Problem is that they're relying on the 2nd unit to shoulder a big burden (Krstic, Davis, and Green are all rightfully 2nd unit players), but at the same time, they're not getting nearly enough rest for the Big 3 with the playoffs coming up! I can't say I fully get it with what Doc is running right now.

Hopefully the reemergence of Shaq (next week, maybe?) will re-energize the team a little bit. They just look tired, run down, and awful right now.

If they can pull off victories vs. Chicago and Miami in the home stretch, that will give us some playoff momentum, but it will be a long road if Boston falls to the 3rd seed, which is incredibly possible right now. They are the most experienced team and more likely to win on the road than the other elite teams, but it's still a tough journey, and losing a lot of these games will make it very likely that they will not have home court in the Finals, either.

It's a tough road, but if any team can do it, it's Boston. No other team (other than maybe LA *shudder*) could get this kind of benefit of the doubt. Even having to face the Heat in Miami, I have to consider Boston the favorites, especially if they have Shaq even on limited minutes.

All I can say is:

Sigh.

The bigger problem is 2 guys we counted on (Shaq and JON) have been no shows for half+ of the season. I understand saving the big guys for the playoffs, but #cmonson... This has cost us the #1 seed!

Also, it doesn't help they keep playing Green as a PF. What gives?

Pregame show tonight said he is supposed to be back April 1st, but who knows at this point.

I SHUDDER at the notion of going @MIA, @CHI, and then @LAL or @SAS. Because if we're the 3 seed, that's the reality.

Good news is we have a game in the loss column AND the tiebreak vs Miami, but we really ****ed everything for ourselves.

I don't think we're the favorites, but it's coin-flipping. Basically, as a 3 seed, we probably have to win 3 coinflips in a row. As a 1 seed, we increase our championship expectation bigtime

what the **** is going with this team...i mean i know what the **** is wrong, but wow. watching these terrible losses is so painful

They don't have a reliable back-up 5 atm, so they're running Davis there, which puts Green at the 4 (unless they play Murphy, who has been total poo). I agree he really should not be here. The 3 is where he belongs. Buy Pierce those key extra 8-12 minutes, get a few baskets, and move on. Frankly, I'd rather have him as a back-up 2 for Allen (swinging to help Pierce and Allen rest) than a 4.

Yeah, probably. I think we're better than coinflips, but having the 2 seed instead of the 3 is pretty big. I've basically given up on the 1 unless there are some freak happenings over the next two weeks. If we're to have any chance, Chicago and Miami are must-wins.

I will say, though, with the back-ups we have, I think the Celtics look more like their 2008 incarnation than their team last year. And I think that's a good thing.

This is another pathetic effort. 32 in the first quarter and then 30 in the last ****ing 24 minutes against the worst defensive team in the league. J O K E of a team.

Wish I could argue otherwise, but they look absolutely terrible. And it couldn't come at a worse time, with Miami, Chicago, and LA all firing up. I don't think the "well, they don't have Shaq yet" line I'm fond of using is going to cover up for the gaping holes in their offense as of late. Just awful.

Hope we're not staring down the end of the season, because this year is probably their last chance to win a title (with the Big 3).

Anyone but Kobe plz...

i kind of see where you are going with this but i'd rather have cassell than arroyo and pj brown than murphy. plus we dont have anyone that can really stretch the floor like posey and house did.

11 point lead vs the Pacers instantly evaporates as they go on a 14-2 run. There's no reason our offense should be this bad.

Pretty sure Krstic must have banged some ref's wife or something. The chairman gets the **** end of the stick on every call.

It's just pathetic how this team can't score against horrific defensive teams for extended periods of time. It's like last year all over again. Epic 4th quarter chokes one right after another.

that L was painful. they really really needed that one, especially with Chi losing. ugh....

8-7 in easily the easiest month of the year.

Really this team is so schizophrenic. At our best we're the best in the league. At the other end of the spectrum... Barely a playoff team.

The only solace I can offer myself and you all, is to remember how we looked last year leading into the playoffs. I know doc himself has said this is different, it he was he who threw in the towel on the regular season last year. But I got to believe that the big four are worn down, mostly mentally and once the playoffs start they will turn the switch.

The thing though is the big 3 (Rondo def not on their level) are all playing incredibly well. KG looks healthy, Ray is spry, and Pierce has been an MVP candidate. (IMO) They aren't going to be or play any better. They've been fantastic. It's everyone else who needs to play better, and I'm not convinced they will.

