Closing Time Three Pointers

by Jeff Clark on May 2, 2008 7:24 AM EDT in Boston Celtics Articles

"A-B-C. A-always, B-be, C-closing. Always be closing! Always be closing!!" - Glengarry Glen Ross

Regular season stats for Rondo: 10.6 pts., 5.1 ast., 1.68 stl.
Postseason stats for Rondo: 12.6 pts., 8 ast., 2.2 stl.
I love it when a guy steps up his game for the postseason. Especially when its his first postseason ever.
The Atlanta crowd will be fired up. The Hawks will be confident playing where they beat the Celtics twice already. The Celtics have a one game cushion with the comfort of knowing that they'll play at home in game 7 if they falter. There's a ton of reasons why this could go in the Hawks favor. But it won't. The better team will win.
It all boils down to closing out the opponent. In game 4 the Celtics had a 10 point lead going into the 4th quarter and couldn't put it away. In game 5 they had a big lead early, withstood a run by the Hawks, then put their foot down and put the Hawks away. You can't let up on a talented team like the Hawks. You have to (metaphorically) push them down and step on their neck. You can't fall back into prevent defense. You have to keep playing the aggressive style of play that got you the lead in the first place.

"Second prize is a set of steak knives. Third prize is you're fired." - Glengarry Glen Ross

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I say we literally push them down & step on their red-necks

by Pashm on May 2, 2008 9:11 AM EDT reply actions

Listen up, gentlemen, because I’m only going to say this one time. To win this series we need four things: AIDA. Attention. Interest. Decision. Action.

by ruben_wolkowyski on May 2, 2008 9:24 AM EDT reply actions

Jeff,

Did you happen to get the Glengarry Glen Ross reference from a radio station this morning? Or is it a weird coincidence that 107.9 played those exact quotes…

Go Celts. I am not sure if I can take a game 7 in the first round this year. Just get the hawks over with!

by souzar on May 2, 2008 9:54 AM EDT reply actions

I did not hear that on the radio. Not surprised that it was played though.

I also thought about printing the lyrics to “Closing Time” but didn’t think it would resonate that much. ;)

Then again, “you don’t have to go home but you can’t stay here” is pretty good.

by Jeff Clark on May 2, 2008 9:58 AM EDT reply actions

All the C’s need to do is play their game and get on the plane to Boston for the next series.

by TrueGreen on May 2, 2008 10:06 AM EDT reply actions

DJ always took his game to another level in the playoffs as well. I always loved that about him. I see a lot of DJ in Rondo.

The Celtics won a lot of big games on the road during the season and they always did it with their lock down team defense. They didn’t play that in the first two games in Atlanta and it allowed the Hawks to beat them. They play how they are capable of doing and this series is done.

The Pistons did it and now it is the Celtics turn to prove that they belong in that top echelon of teams.

by FLCeltsFan @ CelticsBlog on May 2, 2008 11:08 AM EDT reply actions

we don’t need meltdowns or smack talk-action-focus- defense- take it to the hoop knowing we will get banged. it will also help if we hit out free throws. we need perk stepping up big time and i hope sam is hitting the shots.

by nazzbo on May 2, 2008 11:32 AM EDT reply actions

I am happy that Rondo stepped it up a bit for the playoffs, but am I the only who has noticed that his first quarter stats have been amazing, but then he disappears? I mean, I remember a game (game 3 I think?) where he had 6 assists in the first quarter, but finished the game with 9. WTF?

by Bleedgreen on May 2, 2008 11:41 AM EDT reply actions