Fool's Gold?

by Jeff Clark on May 6, 2009 8:21 AM EDT in Boston Celtics News & Links

Doc is not that encouraged by the comeback attempt in game 1. (Herald)

“I look on (Monday) night as a loss, and we have to play better - bottom line. I don’t lean on the fact that we had a chance to win the game. I focus more on the fact that they were up 28 points. I look on that a lot more than that we made a fool’s gold run at the end of the game that got everybody excited. That does nothing for me.

Red's Army reminds us not to focus too much on the comeback (forgetting about the part where we were down 28 points):

Honestly, what really gets me isn't even the first half of yesterday's game. It's the last month of the regular season when we were screaming for the starters minutes to be limited. Everyone went nuts about home court advantage and how important it was for us. The third seed was a bad thing to a lot of people.

Yet, I think its clear that getting the second seed gave us zero advantage in the first round of the playoffs. And we don't have home court advantage anymore anyway. And I think its clear that Paul Pierce is gassed. He's trying to pick his spots and be "Paul Pierce" when it counts... but I don't know if he's capable of 40 quality minutes right now. These guys can say they're fine all they want... but the season takes a toll on you.

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Hard to argue with either conclusion. The first half was as bad as basketball gets at the professional level. And Red’s right. Pierce is out of gas, and he has been for awhile. A season with no help off the bench will do that.

by CoachBo on May 6, 2009 8:34 AM EDT reply actions

Pierce is out of gas

I also wonder if his hands are injured. I have never seen him turn the ball over so much (especially when he attempted to dribble against Chicago)!

by VtCeltics on May 6, 2009 1:35 PM EDT up reply actions

Same old story...

Orlando going up big, and then us coming back to get close but ultimately lose, is nothing new, especially for the last two seasons:

November 18, 2007: Down by 20 in the third, lost by 2

January 27, 2008: Down by 16 in the third, lost by 3

March 8, 2009: Down by 22 late in the second, closed it to 3, lost by 7

March 25, 2009: Down 13 in the third, lost by 2

May 4, 2009: Down by 28 in the third, lost by 5

So, yeah, the team can take moral victories if it wants to, but the fact remains that five times in the last two seasons, Orlando has built a big lead on us, and have managed to hold off our comeback. The first four moral victories didn’t amount to anything, so I don’t know why this one would, either.

All the negativity in this town sucks. It sucks, and it stinks, and it sucks. - Rick Pitino

by Roy_Hobbs on May 6, 2009 8:42 AM EDT reply actions

Tired story

It’s happened too many times to be “encouraged” by that kind of comeback.

As for home court, game 7 in Boston, that’s an advantage

by Berkcelt on May 6, 2009 9:26 AM EDT reply actions

Yep, too much is being made of the comeback attempt and not enough being made of Orlando being able to build that lead.

by Who on May 6, 2009 9:51 AM EDT reply actions

I know it's pre-KG/Ray era for Boston and pre-Lewis for Orlando, but also remember April 15th, 2007

Magic lead by as many as 20 points, but get outscored, 27-10, in the 4th period to almost lose the game. Orlando shot 3-of-12 in the period and committed 9 turnovers. Link: PopcornMachine. See also: my recap of the game.

Third Quarter Collapse: An Orlando Magic blog at SB Nation | Orlando Magic vs. Boston Celtics Playoff Central

by Evan Dunlap on May 6, 2009 10:30 AM EDT reply actions