What a roller coaster game. What a bad finish.
The Celtics trailed by 10 early and fought all the way back. They trailed by 10 in the 3rd and fought all the way back. Pierce looked tired all night but made two clutch plays in the final minute to dish the ball off to Garnett and then hit the big 3 to tie it with just seconds left.
Of course seconds was all that Dirk Nowitzki needed to do Dirk type things and take the lead. It seemed like a good time to go to Ray Allen. The ever reliable Ray Allen. The guy that never makes critical mistakes... except this time he did. The pass was a little low, but he took his eyes off it long enough to lose it between his feet and that's all she wrote.
All losses hurt, and there was some good that you could pull from this game, but it really hurts to have the game so close and have it literally slip through your fingers.
0 recs | 173 comments
not pushing the panic button yet
but I’m starting to get pretty worried. defensive rebounding especially is a HUGE problem for us
mc34 - January 11, 2012
I feel like I've watched this movie before.
Deja Vu is starting to get stomach turning nauseating.
Let’s review:
1) God awful start with no energy
2) Second half come back
3) Pathetically horrible late game officiating
4) Complete and total lack of late game execution
Celtics lose.
I want a refund, I’d already seen that show.
Sizzlack - January 11, 2012
Wow! Another disappointing loss.
Boston sure sucks right now.
LarryBird33 - January 11, 2012
what's up with the zone defense?
it was a gimmicky sort of thing that worked against the Heat in that one game, but we got burned really badly with it today. gave up 2 or 3 open threes with the zone alone.
mc34 - January 11, 2012
Pierce and Ray didn’t bring their “a” game. Need the big 4 to compete every game if we want to be in every game till the end. Pietrus played some good defense.
Blackberry33 - January 11, 2012 via mobile
Agree 100%
If the C’s want to compete this year they can not afford multiple members of the big 4 to have off nights.
Yea maybe one can , but any more that do will really make it tough for the C’s to compete this year especially against good team like was the case case tonight against the Mavs.
fordescort - January 11, 2012
I don't think we've beaten a playoff team yet
I wonder what Danny is going to do. Does he believe this team can win the championship? Does he risk this summer’s salary cap considering most important players are RFA? Man, this is tough.
Celticsdude - January 11, 2012
Danny will surely do something to change this crap
This is really a mediocre team right now. We had 5 days off to prepare for this game; Dallas was on a back-to-back.
Our bench is just not that good, and the starters are erratic. It’s time to say it’s been fun, but we’ll take some young talent in a trade, and, if we don’t make the playoffs, we’ll be getting the Clippers pick which will probably be top 20 along with our own. That smells a lot nicer to me than what we’ve been seeing.
Tradetime - January 12, 2012
Danny knows whats going on. He is not stupido.
Dantenina - January 11, 2012
What just happened
Didn’t see the game but Celtics just had a 3 day break, Mavs are on the second night of a back to back, their on the road, Kidds out, Vaj Carter did his best clank impression, Rick Carlisle got ejected, Celtics manage to keep Dirk from being Dirk and still lose. I suppose thats what happens when your two best scorers combine for 13 shot attempts in a combined 63 minutes. Not good enough, if your a scorer you have to find a way to get your shot otherwise your hurting your team. That and JO is a second or third tear center who’s starting for us.
AussieGreen - January 11, 2012
Poor Rebounding
The Mavs had too many second chance points. If they don’t start rebounding better then they will have a poor year.
jpd985 - January 11, 2012
Wouldn't it be nice
To have someone like Chandler or Camby on this team?
AussieGreen - January 11, 2012
And the C's were at home.
clover - January 12, 2012
GOING ROGUE
Big D-little A-double L-A-S,
Both teams at 500 have been a bit of a mess.
Important to note at the beginning of this poem,
Marquis out, then in, Kidd (his back) stayed home.
Delonte in the building, not in Green and White,
Pietrus joins the Cs, Odom, a Mav, here tonight.
Five minutes in, Delonte 3 for 3,
Cs 1-10, Rondo, Ray, Pierce, KG.
JO took a charge from a pained Vince Carter,
But all the Cs’ misses made Q1 even harder.
Doc says offense ok, shots just not going in,
But with this Cs defense we cannot win.
Q2 starts off with Pietrus for three,
His first shot ever taken as a C!
Cs aggressive D, but the calls are so crappy,
Bradley’s playing hard, refs making Doc unhappy!
In free throws, first half, Rondo was 8 for 10,
He has taken way more than all the Mavs men.
Q3 Carlisle exploded, stepped on Red’s name,
Two techs on him, he was tossed from the game.
Q3, back and forth, constantly changing the lead,
Both teams playing with urgency and speed.
All of a sudden, Marion got hot,
Mavs stretched their lead, the Cs did not!
Rondo sitting on the bench managed to get a tech,
For responding to Odom, what the heck!
A foul called on Dooling for trying to defend,
There was a scene—tech on Doc at the end!
RAY ALLEN FOR THREE, a joy to behold,
On making his shots, Pierce just wasn’t sold.
Once again the lead was bouncing around,
Pierce’s rhythm just could not be found.
25 seconds to go, a three by Pierce,
Tied the game—at last he is fierce!
10 seconds left, the Cs went to work,
But couldn’t stop three point play by Dirk.
Out of bounds, off the hands of Ray,
Mavs ball—and the lead—that’s the end of the day.
mycelts - January 11, 2012
Poor Celts can’t beat a good team. Not looking very bright.
jurrasicearl - January 11, 2012 via mobile
Explain it to me again why JJJohnson was a better choice than Brooks.
