Comments on: McGrady-less Rockets Beat Celtics in Boston http://sportsofboston.com/2009/01/08/mcgrady-less-rockets-beat-celtics-in-boston/ Boston sports blog: Red Sox, Patriots, Celtics, Bruins, and more. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 00:45:55 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Celtics 2010-2011 Preview: Guards | Sports of Boston http://sportsofboston.com/2009/01/08/mcgrady-less-rockets-beat-celtics-in-boston/comment-page-1/#comment-13603 Celtics 2010-2011 Preview: Guards | Sports of Boston Thu, 28 Oct 2010 18:01:43 +0000 http://www.sportsofboston.com/?p=13965#comment-13603 [...] of the things I will never forget was when he hit the go-ahead 3-pointer against the Celtics that ultimately won the game for the Rockets. He went 4-for-6 from 3-point land that night and I [...] [...] of the things I will never forget was when he hit the go-ahead 3-pointer against the Celtics that ultimately won the game for the Rockets. He went 4-for-6 from 3-point land that night and I [...]

]]> By: What is Wrong with the Celtics? | Sports of Boston http://sportsofboston.com/2009/01/08/mcgrady-less-rockets-beat-celtics-in-boston/comment-page-1/#comment-4994 What is Wrong with the Celtics? | Sports of Boston Thu, 08 Jan 2009 20:50:14 +0000 http://www.sportsofboston.com/?p=13965#comment-4994 [...] Our reader, Ken, left a very compelling comment in our most recent game recap of a Celtics loss, Wednesday night against the Houston Rockets. I think there’s a lot to be said of the Celtics’ recent struggles, and Ken associates [...] [...] Our reader, Ken, left a very compelling comment in our most recent game recap of a Celtics loss, Wednesday night against the Houston Rockets. I think there’s a lot to be said of the Celtics’ recent struggles, and Ken associates [...]

]]> By: Ken http://sportsofboston.com/2009/01/08/mcgrady-less-rockets-beat-celtics-in-boston/comment-page-1/#comment-4992 Ken Thu, 08 Jan 2009 12:16:44 +0000 http://www.sportsofboston.com/?p=13965#comment-4992 Once again, the Celts fall apart in the final quarter. In trying to figure out what's going on, my mind turns to boxing, of all things. I remember some years back when Roy Jones Jr. was the best in the world, and then one night he gets knocked flat by a journeyman light heavyweight and out of the blue he's never the same again. Same thing happened to De La Hoya and Holyfield, and countless other boxers: one day you're the best, and one night you suddenly get old. Happens without warning. The reflexes slow down just a bit, the legs don't have the staying power any more, and you just can't get out of the way of the punches. Does this remind you of December 25th or something? Think about Garnett in the fourth quarter recently. He's still intense, he still plays hard on defense, but the shots miss wide or clang off the iron. No matter how much time he rests on the bench, he's simply not the same at the end. How about Ray Allen? Plays like a madman during the last part of November and nearly all of December, and then one night (December 25 to be exact)it all changes. He suddenly can't hit a big shot. His ensuing fourth quarters become a series of near misses despite being wide open. Eddie House? Starts the season on fire. Can anybody remember the last time he hit a meaningful shot in the fourth quarter? I can't. All these guys are veterans, and I'm wondering if they got old on December 25th, and if it will ever be the same again. Add this to the fact that the league has figured out how to guard Rondo inside, and he's been unable to develop a jump shot outside, and his Achilles heel becomes obvious as he starts to throw errant passes and bounce the ball off his feet. This isn't an age problem, but he'll never be top level without a jump shot, and all the big guys just surround him down low now. He often manages to pass outside to his shooters, but we've already mentioned the problems of Allen and House. Perkins? Playing the best basketball of his career this year, but embarassed by Yao Ming, starts fouling, and can't score a point. Totally ineffective since December 25th, as he once again starts setting bad picks and bringing the ball to the floor instead of just going up for the shot. Is anybody talking to this guy? So we've got a combination of aging veterans and flailing around young guys - and let me add a few remarks about the coaching decisions. Would somebody explain this to me? Fourth quarter last night - Gabe Pruitt the only Celtic to score in nearly 8 minutes, and playing excellent defense, gets benched at crunch time. Big Baby playing his heart out against Yao, scoring some points, grabbing big rebounds, benched at crunch time for a totally helpless Perkins. "No Names" beating us from the outside for the third straight game with no coaching adjustments to prevent those open 3 pointers. I don't know, I just don't know if I can even watch the Cleveland game. Once again, the Celts fall apart in the final quarter. In trying to figure out what’s going on, my mind turns to boxing, of all things. I remember some years back when Roy Jones Jr. was the best in the world, and then one night he gets knocked flat by a journeyman light heavyweight and out of the blue he’s never the same again. Same thing happened to De La Hoya and Holyfield, and countless other boxers: one day you’re the best, and one night you suddenly get old. Happens without warning. The reflexes slow down just a bit, the legs don’t have the staying power any more, and you just can’t get out of the way of the punches.

Does this remind you of December 25th or something? Think about Garnett in the fourth quarter recently. He’s still intense, he still plays hard on defense, but the shots miss wide or clang off the iron. No matter how much time he rests on the bench, he’s simply not the same at the end. How about Ray Allen? Plays like a madman during the last part of November and nearly all of December, and then one night (December 25 to be exact)it all changes. He suddenly can’t hit a big shot. His ensuing fourth quarters become a series of near misses despite being wide open.

Eddie House? Starts the season on fire. Can anybody remember the last time he hit a meaningful shot in the fourth quarter? I can’t.

All these guys are veterans, and I’m wondering if they got old on December 25th, and if it will ever be the same again. Add this to the fact that the league has figured out how to guard Rondo inside, and he’s been unable to develop a jump shot outside, and his Achilles heel becomes obvious as he starts to throw errant passes and bounce the ball off his feet. This isn’t an age problem, but he’ll never be top level without a jump shot, and all the big guys just surround him down low now. He often manages to pass outside to his shooters, but we’ve already mentioned the problems of Allen and House.

Perkins? Playing the best basketball of his career this year, but embarassed by Yao Ming, starts fouling, and can’t score a point. Totally ineffective since December 25th, as he once again starts setting bad picks and bringing the ball to the floor instead of just going up for the shot. Is anybody talking to this guy?

So we’ve got a combination of aging veterans and flailing around young guys – and let me add a few remarks about the coaching decisions. Would somebody explain this to me? Fourth quarter last night – Gabe Pruitt the only Celtic to score in nearly 8 minutes, and playing excellent defense, gets benched at crunch time. Big Baby playing his heart out against Yao, scoring some points, grabbing big rebounds, benched at crunch time for a totally helpless Perkins. “No Names” beating us from the outside for the third straight game with no coaching adjustments to prevent those open 3 pointers.

I don’t know, I just don’t know if I can even watch the Cleveland game.

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