Celtics seeking identity
WALTHAM -- The Celtics have already reached the point where they are at a loss for words.
They can only figure out so many ways to describe and analyze the inconsistencies, mental errors, defensive lapses, turnovers, chemistry issues, and unpredictable energy and effort that continually cost them games. While starting the season with 11 of 15 games at home seemed appealing, the road may bring a welcome change of scenery.
Over the course of five road games in the next seven days, the Celtics hope to find themselves -- or at least learn a little more about themselves and what kind of team they can be. Boston performs better when dealing with adversity, such as when it rallied from a 15-point first-half deficit against Chicago Friday night before falling, 106-102. The Celtics look less confident and less comfortable playing with a lead.
So perhaps playing in hostile buildings may bring out better play. But even better play may not help them as they head to Texas after a matinee in New York today.
Besides, it will take more than a week to straighten out all that is wrong.
''Coach has been preaching to us all day and after [Friday] night's game that we have a chance on this road trip to find ourselves," Delonte West said after practice yesterday. ''We're not going to have any support and we've got to come together. At the same time, we're going to see how we handle adversity."
West stopped short of saying Boston will be able to make any conclusions about its future after the trip, and added, ''It's still too early. We still have young guys and inconsistencies. You have flashes of a young guy playing well. Then, the next game, he might disappear. By mid-spring, I think all our pieces will be at the top of their games and we'll make a run for the playoffs."
No one wanted to put a number on how many wins they hope for on the first significant road trip of the season. After all, Boston (6-9) has yet to win a road game (0-4), or string together two wins in a row, for that matter. The Celtics are the only team without a road win. Now they must play 11 out of their next 15 away from the TD Banknorth Garden.
At the very least, coach Doc Rivers would like to see some consistency, even if it doesn't translate directly to results.
''We're inconsistent because of execution and we've just got to keep working on it," Rivers said. ''I would imagine every team that's made this many moves would be inconsistent. If you read the New York papers, Larry Brown is talking about being inconsistent.
''It's just part of basketball that you have a lot of different combinations, a lot of young guys with old guys. They've got to figure out the system. They've got to buy into it. But then, there are basketball rules that we've got to do every night.
''That's what we talked about today. You've got to box out every night. I don't care what system you're in. You've got to help your teammate out on defense. There's no system involved in that. That goes to trust. We've just got to keep working on it.
''I'm not happy our record is what it is. I think we've lost two or three games that we should have won. Maybe we've won a couple that we shouldn't have, too. We don't look at those. Do I think we're better than our record? A little bit, but not much. Do I think that by the end of the year we'll be much better than what our [current] record [would indicate]? Yeah, I do."
A road win would be a start in that direction.
Tony Allen did not practice with the team yesterday and Rivers said he will not play today against New York. It looks doubtful that Allen will return to the lineup during the trip.
