Post Game Thread - vs Atlanta Hawks, Away

Still not together on offense and our defense sucks.  Our vaunted perimeter defense was letting them into the paint and as a result Howard was getting free runs at offensive rebounds.  Their points in the paint were created by penetration, directly or indirectly, not by just pounding it in.

GREAT game by Marcus Smart.  He was 6-11 for 18 and 5-9 from 3.  So, if he can do this, then why doesn't he do this?  His hustle on defense was infectious too.  Diving on the floor at mid-court to tap it forward to Bradley for the dunk +1.  Locking Howard up for a jump ball and then winning the jump.  It's amazing how, when he feels that pressure because the game is getting out of hand or their aren't many minutes left or we need to win this game he hits his shots.  The effort on the defensive end is always there but why does he suddenly become a dead-eye shooter in pressure moments when most players wilt?  And, more importantly, how can Brad get into his head that every possession is just as important as the game winner.

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Marcus Smart game?

7 assists
6 steals
5 3's.

That's never been done in NBA history.




IT and Jae came to play and hit their shots.  Bradley ended up with 17 but it was on 6-19.  When Jae missed 2 games after the all-star game, missing a week-and-a-half total, he came back and couldn't shoot either.  Is that really all that is needed to screw up a player's shooting rhythm?  Bradley's lack of shooting conscience hurt us.  Some of his misses weren't his fault, he took two to the rim and were blocked.  Ok, great defensive play by them and a missed fga for him but 6-19?  That's bad.  We were down 20 but only ended up losing by 7.  A couple of buckets, that's all.  

Amir with several Tommy Points.  He does the little things that don't make the boxscore.

They shot 49.4% for the game.  They had 44 points in the paint, which is good but not great, so it wasn't just Howard pounding us.  It came from them doing the same thing to us that Cleveland did, as soon as the shot goes up their top men take off for the other basket and we don't transition back well.  We get caught watching the paint dry and they are off to the races.  We gave up 71 points in the first half.  Brad is talking upbeat about how the bench responded after being in a slump and blah, blah, blah but it is hard to defend giving up 71 points in a half.

Horford 1-8 in his first return to Atlanta.  They booed him every time he came in and cheered D12 every time he came in.  That's funny since they are definitely worse this year without Al and with Dwight.  I guess that's why they're pissed.  Oh well, fans can be stupid.  Celtic fans booed Durant when he came to Boston just because he went with the best team in the NBA and surefire lock for the WC Finals at least.  Hell hath no fury...

90 fgas is good.  43 3pt fgas is a LARGE percentage, even for us.

Once again we got killed on the boards.  We've forgotten how to rebound.  52 rebounds for them with 13 offensive.  

http://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore?gameId=400900555







At least Brooklyn lost.  The Magic Number for them is now 1.  They play 2 against Chicago and 1 in Boston.  At least get that done, ok?


bob


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Gary Washburn @GwashburnGlobe
yesterday
#Celtics were 7-for-27 FG in the 4Q.
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And they still won the quarter 27-24. The Hawks were trying to give us the game but we can't shoot.


bob


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We are developing wisdom and humility as a franchise with losses like these. Wisdom to know what our limitations are - rebounding and shooting (and now some faulty D). Humility to realize we are not a top tier team. Danny will NOT stand pat this off season. Draft, Zizic and Yabu, free agents or trades - somehow we will be a markedly different team next year, one that gives Jae and IT more support. As much as I appreciate Avery when he's on, I can't abide him playing in only 50 games this year and then being rusty when he comes back from an absence. All this greatly diminishes his value.

Hey Bob, just want to challenge a couple of points. The Boston Celtics "vaunted perimeter defense" was last year, We've shown only flashes of that type of D and most of that has been in the past few weeks. The scoring is through the roof this year.

They didn't forget how to rebound This is not a good rebounding team. The personnel isn't quite right yet. When I see KO and AB constantly leading the team in rebounding I have to scratch my head.

