Are our players being too cocky?

Cep · Post #1 » by **Cep** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:36 am

Do you guys think maybe that's the reason why we played so poorly the last two games? Game 3, after two blowouts, I'm sure everyone just came out thinking ATL would just hand it to us, and we all know how that worked out. In the words of JJ, we gave up after they started burning us down the floor. Now tonight, I think the team just thought we were going to come out, play great early, get a lead, and they wouldn't be confident enough to come back. That worked out great... for about 7 minutes. Honestly, I feel that if the team had respected the Hawks more, and ONLY THEN recognized that Boston is the better team, we wouldn't be in this situation right now.

This sucks. I'd be making fun of us already if I wasn't a Celtics fan. It seems like us and Detroit are getting either very rough tests to begin with, or are on the making of a very ugly ending to the 2008 season. The higher you stand, the bigger the fall.

BobbySura · Post #2 » by **BobbySura** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:39 am

we went like 5/16 in the fourth and only lost by 5

i really doubt you'll see a performance like that in boston and i don't think atl can steal a game in boston so i'm not worried

raleigh · Post #3 » by **raleigh** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:42 am

From a Hawks' fan, YES!

Atlanta is only in this thing because of the total disrespect that fueled them in game 3.

MaxwellSmart · Post #4 » by **MaxwellSmart** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:50 am

Doc Rivers has slowed this game down to a crawl--cause he's "afraid" of the Hawks superior athleticism...which has lead to our utter lack of aggressiveness----THAT is why we are losing.

s1ickd · Post #5 » by **s1ickd** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:57 am

You beat the Hawks by getting Joe Johnson out of the game. You play him with all sorts of defenders, sort of like you would to Kobe. Without Joe, the Hawks cant score (as we saw in game 1+2).

You play Rondo on him in the first quarter (scrappy, P2 wont get in foul trouble). You then substitute Tony Allen onto him. He's also scrappy and wreckless. Then, you move James Posey onto him, who is bigger and more physical. Then you let Pierce get a stab at him for a few minutes. Then back to Tony, etc.

If you limit Joe Johnson to 20 points, its impossible for the hawks to win.

TheMartian · Post #6 » by **TheMartian** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 4:58 am

The blowouts in games 1 and 2 could be used as an excuse for their poor play in game 3, but game 3 should have been a wake up call for the C's. Many predicted Pierce would go off after the incident with Horford, but all he did was chuck threes tonight. Half of his attempts were from beyond the arc, and despite him making more than 50% of it, that's really not his game. The C's look lost on offense, even worse on defense. It's their defense that brought them here in the first place, and now it's almost nonexistent with the exception of the 3rd quarter.

They need to look at the game tape to see what they've been doing wrong. If we still see more of the same in game 5, then I'd put the blame on Doc since the adjustments need to start from him.

Cep · Post #7 » by **Cep** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:09 am

We've been having problems with young athletic teams that like to run all season. That doesn't mean we're not a better team, but I think we should have more well prepared for that.

Like, tonight, Rondo stacked up his numbers, but when we needed to shut that crowd up and slow down the pace, because they should not be able to beat us on a half court offense, we kept running with them. Now, how do we expect to win running against Williams, Smith, Horford, and co.?

Post #8 » by **SuperDeluxe** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:15 am

mrhonline wrote:From a Hawks' fan, YES!

Atlanta is only in this thing because of the total disrespect that fueled them in game 3.

If the thing that makes your team go is "disrespect", they your team has a motivation problem. Your team won because your coach identified some holes in the Celtics defense and exploited them to perfection.

In other words, you are not even giving your team the credit it deserves.

Cep · Post #9 » by **Cep** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:19 am

mrhonline wrote:From a Hawks' fan, YES!

Atlanta is only in this thing because of the total disrespect that fueled them in game 3.

When I mean disrespect I don't mean it as if the Celtics insulted the Hawks. That actually happened the opposite way. I just mean that the Celtics did not seem well prepared enough to go out and play ball like it's the playoffs.

