Great Opportunity to Steal Game 4

[Ilikesports17]

Washington HAS dominated most of this series, but after an embarrassing loss like that, we should be able to avoid the slow start that has plagued us. That game should p--- every single player off. If we can leverage this into extra motivation and a strong start, I think we could easily steal this game.

Steal game 4 and now you are up 3-1 going back to Boston.

Weve been letting them start fast and I think its possible that our ability to come back in those games might have led for us to not quite understand how unacceptable those starts have been.

Obviously, this is some silver linings stuff, but I DO believe this is a high character team and I also believe in their ability to win close games. When they arent blowing us out, Washington's got to play their overworked starters huge minutes, plus  we have one of the best closers in the game in Isaiah Thomas. If they have the character I think they have they will dig in and not allow another sluggish start. If they can do that, they should be in great position to steal a game.

[Ogaju]

Nothing new happened here. NBA playoffs are games of adjustment. If Brad can make the necessary adjustments we have a chance to win. These teams seem evenly matched, the Celtics always seem to forget their calling card, what makes them tick, what makes them good. They are good when they play with that chip on their shoulder when they play with a mission to overcome underdog status. They need the focus and doggedness that comes with that determination. If they go to that calling card, they will win. If they play like they own the Wizards well ...... they will struggle.

[SparzWizard]

Oh they (Celtics) better win Game 4. Already getting sick seeing these Wizards fans coming into Celtics Blog pointing out about refs not making calls over jersey-pulling, or Kelly Olynyk's screen was dangerous and should be suspended for that, or IT4 scoring 53 points is the Celtics' best win they can possibly get in Game 2 being a close contest and that they completely shut us down in Game 3.

[mr. dee]

I don't know how can you call it "dominating" when Celtics have won the first two games. In first quarter, maybe. But the series as whole? We still lead the series 2-1.

Starters always have low energy and focus in 1st Q. I trust Brad to make adjustment in the next game. He had questionable rotation in tonight's game.

[colincb]

Stevens might want to call a timeout to stop a big run in the first quarter next time he sees the team struggling.

[tarheelsxxiii]

First quarter issues do need to be resolved before anything else.  But this team is good enough to win game 4 if they commit to a) speeding up the pace, b) being the more physical team, and c) locking in on defense 

[myselfonline]

I don't know how can you call it "dominating" when Celtics have won the first two games. In first quarter, maybe. But the series as whole? We still lead the series 2-1.

Starters always have low energy and focus in 1st Q. I trust Brad to make adjustment in the next game. He had questionable rotation in tonight's game.

Out of the 12 quarters played so far, the Wizards have won 8 of them. It's not "dominating," but one can say they've played better than us for the majority of the series.

[SparzWizard]

I don't know how can you call it "dominating" when Celtics have won the first two games. In first quarter, maybe. But the series as whole? We still lead the series 2-1.

Starters always have low energy and focus in 1st Q. I trust Brad to make adjustment in the next game. He had questionable rotation in tonight's game.

Out of the 12 quarters played so far, the Wizards have won 8 of them. It's not "dominating," but one can say they've played better than us for the majority of the series.

They did not win Games 1 and 2 because they choked. The Celtics need to play like they played in Game 3 and Game 6 against the Bulls. Come out with a sense of urgency. Start rolling the Wizards apart.

Just beat the Wizards, get swept by the Cavs and I will call this season a success.

[iadera]

Our start in every game so far against WSH was bad, like we were impressed with them. Stevens has to detect the reason for that, because the fans have heart-attack just every game we play.

[Future Celtics Owner]

First quarter issues do need to be resolved before anything else.  But this team is good enough to win game 4 if they commit to a) speeding up the pace, b) being the more physical team, and c) locking in on defense

How can we have lockdown defense when we hide on defense. IT is our pg and the smallest guy on the court, yet we hide him on guys 1 foot taller  because he is not even adequately capable of defending the opposing team's pg. PP stepped up to Kobe and Lebron but we need to hide IT on Porter(who took advantage of that) . What scares me is we will probably pay him the max after next season at age 29 and undersized.

If we draft Fultz I would be happy if the team went in a new direction. Having Fultz at pg (6'4'', 6'10'' wingspan, 8'6'' standing reach) and Jaylen at the 2 or 3. If we trade for prospects like Okafor/jabari/etc. Then we go into the 2018 draft with 2 top picks, ours and the BKN pick.

[Darío SpanishFan]

Stevens might want to call a timeout to stop a big run in the first quarter next time he sees the team struggling.

Then he should call four timeouts.

[j804]

I don't know how can you call it "dominating" when Celtics have won the first two games. In first quarter, maybe. But the series as whole? We still lead the series 2-1.

Starters always have low energy and focus in 1st Q. I trust Brad to make adjustment in the next game. He had questionable rotation in tonight's game.

Not good they have "dominated" the series for the most part.

[bopna]

I don't know how can you call it "dominating" when Celtics have won the first two games. In first quarter, maybe. But the series as whole? We still lead the series 2-1.

Starters always have low energy and focus in 1st Q. I trust Brad to make adjustment in the next game. He had questionable rotation in tonight's game.

Not good they have "dominated" the series for the most part.

For me its the Wizards who is definitely in control of this series...we haven't been able to lead them by over 12 and the way I see it is our only chance of defeating the Wizards is if the game is close...if we get smacked again in game 4 then kiss this series goodbye because Boston has been struggling to keep Wall from scoring.

[BE-Celtic]

I don't know how can you call it "dominating" when Celtics have won the first two games. In first quarter, maybe. But the series as whole? We still lead the series 2-1.

Starters always have low energy and focus in 1st Q. I trust Brad to make adjustment in the next game. He had questionable rotation in tonight's game.

Not good they have "dominated" the series for the most part.

For me its the Wizards who is definitely in control of this series...we haven't been able to lead them by over 12 and the way I see it is our only chance of defeating the Wizards is if the game is close...if we get smacked again in game 4 then kiss this series goodbye because Boston has been struggling to keep Wall from scoring.

Honestly I disagree with that. When the Celtics were trailing in game 1 and coming back, the momentum was clearly in favor of the C's and yes, Washington was ahead, but that doesn't mean they were dominating.

They built a lead that they focussed on destroying. I'm ok with trailing all game, and have a 1 point lead at the end. And I don't care showing a graph saying I was ahead 99% of the time even if I lost.

[TheSundanceKid]

First quarter issues do need to be resolved before anything else.  But this team is good enough to win game 4 if they commit to a) speeding up the pace, b) being the more physical team, and c) locking in on defense

How can we have lockdown defense when we hide on defense. IT is our pg and the smallest guy on the court, yet we hide him on guys 1 foot taller  because he is not even adequately capable of defending the opposing team's pg. PP stepped up to Kobe and Lebron but we need to hide IT on Porter(who took advantage of that) . What scares me is we will probably pay him the max after next season at age 29 and undersized.

If we draft Fultz I would be happy if the team went in a new direction. Having Fultz at pg (6'4'', 6'10'' wingspan, 8'6'' standing reach) and Jaylen at the 2 or 3. If we trade for prospects like Okafor/jabari/etc. Then we go into the 2018 draft with 2 top picks, ours and the BKN pick.

This team is not trading away it's stars. That would be completely the wrong move. I get that you like the idea of building around young guys but eventually you have to make a run with what you think is the best team.

A team of Fultz/Jabari/Okafor hopes to be as good as this team is but it's far from certain.