Dantenina - January 11, 2012
Unless he plays we will never know.
jpd985 - January 11, 2012
+1
34green - January 11, 2012
Doc is going 11 deep and is playing a D-League All Star minutes
I’m sorry, but if JJJ isn’t playing it is because he’s just not good enough right now
that was a pick for the future – I’m not holding my breath to see him much this year
Jeff Clark - January 11, 2012
Steisma earned his minutes and JJJ is a pick for the future not right now. Unless an injury happens or there is a blowout he won’t see the floor.
jpd985 - January 11, 2012
Usually
4-year college players aren’t drafted for future dividends. I’m not giving up on him or anything, but like you said, at this point, he isn’t good enough to play in the NBA.
KGHurtYourFeelings - January 12, 2012
Okay I'm calling it.
This team seriously needs help. I mean…you get a 4 day break while the opposing team is on their back2back, yet you STILL lose? Come on. Win 4 in a row against trash teams, and lose all the games to decent and elite teams, sigh…
Panic button, where are you?!
SparzWizard - January 11, 2012
Alzheimer's night at the Garden
Didn’t you know? Maybe you forgot…….
For the first 46 minutes, Cpt. Pierce played like a high school girl. Timid, SCARED. Who was that guy?
No, I’m not exaggerating.
But I am getting a little confused here… was that an NBA game tonight? Coulda fooled me.
JR99 - January 11, 2012
Isn't that a bit harsh?
I thought he just looked tired. But, yeah, like someone else said, one hour spent sprinting on a treadmill after shoot around will do that! Supposedly Doc said he didn’t care how he played and it was more important to get in shape. Well, alrighty then!
34green - January 11, 2012
Tough loss...
I think the C’s really needed this win mentally and its a shame they could not pull it out.
The bad Pierce, Ray and KG just could not get it going tonight.
The C’s once again had no in the paint presence on offense from there bigs which I think is a big Achilles heal for them.
The good Rondo played a hell of a game.
Pietrius did not look to shabby considering it was his 1st game of the year.
I like the energy, hustle and defense of the 2nd unit of Dooling, Bradley, Steimsma , Bass and Pietrius very much and think they will be a solid unit as the season progresses.
One final observation I wish Doc would decided on a back up center out of Wilcox and Steimsa and stick with one of them to allow them to get in the groove of the game.
Though I prefer Steimsma, I think splitting minutes between them is not allowing either player to get in the flow of the game and is hurting there play and the team.
It should be on or the other I think to be fair to the players and the team.
fordescort - January 11, 2012
Meant to say...
’one or the other"…in my last sentence below.
fordescort - January 11, 2012
+1
Agree with your center observation.
forever_green - January 11, 2012 via mobile
I thought KG had a good game - 16 its, 10 rebounds, 3 assists and a block -
but neither Pierce nor Ray could really get going. Pierce finally started to look engaged at the end, but that was too late.
Overall I thought two things did us in:
1) Other than Rondo & Dooling, the rest of our team continued to shoot poorly. You can’t win if you miss shots. And we missed a lot of bunnies.
2) Our help defense behind KG is consistently off. Bass was caught over-playing on two key buckets – one by Thierry when he caught Bass shading on the same side as Rondo (big mistake) and just went the other way off the pick for an easy layup and then again on the big play by Dirk – he has to get in the paint and set for the charge on that – not try to sky and block the shot on a guy like Nowitski.
Both these things are correctable, but its frustrating to have to lose games while they figure it out.
Oh – and Rondo was freakin’ awesome.
mmmmm - January 11, 2012
Yea...
maybe its unfair to clump KG together with Ray and Pierce since he did contribute far more then they did tonight.
I guess I added KG to the mix in the sense and reason that I think he missed some big offensive field goal, rebound attempts and did not have a few big one on one and team help defensive stops at multiple key points of the game, when we really needed it from him.
Just my 2 cents though.
fordescort - January 11, 2012
Together they're only getting 5 minutes a game.
clover - January 12, 2012
Wait for it
Commenter saying that we can rest and get to the playoffs to turn it on
vgarcia890 - January 11, 2012
Maybe
They will let us in the playoffs with “almost won”. How many games back is “almost won”?
Oh wait, that is still a loss.
Ragetti - January 11, 2012
They need to make the playoffs first.
Ya, ya, it’s crazy to think they might miss it.
But here’s some food for thought, right now, I’d argue this team looks as bad as they did at any point of the 2010 season, they’re punting away games late and coming out tired and unfocused on a nightly basis.
So, take away the torrid pace they started 2010 at (Best record in the NBA until Christmas) and what would that team have ended up? Um, they probably would have missed the playoffs.
So given that they look like this right now, they don’t have the luxury of coasting to the finish line, or they wont be playing in the post season.
Sizzlack - January 11, 2012
How do you lose
a home game to a team that you want to get back at that beat you twice last year that is playing a back to back and you have had 4 days off to practice be at home and rest?
Amazing amazing amazing
bbeingphilled - January 11, 2012 via mobile
Turn on what?
Dantenina - January 11, 2012
Their TV sets
jurrasicearl - January 11, 2012 via mobile
To quote Rick Pitino
Tonight’s game reminded me of the great basketball philosopher , the astute Rick Pitino. “Bird, Parish, and McHale aren’t aren’t coming through that door any time soon.” Doc couldn’t see that his big three were totally “gassed” at the end of regulation? Maybe Danny Ainge can trade the lottery pick he’s going to get when the Celtics don’t make the playoffs, and he use it to get Mar Shon Brooks back!
BigAlbert - January 11, 2012
I felt the bench played better than the starters with the exception of Rondo and Ray was invisible for a while
jpd985 - January 11, 2012
I did not think...
Ray or Pierce looked tired but did think KG looked gassed on the floor during some defensive and rebounding sequences.
Not making fun of him, but he did look at times on the bench as if he needed some oxygen.
I wonder if he really was tired or just looked it?
fordescort - January 11, 2012
Really, you didn't think Pierce looked tired?
He was front rimming a lot.
34green - January 11, 2012
I didn't...
Pierce just had 4 days of rest and he only played 30 minutes tonight with Pietrius playing so well.
Maybe he still is working himself back to shape?
fordescort - January 11, 2012
His shot was seriously flat tonight.
