Well.....the second half of the third quarter of this game turned out to be sort of exciting - for a monent. The Celtics however lost focus in certain parts of this game (especially the 4th Qtr) and in the end this lack of focus sealed their fate. The final score of 89-80 doesn't really seem correct (it feels like it should more of a point spread) as we simply faded away in the 4th Quarter with bad shots, lack of mental toughness, and unable to control the Bulls on the glass.
- The Celtics come roaring back on a 22-3 run to close out the third quarter to bring them with one point of the Bulls after being down 16 points early in the third quarter.
- The Zone helped the Celtics get back in the game but that was trumped by too many turnovers and giving up too many offensive rebounds.
- Ray Allen came alive in the second half with some key threes point shots but we needed more.
- Rondo played a solid game, and continues to post up in the paint, as well as continue to shoot the jumper very well.
- Wilcox played well again with Rondo feeding him for some nice dunks.
- JO continues to be a slow moving foul machine who can't hit a shot, can't stay focused and looks completely out of gas. He can draw offensive fouls burt mainly he is just offensive.
- Paul Pierce looked sluggish and did not take the ball to the rim like he should be doing. He just seems tired and uninspired.
- Ex Celtic Mike "Big Game" James had a nice game for the Bulls.
- Dang! that Deng! Solid play by the first-time All Star. He hit some big threes.
- Pietrus did a nice impression of Antoine Walker jacking up threes most every time he touched the ball.
- Noah was....Noah....hate him but he is good.
But make no mistake - this was a TEAM LOSS. We lost focus, we lost too many loose balls, we lost on both ends of the floor and we lost road game #1 on this new journey away from home.
YOU CAN’T WIN GAMES IF YOU CAN’T PUT POINTS ON THE BOARD.
Doc has been running the same offense for 5 years. Yes, REBOUNDING IS TERRIBLE BUT the offense has its problems. It’s become way too predictable, but too late to change now. Time to BLOW IT UP. This era will come to an end not because of the defense but because the Celtics can’t SCORE POINTS.
Samg - February 16, 2012
PAMPLONA? ILLINOIS
Cs an offensive rebound to start the game,
Pierce, Pierce,Pierce, need more of the same.
5-5-5 puts Wilcox in for KG,
That’s Doc’s formula through Q3.
Doc rubs his nose, defensive signal from him,
A system they’ve perfected in their Waltham gym.
The Cs went on a 10-2 run,
24-18 at the end of Q1.
Noah hates the Celtics, even their shade of green,
He grew up in NY, Boston never was his scene.
Game is tied, Boozer over JO all day.
Since he’s rarely getting shots, no rhythm yet for Ray.
Mike James off the Bulls bench has made his mark,
(Did you hear Nets playing Pacers, the arena went dark?)
The Cs’ game’s a little ragged, but they are still alive.
End Q2, Bulls 44-35.
One thing Noah does that makes Cs/fans bristle,
That silly move after a shot, each hand like a pistol.
Boozer’s on fire, would that he were alone,
Cs playing the Syracuse two-three zone.
RAY ALLEN FOR THREE, no more funk,
RAY ALLEN FOR THREE, Boozer missed the dunk.
RAY ALLEN FOR THREE, Reggie Miller the call,
Q4 Rondo to Wilcox two alley-oops did fall!
Tech on Wilcox, KG says be smart,
Two big guys who play with all heart.
The Cs tied the game, it started to be fun,
Til the Bulls went on a 10-0 run.
Oh, Captain, My Captain, where are you tonight?
Without your Captain-ing the Cs don’t seem right.
Dang and Noah each a double double,
Cs defense’s not enough when the offense is in trouble.
Here’s a glaring fact too easy to rhyme:
Missed opportunities—the Cs run out of time.
mycelts - February 16, 2012
Many people argued that we needed to wait until they played 25 games
Well, they have played 29 and they are what they are. 6th – 8th seed. What say those who wanted to wait?
vinnie - February 16, 2012
I say
I hope they are the 6th seed and not 7th or 8th. Big difference.
34green - February 16, 2012
i say we still wait no reason to blow it up mid season.....................
