What to make of Friday's listless game vs Thunder on Friday?  It's hardly cause for panic--when these guys are on, they are tough. Period. The problem is with being 'on'.  When they show up in cruise control and things start slipping away, they dont seem able to snap out of it. Same thing in the loss to the Cavs. No switch, no gear.

I think its like this -- it takes great energy to Celtics defence. If they dont bring that energy, then the game becomes  a shooting contest.  When that happens, this Celtics team is at a disadvantage because the dont have any one guy who can turn it on at will (Pierce used to, now is best when he picks his spots. KG? never was nor will be. Ray? needs set-ups.  Rondo? Not a shooter. And no microwave off the bench). Nor do they have a dominant athlete  who can get out there and wreck havoc.  Rondo again is the closest, but has to do it with speed, not strength and, as noted, his toolkit is short a key item--that outside shot. 

So I dont think this club is bored (Sheed Syndrome) but I do think every now and then they relax on D, and when that happens, they loose some of their advantages and dont seem able to compensate by scoring at will. Come the playoffs, be assured, they will be in gear. In the "round of 82", however, there will be nights off. Just a shame for the fans they took one at home.
j