Thunder Take Celtics by Storm at Home
by Jimmy Toscano on Apr 1, 2010 12:20 AM EDT
in Boston Celtics Articles
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PrintOn the night of the 2007 NBA Draft, the Celtics traded Delonte West, Wally Szcerbiak, and the rights to the No. 5 pick- Jeff Green- to the Seattle Supersonics for Ray Allen. The trade was a key part to the Celtics' eventual championship in which they brought home Banner 17. That seems like a long time ago though.
Three seasons later, Jeff Green, no longer an inexperienced rookie, would storm into the Garden with fellow teammates Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook, and hand the Celtics another tough loss at home. While it was Durant and Westbrook doing most of the damage throughout the game, Green stepped up huge late in the fourth quarter, draining two three-pointers in the closing minutes to maintain the Thunder's slim lead. It was the Thunder's version of the Big Three that got the best of the Celtics tonight. Twelve ties and 25 lead changes later, the Thunder outlasted the Celtics, 109-104.
If you're a sucker for offense, this was the game for you. Both teams seemed automatic from the floor at times, hitting from all over. The Celtics were 25-6 when shooting .500 or above from the field coming into tonight's game. They shot 59.5% tonight in the loss, while the Thunder shot 50.7%.
"I've never been, in all of my 15 years, part of a team where you shoot 60 percent and still lose," said Rasheed Wallace who dropped 18 points on 7-8 shooting off the bench tonight. "But Jeff (Green) hit a couple of big threes down there and I think they had like 30-something foul shots, so you can't win against that."
On the night, the Thunder got to the line 34 times. Kevin Durant had 15 free throws alone, making all 15 of them. The Celtics on the other hand went 13-17 as a team from the free throw line. There was no doubt frustration amongst members of the Celtics after the game because of the free throw disparity.
"I thought we were playing Michael ... Jordan tonight the way he was getting the whistle," said Kevin Garnett after the game. "Durant ... near shot more free throws than our whole team."
"A team shoots 34 free throws to our 17 on our home floor- that's a tough one," said Coach Doc Rivers. "I thought we were aggressive, too. I thought we were attacking, and we just didn't get to the line."
Rasheed Wallace also noticed Durant getting a lot of calls, saying, "I mean he's a good player, but damn, you can't breathe on him."
The Celtics wanted to perform well tonight after Sunday night's blowout loss to the Spurs. They did perform well, which is what makes this loss even more heartbreaking.
"It's tougher when you know you were in the game and you had it, and you still lost it," Rivers admitted. "That's a tough one. That doesn't happen very often. When we play well we usually win."
Tonight was the exception, but a loss like tonight is the type of loss you'll take over a loss like the one against the Spurs. This was definitely a frustrating loss, but the fight was there tonight.
"I like the way we battled, and I can expect us to be that way each and every night for the rest of the season and going into the playoffs," said Pierce. "Somehow we have to find a way to win these close ones."
Kendrick Perkins, who played tonight after sitting out with knee tendonitis, was more critical of his team's defensive effort, and did not blame the loss on anyone else.
"I thought we played bad on the defensive end tonight. Guys missed assignments that were supposed to be there. A lot of missed assignments tonight add up. They got to the line whenever, we just fouled. We were late on rotations, so we didn't play any defense tonight. Durant is a crafty player. You know he's a scorer in this league. There's a reason he's averaging almost 30- he gets to the line. He did what he had to do and everybody else just kind of fed off of him."
With the win, the Thunder have now beaten every team in the league, something the Celtics did during their championship run in 2007. Durant had 37 points on the night and added eight rebounds. Russell Westbrook may have gotten the best of the matchup with Rajon Rondo tonight, tallying 21 points and 10 assists while only turning the ball over twice. Rondo dropped 16 points, dished out 11 assists, but accounted for four of Boston's 14 turnovers.
Six Celtics scored in double figures tonight, including Wallace and Glen Davis off the bench. The bench as a whole scored 36 points tonight. They will need to turn in more nights like tonight down the stretch and into the playoffs if the Celtics want to be successful.
