Damn: Celtics fall to Heat, lose series
Damn. I can’t believe this run is over. And to end like that, in such a “Game 7 against the Lakers” type way, sucks. I watched that whole game with a sickening pit in my stomach. The Celtics just couldn’t get separation, and you could tell they were fatiguing. I thought they might have enough to close it out, but, well, you know what happened. Just didn’t have anything left in the old legs when it came to winning time.
Congratulations to the Heat. They really grew into a championship team this year, this series, tonight. They earned that win. They were the better team. And yes, I’m trying to stay gracious even though I’m on suicide watch right now.
I love these guys. More on the game later, if I’m not too busy vomiting everywhere.
Related posts:
Celtics Blog | Jay King | May 11, 2011
well……. heres to hoping we can land dwight next year
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Damn. Missed the game because I was driving home from work but I don’t even know how to feel. I ate, slept and breathed this incarnation of the Celtics for the past 4 years. Where do we go from here?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
fuck where are grandma’s pills
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The chances of us getting DH12 are so slim… unless the Magic want to trade for expiring contracts… but why would they do that when can pick up a Laker or two. There’s no way the Magic sit tight until Dwight’s a free agent.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I disagree so strongly with your comments here. The Heat won by cheating, by deliberately taking out our best player, by Wade trashing Rondo in game 3. They may win a championship this year, but they certainly are not a championship team.
I also disagree that the Cs fatigued. No, the problem is that they didn’t play with urgency. The Heat wanted this game more. Even tonight, when the Heat had no reason to play harder, and the Cs had every reason, it was the Heat that played harder. The Celtics looked tentative, a step slow, they settled constantly for jump shots, not consistently attacking the basket.
And, of course, we’ll hear all the self righteous calls not to play the Blame Game. Well, I’ve never seen a season that called out more for the Blame Game. What I saw tonight was a Celtics team that was STILL the better team, but just wasn’t focused, urgent, just didn’t want it enough, was playing like a team waiting to lose.
And why might that be? Damn it, every one of you knows why. The Trade was a statement by the team that they didn’t care about winning a championship this year, that they cared more about clearing out the Perkins contract issue. How did anyone expect the players to react to that? For God’s sake, there’s no mystery about this. The Bulls and the Heat heaved a huge sigh of relief when the Celtics traded Perkins. They knew that this had just become their year.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Someone pointed out that Danny is lucky Rondo got hurt. Now he can blame getting flushed from the playoffs early in a season where we were probably the leading contender until his trade on the Rondo injury.
And everyone will say ‘oh, the Celtics were just too old’. Such a lie. They aren’t any older now than they were earlier in the season when they owned the Heat. The difference was that they had more power in the middle then, and that they were more focused on winning.
That and Wade deliberately took out our best player. But we’re not supposed to mention that either.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Saying they only traded Perk as a money issue is speculative at best, you have no real idea what their intent was. I do agree that it hurt the team chemistry though. That’s clear from the way they played in these playoffs.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
That one falls on PP for not showing up ready to play. Terrible effort, no rebounding (3 in 34 mins), terrible defense, no offense in the first half, too many TOs and the season is over. Too bad because all the other Cs showed up. Injuries suck. And so do ‘trade’ comments 3 months after it happened. The trade did not cause the Cs to lose, poor play did. Go Cs…
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Well said, James. You are so right. The Trade had nothing whatever to do with poor play. It’s important never to blame the front office. It’s always the players’ fault. Better to blame Paul Pierce than to blame Danny.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Glad your back James.
Just like game 4, the Celtics should have won this game. They had momentum for most of the fourth quarter, and then James Jones hit that three when the Celtics were up by five and it all went down hill from there. Ugh. It comees down to exactly what happened to them last year (although, then it was much worse). They would have momentum in the fourth, then collapse. The worst part, is that they played their asses off. They got outplayed. Period.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
It never ceases to amaze me. Danny ADMITTED that he made the trade primarily because of Perkins’ contract. In other words, he made a HUGE move in the stretch run to a championship, a stretch run the Cs were leading, BECAUSE OF NEXT YEAR!!!
But not, we are NEVER EVER EVER supposed to recognize the obvious message that sends to the team that winning is NOT the most important thing to the front office. So if you were a player, would you kill yourself to win, when the front office is pulling stunts like that? How about when you work so hard as a team to build team cohesion, and suddenly Danny tells you, right on the doorstep of the playoffs, ‘hey guys, why don’t you just do without a starting center, and by the way, incorporate all these new guys?”
But yeah, let’s never blame Danny. Let’s give Danny all the credit for bringing the Big Three together, when it was clearly the Big Three themselves that made that work, and what other brilliant move has Danny made, exactly? Yes, getting Rondo. And that’s pretty much it.
Never ceases to amaze me. Nothing can ever be the owners’ and manager’s fault. Always blame the players.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Still love this Celtics team, if this was their last hurrah they will be remembered as one of the best Boston groups. If it weren’t for injuries they could have racked up 2-4 championships total. Unless Danny Ainge can pull off landing Dwight Howard, he’ll be remembered for gutting this team and squandering their last chance at a title.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
What a bizarre world you all live in. You are somehow able to ignore the fact that Wade deliberately took Rondo down. You are able to ignore what Danny did. Nope. Everything is the players’ fault.
