785 replies to this topic

[RedOctober3829]

If this team can't start playing defense they're not making it out of the conference semi-final.

Nice to have a defensive stop to end the game though.

It's not the defense that was the big problem. 53-37 on the boards, folks. 20 offensive rebounds given up. Against a team that primarily played Rony Turiaf, Jared Jeffries, Bill Walker, and Shawne Williams.

Disgrace.

[scotian1]

Too,too close!! It is hard to believe that Ray Allen did not have a shot the entire fourth quarter. Boy that will have to change.

[Jed Zeppelin]

yeah, without amare and chauncey. that's embarrasing.

It doesn't matter who's in or out. A D'Antoni team is going to average over 100 points, period. The Celtics are doing a nice job on D.

[PayrodsFirstClutchHit]

So the argument is that the Celtics need to win prettier/better/by more points to win in the next round?

How does that work?

Edited by PayrodsFirstClutchHit, 19 April 2011 - 08:57 PM.

[Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat]

yeah, without amare and chauncey. that's embarrasing.

No, it's not embarrassing at all. The Celtics held them to 93 points and 36% shooting.
The rebounding was the problem, not the overall defense. That's what needs to be fixed.

[radsoxfan]

The defense has been mostly excellent. They just need to work harder on the glass. Maybe give Krstic a shot to get some more size down low.

I've pretty much given up on Krstic after how he played the last few weeks of the season (and apparently so has Doc).

A healthy Shaq for 20 minutes a game would do wonders, but I dont think anyone is expecting that at this point.

[Rudy Pemberton]

I've never seen any evidence that how you play in one game, never mind one series, transfers over to the next. No extra credit for style points, C's easily could have lost either or both of these games, but they didn't. Great series, can't ask for anything more exciting although frankly I'd love a few blowout wins!

[Bob Montgomery's Helmet Hat]

It is a bit curious that JO sat out for so much of the 4th quarter. Man, I hope nothing is wrong and it was just Doc being stubborn.

[RedOctober3829]

I've pretty much given up on Krstic after how he played the last few weeks of the season (and apparently so has Doc).

A healthy Shaq for 20 minutes a game would do wonders, but I dont think anyone is expecting that at this point.

Jermaine had 3 rebounds in 20 minutes tonight. I know he's going to be inconsistent, but if he's out there that long he needs to produce a bit better than that.

[Andrew]

It is a bit curious that JO sat out for so much of the 4th quarter. Man, I hope nothing is wrong and it was just Doc being stubborn.

They just said in the postgame that he was hurt. They didn't elaborate, though, and I hadn't heard that earlier.

[BucketOBalls]

Too,too close!! It is hard to believe that Ray Allen did not have a shot the entire fourth quarter. Boy that will have to change.

The teams seems to forget Ray exists for long stretches at a time. Not a new problem.

D was fine.

Rebounding and offense were disgraceful though. Those need to improve.

[Mystic Merlin]

So the argument is that the Celtics need to win prettier/better/by more points to win in the next round?

How does that work?

Yeah, I'm not 100% confident in this team, given their recurring problems on the boards and shitty second unit offense, but wins are wins. And, hey, they pull out these games so often that it sort of isn't luck at this point.

Every game/series is its own island, especially when the games are spread out so much - hell, they don't play again until Friday. I'm not sure how much these games will tell us about their chances vs. Miami. After all, Orlando looked like the Eastern Conf. favorite after demolishing ATL last year.

[Jeff Van GULLY]

It's not the defense that was the big problem. 53-37 on the boards, folks. 20 offensive rebounds given up. Against a team that primarily played Rony Turiaf, Jared Jeffries, Bill Walker, and Shawne Williams.

Disgrace.

You're right and you're not done playing defense until you grab the board.

Plenty of wide open Knickerbockers waiting to shoot throughout the 2nd half as well. Too bad for the Knicks they lacked anyone with good floor vision to swing it to them.

