| 04 November 2009
The 74-105 home loss to the Celtics (2-2, .500) is one of those cases in which watching the game replaying is a salvation.
Thank God I didn't watch this rout live, I would have gone to bed at 3 AM completely broken. Not that the wins over Bucks and Knicks (= the 'best' of the garbage of the NBA) made me think that we are a great team, so it wasn't actually a "reality check". No one had particular illusions here, nor overrated the last two games.
Still, getting trounced that way by Boston wasn't nice. Because it was Boston, obviously. Because it was the 5th straight loss vs Boston, also. Because we had to watch Eddie House one more time, also. Because we had to 'enjoy' another rain of threes, also.
If you think Celtics' 14/20 vs Sixers' 1/16 from three point land played a factor in this game, shockingly you are right. Talking about 42-3 points scored from downtown. Even the last scrubs from the Celtics bench knocked down a three in the fourth, but of course Wallace had already made the biggest part of the damage before that: Sheed, particularly inspired, shot 6/8.
Interesting how Sixers basically shut down Ray Allen and a struggling Garnett, but still managed to get destroyed, losing every quarter and allowing Celtics' reserves to make a decisive push. Pierce had a very 'quiet' 21 points, Rondo was extremely effective, same for House, as always against the Sixers.
Unusually, Sam Dalembert had a very good game and played a great first (6+5+1), even being the go-to-guy in an offense that started the game very cold (0/6). Boston started 2/13 but closed the period knocking down its last eight shots.
One thing I noticed, especially in the first half, is how Boston ALWAYS looks for the extra pass. This is clearly a sign of a very good team, a veteran squad that plays unselfish basketball: their circulation of the ball, their spacing is something we can learn from. While in Sixerland the Princeton offense is still nowhere to be found, at least for me. I would have a hard time remembering 3 FGs made after executed PO plays last night.
And defensively... well, forget about that. Yes, hitting 14 out of 20 threes would be huge also without any defense, but Sixers contested not more than 3-4 of those shots. Same as it happened at MSG, only difference Boston was putting the ball in.... (more after the jump)THREE ANSWERS
1) Yes, Willie Green is always the "King of garbage time". The only funny break in an otherwise sad 48 minutes was seeing him piling up shots in the fourth to fill up his stat line.
2) No, I can't explain how much I hate Eddie House. He's surpassing Rick Fox in my 'Most hated' ranking, which is a really remarkable accomplishment. Always clowning opponents, fans, pathetically trying to show he's "the man", "the tough guy". What a piece of trash.
3) No, Boston won't win the title this year. I think the fact that Sheed is making so many threes will hurt them in the long term. He is averaging 45% so far (and that can only go down), but check this: over the first four games, he took 33 threes and only 9 two pointers !! I'm not sure they signed him to be Matt Bullard part II.
THREE QUESTIONS
1) Why are all those 11 foot-jumpers by Brand falling short ?? He seems he doesn't get enough push from his legs. Bad game by Elton, completely out of rythm.
2) Why does Thaddeus Young travel with the ball at least once per game, and always in the same way? Anybody out there explaining him that he has to keep his pivotal foot firm and put the ball on the floor earlier?
3) Are we sure Iguodala-Carney-Kapono-Speights-J. Smith was the right line up to start the fourth ???
REASONS
Why we lost the game.
We didn't put the ball in the basket, while they did it.
To be optimistic
One day we will beat the Celtics.
We'll also enjoy their elimination in the second round next May. Sam had a good game vs tough opponents. Jrue Holiday made his first NBA three and is 100% overall from the field (3/3, LOL).
To be worried
Perimeter defense is getting from "Horrible" to "Non existent". Perimeter offense is swinging bewteen the aforementioned two statuses. Still three games vs Celtics left.
Sixers don't play again until Friday, when they'll face the 0-4 Nets... hope they'll find time to watch this tape...
