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Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 29, 2008 20:04:37 GMT -5
 at  Atlanta Hawks (2-2) at Boston Celtics (2-2)
Postseason Game #5 – Home Game #3
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
8:30 PM ET
TNT, CSN HD
TD Banknorth Garden Probable Starting Matchups Point Guard vs  Rajon Rondo PPG 12.8 RPG 4.30 APG 8.3 EFF + 20.75 Mike Bibby PPG 11.8 RPG 2.50 APG 3.0 EFF + 8.00 Shooting Guard vs  Ray Allen PPG 16.8 RPG 3.00 APG 3.5 EFF + 16.50 Joe Johnson PPG 22.0 RPG 4.30 APG 5.0 EFF + 17.75
SmallForward  vs  Paul Pierce PPG 16.3 RPG 4.00 APG 4.5 EFF + 15.25 Marvin Williams PPG 10.8 RPG 3.80 APG 0.8 EFF + 8.50 Power Forward  vs  Kevin Garnett PPG 21.8 RPG 9.80 APG 2.8 EFF + 24.00 Josh Smith PPG 18.5 RPG 7.50 APG 3.3 EFF + 23.00 Center vs  Kendrick Perkins PPG 6.8 RPG 6.50 APG 0.5 EFF + 11.00 Al Horford PPG 12.5 RPG 11.50 APG 3.3 EFF + 20.25 SixthMan  vs  James Posey PPG 8.5 RPG 3.50 APG 1.3 EFF + 9.50 Josh Childress PPG 6.0 RPG 6.00 APG 1.3 EFF + 11.25 Key Matchups  vs  Ray Allen vs Joe Johnson Joe Johnson almost single handedly beat the Celtics in game 4 scoring 22 of his 35 points in the 4th quarter. Look for the Celtics to double Johnson or put Posey or Tony Allen on him to try to slow him down. Ray needs to make him work harder on the defensive end to take a little more out of him on offense.  vs  Kevin Garnett vs Josh Smith In the 4th quarter of tame 4, the only two players to score were Joe Johnson and Josh Smith. Smith finished the game with 28 points. KG is going to have to apply more of what made him the defensive player of the year to slow down Smith who along with Johnson has been beating the Celtics in a two man attack.
Honorable MentionRajon Rondo vs Mike Bibby The matchup of the point guards is still an important one. Rondo completely out played Bibby in the two games in Boston but in Atlanta, Bibby found his game again. Rondo will need to keep Bibby from hitting those open 3's and will also have to make him work on defense by taking the ball to the hoop. Keys to the Game DEFENSE, DEFENSE, DEFENSE!!!!! The major reason the Celtics lost games 3 and 4 is that they went away from playing the kind of defense that made them the best defensive team in the league during the regular season. The Celtics allowed the Hawks to shoot 48% in the two games in Atlanta and that just isn't acceptable. They need to control the pace instead of allowing the Hawks to do that and they can do that by clamping down on defense. They must get back to basics and play the smothering team defense that they have played all season. It is defense that will win this series and the championship. Rebound As the old saying goes: "Offense sells tickets, defense wins games, rebounding wins championships." I think this is because the majority of rebounding is effort and desire and the team that wants it more and puts out more effort will get more rebounds and will win the game. The Celtics were out-rebounded in both games in Atlanta and they need to put out the effort on the boards to limit their second and third chance shots. Free Throws The Celtics missed 8 free throws in game 4 and lost by only 5. Missing free throws is the result of a lack of focus. The Celtics need to regain their focus and when they do, they will hit more of their free throws. They can't afford to give away any points, especially from the free throw line. Be Aggressive The Celtics have been settling for too many jumpers. They need to be more aggressive in taking the ball to the basket and either get the basket or draw the foul. They must also be more aggressive going after loose balls and rebounds. They have allowed the Hawks to be the more aggressive team, attacking the basket and going after loose balls etc. The Celtics must now become the aggressors and attack the basket. Ball Movement The Celtics must get back to moving the ball and finding the open man instead of each player trying to run his own offense. They have taken too many quick shots and have gotten away from the team offense that has made them so successful all year. X-FactorBenchPlay Other than James Posey, the bench hasn't been getting it done in the last two games. In the first two games, the bench played very well and gave the team a boost when they came in as well as giving the starters a rest without giving up anything on the court. The bench must be more effective on both ends of the court. |
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Post by CelticsLoyalist on Apr 30, 2008 4:28:12 GMT -5
MUST WIN! Boston cannot let cocky youngsters come into the garden and keep this confidence going. If they should allow this will be the biggest upset in basketball history as Barkley has said on ESPN last night. Rebounding has become critical. The second and third chances the Hawks have been able to come up with are only due to their athleticism.
