In analyzing the Celtics and what ever troubles they experienced in this post season, one must keep in mind that, with few exceptions, when Boston is right, no one has really shown that they can stop them. In an almost perfect season, Boston has largely been their own worst enemy this season.
Against the Hawks, Boston did appear to have lost a bit of their edge. Perhaps they thought they would just show up and roll over the Hawks. A young, athletic but inexperienced Atlanta Hawks team had given them far too much trouble before going down for the count in game 7 of that series.
Some feel that Hawk athleticism exposed the Celtics' age and their own lack of the same. Some feel Danny Ainge had that in mind when he drafted the 2 players he drafted in JR Giddens and Bill Walker. The uncertainty of signing Posey and Tony Allen's future (at that time) might have had more to do with that, I think.
A 68 free throw Hawk advantage (220-152) was the single biggest culprit for the Celtics' troubles with the Hawks. A 10 foul shot per game handicap in the play-offs is big enough to make any team question its approach to the game, when they aren't questioning the refs themselves. During the season, Boston was a league leader (4th) in fouling, averaging 15 plus fouls per game. But they broke even in foul shooting with their opponents at 26-26 per game. The Hawks had a huge 31.4 to 21.7 advantage in their first round series.
Other than not winning a single road game and having to play through 'foul adversity', the Celtics were, in fact, playing pretty well. You have to know that to understand why Cleveland should get credit for putting the Celtics through a wringer.
In the Hawks series, the Celtics shot 46% from the field and 38% from 3 beyond the arc, and averaged 5 more shot per game than they did during the regular season (81-76). Just how much of a funk were the Celtics in?
Ray Allen
On top of that, it's been said Ray Allen wasn't himself going into the Cavalier series either. That is true, Ray wasn't playing as well as he could. His confidence in his outside shot wasn't quite what it normally was. But it is the Cavalier defense that kicked Ray down and kept him down. And the Cavs didn't just give Ray problems. Paul Pierce was experiencing difficulty shooting as well.
Here are Ray Allen's 3 point shooting pcts in the play-offs - series by series:
3 pt FG%
Atlanta = 40%
Clev = 16.7%
Detroit = 39%
LA.= 52%
He actually shot a very high percentage.... except against the Cavs. The difference is dramatic. Was that simply Ray being "off'" ? I highly doubt it.
Whenever Ray shook free from Wally Szczerbiak there was another Cavalier (or two) to meet him. That was the game plan. Ray did miss some open shots, but they were few, and he appeared to be feeling rushed even when open. Good defense will do that to you. It got so bad for Ray, that at one point he uncharacteristically publicly said that Rondo had to get him the ball in the right spots more. The problem was that Cleveland's defense was clicking and the 'right spots' were often being taken away.
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2 months ago
no comments? what a shame. this is a great article. Ive been telling people the same things since the series ended
from 2 months ago
Thanks Brandon.
Yeah, part one got a lot of readership, but was short. This was more in depth and made the case. Some people don't have the attention span I guess.
How far will the Cavs go this season?
2 months ago
I think the Cavs are strong competition in the East this year even after the obvious made improvements in teams like Toronto, Phila, Chicago and Miami. When it comes down to it, I'll put faith in Lebron in the playoffs. Ive been a believer since he brought that team to the finals..If Paul Pierce didnt produce his best game ever he would have done it again...with Mo Williams i they have enough to do it...Imagine if Larry Hughes was playing well alongside of this guy...he just produces, but cant do it alone against 5 unless he just has it going. I see them advancing
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