Magic Finally Show Up
by Jeff Clark on May 24, 2010 11:46 PM EDT
in Boston Celtics Games
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Hats off to the Magic. Lesser teams would have given up and gone home. Howard, Nelson, and the rest of the Magic showed up and sent it back to Orlando.
- Ugly, ugly game. Credit the Magic defense for taking away our motion. We were forced into iso plays for basically the whole 4th and OT.
- Magic were the aggressors early on. Celtics were lucky to be only down a few buckets for most of the game.
- Dwight Howard had a big boy game tonight, but Nelson was the key ingredient.
- Rondo was playing at about 1/4 speed. I didn't catch what the problem was, but he was clearly not himself out there tonight (and went back to the locker room before halftime).
- Pierce almost singlehandedly kept us in this game.
- Loved the 3's by Ray Allen down the stretch. He could wake up from a 5 year coma, grab a pass from Rondo and drain a clutch shot. Icewater-veins.
- It is sure to be forgotten, but Glen Davis had a really nice game overall.
- Unfortunately, Tony Allen and Rasheed Wallace didn't.
- Magic won in spite of Vince Carter getting only 3 points. Wow.
- Just sloppy execution at the end of regulation and at the end of OT.
- The Magic deserved to win this game, but at least we had a chance to steal it at the end.
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they showed up
And we lost. The magic might have won the first 3.5 quarters but we lost this game the magic did not win it
by threats13 on May 24, 2010 11:47 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Sloppy
Thank God for Ray keeping the Celtics alive
by ekianela on May 24, 2010 11:47 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
let me ask you do you still want to trade RAY?
not just this game, not just the 3pts he made in the last minute and in overtime, those big shots?
in all honesty, think about the way he played the eastern playoffs, i know its not over yet.
who will you replace him with?
Ray isnt going to be traded
Rays becoming a free agent smart ass.
Why?? whhhyyyy??
Did they keep going to paul when it was clear ray was hot?! Hot ray=get him the rock. Bad execution by paul in OT, not to mention the last possession of the 4th.
But no worries, we’ll get ’em next time.
by RedsBean on May 25, 2010 12:04 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Ray or Paul getting a shot.
They go to Paul or Ray depending on who can get a shot off. Ray has to get open for those 3 pointers which is tough sometimes. Paul is better at creating his own shot so he gets the ball if Ray’s not getting open.
by Celtics9Lakers2 on May 25, 2010 2:01 AM EDT up reply actions
True..
Definitely. But, when Ray isnt open and paul also can’t get a good spot, then they need to move the ball, confuse the defense, and look again for ray on another p&r or cutting w/o the ball. Someone will have a good look. I thought Paul was dribbling a little too much and our offense was all bunched together. It’s also pretty unfortunate that when Paul did get open, his shots were clanking off the front rim. Ray had the rhythm and I think with more ball movement we could have gotten it him on atleast 2 more possessions. Ce la vie!
by RedsBean on May 25, 2010 8:20 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
paul pierce tried to go hero down the stretch and the offensive movement stopped. very nervous
going back to orlando. you gotta think they will play one good game at home. afraid this one is going 6
by celticinorlando on May 24, 2010 11:48 PM EDT reply actions
Paul was gassed at end of regulation...tried to be a hero
It wasn`t our night…the ball never really bounced our way.
We missed some unbelievably makeable layups
and Paul, who was on fire otherwise, was 0 for 6 from beyond the arc. That killed.
I thought our floor execution was good, but they made shots and we missed shots.
compelling rebuke
I stand totally convinced of your rightness.
not true
Our offensive philosophy is to attack mismatches. The biggest mismatch on the floor was Pierce taking advantage of Nelson on the switch. They executed that play again and again to success all night. Just because they didn’t get it off at the end doesn’t mean it wasn’t a good play to execute.
They also generated numerous open looks at the hoop, including some easy layups that just plain missed. That doesn’t mean your offense isn’t being executed – it means the shots weren’t falling.
You also have to credit the Magic with playing good defense.
Rondo was stagnant tonight -- ball was not moving
I agree they tried to exploit the Paul/Jameer switch, but I think they went to it too much. Would much rather see the ball moving like it did the other night. And yes, the Magic played solid D and Howard had some huge blocks.
i would agree with that
Paul was pretty well gassed, probably should’ve gone elsewhere at certain points.
Rondo had the foul trouble and this nebulous “leg spasms” going against him; he definitely wasn’t as aggressive. I think credit goes to Nelson somewhat, in that he finally played with some aggressiveness and didn’t let Rondo do whatever he wanted.
totally agree!
“they made shots and we missed shots.” thats the difference in the stretch!
but i think they played less energy, no urgency to finsh Dwight and his annoying smile!
We started each quarter and the OT asleep
And, 19 TO !!!
oh yeah! and this is what im talking about..listen to DOC!
We didn’t play with great energy," Boston coach Doc Rivers said. "It was amazing how bad we were execution-wise and still had a chance to win the game.
Really bad call on the Glen Davis block.
That would have changed things
by ekianela on May 24, 2010 11:48 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, the replay showed it was clearly Nelson initiating the contact.
Should have been an offensive foul.
Plenty of people on the floor saw it. Frustrating that the refs didn’t. You are correct that that one play could have changed everything.
Pierce gets that call 110% of the time.
In fact, every offensive player who initiates contact gets the call 110% of the time.
We got a few lucky ones too
Orlando was just the better team tonight.
by TheOutletPass on May 25, 2010 12:34 AM EDT up reply actions
Yep just came in a big spot
What I liked is the team didn’t seem to get too hung up on the bad calls. Thought Orlando was better at playing through them (well except for Lewis) than they had been in the previous three games too.
I thought Orlando showed a lot of focus tonight
We hit them a few times and they stayed standing up. I was impressed.
