The Rare Loss That Is Still Cause For Excitement
by Steve Weinman on Feb 6, 2009 1:21 PM EST
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It feels like there are about a million points of note to discuss after a draining overtime battle against the purple and gold. Over the next couple of days, the Babble may get to several of them, namely Large Baby and Doc's handling of the rotations (two situations where I've got much less complaining planned than might be expected). But for this afternoon, we're focusing on the thought that permeated my overheated cranial cavity throughout last night's contest and even seconds after it was over: I'm excited beyond belief for a possible rematch of the 2008 NBA Finals this coming June.
A disclaimer right off the bat: Those expecting an explanation for this feeling involving some rant about how much better than the Lakers the Celtics are and how I'm looking forward to pounding the Lakers into submission in the spring will be sorely disappointed. Yes, I'm a fan, which is short for fanatic, and I fully believe that the Celtics will be better than the Lakers and the NBA's other 28 teams come June. I also like winning and would relish the opportunity to watch the Celts blow the Lakers off the floor if it presented itself. But that's not what this feeling is about.
Last night was the fifth of February. This is supposed to be the dead air space of the NBA season. Not yet at the trading deadline, not yet in the post-All-Star break rejuvenation-stretch run phase, just plodding along night by night in the marathon of an NBA season, in which too often not everyone seems interested every time out.
None of that was evident on this Thursday night in Beantown. Watching this game on a moderately-sized television set in a small living room more than 1,000 miles away, I felt enveloped by the action as though I was in its very midst right from the start. The electric atmosphere at the New Garden came through loud and clear, from the "Beat LA!" chants that permeated the building throughout the evening to the crowd staying on its feet through significant portions of the game.
The fellows on the hardwood more than matched the intensity in the stands. Everybody involved truly wanted this one. There was no loafing back late into plays, no loose ball or out of bounds call that went uncontested. Every rebound was a struggle. Just a two or three-bucket swing in either direction sufficed to completely swing the mood in the building.
Several routine plays and tussles got the contestants' blood boiling. Kobe Bryant and Rajon Rondo aren't buds these days. Same goes for Kevin Garnett and Lamar Odom. Or Kendrick Perkins and, you know, the rest of the free world - but especially the part of that world that either wears purple and gold. It's tempting to suggest that these teams really don't like each other, but that would be an abuse of the literary technique of understatement.
Down the stretch, we saw the captain of one team continue his own personal defensive renaissance that began a season ago, working his tail off to stay with the opposing team's star on every play. On at least three occasions, one of the world's finest basketball players still managed to hit a difficult three-pointer over him. No shame to be had, just a tip of the hat to the man who made the play. On several other plays, the captain forced that same player into attempts that even he couldn't hit. A tip of the cap right back to the captain.
It was that type of environment all night. The crowd was always on the edge of its seat. No one was ever out of this game. When the buzzer sounded to end regulation, it finally occurred to me to put my hand to my cheek and realize that my face felt burnt, that my body temperature had actually risen that much due to the physical strain of simply watching the game. By the time the extra period began, I was shaking. And this is February!
It didn't turn out the way I wanted it to, and as someone who isn't a good loser, I didn't take that too well. But there was a rare overriding feeling the whole way for me, that no matter how it ended, this game was part of building something special. This was best versus best (or at least two of the three best, depending on how one views the Cavs), and it came down to the very end. Past the very end of the normally allotted time, in fact
The part that truly gets one's blood racing is that neither team played its best basketball. This game had its bouts of sloppiness, and indeed there was a fair amount of complaining about the officials, which is something I have no desire to address right this second. What I know is this: Seeing the passion and energy in that building last night makes the idea of a seven-game series in June astoundingly fun.
It could land me in the hospital. It could land me in custody. But, wow, witnessing a series between these two teams when they are at their respective bests and playing for all the marbles would be a heckuva way to conclude this 2008-09 NBA campaign.
Until then, here's to more exciting winter basketball and to enjoying every second of the ride.
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At the game
I was at the game last night. And as you explained it in this thread, it was FREAKIN awesome. The energy was amazing. I have been to a handful of Celtics playoff games, and this one felt like playoff atmosphere.
I probably had 33 ulcers and 4 contusions from passing out last night. It was THAT kind of game. I was getting about 2-3 texts per 4 minutes of gameplay.
Am I p*ssed that they lost? Of course. Who wouldn’t be. Should I sit here and nitpick everything that went wrong and could have gone right, and blame everyone and everything to make me feel better? How about just briefly…?