EXER123 - February 17, 2012
Not really
It’s nothing like the nfl playoffs where a low seed can luck their way to sb. This team is just not good enough to go 7games
vgarcia890 - February 17, 2012
Who cares how poorly Ray and PP shot
Rondo sucks.
TheBigFive - February 16, 2012
totally disagree.... Rondo played a very solid game. He was the one bright spot in my opinion
Master Po - February 16, 2012
Totally agree with you
that comment was filled with sarcasm and 0% of truth.
TheBigFive - February 16, 2012
ok ...LOL...
Master Po - February 16, 2012
RR was good
…except in the 4th quarter, when the whole team seemed to just wilt.
JR99 - February 16, 2012
missed shots
We went through a sequence where we missed at least 8 straight – I know the count got that high, I can’t recall if it went further.
That’s when we lost the game.
On the other end, the Bulls sank 10 of 21 three point shots.
We actually made one more field goal on the evening than they did, but we only made 3 three pointers. That alone is +7 in their favor. We got 2 back on our extra basket but then they made 4 more FTs and thus the net 9 point margin.
Early in the season we were smoking’ hot from three point range while everything else sucked. Now, while much of the rest of our game has improved, our 3PT shooting has dropped to the floor. Not just for Ray. PP, KD & MP have all been pretty cold from outside the arc lately.
mmmmm - February 17, 2012
+1
I thought Rondo played pretty good also.
fordescort - February 16, 2012
More Rondo Post-Ups, Please
Okay, maybe not. But he’s shown willingness to go down there this season and he’s been decent. And heck, its not like we have any other post presence whatsoever…
RJ87 - February 16, 2012 via mobile
+1
Considering the bigs for the most part this season do not want to get in the paint if we have to rely on Rondo to offer the C’s a in the paint scoring presence I am all for it as he is pretty good at it.
fordescort - February 16, 2012
+1, looked solid there
mjtig - February 17, 2012 via mobile
more alley ups to wilco and JJJ
EXER123 - February 17, 2012
+1
Definitely.
mmmmm - February 17, 2012
Like I said many times ago...
BLOW IT UP!!!!
Becoming a great song now…
SparzWizard - February 16, 2012
you keep saying it but it makes no sense until the season is done....you don't gain by blowing it up now ...geesh
Master Po - February 16, 2012
Trade Rondo
For Gasol? Fix our rebounding, PLEASE!
SparzWizard - February 16, 2012
Yes, let's get older. And also take on Gasol's contract which is nearly twice as much as Rondo's.
And we still won’t be any closer to a title this season.
Maybe if this team stops with the Jekyll & Hyde bit, we’d be in a better position. But I fear its more related to age than desire to win.
RJ87 - February 16, 2012 via mobile
This^
mmmmm - February 17, 2012
Im a pro trade Rondo guy but
Not for Gasol
AussieGreen - February 16, 2012
If Gasol was 5 years younger ...
Id do that trade, as he is a talented big man especially offensively.
But considering Gasols current age, I would in no way trade him for Rondo.
fordescort - February 16, 2012
Thank you!
Blackberry33 - February 17, 2012 via mobile
I´d say the opposite is true
It makes no sense to wait
Casperian - February 17, 2012
Well
March will be interesting for alot of reasons
cltc5 - February 16, 2012 via mobile
8-game road trip
Including a marquee matchup against the Lakers.
Can’t wait till April though…to face the Miami Heats.
SparzWizard - February 17, 2012
looks like Doc is back to 7-8 man rotation
silly me, i actually thought he is starting to trust the bench.
APC - February 16, 2012
Not many positives, but...
At least Boozer didn’t have his spray-on hair tonight…
Dude looked like a 6’9 Ken doll out there the other day
EF37 - February 16, 2012
:(
If we can, we need to make a trade. I don’t want to hear it about us all of a sudden turning it on in the playoffs. Too many deficiencies: offense, rebounding, and now we’re playing zone defense? What the freak is happening??
Celticsdude - February 16, 2012
(a trade that makes sense long term, of course)
Celticsdude - February 16, 2012
Oh, and, surprise! The Bulls made a defensive adjustment and got back in transition, stopping Rondo's fastbreakd
Get used to it. That’s what happens in the playoffs. The pace slows down.