"Not only Rasheed is getting better as these games come down the stretch, but I think Big Baby is playing well, Mike Finley is giving us a boost- I think our bench is getting better," said Garnett. "Guys are coming in with a lot more energy, so I would say Sheed is definitely having a more productive season coming down the latter, and that's what you want to see."
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Blakely's post-game comments
After the game, Blakely – celtics analyst on csn – poo-poo’ed the Celtic’s complaints about the free throw disparity, saying that the Thunder were just more aggressive than the C’s. ‘That they went to the hoop more and the C’s settled for jump shots.
Without commenting on free throw disparity, I just have to jump on those comments as simply uninformed. The C’s scored 54 points in the paint versus the Thunder’s 40.
There is no way you can accuse the C’s of not going aggressive to the hoop.
They just didn’t get the foul calls and that was the game.
Donny Marshall was saying that on Celtics Post Game Live and Marc Spears was saying that also on Sports Tonight...
It’s just the media trying to be politicaly correct and spitting out things that aren’t true, trying to not make excuses for the Celtics and blame it on them and not the refs, when the refs are the reason the game was lost.
No, they just don't want to look like they're taking the easy way out either by complaining about the refs...
And look like bad analyst. Check the Amica Game Rewind on csnne.com with what Mike Gorman had to say http://www.csnne.com/pages/celtics_video
Third video down and on the left.
Who said anything about a conspiracy?
Conspiracy or not – the foul disparity was the game.
Focus on what people actually wrote, please.
Other keys? 3-pt shooting and rebounding
Ray Allen 0-5 vs KD 2-5, Green 3-4 including the 2 big ones at the end…
Sure, less available rebounds with the high FG% by both teams, but the total was 36-32 Thunder…
by nba is the worst on Apr 1, 2010 11:52 AM EDT up reply actions
Yes our three point shooting was pretty bad other than Sheed...
And those shots by KD were contested shots, and you just have to tip your hat off to him. As for Jeff Greens threes, I know the second one he was open because of an illegal screen set by Kristic.
Replying to the many posts that appeared after the game last night
With many of those claiming a league conspiracy against the Cetlics.
They're one heck of a team
But they really got a ton of calls they shouldn’t have. Jeff Green’s threes were both set up by Kristic setting moving screens on KG. In fact, Kristic even set one really egregious one on Pierce earlier in the very same possession as the first 3. Watching replays, it was clear that at least one ref was looking directly at the play each time.
There were a ton of other calls. Finley gets his Jersey grabbed: no call. Ray gets hacked twice and loses it out of bounds, no call. Nate gets 2 guys giving body contact, no call. Nate goes up and doesn’t so much as touch the Thunder player and gets called. Pierce clean strip, gets called. Ray barely touches Durant, call. This was just from watching at the game (spent a bunch of money to watch 3 old guys with whistles play a basketball game…), when I actually got home and checked the tape, as it were, there was so much more. I was furious after the game and I didn’t even see these continuation things you guys were pissed about.
Ridiculous game.
USG
Doc is determined to go with certain players no matter what
Daniels has been a liability all year. He doesn’t handle the ball enough to be a part-time point guard despite what was said about him. He passes up open shots unless they are 10 feet in. His defense is average. Tony Allen should be playing. You never know which TA you’re going to get but when he’s good he’s a whole lot better than Daniels. Regular playing time might help the inconsistencies, too.
Wallace had a good shooting game tonight but he’s been loafing through the year. I don’t know this, but given his “quirky personality,” I’d almost bet he decided to sleepwalk through the regular season before the year began. You have to play him, however, because the options are not that good …
Which brings us to Davis. His 15-foot jumper, which was reasonably accurate last year is nowhere to be found. He hits maybe 1 out of 10 shots outside the paint. And the paint is where he swallows the ball like yet another donut. I’d go with Shelden Williams, who brings much the same type of play as Davis but is a heck of lot more aware of his limitations.
