785 replies to this topic

[TheoShmeo]

On the plus side:

- Cs absorbed an all around solid game from the Knicks and still won. That, together with a few other near miss losses to the Cs, has to make the Knicks a little concerned. And it justifies some quiet confidence on the part of the Cs.

- Rondo was extremely active and attacked for much of the game.

- JO turned the clock and gave the Cs a PJ Brown Plus game.

- Getting Ray back in the flow of the offense after a month of haze was a very good thing, especially at the end.

- It's hard to see them getting so little offense out of Baby, Green and West collectively going forward.

- Pierce's pass to Ray was great to see. Sure, it's Ray Allen, but a forced Paul shot there would not have been a huge surprise. Nice to see him trusting one of his teammates.

On the negative side:

- The Cs wont often get that many breaks from the officials. True, Melo did foul Pierce, but that's not a call you see in that situation all that often; Garnett did something to Douglas on Ray's shot; and Delonte easily could have gotten a T when he came on the Court.

- Melo isn't going to shoot that poorly all that often.

- The Knicks might have gotten a confidence booster from the fact that the Cs could never seize control of that game. That they can play with the Cs has been established/reinforced to the extent necessary.

- Whatever Baby was hoping to achieve -- if he had any plan whatsoever -- with Amare clearly didn't work. Stopping that guy wont get any easier.

****

All in all, Game 1 was closer than I expected. In reality, given how mediocre Boston was down the stretch and given that the Knicks were relatively hot, and given no Shaq, I probably should have expected a close game all along.

But I believed before the game that the Cs are just a better all around team and are blessed with superior coaching.

I still believe that.

Win Game 2 and deny the Knicks the split that they were seeking. Doing so with extreme prejudice would be nice, but any kind of win will do.

[lostjumper]

Another positive: If Billups can manage to get on the court Tuesday, he's not going to be himself with the "quad strain" as they are calling it. He may not even play. That's certainly going to hurt the Knick's ball movement, and eliminate one of their big play guys.

[mikeford]

Well, we sure as fuck have better coaching. The last 37 seconds of Game 1 proved that beyond a shadow of a doubt.

[JohnnyTheBone]

I'm telling you... I LIKE OUR CHANCES!

[ifmanis5]

Let's have more of the 2nd half energy, please. 1st half was a depressing reminder of how dead they've been for weeks. Hopefully Ray's shot will be the playoff adrenaline shot they needed.

[TheoShmeo]

I'm telling you... I LIKE OUR CHANCES!

Thanks for the reminder of the Rams scrub after St. Louis tied the score at 17.

"I told you I like our chances!"

[bball831]

Billups is expected to be out for game 2.

[JohnnyTheBone]

Thanks for the reminder of the Rams scrub after St. Louis tied the score at 17.

"I told you I like our chances!"

Nice catch. His name was Justin Watson, and I just find it hilarious.

[Statman]

No surprise here, but Shaq is out for Game 2.

Jermaine said that health wise, he's feeling pretty good after last night's game. Let's hope his knees hold up for the rest of the playoffs.

Link

[LukefromNH]

No surprise here, but Shaq is out for Game 2.

Do we even know if this is because of his Achilles or the strained calf muscle?

Edited by LukefromNH, 18 April 2011 - 08:18 PM.

[Sprowl]

Billups is expected to be out for game 2.

The Knicks will fold like a cheap Italian suit. Anthony and Stoudamire are trend-followers, not leaders, except when it comes to leading a team-wide collapse.

Jermaine looks so much better than with the Heat or the Raptors over the last few years, it's almost like he's a different player -- with timing, with springs, with a jumper. I'd like to see Jermaine get a few more minutes, maybe up to 26, in preparation for a second round.

[Ed Hillel]

"We are the number 1 offense in the league!"

[Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat]

Just drill these fuckers.

[JohnnyTheBone]

Plaster these pricks.

[CreedBratton]

Win

[CJM]

I'd like a good, old-fashioned country ass-whuppin' with a side of Carmelo tears, please. I never really minded dude on the Nuggets, but every since his trade shenanigans and joining the Knicks, I wish nothing but misery on that doughy, entitled, unfortunately mustachioed pud and all his attendant cheesedickery.

Let aggressive Rondo, assassin Ray, intimidator Garnett, resurgent JO, and the Truth prevail.

Edited by CJM, 19 April 2011 - 02:10 PM.

[Statman]

Do we even know if this is because of his Achilles or the strained calf muscle?

No one except the team doc and Shaq really know. Sherrod Blakely made it sound like Shaq was out due to both of those issues which I take to me that Shaq is more injured than the team is letting on. Let's pray for the long-term health of JO because if he goes down, so do our playoff hopes.

