Celtics 2024-2025 Discussion

[Real fan 02]

The Tatum-Brown Celtics era is full of counterintuitive stuff like that.

They swept Knicks in the season series. It was inevitable the Knicks would win a few games. Let's hope the NBAs best road team can even up the series and win it at home in game 6.

 

[Thelonious]

This team deserves a competent coach rather than some ******** artist.

 

[turkeyneck]

Thats a stretch. Every NBA champion that doesn't repeat is an anomaly.

Just saying that this looks and feels a lot more like 2023 than like 2024.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Just saying that this looks and feels a lot more like 2023 than like 2024.

I get it. At this point, it's seems like a systemic failure (health, questionable coaching decisions, and erratic, unfocused play) and not just coaching.

This group of players has a 3 year track record of going deep in the playoffs. Throughout that journey, we've seen some really bad playoff games..but more often than not they've answered the bell.

In 2023 they went to G7 of the ECF.

In 2022 they went to The Finals.

Last year they won the NBA Championship.

Now, to @Tunescribe 's point, if this becomes a 1983esque Celtics playoff disaster (swept by MIL in 4 games in semis and Fitch was fired because they stopped listening to him) there is no question Mazzula needs to answer some questions.

We'll see.

 

[Real fan 02]

I get it. At this point, it's seems like a systemic failure (health, questionable coaching decisions, and erratic, unfocused play) and not just coaching.

This group of players has a 3 year track record of going deep in the playoffs. Throughout that journey, we've seen some really bad playoff games..but more often than not they've answered the bell.

In 2023 they went to G7 of the ECF.

In 2022 they went to The Finals.

Last year they won the NBA Championship.

Now, to @Tunescribe 's point, if this becomes a 1983esque Celtics playoff disaster (swept by MIL in 4 games in semis and Fitch was fired because they stopped listening to him) there is no question Mazzula needs to answer some questions.

We'll see.

Great points. I don't want to accept this. Buy why does it feel like we will be swept? Of course not saying it will happen .. but why does it feel that way? Trying to get a voice of reasoning/optimism.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Great points. I don't want to accept this. Buy why does it feel like we will be swept? Of course not saying it will happen .. but why does it feel that way? Trying to get a voice of reasoning/optimism.

I don't think they'll be swept. They are too good of a team and mentally tough on the road. They've been there/done that.

To your point, they've been a bit lax at home this year but straighten up on the road. That is clearly a focus issue.

They are more mature - and better than the team that got down to MIA 0-3 in 2023.

They are shooting 25% from 3 and 36% from the field. You can't shoot worse than that. It's unsustainable. NY's D has been a tick above but they don't have the physicality or the length ORL did.

They'll win on Sat.

 

[ViperGTS]

If they lose this series it devalues the 24 title a good amount. It also drops Tatum completely out of the top 5 conversation. He doesn't make me feel scared like a prime Kawhai, Curry, Lebron, Pierce, KG, you name it. He just doesn't dominate the way that a top 5 guy should. Night and and night out he should be dropping near 30 but he just doesn't.

 

[RobertWeathers]

If they lose this series it devalues the 24 title a good amount. It also drops Tatum completely out of the top 5 conversation. He doesn't make me feel scared like a prime Kawhai, Curry, Lebron, Pierce, KG, you name it. He just doesn't dominate the way that a top 5 guy should. Night and and night out he should be dropping near 30 but he just doesn't.

That means every team that won a title and failed the following year also experiences a de-valuation from the previous title.

Your mind is already made up on Tatum.

 

[Real fan 02]

I don't think they'll be swept. They are too good of a team and mentally tough on the road. They've been there/done that.

To your point, they've been a bit lax at home this year but straighten up on the road. That is clearly a focus issue.

They are more mature - and better than the team that got down to MIA 0-3 in 2023.

They are shooting 25% from 3 and 36% from the field. You can't shoot worse than that. It's unsustainable. NY's D has been a tick above but they don't have the physicality or the length ORL did.

They'll win on Sat.

Your right. Takes us fans 24 hours to digest losses... well some of us. Those FG % you mentioned are awful. That's why I mentioned to you yesterday regarding thier offense. This team is an elite offense. I know the playoffs things are intense. But yes Orlando was a much tougher opponent and they aren't going anywhere. If we do get past the Knicks.. the Pacers are a dangerous team.