No arc. On both FGs and FTs.
I have a hard time thinking he’d be tired off that much rest. But his shot looked tired.
More likely it is something mechanical – hopefully he’ll correct it quick!!! We need Pierce to be shooting and making shots!
mmmmm - January 11, 2012
Maybe its the flu..
since Ray had it recently?
fordescort - January 11, 2012
I don't think it was truly 4 days of rest
Not with the reports of how hard the practices were and then what the announcers said tonight about him doing sprints on the treadmill for an hour today and Doc saying he cared more about him being in shape than how he played.
34green - January 11, 2012
Yes...
thats true they did practice.
I just meant they had 4 days off from actual game play.
fordescort - January 11, 2012
It's not so much that they practiced
Teams need to practice. It’s just that we always kept hearing about how hard the practices were, how much running, etc. And then the treadmill thing. I’m sure some of them do need to get in shape (Pierce being one since he missed the entire pre-season), but at what cost? It’s a fine line.
34green - January 11, 2012
ray ray the man is done and needs to retire.
reb0undwins18 - January 11, 2012
Now you are just being a troll.
mmmmm - January 11, 2012
that is not up to you
let the moderators moderate – if you want to flag a post, feel free and we’ll consider it
(actions → flag)
Jeff Clark - January 12, 2012
This blog is getting strange.
Posters can say the most amazing things … except comment on what each other says.
I guess I could have expressed my response to reb0undwins18 as an opinion, as in, “Your comment seems to me to be similar to one that a troll might make.”
Would that have been acceptable?
mmmmm - January 12, 2012
thanks for the mockery
but no, that’s not acceptable
would you care to discuss this further via email? or do you just want to make a point?
Jeff Clark - January 12, 2012
It wasn't mockery.
I’m sorry you took it as such.
It is genuine bewilderment.
An email conversation would not prove helpful at clarifying my mistakes to others. An open discussion of my missteps would seem more valuable to the community.
I disagree with Roy that the rules are ‘crystal clear’ because the spirit is so often violated. In particular, there are those who do nothing BUT strive to ‘provoke a negative response’ while staying strictly within the ‘letter’ of the rules.
I dunno. I’m almost afraid to post anything here anymore. Every time I log in I am expecting a warning or threat of being banned.
mmmmm - January 12, 2012
again - let us do our jobs
we don’t claim to do it perfectly, but we’re doing our best
just because someone gets away with something (on a huge blog that is impossible to perfectly moderate) doesn’t give you license to start labeling people trolls
and there was no warning here, just a request to let us do our jobs
Jeff Clark - January 12, 2012
Our rules are crystal clear on this:
“Do not label fellow posters in a way that is likely to provoke a negative response.”
The reason that rule is in place is to prevent things from turning into flame wars. There’s no reason to call names or to get personal. As Jeff says, either report the comment, or debate it.
Roy_Hobbs - January 12, 2012
We suck right now. At least mp was better than I hoped for.
Jon Niednagel - January 11, 2012
I can take a loss IF
We are putting 4 quarters of hard fought basketball. Instead, every game, every year we play like fools. Are we gonna be good, are we gonna be lazy…who knows. Kg is my fav player and has been even before he was a celtic but it is absolutely official : he in NOT a defensive anchor at all anymore and he should retire after this season.
Kgwillkillyou - January 11, 2012 via mobile
KG sucks
Missed that gimmy under the basket in the final minute, don’t think it even hit the rim.
And then let Dirk grab an offensive rebound over his back without even jumping. I kept yelling at the T.V. for Doc to sit that old man….
Ragetti - January 11, 2012
That was a big...
easy field goal KG missed and kinda was a momentum stopper.
fordescort - January 11, 2012
There needs to be recognition
on the part of Doc that KG isn’t KG any more. I don’t know what’s going on, or if it has any hope of changing later in the season. But so far this season, it’s looking like KG should be coming off the bench to rest the starter. And that’s it.
He doesn’t appear to have much to offer and he’s absolutely hurting us when he’s out there.
bboisvert - January 12, 2012
Um ... this is off a game where KG contained Dirk to just 16 points overall while grabbing 9 defensive rebounds
and on the other end matched with 16 points of his own?
KG’s defense was NOT the reason we lost this game.
We lost because as a team our shooting sucked and because our bench bigs still are making huge mistakes in their help defense.
mmmmm - January 11, 2012
100 percent agree with all you said. Kg did not loose this game for us.
Blackberry33 - January 11, 2012 via mobile
I'll say it again
Celts need a talent at center like Cousins to compete against the elite teams
gocanes1 - January 12, 2012
All of the centers on this team stink - that is all
vinnie - January 12, 2012
Do not mock The Steamer.
That is all.
Sizzlack - January 12, 2012
Is that like "Don't fear the Reaper?" :)
vinnie - January 12, 2012
You just gave me an awesome idea for a Greg Stiemsma T-Shirt.
Sizzlack - January 12, 2012
+1
KG hasn’t started the season well but thought he played well last night – his D on Dirk was as good as you can play him.
Derekg49 - January 12, 2012
I fully expect this to be KG's last year.
clover - January 12, 2012
Rare photo of Celtic veteran players taking a breather
Master Po - January 11, 2012
+1
But its not even their age….they seem to have no killer instinct at all. I hate kobes guts, but he wants to win at any cost. Our old guys just seem to go through the motions. And in my opimion, besides shooting 3’s, ray isnt all that great. when ray passes or dribbles I dread it, as if bradley was doing it
Kgwillkillyou - January 11, 2012 via mobile
I'm sort of with you there
And if Ray is not a particularly good playmaker and he’s not shooting then why is he even on the floor. Don’t get me wrong Ray is one of my favorite players but he’s huting the team if he doesn’t take AT LEAST 11 shots a game. Personally I think Doc should be running plays for him to get at least 15 shots a game, but thats just me.
