Celtics blow big lead, fall to Sixers
by Jimmy Toscano on Dec 18, 2009 11:57 PM EST
in Boston Celtics Articles
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PrintFor the fourth time out of five, the Boston Celtics lost a Friday night home game, putting a sour taste in Celtics fans' start to the weekend. The Celtics fell to the Philadelphia 76ers 98-97 in front of the TD Garden crowd. Don't blame the officials, don't blame the cold weather, and don't blame the traffic getting here- blame it on the lack of all around enthusiasm from the Celtics.
"I think our energy sucked all night," Kevin Garnett admitted.
The Celtics were up 59-44 early in the third quarter to a poor Philadelphia 76ers team, but could not hold the lead. Instead of putting the 76ers away for good in the third quarter, the Celtics dropped their energy level and let the 76ers crawl back into it. The 76ers only trailed by four points going into the fourth quarter, and took the lead with 6:02 left in the game for the first time since the first quarter.
"We have to do a better job playing better at home," Paul Pierce said. "I mean, I don't know what it is about us playing at home this year. We have to come out with a little more energy from start to finish. There in the third quarter you know you gave a team life. And when you give a bad team some life they're going to play, and that's what we did."
"We played with this, you know, this swagger- the losing swagger," said Doc Rivers. "It's one thing to have the winning swagger when you go out, you feel great about your team, and you go out and play. And then there's another thing when you just show up and you think the other team's going to lay over because you're the Celtics."
Kendrick Perkins, who scored 12 points and grabbed 16 boards, was quick to echo Doc's sentiments in that maybe the Celtics just assumed they were going to win.
"I thought when we went up 16 or whatever we were up, we kind of let our guards down, Perkins said. "I don't think we executed right. I think sometimes you win a couple games in a row you tend to have this swagger like you can walk on the court and just win games. We played against a hungry team that needed a victory, they played hard tonight and they came out and just got a win- they kept fighting."
The Celtics were forced to play most of the game without Rasheed Wallace, who was thrown out in the second quarter with his second technical of the game. Wallace was on the officials about a previous call during a timeout, and would not let up. The loss of Wallace clearly hurt the Celtics down the stretch.
"It affected us a lot," Perkins said. "We needed Rasheed tonight. We sure could have used him in a lot of ways but we still know we should have won the game."
Rasheed Wallace had to be held back by Celtics assistant coach Tom Thibodeau after being ejected from the game.
"I was more scared for Tom [Thibodeau] than I was for anybody else," Rivers joked. "Tom is tough. ‘Tibs' has been on the weights now for about three months and it finally paid off for him today."
As for Wallace's actions during the game, nobody is really surprised.
"He's been doing it a long time," Rivers said. "He's an expert at it. But we knew that when we got him, and I still love him. I think he's great, he's been great for our team, but he's going to have some of these days."
While it seems that Rivers is somewhat downplaying Wallace's technical fouls, we saw firsthand tonight the repercussions that can occur if Wallace's temper gets ahead of him, like it has done many times in the past. For the season, Wallace has 10 technical fouls. Once he gets to 16 technical fouls, he will be suspended for the next game and every other technical foul after that will result in a one game suspension. Wallace is the first guy off this Celtics bench, and with Marquis Daniels also down, that left two of the Celtics best bench players off the floor.
On the flip side, the 76ers' Elton Brand and Marreese Speights combined to score 40 points and grab 18 rebounds coming off the bench.
The bright spot off the bench tonight for the Celtics was Tony Allen. Allen scored 10 points, all in the second quarter, but then didn't do much of anything in the second half.
"I just think we have to buckle down, make some better decisions, close out games," said Allen.
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we should not have home games!
let’s play all 82 games on the raod and cruise to a 81-1 record
Road = Home
We have to treat home games like road games, b/c 1) teams are gunning for us; 2) we’re not getting any home-court respect from the refs.
