Flip The Script

by Jeff Clark on Jan 9, 2009 8:12 AM EST in Boston Celtics Articles

Someone on Bill Simmons' podcast (also on the call were Stein and Bucher) made an interesting parallel. Headed into Christmas Day, the Lakers were struggling and the Celtics were rolling. Now the Celtics are struggling and the Cavs are rolling at home (The Cavaliers are 18-0 at home this season). Maybe the Celtics can flip the script and knock the Cavs down a peg.

Taking the parallel another step: The Lakers had a point to prove on Christmas and wanted the game more. They were tired of hearing about how great the Celtics were and wanted payback for the Finals. Now the Celtics are reeling and one would hope that they are feeling like they have something to prove. Who better to prove it against than the Cavs?

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Ain't Gonna Happen

Maybe if LeBron gets hurt, but even then I have faith the Celtics will find a way to lose.

by Page_and_Plant on Jan 9, 2009 8:26 AM EST reply actions

They are lacking in size

With Z out whos going to stop KG and Perk? besides the refs. Ben My best years were in Detorit Wallace? or Side Shoe Bob. I think we have a good chance in this game as long as Lebron doesnt go for 40 and PP doesnt get in foul trouble.

"Im a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class, especially since I rule."
Randal Graves

by idrinkdetergent on Jan 9, 2009 8:50 AM EST reply actions

Well, to be fair

KG and Perk have been fairly easy to stop for anyone right now dude, the bobcats, knicks, rockets warriors and others put small guys you would think KG would dominate, yet he cant do anything, and actually Varteajao guards KG as good as anyone in the league.

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 9, 2009 10:01 AM EST up reply actions

Side Show not shoe

"Im a firm believer in the philosophy of a ruling class, especially since I rule."
Randal Graves

by idrinkdetergent on Jan 9, 2009 8:51 AM EST reply actions

Rondo.

He has to shine tonight. I’ve got a basketball game myself tonight but I’ll get up at night to watch this game anyway. It’s about time I did; I haven’t watched in a while and I’ve not seen them lose a game yet. Perhaps it’s my fault, and they kept losing cuz I wasn’t watching the game live ;)

Whatever they do, I just hope they make it a close one and put up a good show.

- Dirk

by Kiorrik on Jan 9, 2009 8:55 AM EST reply actions

Cautiously optimistic

We’ve been struggling, the Cavs will have revenge on their mind plus their home streak is currently the streak everyone is talking about…I can see some of the Cavs players almost trying too hard, getting out of their rhythm. They have some streaky shooters, and if we can just defend their outside shots, we have a decent chance. Especially without Z we match-up well with them (other then LeIcon, whom nobody matches up really well with), and if there is a game the C’s will really put their all into, it is this one. It may take some good coaching — maybe resting Ray more than usual in the first three quarters, and putting Rondo on West and Pruitt on Williams — but I don’t see this as a game to feel hopeless about.

by MattD on Jan 9, 2009 9:46 AM EST reply actions

Its harder to win in cleveland than in LA, the cavs will more than likely crush us tonight…as much I hate to say that – even if we were heading into this game playing our best ball this is still a game I imagined the cavs winning

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 9, 2009 10:03 AM EST reply actions

This is the NBA

Anyone can win anywhere. It’s been proven time and time again.
I think the Celtics will be up big time for this game and the Cav’s have probably been reading all the press about the Celtics playing like crap.
I said it yesterday and I stick to it today. The Celtics win this game tonight.
What better way to prove themselves and to get off the slide.

by Jaycelt on Jan 9, 2009 10:41 AM EST reply actions

NBA and hoops is a game of rhythm.

Our squad is completely out of sync. My instincts tell me we loose this game by 20+.

However, as posted, this IS the type of game that if we win will give us a boost and could be a start towards righting the ship.

but i wouldn’t count on it. ……..

by BirdNerd on Jan 9, 2009 11:10 AM EST reply actions

Yeah, and we’ve all been talking about how tired this team has been lately, well a travel day to cleveland with 1 day off isnt exactly gonna rejuvinate them, they might start off respectable but probably have another 11 pt 4th quarter

by TheAncientRivalry on Jan 9, 2009 11:18 AM EST reply actions

As regular season games go this is about as big as it gets. Wed be in much better shape for home court if we win. Without the win we can still do it but in a real sense its worth two wins and its going to be a tight race. best of luck to the guys in green. we could use a good run into the all star game

by wahz on Jan 9, 2009 11:40 AM EST reply actions

Blind optimism?

I’d love to agree with this theory, but the truth is that even if they were not playing up to potential in December, the Lakers had won 6 of 8 entering the Boston game, including a big win against New Orleans on the road the game before. LA was struggling, but their two losses came against playoff teams on the road (orlando and miami). Boston has lost 6 of 8, with 4 of the losses against mediocre or bad teams. So I’m not sure if this is a strong argument. If LA was in a funk, Boston is in a full scale 1930s depression.

by Larry.Loving. on Jan 9, 2009 12:44 PM EST reply actions

I’m sure that the Cavs, their fans and the national media are licking their chops as the thought of another Celtics’ humiliation this evening. And frankly it’s a real possibility.

by Brickowski on Jan 9, 2009 12:53 PM EST reply actions

This is the most important Regular season game of the year.

If we can steal a win from them in their house, we stand a strong chance of winning the season series with them, thus giving us a HUGE tie break advantage for home court.

This is reminiscent of the lead-up to the Finals, where no one gave us a chance. That has always boded well for this team in the past. Our guys will be ready.

It should be a really close game, I predict the Truth silencing the building late.

by D Dub on Jan 9, 2009 1:39 PM EST reply actions

That'll work for me

I like the idea of a sellout Q crowd going silent in the fourth.

-sw

Manuel Aristides Ramirez is the greatest hitter I've ever seen.

by Steve Weinman on Jan 9, 2009 1:54 PM EST up reply actions

I say this as an open and unabashed Lakers fan

I think the Celtics will win tonight. I firmly believe that seasons operate on momentum, and that there are days that simply change the momentum in ways you don’t expect. The Celtics have looked uncharacteristically slow and disinterested the last 4 games (thank you League Pass), and I think tonight’s the night they shake it off.

I will say this though – You’d rather the Celtics lose big tonight than losing by 3. If they play their first strong game in 2 weeks tonight and still lose to a conference rival, I think it’ll hurt morale more than taking a big loss when they know they played poorly. Losing game 4 by six points mattered more to the Lakers than losing game 6 by forty.

by TracerBullet on Jan 9, 2009 3:26 PM EST reply actions