Celtics 2023 - 2024 Discussion

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Don't twist my words. I said those two are a nightmare to defend and they both shoot the three better (than our two best players)

You’re literally twisting your own words but whatever, let’s just move on.

I don’t know about that. Doncic and Kyrie are a nightmare to defend and they look healthy. They both shoot the 3 better than any Celtic.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

What? Lol. I’ll grant you that the Mavs will likely put up a good fight and maybe even win but this is wildly pessimistic when the Celtics are the better team.

Lol…I really don’t understand this. I’m doing cartwheels right now. It’s professional sports, so obviously anything can happen, and the unexpected often does happen, but how can anyone be disappointed that we’re avoiding Denver, Minnesota, and to a lesser degree, Oklahoma City?

 

[borisman]

You’re literally twisting your own words but whatever, let’s just move on.

It's why I hate typing on the phone.
Agreed, let's move on.

 

[borisman]

Have you been watching Tatum this year at all? He whines quite a bit. That said, he has every reason to whine as the refs seem to allow a lot of contact on drives to the hoop.

And if you're going to complain about Doncic's stiff arms, look at Tatum's and Brown's drives to the hoop. Brown does it a lot. It seems to be the way to drive to the hoop with these relaxed rules on contact for drives to the hoop. The refs are letting it go on both sides.

Tatum may cry a lot but at least he doesn't flop. Doncic is certainly top 5 in "cry baby flopper" in the league. And Doncic cries over calls that he has nothing to cry about. He does it so he can get a call or two in his favor later in games.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Celtics did play Mavs in January and didn’t have Porzingis.

Won 119-110 in Dallas.

Luka had a huge game too, and Kyrie played.

 

[Kdo5]

Lol…I really don’t understand this. I’m doing cartwheels right now. It’s professional sports, so obviously anything can happen, and the unexpected often does happen, but how can anyone be disappointed that we’re avoiding Denver, Minnesota, and to a lesser degree, Oklahoma City?

Naturally we’d look at the series now and say “oh playing the team down 0-3 would be so much better”.

No one was saying that a week ago, a lot of people were fear mongering about Minnesota. I’ll take my chances with Dallas. Kyrie has lost most of his games against the Celtics. If they win because Luka absolutely carries them past a stacked Celtics group so be it. I’ll tip my cap and absolutely hate it.

I don’t think that will happen though.

 

[aluminum seats]

So weird to have both series at 3-0. I'd like to go for a hot take here and say one of them is still going to be a series but I don't see it.

I think the best argument for picking Dallas over the Celtics is that they have the best player. And a lot of times that's what you can point to. But apart from that the Celtics are just a better team and should win.

 

[Kdo5]

So weird to have both series at 3-0. I'd like to go for a hot take here and say one of them is still going to be a series but I don't see it.

I think the best argument for picking Dallas over the Celtics is that they have the best player. And a lot of times that's what you can point to. But apart from that the Celtics are just a better team and should win.

If the Wolves can get out of their own heads they can win some games. I think they are the better team on paper.

They are only losing because of horrible performances by their two star players. If those guys put out average/decent performances this is at least a 2-1 series in favor of Minnesota.

 

[jimnance]

Best defensive efficiency in 2024 playoffs:
1. Boston
2. Dallas
Best defensive efficiency over final 6 weeks of regular season:
1.Dallas
Mavs are a problem. They are the best team in the West. Not Denver. Not Minny.
Not OKC.
How they've played the last 2 months- especially in the playoffs- is what matters- not how they played back in January.
They're a different team. They play defense.
Doncic will be be the best player on the floor.
With KP, the C's are better on paper.
W/o him ,I think we lose.
This will be a 7 game series.
Don't take them lightly. They're very capable of winning it all.
If C's play their best and have KP, they should win, but it still goes 7 games.

 

[aluminum seats]

If the Wolves can get out of their own heads they can win some games. I think they are the better team on paper.

They are only losing because of horrible performances by their two star players. If those guys put out average/decent performances this is at least a 2-1 series in favor of Minnesota.

Yep. They've been right there all three games.

