Ray AllenIt’s not enough to have three superstars. When Michele Tafoya sat down with the Big Three for ESPN’s Sunday Conversation before the playoffs, she asked two memorable questions. 1. When the game’s on the line, who takes the last shot? 2. Who is the MVP? Both of Tafoya’s questions segmented this trio, asking which one of them stands out as either the a) end-of-game hero, or b) biggest hero in general.
On their playoff road, the Celtics have turned into a bunch of rogue heroes. They only look to get one guy going at a time, and it ends up costing the team’s offensive flow. At home, the Celtics consistently run plays similar to the one that started the second half last night. Nearly everyone on the floor touched the ball as they used 21 of 24 seconds on the shot clock. Finally, KG passed up a fadeaway to hit a wide open Rajon Rondo, who took two dribbles for an easy lay-up. But that play looked like it was an aberration - it looked like the product of a halftime script.
As Wally Szczerbiak strapped the Cavs to his back, scoring 9 of their first 11 points to start the second half, the Celtics switched into ‘hero’ mode, and only ran plays for one player. It wasn’t always the same player. But it was always just one guy - and the whole team got tunnel vision looking to get that one guy going on that one particular play. And their shot selection suffered because of it.
“I just thought a couple of threes we took . . . we were searching for those instead of the continued ball movement that gets you good shots,” said Doc Rivers. “I call them ‘hero shots’ and I thought we took a lot of those instead of just stressing what we do.”
Not only do these bricks create momentum and transition opportunities for the Cavaliers, but they also severely detract from the unheralded heroes of the Celtics’ offense. When they fail to move the ball and force the defense to shift, James Posey can’t shake free to sink open trey’s. He was 0-2 last night from deep for 3 points.
And the more they push one of the Big Three to step up and take the reins as a hero, the worse he looks. Kevin Garnett and Ray Allen combined to go 0-3 in the fourth quarter last night, leaving everything in Paul Pierce’s hands. He struggled to do it all by himself, mustering 6 points on 3-7 shooting. Pierce’s 3 fourth quarter makes comprised the majority of Boston’s 5 fourth quarter field goals.
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May 13th, 2008 at 9:12 am
GEE...I once got busy in a Burger King bathroom! says:
It’s honestly looking like all arrows are pointing to Doc Rivers in that case.
Did he just think of the “Hero Shot” thing cause I promise he is already wearing it in the ground.
Don’t know why Boston doesn’t just study what the Pistons do and get that going with small tweaks and additions.
Not feeling Doc’s coaching. Boston reminding me a lot of the Nuggs just with some D.
May 13th, 2008 at 9:14 am
QQ says:
Uno.
And yeah, Celtics lose, but this will only serve as motivation. And to all BANDWAGON JUMPERS out there, fucking stick to your team. Celtics ain’t done yet.
May 13th, 2008 at 9:33 am
Prof. TX says:
Doc Rivers is getting exposed as an overrated coach. He’s been basically coaching an all-star game for most of the year, and now doesn’t seem to have any good strategies when it counts. Yeah, they have some good team defense, but that comes from Thibodeaux, not Rivers.
The Celtics definitely have talented players, but so does every team that’s still playing at this time of year.
May 13th, 2008 at 9:47 am
fiyaman says:
Doc and Garnett gotta take the blame 4 whatever happens with this team. Doc is showing that he doesnt know how to adjust and KG is showing that he’s not the leader that he makes himself out to be. Its funny how he hasnt been jersey popping this series. The man hasnt even taken 20 shots the whole playoffs. When Rondo is taking more shots than him and they’re losing its a problem. Everyone always talks about TMAC but he is waaaaaaayyyyyyyy more clutch/winner than KG.
still think the Cs will move on but the more they play the more I see that they aint really gonna win shit this yr. The West/Lakers/Spurs will beat them if the Pistons dont.
