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The Celtics are like the Tin Man from Wizard of Oz. They have NO HEART! I challenge anyone to argue contrary. We can make excuses about injuries and whatever else but ultimately this team isn't playing well because they aren't playing with any fire.

Last night, a sixteen point lead given up to the team that knocked them out of the playoffs last year.

Tonight, from up by nine to down by twelve to a team that is about to sweep them for the season.

Rasheed is walking up the court, jacking terrible shots and his selfish propensity to get techs is hurting the team. Ray Allen dribbles the ball of his foot and then jogs back on defense, in a half-hearted attempt to make up for his turnover. Rondo, the newly minted "all star," has disappeared. The bench has produced nothing. Garnett is limping up court, has no quickness or leaping ability but its "reactionary" to point out the obvious fact that the man is the terminal stages of his career. Moreover, Garnett's "intensity" has given him a free pass with many fans who would rather worship him than acknowledge that fact that he is a fading star who is has always been soft. Despite his tendency to jump around like an **** and pound his chest, KG is a finesse player, who plays outside, never gets to the line, disappears in high pressure situations and needs real superstar (i.e. Pierce) to show him what carrying a team is really about. It seems that many people believe that KG is some mystical basketball guru who, when fully healthy, will solve all of the Celtics problems. This attitude is not helping us understand what is happening with the Celtics.

KG, like all players, is flawed. Right now the composition the Celtics is not covering individual players flaws. Instead, it seems to be exacerbting them. The Celtics look old and tired out there. Something needs to be done to address this shortcoming. This observation is not reactionary. It is the starting for a reasoned conversation about the Celtics' flaws and what can be done to address them.

I think we have established that, ever since the Xmas game. We have not showed ONE BIT of heart, ever since that game. Pierce has called them out for it, Perk has, Doc has..yet, it still doesn't make a difference. Don't put this on KG though..please...he played a great defensive game tonight.

This is nothing to do with heart, or some other stupid metaphor from the Wizard of Oz (people been using it for 75 years).

What the problem is clearly is a lack of bench consistency and athleticism. The Celtics are old and aren't right yet. Their bench, once again, is not giving them anything. Sheed shows flashes, as does eddier and TA. But nothing consistent. there is no proven scorer off the bench.

Celtics desperately need some bench athleticism to fly around and dunk. That is No. 1. Ray allen looks tired, and KG is hobbled.

Compared to the athleticism of the Hawks, they make everyone else look in slow motion.

This team has always been careless and awful sometimes. The problem is, two years ago it only kept us from 72+ wins and basically sweeping our way to the title...in 2010, everyone is older and can't get away with it anymore. Two years ago we should have been arguably the best team ever...today we should still be a contender. But in both cases, it will take a lot more discipline to do it. The last two years, the effort hasn't seemed to be there on defense either; especially when KG is out.

Right now, we need to regroup at the all star break, we might have a chance if KG can recover better.

I hope KG sits out the all star game. I remember last year he seemed a little banged up going in, and then looked like he was overexerting himself in the all star game - and the next game was the Utah game where, in retrospect...it seems like our window closed.

jfs1000d wrote:This is nothing to do with heart, or some other stupid metaphor from the Wizard of Oz (people been using it for 75 years).

What the problem is clearly is a lack of bench consistency and athleticism. The Celtics are old and aren't right yet. Their bench, once again, is not giving them anything. Sheed shows flashes, as does eddier and TA. But nothing consistent. there is no proven scorer off the bench.

Celtics desperately need some bench athleticism to fly around and dunk. That is No. 1. ... , and KG is hobbled.

Compared to the athleticism of the Hawks, they make everyone else look in slow motion.

And playing Rondo, Ray and Pierce into the ground every night because the Celtics
don't have one backup wing that can shoot (Tony, Marquis, Giddens and Walker don't qualify)
or a true PG that can dribble and shoot is unforgivable. This was known last June.

Danny wasted a pick on Giddens that he could have probably sold for $3 Million plus
a second round pick, in what was perceived as a loaded draft.

If the Celtics thought DeAndre Jordan's attitude was bad, and thought they had
Sheed locked up one year later with the MLE,
and didn't like Chalmers attitude or that he'd want more playing time,
and if they thought Chris Douglas Roberts was too short and too slow,

well, then the Celtics could have traded the pick for a future first or
$3 Miilion + a second rounder in what was perceived as a loaded draft.

But right now, Danny is overdue in adding in bench help,
even if WYc has to kick in $3 Million or some picks.

this season is way too hard. These guys are not supposed to have to kill themselves every night.
The starters get worn out because the bench can't deliver. Although,
looking at 35 year old Steve Nash, others may just say
that it's Paul and Ray's and KG's job to bring it EVERY NIGHT
for the bucks they get, without any tears or excuses.
And although I see the logic behind that, they still need help.

If Danny doesn't pull off TWO trades by the deadline, he's sleeping at the wheel.
A PG that can shoot and an SF that can shoot are top priorities. A real backup SF would help
the rebounding too, because the Celtics wouldn't be playing SG's as backup SF's.

The whole "We need a guy who is complementary to Rondo" line of thinking is crap. It is the kind of thinking which got us into the bind that we are in now. We need a guy who can hold the fort down for him while Rajon is getting rest, not some interchangeable piece to put out there instead of Rondo. No thanks to that. Preferably it would be combo guard to shorten the rotation.

We desperately need a floor spreading backup for Paul. A guy who can hold the fort, defensively, at the 3 and hopefully play some 4. The guy just needs to be able to knock down shots that other people set up for him, like Posey did.

Our bench sucks.