Nate Robinson is not a point guard. I said it during the time when when I was gagging over the idea of trading for him. I’ve kept saying it since he arrived. He eats up the shot clock like it was one of Baby’s donuts. He is only effective off the ball and that is if you want a guy that can’t defend. A few minutes a game as the off guard should be all the PT he gets. Doc can let Daniels play the point while Rondo rests. That’s what he was signed to do. Remember? I’m kidding about that. Let Pierce or Tony Allen spell Rondo for 4 minutes or so per half.
The only hope this team has of advancing at all in the playoffs is to play tight defense. They are not going to outscore any of the playoff teams in 100-point games. And it has to be team defense. Individually they haven’t got a prayer. Ray Allen trying to guard Durant tonight was pathetic. I don’t care if anyone thinks Durant got gifted a few calls. The refs didn’t score all 37 for him.
I’d go with Wallace, Williams, Tony Allen and Finley off the bench and leave it at that. Sit Big Baby and give Nate Robinson a few minutes but not every game. Just when you are desperate for a hot hand when playing from behind.
Well
You may as well give Sheed props when it’s a due. He had a good game last night.
by Tai on Apr 1, 2010 3:39 AM EDT up reply actions
Well
Don’t worry Sheed will get back to normal and make up for his good game. He’s been killing the C’s all year. Even MR. “the ball don’t lie” has a good game every now and then.
by Celtics9Lakers2 on Apr 1, 2010 4:43 AM EDT up reply actions
The whole game
can be summed up to bad calls and non calls on the part of the refs. Tommy, the announcer, was getting hugely pissed about it. The C’s had twice the foul calls as Okl.
He said the whole game was won by free throws and the C’s were really the winners and I agree. Our team played well and hopefully, in the playoffs, the refs will be more prone to calling fouls correctly because we can beat this team.
Rasheed played outrageously well and I am so glad we have him, as I always say.
I disagree about BBD and just about everything you wrote, lemonade, but don’t feel like debating topics that make no sense to me. BBD wasn’t completely ‘on’ his game tonight, but still played well, in spite of it. All of our players did a good job. Every game is not going to be perfect.
My only objection tonight in the coaching was right at the end of the game when we still had a chance and Rasheed was on fire, they stopped passing him the ball. I simply couldn’t believe it. He was the man of the hour and it was a critical point in time. Doc was even getting ready to put Perkins back in and changed his mind after Sheed kept racking up the points. Why?
You're absolutely right in regards to Doc
I couldn’t believe that Doc was going ot take Rasheed out at that juncture.. he had plenty of rest and was one of the few reliable offensive weapons on the court. Why put in the stone cold Perkins?
I don’t know how much of the lack of ball movement into the Rasheed in the post was due to Doc and how much to the players on the court. I saw Daniels fail to get it easily into Rasheed 2 or 3 times. I saw Baby bring his defender over within 1 foot of Rasheed once, which blew that play. I saw Nate dribble out the clock, etc. And when Rasheed was 5 for 5 in the post I saw them swing the ball around to get the ball into the post to Davis, who made a move and was forced to pass back out as the shot clock was winding down. After that they kept running the stupid high pick and roll, which mostly failed. Very frustrating sequences to watch.
by TomHamilton30 on Apr 1, 2010 7:55 AM EDT up reply actions
actually
the celtics had 25 fouls to the thunder’s 21…complaining about the free throw disparity doesn’t change the fact that jeff freakin green nailed those threes
by hurricane_Season on Apr 1, 2010 8:21 AM EDT up reply actions
The # of fouls is misleading
It’s the NATURE of the fouls and the FTs handed out that count. As a perfect case in point: KD gets 3 FTs for getting fouled behind the arc even though there was no semblance of a shooting motion, which was very obvious. Paul gets fouled in the EXACT same way a couple of plays later, gets the whistle (so you see, the fouls “even out”)… but no FTs. If you’re going to steal a game, as these refs did, this is how you do it. So people will say “but the number of fouls were close.”
not to mention WHEN the fouls occur
if you spread them across the periods the non-shooting fouls end up under the limit and no FTs. If you bunch them into one, they go over the limit and result in FTs.