[ifmanis5]

It is a bit curious that JO sat out for so much of the 4th quarter. Man, I hope nothing is wrong and it was just Doc being stubborn.

I think it was more of a case that Doc wanted to use Baby as the double-teamer on Melo and didn't think JO could fill that role as well.

[JohnnyTheBone]

Rondo should score 30 tonight.

We have a winnah!

[Curtis Pride]

To be honest with you, I think the balls were just bouncing everywhere, which made rebounding more of a crapshoot. The Knicks seemed run all over the place and crash the boards on every shot, which nets them offensive rebounds, but also leaves them vulnerable to fast breaks. Still I'm glad they gutted this one out.

Also, Big Baby's spastic hustle reminded me of my college basketball prowess. It was the effort that counts.

[mikeford]

JO did have a sprained wrist. I kinda forgot about that during the 4th quarter when Baby was basically playing like he'd never seen a basketball before though.

[dolomite133]

If D'Antoni ever learns to (or chooses to) coach defense, and New York picks up a few pieces, the Knicks could be scary next year.

[JakeRae]

If D'Antoni ever learns to (or chooses to) coach defense, and New York picks up a few pieces, the Knicks could be scary next year.

That assumes that D'Antoni can also convince Melo and Amare to play defense. That seems about as likely as your conditional.

[PedroKsBambino]

That assumes that D'Antoni can also convince Melo and Amare to play defense. That seems about as likely as your conditional.

Yeah, that's not going to happen. In fact, no part of it has any chance at all of occurring.

[JohnnyTheBone]

I hate the NBA

This.

I love the game of basketball, but hate this league. In no other major sport do I question the integrity of the outcome except in David Stern's NBA.

[A Bartlett Giamatti]

Ok, taking a step back as a Knicks fan--that was the best individual performance I've ever seen, as I was too young for Bernard and not alive for Clyde and Willis.

Good luck with the Heat. The Celtics are not in any way imposing at this point, the Knicks are simply not yet ready.

[bankshot1]

How the F did the Knicks so totally own the boards? Melo was a beast but there is no way a guy who might get 7 a night, gets 17, particularly when Amare doesn't play the 2nd half. The interior D was about non-existent. C's got very lucky tonight.

[Jed Zeppelin]

That assumes that D'Antoni can also convince Melo and Amare to play defense. That seems about as likely as your conditional.

That also assumes that Amare suddenly gains Wolverine's power of regeneration. He is playing on borrowed time.

[Mystic Merlin]

How the F did the Knicks so totally own the boards? Melo was a beast but there is no way a guy who might get 7 a night, gets 17, particularly when Amare doesn't play the 2nd half. The interior D was about non-existent. C's got very lucky tonight.

They got lucky? God dammit, people.

The Knicks shot 35.6% from the field, to the Celtics' 47.0%. The Knicks had 14 assists; the Celtics had 21. The Knicks had 4 fast-break points; the C's had 16. The Knicks had 34 points in the paint; the C's had 40. The Knicks had 13 turnovers; the C's had 10.

Point is, don't cherrypick one stat to effectively discount a hard-fought win. The Celtics dominated this game in many areas, controlling the pace for long stretches and making the Knicks a one-man team. The defense was great. I haven't the slightest clue where you get the idea the interior D was 'about non-existent'. What the hell were you watching? And if you don't believe your eyes, they - again - had less points in the paint than the Celtics, who didn't pound the Knicks by any means themselves. 'Melo was draining difficult jumpers left and right.

Were they bad on the boards? You bet. They don't rebound well. But they shot better, defended better, shared the ball more, and took care of ball better.

