Every win on the road is a huge one for the Celtics right now. They still have the league's fifth worst road recored (behind Orlando, Atlanta, Charlotte, and of course, New York.) During their recent West Coast road trip, the Celtics went 3-1 against middling competition. That's a huge step up from earlier in the season, when they couldn't beat anybody on the road. The Celtics finally appear to be meshing as a team, getting stops and buckets when they need 'em. Paul Pierce has been playing the best basketball of his career, and has brought an all around game as good as anyone's. Toronto has lost their last six in a row, and aren't any better at home than they are on the road. They really only have three scorers: Chris Bosh (very hard to stop, scores 22 a game at over fifty percent), Mike James (submitting his usual solid pseudo-point guard season) and Morris Peterson (who is not shooting well, but generally kills the Celtics.) Charlie Villanueva can bring points, but is inconsistent otherwise. -Toronto's can score plenty, but their defense isn't good. Matt Bonner will be abused by Gomes if he plays the four. Although Doc may try to hide Wally's defensive inabilities by leaving him on Bonner, who can't defend and can't make his own shot. The team relies too much on Chris Bosh to bail them out inside. He's a nasty defender, but he's thin, can be posted up, and doesn't always get good position. His athleticism is unbelievable though. Morris Peterson will probably annoy Pierce with his defense. Mike James is smart, but age is catching up with him, and he's not a big guard. -On the offensive end, Bosh will kill the Celtics if they guard him with a center. He's got a great mid-range jumper, and is lightning quick to the hoop around slower players. Also a very good offensive rebounder because he plays so hard. The rest of the team likes to mad-bomb the threes all game long. Their mid range shooting is better than a lot of teams. They have no real post game, as Bosh is kind of a tweener offensively, and no one else is legit with his back to the basket. Morris Peterson tends to kill the Celtics, as does Mike James. I'm betting they won't tonight. -Just like Boston, Toronto's bench is very short. -Coaching wise, neither Doc Rivers nor Sam Mitchell is a genius. In fact, I've heard they both are terrible. I've complained enough about Doc's problems. Sam Mitchell is very similar strategically and rotation wise: neither really works out for him. The Celts still seem to be a little deeper. -All in all, the Celts are playing like they need games. They've also owned the Raptors in the recent past. While the Celtics could use a blow-out, I think this will ultimately be a competitive game. I still see the Green taking it. Paul Pierce is just too much for anybody to handle right now. Look for a little more transition offense than usual, because of the higher rate of three point attempts by Toronto.
i got cash(literally not figuratively) on the celtics, i just don't think that toronto has an answer for paul pierce
Amen <div class="quote_poster">Quoting babybulls:</div><div class="quote_post">i got cash(literally not figuratively) on the celtics, i just don't think that toronto has an answer for paul pierce</div> You got that right. If Kobe can't stop him...
Yea! So far no defense at all. I didn't really think that there was a team that played worse defense early on that the Celtics. I appear to have been wrong. The Raps can shoot something awesome. You gotta respect Morris Peterson.
Not an overly exciting game... Not great passing. No defense at all. Lots of isolations. Woo-hoo. -You need some defense to make the game interesting. I mean, c'mon. -I'm impressed by the range on Bosh's jumper. -The Raptors cannot rebound. -Can't Eric Williams just retire? He tried to make up a fake basketball league, and everyone in Toronto appears to hate him. -Raef looks like he's got a little more spring in his step than usual. -Pierce could score forty again tonight. -Message to Doc. The zone doesn't work against teams like this.
Scalabrine has to be the worst player in basketball. His line so far: Three atrocious fouls. Three three pointers allowed to Matt Bonner when he didn't rotate. Brings nothing. That's in five minutes. And Delonte hurt his groin.
Team game The Celtics are showing more heart than they have in ages. Every time that they get behind, they struggle to come back. They were down by seven at least three times. They're leading at the half by one. -Orien Greene is playing a better point each time he's out there. He still fouls too much, but his defense is good anyway. He's running the team well, and he seems to have gotten a jumper from somewhere. It keeps team from stepping back on him. -Pierce can score at any moment on this team. Doc sat him for longer than usual in the first half because he had two fouls. He sat for at least seven minutes of the half, and still scored fourteen. -Raef is playing much better basketball over the last three games. His rebounding has improved a great deal. It seems as if he likes to play with Gomes. -Al just has ridiculous inside scoring skills. Even Bosh is a little afraid of him down there. -Tony Allen is giving his all, but he's not really a point guard. He didn't play the position poorly at all when Orien Greene got into foul trouble. -Wally played some very good ball. Put the ball into the hoop. Gets to the ball better against this team because they kinda dog it. If MoPete slows down, this game is over. I don't believe that he will though. The point guard situation is troubling. I still think the Celts have it.
