Anyone else extremely frustrated....

[celticsnut]

with how terrible we are at defending the high pick and roll. Even when KG is in the lineup it seems to be our biggest weakness. The last two nights in crunch time, we were unable to stop Rose/Miller and then Chalmers/O'Neal. I guess it is easy for me to say this, but it is not hard to hedge and recover. Perk, and Mikki especially have no clue how to show. Then they get themselves in position where they are back pedaling trying to stay in front of a PG. To make matters worse, Rondo does nothing EVER to fight over screens. The only reason I bring this up is because teams see that and will run it into the ground against us in the playoffs. Thibs needs to work on this the last few weeks to get the guys ready.

All in all though this was a much needed gritty win. It would have been embarrassing to lose to a team like that at home, I don't care who is hurt for us. Shout out to Steph for playing what I thought was a pretty error free game. Does anyone else notice how hard he is trying at the defensive end? Rondo on the offensive end was great tonight, and what can you say about vintage PP.

[Kids Are Alright]

Baby was flat out dead at the end of the game and couldn't even give the matador defense that Blount used to damn us with. That's why the high pick and roll was killing us IMO.

[Red2]

rondo needs to do a better job at the point of attack. without garnett his "playing fromn behind" defense has hurt us because the interior guys are not up to the job of picking up the guards. If rondo played his man straight up when he crosses half court and kept his man in front of him instead of constantly trying to steal it from behind we would be much better off. apparently doc and compnay don't want him to play that way because they allow rondo's man to beat him all the time with little to no resistance. I know Rondo could shut some of these guards down if he made it a goal not to let them get by him. How about Chalmers though? tell me you wouldn't rather have him than giddens.

[MyInsatiableOne]

It killed us in the Chicago game as well...

I don't think we're bad at it with KG in there, but when he's out...whoo-boy!

[celticsnut]

Yeah I always liked Chalmers at Kansas, just seems to be a natural born leader who loves taking the big shot. Actually kind of reminds me of a young Billups. But back to the point, I thought I was going to throw the remote at the TV watching the high screen and roles. The entire team for that matter looks clueless out there.

[Athanacropolis]

Celticsnut:

Yes! Very frustrated! How many times, even in overtime when things were getting close, were Miami's shooters open at the three-point line? Thankfully, many of those shots missed or rimmed-out, but these are the types of defensive lapses that having KG in the lineup helps prevent.

I do understand that Moore and Marbury and Walker don't usually play a lot or aren't used to the system, but it was still very frustrating. I don't know if I'd call the defense "clueless," just a step slow.

[GuyClinch]

^^^ Moore and Marbury? Sorry man at the end of the game they were just attacking and absuing BBD. Moore had fouled out long ago and Marbury hasn't been that bad..on D.

But BBD would rotate over slow and then present like zero obstacle for the opposing player. I suppose he didn't want to foul out but man was it UGLY. Its funny how his fans claim he is good on defense and better then Powe at D. I wonder what universe they watching basketball in..

Pete

[MyInsatiableOne]

^^^ Moore and Marbury? Sorry man at the end of the game they were just attacking and absuing BBD. Moore had fouled out long ago and Marbury hasn't been that bad..on D.

But BBD would rotate over slow and then present like zero obstacle for the opposing player. I suppose he didn't want to foul out but man was it UGLY. Its funny how his fans claim he is good on defense and better then Powe at D. I wonder what universe they watching basketball in..

Pete

This is a point I've tried to make, too...they always claim he has superior footwork...OK, so what, BFD...his defense is as atrocious if not worse than Powe's, and at least Powe can jump and blocks shots once in a while. Unless Davis is using his bulk on a taller, lighter C, he's useless...

[Athanacropolis]

^^^ Moore and Marbury? Sorry man at the end of the game they were just attacking and absuing BBD. Moore had fouled out long ago and Marbury hasn't been that bad..on D.

But BBD would rotate over slow and then present like zero obstacle for the opposing player. I suppose he didn't want to foul out but man was it UGLY. Its funny how his fans claim he is good on defense and better then Powe at D. I wonder what universe they watching basketball in..

Pete

Oh, I'm not forgetting Davis. But he wasn't involved in the point I was making. I was trying to say that the recent influx of new players, and players getting playing time who usually don't, is bound to make the defense less-than crisp. I wasn't trying to give Davis a pass, and I never claimed he was better than Powe on defense. And I was speaking the whole game through, and other games, not just the Miami one.

