What does this team need? Attitude.

[crimson_stallion]

I went in to today's game knowing very well that this was a game Boston can win, and a team Boston can beat.

Boston went in to the first 75% of this game believe this was not a game they could win, and this was not a team they could beat.  You could see it in their effort, you could see it in their energy, you could see it in their body language.  They did not believe in themselves.  They had all the markings of a team that didn't believe they could win, but figured they would try anyway.

Credit to Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Avery Bradley and Gerald Green - they were pretty much the only guys on this team tonight who looked like they truly believed they could win.  In the last 25% of the game we outplayed that team - not because we were better then we were before, just because we TRIED.

This brings me to my point.  People talk about what players we should chase, what holes the team needs to fill, having to add scoring, having to add rebounding, and all the rest.  But there is one key thing that this team needs more than ANYTHING else - heart.

In the entire big 3 era, there was never a single Boston Celtics team who went up against any superteam thinking "we can't win this".  There was never a time Paul Pierce or Kevin Garnett or Rajon Rondo faced Lebron and said "we can't beat him".  That cockiness, that confidence, that pride and fire is as core to that team's success as their talent was.  Those guys didn't fear facing Lebron - the LIVED FOR IT.   They WANTED to face the Lebron's and the Kobe's of this league.  They begged for it.  They were driven to want to beat those guys. 

What we need? We need a guy who has that mentality.  We don't need Paul George.  I don't even think we need Jimmy Butler. We need Carmelo Anthony.

People can say whatever they want about his flaws (and I know they are real) but I can promise you, without a sliver of doubt, that Carmelo Anthony will never fear Lebron James.  He will never say "I can't beat that guy".  You tell Carmelo his next game is against Lebron, and his eyes will light up like the sun.  He lives for that moment. 

Danny, if you can hear me - the Knicks don't expect that much. Put together a package, bring us Melo.  Let him drive us with his passion and his confidence, and let our young guys breathe that in and learn/build off it. 

There have been too many huge chokes in these playoffs for the Celtics.  Dropping two to the Bulls at home.  Getting into 15-20 point holes against Washington at least every second game, and having to try to dig the way back in.  Completely giving up today against the Cavs.  You can't have those meltdowns in the Playoffs, because a team like Cleveland will tear you apart.  You have one game like that in a series (or one in the entire playoffs) and fine - every team has their bad day.  But not ever second game like it's seemingly been for us. 

This team needs heart.  That is all.

[mr. dee]

They were just phasing themselves as they only have 1 day of rest. They will show up in game 2 with much better energy.

[SHAQATTACK]

omebody besides IT who can make a bucket t and are not scard to drive to the bucket .

Brown has the correct attitude .

[crimson_stallion]

They were just phasing themselves as they only have 1 day of rest. They will show up in game 2 with much better energy.

I believe they they had only 1 day rest between game 6 and game 7 against Washington too, but they still played with energy.

I don't think fatigue had anything to do with this - if it did, how do you explain them playing BETTER in the 4th?

No, this wasn't fatigue.  This was all heart and attitude.   That's why we dropped two to an inferior Chicago team, it's why we found ourselves in constant 15 point holes against Washington, and it's why we almost like by 30 (if not for a lifesaving 15 minute run at the end) against Clevleand today.

I do believe we'll come back stronger in game 2 and I think there's a good chance we win it, but that's irrelevant if we come back with another one of these lackadaisical efforts again in game 3 as we kept doing against Washington.

We can't afford that - you can't bring it every second or third game.  You need to bring the energy and the passion every night in the playoffs. Sometimes you have a bad shooting night, and that energy/passion is the only thing that keeps you in the game and gives you a fighting chance. 

Today we shot horribly, but we never gave ourselves a fighting chance because we added to that by playing without any heart or effort for 75% of the game.  That's not an option if we want to win or even be competitive in this series.

[tarheelsxxiii]

Talent.  3-4 all-stars is the bar for a contender right now. 