May 13th, 2008 at 10:04 am
alex says:
they have to get past the cavs first. The problem with boston is they don’t have a system on offense. Post #1, they DO look like a Nuggets team where the stars just take turns trying to jack up shots. No flow whatsoever. This is absolutely on Doc Rivers who can’t make adjustments; although I’m not saying Mike Brown is doing a better job. Its just that the cavs have better defined roles within the team.
May 13th, 2008 at 10:06 am
DaPro says:
Need to run more curls and set screens on the weekside to free Ray Allen.
Post the Truth up against lebron or at least let him catch it closer to the basket.
KG has to take over. He needs to hit the boards and go hard at Varejo.
I was disappointed. I want to see this cats get a ring, it’s time to step up.
May 13th, 2008 at 10:58 am
doc says:
Why do Ray Allen look so gay on this pic dime.Stop humiliating the man.We know he soft.
May 13th, 2008 at 11:26 am
Scott says:
Its kind of funny that Doc Rivers and Mike Brown are facing each other, everyone generally knows the Mike Brown is not the greatest coach in the world, and Doc is getting exposed for the same reasons.
He looks like he’s realizing he has no answers, and he also looks at times like he’s realizing that people are starting to see that too.
One series of bad road play is fine, but two, with this team, is unacceptable.
They need Jim O’Brien back. ASAP.
May 13th, 2008 at 11:33 am
Juanito says:
Let’s put it this way: imagine the Celtics with a top-tier coach and an NBA level PG…
That would be pretty scary, but unfortunately for them it isn’t the reality. Doc seems lost and is getting outcoached by the likes of Mike Woodson and MIKE FREAKING BROWN!! Talk about embarrassing. Meanwhile, you have Rondo jacking up more shots than Pierce or Allen…he should be taking a J-Kidd approach to the game: just pass the ball to the players who can actually put it in the hoop and get the fuck out of the way.
May 13th, 2008 at 11:38 am
GEE...I once got busy in a Burger King bathroom! says:
For real the Celtics just need to run on them. This whole half-court thing really ain’t working so much. They need to run the floor and get on the break with these dudes.
I feel like Boston’s bigs are more agile and quick than the Cavs. So they just need to run them.
Half-Court is always going to more than likely keep LeBron and company close.
May 13th, 2008 at 12:16 pm
Celts Fan says:
I’ve been complaining about Doc’s coaching all year and you guys kept telling me I was just making excuses. This is exactly what I’ve been talking about. Mike Brown is coaching circles around him.
May 13th, 2008 at 1:04 pm
Juanito says:
“Mike Brown is coaching circles around him.”
Maybe the first time those words have ever been uttered in the history of the English language…
May 13th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
PALakerFan says:
Why aren’t KG and Pierce taking it to the rack EVERY possession??? Too many jumpers. Get Big Z in foul trouble. Get Ray some 15 footers to get his confidence back.
Doc blows.
May 13th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
srb says:
Both teams are doing a really good job of blocking up the paint to stop inside scoring, the Cavs are actually doing it better too.
Getting inside was a huge part of the Celtics offense this year, becuase it opened up the three-point line as well.
I really don’t understand the problem here. It’s like reverse of your team’s one star throwing up a ton of shots and missing all of them. The stars on the Celtics aren’t putting up many shots, not as many as their regular season numbers.
And putting Glen Davis on the floor in the 4th quarter in an important game is a good way to guarantee a loss too.
May 13th, 2008 at 3:36 pm
Lady Luck says:
The substitutions make no sense either. Powe and Perkins have been playing well this series. Last night Powe played 6 minutes and Perkins 19. Also, Eddie House is your spark plug off the bench but he got a DNP-CD. Why? the man can shoot the 3, which is why they signed him. Put him out there and see if he can get something going. Cassell is a streak shooter, if he isn’t ON immediately, then you need to give him less minutes on those nights, because he is launching long jump shots.
