Rivers: "We’re not going to catch Cleveland"

by Jeff Clark on Mar 19, 2009 9:09 AM EDT in Boston Celtics News & Links

Doc_medium

Mark it down. Before the game on March 18th was the point where the Celtics conceded home court to the Cleveland Cavaliers. The new secondary goal is to lock up the 2nd seed. (The primary goal remains to get healthy)

Paul Flannery of WEEI has some of the quotes from the locker room:

"One, for us to get on the same page and two, to solidify that second spot," was how Stephon Marbury put it. "Once everyone gets healthy I think this team will be totally different."

"Either way, I still feel good about us winning a championship," Kendrick Perkins said. "I don’t care if we play home or away."

Say this for the Celtics, when the coach talks about something like this it’s not an accident and it’s not a sub-conscious slip of the tongue. The players were briefed about this subtle change in expectations and they are on board.

"That’s the one great thing about this team," Paul Pierce said. "We’ve never been down. We never look at one another, point the finger at one another, and we understand that we just have to keep working. The situation is what it is and we have to go out there and put our hard hats on and our work boots on and continue to work, regardless of who’s out there."

Can't argue with that. Unless something highly unforseen happens, we aren't going to make up 4.5 games in a month. As the Akron Beacon Journal points out: "Ten of the Cavs' last 15 games will be at Quicken Loans Arena, where they are 30-1."

We still have a very good shot at holding off Orlando. The game in Orlando on March 25 looks like it will end up being more meaningful than the showdown in Cleveland on April 12. But the team is just going to keep repeating the mantra "we can beat anyone anywhere."

Personally I'll be watching the standings and tracking the first round of the playoffs to see who we will end up playing. I think we can handle anyone (anywhere) when healthy (or mostly healthy), but there are certainly some teams we match up with better than others. After a long regular season, I'm hoping for an easier postseason than we had last year.

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if (and that’s a big IF) this team is NOT healthy going into the playoffs

it just doesn’t matter where they finish

…BECAUSE THERE WILL BE TROUBLED TIMES AHEAD

if (and that’s a big IF) this team IS healthy going into the playoffs

it just doesn’t matter where they finish

…BECAUSE THE CAN COMPETE WITH ANY TEAM ON ANY COURT

Don't fake the funk on a nasty dunk

by mcpu40 on Mar 19, 2009 8:29 AM EDT reply actions

Are you listening, Rock City???!

If we’re healthy, we’re coming to get you!

by Amager Celtic Fan on Mar 19, 2009 8:36 AM EDT reply actions

Confidence

Physical health and confidence are two imperative things when heading into the playoffs. I like hearing the guys believe they can win on the road. They said they could last year, but you knew that they didn’t believe it. If they get healthy and are confident going into the playoffs, I say we can do some damange. But man, there are a lot of ‘ifs’ in that statement.

by BOSPORTS on Mar 19, 2009 9:24 AM EDT reply actions

doc is being honest and realistic, 2 things of which are great aspects of doc’s persona. let’s get the full team in playoff shape.

by nazzbo on Mar 19, 2009 9:49 AM EDT reply actions

Good Win

Doc is smart to make that statement now. It takes pressure off the team. Let’s face it. If the C’s have all their guys back for the playoffs, they will win #18. It does not matter who we play or where we play. Mental toughness and defense will win the championship. We need Powe back in time for the playoffs, which seems to be about his target return date. Also, Ray’s injury will at least allow him to get some rest. When he returns, I think the C’s need to cut way down on Pierce’s minutes for a few games. Let Walker play a bit. If he makes mistakes, he will have KG and company to help him out. I still think 51-18 is amazing considering the injuries. They played with a lot of heart last night. CELTIC PRIDE.

by JPV on Mar 19, 2009 9:50 AM EDT reply actions

Thank to Miami Coach Spoelstra

Most of all, and I sincerely mean this will all of my heart, THANK YOU for not doubling up Paul Pierce in the fourth quarter until the final possession. Holy cow thank you for this. THANK YOU for allowing The Truth to single-handedly break down your defenders from the same spot on four straight possessions in the fourth quarter and allowing him to make four straight jumpers. THANK YOU for letting the obvious closer on the team close out the game with 16 points in the fourth and OT, ending with 36 points. Seriously, thank you for reminding us what Paul Pierce had to do for the last 10 years in the NBA while carrying this team by himself. THANK YOU for letting us get a glimpse that Pierce still has the ability to carry a team when it matters and when he has to. THANK YOU for reminding me, however, that it is more enjoyable to see Pierce on the floor in the company of guys like KG and Ray-Ray and feeling like this team is unstoppable when on top of their game– but it’s still fun to watch him turn into the Terminator.

http://loscy.wordpress.com/

by jontookem on Mar 19, 2009 11:44 AM EDT reply actions

Actually, that was probably the right move...