They also seemed to have more emotional control than we did.
by TheOutletPass on May 25, 2010 12:43 AM EDT up reply actions
Re: emotional control
I can see that, now that I think back. Perhaps our guys were a little too eager to close it out.
I do agree the Magic showed something tonight, gotta give them credit. Honestly I thought they’d have this type of performance in game 3.
Props toDwight, Jameer and JJ, Rashard, eh, and ...
Boy were there some dog biscuit possessions when it counted in THIS game… Eye hopes we come out with better focus in game 5.
So exhausted watching the game.
Ugh.
"Winning is a habit. Unfortunately, so is losing." - Vince Lombardi
Horrible, stagnant offense all game
Which led to that pitiful isolation for Pierce at the end of regulation. Where was the TO. I don’t agree with not calling one. Get a real play. And, Rondo was nowhere to be seen all night. That reminded me of the regular season C’s.
oh - wait, you are talking at end of regulation.
yeah – they didn’t call Time Out because they already had the offensive play called.
and that did not work out too well
they should have called time out and set up a good play and not the iso ones since pierce missed a couple of makable shots, i prefer to see ray allen off two screens and a pull up J for the last shot
PP tried too hard.
No ball movement when the game was on the line
hope the celtics have something left for the next game.i think a loss will help them in the long run but
i am seeing flashes of being up 3-2 last season….
by celticinorlando on May 24, 2010 11:49 PM EDT reply actions
I'm seeing those same flashes.
They’re giving me a headache. Make them go away!
Well if you talk about T's hurting us
might as well blame KG……
by frizzle1991 on May 24, 2010 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions
though in each case, an argument can be made that they didn't deserve it
especially KGs. That T has to get rescinded on review. Didn’t actually do anything to warrant a T. Howard elbowed him in the face and KG slapped his arms away. The refs only saw his response and through the T, but on review that probably gets rescinded.
I thought Barnes should've got a tech
It was pretty obvious he was trying to instigate KG into doing something stupid. He’s such a punk.
Anyway I doubt they’ll rescind it.
true point about Barnes and you are probably right about rescintion
but Doc will definitely appeal it.
Dwight keeps letting his elbows go
and there’s no retaliation? WTF. I hope he gets cracked upside the head before the series is over and then gets a T called on him. Then we call stand there and clap at the bad call just like he did.
Somebody tag that guy, please.
magic going to be confident now. going to be a tough road
by celticinorlando on May 24, 2010 11:50 PM EDT reply actions
Lame
C’s played like they were up 3-0 and knew the series is over. Disappointing not to finish the kill.
is there something wrong with Rajon? i think he's hurt!
he is not RONDO tonight!
howard was killing him on the pick and rolls with nelson...just hip checking him
by celticinorlando on May 24, 2010 11:52 PM EDT up reply actions
Well, he got into early foul trouble and that didn't help.
but he also played gun-shy. Some of his layup moves he clearly shied and took harder shots than normal. Credit Howard with playing better in the post to prevent those moves.
did you guys heard when he left early i think before the end of 1st or 2nd
he got some treatment , i forgot the exact words by the floor reporter, i hope Jeff can get a news about that! he didnt attack the basket, he hesitated most of the time instead of attacking he will stop in the ft line and just pass the ball. that for me is not Rondo!
They said he left early before halftime due to leg spasms. Tommy said post-game that he wasn’t 100%. Sure didn’t look like he was.
here it is
Rondo was suffering from muscle spasms and left the court to stretch out, Celtics spokesman Jeff Twiss said.
i saw about 5-6 times in which he should have pushed the ball and gone to the hoop
but he was tentative and tried hard to create for others, sometimes that’s good but if an opportunity is there on the break i say go for it
Bad Celtics and Bad Sheed showed up tonight
Maybe too much talk of the Finals and the Lakers too soon in the past two days. Looks like both Perkins and Rondo were hurt. That makes me worry.
I ddefinitely thing Rondo got hurt
He was ordinary tonight and really did not run the offense
yeah thats it! "leg spasms"
i hope it wont carry over to the next game! it surely bothered him! i understand Dwight did good tonight but THAT IS NOT RONDO!
yup the whole team i thought didnt have urgency to finish this team!
maybe on their on court?!? to embarrass Dwight!? i hope so! i still think Paul is mad with Howard! ill bet Paul will embarrass them on wed!
well, while I thought BBD had a very good game overall
he did have a couple of goofs. He tossed a ball away once on a very ill-advised pass and at the end there should not have intercepted that pass in front of Ray – Ray was supposed to take that shot at the end. Also, BBD got beat badly in the post by Howard several times. Still, overall I think Davis played extremely well.
Didn't like that last play
Even if Ray got it and nailed the three, there was going to be very little time left and I don’t think we had a timeout at that point (although I might be wrong).
For all the handwringing about the Pierce ISO to close the game, there’s been numerous times this year Rondo has held the ball waiting for the play to develop (I assume) and everything falls to pieces. That awful loss to the Knicks comes to mind.
lucky lucky back to back 3's by jameer
we never started playing to be honest, just didnt show up tonight
The last possession of regulation was one of the worst of the season
When Doc saw it going south he should have called timeout. He had plenty of time to do it.
Yeah
I thought they needed a timeout the second they corralled the rebound. Even letting the Magic set up their defense is okay, as the C’s obv. have plenty of options on offense. If you iso Pierce and they double, try and set a back screen for Ray and have Pierce hit him. And if they don’t double, let Pierce try and make the play. At least get him past the three-point line haha
Bad Tony also showed up tonight.
That meant TA couldn’t stay out there for more minutes, which didn’t help keep Paul, Ray & Rondo rested. Tony only logged 11 minutes. We need him to clock around 15 or more. But we can’t leave him out there if he’s making dumb mistakes like the steal attempt that turned into a wide-open 3.