Makes me sick.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
It must be so much fun to be a player. The Big Three get no credit for what they did here in Boston over the past four years. Nope, all the credit for that goes to Danny. But when Danny screws up, for example, when he makes that horrible Trade, the players get all the blame. All credit to Danny, all blame to the players. Nice cushy life Danny must have. And the owners too. No one thinks to ask what the owners role was in all this.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
paul…It’s always the players fault as they are the ones responsible because they are actually on the court. I don’t remember seeing DA on the court. I don’t get TNTR so I have to listen to the games online from WEEI and follow along on ESPN’s Game-Cast and box score (which I track qtr to qtr so I can elaborate on my comments). The WEEI announcer and Cedric Maxwell continually berated PP throughout the game wondering why he wasn’t “involved”, why he was “standing around the 3 line”, and why he wasn’t rebounding (1 in the first half and only 2 in the 2nd) and why he wasn’t “pro-active and instead being re-active”. That said, the injuries really hurt. We lost the last two games mainly because RR could not play to his All-star level. I’ll never believe Wade intentionally tried to take him out or hurt him but he certainly intentionally fouled him and took him down. I look forward to next season as we get one last go around with this group and hopefully Shaq can return and everyone can stay healthy. Just to get things started, I’d start RR and DW at the SG and have RA as the sixth man for instant offense off the bench. Bring it on people and please Jay take the curse down off the wall! And Dallas will beat the Heat for the title. LBJ gets nada. Go Cs…
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Myles is right. I’ll admit, at first, i loved the trade… Then i let it soak in, and i realized how dumb it was. It’s sad that someone who changed this Franchise forever, bringing the Celtics out of a 20 somethin year drought, will be remembered for effing up the team. Same thing with some sports stars, they’ll have great careers, then tarnish themselves by doing something stupid such as crimes. The same thing applies to Danny Ainge here. In two years, I bet that some of you will still be bringing up the trade if Danny is still in office. Sad Day. It hurts to say it but, End of an Era today. It was a great run.
Good luck for this team whenever the next NBA season is( lockout?).
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Watching Rondo was a weird experience, as usual, tonight. I know he’s battling a range of injuries, but what I saw tonight was what I hate about Rondo, and what I love about him. What I hate was that a lot of the lack of urgency and energy was coming from him. Walk the ball up. Stand around. Kill time that should be used to push the play. Pass off. Don’t do much. Makes me sick sometimes, watching Rondo play this way, because we all know what he can do when he tries.
Just when I was really getting annoyed about this I saw a play where Bibby hit a wide open three. Everyone in chat said ‘how did he get that open?’. I saw what happened. Rondo was all the way on the other side of the court, trying to sneak around Lebron James to steal the ball from him. Rondo almost got the ball, and even though he didn’t, and instead James found Bibby for the open three, Rondo moved so fast that he STILL almost got to Bibby’s shot. Even though the play didn’t work out, it was really genius.
Damn, that’s why I love Rondo so much!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The Heat can’t win agains the Mavs the way they’re playing with 3 guys scoring the majority of the points.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Apparently Doc is already saying that he wants to come back. Well, I guess that’s ok; as much as I think that Danny and Doc blew this season, I don’t know who else is out there that is better. Rondo seems to want Doc back, so that’s a strong reason for fans to want him back, however sick of Doc’s act some of us may be. My big concern for next season is Rondo’s shooting. It’s really clear now that we MUST have Rondo as a more effective scoring option. A lot of people seem to be dreaming about trading for Chris Paul. I don’t get it. Granted, Rondo can be the most frustrating player in the world, because he seems to underachieve so much of the time, but when he is motivated, he is truly something so special.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I am heartbroken. The fourth quarter. Just like the finals last year. Love this team and group of players but.like Nick said, it definitely is the End of an Era. Painful as hell and Tough to accept.
I do take comfort in the fact that the C’s went down fighting. Didn’t roll over or commit heinous fouls like the Lakers. Age and injury were killers. I can tell you from personal experience that when you hit your mid-30s, your body doesn’t recover the way it used to. Dammit.
Also, the trade ultimately sucked. I officially hate Jeff Green and am praying DA doesn’t sign him this summer.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
1st of all we need to pick up Tyson chandler this off season to clog the paint,resigh big baby and green and then if there is room get prince. then maybe if the magic are looking to trade we can trade a compo of anything but there big 4 for Dwight Howard(in thinking chandler,baby,green and bradly).THEN we will have THE BEST starting 5 in nba history AND we ill have a bright future of Howard and Rondo
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I just have to say, I’m very moved by Doc’s comments after the game – about how he loves the guys and feels like he really is a Celtic. Very moving.