It's a mistake to not "have a summit" about Rasheed
…which is what Doc said post-game. They need to have a summit, a major summit, and TALK to him. Advise him to GROW UP. Here’s what can happen if they don’t:
1) Next time he loses it could be a playoff game. One of his out-of-control temper tantrums could lose the whole season for the Celtics. No kidding, it could happen. But only if you don’t talk to him about it now. This is not trivial. It’s the whole enchilada we’re talking about. Winning the title or not. Talk to the man. Make him understand that he has a duty to his TEAM… that this is not about Rasheed Wallace and his fragile, childlike ego… it’s about the TEAM… and you hurt your team badly when you generate 2 techs and an ejection in the 2nd quarter.
2) We learned from Donaghy’s book that the refs are a very tightly-knit group. They get together and talk. They sometimes decide to “get” certain players. They could decide, as Donaghy says they already have in the past, to teach Wallace more lessons. They could even decide to teach the Celtics team some lessons. (Though it seems pretty clear that they do respect KG… their terrible one-sided officiating seemed to stop with him.) Again, this is no joke. It’s the reality of the NBA. WHY would you let a loose cannon like Rasheed possibly ruin the season, when you could stop it with one strong conversation?
Rasheed’s behavior was childish, self-centered, irresponsible, and really, really stupid. You can’t just let that go. The negativity that he could bring down on this team could outweigh all the benefits of having him here.
TALK TO THE MAN. Avoid that conversation at your own peril.
Agree with you there...
After the game, there was a few people who thought that maybe Sheed just didn’t want to play tonight. He kind of had this angry attitude from the start. He knows more than anyone what it takes to get him a technical and the fact that he crossed the DOUBLE technical line tonight kind of points towards the fact that he didn’t want to play. The way I see it, if you want to play in the game, you won’t say/do things to potentially get you tossed. We have accepted the fact that Sheed may get a technical in a game, but to get two is unnaceptable.
We signed Sheed so that he could come off the bench and provide that offensive spark. If he is going to get technicals and get booted from games (or eventually suspended) then what is the point?
Tonight was the first night that Sheed’s behavior cost us the game. The players wont say it, but the fact that we didnt have him at all in the second half definitely played a part in the fact that we lost. Yea, we should be able to beat the 76ers without him, but we didn’t- and if he was in there I would bet a lot of money that we would have come out on top tonight.
He has 10 techs already… 6 more and the suspensions will start to happen. Some of the techs he gets may be unfair, and the refs may be out to get him, but that is his own fault. He made that bed and now he has to lay in it. Doc obviously talked to Sheed about all the 3’s that he was taking, now it’s time to talk to him about all the techs he is getting.
Follow me @jimmy_toscano
by Jimmy Toscano on Dec 19, 2009 2:11 AM EST up reply actions
Suspension for Sheed?
I’ve only been able to see highlights of the game so they don’t really show too much of what went on with Sheed, but I would be a little worried that having to be restrained by the coaches so as not to go after a ref might be something which Stern would ask for a suspension for. How bad was it? Even the picture of the incident here on this blog makes it look like Sheed is being held back by two coaches and a police officer!
Unlikely
…based on the action that was shown. Really he just mouthed off a lot. BUT…. it sure sounded like he was threatening the ref, something about getting his money back. He’s done this before… actually accosted a ref once in a parking lot, years ago. So it’s possible, if the refs file a report saying they were threatened, that he could be suspended.
But I doubt it.
Really tho, if this behavior continues, the Cs are going to have buyer’s remorse. As well they should.
You'd like to hope he wouldn't get suspended
As an NBA fan I really hate how damn near everything these days seems to result in a suspension. Hopefully the league will at worst just fine Rasheed and move on. I think suspensions should be reserved for honest to goodness fights (rather than just whiffed punches) or dangerous plays where it really looks like someone was deliberately trying to hurt another player.
Last play of the game
I think the ball should have went to KG. I was hoping Doc would draw up the same play he has for previous situations. Pierce would get the ball at top of the key, drive to one side, draw a double team which would leave KG open, and then dish the ball to KG. KG has been clutch lately and as much as I love Pierce with the ball at the end of the game, tonight wasn’t his night. KG hit some clutch free throws right before that and seemed in the zone. That play has worked 3 out of 3 times so far.