@mmmmm this is what Doc said
“when we win its because we are veteran and when we lost, we are old”
just like ray or any player, you miss shots actually almost everybody except for the late 3’s of RAY! and they did good tonight beyond the arc
perkins rotated to try to block the shot....
pierce was the one out of position
unexcusable to allow jj redick to score 10 straight points in the 4th quarter to keep orlando in the game
by celticinorlando on May 24, 2010 11:53 PM EDT reply actions
Rondo never has great back to back games
remember when he has the monster triple double against the cavs, he stunk it up the next game, same tonight.
The Celtics go as Rondo go, guess he was due for a stinker
Cornered animals are the most dangerous!
by thirstyboots18 on May 24, 2010 11:56 PM EDT reply actions
Give Orlando credit...
They could of packed it in tonight …but did not.
They played hard and with great will to extend this series.
C’s looked out of sync tonight.
The defense was not as crisp as previous games and the offense was not smooth either.
Pierce had a solid effort tonight, but I think the C’s went to much to him in the 4th and fatigue caught up with him.
Well this playoff winning streak was nice while it lasted, but we all knew it was not going to last forever .
So lets get some rest and try to end this in game 5.
Too many hero shots
Baby was our best player tonight
ice cold for a good stretch... honestly what are u talking about?? he got cold in ot
how bout the dunk and three point play to get the game TIED!!!!!!! my god guys dont start making things up
In case you’ve missed it, dunks don’t win games — they’re worth 2 points just like any other basket. And after three god-awful shots, that dunk was pretty meaningless.
IT GOT EVERYBODY BACK INTO THE GAME.... WHAT ABOUT THE THREE POINT PLAY???
sorry for the caps starting to get a little annoyed at the overreacting going on here
It got everybody as much into the game as the Garnett technical. And posting in caps really doesn’t make your point any stronger.
Fact is, everyone wanted to be the hero today, and that’s not the way we play offense. The Magic tried to give us this one on a platter multiple time, and we refused to take it. Tough.
except that half the time on those drives he draws a foul
and the shooting percentages on a dunk are a hell of a lot higher than a 3 pt shot.
Are you kidding me?
generating 32 points on 25 FGA is great efficiency for a wing. In simplistic terms, if we could always score 1.28 pts per possession we’d be unstoppable.
Pierce in no way is to blame for this loss. In addition to the points, he grabbed 11 freakin’ rebounds – 9 of them defensive! That is a stud game.
The reason the ball went to Pierce’s hands at the end was very simple – all night our best matchup advantage was him taking advantage of the guard off the switch. In crunch time, you go to your best player matchup advantage. ‘Hero ball’ had nothing to do with it. That was Doc’s call all the way and it was the right one. Give credit to the Magic for defending it.
Just my opinion, but if Paul Pierce is taking 25 shots in a game
then it is unlikely the Celtics are going to lose most of those games. I love the guy, but this offense is not designed for him or anyone to be taking 25 shots. Those are Kobe/Lebron numbers that we just don’t see around these parts.
yeah i'm not buying the hero ball
They weren’t going to let Ray make every basket, and Rondo and KG didn’t want to shoot it. Paul got a couple of great looks he just missed them, he was obviously gassed.
It’s called “I don’t know how to set up a simple isolation play”. If you’re gonna go for the hero stuff, at least space the floor properly, and when they refuse to guard Rondo, give him the ball for a layup.
He certainly look like he hadn’t and that’s all I care about. One play can be the difference between a great team and the Atlanta Hawks.
and that shows the basketball intelligence that u just compared this team one win from the finals to the atlanta hawks.
a classic overreaction
Ran out of other arguments?
It’s ok though, if you haven’t gotten the point by now, you probably never will.
whats the point? they didnt execute one game??
it happens im not going to compare them to the atlanta hawks
Pierce blew that play, plain and simple
He should have called a timeout. It was one of the worst posessions of the year. There is no execuse for not getting a shot off in that situation. Other than that and a few forced shots in OT, Pierce was great tonight.
They did a good job harassing him all night
He really had to work for his points.
Not sure if we ran the offense through Paul because Rondo was ineffective or if the offense was ineffective because we ran it through Paul.
Terrible choice for the last play of the fourth. At least set it up from out of bounds – even if it is going to PP.
by TheOutletPass on May 25, 2010 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions
that's their play for better or worse
If Doc had called a timeout it would’ve been the same. THe difference might have been some spacing and movement off the ball. It was DOA as soon as ROndo gave up his dribble.
Apparently, they set up the play during the Magic timeout. However, the execution was so botched it was almost painful to watch: Rondo gave the ball to Pierce in the worst possible spot, Pierce failed to recognize that Nelson is refusing to guard Rondo, and to cap it all, he even failed to get off his usual fade-away-over-three-players 20-footer. PHAIL!
well i don’t disagree with any of that, but like i said i thought it was obvious once Rondo lost his dribble that the play was mucked up. Would’ve been nice if Doc had seen the same thing. (I still take Doc though.)
PP kept hogging the ball
When it was clear he was not getting it in.
Baby certainly was the best player in the game.
Ray was 5 for 7 in the game
He hit a big three to keep us in it at the end… We should’ve run some screens there to get him an open look, not go to the Paul ISO which has failed miserably 96% of this season.
Rondooooooo
i agree RJ but pierce carried the scoring for large stretches of the game..
and he made the two biggest plays in regulation.. i dont know how that can be disputed
I never disputed that. Simply saying that Ray should've gotten the ball there at the end of regulation
He was hot from behind the arc tonight and was heating up at the end there. The Paul ISO has not been working in our favor this season, 9 out of 10 times, I feel like it results in a TO. Not the best play to call there, just my opinion
Rondooooooo
agreed
all i am saying is pierce was great for most of the night
agree!
you just have to understand that not all the time when Paul or even Ray had a good look it will fall down!!!