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

melo is 32. mostguys are done mid 30's...same time we dumped Pierce and KG...they were shells of themselves after we dumped them in mid 30;s. so we could have a decent carmelo for 3 years....by that time we should be ready with young guns to start our run. butler and georger are 27....i have doubts about all three for different reasons

[ImShakHeIsShaq]

They were just phasing themselves as they only have 1 day of rest. They will show up in game 2 with much better energy.

I believe they they had only 1 day rest between game 6 and game 7 against Washington too, but they still played with energy.

I don't think fatigue had anything to do with this - if it did, how do you explain them playing BETTER in the 4th?

No, this wasn't fatigue.  This was all heart and attitude.   That's why we dropped two to an inferior Chicago team, it's why we found ourselves in constant 15 point holes against Washington, and it's why we almost like by 30 (if not for a lifesaving 15 minute run at the end) against Clevleand today.

I do believe we'll come back stronger in game 2 and I think there's a good chance we win it, but that's irrelevant if we come back with another one of these lackadaisical efforts again in game 3 as we kept doing against Washington.

We can't afford that - you can't bring it every second or third game.  You need to bring the energy and the passion every night in the playoffs. Sometimes you have a bad shooting night, and that energy/passion is the only thing that keeps you in the game and gives you a fighting chance. 

Today we shot horribly, but we never gave ourselves a fighting chance because we added to that by playing without any heart or effort for 75% of the game.  That's not an option if we want to win or even be competitive in this series.

I agree, there is no way we could be tired playing 3 games in 5 days and 1 with a flight. Games 6 and 7 of a tight series and then face a team who rested for 10 days, who also happens to have 3 top players, 1 being one of the greatest of all time.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

They were just phasing themselves as they only have 1 day of rest. They will show up in game 2 with much better energy.

I believe they they had only 1 day rest between game 6 and game 7 against Washington too, but they still played with energy.

I don't think fatigue had anything to do with this - if it did, how do you explain them playing BETTER in the 4th?

No, this wasn't fatigue.  This was all heart and attitude.   That's why we dropped two to an inferior Chicago team, it's why we found ourselves in constant 15 point holes against Washington, and it's why we almost like by 30 (if not for a lifesaving 15 minute run at the end) against Clevleand today.

I do believe we'll come back stronger in game 2 and I think there's a good chance we win it, but that's irrelevant if we come back with another one of these lackadaisical efforts again in game 3 as we kept doing against Washington.

We can't afford that - you can't bring it every second or third game.  You need to bring the energy and the passion every night in the playoffs. Sometimes you have a bad shooting night, and that energy/passion is the only thing that keeps you in the game and gives you a fighting chance. 

Today we shot horribly, but we never gave ourselves a fighting chance because we added to that by playing without any heart or effort for 75% of the game.  That's not an option if we want to win or even be competitive in this series.

I agree, there is no way we could be tired playing 3 games in 5 days and 1 with a flight. Games 6 and 7 of a tight series and then face a team who rested for 10 days, who also happens to have 3 top players, 1 being one of the greatest of all time.

lol

[JBcat]

We just started off very flat, and couldn't hit a 3 to save our life to start the game (something like 1 for 10 from 3). Plus Lebron started on fire with 15 first quarter points. 

After we were down by 20 early in the second we hung with them the rest of the game.  We just can't start so flat.  You could tell too the Cavs were a very well rested team. Love was on fire from deep as well.

Make some adjustments, and I think we can stay competitive with them.

I'd consider starting the instigator Smart right out of the gate.  Get the emotions going, and stir things up right away.

Then give Rozier and maybe Green more minutes off the bench along with Brown.

Kelly needs to wake up again!

[inverselock]

Strong mental traits can't overcome the tremendous gulf in talent.    Boston can't beat Cleveland.    Too big, too much talent.

[__ramonezy__]

They genuinely seemed tired.