 

[ViperGTS]

That means every team that won a title and failed the following year also experiences a de-valuation from the previous title.

Your mind is already made up on Tatum.

Thats not true. All the "they played nobody" talk will be validated. He ain't Bird thats for sure. He doesn't have the FU instinct that Bird did. Brown is actually closer, but 3 points in the second half..that dog doesn't hunt either.

**** neither of them are even on Pierces' level. I have been a huge Tatum defender, but I am sorely disappointed in his performance and decision making late in games. 12 second, ball in Tatums hands, for the first time I didn't think they had a chance to win.

 

[Real fan 02]

Thats not true. All the "they played nobody" talk will be validated. He ain't Bird thats for sure. He doesn't have the FU instinct that Bird did. Brown is actually closer, but 3 points in the second half..that dog doesn't hunt either.

**** neither of them are even on Pierces' level. I have been a huge Tatum defender, but I am sorely disappointed in his performance and decision making late in games. 12 second, ball in Tatums hands, for the first time I didn't think they had a chance to win.

The only thing I can muster up is the hand/wrist is ailing him. Once the lead was cut to 5 points I knew the game was over.. I even posted 2-0...

To @RobertWeathers points they have been here before and have alot of experience.

The difference is these are self inflicted losses. If they lose Saturday then it's over.

 

[RobertWeathers]

Thats not true. All the "they played nobody" talk will be validated.

They go to 2 of of the last 3 Finals and a G7 of the ECF but they haven't played anyone. Got it.

He ain't Bird thats for sure. He doesn't have the FU instinct that Bird did. Brown is actually closer, but 3 points in the second half..that dog doesn't hunt either.
**** neither of them are even on Pierces' level. I have been a huge Tatum defender, but I am sorely disappointed in his performance and decision making late in games. 12 second, ball in Tatums hands, for the first time I didn't think they had a chance to win.

Larry is a top 5 GOAT. He should never been spoken in the same breath as Tatum unless he wins 3 more titles and 3 MVPs. Tatum has made plenty of game winners and kicked ass in G7s. Like I said, your mind has already been made up.

Please on Pierce. Truth didn't become Truth until KG and Ray Ray joined and was 30. Then he got his currency. Before that he scored a lot of points on a mediocre team and he wanted to be traded. Tatum is a superior player by far.

Look- I think you are still angry and making judgements irrationally.

 

[aluminum seats]

Thats not true. All the "they played nobody" talk will be validated. He ain't Bird thats for sure. He doesn't have the FU instinct that Bird did. Brown is actually closer, but 3 points in the second half..that dog doesn't hunt either.

**** neither of them are even on Pierces' level. I have been a huge Tatum defender, but I am sorely disappointed in his performance and decision making late in games. 12 second, ball in Tatums hands, for the first time I didn't think they had a chance to win.

Just keep in mind that the story of this series hasn’t been finished yet.

 

[ViperGTS]

They go to 2 of of the last 3 Finals and a G7 of the ECF but they haven't played anyone. Got it.


Larry is a top 5 GOAT. He should never been spoken in the same breath as Tatum unless he wins 3 more titles and 3 MVPs. Tatum has made plenty of game winners and kicked ass in G7s. Like I said, your mind has already been made up.

Please on Pierce. Truth didn't become Truth until KG and Ray Ray joined and was 30. Then he got his currency. Before that he scored a lot of points on a mediocre team and he wanted to be traded. Tatum is a superior player by far.

Look- I think you are still angry and making judgements irrationally.

No I'm not angry at all just disappointed that I drank the Kool Aid. These past two games were games I watched, time and time again before last season and winning the title. Poor decisions, leads vanishing, piss poor defensive rotations leaving wide open shooters and Brown getting stripped of the ball left and right.

It's almost like last year never happened.

 

[bresna]

I've been reading the comments here and it has made me hesitant to post my thoughts. I was actually at the game. A last minute invite had me sitting in Loge 11 down near the floor. Fantastic seats. I got an up close view of a lot of those crappy shots. Man, they sucked big time.