It will never go in the hoop if a shot never gets taken
That just cannot happen. Honestly, someone has to get a shot off.
I've seen this movie before.
Just the other week, as a matter of fact. OT loss in a potentially clinching Game 4? Definitely rings a bell.
Stop pretending that Rondo was hurt btw. He was awful tonight and cost us the game with his passivity and tentativeness.
I specializes in grammar fail.
i saw this movie last season vs orlando
by celticinorlando on May 24, 2010 11:59 PM EDT up reply actions
R U SERIOUS???????
i mean ur really gonna start this crap…. its one game GUYS!!!!!!!!!
not starting anything. they made things more difficult by having to win a 3rd game in orlando
i just hope they dont start running out of gas like last season
by celticinorlando on May 25, 2010 12:01 AM EDT up reply actions
Yap...because they no different than the stinking media...
Where ever the wind blows…there goes a celtic fan swaying in complaints…give it up cry babies.
by Ol' Green Boyz on May 25, 2010 12:03 AM EDT up reply actions
I think it is going six
Not panicked though. However, the last thing this town needed was this loss tonight, given what happened to the Bruins (I know, I know, the Celtics are not the Bruins, but we still could have done without this loss). I think it is definitely going six now and I just hope the Celts are healthy.
yeah, six.
Magic will win in Orlando. Celts will take it back in Boston.
by LakersForDeuce on May 25, 2010 12:11 AM EDT up reply actions
ME 2 !!!
i want them to stretch it out a bit tho..
by CELTICZ4LIFE on May 25, 2010 12:09 AM EDT up reply actions
NO Worries let everyone talk junk!...WE ARE UP 3 TO 1...FORGET?
So let the talkers keep talking…Bad game from most of the squad…they’re human!
Pierce especially was acting like a ball hog…but hey that’s the way it goes sometimes…we finish it either way…They don’t deserve ato win the series if they give up a 3-1 lead. PERIOD.
by Ol' Green Boyz on May 24, 2010 11:59 PM EDT reply actions
your guys didn't play a bad game
The Magic just played better. Other than a couple of bricks at the end, how can you say Pierce played badly? Allen? KG?
by LakersForDeuce on May 25, 2010 12:10 AM EDT up reply actions
because all celtics fans do apparently is rag on the best player and said he did nothing tonight...
MAKES ZERO SENSE
Who are people ragging on?
Pierce blew that final posession. And, he had the ball too much in OT. Other than that, he was great tonight. Do you disagree that he blew the final posession in regulation?
vinnie i said he blew it but i believe it was due to spacing.. and people are saying he was ice cold for most of the game??
what game were they watching?
I didn´t say most of the game
I´ve aid a good stretch, mid 3rd until mid 4th quarter, if I recall correctly
A couple of bricks are the difference between a great team and just another good team. The Magic left it out there for the taking in regulation. The execution of that last play was disgraceful.
Not just one game
but a crucial geme, with the potential to be the series changer.
by getthat18now on May 25, 2010 12:44 AM EDT up reply actions
I'd be feeling pretty good, all things considered...
The Magic bumbled and stumbled in both games in Orlando, or you’re looking at 3-1 the other way, heading back on the road for a potential closeout game for them.
Okay, the Celtics look a little less invincible tonight.
If Howard and Nelson are on in Orlando, then things get interesting if it goes back to Boston for game six.
by LakersForDeuce on May 25, 2010 1:33 AM EDT up reply actions
I would argue that Rondo played a bad game and Perk was not himself tonight and Sheed was bad and Tony was bad
Pierce did not play poorly tonight. However, he was dead tired at the end of the game and in overtime, and his iso stuff was absolutely not going to work. I put that on Doc.
well, he was the most 'effective' on the floor
but really, he is pretty dirty player when you get down to it. Unbelievable how many times he wacked people with his elbows.
Howard dominated alot of stretches when ....
Baby was defending him…
He should of had Perk and Rasheed defending him more often tonight.
Baby was playing a good game and I know Doc wanted him on the floor, but play him at the power forward position and not the center position if that is the case.
It sounds kind of funny since Kevin Garnett is on the Celtics.
That guy must seem like he invented the loose elbow to Dwight’s generation.
In Bayless I trust.
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Sure. And he got suspended for an identical situation in the Miami series. Of course, “Dwight’s generation” is all the rage these days, so I fully expect the league to do nothing.
Fair enough.
(your opinion, not the league actions)
In Bayless I trust.
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Rondo lays and egg
and the Celtics lose. It’s as simple as that.
100 percent correct
This team is now so dependent on Rondo, that if he lays an egg, they are probably going to lose.
He doesn't have to be perfect, just play his game
He did not do it tonight either because he was injured or simply because he had a bad game. Perfection is not required
the celtics need this to stay focused and bring them back to earth
the magic is still a formidable team but hopefully the celtics will be able to watch tape of this game and go back to the crisp defensive rotations and hard fouls whenever howard is down low, and i say more open looks for ray allen!
i hope they use this as a wake up call
by celticinorlando on May 25, 2010 12:05 AM EDT reply actions
not the worst thing in the world
law of averages says it would be hard for them to win out the rest of the playoffs. now they’ve got their loss out of the way. time to wake up (ahem Rondo) and start winning again.
Why is Perk the only guy who gets called for illegal screens?
Most of the screens set by Howard and KG are moving, yet they are never called. This is where the league officiating is a joke. Howard was moving his butt into guys all night long and they never called it.
ditto the one they called on Sheed
that one was so obviously a capricious screw-you call by Foster just because Sheed argued the earlier T.
100 percent agree
This might have been the worst call of the night
it's just the star system
they gave the token screening foul to Gortat. Sheed never would’ve gotten his moving pick foul if he hadn’t blown his top.
