Celtics (33-19) at Blazers (23-30) Game #53 2/9/17

[liam]

Another L coming up.  The positive thing about this two losses is that it'll bring us back down to earth, back from all the hype we've bought into for the past couple weeks or so.  It'll show us that we have to put up effort and fight like hell to win games and not cruize through games just because we've been ordained the Cavs achillies heel in the east.  I really hope we get it together.  WE HAVE TO KNOW WHEN TO STOP SHOOTING THE [dang] THREES AND ATTACK THE RIM.  Our defense is still not where it was last season nor is it where it needs to be but hopefully that change when Bradley return.  It's been great chopping it up with you beautiful people.  I'm gonna go catch a shut-eye now.  See y'all in the funny papers.

If you're not watching this game we made a bit of a come back to end the second quarter and are only down by 6. The Celtics are right in this game and are still 2nd in the East!

[hwangjini_1]

Only down by 6 after a terrible performance..

This is a very winnable game for the Celtics.

[liam]

Only down by 6 after a terrible performance..

This is a very winnable game for the Celtics.

We are right there in rebounds and if the 3 starts falling we win this game going away!

[trickybilly]

Another L coming up.  The positive thing about this two losses is that it'll bring us back down to earth, back from all the hype we've bought into for the past couple weeks or so.  It'll show us that we have to put up effort and fight like hell to win games and not cruize through games just because we've been ordained the Cavs achillies heel in the east.  I really hope we get it together.  WE HAVE TO KNOW WHEN TO STOP SHOOTING THE [dang] THREES AND ATTACK THE RIM.  Our defense is still not where it was last season nor is it where it needs to be but hopefully that change when Bradley return.  It's been great chopping it up with you beautiful people for these two games.  I'm gonna go catch a shut-eye now.  See y'all in the funny papers.

I was kinda indifferent to winning this tough game, missing two key players. Now, while Clench gently sleeps, I hope we come out and murder this pack of economic girly-men.

[liam]

Another L coming up.  The positive thing about this two losses is that it'll bring us back down to earth, back from all the hype we've bought into for the past couple weeks or so.  It'll show us that we have to put up effort and fight like hell to win games and not cruize through games just because we've been ordained the Cavs achillies heel in the east.  I really hope we get it together.  WE HAVE TO KNOW WHEN TO STOP SHOOTING THE [dang] THREES AND ATTACK THE RIM.  Our defense is still not where it was last season nor is it where it needs to be but hopefully that change when Bradley return.  It's been great chopping it up with you beautiful people for these two games.  I'm gonna go catch a shut-eye now.  See y'all in the funny papers.

I was kinda indifferent to winning this tough game, missing two key players. Now, while Clench gently sleeps, I hope we come out and murder this pack of economic girly-men.

Nice!

[alewilliam789]

Another L coming up.  The positive thing about this two losses is that it'll bring us back down to earth, back from all the hype we've bought into for the past couple weeks or so.  It'll show us that we have to put up effort and fight like hell to win games and not cruize through games just because we've been ordained the Cavs achillies heel in the east.  I really hope we get it together.  WE HAVE TO KNOW WHEN TO STOP SHOOTING THE [dang] THREES AND ATTACK THE RIM.  Our defense is still not where it was last season nor is it where it needs to be but hopefully that change when Bradley return.  It's been great chopping it up with you beautiful people for these two games.  I'm gonna go catch a shut-eye now.  See y'all in the funny papers.

I was kinda indifferent to winning this tough game, missing two key players. Now, while Clench gently sleeps, I hope we come out and murder this pack of economic girly-men.

Had me dying 

[saltlover]

Here's the problem with going relaly small right now - you take your best defender in Smart and force him onto the 3, leaving two of your worst defenders guarding their All-Star backcourt.

Is Jackson sitting on the bench? Should he get some minutes!

I like Jackson. Think he was with the Red Claws, though, but he's apparently being sent to Utah in case we need him on Saturday.

He was actually in his hometown in Indiana where they had declared it Demetrius Jackson Day!  Hopefully he rides that momentum into some contributions on Saturday.

[MBunge]

Another game, same issue.  This is a good team with a bad defense.  Not a great team, which leaves them little margin for error.  When things are rolling and they up their defense effort for a stretch, they can look like world beaters.  When things are off, they can get flat out embarrassed by bad teams.

Maybe they'll pull it together to win a series or two in the playoffs but would anyone be surprised to see them upset in the first round?  And what makes it particularly frustrating is this is a bad defensive team with a bunch of good individual defenders.  Amir, Horford, Crowder, Bradley and Smart are all average to great on defense.  That's five of our top eight rotation players, yet we still suck defensively.

And it's not like this is just mid-season doldrums or the result of injuries.  The defense has been bad from the start and both Bradley and Crowder have struggled with defensive focus.

For all the talk of draft picks and trades, the future of this team hinges on getting the defense fixed and that's a matter of effort and coaching.

Mike

[liam]

Another game, same issue.  This is a good team with a bad defense.  Not a great team, which leaves them little margin for error.  When things are rolling and they up their defense effort for a stretch, they can look like world beaters.  When things are off, they can get flat out embarrassed by bad teams.

Maybe they'll pull it together to win a series or two in the playoffs but would anyone be surprised to see them upset in the first round?  And what makes it particularly frustrating is this is a bad defensive team with a bunch of good individual defenders.  Amir, Horford, Crowder, Bradley and Smart are all average to great on defense.  That's five of our top eight rotation players, yet we still suck defensively.

And it's not like this is just mid-season doldrums or the result of injuries.  The defense has been bad from the start and both Bradley and Crowder have struggled with defensive focus.

For all the talk of draft picks and trades, the future of this team hinges on getting the defense fixed and that's a matter of effort and coaching.

Mike

If healthy I'd be surprised if we don't get out of the 1st round!

[alewilliam789]

How did that not go down for Brown??!!!

[jpotter33]

Lol Smart with another 4+ steal game.

Really wish we could've seen Jaylen with last year's team. He would've looked so much better last year with our team that had so many turnovers leading to fastbreak opportunities.

[liam]

How did that not go down for Brown??!!!

He gets fouled a lot!

[trickybilly]

Another game, same issue.  This is a good team with a bad defense.  Not a great team, which leaves them little margin for error.  When things are rolling and they up their defense effort for a stretch, they can look like world beaters.  When things are off, they can get flat out embarrassed by bad teams.

Maybe they'll pull it together to win a series or two in the playoffs but would anyone be surprised to see them upset in the first round?  And what makes it particularly frustrating is this is a bad defensive team with a bunch of good individual defenders.  Amir, Horford, Crowder, Bradley and Smart are all average to great on defense.  That's five of our top eight rotation players, yet we still suck defensively.

And it's not like this is just mid-season doldrums or the result of injuries.  The defense has been bad from the start and both Bradley and Crowder have struggled with defensive focus.

For all the talk of draft picks and trades, the future of this team hinges on getting the defense fixed and that's a matter of effort and coaching.

Mike

Well, we have had those players you listed as average to great injured for substantial periods of the year.

Second: Jaylen, IT, and Gerald are all well below average defenders, and all of them are getting heavy minutes (throw Young in for fun) - I think our defensive struggles are reasonable.. 

[tarheelsxxiii]

Brown looks confident, invested in the game.   

[jpotter33]

Wow, what a pass by Smart! That was Magic-esque with the look away!