Game 2 could change everything

[TommyPoints]

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What I expect is that if Detroit played enthusiastically with their best 2 offensive players having excellent games that we would get blown out if we played like they did.

Our inability to put teams away is a mark of inexperience. A solid veteran team - like the Spurs for example - would destroy another veteran team if it was on like the C's were and the other team was off like the Pistons were.

We are getting by on talent but we are not getting the maximum out of our squad and this is a major concern to me. Eventually these types of issues come back to bite a team. There are going to be 3 close games in this series and if we show the lack of killer instinct shown in game 1 we could lose them all. It is not being negative to call it like it is.

Did you watch game 7 of Spurs/Hornets? The Spurs just about choked on their big lead in the 4th. It isn't something unique to us.

[sam_I_am]

Spurs were on the road, against a team on the rise and they are old. This is their last run as currently constituted. They look like the Celtics in 1988.

What I am saying is that our players dominated game 1 but couldn't pull away. Yes, Detroit showed a lot of savvy staying close but our team (and coaches) showed a lack of savvy. Yes, blame Doc Rivers for putting the worst of our 5 rotation players out there twice at times when we could have extended the lead if you want (I do.)

When the Pats went undefeated but showed signs of an old tired defense with a tendency to give up big plays .... some were called negative for pointing it out. But it came back to haunt them.

This is the reality of sports. We coasted to a win in game 1 and it looked easy. But given how well the green played and how bad Detroit played.... it should have been a blow out. I just hope the Celtics coaching staff takes notice.

I still like our chances in game 2..... but game 2 will be the decisive game. Unlike the previous series, I believe if we hold serve then this will be over in 5 or 6.

[Celtics_85]

I think Detroit's confidence took a good hit in game one. They knew their best shot at taking one of the first two games in Boston was the first game. With Boston coming off a long series with Cleveland their best shot was shot down by Boston. I think they are more worried than we are at this point, they didn't take advantage where they thought they could have. They are a veteran team and will not go easily, but I like the matchups we have against them and believe we have a shot at taking this series in 5 games with the way Billups looked. He is not healthy and the type of injury he had takes some time to heel, and it will nag him for the rest of their games.

[spf211]

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You beat me to it on every point, but I agree.

And Ray *will* bust out soon...I predict a great game 2 from him.

Unfortunately continuing to type it doesn't make it so.

[Kefa461]

Detroit comes to Boston with one goal in mind. Steal 1 of the first 2 games. They definitely did not bring their A game last night. But fatigue is still a factor for Boston and might even be more of an issue tomorrow.

I am worried. We totally dominated game 1 and yet we kept Detroit in the game all night long. Detroit did not play with their usual tenacity. It was almost as if they were just feeling us out. Can we beat Detroit if they are playing better? Can we keep it that close with such a lethargic effort?

If Detroit steals game 2 we could find ourselves down 3-1 in this series in a blink of an eye. I would expect Detroit to show up tomorrow as if it was Game 7.

Last night the Celtics really looked like the superior team yet the scoreboard told a different story. If the last 2 series taught us anything it is that we should be very worried. #17 may very well hinge on tomorrows game.

Well of course game 2 could do that as could game 3 and so on, and so one etc.....

[Bleeding Green]

When is the last time someone who was negative was right about the Celtics?

[spf211]

When is the last time someone who was negative was right about the Celtics?

Last year's lottery?

[Bleeding Green]

And they weren't even right then, because that worked out about as well as you could expect.

[ICanOutreboundWalter]

And they weren't even right then, because that worked out about as well as you could expect.

What if Kevin Garnett thought that Paul Pierce and a pre blown out knee Greg Oden were enough to win a championship?

And I know Ray Allen looks better to KG back at that time than Kevin Durant, but what I wouldn't give to deal Allen for Durant right now...

[Kids Are Alright]

Well I think the C's can win - and probably will.

But I am still concerned about Ray Allen. He isn't playing even like a NORMAL starting NBA guard right now. I am serious when I say that statistically TA would likely give us MORE out of that spot. (Probably more bone head errors though).

If I had a tinge of disappointment last night it was that in those two last "garbage" time possesions we had we didn't try to line up Ray for a confidence building shot or two.

Pete

Ray obviously has developed a nervous tick regarding shooting, even his passing is tentative. That missed layup after blowing by Rip was bizarre.

Tony should be getting minutes. We'll need points if PP or KG cool off, and that happens, especially on the road.

[spf211]

And they weren't even right then, because that worked out about as well as you could expect.

Right -- and if we're going to play it that way -- then an embarassing loss in the playoffs could cause Doc to be fired and another coach to be hired who is capable of winning a championship with the Celtics. So there's another negative that could turn into a positive.

Ray Allen's shooting woes cause the Celtics to trade him in the offseason for Josh Howard and win the title next year.

We can do this all day. It's not about negative -- it's about being realistic. It is not realistic to think the Celtics will win a title without winning on the road, period.

[Ortho Stice]

When is the last time someone who was negative was right about the Celtics?

After our first loss in the Cavs series I said that the series would go to seven games with it being a toss-up as to who would win. You could interpret that as being "negative" but I was completely right.

t's not about negative -- it's about being realistic. It is not realistic to think the Celtics will win a title without winning on the road, period.

Exactly. It's not like I'm trying to hate on the Celtics. I care deeply about them and that's why I worry so much. In my opinion, the more you care about a team, the more you worry about them.

[MyInsatiableOne]

^^The thing about all you "realists" and the reason most of us think you're so negative is you NEVER have a positive thing to say about the team or any situation. True realists also think positively half the time.

Not so for so many of the "fans" on here!

[tombattor]

^^The thing about all you "realists" and the reason most of us think you're so negative is you NEVER have a positive thing to say about the team or any situation. True realists also think positively half the time.

Not so for so many of the "fans" on here!

I agree here. There is a difference between looking only at the negative or positive and looking at the both sides. To be a realist, you have to look at both sides and acknowledge the possibility of both.

Last year, we "pessimists" were blasted for saying that getting one of the top 2 picks wasn't a given since there was a higher % of chance we weren't going to get one of the top 2 picks than getting one of those 2. That's not being pessimistic because the math doesn't lie and there really was less than 50% we were going to get that.

In the case of our current team and playoff run, it's true that winning a championship without winning on the road is highly unlikely. However, we do have home court throughout, so if anyone has a chance to do it, it's us. And as much trouble as we've had on the road, we've had as much success at home. And unlike us, where winning on the road will make it easier to win the championship, our opponents must beat us at home to prevent us from winning a championship.

[MyInsatiableOne]

^^Thanks tombattor. I'm so tired of these chicken little's always crying gloom and doom and then being so offended when someone questions how much of a true fan they are.

[spf211]

^^Thanks tombattor. I'm so tired of these chicken little's always crying gloom and doom and then being so offended when someone questions how much of a true fan they are.

Then don't act like being on the other end of the spectrum and always thinking things are perfect and the Celtics are destined to win the championship this year makes you any more of a fan either.

[celticfan42487]

When is the last time someone who was negative was right about the Celtics?

Whenever the last road game in the playoffs was, and whenever the last shot Ray Allen took was.

[Truthiracy]

If they're fatigued, they shouldn't be in the National Basketball Association.