Cavs aren’t much better. Z didn’t play in the 4th qtr and he’s been the most consistent player this series. Varajao, as much as he hustles, defends, and rebounds, he picks the worse times to show off his “offensive skills”. He threw up two prayers (that were answered) in the closing minutes against the DPOY. That is unacceptable. I was screaming NOOOOOOO at my tv each time.
May 13th, 2008 at 3:38 pm
Lady Luck says:
Any thoughts on who should coach Boston next year?
May 13th, 2008 at 3:40 pm
GEE...I once got busy in a Burger King bathroom! says:
Lady Luck
Paul Silas
I am going to keep mentioning his name till he is relevant again.
….Ok maybe not that long but dang he was pretty good to me.
May 13th, 2008 at 3:43 pm
Celts Fan says:
I’m pretty sure Lucky (the mascot) could do just as good a job as Doc and save Wyc (owner) some $$$ by doing 2 jobs.
May 13th, 2008 at 3:45 pm
Celts Fan says:
Good call GEE, and I think Silas was a Celtic at some point, so there’s that connection too. That’d be a great move.
May 13th, 2008 at 3:47 pm
Bone says:
If Boston loses this series, KG’s legacy goes into the toilet. Plain and simple. Dude is scared to take a big shot. He is Mr. Intensity in the middle of January when games don’t mean as much but as soon as it comes time to shit or get off the pot, he gets off the pot and defers to the likes of Rajon Rondo (who has probably been Boston’s second best player this series and is getting unnecessarily killed).
The Celtics, as presently constructed, need someone who is going to come in and CHALLENGE Garnett, make him man up, make him work hard when it counts, someone like…Pat Riley?
May 13th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
The real question is... says:
if the C’s don’t make it happen this postseason, does the front office have big enough cojones to fire him?..and then, who can be brought in to get the job done?
May 13th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
Tim says:
All of Boston is freaking about this…but guys…you still have 2 games at home and your margin of victory at home is like around 20 points or something…so I wouldn’t worry yet.
May 13th, 2008 at 6:27 pm
Diego says:
Garnett’s rep. will be toast if Celts lose this series, which I think they will if LeBron regains his shot.
I think bottom line, the much-maligned Celts supporting cast is much better than the Celts. For the Cavs, big Z honestly is not half bad, and Joe Smith, Delonte, Wally Z, and Gibson definitely have their moments. (Anyone seen Damon Jones lately–is he wearing a suit (playing parchesi with that Celt redhed) or just missing in action, sporting that faux mohawk? Good riddance!) Delonte and Wally also have something to prove this series. Delonte must be pissed the Celts benched him and them traded him in favor of Rondo; similarly Wally Z. probably wants to show his old Minny teammate Garnett what’s up.
For the Celts, Rondo generally deserves props (he killed my Hawks) and Perkins and Posey have their moments, but that’s about it.
Mike Brown is looking like a coaching genious (winning with his supporting cast), and Kenny Smith nailed it–the Celts are frontrunners: If they build up a bit of a lead, they crush you; if you can stay with them (or ahead), you got a good chance of winning.
May 14th, 2008 at 5:46 pm
Big Gee says:
Good point! The Celtics are good when they get a lead. The point that most are missing is playoff series are won by superstars. The Celtics only have three stars. That’s why Detroit lost last year. Having a balanced attack works in the regular season but superstars like Jordan and Kobe take over in the playoffs. LeBron is a legitimate superstar and I believe he will eventually take this series over like he did against Detroit last year. Who will take over for Boston when the game’s on the line? Their so-called big 3 have never won anything at any level. Each of them has had a sufficient supporting cast at some point in their careers but could not get it done. That’s why the deal was able to happen in the first place. Cause each of them is overrated and ineffective when it counts. Can you imagine a scenario where Kobe, LeBron and Dwight Howard were dealt to the same team? No way! Cause they’re all superstars. I was saying that when the trade first happened and now the rest of the world is seeing it for themselves. Cavs in 6. It’s over!