Back to Back Blues, or How Doc Checked Out Early and So Did I

Erden? Luke? Pierce with Quis at the 3?

Wow that was UGLY. Guess playing on a back to back was too much for the Celtics older players to muster much of an effort tonight. Celtics came out slow, lethargic and unwilling to play defense or run the offense. This game was effectively over after the 1st quarter which was disappointing to see. The C’s only managed to cut the lead into single digits once in the second half and never gave any indication of making a comeback. Scoring 71 points against a terrible defensive team is inexcusable.

KG won’t be suspended.

Down to nine points and had momentum…

Then somehow 4 techs to 1??? After what should have been a no call on KG!

How didn’t Gortat get a tech in that? How did KG get 2?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, the Celts played awful, but the refs were worse! And by tossing Doc and that last parade to the free throw line with awful biased T calling, gave the game to the Suns.

And before you get into the usual rounds of Nate hate… he was up in all the Suns faces, ready. I think it’s good to have someone with that energy. Let’s just hope his shooting % can begin to match his intensity again!

Not worried about this game, just one of those games of being on a back to back, every one on a verge of injury, team looking ahead to sunday. I think Sunday will be like the Spurs game and we’ll play our best.

Rondo was terrible again tonight, not sure where he has been the last couple games - can’t use fatigue as an excuse as he is plenty young enough to play big minutes. He had more turnovers than assists for the 2nd straight game which is pitiful. His play on both ends the last 2 games is not what the C’s expect from their elite PG.

As for tonight, embarrassing. So sick of hearing the back to back crying. While i know the whole team was bad, rondo is really struggling. And if he plays poorly it is difficult for this team to win. I think Rondo is hurt.

Lakers lost tonight at home to the Kings…. Sunday should be interesting

I’m sure the fatigue played a huge factor to the loss

WIth Rondo struggling the Celtics offense has started to falter in recent games.

The offense has really struggled recently – in the 2nd half against the Wizards, last night against Portland and again tonight in Phoenix. The Celtics are now regularly struggling to score 80 points against less than stellar defensive teams which is a huge concern.

our shots were just not falling at all! open shots we normally couldn’t find the hole. This loss is about being tired, which Doc said we would be.

During the mini run in the 4th, the Phoenix crowd was LOUDLY chanting “Let’s go Celtics!”

And even more surprising: Booing Steve Nash LOUDLY while he was shooting those unwarranted free throws.

of techs while only channing frye is the only sun who gets one. At least the lakers lost.

Enough of the pump layups or whatever he does under the basket. Its so low percentage.

so I didn’t want the Lakers to lose tonight. But the way the Cs lost, maybe it’ll motivate us more for the win.

Due to the Celtics playing back to back nights and on the road to me Doc made a bad decision by having Lawrence Frank play the starters for almost the entire 3rd quarter. this was a game where the bench should have come out to start the 2nd half, and if they made a run then consider putting the starters back in.

However the starters played big minutes in the 3rd quarter and never got the lead under 10. Only once in the 2nd half did they cut it to 9 so it seems the C’s would have been smarter to rest the starters in the second half instead of having them expend so much energy and not even really get back in the game

I love the smell of hypocrisy in the morning

Well hopefully things will get back to the real issues - which is primarily the offense. The Celtics are the most efficient offensive team in the NBA and have failed to break 90 points in 3 of the last 4 games. To have a half like against the Wizards then barely breaking 70 tonight against a bad defensive team shows the offensive woes may start to become a real concern instead of just a fluke

If KG gets all ball.

Ray missing FTs, Pierce missing layups when driving to the basket, Rondo turning the ball over and giving horrible passes, Shaq with 2 fouls in the first 2 minutes, Doc and KG ejected, Nate not being able to hit ANYTHING (well, he’s been like that for the past month), and for god´s sake…GORTAT HITTING A THREE!!!

We just need to look ahead to the next one, and FORGET this ridiculous night.

As mentioned earlier, the Cs got in at 4am. If they slept at all, it would have been at around 5am at best. That’s 7am-8am for them, approx the time their bodies normally expect TO WAKE UP. A few hours later, they’re expected to play an NBA game. Really?!?

Nonsense. This scheduling was ridiculous from the start. The refs made it worse with their TERRIBLE officiating — terrible right from the start of Quarter 1, from which it continued to get worse and worse

A game like this is a silly waste of time. If I had been the coach after KG went out, I would have given serious consideration to refusing to play and just forfeiting the game (if that’s possible). If not possible, I’d have done what Frank did… quit trying, put in the bench and walk to the end.

The Lakers game will be interesting, since both teams will be coming off a loss. However, the Cs have (extremely) good reason, while the Lakers… not so much. Should be fun. This Suns game deserves to disappear from our memories.

KG’s tap hit Frye in the lower abdomen, just above the groin area. I know this two ways: (1) Replays show where the blow lands, and it’s just ABOVE the genitals, and (2) had Frye been hit in the genitals, there would have been no way for him to jump up and show ZERO signs of pain 1 second later.

Frye was shocked at the closeness of the hit, and that’s why he reacted the way he did. KG meant to push him a little, as is so often done in play, but in that split-second motion, KG ended up making contact lower than he intended. It was a foul, for sure, but that’s ALL it was. Going from that to multiple Ts on the Cs and a KG ejection was just more ridiculous referee malfeasance.

Imho if you are a true fan we all should be writing to the NBA office about this…..Why aren’t the Celtic players afforded the same protection all the other players are on a game by game basis. These plays are common as Doc said….if you don’t police the game, the players will and this is what you get.If you keep fouling me and I get no call and I can’t breath on you,believe me,I’m gonna take it into my own hands on the court. That’s what happened last night. 2 nights in a row teams have used the the “soft” story to get away with mugging the C’s.with no calls against them and it’s gotta stop. They do it because
they think well we’re only gonna see them twice a year and can get away with it. The C’s are
policing the floor and I for one back them 100%.

he tried to do way too much and his defense on the pick and roll- just awful. how can we not be prepared to defend steve nash and the pick and roll. both nate and rondo were horrible at it as were our bigs. semih was beyond pathetic

The refs hit Frye; not KG

This game was over in the first half, I’m surprised the started weren’t pulled for the second half. Liked the C’s grit down the stretch though as well as are willingness to step up and fight( literally) for teamates and bad calls. Thank you Doc and Garnett!

They were tired. Open shots were flat, even layups. Nash tortured Rondo on offense which is rare. Hope they get some rest tonight.

Don’t say this is just another game, a meaningless game. We need HCA especially in the east, we need to win as many games as possible. I think Rondo should drive more to the basket and try to score more, assist are good but seems like he worries more to get an assist than score points when possible. Common C’s this is the year to get title 18, next year who knows?

trade everybody

knee

jerk,