Oh, and somehow they 'got very lucky' once again in the final two minutes. Seems to happen a lot, huh? Couldn't be superior poise and execution, though, could it? The Celtics won this game; they didn't steal it. Fuck, if anything, the Knicks were the ones who almost 'got very lucky'. They shot eleven more free throws and dominated the offensive glass in a way even the Lakers usually don't. And they got an epic 42/17 from 'Melo. And still didn't win, despite - once again - having multiple chances to seal the deal in the final two minutes. You call it luck; I'll call it execution.

[CreedBratton]

They got lucky? God dammit, people.

The Knicks shot 35.6% from the field, to the Celtics' 47.0%. The Knicks had 14 assists; the Celtics had 21. The Knicks had 4 fast-break points; the C's had 16. The Knicks had 34 points in the paint; the C's had 40. The Knicks had 13 turnovers; the C's had 10.

Point is, don't cherrypick one stat to effectively discount a hard-fought win. The Celtics dominated this game in many areas, controlling the pace for long stretches and making the Knicks a one-man team. The defense was great. I haven't the slightest clue where you get the idea the interior D was 'about non-existent'. What the hell were you watching? And if you don't believe your eyes, they - again - had less points in the paint than the Celtics, who didn't pound the Knicks by any means themselves. 'Melo was draining difficult jumpers left and right.

Were they bad on the boards? You bet. They don't rebound well. But they shot better, defended better, shared the ball more, and took care of ball better.

Oh, and somehow they 'got very lucky' once again in the final two minutes. Seems to happen a lot, huh? Couldn't be superior poise and execution, though, could it? The Celtics won this game; they didn't steal it. Fuck, if anything, the Knicks were the ones who almost 'got very lucky'. They shot eleven more free throws and dominated the offensive glass in a way even the Lakers usually don't. And they got an epic 42/17 from 'Melo. And still didn't win, despite - once again - having multiple chances to seal the deal in the final two minutes. You call it luck; I'll call it execution.

Perfectly said. Pierce defense was actually really good for the most part, Melo was just making insane shots, sometimes that happens with great players. Bernard King used to drop 50 on Bird and the boys all the time in the playoffs but the Celtics still won. Jordans 63? Celtics won.

The rebounds is worrisome but they had 10 more in game one with Amare out there, just didn't pick it up as much this game. The 11 more free throws including 9 made by the Knicks was the biggest difference in my opinion. This game was in Boston and the Knicks shoot that many more free throws? Stupid but whatever in the playoffs a win is all that matters!

Love you KG and Rondo!

[Saby]

3 things ...

- That easily was the game of the year so far
- D'Antoni got outcoached down the stretch. Great call by Doc to post up KG. Terrible job of giving Melo space by D'Antoni. You Iso for him at the top of the key and if they double, then he can react.
- Carmelo would have had the best performance of the year, but two things took it away in my mind-- a) you got to take the final shot, even if they double you, at least get a look. b) How do you not know that you need to immediately foul in the backcourt?

Amazing game though. Valiant effort by Carmelo playing alongside a bunch of scrubs. Not having a center killed the Knicks. Bill Walker: 0/11 LOL.

[smastroyin]

I'm not trying to imply that there is overconfidence or the like here, but is it also at least a bit possible that the aged Celtics are trying not to blow out their bodies in the first round? Probably not much to this, but I will say that the Knicks seemed to be going harder after the loose balls (there were a shitload of them) and generally throwing their bodies around more. I'm not trying to imply specifically a lack of effort on the Celtics part, I'm just saying, the Celtics were playing a little more like there is a long way to go, the Knicks were playing like this is the Finals.

I think part of Carmelo's going off was A'mare not being available, so I'm not too worried about both things happening at once. If Carmelo doesn't go off (and he really did hit a lot of difficult jumpers with Pierce in his face), the C's win this by 15 and noone cares about the rebounding.

I am hoping, however, the the Knicks are just a bad draw or something for BBD, because to me he looks as bad as he has since first coming back from injury last year.

[Mystic Merlin]

Stephen A. Smith says that it's a 'virtual guarantee' that the Knicks win Game 3, that 'there's absolutely no question'.