Shaq is key since he stabilized our big rotation and gives us a legit positive center for about half the game. Means fewer minutes for Krstic and Baby. If Green doesn't have to play any 4, means he can back up Pierce and a little Ray. And that leaves Delonte to be the 1/2. That's a fine 9 man rotation - but it all hinges on Shaq and Rondo being 100%, obviously.

Finally we looked like a championship team again tonight.

I think we are like 37-5 when Rondo hits 10+ assists.

lol celtics. play like ass for 3 weeks and then beat the spurs in SA.

Rondo def more aggressive looking for his own offensive. Really went after Parker.

looks like Krstic is out. any word on the seriousness?

well, we're back to sucking. hate to do this, (no, I actually love it) but our big 3 played fantastic, and everyone else sucked. as per usual.

rondo: 6-15, 0-2, 1-4, 1 TO. 13 pts on 18 poss. yesterday inspired him to shoot jumpers, i suppose - he needs to realize he's only going to run like that one game in 6 or so. ugh, rondo is such trash

glen davis: 4-11, 1-2, 0-2, 5 reb in 35 mins. 9 pts on 12 poss, remind me again why people like him?

jeff green: 23 mins, 2-5, 0-1, 0 reb, -14. his 4/0/1 line im sure is what we all want from the 6th man!!

jermaine o'neal: 16 mins. 0-1, 1-2, 2 TOs, 1 reb, no stl, 1 blk. -8, 1 pt on 4 poss. jesus, you suck.

wow another brutal 4th. 2nd game of back to back blah blah that was horrible. i dont know wtf theyre doing. no def rebounding and they go away from big 3 and the offense is davis taking some awful shots. this **** shouldnt happen with this team.

14 Rondo assists = win.
5-6 Rondo assists = loss.

It shouldn't be that simple, but record seems to indicate otherwise. God Ray is disappointing lately. And Davis was bad tonight, but again an indication of too much time at the 5 as basically the sole big on the floor. Not a winning formula.

anatta dont really give a crap about record, home court or whatever. winning 18 is all that matters. u guys should already know our only shot is if rondo plays like he can, the big 3 is strong, and shaq can duplicate his early season form.

1. rondo. its pretty obvious his play has improved dramatically as his pinkie is healing. he is logging 40+ and will give us that in playoffs and will have a lot of those spurs like efforts and less like the back to back effort tonight (still 10 bounds in 32 mins - thats more proof of looking like old rondo) very likely he will be healthy, fired up, and ready to go come playoffs.

2. kg resting got 26 mins. he still looks fine to me. pp is pretty much at top of his game. and ray allen, look he had a dunk tonight where he really got up. he isnt shooting a lot, but the fact that he has such strong legs right now - think he's still got it. he is playing close to 40 a night right now. think the big 3 can all give 40 and doc should really do this come playoffs.

3. shaq. who knows. some chance its all a big tank and he is pretty much fine and they know it but are just waiting until right about now for him to play. think he will give it his strongest best effort and a lot of enthusiasm if he can go. the shaq factor is the only big if. but we need all the 3 above and if shaq cant really go, we are going nowhere. (note shaq also ties into rondo, if shaq can go rondo will play better if u dont see this then w/e)

as far as the bench, dont believe the fake c's fan attention whore haters here are all on jeff green who gives a f about a reserve. the playoff keys are obvious and outlined above. the east is very winnable, shaq and kg pp ray and rondo step out together that team owns the bulls. the heat f them c's will bury those cockroaches. the lakers are playing well but they are so f'in gay.

And Shaq is already hurt...but Krstic is back. Lame.

This team is so schizo. They looked outstanding for the little I saw of them tonight.

man they are coming on. still think shaq will be okay. seem to be the only one, but see no reason why he can play the whole preseason and 30 games and a few months later just be done. think he could have played on his heel if he needed to but they kept him out. his five mins of play he was moving fine on it. a mild calf strain can happen to anyone. maybe just delusional homer it really didnt look minor and they could be bs-ing but dont think so hope not lol.

the c's really are as ainge called kg and rondo "spiritual players" and think they need size and a tough identity. if shaq plus JON can get 40min we gonna get it done.

I believe Shaq will be there for the playoffs. Maybe not as much as we'd like, but he will be there. Whether it will be enough, I can't say. JON and Krstic will have to step up more than anticipated, and I wish more than ever that we had Perk. But having Shaq for premium minutes will only be absolutely essential if the C's meet the Lakers in the Finals. Otherwise, they aren't in that much trouble. Miami is not a size issue, the Bulls will be tough (we won't get many second chances on baskets), but only LA has a dominating size advantage that makes them extremely hard to beat. But it can be done.