AussieGreen - January 11, 2012
Haha. Unfortunately, their canes / walkers were left out of the photo.
Roy_Hobbs - January 12, 2012
there was some improvement tonight but lack of defensive boards and second chance
baskets killed us. also loose balls. we win this game by 10 if we take care of the defensive glass. kg’s inability to score at point blank range is killing me. he had at least 4 baskets he couldn’t convert tonight. he can’t get off the floor anymore. as for pierce, well, we needed more than 7 points. the mavs keyed their D on ray so that meant pierce was needed even more and he completel disappeared. not sure what doc’s goal was the past several days but it seems that winning this game was not one of them.at least our back up guards gave us some life in the second half and at least pietrus looked good
Red2 - January 11, 2012
lack of defensive boards?
The Mavs missed 44 shots and we grabbed 33 of them – that’s 75%. There is nothing bad about that number.
On the other side, though – yeah, we only grabbed 2 offensive rebounds and that meant we did not exactly put any second chance shots back of our own. In fact, we put back ZERO. Ugh.
Normally, if we were shooting closer to 50% (which we did all last year and up until these last two games this year) then giving up on the offensive boards is not a big deal – your odds are better at getting it back if you yield that ORB and get back on defense. But when you shoot as poorly as we did tonight and against Indiana – it’s not good.
We’ve got to get our shooting touch back. It’s a make/miss league and we are missing.
mmmmm - January 11, 2012
O no not again
Celtics looked bad too many TO’s …. WE looked OLD and we keep signing retreads.
Give the rooks playing time.
juanpan - January 11, 2012
Stir it Up
KG/jO/PP/RA gives up too much athleticism, cant keep pace with Rondo. Bench Jo, Ray off the bench. Start Pietrus @sg and Stiemer. KG gets help on the boards, Rodo gets younger legs to run with. JO/Wilcox in to pair with Bass and let other teams bench players chase Ray around. Something like that.
Tenacious D - January 11, 2012
I think there may be a real possibility ...
of starting Steamer in place of J.O. at some point this season.
J.O. had another quiet night tonight when the C’s could of really needed his help.
If the C’s want to compete this year they will need contribution from the center position and if J.O. is going to blow hot and cold all year long, then maybe starting the the Steamer to see if he can give the C’s more consistent center play during the course of the season would be a smart move for both players and the team.
The steamers young legs and athleticism would come in handy and it would also help get a jump start of possibly grooming him to be the C’s center of the future that they will need next year when J.O retires.
Also another plus of starting teh Steamer may be that by J.O. moving to the bench it will allow him to be matched up against 2nd string centers which could help improve his game and productivity.
fordescort - January 11, 2012
And Doc's giving Stiemer all of 2 1/2 minutes a game now.
clover - January 12, 2012
Unfortunately...
… knowing Doc, that won’t happen until J.O.’s (inevitable) season-ending injury.
bboisvert - January 12, 2012
I like that.
clover - January 12, 2012
Rondo and Stiestma(sic) are the only two guys worth keeping, but then, what can those 2 do by themselves. Bass is a good one coming from the bench. Thats about it. We had our window back in 2008 and we made the best of it. Danny knew it would be a small window and he went for it. Good one is better than nothing, but that was it, except for those “want to beleivers”. The window closed as it had to close because of the age factor, and we have not been able to draft nor trade for value, true value. Rondo has been the only quality draftee since………. I really dont know who is in that draft think tank for the Celtics, but they have shot a lot more blanks than true bullets for a long, long time. They have been consistently poor drafters. Well, This is the team for 2011-2012. This is it. Find a way to enjoy the wins cause it wont be a pretty season.
Dantenina - January 11, 2012
Don't worry guys....Danny just picked up this guy off waivers from the G League (Geezer)
once that hip replacement heals …he’ll be ready for action!!!…..he can’t play on Tuesday’s though…that’s Bingo night…
Master Po - January 11, 2012
too bad McHale is coaching
I think he’d be a good pickup
anyone got Robert’s number?
Jeff Clark - January 11, 2012
lol..
To both PO’s & Jeff’s posts.
fordescort - January 11, 2012
LMFAO
Celticsdude - January 11, 2012
That guy needs a few years to develop
vgarcia890 - January 12, 2012
If he can make it that long...lol
Sorry just a bad joke, no offense to the elderly.
fordescort - January 12, 2012
Play the rookies and give them a chance
bbeingphilled - January 11, 2012 via mobile
Blow it up
Big_Easy - January 11, 2012 via mobile
I'm almost there with you
But I remember back in 2010 people were doing the “Trade Ray” chants all through a sub par season and then we made the finals. However this team looks worse than the 2010 team. I’ll wait till the end of January before I start with the ‘blow it up’ posts.
AussieGreen - January 11, 2012
Yet another pathetic loss
It will be hard for anyone to come up with excuses for this latest debacle.
To recap the Celtics just had FOUR DAYS OFF to rest and more importantly to practice according to Doc and the team. They were playing at home against a Mavs team on the 2nd night of a road back to back.
The team talked about starting games well and coming out with energy and what happens
-another horrific 1st quarter with only 15 points and an 8 point deficit. What happened to the Celtic team that started games off with energy and often buried teams before halftime? Where is the fire after 4 days to rest and prepare? Where is the correction for another late game failure in crunch time?85 points tonight is the best the Celtics can do at home after 4 days off to work out the kinks and recharge. Celtics still haven’t beaten even a mediocre team this season.
Tonight was quite possibly as rested and healthy as this team will be for the rest of this season. If the Celtics can’t even manage to win a game in these circumstances then what realistic optimism is there for the rest of this compressed season?
NO MORE EXCUSES…
warnerjohn - January 11, 2012
OLD MEN PLAYING BASKETBALL
The heavy bodies lunge, the broken language
of fake and drive, glamorous jump shot
slowed to a stutter. Their gestures, in love
again with the pure geometry of curves,
rise toward the ball, falter, and fall away.
