Wizards (19-18) at Celtics (23-15) Game #39 1/11/17

[Phantom255x]

IT's hero ball, I'll admit, is annoying.

But at the same time.. the C's don't really have a go-to scorer with him, even when healthy.

For CLE, When Lebron is cold, they got the likes of Irving and Love.

For TOR, when Lowry is cold, DeRozan can heat up, and vice versa.

Who do the Celtics have? Avery Bradley? He's alright but inconsistent especially in the 4th.

That's a big reason the C's are a 3 seed and the other two are way ahead of them in the East. Along with also not having a great rebounding big (guys like Valanciunas and Thompson will feast on Olynyk and Zeller -  )

[saltlover]

I find it amazing that our identity was able to change this drastically from last year with very minimal personnel changes.

I'm convinced the Monstars came down and stole our defensive identity over the summer and left us with an entitled attitude that thinks we can simply outscore opponents and win.

To be fair to the team, they've done a good job of outscoring most teams.  I too miss the defense, although it's gone league-wide.  The Jazz are leading this year in defensive efficiency with a number that would have been 7th last year.

[hwangjini_1]

IT's hero ball, I'll admit, is annoying.

But at the same time.. the C's don't really have a go-to scorer with him, even when healthy.

For CLE, When Lebron is cold, they got the likes of Irving and Love.

For TOR, when Lowry is cold, DeRozan can heat up, and vice versa.

Who do the Celtics have? Avery Bradley? He's alright but inconsistent especially in the 4th.

more to the point, bradley is out this game. but IT is playing too much hero ball. hopefuly CBS can tell them to follow some offensive sets that increase the passing and scoring efficiency.

[Tr1boy]

IT's hero ball, I'll admit, is annoying.

But at the same time.. the C's don't really have a go-to scorer with him, even when healthy.

For CLE, When Lebron is cold, they got the likes of Irving and Love.

For TOR, when Lowry is cold, DeRozan can heat up, and vice versa.

Who do the Celtics have? Avery Bradley? He's alright but inconsistent especially in the 4th.

That's a big reason the C's are a 3 seed and the other two are way ahead of them in the East. Along with also not having a great rebounding big (guys like Valanciunas and Thompson will feast on Olynyk and Zeller -  )

He just HAS to get his game going 1st ... who cares about anyone else

If IT4 was really good, he would score his usual ...but in games like tonight would have 10 assist by now with a low score total

he just doesn't know how to play the game outside the box

[Phantom255x]

IT's hero ball, I'll admit, is annoying.

But at the same time.. the C's don't really have a go-to scorer with him, even when healthy.

For CLE, When Lebron is cold, they got the likes of Irving and Love.

For TOR, when Lowry is cold, DeRozan can heat up, and vice versa.

Who do the Celtics have? Avery Bradley? He's alright but inconsistent especially in the 4th.

more to the point, bradley is out this game. but IT is playing too much hero ball. hopefuly CBS can tell them to follow some offensive sets that increase the passing and scoring efficiency.

Very true, no Bradley definitely has an effect.

This team has 2 major needs (obviously some more, but I view these as the major ones):

- #1 or #2 scorer who can score alongside IT/Bradley consistently (go-to option, like DeRozan/Lowry scoring duo)

- BIG who can score/rebound (emphasis on rebounding)

[jpotter33]

I find it amazing that our identity was able to change this drastically from last year with very minimal personnel changes.

I'm convinced the Monstars came down and stole our defensive identity over the summer and left us with an entitled attitude that thinks we can simply outscore opponents and win.

To be fair to the team, they've done a good job of outscoring most teams.  I too miss the defense, although it's gone league-wide.  The Jazz are leading this year in defensive efficiency with a number that would have been 7th last year.

How does the league change so much seemingly overnight?

And it's not even necessarily about having an elite defense. Outside of a few certain individuals, this team doesn't even look interested in even trying to defend the other team most of the time. It's so frustrating.

[flybono]

Keep on trading Danny, you ain't made a bad move yet!

You don't play D, you lose. Thanks Brad, has Indiana called yet?

[Tr1boy]

I find it amazing that our identity was able to change this drastically from last year with very minimal personnel changes.

I'm convinced the Monstars came down and stole our defensive identity over the summer and left us with an entitled attitude that thinks we can simply outscore opponents and win.

To be fair to the team, they've done a good job of outscoring most teams.  I too miss the defense, although it's gone league-wide.  The Jazz are leading this year in defensive efficiency with a number that would have been 7th last year.

How does the league change so much seemingly overnight?

And it's not even necessarily about having an elite defense. Outside of a few certain individuals, this team doesn't even look interested in even trying to defend the other team most of the time. It's so frustrating.

this is on CBS

[hwangjini_1]

IT's hero ball, I'll admit, is annoying.

But at the same time.. the C's don't really have a go-to scorer with him, even when healthy.

For CLE, When Lebron is cold, they got the likes of Irving and Love.

For TOR, when Lowry is cold, DeRozan can heat up, and vice versa.

Who do the Celtics have? Avery Bradley? He's alright but inconsistent especially in the 4th.

more to the point, bradley is out this game. but IT is playing too much hero ball. hopefuly CBS can tell them to follow some offensive sets that increase the passing and scoring efficiency.

Very true, no Bradley definitely has an effect.

This team has 2 major needs (obviously some more, but I view these as the major ones):

- #1 or #2 scorer who can score alongside IT/Bradley consistently (go-to option, like DeRozan/Lowry scoring duo)

- BIG who can score/rebound (emphasis on rebounding)

agreed. last year's playoffs against the hawks showed this loud and clear. if brown can become an offensive player who compliments ITs play, the celtics take a step forward as a team.

[PhoSita]

The team is also a good deal better on offense this year.

[Phantom255x]

IT's hero ball, I'll admit, is annoying.

But at the same time.. the C's don't really have a go-to scorer with him, even when healthy.

For CLE, When Lebron is cold, they got the likes of Irving and Love.

For TOR, when Lowry is cold, DeRozan can heat up, and vice versa.

Who do the Celtics have? Avery Bradley? He's alright but inconsistent especially in the 4th.

more to the point, bradley is out this game. but IT is playing too much hero ball. hopefuly CBS can tell them to follow some offensive sets that increase the passing and scoring efficiency.

Very true, no Bradley definitely has an effect.

This team has 2 major needs (obviously some more, but I view these as the major ones):

- #1 or #2 scorer who can score alongside IT/Bradley consistently (go-to option, like DeRozan/Lowry scoring duo)

- BIG who can score/rebound (emphasis on rebounding)

agreed. last year's playoffs against the hawks showed this loud and clear. if brown can become an offensive player who compliments ITs play, the celtics take a step forward as a team.

Yep, that's why they lost. Might be sounding a little too optimistic, but I think a healthy Bradley that series and we would have won that series.

Besides IT, literally everyone else was throwing up bricks (except Smart that Game 4, but that's about it).

[jpotter33]

What a wonderful defensive possession to start the half that truly demonstrates our defensive deficiencies - absolutely no idea how to defend the PnR and people not knowing how to play help defense.

[SCeltic34]

TJ McConnell just hit an unlikely game winning shot against the Knicks on what looked like a very broken play.  Knicks were up big early.  Hilarious and good for our Nets pick.

[hwangjini_1]

cripes! its like nobody can miss this quarter!!! 

i hope the celtics decide that defense if not an offensive word.

[max215]

Sixers with a miracle comeback win vs. the Knicks! They're now 3.5 games back on us for #1.