Celtics 2023 - 2024 Discussion

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Celtics are so lucky.

First Round: Jimmy Butler is out for the Heat. This makes it easy for Boston to win.

Second Round: Donovan Mitchell goes out making it an east win for Boston.

Third Round: Haliburton goes out with a hamstring thar he had previously injured. The Pacers had a chance to win with Haliburton and their aggressive style especially against Boston but without Haliburton at 80%. The Pacers don't have a chance regardless of how hard the Celtics try to lose without Porzingis. The round is not over but the Celtics will make it to the finals.

Now the problems start for the Celtics. It is the FINALS, the Jay's don't do well in the finals. TATUM is already struggling in the rounds prior to the finals. PORZINGIS is absolutely needed to win the Finals, he may not even be able to play and if he does it won't be at 90%. HORFORD hasn't been able to handle the Bigs, struggling TATUM is being asked to change his game to cover for HORFORD, he is struggling before this change, and we know what he does in the finals. KORNET has a hand injury and wasn't that great before the injury. HAUSER has played like **** in the playoffs this season. BRISSETT has offered some hope, maybe. The other Celtics BIG defenders haven't played before the finals. BROWN has been doing great but we know his Final history, will it change?


Against Dallas it will be tough they added some great player help.

Against the Wolves,
they are hungry, and Wolves love to eat and tear their food apart.

It should be interesting.

As long as the Celtics don’t devolve into some weird iso ball with Tatum and Brown playing point guard, no one is beating them, even without Porzingis. Has Tatum even had an offensively dominant game this postseason? They’re 10-2.

White and Holiday are burying opposing guards with their defense. Brown is also playing high level there.

Yes, not having a good big man is going to make things tougher, but the Celtics are definitely good enough to win regardless.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

As long as the Celtics don’t devolve into some weird iso ball with Tatum and Brown playing point guard, no one is beating them, even without Porzingis. Has Tatum even had an offensively dominant game this postseason? They’re 10-2.

White and Holiday are burying opposing guards with their defense. Brown is also playing high level there.

Yes, not having a good big man is going to make things tougher, but the Celtics are definitely good enough to win regardless.

Agreed. People don't understand the value of White, Holiday, and Brown's defense. And Tatum is not bad defensively either. Every other team gives up defense in order to add offense. Offense is easy to see, the ball in the hoop and we count the assists and points. Defense is harder to understand.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

I can not find an update on Haliburton's injury which I am guessing means the Pacers are going to see if he can go at gametime. I take that to mean Haliburton is out for the series. Hamstrings are never good.

Seems like the same thing with Porzi. He does not practice but we see Porzi doing light shooting and we are told he is in the film room. Calves are tough to recover from. Too much peripheral leaked news about Porzi. If Porzi was on the way back the Celtics would tell us, the leaks confirm it is a touch and go situation if Porzi will be ready in the Finals. My guess is that the Pacers play really hard without Haliburton tonight and lose, and then Porzi plays at half speed in the Finals so the Celts walk the ball up the court slowly as Porzi lightly jogs up the court. Maybe 10 or 15 minutes a game at 75% for Porzi in the Finals. Let's hope Porzi is swimming with JB all off-season to build his muscles while balancing them.

Go Mavs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[RobertWeathers]

I can not find an update on Haliburton's injury which I am guessing means the Pacers are going to see if he can go at gametime. I take that to mean Haliburton is out for the series. Hamstrings are never good.

Seems like the same thing with Porzi. He does not practice but we see Porzi doing light shooting and we are told he is in the film room. Calves are tough to recover from. Too much peripheral leaked news about Porzi. If Porzi was on the way back the Celtics would tell us, the leaks confirm it is a touch and go situation if Porzi will be ready in the Finals. My guess is that the Pacers play really hard without Haliburton tonight and lose, and then Porzi plays at half speed in the Finals so the Celts walk the ball up the court slowly as Porzi lightly jogs up the court. Maybe 10 or 15 minutes a game at 75% for Porzi in the Finals. Let's hope Porzi is swimming with JB all off-season to build his muscles while balancing them.

Go Mavs!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[LightSkinSmurf]

Another test to see if this years Celtics are really different. Last years Celtics almost certainly drop this game. Let's see if it's really, #DifferentHere

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Agreed. People don't understand the value of White, Holiday, and Brown's defense. And Tatum is not bad defensively either. Every other team gives up defense in order to add offense. Offense is easy to see, the ball in the hoop and we count the assists and points. Defense is harder to understand.

Yes. The Celtics are great because they have 2 way players.

The Mavs are led by Luka and Kyrie. Both are extremely unbalanced offensively.

Almost the whole TWolves team are defensive stars who aren’t great on offense with Edwards and Towns (kinda) as exceptions.

Pacers are a bunch of offensive specialists.

