Celtics 2023 - 2024 Discussion

[BaconGrundleCandy]

Brown also has a very credible Finals MVP claim IMO.

Brown, Jrue and White have been game changers. JT has played well but I think Brown has come up with some big shots and been a little more consistent carrying us there. Holiday and White have come up with some clutch shots from 3, both playing smart. White's had some big time defensive plays that have really effected the game.

Again our best 6-7 has really shown up

 

[Brick27]

Not to get too out there with the philosophy, but Holiday is like water out there on the court. He morphs to fit where he needs to and fills in space where it’s empty.

Regardless of matchups, pace of the game, what’s working/what isn’t, he seems to have such a great pulse on the game and finds areas of best use. Such a great addition.

 

[Kdo5]

Brown, Jrue and White have been game changers. JT has played well but I think Brown has come up with some big shots and been a little more consistent carrying us there. Holiday and White have come up with some clutch shots from 3, both playing smart. White's had some big time defensive plays that have really effected the game.

Again our best 6-7 has really shown up

After two games its hard for me to look at this and say: this guy deserves the finals MVP. It's been a complete team effort. Everyone is making big time contributions.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Here’s my early prediction: Celtics will get blown out in G3 (early deficit, pull starters) and then win G4 and G5.

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

Mazzula says KP is good. Zero concern for Game 3
Not sure how to take that. He usually is not the lying type

That being said. This team is multi faceted.
One player not playing well or injured. Another player steps up

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Mazzula says KP is good. Zero concern for Game 3
Not sure how to take that. He usually is not the lying type

That being said. This team is multi faceted.
One player not playing well or injured. Another player steps up

Basically his ****ed up calf remains ****ed up.

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

Basically his ****ed up calf remains ****ed up.

It was his other leg that he was favoring
His right calf was the injured leg
He came down awkwardly on his left leg

 

[Kdo5]

Here’s my early prediction: Celtics will get blown out in G3 (early deficit, pull starters) and then win G4 and G5.

I don't think we are shooting 26% from three again. I think there's a real good chance the Celtics sweep this.

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

I don't think we are shooting 26% from three again. I think there's a real good chance the Celtics sweep this.

This was the game Dallas should have stole
We play well on the road

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Nice being up 2-0, yet still having enough warts after tonight that hopefully prevent any chance of being complacent. Now the challenge of the road environment and still having the mindset there is more to prove.

The Celtics have won 9 straight playoff games and are 14-2 in the playoffs. If the Celts didn't have "enough warts" they would be 15-1?

 

[maust]

Can't say enough about how impressive the team D has been

 

[Kdo5]

JT/JB combined for 19 of 29 assists tonight. That was the impact they had on the offense, driving, taking defenders with them and passing.

How many shots did we miss tonight? JT could’ve had between 15-20 assists tonight with better shooting. I’d like to see numbers for potential assists that were missed.

 

[Brick27]

The Celtics have won 9 straight playoff games and are 14-2 in the playoffs. If the Celts didn't have "enough warts" they would be 15-1?

I’m referring to the mindset of the players going forward. Not us who can sit back and watch as fans and point to those numbers to hang our hat on (would assume the players aren’t). Yes, they’ve been great.

 

[ausbacker]

I don't think we are shooting 26% from three again. I think there's a real good chance the Celtics sweep this.

I said it before the series started, but I can't see how Dallas can stop or even match Boston's scoring. They don't have a reliable third option. Boston has six guys who can drop 30 on any given night. Throw in Boston's defence, and this looked like a mismatch from the get-go. Play they way we know they can, and 18 will be hanging.

In a mea culpa, through two games, Mazzulla's coaching has impressed me. I didn't think he had it in him.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Can't say enough about how impressive the team D has been

Could have sworn they were going against the greatest offensive backcourt iN nBa HiStoRy!

 

[maust]

Could have sworn they were going against the greatest offensive backcourt iN nBa HiStoRy!

Isn't that Donkey all by himself?

 

[NFL Mystique]

I guess a series doesn't start, or end in this case, until a team loses at home. Dallas will probably get one at home.

But I don't see them winning three out of four after that. This Celtics team might be as good or better than the 08 version.

 

[Keep Up With The Joneses]

Dallas HAD KP and they weren't able to figure out how to integrate him properly.

I don't see the connection. There could be plenty of reasons for that. I didn't follow Porzingis in his Dallas days, but he could have been a different player back then, or they just didn't have the right guys or system for him to mesh. Also, they had a different coach for most of KP's time there. I don't think it automatically means Dallas would not deploy these players correctly.

I stand by my opinion that adding White, Holliday, and KP to Dallas (or most teams) would make them significantly better.

 

[Keep Up With The Joneses]

As most of us expected, this game was tighter than the first. Dallas came to play tonight. I can't stand Donkey, but I have to admit he was the best player on the floor tonight offensively. My thoughts on this one:

The good:
Jrue Holliday just never seems to have a bad game. He meshes so well and always knows exactly what is needed at any given point in time. He never seems to make a bad decision, and always stays within his game. He is very quickly becoming my favorite Celtic.

The defense wasn't quite as good tonight and had to do more double-teaming, but Doncic forced that on them, seemingly being able to hit from everywhere. Still, they clamped down when it mattered and forced turnovers in crunch time.

Brown was again excellent in nearly all facets. He remains front runner for MVP should the Celtics win.

I know people will get on Tatum for all the misses last night, but I love it when guys aren't scoring but still find ways to impact the game. He still had 12 assists and 9 rebounds, and finished with a +6. The missed layups in traffic to me were a bit of an anomaly, and not something I expect to happen again. The 3s are another story. See "the ugly" below.

The bad:
The bench will continue to be a concern of mine if this series goes long. KP says he's fine, I'll believe it when I see it. That leaves Pritchard, who has disappeared offensively, and Hauser, who I just don't trust. The Celtics basically played a 6 man rotation last night. I don't know how long they can get away with that, especially if KP is injured or ineffective.

The ugly:
I'm no NBA coach and would not profess myself to be smarter than one. I'm also old school and I understand how the game has changed. That said, I don't support Joe's notion that Boston should continue to shoot 3's in a close game no matter how many they've missed. They have shown again and again they are all capable of finishing in the paint and drawing fouls, and have been very good from the line (95% last night). I would say so far the officiating has favored Boston in this series. Force Dallas to play defense inside, get them in foul trouble, and get free throws. This is the formula right now. It was only by the grace of God that Dallas was equally horrible from the arc. Boston could have easily lost this game had Dallas even been a bit proficient in this regard.