Keep... Clawing back. Who knows about this one? This is a very different team without Delonte. And it's a team that can't defend the corner three. MoPete is killing us.
Well... They did their best, but you don't play any defense, and they can hit threes like that. They made a noble attempt in the end, but no dice. -in the end, the lack of Delonte was a killer. Pierce made some killer turnovers later. Tried to do too much. -The same bad rotations as before. -Scalabrine is terrible. I would rather see Green playing out of position in his spot at this point. Oh well. Celts needed that win, but there is still hope.
I think this is the loss that finally kills my playoff hopes. Especially if we have to go without Delonte for a bit. Didn't get to see the whole thing. Thanks for the detailed analysis, postpoint. Much appreciated.
the raptors should play eric williams more. Its almost as if they LIKE not having any defense whatsoever. If E-rock wasnt getting paid so much id say the celtics shuould trade for him. Great veteran tough-d presence to have on a team and he looks like he can still hound the ball and make somethings happen in the post. I dont think this loss kills the playoff hopes. It sure is a game youd of expected them to win. I also agree that they might be toast if delontes injury is seriuos. and this just in: Doc Rivers still sucks!!! bad! its like "hmmm my 2nd most dependable scorer is playing with bad knees and my 3rd most reliable scorer just pulled his groin and cant play. what do I do? oh yeah! I know!! Ill just sit my unstoppable force on the bench untill theres like 5 and a half minutes to go in the 4th quarter"
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting olskoolFunktitude:</div><div class="quote_post">the raptors should play eric williams more. Its almost as if they LIKE not having any defense whatsoever. If E-rock wasnt getting paid so much id say the celtics shuould trade for him. Great veteran tough-d presence to have on a team and he looks like he can still hound the ball and make somethings happen in the post. </div> Are you fully serious?
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting olskoolFunktitude:</div><div class="quote_post">the raptors should play eric williams more. Its almost as if they LIKE not having any defense whatsoever. If E-rock wasnt getting paid so much id say the celtics shuould trade for him. Great veteran tough-d presence to have on a team and he looks like he can still hound the ball and make somethings happen in the post.</div> You must be joking.
Doctacular <div class="quote_poster">Quoting olskoolFunktitude:</div><div class="quote_post">the raptors should play eric williams more. Its almost as if they LIKE not having any defense whatsoever. If E-rock wasnt getting paid so much id say the celtics shuould trade for him. Great veteran tough-d presence to have on a team and he looks like he can still hound the ball and make somethings happen in the post. I dont think this loss kills the playoff hopes. It sure is a game youd of expected them to win. I also agree that they might be toast if delontes injury is seriuos. and this just in: Doc Rivers still sucks!!! bad! its like "hmmm my 2nd most dependable scorer is playing with bad knees and my 3rd most reliable scorer just pulled his groin and cant play. what do I do? oh yeah! I know!! Ill just sit my unstoppable force on the bench untill theres like 5 and a half minutes to go in the 4th quarter"</div> Yes. I too was surprised by Doc's decision to sit Pierce for any length of team. Without him or Delonte, they simply cannot keep up the scoring. As for Eric Williams, I'm not so sure about that. You might want to do a little reading about him. He created a fraudulent basketball league so he could sell jackets for it. Also, he's done a lot of Carter-esque whining in Toronto. He did nothing of much use in the Boston game, either.
hes had his troubles in recent years on and off the court but he was a very underrated player when he was with the celtics which was only a couple of years ago. I was surprised to see him get so few minutes in jersey and toronto and even more surprised to hear about his off the court problems
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">the raptors should play eric williams more</div> LEt me correct that for you the raptors should trade eric williams now.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting olskoolFunktitude:</div><div class="quote_post">hes had his troubles in recent years on and off the court but he was a very underrated player when he was with the celtics which was only a couple of years ago. I was surprised to see him get so few minutes in jersey and toronto and even more surprised to hear about his off the court problems</div> Maybe if he didn't whine like a little girl and played some decent ball he would be respected, but right now, he's being a baby.
yes, it is unfortunate. You never heard any thing like that from Eric when he was on the celtics. He was a solid citizen whether they played him or not. I really thoguht hed be a big help or at least a positive influence for new jersey and then toronto but perhaps hes just getting frustrated knowing that his career is nearing its end and only has so many more chances to show waht he can do
