Celtics Forget to Flip the Switch

The Celtics entered last night's installment of the long, drawn-out soap opera otherwise known as the NBA regular season having lost three out of their last five games. No problem. They'll just "flip the switch" and start playing good basketball. At least that was the prevalent theory. Didn't happen. That's the funny thing about those switches. Even if you do flip them, if you're not in the habit of winning close games down the stretch, suddenly winning such games becomes a little more dicey.

Take last night as an example. Did we really lose the game on an uncontested layup? James Posey would roll-over in his grave. Kevin Garnett and Rasheed Wallace both had opportunities to provide some D. But nary an outstretched hand was raised. In 2008, the Celtics wouldn't let opponents get shots off on dead balls in the first quarter of meaningless games, much less game-ending shots against major rivals.

If we keep playing like this, the Celtics may become the new "poodles" of the East.

Celtics 94, Magic 96

Recap Box Score Play-By-Play Shot Chart Photos Conversation

	1	2	3	4	T
BOS (29-14)	34	17	21	22	94
ORL (30-16)	23	17	21	35	96

Final

8:00 PM ET, January 28, 2010

Amway Arena

Orlando, FL

BOSTON CELTICS
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
Kevin Garnett, PF	33	2-8	0-0	2-2	0	7	7	3	2	0	0	3	-4	6
Paul Pierce, SF	40	3-12	1-4	5-5	0	2	2	3	1	1	4	3	0	12
Kendrick Perkins, C	15	1-2	0-0	2-5	0	3	3	0	0	0	1	5	+1	4
Ray Allen, SG	41	8-12	4-8	0-0	0	3	3	3	0	2	4	3	-2	20
Rajon Rondo, PG	37	5-9	1-1	0-2	2	5	7	8	0	0	2	2	0	11
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
Rasheed Wallace, C	26	7-14	3-6	0-0	0	2	2	0	3	1	0	4	-5	17
Eddie House, PG	14	4-7	2-5	0-0	0	2	2	2	0	0	1	1	-3	10
Brian Scalabrine, PF	4	1-2	1-2	0-0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	2	+5	3
Tony Allen, SG	12	2-2	0-0	1-2	0	1	1	1	1	0	1	2	-1	5
Glen Davis, PF	17	2-6	0-0	2-2	4	1	5	2	0	0	1	5	-1	6
Shelden Williams, PF	DNP COACH'S DECISION
Bill Walker, SG	DNP COACH'S DECISION
TOTALS		FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF		PTS
		35-74	12-26	12-18	6	26	32	22	7	4	14	30		94
		47.3%	46.2%	66.7%
Fast break points: 10 Points in the paint: 24 Team TO ( points off ): 15 (13) +/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court.
ORLANDO MAGIC
STARTERS	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
Rashard Lewis, PF	36	8-13	2-3	5-6	3	5	8	0	0	0	2	1	-7	23
Matt Barnes, SF	23	1-4	0-2	3-4	2	4	6	0	1	0	2	2	-6	5
Dwight Howard, C	32	8-12	0-0	3-10	4	6	10	0	2	4	3	4	+6	19
Vince Carter, SG	29	2-13	0-2	2-3	2	2	4	2	0	0	3	3	+4	6
Jameer Nelson, PG	28	5-10	0-1	2-2	2	3	5	2	1	0	3	3	-7	12
BENCH	MIN	FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF	+/-	PTS
Jason Williams, PG	20	3-7	2-5	0-0	0	1	1	2	0	0	1	0	+9	8
J.J. Redick, SG	27	2-7	2-5	5-5	0	2	2	1	0	0	1	3	+13	11
Mickael Pietrus, SF	7	1-2	0-0	0-0	1	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	-3	2
Marcin Gortat, C	27	1-1	0-0	4-6	3	5	8	1	0	3	1	3	+4	6
Ryan Anderson, PF	10	1-4	0-2	2-4	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	-3	4
Anthony Johnson, PG	DNP COACH'S DECISION
Brandon Bass, PF	DNP COACH'S DECISION
TOTALS		FGM-A	3PM-A	FTM-A	OREB	DREB	REB	AST	STL	BLK	TO	PF		PTS
		32-73	6-20	26-40	17	30	47	8	4	7	16	19		96
		43.8%	30.0%	65.0%
Fast break points: 3 Points in the paint: 38 Team TO ( points off ): 16 (27) +/- denotes team's net points while the player is on the court.