Definitely saw a lack of intensity tonight though, but if we see a game like that every 10+ games I guess we can’t be too upset. Lets see how the team responds on Sunday against the Timberwolves. If they don’t win by 10 points or more then I will be very surprised
Follow me @jimmy_toscano
I agree about KG
My dad came storming into my room when we lost and the first thing I said was, “We should have run the Pierce – KG pick and roll play.” It’s worked wonders. You’re right Jimmy, it wasn’t Pierce’s night. Despite his clutchness, he wasn’t in any sort of rhythm last night heading into that final play and shouldn’t have been the one to take that shot.
I thought instead of a fake handoff iso for Pierce it shouldve been a real handoff and a kick to wherever ray was spotting up
right after the game the 76ers said they were expecteing a pierce iso or a KG pick n roll….which means THEY WERENT EVEN EXPECTING RAY ALLEN…whos hit a buzzer beater against that exact ball club the year before..
I thought that coaching decision was as dumb as one ive seen, and i tend to never get on doc….but pierce going 1 on 1 after a bad performance? dont get it, this teams just too good to go 1 on 1
We didn't lose because of Rasheed
Unless you wanna argue it left a mental cloud over there heads, I can’t see how we lost just because he got ejected. That’s a horrid excuse to me, though. We played sloppy in the 3rd quarter, we turned the ball over, and the 76ers turned it into points, and just like that they were in a grind. If the starters put the game away in the 3rd, Rasheed’s not even needed in the 4th. The Celtics went into the 3rd up 11, and pushed it to 15. What, the Celtics suddenly said “oh that’s right Rasheed got himself tossed let’s suck now?”
Rasheed absolutely needs to be better than that, but the fact of the matter is we ended up with the same lead at halftime that we had when he was tossed. We did not lose because of him.
Not the point
First, note that a lot of the rebounds that went against us in Q3 and Q4 would likely have come to us with Sheed in the game. And both the the O and the D would have been different. Point is, he’s an essential part of the team…
Here’s the real question: Do you want to face the Lakers’ front line in the Finals with Rasheed sitting in the locker room for most of the game, because he couldn’t control his infantile, self-absorbed tantrums? It does not matter whether or not you can point to a specific event that caused or did not cause a loss…. his absence – and the TWO POINTS they got due to his techs – made a huge difference in this 98-97 loss. More importantly, we just can’t have a loose cannon like this on our team come playoff time. (And don’t ignore the effect this has on the refs, who blatantly called a horribly one-sided game after the Sheed incident.)
This problem needs to be fixed, pronto.
With Sheed.....You`re "dancing with the devil"
I agree with your “summit” suggestion. There`s no doubt Doc & Danny have considered it.
The fact is, the Celts are a bit afraid of Sheed.
He would likely take the summit idea the wrong way…feel he`s being scape-goated and singled-out by the team…and you now run the risk of “losing” Sheed for good!
Sure, there`s buyer`s remorse. Last summer, they needed size off the bench. The Celts undoubtedly hated the fact that a lazy, 35 year old, head-case {Wallace} was the only one available they felt could have filled that need!
He demanded 3 years…and he came to camp out of shape! The Celts have been out-rebounded this year {984-966}. Sheed has missed a 3-point attempt for every rebound he`s pulled down.
Yeah, there is at least SOME buyer`s remorse here.
Hmmm..
No, theres not buyers remorse, and if the celtics hated the fact that a “lazy 35 yr old head-case was the only available to fit the need” then why did managment, coaches, and the big 3 FLY TO DETROIT TO GET HIM TO SIGN WITH US, because before free agency ever started they all to a man thought he was the perfect fit?
cmon..
Why did they fly to Detroit?
Because, as I stated above…they saw Sheed as the “only available” big man who “could fill” their needs.
Not…because they saw him as a “perfect fit” who “would certainly” fill their needs.
Look, I`m NOT placing last night`s loss entirely on Wallace…there`s a whole lot of blame to go around for that!
