Hey Doc…Rondo’s the Right One!

Posted by Mike Giardi May 14, 2008 at 1:36 pm

Heading into Game 4, Rajon Rondo said he would take more offensive responsibility, pushing the ball in transition, being aggressive in half-court sets. I guess, in taking 14 shots and scoring 15 points, you could argue that the C’s point guard did just that. But I would argue the exact opposite. I would argue that the Rondo we saw on the floor Monday night is the same shell-of-his-former-self we’ve watched since halftime of the opener against Cleveland, and that should have fans of this team saying, “uh oh,” over and over again.

Where did the Rondo, who emerged as one of the brightest young point guard in the league, go? The defensive menace who held his own against the likes of Chris Paul, Tony Parker and Jason Kidd (I’m omitting Jazz frontman Deron Williams, who absolutely crushed the smaller Rondo). The explosive offensive threat who scorched Jameer Nelson of Orlando and Denver’s Allen Iverson, and shamed poor Raymond Felton into retirement (I’m making that up, but Felton should have called it quits after Rondo torched him)?

That Rondo has been jerked around by a Head Coach who should know better. He should know - after 82 regular season games and 11 in the postseason - that his best chance to win is to let Rondo have the ball in his hands. He’s smarter than just about any Celtic on the floor, and whatever he lacks in experience, Rondo makes up for with his freakish speed and arms of a 7-footer. At this point in the year, Rondo has earned his playing time.

Sam Cassell, on the other hand, has earned an 8-minute cameo at PG (end of opening quarter into the second and again at the end of the 3rd), and maybe, in light of Ray Allen’s disappearance, another 15 at the two. But I am so sick of him jacking up shots with double digits on the shot clock. I’m sick of the offense coming to a standstill when he’s pounding the ball into the floor. That’s not how the C’s won 66 games in the regular season. Yes, you’ll need Cassell at a later time in these playoffs. But there may not be a later time in the playoffs unless order is restored and Rondo gets the keys to this offense again. Its the right thing to do, and a former point guard named Doc should understand that better than anyone.

4th Quarter Flameout

Posted by Mike Giardi May 13, 2008 at 10:41 am

Boy, this is aggravating. The Celtics continue to have opportunities to win on the road, and continue to let them slip away. Down 3 going into the final quarter last night, the C’s score just 12 points. That’s not a misprint. 12! You should get 12 by accident, with weapons like Allen, Garnett and Pierce littering the roster. But not these guys, not in these playoffs. Perhaps that why C’s Coach Doc Rivers said that his team needed to play better “under stress.”

When I heard that, I said “uh oh.” You knew that quote would be presented to the Celts stars. It was, and the results were predictable. According to the Boston Globe, they didn’t like.  Garnett refused to acknowledge that the team was lacking poise, and then turned around and put some of the struggles on his coach.

“In a situation like ours, we are trying to do everything that Doc wants us to do. He makes all the calls. He gives us direction. For the most part, we pretty much try to do what he wants.”

Call me crazy, KG, but I don’t think Doc is designing play for you to take 20-foot jumpers with the game on the line. How about you park you butt on the block, and the offense runs through you from there? That’s what your Coach has wanted all season, and it worked to the tune of 66 regular season wins. During the second half last night, the “Big Ticket” peeled out of the post because of pressure from Anderson Varejao. Yeah, Sideshow Bob did a nice job working over the C’s MVP. That’s scary. The two men aren’t even close in talent, and Varejao was actually questionable coming in with a knee injury.

Paul Pierce also had issues with Doc’s quote, saying, “I don’t know what he means. I’m stressed every game. Stressed to get a win.” Hmmm, then shouldn’t it be incumbent on Pierce to get to the rack, and get to the line? Yes, PP took 17 shots (hitting a paltry 6), but he earned just two free throws. This went on during the Atlanta series as well, and you have to wonder if the light will go on the next time the C’s are in Cleveland.

