Nothing gets people talking like something negative.
Welcome to the Celtic House of Verbosity.
An unexpected 2nd straight loss to the lowly Hawks has Celtic fans, Celtic doubters, and Celtic haters getting some chops in.
The funny thing almost anything you can say is, at least, partially right.
Overall, one thing leads to another. Still, the same could be said for the Hawks and they didn’t give up when they were down 2-0 in the series or 16-3 in the last game. Momentum can change on a dime. I expect it will again.
If it doesn’t, it will be a very long summer for three guys who thought they had what it takes to win a championship.
a) The refs were preferential to the Hawks. The Celtics did not get the same ‘type’ of calls the Hawks did. That stuff affects the aggressiveness of almost anyone – except champions. Champions usually rise above it. Still, what happened last night was very difficult to play around. Three Celtics, including Garnett and Pierce had 2 quick fouls and Pierce had three before the half.
Garnett was getting fouled many times without getting the calls. The Hawks had 33 foul shots to the Celtics 18. The Celtics didn’t make the ones they had (10-18).
The refs have allowed the Hawks to taunt (Horford), but not the Celtics. The Celtics aren’t getting charging calls they usually get.
Awww, forget the a-b-c stuff.
The Celtics did not respond to the pressure and obstacles placed before them very well. That was the stunner. They played hard, but they did not play smart like they usually do.
Help defense was not what it usually is. That’s why Joe Johnson had his way in the 4th quarter. Why they have deserted one of their core principles at this time can only be attributed to play-off pressure and Hawk pressure.
I wonder if Paul Pierce is healthy. I’m beginning to doubt it. Though playing relatively well, he is not playing like we all know he can.
The Celtics did not expect to have this much trouble with the Hawks. They will have to play smarter to beat them. With some home town calls it should be an easy thing. The problem is little has been easy over the last two games.
Someone told Rajon that the play-offs haven’t really begun until you win on the road. In the Celtics/Hawks series both teams have held serve on their own courts. Have the play-offs begun?
Just a few games ago, no one thought the series would be tied. It is and now the Celtics have the pressure to win. To me, it is relatively simple as to what they must do. While the Hawks are athletic and talented, they are very beatable. A smart game plan, well executed will expose the Hawks.
The problem is it will do the same to the Celtics.
To be sure, Doc Rivers has not missed defensive assignments, missed foul shots, missed lay-ups, jawed at the opponents, missed clutch shots, not gotten back on defense, let the refs calls effect his game and aggression, and any other thing the Celtics have uncharacteristically done on the floor. Rants to the contrary notwithstanding.
But Doc Rivers is on the hot seat as much as the players. Not using PJ Brown or Tony Allen is a head scratcher. Staying with Ray Allen on Joe Johnson for so long was, too. The Celtics inability to solve the Hawks interior defense is another event at least partially attributable to Doc.
Yet, ironically, maybe Doc should shorten the rotation even more this game. Tony Allen, PJ, and Posey with spot duty by Cassell should be the short list of subs. Make sure the Three Amigos are the floor as much as is necessary. Rotate their breathers so that 2 of the three are always out there. You want your best players out there, if you need them, for as long as possible. Plenty of time to rest in the summer. It will be interesting to see how this all plays out.
I’ll be at the game Wednesday night. It will be my very first play-off game in person. I’m looking forward to it – win or lose.
