Celtics 2023 - 2024 Discussion

[raduray]

Luka with only one assist. I was on my feet laughing out loud during that Pirzingis explosion in the first quarter, it was such fun. Will be interesting to see how Dallas adjusts.

 

[Kdo5]

Porzingis was great as expected, but what's really fantastic about this game is that everyone stayed within themselves. Brown was the best version of himself, and Tatum is focused only on winning. That's a great freaking win.

People will try to rip Tatum but he was playing to win, not trying to hog spotlight. Growth from him, he did the other things to help us win. I think he was also the top in +/-

He is impacting the game in other ways.

 

[aluminum seats]

People will try to rip Tatum but he was playing to win, not trying to hog spotlight. Growth from him, he did the other things to help us win. I think he was also the top in +/-

He is impacting the game in other ways.

1000%

He's doing what the greats do, giving the team whatever it needs

 

[BUSTAMOVE]

Dallas you can
Suck my Zingas

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Would anyone still rather play Denver or Minnesota?

 

[Kdo5]

Would anyone still rather play Denver or Minnesota?

So glad that Denver got knocked out. I think Dallas’s role players were useless this game on the offensive end. The game-plan ended up being Luka/Kyrie iso ball.

It’s going to be very hard for Dallas to win that way, especially since the C’s are purposely making Doncic work on the defensive end. He scored 30, yes, but I thought he looked tired out there. He needs help and not just from Kyrie who was abysmal himself.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

So glad that Denver got knocked out. I think Dallas’s role players were useless this game on the offensive end. The game-plan ended up being Luka/Kyrie iso ball.

It’s going to be very hard for Dallas to win that way, especially since the C’s are purposely making Doncic work on the defensive end. He scored 30, yes, but I thought he looked tired out there. He needs help and not just from Kyrie who was abysmal himself.

A big issue with both Luka and Kyrie is that “they need help” but never get it because they’re both so ball centric.

Luka had Porzingis and Brunson and other good offensive players but never clicked with any.

They got Kyrie because they basically have two silo’d superstar players who happen to be on the court together but have zero synergy and collaboration, both just gets the ball and runs his own show.

That’s why the overhype the past week has been so nauseating, as if all of the past criticism was invalid that both players struggle to integrate other solid contributors.

All of a sudden they’re two historically great, unstoppable, infallible players.

 

[Kdo5]

I wanted to give some flowers to a guy Ive been particularly hard on. Hauser had some really strong minutes defensively and drained two threes. Just seeing him go one on one against Luka and have success? Good stuff.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Just wanted to give some flowers to a guy Ive been particularly hard on. Hauser had some really good minutes defensively and drained two threes.

That strip of Luka in Q1 was hillarious.

It makes a huge difference when he’s hot.

 

[denverpatsfan]

Wow!

 

[patfanken]

This was EXACTLY the way I hoped the game would go. The Cs have 6 guys in double digits and Dallas has just 6 TOTAL assists of which Luka has just one! That was my favorite stat of the night.

Dallas simply cannot match up man to man with the Cs, ESPECIALLY when Kyrie and Luka are on the floor. I wouldn't be surprised to see the Mav's come out in some kind of a zone. Kind of a match up zone concept perhaps.

Our J's BOTH played so well on BOTH ends of the court and because of their unselfish play, they elevated the rest of the team. Christ Hauser was 3 and 0 on his first 3 match ups with Luka. In fact the only negative you can take from this game is PP's worst shooting night of the playoffs (0 for 7). A night that is very unlikely to happen again.

 

[UrbanCowboy]

Porzingas was a monster tonight! The difference. Tatum and Brown solid. Holliday is such a big-game player. White was the only one who seemed off. One down!

 

[Kdo5]

I think that this game was eye opening from the stand point of the opponents offense. Indiana's offense was crazy good and everyone was moving around. Defending the Mavs seems to be significantly less daunting. Luka and Kyrie can go off but their offense is way more simple.

Side note: listening to the radio and they addressed something I was thinking. Luka was playing up his knee injury, grimacing when he missed shots. The excuses are being lined up if they go down 0-2.

 

[IcyPatriot]

Tatum led both teams will 11 boards.
Tied with 5 assists.
39% total fg average is damn good. 6/16 and 3/7.

In total a mature leader who each play knows where he fits in...he will still get bashed ... he is just not jaylen brown ... or any one of the top 15 in the league who are alphas. Jaylen Brown plays great ... but he does not play like Tatum wish the media would see this.

 

[VrabelJr]

This series is going 5 games max. I saw the look on the players in the Dallas Mavericks’ bench and that told me all I needed to know. If a team beats you like that and you feel like you got goosed then you’re loose and chatty. Not them. They had a look on their faces like they just saw their two best players get pantsed and don’t have any answers.

 

[Clonamery]

I'm just rooting for the NBA season to be over.

You that Dirty Harry fella?

 

[1960Pats]

It feels like the old days when I was confident that the Celtics would win. That hasn't been the case recently.

Tatum is playing with a Bird-like all around game.
Brown and White are playing better than ever.
KP and Holiday have added some punch on offense and defense.
Al, Kornet, Hauser and Pritchard are no slouches either.
And Joe Mazzulla may actually be a good HC. Who knew?

 

[aluminum seats]

I wanted to give some flowers to a guy Ive been particularly hard on

A little OT, but when did everyone start saying this? I feel like I hear "give someone their flowers" three times a day lately

 

[1960Pats]

The old Belichick approach when your greatest strength is a single unstoppable offensive player. Let 'em eat. We'll starve the rest of your team.

That was also the Auerbach strategy against Wilt.

 

[varjao]

Great win, game was over before half time, Mavs attempted a comeback but the Celtics quickly reestablished their dominance, no answers.
Jason Kidd played Luka almost 40 minutes with a banged up knee in a lost game, that for me will have a big impact on Dallas chances.