Sheed did get the wide-open three at the end - and missed the biggest shot of the game for the C's
by nba is the worst on Apr 1, 2010 11:55 AM EDT up reply actions
yeah, but it wouldn't have seemed so big
if he hadn’t hit every shot before that.
The game is 48 minutes long and every minute is as important as the last one.
Why can’t we just get reasonable officiating in the NBA? It’s destroying the game… I’ve never seen it constantly this bad! …. or Is Stern setting the best playoff matchups for TV ratings? Sternleone the godfather?
We’re at home. We take the ball inside to the rack…. and it’s 36 to 17 in free throws? WTF?
I really wish they would publish complete stats on every official in the NBA so we could clearly see the bias….. What do you think the Celtics total fouls are versus the Cavs? I say open it up and make them accountable….. What official has the greatest differential (fours for – fouls against) for the Celts over the entire season. etc….etc…
I bet you could pick 80% success rate with this data… wink wink wink ;-)
here ya go
http://www.covers.com/pageLoader/pageLoader.aspx?page=/data/nba/referees/referees.html&t=0
Thank you for sharing that link
Very interesting numbers:
Combined record for the home team when last night’s officials (Bob Delaney, Mark Ayotte, Zach Zarba) work a game this year:
103-73 (.585)
Home team against the spread in those same games:
76-99 (.434)
When home team is favored by between 0-4.5 points:
18-30 (.375)
C’s were -3 last night
Am I saying the refs kept it close? I dunno. Take what you want out of those numbers
It does seem a little ridiculous that a team that was +16 in points in the paint was -17 in free throw attempts, just sayin
Not sure I’ve ever seen 25 lead changes in a game when one team shoots nearly 60% from the field and the other shoots 50% before
P2 is the man.
by MikeMartin on Apr 1, 2010 4:41 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
also if you want free throw disparity, look at the milwaukee cleveland game last night, 9 free throws for milwaukee to cleveland’s 45
by hurricane_Season on Apr 1, 2010 8:22 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah - considering how Milwaukee's game is all inside (Bogut in the paint)
how they could end up with only 9 is like … wow.
I mean, Bogut took 17 shots (none of them 3PT attemtps) – how does he end up only going to the line for just 2 FTAs all night?
Cleveland MISSED more FTs (16) than Milwaukee even attempted!
These are the kind of games that SCREAM that the NBA still has a huge credibility problem with its officials.
So true - Cavs get home advantage in ft margin - C's get the opposite
The Cavs game was the biggest ft margin this season – and the Bucks still led the game with 49 seconds left!
It was even worse than the 2nd Hawks game at Cle – another obvious ref job
by nba is the worst on Apr 1, 2010 11:59 AM EDT up reply actions
I can only imagine how pissed off Bucks fans must be right now.
And I"m pretty pissed off about the Cs game.
Perhaps now the reason for my screen name is obvious
There’s been quite a bit of attention given the inexplicable officiating in the NBA, with Donaghy as the poster child, all the way to 60 Minutes.
And normally, that sort of negative attention results in something being done.
But in Stern’s NBA, it’s business as usual – fine the messengers who dare to complain, rescind the bad calls that get coaches tossed and games lost – but don’t rescind those fines for insubordination!
by nba is the worst on Apr 1, 2010 12:32 PM EDT up reply actions
Exactly, David
That’s a good idea. Publish these results and officiate fairly. I don’t know about David Stern but power definately corrupts a lot of people.
time to rebuild from square one!
which means trade everyone and send DOC on a permanent house call to the GOLF COURSE!
by Leprachaun in da hood on Apr 1, 2010 2:38 AM EDT reply actions
Whine, whine, whine
It’s the refs fault, it’s the commissioner’s fault, it’s Doc’s fault. But hey, not to worry, it’s only March and we all know these games don’t count.
That's why KG's reaction is not one of a good team leader.
(Perk’s BTW was.)
If nothing else
the Celts can lead the league in conspiracy theorists, but will it be enough to win a title?
Either the Celtics win... or...the refs/Stern conspire against them!
Stay classy, Celtic Nation!
I don't think it is at a case of anybody conspiring against the Celtics.