- We had 3 solid chances to close out the game: once in regulation, twice in overtime. All 3 were set inbounds plays where we took timeouts to draw up plays. I am imagining that NONE of them worked out. That is less to do with Doc and more to do with the fact that Phil and Lakers played great defense. But, just like with everything else in sports, great teams find ways to win. The Celtics tried, the Lakers did.
- Ray became non-existent for much of the second half. This is the problem at times about our ad-hoc offense of “find the hot hand”. Sometimes we don’t find the hot-hand, and instead try to start a hot-hand elsewhere. Ugh.
- The ticky-tack fouls the JV refs were calling early on weren’t being called at the end. Calls are calls. There will be bad calls, missed calls, and good calls. The only thing you can ever ask for by any officiating crew is for them to be consistent. Players adjust to how much refs let them play, but if the refs are inconsistent, they ruin the game. This is not me complaining, it is saying that this is NOT their job.
- The Lakers still show just a tad under 60% on the FT line. We can talk about “What if Pierce had hit that free throw in regulation?!?!”. Well, what if they had made any of there other 12 FTs?
- How about Powe? Some sloppy mistakes on defense, but his O-boards and points were CLUTCH while the starters took their rest. Big Baby was a Big disaster last night. Ugh.
- Random: Sasha Vujacic was worthless that game. Trevor Ariza did nothing. Luke Walton was pretty much useless. Lamar Odom woke up (even though he is gravely overrated). Fischer actually played solid defense and made some clutch 3s.
Anyway. I will hold true: the Celts are the most dangerous team in the league. They are one of the few teams that can play so well as a team on both ends of the floor. The Lakers have yet to prove they can consistently play good defense each night.
My rambles: http://nbawithoutcable.wordpress.com
Good post.
I spent the last half our of the game standing in front of the television because I had too much energy to sit.
Trust me. Laker fans want to see the Celtics again. I just wish I knew what Kobe and PP were saying to each other. The NBA should sell game audio tapes.
jontookem
The Lakers have proved that they play defense against the teams they need to. SA, Cleveland, NOH, and Boston. Their D has been spectacular.
absolutely correct. they switch it on and off like a faucet. gotta give them credit for their D last night, by far the best D they’ve played in over a month.
Come on, really?
You really think the Lakers have been playing spectacular defense??
They’re allowing opponents to shoot 44% from the field, 35% from 3-pt, giving up 41 rebounds/game, and allowing on average 100 points a game. 100 points! How is that sound defense??!?!? The Cavs are giving up 90 points a game, and the Celtics 92. That is a big, big difference. They are an offensive minded team. ANY AND ALL Phil Jackson’s teams have been offense first, defense second.
Seriously?
My rambles: http://nbawithoutcable.wordpress.com
"Spectacular" or not, I maintain that using points per game rather than efficiency is flawed
The Lakers play the fifth fastest pace in the game, the Cavs 25th and the Celtics 17th. They sit seventh in defensive efficiency; the Cavs second and the Celts first. The Lakers aren’t as good as either of those two teams defensively, but they’re still one of the tops in the league – again, since they were fifth a year ago.
-sw
Manuel Aristides Ramirez is the greatest hitter I've ever seen.
by Steve Weinman on Feb 6, 2009 6:43 PM EST up reply actions
Hm.
Ok. If you want to use defensive efficiency or PA, they’re still NOT among the top defenses in the league. Being ranked 7th is good, but not great. It’s just not. I don’t care what stats you use: 7th is good.
They’re going to try to beat teams with their offense, not their defense. No one will convince me otherwise. You put Phil Jackson and Kobe Bryant on the same bench, and they will try to put more digits on the board than you before they think about how to shut down an offense.
They are lucky to have decent defenders: Bynum, Vuajcic, Ariza.
Kobe is not that great of a defender— he gambles like an addict in Vegas. He bites; he’s just quick enough to get back on most players that he guards. But if he gets burned, who is going to say anything? What stat can you keep on this? You can’t. Just scout him. His hands swings feverishly at players he is defending along the perimeter, he’ll lay off guys hoping he can intercept the ball through the passing lane (looking for a big play rather than denying), he never plays good weak-side defense, and he doesn’t step into the lane if someone is coming through.
The only times he steps up his defensive mentality is when the game is tight in the end— not because it is naturally important to his game.
Come on. Really?
My rambles: http://nbawithoutcable.wordpress.com
Spectacular?
