POST GAME MIAMI - GAME # 5

Mrkleen

I really wonder if James has ever had a coach High School or pro that he really ever bought in to? What were the reasons he went to Miami in the first place, it had all to do with players and nothing to do with a coach. I don't count the Olympics. But wonder how much Coach K got him to listen.

beat

Beat

Cant say I know...nor care.

These guys can go up in flames. I will bring the marshmallows - couldn't happen to a nicer bunch of guys.

MRKleen:

You got the marshmallows, OK, I'll bring the Ball Park franks. Like the old Chicago Bull guy used to say, "It's not Summer, until you've had your Ball Park Franks (not Lawrence). (LOL)

MD!

Adrian Wojnarowski wrote:As his superstars stayed back in the losing locker room, Erik Spoelstra made an unprompted, revealing plea on the stage. No one had led him with a question, but the coach of these Miami Heat delivered an unmistakable message to LeBron James. Here was the disciple of Pat Riley, flinching, covering up, expecting the worst of the world, and proclaiming his concern about the ability of his fragile stars to construct a wall between them and the doubt that dooms seasons.

"Our focus is to fight any kind of noise from the outside, or any human condition," Spoelstra said late on Tuesday night. The human condition is this: He's begging his Heat stars to do something they didn't do a year ago, when they lost a series lead, lost the momentum, lost the edge and lost their way going into a Game 6. Please, please, don't collapse under the weight of our frailties again.

I normally like Adrian Wojnarowski, but I disagree with his article. He reads an awful lot into one phrase, "the human condition," and ignores most of what Spoelstra said in his post-game comments. For the first time this year, I turned to the NBA channel for the post-game media session and heard the part Wojnarowski referred to, and I didn't take it at all like Wojnarowski describes above.

Here's Spoelstra last night. His original "human condition" comment is at the beginning, and he responds to a followup starting at 1:35.



I actually think Spoelstra takes an appropriate, positive approach. I don't see all the negativity or desperation that Wojnarowski ascribes to it. In fact, I think Spoelstra uses the "noise from the outside, or any human condition" as a positive -- they have to let this loss go, dismiss negativity from outside (like Wojnarowski's column), and rely on each other, which he portrays as empowering. And he rightly points out that if the Heat win the next game in Boston, the tables are turned, momentum swings, and they then have the upper hand returning to Miami for game 7.

As for the game itself, KG was absolutely, completely The Man. He can't sustain it for as many minutes now, but that seemed as dominating and impactful as I've seen him since 2008. Perhaps he's played as well at some point, but not that I can remember in such a pivotal game. Fabulous.

Game 5 was huge, but the media and fans get so wrapped up in what I refer to as an attention-deficit disorder outlook that they act like the immediate turn of events is decisive, when in most instances, it's not. Here's how that storyline goes: after the first two games in Miami, the Heat were cruising; after games 3 and 4, Boston was back from the dead; and after game 5, the Celtics are in control and the Heat are reeling and about to fall into the abyss. Yes, the Heat are one game from elimination, but Boston was up 3-2 over Orlando in 2009 and the Lakers in 2010 and lost both times. This has been an extremely close series, and the Celtics have put themselves in great position, but the Heat are capable of coming back to win it. And game 6 is not "must win" for Boston, because they are capable of winning in Miami again in game 7. In fact, as inconsistent as the Celtics have been in close-out games this year, I'd consider that a likely scenario. But however it happens, a playoff series like this is a long, winding journey, not a single moment.

Kind of like this season for the Celtics. When they were 15-17 and on the verge of falling out of playoff position, a lot of people thought that Danny needed to trade the big 3 and probably Rondo too to get something, anything of value because this season was a lost cause. How could the Celtics possibly make it through the Eastern Conference playoffs having to beat both Chicago and Miami, who were so dominant? And now here we are. Looking at 15-17 and thinking the season was lost is a lot like looking at 0-2 and thinking the series is lost. Both this season and this series are long, winding journeys deserving of patience and a little faith.

Outside

P.S. Sorry about the last half of the video with Stephen A. Smith. Even if he was giving the Celtics props as he was at the beginning of his part of the video (which was all I could stand to watch), I truly abhor the guy. Unfortunately, this was the only video I could easily find that included the followup question at the 1:35 mark that I thought was instructive regarding Wojnarowski's comments. If I could clip him out of the video, I would.

Outside,

I watched the post-game as well (who could sleep) and I'm not sure where Wojnarowski came up with that either. I took it that Spoelstra was talking in a general sense. There were no comments by James in any interview that would connect those dots either. Chalk it up to tight deadlines and the need to fill space I guess.