Almost entire Celtics team is 2 way players.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Thanks. That is what I figured. I expect Haliburton will out for the rest of the series.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Another test to see if this years Celtics are really different. Last years Celtics almost certainly drop this game. Let's see if it's really, #DifferentHere

Expectations are kinda ridiculous though. If they lose the game, they lose the game. We all said the same thing about Game 2 given their previous two Game 2s.

I actually have liked the way they’ve lost their two games, getting annihilated and just walking away and shaking it off. As long as they win at least half of their close games, they’re golden.

 

[LightSkinSmurf]

Yes. The Celtics are great because they have 2 way players.

The Mavs are led by Luka and Kyrie. Both are extremely unbalanced offensively.

Almost the whole TWolves team are defensive stars who aren’t great on offense with Edwards and Towns (kinda) as exceptions.

Pacers are a bunch of offensive specialists.

Almost entire Celtics team is 2 way players.

Kyrie can lock in defensively when he really wants to. I think he has shown that. Also, Luka has been surprising me with his defense lately. All though obviously they aren't on the same level defensively as Tatum and Brown. They have shown flashes of being more than serviceable tho.

 

[LightSkinSmurf]

Expectations are kinda ridiculous though. If they lose the game, they lose the game. We all said the same thing about Game 2 given their previous two Game 2s.

I actually have liked the way they’ve lost their two games, getting annihilated and just walking away and shaking it off. As long as they win at least half of their close games, they’re golden.

I kind of agree but I don't think the expectations are that ridiculous to win when you're by far the better team and the other team is missing their best player(s). You SHOULD win... Everyone should be expecting a win tonight. But, I get nobody is perfect. I won't rip them to shreds if they lose but I will be very disappointed.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

Kyrie can lock in defensively when he really wants to. I think he has shown that.

AHhhh, NO! Brown and Tatum will search and switch to get on Kyrie.

Also, Luka has been surprising me with his defense lately. All though obviously they aren't on the same level defensively as Tatum and Brown. They have shown flashes of being more than serviceable tho.

Luka is more of a zone defender and having Washignton and Gafford behind Luka has helped. Luka said on TNT that "I can't move fast". Luka is not a good defender. Holiday on Luka is a nightmare for Luka.

 

[jimnance]

Haliburton now ruled out tonight and highly unlikely for Monday.
Jrue is sick( non-covid,thank God) and may not play. Gtd.

 

[LightSkinSmurf]

AHhhh, NO! Brown and Tatum will search and switch to get on Kyrie.

Luka is more of a zone defender and having Washignton and Gafford behind Luka has helped. Luka said on TNT that "I can't move fast". Luka is not a good defender. Holiday on Luka is a nightmare for Luka.

That has nothing to do with the point I made though. I said Kyrie can lock in defensively when he really wants to, and he can. That doesn't mean he is going to lock down everyone he defends. He just has his moments depending on the matchup and his effort.

Also, I'm not saying Luka is a good defender I'm saying lately he has been playing better than I expected.

 

[One-If-By-Sea]

That has nothing to do with the point I made though. I said Kyrie can lock in defensively when he really wants to, and he can. That doesn't mean he is going to lock down everyone he defends. He just has his moments depending on the matchup and his effort.

Also, I'm not saying Luka is a good defender I'm saying lately he has been playing better than I expected.

OK. Who on the Celtics will Kyrie matchup against and have one of his moments while defending?

 

[LightSkinSmurf]

OK. Who on the Celtics will Kyrie matchup against and have one of his moments while defending?

I'm not predicting Kyrie is going to lockdown anyone on our team. Read the sentence before the one you highlighted. I was making a broad statement about his defense. We will see how many moments he has if/when the time comes.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

I kind of agree but I don't think the expectations are that ridiculous to win when you're by far the better team and the other team is missing their best player(s). You SHOULD win... Everyone should be expecting a win tonight. But, I get nobody is perfect. I won't rip them to shreds if they lose but I will be very disappointed.

Yeah but it’s just probability and variance. It’s like when the Patriots would lose to a bottom feeder and everyone would say “awww…they always lose at least one game a year they shouldn’t lose.” And that’s because they were favored by 10+ points in so many games. So yes, they are almost always going to have a loss or two where they’ve heavily favored. It would be more improbable that they didn’t.

Apply same formula to Celtics. They absolutely should win tonight, every game of the series. They’re -13 at home and -7 on the road. But the odds of a sweep (at start of series) was still less than 50%.

 

[Kdo5]

It’s all Tatum so far, someone else needs to step up…

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

It’s all Tatum so far, someone else needs to step up…

Yes, on the other side of the court. Pacers just feasting in the paint. 69 points in 1st half without TH!

 

[LightSkinSmurf]

We are really getting blown out lol. This team is so weird man.

 

[Brick27]

How many 3s do Holiday and White intend on missing before they settle for getting 2 more often or passing the ball. Really hurting them these last 8-10 minutes