OT: Celtics / Sixers - Series

[Kontradiction]

They’ll close it out in Boston. Unfortunately, they don’t have anyone that can guard LeBron worth a damn. It doesn’t matter anyway in the grand scheme of things. Whoever comes out of the East is going to get demolished by whoever comes out of the West (my pick is GS).

 

[Patriot Missile]

They’ll close it out in Boston. Unfortunately, they don’t have anyone that can guard LeBron worth a damn. It doesn’t matter anyway in the grand scheme of things. Whoever comes out of the East is going to get demolished by whoever comes out of the West (my pick is GS).

Agreed regarding the West. Very excited for the future of this team. Despite the injuries they certainly came to play these playoffs. Regardless of the outcome the rest of the way, they did us proud and am looking forward to next years Championship.

 

[Kontradiction]

Agreed regarding the West. Very excited for the future of this team. Despite the injuries they certainly came to play these playoffs. Regardless of the outcome the rest of the way, they did us proud and am looking forward to next years Championship.

If you guys had Irving and Hayward healthy, I’d say C’s in 6. There still isn’t anyone on the roster that can guard LeBron, but you’d have the requisite offensive firepower to win the series at the other end of the floor. But the future is very bright for this team and, IMO, they have the brightest young mind in the NBA as their head coach.

 

[ALP]

They’ll close it out in Boston. Unfortunately, they don’t have anyone that can guard LeBron worth a damn. It doesn’t matter anyway in the grand scheme of things. Whoever comes out of the East is going to get demolished by whoever comes out of the West (my pick is GS).

disagree, to the extent that LeBron can be guarded (tough to do for anyone) Tatum and Brown can do a decent enough job, they have the quickness and length to match up

Maybe our new Tony Allen can do it again (OJ)

also i think we match up against GS VERY well, and also vs houston pretty well, I'd give us 30-40% to win against either

 

[Kontradiction]

disagree, to the extent that LeBron can be guarded (tough to do for anyone) Tatum and Brown can do a decent enough job, they have the quickness and length to match up

Maybe our new Tony Allen can do it again (OJ)

also i think we match up against GS VERY well, and also vs houston pretty well, I'd give us 30-40% to win against either

LeBron is going to abuse either Tatum or Brown. Take that to the bank. That'll be a lesson in playoff basketball for both guys. And whoever comes out of the East will get systematically destroyed by the West. You'll need scoring to keep up with either of those two squads and neither Cleveland nor Boston (without Kyrie and Hayward) can do that consistently. I think either team will get swept unless the refs decide to extend the series.

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

LeBron is going to abuse either Tatum or Brown. Take that to the bank. That'll be a lesson in playoff basketball for both guys. And whoever comes out of the East will get systematically destroyed by the West. You'll need scoring to keep up with either of those two squads and neither Cleveland nor Boston (without Kyrie and Hayward) can do that consistently. I think either team will get swept unless the refs decide to extend the series.

Cleveland's a two man team and they haven't faced anyone good defensively. The raptors are a joke. I think it's a 50-50 series

 

[PatsFan2]

LeBron is going to abuse either Tatum or Brown. Take that to the bank. That'll be a lesson in playoff basketball for both guys. And whoever comes out of the East will get systematically destroyed by the West. You'll need scoring to keep up with either of those two squads and neither Cleveland nor Boston (without Kyrie and Hayward) can do that consistently. I think either team will get swept unless the refs decide to extend the series.

Kontra I think if all our key guys can be on the same page scoring wise Cleveland won't have an answer. If Tatum - Brown and Rozier can keep up their scoring all Three can create their own shots. Not to mention Horford - Morris and the streaky Smart. Cleveland's supporting cast is hot and cold...you never know what you're going to get on any given night.

 

[Hyped]

1.) The Sixers aren't done. It will likely come down to game 5. If we don't close it out...we are losing this series, IMO. Philly will just go back home and win game 6...then bring all the momentum to Boston on Sunday to try to be the first team to ever come back from 3-0 down. Only 3 teams have ever reached a game 7 after being down 0-3.

2.) I hope Larkin is OK...we need his minutes badly. And I think the Sixers are gonna start pressuring more when we bring the ball up court.

3.) That being said....ASSUME we even advance to the ECF...I think this is the most vulnerable LeBron team in a long while. Yes, LeBron is playing better than ever...but last year without IT and an inexperienced Brown...we lost in 5 games...managed to win ONE game at home. The bar for me in that series will be pushing it to a game six by winning at least 2 of the first 5 games. Anything beyond that is gravy, IMO.

4.) That being said...we actually match up VERY well with GS/Houston. We have wing defenders, we have perimeter defenders, and we can hold those two teams down to 105-110 points per game, IMO. Our problem will be scoring consistently of course...but I am not seeing us get swept in the Finals should we even make it that far.