But I think you are naive if you think the officials are not tainted in a huge way. Gambling is so obviously a cloud hanging over the officiating in the league that every game is suspect. It has nothing to do with any particular team being targeted or promoted.
17 Banners and ...
no longer counting?
1988 sucked the first time through, and it sucks again this time.
TO's & PF's
turnovers & personal fouls are the 2 #‘s to look at….Rondo is not defending which kills the entire defense and his hot dogging can go also..KG needs to grab him by the throat …play TA&Finley with PP& Ray in the 2/3 spots,sit Daniels please…we’re stuck with the bigs we got…as for Nate,Rondo plays 40+ mins a nite in playoffs…..
as for the whining & crying,I’d rather have that FINALLY than this indifference/everything is great ,just waiting till the playoffs
There were a lot of positives last night
-Rasheed looked great, and honestly he looked about 30 lbs lighter (when they showed him during his FT’s) than when he came into the season. If only the Celtics kept running post plays for him (as opposed to the high pick and roll), then we probably would have won.
-The Celtics kept fighting the whole game, and were almost galvanized together on offense b/c of the poor officiating.
-Finley is really looking like a great cheap pickup for the playoffs. I love his smart offense and great shooting.
-Glen Davis is managing to finish around the hoop. I’m not sure if this had more to do with the poor Thunder front line, but if Doc is forcing us to watch Davis then its good that he’s finishing.
-I thought Pierce played the best defense on Durant of anyone. It was great seeing Pierce play pretty well when I didn’t think he’d even play as a result of the shoulder injury.
in general I agree with your positives
Davis frustrated me early – three times early in the game he had the ball in the post (one reb and twice passed to) and he got swallowed up for no points. Of course, at least one (and probably all) of those times was clearly a foul that wasn’t called so that didn’t help.
He did a much better job of finishing in the second half, though – including converting a key three-point play.
I agree that Pierce played very well. I was screaming at the TV each time he drove and got whacked and could not get a call. Very frustrating.
The C’s shot very poorly from distance and so many of their points were in the paint that it was doubly frustrating to not get to the line. They need to heat up the 3PT shooting by the time the playoffs get her (I’m talking to YOU Ray & Nate!).
What Perkins Said
Completely spot on. The concept of being late on rotations has been a theme for a good part of the season. They didn’t rebound against a team with a weak front line.
Maybe the Cs can play all their playoff games on the road.
Thunder beat everyone??
Not to get picky, but the Thunder haven’t beaten the Cavaliers this season.
we made the classic mistake
of trying to outscore a team that is a better offensive team than we are. We got so caught up in scoring that we completely ignored defense. THis team lacks the maturity that’s needed to win a title. Rondo has been really careless with the ball and his first half defense against westbrook was horrible. KG once again looked soft on the inside. He’s a shell of the player he once was. Yeah, he can get you 18 and 9 but he’s no longer a force in the post either on O or D. We played our best offensive game in some time and we lose. That can’t be good for your confidence. I’m sure the players are saying this is just another game and really what choice does DOc have but to stay positive but from where I sit it’s only a question of time before the season ends. THis team is done but no one wants to admit it.
Stop moaning
Last night was a great basketball game to watch. Gorman almost got Tommy to have some fun. A great young team that has speed, height and smarts eked out a win against a team
that has limited speed, is short and play smart basketball. Durant is a taller Bernard King.
They are the team of the future, we are the team of the past. But it was a terrific night
to watch those generations battle it out. Great entertainment.
Not the Refs
The total lack of defense lost this game. I’m not jumping off the “bandwagon” but my expectations are drastically reduced from December and even from a couple of weeks ago.
The C’s have lost in every conceivable fashin: blowouts, losses at home to the dregs(NJ, Philly) blowing large leads and like last night, an even game and the young team out guts them down the stretch. You can’t blame ’Sheed for one miss but it just happened to come at a critical time.
It’s true though that the 3 FT foul was ridiculous as was the one where PP had a clean steal. It has to discourage a team.
I’m just saying baseball season begins next week and I’m not booking a spot on Causeway Street in June for a parade. I have NOT given up, but it would be a big reversal of fortune.
