Danny Ainge Hasn't Lost Confidence In Celtics
BOSTON (CBS) -- The first two games of the playoffs have been frustrating for the Boston Celtics, but team president Danny Ainge is confident his team can turn it around with the series shifting back to Boston for Game 3 on Friday night.
"My optimism comes from knowing these guys and knowing how hard they compete. I know our coaching staff and how hard they work to prepare these guys," Ainge told 98.5 The Sports Hub's Toucher & Rich on Thursday. "I'm excited to see what we can come up with and the energy we can muster for Game 3 and Game 4. Atlanta won on their home court, which is what they're supposed to do, and now we have to do the same."
Ainge notably said a few weeks ago that he didn't think this Celtics team was a title contender because they miss too many shots. They've missed plenty of shots over the first two games of their series with Atlanta, which included the worst quarter in NBA postseason history to start Game 2 on Tuesday night.
"I felt we were a little jittery in Game 1 and played amazing in the second half, sort of like a second game. We were rolling and had a lead, a chance to steal a game from them on their court so it was frustrating we let that get away," he said, also pointing to Avery Bradley's injury as momentum killer. "Game 2, there is no explanation for that, other than I would give the Hawks a lot of credit. We missed a lot of open shots and layins. It's just one of those games, hopefully.
"I feel that has been one of our weaknesses all year," he said of the team's shooting woes, also giving credit to Atlanta's defense. "It is a microcosm of what our season was like. We've struggled to shoot the ball but we have a lot of fight and grit. Hopefully in Game 3, the baskets are bigger in the Boston Garden."
Ainge compared Isaiah Thomas' struggles, shooting just 33 percent for the series, to Ray Allen's struggles in the 2008 playoffs when the Cleveland Cavaliers focused on taking him out of Boston's offense.
"The challenge isn't Isaiah, the challenge is our shooting and spacing. They're doing a good job covering both the three-point line and our penetration, but you can see Isaiah is a focal point for them. As our players become better shooters it will open the court up more for Isaiah," he said. "Not having Kelly [Olynyk] out there has hurt Isaiah; he does a good job spacing the floor. He's the focal point of our team, and I've seen this happen to a lot of players over the years in the playoffs.
"It's not all about Isaiah. It's about the team and the focal point of a really good playoff defense," he said. "We need to get a better supporting cast around Isaiah."
Ainge said that Olynyk remains day-to-day with a shoulder injury and is working hard to make a return. He also said it's "a longshot" that injured guard Avery Bradley could make a return this series.
Ainge also touched on Marcus Smart's basketball IQ, the Celtics' confidence as a team and the job Brad Stevens is doing in his second playoff series: