Sunday Notebook: C’s still not satisfied, Doc on the Lakers
Posted by Brian Robb on Dec 6, 2009
A Good Sunday morning to everyone. The C’s are in the midst of a three day layoff before facing the Bucks in Tuesday night at The Garden. A quick look around the web this morning for a look at the streaking C’s.
We will start in The Boston Herald with Murphy’s Notebook who has the Celtics still not being totally content with their play despite their recent winning ways.
First on the team’s play at home compared to the road:
“I think we’re where we want to be, especially on the road,” said Rajon Rondo [stats]. “The key at home is getting off to good starts. We’ve done a great job on the road, but now we have a home game Tuesday and we have to carry it over, keep going, and keep getting better.”
Doc likes how the team is still being critical of itself in it’s close wins:
“We’re (9-1 on the road) and it’s great,” said the Celtics coach. “But I read the comments from some of our guys in San Antonio, and what I liked is that a lot of them weren’t happy with how we played.
“Those are good signs for your team,” said Rivers. “We’re winning games and we’re very happy with the record, but we’re not a finished product either.”
Marquis Daniels on the team’s rebounding concerns which loomed so large in the San Antonio win:
“Obviously our rebounding has to get better,” said Marquis Daniels. “We have to continue to get better on the road and protect our homecourt. It’s execution. There’s a lot of things we can get better at.”
This self reflection is very encouraging to see for me anyway. Despite the winning streak, the Celtics have had their bumps along the way and could have very easily given away that Spurs game, had it not been for some sloppy play and terrible shooting down the stretch by San Antonio. The team knows this, and isn’t getting too high on themselves because of it. I like it.
In Steve Bulpett’s NBA NotebookDoc give us a few telling quotes about the Defending Champions Lakers and the target they have on their back:
“The Lakers are the true hunted now, like we were last year,” Rivers said, pointing to the defending champion designation. “But last year, going into the year, everybody knew they had to beat the Lakers, too. So we’re still a team that others are going to be looking at. And I think there are more teams in that situation, too.”
Some interesting words on the differences between the C’s title defense last year, and The Lakers now, after the jump
Doc elaborated on these differences, when being asked who was the best team in the league right now:
“The Lakers are,” Rivers said. “They’re the defending champions, and somebody has to take that from them. And it’s not like they took away from their team. They’ve added to their team.
“You can make the case with us last year that we didn’t do that at all. People predicted other teams to win because they looked at our team and said, ‘They actually did take away from their team.’ We lost (James) Posey and P.J. (Brown). But this year the Lakers have gotten better, so they are the clear-cut favorite, in my opinion. I think the GMs have that part right.”
Fair points by Doc, there. The C’s tried to cut corners with their depth last year to maintain some long term payroll flexibility. The Lakers just simply reloaded.
Finally a look at the team’s recent improved play by Gary Washburn in The Globe:
“We’re playing better, I said that before we left on the trip,’’ Rivers said. “You can see it coming — we’re playing better. Would we want the playoffs to start today? No. We have to be better. But we’re happy where we’re at, for sure.
“I think our mind-set is back, for sure. Last year’s team – I said it all year, no one wanted to hear it – as good as our record was, I never thought we were that good. I never thought we had the right mind-set the entire year last year.
“We had too many things going on. Two years ago we had a one-agenda team and that was to win a title. I think this team has the same thought process. There’s no other stuff going on. This team is focused on winning. That doesn’t mean we’re playing well yet. But we are focused on one thing and that gives you a chance to be a good team.’’
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