Use Assists and Rebounds As Barometer on Celtic Play

SD,

Of course all of those things are desirable. So are better spacing, more consistent free throw shooting, quicker recovery on help defense,
and a host of other basic basketball dicta. And I'm sure that, in the 10-12 meaningful practices the Celtics probably have left in the
regular season, they'll focus on whatever they feel are the most problematic areas. (Doc says they have about two dozen practices a season when they can address anything other than getting ready for upcoming games.)

But what ties it all together and makes it more than a collection of individual skills is team cohesiveness. And, for every bit of growth in the areas you wish to see improved, better chemistry will accelerate the effects of that growth on team performance.

You're probably going to have to face the fact that this will never be a very good offensive rebounding group unless Perk magically gets a new pair of hands. And there are other skill areas in this particular collection of athletes will probably never be elite—transition offense among them.

But whatever gains they are able to muster in the areas you specified, those things will be of no use without dramatically better cohesion on this team—especially the bench. In fact, if the entire roster remained at their current skill levels but became a lot more familiar with one another and comfortable with their most productive roles in the team scheme, the enhanced chemistry alone would almost automatically bring about noteworthy improvements in the areas you mention.

For example, better defensive rhythm should enable them to do a better job of denial without fouling so much. Their rebounding (at least their defensive rebounding) proficiency should respond to less need to scramble and gamble to compensate for defensive inefficiencies. Better ball and player movement should be infectious natural outgrowths of improved offensive rhythm. Increased familiarity with one another should result in fewer turnovers.

And, as a devout Celtics fan, you had better hope that the next couple of months will see a major improvement in team chemistry, because 10-12 measly practices will not make much of a dent in the collective knowledge base of a roster that already totals 96 years of NBA experience. They know pretty well how to do this stuff. Their best chance for improved execution lies in doing it better within the context of a cohesive group.

Sam

Sam, I believe you have mentioned it before, and I feel as well, that Tony
Allen should get much more playing time. I even would like to see Tony start some games and bring Ray off the bench. I feel the Celtic defense is much tougher with Tony in the game. Also, rebounding and energy questions would be much improved.

The floor game would suffer, but resting Ray more would be a benefit as well. Tony seems to play better as his minutes increase. I guess that could be said for a lot of players.

I truly believe the Celtics would have beaten the Magic if Tony had played more minutes.

Go Celtics!!!

sdceltfan wrote:The only chance the Celtics have of getting banner 18 is to improve on the items listed below:

1) more consistent ball and player movement (retaining energy and agression levels more consistently throughout game);

2) better court management (fewer turnovers);

3) better rebounding (especially reducing opponent's offensive rebounds);

4) reducing fouls (keeping opponents off the foul line).


These goals are attainable by this team. Do I think they will be met? No.
Do I think injuries (hence chemistry) are what has solely resulted in Celtics' erratic play? No. We recently played and lost to 2 relatively weak teams who were missing star players. Am I to believe that most of the teams we are playing have better chemistry than the Celtics? Even with the number of veterans we are playing?

Rivers again was quoted as saying the Celtics continue to "pace themselves" and "feel they can turn on a switch". I am not alone in my feeling that Celtic veterans should take a good look in the mirror, and start listening to what Rivers and the coaching staff have to say.

Go Celtics!!

Cannot do #3 & 4 due to they are not athletic due to age or physical limitations such as Big Baby's size which hinders his jumping ability.

112288

Can anyone tell me how many assists the Celtics had in the 2nd half? How many assists in the 4th quarter? Thanks!!

Go Celtics!!

SD,

Tony played 15:29—more than any other bench player other than Sheed (who spend extended time with the starters in place of Perk). The announcers remarked on what a great job Tony was doing on Joe Johnson (as was Ray) during the first half. Joe was an equal opportunity abuser of both of them in the fourth quarter.

I like what Tony offers the team, and ther is logic in wanting him to play some with the starters, if only to pair him with Rondo. But,
although I know chemistry is not as important to you as to me, there's no way Doc's going to mess with his starting five when he has so many other chemistry issues to deal with. The starters are finally showing signs of getting back into sync (although they have a long way to go yet). It's the bench that's messing up big time now.

I looked at the assists at halftime, but mostly to ascertain that two-thirds of their field goal attempts were assisted. I think (but
can't confirm) that they had 12 assists on 17 field goals. That would mean they had six in the second half. But that really doesn't mean
anything, as the most serious offense they mustered in making the comeback involved Paul going iso—and (although I hate iso play), it was more effective than whatever else they were doing because the Hawks were messing up the Celtics' passing game by getting into the passing lanes.