Mercifully, the Celts are back at home tomorrow night, and I fully expect them to play better and to win. Of course, LeBron might have something to say about that. He went 7-for-20, his 4th straight subpar shooting night. I keep saying “The King” is due to bust out. The C’s better hope that doesn’t happen in Game 5, because I wouldn’t bet a cent on them winning away from the Garden a couple of nights later.

 

 

 

No Road Woes In Sight

Posted by Craig Kolodny May 9, 2008 at 4:49 pm

So you’re sitting there thinking: we’ve seen this before. Just last round the Celtics had what appeared to be a commanding 2-0 lead heading on the road. Doc Rivers’ crew failed in all three opportunities to win down in Atlanta and we all knew we’d hear more about their “road troubles” once the Celtics eliminated the Hawks and moved on to Round 2.

Forget all that nonsense. Maybe it was a lack of focus (inexplicable), or maybe it was just a bad matchup with the Hawks (athletic bigs), but the Celtics will NOT return to Boston for a Game 5 with the series tied 2-2. The Celtics will assuredly grab at least one of the games in Cleveland, if not both, simply because they match up incredibly better with the Cavs.

I know LeBron and company will play better at home, but I can’t see the Celtics showing up without a sense of urgency. The defense against LeBron has been outstanding. They are forcing him to take shots he doesn’t want to take. He has been hesitant to get to the hoop and he’s turning the ball over at an alarming rate. Wally and Delonte have been virtually invisible, and so far Boston has proven to be the deeper team.

The Celtics had the best road record in the league this year (31-10), and all they really need to do is take one game in Cleveland to secure a spot in the Eastern Conference Finals. Look for a strong performance by the green team tomorrow night in hopes of quieting all the critics of whether or not this group is good enough to win the road in the postseason.

Super 7

Posted by Mike Giardi April 29, 2008 at 2:25 pm

Just getting ready to head off to Celtics practice. This should be interesting. To the “Super 7.”

1) All this talk about possible suspensions, and I neglected to mention two things that I found annoying and concerning about the Green team. Both revolve around Paul Pierce. Didn’t he learn his lesson from that Indiana playoff meltdown a few seasons ago? He went over the top in Game’s 3 loss. I won’t speculate on the nature of his gesture. Only Paul really knows what he was doing there. But bottom line is, he let his emotion get the best of him, and it didn’t help matters.

As for the other Pierce related issue, the man’s back is bothering him. He rarely attacked the basket, and that is a sure sign. That certainly complicates matters as we head into tomorrow’s Game 5.

2) Who knows how well Jerod Maro and Shawn Crable adapt to pro ball and to the complicated Bill Belichick defensive system, but the one thing that really stands out to me, is that both were incredibly productive collegiate players at elite schools. I hate combine warriors, so I think these two get a moderate thumbs up. I can’t give ‘em any better than that in April.

3) I wonder if we’re seeing the end of Mike Timlin. His numbers are frightening at this point, but then again, didn’t we feel that way last year? And the year before? If history has taught us anything with this guy, is that he is awfully resilient. Can he still be that way at 42? If he can’t, Craig Hansen will get another crack, and probably sooner than later.

4) Imagine how the San Francisco Giants feel right now? Barry Zito and his 126-million dollar deal to the bullpen. That signing was dicey at the time, and now it looks like it could be one of the worst in baseball history, rivaling Mike Hampton, Kevin Brown, Darren Dreifort and Denny Neagle.

5) I would appreciate Doc Rivers giving James Posey a chance to guard Joe Johnson.

6)  I think Matt Ryan can have success in Atlanta, but only if the franchise has hired the right coach. If Mike Smith is a mistake, then Ryan will have to start from scratch. That’s the QB killer. Ryan also goes into a situation where his receivers aren’t even average, and cut their best target, tight end Alge Crumpler. Actually, Matty Ice is used to that. He played with a suspect group at BC.

7) Mike Jordan hiring the ancient Larry Brown to coach his Bobcats. Jordan was a great player. Maybe the best of all-time. But he’s been no more of a success in his next career as Isiah Thomas has, and Ike gets killed for it.

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