POST GAME BUCKS

Some may disagree......perhaps many...but I love the Celtic offense without Rondo......It's faster pace......more flowing.......more running and what I like about it...........everyone gets involved becoming a facilitator of offense.

It will be interesting to watch what Doc does in coming games.

JEFF GREEN...KEEP WATCHING THOSE HIGHLIGHT DISCS!!!!! 18PTS...6REBS!!!!!

How about Courtney Lee and his defense...also chipping in 13pts ...3rebs.


NEXT GAME - HOME - WEDNESDAY 7:30PM - MIN. T. WOLVES - CSNE/NBA LEAGUE PASS

POST GAME RECAP - ESPNBOSTON.COM

Rapid Reaction: Bucks 91, Celtics 88

Rapid reaction after the Milwaukee Bucks defeated the Boston Celtics 91-88 on Saturday evening at the Bradley Center:

THE NITTY GRITTY
Larry Sanders (18 points, 16 rebounds, 5 blocks) and Ersan Ilyasova (15 points, 5 rebounds, 4 assists) provided a much-needed bench spark for the Bucks, but it was Brandon Jennings (13 points, 6 rebounds) who produced the biggest shot of the night with a go-ahead 3-pointer with 24 seconds to play to lift the rally-happy Bucks. Celtics captain Paul Pierce scored a game-high 19 points on 6-of-16 shooting, while Jason Terry added a double-double (15 points, 11 assists), but both players missed long 3-pointers in the closing moments that could have forced overtime.

A DOMINANT START FOR C'S
The Celtics picked up right where they left off on Friday, playing inspired defense from the jump and holding the Bucks scoreless over the game's first 5½ minutes. Boston made seven of its first eight shots while opening a 17-0 lead before Ilyasova's 16-footer broke up the shoutout with 6:29 to play in the first frame. The Bucks shot a mere 26.3 percent (5 of 19) in the first quarter and mustered only 11 points as Boston led by 16 after one frame. But the Bucks raced back fast.

BUCKS ROAR BACK
Everything good that Boston did in the first quarter disappeared in the second. Ilyasova and Sanders lit the fuse and the Bucks shot 63.6 percent (14 of 22) while outscoring Boston 36-21 in the second frame. The Celtics led by just one at the intermission and a Monta Ellis layup 91 seconds into the third quarter gave Milwaukee its first lead of the night.

TURNING POINT
The Bucks opened a six-pont lead early in the fourth quarter, but Boston chipped away, then appeared to be taking control when Jeff Green and Pierce hit back-to-back 3-pointers to put the Celtics out front 88-85 with 1:44 to go. Unfazed, Milwaukee got a generous offensive foul call on Garnett before generating a dunk from Sanders to make it a one-point game and set up Jennings' heroics with a 3-pointer from the top of the arc. The Celtics had three chances at triples to pull ahead or tie, and none would fall.

WHAT IT MEANS
Considering the way the game started, it's somewhat improbably that Boston fumbled this game away. A 17-point lead should be somewhat insurmountable, but there was still 41 minutes to play and the Bucks made things interesting again in a hurry. Kevin Garnett (17 points, 7 rebounds) and Jeff Green (18 points, 6 rebounds) shouldered the load for Boston at times, but things just slipped away late and Milwaukee made some big shots. The Celtics are left kicking themsleves while falling to 9-8 on the season. Boston had a chance to pick up two wins while Rajon Rondo was suspended, but kicked this one away. The team will be left with that bitter taste in their mouths for three days before getting back on the court Wednesday when old friend Greg Stiemsma and the Minnesota Timberwolves visit TD Garden.

112288

It's almost a given that when the Celtics start that strong the rules seems to be that the C's will limp to the finish line usually with an"L" instead of the "W".

MD!

MD when KG leaves the game it spells the downfall of the Celtics defense and stalls the offense. We need another big to compliment KG.


11/22/88

someone is going to be traded before the trade deadline, my guess is Bass, I do not think they are willing to give up Bradley. But something has to give unless they can sign Kenyon Martin and let Collins go.

There is a deep need for someone to back up KG, the only thing is Martin is not a center, so....what do they do???????

Rosalie

112288 wrote:Some may disagree......perhaps many...but I love the Celtic offense without Rondo......It's faster pace......more flowing.......more running and what I like about it...........everyone gets involved becoming a facilitator of offense.
112288

112288, I was with you last year when you pointed out - and got a lot of heat for doing so - that the team played better with Avery B. instead of with Ray A. and I'm with you again. The only question is - what to do about it?

Rondo has all the talent in the world, but his head is not in a good place and it hasn't been since his days in college. I keep hoping the light will come on but I've been waiting a long time. There seems to be some sort of psychological problem that has never been attended to.

Without Rondo Pierce seems to be handling the ball more and becoming more turnover prone. The bigger downside to Rondo, to me and it is exposed against Chris Paul & Tony Parker is that he plays lazy defense at times and gets torched. I agree Jason Collins gives the C's virtually nothing. However, who is out there to be had cannot be very good or they would be signed and getting minutes with an NBA team currently. Pierce & Garnett are at the stages in their careers where they cannot consistently play effectively for extended minutes. This is the time when they should be transitioning to diminished roles. I think if playoffs started today, the C's would not make it.

