Road Killed!

So now the team with the best road record in the NBA this year; the team that swept the Texas triangle (San Antonio, Dallas, Houston); the team that broke the Rockets 22 game winning streak on the road; has lost 5 games in a row on the road in the playoffs. So what gives?!

Some say that since he's not on the floor, how can you blame the coach? It's got to be the players' fault. Then if that’s the case and the Celts don’t advance, maybe GM Danny Ainge just go out and change the team again? Better yet, he should just go out and get 3 new All-stars for Doc to coach next year?

The talent is definitely there but it's obvious that the players are either just too tired and/or too tight and as a result, they are playing like crap. It probably has nothing to do with Paul Pierce having to defend LeBron all game or Ray Allen having to chase Joe Johnson and Wally Szerbiak through screens while their best defender, Tony Allen, is buried on the bench with 6 fouls to give. It has nothing to do with the coach breaking up a second unit that would beat the starters in practice and lift the team in games during the year. It probably has nothing to do with the coaches' offensive scheme and play selection. It has nothing to do with a completely different substitution pattern in the playoffs.

Personally, I thought Doc Rivers rested the Pierce, Ray, and KG the final 2 weeks of the season so they would be refreshed for the playoffs and so he could determine his rotation going into the postseason. In those 2 weeks it was evident that Sam Cassell couldn't learn any plays, James Posey and Eddie House still provided the best energy and offense when playing together off the bench, and Tony Allen finally got the message and was driving the lane again.
Then the playoffs start and Doc has Cassell playing all of the minutes usually set aside for TA and House and except for Posey, there is no help from the bench to guard the likes of Joe Johnson and Lebron James. As a result, Pierce and Ray appear exhausted, lost their legs, can't shoot well, and now the offense and spacing are in shambles.

Doc is obviously feeling the pressure of finally getting to drive a Porche in the playoffs and somehow this tension is being transferred to the players. But it has nothing to do with the coaching...it's just all 12 Celtic players that are at fault.