I've been going through this ALL day today, obsessively.  I needed to textually rationalize how the Celtics could actually benefit (possibly) from Sheed's entry into the starting lineup tonight.

I haven't come to any real conclusions as to whether the experiment (out of necessity!) will be successful, but I was able to outline some ways in which it COULD be very successful.  Given the nature of how finals games play out, nobody (including myself) can know whether Sheed will go 20 and 10, or foul out before the 4th quarter with 2 pts.  What I do know is that there are clear benefits to having Sheed on the floor in place of Perk, during a game 7 against the Lakers.  Here are some that "may" be apparent tonight.

-----

The Celtics may very well be a better team without Perkins in the starting lineup…at least in this series, and at least for one final game.  However, the Celtics could potentially also be a much worse team without Perk in the starting lineup.  Several things need to happen in order to make Sheed’s entry into the starting lineup a big positive…

The first key is an obvious one…but it really can't be overstated.  The very fact that this team KNOWS that Sheed is in the starting lineup really clears up a lot of issues.  I think Tuesday's performance was really badly unrepresentative of what the C's are like with Sheed as a starter...people are overlooking just how stupefying it was to have Perk leave game 6 with an injury in the 1st quarter.  It wasn’t necessarily that they may have felt a win was impossible without him…no, far from it. It was that there was virtually no prep-time in creating contingency plans.  The point is a simple one...with Perk's absence being an expected given, Sheed's role (and the rest of the starters') becomes much clearer and easy to game-plan with.  

We’ve actually seen Sheed start in place of Perk a couple times during the regular season…and yes of course even in the playoffs.  Does game 6 against Orlando ring a bell guys? Remember the collective angst in realizing that our very own “Dwight-stopper” would be out for a pivotal series-clincher? I certainly do, and I did my fair share of worrying.  Remember how game 5 went, with Sheed filling in as center for the rest of the game after Perk's expulsion?  Oh my god, it wasn't pretty!  We must remember though that like game 6 in LA, this was a game that was already far out of hand for the Celtics, and Sheed's impromptu placement into the starting lineup only exacerbated things BECAUSE of its unexpected nature...NOT because it wasn't a viable option to begin with.

Things went quite alright in game 6...one in which it was known far ahead that Baby or Sheed would start.  They both did a FANTASTIC job of providing defensive support and rebounding in Perk’s absence. The point is that when these two players were expected to start in Perk’s place, not only did THEY do a great job of simulating Perk’s role…but the starters and coaching staff also did a great job of adapting to and maximizing these players' strengths on the court.  In other words, they turned a bad situation into a positive by covering for Baby's and Sheed's deficiencies (namely rebounding) and emphasizing their strengths (offensive spacing and shooting ability). 

This will likely be the case in game 7 against LA, whether Sheed or Baby starts (probably Sheed). 

This brings me to the second key. The Celtics can be a better team with Sheed on the court if they don’t have to worry about their bigs (Sheed above all) getting in foul trouble. I can only hope (and I fully expect) that the refs will play only a minor role in tonight’s game, and that they will allow a very balls-to-the-wall, physical type of game.  As we know, when this type of game is fostered, the Celtics usually respond VERY well.  Given a game 7 scenario in which Boston can be itself on defense, I like the chances of a win very much.

If Sheed can play defense without fouling excessively, he can play just as effective defense as Perk.  Of course, this fully depends on matchups....

...with Sheed in the starting lineup, the Celtics must match their bigs with the appropriate Lakers bigs. At this point everyone knows that Bynum won't be able to make the same impact on tomorrow’s game as he had earlier in the series, and this alone negates much of the negativity surrounding Perk’s injury.  However, he will need to be neutralized early in the game (which is likely the only time he'll be able to play anyways).

 I don’t like the matchup of KG on Bynum for heavy minutes...so for that reason alone, Sheed will be essential.  Sheed has the length of KG with more of the strength of Perk in being able to defend true big men.  I doubt he'll be able to limit Bynum like Perk does, but he'll do a far better job than KG or Baby could do.

One matchup that may fare better for Sheed is that against Gasol.  Of anybody on the team, he does the BEST job of disrupting Gasol’s flow.  He has the length to block his shots, and the wile to disrupt passing lanes and rhythm.  Whenever Bynum is out (perhaps the majority of the game), Gasol should be guarded by Sheed as much as possible.  Now, realistically Gasol is going to be playing MAJOR 40+ minutes in game two, and I don't think Sheed has the stamina to play anywhere near those minutes.  For that reason, I expect KG to get a large amount of defensive time against LA’s number two option as well (and he does a fairly good job on him too).  The main idea however is to match Gasol against his toughest defender, leaving KG to defend the easier-to-guard (for KG at least) and more-predictable Lamar Odom.

On to the second to last key...Sheed will be successful on the boards and on defense if the Celtics guards limit dribble penetration. As others have duly noted before, dribble penetration necessitates Celtics bigs on the help-side, taking them out of rebounding position in the process. It also makes the Lakers bigs look much more dominant than they really are.

Again, the guard defense has much to do with the style of game that is officiated. Game 6 looked suspiciously like game 1 in terms of officiating style, and it certainly did not benefit the celtics. They let the bigs rassle inside, but they kept calling touch fouls on both teams…with Kobe leading the parade down the lane, and with foul trouble looming large, it was no wonder that KG and Sheed had to wander farther out from the basket in order to counter LA layups.  This does not lead to good rebounding numbers...

My only real concern with having Perk out is that the Celtics may have trouble rebounding the ball.  Perk was undeniably a great counter against Bynum and Gasol on the boards.  However, I don't think this will be a huge issue.  Just as Lakers guards must be prevented from getting open access to the lane (freeing up Bynum/Gasol/Odom for offensive rebounds galore), Celtics smalls such as Rondo and Pierce can really do a lot to help the cause by pounding the boards.  When these two rebound well, this team almost never loses....even with low rebounding totals from KG, Perk, and Sheed.

The final key (and I think the most important one) relates to the effect Sheed has on the Celtic offense. In a word, it makes it BETTER….much better. As strange as it seems to say, actually lost game 6 because of their offense primarily.  As you know, this is such a RARE scenario for this team…one which should be regarded as a flukey outlier.  Obviously there were problems on the defensive end as well, but when a team scores only 67 points in game 6 of the finals, one maybe suspects that THAT is where the problem really lays (despite the fact that this is so rarely the case for this team).  Ouch!!  What happened?

A lack of spacing happened.  Kobe drifted off of Rondo, Pierce was smothered on his penetration, and the lane compacted to an absurd degree.

Now, if there is any team that is used to dealing with a lack of spacing on offense, it is this one. In fact this situation is the default for its starters!  It’s a reality of their offensive organization because they have two players in Rondo and Perk that are non-shooters. In essence, opponents are virtually able to double team Ray, Paul and KG without really trying…they just lay off of Perk and Rondo.

This isn’t normally a problem though. In fact the team often uses it to their advantage.  Rondo scopes out the passing lanes, finds the weakness in the defense, and attacks for the kick-out.  Just as often, Pierce will do some home-cooking of his own, and whether by mistake or purposely through the use of screen and rolls, he'll put the offense on his back temporarily, eventually drawing double teams, and giving Ray and KG the spacing THEY need to thrive.  In other words, either Rondo does his thing, or Paul does his thing.  Sometimes (more rarely) Ray and KG get their own thing going...but in any case, the offense usually accommodates well to the defense that it is given.

Well sometimes it doesn't...and game 6 is the result of this dysfunction. 

Here’s where Sheed fits into this all. With Sheed in the game, the Celtics are basically guaranteed to get a good shot off before the shot clock, every single time. Whether Sheed posts up down low, or sits at the 3 point line, it doesn’t matter. I’m sure the coaching staff is already salivating over the schemes that Sheed’s newfound placement into the starting lineup necessitates. All of a sudden, the Celtics have 4 shooters on the floor at any one time…and two of them are virtually impossible to block from outside (KG and Sheed).  More importantly, Sheed draws Lakers bigs from the lane.  Paul and Rajon won't have to stress over whether they should make their move in penetrating through the lane...it'll be given automatically when Sheed is on the floor because either Gasol, Odom, or Bynum will have been drawn out there purposely.

I’ve got no doubt that the Celtics’ offense in game 7 will be far superior to that of game 6…and much of that will be due to the floor-spacing Sheed gives. It doesn’t even matter whether he’s even on. He simply cannot be ignored. This will give Rondo and Paul the requisite space to work. It won’t guarantee that the offense will shoot over 60%, but it will guarantee that they won’t shoot under 40%.

The final question is this then…does the offense that Sheed produces directly or indirectly outweigh the potential defensive deficiencies that his placement potentially causes? Nobody really knows, but it will hinge on 3 things.

How long will Bynum play, and will he be effective at all in scoring?
Will the refs refrain from calling an excessively tight game?
Will the Celtics bigs be able to rebound effectively with Sheed?
Will Sheed get warm…or even hot…on offense?

If the answers to those questions are yes’s, then the Celtics will have a very, very good shot of winning tonight….and Sheed’s placement into the starting unit will have made that possible to an even larger degree than if Perk were still around.  