MD!

Rosalie, Berlin & MD

The problem could be one of 3 with Rondo or a little of both.

First maybe Doc has structured the offense around Rondo where he is the facilitator and everything must go through him and that is what we are seeing ....a half court slowed down offense, or........

Second, Rondo will only play where the offense comes through him and he is the major facilitator and Doc and him have been battling for a few years on this issue. Remember Doc has said that Rondo is head strong, or.....

Third, it is a little of both.

My sense is Rondo packaged with Bass/Wilcox and may be a draft pick could bring us a great center, another PF and a good PG. Maybe this is a multi team deal. Rondo can fetch a high price because he is locked up at cheap dollars for the next few years ........and he is a star.

Why I am including Bass in this? I am disappointed with his development this year. He has a major flaw in his offensive game....he hesitates too much on his shot and then cannot get it off. He also cannot drive to the rim well to get a shot off. He started to do some of what I am pointing out in preseason and some of our earlier games.........but now he has regressed back to last year.

The point guard guy should have traded for or got in the free agency was Felton now playing for NYK. Not a superstar but a good facilitator of the ball and has a nice shot.

But I do like the run and gun offensive where everyone is involved in stead of what we have turned into.

112288

Last night Boston scored 88 points.

Personally I do not love 88 points. By any measure the Celtics offense was marginally poor. Other than the 1st QTR where they put up 27 points, the offense was pretty stagnant.

Let's talk a little bit about the offense without Rondo. The last two games the team seemd more intent to run. Instead of having to get Rondo the ball we saw more attempts the last two games of long passes. The problem is that without Rondo, the quality of the passing has not been real sharp. And down the stretch the offense was not good enough to win.

It would be difficult to make a claim that the Celtics offense looks better without Rondo. We did lose last night and we shot 41% and we scored 11 pts below the season average so I would not get too carried away.

The offense will improve as the chemistry improves. If Lee and Green knock down shots like they are being paid to do the offense will be fine.

The problem begins and ends with the defense, the defensive rebounding and the transition game. (defense to offense) We need another big and we need the guards to stay in front of their man to limit the opposing pick and role opportunities that we are seeing every game.

This team is still a work in progress so my assessment is that the team still needs more time to established how they are going to play together.

But we do need another big.

dboss

In May or was it June the Celts were within a few minutes of upsetting the Miami Heat to the Eastern Conference crown. Rondo had more than a little to do with that. Now we're not doing so well, and there's a cry to jettison this awesome but often blockheaded player. Yes we do need a center, but please, let's show Rondo more respect. I'd hate to lose him.

I have no interest in getting rid of Rondo. That would be a stupid move, he is a unique player who just needs to realize that it is time to grow up.

RosalieTCeltics wrote:I have no interest in getting rid of Rondo. That would be a stupid move, he is a unique player who just needs to realize that it is time to grow up.

Totally agree. This talk of breaking up the team after a month is ridiculous.

Danny cannot do anything with the team until at least January 10+/- so we'll see what happens until then, but it sure is getting discouraging to see below average teams beating a so called team to make a deep run in the playoffs.

Again we do not know who has established running the offense through Rondo.....probably Doc and staff.........so maybe we need to be focusing in on Doc a little more then the players on this one. You know....Doc is not God.....he is human and maybe his compass is off on how to run this team with the personnel he has.

As far as trading Rondo.........Rondo is the only legit super star in his prime that can fetch any real big value. Any successful team had a great center or a center who is a next step below great. Red said you build a team from the rim out.

Rondo is our only true value to trade for equally true value. Do I want him traded...........no not if we can get a center another way.....but he may be the only true trading chip we have to get someone who can dominate.

For people to say give it time...we are a few games away from getting our game down...........well I sure hope so........but no one can deny that as goes KG to the bench..........goes the Celtics defense and offense. We need another dominating big who is not a bench warmer! Danny did not do his job in this area...........it started with Perkins and he has not been able to recover that position since he traded Perk. If I were to point a finger..........I start with Danny!!!

112288

112288

please don't get Dwight Howard!!

cowens/oldschool wrote:please don't get Dwight Howard!!

I think you'll get your wish.

....overated, if thats the best center in the league then this might be the worst of eras for centers, no wonder the all star balloting only has fans pick 3 frontcourt players. Howard couldn't carry Dave Cowens, Willis Reed or Nate Thurmonds jock strap

cowens/oldschool wrote:....overated, if thats the best center in the league then this might be the worst of eras for centers, no wonder the all star balloting only has fans pick 3 frontcourt players. Howard couldn't carry Dave Cowens, Willis Reed or Nate Thurmonds jock strap

Yeah, but he's just as good as Wilt. At missing free throws. Another 12 bricks tonight (on 9 for 21, 47% on the season). At nearly 6,000 career FT attempts I guess practice doesn't make perfect.

112288:

Right On! Start the finger pointing at Ainge for mo quality back up to KG!

MD!

Hi,
I don't get. Rondo's got 2 game suspension (topic of another thread) and now he's back on the trading block?
Yeah, sure, he's a great trading value but Danny won't touch him. At least not this year. I believe the idea is that the Celtics can reach the finals with the current crew with RR as a center piece.

AK

This is indeed the era of poor quality centers.