I think thats a bit much…there defense wasny really any better than it was last year in the finals…the celtics missed alot of open shots and still shot a high %
by TheAncientRivalry on Feb 6, 2009 2:18 PM EST up reply actions
Unfortunately
We gave up too many transition and 2nd chance points. But I think our defense in half court sets was good. Maybe not spectacular, but solid.
I’m out looking for Sasha, Farmar, and even Kobe for letting Eddie House have those good looks. All he does is shoot 3’s. How do you lose him?
The lakers arent good at guarding the 3-pt line, thats how…i see it in every game they play
by TheAncientRivalry on Feb 6, 2009 3:51 PM EST up reply actions
Most of 3's are due to the strong side trap
that they play. It’s an unfortunate drawback to the strategy. They use perimeter guys to cheat in and double on the strong side. But a few of those came because of lack of focus.
That is why Boston's offense is spread out much better when House is in the game.
He doesn’t allow Kobe (or whoever) to sag.
Obviously the celtics offense is spread out better with house in the game, whether its against the lakers or thunder..thats a no brainer
by TheAncientRivalry on Feb 6, 2009 4:30 PM EST up reply actions
not seeing it
there’s no question we can hang with the Lakers but what I saw last night was a Laker team that wanted it more than we did. Granted KG wasn’t at full strength and we got hosed on numerous calls but they were the hungrier and more aggressive team. They have bought into Phil telling them how soft they were last year. Last year I never thought they were better than us even though the press said so. This year I do think they are better than us and it’s not just because we lost last night. Last year we were the team that ended other team’s winning streaks; we were the team that went undefeated in Texas and beat everyone on the road. This year the Lakers are that team followed by the cavs. we remain an enigma. A team that can win 19 and 12 and then come out and turn the ball over and lose their composure in the biggest regular season game of the year. Make no mistake- we lost our cool last night and it’s not the first time. We are a highly emotional team and at times that’s a strength but last night it was a weakness. Home court throughout the playoffs is a must for us. We’re only a game out but we have a really tough stretch coming up and I sure hope we don’t implode like we did after the last Laker loss. So I’m not throwing in the towel on the season but if you look closely all the key indicators point to us not repeating.
Great piece, Steve. Puts a perfect perspective on last night’s game, and the revival of the rivalry. Wish I could share your optomism regarding the spring, but just don’t see it.
Thanks, footey
And hey, it’s still February, even before the ASG…what better time for some optimism, blind or otherwise? Hop aboard!
-sw
Manuel Aristides Ramirez is the greatest hitter I've ever seen.
by Steve Weinman on Feb 6, 2009 2:06 PM EST up reply actions
On Another Note
Re: The Babble
Brand out for season.
and who would’ve thought at the beginning of the year that Sixers fans would almost be happy to hear this? Andre Iguodala’s time to prove he’s a star.
another babble curse. SW, watch it with the articles I’m starting to believe…its actually becoming a bit eerie (first Nelson, now Brand)
Ah, Slick...
What I’ll say is that I feel far more culpable in Nelson’s case…where I raved about a guy having a wonderful season and then he went down. Brand looked awful and had attested to having a medical setback (a point I made in the piece), which is what inspired that Babble, rather than, as you might imagine in Nelson’s case, the “Babble inspiring the injury.”
No doubt, the chain of evidence against me is building…but for the prosecution’s sake, you’ll want to be building the case around more Jameer-style incidents.
Thanks, watchdog. :-D
-sw
Manuel Aristides Ramirez is the greatest hitter I've ever seen.
by Steve Weinman on Feb 6, 2009 2:05 PM EST up reply actions
Fair point
you did discuss Brand’s injury. I guess I was just pointing out the mention of his name. So i’ll say you forecasted that one appropriately, and the Nelson one was the actual CURSE. AHH. ok, i’m done being dramatic. Back to celtics lakers and the like
yes, equally fair that
folks whose names have been showing up in the Babble have been dropping like flies lately. Can’t argue that part, sadly…
-sw
Manuel Aristides Ramirez is the greatest hitter I've ever seen.
by Steve Weinman on Feb 6, 2009 2:23 PM EST up reply actions
Steve "Voodoo" Wienman
I haven’t read all of the details about Brand yet, but I can’t help but have the feeling that surgery was the best option to save face to get of of this season. Brand will not be a Sixer next year.
How bout Celts v Lakers 4 times/year
Yes I know that is dreaming but what fun.
The joint was really jumping. The player intensity was great.
I still think Rondo needs to drive more. And, man, when he gets just a Tony Parker jump shot, look out!
Bad Tony showed up last night.