This post is a response and rebuttal to several common themes I see Lakers fans bring up repeatedly.  They constantly repeat these phrases in various forms:

1. The Celtics won their two games through sheer luck (insinuating that the Lakers are the "better" team)

2. The presence of Andrew Bynum assures that LA is the "better team"...and it is only through his absence that the Celtics are able to win anything (implying that the Celtics wins are somehow undeserved)

3. Everything the Celtics did to win their two games was pure fluke.  Ray Allen's performance was once in a lifetime...Baby was just a lucky scrub caught up in the moment...Rondo's performance in game 2 was nothing different from what was seen with Westbrook, Williams, Nash..etc, etc...

Hearing these three statements badgered in various forms puts Celtic fans into a rage...and rightly so.  I've wanted to address them in different posts throughout this blog and Lakers blogs, but one Laker fans post game me the opportunity to do so in a more focused way.  I have addressed this post to this Lakers fan (in order to have him serve as an object of frustration and rebuttal more than anything else), and I hope this gives it a bit more "vinegar"...on top of a well-established meal foundation of considered thought of course!  I mean no offense or disrespect to this poster, because he is a very well-reasoned writer and contributor...I just feel I have to defend this Celtic team when I know with total certainty that it is being undersold yet again.  Here goes:

"LakerforDeuce, the Celtics most certainly did not “luck” into their two wins. They won their two games by playing to the very matchup advantages they've displayed against LA. If anyone had to predict what advantages they had over the Lakers before the series started, they would’ve mirrored the actual ones we’ve witnessed being played out over the past 2 weeks….

namely: 
Ray Allen's shooting advantage over D-Fish…Rondo's penetration advantage over D Fish and Kobe…Boston's bench advantage over LA's bench…

------Obviously, the Lakers have numerous matchup advantages over the Celtics as well.  I can't sell them short.  Bynum is a nightmare for Boston to deal with…as is Gasol, though not nearly as much in the last 2 games in relation to KG (game 3 saw a reversal of this advantage between the two players).-----

In other words, when Lakers fans bemoan the “luck” the Celtics seem to have, they ignore what actually makes them dangerous. OF COURSE Ray Allen should have been expected to shoot the way he did in game 2.  He did nearly the same in 2008, and he's historically done well against the Lakers, especially in the finals. OF COURSE Rondo would have one game on the road where he dominates and penetrates at will, posting a ridiculous triple double…he's done so in every round previously during this year's playoffs. OF COURSE the Boston bench would step up at some point and win a game through their own determination and skill…they've done so earlier in the playoffs when they've been needed, and they've picked their spots…dramatically…but not unexpectedly. The same really cannot be said for the Laker bench in any measure...that's just not the way the team is constructed.

As a disclaimer…before I go on, let me restate AGAIN that LA obviously has MANY advantages over the Celtics…I’m just trying to establish a pattern for the Celtics in predicting what will happen next…

Already, another trademark Celtic advantage has shown up recently. The all-world defense has arrived, and it won’t be letting subsiding until the waning seconds of game 6 or 7…nothing more needs to be said about this aspect of the Celtics, because once it has been introduced into a playoff series, it NEVER wanes. 

Finally and most importantly, you must know that there will be one, if not two games in which 2 or more of the big 4 will show up big. In every round so far, the Celtics have gotten by with strong individual performances from one or two of the Big 4 in any game 1-3. However in later games, the entirety of the Big 4 has tended to step up together to land the decisive series-changing blow…whether it be during game 5 against Miami, games 5 and 6 against Cleveland, or game 6 against Orlando. The trend has been set, and it will likely play out in the same way against LA.

The signs are there. You can see the big 4 starting to refine their shot selection against LA’s defense. It is just a matter of them playing to their respective capacities on offense, in concert. This sort of thing doesn’t happen overnight.  It seems to take several games for these guys to establish their offensive rhythm and their gametime flow.  For a team like the Lakers, gametime flow is simple and obvious on the offensive end...just run the triangle and give the ball to Kobe or Gasol...rebound the misses, rinse and repeat.  On the other hand, the Celtic offense is not so structured and predictable...that is both its strength AND its weakness.

The major obstacle for a team organized in this manner is that there will be some games in which NONE of the big 4 will do squat offensively. That is EXACTLY why this Celtics team has such a strong and unpredictable bench that can win games on its own.  Fortunately for Boston, the bench happened to have a tremendous game at the same time the starters stunk the joint up.  This is not as coincidental as many Lakers fans make this out to be.  Truly "great" benches step up when the moment truly comes...when they're most needed.  That is why the sudden appearance of Boston's bench should not be interpreted as something unlikely and mysterious.  It is a testament to this team's organization and fraternity...in other words, it's overall cohesional worth.  Again, the Lakers are just not constructed the same way...

...and that's why I can understand why Lakers fans feel Boston “lucked” into winning game 4...because frankly, the Celtic starters sucked balls. Game 4 was one of the worst shooting performances I’ve ever witnessed from a starting contender squad. The very fact that Boston won a game such as game 4 attests not so much to the coincidental "luck" of this team, but to the strength and resolve of its bench, and by extension its team.

However, here's the lesson: Don’t for a second think that this is going to happen again....and no I don't mean to say that the Celtic bench won't be able to step up again...I mean that the Celtic starters won't have to be bailed out in the first place AGAIN.  The Lakers lost their golden opportunity to win a game in Boston, one in which the Celtic starters shot historically badly. As we’ve already seen from Ray Allen and KG, the shooting numbers tend to regress (or in KG's case “progress”) back to the mean.  With an added day of rest, Paul Pierce, Ray Allen, Rajon Rondo, and KG will all shoot within their seasonal averages...and possibly well-above their averages.  In other words, the Lakers will not only have to deal with a truly suffocating defense, but they will have to contend with a previously-frustrated, yet potent and pissed-off starting offensive unit.  Expect an offense closer to that seen in game 6 2008, than that seen in game 4 2010.

Finally, in reference to Bynum…I absolutely respect what he’s having to endure through this series. Frankly, I think he deserves more credit in being the player that makes the Lakers so physically dominant (especially on the boards and in the lane). Playing through an injury is grueling and heroic, and I hope this guy doesn’t screw anything up permanently…he’s a true talent.

However, I have NO sympathy for the Lakers as a whole. Any Laker troll that decides to rail in my ears, telling me “the Celtics wouldn’t be able to win against a dominant Bynum” will do so on deaf ears. First of all, your argument is bunk…Bynum’s best game by far, statistically and impact-wise, was game 2. Who won the rebounding in that game? Who won the actual game? Who was able to penetrate largely at will?  It was the Celtics on all counts...and it was done on the road.  If that doesn't convince you of Boston's worth, then nothing logically will.

As a team, the Celtics have had to deal with injuries ALL year, and they’ve masterfully prepared for every contingency and setback. They acquired Sheed (with all the expected baggage).  They developed and stuck with Baby during a year of trials and tribulations.  They sat KG and Paul during a time in which they sorely needed wins to keep up with Cleveland, Orlando, and Atlanta in the East standings.  Simply put, they had to put up with a tremendous amount of doubt and "bull" in order to get to this point, and I'll be damned if I hear Lakers fans play the "injury card".

The crux of the argument used to de-legitimize Boston's potential finals win lays on Bynum's injured knee.  We don't stop hearing that "the Celtics want Bynum injured and gone, because they know they can't win with him on the court".  

Well, with all due respect, BITE ME.  KG right now is HALF the player he was in 2008, yet you won't hear me or other Boston fans complain and moan about it non-stop. You won’t hear me denying LA’s deservedness of the 2009 championship due to KG being injured!  Instead of moping and crying about it, Boston planned for the next year and came back bolstered and renewed.  Injuries are part and parcel with the game, and if LA was smart, they would've rightfully prepared for a scenario such as theirs breaking out (they've had what, like 2 years in knowing how injury-prone Bynum is?)

The only team that evokes true sympathy from me is the Portland Trailblazers, a truly strong bunch of coaches and players that has had to navigate through a set of truly unfortunate and bizarre circumstances (I can only hope they regain their rightful status as legitimate, young challengers to Western, Laker dominance).

So in summary, I"ll paraphrase what another poster here on Celticsblog stated so succintly and correctly a day or two ago (pardon me for not remembering who actually wrote this):

IF Bynum is in, Boston MIGHT win.
IF Bynum is out BOSTON WILL win.

I wouldn’t go so far as to say that Boston will have a 100% chance of winning with Bynum out, or that Bynum’s presence DOESN"T have a huge impact on their chances, but I will say that the “injury excuse” can be logically extended to nearly every player on both of these finals teams…it is a double-edged sword that can be used equally well in stating that KG is half the player he used to be…or that Rondo and Sheed are two players who themselves are playing with compromised health statuses (back injuries)…or that Perk’s lift from earlier in the year has dissapeared into the wind due to chronic injury...or that Jesus Shuttleworth's shot has gone to hell due to his knee-in with Ron Artest…etc, etc, etc.  The blame game can be extended far beyond what is hypothetically useful or even sane.

