What we learned after one game

[pearljammer10]

Doc needs to realize that we are much better when we run... Slowing the ball down at the start of the second half absolutely killed us.

Rondo needs to drive more, attack more, and continue to be more aggressive.

The offense can no longer be run through KG. He is our anchor on defense, but is not the player he should be on offense.

We need a second defensive anchor to learn from KG and take over once he is completely done. COUGH Josh Smith COUGH

The defense (and the team in general) is going to take a while to gel and gain chemistry.

Pierce is going to have a great, efficient year, and will probably get more shots without ray in the starting lineup.

Barbosa needs to get minutes!

The offense should be run through Bass taking elbow/free throw line jumpers because I swear he doesnt miss that shot. Ever. I mean, seriously.

Did I mention that Doc needs to realize we are better when we RUN!

[KGs Knee]

The other thing I believe tonight showed, is the C's will be be better than anyone else in the East not named Miami.

[Accension13]

Jeff Green and Terry are very questionable on Defense

Jeff was a joke tonight. Disheartening to see after that preseason.

guy hasn't played in a real game in 16 months.....after heart surgery...he will get better

Just frustrating to see him with Ray guarding him multiple times and no one even looking to exploit that.

Great point... C's don't do a good job exploiting matchup advantages consistently. Additionally, they don't stick with the hot hand enough. Barbosa should have gotten more touches in the fourth

[GreenFaith1819]

Bradley will help a great deal when he gets back

This^^, from rondohondo.

No matter what LeBron does, if BOS can take ONE player out of the equation, then we can beat MIA.

Avery Bradley is THAT person, IMO, to negate DWade. I did not see entire game, but from the box scores looks like Wade ran roughshod over us.

We also should realize that even with a training camp, BOS will still need some time to get all the new pieces to fit...this will result in some loses.

We will be fine. I am encouraged.

Now that we have this game out of our system, we can move on and prepare for the next one.

[arambone]

We learned that this team isn't going to beat Miami by trying to play Miami's game.  We need to stay big to protect the rim.  As it was, this was a layup drill.

Yeah, Sullinger only played 8 minutes and never got the ball in the post. He didn't look like he was dying to get the ball in the post, but Sully's NBA experience will be the biggest difference the next time these teams play.

Also, Melo's rangy style of defense will be very useful against the Heat, whenever he becomes an overall non-liability. Melo was born to defend against the Heat.

[LarBrd33]

I was more excited about the Barbosa signing than the Jason Terry signing.  I thought I had something wrong with me when I saw the "rank em if you got em" thread and everyone had him as our 3rd worst player.  Guy is a scorer.  It's one game, but it didn't surprise me at all.  I had a tough time deciding if Terry or Barbosa would be more important to this team.  I picked Terry, because I assumed he'd get a lot more minutes.

[pearljammer10]

Jeff Green and Terry are very questionable on Defense

Jeff was a joke tonight. Disheartening to see after that preseason.

guy hasn't played in a real game in 16 months.....after heart surgery...he will get better

Just frustrating to see him with Ray guarding him multiple times and no one even looking to exploit that.

Great point... C's don't do a good job exploiting matchup advantages consistently. Additionally, they don't stick with the hot hand enough. Barbosa should have gotten more touches in the fourth

He's missed a whole season and he is going to need some time to get back into the swing of things. He looked like an absolute stud getting big minutes against opposing teams 14th 15th and 16th players in the pre season. But its going to take some time to work his way back to the NBA game play.

[celticinorlando]

look..boston has 4 guys playing right now that even played last year...everyone is new or missed the season.

defense is always the hardest part

bigger concern for me is how Doc handles this team....rotations were all over the road

[wdleehi]

We need to stop making guys all-stars before they play at that level.


That way, are not so disappointed when they don't play great. 

[Tr1boy]

- Jeff Green especially. You give a guy 7-8 million dollars and he gives you nothing but timid play. I thought he stated he was going to change and be more aggressive? got zero from him tonight.

