Sooner or later, losses would happen. We started the season winning an insane amount of close games – Atlanta, Milwaukee, Toronto, Indiana, Charlotte, etc. That kind of crunch time dominance is unsustainable on the long run. It was our turn to lose some close games.

So, we can forget the losses; the difference is that the malaise is now partially translated to the W/L column . The problem has been visible since the pre-season: this bench hasn’t enough quality. From last season championship bench we lost the 6th man and arguably the best 4th player in the team, plus the first big of the bench. Their replacements, who were already here last season, put the effort but are not on the same quality level. The other teams are always able to make a run and regain confidence or put themselves back in the game. They are always able to create matchup problems. Very rarely a bench player can produce a positive, and sizeable, impact on the game. The starters were supposed to see their minutes way reduced this season; it’s not happening.

We have the best starting 5 in the league, but unless the players who constitute the current supporting cast grow up a lot in the next few months, we’ll need some key additions badly.

I’ve been a broken record lately, so I’m going to shut up after this comment (too much holiday time on my hands I guess).

But Doc can help straighten out the bench a good deal by helping everyone to develop their roles better. And the best way to do that is to play Pruitt as the backup point guard. His play, as being more of a true point guard, will allow everyone else, including House, to fill in their slots better.

I am extremely worried about our lack of size on the bench. It seems that there has been a pattern over the last few games (Binum, Aldridge) where the opponent brings these guys back in the beginning of the 2nd and 4th quarter to matchup against Powe and BBD. The problem is not just that Powe and BBD are usually a lot smaller then their opponent, but we become very limited in what we do offensively. It simply becomes a perimeter game with Eddie or Ray Allen or a screen up top to rub off Pierce’s defender and get PP to match up with opposing point guard. TA seems to get lost in most of the games, he is not getting any calls and his finishing has not been as good as early in the season.

The second major concern for me is defense at the 3. PP has not been as good this year and TA has also been at times overwhelmed by larger 3s.

I hope Danny makes that trade foe Joe Smith before next Friday. I really don’t want to lose to the Cavs.

no reason for panic but some for concern. let’s start with the big 5. rondo has shown his non all star side this trip. he has not played badly but teams are adjusting to him. he had 5 assists real early and then not much. his down low penetration and pass out to ray is being covered and rondo needed to put up some shots a la the phoenix guard. pp is playing really well but could crash more. ray is not looking good-missing layups. the bench is a mess because there is no on- the -floor leadership and glue. the ball is not flowing because the point is not pointing. the 5 played good d in the 4th quarter but the defensive intensity is not there as much with the subs. and the lack of length was evident last night in how we were outbigged for the boards. by the way, even tho he had a good game, i was not impressed with oden. he’s strong but slow and clumsy. he’s serviceable but 1-2 years away from being a force. aldridge, on the other hand is ready now and i liked the way the blazers were chippy.

Anyways, this loss was embarrassing, truly the worst loss of the year. did we really just lose a 14 pt lead to portland without brandon roy?
This isnt the same team on the road, specifically KG and Rondo… and the only thing that will redeem this pathetic road trip is a win in Cleveland, which isnt gonna happen, and it will NOT suprise me if we go on a bit of a losing streak here, this team IS overconfident, doesnt and cant play 48 minutes anymore and I dont care who we play, they all have more than a 50% chance with our PATHETIC bench

Glad to see Doc mention timing…that is my mantra! We have been a little off lately. However, last night I thought we were outplayed by a team that was “in the zone” timing wise. It happens. I would still like to see Pruitt and OB get some playing time (and not have all the clairvoyant boo birds write them off before they play meaningful minutes). After all….we lost anyway, and if we had lost by more points because of the play of OB and Pruitt it would have still only counted as one loss. The west coast trip has always been a hard one. We are not sneaking up on anyone this year. Instead of tearing the Celts down, how about giving Portland some credit.

Until Danny does make a trade, or pick up a free agent, Pruitt and OB are what we have and we had better develope them.

was the only bright spot most of this trip and certainly last night…KG needs to stop letting opposing crowds get to him, its sad

This is a tired looking team. That’s why I wondered why Rivers would have his starters out at all in the second half of that scrimmage against Sacramento. There is no logic to having starters pounding on an NBDL team. Since Rivers didn’t seem to observe the 4th quarter of the GS game, history repeated itself.

I’m tired of hearing the bench being blamed for losses. The bench was barely on the floor. The starters didn’t exactly show up for this game, either. They got killed on the boards. I watched the first half of last year’s game 6 against the Lakers this morning before work. Van Gundy was blasting Gasol for being soft inside and getting beat up by Garnett. Maybe he should have in Portland last night talking to Garnett. Garnett did a stellar imitation of Gasol last night.

“The next three games are against the Wizards, Knicks, and Bobcats.” Hey Doc: When these games are out of reach, rest you’re starters. Find out what you have on your bench. It’s okay to win by only 15-20.

What bothers me about this bench is every time they’ve gone to it lately, the team has stalled — and I’m not just talking about this road trip. And it’s a trickle down effect. The coach loses confidence in them — the starters end up playing more minutes that they should be and they become susceptible to blowing late leads or looking tired as they have on this trip.

Plus as was proven last night, they can’t stop teams with size up front. HUGE (and possibly insurmountable) problem if you get the wrong match up in the playoffs.

Why did the celtics let that counted basket effect them so negatively? it tottally deflated the whole team, I thought they would come out in the 2nd half and just put the blazers away because of it, instead it went the other way

“The Blazers started three rookies on Tuesday night for the first time since 1971 and still managed to beat the Boston Celtics 91-86.”

realGM decided to make this frontpage news, they also published “PJ Brown is officially retired”

…the Celtics hit a lull last season and everyone flipped out – we were having problems offensively, defensively, and everyone said similar BS….

…listen, the bench needs a better back up center than Davis and it would be “neat” to get a veteran scorer/playmaker, but the idea that the bench is the issue that will prevent the team from winning the ’chip is silly.

This year, Doc is playing an entire bench “unit” in order to keep the starters minutes down and to maximize the minutes the entire starting 5 play together – If the team was mixing its top 3 bench players into the game with 2 or more starters – as they would in the playoffs – they’d be much more productive.

We’ve seen this bench produce when used this way, but Doc wants the starting lineup in peak physical condition going into the playoffs, so he’s using a true “2nd unit” something he didn’t do with anywhere close to the frequency he’s now doing…

The Celtics will lose 15-20 games this year – deal with it…

He is on it. The 2nd team O often went through Powe to productive ends. For the last two weeks…not happening. Other teams have adjusted. So, need to adjust to the adjust which is maybe why we’re seeing more BBD. But that hasn’t worked. Doc needs practices, as he has said. And you should all be patient. Pruitt’s time is near and POB may also get some looks.

Also agree with other comment re the starters. They are still getting rested but not winning the 4th Qtrs as was their fashion.

No one has mentioned Battum. 19 years old, has long arms, jumps quick, runs like a deer, plays hard. I see all defensive team in his future. Does anyone else?

I know you’ll say it’s just a part of the game, especially when you’re the reigning champs; even that it’s necessary to take teams down a notch when everyone’s bringing their A-game and dropping confetti from the rafters when they beat you.

But I can’t remember a champ in recent history that acted as arrogantly as Boston does. The Spurs just brought their game, year after year (aside from Tim Duncan googly-eyeing the refs after every call against him.) The Lakers did talk, but not like KG does. I think you have to go back to the Detroit Bad Boys of the early 90’s to find a team as arrogant and talky as this one.

Why is it a part of the game?