|
Post by Admin on Feb 12, 2019 19:36:37 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Feb 12, 2019 19:38:56 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Feb 12, 2019 19:42:57 GMT -5
No Kyrie... No Baynes... C's could easily lose this by 40 tonight. I might make it to halftime. Then again, I might not.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Feb 12, 2019 19:44:47 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Feb 12, 2019 19:48:15 GMT -5
KG on chemistry issues:
“Listen, man, our key to fixing all our problems was just win,” Garnett said when asked how he would handle his teammates publicly criticizing the team. “We used to say if we went through whatever it was — because we had a bunch of distractions — but we always wanted to come together and be first to whatever solution was there, let’s be first to it before we let anything out. Like I say, man, to get out of a funk it’s going to take a team, it’s not going to be one or two guys. It’s going to have to be something collectively that they have to get together. It’s gotta be something that they’re willing to want, to understand that every team is going to go through a woe part of the season. That’s just part of it.”
“I just look at it like it’s a long season, and a long season full of woes,” Garnett said when asked how he viewed the struggles the current Celtics team has experienced. “And nothing’s perfect. I think a lot of times I’m not sure what mindset this younger generation is in, but they have to know that to be able to create or go through a journey you’re going to have to go through some ups and downs. And it’s not always going to be the best of times. And through those times you really see who’s positive, you really see who’s for you, and you really see who is about the solution. And I always say, man, losing brings out the real side in everybody. When you’re winning, everybody’s all good, everybody’s high-fiving, and it’s working, the frowns kind of look like a little smirk. But when you lose, you get the realness of what everybody — and the pureness of what everybody’s thinking through these losses. But they just have to band together and understand that the same way that they lose together, they have to come together to win. And you can control that as a team because you have to come in there and prepare as if you want to win and then go out there and make that translation from practice to the court. But I always say, man, the power is in the team.”
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Feb 12, 2019 19:50:23 GMT -5
No Kyrie... No Baynes... C's could easily lose this by 40 tonight. I might make it to halftime. Then again, I might not.
These are the games when the triumvirate surprise all and step up ... Tatum, Brown & Rozier.
Not expecting a win, a blow out seems more likely but won't be surprised if they do the unlikely either.
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Feb 12, 2019 19:58:50 GMT -5
No Kyrie... No Baynes... C's could easily lose this by 40 tonight. I might make it to halftime. Then again, I might not.
These are the games when the triumvirate surprise all and step up ... Tatum, Brown & Rozier.
Not expecting a win, a blow out seems more likely but won't be surprised if they do the unlikely either.
I will...
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Feb 12, 2019 19:59:49 GMT -5
Preview: Boston Celtics at Philadelphia 76ersThe Celtics look to stop a two-game losing streak and head to Philadelphia to take on the new look Sixers. By Jack Noonan Bob DeChiara-USA TODAY SportsAfter a two-day lull, the Celtics travel to Philadelphia to take on the new look 76ers. It will be the first match up of these two teams after the 76ers acquired Tobias Harris from the Los Angeles Clippers. So far, this team seems to be gelling already putting up impressive numbers among their own core four. Tonight will be a big test for the Celtics to travel into a hostile environment without Kyrie Irving. Boston is on a two-day slide after not receiving the message throughout the city to “Beat LA.” In both the losses to the Lakers and Clippers, the team has looked out of sorts blowing two big leads in games they should have won. Now, the road does not get any easier facing up against an Eastern Conference opponent where a tiebreaker could be important at the end of the season. Even though the Celtics have dominated them in head-to-head matchups (12-3 including playoffs) over the past few years, these games seem to bring the best out of all these players. The key to Philly’s success will be dominating in the post. Joel Embiid’s kryptonite Aron Baynes will be out for this one too, so the load falls on Al Horford to be physical enough to disrupt Embiid all game.However, that is a very tall task now with even more shooters on the floor. Harris is an addition that helps with their team shooting. He was shooting 43.4% from three with the Clippers. This causes nightmares for defenses having to guard the post with Embiid, but not being able to leave Harris or Redick alone on the arc. Celtics will have to play great defense in this one tonight. As for the Celtics, this one will be tough and it really does not come at the best of times for this team. They will be coming off those two losses down their best player facing a much improved Sixers team. Marcus Morris called out the team for not playing with any life, and that it was not fun to play anymore. That will be tested tonight. Winning creates happiness amongst NBA locker rooms, so that is how the Celtics can find the joy in basketball again. As mentioned, the Celtics injury report includes Aron Baynes and Kyrie Irving. Zharie Smith, Justin Patton, and Shake Milton will be sidelined for Philly. More than anything else, the Celtics need this win because they are starting to take on some national media attention again. Of course, when they win nine of ten, no one says a word, but a three-game losing streak heading into the All Star break is a different story. A loss should not worry anyone, but we all knows how that goes down.