- Its too soon to point Jason Terry as a bust pick up, but i can also see why Dallas didn't keep him , especially for the price he wanted to stay. With his age, he has lost a step, especially on defense. He is in no way shape or form a pg. Very bad passer. Rivers needs to be smarter and use him as a guy who can sting you along 6 or 8 points straight. Put him out there and ask him to score

- I'm not mad at KG but he played like he always has. But you can definitely see age is hampering his play. He used to eat Chris Bosh for dinner a few years ago. Now he can't even get position down low on the offensive end. It's a scary thought to know that one part of the lineup (pf/c) ma not be your strong suit anymore. You have to worry about interior defense

- Rondo had an off night even though he was the best player for us. Definitely not used to playing with the new guys on the team yet. Like Pierce stated, he has to stop overthinking and play. We could of used more scoring, esp for a good chunk of the 2nd and 3rd quarter.

- Not sure what Rivers is doing. Why let miami dictate , what your lineup should be?? why have to go small bc they go small?? you need inside presence at times to get their lineup to scramble. Instead he fell into miami's traps and game plan.

on the positive side

- Pierce was truly on fire tonight. He looks like the same dominant guy he was three years ago. Slimmer also. Can't wait to see what he can do for the rest of the year.

- Brandon Bass was great. Plain and simple. Not sure if he should be a starter but right now we have no choice. Great work tonight and earned his pay

- Avery Bradley would have been huge tonight. Especially neutralizing Wade and Allen. Can't wait until he comes back

- Not sure what happened with Darko, either he is still injured or just didn't get a shot tonight. But i feel, he could make a bigger factor on the court than most think. If he is on the floor, he eats up space, guys will think a little more before driving in. Also could give kg a little more room to breath.

only 1 game , but if we play like tonight for the rest of the year , he will make the playoffs but in no way shape or form have  a chance against the elite teams.

[pearljammer10]

Bradley will help a great deal when he gets back

This^^, from rondohondo.

No matter what LeBron does, if BOS can take ONE player out of the equation, then we can beat MIA.

Avery Bradley is THAT person, IMO, to negate DWade. I did not see entire game, but from the box scores looks like Wade ran roughshod over us.

We also should realize that even with a training camp, BOS will still need some time to get all the new pieces to fit...this will result in some loses.

We will be fine. I am encouraged.

Now that we have this game out of our system, we can move on and prepare for the next one.

Did anyone else notice how Wade single handedly allowed US back into this game? I mean, in the last 6 minutes of the 4th he was playing one on one basketball and jacking up terrible shots with 17 to 18 seconds left in the shot clock with a 13 to 15 point lead. I mean, dude, your up 15, work the ball around and get a good shot. We completely capitalized on his bad decision making and that is a great sign for the celts from my eyes.

[LarBrd33]

Our offense was solid.  We still don't have quality size.  The outcome was predictable. 

I'm not going to get too worked up about this team's lack of success until at least mid January when we can start putting a trade package together for a legit big. 

At the moment, I think Courtney Lee is a stud.  I was impressed with his play.  As soon as Bradley is healthy, I'd be in favor of putting a package together that involves one of the guards (like Bradley himself) if it will land us a starting big.  There's no point in having 4 solid shooting guards when Rondo will be playing 40+ minutes in the playoffs.  No point.

[celticinorlando]

wade still is allowed to lead with his knee up....he hooks....pushes and never gets called. i swear...he is dirty

[j804]

The offense did look really good tonight.  Easily went over 100pts.

The offense could be even more lethal if we can play defense for any stretch.  Our fast break off of rebounds/turnovers looked sick tonight.

The good thing is defense can and will improve

[celticinorlando]

Postgame: Doc Rivers continually referenced his team's poor offensive continuity and said their 107 points were "fool's gold."


i find this interesting