But yes, I do agree with you about Davis in the later stages of last night's game.

[Rocky5000]

Davis is a better man-to-man defender, but Powe is a better team defender. That's why Davis is better suited to play backup C, and Powe works best at PF. We don't really have much of a choice on who we play where nowadays.

[MyInsatiableOne]

Davis is a better man-to-man defender, but Powe is a better team defender. That's why Davis is better suited to play backup C, and Powe works best at PF. We don't really have much of a choice on who we play where nowadays.

I still think the room for improvement with Powe's D is much bigger than Davis, if only from a mobility/jumping ability/speed standpoint (you know, everything!)

[Rocky5000]

Yeah, and I wouldn't be too down on Davis after last night. He had a plus-minus of +24. The guy who really needs a lesson in defense and not fouling is Mikki. It seems like every time he gets challenged it ends in a foul call.

[MyInsatiableOne]

Yeah, and I wouldn't be too down on Davis after last night. He had a plus-minus of +24. The guy who really needs a lesson in defense and not fouling is Mikki. It seems like every time he gets challenged it ends in a foul call.

This is true. For a 7-footer, he doesn't *play* like a 7-footer...shades of Blount?

[GuyClinch]

Yeah, and I wouldn't be too down on Davis after last night. He had a plus-minus of +24. The guy who really needs a lesson in defense and not fouling is Mikki. It seems like every time he gets challenged

Come on +/- from one game? He just happened to play with Pierce. <g> BBD plus minus is way below Powe. Powe is +190 and BBD is +68. Seeing that BBD got so much time with the starters this season that ridiculous owning by Powe.

[sully00]

Perk is one of the best bigs in the game at defending the pick and roll, Rondo lost his legs and was getting killed on the defensive end, pick and roll, blow by it didn't matter.

Leon's best defensive asset is his man to man play it is in the team concept he comes up short.

As far as Baby goes hate all you want this team went 1-3 without him and we won last night. It may not be pretty but he makes this a better team.

[MyInsatiableOne]

Perk is one of the best bigs in the game at defending the pick and roll, Rondo lost his legs and was getting killed on the defensive end, pick and roll, blow by it didn't matter.

Leon's best defensive asset is his man to man play it is in the team concept he comes up short.

As far as Baby goes hate all you want this team went 1-3 without him and we won last night. It may not be pretty but he makes this a better team.

But how much stock can one put in this number when you realize KG and Ray and Rondo and Powe have all be out/injured during this stretch??

[Bad-Thoma]

It's frustrating to watch, but it's understandable the last couple games considering the circumstances. Between foul trouble and injury the frontcourt has had it's claws pulled a bit, though I don't understand the critisicm of Perk, he has been playing some of his best ball of the season while KG has been out. He can't guard everyone, that is what defensive rotations are for.

[MyInsatiableOne]

Perk has NOT been the problem with the D...the injuries and reliance on such defensive garbage as Davis and Moore has been the biggest reason...

[sully00]

Perk is one of the best bigs in the game at defending the pick and roll, Rondo lost his legs and was getting killed on the defensive end, pick and roll, blow by it didn't matter.

Leon's best defensive asset is his man to man play it is in the team concept he comes up short.

As far as Baby goes hate all you want this team went 1-3 without him and we won last night. It may not be pretty but he makes this a better team.

But how much stock can one put in this number when you realize KG and Ray and Rondo and Powe have all be out/injured during this stretch??

We were 5-2 without KG before Baby went down, so we are 6-2 with him and 1-3 without him, granted the ORL game was in the tank with him or without him.

Look you have made your mind up about Davis and that is your deal, everyone has guys they like and guys they don't. But Baby has an impact that is similar to Posey on the game, it isn't about the numbers, it almost the Mark Eaton affect.

Baby has played well the last 3 months he is shooting 47% and 53% on that jumper you love so much over the last 10 games, while he doesn't light it up on the glass the team does just as well on the glass with him in the game. What I see with Davis is that he has a tendency to bail us out when we are in trouble match up wise, he stops the bleeding, Leon on the hand makes the opponent bleed.

[SALMIEN]

Celtics fans , feeling you