Interesting game because a) we've been playing better of late and doing so against pretty good teams. Boston is an elite team though so they're a test. Additionally, they're a fantastic defensive team and lately we've been beating teams with our improved defense. And b) Oracle is the only arena the Celtics have not won in since 2007- when the Big 3 came together. Rondo will be another big test for Curry too.
Yeah, I just read that. We beat the Celtics the last 6 times in Oracle...that's a trip. Didn't realize that.
Only the last 3 were with the Big 3 though, no? They sucked before that. Apparently Rondo has said its the hardest place to play in the whole league.
We are soooo bad at defending the pick & roll. Honestly, it's like they've never seen the play before.
I don't even know what to say about the first half...so many ups and downs, but in the end it's level. Udoh needs to get 15+ minutes in the second half though. We are so much better with him on the court, especially when we're up against big bodies like tonight. Like Barnett said, he's awesome at playing high-pressure D without fouling. He did get a couple foul calls, but they were pretty soft...and when you're up against an all-star squad like Boston, a rookie isn't gonna get the benefit of the doubt. Regardless, when Udoh is on the floor, you know it. One thing that has been great, and I don't necessarily expect to carry over into the second half is the W's getting to the line. It feels weird getting these whistles on the offensive end, especially when the Celtics only shot 6 free throws in the first half. However, as we approach crunch time, I expect Boston to get the superstar calls. They are smashing the shit out of us though, especially Lee. But hey, as long as we get to the line, that's fine. Really, how often do we have the luxury of getting opposing players into foul trouble? I honestly can't remember a single instance of a solid opposing player's fouls becoming an issue. It's always nice to play well against good teams, but especially when it's comprised of such unlikable characters as Garnett and Allen.
lol well we know they never see it in practice since Smart has no idea what it is. God Fitz is annoying. Kept talking about how we got "A-games" from all their top players but in reality they were all getting wide open shots. And how the Warriors had their worst stretch of offense all year in the 3rd/4th...no Fitz, the Celts just decided to start giving a fraction of their normal effort. They didn't give a shit about the first half or else we wouldn't have scored 60 on them. After Ftiz repeated this 7 or 8 times Barnett finally said "well you have to give the Celtics credit". Anyway they played well until the end. Monta looked awful, they totally got in his head. Lee is always bad trying to finish around the rim. After the good first half you could tell the Celts just came out and put forth a defensive effort and after that it was easy for them.
The game was like the other games against the best in the East. Good first half but awful second half. It is funny to see the difference in defense between the two teams. The Celtics make it hard to make a pass. They actually are active denying the off the ball guy from getting the ball with ease. On the other hand there is the Warriors defense that doesn't give a damn about playing off the ball defense. I think that is why the Celtics give up the fewest assists, well and also points, where as the Warriors probably allow the most assists. It didn't look like the Warriors played together before in the second half.
The Warriors collectively played awful in the 2nd half and since he gets a lot of the credit for wins, Monta gets the shaft for the loss here. His D was typically awful. I rewound several plays and made sure I saw what I thought I saw, Monta simply standing flat-footed while 35 yr. old Ray Allen goes to the rim for a lay up. That's just unacceptable. The turnovers by Monta were brutal as well (I know my boy Curry made some as well). There was the one where he first just holds the ball out and Rondo takes it, then Monta mopes back and never gets into the D play on the other end. Great players simply don't mope like that.
Lee had some postgame comment about how the Celtics are a good defensive team that plays defense every possession. It was kind of a, No really? comment. Followed by, why don't the Warriors play defense like that? The thing I will agree about Monta Ellis is that he lacks what I think most players out of high school face, that is a lack of understanding how to be a team player. I think Curry and Udoh have this trait because they played these roles in college. However I don't think Ellis or even Biedrins have developed this aspect of their game. Anyway it would be nice to see better pressure on the perimeter defensively to prevent opponents getting such easy passes and shots. I'd also like more of some kind of offensive system with more passing and off the ball screens to free up players and perhaps some more offensive plays to get more from Lee offensively. I suppose it's just part of growing pains or something...