If Boston plays fundamental, put a body on them, box-out basketball, Hawks athleticism will be a none factor. An over the back foul call will be the order of the night. Which leads me into fouls. Hawks are baiting the C's into these bad calls. The Refs are calling fouls on the emotion of the game. You can tell by the ridiculous calls on the C's in Atlanta. Its taking Boston out of their Defense and they have been stand offish about playing tough physical D. The Hawks have seized upon this and have upped there D and their Offense has flourished.
This leads me into another point. Do not get caught in the hype and forget about our style of game. Our style is not to run too much. Slow the Hawks down and take everything....EVERYTHING.....to the hoop. Game 3 we got out shot. Hawks were lights out and we tried but couldnt match the shots. Game 4 we come out chucking 3's. Man, they're good when they go! But when they stop falling and the other team comes back off the rebound and dunks in your face or gets a BS call, it will lose us another game.
Go to the hoop, get the basket and/or the foul like we beat Detroit with Baby doing a layup clinic. Our layups count for 2 just like the Hawks dunks. We aint younguns. Just get it to the hoop! We gotta get some of our players to know their roles better. Do we need Cassell to run the point or chuck up miss after miss?? Where is Tony Allen for defensive purposes? Why no PJ for rebounding? Isnt that why we got him? Already mentioned Baby.
No more 3's Paul! No more rushed shots inside and jumpers from 18 ft KG! Rondo get back in Bibby's grill and make good decisions when drawing the Hawks D on inside drives. Rondo didnt see the floor all that well the last game. Missed Perk at least twice by my count. House needs some more PT as well. And finally, Doc has to do better substitutions and tell the C's players to not get caught in a run and gun outside shooting game.
Let the Defense create your Offense. And we gotta rotate better on switches to not allow the easy Hawk penetration thats been happening the last 2 games. Hawks have been using Bibby to set a screen which causes a switch of Rondo on a bigger swingman that usually results in a confused Defense and a Hawks bucket. We are gonna have to work our butts off more than we ever had to do in the regular season. If the Hawks were facing the Pistons, I wouldnt hesitate to think the Hawks would be up on the "Stones" right now.
This Hawks team has obviously underachieved all season and prolly didnt find out what they were made of until now vs us. They are better than their record. We are better than them. We may have took them a bit too lightly and now they have clawed their way into our heads with tough physical athletic youthful play. No more talking, no more shoving, no more pushing.
Just get fundamental and keep our game. Let them use their force against themselves. They wont know what to do if they push and we pull instead of push back. Its like Judo in a way. Take charges and flop if they do that aggressive style they have been doing. Refs are going to call their over aggression if we can counteract it with veteran savvy. If Lakers can sweep the Nugz and the Spurs can take the Suns in 5, we need to get this done in 6.
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Post by birdie on Apr 30, 2008 12:30:23 GMT -5
it's now or go home boys, tonight we will see who got balls
ALL WE NEED NOW IS... JESUS SHUTTLESWORTH, to SHUT EM DOWN
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 30, 2008 18:38:08 GMT -5
In the past two games the Hawks wanted more than we did. Rebounds are 90% desire and effort and the teams that wins the rebounding battle is usually the team that wants it more. Atlanta has out rebounded us in both games. It will come down to effort, focus and defense tonight.