90% of the screens set in the league are moving screens.
they don’t call it too often, but players get a reputation for setting them, and officials watch those players more closely
That, and when you have Garnett on your team, who gets away with a moving screen on every possession, someone has to pay the bill.
by kozlodoev on May 25, 2010 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
we were due for a loss anyway
i wouldn’t worry about it. it’s positive tension keeping celts on their toes. their heads get too big anyway
does the league watch replays?
suspensions? hmmm i guess not, they probably don’t have NBA league pass to watch replays
Hopefully the elbow to KG's face will be reviewed
But nothing will happen to Dwight because it was inadvertant. However, he still was by far the best player on the floor tonight and dominated the Celtics front court.
celtics in 5!
no back to back losses so far so yeah they’ll be pumped up for game 5 and hopefully Rondo will go back to Rondoing the magic and lights out for allen
GD Pierce Iso
Doc/Rondo need to realize when it’s working and when it’s not. Pierce was clearly gassed in OT, yet the ball continued to die in his hands every possession. Perk, BOX OUT HOWARD and stop making him look good. KG, TAKE THE SHOT. Rondo, don’t be invisible. Very disappointing, only because Ray did everything he could and they still couldn’t close the door.
Dwight should be suspended for the elbow he throw to kg
will he get suspended, probably not
They both were unintentional and he won't be suspended
by vinnie on May 25, 2010 12:12 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Nah, he saw KG
On the second one at least. Lois Lane is bush league.
@vinnie did you see the replays?
wow! so what now, you will call that a “good playoffs foul”? how about the throw down on Perk?
a dirty player with a mask
On the Perk play, Howard grabbed Perk's shirt to avoid falling down himself
Look, I despise the guy, but I don’t think he intentionally tried to hurt anyone tonight.
Why? Because he wears a smile on his face?
If it isn’t his intent, then the guy is dangerously reckless – and probably because he doesn’t get called on it. Like most children, if you don’t enforce the boundaries, they won’t stay within them.
The fact is that in this series Howard has wacked people in the head now at least a half dozen times. And the letter of the rule says nothing about intent.
he grabbed Perk shirt to avoid falling down? he was throwing PERK!
WTH???? or are you just starting again vinnie never mind. i know you man
You saw what you saw and I saw what I saw
Howard is a punk, but he is a really good player when he is on
I don’t think Howard tries to elbow people in the head…he just does it. A lot. If you’re going to be reckless, you might as well be intentional.
I had to laugh when Jeff Van Gundy said Dwight gets hit in the head more than anyone. It’s the old poor big guy/Shaq gets clobbered defense.
OMG! i dont know what the hell is wrong with your eyes man!
i got nothing to say. just wow! for you guys!!!
not sure you got me
i’m basically saying he’s so out of control, it might as well be intentional. i think it’s pretty bad he gets away with it so much. if a guy like Perkins hit people in the head as much, he’d get tossed from games. Of this I’m convinced.
i get what you are saying
what im trying to point out is those elbows he was throwing! if he did it to KG when Kevin is still young he will get back to Howard and throw some! Perk never did that! and one thing is Howard playing nice guy when he’s a dirty player! throwing elbows at times is human instinct especially when you did it to retaliate!
he was desperate to win one! but im telling you just one! just to save his face! i say get TA do the dirty job! im sure Sheed will love it!
Kevin Garnett throw with a big guy?
Garnett is famous for running away from fights with big guys!
He only throws down on smaller guys.
In Bayless I trust.
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did i tell you guys Dwight is a dirty player?
i dont know how you will still call it a “playoff foul”
he’s two-faced man! he wants to perceive as a nice guy!
but in the court you saw the elbows to KG? throwing down Perks?
i say he has a mask, why he has to play a nice guy when he’s a young annoying punk!
D12 is the classic Wolf -in- Sheep clothing...
by Ol' Green Boyz on May 25, 2010 12:27 AM EDT up reply actions
i despise the guy man! maybe he's still young, immature?
whatever. i thought my LBJ annoys me more than any player in this league but Howard is totally different! though i must say and i understand he did pretty good tonight! very effective! but still a dirty player!
Paul running the game clock down in iso...
Nothing good happens when he`s 10 feet beyond the arc…4 seconds on the clock…and he STILL hasn`t started his move!
Too late!
Agree Title18
Pierce lets to much time run off the clock, because if his offensive move hits a defensive resistance or breaks down, their is no time on the clock for him to contemplate a plan B offensive move.
why no timeout doc?
we get our stop and with 14-15 seconds left, doc elects to let them play it out…which leads to a classic pierce over dribble into a turnover….i blame doc, we could have swept ’em with a well drawn out play for Jesus to save us.
Believe in 18.
Well said
I’d love to know who’s calling the Pierce isos over and over and over again. Is it Doc? Rondo? Pierce demanding the ball? No matter what, Doc has to adjust when he sees it’s not working. The possession at the end of regulation was a joke, as was the offense in OT. A very winnable game pissed away that I’m afraid will come back to haunt us.
I hope PP did not call the botched iso himself
He and Doc ought to realize and accept the fact that the days this play works repeatedly are long gone.
by getthat18now on May 25, 2010 12:30 AM EDT up reply actions
Doc
Doc was calling it because it was working all night.
The play was to catch the guard (usually Nelson) covering Pierce on the switch. This has worked all series and worked most of tonight. It was our best player matchup advantage on the floor. It makes perfect sense to keep going to that well until they stop you and in the end it was still the right call even if we didn’t execute it perfectly or they finally defended it better.
Again -- To not get a shot off is unaccceptable
How often do you see that happen when a team has the ball with 15 seconds left and does noteven get a look at the rim, never mind a shot? I am sure it happens on the rare occasion, but it is really unfortunate it happened tonight. That’s all.
I don't have a problem with PP taking the shot
I just wish they’d have set it up with a timeout.
by TheOutletPass on May 25, 2010 1:00 AM EDT up reply actions
as you said above - its rare but it happens.
