Celtics Need Stronger Finishes

by TLayman on Jan 31, 2012 10:01 AM EST in Boston Celtics News & Links

Paul Pierce showed a little frustration during postgame interviews following the collapse against Cleveland, and another Celtics future Hall of Famer gave his two cents on what happened during the stretch of bad basketball.

Ray Allen had some interesting things to say — not juicy or controversial by any means — in Frank Dell'Apa's piece in the Boston Globe today.

"They picked up momentum,’’ Ray Allen said of the Cavaliers. "But it was tricky. There was a point where, when I came back in and it was maybe a 3-point lead [74-71] and we stretched it, got to 11.

"So there was an idea in my mind, at some point, we keep stretching this, Kevin and Paul can rest on the bench. You see that, so Doc, he’s going to hold them. At some point, if we can take it up to 17, hopefully, put in some guys who haven’t played a lot. That’s happened, in a lot of situations. So, it’s a fine line. You’re looking at the clock and by that time they gained momentum and you got to put Paul back in and it’s a little too late.

"I believe that [Rivers] is still trying to understand rotations on this team, who’s going to come in where.’’

No controversy behind the statement like Pierce's frustrations, but its educational when you listen to a guy of Allen's caliber breaking down the game of basketball. The Celtics are still a work-in-progress, even after that great four-game stretch that made a lot of people feel different about this basketball team.

It will be interesting to see what team shows up tonight in Cleveland.

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I like it

He is taking Doc’s side, but also seeing it from Pierce’s POV.

by rickyfan3.0... on Jan 31, 2012 10:05 AM EST reply actions

I don't buy Pierce's POV at all.

The starters completely cough up the game in the last 3 1/‘2 minutes, then Pierce tries to blame the ’momentum’ that the subs let build by allowing all of two consecutive baskets after building up the lead earlier in the 4th.

That’s right, the two baskets that the subs gave up with 4 minutes left in the game are supposed to be to blame for the starters going 0-fer while giving up 8 points over the last 3 1/2 minutes of the game.

Then Ray backs up "The Captain’ going to the press and blaming the coach while he’s at it.

by clover on Jan 31, 2012 2:07 PM EST up reply actions

It will be interesting to see what team shows up tonight in Cleveland.

It will be interesting. We all know the Celtics usually plays down to their competition. It would be nice to see the Celtics start playing with a sense of urgency.

by C'sFanfrmNy on Jan 31, 2012 10:30 AM EST reply actions

I say let's not talk about the last game vs. the Cavs anymore... cos it's bringing back sigh memories haha

…but awesome Sugar Ray quotes though, TLayman.

I’m more than certain we’ll bounce back in Cleveland!

Heck, we will have a 5 game win streak starting later ;)

by japsuki on Jan 31, 2012 10:36 AM EST reply actions

I see both sides as well....but Ray Allen is just the ultimate professional athelete so his opinion (to me) is what I will land on

Let’s move on and hopefully PP and Doc have “hugged it out”

Is it Soup Yet?

by Master Po on Jan 31, 2012 12:10 PM EST reply actions

Totally agree about Ray Allen - the consumate professional.

Lygafe

Lionel Gaffen / Fotomix | International Hockey Forums > Europe > ISRAEL
Israel Recreational Hockey Association 2009-2010 & 2010-2011 [ Lygafe ] | Israel Ice Skating Federation - From the Media [ Lionel Gaffen ]

by lygafe on Jan 31, 2012 5:25 PM EST up reply actions

Pierce had already played the entire third quarter...

…do people really want Pierce to start the fourth as well? What if PP had continue to stay in the game and the Cavs still sliced into the lead? So now we have a fatigue Pierce and a close game.

Does Pierce stay on the floor and play the entire second half? I can see Doc’s thought process on resting Pierce so that he can bring him in rested to help close out the game. There was no guarantee the Celtics would have stretched the lead with him in the game. But to ask to leave him on the floor and risk him being tired and having to help close out the game is asking too much of a 34 year SF in a regular season game in January.

by yakyakyak on Jan 31, 2012 1:32 PM EST reply actions

Man, I miss Rondo (even for those four games)

People complain about Doc not playing the bench, then blame him when he does and the bench couldn’t hold the lead. Damn if you do, damn if you don’t.

by Clench on Jan 31, 2012 2:19 PM EST reply actions

Doc has one major flaw as a coach (and many positive attributes) as a coach:

In my view, Doc’s major flaw is how to manage rotations. It is a major flaw that was overlooked in the year of 17 because of the troika juggernaut of talent that was there.

Doc is OK when he only has 7 or 8 players to manage and when 3 of them are playing 35+ minutes.

Now that the Big 3 aren’t THE big three anymore and their minutes are restricted, Doc has to get far more creative in the combinations of players that he uses, their minutes and how to best weave them all together. Doc is not real good at that, especially in this compressed season where he has played 13 people in various roles at various times.

He is great at managing players, great at plays (good X and O coach, especially off of timeouts, he can be very creative) and great at handling the media, Danny and the owners. Just not so good when the numbers of players that he has to work in get over 7 or 8, and we especially need that this year.

by csfansince60s on Jan 31, 2012 2:39 PM EST reply actions

Pierce was wrong on a number of counts but he can be forgiven for his frustrated outburst

The starters came back in with a lead and couldn’t not only hold it, but failed to add to it. 0- for the shots they had, while allowing the Cavs to score in the final almost four minutes should call for heads lowered in shame, rather than an outburst against the coach – to me, that’s just whining and passing the buck.

Pierce can be forgiven since he did backtrack on the initial outburst, and hopefully, he’ll come out tonight and lead the way to a blowout win.

Doc Rivers is still working with an injured in and out squad, and no starting point guard. Factor in all the new members of the team, a shortened pre-season and lack of time to jell, while injured players come and go, and it’s a wonder we’re doing as well as we are.

It seems like every time someone comes back into a jury rigged rotation, someone else gets injured, and the rotation merry-go-round starts all over again. Hopefully, it won’t be as bad a last year’s debacle when we were down to 8 bodies in a large number of games, because this year’s team won’t be able to come back if that happens.

Lygafe.

Lionel Gaffen / Fotomix.

Lygafe

by lygafe on Jan 31, 2012 5:13 PM EST reply actions

rebounding

they need to worry about offense rebounding they suck at it tonight and got lucky to win.
Paul did look for the open man and we where ahead by 20 points and won by 4. they need to finish the game hard. not walking the ball and just jump shots. They need to drive to the basket. we were lucky tonight.

by awa1147@yahoo.com on Jan 31, 2012 9:42 PM EST reply actions