RealGM

"Given how well the Celtics played throughout this renaissance season, some things might have gone overlooked. Individually, the Celtics obviously have considerable experience, but they are still terribly new to one another as a group. On the court and off, the dynamic and makeup of their team are being tested like at no other point. As such, maybe it is entirely understandable that the Celtics would have a complete breakdown in composure when placed under duress.

In such circumstances, a more experienced team would know where to turn and, more specifically, whom to turn to."



I think this is a fair point and one I hadn't really thought about previously to be honest. I still don't think it is an excuse from the inconsistent focus and play between home and away games.


Thoughts?

Perhaps, but I really think this is just the nature of the beast. The Lakers and Hornets were both up 2-0, and now it is tied at 2, with teams holding serve. The Cs have a chance to go up 3-1 just like they did, if not, they held serve and need to win on Wed. It is not panic time yet.

My thought is the quote hits the nail right on the head. Regular season success may have made many fans forget that this is a new team. Never mind about the experience of Pierce, Allen, Garnett, and Posey, a great team still is forged through the battles of the playoffs. If the Celtics were to make it to the finals this year, it would be more the exception than the rule.


BTW, I still think we're the exception.

^

Yes, the homecourt has been a huge plus this year for most teams (sorry Nugz). There's just a lot of parity in the teams. If the Celtics win, it might be seven game series all the way through.

canman1971 wrote:Perhaps, but I really think this is just the nature of the beast. The Lakers and Hornets were both up 2-0, and now it is tied at 2, with teams holding serve. The Cs have a chance to go up 3-1 just like they did, if not, they held serve and need to win on Wed. It is not panic time yet.

Exactly. Nothing has gone on in our series any differently than the LA/Utah or NO/SAS series...the teams all defended home court. No one is crying about the sky falling in Lakerland or Hornetville...yet...

For us, it's never time to panic until we lose a home game.

But yes, it's very hard to win on the road in the playoffs. It's not like the RS. It takes a lot of experience to do it. That's why the only team with a 3-1 lead right now is Detroit, who is by far the most experienced team in terms of having their core together the longest.

We are definitely suffering growing pains. We don't trust each other and we play tentative on the road. We don't know where to turn to match the other team's intensity at home. The thing is, it's hard to predict when a team will break out and figure it out, just like it is with individual players.

That's why at the beginning of the season I couldn't see us winning a championship the first year. It's too hard for a team just assembled to win, without a lot of luck along the way. 66 wins made me reconsider, but I still think it would be amazing if we won it all. I'm still expecting an ECF appearance, but from then on it's all gravy. Remember this is just Year 1 of what is at least a 3 year run.

ParticleMan wrote:For us, it's never time to panic until we lose a home game.

But yes, it's very hard to win on the road in the playoffs. It's not like the RS. It takes a lot of experience to do it. That's why the only team with a 3-1 lead right now is Detroit, who is by far the most experienced team in terms of having their core together the longest.

We are definitely suffering growing pains. We don't trust each other and we play tentative on the road. We don't know where to turn to match the other team's intensity at home. The thing is, it's hard to predict when a team will break out and figure it out, just like it is with individual players.

That's why at the beginning of the season I couldn't see us winning a championship the first year. It's too hard for a team just assembled to win, without a lot of luck along the way. 66 wins made me reconsider, but I still think it would be amazing if we won it all. I'm still expecting an ECF appearance, but from then on it's all gravy. Remember this is just Year 1 of what is at least a 3 year run.

^^You win with that post. Levelheaded and dead on.