<div align="center"><font face="tahoma"><font color="green">GAME PREVIEW Projected Starters for The Boston Celtics Center- Mark Blount Power Forward- Raef Lafrentz Small Forward- Jiri Welsch Shooting Guard- Paul Pierce Point Guard- Gary Payton VS. The Denver Nuggets Projected Starting Lineup Center- Marcus Camby Power Forward- Kenyon Martin Small Forward- Carmelo Anthony Shooting Guard- Greg Buckner Point Guard- Andre Miller ______________________________________________ CELTICS KEYS TO THE GAME -Carry the momentum back into the Fleet. The win against LA was a huge morale booster, and hopefully our players will start to play with more confidence. -It would be nice to see some boxing out in this one. Maybe I'd feel better about our rebounding problems if they actually tried to hang with other teams on the boards. -Cut down on the fouls. Enough said. MY PREDICTION History is on the C's side on this one. Boston has won 10 of the last 11 meetings overall and seven in a row at home. The C's will be so happy to be back home that I don't see them letting this one go. Boston 108 Denver 102</font></font></div>
<div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><div align="center"><font face="tahoma"><font color="green"> -Carry the momentum back into the Fleet. The win against LA was a huge morale booster, and hopefully our players will start to play with more confidence. </font></font></div></div> Nope, they came out flat. They didn't attack the basket all night. The only players that looked to come out ready and confident were Blount and Pierce. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><div align="center"><font face="tahoma"><font color="green"> -It would be nice to see some boxing out in this one. Maybe I'd feel better about our rebounding problems if they actually tried to hang with other teams on the boards. </font></font></div> </div>They only lost by 4 on the boards, which isn't bad for them. Raef was huge with 15. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post"><div align="center"><font face="tahoma"><font color="green"> -Cut down on the fouls. Enough said.</font></font></div></div>Much better than usual, but I think that had to do more with the officiating. Damn, a heartbreaker. Celtics lose on a Carmelo Anthony jumpshot which was uncontested. Blount looked lost on that play, just standing there clueless in the paint as Anthony knocked down what turned into the game winner. You can't really fault Mark on that play, because him and Pierce pretty much kept the C's in the game for the entire first half. What an ugly game all around, it never got any rhythm to it. Both teams played pretty badly, but the C's looked terrible the entire 2nd quarter as well as other large portions of the game. The Celtics bench didn't make anywhere near the contribution that they normally do. This was a game where you really realize how valuable Paul Pierce is to the team. Without him, this would've been a blowout. No question about it.
This was a tough one to lose. So many chances to win this one. Tough Loss in Home Return "The 4th opened with RD hitting a shot after Jiri took one, in the nose that is, from Carmello Anthony and drew and offensive foul for his pain. Sometimes you gotta take one for the team. Jiri then hit a 3 pter to make it 82-80 with 9:36 left. Unfortunately, as was the case for most of the game, Denver immediately responded with Boykins hitting a shot. RD then re-responded with a 3 to put the Celtics lead at 85-83 and offered up one of the more memorable 3 consecutive possession trips of the game." Melo pouted for a nice portion of the game, which I have to say is another small set back in his maturity process. Ironically, he mentioned in a pre game interview that "he's tired, because he hasn't had any time off" (Due to him being on Team USA.) I'm going to echo the sentiments of Mike Gorman who asked why that was really that big of an issue, seeing as he didn't play much and got plenty of rest on the bench. However, he did his job at the end of the game, when RD didn't step over the screen and Bount didn't bother to step up and contest a shot at the top of it.
Very annoying game to watch. As you both said, no rhythm the entire game. It's like the C's were still on west coast time. At least the Nuggets had the excuse of playing the night before. Denver looked more than happy to give this game away, the C's just refused to take it. Not the normal energy from the bench that we've grown accustomed to the last few games. The last play was also curious to me. Paul had the time to try and get to the basket. I think he had either Russell or Miller on him, and I think he could have gotten past them or at least drawn the foul. Instead he danced behind the line and took an awkward three. Not what I would have expected out of a timeout. Interesting stat from the post game on the radio: of the C's 12 losses, 7 have come by 3 points or less. They're in the games, they just can't make the one or two plays to pull out the victory. But, at least the Nuggets were shooting at the other basket in the 2nd half, so no ThunderStix in my section. I'll take positives where I can.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting Bobcats:</div><div class="quote_post">Did that Andre Miller shot count???</div> I assume you're talking about the 3/4 court shot at the end of the 1st quarter, and the answer is no. EDIT- Check out the great D by Blount on the game winner. He's not even looking at Carmelo.
