Game 5 Observations

Good points across the board, especially Tony Allen. Perhaps we can dispense with the nonsensical calls to play him, because we simply cannot afford his inability to play intelligently.

If we need a defender on Johnson, play Posey. Take a seat, Tony, and enjoy the game.

Yeeehawwww!

Great win!

Some of the keys mentioned after the losses to getting back on track were more shots for Ray Allen. (I’d still like to see a few more) Better shooting percentage due to less long jumpers and more drives by KG and PP. More minutes for Powe to get his under the basket play despite a couple tough games. Better free throw shooting. Nicely done all around. The only thing I thought we needed a lot more of was Perk which due to his foul trouble didn’t happen. Fortunately we didn’t need it. He may be too slow to be able to stay in this series much.

Is Doc all of a sudden a brilliant coach again guys?! Too much credit when we win, too much blame when we don’t. Difference was a better showing by two of the big three. (Ray played well the last game)

Nice quote from Barkley after the game when they showed a highlight of Dominique holding up 7 fingers. He said “You better put one of those fingers down Nique because this one is over in 6”. Hope he’s right!

The crowd was pathetic tonight given what a desperate situation the Celtics were in. If Celtics fans can’t get loud and sustain any kind of energy in game 5 of a playoff series than Celtic Pride truly is dead.

When your crowd is getting out-noised by ATLANTA HAWKS fans there’s something relaly wrong

Nice to get the W. Now to Atlanta to get this thang done on the road. No fooling around anymore guys, just finish it.

Jeff said:
“Dear, Doc. THAT is why you need to play Powe. 5 offensive rebounds, 7 points, and 2 big drawn offensive fouls (or as I like to call them, strategic flops).”

No kidding Jeff… THAT is why he played Powe!!!
 
“Doc put in Tony. And then Tony proceeded to airball a three and commit a dumb foul on a Joe Johnson three pointer. Doc couldn’t have justified himself any better if he planned it that way.”

Vindicated indeed. Folks were saying TA would have been the answer in Game 4? Were they comparing the best of TA against the worst of RA? At least RA in game 4 was able to knock down shots to kepe us in the game. Now if you were Doc, would you pick TA over RA under those circumctances? That jackass Bill Simmons thought Doc should have played TA merely because TA was an available option. Yeah, just because you have an option doesn’t mean you should use it unless you’re clear on what the benefit will be. Playing TA would not have stopped the bleeding in that game 4. To paraphrase George Costanza… He (TA) could’ve done worse.

By the way, what happened to Mike Woodson? I though you folks decalred him the anit-Doc who’s Xs and Os put Doc to shame? Did Woodson lose his new found basketball IQ? Where were his “fabled” adjustments in game 5? Ha ha ha…

Boston was, and still is the better team. This was evident even in game 4 where the Hawks threw everything they had at us and only managed 5-point win. If only Paul Pierce had made his free throws…

PS: Bill Simmons is still a ****. [edited: no cursing]

The Celtics will be fortunate to end it in Atlanta. Athletic teams have given them trouble all year, and the Hawks have confidence now that they lacked in the first two games.

The C’s are fouling at an alarming rate which does not bode well for the rounds to come when the opponents are better. I’d prefer to see less of Perkins and more of Powe, Davis, PJ Brown, and even a small ball lineup. If the Cavaliers are the next team they face, I envision big trouble because LeBron James goes to the line anytime a defender breathes heavily in his direction, which by the way is a disgrace to basketball. The refs tried their best to get a win for Clevelansd tonight but came up short.

I find it hard to judge Tony Allen on the basis of very limited and sporadic playing time. You cannot develop rhythm to your game being used in that fashion. Why aren’t people getting on Eddie House’s case because he hasn’t hit a shot?

p.s. Bill Simmons is a witty writer and a good one as well. Where is it written that his job desription is cheerleader for the Celtics. You see a lot more **** comments around here in one week than Simmons will ever commit to print.

Refs are calling fouls at an alarming rate is what it seems like at times. I think the series ends in 6.

Refs have missed quite a few fouls this series to favor Atlanta is what I mean. I’d like to see consistency on both ends from these refs.

lemonadesky said:
“I find it hard to judge Tony Allen on the basis of very limited and sporadic playing time. You cannot develop rhythm to your game being used in that fashion. Why aren’t people getting on Eddie House’s case because he hasn’t hit a shot?”

If I understand you correctly, are you saying Doc should have played TA more minutes to give him time to develop his rhythm and then decide whether or not he should give him even more minutes? Hmmm… And what would folks like you and Bill Simmons say about Doc were he to do such a thing?

“Bill Simmons is a witty writer and a good one as well. Where is it written that his job desription is cheerleader for the Celtics.”

