The real cause of the two losses to Atlanta

[nightstarstolen]

Endurance. It is a theory but hear me out before judgement.

We have a Hawks team that is athletic, that runs up and down the court at fast pace, fights for offensive boards, and out hustles our guys.

Our guys have averaged around 30 min the last month or so of season. KG had 2 days off for the birth of his baby. Ray is older with surgery in past years.

All of a sudden they get propelled to 40+ minutes and the few athletic young guys that could keep up with the athletic, running Hawks get booted out of the C's rotation.

[celticfan42487]

I thought it was because their defense shut us down.

I guess we can give a little more leeway room to Gearld Green and Kedrick Brown fans of old. Although ATL has SG,SF,PF,C 6th man full of that kind of athletisim.

[JJHondo17]

Here's the reason - You can't take Rondo out of the game. Neither Cassell or House can run the team efeectively or defend, if their shots aren't falling they're useless. I would almost be tempted to activate Pruitt to get someone more athletic and taller to put some defensive pressure on the point, and at least give some fouls.

[cfan79]

Atlanta has played well, but former Hawk Doc Rivers deserves some credit as well for their victories. He has to be one of the worst coaches at substitutions.

[kmgarnett21]

ditto cfan. doc has been horrible. he should have kept the rotation the same. i dont think TA has played but 3 mins ALL series. i admit, i havent been a big fan of TA, but it looks like we need him.

[MyInsatiableOne]

Atlanta has played well, but former Hawk Doc Rivers deserves some credit as well for their victories. He has to be one of the worst coaches at substitutions.

Agreed. He has completely gone away from what worked for 82 games plus games 1 and 2...why, Doc, why?

[Celtics_85]

Exactly right, we are playing one of the most athletic teams in the league and our most athletic, and best perimeter defender is sitting on the bench as Johnson schools Ray, Pierce, and Posey. TA can also take the ball to the hole and create fouls on Atlanta when evryone else is settling for jumpers that are contested. Rondo looks plain scared once he gets in the lane and is playing tentatively on both ends of the court.
If you take Perk out and bring TA and Posey in to guard Johnson and Smith they can shut down the penetration that has hurt them the last two games. Ray and Paul can't stop Johnson in this manner and KG can't seem to slow Smith down on the perimeter, so make the adjustment Doc, or you will have a lot of explaining to do to the owners in how you lost them a lot of money.

[Rondo_Fan]

Yes--TA needs to cover Joe Johnson. I'd even go for showing TA old tapes of Kurt Rambis--this is the playoffs baby.

And yes, Rondo has to be in there. We are old and slow compared to Atlanta. Rondo makes us younger and faster. Our two best games and our best runs in the two games that we lost have been with Rondo kicking butt, especially scoring where he is supposed to be an afterthought.

[MyInsatiableOne]

Yes--TA needs to cover Joe Johnson. I'd even go for showing TA old tapes of Kurt Rambis--this is the playoffs baby.

And yes, Rondo has to be in there. We are old and slow compared to Atlanta. Rondo makes us younger and faster. Our two best games and our best runs in the two games that we lost have been with Rondo kicking butt, especially scoring where he is supposed to be an afterthought.

Back then, sure. In today's pansy-arsed NBA, a play like that would get you arrested and banned for life.