So, how do we stop the Celts?

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maxiep

maxiep

RIP Dr. Jack
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If we let them push us around like they did last year, this game could get ugly.

I'd like to see one of the Assistant Coaches tell Greg that KG said something terrible about his mother.
 
1. Don't be intimidated.

2. Paul Pierce and KG will get theirs, but try to hold Ray Allen to 15 points and under.

3. Do not let Rajon Rondo get off. When he's on, that team is basically impossible to beat.

4. Our bench has to outplay their bench.
 
How do we stop them? Honestly I don't think we can. The only chance we have of winning comes from the Blazers playing some of their best ball, and the Celtics playing somewhat poorly (eg. two out of 3 of Allen, Pierce, or KG having an off night).

I'll be happy if we play them to within 10 points, and Greg doesn't foul out in 20 minutes.
 
nancykerrigan.jpg
 
To win, we need to D them up. They haven't lost a game when scoring over 85 points so far (granted, they've only lost twice). Greg/Joel have 12 fouls to use, and shouldn't be shy. Batum on Pierce should be big. A huge team effort on D should be enough to make it close down the stretch...then lets hope Roy & Rudy turn it on. I think they have a real chance.
 
Nikolokolus said:
How do we stop them? Honestly I don't think we can. The only chance we have of winning comes from the Blazers playing some of their best ball, and the Celtics playing somewhat poorly (eg. two out of 3 of Allen, Pierce, or KG having an off night).

I'll be happy if we play them to within 10 points, and Greg doesn't foul out in 20 minutes.
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You really don't think we can win? We played them pretty well last year, stayed close until the final minutes when they pulled away. This year, we have a better roster, and Roy is emerging into a superstar.

Yes, the game will be incredibly tough if we want to win, but I think the best strategy would be to key in on Paul Pierce. He makes the team run. As long as we can close out on shooters, and keep them off the offensive glass, I think we might have a shot at this.

I'm just afraid that Boston's defense will stifle Nate's slow and methodical offense.
 
B-Roy said:
You really don't think we can win? We played them pretty well last year, stayed close until the final minutes when they pulled away. This year, we have a better roster, and Roy is emerging into a superstar.

Yes, the game will be incredibly tough if we want to win, but I think the best strategy would be to key in on Paul Pierce. He makes the team run. As long as we can close out on shooters, and keep them off the offensive glass, I think we might have a shot at this.

I'm just afraid that Boston's defense will stifle Nate's slow and methodical offense.
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I didn't say we can't win, I said I don't think we can stop them ... the Celtics are going to have to help us by playing mediocre.

As for Boston's defense and Nate's "slow and methodical" offense, don't the Celtics make everyone they play look like they have a slow and methodical offense?
 
Keys to the Game:

Hold their big three to under 10 points

Shoot 85% or better

Diogu to Step up and go 30/20
 
Nikolokolus said:
I didn't say we can't win, I said I don't think we can stop them ... the Celtics are going to have to help us by playing mediocre.

As for Boston's defense and Nate's "slow and methodical" offense, don't the Celtics make everyone they play look like they have a slow and methodical offense?
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They turn opposing offenses from fast --> show. If ours is already slow, then what does show ---> "???" equal?

I certainly hope it's not iso Travis Outlaw every possession.
 
We have to play physical defense and not let them push us around at all. Don't let KG's mind-games get into their heads, and don't let Perkins get all-hyped up without consequences - make him get frustrated and whine to the refs as he picks up techs.

I do not think we can win, but I would be satisfied with keeping close with Boston on their home-court.
 
maxiep said:
I'd like to see one of the Assistant Coaches tell Greg that KG said something terrible about his mother.
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No need for an assistant to tell him that. KG will stoop to any level to talk shit.

Speaking of which, Sheed has a great policy about trash talking. [video=youtube;l4E0N8pNR9U]
 
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I think we want this game more than Boston. That usually is a very good thing in the NBA.
 
How amazing was Rondo in the boxscore tonight? 16 pts, 17 assts, 13 rebs

Looks like an All Star
 
Nikolokolus said:
How do we stop them? Honestly I don't think we can. The only chance we have of winning comes from the Blazers playing some of their best ball, and the Celtics playing somewhat poorly (eg. two out of 3 of Allen, Pierce, or KG having an off night).

I'll be happy if we play them to within 10 points, and Greg doesn't foul out in 20 minutes.
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as long as the blazers play well, it doesn't matter who their opponent is or how they play, the blazers will be in the game.

and i don't know why you're acting as if the blazers have little chance to beat boston. in aldridge, the blazers have a guy with all the tools to be one of the better defenders of kg in the league(he matches him in size and length and doesn't give up quickness). and with oden and joel in the post next to him, the blazers should be able to make things difficult for garnett without having to double off of pierce and allen which is very important. as long as the blazers don't let rondo penetrate at will, that should be enough to keep boston from having a great offensive night.

on the other end, the blazers just have to stay aggressive and then knock down shots(obviously).

if they play scared in boston, then the odds of winning are very small but i don't see that happening and at the very least the blazers aren't going to let this game get away from them and get blown out.
 
rocketeer said:
as long as the blazers play well, it doesn't matter who their opponent is or how they play, the blazers will be in the game.