If this was Paul Pierce of 4 or 5 years ago, I would completely agree with you. That strategy no longer works on Paul Pierce. He is far too willing to give the ball up when the situation calls for it. The best piece of evidence for this was the Cleveland game. Cleveland tried to throw doubles at Pierce and Allen throughout the first half, and this led to easy dunk after easy dunk. The Celtics have made it very obvious that they are all willing to make the extra pass when necessary, so I really cannot blame Spolstra for allowing Pierce to beat him on 22 footers. Also, Pierce played 47 minutes in this game. For him to do what he did, you almost have to tip your hat if you are the Heat and move on.

Part of the reason you can’t really double Pierce is behind the design of the play. As John Barry noted last night, a lot of teams are going to this 1-3 screen offense. The reason is when you get a guy like Pierce at the top of the foul line in the center of the court, there is really nothing you can do except hope he misses. Pierce can see the whole court, allowing him to recognize if help is coming or not. Also, because of the speed of Rondo, you have to switch the screen or else you are in big trouble. So time and time again we see Pierce posting up a smaller defender at the foul line, where the opposition is left to basically just hope that Pierce misses a 20-22 footer.

A lot has been talked about with Pierce on the defensive end and his unselfishness on the offensive end being the main contributors to him now elevating his game to complete freak status. I would say that the development of his mid range jumpshot to one of the best in the game has to be very scary for opponents. Pierce is way too good at attacking the basket and finding his teammates, you are almost forced to give him that shot. That shot has made him unguardable in the late stages of games.

SCOTT

by Vegas Scott on Mar 19, 2009 1:27 PM EDT up reply actions

Yes

The 1-3 screen offense does make it difficult to really do anything effectively on defense.
But you have to ask yourself… why NOT double up after the guy has scored 8 straight points? The Heat should force someone else to make the tough, big shot.

If Perk or House make some big buckets down the stretch, then all it means is the Celts were able to call your bluff. As the Heat, you have to play the game of odds: Perk, House, Rondo are all LESS likely to make a big bucket when it counts. You need to remove Pierce from the play by doubling up top. Put a bigger body on him and force him to take the ball up higher at the 3-point line. Regardless of offense scheme or defensive scheme, you can switch up and double. Force someone else to take a shot. As the Miami coach, I could live with myself if I lost to the Celts because Eddie House made some clutch shots and Pierce didn’t get clean looks. That is a game or odds that you have to play.

http://loscy.wordpress.com/

by jontookem on Mar 19, 2009 5:42 PM EDT up reply actions

Well that's just it...

It’s my understanding that they were playing the odds. You’re assuming in your argument that the minute Pierce dishes the ball, that person is going to shoot. From both of your posts so far, it’s very clear that you watch a lot of Celtics. So you of all people know that once the Celtics have a defense broken down, they are more likely to attack the remaining defenders until someone committs, often resulting in a dunk.

If you have the choice between a Pierce half contested 22 footer, or a wide open Perkins 15 footer, of course you will take the Pierce shot if you are a Celtic fan. However, what Cleveland found out is that you aren’t making that decision. The decision you are making is between a Pierce half contested 22 footer and a Perkins dunk. Paul Pierce himself would take the Perkins dunk without hesitation.

This is especially true with Rondo on the floor. Mainly because he would be a likely candidate to be left for a double on Pierce, since he is not a great jump shooter. So a double on Pierce when hes 10 feet and in on a wing makes a lot more sense, because you can leave Rondo and then get back. But a double on Pierce at the top of the key now gives Rondo a 4 on 3. That is a dunk, layup or free throw appearance by someone 10 times out of 10.

This is why we will win our 18th championship this year as well. If Pierce continues to hit the mid range shot so effortlessly, there is no strategy alive that can stop us. It is merely pick your poison, either way you’re dead.

SCOTT

by Vegas Scott on Mar 19, 2009 6:47 PM EDT up reply actions

Very true.

I like your astute analysis of the game— but I’ll throw something back at you. Why not go to a 3-2 zone once Pierce starts setting up at the top of the key? If you go to a 3-2 zone, then you prevent the dunk and you prevent the open 3. In this defensive scheme, you force a mid-range jumper that will most likely be contested. Any duo combo of Haslem/Beasley/O’Neil could easily sit on the post, and make sure that the dunk or easy layup isn’t there. If they come in, you commit a hard foul and put them on the FT line— especially if it is Perk (terrible FT shooter) and Rondo (getting better, but still bad).

So in a timeout, you setup 2 defenses: man-to-man if Pierce doesn’t lineup at the top of the key; if Pierce lines up at the top of the key, drop to a 3-2 zone (3 at the perimeter, 2 in the box) and force him to swing the ball.

I think what’s going to be different when the Celts play a team like Cleveland is that they are defensively tight enough to pull this off. They can quickly double on Pierce at his favorite spot (top of the key) and can quickly rotate if he kicks the ball out. The Cavs are also lucky because Lebron is a good enough defender that they can play man-to-man even if the Celts follows a similar strategy in the closing moments. With Z and Wallace in the lineup together, the Cavs have one of the best low-post defensive teams in the league. They are really good about collapsing on swingmen entering the paint. So between D-West and Lebron guarding at the perimeter and Z and Wallace in the paint, it can be tough to score.

