Celts have a formula

[WildBB]

How to beat LA. You can't stop Bryant getting his points, so bear down on the rest of them.

LA doesn't respond all that well to CONSISTENT physical play. Sounds familar, huh.

LA had 77 with just about 3 mnts. to play.

A far cry from 128, 124 in successive games against Phx.

 

[D-Dogg]

That's not their formula.

They just play solid all around team defense, including doubling Kobe all over the court. They are NOT a "let Kobe get his" kind of team. They make him work HARD and he usually shoots poorly against them. They clamp down on all the rest, and Pau needs to move harder than he is to win.

Defense. Still, these games have been really close.

 

[82CardsGrad]

That's not their formula.

They just play solid all around team defense, including doubling Kobe all over the court. They are NOT a "let Kobe get his" kind of team. They make him work HARD and he usually shoots poorly against them. They clamp down on all the rest, and Pau needs to move harder than he is to win.

Defense. Still, these games have been really close.

Could be wrong, but Kobe was hardly, if ever doubled tonight... Doc was even caught on TV telling his team not to "overreact to Kobe".

 

[slinslin]

Celtics have 4 capable big men who are all bigger and stronger than anyone on our roster not named Lopez.

 

[cly2tw]

That's not their formula.

They just play solid all around team defense, including doubling Kobe all over the court. They are NOT a "let Kobe get his" kind of team. They make him work HARD and he usually shoots poorly against them. They clamp down on all the rest, and Pau needs to move harder than he is to win.

Defense. Still, these games have been really close.

Maybe you mean that Pau needs to move harder than he never has been and never will be?

 

[cly2tw]

Could be wrong, but Kobe was hardly, if ever doubled tonight... Doc was even caught on TV telling his team not to "overreact to Kobe".

They gave a lot of good help on Kobe when he was about to beat his primary defender.

 

[D-Dogg]

Could be wrong, but Kobe was hardly, if ever doubled tonight... Doc was even caught on TV telling his team not to "overreact to Kobe".

The Celtics are the best team in the league at bringing the late double to Kobe, closing the driving and passing lanes. Thibeadeau plays him brilliantly. He is never doubled at the catch, because he destroys that. He's doubled as he is ready to make the move...they know him and his tenancies. No team guards him better. The double may not come right on his body, either, but in his go-to areas and in his passing lanes.

They always "wall off" Kobe. I hate to ever credit those douchebags, but they play absolutely masterful team defense. Not good man defenders overall, but team defenders they outshine everyone...and it seems to carry over into the man game because Pau seems like he can't make a decision out there at all.

 

[Sunburn]

Defense wins championships

 

[cly2tw]

The Celtics are the best team in the league at bringing the late double to Kobe, closing the driving and passing lanes. Thibeadeau plays him brilliantly. He is never doubled at the catch, because he destroys that. He's doubled as he is ready to make the move...they know him and his tenancies. No team guards him better. The double may not come right on his body, either, but in his go-to areas and in his passing lanes.

They always "wall off" Kobe. I hate to ever credit those douchebags, but they play absolutely masterful team defense. Not good man defenders overall, but team defenders they outshine everyone...and it seems to carry over into the man game because Pau seems like he can't make a decision out there at all.

I absolutely see what you so succinctly described. In fact, their primary defenders on Kobe, both Allens, are smart enough to make it hard for Kobe to get off a good shot quick, as you put it, knowing too well his tendencies.

In contrast, Suns were unable to do any of that, giving Kobe great space to do his passing or other moves. Not cutting the connections between Kobe and Pau/Lamar was the main reason we got beat. We improved a little within the series, but it was too little too late.

 

[Black Jesus]

Could be wrong, but Kobe was hardly, if ever doubled tonight... Doc was even caught on TV telling his team not to "overreact to Kobe".

I think he said that because of the degree of difficulty of shots that Kobe has been hitting.

Ron Artest is still getting looks but clanking and Lamar has been the same Lamar either.

I wish we played this Laker team...

 

[82CardsGrad]

I wish we played this Laker team...

We did... problem our Suns could barely hold them to 30 points a quarter! Boston held them to 86 for the game last night!

 

[WildBB]

Celtics have 4 capable big men who are all bigger and stronger than anyone on our roster not named Lopez.

They have Perkins, Garnett, Baby Shaq, and Wallace? Wallace sucks defensively. He plays only because he won't play at all if he doesn't make an effort. He's in there for his offense, allways with the 2nd unit allmost.

But true we need another big or two who are dedicated defensively. Because our current power forford isn't. That's become obvious. That's why Riley doesn't really want him all that bad in Heat land.

 

[WildBB]

We did... problem our Suns could barely hold them to 30 points a quarter! Boston held them to 86 for the game last night!

Bingo! Championships are won on the D.....Every single solitary fan in Boston gets that.

But our brand is so exiting.....ya, that's why were still trying for ring #1.

Bring in bigs who are dedicated to getting nasty in the trenches! We have 1 at present.

