Starting Five - 12/28

by Jeff Clark on Dec 28, 2008 7:26 AM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

Not much new news today, but plenty of perspective and opportunities for soul searching.

Spears points out how close the competition is: "if the Celtics were to lose again tonight and the Cavaliers were to beat visiting Miami, Cleveland would lead Boston by percentage points (.023)"
He also points out one reason for the struggles: "Fatigue is a factor. Entering last night, Boston was the only Eastern Conference team to have played more than 30 games."
Bulpett reports that the team doesn't get too high or too low: "We just don't get down," said Paul Pierce. "We're a veteran team. We stay together. We had that losing streak of three games last year, so hopefully it can come to an end (now). We've just got to gather ourselves and understand what we do when we win and what we do when we lose."
Ray is concerned with the way they are finishing games lately (as well he should): “In three of the games we lost - Denver, this game and the Lakers - there’s a point in the fourth quarter where we’re at that moment where we can win the game,” he said. “There’s a critical junction in that fourth quarter where we just end up losing the game. We didn’t get stops and we didn’t score.
In case you were wondering... "Celtics president Danny Ainge said all is quiet on the trade and free agent fronts."
Bonus Link: Souza talks about the need for a backup to Perkins: "Both Powe and Davis can be exceedingly effective again taller opposing centers with their energy and low centers of gravity, but while that can work to the C's advantage on many nights, opposing teams can also attack the matchup whenever there is time to game plan (as Phil Jackson apparently did for LA's all-important Christmas NBA Finals rematch)."

All put together, we are still 27-4 with the best record and Championship experience up and down the roster. We also have areas to work on and some aggressive competition breathing down our necks. There's work to do, but this is still a great team willing to put in that work.

Programming note: A lot of people asked where the Daily Links are - FLCeltsFan is just taking some days off for the holidays. They'll be back. No need to panic. :)

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Comments

This is what makes watching the game fun! Bring ’em on! Love it! Go Celts!!!! Find a way!!!

by thirstyboots18 on Dec 28, 2008 8:03 AM EST reply actions

yeah man

It sure is fun, and sure beats where we were in December 2006!

by Thruthelookingglass on Dec 28, 2008 9:16 AM EST up reply actions

This game is a must win!!!!!!!!

Celtics really need to win this game to get there confidence up . .after the 19game winning streak they lose two in a row and now Cleavland is only 1 game behind us. the thing thats frustrating the most is that it looks like the C’s have no heart they are always fighting which ir really stressful to watch especially ray allen who looks really tired and stress lately. Danny ainge really needs to make a move and change our bench . .i think doc should use gabe pruitt and even bill walker properly. danny aingle should try getting horry or even bozi wells if he quits the china league. i really hope the celts can get back to the winning track . go C’s

by celticsgreen4lyf on Dec 28, 2008 8:07 AM EST reply actions

This game is a must win!!!!!!!!

by celticsgreen4lyf on Dec 28, 2008 8:07 AM EST reply actions

if the cavs win tonight?

Its more like when the cavs win tonight,, unless wade is gonna get phantom calls in king james crib, which isnt gonna happen

Quicken Loans Arena : Where 5 on 8 happens

by TheAncientRivalry on Dec 28, 2008 8:53 AM EST reply actions

game,set & match

add Starbury and Smith = this party is over…Starbury puts TA&Eddie in better roles and Smith does everything PJ did only with a couple years more in those legs..

by Motown on Dec 28, 2008 9:36 AM EST reply actions

Once again, I believe that bringing in ring whores is a mistake. If the Celtics had Mutumbo (just to name one), opponents would attack that matchup too, especially given the fact that Mutumbo is 45 years old and can’t run.

The LA game was Davis’ first game back from injury and he was rusty. Meanwhile, Perkins didn’t play against GS. That’s what enabled those teams to “exploit the bench,” along with Rivers’ poor decision to go small in Q4 against GS. Doc, let’s not try that little experiment again, ok?

The point guard solution is sitting right on the end of the Celtics bench, and he’s already a better defender than Marbury EVER was.

I said a few weeks ago that the Celtics weren’t going to go 80-2. The schedule and the officiating is stacked so as to make it very difficult to win on the road. That’s just life in the NBA.

As for Cleveland, look at their December schedule: mostly cream puffs. They have their four game Western swing starting in LA on January 19th. Let’s see how they do against a few good teams. They couldn’t beat Atlanta.

by Brickowski on Dec 28, 2008 10:35 AM EST reply actions

Name names, Brickowski.

Somebody might not know the “point guard solution… sitting right on the end of the Celtics bench” is Gabe Pruitt. (Sometimes I think that somebody might be Doc.)

by no kidding on Dec 28, 2008 5:59 PM EST up reply actions