I think the Celtics are going to win game 5 on the backs of the Big 4. I haven’t yet been wrong in predicting where these Celtic series are about to be headed (when I’m unsure, I just don’t predict at all), and I just have that peculiar and palpable feeling (after having watched this team in all 82 of its regular season games) that the Big 4 will rise as one, in unison, to beat the Lakers comfortably…yes, comfortably. The game will be close throughout the 1st half, but I see the Celtics extending the lead into double digits heading into the late 3rd quarter, never to turn back.

Oh, and for the record, I DON"T think the Celtics "lucked" into their wins.  I think their team is marginally more talented than LA's (in judging ALL rotational players).  Andrew Bynum's presence creates HUGE, but not nearly insurmountable problems for the Celtics.  His non-presence shouldn't invalidate a Celtics finals win...

...and I predict the Big 4, especially Rajon Rondo and Paul Pierce, will light up LA in Boston Game 5,  and LA in LA game 6.  Just like during the Cavs series, they're going to close out the season with a bang on 3 straight wins, games 4, 5 and 6.  I hope I'm not wrong.

(This is long...I couldn't help myself with the emotions today...I love this team TOO much...feel free to skip the middle section after the dash-line ----------  and return for the last paragraph...thanks!!)

Yes! What have we said ALL ALONG?...

When the Celtics were amassing 10 or 20 point leads against (almost) every single NBA contender, against...

---The Dallas Mavericks, the Denver Nuggets, the San Antonio Spurs, the Atlanta Hawks, the Orlando Magic, the Portland Trailblazers, the Miami Heat, the Cleveland Cavaliers, and the Los Angeles Lakers---

(but oddly enough, and perhaps truly foreboding enough….NOT against the Suns)

…we all “witnessed” what this year’s version of the Celtics could be.  Everyone who said there was a “switch” to flipped was absolutely right. Yet everyone who stated that it wasn’t possible for this “switch” to be flipped immediately and decisively was also 100% correct.

“We are witness” to the same team that went 23-5 at the beginning of the season. Actually, no….this is one with heart….one that has had to undergo TREMENDOUS adversity. I maintained all along that it would be preferable and totally helpful if the C’s were to play Miami in the first round, Cleveland in the second round, and so forth onwards.

These two teams with their “untouchable” ,“god-like” superstars forced the Celtics into establishing a winning formula. Yet other “contenders” have not had the “luxury” of facing stiff (character-building) playoff competition themselves. Think about it…

In the first round, Cleveland played against a Chicago Bulls team that was incapable of guarding Shaq or Cleveland’s various bigs. They were also matched up against Derrick Rose who is known as a score-first point guard. These two matchups did wonders for Cleveland in steamrolling past the Bulls, but it did nothing in preparing them for their second round matchup against the Celtics…a team that (in theory) held matchup advantages far different and far superior to that which the Bulls lacked against the Cavs.

Similarly, the Orlando Magic have been portrayed as world-beaters in smashing two teams characterized as having little to no defensive post presence. Dwight Howard has single-handedly dominated the paint-interior while drawing double teams….and in doing so, has allowed his perimeter-shooting teammates to jack 3’s at an alarmingly easy rate.

THIS is not something the Magic will so easily pull off if/when the Celtics come to town. In fact, I suspect the Magic will run straight into a brick wall. Their “strategy” which they’ve honed over the last few months will be for nought, and they will have to adapt IMMEDIATELY….something which they haven’t yet been forced to do.

Nelson will have to contend with a near-MVP-caliber point guard in Rajon Rondo….both defensively and offensively. Compare that matchup to that which he went up against in Raymond Felton and Mike Bibby. Laughing? I am too. They’ve made Nelson looked like an all-star once again. However in matching up against “Rage”…he’ll be made to look like a D-leaguer. Though this may be exaggeration, you can clearly anticipate that Jameer won’t be getting such wide vantage-views across half court sets with a conniving and dangerously disruptive Rajon Rondo breathing down his neck while poking the ball out from behind…and he certainly won’t be getting many clear perimeter looks. In fact, neither will Rashard Lewis. Why?…because of this man…

…Perkules…

Similarly and even more importantly, the C’s are one of the few (possibly amongst 3 total) teams that have the ability to cover Dwight Howard without resorting to double-teaming. This very fact entirely changes the tilt of Orlando’s offense, as it leave other Celtic players free to cover their (normally open) perimeter shooters. The Magic are amongst the best 3 point shooting teams in the league, and much of their potent offense revolves around obtaining easy, open looks for their shooters.

Well, what happens when a team that relies on easy perimeter looks all of a sudden has that option taken away? They simply miss. Remember, the Magic are amongst the best at this aspect of the game, but their perimeter shooters are no “Jesus Shuttlesworth”s. There’s a reason why Ray Allen is considered amongst the greatest at his craft…he shoots well regardless of defensive pressure. Orlando’s shooters should be thought of more as “hired mercenaries”….not true perimeter-shooting juggernauts.

  Combine this with an (inevitably against Perk) offensively-frustrated Dwight Howard, and you’ve all of a sudden got a Magic offense that is forced to resort to it’s (mediocre) mid-range offense. Say goodbye to a balanced offense. Say hello to the newly-renewed, balanced Celtic offense.

…and another thing. Do you really think Paul Pierce or Allen and Allen incorporated are going to have a tough time in guarding Vinsanity…after having spent 10 games guarding the best (literally the BEST) penetrating scorers of this league...Lebron James and Dwyane Wade? No, I don’t think so. In fact it’ll be a wonderful treat…a rest. Similarly, after having successfully spent the last 5 games trying to prevent Shaq’s ungodly mass from spilling over the top of him (high elbows and all 300+ pounds of beastly girth), do you really think he’s going to shy away from guarding Superman? Granted, Superman has a few more moves than Shaq, but if single-coverage is possible, he’s a one-trick pony on offense….and a major liability for Orlando in the (likely) scenario that he gets frustrated or mired in foul trouble.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

…Since this year’s Boston Celtics have never relied on one scorer (or one defender for that matter) to pivot their game-plan around, it has been difficult to assess where they’ve been headed…

---Paul Pierce---

We’ve watched Paul Pierce’s play waver between that of a veteran past his expiration date and that of a Finals MVP. We’ve just recently scratched our heads in wondering whether Paul’s days as a “born-scorer” were gone….i.e. “is he injured or sick?”…“has he lost confidence in himself?”…“has Lebron gotten into his head?”.

Now we watch him drive straight into the path of LeQueen James on his way to a fastbreak 3 point play. We watch him take the reigns offensively against “the hyped-one” without fear or thought. His countenance and expression now mirror that of himself several weeks ago…the player who after having drained a truly vintage, playoff, buzzer-beating, game-winning shot…became the Paul Pierce of old again.

---KG---

We’ve struggled in guessing KG’s health prognosis over and over again….i.e. “how’s the knee feeling?” We’ve witnessed him get burned on the baseline by Rashard Lewis…a letup that not only led to a heartbreaking 2 point loss for the Celtics, but more importantly led to the prompting… a cascade of questioning…obsessively centered around the physical health of Boston’s legendary defensive lynchpin.

Instead we now watch him with unrestrained joy…utterly dominating his matchup with the Cavalier’s “new, potent” acquisition (who would supposedly take them over the edge). He looks renewed, unrestrained and confident. He’s looks more like the KG of 2008 than he has during any previous point in the season.

---Ray Allen---

We’ve felt sadness in watching Jesus Shuttlesworth’s value melt into pudding….for most of the season, his shot-making ability (especially from beyond the perimeter) was halted. Everyone remembers the “trade Ray!” sentiment that each and every one of us entertained at times. In the middle of February, we were all expecting to say goodbye to one of the cherished Big 3…and by far the classiest, most professional one. He was MY favorite of the Big 3, and his potential departure saddened me!!

Now we watch him make a mockery of the Cavaliers’ defense. We thought the Ray Ray we saw against the Miami Heat was just a blip on the radar? No, no…corner three after corner three has taken this Celtics team one dagger closer to breaking the "#1 team" in the league. You had to know he’d step it up during the playoffs…right? Of course, we all had our doubts, but come on!! He’s the single-greatest shooter ever (besides Reggie Miller of course…and likely to surpass his 3 point record as well). How could we ever doubt him?

---Rajon Rondo---

…And finally…what words could even come close to describing the player who has become the favorite of many (including myself). The man that has consistently brought it this year, and is the key in answering those questions that have been dogging us all year, and also in answering those questions that pertain to the future of this team.

The ascendance of Rajon Rondo has just happened….it’s occurred so fast that we’re not even really sure of what we’ve just seen. Could it truly be that our very own point guard…our guarantee into the future…is actually outplaying the MVP god of the NBA Lebron James? Are we really seeing our little man control the pace of do-or-die playoff games without scoring a point…and then proceeding to unleash a flurry of attacks straight into the teeth of one of the most intimidating defenses of this league? Did he really just do the unthinkable in joining the esteemed company of Wilt Chamberlain and Oscar Robertson…pulling off a playoff-performance feat that hasn’t even been approached in 40 years?

