Why the Celtics have struggled to 8-1

[Jammer]

It's not rocket science.

It's mostly shooting %, and a thin bench after the top 8 players.

Until 2 games ago, Paul Pierce was in a shooting slump, although not from 3 point range.

Eddie House has not yet come alive,
and KG is just starting to wake up.

When 2 of the 4 shooters are starting the year off slow,
and no one else on the active list can replace the shooting of Pierce, Ray, KG and House;
well; then you get slow starts.

Two of the starters (Rondo and Perk) are not scorers,
although they are efficient since they generally know
when to shoot and when not to shoot.

Tony Allen is not really a shooter,
but an opportunistic scorer who has days
where things just don't work out.

Powe is undersized for a post playing power forward,
and has days where he is just not effective.

The weak link starts with the 9th man (Glen Davis),
who is doing the best he can but is basically not a scorer.

When you consider that Perk and Rondo are not really scorers,
and that Powe/Tony Allen and Eddie House are on/off scorers;

the lack of scoring from back up center compounds the issue.
This is the position of most need.

The 5th guard on the active roster, AKA Gabe Pruitt, the Celtics 10th man,
also doesn't get the call to come in relief when there are scoring droughts.
This is probably the second biggest weakness, the lack of a 5th guard on the
Active Roster who can can in and provide some punch,
the way Sam Cassell was expected to last year.

Around the draft in June,
Giddens or Walker can probably be traded for a
pick that can be turned into a PG or SF (centers are more expensive);
but right now,

the Celtics top 8 players (starters plus Tony, Eddie and Leon)
get the job done as best they can (until the shooters shooting slump ends).

but they could really use a backup center with length
who can also hit a jump shot
and a 5th guard they can rely on to provide
bench scoring if the starter and backup guards
(Ray, Rajon, Eddie, Tony) are having a scoring slump.

[Jammer]

It's pretty amazing that the Celtics have gotten where they are with
only 1 small forward on the roster.

Ray and Tony Allen back Pierce up,
but in reality,
this is a team of

4 PG's (Rajon, Eddie, Gabe, Sam)
4 SG's (Ray, Tony, Bill, J.R.) - although Ray is the only shooting guard who can actually shoot
1 SF (Paul)
3 PF's (Kevin, Leon, Brian)
3 C's (Kendrick, Glen, Patrick).

Backup C (Davis) and
the 5th Active Guard (Pruitt)
are the two biggest weaknesses.

[Dave_From_NB]

They`re sleepwalking through the schedule, IMO the problem is they`re only playing well enough to win, not well enough to blow teams out.

The Celtics haven`t all of a sudden become a worse team, what I see is the complacency that the Pistons have been criticized about in the past.

[MyInsatiableOne]

They haven't hit their stride yet. Once they do, watch out, league!

[underneathtoDJ]

Yeah, these guys are TERRIBLE! How dare they start 8-1!

[GregB]

Yeah, these guys are TERRIBLE! How dare they start 8-1!

LOL, A lot of team would love to be stuggling to an 8-1 record.

[humblebum]

I think it basically comes down to a slight lack in focus/intensity, inconsistent outside shooting, and opponents are coming out like gangbusters to start games. Still they stand at 8-1 and are going through a really tough portion of the schedule. If they come through this stretch in November atop the Eastern Conference and within striking distance of the Lakers for home court advantage, they'll be in excellent shape to round into form and go into the playoffs with HCA and a strong team chemistry. Hopefully they just stay healthy and they'll definitely be strong contenders for the crown.

[Athanacropolis]

Damn, we all have high expectations for this team

I agree with all posters here, though: the shooting is VERY streaky....

[ramshackle75]

We struggled through the playoffs too before hitting our stride against LA. 8-1 is not a bad place to be.

[Bad-Thoma]

Keep in mind this has essentially been the preseason for the big 3, their minutes were really limited in the actual preseason, it'll just take some time to get in sync. I've been impressed as all hell with the bench's defense, obviously the extended minutes in preseason benefited the back-ups. Even somewhat out of sync we've knocked off some excellent teams, I see no reason at all to complain.

[GreenGrizz]

I hope AInge remembers 1987. We absolutely had no bench help. All starters got exhausted and hurt. Wyc, want another title. Forget the luxury tax.

[Jammer]

I hope AInge remembers 1987. We absolutely had no bench help. All starters got exhausted and hurt. Wyc, want another title. Forget the luxury tax.

Len Bias would have had all the minutes Bird or McHale were off the court at forward;
plus the Celtics might not have pushed Walton so hard in pre-season
(as only Parish's backup)
if Lenny Bias had not met his untimely end.

Once Lenny was out of the plan, I knew the Celtics were in deep doodoo
the following year, from an exhaustion perspective
and being ready to battle the Lakers with an aging team.

But that wasn't management's fault,
the Lenny Bias thing was completely unexpected.

The plan was great until 2 days after the 1986 draft.

[Al-Haqq]

There is a problem in starting the game well, but teams are also going full out from the tip-off and that is simply something that the Celtics will adjust to as the season progresses.

There is an optimistic view on this too, and that is, teams are gaining double digit leads on the Celtics, sometimes even before 1/2 time, but they still win games.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, Paul Pierce needs to be the vocal piece in the offense. He needs the ball every play [or close there to] instead of playing within the team's offense. He has too much offensive skill for the Celtics for him to just shoot or create when it comes his way.

The last two games are prime examples.

[BillessuR6]

We played really poorly in the last 5 games (except he pistons one)...we should probably be 6-3 and not 8-1 the way we have been playing. Not that I am complaining but we just need to start playing better basketball.

And Doc needs to cut down on Pierces` minutes. The last 2 games he played 45. Give Walker a few minutes at the SF spot and Gabe at SG-PG...

[MyInsatiableOne]

I hope AInge remembers 1987. We absolutely had no bench help. All starters got exhausted and hurt. Wyc, want another title. Forget the luxury tax.

Weak comparison...that team (1987) was decimated by injuries and Bias' death. We only lost Posey...

[Red2]

we could really use an outside shooter on the bench. giddens might be able to fill that role but someone like a james jones would be ideal. too bad reggie miller never joined us- he would be perfect.

[MyInsatiableOne]

we could really use an outside shooter on the bench. giddens might be able to fill that role but someone like a james jones would be ideal. too bad reggie miller never joined us- he would be perfect.

Reggie Miller is calcified now.

[tombattor]

I don't care how we get there. I'll take 8-1, anyway it comes. Don't worry guys, we'll cruise to the top of the conference again and make another deep run in the playoffs.

[MyInsatiableOne]

I don't care how we get there. I'll take 8-1, anyway it comes. Don't worry guys, we'll cruise to the top of the conference again and make another deep run in the playoffs.

^What the man said.

I agree...8-1 and is 8-1...would it be better if we were just LOSING these games with the slow starts? A win is a win...

[GWVan]

"struggled" to 8-1

what were we last year at this time? 8-1?