I don't think the media did them any favors by annointing Edwards the next Michael Jordan--as of now it doesn't look like he's quite ready for the moment, which isn't a shock

 

[Keep Up With The Joneses]

Best defensive efficiency in 2024 playoffs:
1. Boston
2. Dallas
Best defensive efficiency over final 6 weeks of regular season:
1.Dallas
Mavs are a problem. They are the best team in the West. Not Denver. Not Minny.
Not OKC.
How they've played the last 2 months- especially in the playoffs- is what matters- not how they played back in January.
They're a different team. They play defense.
Doncic will be be the best player on the floor.
With KP, the C's are better on paper.
W/o him ,I think we lose.
This will be a 7 game series.
Don't take them lightly. They're very capable of winning it all.
If C's play their best and have KP, they should win, but it still goes 7 games.

It's worth noting the Mavs have not had the easiest path to the finals, and have knocked out 2 teams (likely soon to be 3) that most Celtics fans didn't want to face. They're playing their best basketball right now. I am in the be careful what you wish for camp. I think many fans here don't necessarily watch WC games and don't realize how good some of these teams are.

Dallas will not be a pushover, with or without Porzingis.

 

[ausbacker]

It's worth noting the Mavs have not had the easiest path to the finals, and have knocked out 2 teams (likely soon to be 3) that most Celtics fans didn't want to face. They're playing their best basketball right now. I am in the be careful what you wish for camp. I think many fans here don't necessarily watch WC games and don't realize how good some of these teams are.

Dallas will not be a pushover, with or without Porzingis.

Dallas won't be a pushover because of Luka. That doesn't mean people here have to acquiesce to the idea Dallas is equal to or better than a full strength Boston.

 

[Zuma]

Dallas is good but they lost 32 regular season games for a reason. I like our odds.

 

[Kdo5]

Best defensive efficiency in 2024 playoffs:
1. Boston
2. Dallas
Best defensive efficiency over final 6 weeks of regular season:
1.Dallas
Mavs are a problem. They are the best team in the West. Not Denver. Not Minny.
Not OKC.
How they've played the last 2 months- especially in the playoffs- is what matters- not how they played back in January.
They're a different team. They play defense.
Doncic will be be the best player on the floor.
With KP, the C's are better on paper.
W/o him ,I think we lose.
This will be a 7 game series.
Don't take them lightly. They're very capable of winning it all.
If C's play their best and have KP, they should win, but it still goes 7 games.

I don't think it will be easy by any means. But on paper the Celtics should win in 5. The talent is way more. If we play poorly it goes 7 for sure so I'll split the difference and say Celtics in 6.

With KP playing the Celtics have 5 of the top 7 players in this series and the gap between #1 and #2 is not particularly large when you consider the defensive element. But the big reason why I feel the scales tip our way is because we have Derrick White and Jrue Holiday.

Of course if we find ourselves sitting here in the waning seconds of game 7 with Kyrie or Luka about to take the final shots my butt will be clenched. Hope it doesn’t reach that point.

 

[RobertWeathers]

It's worth noting the Mavs have not had the easiest path to the finals, and have knocked out 2 teams (likely soon to be 3) that most Celtics fans didn't want to face. They're playing their best basketball right now. I am in the be careful what you wish for camp. I think many fans here don't necessarily watch WC games and don't realize how good some of these teams are.

Dallas will not be a pushover, with or without Porzingis.

I agree.

Dallas is scary right now.

 

[jimnance]

Ok, let's close this suckah OUT!!
Ya FEEL me? Wait, forget that.
Let's get Big Al in particular some rest, get Jrue healthy, Kornet ready and KP gets 10 more days to heal.
Go C's!!

 

[Brick27]

How the hell do you let that happen at the end of the quarter after having the wherewithal to give a foul and have them inbound?

 

[jimnance]

Nemhard killin' us again.
Pritchard is the only C who can guard him.
C's up 2 at the half.
About what I expected. Pacers playing hard. They won't go down easy. I've got new respect for them.
If C's put out the effort, we should grind them down in the end.

 

[aluminum seats]

Halftime talking head: "the Celtics should be in this position, they've got their whole team together…"

Um, ok

 

[Brick27]

Realize ESPN has to dictate their commentary and discussion to the fact everyone watching who isn’t a Celtics fan wants them to lose this one. Even Doris is calling out these non calls for the Pacers though as the other two defend them.