Yes, yes, and yes. Right now, Rage is the best point guard in the league when it matters…in the playoffs. Just leave the regular season for the stat-mongerers. Give me a pass-first point guard who has been forced and molded to learn under 3 hall of famers, who has been stuck on an injury-prone and glory-lost team for months on end seemingly without hope, who has sacrificed many of his own god-given basketball talents in learning to assimilate within the needs of his hurting teammates. All year long, we’ve heard excuse after excuse…Rondo would not be what he is without the Big 3. That may have been true to some extent before this year, in that he LEARNED much from their style of play, and their leadership. Yet now he IS the pulse of the team. Now when he plays well, it is guaranteed that he is doing so in making everyone around him play well. If that’s not the definition of a "superstar", "transcendent playmaker", then I don’t know what is. 

---the rest---

…and it is the very leadership of our “Big 4” that is spurring on tremendous performances from much of our beloved bench….and vice-versa. Tony Allen’s scrappy play has saved this team numerous times during the playoffs. Big Baby has regained his shooting touch and his confidence. Even SHEED!!!….even Sheed is stepping up big when the team needs him….at the defensive end primarily…but also as a stabilizing force off the bench.

In other words, UBUNTU back in fashion, and with it this team has found it’s identity. Is it any wonder that it took so long to find it again? It was complex to begin with, because it never revolved around one player or one idea. The only way to find it was to be tested…

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…and therein lies the entire point of this. The “switch” could only be flipped in the midst of real challenge…amidst of a real test of resolve. I don’t think anybody here would argue that matching up against Dwayne Wade and Lebron James is a picnic…yet it surely did no harm to the Celtics. In fact, it emboldened them, and it strengthened them. THIS is exactly what other teams placed ahead of us in those stupid, useless espn “power rankings” didn’t get to experience, and it is what the “experts” missed the point of entirely.

This team is not made to have things come easily to them, and instead of bemoaning it, we should look at that challenge and say “thank god”. I look forward to game 6. I look forward to a 3rd round matchup with the Magic. I look forward This is how the Celtics have won in the past, and it’s how they’re going to do it again.

Bring on the “superstars”. By the end of June, this team will hopefully have hastened the vacation plans of Dwyane Wade, Lebron James, Dwight Howard, and Kobe Bryant (or Steve Nash and Amare Stoudemire!). Let the “experts” put this team down…let us be the underdogs and “overachieve”…

Because you and I here at Celticsblog have known ALL ALONG…we’ve known the value of this team and its heart. I think we’re in for a very, very memorable championship run that will go down in Celtic history as one of the most challenging and unlikely turnarounds in league history. Watch for history happening.

I'm in such a dilemma here.  I bought tickets to the first home game of the first round.  Unfortunately, I just found out I have another engagement from roughly 2 to 6 pm in the afternoon.

Does anyone know whether this game will take place at night, or early in the afternoon.  Obviously, I'm really hoping it's at 7:00.  None of the sites really tell me anything

By the way, if I can't go, what is the best way to get the ticket off anyway?  I would definitely sell my ticket, and most likely the other ticket of the seat right next to it.  It is Section 316, row 6, seats 6 and 7.  Great balcony view, relatively low row, literally straight over the mid-court line...literally. 

Thanks for any help!

The Celtics are in a race against the Atlanta Hawks for the 3rd seed in the East.  There are numerous reasons why locking the 3rd seed seems desirable.   Though it's pretty clear that any team aiming to get out of the East is inevitably looking to play 2-3 out of the 4 clear powerhouses...Cleveland, Orlando, Atlanta and Boston...the path taken through that makes higher seeding somewhat important.

For the Celtics in particular, there are several aims.  First and foremost, this team does NOT want to meet the Hawks in the playoffs.  The good news is that it is very unlikely they will be seeing them.  Whether Atlanta claims  the 3rd or 4th seed, they will have to go against Cleveland and Orlando....teams they have generally not won against.  Orlando gives them heavy difficulties especially.  If Atlanta gets the 3rd seed, that is who they will meet in the 2nd round...and the 2nd round is likely where their season will end.

The second thing that Boston (or maybe only its fans) would like is to avoid Cleveland in the 2nd round.  Either way, it is certain (barring Orlando or Cleveland being upset in the first round) that Boston will face either Orlando or Cleveland in the second round.  Importantly, it is almost equally certain that if Boston gets past one of these teams in the second round, they will have to face the other in the Eastern Conference Finals.  

It looks like this if Boston gets the 3rd seed:

--First Round--       --Orlando--           --Cleveland--

     And the 4th seed:

--First Round--       --Cleveland--     --Orlando--

Clearly it doesn't matter whether Boston meets Orlando or Cleveland in the 2nd round.  If this team wants to get to the finals, they'll probably have to get through both.  However remember....Cleveland and Orlando are thinking the same exact things...none of them are looking forward to see each other AND Boston!  The conclusion from the workings of these hypothetical matchups shows us that it DOESN"T matter whether the Celtics face the Cavs or the Magic in the 2nd round.  Either way, this team will likely have to face BOTH!

So where does that leave us?  Well, it leaves us with the the first round opponent to determine.  

Nobody wants to play Milwaukee.  They are hot.  They are playing like a top 4 conference team right now.  That is the main reason why Boston fans do not want their team to end up as the 4th seed.  Getting the 4th seed would mean playing the Bucks.  Judging from the last Celtics-Bucks game (and also the near win by the Bucks against the Cavs just a few days ago), a series against Milwaukee would be draining and potentially upsetting.

However, does getting the 4th seed mean playing the Bucks in the first round?  I'm here to say it's more likely that the Celtics will be playing the HEAT in the first round! 

Look at the records for the two teams:

That's right, Miami is only half a game behind Milwaukee for the 5th seed.  Now take a look at each of their schedules, and tell me which one is easier!

Miami:

Milwaukee

The point is, I don't think there is ANY way that Miami is not getting the 5th seed.  I think the Celtics should WANT the 4th seed.  If there is any way they can avoid playing  Milwaukee, they should do it.  Now, they certainly shouldn't try to lose games...they can still get the 3rd seed over Atlanta....but really, the Celtics should not want to play the Bucks.  The Bucks are a 5th-6th ranked team playing like a contender right now...and though this is the reality right now, standings don't care about how hot a team is trending before the playoffs....just look at the Spurs right now.  The Spurs could actually knock out the Lakers in the 1st round the way they are playing!...and they're an 8th seed!!

In addition, I can only think that playing the Heat will be good preparation for the Celtics....in terms of dealing with "star treatment".  If the Celtics can learn to play against a "star-talent" in Dwyane Wade and deal with "star calls" on a regular basis during a 1st round series, perhaps their defense will be prepared for this (times 10) against LeQueen and his little sisters.  Also the Heat's offense and Defense are highly similar to the Cavs', and their pace of play is similarly grinding.  This will be good preparation. 

Finally, wouldn't everyone hope for a Celtics-Heat matchup rather than a Celtics-Bucks matchup purely for the entertainment value of it?  The previous 3 games against the Heat were PHENOMENAL...some of the best of the year!  That is what we may be looking forward to.

So, do you still want the 3rd seed?

What seems to be getting everyone riled up about this current team is that they show such tremendous spunk and potential during the 1st halves of games.  What's even more electrifying is that, the better the competition is, the higher the level of display is shown.

Remember back to all of the best Celtics 1st halves...against the Hawks, the Magic, the Mavs, the Lakers, and the Cavs.  This team basically put on a clinic during EACH and EVERY game, in front of their very biggest competition. 

It's clear and obvious that this Celtics team is insanely talented.  Yet THAT is what is bothering us as fans.  We all see the end result of these games, and we all react the same way.  We look back at the dwindling record, and we see that the Celtics have lost to so and so this, and so and so that....1-3 against Orlando, 0-4 against Atlanta, etc.  We think to ourselves, "can a team that loses against +.500 competition win it all?"  With these records in mind, it is hard to say so in the presence of other teams' fans.

Yet, something in the manner of these losses makes us come back for more, and teases us into another frenzied froth.  We sit there during every big game, eyes glued to the players in awe and astonishment....astonished that they have amassed a seemingly miraculous double digit lead before halftime.  This has happened in Atlanta 4 times, Orlando 3 times, LA twice (one barely a win), Dallas once, and Cleveland once last night.

THEN it vanishes.   EVERY SINGLE TIME

At the crux of it all, we all wonder this: how can a team that plays with such fury for half a game, play with such pity for the other half?

You know what's truly twisted about the current state of affairs now?  It is that, as fans, we would ALMOST rather see the Celtics lose gradually, persistently, and consistently to good teams...rather than tease us with unlimited potential, and then flush it all away. 

Of course, we would all love them to just WIN consistently.  Yet, we would also like to see them just PLAY consistently.

That is what is maddening about this!  And you know what?  Call me crazy, but I think I'm going to embrace it.  Many of you already have.  This team is like none other that I have EVER, ever, EVER watched.  Many here have commented in the same way.  How many times have I heard  this: "are the Celtics going to break a record for most double-digit blown leads in one NBA season?".

It's like we're all being lulled and swooned by a massive tease.  Who's to say this journey through the playoffs won't lead anywhere?  I refuse to quit on this team because of losses like these.  Though they are admittedly painful, and somewhat are harbingers of underlying problems inherent to this team, they are NOT wimpering losses.