That was the Leon we love although CLEARLY Big Baby plays better team defense.
Eddie was money. However, as cute as his kid is, he shouldn’t have the kid shooting on court at halftime when NBA players are warming up. Very nicely they should tell him to keep the boy off the court. All about precedent. What do you tell other players when they want to bring theirs.
I do realize the coaches know more than blogosphere, but I would have liked to see O’Bryant man up on Gasol – length to length.
Kobey in the 4th was scary. Nice job otherwise on him.
Regular season basketball...
…and series play are two entirely different animals…both games against LA came down to the wire and required big plays to win – Boston is perfectly capable of winning against LA, just because it isn’t a turkey-shoot like last year doesn’t mean the Celtics can’t compete…
How will they respond?
We all know what happened after “they” beat us on Christmas Day, but what will happen over the next 9 games starting tonight in New York?
I honestly think that we will start another winning streak, but there are some tough games coming up- Spurs, Hornets and Mavs (who will be looking for revenge in Dallas). These are the 3 games before the All-Star break.
The last losing streak was a (very steep) learning curve for the team and I think we all are better for it, as painful as it was :)
by Ruben Wolkowyski on Feb 6, 2009 3:45 PM EST reply actions
anyone think tonights game is like us playing golden state after the laker game on christmas? both are run and gun teams that don’t play much D. If we come into this game without energy and feeling sorry for ourselves we’re going to get beaten and perhaps badly. I know we’re a resilient group but this game is definitely a trap game
Am I the only one ?
Am I the only one who thinks Kobe should be in jail instead of on the basketball court ?
Grow up already?
How many times do you have to post garbage like that before they ban you?
What are you 15?
Everyday I see some dumb crap you wrote, then cry like some baby for Jeff to do something when someone has a comment you don’t like. Quit acting like some brat.
It just my opinion about Kobe, yes hes a great basketball player, but I don’t think he is a player people should look up too.
What does that have to do with anything anyone is talking about?
Nothing.
It’s just you showing how immature you are. You NEVER add anything worth reading to the conversation. Just juvenile cheap shots and whining.
Cut it out. You give this blog a bad name.
Wondahbap
I like you, I think you make great posts and its nice hearing what opposing fans have to say in regards to the whole entire league, but I don’t understand why you have it out for me?
It has nothing to do with the Lakers or Kobe.
You could say that about one of your own, and it would be the same.
No one was talking about a trial, or being a husband or father. But you just have to chime in with that. Again and again. Who cares.
I said my piece. I’m not going to have a back and forth about this.
Your comment is of topic.
I’m sorry if I hurt your feelings. Okay?
How about we talk about the topic(s) at hand? We done now?
Im kinda afraid too
If i say something negative about the lakers are you going to start making fun of my family ?
why don't you both give it a rest
the world won’t stop because someone on the internet disagrees with you
"Would I rather be feared or loved? Easy. Both. I want people to be afraid of how much they love me." Michael Scott
I started watching the game at a sportsbar about midway through the second quarter. It was a great game until the bitter end. Intensity was there for both teams. I enjoyed it except for the final score.
I thought the offense got a little stagnant in the fourth quarter. Too many iso’s. Rondo needs to break down the d more and be more aggresive(as he was in the 3 rd quarter especially). Paul needs to take it to the rack almost every time and punish the Fakers. I think he got tired in the fourth from having to guard Kobe so much(which I think led to his FT misses). Garnett fouling out hurt us,yes. It also exposed our bench for having no height in the 4-5 spot. We need another big who can walk and chew gum at the same time. We also need a quality backup 3. Dare I say we kinda missed James Posey last night? Having said all of that, the game could’ve gone either way. I was very surprised by the Fakers intensity. I don’t think they could play like that in a seven game series. They are in a false sense of securty right now I think. Lamar Odom never plays that aggresively. Pau Gasol shot right over our undersized back up bigs. Kobe hit 2 killer threes in the 4th and got Paul out of his rhythm on the last play of regulation with the poke away on d. But other than that, I think we did a pretty good job on defending Kobe. We need to address our backup point guard needs and a legit 4/5 off the bench as well as someone who can back up the 3. I don’t see us bringing all of that in so I guess we’ll have to work with whatever we have and whatever Danny can find or do. I don’t think we can compete with the Cavs or Lakers benches. I have to give the team credit though, they played their butts off. There’s not as much space between the top teams this year I think. We also have 30+ more games to work on these issues that last night exposed. I hope Danny has a couple of moves up his sleeve,however. Even with these shortcomings,the C’s are still a great team. But I want them to continue to be the best team in the league after June. I’ll be rooting and concerned all at the same time. Go Celts!!!
thank you
@celtics73
those are my thoughts, pierce needs to kill the inside more notice how he shakes up the whole defense from fisher, to pau and kobe causing the foul? he should have did that when we were up 6 and 8 could have turned to more and maybe sealed it. but no we kept going for the hero jump shots and we paid for it.