Projected StartersPG – Terry Rozier – Ben Simmons SG – Marcus Smart – JJ Redick SF – Jayson Tatum – Jimmy Butler PF – Marcus Morris Sr. – Tobias Harris C – Al Horford – Joel Embiid
InjuriesBoston- Aron Baynes (Foot); Kyrie Irving (Knee) Philadelphia- Shake Milton (Finger); Zhaire Smith (Foot); Justin Patton(Foot)
How To WatchTime – 8:00 EST TV – TNT/ NBC Sports Boston
|
|
|
Post by cole on Feb 12, 2019 20:01:12 GMT -5
Let's go Celtics. I'll be playing ping pong but with the game on the wall tv
|
|
|
Post by puddin on Feb 12, 2019 20:05:13 GMT -5
I like our chances....
Pud
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Feb 12, 2019 20:09:02 GMT -5
What to watch for as the Boston Celtics visit rival Philadelphia 76ers by Michael James It’s a big game for seeding, it’s a big game in the rivalry, and it’s a big game for the Boston Celtics to get back on track. So it’s probably worth a watch, right?
The Boston Celtics gave us all a collective headache Saturday night when they blew another big lead to an LA team at home. Those were both games they should have won, and now they’re behind the 8-ball in the playoff picture. The Celtics visit the now loaded Sixers in a bout for playoff seeding. The Celtics will be without their best player, so it’s unlikely they pull out a win. But hey, we’ve seen them do crazier things, so let’s break down some of the key components for Tuesday night.
Tale of the tape
Celtics: 35-21 (5th in East), 13-13 on the road, 1-11 on the road since last year without Kyrie Irving
Sixers: 36-20 (4th in East), 23-6 at home, 2-0 since acquiring Tobias Harris
Photo by Jim Davis/The Boston Globe via Getty Images
Who steps up?Probably one of the two pictured above, right? Without Irving in this one, it’s a near lock Terry Rozier starts in his place, while Jayson Tatum probably takes on a heavier offensive load than normal. Both of these players cooked the Sixers in the playoffs last season, but that was a different Philly team. All season one of the issues with this team has been the young players not adapting to minimized roles as well as we’d hope. They’ve been better in that regard recently, but tonight is a game where they’ll have to show out. Jaylen Brown is also a player to watch. The Sixers beefed up their depth on the wings, so it won’t be as easy to Tatum and Brown to get whatever they want off the dribble. They’ll have to play a solid, all-around game if the Celtics are going to come out of this one with a win. Lastly, Al Horford may be the key to this entire matchup. Without Aron Baynes in the lineup, he’ll have to take on the responsibility of guarding Joel Embiid. Horford has done well in the past, but containing Embiid is no sure thing. Look for Horford to play solid defense on the All-Star big man while stretching him out of the paint by hitting his perimeter shots.
Photo by Issac Baldizon/NBAE via Getty Images
Lineup changesIt’s possible Brad Stevens shakes up his rotations in this one after the Celtics have developed a bad habit of playing piss-poor defense in the second and third quarters. That may result in a starting lineup change. If so, I’d expect Marcus Morris to head to the bench with Brown going into the starting five. Morris has had a career year, but the bench might need a more steadying presence while Brown could benefit from playing more with Horford and Marcus Smart. Another option could be as simple as changing who starts the second half. Stevens usually goes with his starters, but he might want to think about giving his best defensive unit a look to start the third quarter. If they have a lead, establishing a defensive presence early in the second half could keep the other team from getting hot where it carries into the fourth.
New-look SixersThe Sixers are not the same team we saw this season and in the playoffs last spring. At and before the trade deadline, they acquired Tobias Harris, Boban Marjanovic, James Ennis, Jonathan Simmons and Mike Scott, while saying goodbye to Markelle Fultz, Landry Shamet, Mike Muscala and Wilson Chandler. Their new additions may not be enough to beat a full-strength Celtics team playing good basketball, but they are a much more formidable foe than before all those trades. Harris should create some matchup problems for the Celtics as the Sixers’ new power forward, while Ennis and Simmons are both capable wing defenders to go along with Jimmy Butler and Ben Simmons. One of the biggest weaknesses the Celtics exploited the last season-and-a-half was Philly’s lack of athleticism on the wing. That is no longer an issue for this Sixers team. For the Celtics’ wings to get their buckets on this team, they’ll have to work a lot harder.
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Feb 12, 2019 20:10:11 GMT -5
I just have a bad feeling this game is going to be UGLY!
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Feb 12, 2019 20:14:40 GMT -5
Boston Celtics head coach Brad Stevens reacts during the second half of
an NBA basketball game against the Los Angeles Clippers in Boston,
Saturday, Feb. 9, 2019. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer) (Michael Dwyer)
“I’m not really concerned about the response,” he told reporters before the game. “We have to play exceptionally well to have a chance to win, that’s the bottom line. As far as competing and doing the things that we need to do from that angle, I would think that we would come out and play really hard.”