No, and that's what is so strange and electrifying.  If this team were not showing flashes of brilliance at times...or if they were being subdued slowly EVERY quarter by good teams...then I would give up outright.  Sure, I would root for this team, but I would never be sitting there, watching this team with the same anticipation that many of you share. 

My take on this is simple.  You can disagree with me if you want, but I think this is fairly fool-proof and obvious.

Until this team sees a consistent lineup, we cannot expect consistent results.  This is especially important in playing against the very good teams that PREY on opponents' inconsistencies. 

With regards to the latest Celtics-Cavs game, I like many (even after the recent Western road trip successes) doubted there would be a good result.  Instead, I was delightfully surprised (yet of course still guarded) about the level of play and the 8 point lead at halftime.  Although the game ended up being a loss, nothing can take away from the fact that the lead was held for 3/4 of the game....one without a healthy Paul Pierce no less (actually not even a wholly healthy Marquis either!).  Though the loss and collapse is dissapointing, I've had to remember the overall picture here. 

So to end off, I'll again repeat...until I see consistent lineups, I won't give up.  Of course, this begs the question....will we even ever see consistent lineups by the playoffs?  That's an entirely different question, and let me just say that I'm a realist and readily acknowledge that if there is even any doubt to the answer of that question  at that point, then I will consider the chances of a raised Celtic banner #18 as slim to none.

Meanwhile, I'd like people to talk about what they see out of these Celtics that makes their hair stand on edge?  What plays from specific players makes us jump out of our seats?  What makes us slap our friends' backs and holler out in joy?  What makes us confident about this team in direct opposition to the Kobe's, the Lebron's, the Dwights and the Birdman's (haha) of the world?  Go player by player!  I know everyone has a lot to say about each one in particular, and what they do well! 

For me personally, it's gotta be Rajon.  He is simply electrifying, and he is perhaps much of the reason why this team rises and ebbs so wildly.  His style of play marks a new direction in Celtics ball.  THAT, I think is the reason why there is such inconsistency...and why this transistion for this team is SO unique.

Until then though, we carry on watching games like these.   Our Boston Celtics are like none other.  They are just a massive tease.

Let me preface this by saying...

...this is purely hypothetical, fluff....it's pretty much semi-garbage, prospecting on my part (hey, at least I'm honest...most trade-related fan posts here are super ridiculous)  Still, I'm truly curious as to whether it's possible for this to happen (or something similar).

Somebody already brought this up in one of the forums, but is it possible to get Michael Beasley from the Heat?  Maybe more importantly, is it even desirable? 

We've all been hearing about Amare Stoudamire and his eventual (inevitable?) trade.  Over the all-star break, Celtic fans broke out into a cold sweat upon hearing that he might join Lebron in Cleveland.  That now seem's unlikely for various reasons that I don't care about.  The new rumor (actually the original one) is that Amare likes Miami. 

This makes sense.  He gets to join Dwyane Wade, potentially win a championship, and hang in South Beach.  Obviously, Amare is the type of guy to enjoy that sort of thing (let's just say I can't picture him in snowy Boston).  As Celtic fans, we wouldn't complain about this too much (at least not as much as if he were moving to Cleveland).  Miami is not built as is to do anything significant.  I don't think adding Amare would likely change that for this year.  However, as we all know, there's a sticking point that is blocking Amare from packing his bags and leaving for Florida RIGHT NOW.

Correct me if I'm wrong (I still may be fuzzy on all this...that's why I'm asking for all your opinions), but the Suns and Heat need a third team to make this happen right?  Phoenix wants some talent...not just old Jermaine O'neal, or whatever combo they've been brewing to deal.  Getting Amare couldn't possibly be that easy for Miami!?

It's been indicated that Philly has rejected the the idea of acting as the liaison 3rd team for this deal.  Is it that they don't want Beasley?  I wouldn't be surprised, since they already have Elton Brand...and really, what championship prospects do they have for this year?  Next to none.  They're just trying to save money right now.  It's not like they'd be attempting to rebuild before the season is even over.

Okay...so bear with me here just for one sec.  Temporarily suspend your judgment on whether the Celtics need or even want a young 4 talent like Beasley.  I think I already know the answer to that.  The simple question I'm about to ask is really just borne from curiosity.  Would it be possible for Boston to serve as that 3rd team  between the Phoenix Suns and the Miami Heat...in acquiring Beasley?

You know the works....

*Phoenix sends Amare to Miami

*Miami sends Jermaine O'neal (his expiring contract) and a 1st rounder to Phoenix

*Miami sends Beasley to Boston (to clear space for Amare....I mean if you can get Amare, why would you need Beasley?)

*Boston sends Big Baby + 1st round pick to Phoenix (or some combination of whatever Boston can offer...this is where I'm real fuzzy)

Again!  I REPEAT...this is purely hypothetical, fluff....pretty much semi-garbage prospecting on my part, haha.

In watching all 3 Boston-Miami games this season, I've grown to like Beasley's game.  Though he is inconsistent, he's only 21!  Think about how Rondo was at that age!  Only two years ago, we were yelling and cursing at him for trying to spice up the offense rather than pass to the Big 3 during the 2008 championship season!

Beasley has a unique game, and I don't think playing in Miami has helped his development.  Dwyane Wade is truly a beast on the court, but I don't think his style of play complements Beasley's all that well.  Say what you want about Beasley being the ideal player type for him...Wade needs somebody older...more like Chris Bosh or Amare as a big-man sidekick/equal. 

Beasley is too young, and not developed enough to be able to make an imprint on that team.  He is often relegated to shooting end of 24-second-shot-clock attempts.  I get the sense that with a TRUE point guard...like none other than our fabulous Rajon, he would absolutely blossom.  His athleticism and finishing skills are already great.  He just needs somebody like Rondo to initiate things.  Conveniently, what Rondo himself most needs is an able finisher.  An inside-play finisher is absolutely what Michael Beasley is, but most of all, he IS a GREAT prospect.  I know some will comment on his lack of on-court refinement, or his mental issues....those are easy to observe, but it is even easier to see that he has massive potential.  Big men at his age rarely move with that type of speed.  Similar to Rondo, he has unique athletic abilities.  Equally, he needs similar space to move, create, and develop.

Okay okay!!!  Now you can all turn the judgment back on!  Of course, the main question is, would the Celtics even need another 4?  Well we've all seen what Big Baby can do.  Still, despite his recent improvements, there's not much we can do with a SHORT, low-rebounding power forward like him.  His scoring is great, but on our bench with Marquis back, and with (hopefully a low-post scoring) Rasheed Wallace, we really don't need that.  Beasley's production could easily trump Baby's.

Two questions remain (of course, they're the two most vital ones).

1. Would the Celtics get Beasley....just so that he could serve as the backup 4?  Or would Beasley serve more in the role that Antawn Jamison would in Boston?...as a backup 4 with capabilities to play with the starters and absorb some of KG's minutes?

Sorry, that was more like 2 or 3 questions....here's the second one.

2. Would the Celtics actually be able to get Beasley?  What would be necessary for the C's to do in order to serve as the 3rd team in a 3-way trade with themselves, Phoenix and Miami?

This is a unique time to get some real talent.  Miami will do anything to get Amare, and that includes shipping out their young stud talent, Beasley.  In acquiring Amare, they get the beast at power forward, NOW.  For Boston, getting a backup 4 for KG (and no, that round mound formerly known as Big Baby doesn't count...at least in this discussion) who can also spell out starter minutes NOW, and eventually arise as this team's future 4 talent...is important.

I imagine looking at some future starting lineup including Rondo, Beasley, and Perk...and I see a good combination.

For all I know though, maybe (and perhaps most likely) Phoenix would laugh in Danny Ainge's face.  Maybe what we've got isn't good enough for Phoenix to unload Amare, and for Miami to unload Beasley to us.  If so, then so be it.

Okay, daydreaming is over.  Tell me what you think about the possibility of acquiring Beasley in this 3 way trade.  THEN tell me what you think about Beasley himself.  I know he happens to be sort of a lightning rod, and I admit that he is often sketchy and inconsistent.  Maybe I'm missing certain important aspects of his game, and I need to watch more of him to get a feel for his true potential.  Let me see what you think.

Just a few days ago, I saw somebody on Celticsblog comment on what Rondo had to say the other week...about people on the team having different agendas.  While many shot the blame straight to guys like Big Baby and Sheed, one person said that by "agendas", Rajon was actually referring to starters...more specifically, maybe even guys like Pierce.

For most of the season, Paul has played fantastically.  I know that I, and many others here view him as THE celtic.  However, ever since his knee surgery right before Christmas, his game has been off.  What this has meant is that he'd have 1 good game for roughly every 3 or 4. 

The last time he "lit things up" was against Atlanta in January, where he scored 35.  Since then, he has been shakey.  In watching the celtics give up game after game since Christmas, after having been up at the half by double figures, I've had a hard time (and I think most here have too) figuring who or what is at fault.

Some blamed the bench for the bad play.  It's true, the bench played badly in January.  They didn't have Marquis, Sheed wasn't trying, and Big Baby wasn't on solid grounding yet. 

