``Sometimes we get so used to each other, we tend to get bored with that. We go off and we try to do other things, and the players actually said it today. ``I didn't even have to speak it,'' he said. ``To a man, they said we run the first option of an offensive set, and the next thing you know we have two guys who are in something completely different because hey, let's try this. That's more discipline. It's up to the coach to get them to see the importance of that.'' The Celtics showed that lack of discipline last night, falling behind Orlando 29-13 in the first quarter.
I think we all remember the lethargic first quarters earlier in the season. The Celtics played like a team that had better things to do than play basketball. Take a nap, for example. Celtics' fans were enthralled with the bench during this period of the season, in part because the bench at least showed some signs of life.
Since being outscored 29-13 in the first quarter against the Magic on their way to defeat number 4, the Celtics have only been outscored in the first quarter 3 times during the eleven game winning streak, twice by one point, once by three points. In the big game against the Spurs, the Celtics jumped out to a 25-15 first quarter lead. You can see it all here at my rolling list of Celtics box scores.
None of this, of course, means that the Celtics have permanently put an end to boredom and a lack of discipline. But everyone must concede that when it comes to boredom during the regular season of the NBA, few things rank as high as the first quarter of a game in November. Let's see how things go on 12/25 against da Poodles.
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