The runs

["hironaka@xxxxxxxxx"<hironaka@xxxxxxxxx>]

In the Pistons debacle that Magic and Charles are 
laughing at us about, we don't really need to be reminded 
about the spate of scoring droughts (an 0-12 run in the 
1Q, 0-11 run in the 2Q, capped by the 2-34 nightmare in 
10 minutes of the 2nd of half). Boston has more or less 
put that blowout behind them.

But what's problematic is that this is not a one-game 
aberration. I'm sure everyone else out there has noticed 
too.

Offensive scoring droughts have played a big part in some 
otherwise winnable games. Here are the lowlights from the 
other three losses in the current streak:

@Detroit (L 83-86)

-Boston gave up a 16-3 run in 4:43 (early 2Q) to face a 
28-40 deficit.
-Boston hand Detroit yet another safe lead by allowing a 
13-4 run in 4.36 (3Q) to make it 47-57.

(comment: In a close game, you can't get outscored 29-7 
over a 9 minute stretch!)

Detroit L66-118
-Over 16+ minutes combined, Boston was held to all of 2 
points of offense while giving up 57 points.

Indiana 100-109
-The Celtics 20-12 lead with 5:21 left in the 1Q turned 
into a 25-35 deficit. That's a 23-5 run.

-Boston followed that up by going five minutes with only 
4 points (a 4-14 run) in the 3Q.

(Again this was a winnable game where Boston let a bad 
stretch (5-23) cost us. The Celtics can't let that 
happen.)

@ NO 96-103

-Boston's offense generated all of 1 point in 8 minutes, 
over a 1-18 New Orleans run. We turned a six point lead 
into a 12 point deficit (33-21). That's the second 
straight time we let our guard down in the 1Q after a 
good start on offense.

-The Celtics scored 2 points in a 5:40 stretch of the 3rd 
and 4th quarters to fall behind 70-80 via a Hornets 11-2 
run. 

Typically, veteran teams can stop the bleeding by running 
a solid go to play or tightening up their 
focus/execution.  It is a unfathomable that Boston can go 
10 to 15 straight possessions game after game without 
running a play that has at least a 50% chance of leading 
to a basket or foul.

I don't want to over-dramatize this, because NBA games 
are chock-filled with 11-2 type runs on both sides. 
Boston had a few good runs too.

The good news is that Boston's defense woke up for long 
stretches of the second half versus the Hairnets.

This actually resembled REAL Celtics team defense, even 
if the results were mixed (which is what happens during a 
slump). Four quarters of that stuff is more than enough 
to win most games. For awhile I was starting to worry 
that opposing teams had figured out the holes in our 
defense.

Also, you have the injury setbacks. Tony Battie would 
have surely had a monster game if he had any oomph in his 
leg. A lot of slam dunk putbacks and rebounds turned into 
an adventure, because of his lack of explosion. Part of 
the reason Boston's defense is at around 80% of playoff 
intensity is because of the injuries. A lot of our key 
guys are at 75-80%. Delk has been struggling on defense, 
producing few steals or stops.

I credit JR Bremer (20 ppg this month) for bouncing back 
from the "flash in the pan" label after he had seemingly 
found his level a week ago. 

What's nice is how JR looks to score and demonstrates 
poise when things look worst. The Celtics need guys to 
stop the bleeding during momentum runs, like Antoine 
often did during the Nets series last Spring. 

With more maturity, Bremer could become a nice bench 
combo guard in the Microwave mold. I'm not sure he's a 
starting PG, because of the playmaking issues. He's too 
slow at times getting the half-court offense started.

It has to be said that Boston's three amigo PGs have 
gotten only 13 assists and 7 steals (10 TOs) in the past 
four games combined, despite combining for 227 minutes 
(57 mpg). Those numbers need to become more robust as 
Tony Delk's health improves. 

Tonight will be yet another interesting matchup for our 
PGs. 

We can't go into the second half (and Far West trip) on a 
5-game losing streak. Four quarters of REAL Celtics 
defense would make life so much easier. 

Everyone who is a Celtics fan knows what is at stake 
here. At times like this, what can we do but cheer and 
hope for the best?

Joe Hironaka



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