 

[SactownSunsFan]

Bingo! Championships are won on the D.....Every single solitary fan in Boston gets that.

But our brand is so exiting.....ya, that's why were still trying for ring #1.

Bring in bigs who are dedicated to getting nasty in the trenches! We have 1 at present.

Offense is just as important. Last night when Kobe went 7 for 7 from the field and scored 17 points to open the 3rd quarter, the Celtics were able to counter that and keep their lead by going 9 for their first 13.

That said, I do believe we need one more big guy to help counter the length of the Lakers. A Tyson Chandler type would be perfect. We'll see.

 

[slinslin]

They have Perkins, Garnett, Baby Shaq, and Wallace? Wallace sucks defensively. He plays only because he won't play at all if he doesn't make an effort. He's in there for his offense, allways with the 2nd unit allmost.

But true we need another big or two who are dedicated defensively. Because our current power forford isn't. That's become obvious. That's why Riley doesn't really want him all that bad in Heat land.

Rasheed Wallace sucks defensively? lol

He is ten times better defensively than any of our players and used to be one of the top 3 or 5 defensive big men in the league and is more than capable of guarding Gasol and Odom.

 

[WildBB]

Rasheed Wallace sucks defensively? lol

He is ten times better defensively than any of our players and used to be one of the top 3 or 5 defensive big men in the league and is more than capable of guarding Gasol and Odom.

He's very average. I think we both exagerated here. He had Wallace backing his arse in Det.

Between him and Cliff Robinson when he was there in Portland it wasn't close either, IMO. They both had Duckworth backing them.

He's mainly a scorer. Always has been.

 

[WildBB]

Offense is just as important. Last night when Kobe went 7 for 7 from the field and scored 17 points to open the 3rd quarter, the Celtics were able to counter that and keep their lead by going 9 for their first 13.

That said, I do believe we need one more big guy to help counter the length of the Lakers. A Tyson Chandler type would be perfect. We'll see.

Rivers was interviewed and said the D stops led to easy transition hoops for his team. For championship teams it all feeds off the team D.

Offense is nice, it won't win championnships. Maybe two successful rounds in the playoffs, in a good yr. It's not as important.

All five players on the floor at any one time must buy into that philosophy. The current Suns do not overall. They had some spurts during the season, but overall it's way lacking. Not tough or physical enough. I believe the phrase in the league is "soft". Some of the time it fits. They need more than someone like oft injured T. Chandler.

 

[mojorizen7]

That's not their formula.

They just play solid all around team defense, including doubling Kobe all over the court. They are NOT a "let Kobe get his" kind of team. They make him work HARD and he usually shoots poorly against them. They clamp down on all the rest, and Pau needs to move harder than he is to win.

Defense. Still, these games have been really close.

+1

 

[mojorizen7]

Rivers was interviewed and said the D stops led to easy transition hoops for his team. For championship teams it all feeds off the team D.

Offense is nice, it won't win championnships. Maybe two successful rounds in the playoffs, in a good yr. It's not as important.

All five players on the floor at any one time must buy into that philosophy. The current Suns do not overall. They had some spurts during the season, but overall it's way lacking. Not tough or physical enough. I believe the phrase in the league is "soft". Some of the time it fits. They need more than someone like oft injured T. Chandler.

I agree. I think we're finally headed in that direction though....maybe. There's no way to truly get there while Nash/Amare are still here in the starting 5 though.

 

[AzStevenCal]

He's very average. I think we both exagerated here. He had Wallace backing his arse in Det.

Between him and Cliff Robinson when he was there in Portland it wasn't close either, IMO. They both had Duckworth backing them.

That must have been in an alternate universe. IIRC, Duckworth was gone from Portland long before Rasheed showed up there.

Steve

 

[Absolute Zero]

He's very average. I think we both exagerated here. He had Wallace backing his arse in Det.

Between him and Cliff Robinson when he was there in Portland it wasn't close either, IMO. They both had Duckworth backing them.

He's mainly a scorer. Always has been.

No disrespect intended, but I don't think you are watching Wallace. The dude is very tough defensively, he was tough on Orlando, and has been in the finals as well. Last night, I loved how he hustled over and got in front of one of Lamar's drives and took the charge. He has evolved since his days in Portland to a much more solid defensive player, even though he is past his prime.

 

[Irish]

i was a party last night, so I'm still tring to absorb what I've read. From all I can tell by reading here is that the game PROVED' whatever the writer's preconceptions were.

1. Size matters. KG at 7'0" is all enough to block several Gasol shots. Forget everything alse about Amare, he's just not nearly as long as those guys and the weird talent combination of Davis is a game changer.

2. No one can shut down Kobe. He routinely hit shots while guys were right in his face. It's not that "letting him has his points" really works, but in the games he went off he wasn't all that more open than when he was average.

3. Without A Healthy Bynum, Gasol Starts Looking "Average" As I said, I didn't see last night's game, but it has been a trend.