I think Doc was getting at a point you're making about where we are in this series by telling the players that The Heat weren't going to give this one to them, that they were going to have to go out and get it. It's nice being up 3-2, but we're not up 3-2 to a 2nd tier club. My expectation is that we're going to see something as intense and uncertain as game 5 all over again. My hope is it will be the last game of the series.

No foul on the Stephen Smith thing as far as I'm concerned. It's like a reflex with me, I just automatically shut him off!

Regards

Speaking about Spoelstra.
As I watched all 3 series I paid attention to expressions on the faces of opposing coaches (whenever ESPN or TNT showed them). At times when Celtics were winning coaches Drew and Collins were "saying" (as I read their facial expressions): "We did everything we could but we're still in deep doo-doo." In case of Spoelstra, I thought he had a general idea that his team is in deep sh%t but he looked totally clueless of why and how to get out of it.

It's just my observations and interpretations. YMMV (your mileage may vary)

AK

What a great win!

Personally, I don't subscribe to the "ugly but I'll take it" mentality. For me, any win to put my team up 3-2 in the Conference Finals is a gorgeous win. I don't care if Pierce, Ray and Rondo combined for a lousy shooting percentage. In their first championship final, Cousy and Sharman shot a combined 5 for 40, and the Celtics' win was nonetheless a thing of beauty in my eyes.

Because beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. I see beauty in a purposeful Rondo deflection right on the money to Pietrus for a huge three. I see beauty in the trust Paul Pierce showed in the same Pietrus when he passed the ball to Mickael in the corner. I see beauty in the number of Celtics floundering around on the floor not because they were flopping but because they were fighting. I see beauty in an older player shaking off the bonds of time to flummox the enemy with his inside-out game and his relentless rising to protect the basket on the other end. I see beauty in another older player running to the locker room for ankle treatment in the third quarter and coming back out ready to contribute every erg of energy he could summon to the stretch run. I see beauty in a masterfully disguised defensive strategy just when it was most needed to confuse the opponents. I see beauty in two players coming in cold and each hitting the single shot he would take—one a huge three from the left corner. I see beauty in the graceful gooseneck follow-through of a captain, not even an inch beyond the defense of The Great Pretender as a dagger traveled on its arc toward the basket.

Perhaps I'm demented (I'm sure my wife would cast a vote in that direction), but I even see beauty in the ability to grind, grind, grind because I believe there's a certain beauty in supreme effort and determination. Not every ballet is Swan Lake.

As I've reaffirmed a number of times during these playoffs, I respect the right of anyone to make even ill-advised comments when caught up in the compelling, excruciating excitement of these playoffs and this game. For myself, this is not the time to interpret grinding playoff basketball as ugly basketball; and this is not the time to preoccupy my focus on the present by making comparisons to the past. Game 5 is over. My concentration is already riveted on Game 6.

Go Celtics! Focus, focus, focus.

Sam

Outside,

I see game 6 as a must win. Pretty sure if we go to 7, it won't go our way. However, I've been wrong all year about this team, so take that comment with a grain of salt.

Pete

Outside,
You are correct - it's only game 5 and Celtics have to win one more game and the Heat quite capable to win the rest.
But unlike the cases your're comparing the current situation to (Orl and LAL), Celtics, last night, won a huge mental battle. They showed that the 2 home wins weren't flukes and Heat didn't win game 2 but were gifted by the refs. On top of that Mia lost to the team which could barely score.

As for the AWoj's article, I agree with you. Unless, of course he has some inside scoop that he can't reveal therefore masking it as his own musings based on post-game events.

AK

I would not be one to bet against this team at all. You just don't know from game to game.

I have nothing to say about the Heat, they are trying to win, we are just trying harder.

I thought that the players had to make themselves available after the game to be interviewed. I gather they don't have to go to the podium? James and Wade wouldn't be interviewed on the podium last night, just a few comments in the locker room, I guess that is all that matters to the NBA.

Tomorrow can't come soon enough for me.

AK,

Don't get me wrong, I think last night's win was huge. The Celtics have the advantage, and I expect them to win the series, though it won't surprise me at all if they win it in game 7 instead of game 6.

You're correct that the Orlando and LA series may have been 3-2 like this one but differ in other significant ways, such as the mental edge that you pointed out. My main point was to say how short attention span fans and media think the Celtics' 3-2 lead is decisive when it isn't, just like Miami's 2-0 lead wasn't.

The same applies to the Western Conference. I give San Antonio a decent chance to beat OKC in game 6. From a fan's perspective, both conference finals are gifts to treasure. Great drama all around.

