Four Takeaways from Game 4

[LarBrd33]

#1 - Jeff Green is solid.  Give him credit... this is his 3rd game dropping 20+ in this series.  He's exactly what I always knew him to be... solid fringe star who can average 17-20, but will never make an all-star team.

#2 - Avery Bradley is getting exposed by Ray Felton.  Just absolutely abused.  Felton only has 25 pounds on Bradley, but I take this as more proof that Bradley definitely isn't a long-term solution at Shooting Guard.  He's too small.  I like him as a backup defensive role playing PG.

#3 - Paul Pierce:  29 points, 8 boards, 6 assists

#4 - Kevin Garnett:  13 points, 17 boards, 6 assists, 1 block, 1 steal

In other words... as usual, Boston only really ever goes as far as their two best players take them.  Had they played this well in the first 3 games, the series would be a different story.

Also, props to Jet for showing a pulse out there tonight. 

[CelticConcourse]

Also, props to Jet for showing a pulse out there tonight.

I think it's almost safe to say he and Wilcox singlehandedly won us the game in the last 5 minutes.

[CapnDunks]

I could be completely wrong. I would like to see Lee start in order to guard Felton.  Pierce is too slow Bradley's too weak. Bring Green as first sub. I don't like Bass playing C but Doc's doing that anyways.

[Celtics4ever]

I would not mind moving Bradley.   He is not a PG, not a SG and clearly a solid defender.  He is very one dimensional.  I too like him as a backup Guard.  He is not a PG though because he is turnover prone and doesn't have a PG bone in his body.

[hpantazo]

I could be completely wrong. I would like to see Lee start in order to guard Felton.  Pierce is too slow Bradley's too weak. Bring Green as first sub. I don't like Bass playing C but Doc's doing that anyways.

Gotta use Lee or TWill to guard Felton, because we can't survive another game with Bradley getting abused allowing dribble penetration and getting our bigs in foul trouble.

What the heck happened to Lee? Why does Doc hate him?

[bobbyv]

You're missing one. JR Smith was out.

[LarBrd33]

Also... tonight was a classic example of how this team completely falls apart with KG on the bench. 

[LarBrd33]

You're missing one. JR Smith was out.

Good call.  That was big as well.

[LEHGOCELTICS]

You're missing one. JR Smith was out.

[igorsure]

I could be completely wrong. I would like to see Lee start in order to guard Felton.  Pierce is too slow Bradley's too weak. Bring Green as first sub. I don't like Bass playing C but Doc's doing that anyways.

Gotta use Lee or TWill to guard Felton, because we can't survive another game with Bradley getting abused allowing dribble penetration and getting our bigs in foul trouble.

What the heck happened to Lee? Why does Doc hate him?

I have other question. Why not to use Shavlik in 3 quoter? We are horrible in second half in any case, no energy or points, why not to give a rest to KG. He can rebound and score, he is energy guy.

Free Shavlik!

[LarBrd33]

I could be completely wrong. I would like to see Lee start in order to guard Felton.  Pierce is too slow Bradley's too weak. Bring Green as first sub. I don't like Bass playing C but Doc's doing that anyways.

Gotta use Lee or TWill to guard Felton, because we can't survive another game with Bradley getting abused allowing dribble penetration and getting our bigs in foul trouble.

What the heck happened to Lee? Why does Doc hate him?

I have other question. Why not to use Shavlik in 3 quoter? We are horrible in second half in any case, no energy or points, why not to give a rest to KG. He can rebound and score, he is energy guy.

Free Shavlik!

Because Shavlik is barely an NBA player and it's the playoffs.

Nuff said.

Every year consistently when Boston struggles, some yahoo's on this board pick out the names of whoever happens to be the 15th man on our bench and claim Doc is "holding him back" and that Doc is a "terrible coach".  It's nonsense. 

Poor JaJuan Johnson, Luke Harongody and J.R Giddens... getting held back by the man.   

Don't get caught up in that foolishness.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

I could be completely wrong. I would like to see Lee start in order to guard Felton.  Pierce is too slow Bradley's too weak. Bring Green as first sub. I don't like Bass playing C but Doc's doing that anyways.

Gotta use Lee or TWill to guard Felton, because we can't survive another game with Bradley getting abused allowing dribble penetration and getting our bigs in foul trouble.

What the heck happened to Lee? Why does Doc hate him?

I have other question. Why not to use Shavlik in 3 quoter? We are horrible in second half in any case, no energy or points, why not to give a rest to KG. He can rebound and score, he is energy guy.

Free Shavlik!

because doc would rather play smallball and shoot jumpers. The hell with rebounding!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[igorsure]

Because Shavlik is barely an NBA player and it's the playoffs.

Nuff said.

May be. But Celtic's 3d quoter is also not how NBA team should play in playoffs

[BballTim]

#1 - Jeff Green is solid.  Give him credit... this is his 3rd game dropping 20+ in this series.  He's exactly what I always knew him to be... solid fringe star who can average 17-20, but will never make an all-star team.

#2 - Avery Bradley is getting exposed by Ray Felton.  Just absolutely abused.  Felton only has 25 pounds on Bradley, but I take this as more proof that Bradley definitely isn't a long-term solution at Shooting Guard.  He's too small.  I like him as a backup defensive role playing PG.

#3 - Paul Pierce:  29 points, 8 boards, 6 assists

#4 - Kevin Garnett:  13 points, 17 boards, 6 assists, 1 block, 1 steal

In other words... as usual, Boston only really ever goes as far as their two best players take them.  Had they played this well in the first 3 games, the series would be a different story.

  What we're seeing in the playoffs is exactly how far "their two best players" take them, and for fun we should compare it to how far Rondo carried the team last year.

[EJPLAYA]

What we are seeing is a team who 4 games straight collapsed in the second half barely holding on at home for a win. No JR Smith for them and a couple of unlikely missed free throws late by Carmelo are the only reason the brooms didn't come out. Very indicative play once again of a team with old stars. Sure they have pride. Sure they can step up here and there and show glimpses of what they used to be. Kudo's for them for not just folding in this game. That's why they are HOF'ers. They are however old and can't do it consistently. Just like you can't say Jason Terry is our MVP off the bench this season and a brilliant signing due to one clutch game today, PP and KG will be even older next year and it will likely get worse, not better. I am thrilled that for Celtic Pride they didn't roll over and give up on their home court and get swept, however with JR Smith in the game we would have been going home. Their inability to score in that first half wouldn't have been the case with him in the lineup. Let's hope that we go in there to NY and at least compete and have a shot in the end. Not likely though.