Jeff from CelticsBlog asked me to take part in a Q&A to prepare for tonight’s game:
I’m taking a little different take on this Q&A format with Matt Watson from Detroit Bad Boys because he’s been following a contending team for years now and he knows the ropes. I think I remember how to root for a winner, but sometimes I need a reminder or pointer here or there, like perhaps playing that rookie at the end of the bench isn’t the most important thing in the world.
He asked me five questions, including these two:
3. Bottom line: Are minutes really THAT important?
On a team like the Pistons, I think so. Consider this: since 2003, the Pistons have played 99 postseason games. That’s the equivalent of an extra regular season and then some. Eventually it catches up with a player, often in the form of a player not being able to reach that extra gear deep in the playoffs. Given Detroit’s depth this year, there’s just no reason for any one guy to average 37, 38, 39 minutes a night.
But on a team like the Celtics in which Ray Allen and Paul Pierce haven’t touched the playoffs in two years and Kevin Garnett in three, I doubt it’s a huge deal. Besides, who would play instead? Depth is clearly not Boston’s strength this year.
4. What keeps a team motivated and successful for 82 games plus the playoffs?
I really think teams take pride in winning streaks and staying on top of their game for long stretches. Like this run that Boston is on right now: if they didn’t have the best record in the league right now, would they really get up for a game against Milwaukee or really want to put a hurting on the Raptors? I doubt it. But when the only two blemishes on the season are a two-point loss and an overtime loss, it’s easier to stay in that top gear and try to blow out everybody. Detroit got into a similar groove a couple of years ago when they started the season 37-5 and finished with 64 wins. Once you get going, it’s contagious.
I’m kind of getting roasted in the comments over there for that crack about Boston’s depth (which, in hindsight, might be a bit undeserved), but all in all I’d say that Boston has some of the smartest fans around. I’m also a fan of CelticsBlog in general, though the name has become a misnomer because it’s so much more than just a blog these days. It’s more like a must-visit portal for any and all things Celtics. In any case, be sure to check it out.
Given Detroit’s depth this year, there’s just no reason for any one guy to average 37, 38, 39 points a night.
No, I disagree–lets have them all average that many points a night!
Wow, that was totally supposed to be minutes … (I just fixed it)
I’m boggled as to how the comment in unfair…. let’s review shall we?
Boston is starting a fat kid with a lazy eye at the 5
Boston is starting a second year PG
Someone or something named James Posey and Eddie House play REGULARLY for them.
Something named Glen Big Baby Davis is their highest upside player…
wtf this team is deep? As if.
Dear Boston, welcome to being last year’s Mavericks and the year before’s Pistons (also any year’s Phoenix Suns). Enjoy throwing up 60 in the regular season but you aren’t beating us 4 times in 7 even if we play ALL F*CKING SEVEN games in Boston. Don’t forget I said this when it happens.
Jeezus some people have trouble with reality. I mean smack talk is one thing but EDDIE HOUSE PLAYS ACTUAL MINS ON YOUR TEAM, THAT MEANS BY DEFINITION YOU AREN’T DEEP.
PG4L, thank you. Couldn’t and wouldn’t have said it better myself.
James Posey is an excellent Offensive Tackle. How he ended up on a basketball team is beyond me.
Welcome back PG4L! Where have you been! Keep it coming!
great post PistonsGirl4Life
I like how one commenter on that site said hes from detroit so he knows the holes and then pretty well said a bunch of false information. Saying Prince and Hayes are our best defenders? Prince yes. Hayes noooooooooooooo. Hayes is the worst defender that gets minutes for the Pistons.
He also said the Pistons aren’t very good defensively. Our defensive numbers are almost as good as your celtics buddy.
I can see it now: Doc reads Celticblog, sees that one half-drunk commenter claims to be from Detroit and “knows the holes in the Pistons,” and tonight that same blog participant prowls the sideline in a cheap suit as a new assistant coach. Celtic pride!
We will beast you from the start of the game till the end, making sure to polish our nuts on Rasheed’s head.
Wallace is chump, who can barely jump, and doesn’t have the balls to play inside.
But the man with huge gums, just might have one when he says it ain’t how you start.
Cause he oughta know. He was there at the show, when the Cavs whupped Detroit’s ass four games in a row.
Lebron scored 30 straight and where was you bro? Pointing fingers at teammates and spreading the hate.
Hey Sheed a real man would have fouled his ass.
But tonight you will see what this man does not, that talk is cheap, but beasting is not.
We gonna rain it down on you from the rafters and overpower you inside. Tonight is the night when old grudges rise.
We gonna do this for Larry, who took so many cheap shots, from punk asses like Lambeer, Rodman, and Mahorn.
We gonna do this like Parish when he knocked that cheap shot bastard out.
So talk all you want you stupid ass Sheed because tonight we gonna smoke you like some dirty ass mexican weed.
Well that was interesting. Welcome to DBB, Crack Staff. I especially like the “nuts on Rasheed’s head” part. Brilliant wordsmithing.
Those will be some big words to eat when the 4th quarter ends tonight, my rapping friend.
Wow. Rhyming Leprechauns on the web site? It’s good to see the “fans” come out of the woodwork when their team starts to win. The last year we didn’t make the conference finals was the last time they did. What’s next? Bruins fans? Wait till your team wins, lucky, before you start waxing about the glory years.
I am not happy this is a f’ing 4!!!!!pm tip on the west coast. Thank God for DVR and stuff. Will be watching w/ a good friend who is a C’s homer, can’t wait to take his money and shut him up. He’s been yapping ever since draft night end the Ray Allen pick up, 20-2 isn’t helping matters either.
Q
Who goes on an opposing team’s fan site and *raps?* Huh?
The Crack Staff - thats who!
Bummer Q-dog–it is the one perk of being unemployed right now..
enjoy the game amigo! Though I’d rather have a job.
GO STONES!
I may or may not’ve taken a sick day in part to be able to watch the game live (in part because I do feel kinda sick today though I still could’ve went in). God Bless America and the Detroit Pistons and the Perk supporter invasion who’ve motivated me to try out a new line on them after the game:
“Man, with all that hurtin’ the Pistons were puttin’ on the Celtics tonight, it’s too bad you only had “Perk” and not percocet”.
Wow,
So there are no Ali fans here…
At least DBB has fan support.
Sheeds’ probably getting a tech tonight if not 2 and gets booted. I know he’s going to be worked up, especially if we’re losing.
Matt,
You should’ve punched him in the mouth. That YouTube piece has be enraged!!!! I demand violence. Death to Rajon Rondoooooooo!!!!
(executes a Leprechaun out of spite)
Oh, what have I done? This is not like me… Oh, man… Okay, stay cool, stay cool… Sheets are in the pantry…
Hopefully we don’t forget about the paint. We can dig ourselves in a hole pretty easy if we keep lopping up missed jumpshots.
I do not want to see Jarvis Hayes touch the ball again the rest of this game.
wow, this is gonna be a nerve wracking night. we can still take this. we need to get some post position, and not just chauncey and rip “posting up” out on the wings.
Crack Staff, naw dog I totally got it, thanks that was funny stuff (though even I’m not old enough to have ACTUALLY heard Ali stuff, just people repeating it and the old vids
All in the spirit man.
dangggggggg….looks like i picked the wrong game to “miss”…whaaddddaaaa game!!!