My main complaint about this game was how we defended James. Why were we one on one, top of key, 5 steps away just begging to be driven on with absolutely no rim protection.... if we had a Deandre Jordan or Nerlens Noel, maybe, but not this team. As much as possible LeBron should not be driving down hill possession after possession. We need to pick him up full court, trap once he crosses mid court and help defense should be there every time he puts his head down.

Our team is better built to contain Irving and he only averages 5 assists... despite how much they try to sell Cavs they are not a passing team outside of LeBron.

... but easier said than done I guess

[droopdog7]

Attitude is irrelevant when the talent discrepancy is so big.

[crimson_stallion]

Strong mental traits can't overcome the tremendous gulf in talent.    Boston can't beat Cleveland.    Too big, too much talent.

What imaginary world do you live in where Cleveland are too big?  Is there a guy over 6'10" on their roster?  Oh wait there is, Channing Frye...

* Kevin Love is 6'10" with short arms, he's the exact same size as Horford with a similar game
* Tristan Thompson is 6'9"
* Lebron is 6'8" - he's only got two inches and maybe 10 pounds on Crowder

This team is far from big.  They are no bigger then Boston is.  They just PLAY bigger, and that's the difference. 

They aren't too talented either.  Aside from Lebron, there is not a single guy on that team that has a talent advantage over his Celtics equivalent.

* Is Kyrie more talented then Thomas? No.
* Is Love more talented then Horford?  No.
* Is Thompson more talented then Olynyk? No.
* Is JR Smith more talented then Avery Bradley?  No.

This game result had NOTHING to do with talent and everything to do with attitude.  Boston played like they were scared. 

You can talk all you want about talent gaps, about size, about Lebron - but lets make one thing clear. 

Talent gaps do not explain why Boston allowed themselves to get dragged into 20+ point holes at least 3 times against the Wizards.

Lebron doesn't explain why Boston allowed them selves to go down 0-2 to the Bulls on their home court.

Boston had the best record in the East - they could use more talent, but they have enough to get it done if they play with heart and play with energy.   So far in these playoffs they have done that when they felt like it, and that's not going to cut it.

[crimson_stallion]

Strong mental traits can't overcome the tremendous gulf in talent.    Boston can't beat Cleveland.    Too big, too much talent.

Tell that to the 2011-12 Boston Celtics, who took the significantly more talented Miami Heat (also Lebron-led) to 7 games in the ECF with an injured Paul Pierce, an injured Ray Allen, a 35 year old Kevin Garnett, and a second unit that consisted of Etwaun Moore, Keeyon Dooling, Marquis Daniels, Mickael Pietrus and Chris Wilcox.

You know how they did that?  With heart.  With passion.  With belief in themselves.

Ray Allen and Paul Pierce were practically non-existent in that series due to injuries, Avery Bradley didn't play due to injuries, and they had quite probably THE worst bench in the entire NBA. 

Yet on sheer will and absolute refusal to give up, Rajon Rondo and Kevin Garnett left everything on the floor, fought for every single possession, and absolutely refused to let that team go down without a fight.

So don't try to tell me that strong mental traits can't overcome talent, because it can - and that's been proven:

* By our big 3 when we took the heat to 7 games in 11/12
* By the Mavericks who defeated Miami in 2010/11
* By ther Spurs team who almost beat Miami in 12/13 and then DID beat them in 2013/14

And those Miami teams were better then this Clevleand team is. 

Kyrie Irving cannot hold a candle to a prime Dwyane Wade, and Kevin Love is no better then Chris Bosh. 

[Ilikesports17]

Worth noting Chris Bosh didn't play the first 5 games of that Miami series and the heat lost to dallas largely because they had a bit of an identity crisis with Lebron and Wade not really knowing when to defer to the other guy.

Also, Dallas had an all-time great player in dirk nowitzki

I think you are selling Clevelands talent a bit short, but your point is legit. Horford and Isaiah(our two most important players)have 0 belief that they can beat Lebron. He owns so much real estate in both their heads.

Felt like Brown and Smart were the only two out there who played with any belief