I am totally amazed at how a team that played stifling defense for 84 games could suddenly forget how to play defense.
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Post by goceltics34 on Apr 30, 2008 18:47:33 GMT -5
This is simple for me tonight, Paul Pierce must show why boston is still his town. I love garnett, but he's not a closer. Pierce needs to stop settling for 3's and take the ball to the basket and get about 12-14 FT attempts. This is where your franchise player needs to step up. It's all on Pierce tonight. He's delivered many times under the intense boston fans and i expect at least 30 tonight.
Go Celtics!!!!
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Post by Celtic17 on Apr 30, 2008 19:22:07 GMT -5
I agree with FL. We need to get back into the grove we had our first 84 games.
One way might be playing the players that did the bulk of the work in those games.
Celts need a statement-game. Win by 10-15+
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 30, 2008 20:06:01 GMT -5
Looking good so far. Missed too many layups though worrying about Josh Smith blocking them. I love Leon... He has taken two big charges already. One on Johnson and one on Horford. Love that effort
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Post by runrondo on Apr 30, 2008 20:27:50 GMT -5
This is simple for me tonight, Paul Pierce must show why boston is still his town. I love garnett, but he's not a closer. Pierce needs to stop settling for 3's and take the ball to the basket and get about 12-14 FT attempts. This is where your franchise player needs to step up. It's all on Pierce tonight. He's delivered many times under the intense boston fans and i expect at least 30 tonight. Go Celtics!!!! I agree 100%...Pierce, for whatever reason(back) was just not attacking and he really brings that aspect of the game to the Celtics and we need him to be our scorer, cause we know Garnett does not want to be the guy taking everything over and would rather work the post(pass or whatever) we're looking good so far..powe better get a double double! |
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Post by CelticsLoyalist on Apr 30, 2008 20:56:47 GMT -5
Like FL said, if we control the boards we control this game. Brilliant adjustments and rotations by Doc as well.
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Post by CelticsLoyalist on Apr 30, 2008 20:59:11 GMT -5
I agree 100%...Pierce, for whatever reason(back) was just not attacking and he really brings that aspect of the game to the Celtics and we need him to be our scorer, cause we know Garnett does not want to be the guy taking everything over and would rather work the post(pass or whatever) we're looking good so far..powe better get a double double! Rondo has got to be aware that there is a player behind him on those fast breaks. I would love to see him flush it on the breakaway, but I woulda rather had him do his little fake move and spin and lay it up or be aware that he had two C's running with him and look for a dish as well. |
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 30, 2008 21:21:03 GMT -5
I don't like the way the 3rd has started. 7-0 run for Hawks and some sloppy play for Celtics. They need to settle down and get back to playing their game. Take it to the hoop and make those layups. They better not let this team back into this game.
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Post by CelticsLoyalist on Apr 30, 2008 21:43:33 GMT -5
They've settled it down. The Refs are holding grudges. Its time to start fining Refs for making those type calls.
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Post by afceltic on Apr 30, 2008 21:46:19 GMT -5
I don't like the way the 3rd has started. 7-0 run for Hawks and some sloppy play for Celtics. They need to settle down and get back to playing their game. Take it to the hoop and make those layups. They better not let this team back into this game. That made me nervous when they got it down to 6 but what a finish to the quarter. Now we need to erase all doubt early in this quarter and move on to game 6. On a side note, why does it seem like Atlanta is the #1 seed? They are pushing off, over the back, and nothing is called. If we fart in the general direction of JJ or Smith they are on the line. |
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Post by birdie on Apr 30, 2008 21:49:16 GMT -5
we're killing them, congratulations brothers
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Post by FLCeltsFan on Apr 30, 2008 22:36:03 GMT -5
And all is right in Boston again. Now to get game 6 on Friday and move on. Another good thing is that the Wizards won tonight to force a game 6 in that series so they will be playing Friday night too. Celtics need to win on Friday and maybe that series will go 7 games so we can get some rest.
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