Lack of consistency is always the big problem for players on the cusp. When Marcus plays like this he is amazing. IT does play to his level almost every night. He is the only one. It's long been said that basketball players are the best athletes amongst the major sports. But basketball also demands a high IQ. Players like Marcus play with a chip partially because they can't meet their own expectations of greatness. Marcus keep improving and surprising but he won't truly arrive as a two way player until he can produce like last night. He will probably never be a great shooter with a high % but he can be a very good scorer. Parts of the game are still a little too fast for his skill set.

More and more I'm liking the idea of bringing Amir back next year to mentor Zizic. He always produces the intangibles and just a little more consistent production would really help. Otherwise KO probably starts next year.

AB has been very sick for a long time. He is just getting back on the court and he hasn't really been able to practice. He will be full strength for the post season. It is very frustrating the amount of time he is injured and sick because he is probably our second best producer. One of the best parts of keeping the core together rather than make a trade is the possibility of keeping Avery, who is a much better overall player than Marcus, IMO. But having AB and Marcus and Jae and the emerging Jaylen as our defensive core will be virtually unmatchable by other teams.

This team has flaws that are becoming more exploited as we near the second season. I think a lot of that will be improved next season. But this season, this team, can still beat any other team in the NBA on any given night.

More exciting roundball still to come!

17goingon18

Its a long season, hopefully we can get AB going again, would be great if Jaylen can produce off the bench like he does as a starter. Imagine if Smart could shoot just near this? Give me 42% fg and 33-34% from 3 and we have an all star....loved his taking on Howard, he will gladly take on anyone. Al Horford has had 2 terrible games, we overall suck at rebounding, we need a Zizic type big so bad.

how the fock did we give up 70 points at the half to the Hawks....?????

Cow, how did we give up 70 to Booker all by himself? A very inconsistent defense, to state the obvious.

mulcogiseng wrote:Hey Bob, just want to challenge a couple of points. The Boston Celtics "vaunted perimeter defense" was last year, We've shown only flashes of that type of D and most of that has been in the past few weeks. The scoring is through the roof this year.

They didn't forget how to rebound This is not a good rebounding team. The personnel isn't quite right yet. When I see KO and AB constantly leading the team in rebounding I have to scratch my head.

Lack of consistency is always the big problem for players on the cusp. When Marcus plays like this he is amazing. IT does play to his level almost every night. He is the only one. It's long been said that basketball players are the best athletes amongst the major sports. But basketball also demands a high IQ. Players like Marcus play with a chip partially because they can't meet their own expectations of greatness. Marcus keep improving and surprising but he won't truly arrive as a two way player until he can produce like last night. He will probably never be a great shooter with a high % but he can be a very good scorer. Parts of the game are still a little too fast for his skill set.

More and more I'm liking the idea of bringing Amir back next year to mentor Zizic. He always produces the intangibles and just a little more consistent production would really help. Otherwise KO probably starts next year.

AB has been very sick for a long time. He is just getting back on the court and he hasn't really been able to practice. He will be full strength for the post season. It is very frustrating the amount of time he is injured and sick because he is probably our second best producer. One of the best parts of keeping the core together rather than make a trade is the possibility of keeping Avery, who is a much better overall player than Marcus, IMO. But having AB and Marcus and Jae and the emerging Jaylen as our defensive core will be virtually unmatchable by other teams.

This team has flaws that are becoming more exploited as we near the second season. I think a lot of that will be improved next season. But this season, this team, can still beat any other team in the NBA on any given night.

More exciting roundball still to come!

