Raptors (30-19) at Celtics (30-18) Game #49 2/1/17

[MBunge]

@jpotter33

>highly questionable rotation decisions>

>holding players more accountable>

this is vague. basically just saying Stevens could do better.

IMO if you could give concrete examples, it would help the conversation go forward.

1.  You can argue for lineups that have IT, Bradley and Smart on the court at the same time, even though it leaves us pitifully small.  There is ZERO reason that IT, Smart and Rozier should ever be on the court together.  Rozier isn't close to good enough to justify that.

2.  As for motivation, look at the pathetic effort to start this game.  I can understand coming out flat against the Sixers or Kings, but against the team that has tormented you the last season and a half?  When you've had a day of rest and they're playing the end of a back-to-back?  You can't scream at guys all the time but there are ways to keep players focused that don't involve constant yelling.

Mike

[jpotter33]

@jpotter33

thank you and TP.

Back at you, big guy.

I'm not sure where all the vitriol is coming from. Plenty of others have criticized Brad's rotations here, too. Even Pop has his faults.

[mr. dee]

Raptor fans crying about officiating. LOL

[jpotter33]

@jpotter33

>highly questionable rotation decisions>

>holding players more accountable>

this is vague. basically just saying Stevens could do better.

IMO if you could give concrete examples, it would help the conversation go forward.

1.  You can argue for lineups that have IT, Bradley and Smart on the court at the same time, even though it leaves us pitifully small.  There is ZERO reason that IT, Smart and Rozier should ever be on the court together.  Rozier isn't close to good enough to justify that.

2.  As for motivation, look at the pathetic effort to start this game.  I can understand coming out flat against the Sixers or Kings, but against the team that has tormented you the last season and a half?  When you've had a day of rest and they're playing the end of a back-to-back?  You can't scream at guys all the time but there are ways to keep players focused that don't involve constant yelling.

Mike

And that's all I was saying. I obviously wasn't meaning he should be yelling at guys all the time and giving diatribes every halftime.

But there have been way too many games this year where we've been flat, and the defensive effort has not been there for quite a few players for large portions of the season. And the "entitled attitude" that we've displayed many times this year is also part of this. A lot of that is on Brad for not holding these players accountable.

But by golly don't dare say a negative thing about him.

[Ilikesports17]

Raptor fans crying about officiating. LOL

there were definitely some calls they got unlucky on. Brown probably should have had a tech and a lot of the fouls on Valunciunas were really soft.

[liam]

I just keep looking at us sitting in that 2nd spot in the East and smiling. That was thought to be our ceiling at the beginning of the year and now I wouldn't be surprised if we could chase the Cavs for the top spot. Oh and we could have the number #1 pick(at least top 4) in the draft! Wow, I'm excited!

[mr. dee]

Raptor fans crying about officiating. LOL

there were definitely some calls they got unlucky on. Brown probably should have had a tech and a lot of the fouls on Valunciunas were really soft.

It goes both sides. That out of bounce call where Carroll grabbed a loose ball should be a clear Celtics ball.

[wayupnorth]

@jpotter33

>highly questionable rotation decisions>

>holding players more accountable>

this is vague. basically just saying Stevens could do better.

IMO if you could give concrete examples, it would help the conversation go forward.

1.  You can argue for lineups that have IT, Bradley and Smart on the court at the same time, even though it leaves us pitifully small.  There is ZERO reason that IT, Smart and Rozier should ever be on the court together.  Rozier isn't close to good enough to justify that.

2.  As for motivation, look at the pathetic effort to start this game.  I can understand coming out flat against the Sixers or Kings, but against the team that has tormented you the last season and a half?  When you've had a day of rest and they're playing the end of a back-to-back?  You can't scream at guys all the time but there are ways to keep players focused that don't involve constant yelling.

Mike

And that's all I was saying. I obviously wasn't meaning he should be yelling at guys all the time and giving diatribes every halftime.

But there have been way too many games this year where we've been flat, and the defensive effort has not been there for quite a few players for large portions of the season. And the "entitled attitude" that we've displayed many times this year is also part of this. A lot of that is on Brad for not holding these players accountable.

But by golly don't dare say a negative thing about him.

Saying that players coming out flat is Brad's fault is something I disagree with.

Brad puts this team in a position to win most games they play .
There is no good reason to criticise him. Sure a person can use hindsight to nit pick every decison he makes, but really, Brad is the largest reason we are where we are.

No reason to question him.

[Smitty77]

I just keep looking at us sitting in that 2nd spot in the East and smiling. That was thought to be our ceiling at the beginning of the year and now I wouldn't be surprised if we could chase the Cavs for the top spot. Oh and we could have the number #1 pick(at least top 4) in the draft! Wow, I'm excited!

And we have played one MORE game than the Cavs and three MORE road games!!!!

Keep it going C's!!!!!

Smitty77

[jpotter33]

https://twitter.com/CelticsHub/status/827006453932236802/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw

Isaiah Thomas on Brad Stevens ripping into the Celtics at halftime to spark the comeback: "Honestly, I mean, Brad killed us at halftime. He yelled at us. It was probably the most mad I've seen him. Gerald doesn't shut up, so he was also talking and saying some words we needed to hear. We still didn't come out like we wanted to in the third quarter, but with that in the back of our head I think that changed the game for us. We just played harder than them. We got the 50-50 balls and I think that was the deciding factor in the game, especially in the end of the third and fourth quarter."

[greece66]

@jpotter33

thank you and TP.

Back at you, big guy.

I'm not sure where all the vitriol is coming from. Plenty of others have criticized Brad's rotations here, too. Even Pop has his faults.

More seriously, identifying faults is one thing. Fixing them quite another. My impression is that often (I am not talking of you specifically now) underrate how difficult the latter is.

[jpotter33]

@jpotter33

thank you and TP.

Back at you, big guy.

I'm not sure where all the vitriol is coming from. Plenty of others have criticized Brad's rotations here, too. Even Pop has his faults.

More seriously, identifying faults is one thing. Fixing them quite another. My impression is that often (I am not talking of you specifically now) underrate how difficult the latter is.

Was never a fan of Shatner as Kirk. Lots of overacting. I'm more of a Star Trek: Next Generation guy, so Patrick Stewart as Jean Luc Picard was always my captain, along with Brent Spiner as Data, who was brilliant.

I realize this has nothing to do with your post, but the gif just prompted me to state that. 

[greece66]

@jpotter33

in which case you ll be pleased to know that  I feel the same way.

The Next Generation was on TV all the time in the 90s when I was in high school. I do not remember The Original Series getting TV time back then in Greece, and I doubt it had a significant fandom. Personally, I did not know it existed until much later. Tried to watch it but I found it meh. Just using the memes from time to time.

[SparzWizard]

Next game is gonna be a trap game. 

[86MaxwellSmart]

Was so happy to see that Zeller reverse dunk---with authority...He and Jaylen both played hard-nose BB in the 2nd half--!