On the boards their hands and fingertips
tremble in tense little prayers of reach
and balance. Then, the grind of bone
and socket, the caught breath, the sigh,
the grunt of the body laboring to give
birth to itself. In their toiling and grand
sweeps, I wonder, do they still make love
to their wives, kissing the undersides
of their wrists, dancing the old soft-shoe
of desire? And on the long walk home
from the VFW, do they still sing
to the drunken moon? Stands full, clock
moving, the one in army fatigues
and houseshoes says to himself, pick and roll,
and the phrase sounds musical as ever,
radio crooning songs of love after the game,
the girl leaning back in the Chevy’s front seat
as her raven hair flames in the shuddering
light of the outdoor movie, and now he drives,
gliding toward the net. A glass wand
of autumn light breaks over the backboard.
Boys rise up in old men, wings begin to sprout
at their backs. The ball turns in the darkening air.
—B. H. Fairchild
bbeingphilled - January 11, 2012 via mobile
+1
Master Po - January 11, 2012
This team is a mystery
This loss was definitely not as concerning as the Indiana game. We’re still not in shape, we show excellence one possession and look lost the next… For this reason the jury is still out on what we can do.
Rondo and KG played well JO was active, not the greatest offensive performance from Paul or Ray I’ve ever seen to say the least, our defense was sharp except for some lapses, basically I couldn’t get much new information from this game other than that we’re still figuring it out, and we better VERY soon because the season is short.
On another note I’m still waiting for Chris Wilcox to show up, when he has confidence he can be effective for boards and points around the rim.
p-peazy - January 11, 2012
Po, is that a pic of you playing in your Neighborhood League Tournament of 2011?
Dantenina - January 11, 2012
Just got home from the game
This team is worse than I thought. They have no centers. Jermaine O’Neal is absolutely horrendous. Chris Wilcox is worse. They have no point guard. Keyon Dooling has no clue how to run an offense. They have a guard who plays really good defense, but who might be one of the worst guards on the offensive end I have ever seen. They don’t box out or rebound.
I don’t think they will win the 38 games I predicted. They may go .500. I also don’t think they will get the 4th-6th seed. I would say 6th or 7th. All good things come to an end, and this is coming to an end.
vinnie - January 11, 2012
pierce is done, jo is done, kg is done, ray ray is done.
doc s*cks!
reb0undwins18 - January 11, 2012
it is all all over i wount be surprise if we cant make it in the playoffs.
reb0undwins18 - January 11, 2012
'Might as well not watch.mmmmm - January 11, 2012
+1
fordescort - January 11, 2012
The Big 4= 4 wins so far
bbeingphilled - January 11, 2012 via mobile
It's no longer the Big 4 anymore, sad enough to say, but it's STILL early I guess
Hammerhead7 - January 12, 2012
Wilcox has to show confidence when he is the third 5 on the team? I would say what you see is what you are going to get from him all season long. If Wilcox was better than what he has shown so far, he would not have been let go by his last team, dont you think?
Santa Claus came and was gone on December 25th. We are not getting any more surprise presents.
Dantenina - January 11, 2012
So far, Chris Wilcox is one of the worst pickups I have seen
How can they come out flat after 4 days rest? Other than Rondo and KG, this team stunk out the joint tonight. They shot 32 free throws and Dallas shot 27. This team is done. I hope come trade time Danny is announcing some big deals, because the rebuilding needs to start then.
vinnie - January 11, 2012
It's all been said before.
2010 redux.
Sizzlack - January 11, 2012
So you mean they are already bored with the regular season 9 games in?
This team is toast and the rebuilding will begin at the trade deadline.
vinnie - January 11, 2012
Well then, win or lose, I will try to enjoy our Big 4 until the trade deadline
It will have been a great 4 1/2 years!
34green - January 11, 2012
agree
+1
EXER123 - January 11, 2012
"This team is toast"
Same old, same old.
If you repeat the “World is Ending!” cry enough times, eventually, for the first time, you will be right. Maybe this is it.
mmmmm - January 12, 2012
WHY is stiemsma getting garbage minutes?
he has earn the rigth to start over JO and now he get trash minutes come on doc
EXER123 - January 11, 2012
Greg has gotten serious ...
minutes in recent games and in the 1st half of tonights game.
Doc did not though utilize him in the 2nd half …which I would of prefered.
fordescort - January 11, 2012
2:46min that serious for u??? come man u can be serious
EXER123 - January 12, 2012
can't
EXER123 - January 12, 2012
Stiemer's got less than 3 minutes in each of the last 2 games.
clover - January 12, 2012
He did not
get serious minutes in the game. He barely got any.
bboisvert - January 12, 2012
To all above...
Let me clarify.
When I say Steamer got serious minutes in recent games and in the Mavs game, I meant it in the sense that he has seen playing time during prime points and minutes of those games.
I agree with you all that Steamer has not played enough in those games though.
I have been posting this opinion very much and often so far this year of how Id prefer the Steamer get alot more minutes and have even taken it a step further and have given my opinion many times Id like the steamer to become the starting center.
fordescort - January 12, 2012
I saw this movie in 87, 88,89, 90, on an on and on. Same result, different actors and managers. We got a patent on this behavior. We milk our stars till they are spent on their feet and can do no more. Then we dont trade them cause we rather dwell on their past victories and dream that with a little help here and there, they will continue to shine for just one more year. But the end is just the same.Our big three have given their all. Im glad I saw it. They just cannot fight mother age. They cannot have surgically repaired faces and be young again, like some persons do to look young no matter how old they are. That doesnt happen is sports and that will not happen to our beloved Celtics.
Lets move on while we keep loving our Kevins and Allens and Pauls; One thing does not exclude the other. If not, we will spend another 20 years in mediocrity.
Dantenina - January 11, 2012
Hard to believe Boston lost this game given the circumstances
Sometimes it can be insightful to look at things from an opposite view.
