HoopsHype.com Columns

Road woes confounding the experts
by Marc Narducci / May 13, 2008

One of the surprising developments of the postseason has been the Boston Celtics’ inability to win on the road.

While winning away from home is never easy in the postseason, Boston appeared to have the veteran team that could withstand the rigors of playing on the road.

The Celtics were the NBA’s best road team in the regular season with a 31-10 mark. That is why Boston’s collapse away from TD Banknorth Garden has been one of the postseason’s most startling developments.

And one has to wonder if it is now getting into the psyche of the Celtics, who certainly haven’t played with the swagger they displayed during a 66-16 regular season. Those who have been following the NBA playoffs know that Boston has gone 0-5 in its first five road playoff games.

In the first round, Boston was taken to the limit by an Atlanta team that won 29 fewer games in the regular season.

Atlanta won all three home playoff games, but at least Boston was able to hold serve and win the series in seven games, about three more than many expected.

When Boston won its first two in the current series with Cleveland, the feeling was that the Celtics were ready to prove that they were over their road woes.

It’s quite possible some suggested, that the Celtics just took the Hawks too lightly in the first round.

There is no way that would happen while playing against LeBron James and Cleveland. And Boston hasn’t taken the Cavs lightly. The Celtics have just shown an inability to take control on enemy turf.

It seems like such a simple explanation, but until Boston wins one on the road, then achieving this feat will continue to be a burden that the Celtics will be reminded about 1,000 times a day.

What’s worse is that Boston hasn’t even been a world-beater at home against the Cavs. Had James not shot 2 for 18 and committed 10 turnovers in the Celtics’ opening 76-72 win, then Cleveland would have surely stolen Game 1 in Boston.

The Celtics seem to have settled into playing a half-court game on the road and that’s fine when Ray Allen and Paul Pierce are hitting from the perimeter.

In the two games in Cleveland, Pierce has shot 9 for 25, while Allen has been 8 for 22. Now at least Pierce has somewhat of an excuse because he been the primary defender on James, which is arguably the most physically taxing job in the NBA.

The Celtics have settled too much for jump shots instead of getting out in transition. Now in the playoffs, it’s much more difficult to run the fast break because opponents are intent on slowing down the tempo. Still, Boston appears too passive offensively. And if shots are not going in from the outside, then the Celtics have to keep feeding Kevin Garnett.

The only criticism leveled against Garnett is that he is too unselfish, never totally imposing his will on opponents. Garnett attempted 13 shots in both losses at Cleveland. In Game 1, with Pierce and Allen shooting a combined 2 for 18, Garnett bailed Boston out with a 13 for 22 effort that netted 28 points. Yet by Game 2, he was back to taking just 13 shots. Garnett should be applauded for his discipline, but he also wouldn’t be reprimanded if he forced a shot or two, just to make the defense work harder.

And another area that the Celtics have to improve on is bench scoring. It’s no coincidence that each winning team in the first four games of Boston’s series with Cleveland, had the edge in bench scoring.

In game 1 Boston outscored Cleveland’s reserves, 22-17 and in Game 2 it was a 34-17 advantage.

Cleveland then outscored the Celtics, 29-24 in Game 3 and 36-17 during the Cavs’ 88-77 win in Game 4.

Reserves are often energy players who thrive on the support by the home crowd. In Boston’s case, the reserves have shown little energy on the road.

Nobody is a greater example than Sam Cassell. An excellent late-season pickup, Cassell has exemplified the Celtics’ struggles on the road.

In the first two games against Cleveland, he scored 22 points and shot a combined 8 for 20 (40 percent).

While Cassell wasn’t exactly a marksman in these first two games, he went into a downright funk during the two contests in Cleveland. Cassell totaled just five points in those two road losses, shooting a combined 0 for 11. After Game 4, Celtics coach Doc Rivers didn’t complain about Cassell’s offense, but his defense.

The point is, that his entire game has collapsed on the road in Cleveland and now Cassell and the rest of the Celtics have to hope they once again get a lift from the home crowd, where Boston won its first six postseason games.

Still, it is dangerous for the Celtics to keep depending on winning in their backyard, despite having the homecourt advantage. That’s because James has the ability to single-handily destroy teams at any venue.

Despite a 21-point (7 for 20 shooting) and 13-assist effort in Game 4, James hasn’t broken out yet, at least by his standards. That means that he may be due soon for one of his superhuman efforts.

And that could happen in Boston as well as Cleveland.

Marc Narducci covers the NBA for the Philadelphia Inquirer and is a regular contributor to HoopsHype.com

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