Outside

Outside wrote: From a fan's perspective, both conference finals are gifts to treasure. Great drama all around.

Outside

Outside,

I think you've summed it up well; and therein lies my problem(s).

On Thurday night I have a dinner meeting with two colleagues, one of whom is going to be coming in from Kentucky. The discussion will be important, but what needs to be said can be summed up in enough time for me to drive home to see the game. Here my problem is how I can get them to quickly agree to what I'm proposing so I can get out of there in time for the game.

If we're fortunate enough to find ourselves in the finals, game 1 is on our wedding anniversary. Although I have a very understanding wife, my problem here is obvious. Is this the correct time to buy some expensive jewelry and explain that the dinner reservations are another evening? Perhaps; but she is the type to treasure the nice evening out more so it looks like I'm going out.

In either case the DVR is a partial solution, but there's just something about catching it live with no chance of hearing the outcome ahead of the recording.

Stay tuned as I attempt to answer these questions. I hope both nights become a real problem and I know that's a little sick-in-the-head. It's not easy being a serious fan.

Regards

Outside-The Celtics cooperated wonderfully, TODAY is my 42nd anniversary, I would have really been in trouble if it were yesterday or tomorrow. I can't eat much before a game and my husband is taking me and my Mom out to dinner tonight! The one thing my husband knows is it would be a complete waste of money to even bother to take me out on the day of a game!!! Jewelry is always a good thing!!!

Rosalie,

Happy Anniversary!

So what you're saying is I have to make sure my wife becomes a big Celtic fan, then I don't have to worry!

Regards

Add me to the list of people who have been forced to believe in the 2011-12 Celtics. I think the rumors are true that Danny was thinking of making big changes up to the trade deadline. I thought they would struggle but beat Atlanta and Philly then lose convincingly to Miami.

Miami almost couldn't be more opposite then Boston.
Miami's depth issues past their big 2 have been seriously exposed by the Celtics. Other then Wade and LeBron they have nobody that can drive to the basket or make anything else happen for other players. As we have all seen, they have either LeBron or Wade go one on one and 3 guys standing at the 3 point line waiting to get involved.

Miami's model is flawed and broken for good. Even if they somehow come back to beat Boston they will get dismantled by OKC or San Antonio.

It is hard to see any team beating OKC over the next few years.
Cleveland's owner might be right that his team will win a championship before LeBron does.

KG looks like KG of 2008 not KG of 2009-11. If he wants to return to Boston I think he deserves a two year contract at $8m to $10m per year.

I am happy for the good people on this forum that the Celtics are playing the way they are. Despite not liking the Celtics for almost 35 years, I completely respect what they have done, the heart and unity they have shown and how they have raised their play when they needed to.

I hope Boston beats Miami's corpse one more time then we can watch the old pros vs. OKC's new guns in the Finals.

NYCelt,

Something tells me your wife knows what kind of fan you are and that both of you will enjoy the evening out much more when the Celtics aren't playing. In any event, I just resign myself to losing husband points when these situations arise and go out when I'm not distracted so that I'll be more enjoyable company for the evening.

See, I'm all about doing what's right for my wife. Yeah, that's it.

I think I lost husband points just writing this.

Anyway, best of luck.

Outside

If I had to pick one word to describe the most prominent difference between the Celtics and the Heat, it would be the same as the difference between virtually any team and the Celtics throughout the years. That word is cohesion.

While fans of so many other teams talk first in terms of individual stars and even individual role players, inveterate Celtics fans talk first in terms of the team. And nowhere is the distinction so glaring as between the Celtics and the Heat.

There's no question that the Heat have two super players and at least two others who are very good (Bosh and Chalmers). They even have some pretty good role players.

But, for some reason, the parts remain bigger than the whole. The whole package somehow doesn't seem to work. There seems to be some intangible ingredient that refuses to let their whole team surrender to the "all in one and one in all" type of commitment that is at the core of the Boston Celtics.

This doesn't guarantee a win for the Celtics in either of the next two games. There have been many occasions on which individual players have just been so outstanding that even a fine opposing team effort could not deny them.

Whatever the magic intangible is (I know it relates at least partly to mutual trust, even when the chips are down), it's also the one thing that the national media has never properly recognized and possibly never will. Even know, I hear people like Stephen A------ Smith apologizing for doubting the Celtics, and it just sounds so shallow. I can practically guarantee that, if the Celts do make the finals, he and other media moguls will revert to form and fawn all over one opposition star or another, despite the fact that the western representative will also be a pretty good example of togetherness.

If the Celtics were not the Celtics, I think a good name for them would have been The House of David. Because the media machine will almost always root for Goliath.