Sam

Boston had 12 assists in the first half, 6 in the second half.

18 field goals in the first half, 13 in the second half.

Don't know how many assists they got in the fourth quarter because I had to do something around 9 and watched the second half later on tape delay.

The Celtics had four assists in the fourth quarter.

1122

it is way to soon to say anything real about Glen Davis. Except that he punched his budd and missed most of the year.

Actually, Jeb, I was noticing in the Hawks game that Glen seemed more determined than usual, especially in the rebounding action. One thing that may have gone somewhat unnoticed since he's been back is that he is putting up the highest rebound-per-minute totals in his career. Moreover, precisely half of them are offensive rebounds; and lord knows the Celtics can never have enough of them. Obviously, his game still needs a lot of work, and I personally believe he's one of the main victims of the lack of continuity the Celtics have experienced—especially the volleyball game involving Sheed, the starters and the bench. Glen needs to find his groove, and he especially needs to determine how to work most effectively with Sheed. I have to admire him for persisting and for making a focus of rebounding with a bad. He has much better hands with that bad thumb than Perk does with two good thumbs. I just wish he had Perk's height.

Sam

He MATTERED to the team last year. If he gets back to where he was that alone will be a huge bonus.

6 assists in the 2nd half! Again a very low number. For whatever reason one wants to give, the Celtics have got to provide more 2nd half player and ball movement . It has been 2 months now, and exactly the same thing is happening. Pretty easy to get into the passing lanes and guard stationary Celtic players! Of course assist numbers are affected by a lot of factors. But they have been a damn good reflection of Celtic overall play.

Chemistry doesn't necessarily provide players with the ambition to MOVE! You must admit each game is like the last, and has been for most of 2 months.

I love the Celtics, but either they are getting too old quick, or the desire isn't there, or this team can't play with professionalism for 4 quarters. The chemistry seems to be there for the 1st 2 quarters of each game. I don't buy changes by opposing teams is affecting Celtic 2nd half play, because this team is a veteran team with a veteran coaching staff.

I feel more than anything this team needs a transfusion of youthful energy and legs. Rivers and his coaching staff are going to have to start trusting Tony Allen and Daniels (when he gets back) and look for more of the same in the offseason.

I mentioned this 2 months ago - it is even more critical now.

Trust me, we had better get Bosh!

Go Celtics!!

OF COURSE chemistry stimulates the desire to move. That's why the Celtics very often score points in runs—very often via the fast break—when they get in a groove. The adrenalin flows. The home crowd gets into it. Everyone does everything right. It's infectious.

Groove, chemistry....call is what you wish. But there's nothing like the rush of clicking together than motivates players to put out.

Conversely, the LACK of chemistry can put a real damper on motivation. Players find themselves frustrated when their efforts are subverted by a lack of rhythm. The harder they try, the worse it can get. Now the LACK of adrenalin comes into play. They find themselves thinking more than acting instinctively, and that saps even more energy.

Yes, it would be nice to be able to trust Daniels because he seems like a real chemistry guy. And, whatever systems and skills and concepts and capabilities they need to get back on track, the thing they need most to tie them all together and make them dynamics is CHEMISTRY.

Did you hear Heinsohn last night? He didn't bother chastising the bench with the mundanities of whether they needed to rebound better or exert effort or get more assists. He diagnosed their overriding problem as lack of chemistry. Pass plays (and potential assists) fail because of lack of cohesiveness. (Did you see all those Hawks interceptions in the passing lanes?) Rebounding fails because of lack of cohesiveness (for example, one guy blocks out while the other rebounds...they don't both compete with one another and wind up knocking the ball out of bounds as they did last night).

Even though the Celtics' chemistry was no better than spotty last night, they made a comeback for one reason. Pierce took over the game with his iso stuff. Check the play-by-play. That's why they had only two assists in the third quarter and yet they made a huge comeback. The lack of assists was an effect, not a cause. Making the distinction is terribly important.

Sam

Lack of aggressive offense in the 4th quarter AGAIN lost this Laker game. AGAIN! How many assists in the 4th quarter? Far too many isolations and poor player and ball movement. Why is this so difficult for the Celtics to understand. Rondo said it himself at halftime: "we have to maintain energy".

For the most part rebounding, game management, energy and aggression were greatly improved. Encouraged, but the way the Celtics play the 4th quarters, no amount of "chemistry" will get this team to NBA finals.

Aggression got us the lead, defensive AGGRESSION almost maintained it, lack of offensive AGGRESSION again lost it.

"I just don't understand it!" Again I felt Tony Allen deserved more playing time in 4th quarter. Play him with Rondo; he should never be the point of attack.

Go Celtics!!