I also would be AGAINST the idea of any “intervention” or “summit” regarding Sheed.
Not only would that cause more harm than good {we would “lose” Wallace once and for all}….I also do NOT believe people are capable of “real” change. We are what we are.
They new what...
…they were getting when they went to the store. My thinking was, with less minutes played, less technicals assessed. Sounds logical, right?
Less Minutes, and....
More effort, and more playing in the paint {at both ends of the court}
You SERIOUSLY feel the officiating was "horribly one-sided"? GET REAL...
You beat this drum every time the celtics lose.
Total fouls, Celtics 23 (including the 2 techs on Sheed), 76ers 24; Fts, 76ers 30, Celts 27. Completely balanced, since the Sixers got 2 fts on the technicals
Fouls by quarter – 1Q, 76ers 6, Celts 0
2Q Celts 14 (incl the 2 techs), 76ers 5
3Q Celts 3, 76ers 7
4Q Celts 6, 76ers 5
How anyone could argue that getting 3 less pfs than your opponent constitutes “horrible” officiating is beyond me.
Especially considering the 38-10 ft advantage the Celts “enjoyed” in Game 2 of the ’08 finals.
NOW THAT’S HORRIBLY ONE-SIDED OFFICIATING !
by nba is the worst on Dec 20, 2009 11:07 AM EST up reply actions
Like it says in the recap
Look up above and you’ll see this: “Elton Brand and Marreese Speights combined to score 40 points and grab 18 rebounds coming off the bench.” That’s a whole lot of production from two bench frontcourt players. Considering Sheed would have been going up against these guys (as a bench frontcourt player himself), it’s not really a stretch to see where he was sorely missed in this one.
A better example of why Sheed cost the C's the game
Boston lost by one point tonight and Philly scored two points on the free throws they got as a result of Sheed’s Ts. That literally was the difference in the game tonight.
Stop looking for a scapegoat
If wer cant beat an abysmal 76ers team when we have a double digit lead at home because rasheed wallace got kicked out…then we’re in serious trouble.
Im starting to wonder whether this cold boston weather gets in to the big 3 bones, because they arent very good at home, simple as that, no energy
So that's why the C's lost!
Of course! Ignore the fact the C’s pushed the lead to 15 in the 3rd quarter!
And I thought TA got major flack just for being TA. I already said Rasheed needs to know better, but so should the starters to not let a team make a comeback like that on you at HOME.
Not trying to troll, but you guys want to have a conference with Sheed and plead for him to change? I’m a long time Blazer fan and I know and love Sheed.
He is who he is and has always been. Doc is doing the right thing in accepting it and trying to work around it.
hire tim grover
#52
Agreed
I find it funny how we think we can change sheed…lol this is a guy whos flipped out in playoff games, got kicked out of playoff games and has had his teammates/coaches/family/agents, literally everybody talk to him about it before he ever even came here..
He is who he is guys…. and we should be able to beat a pitiful 76ers team with or without him
Bbd will come back. this will solve everything. don’t worry.
by vgarcia890 on Dec 19, 2009 6:11 AM EST via mobile reply actions
Bbd will improve our bench play. it will also mean less dependance on rasheed. if he acts up, just sit him to cool down. bbd and sw will fill in for the bigs. md will be back just in time for when ta will go on ir, haha.
Are u getting easily overwhelmed at one loss? wow. there’s plent of games left. and championships are won in june, not december.
by vgarcia890 on Dec 19, 2009 11:01 AM EST via mobile up reply actions
Heheh
Are u getting easily overwhelmed at one loss?
Welcome to CelticsBlog, bro. : ) I’m just wondering when another trade demand topic will be made.
THE 20-5 RECORD IS DECEPTIVE - ONLY 5 WINS vs teams with winning records
It’s fortunate for the celtics they play in the worst division in the league – put them in a conference with 8-9 winning teams instead of 5, and the record would be significantly worse…
by nba is the worst on Dec 20, 2009 11:11 AM EST up reply actions
it was a coulda woulda shoulda game. say no more. the c’s are a bad home team right now and no excuses. pp might be hurting but he has been in the weeds for several games. perk rebounded and played d but was throwing up shots in the 2nd half, not shooting them. and you can’t blame this game on tony who played good d and gave us some energy which was sorely lacking from others. rondo good in half 2, but too many sloppy passes in half 1.