Celticsdude - February 16, 2012
Maybe Doc needs to hire an offensive coach
NO big deal for this team it’s just another loss. Just another horrific offensive showing. Just another night of being destroyed on the boards. No matter how many times of watching Celtics be absolutely inept on offense it’s still shocking. How can a team with a great coach, 3 hall of famers and Rondo in the starting lineup be so horrific offensively?
Hard to really get upset though as it’s clear what this team is at this point. They will have good stretches and maybe can still be a factor if they get completely healthy and have every conceivable break go their way.
It doesn’t do much good for the Celtics to hold teams under 100 points if they can’t score enough to win games. It’s just tiresome to see this absolutely pathetic level of offense so often from a team with so many proven offensive weapons…
warnerjohn - February 16, 2012
Begining to hate
Doc! JJ misses an assignment on D and shown getting berated by Doc on sideline! Yeah Doc your other stars were SO much better! JO and even KG gave up layup after layup to Boozer and Noah! But take it out on the rook, and then sit him for the rest of the game—-classic!!!
PLEASE Danny blow this team up and put the C4 right under Doc’s …….!
If we can lose to Detroit and NJ coming up soon, we have an outside chance to lose 20 straight!
OhioGreen - February 16, 2012
I saw Doc...
yelling at JJ also.
Its ok though as this is how JJ will learn and it will make him a better ball player.
fordescort - February 16, 2012
The point is...
… I think, is a double standard with rookies and vets.
Big_Easy - February 17, 2012 via mobile
Doc for Phil Jackson
Anybody down for that?
SparzWizard - February 16, 2012
Oh yes the triangle offense is what we need at this point
rolls eyes
TheBigFive - February 16, 2012
Cant be any worse
That this thing they do with the orange round bouncy thing now when they have it.
AussieGreen - February 16, 2012
Yes, yes it can.
mmmmm - February 17, 2012
If only Doc can play triangle defense...
SparzWizard - February 16, 2012
here's what I can definitively say about this team
…
Jeff Clark - February 16, 2012 via iPhone app
Agree!
JR99 - February 16, 2012
C's were simply beaten by a better team tonight...
I thought the C’s played well in stretches and had a shot to win the game, especially during the 22-3 run , but they just did not have enough fire power to pull out the win.
KG looked good night as the game off last night seemed to help keep him fresh tonight.
Just 13 points tonight from the bench played a role in the loss I think.
Celtics being out rebounded 37 to 52 and 6 to 16 on the offensive boards also did not help there chances of winning tonight either.
I hope not but this feels like it will be a long road trip.
fordescort - February 16, 2012
Pretty much spot on.
There is a reason the Bull’s have the best record. They are a damn good team.
We played them close. But then we went stone cold shooting just as they got hot – especially with those 3PT shots.
One problem with the Zone Defense is that it does leave you vulnerable to board crashers because of that split second hesitation as you hold your zone instead of blocking out.
It was a game of streaks. They won because they had the last hot streak of the game. They really looked like a championship team to me.
mmmmm - February 17, 2012
if u squinted ur eyes tight enuff those lobs from rondo to wilcox looked like rondo to dwight
i can only imagine how good those 2 would be together
stylo617617 - February 16, 2012
+1
Hope we get a chance to see it..lol
fordescort - February 16, 2012
Rondo to Orlando ?? For SVD?
getthat18now - February 16, 2012
+2
Haha
forever_green - February 16, 2012 via mobile
Whatever happened to the Cs' pick-and-roll?
In the 4th quarter, I counted exactly ONE PnR… set by KG, who got the ball to JO who got fouled (for 2 pts.). The rest of the 4th quarter was mostly 1-on-1s, with a little passing thrown in. Huh? Anybody understand this?
Looking at the schedule, Cs record looks like it’s about to fall off a cliff. Gotta hope neither Bucks nor Cleveland get hot…. if they do, Cs are looking at possibly missing the playoffs altogether.
JR99 - February 16, 2012
They may as well miss the playoffs
If they are just going to be the 7th or 8th seed anyway. One and done.
