We Should Have Won Game 6 Last Years Playoffs If Someone Clogged The Middle

[dlpin]

Anyone who says that Perk would have made a difference in last year's playoffs clearly did not watch the NBA finals.

[OsirusCeltics]

Surprised no one's mentioning this
With Lebron going crazy in that game, Celtics were still in close in the game, up by 2 or 3 at one point

We would have won if Pietrus had hit at least 3 of his 20 jumpshot attempts! Wide open attempts at that!

[ScoobyDoo]

Actually, what probably would have made the biggest difference in game six last year was if anyone on our team had the gonads to level LeBron on his way to the rim, or start raking his arms "hard" on a couple jump shots.

I could watch the game again, but from memory I am pretty sure that he pretty much waltzed around the court and to the rim in that game six pretty much unscathed.

That was the most unacceptable part of game six to me last year. If you're at home with 48 minutes between you and the NBA finals you figure out a way to punch the guy who is having a game of the ages against you - right in the forehead. You have to disrupt that game.

I'm not saying you chop block the guy - but there are so many ways to get under a guy's skin on the court to disrupt him without being dirty and dangerous or getting techs.

it may or may not have worked that day - but the fact that we didn't try was unacceptable.

He pretty much waltzed around with nary a glancing blow from us  - all night.

That game should have been a game seven bar brawl that spilled out into the streets with garbage cans flying.

We played it like a preseason game in Iceland against a JV team from Senegal.

Game seven in LA in 2010 was hard - but not even close to as hard as watching game six last year.

In game 7 of 2010 we were throwing the garbage cans all night - we just lost...

Game six last year? We were sipping Mint Julips and letting garbage cans bounce off our heads for 48 minutes.

Unless everyone on our team was throwing down that game I don't think Perkins would have made a difference.

But I can guarantee you one thing - Perkins would've leveled LeBron 2-3 times - hard - at the rim. That would've have been a good start.. 

[KCattheStripe]

I was there, LeBron killed us with mid-range jumpers, it was like watching Kobe but scarier.

[jdz101]

I've never understood the obsession on this board for a big seven footer who can "clog the middle".

You can't "clog the middle" in this league. It's a strategy that worked with guys like fab melo and thabeet in college but in the NBA that strategy is ineffective due to how hot the officials are on the defensive 3 second violation.

[Lightskinsmurf]

Gotta let it go bro.

[Celtics18]

Actually, what probably would have made the biggest difference in game six last year was if anyone on our team had the gonads to level LeBron on his way to the rim, or start raking his arms "hard" on a couple jump shots.

I could watch the game again, but from memory I am pretty sure that he pretty much waltzed around the court and to the rim in that game six pretty much unscathed.

That was the most unacceptable part of game six to me last year. If you're at home with 48 minutes between you and the NBA finals you figure out a way to punch the guy who is having a game of the ages against you - right in the forehead. You have to disrupt that game.

I'm not saying you chop block the guy - but there are so many ways to get under a guy's skin on the court to disrupt him without being dirty and dangerous or getting techs.

it may or may not have worked that day - but the fact that we didn't try was unacceptable.

He pretty much waltzed around with nary a glancing blow from us  - all night.

That game should have been a game seven bar brawl that spilled out into the streets with garbage cans flying.

We played it like a preseason game in Iceland against a JV team from Senegal.

Game seven in LA in 2010 was hard - but not even close to as hard as watching game six last year.

In game 7 of 2010 we were throwing the garbage cans all night - we just lost...

Game six last year? We were sipping Mint Julips and letting garbage cans bounce off our heads for 48 minutes.

Unless everyone on our team was throwing down that game I don't think Perkins would have made a difference.

But I can guarantee you one thing - Perkins would've leveled LeBron 2-3 times - hard - at the rim. That would've have been a good start..

I'm not sure I entirely agree with your point, but TP for the great imagery and metaphors.

"A preseason game in Iceland against a JV team from Senegal":  Classic!

[gpap]

Actually, what probably would have made the biggest difference in game six last year was if anyone on our team had the gonads to level LeBron on his way to the rim, or start raking his arms "hard" on a couple jump shots.

I could watch the game again, but from memory I am pretty sure that he pretty much waltzed around the court and to the rim in that game six pretty much unscathed.

That was the most unacceptable part of game six to me last year. If you're at home with 48 minutes between you and the NBA finals you figure out a way to punch the guy who is having a game of the ages against you - right in the forehead. You have to disrupt that game.

