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May 13, 2008
The 5 Minute Burst
In the play-offs, it is often the game decider.
Two teams are playing their hearts out and lungs are exploding from the energy. It is a burst that changes the game. In most games, 5 minutes of it is enough.
It is a combo punch. A 1-2 offensive/defensive burst - it either wrestles the lead from the other team or puts the daylight between the teams that requires enormous energy from the opposing team to get it back. It occurred in the end of last night's game by the Cavs, but it could occur at anytime.
During the year, the Cs displayed those bursts often. On the road, in the play-offs, they have been largely absent or have fallen short of their objective - to gain an arm lock on the lead.
The Celtics: Surprise Team of the Year
First it was for excelling everyone's expectations during the year Now it is for transforming from the best road team to just another road team in the play-offs.
Everyone's thoughts are starting to turn worried. But it isn't about what we writers think. It's about what the Celtic players think. I can only go by what they say, and what I see. Mentally, they seem ready to go.
They say the things that sound like they are ready to continue the battle. That ability for a 5 minute burst is one play away. Often that is all it takes in a closely contested play-off game.
But I also see a different body language on the court. Offensive sets that don't look quite the same. Open shots missed. Lack of extra hustle on occasion. They are playing and playing intensely. But so is the other team. That's not what I'm talking about. It is that extra hop in their step, the wider look at the whole court, the deflections, turnovers and steals are less numerous on the road. They look like the team that is playing from behind, with the weight on their shoulders, though they had the series lead.
I don't want to call them the Transformers (I've thought about it). but they are the Searchers. They no longer have that "We are going to cover your butt." look on defense, though they have done a reasonably good job anyway. Holding a team to 88 points should be enough to win a game. So everyone believes that it is the offense that needs the work... and it does. But that thought is deceiving.
They caused just 7 TOs and 3 steals in the entire game #4. They had 5 steals and 10 TOs in game #3. Those are notably below the first 2 home games and the entire season average for the year and even on the road. During the season, the were equally accomplished at causing TOs and getting steals on the road as at home. It hasn't been that quite way in Cleveland. Cleveland has fought back every Celtic attempt to win the game. They aren't getting game winning stops when they need them and when they do put hold on scoring from the Cavs, they don't answer with enough offense of their own.
In Boston they caused 15 TOs and 11 steals in game #2, and caused 17 TOs and 5 steals in game #1. Deflections and other signs of harassing team defensive stands have been muted in Cleveland. The Cavs score 20 less points in the last game so eyes are off the defense. And maybe I'm too hard on that part of the game because the offense has obviously been a disappointment.
That expected Celtic run to front and then holding off the opponent has been largely absent, that Hawks game being the exception, and they didn't hold that lead past the first quarter anyway.
So, signs that indicate that the team isn't playing as well as it can. But as long as the players believe they can fix the problems, I have hope that they will.
Cleveland's defense has held the Cs to 81 points per game in this series. Are they that good?
My guess would be no. But I would be wrong so far.
Posted by Tom on May 13, 2008 10:29 PM
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