34green - February 16, 2012
I don't see 7th anymore
Knicks are exploding, and will likely soon leave the Cs far behind. It’s 8th, or nuttin.
JR99 - February 16, 2012
It was anyones game after 3 quarters
First we got a one point lead then lost focus on defense for a few sequences and they got rolling and we couldn’t make it up.
Celtics defense is probably better than the Bulls. The offense however is a different story. We go on these stale streaks where about 8 minutes will go by and we don’t have a field goal. One way or another that has to stop. We need to keep the defense up but have a sharper offense.
p-peazy - February 16, 2012
Rebound the basketball
Went to a junior college basketball in Vincennes, Indiana some 20 yrs ago. “Rebound the Basketball” was the one thing the home team cheerleaders yelled all game long. Looks like the C’s can use some of it.
Giving up 16 offensive rebounds is a sure way to lose a game on the road or even at home.
getthat18now - February 16, 2012
Rebounds definitely a problem but yeah nothing new there unfortunately.
On another note KG looked fresh.
yutakhunkhom - February 16, 2012
I have a idea...
Maybe Ainge can ask Larry Bird a favor, to track down some of those cheerleaders in Indiana so Ainge can then hire them to chant “REBOUND THE BALL” at the Garden to help the C’s improve there rebounding at home…lol.
Then Ainge can maybe track down old pal Chris Ford and hire him as special rebounding coach assistant to have sit on the bench during road games to yell “REBOUND” to the team , when the ball is up for grab, as for those who do not remember he did very often when he was coaching the team in the early 90’s….lol
fordescort - February 16, 2012
Blow it up
Whenever, but do.
Big_Easy - February 17, 2012 via mobile
Eh
I like thid team, I like our players…all of them. I like the potential…but im sick of seeing them having no desire EVERY GAME. They should play smart, hard, and with full effort every game. One game paul is great, the next he is trash. One game ray is a 3 point machine, the next he cant even complete a pass. I love this team but I am also sick of this amature hour stuff. Blow it up, or dont…i dont care anymore.
Kgwillkillyou - February 17, 2012 via mobile
I just don't know
How much of it is them having no desire and how much of it is the jump shots just not falling and them not getting enough touches and being involved in the offensive flow? Sometimes they do look disinterested, but it’s kind of hard to tell. Jumpers are not going to fall all the time for anyone. Thus, the inconsistency we get with this team.
34green - February 17, 2012
How Much
Is it having to to run the shifting help D AND a motion offense. Maybe the auld ones dont have the mojo to run it every night. One more reason for the Good Doctor to let go and use the bench. Especially THIS season. Rather, expect the 8-man rotation, rinse and repeat.
Tenacious D - February 17, 2012
Looks like......
We are just going to be an 8th or at best a 7th seed, I do hope we can gun for the 6th.
It’s fairly obvious with the current line up, we are a .500 team until the end of the season.
Just hope for the best.
LarryBird33 - February 17, 2012
Oh...and i have said it before and i will say it again
Deng OWNS Pierce…unfortunately
Kgwillkillyou - February 17, 2012
This sounds like the 2000-2007 days again...our reign to glory has faded.
After the Perkins trade…the Celtics descended in the standings. That will forever haunt the team.
SparzWizard - February 17, 2012
it really has NOTHING to do with perkins.. if perkins was here they still wouldnt be able to score..
duqe2 - February 17, 2012
Answer
long stretches of offensive ineptitude is proportionate to having no athletic finishers at the rim (or that can drive to the rim) except Rondo. No free throws, no offensive rebounds, and 4 or 5 missed jumpers with the shot clock running down = a 10 point run for the other team. Most teams have 3 guys on the floor at any given time who can advance the ball to the rim via the dribble/drive. Anyone remember the last time one of our centers or PFs did that? For those reasons, this struggle to score at times should be no surprise to anyone anymore. And Perkins would have just made us slower, less vertical, and more unable to score…
P stoff - February 17, 2012
I'm sure I've mentioned this before
It’s still hard for me to believe this group got so bad so quick, like just over the summer. They showed a stat during the game that for the past two years we have been 23-5 after 28 games. This year we were 15-13. I know Pierce said before the season started that the short season should benefit them since they always get off to great starts. I just don’t understand!
