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Rajon Rondo: ‘We’re not taking away anything’ on defense 11.21.12 at 11:34 pm ET
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Rajon Rondo can see what everyone else sees, including his head coach. The Celtics are not doing a good job defending in half-court. That has been a trademark of the Celtics success of the last five years.

But again on Wednesday night, it failed them as the Spurs not only won the game, 112-100, but they outscored the Celtics, 58-34, in the paint, thanks in large part to San Antonio’s passing and Boston’s inability to stop it.

“I don’t know,” Rondo said. “Can’t pinpoint one thing. Their players got into the paint. They did a good job of having their bigs passing [the ball]. They did a good job of everything. We didn’t take away anything we wanted to tonight.

“We’re making the same mistakes in our defense, night in and night out so I think we just have to do a better job of focusing in shootaround in the mornings when we’re given the assignments because each team varies. We’re making a lot of easy mistakes that allow teams to get to 112 points.”

It wasn’t quite “Dead men walking” as Doc Rivers put it after the loss by 20 in Detroit on Sunday night. But still, it’s alarming to these Celtics that they can’t defend for some reason in half-court.

“Basketball, you’re going to make mistakes in this game,” Rondo added. “The other team gets paid as well and they’re going to make you make mistakes but we pride ourselves on defense and we’re just not getting it done.

“We’re not taking away anything. We gave up the corner three tonight. We gave up the paint, touches and paint finishes. We gave up too many ‘And-1s’ again. I think we probably lead the league in ‘And-1s.’ So, we have to do a better job, not to hurt anyone but not let guys finish at the rim. We’re not finishing at all. It’s a collective team effort. It starts with me. I have to do a better job on pick-and-roll coverage and get back and help my bigs rebound.”

Talk about going from the frying pan into the fire, the Celtics welcome Kevin Durant and the Thunder Friday night to TD Garden. The 10:30 shootaround should be much more intense than normal.

“We have to try and bounce back and the best thing about the league is you don’t have to wait a week to play another game,” Rondo said. “So, after Thanksgiving we’ll try to get back and get focused for Oklahoma City.”

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  • Hoppykins83

    Mr. Theo went out of town preaching about building up the Cubs farm system and making it an organization that produces solid prospects every year to contribute in the big leagues. Cubs fans… look at our farm system, in September Theo brought up his best prospect… Wyland

    • Demarco606

      telling people for years,no clue about pitching talent.theo most overrated executive in sports just ahead of his cousin brian cashman.The cubs owner has the same religion as Theo,i’m shocked he got the job.

      • Robert5286

        While agreeing that Cashman is a good  GM, be advised that he has allowed the following players to slip through to other teams. Jon Axford, Tyler Clippard,Aceves, Meloncan, Melky Cabrera,and Ian Kennedy, with only Granderson to show for it.

    • Relax

      Where have you been Hoppy?  Do you even pay attention to the Sox minor leagues or are you just one of the haters who likes to bash anyone they can?  If you want to see how Theo built the farm system take a good look at the current Red Sox team.  The Sox have developed more home grown talent than other high market team that usually drafts in the lower end of the rounds. 

      And just because Wyland was the guy who got the call doesn’t make him the best prospect.  If you really think that then you just don’t have a clue.  I am not saying they are stacked with pitching in the minors, but they just traded Kelly and most of the better propects were at high A or AA.  Theo did a much better job than Duquette ever did. 

      • Demarco606

        Do you realize Sox, went over slot every year Theo was the GM a huge advantage.Other big market teams didn’t or not nearly as much as the Sox.

        • Robert5286

          Right. Failed to mention Hanley,Lester, Anibel Sanchez, Freddy Sanchez, David Eckstein, Shea Hillebrand,and Justin Duschrocher. All of these players were given away by Theo,except Lester. Duke aquired Tek and Lowe. He did make plenty of mistakes in letting Eckstein and Duschrocher  go, but did not have the funds availble that Theo did. He did quite well with what he inherited,which was a mess.