How many times do I have to say...
THATE THE DEFENSE DIDN’T LOSE THE GAME… We would have had those stops had the refs not given those measly calls to KD and the rest of the Thunder.
And on those three’s by Jeff Green… Ik the second one for a fact he was open because of an illegal screen by Kristic.
"You can’t blame ’Sheed for one miss but it just happened to come at a critical time."
You are kidding me. You are actually calling Sheed out for that?
Give me a break. The game is 48 minutes of which all are critical.
Completely agree...
It would have been huge had Sheed hit that three but he played an all around great game.
I for one liked Sheed taking that shot and thought he was going to knock it done…
Some times they fall some times they don’t, but Sheed did play a great game and YOU CAN NOT BLAME HIM FOR THAT MISSED THREE!
its not the calls
this team thought they were gonna win this game and should have… and frankly Im shocked they didnt. no killer instinct, I thought this game was about to be put away a few times in the third, and fourth….then they forget how to play basketball and revert to bailout lucky offense. I don’t get it. yeah the d sucked, but okc was ripe to be had, and the CZ for whatever reason cannot execute down the stretch. forcing the dunk lob to garnett…….nate identity chrisis robinson, sheed makes you love him till you hate him for missing two crucial freethrows followed by phantom defense …and doc getting outcoached—again..
malcontents....the lot of you
playoffs?!.....playoffs??!!.............playoffs????!!!
I don’t understand how fans can be so blindly committed to the idea that the Celts will perform that much better once they “turn it on” for the playoffs…I mean really people…What rational basis is their to justify such a presumption?
Don’t you think that the Cav’s, Magic, Lakers, Hawks, Thunder, Nuggets, Mavs etc. etc. will also be that much more formidable once the playoffs arrive? Everyone turns it up once the NBA championship is within reach! Thus theoretically, the net impact of the Celts playing up is actually nullified.
The problem I foresee with the Celtics relates to how their age may actually limit that added "playoff intensity" so while their emotional energy may be off the charts, their bodies will be unable to effectively translate and funnel it physically against younger teams who also be full of emotional energy yet unimpeded by physical barriers…Basically no matter how psyched up and committed they are to winning a championship, their bodies will get in the way…
Now yes, their experience does give them an edge. No doubt…But at this point, most of the elite teams competing for the championship have the experience to get it done…Any advantage the Celtics have her is minimal…
Unless the Celtics can play shut down defense for a full 4 quarters (like they used to do in 08-09) and indeed, they are saving their energy do just that come playoff time, I don’t see this team getting that far…But unfortunately, this is not two years ago. Three main reasons why – KG will be 75% (yes he can still shoot as well but instead of doing everything ELSE with greatness, he is simply OK – He is not the absolute and utter dominant MONSTER of a player he was in 08-09) at best, the bench is inconsistent and out of whack, and the competition in my mind is exponentially better this year. The NBA is the strongest its ever been and in that sense, I believe the championship is up for grabs…The favorites will always be favorites but at some point in time, in every professional sport, there is a replacing of the old guard and this year, it may not even be the projected top four! Mavs, Jazz, Nuggets, Bucks, Hawks, Thunder are all extremely talented teams capable of getting really hot…
As a Celtics fan and to a large extent, as a basketball fan, I am really looking forward to this playoff season – We will see some amazing basketball before all is said and done…I just hope that most of it comes from the guys in green…
At this point...
I’ll take the 4 seed, and hopefully Miami passes the Bucks…Miami-Cle-Orl is a very winnable road for us. bucks-hawks first round matchup would help us immensely.
Serious or sarcastic?
Realistically, it would take a perfect storm of events for that scenario to include C’s victories in all 3
by nba is the worst on Apr 1, 2010 12:06 PM EDT up reply actions
huh
This current Celtics team has very few meaningful wins…..yeah they beat the Rockets on the road and then followed it up the next night with a win in Dallas…and they beat the Lakers in LA minus Kobe…..and beat Cleveland on opening night…..other than that they have NOT beat an elite team. Couple that with the fact that they are very average at home, get “bored”, and are inconsistent with everything. Well not even my green colored glasses having me thinking they have a run in them.
