5/1/11
Game 1: Behind the Eight Ball
It seemed as if Doc River’s frustration went unheralded in Sunday night’s nine-point defeat to the Miami Heat. Rivers knows the pulse of his team very well and is always on point with what they need to do to improve. Throughout TNT broadcast of the debacle of a loss that was Game1; Rivers was heard in the “WIRED” audio clips urging his team to not play into the hands of the Heat: “...if you think you're going to beat them in an athletic contest, you're kidding yourselves”.
Other similar audio clips of River’s barking messages of urgency at his team seemed to have no effect on their play. As the Boston Celtics continued to play right into the hands of the Heat, and the game slipped away. Miami is a younger and more athletic team that wants to get out and run. Dwayne Wade and LeBron James are the best transition offensive players in the NBA and will eat you alive if you turn the ball over. This is what Doc urged his team not to do, but the turnovers piled up and the loss ensued.
When you turn the ball over LBJ and D-Wade fly down the court for alley-opp dunks, or they can be seen driving the lane for a basket and a foul. The Celtics kept turning the ball over and they kept trying to play an up-tempo game against The up-tempo team. It was sad to see the more experienced veteran team be pushed around so much. You cannot get behind this Heat team, play their game, and lose your composure and expect to win.
When you are behind against the Heat you try harder to score quickly and that is just a formula for disaster. The Celtics (as Doc stated post game)were not patient in their offense at all, despite out scoring the Heat in the second half. You cannot get behind the eight ball against this team because as you saw the Celtics would make a run, make the game close,and then all of the sudden be down by ten. It was so sad to see the Celtics let the Heat dictate the game and do all of the things they weren’t able to do in the regular season. Now it is up to the Will of the Big Four, the coaching of Doc Rivers, and some timely plays from the bench to retake this series.
Every time you hear Doc preach in game during time outs he impressively aware of game situations and precisely what his players need to do to win. Rivers is very much like Phil Jackson; knowing how to motivate his team very well and how to succeed in the postseason. Although not nearly as decorated as Jackson (with championships) Doc has become an excellent playoff coach taking his team to the finals two out of the last three years. He will be able to correct the issues we all saw in Game 1 and have his players ready for a must win Game 2. Make no mistake that if the Celtics get behind the eight ball again and play the Heat’s game; they will lose.
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