I am not one to panic....

[celticsnut]

however, we are just flat out awful right now. Say what you want about inhuries and tough stretches in the middle of the season, but the C's are a bottom tear team in the league in 2010. We get zero easy shots and rebounding and free throw shooting has not been our friend. This team is actually painful to watch. 30 points in the 2nd half? With 5 of those in the last minute. Our bench right now (and again I understand injuries) is the worst in the league. For Gordon and Prince to not play and us lose this game whether its home or away is terrible. We only got up 70 shots for christ sakes. A few things I have noticed during this terrible stretch in 2010.

1. Perk has been fading away on every shot and never uses his baby hook anymore. I attribute that to being tired.

2. How can our shot leader each game still only take about 15 shots a game. Our PACE must just be that bad. I will even go as far as to say we don't have one player right now who can get an easy shot. PP included.

3. I love Ray and I hope he retires a Celt, but for the love of anything, can he please stop turning the ball over? He has to be the sorriest ball handler at the 2 position.

4. Even with KG, can we find a big that can defend outside. Baby, Perk, and Sheed are all entirely too slow. Dirk and Charlie V. showed that last night.

5. 2nd halves seem to be our nemesis. We have gotten killed in the 2nd half of the last three loses. Worst part about that is (2) of them were at home.

6. And finally, and again I understand health, but Doc high fives the guys coming off the court after loses and the guys don't see upset about loses. You play to win and nothing else. No such this as quality loses. This isn't the RPI for college ball.

Even when KG and Quis come back, it will take 10 games to get them back in the flow. I see this team as a 50-55 win team as it stands right now. I live in Charlotte and the Bobcats are the hottest team in the league and last night a friend of mine (Celts fan who cheers for the local team as well) says to me how could you be worried about playing at Detriot? Hell, I am worried about playing at Rupp Arena right now. There isn't a team in the league that wouldn't give us a run every night these days. I am usually very optimistic and I understand we are capable of a double digit win streak (which we need). However, until some type of roster change is made, this team CANNOT win a title. We just don't get enough easy baskets to win big games. I don't think Nate Rob is the answer, but we need a big with some length and athleticism off the bench and also a slasher who can knock down an open jumper and get to the rim. Problem is I don't think we have the pieces to land any of these without trading Ray. Withour Ray on the floor any team would just pack the paint because besides Paul we would have 0 shooters in the starting 5. I wish Doc would shake it up a bit. Maybe start Tony at the 2 and bring Ray off the bench to add some scoring power. Our starters score about 80% of our points so I know they could still hold their own. I know some of what I have said is just me thinking outloud, but it is down right frustrating right now to watch this team.

[sully00]

Daniels would cover up a lot of our weaknesses and we will be stronger with KG back no doubt. That said Daniels doing a little of everything we are missing may not be the answer come the post season especially since he is a china doll.

It is easy to say trade Ray after last nights debacle but we need to add scoring how do you trade Ray and add scoring.

With Garnett back the first 5 will be fine and with Wallace on the second unit they will improve. What we need to do is add a playmaker in the backcourt because House and TA just are not producing. We also have to think about a SF if we can't depend on Daniels.

[BRUNiNHO91]

Only stretch of the season when we were at least 90% healthy we won 11 straight, and 14 out of 15..enough said.

[darrendaye]

Agree with other respondants that once healthy this team remains formidable. Aside from the sloppy and unenthused play of late, I'm disappointed that Doc still refuses to inject either Walker or Giddens into the rotation. I mean, you could say that KG's extended absense may not have been expected. But, both TA and Daniels have well established career trends of missing time and even casual observers knew backup SF was an area of concern. For Doc not to find a way to bring one of them along throughout the season is perplexing to me. As a result, Pierce and Ray Allen are logging about 4-6 more minutes per game than you'd like.

[mwhis21]

I believe there is merit to teams getting "bored" during the regular season, especially good teams. We have a great team. With that said it seems that our team plays down to our competition which isn't a good thing. It's causing bad habits and frustration on our team. There is no excuse for last nights loss at Detroit. Detroit didn't win that game we lost it.

Offense- Rasheed seems to kill our offensive rhythm. Don't get me wrong, I love what he brings to the table, but he is trick or treat on offensive. We have enough shooters in Ray, Paul and KG when he plays with the 1st unit and usually one of Allen/Pierce and House with the second unit. Down 6 last night with under a minute left he runs the baseline and takes a fall away 3. I am sorry, but in that situation I want to see in order: 1. Ray pop open for a three. 2. Rondo or Pierce to take it to the hole for a very quick score. 3. Pierce try and free up for a three. 4. The lights to go out at the arena. 5. Rasheed take a fall away three pointer. All and all a pretty bad offensive possession to end the game. Until KG comes back we NEED Wallace on the block. If our best interior option is Perkins we are in trouble (and Perkins is my favorite Celtic).

Defense- Right now this team is tired. Talk all you want about them being pro athletes and being in the best shape, but this team is dead tired. Their rotations are so slow I think I might be able to get to the hoop. I wouldn't be able to finish because I suck, but I'd be able to get there. Wouldn't it be nice to have Doc say to Rondo go pressure the ball coming up the court? Rondo is so quick and has lightning hands, but yet he gives a lot of room to opposing teams PG's. I would like to see the other team starting their offense at 12-14 seconds instead of 18-20 seconds.

All and all, we are still in great shape. Once everyone is healthy and solid rotation can be set I think you will see the defense turn around and our offense become more efficient.

[darrendaye]

MWHIS, I know you are a long time poster and fan of the team. But maybe in his absense, the mind recalls what it wants to recall. Like Rasheed, KG also is quite reluctant to work his offensive game from the low post.

[mwhis21]

thus making my point...when we acquired KG and Allen the most important issue at the time was who was going to get the ball when the game was on the line and how are we going to spread around the shots between the three? The three of them all sacrificed something to win: Mostly on the offense side of the ball.

Now you add Rasheed to the mix and you have to divvy up the shots between 4 people instead of three. On the surface it would seem that KG and Rasheed are the same player, but they are not. Sheed is a three point shooter, KG is a mid range shooter. KG sports a 50% career FG% compared to 47% for Sheed. Now that's not a big difference, but the caveat is that Sheed is a career 34% 3pt shooter. This year 30%.

Additionally, Sheed has never averaged more than 8.2 rebounds a game in his career. Whereas has only averaged under 8 twice. This year being 1 and his rookie year the other. So in theory they are the same players, but KG doesn't spend the majority of his time outside like Sheed. KG starts down low and then pops out for open jumpers. That's a stark contrast to Rasheed.

I don't want to compare them too much, but my point is that having Ray, PP, Rondo and Sheed on the perimeter is absolutely killing this offense. It would be one thing if he were hitting 38-40% and stretching the D, but he is being dared to shoot and he just isn't hitting it consistently.

[SonicYouth34]

Its not. We're still second in the east and when KG plays we're like 22-3 and 5-5 (something like that) without him. He make the most impact on the game and provides another offensive weapon, which we need.

[canman1971]

Regardless of record, KG's absence or whatever. This team, with Rondo, RA and PP should not lose to the Pistons without Gordon and Prince. End of discussion. Last night was embarrassing and I am not one to jump off any ship, which I am not. But there is no excuse big enough for last night.

[Celts17Pride]

Regardless of record, KG's absence or whatever. This team, with Rondo, RA and PP should not lose to the Pistons without Gordon and Prince. End of discussion. Last night was embarrassing and I am not one to jump off any ship, which I am not. But there is no excuse big enough for last night.

I agree. I think it was the most embarrasing loss of the year. Big Baby's antics made it worse.