It's his calf/right Achilles. For his sake and the #Celtics, the hope is he can return and the injuries won't be an issue any longer

Link

[Yore]

Dr. Brian McKeon said "it's the whole Achilles/calf construct”.

[RedOctober3829]

Billups out for Game 2 per Woj on Twitter.

[Jed Zeppelin]

That's big. It feels like every shot Chauncey Billups takes against the Celtics goes in.

[Frank McBain]

espn reported that Billups didn't even get an MRI yet. Is that a sign that he could be done, or would they have other reasons?

[CreedBratton]

espn reported that Billups didn't even get an MRI yet. Is that a sign that he could be done, or would they have other reasons?

They are now reporting that he will have an MRI done.

[ElcaballitoMVP]

Amare doesn't seem to be worried that his team lost Game 1. Just saw these quotes on Sportscenter:


Regarding how we defend him tonight: "I don't think there's anything they can do. Besides try to deny me the ball. But there's ways to get open."


He goes on to talk about one of the few defensive possessions where he actually did try to play D, "I'm just playing smart. I know 'Baby' wanted to try to draw contact and draw fouls. His core is not really as tight as it should be, so I knew I can catch him off-balance from that. I kind of backed up, but I thought he traveled on the play, but he turned the ball over."




I can't wait to go up 2-0 on these shit stains.

[JohnnyTheBone]

I'd like a good, old-fashioned country ass-whuppin' with a side of Carmelo tears, please. I never really minded dude on the Nuggets, but every since his trade shenanigans and joining the Knicks, I wish nothing but misery on that doughy, entitled, unfortunately mustachioed pud and all his attendant cheesedickery.

Let aggressive Rondo, assassin Ray, intimidator Garnett, resurgent JO, and the Truth prevail.

I want to make sweet, sweet love to this post.

[Hee-Seop's Fable]

Refs =
Crawford
Salvatore
Smith

Put the pedal down early and keep it down boys.

[phragle]

LETSSSSS GOOOOOOOOOOO

[mikeford]

Which Crawford? Danny Crawford? That dude fuckin HAAAAAAAATES the Celtics

[radsoxfan]

In some ways Billups being out could be a bad thing for the Celtics. He has already slowed down a lot this year before this injury, and he still has the ego to take a ton of bad shots. I know he has the "Mr. Big Shot" title, but the main reason guy has made a bunch of big shots is because he is obsessed with taking them. There is certainly a downgrade to Douglas in some ways, but athletically Douglas can match up with Rondo better.

The bigger benefit to the Celtics could be more minutes for Anthony Carter. That guy has been in the league about 5 years too long already, and is a huge liability for them. Now that I say that, I fully expect him to go 5-5 from 3 point range tonight.

[stp130]

TNT studio guys spent 99.8% of the open talking solely about THE KNICKS.

[bball831]

Amare still blowing right by KG. Amare should take 25 shots.

[bball831]

Good push by Rondo. He needs to get to the line 10 times tonight.

[mikeford]

Wow this team cant score worth shit against the worst defense known to man

[bball831]

Rondo should score 30 tonight.

[radsoxfan]

Offensive woes = not solved

Wow, Douglas is sorta awful at D huh?

[Jed Zeppelin]

Douglas was just a giant pussy for two straight possessions.

[mascho]

Awesome. Carmelo focused on yelling at the ref on the way back down the court, and completely ignores Rondo driving right by him.

[bball831]

Douglas is the worst defender in the NBA.

[Soxaholic]

I love Aggressive Rondo.

[mascho]

Rondo's scoring 40 tonight at this rate.

[radsoxfan]

Douglas is the worst defender in the NBA.

Its unclear to me if he is not trying or actively attempting to get out of the way. Not sure Ive ever seen anything like it.

[Nomar813]

Douglas is the worst defender in the NBA.

That's why he fits in better than Billups.

[Jed Zeppelin]

Playoff Rondo is a motherfucking stud.

[greek_gawd_of_walks]

Anyone have a link for the game?

[Silent Chief]

Rondo came to play.

[bball831]

Bad play by Rondo. Getting the 2nd foul on the matador isn't beneficial.

[mikeford]

Thats what people meant in game 1 by "Ray Allen is a bad ball handler"

[mascho]

Anyone have a link for the game?

I was recently introduced to firstrowsports.net. I would highly recommend bookmarking this site.

[phragle]

RONDOOOOOOOO

[radsoxfan]

Rondo is twice as fast as anyone on the Knicks

[RedOctober3829]

Agressive Rondo @!!!!