Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big storyline. Because there's nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
We didn't finish strong. Lost and now am down 3-1. Guys battled, but mental errors. Had to have that one. Now we gotta have the rest of these. Heading to Miami in the am. Tough loss. Real tough loss.
Gotta win 3 now. All the pressure is on now.
I can hear the depression coming through my keyboard when I read this. I'm not even sure what to say about it.
The C's made mistakes that killed them. The final play (more on that on page 2), the turnovers in OT… they just executed poorly down the stretch.
The Celtics can win. It's possible. And if you want some measure of optimism, here it is:
So… don't bury the Celtics yet… even though the coffin will probably be picked out today.
Related links: CSNNE: Garnett goes cold in Game 4 | Herald: KG runs out of paint
Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images
On Page 2: The guys talks about what happened on the last play of regulation
Doc Rivers: “We didn’t execute the play, I’ll just leave it at that. Ended up leaving Paul on the island. It’s a play we’ve run several times and we just didn’t execute it. [It] was supposed to be a pick-and-roll with a flare and none of it happened, which was unusual for us. But it happened.”
Paul Pierce: “It was supposed to end up with a fade for Ray [Allen], then I was coming off a pick-and-roll for Kevin [Garnett]. I guess there was a little confusion right there and we never got into it, and I had to force a bad shot.”
Ray Allen: “We wanted to get a pick-and-roll with Paul and Kevin. We kind of screwed it up because we wanted Paul to get the ball, and I’m at the free-throw line and I wanted to kind of fan off and create some misdirection and then Kevin go set the screen, and then from there see what we got. But I don’t think we got a great shot. Paul still got a shot at the basket. We’re kicking ourselves over that.”
Kevin Garnett: “The timing actually got messed up when he went and got the ball and miscommunication. Paul went with a couple seconds on the clock and felt like he had to be aggressive in that situation. But plays are all timing. If you don’t come off at a certain time, clock’s going, and Paul felt like he had to go. It’s what it was.”
Rajon Rondo: "It's a surprise but it happens, you know? Lotta talking in the huddle, but there wasn't enough listening, I believe."
CSNNE: Final play a microcosm of Celtics night
It was painful to watch that play unfold. Pierce holding the ball… waiting for a pick to come that never did.
If the play really was for a screen and roll with KG and Pierce, then Ray got in the way.
It looks like KG started to run to set the pick a little earlier than he should… so he stopped. Then Ray trying to create the misdirection he's talking about in the quote got tangled up with KG and actually picked him as KG was heading towards Paul. By that time there's 4 seconds on the clock and Paul felt like he had to do something.
Then the frustration boils over and Pierce gives the very demonstrative "what are you doing?" to KG and Ray…. and then walks off with a "f–ing around man".
This play was not pretty at all. And uncharacteristic of the Celtics. It's one thing for the C's to lose to a younger, more athletic team that executed down the stretch. It's another for the C's to lose when they bumble through plays they know and make dumb mental errors.
I don't know if it was exhaustion… emotions… or a combination of the two. The Celtics had to hit that shot to win that game… and they didn't give themselves a good chance to get that done.
Related links: Globe: Final play spoiled by execution
The rest of the links
CSNNE: Heat hope to close out series in Game 5 at home | Game story: C's run out of gas in Game 4 | Davis: "I don't know where I'm at" | Heat win, take 3-1 lead | WEEI: Wade & LeBron talk it out, finally beat C's | Bosh: not over till the last game is won | An apology from LeBron over the "R" word | C's fall as Heat turn it on in OT | For Celtics, the one that got away | Davis: "I've been nowhere to be found" | ESPN Boston: Notebook: Paging Glen Davis | Rapid reaction | MacMullan: Celtics let it get away | Herald: Celtics trail goes cold | LeBron offers an apology | Ailing Rondo shows 4-titude | Celtics learn an old story | Glen Davis: I've been Bad Baby | Lakers sweep a surprise | House of Horrors no more | Globe: Tough fadeaway | LeBron, Wade, Doc, Allen comments | Shaughnessy: Time is running out | Bosh rises to the occasion | Still marveling over Rondo's return | Ryan: Signature win | Rivers still a believer | MWDN: Miami tightens vice
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