Well, now we KNOW that the bench isn't the reason for this inconsistency.  Sheed, Glen, and Marquis were simply phenomenal tonight.  This is one good (if dim) shining point.

Some blamed Ray Allen's play for these 2nd half struggles.  It is true that Ray has not been hitting his 3's, and that he has been very inconsistent with his offense lately.  He has had to play over 35 minutes per night.  He's also had to ramp up his scoring responsibilities in the absence of Paul and KG. 

Well now we KNOW that Ray Allen is not the player that is causing this inconsistency.  He give 100% every night, he's in great shape, and despite his subpar 3 point shooting, he is making up for it by creating offense through aggressive slashing and mid-range pullup shots. 

Ray shooting 4 of 13 in his previous game was bad enough, but tonight, we saw what the team is like without him...and needless to say, it was horrible. When the offense sticks, at least Ray tries to get things moving...often for both the starter AND the bench. 

 The starters did not move on offense, and the ball stuck to the player deemed most likely to "turn it on" at will.

Obviously the player who fit that bill was Pierce.  Unfortunately, this strategy backfired. 

The common denominator in many of the Celtics' 2nd half losses has been the over-reliance on Paul (offensively speaking).  Today he had 9 turnovers.  He barely registered in the scoring department during the 2nd half.  Not only this, but he dribble the air out of the ball much too often, without jump-starting ball-movement and passing.  There was one point in tonight's game where Paul almost got the ball stolen by Peja Stojakovich near the 3 point line on offense.  Peja is a terrible defender, and never should he be able to steal the ball from Paul Pierce!

Obviously, something is wrong with Pierce.  I know, and you all know that he is still injured...not only from his foot accident the other day, but also from his knee surgery.  He is slow as molasses, predictable as taxes, and stubborn as hell.  I know he is a warrior, and that he is a basketball junkie, but he needs to know when to tone back and rest.  Him being on the court actually cost us this game, and probably several others before that...because he's been injured!  He can't seem to finish things off in the 2nd quarters...tonight was especially telling. 

Looking back on all the choking that this team has become expert on, Paul's play has surfaced.  I think that in 3rd quarters, the ball stops moving because Paul wants to effectively get it done his way, on his own.  With KG still recovering, this is admirable on it's own....but it is not good for the team.  With Ray missing 3's, I'm sure Paul must feel the urge to carry the load.  Instead, he plays while injured, and he brings harm upon the offensive momentum.

The "agenda" that Rondo may have been talking about could have referred to a number of different things, but I woulnd't be surprised to find out some part of this "agenda" rests solely in Paul's head.  He wants to play in the All-Star game and compete in the 3 contest....yet he's injured!! 

I would love to see Paul in both of those competitions...but only when he's healthy.

Who knows, maybe I'm looking to much into one player's performance, but this comes down to two things.  First of all, Paul is the Captain, and if he has a different agenda or approach, the whole entire team shuts down.  Is it any coincidence that the team is having OFFENSIVE problems, and not so much defensive problem right now?  I think it's because Paul is trying to do what he was able to do before he got injured. 

KG for much of the Fall was the same.  The difference with him is that despite not having recovered fully, in December he learned how to run the team defense, and facilitate with the paint offense to adapt to what was needed.  Paul needs to do the same while he's recovering.  I hope he gets back to normal, capability-wise, but until then, he needs to adapt better. 

Paul's offense play (as of late) screws up the flow of Rondo and Perk.  On top of that, without KG running things effectively, Perk suffers as well.  Paul's influence can be felt acutely during the 3rd quarter when he tries to penetrate too deeply with no space available.  He give up turnovers, and he misses more often than not when he shoots mid-range shots over opponents. 

Paul needs to be more of  a facilitator...and if not, get Rondo to set him up more consistently (rather than simply iso'ing over and over again).  Even more important, he needs to get healthy pronto.  Sit out the All-Star game (but do the 3 contest because it is not taxing at all)...recover...and then execute the offense like the bench had tonight. 

Will that happen?  Sure sure,...I really hope so.  I only wish it would have started tonight.

...your role is two fold.  If you meet your role at all, then you are far and away a positive.  People have been clamoring to trade you away, inferring that your attitude has infected this entire team's chemistry.  I'm not going to argue for or against you in those terms.  I think this team's ubuntu problems were inherited from last year's squad, and that only through the continuation of standard, injury-free, rotation-consistent basketball will they find their way.  Rondo is the new man, and I think it's a stark realization for this teams' veterans, that they CANNOT and WILL NOT be able to take over the offensive reigns like they used to.  They must realize that Rondo's increased playmaking abilities not only make the team better, but that they also DEFINE this team.  The veterans will find their groove amidst physical recovery and I am sure they will get accustomed to the new style of offense, but don't be surprised by the disquiet, and all of the other mini-dramas associated with certain players' mentalities....

I digress though...

Sheed has obviously not met his role.  I'm going to remind everyone what he was meant to do here, and WHY it hasn't happened. 

First, he is a bench player.  Due to injuries, the Celtic bench has been depleted.  For 10 games, Sheed was the starting power forward in place of KG.  He is no KG on defense...but neither is KG anything like Sheed in defending true bigs.  KG cannot guard Shaq, Howard, Bynum, etc...at least for more than a possession or two at a time.

The point here is that Sheed has had to sub in for KG, not Perk.  Although many view Sheed as "KG insurance", I think it is much more accurate to say that Sheed is "Perk insurance" for when he fouls too much.  When Perk and Sheed combine to guard opposing teams' true bigs, they throw a wrench into their inside play.  Note how when Sheed came in to guard Howard during the Magic game, he forced him into commiting his 3rd foul.  This was a trivial example, but it was telling.  Sheed is great at coming in after Perk on defense.  While Perk spends the 1st and 3rd quarters outmuscling and tiring the opposing big man, Sheed comes in and takes advantage of the little mistakes that the opposing big makes in his fatigue.  THAT is the first reason that Sheed looks like he doesn't try hard.  He simply doesn't have to, and he often gets key steals and tips.  The only problem with his strategy is that recently, he hasn't done such a good job of poking around without commiting fouls of his own.  That is not what he is capable of. 

Instead, when Sheed truly steps up, he plays brilliant defense.  However, you must only evaluate him when he is playing in the role he was meant to play on defense.  Case in point for reference...the Christmas Orlando game.  Perk did a great job on Howard, but he was in foul trouble for most of the game.  Enter SHEED....he disrupted Howard's offense, and he was absolutely key to that win.  KEY POINT: Sheed substituted for Perk.

In comparison, here is another case in point for reference...Saturday's Orlando game.  Perk did a great job on Howard, and he was never in foul trouble.  KG however barely scored in the first half, and despite passing well, he was not even close to 100% on defense.  He was obviously still recovering.  Enter SHEED...he had one good moment where he disrupted Howard...but at that moment, he was NOT subbing for KG, it was for Perk.  In the second half, he subbed for KG, and the results were not pretty.  Sheed was left to guard Rashard Lewis.  Think about that.  Rashard is a very mobile 4 man who can also shoot.  He is an All Star caliber player, and one who is simply dangerous all over the floor.  He is the perfect defensive assignment for a healthy KG....but not for dumpy old Sheed.

Let me clarify this though, by emphasizing  that it will be"dumpy, old" Sheed who will shut down the "even dumpier" and "even older" Shaq...in addition to "trash-can-knees Bynum".  When KG recovers (I assume he'll at least get back to 75-80% of his prior capability...around where he was in December) he'll be the defensive ringleader that Sheed won't have to be.  Sheed'll just absorb the big-man defensive duties, and for that, he will be TREMENDOUSLY VALUABLE!!

Sheed on offense is a different story.  Similar to his defensive role, he should mainly be looked at a bench player.  I think the main problem, like many of you have said before a million times, is that he is being used the wrong way.  However, I know why, and I know what fixes that pretty much immediately.  It should be obvious....it's Marquis.  I think there was a very clear reason that Marquis and Sheed came together to the C's this past Summer. 

Marquis is the athletic, slasher that complements Sheed's play on the perimeter.  I totally 100% agree that during the last month or so, Sheed has been inconsistent on offense at best, and downright nauseously bad at worst.  The latest Orlando game was neither.  What COULD be seen is that Marquis got his shots off easily.  I think Sheed's presence is one of the major reasons why Marquis was able to get hot.  In fact, remember how Marquis was like this early in the year?...and as a result, the bench was phenomenal.

However, mid-range slashing jump-shots are NOT at all easy to come by without employing fadeaways....or without using the right offensive spacing.  For example, while Sheed was being covered by Dwight or Gortat in the Orlando game, Quisy was able to drift and slash in order to get the perfectly poised 10-15ft jumper. Quisy was remarkably efficient and sprightly, considering he had just come back from an injury.  I think much of it was made possible by the spacing that Sheed's positioning created, necessitating an outward defensive recovery by Dwight and Gortat every time the ball went to him at the perimeter. 

The reason Sheed's offensive deficiecies have been so glaring over the past month is that Marquis hasn't been around.  Simple...as...that.  The logic of Sheed's perimeter presence doesn't work so well when the sole slasher is Tony Allen.  Tony has done a great job (no, a fantastic job!), but none of us would confuse him for a playmaker.  He is a purely offensive-minded slasher who goes straight to the hoop.

