Why Is It So Different This Year?

[PhoSita]

I'm really just at a loss right now.

The Celtics played small in the second half of last season and won the vast majority of their games. 

Sure, they miss Avery Bradley.  But Courtney Lee and Jason Terry should have been able to fill in more than adequately.

So why isn't it working this year?  Like, at all?


The Celtics are bad at a lot of things that a good basketball team needs to be able to do:

- Rebounding
- Preventing dribble penetration
- Protecting the rim
- Hitting high value shots (threes and looks in the paint) at a high rate
- Getting consistent production from the bench


I look at a team like the Atlanta Hawks, and they are far less talented overall than the Celtics.  But they have been much more successful.  They rebound, they get looks inside, they have a lot of good outside shooters, and they defend the perimeter and the paint effectively.  They're a better team even though they lack a star on the same level as Rondo, Pierce, or Garnett.  In short, the Hawks are just built in a much more traditional way than the Celtics, and it works.  What the Celtics have right now isn't working.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

tonight was garbage coaching and then we were just snakebit.

why does doc let them take jumpers when we could not throw the ball in the ocean?

why do we not dribble drive and/or dish or post up KG when it matters?

pure luck got us to OT. then when we get to OT KG misses two baby shots from 3 feet out. unbelievable. should have never gotten to that situation.

we need a big guy now to post up and be the go to guy when we suck at jumpers. nah nevermind doc would not allow it. *banging head against wall*

[Celtics18]

I thought the Celtics  looked pretty good tonight.  When Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry shoot like that, it's going to be tough to win. 

I like that Bucks teams.  They'll be a fun eighth seed.

[PhoSita]

I thought the Celtics  looked pretty good tonight.  When Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry shoot like that, it's going to be tough to win. 

I like that Bucks teams.  They'll be a fun eighth seed.

This doesn't really answer the question of my post.

Why have the Celtics struggled so much this year when they were so good with essentially the same core lineup (Rondo - SG - Pierce - Bass - Garnett) in the second half of last season?

[Celtics18]

I thought the Celtics  looked pretty good tonight.  When Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry shoot like that, it's going to be tough to win. 

I like that Bucks teams.  They'll be a fun eighth seed.

This doesn't really answer the question of my post.

Why have the Celtics struggled so much this year when they were so good with essentially the same core lineup (Rondo - SG - Pierce - Bass - Garnett) in the second half of last season?

I don't have a full answer, but missing a ton of makeable shots was the main reason tonight.  That, and Larry Sanders and Monta Ellis. 

[ManUp]

Doc is still running the same plays except for Lee and Terry and it's not really working that well. It's just not their games. We need better defense and some more consistent scoring from secondary players.

[SHAQATTACK]

yea there is NO freakin way we can win when KG and Jet shot like 5 for 45 or something... a blind man can hit as many..with luck alone....

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

I thought the Celtics  looked pretty good tonight.  When Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry shoot like that, it's going to be tough to win. 

I like that Bucks teams.  They'll be a fun eighth seed.

This doesn't really answer the question of my post.

Why have the Celtics struggled so much this year when they were so good with essentially the same core lineup (Rondo - SG - Pierce - Bass - Garnett) in the second half of last season?

I don't have a full answer, but missing shots was the main reason tonight.  That, and Larry Sanders and Monta Ellis.

right, shots they had no business taking. Tommy is going to die of a stroke before it is over screaming for us to attack inside. i'll bet he does not think too fondly of doc outside the booth.

[GrandTheftRondo]

A few reasons.

Among them being that a lot of teams got better while we stayed the same (or got worse by some accounts.) That makes a difference. Especially when two of those teams who have gotten better are in our division SMH.

Doc. His bad coaching is getting exposed with each passing game.

2 of our most important players are getting older.

We have no size.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

A few reasons.

Among them being that a lot of teams got better while we stayed the same (or got worse by some accounts.) That makes a difference. Especially when two of those teams who have gotten better are in our division SMH.

Doc. His bad coaching is getting exposed with each passing game.

2 of our most important players are getting older.

We have no size.

yep. a blind monkey could see it now. doc has been exposed. insanity=doing the same thing over and over=shooting bricks instead of attacking. unreal.

[cltc5]

I'm really just at a loss right now.

The Celtics played small in the second half of last season and won the vast majority of their games. 

Sure, they miss Avery Bradley.  But Courtney Lee and Jason Terry should have been able to fill in more than adequately.

So why isn't it working this year?  Like, at all?


The Celtics are bad at a lot of things that a good basketball team needs to be able to do:

- Rebounding
- Preventing dribble penetration
- Protecting the rim
- Hitting high value shots (threes and looks in the paint) at a high rate
- Getting consistent production from the bench


I look at a team like the Atlanta Hawks, and they are far less talented overall than the Celtics.  But they have been much more successful.  They rebound, they get looks inside, they have a lot of good outside shooters, and they defend the perimeter and the paint effectively.  They're a better team even though they lack a star on the same level as Rondo, Pierce, or Garnett.  In short, the Hawks are just built in a much more traditional way than the Celtics, and it works.  What the Celtics have right now isn't working.

because Doc is trying to stick his antiquated system into a lineup that doesnt fit that way.

[CelticsFan9]

Age

New parts

KG is that much of a post guy anymore (Due to age)

Bass lost his jumper, Lee did too

Green and Pietrus are totally different, So are Jet and Ray

[Celtics18]

I thought the Celtics  looked pretty good tonight.  When Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry shoot like that, it's going to be tough to win. 

I like that Bucks teams.  They'll be a fun eighth seed.

This doesn't really answer the question of my post.

Why have the Celtics struggled so much this year when they were so good with essentially the same core lineup (Rondo - SG - Pierce - Bass - Garnett) in the second half of last season?

I don't have a full answer, but missing shots was the main reason tonight.  That, and Larry Sanders and Monta Ellis.

right, shots they had no business taking. Tommy is going to die of a stroke before it is over screaming for us to attack inside. i'll bet he does not think too fondly of doc outside the booth.

Jet, KG, and Brandon Bass missed a heck of a lot of shots that I like them taking.  I love taking it to the basket, but sometimes you've got to hit some jump shots. 

I mean, shoot, a lot of KG's misses were inside.  Larry Sanders really bothered him tonight. 

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Age

New parts

KG is that much of a post guy anymore (Due to age)

Bass lost his jumper, Lee did too

Green and Pietrus are totally different, So are Jet and Ray

well then we had best make a trade for a big who can score down low also then. or we are history.

[vinnie]

I thought the Celtics  looked pretty good tonight.  When Kevin Garnett and Jason Terry shoot like that, it's going to be tough to win. 

I like that Bucks teams.  They'll be a fun eighth seed.

The Bucks are 3-1 against the Celtics for the season. Just saying. Right now they are better than the Celtics.