But Doc, move in with Rondo this summer and MAKE HIM SHOOT, SHOOT, SHOOT!!!!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
yeah rondo really needs to spend all his time in the summer working on the jumpshot. and hopefully the celtics can sign chandler and/or west. west is pure offense which is what we need at times and chandler is the inside presence we were lacking and hes great with grabbing boards, sometimes on the offensive end too. rondo throwing alley oops to chandler all day or throwing it to west for that midrage jumper…. and i hope we can sign green again. he looked like he was crying before his post game interview and training camp can really help a guy. hes going to really become a sixth man of the year type once he gets used to his role off the bench. this is going to be one long summer, but as always celtics all day everyday
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
The guy we need is a wing player that can matchup to Lebron or wade—is young, can help us next year, and in the future and can come off the bench and score big–
J.R. Smith
Resign Delonte
With avery bradely and Jeff green we have some young talent
to match up with the carmelo, derrick rose, wade and lebron
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Good news,, Eh news, and worse news:
Good: Doc rivers will “probablally” be back next season.
Eh: They “plan” to keep he core intact and make some changes over the summer to go for 18 next season. ” one final run”.
Bad: Effing Big crybaby Davis wants a starters job. He’s fucking crazy. I swear. Fuckin crazy. We have a starting PF and your to damn small to play center, and KG is more effective a PF so management shouldn’t mov KG to C so your crybaby ass can be happy at PF. Kick him off the team. Maybe be is the damn chemistry problem.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Also, this summer Ainge needs to trade or sign some young talented players bigs( not injury prone) and a backup PG. Start d-West at SG and then get a nice JR smith esc wing player. Or more like Tony AllEn. Ya know, for D on the best threes in the league, like the one who just lit them up in the fourth quarter.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
I didn’t cry at my brother’s funeral but I cried when the C’s lost to the Lakers in game 7 last year. Okay, I was drunk in a sport bar, but still, I seriously love this team in a very sick way.
I think everyone here has good points tonight. Pierce did not show up tonight, which really surprises me, since he’s always talking about Celtic pride. Age was a definite factor but Rondo being hurt was a bigger factor. And yeah, the Trade affected Ubuntu, but they’re have three months to get over it.
Unlikely we’ll get Howard. But hopefully we can get some key players in the off season, and hopefully the Big 3 will accept becoming role players more. I like the idea of Ray coming off the bench with Delonte as a starter. Shaq is done. We need to get a center. In the next two years, will Pierce and KG become role players, possibly off the bench? Just think how great of a bench that would be.
Unfortunately, the Heat proved that having youth, athleticism, quickness and the best two players are what win playoff games. Yes, Rondo got hurt in game 3, but let’s not forget the C’s were beat in games 1 and 2 when he was healthy.
I hope Davis is gone next year. He’s going to want a lot of money and I think he’s poison to this unit. I actually like Jeff Green’s potential. If given a full season to jel with the C’s, he could become a big factor.
I’m done hating Ainge for the Trade. He gambled, knowing this team needed a lift off the bench. Let’s hope he can make some great moves in the offseason.
The Spurs did a great job of making the old vets role players, yet fell apart in the playoffs to a younger hungrier team. The C’s could model their rebuilding after them, yet remembering to bring in some young, athletic players.
Right now, it looks like the Heat and the Bulls are the future of the Eastern Conference in years to come —- unless Ainge can truly work some Magic in the form of Howard, or building a team like Memphis that learns how to play hard and together. Attitude is a big part of winning. The C’s did not have the focus or effort of last year. Period.
To the future of the Celtics! And to everyone in this room, you are all fucking awesome.
Jay, thanks for many great articles this season. You are a very talented sportswriter.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
all your wishes will come true. watch babys post game interview. he knows hes not coming back next season. he sounds like a man who’s already decided on busting a tony allen
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Now that I’ve calmed down a little from that… I can see why baby wants a starters job and why he is leaving. I would want a starters job if I were in his position. He wants to be more in the limelight, which I part of why he wants a start. The other reason is that there is no way your’re going to move up in this league if you don’t have a starters job. As I pointed out earlier in my original comment, he cannot so that unless management makes a ( terrible) decision to do so. Which would mean they would have to alter the team in a ( I think) very serious way. So yes, if he can’t get over his damned ego, he will go. And, in opinion, he should.
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
We Lost this year because of Big Baby i think, he never gave that one game that one boost he never got involved but baby always won a game in a series atleast!!!!!!!!!!! LAST POSTSEASON…….. he just never did his part, but i loved D WEST signing his a true Celtic his a keeper for sure!!!!!!!
Like or Dislike:
0 
0
Delonte West is a competitor and a great athlete. He was playing injured in the playoffs and throughout the season, so we never saw him at his best.
It’s time to pick up the pieces. How much room is there with salary cap? What great players are out there besides Howard? Or role players? Is it even realistic to think this team can compete with the Heat and Bulls next year? To do so would require giving the Big 3 some much needed help.
Davis is poison. Goodbye.
Tonight symbolized the season: they couldn’t finish games. I still believe it goes beyond age. There was something missing from this team, an edge that champions have. Playing hard doesn’t mean you have the mentality to win in the final minutes. A 16-0 run by the Heat to finish the game, much like the way Game 2 ended after the C’s tied it up. WTF?
Like or Dislike:
0 
0