THey Beat us on Christmas!
"Morning yall up early w/ the babies watchn Dora. Seems Lamar can't keep my name out his mouth maby I need 2 put my sons shitty diaper n it"~Matt Barnes
doom and gloom
This team is capable of losing in the first round or making a real run…..the fact that two such dramatic differences are possible speaks volumes…..it says just how inconsistent they are. On another note, I am sick and tired of Doc riding Glen Davis’ ass so hard. In NO way I am defending Glen, but there are other guys on this team that Doc should be ALL OVER and it isn’t happening. I will say it again……Danny should have moved the expiring deals of Ray, Scal, and TA at the deadline to infuse this team with some talented youth and move forward from banner 17……this summer they are handcuffed by the cap and won’t be able to do anything really meaningful with the roster until the following year. So instead we have to “hope” this team can get their act together and make a run…..sounds like trying to win the lottery with a $1. You never know right?
“This team is capable of losing in the first round or making a real run”
Isn’t that the case with almost all teams in the playoffs this year? Look at the Fakers… nice road trip guys – no bench. Atlanta can’t win on the ROAD. Cleveland’s legacy of LOSING in the playoffs. How does a player “make everyone better” around him and loses every year in the playoffs? Answer: maybe he doesn’t!!!!! Denver’s recent play. The Mavs…well are the Mavs. Utah… market too small will never get any calls. I have one word for Orlando – VINCE – nothing more needs to be said. Shall I go on? There’s no really standout great teams this year. If KG was KG we’d walk thru and pick our #18 banner.
I just hope we get a fair shake in playoffs… I can live with getting beat by a better team but we have zero chance at 17 to 36 in free throws. Even the Nets can beat our butts with those numbers….. oh that’s right they did…
Nets game was COMPLETELY different...
The Nets (and C’s) earned the FT margin in that game!
by nba is the worst on Apr 1, 2010 1:57 PM EDT up reply actions
huh
I agree with some of what you said, but a lot of those teams you mentioned have beat us this year….and I’m not down with the whole it was the regular season doesn’t matter. Your point supports my claim….the C’s are capable of banner 18 and they are capable of one round and done. Do you really think the Cavs, Lakers, Magic, Nuggets, and Mavs will lose in round 1? The Lakers have been flawed all year. They had so many more home games early in the year and padded their record….now the truth is appearing as they struggle on the road. But they will have home court because of their overall record which means they can lose on the road and win at home and still advance to the finals, that’s when they will have to go on the road vs the Cavs if they match up. I just can’t be confident in a team that doesn’t defend its home court better than what the C’s are doing and a team that consistently has lost to team with winning records. I’ll trade those L’s for L’s vs terrible teams any day.
Missing their starting center
What team wouldn’t struggle?
The C’s certainly missed Perk while getting blown out by the Spurs.
Lakers have been hurt all year, and still have the 2nd best record in the league WITH the “champs target” on their backs…
by nba is the worst on Apr 1, 2010 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions
Any team in the west is cable of being taken to a 6 or 7 game series.
And if the Cavs get matched up with the Bobcats, Heat, or Milwaukee they very well could be taken to a 6 or 7 game series, and so could the Magic if they got matched up with any of those three teams.
“Do you really think the Cavs, Lakers, Magic, Nuggets, and Mavs will lose in round 1?”
Yes, I bet one of them will…
by David Henderson on Apr 1, 2010 2:18 PM EDT up reply actions
Donny sucks.
Donny Marshall is just a career-oriented commentator
who could care less about the Celtics. I’ve even heard him say he’s rooting for players on the opponents team at times. He fails to state the obvious when it comes to the officials and always finds a way to blame the Celtics for something.
I hope Comcast doesn’t expand his contract and hope to enjoy Celtics broadcasts without his lackluster and aggravating vanilla opportunism someday.
Couldn't agree more with the post game last night...
It seemed like all of the media except for Tommy and Mike were trying to be politically correct and blame the C’s when it was the Refs that cost us.
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