You can call the right play. Then you have to execute it. And even if you execute it, the other team may still defend it well enough to disrupt it.
Failure to execute it or the defense rising to the occasion doesn’t mean it was the wrong call.
And failure to execute on that one play isn’t necessarily a referendum on the game. There is too much focus on this thread on the one play. There were numerous other plays throughout regulation that could have worked out differently too – and they would have swung the game.
Rondo just wasn't himself
He didn’t draw very many fouls, maybe because of dwight, maybe because of foul trouble or maybe his shoes weren’t good. Anyways….. He needs to have a much better impact on the offensive end in game 5.
Another concern, their bench owned our bench (minus BBD they had only had 6 points)
by mm mm toasty on May 25, 2010 12:28 AM EDT via mobile reply actions
The crowd is not thinking that specifically
They’re just reacting to the shot.
by TheOutletPass on May 25, 2010 12:32 AM EDT up reply actions
Because it's so fun to see his reaction
Unfortunately we never got to see it tonight
by mm mm toasty on May 25, 2010 12:32 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Because it's so fun to see his reaction
Unfortunately we never got to see it tonight
by mm mm toasty on May 25, 2010 12:32 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Sheed is good at making 3's?
Maybe in other seasons, but certainly not this year
+1
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by bestbostonsports on May 25, 2010 12:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Paul Pierce carried the load on offense tonight
But, he needed 25 shot attempts to score 32 points. In my opinion, if Paul Pierce is taking 25 shots in a game, this team is not going to win.
not much ball movement unlike the offense in game 3
where 5-6 celtics scored in double digits and none had over 20, when that’s the kind of offense we go to that is simply very hard to defend, set more screens and less iso plays and more ball movement it’s much better that way and yeah the D is not so crisp as it was in game 3
Doc doesn't share your opinion.
Doc said specifically going into this series that he wanted Paul to get around 24 shots per game and that he thought that was critical for us to win.
I’m sorry, but I think I’ll trust Doc’s opinion on this.
How many games has Pierce taken 25 shots this year?
I bet 5-6 at the most. Just not Celtics basketball, even if Doc says so.
Let me add that in the first 3 games, Pierce took a total of 36 shots and the Celts won all three
Tonight he took 25 and they lost.
but in large part that's because that's what the defense was giving us
They were determined to pickup Ray on his screens to keep him covered and take him out of the play. Rondo was listless tonight. And KG was not shooting well. Pierce was the only one with an obvious matchup advantage and was exploiting it consistently. KG was 5 of 12. Rondo was 3 of 10.
You keep harping on the 25 shots. Well 6 of those were the 6 he missed from 3 PT land. Yes, those sucked and that was my first comment after the game (that if he just made one or two of those …).
But those have nothing to do with the play in question. Inside the arc, he was 11 of 19. PLUS he generated 13 FTAs of which he made 10. 32 pts. Almost all through exploiting that same play.
“OOOOH”, you say. Suddenly it is obvious how efficient Pierce was in taking advantage of that matchup.
Celtics=Bruins????
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by bestbostonsports on May 25, 2010 12:43 AM EDT reply actions
hope youre right
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by bestbostonsports on May 25, 2010 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions
I hope not but Im paranoid now
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by bestbostonsports on May 25, 2010 12:45 AM EDT up reply actions
I reeeeeaaaaaallly don't want to make history in this series
by mm mm toasty on May 25, 2010 12:47 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
It cant happen twice, right? RIGHT?
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by bestbostonsports on May 25, 2010 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions
I feel reassured
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by bestbostonsports on May 25, 2010 12:57 AM EDT up reply actions
common now!
here we go again!!! you guys still love to overreact! after all the games they played? same thinking.. oh well this is not new anymore. theres tons of guys like you here!
Don't worry
I have celtics in 6
by mm mm toasty on May 25, 2010 12:55 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
6?
well to be honest i had them in 6 as well before the start of the series but when i saw how they play the first 2! i really thought we will sweep the sweepers! but i think Paul is still mad and he wants to embarrass D12 in their home!
The crowd will be brutal on him.
But I still think that they have a good chance of taking it in 5.
It's gonna be a close game
So it’s all up to rondo to be able to take over in the end
by mm mm toasty on May 25, 2010 9:36 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Dude I am the biggest honer around, I just don’t like what I saw
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by bestbostonsports on May 25, 2010 12:55 AM EDT up reply actions
Homer
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by bestbostonsports on May 25, 2010 12:56 AM EDT up reply actions
Alright I admit it
That was a major overreaction… Sorry
by mm mm toasty on May 25, 2010 12:58 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
No way.
The city can’t take two heart breakers in a row in the same month.
by getthat18now on May 25, 2010 12:48 AM EDT up reply actions
I think I already have brain damage hitting my head off things after the Bruins loss.
I dont need no more
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by bestbostonsports on May 25, 2010 12:49 AM EDT up reply actions
Like KG said "It's like comparing apples to oranges."@bbs
by Ol' Green Boyz on May 25, 2010 12:45 AM EDT reply actions
I know but I have this tendency to over-react
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by bestbostonsports on May 25, 2010 12:46 AM EDT up reply actions
For whatever reason, the Celtics felt they needed to remind us
… that they can still suck. Badly. Almost every flaw we saw during the regular season came back tonight.
Well, except Rondo. Something was wrong with Rondo right from tipoff. Fatigue? Overconfidence? Illness? The knowledge that they were gonna blow this game anyway? Who knows. Maybe we’ll hear something someday. Doubt it.
Paul was great… but he’s not as great as he thinks he is. Is he EVER going to realize that? Or is he gonna retire thinking he’s still a superstar? Who knows.
And the Magic gave it their all. Give em credit, for sure.
Btw… teams do come back from 1-3. That 0-3 is gone, along with the statistics that came with it. We are where we are… and NOTHING is granted.