Here's an "AHA!" moment.  Why has Tony played so well the past month?   Hmmm.  He gets to the basket with ease, and rarely gets blocked by bigs.  How does this happen?...with Sheed at the perimeter of course.

Now, it's great when Tony gets it going, because anything he does offensively is pure butter as far as I'm concerned, but it should never be misinterpreted as bench offense.  No.  Marquis is the main man that slashes AND passes.  If he had been in the Orlando game any longer, he would have likely had somebody like Pietrus guarding him instead, meaning somebody else would have JJ Reddick guarding him.  I think we can all agree that having JJ Reddick guard you is good news.  It means you're in an offensive mismatch, or you might happen to be open...most likely at the 3 line no less, since the defense has already collapsed on Marquis in the lane.  Who is the likely target for the 3 shot, hmmm?

Eddie and Sheed.  It's no coincidence that they've been the pariahs this past month.  They haven't gotten the kickouts that are required in shooting high percentages from the perimeter.  Quisy's passes are like overnight mail for these guys...yes, Sheed especially benefits from this.  I've been watching what type of 3's Sheed takes...I wish I had shot charts or something...but even then that wouldn't help, because I'm trying to relate how, and from which direction Sheed gets his passes before he takes his inevitable 3's.  I've seen that Sheed almost NEVER makes 3 point shots off of lateral passes.  These shots also happen to be the same ones that turn up that awful "groan factor" amongst us fans.  You know that feeling:

Some play is being badly executed by the bench, and 10 seconds are left on the shot clock.  Eddie or Ray are being heavily guarded 5 ft behind the line, and they pass to Sheed.  We all think, "come on Sheed, make a nice pass to finish-off the play!"  Instead we see Sheed get the ball with 7 or so on the clock, and we slowly realize...no, we already know that Sheed is about to take an early-in-the-shot-clock contested 3.

BRICK...enemy fast break...exhuasted defensive recovery....NIGHTMARE

NOW, on the other hand, Sheed makes a fairly good percentage of 3's that flow from naturally-executed offense...in other words, "Quisy kickouts".  In fact, Eddie and Ray do too.  WONDERFUL.

Marquis wasn't in the latest Orlando game long enough to truly get that point where he was throwing those buttery kickouts, but soon enough we'll be seeing those again.  Following 3 or 4 easy baskets of his, teams will collapse on him, and then the fun will start.

To cap things off, let me give my honest assessment of Sheed...as he is CURRENTLY.  I thought that on defense, he started off well.  He, and the bench played well in the first half.  Personally, he played good help defense, and on offense, he really wasn't needed. GOOD...that's how the bench offense should be.  Sheed should be the 2nd, 3rd, or even 4th option.

Sheed in the second half was horrendous.  He took contested 3's on offense.  His idea of defense was slapping whoever came near him.  At the time, it didn't seem like SUCH a bad thing, since he was fouling a sub 60% foul shooter in Dwight Howard.  The dice didn't roll that way however, and Dwight ended up making nearly all of his bunnies.  Though Sheed's strategy smacked of laziness, it was a strategy.  It backfired...and I think he knows he's going to have to man up on defense down low, perhaps sacrifice a few made opposing team layups...yet at the very least, the team won't be in the penalty for the whole quarter!

In the Orlando game, Sheed's biggest fault was not playing tough defense in the second half.  Nobody did.  Not even the starters.  I don't know why.  I blame Sheed...but by no means just him exclusively.  Everyone on the Celtics except for (at different times) Rondo, Tony, and Baby DID NOT CARE.  Who really knows why?

Sheed should post up more....but not as much as he should have over the past month.  Without Marquis around, he should have known that his low-post scoring would be the driving force of the bench's offense.  Now with Quisy back, he needs to spice things up by starting his game staying at the perimeter and letting Marquis slash without big man interference.  When his shots start to drop, it'll be time for Sheed to start cocking those 3's.  Whether he makes 1, 2, or none of them, defenders will recover towards him, leaving the lanes open for some Marquis slashing.

It's all ebb and flow, pick your poison, bench-style.

Sheed is key to this offense.  He is key to this defense.  With one game remaining before the All Star Break, now is the time to quietly sit, and patiently wait until the team gets back together for the next significant road trip.

...Then the jury will be out on Sheed's value...

Eddie House was phenomenal for a very short period of time during the beginning of the season.  In fact, even Sheed was phenomenal from behind the arc at that point!  Why have they been in slumps for 2 months now?  In fact, why has the oft-called "deepest bench in the league" been struggling so bad this past month?  

(let me modify this by saying that they have improved tremendously these past 2 games...injuries have screwed things up mightily....I still think this bench has the capability to be one of the best in the league...)

The MAJOR change that has screwed with the fortunes of our bench...besides KG and Paul's injury...besides Sheed playing as a starter...besides Baby changing his name is...

The absence of Marquis Daniels...Marquis is really the bench's version of Rondo.  Actually, I think the pace of his play is better suited for bench production than even Rondo's play.  First of all, Marquis rarely loses the ball!  This is simply huge, huge, huge for this team (which is near the bottom of the league in turnovers).  He sort of floats between defenders without losing the ball....this is one trait that proves to be very useful to this turnover-prone bench.  His speed is deceptive too.  He's quick, but not jerky.  When he drives, he does so smoothly, moving right up to about 10 feet from the basket....he leaps....he gets the relatively uncontested 10 ft jumper...or he kicks out...

Obviously having Eddie run the point screws up his rythym, as well as the bench's offensive chemistry.  Having Rondo run things is much better....yet I would rather have him preserve his energy for effective offense for FOUR quarters...even then, I sometimes think his pace is too fast and jerky for this bench...again, this is a turnover-prone bench, one with players sporting not-so solid catching hands (Shelden, I'm looking at you...or not, since you never seem to play anymore)

Marquis on the other hand, makes passes with just the right amount of telegraphing, and with just the right amount of speed.  As three point shooters, these are the types of passes that Sheed and Eddie need.  Clear, quick passes...not bullets.  You don't want them to bobble the pass, yet equally important, you don't want them to take too much time to shoot (contested shot...or too much time to think).  You want passes that are in the flow of offense...no-thinking or second-guessing should be involved (as has been the case recently from behind the arc). 

AND!...the single most important thing about Marquis is.... 

That he is just about the calmest guy on the court on any given night.  This is vital.  I mean, our bench is not exactly an emotionally stable one.  Think about it:

Eddie: He's a skittish, inconsistent pure shooter
Tony: He's Tony...enough said!
Baby: He's in the midst of a transformation...apparently he's not Baby anymore...in other words, unstable
Sheed: I shouldn't even have to comment on this one...let's just say "BALL DON'T LIE"

This bench is talented as all hell...yet it is unstable and overly emotional (The very fact that they are overly emotional should explain their inconsistency...and also points towards their undeniable level of talent).  I think Danny chose Marquis not only for his obvious skill, but also for his temperament.  Remember those rumors in the offseason about the Celtics acquiring Grant Hill?

Yes of course!  Grant Hill would have been that same sort of cool, calm, veteran presence that could sooth the likes of this bench.  The Celtics bench clearly needs Marquis for point guard duties first and foremost.  Next they need him for his team defense.  Next, they need him for his slash and kick abilities.  Finally and most importantly, they need him for his ability to keep the bench's emotional temperature down. 

Do you remember that Marquis was already injured during his last two weeks of play.  His level of play really tailed off...and now we know why.  Nobody can pass well with a torn finger ligament.  Case in point.....KOBE.....not to say he's a passer by nature, but his level of douchery is becoming legendary....he doesn't hand off even more than 5 passes to his ALL-STAR  power forward, Pau Gashole.  My god.  Even I don't think he's that much of a hog...I think having a bum finger hinders his passing much more so than even his shooting....passing is spontaneous, requiring finger flexibility...whereas shooting, especially from somebody so determined and methodical as Kobe, is often predetermined.  Marquis is no different...meaning his level of play should approach that of his during the beginning of the season.  This level of play was pure offensive gold.

Once Marquis gets reacquainted with the system, he'll do what he's always done, below the radar.  He plays great defense on the opposing teams' best 2's or 3's, regardless of whether they are on the other teams' starting lineup, or bench.  He'll get the bench scoring at least 10 more points per game, without having to do much on his part shooting-wise.  He'll get his reliable 6-12 points per night without much fuss...and he'll also get 6-12 points for Sheed, for House, for Baby, and perhaps maybe, maybe even for Tony too.  Even Scal will benefit.

Anyways, with Marquis back and healthy, the bench will function as it had for the first ten games.  I don't think our team play was a fluke for the first ten games of the season!  The bench simply was able to keep, and more often than not, extend leads!  Our bench was the best in the NBA at that point, bar-none!

Farther down the line, Paul, Ray, and Rajon will see less playing time.  As I think we can all agree:

Less playing time for the starters=more rest, better shots

More playing time for the bench=more bench chemistry, less burden on starters.