But what’s comforting?? Z and Wallace combined aren’t better than KG and Perk. Lebron might have a leg up on Pierce, but not by much (see Eastern semi’s last year)… Rondo is a far superior defender compared to Mo, and I think Ray is really an underrated defender and is as good as Delonte. What a series that will be (if it happens).

http://loscy.wordpress.com/

by jontookem on Mar 19, 2009 10:25 PM EDT up reply actions

Sure...

But again I just think you’re moving pieces around. There are a lot of different options that you can throw around. 3-2 is certainly one of those options. I just don’t think it’s going to stop that play. I think the only thing that can stop that play is proper personnel.

The Lakers have the players to match up effectively or at least better against this play. If Kobe starts on Rondo and if Ariza or Odom starts on Pierce they at least have a shot at stopping this play. Again if Pierce is making that 20-22 foot shot conistently, I really don’t care what defense you’re in, you are toast. His ability to split traps with his strength and hit the open man on the hands makes it impossible to think about trapping and even more impossible to think about going zone.

Which leads me to the biggest problem with going zone: Rondo. His ability to penetrate and dish will destroy the zone all night. Then factor Allen, House and Pierce as now spot up shooters with good looks all night and the zone just isn’t a realistic option. Factor in the most feared front court in the league, and you have banner #18.

SCOTT

by Vegas Scott on Mar 20, 2009 2:09 AM EDT reply actions

Trust me

I hope you are right. As long as Rondo penetrates aggressively, then things will be fine. I think that Rondo played well against Kobe and the Lakers back in early Februrary. The Celts can prepare for Kobe trying to stop him, and come up with a game plan to expose the Fisher/Allen or Pierce/Ariza matchup.

Plus it would be great to see Garnett drop Odom at some point in this possible matchup— so I hope those two match up.

http://loscy.wordpress.com/

by jontookem on Mar 20, 2009 9:19 AM EDT up reply actions

Can we catch the Lakers?

Or because they beat us twice this season they would have home court advantage if we meet in the NBA Finals?

by Ruben Wolkowyski on Mar 20, 2009 4:07 AM EDT reply actions

How we lost home court...and what to do from now.

In my humble opinion (feel free to disagree fellow Celtics fans) is that we lost home court not because of the KG injury, but a combination of a few multiple factors. Remember the nightmarish January? We lost 7 out of 9 to teams that we should have creamed!!! But this is what Doc Rivers was talking about last season going into the Playoffs against Atlanta. He said we had a “Zero turmoil basketball season.” And they did. Only Washington and Orlando gave us fits in the regular season. But this season was not so turmoil free.

After the 19 game win streak, and we lost 7 of 9 and I saw how well Cleveland was playing at home, I thought to myself, we’re going to get second seed, they’ll always be a game ahead of us. And I was right. 30 and 1 on their home floor! That’s pretty good.

Of course many people will believe that the injuries were the cause, and I will say to some degree yes they were the cause of us STAYING in the 2nd seed but not advancing to the 1st. We had lost some games with KG on the floor that we should have won too. You know like that San Antonio game or the LA game (both at home).

But the injuries did have some affect. Not just the KG injury (we were fine without him before), but all the other injuries that followed. Rondo, Ray Allen, Scal, Big Baby, Leon Powe, Tony Allen. It’s hard to win a chess game when your King, both your Bishops, one Knight, and a few pawns are missing on your side of the board. Sure you still have the Queen that can do just about everything, but it’s still just one piece. Your Queen could get cornered by the opposing pieces without other pieces blocking the way. I guess you understand my analogy.

Oh here is something interesting: what is is about the Celtics on Sunday?! Think about it. They have lost a lot of games on this day of the week. San Antonio, Detroit, Milwaukee, Orlando…and 3 of those at the Garden! What is it about God’s resting day? I have no clue but it is a weird trend. I hope that if the Cleveland series (if we face them in the ECF) goes to 7 games, that the 7th game isn’t on Sunday!

Personally you guys, I think we should be fine. So we’re the second seed! Who cares! We need to get healthy 100%. Now that these guys went through a little turmoil in the basketball season (with every crowd they play in front of at Playoff level), with overcoming some adversity, and learning from their horrible mistakes in the Atlanta series from last year, they should be fine. They know what they have to do. I would just say relax and enjoy the rest of the season. The Playoffs are totally different!

Let’s be behind them all the way and they know that they can do it and so do we. Let’s Go Celtics!!!!

Ubuntu!

by jbhdva on Mar 20, 2009 11:12 AM EDT reply actions

I'm a lurkin' in the Kansas weeds

Ready to pounce on unsuspecting teams that think they have something on us because we have to win on the road. Just remember, I am within a 3 and 1/2 hour flight to any NBA arena in the country. I will do my job to make sure the refereeing is fair and square. The Celtics cannot lose a 5 or 7 at arena’s with my namesake. Remember this and keep the faith, brother and sister Celtic fans.

Boston Celtics - 2008 World Champions

by QuinielaBox on Mar 21, 2009 11:08 PM EDT reply actions