Clippers (29-26) at Celtics (40-18) Game #59 2/14/18

[celticinorlando]

Other than an overrated 16 game streak...Boston hasn't been much better than the middle of the East. Just not very good. They are being exposed as to what they are...overachievers early...now a very flawed team...that can't play any lick of defense

[kozlodoev]

Seriously, when do we start pointing the finger at Brad? This team has no heart, character, or energy right now, and that's largely a reflection of the coach's failure to motivate his team. It's a major failure that he is simply incapable of getting our guys (the freaking number one defense in the league) to actually play with effort defensively.

It also doesn't have an identity, offensive and defensive strategy, or a basic ability to execute NBA-level basketball plays.

We're watching some sort of glorified pickup game where guys pound the living bejeesus out of the ball, then go for basic isolation or a bad, contested jumper. No-one moves without the ball, and the ability to identify and exploit favorable matchups is nonexistent.

I put this entirely and squarely at the feet of our coaching staff. And that's before we start asking why Monroe and Baynes combined for 24 minutes in a game where noone could put a body on DeAndre Jordan.

[kozlodoev]

I really wish Kyrie and Al didn't have to make that flight West and do the All star thing. They need a break and need practice.

No-one is going to practice over ASB whether or not they go to the actual event...

[86MaxwellSmart]

Every team that Greg Monroe goes to, gets worse.

[Snakehead]

Brad Stevens can't make Rozier play better defense or learn how to be a PG, or help Brown not dissapear from games or make it so Tatum can hardly even gather the ball to go to the rim these days.  It's all his fault though.   

This team is shallow in ways and has weaknesses.  Smart is that much better on defense than all of our perimeter defenders and even on offense his passing his missed when we have guys like Rozier, Tatum, and Brown out there who can't make plays for people.

[Snakehead]

Every team that Greg Monroe goes to, gets worse.

LOL he played like 10 minutes.   Here's you flying over the shark 86MaxwellSmart to sum up this thread about now.

[celticinorlando]

Time to tighten the rotations...Kyrie, Smart Rozier...Al and Marcus, Monroe and Theis, Jaylan and Tatum

That is it..no more Semi, Baynes, Larkin or anyone else

[kozlodoev]

Brad Stevens can't make Rozier play better defense or learn how to be a PG, or help Brown not dissapear from games or make it so Tatum can hardly even gather the ball to go to the rim these days.  It's all his fault though.   

In fact, that's precisely what he can and should do. It's called coaching. You know, that thing where you actually draw plays and schemes for your guys to use their strengths and minimize their shortcomings.

[jpotter33]

https://twitter.com/Scott_Souza/status/963980891323330560?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Fboston-celtics

#Celtics coach Brad Stevens: I think teams have outplayed us. I've said before I don't think we're all we were cracked up to be during that 16-game winning streak.

Yeah, at this point this "not as good as the 16-game winning streak" narrative that he's repeated ad nauseam for months now has become a crutch for him to justify the poor play of late.

Sure, Brad, we're not as good as the 16-game winning streak (who really is?), but that doesn't justify us being this bad right now. Hold your freaking players accountable for playing with lackluster effort out there, and stop with the nonsensical, random rotations!

[Snakehead]

Brad Stevens can't make Rozier play better defense or learn how to be a PG, or help Brown not dissapear from games or make it so Tatum can hardly even gather the ball to go to the rim these days.  It's all his fault though.   

In fact, that's precisely what he can and should do. It's called coaching. You know, that thing where you actually draw plays and schemes for your guys to use their strengths and minimize their shortcomings.

lol what play do they run that makes Rozier be able to be a PG?  Haven't seen that play in action that makes guys who can't be PGs be able to be a PG.

Stevens has not been amazing but blaming him for the fact that no one one outside of 3 players on our team can pass is funny.

[kozlodoev]

Brad Stevens can't make Rozier play better defense or learn how to be a PG, or help Brown not dissapear from games or make it so Tatum can hardly even gather the ball to go to the rim these days.  It's all his fault though.   

In fact, that's precisely what he can and should do. It's called coaching. You know, that thing where you actually draw plays and schemes for your guys to use their strengths and minimize their shortcomings.

lol what play do they run that makes Rozier be able to be a PG?  Haven't seen that play in action that makes guys who can't be PGs be able to be a PG.

I know it on good authority that plays that allow players that are not Bob Cousy to execute effectively exist. I've seen them in action that one season when we won the NBA title with Eddie House as our backup PG.

[jpotter33]

Brad Stevens can't make Rozier play better defense or learn how to be a PG, or help Brown not dissapear from games or make it so Tatum can hardly even gather the ball to go to the rim these days.  It's all his fault though.   

This team is shallow in ways and has weaknesses.  Smart is that much better on defense than all of our perimeter defenders and even on offense his passing his missed when we have guys like Rozier, Tatum, and Brown out there who can't make plays for people.

Like I said previously, if Smart truly makes this much difference* on our play out there, especially defensively, then we all owe Smart an apology (even the pro-Smart guys like us), and Brad has been incredibly overrated in his time here.

*Don't get me wrong. I think Smart's absence is a big part of our current poor play, especially defensively. But this goes WAY beyond just Smart. There is just no effort or hustle out there defensively, and Smart's absence can't be blamed for all of that. Brad is simply just failing to hold his guys accountable and get them motivated, which he openly admitted the other night after the Pacers game and only rings truer after these last two pitiful efforts:

https://twitter.com/Scott_Souza/status/962160401919152128

#Celtics coach Brad Stevens: I have to do a better job of holding us accountable (for taking shortcuts). We will have enough practice time to work on that. Then it's desire to do it.

[kozlodoev]

#Celtics coach Brad Stevens: I have to do a better job of holding us accountable (for taking shortcuts). We will have enough practice time to work on that. Then it's desire to do it.

Next time Brad does that will be the first in his Celtics career.

[cltc5]

Let's just keep in mind we don't have Hayward or smart, it's been a long year, we're an inexperienced team still because of new players and youth.  That said we need to man up going into the all star break and hopefully we can get a bench scorer to help

[MJohnnyboy]

Let's just keep in mind we don't have Hayward or smart, it's been a long year, we're an inexperienced team still because of new players and youth.  That said we need to man up going into the all star break and hopefully we can get a bench scorer to help

The voice of reason!

I also think Moose will be that bench scorer. I thought he played well among the various duds tonight. Not hating on Rozier because he's been fantastic, but he missed Moose so many times when he was open. When Smart gets back, I expect him and Monroe will have great chemistry.