Celtics Title Town

Here are some comments from Doc this morning after the double overtime win over Dallas.

On managing minutes with overtime games: "It does put us in a bind, especially a double-overtime game where we had done so well with Kevin's minutes in that game last night. He was going to play right at 30 or 29 minutes and he ends up playing 40 minutes. You know, listen, it happens. It can't happen every game, because we can't do that for Kevin every game. So, it was just one of those nights."

The Celtics were coming off of three days off, and they only practiced one day during that span. With minutes being so guarded, and protected with the aging Celtics. Going to overtime is a catch 22. You want the win, but your also playing KG 40 plus minutes, and Rondo over 50 minutes. A career high to be exact for Rondo with 53 minutes Wednesday. It's their fault for not taking care of business. The Celtics have played in 4 overtime games this season. They've won 3 of 4, and in that process the Celtics have given up chances of rest for their core. Another lesson the Celtics must deal with.

On Rondo's final shot in regulation: "The problem was the time on the clock again. You know the rule is, if you take a dribble or make a pass, then where you call a timeout is where you have to take the ball out. And what we were instructed to do is on the rebound call a timeout. Then we could have advanced the ball to the free throw line in front of our basket. By doing what we did, Rondo had six seconds to go coast-to-coast and try to score a game-winning basket. You're probably not going to get a good shot."

What the hell, why are we picking Rondo apart? Paul took countless jumpers that should have been passes, instead we get crap jumpers. Rondo didn't make the mistake, KG advanced the ball instead of calling timeout. Rondo had to get the best shot possible full court with under 6 seconds to go. Thank you Doc for sticking up for Rondo. The radio hosts could care less to raise questions about Pierce taking poor shots. Love you Pierce, but bad hero ball Wednesday.

On Rajon Rondo saving energy on the defensive end: “The two things I think hurt Rondo last night were, No. 1, I didn't give him his normal break that we've done all year. We've done it a couple times where we've kept him and I made a risky decision that was an awful decision to leave him in in the second half and not give him his break. So down the stretch I thought he was tired. And in the overtimes he still hadn't come out. I thought that affected his play. I thought it affected us on the offensive end as much as the defensive end. We stopped running, we started walking the ball up the floor, we started going deep into the clock, and I thought that hurt us. And then the foul trouble. When he got five fouls. He played too safe and that allowed O.J. Mayo to get going."

I agree, after the 5th foul Rondo was allowing Mayo everything. Thankfully, Mayo missed easy attempts as well. Rest, and the fouls hurt Rondo last night, but he still had key stops last night when the Celtics needed it most.