 

[Kontradiction]

4.) That being said...we actually match up VERY well with GS/Houston. We have wing defenders, we have perimeter defenders, and we can hold those two teams down to 105-110 points per game, IMO. Our problem will be scoring consistently of course...but I am not seeing us get swept in the Finals should we even make it that far.

The problem Golden State presents is that you can't just guard the perimeter against them anymore. Do that, and Durant will kill you in the paint. Flood the paint, and you're going to get killed by Curry and Thompson outside. That team is almost indefensible. To beat them, you have to score with them at the other end and neither Cleveland nor Boston has the firepower to do that. That's why the WCF are going to be the real NBA Finals.

 

[fnordcircle]

If you guys had Irving and Hayward healthy, I’d say C’s in 6. There still isn’t anyone on the roster that can guard LeBron, but you’d have the requisite offensive firepower to win the series at the other end of the floor. But the future is very bright for this team and, IMO, they have the brightest young mind in the NBA as their head coach.

So what's the consensus on Ainge these days? I remember when it was all the rage to hate on him but from the outside looking in it seems like he's done a good job building the team.

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

So what's the consensus on Ainge these days? I remember when it was all the rage to hate on him but from the outside looking in it seems like he's done a good job building the team.

The tatum pick's looking like a steal. Thank goodness the fakers took lonzo ball. Can't wait to see this team at full strength next season.

 

[rochrist]

The problem Golden State presents is that you can't just guard the perimeter against them anymore. Do that, and Durant will kill you in the paint. Flood the paint, and you're going to get killed by Curry and Thompson outside. That team is almost indefensible. To beat them, you have to score with them at the other end and neither Cleveland nor Boston has the firepower to do that. That's why the WCF are going to be the real NBA Finals.

Well, Stevens' teams have been one of the few teams consistently competitive against them over the past several seasons. They broke that obscenely long winning streak the had a couple of years ago IN SF. So there's that at least.

 

[IcyPatriot]

The tatum pick's looking like a steal. Thank goodness the fakers took lonzo ball. Can't wait to see this team at full strength next season.

I think Ball was a great pick for them ...
He didn't fit our needs or the Sixer's needs which made Tatum free for us.
I like Ball ... he has great vision and thought process ... that old man of his though ... ugh.

 

[rochrist]

I think Ball was a great pick for them ...
He didn't fit our needs or the Sixer's needs which made Tatum free for us.
I like Ball ... he has great vision and thought process ... that old man of his though ... ugh.

Ball is the poor man's Ben Simmons who is the poor man's Rajon Rondo.

 

[BTTA]

So what's the consensus on Ainge these days? I remember when it was all the rage to hate on him but from the outside looking in it seems like he's done a good job building the team.

Yeah, 5 guys who in many years can make an all-star game, one of if not the best coach in the game, plus great draft capital and no real cap problems for two more years...that's doing a pretty good job.

He's assertive, confident and a risk taker - something Boston sports radio and its fans can't stand because it reminds them of how they lack those qualities themselves.

 

[Hyped]

The problem Golden State presents is that you can't just guard the perimeter against them anymore. Do that, and Durant will kill you in the paint. Flood the paint, and you're going to get killed by Curry and Thompson outside. That team is almost indefensible. To beat them, you have to score with them at the other end and neither Cleveland nor Boston has the firepower to do that. That's why the WCF are going to be the real NBA Finals.

It is not really complicated. It is just about adjustments, running over/under screens, chasing down guys, and etc...

Durant is unstoppable no matter what you do. I'd rather Durant have 50 in a game than to give up a trifecta. Those threes are what make the Dubs roll. Did you see the Pelicans series? The games were competitive other than brief 7-0 runs by the Dubs when they make a two...get a turnover hit a three...then rebound a missed shot and hit another three...BOOM...7-0.

To beat those guys...you need to score like you said above...no doubt. Absent that, you can still win by playing solid perimeter D and not allowing the Dubs in transition. Make them earn every shot attempt.

Of course, it is easier to just have guys like Kyrie who is unstoppable to bail you out after a bad defensive play on the other end. Without Kyrie...we gotta make every possession count. That is why everybody is an underdog against the Dubs. Houston though....they can score in bunches.....but they will only win if they hit over 40% from downtown, IMO.

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

I would like to see the C's in the finals against either winner in the west. Sick of seeing lebroni in the finals and once again losing in the finals.

 

[bobbutts]

Let's put this one away tonight. I'm not giving up hope on winning the East, but it's going to take a near miracle considering how Cleveland dispatched the Raptors.

 

[Kontradiction]

The zebras are letting both teams get away with quite a bit early on.

 

[PatriotsNumero1Fan]

61-52 at the half. Put this game away in the 3rd quarter. Hope to see tatum staying more aggressive. This kid can ball.