34green - February 17, 2012
Trend reversal
Those 23-5 days are long gone. One can only hope that the trend is reversed this year and that they will finish strong after a slugguish start. But there is no sign they have found that ‘switch yet’.
getthat18now - February 17, 2012
Trade Ray+JO
for Big Al
Walter G. Moss - February 17, 2012
Why would any team want JO at this stage of his career?
Other than the Big 4, there aren’t many current Cs who can be the main piece in trades.
getthat18now - February 17, 2012
maybe
JO’s expiring contract will be attractive
+ pick (1st) + Ray or Bass (but both are expiring).
Damn! We need a C.And we have NOTH to trade.
We WON w/o Rondo.We LOSE with him.
I don’t understand what the hell is happening with this team.
We lost 5 games to losers and now we r just above .500%
Crazy.
Walter G. Moss - February 17, 2012
I'm with you all the way with this article, Master Po!
…can’t quite believe I actually said that but yeah :-P
I wonder what’s up with the Captain lately? He’s definitely not himself the past few games…. Does he have an injury we don’t know of? I mean just after being eastern conference player of the week and being selected to the All-Star game, then this “slump”….
Noah is, unfortunately, good and effective… does anybody else find the gun slinging move annoying?!
The greatest thing I’ve been liking even with this losing slide is the Rondo-Wilcox connection! I mean… geez.. who would’ve thought Wilcox was gonna be that alley-oop tandem with Rondo?! Makes you think about the what if’s with Green, eh? sigh.
Well, another loss. Daymn. Let’s pick it up again, C’s!
japsuki - February 17, 2012
Can someone explain to me that zone?
Especially with not punting body on Noah….
ugly_joe - February 17, 2012
The Zone prevents penetration of the ball into the paint.
And forces a perimeter shot – which is a good thing, since those are lower percentage shots.
But if a team gets hot from outside (and 10-21 shooting from 3PT land definitely qualifies as ‘hot’) it can be beat.
Further, even if a team shoots poorly, if they are determined to crash the board, once the shot goes up, when you are in a zone defense it is a lot harder to block out crashers. That’s because you are initially hold a position, not a man and the moment the shot goes up you have to switch to block out. But your back may be turned from where the shot goes up so you are automatically at a disadvantage. That split second is killer.
These are reasons why Doc normally doesn’t use a zone – it’s mainly a temporary thing to do during a game to throw them off. It worked for a while. It will work again. But you can’t rely on it permanently.
mmmmm - February 17, 2012
thanks for explaining,
but why Cs stick to that zone for that long? (that was the question, but iam bad in English)
ugly_joe - February 17, 2012
No easy answer to the question
it is not always easy to recognize exactly when you need to change strategy. Sometimes it is more a matter of changing personnel than strategy. Sometimes both.
mmmmm - February 17, 2012
this is was getting old looks like
Pierce plays like carp almost a month to start the season, then he seems to come around and starts playing well. Now he’s up and down like a yo-yo, many night his shot is flat and he stands around at the 3pt line refusing to take it to the hole. Ray Allen starts off the season playing amazingly, then he becomes inconsistent and can go missing for a week or more. KG.can still defend and some nights his jumper looks like it always has but he has no lift, doesn’t want to take the pounding in the post and has trouble finishing in the paint. JO is done, plain and simple.
It’s the late 80’s/early 90’s all over again. The schedule from here on out get a whole lot tougher.
Danny time to look towards the future.
CelticsFanNC - February 17, 2012
Skip the All Star game.
Pierce should decline going – fake an injury or whatever. They need to spend that time running practices.
This team has far better individual talent than is being realized on the scoreboard. Our execution on offense is streaky and inconsistent. Execution. Execution. Execution.
I hope Doc is holding practices today and tomorrow and I would like it if he kept the team out of All Star activity and used that time for more practices.
A trade is not the answer. We need the players that we have to start executing more consistently.
mmmmm - February 17, 2012
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