No doubt he’s witty, but being a witty writer doesn’t make him particularly insigthful. I don’t expect him to be a Celtics cheerleader either, but he could at least stop pretending he has any real insight into coaching. He’s been wrong about a lot, but his wittiness obviously gets him off the hook. Maybe he’ll apply for the now vacant Marvericks coaching job and put me to shame. I’m just saying…

it was a soothing win, after 2 riled-up losses.the defense won it and kudos go to the whole team and tom t. let’s get the tony thing straight. no one says he’s a starter or deserves leon powe minutes. he played last night—1 good basket, one stupid foul, 1 airball- not a good score,but he can be a defensive stopper who needs to be tried. sam did well, hitting right away. the 2 games in atlanta were terrible. the second game in atlanta doc did not reinsert sam after his 1st half stinkeroo. tony needs the same kind of faith and fate depending on his contribution each game.pp took it to the hoop- simple as that and he needs to get a free throw shooting lesson from tommy. atlanta does not have boston-type depth, but johnson, smith, and horford are pretty darn good and bibby, childress, and williams are not too shabby. zsa zsa needs a face-lift.

I LOVE that graphic…. The more you Powe…. absolutely love it!!!! oh yea, good points too :)

is anyone still waiting on Tony Allen to return to being the player he was for all of SIX games last year? I hope not because even if he gets his hops back he is still one of the dumbest players in the league and his defense is way overrated. He got in the game last night and prompyly failed to switchon Bibby ( luckily the 3 didn’t fall) and then did one of his patented “run like a drunken bull at the man shooting a 3 and foul him in the act”. Oh and shot an airball for a 3. Granted he hasn’t had any playing time but talk about blowing your chance for more minutes. NO wonder Doc has no faith in the guy . My other target of ire right now is Perk. He has done NOTHING in this series and was woeful again last night. There was a stretch during the season where he had a double double for 4 or 5 games in a row. I thought he had turned the corner but he’s back to being a hack and a stiff. He has zero athleticism and quickness and against these hwaks he is completely bewildered. If we manage to get past the hawks he should fare better against the other teams in the east but if you’re danny ainge you have to put an athletic big man on your shopping list for the offseason. I’m still torn about cassell- he is a ball hog and if he’s not hitting shots the offense completely grinds to a stop. Plus he is a weak defensive player. On the other hand he hit some big shots last night and but for Posey sleeping in the lane, Sam would have had 16 i very limited minutes. So I say play him if his shot is falling and pull him if it isn’t. Last but not least there’s Ray Allen. I love his shooting but his passes are weak and he is turnover prone. last night he threw 2 lazy passes to =garnett both of which were picked off. However, Ray did show leadership by getting in Garnett’s face and telling him to cool it just when KG was getting ready to melt down again. KG did not have a great game. He must have missed 7 or8 shots from 3 feet. I applaud doc for playing him in the post but KG is clearly rushing his shots down there since he ( and every other celtic) is worried about the smith and the other atlanta shot blockers. IF we somehow win this series there isn’t another player in the playoffs we will face who is as good a shotblocker as smith.

atlanta is getting to the line twice as much as we are and they are shooting a very high percentage. However, with our aggressive D we are going to foul people so I guess we have to live with that. hopefully Josh Smith and Johnson come back to earth at the free throw line. they have been shooting lights out there. How does Pierce only get to the line 3 times last night as much as he was going to the hole? that’s amazing

Don’t know if there’s anything more beautiful or graceful in Basketball than Ray Allen curling around off a pick, receiving a perfect pass at the letters while squaring up and shooting a three.

The game was won because the Celtics kept it simple. They didn’t really change strategy that much; here’s what did change:

1) The traps on JJ were better executed (earlier and tighter).
2) The rotations on dribble drives were quicker. So were the close-outs on jump shooters once ATL kicked the ball back outside.
3) We attacked the basket more. (Even though we didn’t get the calls).
4) WE HIT SOME FREAKIN’ SHOTS!

migit, right on. The C’s rarely make changes. When they play poorly it’s because they get away from what they should be doing on both ends. I’ve yet to figure out why that happens. I guess it’s the heat of battle. I also think poor officiating gets them out of their stuff. Doc has been trying to get them to forget about the calls and non calls. Despite the officiating, not hitting free throws, etc. they usually win when they execute their regular stuff better and with more energy they are usually successful.

EJPLAYA said:
Is Doc all of a sudden a brilliant coach again guys?!
………
No. There’s no again, playa because he never was. He was completely outcoached by a 37 win coach the previous 2 games.
Again, we have our starters in the game long after the game is decided. Hello, Doc!!!! Are you there? They’re over 30….Remember?