Celtics Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda But Didn’t Win
By bpaul
After tonight’s game in Milwaukee Celtics fans can put another tally in the woulda, coulda, shoulda but didn’t won column. The Celtics used lock-down defense in the final 2:38 of the fourth quarter to cut the lead to only two points with 3.9 seconds remaining. Doc drew up a play to get Paul Pierce open for his classic step back shot but Pierce couldn’t come through and the Bucks defeated the Celtics 86-84.
Many will argue that tonight’s game isn’t a big deal and that the Celtics played well (which they did). But just like when we say a “win is a win”, we also have to say a “loss is a loss”. On this night the Celtics got out-played and out-hustled by a team in which they should have defeated. Don’t take anything away from the Bucks, they are a solid team, but when it comes down to it there is no excuse for losing to a team that clearly doesn’t match up with the C’s on paper.
As one of our twitter friends said after the game, “The Bogometer was at about 90% tonight”. If you don’t know what that is, it is the meter that measures the play of Bucks center Andrew Bogut. Tonight Bogut got the best of his opposition by dropping in 25 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. If the Celtics were to face off against the Bucks in the playoffs it is clear that Kendrick Perkins would need to step up his game to limit Bogut. So far this year he hasn’t done that.
As for good news… well there’s defenitly a lack of that. Because I’m trying to get myself in a better mood I will point you in a direction for some stress relief after this dissapointing loss. Check out this video of Rondo throwing in a monstrous put back.
As expected, Michael Finley made his debut for the Celtics tonight and actually didn’t look too bad. In seven minutes of playing time Finley dropped in five points on 2-3 shooting, including 1-1 from behind the arc. I guess that’s not bad for a guy whose role we really didn’t know before the game. If I was a betting man I would bet that the minutes he played tonight will be a good indicator of how he will be used the remainder of the season.
In other news, the guy they like to call “Young Buck” was involved in a few altercations with Celtics players tonight. In the fourth quarter Brandon Jennings was involved in a scrap with Glen Davis following a foul on a breakaway lay-up. Jennings looked over Davis acting tough before teammates came in to break up the scuffle. Following the game you could notice Jennings also running his lips to Kevin Garnett while both teams were entering the locker room.
With this loss the Celtics snap their four game winning streak and look to get back on the right track tomorrow night at home against Memphis. Memphis is another one of “those teams” that can give the Celtics problems because they like to run and gun. If the Celtics want to avoid a two game losing streak they will have to play 48 minutes of “Celtics Basketball”.