“You have to play to a standard and you have to play with great togetherness and value every possession that way with maximum effort to have a chance to win in this league,” Stevens said. “That’s every night, not just against the best of the best and we’re playing, what I think, is one of the best of the best tonight. We know that’s obviously the case and we’ll see.”
“We were on a really good stretch of games there prior to the last two and the last two we let slip away,” he said. “The problem with the last two is the stretch that is coming up. That’s ultimately where we put ourselves in that position the last two games and now we have to focus on playing hard, playing well, playing together and everything else takes care of itself. Ultimately, that’s all I’m looking forward to tonight.”
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Feb 12, 2019 20:15:12 GMT -5
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Feb 12, 2019 20:16:34 GMT -5
TNT coverage is all Sixers. Hope the C's know how badly they're being dismissed and ignored.
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Feb 12, 2019 20:17:18 GMT -5
Only thing I heard them say about the C's is "no Kyrie tonight" lol
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Feb 12, 2019 20:21:26 GMT -5
Tatum forced that shot. Move the ball young fella.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Feb 12, 2019 20:21:39 GMT -5
Embiid traveled and Al gets the foul and the "T" for getting pissed early!
|
|
|
Post by sfbosfan on Feb 12, 2019 20:22:15 GMT -5
It would be interesting to see how many games Irving has missed !!!
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Feb 12, 2019 20:23:51 GMT -5
NO ball movement at all. Morris is hitting shots, but there's no ball movement. Doesn't look good...
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Feb 12, 2019 20:24:24 GMT -5
Morris 3-4 with 6pts to lead the charge ...
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Feb 12, 2019 20:24:46 GMT -5
Everybody looking for their own.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Feb 12, 2019 20:26:39 GMT -5
It would be interesting to see how many games Irving has missed !!!
He's played in 47 of 57 so far ...
|
|
|
Post by drboogiebone on Feb 12, 2019 20:28:35 GMT -5
Talking about Morris' comments. I agree, and I'm glad he said it.
|
|
|
Post by Admin on Feb 12, 2019 20:29:21 GMT -5
The Bad [Stats]
1. Boston has the league’s worst free throw rateThat’s right, no one is worse at getting to the line than the Celtics. The league is built on trying to get layups, free throws, and 3’s. The Celtics are great at getting turnovers and turning them into points, but they are bad at scoring with the clock stopped. It’s great that they can do it in the clutch, but doing so in the first through third quarters would eliminate some of the need to have clutch performances. Only 13.9 percent of Boston’s points come from the free throw line, which is tied with Sacramento for worst in the league. They are the fourth-worst team at drawing fouls overall, which prevents them from taking a good offense and becoming an elite one. Drawing fouls is not just a way for individual Celtics to score, it’s a way to help set up teammates by getting opponents into the penalty. The starters drawing fouls early in the first quarter could help bench players score a few extra points by getting to the line later. 2. Boston is the sixth-worst in the league in points in the paint.This goes hand-in-hand with the inability to get to the line. Boston isn’t driving and finishing around the rim as much as they can, and that’s where most fouls are drawn. It’s not just about scoring points in the paint, it’s also about collapsing defenses with the threat of scoring in the paint and kicking the ball out for open looks from three. Remember layups free throws, and threes are the goal. The Celtics are pretty good with the 3’s (they have the sixth-best 3-point percentage), but they can take their offense to the elite level it needs to be if they can start getting into the paint. 3. Boston is sixth in the NBA in percentage of points from the mid-range (12.3%)Mid-range shots are, generally speaking, the worst shot in basketball. They are fine in small doses, unless the players taking them are elite. Golden State has one of those in Kevin Durant, so them being near the Celtics in this category is fine. San Antonio makes it work for the most part, and they pepper in a very high percentage from beyond the arc to support their mid-range habit. Boston is pretty good from 3 as well. 34.7% of Boston’s points come from 3, second only to the Houston Rockets. However their propensity to take long two’s is often at the root of their worst performances. Jayson Tatum was one of the biggest culprits earlier this season, but he’s been adjusting his game a little lately to hunt more free throw attempts. The Celtics can live with elbow jumpers from Kyrie Irving, Gordon Hayward, and even Marcus Morris from time to time. Their goal, though, should be to eliminate more of these mid-range shots and pump up their attempts at the rim. The Boston Celtics are a good team. That’s undeniable. What they’re not, yet, is an elite team. That’s what they need to be if they’re going to live up to any of the preseason expectations. The stats show how good they already are, but those three key problem areas continue to be what holds Boston back from that next level. www.masslive.com/celtics/2019/02/five-stats-that-show-the-boston-celtics-are-just-fine-and-three-that-show-theyre-not.html
|
|