Now They Love Us

by Jeff Clark on Jan 23, 2009 12:20 PM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

Boston went on that West Coast trip a few weeks ago and lost those games and people started questioning if they could defend their title. I don't think anyone is questioning that now. I like Boston the best in the East, followed by Cleveland and I have Orlando third. The Lakers are the best in the West and San Antonio is second right now.

Ball Don't Lie

Boston leads the NBA in effort. Per minute, per game, per period, per capita, per KG's very profane instructions. And the C's just worked, worked, worked their tails off in this win. Every shot was contested, every extra pass was met with moving feet, and Orlando didn't know how to overcome this sort of intensity. Because they haven't had to, yet. And really, as much as the defense impressed, we expect that from Boston. It was the offense that got to me.

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Wait, we arent dead?
Screw em, we lose sunday and We’ll have “no chance”

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 23, 2009 12:24 PM EST reply actions

"but this was A+ Boston. And they only won by 10."

I’ve heard them all now. If one wants to, it is possible to always find a way to detract from success, but this one takes the cake.

by KJ33 on Jan 23, 2009 12:47 PM EST reply actions

Haha, it wasnt even “A+ Boston” by any means
Not to mention the refs tried everything they could to keep that game close, and the final score was alot closer than the game…we were up 10+ almost the entire game, but the refs time and time again put the magic on the line for ticky-tack fouls

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 23, 2009 12:54 PM EST up reply actions

I’m with you.

9 assists on 35 baskets might win us a game, but they won’t win us the title.

by kozlodoev on Jan 23, 2009 1:35 PM EST up reply actions

It Was A Grind-It_Outer

I think it was an A+ game for effort, but I don’t think they played great offensively. Their defense was tremendous as was their game plan which was to play Howard man up, defend the perimeter and pressure the ball. I think they executed well most of the game. But they needed a super game by BBD and PP to win it. The thing is, though, that this is the type of game you get in the playoffs when teams can prepare for you. Orlando played good defense, but it was our defense and overall effort (getting the loose balls and long rebounds after the first few minutes) that won it for us. Orlando’s cover up or backup defense failed consistently while we consistently challenged all their attempts to get to the rim even if they got by our initial defender. I think this game showed alot about both teams. We are ready for a playoff run, Orlando really isn’t despite their record.

by TrueGreen on Jan 23, 2009 8:41 PM EST up reply actions

That Balls Don’t Lie article is pretty much one massive backhanded compliment if you read it. It says this was “A+ Boston” as if to say it doesn’t get any better… and then mentions that we only won by 10… before they list off a bunch of excuses for Orlando’s poor play.

Not really a raving review.

by LarBrd33 on Jan 23, 2009 1:10 PM EST reply actions

true, true

but that quote does say a lot about the team – they don’t let up

"Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." Michael Scott

by Jeff Clark on Jan 23, 2009 1:12 PM EST up reply actions

I agree. I thought Dwyer was going to praise the Celtics (and he did a little, at least their hustle and intensity) but most of it was just explaining why the Magic were close to beating the Celtics even though the Cs were up double digits most of the second half and it never got closer than 7 (I think). Definitely was not the Celtics A+ game.

by Berkcelt on Jan 23, 2009 1:20 PM EST up reply actions

It was their A+ defensive game...

…but far from their A+ overall game. How could it be, when they did not hit a SINGLE 3-pointer, Ray only scored 12 and Rondo has just 2 assists? Offensively, this wasn’t even close to their A game. If it had been, this would have been a blowout.

by DRJ1 on Jan 23, 2009 1:26 PM EST up reply actions

It’s funny that we lead the entire game and all we hear about is how Orlando was out of sync due to having too much time off… being rusty… etc.

Maybe if we were losing they’d throw us a bone and mention that Orlando was fresh while we were playing on the 2nd night of a back-to-back? Heh… dumb

by LarBrd33 on Jan 23, 2009 1:13 PM EST reply actions

I like it better when they think we suck

The more everybody else thinks we suck, the hotter the fire under the Cs. Like last year when people liked Detroit, then everybody picked LA in the Finals. We knew they were ridiculously wrong, but it was great that they WERE wrong.

TAR, the refs totally sucked last night… blind fools… any little flop resulted in a whistle, regardless of the facts. But I have to say they were calling the whole game badly, against both sides. I would like to see the NBA teams get together after this season and vote on every ref in the league, then (a) fire Stern, and (b) fire every ref that the coaches concur sucks. Yes, we’d have to find a lot of new refs, but they could not be worse than they are now.

by DRJ1 on Jan 23, 2009 1:14 PM EST reply actions

All the critics and media outlets are just dieing for the celtics to shrivle up and go away, I dont think I’ve ever seen criticzim for a 36-9 team, heck the spurs have lost more games in less games and all they get is praise..
All the crutches they were giving the magic were ridicolous, I thought they had the advantage with the rest as opposed to us not having any

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 23, 2009 1:27 PM EST reply actions

We’re only 10 points better than the Magic on the road on the second night of a back to back. At home the Celtics are 25 points better.

Not to mention that the Magic got about fifteen totally cheap foul calls as the refs bent over backwards to help the home team.

Kelly Dwyer is a fool, and so was some idiot from Sports Illustrated on ESPN radio yesterday, who went on and on about how good the Magic were, how flawed the Celtics where, and how the Magic would win easily.

by Brickowski on Jan 23, 2009 1:32 PM EST reply actions

Haha

Gotta love all the criticizm the defending champs get, with the busisest schedule and most wins in the league with only 9 losses…these sports “experts” are punks…haha, how could anyone say the celtics have more flaws than the Magic? laughable

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 23, 2009 1:39 PM EST up reply actions

fool?

I think you might be confusing “opinionated” with “fool”

just because someone doesn’t share your opinion doesn’t make them foolish

I like Dwyer because he has the guts to have an opinion rather than just regurgitating the Dr. Jack type Captain Obvious statements

I don’t always agree with him, but I respect his work

"Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." Michael Scott

by Jeff Clark on Jan 23, 2009 2:00 PM EST up reply actions

Well, it’s one thing to be opinionated (aren’t we all?), it’s another to have opinions that are consistently wrong.

by Brickowski on Jan 23, 2009 2:09 PM EST reply actions

Critics detracting from a Celtics win by finding excuses for the other team losing? This is not really original. It gets pretty old actually.

by NoraG1 on Jan 23, 2009 2:14 PM EST reply actions

i say, let the c’s ride under the radar and let the experts play up howard, kobe, lebron’ or any other flavor of the day. or team. our big 3 is so sweetly driven, professional and game smart and the rest of the team follows in their path. and our coaches have the right formula most of the time. and danny and the owners know what to do. top to bottom -the c’s are the champs.

by nazzbo on Jan 24, 2009 5:19 AM EST reply actions