      • Sparrowhawk75

        OH MY GOD!!! He said the. “D” word!!! If you say it twice more in front of a mirror, HE will appear — he’ll rearrange your furniture, eat your puppy, drain your farm system, throw a dead fish in your baseboard heating, etcetera

      • Robert5286

        Ah,just developing prospects doesn’t make Theo a smart GM. Developing good players has a lot of luck involved. Take Justin Masterson, a player who would look great on the staff today. He was traded for V Mart, which would have made sense, if they got right after him and extended his contract. They got a year and 1/2 of quality hitting, and made no effort to retain him. Start by remembering that Youk was signed by Duke. Duke brought Pedro and Manny,two certain HOFers. He also aquired a fine all around player in Johnny Damon, only for Theo to let him go,where he produced nearly identical numbers in 4 years with NY.The list of bad trades and poor signings would require another post.

  • BUBBA0308

    NEED TO SIGN KURODA, OSWALT, AND MAHOLM

  • spiritof67

    Did I miss some news on Wake? I know everyone’s written him off, but ironically he didn’t spend one day on the DL last year. If nothing else, he could be useful in the Paul Byrd mode come July-August when half the rotatoion is inevitably banged up.

    • HarryB1964

      Anyone with any brains would write him off. If he was on the disabled list for the last two months, whenFrancona gave him eight starts to win one game, the Sox would have made the playoffs.
      LET THIS GUY GO!!

      • Ricie_19

        Agreed!!!  Thank you Tim but time to set sail!  Is Sonnastine worth taking a look at by the Sox? 

    • anguillaman3

      Usefull….he started the entire 2′nd 1/2…he had one win….were you watching any of the games Wake pitched in ….he sucks.

    • Robert5286

      The ONLY way Wakefield might be useful is as a 9th inning,bases clean,closer. I f Bard has pitched the 8th, Wakefield may be able to fool 3 batters in the 9th. Beyond that, he is a huge liability to winning. Francona loved Wakefield to the point of leaving Aceves and Hill in Pawtucket untill mid May,in favor of bringing Wakefield north in April. This stupid decision cost the Sox the division. I still don’t want him on the roster for fear that Valentine will use him as a spot starter,where he is awful. But, with Valentine not being so loyal to players,it might be worth a try if all other options fall through.

  • Demarco606

    Theo inherited Youk,Lester and Hanley Ramirez when he took over.like Felger said a barren farm system.

  • http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/ZVFM2HRNC5CTO2OUXD4XTX65O4 Dennis

     Whatever happened to “can’t miss” Ranaudo?  Doubrount isn’t an answer. Looks like the Sox will have to overpay for Bailey or Madson, if they use Bard and Aceves as starters. 

  • Izzienutz

    Tazawa will be in the BP this year for sure. Before his injury he threw 109 innings with a WHIP of 1.04 at AA and AAA.  In his comeback this year, his SO/9 was 11.2.  The kid has some stuff. He can fill the Aceves role.

  • Barry

    This team is in deep ____ if Bard, Aceves, and the band of minor league pitchers that are listed in this story are going to be relied on.

    • DickSullivan

      barrry!

  • Zeke

    Why has Charlie Haeger, knuckle-ball pitcher on the Paw Sox roster, been completed un-noted?
    He has done well for the SeaDogs, after signing a minor league contract. He did spend time for the Chisox and the Dodgers with limited success.
    He has worked out with Wakefield, an excellent teacher.
    Why not at least give him a chance?  To ignore him would seem to be an insult.

  • JimDaytona

    Plain and simple, this group of so called starters are not strong enought to help the Sox compete for a wild card. Cherrington is in over his head.

    • KC

      Thus far, Cherrington seems to be nothing more than Theo Jr.  Could be they are in for a long season; but, we’ll see what transpires over the next few weeks.

  • Rintintin

    WE NEED roy oswalt, dickhead, leroy ninker, bailey, quentin, and love somebody else. njrkegtrgtrgnktkgtgtrkngrngtrngktrgt Dick Dick Dick Dick

  • http://twitter.com/LarsChunks LarsChunks

    Deer Alex Spire, Lern to profred.

  • Moneyball

    The Pats aren’t trading Brady’s binky.

  • Wfp1935

    Good pick for low cost, if he stays healthy, you hit a winner.

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  • Robert5286

    True. Good Point.

  • http://twitter.com/Zj_6 Zack Jones

    The same group that won 90 games last year with crippling injuries on both sides of the ball? shut up.

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