RD and Blount blew it big time on that play. RD should have stepped over the pick, which was called by Blount. That said, it begs to wonder why, after calling out the screen, Blount didn't step to the top and defend the quick shot? Keep in mind Celtsman that the C's didn't play, but Doc said the C's had a 20 hour flight back from LA (refueling, etc). I wondered why PP didn't drive also, but when I saw the replay, Miller overplayed him to his strong side (right) which would have forced a drive left, right into the coming double team. All in all not the shot I would have liked, but I'm not sure he had much else to do. I would have liked something else out of Doc coming out of the timeout. The play seems drawn up for PP to get the ball at the top of the key, which is probably pretty predictable.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting hagrid:</div><div class="quote_post">RD and Blount blew it big time on that play. RD should have stepped over the pick, which was called by Blount. That said, it begs to wonder why, after calling out the screen, Blount didn't step to the top and defend the quick shot? Keep in mind Celtsman that the C's didn't play, but Doc said the C's had a 20 hour flight back from LA (refueling, etc).</div> Blount should have stepped up, but I'm convinced that he was expecting Melo to head to the basket and thats why he hung back. Look at the pic that Thrilla put up, the second Melo started to shoot he turned to try and position himself for a rebound. And yeah, Hagrid, it was a long flight. One that, according to Peter May and the Globe, landed at 10 am, TUESDAY morning. I'll assume that Doc gave the team the rest of the day off, which still gave them a day to get adjusted to being back on East Coast time.
I just flew back from hawaii and it took me more than a day to recover, so I gave them the benefit of the doubt. I was tired as hell and I didn't do anything physically taxing the day before we left. Then again, they are probably more accustomed to dealing with it than I am, given that they fly like this on a more regular basis. Doc made the indication that they didn't look sharp in the shoot around, so I just naturally chalked it up to the flight. Anyways, that one play, I can live with, even though it was the game winner. The 2 players involved made a mistake, but they actually contributed to the Celtics being in an opportunity to win the game, which is alot more than I can say for the complete ineptitude (outside of RD, who I already mentioned) of the second unit. PP and the rest of the first unit took a seat once the C's retook the lead and the 2nd unit, after scoring 1 FG in the first half(By RD at :28 left), never really made any meaningful impact on the game. I've got no problem playing the rookies to get them experience, especially when we can afford to. However, I do have a problem with people in the Celtic Nation blaming Pierce for this loss(not anyone here, but on the blog) which drives me nuts. It seems he can't win no matter what he does.
<div class="quote_poster">Quoting hagrid:</div><div class="quote_post">I just flew back from hawaii and it took me more than a day to recover, so I gave them the benefit of the doubt. I was tired as hell and I didn't do anything physically taxing the day before we left. Then again, they are probably more accustomed to dealing with it than I am, given that they fly like this on a more regular basis. </div> I'd be more inclined to give them the benefit if they were going East to West, cause then its like trying to play a game at 10 at night, but going West to east, it more like trying to play at 4 in the afternoon, which is not out of the question. I'm trying to remember who they played (I'm thinking Denver), but last year the C's got caught in a bad snowstorm here and were sitting on the plane for something like 7 hours, got sent home, had to drive back and then tried again spending another couple hours on the plane before take-off. They came out and rolled. Maybe this gave them time to bond. <div class="quote_poster">Quote:</div><div class="quote_post">I've got no problem playing the rookies to get them experience, especially when we can afford to. However, I do have a problem with people in the Celtic Nation blaming Pierce for this loss(not anyone here, but on the blog) which drives me nuts. It seems he can't win no matter what he does.</div> Welcome to the world of being the number one star in Boston. Everything good that happens is because the team played well, and if its bad its because Pierce didn't step up. He got the benefit of the doubt for a long time when Toine was here and now people need someone to blame. But, I just want to say that he brings some of it on himself. I'm not sure if you saw my mention of it on the clipper game thread, but he was sulking for most of the 4th quarter and first overtime. People would much rather see him at least up and cheering for teammates when he's not in the game.
Yeah, I saw his pseudo-sulk, but he had just fouled out and we were still losing. He got up for his teammates during both overtimes, so I let it slide. He has his faults and bad plays, but IMO, you're right: Thats what happens with Boston fans, they take everything out on the star. I just posted these stats on the blog and want to share them here as well: Pierce: 37 mins, 41% FG, 6 RBs, 4 Asts, 2 Stls, 31 PTS 2nd Unit: 76 mins, 36% FG, 10 Rbs, 6 Asts, 1 Stls, 27 PTS Those stats for the 2nd unit include Ricky Davis' stats, which squew them in a big way. Imagine how bad we would have lost if PP didn't play well. Particularly since the 2nd unit got plenty of run.
guys thanks for the recap and the discussion of the game. i missed it. the 3 of you are great and i always come here and read after games. thank you.