and i don't know why you're acting as if the blazers have little chance to beat boston. in aldridge, the blazers have a guy with all the tools to be one of the better defenders of kg in the league(he matches him in size and length and doesn't give up quickness). and with oden and joel in the post next to him, the blazers should be able to make things difficult for garnett without having to double off of pierce and allen which is very important. as long as the blazers don't let rondo penetrate at will, that should be enough to keep boston from having a great offensive night.

on the other end, the blazers just have to stay aggressive and then knock down shots(obviously).

if they play scared in boston, then the odds of winning are very small but i don't see that happening and at the very least the blazers aren't going to let this game get away from them and get blown out.
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Call me a skeptic, but they are the defending champs for a reason. Our Blazers aren't a bad team by any stretch, but playing in Boston is going to be a very, very tall order and I don't particularly think the matchups favor us. I hope I'm proved wrong.
 
We're the better team, we have more depth, more overall talent, they have a slight edge in experience but most of that is years of experience at being pathetic losers and underachieving so I really don't see a problem as long as we approach it as just another road game and don't give them too much credit.

If we get awed by the hype, we lose, but I think we're too mature for that.

Boston's about to get embarrassed, IMO.
 
Nikolokolus said:
How do we stop them? Honestly I don't think we can. The only chance we have of winning comes from the Blazers playing some of their best ball, and the Celtics playing somewhat poorly (eg. two out of 3 of Allen, Pierce, or KG having an off night).

I'll be happy if we play them to within 10 points, and Greg doesn't foul out in 20 minutes.
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Shall we revisit your prediction of the first 20 games of the season again? Seems as though you like to sell this team short quite a bit.
 
It will be a hard game. We have to stop 2 of the big 3 I think. And I agree that we cannot let Rondo get hot like he did last night.

Our 3 pointer has to drop too.
 
We have to close out on their perimeter shooters and make them take it inside against Greg and Joel. As long as we don't get in too much foul trouble they can be stopped.
 
MARIS61 said:
We're the better team, we have more depth, more overall talent, they have a slight edge in experience but most of that is years of experience at being pathetic losers and underachieving so I really don't see a problem as long as we approach it as just another road game and don't give them too much credit.

If we get awed by the hype, we lose, but I think we're too mature for that.

Boston's about to get embarrassed, IMO.
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Put the kool-aid down... it's making you say silly things you'll regret in the morning.


I'm looking forward to this game.. mainly because of the great blazer community we have here on S2.. it'll make the results so much more fun to talk about :cheers:
 
zagsfan20 said:
Shall we revisit your prediction of the first 20 games of the season again? Seems as though you like to sell this team short quite a bit.
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I just made a prediction based on how road heavy, and playoff heavy their opening quarter of the season was, IIRC I think I said they'd be 8-16. Part of that prediction was based on just how many rookies they were inserting into the lineup and just how bad of a road team they were last year. I don't claim to possess clairvoyant powers, so I had no idea they'd be able to gel as quickly as they did, or that we'd be getting so much production so soon out of Rudy, Batum and Greg. But let's be real here, most people around here had them pegged to go about 12-12 plus or minus a few wins or losses.

Am I unhappy they've played so well? God no! This has been a great start to the season and they have far exceeded all rational expectations, but I also recognize that Boston is a truly elite team, the defending champs, playing on their own court, are on a ten game winning streak, and likely amped up to swat down an up and comer like Portland.

Is that selling the team short? I think that's just being realistic.
 
Nikolokolus said:
As for Boston's defense and Nate's "slow and methodical" offense, don't the Celtics make everyone they play look like they have a slow and methodical offense?
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the Celtics have some solid defenders on their club but I don't see Allen or Pierce as favorable matchups for them on Roy. I expect he'll be able to get anywhere on the floor he wants as per usual. If so, Portland's balanced attack should be able to run as usual as well... guys will be collapsing on Roy and he'll have shooters to kick it out to and the bigger/longer guys on the offensive boards collecting misses.

The key matchup is LA-KG. I'm recalling the game in Boston last year where Aldridge was holding his own and then some. In the 2nd half KG really started chirping (as many have noted) but I also remember several ticky-tack/questionable fouls going against LaMarcus and the tide of the game turning with him on the bench. Frye is a wooden statue trying to guard Garnett. Travis is the actually the next best option and has had some success, but yeah... LA staying out of foul trouble is a real key to Portland's chances.

I expect both teams to be really up for this game... I'm frothing at the mouth myself and it's a day and a half away :breakdance:

STOMP
 
I think this game is going to be very close at the end - and it will come down to execution at the end of the game.

On paper - you have to give Boston the edge - they are the champs for a reason and Pierce closes games very well - but we do have Roy and I think he has made a mental leap this year to believing he can score on anyone on any night. He might not do it this time on pretty much every possession as he has been doing this year - but he is going to score some.

The thing that worries me is that Greg seems to be timid in first games against teams/people that he holds in great esteem. If it was our 2nd game against Boston - I would have liked it a lot more.

Still, I hope that the constant trash-talking by KG will fire him enough to be aggressive even if this is the first time he plays the current NBA champs.
 
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