Just imagine if the Celtics were the team tonight playing the 2nd game of a road back to back. Imagine if they were facing a team who had 4 days to rest, practice and get ready for this game. Imagine if the Celtics were facing a team with such pride, 3 hall of famers and another current all star in the starting lineup. That the Celtics were without their starting PG who is also a future hall of famer.
In that scenario the excuses would have been flying for the Celtics. Talk of how there is no way a tired team missing a key starter would have a chance playing on the road for the 2nd consecutive night against a well rested, prideful and veteran laden team. How it would be unreasonable for the Celtics to win a game under such dire circumstances.
Yet Dallas managed to come into Boston and beat the Celtics under those same circumstances. Tonight’s loss truly illustrates how dire the situation is for the Celtics right now. There is time to turn it around but it had better start soon before the season slips away…
warnerjohn - January 11, 2012
I think I asked after the New Orleans game and I'm still asking . . .
where is that Celtics pride and killer instinct?!
34green - January 12, 2012
7tony2
i agree
7tony2 - January 12, 2012
send JJJ down to the d-league, get him some playing time and experience
mc34 - January 12, 2012
Put this lose squarly on Doc's shoulders
Very unintelligent moves by Doc. I heard he ran the Celts in 2 killer workouts and then one of the dumbest things I have heard for some time, told Pierce to get in shape and Pierce ran for a solid one hour hard treamill workout before the game.
1) Killer workouts took it out of the aging Big 3, all had poor games, obviously flat from condiitoning workouts. This team lapses from fatigue after All Star breaks, Doc acclelrating the 2nd half of the season funk that we all know about.
2) Pierce could not jog down the court Christmas Day because of a bad heel and now you are having him pound that recovering heel on the treadmill for one hour after two brutual workouts. Where is the Celt training staff? Will anybody be surprised when he reaggravetes it again? Come on Doc/Pierce wise up.
3)If the conditoning is so critical to Doc/Pierce thinking, why not play your kiester off in the game and then do your treadmill after the victorious win which we would have had if you played like Paul Pierce?
4) Quit with the technicals. Yes some calls out there reeked. It happens every game but we are in the mid-4Q and didn’t Doc preach we don’t get Ts in the the 4Q. So Rondo gets one and a few plays later Doc gets one too. That’s 2 critical points in a very close contest which affects the way it plays out in the end.
5) This team is horrible in many half court sets, is pourous on defense and can’t take care of the glass. We get little 2nd chance opportunitites and we give up many 2nd and 3rd chance points. Those are the 3 facets of the game Doc should have been using practice time for.
brianceltfan - January 12, 2012
Exactly what I have been saying about the workouts!
This, this, this!
34green - January 12, 2012
And I didn’t even think Pierce looked that bad in the 4 wins anyway. I don’t get all this getting in shape stuff all of a sudden. Let him play his way into shape.
34green - January 12, 2012
Doc is Old School NBA
Eight man lineups, run our starters, vets first. No surprise.
Tenacious D - January 12, 2012
Doc may be willing to sacrifice wins to get his team ready.
If he’s seeing guys out of shape, he’s going to work them hard, even if it means they’re tired on game nights.
A few extra losses will pay dividends come playoff time if their conditioning is improved.
You don’t get better conditioned by resting, you get better conditioned by working.
Sizzlack - January 12, 2012
And we are forgetting that the Mavs played without their starting point guard
vinnie - January 12, 2012
Chicago, Indiana, OK City
0-3? I really, really hope not, but it’s not looking good!
34green - January 12, 2012
They have a chance against the Bulls if Rose does not play
But they could easily be 4-8 after the next three games.
vinnie - January 12, 2012
Uh, huh
Ugh!
34green - January 12, 2012
Exactly
The Mavs were the easy game this week. Ugh.
bboisvert - January 12, 2012
Great game!
I was in attendance tonight at the Garden and I could feel that Celtics energy. Yes, we played sloppy and we could not secure rebounds, but we fought and fought well.
I think this team has potential. However, it is missing a few pieces. We desperately need a big man, someone who can rebound and solidify the middle. Also having a scorer on the bench would be great. MP was that spark tonight. If we can have that, along with a better game from Pierce and Allen, we can make some noise and surprise most teams.
I do have to admit that some calls against us tonight were not legitimate calls. Not to place the blame on the referees, we could not execute, but those bad calls do change the flow of the game.
Danyck - January 12, 2012 via mobile
Celts took 32 free throws, the Mavs 25
vinnie - January 12, 2012
The timing of them is more important than the base numbers.
The phantom fouls on dooling and JO, and the resulting technicals on Rondo and Doc were late game momentum swingers. Flat out, pathetically bad calls that handed 5 free points to the Mavs and stemmed all momentum the Celtics were building in the quarter.
Sizzlack - January 12, 2012
Playing against an equally aging team....
Playing in your homecourt, days off between games, with a complete line up…….. Dallas playing on the 2nd of a back to back w/o their starting point guard and Dirk having only 11 FG attempts…..and Boston still couldn’t pull this one off?
A 15pt opening quarter after days off? Where’s the energy? Where’s the pride?
Dallas with a ton of 2nd chance points and Boston with zip! Haywood has 11 rebounds! This is why we need a center. Dallas had 12 offensive rebounds to Boston’s 2! Since we signed Pietrus, we only can get one via trade or we waive somebody.
Boston has become solely a perimeter oriented team. Evidenced by our 2 offensive rebounds. Everybody was on the perimeter and nobody on the block!!! Even during the championship year, Celtics had a semblance of an inside game. Without a post presence, teams just stick to our players. And with this elderly team, we do not have the players to just blow by defenders and get their own shots.
We need another game from those scrub teams to restore some dignity into this group.
LarryBird33 - January 12, 2012
How is it possible for Pierce and Allen to combine for only 13 shots in a game?
Ray with 8 and Pierce with 5. That just cannot happen if this team is to have any chance to win.
vinnie - January 12, 2012
Very true.