EddyCurryJoshSmith0502 · Post #10 » by **EddyCurryJoshSmith0502** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:30 am

BobbySura wrote:we went like 5/16 in the fourth and only lost by 5

i really doubt you'll see a performance like that in boston and i don't think atl can steal a game in boston so i'm not worried

lol at this garbage typical homers.

Cep · Post #11 » by **Cep** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:33 am

Oh I guess you might find a Celtics homer or two in the Boston Celtics board? Dont ya?

EddyCurryJoshSmith0502 · Post #12 » by **EddyCurryJoshSmith0502** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:34 am

Cep wrote:Oh I guess you might find a Celtics homer or two in the Boston Celtics board? Dont ya?

This is a Celtics board, meaning fans can act anyway they want in regards to their team. Warning for trolling.

Cep · Post #13 » by **Cep** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:37 am

Well, we were the best team in the league, so we have every right to expect nothing less than winning in 5 games. My point is, we all know the Hawks could be a dangerous team, and the players seemed to just think that because they won the first two, the series was over, and as a player you can't sleep on a team, especially in the playoffs.

BobbySura · Post #14 » by **BobbySura** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:37 am

one thing i noticed is that when joe johnson was going on his tirade both posey and allen were on the bench.

didn't we get posey almost specifically for these situations?

tanat-0s · Post #15 » by **tanat-0s** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 5:52 am

Those Atlanta trolls aside, it's really interesting to see how this two play-off demeanors (trash-talking Celts and quiet "professional" Lakers) will progress further.

See, comparing LA and Boston, it's pretty obvious that Celts are trying to emulate those trash-talking "in-yo-face" intimidating teams of old. It was a good strategy on paper, trying to scare this young and uniexpierenced Hawks squad and roll them over quick. But on the road this plan completely backfired. Why? First, PP and Co went a little overboard and instead of breaking the underperforming Hawks, they just pissed them off and made them to bring their 'A' game. Second, Al Horford didn't back down and his aggression fueled the comeback. And third, Celts underestimated the vets on that team.

Lakers, on the other hand, chosed to play Nuggets professionaly, taking the high road, not talking and just doing their work. And that worked. This Denver team is well-known for their thrash-talking antics as well, but by not responding to it, LAL took them out of their game and swept them. Brilliant strategy by Phil in the first round.

Lesson here: professional way > thrash talking way. At least in first round.

dwestside · Post #16 » by **dwestside** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 6:22 am

EddyCurryJoshSmith0502 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

lol at this garbage typical homers.

Dude, I don't know who you think you are, but I'm pretty sure you can't just come to our board and not contribute. If you want to be here, give us something of substance. Otherwise go away.

dwestside · Post #17 » by **dwestside** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 6:24 am

EddyCurryJoshSmith0502 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

The title says it all I guess the fans are cocky too the way some of you Celtic fans post. I never seen more cocky fans on these boards then the Celtics I dont mean to start a flame war but its true. You guys act like you are the best thing in the world.

crm0922 · Post #18 » by **crm0922** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:07 am

MaxwellSmart wrote:Doc Rivers has slowed this game down to a crawl--cause he's "afraid" of the Hawks superior athleticism...which has lead to our utter lack of aggressiveness----THAT is why we are losing.

+1000000000

cdubbz · Post #19 » by **cdubbz** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 9:33 am

as much as I love KG, it seems like he is pulling a TMAC and isnt taking over the game when he should be. Sure he has 20 points in game 4, but he needs to go off for 30-40 and impose his will on the hawks.

Honestly, this year KG has seemed really weird to me. He seems arrogant. He needs to take a page from duncan and do some damage in the playoffs.

MyInsatiableOne · Post #20 » by **MyInsatiableOne** » Tue Apr 29, 2008 2:36 pm

EddyCurryJoshSmith0502 wrote:-= original quote snipped =-

The title says it all I guess the fans are cocky too the way some of you Celtic fans post. I never seen more cocky fans on these boards then the Celtics I dont mean to start a flame war but its true. You guys act like you are the best thing in the world.

But Hawks fans, including you, haven't been cocky at all since you won the last 2 games, right? Or the players? :roll:

Again, WHY DO YOU FEEL THE NEED TO TROLL AND START **** ON ANOTHER TEAMS BOARD???