17goingon18

unfortunately we can also lose to any given team and we don't match up well vs Cavs and Raptors, we have too many players that are not 2 way players and Horford can totally not carry a team.

worcester wrote:Cow, how did we give up 70 to Booker all by himself? A very inconsistent defense, to state the obvious.

yeah I couldn't believe that game, great offense beats good defense, Westbrook has killed us and just put up 45 on Tony Allen.

cowens/oldschool wrote:

worcester wrote:Cow, how did we give up 70 to Booker all by himself? A very inconsistent defense, to state the obvious.

yeah I couldn't believe that game, great offense beats good defense, Westbrook has killed us and just put up 45 on Tony Allen.

Cow,

Yep, especially in today's offense-oriented NBA. I realize Jaylen's a rookie and very respectful and all but I'm hoping in a year or two he goes hog-wild with his offense. Shoot, baby, shoot. He's not a bad shot, he has good mechanics and his athleticism will give him an edge. Another Kobe? Probably not, I mean c'mon, but he could be the player no coach wants to defend against. Kobe's athleticism, with a pretty good shot and the discipline to improve it like Kobe did (Kobe would spend an entire hour shooting from one spot on the floor. One hour, one spot, creating a kill zone for himself), all he needs after that is IT's attitude. Or Pierce's. I'd love for Pierce to come to Boston over the summer and tutor/mentor Jaylen. If Pierce really wants to be a Celtic forever, even past the number-raising ceremony, that would be a great way to do it.


bob


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Or Jalen good summer in LA, playing under Paul.

I'll say it again..We need to upgrade our frontline in the 4/5 spots. We should could use an athletic PF.

We also need a consistent scorer off the bench.

Theee is no real defense in the NBA anymore so give me scorers scorers and more scoreres

And rebounders...

cowens/oldschool wrote:how the fock did we give up 70 points at the half to the Hawks....?????

How did the Hawks without Dwight Howard tonight easily beat the Cavs (who played everybody) in Cleveland tonight 114-100?

bobheckler wrote:

cowens/oldschool wrote:

worcester wrote:Cow, how did we give up 70 to Booker all by himself? A very inconsistent defense, to state the obvious.

yeah I couldn't believe that game, great offense beats good defense, Westbrook has killed us and just put up 45 on Tony Allen.

Cow,

Yep, especially in today's offense-oriented NBA.  I realize Jaylen's a rookie and very respectful and all but I'm hoping in a year or two he goes hog-wild with his offense.  Shoot, baby, shoot.  He's not a bad shot, he has good mechanics and his athleticism will give him an edge.  Another Kobe?  Probably not, I mean c'mon, but he could be the player no coach wants to defend against.  Kobe's athleticism, with a pretty good shot and the discipline to improve it like Kobe did (Kobe would spend an entire hour shooting from one spot on the floor.  One hour, one spot, creating a kill zone for himself), all he needs after that is IT's attitude.  Or Pierce's.  I'd love for Pierce to come to Boston over the summer and tutor/mentor Jaylen.  If Pierce really wants to be a Celtic forever, even past the number-raising ceremony, that would be a great way to do it.


bob


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agreed one of the major keys to the franchise is Jaylens growth and from everything I've read and heard the kid definitely has the right attitude to put in the necessary work to improve his game. He has shown flashes/glitters many times during the season and there are many times I don't think they run enough plays or give him enough of the green light to look for his offense more. We've seen way more instances where Smart takes it upon himself and takes bad shoots and I didn't see Stevens give him the quick hook. He's very respectful of his place and not trying dominate the ball, meanwhile a lot of other rooks on crappy teams are able to attempt to carry their teams offense with very mixed results. I would have liked to see Jaylen go off for a couple 25 point games by now, but he never got the chance to take the necessary volume of shots, hopefully at some point soon he will.

steve3344 wrote:

cowens/oldschool wrote:how the fock did we give up 70 points at the half to the Hawks....?????

How did the Hawks without Dwight Howard tonight easily beat the Cavs (who played everybody) in Cleveland tonight 114-100?

that must have helped them, no Dwight....I thought Howard looked like shit against us, nothing like the old Howard, the scary part is he still outplayed Al Horford.....?????