Of course, in order to give the bench more time, they'll have to play better.  With Marquis back, they'll extend leads rather than lose them.  When the starters come back, they'll do what they do better, passing the ball with less concern over losing leads...and we'll see many less forced Ray 3's, forced Paul Iso's, and forced Rondo turnover bullets.

You can probably see that I like Marquis...he is THAT important for this team. 

Marquis, we're all glad you'll be back on Sunday!!

It was pretty obvious that KG was mostly a non factor during most of the Orlando game. He simply had no lift. Several knowledgable people here have commented on the how the progression of injury rehabilition works. I know about this area myself after having injured my knee and ankle on two separate occasions during basketball and track in high school(relatively mild to moderate injuries).

Not only would KG be expected to lose his lift, but he would also be expected to lose his timing until he gets acclimated to NBA play over several weeks. He already DID this in November after the Knicks game. We saw him limp in that game…we all thought he was finished, and would never be the same….many feel the same way after last night's game.

KG has minimal lift, and minimal timing. For a player of his type, lift (and even more so timing) are paramount.  From experience (and I think many of you who have had leg injuries in sports would agree) I suspect that it is KG's LEG that is causing his mediocre play, NOT his knee.  When recovering from an injury to something like a knee or an ankle, one loses a tremendous amount of surrounding muscle through atrophy. KG’s quads, hamstrings, calf muscles, and surrounding ligaments/tendons are very weak. He gets no lift. Even worse is the fact that his other leg has to compensate in various ways strength-wise, and when he jumps, this leg imbalance causes unexpected tilt, compromised lateral movement, and (key word:) UNANTICIPATED (in his mind) lapses in mobility and movement.  KG is used to his muscles propelling him in predictable ways.  Though every other part of his body may be moving just as he anticipates, his leg takes him somewhere else.

Rebounding is the #1 skill that would degrade due to this.  We all know that Tim Duncan has minimal lift, right?  He has never been nearly as athletic as KG, yet he tears down double digit rebounds.  So, it is not so much that KG has little lift right now. He also is jumping and moving in directions that he cannot anticipate.  I noticed that several times during the Orlando game.  In particular, KG would leap for a rebound that would normally require some forward or lateral movement in the air.  Instead of jumping forward or laterally for a key defensive rebound, KG would only be able to move vertically, statically.  In contrast, Howard and Gortat would simply leap and reach forwards, backwards, and side to side, locking away rebounds that KG would normally hold.

KG's fadeaway jumpshot was severely compromised too.  There were several instances where I just muttered, "no KG, don't go that way"...and I knew he would get his shot off, but that he would jump in an awkward direction....and he did.  For a big man, he has had one of the smoothest fadeaway jumpers of anybody in recent history.  For reference, I rewatched a lot of great KG moments from his time in Minnesota, especially during the Western Conference finals run against the Kings.  His shot was smooth as butter.  It still was in 08 and 09.  There have been several games this year where that was the case as well.   

The good news is that this is not something structural.  Most likely, KG needs to play, play play in real games for 30 or so minutes a pop.  The ligaments and tendons around his knee (which control much of directional movement in the act of jumping) need to rebuild.  He succesfully did this in late November through early December.  He had minimal lift and lateral movement before the 11 game win streak.  Through the streak, his movement improved gradually.  Eventually, he was able to finish alley-hoops and baseline fadeaways with relative ease.   

However, KG is also a very smart, adaptable player.  In the meantime, he must spend the next few weeks getting accustomed to playing with less lift and lateral movement. Those things will come back, but in the meantime, he can re-learn to be the player he was in November-December.  Early in the 11 game win streak, before he regained much of his strength, he played some of his "smartest" ball.  Remember how he wasn’t quite perfect (he was probably 80-90% during that time)? Yet, he adapted his game, relying on perfectly set-up 18ft jumpers, beautiful give and go offense down low, and kick-outs to paul and ray on the perimeter. He needs to relearn this. Over the next weeks he will….AND….over the next few months before playoffs he will get his physical ability back to a large extent.

Now, in reviewing the Orlando game, I thought the team as a whole played fantastic through 3 quarters.  Nothing however could take away from the fact that neither good offense or defense was played in the fourth quarter.  Much of this had to do with the team being in foul trouble early on.  In previous seasons this happened often.  This time though, KG could not step up as the 4th quarter defensive quarterback. 

Orlando is an elite team...and there is one simple reason for that.  It is something that the Lakers, Cavs, Nuggets, Mavericks and Celtics (when they play as we think they are capable of doing) all share.  They adapt.  Did everyone notice how Vince Carter was taken out for most of the 4th quarter?  Carter's level of play was similar to that of Paul Pierce during his worst games.  Iso-offense, bad fadeaways, stolen passes, lazy dribbling, shot clock violations, etc...  Just as the Celtics sometimes do, the Magic figured out that their go-to offense-maker was just plain handicapped.

In times like these, good teams revert to getting their big-men some shots down low.  They also normally use their 4 as roaming, slashing juggernauts....formidable from 18feet with open jumpers, or as foulable, driving targets.  Rashard Lewis and Diiiwight were the key to the Magic adaption to "inside-out" offense.  What normally happens in offense like that?  As the ball goes in, Howard is likely to miss-or make according to pretty much luck.  As he gets more succesful shots, Lewis and the little guys are all of a sudden open for threes or slashes.  In response, the C's rotated on D.  KG unfortunately could not.  As a result, the Magic either got Howard some easy shot, White Chocolate and Reddick the open three, or most likely Rashard Lewis the easy drive.  KG was not mobile enough to switch and THEN stop Shard.

What the C's should have done in response to the Magic was beat them at their own game.  They needed to go inside and tire Lewis and Howard out.  Unfortunately, Perk can't quite create his own shot, and more so KG simply could not get anything done offensively on his own.  The magic were able to lock down on Celtic threes and Pierce drives as a result.  Good Eastern teams like the Magic, Cavs, and Celtics usually close out close 4th quarters by going inside-out on offense (with the exception of Lebron who is the only guy who can succesfully just drive inside and create an entire 4th quarter offense around that).

Last night, the Celtics were unable to close things down defensively and make progress offensively.  I've got no doubt that much of it was due to the Celtic bigs being in foul trouble.  Perk and Sheed need to cut down on unnecessary fouls early in the game.  Much of it was also due to the typical 2nd half Celtic collapse.  This is more concerning, but I think it is something that will be worked on.  Remember, even in 08 and 09 the celtics collapsed late in games.  At least they did not start off badly.  At least they didn't collapse in the 3rd quarter either.  For the Celtics to have a fourth quarter collapse is actually a quasi sign of progression in that they don't lose the game early on.  However, since teams often change strategy in the 4th quarter, the Celtics need to learn to anticipate change and be flexible.  This they are not....but they will learn.  

Most important of all though, everybody needs to be around in order to learn to do this.  With KG playing at roughly 50 percent all game, I was pleasantly surprised that the rest of the team picked it up so well for the majority of the game.  KG is our defensive closer, and if he can't move the way he usually does, we will not win games against teams with good big men.  That points straight to ORLANDO, ATLANTA, and EFFING LOS ANGELES.  Oddly enough, Cleveland would not give us this amount of trouble with KG playing the way he is.  They don't have offensively dominant big men!  It would be more problematic if Paul Pierce were playing badly against the Cavs(and many, including me thought he didn't play his best yesterday), but that's a whole nother topic.

In order to win tonight against Atlanta and on Sunday against the those bitchy Lakers, KG at least needs to play within his capabilities.  He does NOT have to be offensively or even defensively dominant.  He at least needs to make his open jumpers, be able to guard Smith and Gasol reasonably without being a drag, and run the offensive and defensive patterns that he is capable of doing without having to jump high or move quickly laterally.  Ie. he needs to play give and go with Rondo and Perk inside...he needs to be a help defender against penetration...and he needs to at least be a semi-threat with the shots that he creates on his own.  If he does any of that, I have no doubt that the Celtics have a good chance to win one or both games.

Whether the Celtics lose tonight and/or Sunday, look to see how KG compensates for his lack of mobility.  Perhaps he did have a bad night yesterday, and he will be able to move fine during the next two games.  I sure hope so.  But I can say with certainty that much of the reason the Celtics lost yesterday was due to KG's lack of mobility.  It can and will be regained.  By tonight, or Sunday?  Who knows.  In the meantime though, he can be the efficient director on offense, and help defender on defense that we've seen him be througout this year. 

What I'd like for others to comment on, is how can the other Celtics, especially Rondo and Pierce better learn to run 4th quarter offense?  Pierce iso's are obviously pretty shitty lately, and sometimes Rondo doesn't push the ball late in games.  What would remedy the lack of movement in the 4th? 

Excellent!  Well, this is my first fan post!  Mabye a little on the long side.  I was just so effed up last night over this loss...probably the 2nd or 3rd worst of this year (that latest Atlanta one really sucked).  I just had to find some explanation in the reasons for the loss, many of them pointing straight to KG's play.  I also wanted to avoid giving an emotional reaction to KG's subpar play and his recent injury woes. 

I'd love to get some reactions and see what everyone else thinks!

Thanks guys!   Keep faith in this team!

Ducksawce