Hard to win without the team's 6th, 7th, and 8th man
Without Wallace, Daniels and Baby we’re not going to win too many. We had no bench last night. The Sixers bench killed us, and Doc wasn’t (rightfully) going t play the starters 40+ minutes.
From Liberty Ballers, the SBNation blog dedicated the the 76ers.
“•I can’t emphasize enough how Rasheed Wallace’s ejection affected this game. He kills us, and adds another dimension to this Celtics team that makes them virtually unbeatable, even if it’s just as a decoy. His early exit gave us an opening that we took advantage of during crunch time.”
Just sayin…
Follow me @jimmy_toscano
He has played well against them this year, but if this team isnt good enough to cap off a game where they have a 15 pt lead in the 3rd quarter because of a sheed ejection…still not buying it, the celtics only lost to the 76ers 1 time in 2 seasons before last night, when sheed wasnt even on the roster
To anyone who thinks Sheed cannot change...
… I could not disagree more. While it’s true that SOME people never change, most of us do. If nothing else, time alone does it. Sheed is much older now than he was when most of his shenanigans happened. He’s also wiser, I think. The man has kids. Are you telling me that he cannot be made to see that his actions…
a) cost his team dearly?
b) anger the refs, who then proceed to take it out on both him and his team?
c) are useless?
d) are selfish?
e) are childish?
f) are really, really stupid?
And even if you think all that is true… that he really cannot change (and I don’t see how you could possibly know that)… I still think we need to TRY to change him. During the game, you could see KG all over the event, trying to smooth it over, calm Sheed down. He will try more. He will sit down and talk to the man.
This behavior stems from a kind of spoiled-child syndrome. He thinks he can get away with it. He thinks he’s entitled to his temper tantrums. KG, and Doc, need to point out that these thoughts are wrong. His behavior is paid for by his TEAM. It hurts a lot of people, mostly himself and the people closest to him. It also costs him money. And reputation.
Rasheed, 99% of the time, seems reasonable and thoughtful. That part of him will listen. He can control himself… and I think he will… after they have their talk. But don’t ignore this problem. He needs this talk. The team needs it. Do it.
Gotta be kidding...
Pretty pathetic to be up 15 at home against a horrible sixers team and still find a way to loose….even on an off night, with that lead, you have to hold on to it…
Roflmao
Silly, Bobo!
Even a dog gets a steak, once in a while…..
by ThaPreacher on Dec 19, 2009 11:08 PM EST up reply actions
starters blew a 15 point lead even after sheed was gone...it was a total team
loss. they weren’t mentally ready to go
by celticinorlando on Dec 19, 2009 12:56 PM EST reply actions
SHEED BEING SHEED!!
YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT IT……LIKE DOC SAID HE KNEW WHAT HE WAS IN FOR WHEN HE SIGNED HIM….THE THINGS THAT HE DOSE IS NOT A SUPRISE….SO WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE OF WEATHER HE DID IT ON PUPOSE OR NOT THAT IS JUST SHEED BEING HIMSELF……SOMETIMES AN ATTITUDE LIKE HIS IS NEEDED IN THE NBA TO BALANCE OUT THE REAL BS………
JACQUE'O
not a big deal celts lose to sixers ..
hey give credit to the sixers they played a gutsy game and never quit hey we can,t win them all but i am worried we have a better road record then home
It happens
Look, Pierce grabbed a rebound at the end of the game which would have sealed the victory. Instead, Iguodala went to the line on a phantom foul. If the Celtics had won,
the fans would have been talking about the win streak. Instead, every rat is talking about the moves the Celtics need to make.
Its easy to blame things on Sheed….Whose next, Randy Moss?
Look every team loses games. Bird would have killed for a road victory after 86’. This team just likes to play away from home. Too many dancers…..
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