Go Celtics!!!! Focus, focus, focus.

Sam

Happy anniversary Rosalie!! Enjoy your dinner, and when your husband isn't looking, super size it !!

TJ, thanks, I know its difficult for you to root for the Celtics, but the fact that you did that, illustrates to me that you are a true basketball fan. Good luck to the Lakers next year, when they are not playing us!

You too Mustang & Bsky where ever you are, I'm on your side, when you are not on our court or us on yours, although you will always have my utmost sympathy when faced with a loss, LOL Have a great summer you two.

Respectfully yours,


Pete

Do you know what they are calling a Boston/Oklahoma/Spurs final?

DAVID STERN'S WORST NIGHTMARE! The league is dying for a LeBron/Kevin Durant final, the wave of the future for the NBA.

I think he is going to be very disappointed

I have a new computer and when I copy and paste these pictures I can't preview them to see how they look. If the pics don't come through, please let me know.



The Dagger, by Pierce. The refs were calling defensive touches on the hands while shooting all game, but not this time.







Damn! How'd he get past me! Nobody gets past me (like he never fouls out)







HUGE block by KG. Afterwards Bosh stood there, his arms wide-open complaining about the non-call, and we ran downcourt and scored.

















A non-call here. Battier with his arm coming around Rondo's neck from behind.









Dooling's clutch 3. Miller a touch late on the rotation.
















Rondo was complaining Chalmers held his right hand down. Replay shows he was right.











Bass, hanging in there and not giving up on an uncontrolled rebound.









Here's the wider angle on a previous shot. Note Bosh underneath.










KG's heart, coming through







I have NO idea where Haslem thought he was supposed to be on this play, but he sure wasn't where he was supposed to be.








KG, yet again, playing bigger than anybody else on the court.







Pierce, doing what he has done well all series. Driving and picking up a foul.








Rondo, with his own rebound and put back













bob


.

Bob,

No pics, just text.

Pete

Rosalie:

I hope you get a Celtic green emerald diamond for your anniversary.

MD!

Today the talk radio was all about LeBron this, Dwayne Wade that, the Heat not living up to their potential - with very little said about the Celtics.

Well you know what. I like the Heat. They are a damned good team. They smoked the rest of the EC except for us. LeBron is the MVP, one helluva player. Dwayne Wade is an amazing athlete. Battier, Chalmers, Haslem, Bosh - all fine players. But guess what? They lost to the Celts.

Why? Not because the Heat choked or had momentary lapses of because LeBron is soft or Spoelstra can't coach. The number 1 reason the Heat lost to the Celts is because we are THAT good! And we have been for five years. Only injuries have kept more rings out of our hands. We have four GREAT HOF players on our team and a HOF coach. We have pride and a winning tradition. We play with enormous heart and simply won't abide losing. We're mentally tough and physically tougher. Now it looks like we very well may be going to our third NBA Finals in five years. Think that's an accident? A coincidence? Luck? I don't think so.

It's time for the league, the fans, the sports commentators to give credit where it is due. The Celtics win because we play better basketball than almost anyone else most of the time - even when beset by HORRIFIC injuries. Who did we lose this year? JON, AB, Jeff Greene, Chris Wilcox. That's the makings of a pretty good team right there. TMZ or whatever his name is - the Lakers fan - says we could have made up for the losses with trades. Oh yeah? How about a little thing called the salary cap?

So missing four key players we still are on the brink of another Finals. Sportwriters and TV talking heads, time to Shut T F Up about what's wrong with the Heat and start showing some admiration for the incredible job the Celts are doing - year after year after year. KG expressed it best last night when he talked about the tremendous pride he takes in honing his craft. The Celts all do - and their team play confirms and affirms that pride.

Kudos to Magic Johnson for being one of the few to give the Celts their props consistently - even when the Celts have been inconsistent. He knows what it takes to be a champion and recognizes greatness in the Celtics bloodline. Yo!

Nice post, Worcester.

How's Arian? And, by extension, how are you?

Sam

Great post Worcester. It is tiring to turn on the television and hear the same things over and over, Miami, Miami, Miami. Jackie Mac finally wrote an article yesterday on ESPN.com saying that it was time for people to finally give the Celtics their due. Everyone had written them off, she even admitted she had. But...she also said it was time to take them seriously. It won't happen on national television. They are dying for Durant/LeBron finals, league and all.

I can only hope that tonight turns out the way it should, Celtics beating Miami on their home court, and taking the Eastern Conference title from Miami. But, win or lose, they have won the hearts of many people. They had mine years ago!

Rosalie