The Celtics have dealt with more adversity than any team I can think of in recent memory this season (for a legitimate contender, including San Antonio). They have dealt with the huge injuries of KG and Powe, the lack of frontcourt and overall depth, and the mileage on Pierce and Allen from long, productive years carrying teams with no talent around them plus a long playoff run last and this year. They dealt with a surging Bulls team and now have run headfirst into the best defense this season. They worked very hard to overcome being outplayed in most of the first 5 games to come out ahead 3-2. Their heart and determination have carried them far, and their offense, while sporatic (their outside shooting has been abysmal for the most part) has been efficient.
However, the Celtics ran into a myriad of problems in the second half of Game 6. The Celtics outplayed the Magic in the first half, and for most of the third quarter. They were the aggressors at every level in this game for that time, and it appeared to me that we had a win coming. However, the Magic clamped down, and for nearly 15 minutes we completely lost our offensive rhythm because of it. The problems run down like this.
-Paul Pierce is getting doubled everytime he touches the ball. Pierce has done a great job of not turning the ball over against the many traps he faces. However, it has greatly lowered the number of looks he is getting. Most of the time, he doesn't even attempt to beat the trap, instead swinging the ball to Rondo. I think at some point he needs to beat a double team on consecutive tries to put it into the defense's head that he can.
-When Pierce gets rid of the ball, Rondo has not scored consistently enough as a result. This is because of his lack of outside shot. The Magic are leaning heavily on this fact, and Rondo has yet to make them truly pay. He is not driving to the basket enough when he gets the ball. It doesn't matter who the Magic put out at point, if they swing to double Paul and Rondo gets the ball, he can easily get to the rim. No point guard on the Magic can stop him. The problem is that the reigning Defensive Player of the Year is sitting back, waiting to stuff Rondo. Rondo needs to drive anyway and either find a way past Howard's outstretched arms or he needs to draw him and then dish the ball off to a post player whose presence Howard has vacated. This will force a rotation of a player on either Pierce or Allen at some point, and they must convert. This leads us to our next problem.
-Ray Allen is ice cold. He has been terrible this entire series after being a god in the series against the Bulls. He has to get going in some manner. If he isn't hitting his outside shot, then he needs to get into the lane much in the manner that Rondo needs to. He can hit that running floater before Howard gets to him, he just needs to take it. He seems reluctant to pull the trigger.
-We have yet to get a game with Pierce and Allen both playing well in these playoffs. It's quite ridiculous. If we could just get this to happen, with the way Rondo and the frontcourt are playing, we would win easily. If Allen is hitting his outside shots, then the Magic at some point have to consider not doubling Paul everytime he touches the ball. If Allen is shooting well, then I would suggest running a pick and roll with these two players with House on the floor. Either you double Pierce and give the shot to Allen, or Pierce drives. You can't bring a player off House to double or he'll kill you. If you depend on Howard to block, you will at some point fail. Either through fouls or Pierce beating him with a layup or pass, the defense cannot win out against this situation.
However, with the way things are, it's unbelievable how well we have fared. Big Baby and Perk have been absolute monsters in this series. We've gotten enough from our bench. Right now you almost don't need to guard either Rondo or Allen, and that just is not acceptable.
No comments:
Post a Comment