I'm not saying you chop block the guy - but there are so many ways to get under a guy's skin on the court to disrupt him without being dirty and dangerous or getting techs.

it may or may not have worked that day - but the fact that we didn't try was unacceptable.

He pretty much waltzed around with nary a glancing blow from us  - all night.

That game should have been a game seven bar brawl that spilled out into the streets with garbage cans flying.

We played it like a preseason game in Iceland against a JV team from Senegal.

Game seven in LA in 2010 was hard - but not even close to as hard as watching game six last year.

In game 7 of 2010 we were throwing the garbage cans all night - we just lost...

Game six last year? We were sipping Mint Julips and letting garbage cans bounce off our heads for 48 minutes.

Unless everyone on our team was throwing down that game I don't think Perkins would have made a difference.

But I can guarantee you one thing - Perkins would've leveled LeBron 2-3 times - hard - at the rim. That would've have been a good start..

Totally agree. This is what the Celtics of the 80s had, toughness! (think McHale's clothesline on Rambis.) This Celtics team does not have anybody who will physically take another player down.

In today's NBA, it's alot of guys who act tough but don't walk the walk.

[Donoghus]

I was there, LeBron killed us with mid-range jumpers, it was like watching Kobe but scarier.

Yeah, I actually flew back to Boston for that game.

Probably the single greatest player performance I've witnessed in person.  It was surreal. 

Remember turning to my dad in the 2nd quarter and telling him "Dad, I don't think its our night". 

[ScoobyDoo]

Celtics18 - if I made you laugh I'll count that as a good day...

Yeah gpap - that's what I'm talking about. If you're going to get beaten like a drum on your own court by treating LeBron like a ballerina while he's swinging at your head with a sledgehammer of ridiculous shots - you deserve the loss.   

And I am "not" talking about hurting the guy. I'm talking about physically getting "into the guy" and making the game a bar brawl. When you have a a guy going off like that you absolutely have to get into his head physically or emotionally and disrupt him. It may or may not work - but you have to try - because you know you will not win #7 on the road after laying down in game 6 at home - not going to happen.

Again, I don't know if Perkins would've made a difference, but:

Perkins would have leveled him a few times

Posey would've have been bumping and grinding James up and down the court - couple borderline flagrant hits - he was so good at that

Tony Allen would've been so far up Bron's jock he wouldn't have come out until the wash was done...

We did none of that - and you have to in games like that.

It's not dirty and dangerous ball - it's mentally and physically aggressive basketball - there's a big difference between the two.

Pietrus and Bradley are also very good at this type of defense.

As is KG at the 4/5...

If KG was shrunk down to 6' 9" and our 3 in that game - Lebron does not have the game he had, period.

This type of defense is why guys like Bird & Jordan took a lot of physical defense over their careers.

Every game that Micahel Cooper played against Larry Bird was a dog fight in an alley defensively.

Bradley and Courtney will go a long way towards this with Wade and if Jeff Green puts on his James Posey mask, Miami will have their hands full with us...   

[gpap]

Exactly. That's what the Celtics had from 2007-2010.

Tough, defensive minded players who weren't afraid to get into your space.

As you mentioned, Posey, Tony Allen and Perk to name a few.

That's why Lebron never really succeeded vs the Celtics before 2011.

I mean he scored 40 points vs the Celtics in game 7 of the 2008 playoffs and still lost.

[bucknersrevenge]

I'm not sure where this myth that "the way to beat Miami is with big guys that clog up the middle" came from. It's just not true. They spread shooters all over the floor including Bosh so having a big man to clog things up is nulliied. The way to beat Miami is to play "plus perimeter defenders and a quick mobile big that can play pick n roll. You have to deny dribble penetration as much as possible. Make their looks as tough as possible from the perimeter. And don't turn the ball over.

[guava_wrench]

If we had Perk, we don't lose game 6.

Because we would have already been eliminated.

[BASS_THUMPER]

No Perk true

but we gotta remind ourselves how we gotta ring
what puzzle pieces did we have then?
3 point shooting is major in the playoffs
no House no home

[OsirusCeltics]

I'm not sure where this myth that "the way to beat Miami is with big guys that clog up the middle" came from. It's just not true. They spread shooters all over the floor including Bosh so having a big man to clog things up is nulliied. The way to beat Miami is to play "plus perimeter defenders and a quick mobile big that can play pick n roll. You have to deny dribble penetration as much as possible. Make their looks as tough as possible from the perimeter. And don't turn the ball over.

Exactly. Key to beating Miami is the defend the pick and roll so well that Celtics prevent dribble drives, and make the Heat shoot mostly jumpshots