us to come out and play that 3rd quarter with some more energy.  

The Celtics seem to be unable to play aggressively for a full 48 when playing with a big lead.  I think it's easier said than done to not play with that "protect the lead" mentality that they've shown in the last two.  

Maybe tonight in Miami, Rondo coasts a little bit in the first half, dumping the ball to Paul or KG  or waiting for Ray to come off screens for most of it, and then in the 3rd comes out and takes over the game in Rondo fashion.  

[Mr October]

Play hard and smart. Attack the basket, but dont plow through as many charge/flop defenses. At that point pull up and shoot.

Hopefully a role player or 2 can get hot for a quarter again. (thanks Dooling)

[Kuberski33]

Honestly we're at the point where you have to win 2 games by whatever means possible.  They have to find a way, bottom line.

Expect the Heat to come out strong and probably open up a lead...have to withstand that and play it one possession at a time.  You can trail the whole game as long as you pull ahead by one at the end...If the Celtics win it, may end up being that type of game.

[Bastone]

Two words and we will be ok:  BALL MOVEMENT !!!

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Two words and we will be ok:  BALL MOVEMENT !!!

ahhh yes, good point! i also happen to agree for some reason with the poster above who said we just MIGHT finish better if we are very close or tied at the half. May keep us focused better the rest of the way?? It is possible. I agree though let's weather the storm and find a way to win in the end. We just cannot afford to go down by many though. The fact we were down by 8 in game 2 and came back to take the lead is a testament to their willpower. Although that was after we blew a 15 point lead. We cannot afford for miami to make big runs. we just can't. unless we are up big again.  Even then I am not sure if my nerves could take much more of that.  They are shot to hell now. 

[JSD]

the key to game 5 is to not allow it to end in a tie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x6zukS5g1K4

[2short]

the celtics have to play in a way that the refs cannot influence the game enough for miami to win
force their hand in calling fouls on the heat, make sure the game's momentum cannot be changed enough for a big miami run

[mctyson]

no nonsense, let's get right to it.


6) make miami beat us from outside. no more easy baskets for them.play zone if need be.

The Heat have only clearly outplayed the Celtics for one game, Game 1.  In that game, they were getting a lot of points at the rim, on uncontested layups.  The C's defense was porous.

Since then, in each game, the Celtics have gotten progressively better at forcing the Heat to hit jumpers.  I don't know about everyone else, but I am perfectly fine with Lebron and Wade shooting over us.  I know they can get hot and put a lot of points up in a hurry, but they are both average jump shooters and average-to-below average 3pt shooters.

By letting James and Wade shoot outside, we also take away the 3's for Miller, Chalmers, Jones, etc...who get their looks primarily on kick outs by James and Wade.

If we lose Game 5 because Lebron and/or Wade shoot the lights out, I will live with it.  Contest their shots by all means, but stop the penetration, no easy layups, limit the shots at the foul line.

Do this and we will be OK.

[slamtheking]

Biggest key to the game: having more points at the end of the game.

Thanks Madden.

you're welcome