I always wonder after these kinds of nausea-inducing games whether $ had something to do with it. First the Lakers, then the Celtics. Both playing lousy just when they could have closed it out in 4. Hmm. Who knows. Not us. We’ll probably never know. All I know is that for the past two nights, there was gonna be a lot of money left on everybody’s table with a sweep.
Ok… enough spewing. They’ll close it out….. soon.
it was very close! and our guys had a bad shooting night! you are just overreacting!
im telling i broke my Remote Control when Paul brick those treys! thank god my mobile is out of my hand that time.lol
Exactly. Sheesh - if we make just a couple of easy shots that we missed
or if the Magic don’t make one or two of those hail-mary 3s, the series is over.
Statistically, winning 7 in a row in the playoffs might have been a bit greedy.
Let’s start another streak. 5 would be nice.
True - but on the other hand, the Celtics shot poorly in game 1 as well.
The point is mainly that it wasn’t like we got blown out. We simply lost a close one and it was well within reach.
@mmmmm
why is that it feels like we are the only one(most of the time) have totally the same opinions? are you my long lost brother? or are they just..i dont know whats wrong with them..
your’e not my stalker right?
Let's not overstate this...
They played badly and nearly won anyway. And Orlando just flat out took the game at the end, when, I think, Boston was really tired. I expect a much better effort on Wednesday.
The conspiracy stuff is ludicrous, as usual.
by TheOutletPass on May 25, 2010 12:54 AM EDT up reply actions
I do not know
KG throws the ball away. Rondo walking around like he knows they’re gonna lose. There is ZERO evidence that both the Lakers and Celtics lost on purpose. Zero. But it is a strange coincidence. Two unusual, atypical games from both leaders, just as they were about to sweep. It is what it is. I don’t know.
These things happen in basketball
Conspiracy theories are almost inevitably ridiculous. This one included.
by TheOutletPass on May 25, 2010 1:02 AM EDT up reply actions
In the NBA conspiracy theories are seemingly inevitable, period.
Unfortunately. When Stern steps down my hope is we see this…I want to call it a stigma…die out.
That would be wonderful
It’s so wearying.
by TheOutletPass on May 25, 2010 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Wait... lemme enjoy this absurdity
… OutletPass is arguing with me saying the Celtics are NOT as bad as I say they are?!?!?? Lol. Are we in bizzaro world?
No kidding, huh?
I’m not worried. But I will be if they lose game 5.
by TheOutletPass on May 25, 2010 1:04 AM EDT up reply actions
I'm just hoping that the dream
…hasn’t started turning into a nightmare. NO reason to think so… except that’s how it happens when it happens. One game at a time.
I’m in a rotten mood.
You're entitled
The guys played badly. But they played a LOT worse in game three vs. Cleveland. And things turned out pretty well after that.
by TheOutletPass on May 25, 2010 1:07 AM EDT up reply actions
I am not worried about how the series will turn out. Ultimately, we’ll reap what we saw, and that’s going to be it.
What is maddening is that as poor as we played, we had a chance to land the coup de grace, and we failed to even throw a punch!
@DRJ1
just think how bad are energy tonight, bad shooting night! rondo has “leg spasms”, no urgency!!!; Howard, Nelson, even Lewis! got a good game and yet the game was still very close!
go figure!
Orlando got nothing from 5 players:
Vince, Williams, Pietrus, Bass, Gortat.
Combined for 6 points in 71 total minutes.
Pietrus was averaging 10 points in about 18 minutes a game in the first two rounds.
I think he might have 10 points total through 4 games this series.
Pfft
So the Celtics had a bad game this series. It happens. It’s not like they got blown out like in Game 3 vs Cleveland. They practically had a chance to win until the very end of OT. A loss is a loss, but that’s amazing considering how horrible they played.
And again, bad games happen; I don’t know why you “always wonder” if $ had something to do with them when they happen. It’s not like sweeps haven’t always happened, no matter how likely they were to.
Besides, if you ask Laker fans, the refs handed Suns Game 3. : P
Good point Tai
The way they played, I don’t know HOW they were that close at the end. Well… I do know. Ray Allen.
Can't believe I'm reading this, DRJ1
What a load of….
Our team does not SUCK! You hereby lose all credibility, if you havn’t already
Btw… teams do come back from 1-3. That 0-3 is gone, along with the statistics that came with it. We are where we are… and NOTHING is granted.
Statistics is a funny science, isn’t it? :)
ExaExactly
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by bestbostonsports on May 25, 2010 12:54 AM EDT up reply actions
It's just silliness.
What’s the w-l % for team’s down 3-0? I’ll bet it wasn’t zero. Ah yes, here it is:
http://www.whowins.com/tables/up30.html
In 88 NBA series, at 3-0, the losing team managed to win Game Four 35 times (.398). But they lost the series 88 times.
In 189 NBA series at 3-1, the losing team managed to win Game Five 77 times (.407). But they lost the series 181 times.
By now you should know there's a conspiracy
Stern is making sure Lebron and the Cavs reach the finals.
by TheOutletPass on May 25, 2010 1:12 AM EDT up reply actions
Actually this is true
They’ve genetically spliced LeBron’s elbow into Dwight’s…hence the dead LeElbow and the unfoulable (LBJ 1 a game style) Dwight-Bow.
Stern is a goddamn evil genius
Of that, there’s no doubt.
by TheOutletPass on May 25, 2010 1:18 AM EDT up reply actions
To play devil's advocate, and for the record
Do you consider it IMPOSSIBLE, or effectively so, that, when MANY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS are at stake — in ticket and television revenues — for SEVERAL huge enterprises (TV networks, NBA, Celtics, Lakers, Magic, internet, radio, etc., etc.) — the parties involved might get together and decide to add one more game to the series?
Is that impossible in your understanding? Asking everyone.