Celtic73
i agree with most of what you said. Kobes a tough cover for 48mins…and i thought it strange for Doc to put PP offence in jepordy for the sake of slowing down Kobe. While basically left Walton (our worst defender by far) to guard a worn out PP. This was a chess match…had we lost istill would have thought this game was everything i hoped it to be.
Dont let BSPN fan the flames…technically we didnt expose nuttin about yalls that wasnt already an issue before. Like i was telling my potna today…Theres crazy match up problems all over the court…and this game cuda went u guys way in a matter of 1 posession….
Last Night
Last night I came home from the game jazzed. I couldn’t sleep last night. I was all rev’d up from the game, and I kept thinking about what it was and what it could have been.
At work, I couldn’t stop talking about the game. Colleagues helped throw their two cents in, and gave some good perspective: it’s only a regular season game.
But it’s not just a regular season game. This stuff counts. I was ok for most of the day, but now I am pissed that they lost. I know KG is pissed. I know Pierce is pissed. Doc’s gotta be pissed. As well as they hide it, holding their cards close to their chest, the Lakers have a large round circle on their backs. I am glad they are saying what they should be saying to the press: it’s only a regular season game, plenty of basketball left to be played.
Inside, though, I want them fuming. I want KG to drop Odom when they see each other again in the Finals. I want Rondo to give a cheap shot to Kobe and stare him down. I want Rondo to call Kobe a rapist while being guarded by him. I want Eddie House to hit 7 threes in Vujacic’s face. I want all hell to break loose when these teams play again. I want the Lakers to bleed for ruining one of the best games I have ever seen live.
I want to see these fockers back in the Finals. I want it to go 6 games again. I want them to walk back into the Garden and lose again in their final game of the season to the very team they thought they could take down.
I don’t feel nervous. I don’t care that we dropped 2 games to the Lakers. I don’t care they broke up our 2 longest winning streaks. We are better than them. I know we are. We will come through. Are you really going to count on Lamar Odom to bring you a title? Are you really going to count on Luke Walton to bring you a title? No.
You will count on KG. Ray Allen. The Truth. Rondo. These are guys that can put the team on their backs, and runaway.
I know that we will see a different team from now on. Their agenda is clearer than it was before.
My rambles: http://nbawithoutcable.wordpress.com
Last comment.
It’s not a coincidence that Odom and Gasol turned it on in the end of the 4th quarter and in OT. These guys just can’t play with KG in the game. KG has their number. He’s too good of a defender and he’s in their heads. This is worst complex in sports: knowing that someone is better than you. Odom didn’t want any part of KG except in the perimeter when he could try to take him off the dribble. This proved to be fairly successful in last night’s game, seeing as you know, KG has a temp. of 100 degrees and probably felt like his head was floating in space.
I am not concerned about this scenario (Gasol/Odom v. Perk/KG), but Bynum poses a different challenge. The Lakers have to play the rest of the season and get into an offensive and defensive groove assuming that he isn’t coming back, right? I mean, he probably will be back, but would you put him in the starting lineup if he’s only 75?
What’s better? A 100 Odom or a 75% Bynum?
My rambles: http://nbawithoutcable.wordpress.com
Last nights game
Great article. I am from MN, so of course a KG fan. That was an awesome game last night. Two great teams going back and forth. Those 3’s that Kobe was hitting in the 4th were unreal. Sucks he hit them tho. I haven’t watched too many of the Celtics games this year, but they are great to watch. Rondo is crazy quick. I wish they would have won…but you can’t win them all. It is tough to stay a big fan of the NBA when my team has been so bad since…well since KG left. But watching great games like that makes it easier.
Best.T-Shirts.Ever at: http://www.LockItUpTees.com
Why The Celtics Lost To The Lakers
You can throw out everything, but one factor: TURNOVERS, unforced turnovers. This has been a problem for two years now and I don’t know the solution. These were turnovers, not caused by Laker defense, they were lazy passes, etc. And with all these we could have won the game.
The only thing lost was one game in the loss column which could be important, but there is a long way to go.
"I don't come to play, I come to WIN"--Larry Bird
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