It’s been said before, the bench is key, but this team will go as far as the Big 4 will take them.
And if we see many more performances like that from Paul and Ray, the answer to that questions is… not very far at all.
Sizzlack - January 12, 2012
What's with our Mid-Level Ex/Mini MLE signees?!?
It hasn’t pan out so far… Sheed, JO, Wilcox.
LarryBird33 - January 12, 2012
Sheed came close to winning this team a championship in 2010
As for JO — horrible. As for Wilcox, still early, but initial returns say maybe not so good.
vinnie - January 12, 2012
Sheed was a cancer
We came close to winning dispite him (and his influence), not because of it.
bboisvert - January 12, 2012
+1
About Sheed.
With out Sheed’s play the C’s do not get out of the east, to game 7 of the finals and only minutes away from banner 18.
fordescort - January 12, 2012
sheed sucked
we would have 2 without him on the team.
mdowell04 - January 12, 2012
NO need to worry
There is no one behind the Celts right now who can beat them out for the 8th seed in the east
vinnie - January 12, 2012
the ongoing attacks on Sheed just tell you the poster never watched a playoff game that year
No way anyone who watched amplayoff game that year says anything but Sheed was great. He did exactly what he intended to do: he played his butt off with every once he had left. He played in the post when KG wouldn’t. He was better then PJ ever was as back up for Perk and he was good enough backing KG. If we had had him last year instead of JO and Shaq well it might have been different
wahz - January 12, 2012
Agree 100%
Well said wahz.
Sheed played his butt of in the playoffs and was highly responsible for helping the C’s get to the finals and almost helping them win banner 18.
Though he did take alot of 3’s (which Doc gave him the green light to do apparently since it served a purpose to spread the floor which is a C’s priority) when Sheed did take it into the paint (as he did in those playoffs) he was probably one of the best low post scoring bigs the C’s have had in the big 3 era.
I wish we had that in the paint scoring presence now as the C’s may need to call the FBI since it has dissapeared without a trace for the time being.
I will never forget the grit Sheed showed giving it his best playing with a bad back in the finals and the defense he played against the Lakers bigs of Odom, Bynum and especially Gasol.
That was classic test book big man defense at its best.
fordescort - January 12, 2012
bring ray and JO off the bench....
the answer here is simple here, folks, the reason the c’s get off to these sluggish starts is because they have 4 old guys all starting together, and they need to balance out that age with some athleticism to maximize their efficiency. stiemsma needs to be starting alongside KG, they will play some nice defense together.
and the bench could use ray’s scoring – start the younger pietrus instead at SG.
sending KG to the bench is apossibility too, i wouldn’t mind seeing bass taking passes from rondo to start the game.
dallas, san anotnio, and the lakers all use this strategy pretty effectively.
Kraidstar - January 12, 2012
Been saying so
Its the smart move and if Doc were Tessio (Tessio was always the smart one), he’d do it. Doc=Clemenza,
Tenacious D - January 12, 2012
7tony2
where is the effort or are we just unlucky
another game we should have won but manage to lose
if we keep this up playoffs won’t mean anything /then again we do play better when it’s playoffs
7tony2 - January 12, 2012
the way
they keep this up they will end up with only 25-30 wins. I think not enough for playoffs. They really need to train Stiesma or get a big rebounding guy to help with the boards.
elvyn - January 12, 2012
lets give it til end of month..
and if were still showing the lack of passion, drive, killer instinct, timing & still losing… better blow it up right at the trade deadline. KG had a pretty good game but how many times have you seen his man blowing by him!?.. Gotta give it to him but nobody beats father time.. He can no longer be the defensive anchor of the team and hey he’s no longer a threat in the post.. We need a post presence for us to get rondo, allen and all other shooters workin… No matter what happens, C’s for life!
PaulPio - January 12, 2012
How old is OLD?
sure our big three is old and weary but it just seems they really play without passion anymore.
We can’t even beat teams in the first qtr anymore and by the time the C’s go into the 4th, we just seemed so gassed up.
BUt how come Kobe, who is only less than a year younger than Pierce is still lighting it up despite having a bad wrist…48 pts followed up by 32 or something on back to back nights when both PP and Ray could only come up with 13 pts on 4 days rest…. :-(
bopna - January 12, 2012
Wow! 0 second chance points?!
I agree with the bright spot regarding Pietrus. For a guy who hasn’t played for a loong time and coming off injury, that was a good debut.
Lots of great defense on our end but it gets pretty useless when they can’t rebound defensively :s
When was the last time the C’s defeated the Mavs? Cos I’m sure they didn’t win against ’em last season.
japsuki - January 12, 2012
How can the game..
..slip through their fingers when it never was in their grasp?
Tenacious D - January 12, 2012
Figure of speech
LarryBird33 - January 12, 2012
Of course
but makes it look closer than it was, Cs were outplayed and lucky to be in it.
Tenacious D - January 12, 2012
I disagree with this.
There was no luck involved in being it. Rondo was the reason they were in it, along with some inspired energy and defense from the second unit with Dooling and Pietrus.
The Big 3 is the reason they lost this game, Pierce and Ray took 11 shots, combined. That can’t happen. Rondo was forced to be aggressive, because if he didn’t, nobody else in that unit at all was getting anything done.
But it wasn’t luck. And Bass has no concept of the help defense rotations right now, zero. He was so far out of position to help on Dirk it was laughable. That’s why they lost.
But give credit were credit is due, Rondo and the bench played a great game and that was the reason they were in it.
Sizzlack - January 12, 2012
Make your Free Throws and Rebound the Ball !
and you would have won that game! Dallas missed like 12 of their own. This could have been a blowout either way. JO has become walking foul trouble. Need the Steamroller in there more for rebounding and blocks.
evrock - January 12, 2012
Expectations.....
We are not going to see the real Celtics until playoffs.
8th seed here we come. Not necessarily a bad thing either.
