The Boston Celtics finally lost a conference game to the Atlanta Hawks. Just like their lone loss to the Phoenix Sun’s the Celtics were unable to control the defensive backboard.  The Hawks young, livelier legs and bodies outhustled the Celtics to 47 rebounds 16 of which were on the offensive end. 

Boston has very few weaknesses that they have not been able to address on the fly or after a time out.  However just like last Friday, an opponent walked into the Garden and whacked the Celtics leaving them disjointed. 

I started to speak about this in a previous article, but skirted the issue because they are winning.  Paul Pierce and Ray Allen are the reason that this continues to happen.  They are continually beaten to loose balls on the perimeter and fail to box out.  The trend continues with Marquis Daniels and of course Rasheed Wallace.

Replays show that when Al Horford dunked the ball on one of his many offensive rebounds, Daniels had failed to put a body on him.  The same can be said for the rest of the team they often found themselves looking up at the bottom of the net as the Hawks pushed and rooted them out of position.

My pre-game assessment said that the key to Atlanta’s win would be Jamal Crawford, and it was true.  Crawford can play three positions; he gave the most problems when he played the point.  Eddie House could do nothing to stop the 6’5” Crawford.  He was able to get his shot off on Rondo, Daniels and House.

Wallace was brought in because of his ability to stretch the floor, but he has to be a bit more judicious with the three point shot.  When he misses, it leaves them vulnerable to the fast break, because of his lack of foot speed.

Shelden Williams air-balled two of his three shots at the rim; he has absolutely no lower body strength, he needs to work on his body.  Maybe the Celtics should have signed Candace, his wife.

The Celtics played soft, they thought they could brow beat Atlanta into submission, but the Hawks always believed they could beat the Celtics.  Somehow they were able to make the Celtics feel the pressure.  Boston played listless and it started with Rondo.  He failed to take advantage of his speed and quickness; he didn’t look like the same player even though he finished with nine assists. 

Danny Ainge may need to make a minor trade for a rebounder.  Mike Sweetney would have been a perfect fit, but for his weight issue.  Glen Davis is a below average rebounder; his tenacity and wide body is sorely missed.

Tonight ‘Quisy’  is going back home to Indiana where Danny Granger and Roy Hibbert awaits the Celtics.

Hibbert is much improved and is a legitimate seven-footer who actually rebounds.  Pierce with his sore knee will have to contend with Granger a bruising small forward who also gives Pierce fits.  Everyone harps on how Rondo never gets up for average NBA guards, but Pierce does it also, how else do you explain the likes of Marvin williams lighting him up on the offensive end.  Tonight he must remain focused on the defensive end.

The Celtics must be aware of our old friend Jeff Foster, the aforementioned Hibbert and of course Dahntay Jones; they all crash the boards.  If the boys in green want to maintain their place among the elite, they must close ranks and box out on the defensive glass.

This entry was posted on Saturday, November 14th, 2009 at 9:06 am and is filed under Most Recommended, News Headlines, Right Column. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.