If yes…. I wonder how you can be so certain. What information do you have that makes you certain? I have none. I don’t think any of us has any. The motive was CERTAINLY there. The performances of two elite teams, on two nights in a row, was remarkably bad compared to their just-prior performances. Rondo walked around like he couldn’t care less…. after DIVING ON THE FLOOR for a loose ball when they were almost 20 points up the night before. KG throws a ball right out of bounds. Etc., etc.
How do you know it’s impossible?
What kind of odds would you consider reasonable for this theory?
I’d say it’s possible. And I’d say the likelihood of it actually being true is maybe 0.01%.
We’re good?
by TheOutletPass on May 25, 2010 1:27 AM EDT up reply actions
Whoops.
Actually meant 0.001%. Just to be specific.
by TheOutletPass on May 25, 2010 1:30 AM EDT up reply actions
:)
Nope. There’s so little hard info, I can’t even hazard a % guess. The confluence of suspicious events and powerful motivation…. makes me think it’s not negligible. That’s about all I can say about the probabilities……not negligible.
The problem with the way you look at these things
Is you think entirely unsuspicious events are suspicious.
Boston came out relaxed with a big 3-0 series lead (very much in keeping with both human nature and the worst qualities of this team), they had their best guy land in foul trouble and fight leg spasms and still came very close to winning with some big plays and shots down the stretch. Orlando played hard defense and stayed tough down the stretch and prevailed.
Nothing suspicious about any of that.
by TheOutletPass on May 25, 2010 1:41 AM EDT up reply actions
You're right
Not necessarily suspicious. Not even 2 teams 2 nights in a row.
But we'll probably never know
… so it’s silly filler. Hmm…. but there was a lot of money on that table…… a lot of money.
Over and out.
Looking at it from the pessimist's POV
The probability that the Celtics will lose this series – based solely on historical data – just went up INFINITY%. From 0% to 4.2%.
:))
Too many iso, too many 1-on-1, too many TO
Why couldn’t they play the game 3 offense again? I don’t think the Magic has figured out how to defend that yet.
Too many people wanted to be THE hero?
I thought that the only person who stuck with what he usually does was Ray Allen. Unsurprisingly, he had the best night of the lot, offensively.
i dont know even ray didnt ran to get open like what he normally does!
i just didnt see the urgency to finsh the magic tonight! but ray got good looks and gave us some hope.
the only person who didn't want to be the hero was the one that should have gone hell for leather
and that is Rondo! but running around with spasms is not that good, hopefully he will be back to his usual self and keep on Rondo-ing the magic, he only got 8 assists tonight, a bit below than what we have grown accustomed to
the league wont do anything about howards flagrant fouls against PP and now KG
Someone is going to get hurt, he is a big hgh boy with lots of power and he is out to mame some one, will the league stand up. THe way he twisted Perk after the foul under the basket could have easily caused an injury upon landing and what he did to PP and now KG were beyond in the flow of the game and more flagrant with the intent to injure.
I think the Celtics need to take it in their own hands and whack him and whack him harder than what he did to PP
Perk is lucky (the player not the cblog member)
if it was his bad shoulder that twisted like that, he might have spearated it again.
So agree, perk
I, Too, am worried about serious injuries to our players from Howard’s elbow. it’s out of control and for some strange reason, he’s allowed to not control it. Why? That’s my biggest question. I’m glad you brought it up.
can someone make a post here NOT TO TRADE RAY!
and lets send a letter to DA!
i really do think RAY is perfect for this Celtic team’s offense. and think about if Lebron will get paired with RAY! Celtics will wait another 10+ years to win another banner!
Ray is a free agent after this season.
The only way we trade him is if we sign him first.
I expect we will sign and keep him for 2 years.
here you go again mmmmm
i love your loyalty to Ray as ray’s loyalty to this organization! and he proven himself not just a young athletic player can replace him in the rotation! it will bust the Celtics chemistry big time!!!
defense, offense, he even out ran WADE! ha! take that! i just dont get peeps here they want to trade ray for a young player. maybe if its like BOSH and the like! then i can agree but for just young athletic young player?!? you dont watch the game carefully!
Guys the C's is a Road Team!
they like it better on other team’s arena =) so yeah Celtics in 5!
The Bruins were a road team, too...
I specializes in grammar fail.
by a tommy point on May 25, 2010 2:01 AM EDT up reply actions
I don't play hockey so I don't care about the analogy with the bruins =)
and take out the B and it spells Ruins, C’s in 5!
Maybe if fans would stop yelling DE-FENSE
… that would change. Fat chance.
http://www.celticsblog.com/2010/5/25/1486308/celtics-worse-at-home-vs-road
dissapointing
i was hoping that that the celtics are gonna sweep the magic., rondo was not himself., sheed T.A are not themselves., wat can i say??? :(
It was just a bad night
Like what Doc said everybody wanted to win and tried to do it alone. The Celtics are a team they should do it together.
I think this was slightly a good thing for the Celtics, this is an adversity we have to overcome.
Go Celtics!
gie+Rondo4MVP
We missed a golden opportunity
We just let the best chance to close out the series slip thru our hands. Right there, at the end, the game was there for the taking. We had 16 second to win it and we could not even get off a decent shot. PP went on an iso, and the rest is history,
That last play reminds me of the last play of the first half of Game 3. PP got the rebound with around 10 sec left, instead of giving the ball to Rondo to start something, he waved (or pushed) off Rondo, dribbled upcourt and put up a bad shot to end the half. PP is just too willing to take the last shot.
Got to Believe in "Orlando's Magic"?
Seemed like Orlando played without any pressure at all in Game 4. Maybe Orlando applied some “Magic” in its game. But still, Boston has an imposing 3-1 lead in the series. Could be the end in Game 5?
http://richavady.com/2010/05/25/orlandos-fave-song-got-to-believe-in-magic/
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