David Henderson - January 12, 2012
As someone who has to sit through 70 games to get there...
let me offer the alternative thought that it is a bad thing. And I have doubts this will be like 2010. They don’t have the ability to flick a switch and suddenly be a kick-ass team.
Many fundamental problems right now.
bboisvert - January 12, 2012
I hope so but
That’s a pretty shytty mentality to have, and sometime it can bite you in the behind. We aint goin anywhere if someone doesnt tell rondo to play with some damn contol.
cltc5 - January 12, 2012
I turned off the game in the third quarter after falling asleep. This is an unentertaining product. Boring. Lack of effort. I’d rather read a book.
Maybe, after 50 years of being a Celts fan, I’m burned out. There is no interesting story line. KG looks like a daddy long legs spider getting pushed around. Rondo is a bug skittering across the pond. O’Neill is an old bullfrog standing around waiting for something. Ray is a bird flying around with no purpose. The reserves are like tadpoles.
Maybe I was watching Wild Kingdom, or staring out the window. The losing Celtics were more interesting as I watched the kids grow up. This team is just average. Same old same old. No fire. Mail it in.
johnnymost - January 12, 2012
We have NO offense..
Hopefully Pierce gets healthy and conditioned soon. Ray and Rondo need help. What’s up with KG?
Pietrus & Cream - January 12, 2012
I think ...
the C’s do at times run into offensive droughts which does cause problems.
I think though a bigger concern is where the offense comes from via the perimeter or in the paint?.
This teams bigs and wing players can score well from the perimeter and in the paint at times via transition, but the C’s totally lack a 1/2 court offensive presence in the paint from there bigs.
Unless you are a team with great, young, consistent wing scorers ala the Heat with Wade and Lebron, I think its vital to have some form of big man in the paint scoring capabilities if you want to compete effectively over the course of a season and for a championship.
I think KG, JO, Wilcox and Bass and maybe Greg do have in the paint scoring skills that can help offer the C’s at least some more big man in the paint scoring opportunities, if they would just get in the paint on offense more often.
I am not holding my breath but hope the players and Doc can maybe try to remedy this matter and get in the paint more often to balance out the perimeter offense a bit, which I think would give the C’s alot more higher % field goal opportunities, especially later in games when the rim gets tighter (due to fatigue and stepped up opponent defense) and jumpers are harder to fall.
Just my 2 cents though.
fordescort - January 12, 2012
Jermaine O'Fossil sucks
There were actually some posters talking about O’Fossil as if that one 19 point game was some type of vindication that he doesn’t stink. The man can barely get up down the court without injury. This team is too old to amount to anything but I will never get over the horrible signing by Delusional Danny.
I am so looking forward to next season where I won’t have to watch O’Fossil try and play.
MaxAMillion - January 12, 2012
the only thing more painful than watching this game...
was having to watch it while listening to JVG. Has there ever been a worse announcer who just babbles on and on about irrelevant stuff?
Our offense stinks right now. Our defense played good to great in spurts.
We lost to an aging team who was playing back to backs on the road.
It’s hard to find anything good to say. Yes, we have to get our “legs”. Yes there’s time to play really well. Yes there’s time for Danny to make one more good trade to send the big 3 off with a fighting chance. But will any of that happen?
CelticsFan616 - January 12, 2012
ESPN Games are also broadcast on CSNE.
So you can listen to Tommy.
It’s only TNT/ABC that carry exclusive rights and blackout CSNE.
Sizzlack - January 12, 2012
why did Doc
played Steamer for 2:56 minutes? Can someone give a logical explanation to why that is?
GreenSlime - January 12, 2012
...Well, see. What he was... Well, there...
No, no I can’t.
The kids earned some PT, take the handcuffs off Doc!
Sizzlack - January 12, 2012
Agree with both
GreenSlime and Sizzlack.
It is puzzling why Doc only went with Steamer for so little in the Mavs game.
Considering Doc loves players who can defend (which Steamer can), considering the C’s in the paint defense last night could of used some help and considering the C’s were playing a team with a big, long, big man front court this was a good game to player the Steamer in.
fordescort - January 12, 2012
What's up DOC?
I’m tired of Doc burning these guys out halfway through the 4th quarter. It happened two years ago in Game 7 of the finals, it happened last year in the playoffs, and it happening again this year. You cannot play these old guys at the 6 minute mark of the fourth Q and finish the game. They have to be rest for that final 3-4 minute stretch. They are dying coming up the court and doc doesnt call a timeout or anything, rarely. I’m starting to feel Doc’s coaching skills are coming to light. He’s benefited from stars around him but is not making the necessary adjustments down the stretch.
As far as the game, I saw some good and some bad things. And alot of the bad has to do with what i mentioned above. COaches gotta know when their team needs a break. If guys are standing around, call a damn timeout and get some fresh bodies in there even if it’s just to hold the ball for a minute.
cltc5 - January 12, 2012
If your starters can't come in at a 6 minute mark and finish a game strong.
You have far bigger issues that Doc’s coaching has nothing to do with.
If that’s the case, then this team is exactly what everyone is talking about, too old.
That has nothing to do with Doc, it’s basically the equivalent of running out of gas and then saying “Well, if only the driver didn’t drive as far, this wouldn’t have happened.” No, there just wasn’t enough in the tank.
Sizzlack - January 12, 2012
Rebounding, rebounding, rebounding. How many second and third chances did the Mavs get ? Take just a few of them off the board and we win.
anotherbanner - January 12, 2012
Actually they didn't get an unusual number of them
it just seemed like it because the Celtics had zero (2nd chance points).
We grabbed only TWO offensive rebounds which is too low for even my low-ORB diet. That is especially bad on a day when we shot so poorly from the field. I would argue the more serious problem is that we shot so poorly – but if we are going to miss that often, we HAVE to crash the boards!
We actually rebounded okay on the defensive end, grabbing 75% of their missed shots.
mmmmm - January 12, 2012
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