Keep piling on, media.

EDIT - BTW, we're talking about a guy who thinks the C's would play the winner of ORL-ATL should they advance. This is guy is paid to cover basketball. Man.

Edited by Mystic Merlin, 20 April 2011 - 10:43 AM.

[BigSoxFan]

Stephen A. Smith says that it's a 'virtual guarantee' that the Knicks win Game 3, that 'there's absolutely no question'.

Keep piling on, media.

EDIT - BTW, we're talking about a guy who thinks the C's would play the winner of ORL-ATL should they advance. This is guy is paid to cover basketball. Man.

Well, I certainly expect even an undermanned Knick team to win on its home court with its season on the line (and probably some help from the zebras). The Celtics haven't exactly looked like world beaters in these first 2 games. Of course, everyone gets energized by playing in MSG so I expect a good effort.

[mikeot]

.... probably some help from the zebras..

Unfortunately, this may well be the case ....

[bankshot1]

Were they bad on the boards? You bet

And that was the point.

They got killed off the boards by a team that was missing its big. The Knicks had 20 fucking O-boards, and a ton of second shot points. The Cs had very few. If the Knicks were a remotely good team or if Billups or Amare played, the Cs lose. There was a reason Rondo had a party last nite, he totally abused Douglas, Billups back-up.
Cs caught a big break last nite, and barely won.

[DagnyTaggart]

More than anything, I am disheartened by the lackluster play by the bench. Glen Davis has been a real disappointment. He has no lift and no vertical leap, and his jump shot has been horrific. I have often asked out loud why he is taking jump shot after jump shot when Allen, Garnett and/or Pierce are on the floor. He has made more out of his NBA career than many thought possible, myself included, and he should be lauded for that. Yet he is certainly not on par with 6th Man Award winner Lamar Odom. The Knicks had 20+ offensive rebounds last night and that speaks to heart more than anything else.

Rondo Rondo Rondo. Man, he sure is brilliant in the transistion game, just sublime really. His play in the first quarter was really superb. Yet his inability to convert from the stripe is maddening! When he is slashing through the lanes would it not be easier for the opposition to just "Hack A Rondo?" This should be his #1 offseason priority, I mean, get with Ray. He is like 90% career from the line and the closest thing to automatic.

Has Kristic just disappeared lately? He seemed to play really inspired ball immediately following the trade, and Green seems to be Lost. More than the "old legs" of the Big 3 I am worried about the lack of productivity from our bench. New York is a team they should have beaten easily without Billups and Stoudemire.

On a more positive note, I thought KG played terrifically, despite his not being in a real good shooting rhythm for most of the night. I love to see him flying all over the court and the floor fighting for loose balls. If only all athletes could play with that kind of grit and fire. Definitely someone I would want to go to war with; I would have loved to have him in Celtic green earlier in his career. I am cautiously optimistic that we can pull it together for a series win.

[Jed Zeppelin]

I'm actually encouraged by the lackluster bench. They've mostly sucked for two games and the team as a whole hasn't played that great yet they're going to NY up 2-0. That bodes well for when the team's overall play improves and the bench in particular, unless people honestly believe this isn't a good basketball team.

[mikeford]

I'm actually encouraged by the lackluster bench. They've mostly sucked for two games and the team as a whole hasn't played that great yet they're going to NY up 2-0. That bodes well for when the team's overall play improves and the bench in particular, unless people honestly believe this isn't a good basketball team.

I honestly believe that most of our bench sucks, does that count?


Davis and Delonte won't be this bad forever but KRS-4 and Green? Not really counting on them magically figuring this out.

[Jed Zeppelin]

We'll see I guess. I don't believe that two players who started for one of the better teams in the West completely suck. Krstic has fallen off a cliff since an excellent start after the trade and might be irredeemable. Green hasn't fit in well, but I do think he will play a big role in winning a game at some point in these playoffs.