Maybe it was different on TV, but while the main reason they lost was ****ty shooting and an inability to make clean passes, there was some serious **** going on with the referring, especially near the end. Yes, they were letting a lot go on both sides of the ball, but whenever they decided to tighten things up, it was always on the Celtics. CAT got a bunch of calls down low but when Brown tried the same thing, no whistle. Tell me this, with the way they were calling this game, why did they give Brunson that foul with 5 seconds left? Yeah, it was a foul, but so were about 30 or 40 other shots taken by both teams.

The NBA seems to want rugby out there. Fine. It'll just be one less Boston sport team I have to follow. This stuff, especially with the randomness of the calls, makes it almost unwatchable.

A couple of other points...
Why the hell didn't they hold the ball for the last shot instead of running Tatum to the hole? To me, it looked like the Knicks let Tatum get that jam. It gave them the ball with 15 seconds. Oh yeah... and they actually have players that can hit clutch shots, unlike this Celtics team, so they weren't worried about that jam putting them down by 1.

Did I witness one of the worst free throws in post season history last night? Holy cow, was that bad. I've never heard an entire stadium erupt in laughter at a basketball game before.

Why the hell did Tatum take that ball down into triple coverage at the end? That was BS.

 

[ViperGTS]

I've been reading the comments here and it has made me hesitant to post my thoughts. I was actually at the game. A last minute invite had me sitting in Loge 11 down near the floor. Fantastic seats. I got an up close view of a lot of those crappy shots. Man, they sucked big time.

Maybe it was different on TV, but while the main reason they lost was ****ty shooting and an inability to make clean passes, there was some serious **** going on with the referring, especially near the end. Yes, they were letting a lot go on both sides of the ball, but whenever they decided to tighten things up, it was always on the Celtics. CAT got a bunch of calls down low but when Brown tried the same thing, no whistle. Tell me this, with the way they were calling this game, why did they give Brunson that foul with 5 seconds left? Yeah, it was a foul, but so were about 30 or 40 other shots taken by both teams.

The NBA seems to want rugby out there. Fine. It'll just be one less Boston sport team I have to follow. This stuff, especially with the randomness of the calls, makes it almost unwatchable.

A couple of other points...
Why the hell didn't they hold the ball for the last shot instead of running Tatum to the hole? To me, it looked like the Knicks let Tatum get that jam. It gave them the ball with 15 seconds. Oh yeah... and they actually have players that can hit clutch shots, unlike this Celtics team, so they weren't worried about that jam putting them down by 1.

Did I witness one of the worst free throws in post season history last night? Holy cow, was that bad. I've never heard an entire stadium erupt in laughter at a basketball game before.

Why the hell did Tatum take that ball down into triple coverage at the end? That was BS.

Yeah on Tatum's dunk at the time it felt like an NFL team letting a guy score so they can get the ball back. It only got them a 1 point lead so any basket at the other end gives them the lead. So yeah, it wasn't great and you are right about the refs, they are pretty bad overall. The Cs don't have a player, that if they have the bal in their hands with 15 seconds to go, as an opposing fan you get that pit in your stomach just knowing they are gonna hit it. They have ZERO of those type of players.

 

[Kdo5]

If they lose the series there is one main conclusion to me: Joe’s gotta go. That’s not to take heat off the players but he has been bad.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Yeah on Tatum's dunk at the time it felt like an NFL team letting a guy score so they can get the ball back. It only got them a 1 point lead so any basket at the other end gives them the lead. So yeah, it wasn't great and you are right about the refs, they are pretty bad overall. The Cs don't have a player, that if they have the bal in their hands with 15 seconds to go, as an opposing fan you get that pit in your stomach just knowing they are gonna hit it. They have ZERO of those type of players.

They do. Derrick White.

 

[Ice_Ice_Brady]

Why the hell did Tatum take that ball down into triple coverage at the end? That was BS.

Have you watched the team the last three years? That’s their prime play at the end of every half, quarter, and especially do-or-die.

 

[aluminum seats]

Have you watched the team the last three years? That’s their prime play at the end of every half, quarter, and especially do-or-die.

If there’s one thing I would hold against Mazzulla, it’s that.