Celtics Playoffs 2024
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worcester
pete
jrleftfoot
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cowens/oldschool
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bobheckler
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16 posters
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Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
New poll needed.
Knicks or Pacer. Which team would you prefer, not that the Celtics have any control over that.
Knicks or Pacer. Which team would you prefer, not that the Celtics have any control over that.
dboss- Posts : 19221
Join date : 2009-11-01
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
you know, this is a tough one. I am really torn, especially the way Brunon and Hart are playing. Thibbs seems to have an edge here. Then again Indy is a tough team, remember they beat us in the tournament. I am on the fence
RosalieTCeltics- Posts : 41267
Join date : 2009-10-17
Age : 77
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
I was wrong about - well, Horford’s legs, to pick one. And I’ve never been happier about being wrong.
(er, “mistaken“? <g>. Nope - wrong. ).
How sweet it was to see the game he had. That the team had, too, but man - all the so-called “little things” - they’re not really “little”, of course, they just don’t make 30 second highlight vid’s out of them - all those were on full display. It was the leadership we needed - the “sense of Urgency” he brought was Key.
I was wrong too when I got all Chicken Little about the Timberpups defense. Not so much about how terrifying it looked in the first 2 games in Denver, but wrong in thinking they could sustain the energy and effectiveness of it.
i was thinking about (worrying about) our Celtics hitting that.
I hope KP’s calf and Etc heal well, so that he’s physically strong and resilient. His joy about being out there seems like as big a a contribution to the team as his skill set.
CL aka Bigpygme
PS
Bob Heckler put this random note out-
“I went to see “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” and there were THIRTY MINUTES OF PREVIEWS! Thirty! How is that legal?
(MY NOTE: You've apparently never watched an NBA game on network TV) [Bob Heckler]
Cracked me up ! It’s been some yrs since I checked in regularly here, bob heckler, and I’ve always liked catching what you have to say.
(er, “mistaken“? <g>. Nope - wrong. ).
How sweet it was to see the game he had. That the team had, too, but man - all the so-called “little things” - they’re not really “little”, of course, they just don’t make 30 second highlight vid’s out of them - all those were on full display. It was the leadership we needed - the “sense of Urgency” he brought was Key.
I was wrong too when I got all Chicken Little about the Timberpups defense. Not so much about how terrifying it looked in the first 2 games in Denver, but wrong in thinking they could sustain the energy and effectiveness of it.
i was thinking about (worrying about) our Celtics hitting that.
I hope KP’s calf and Etc heal well, so that he’s physically strong and resilient. His joy about being out there seems like as big a a contribution to the team as his skill set.
CL aka Bigpygme
PS
Bob Heckler put this random note out-
“I went to see “Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes,” and there were THIRTY MINUTES OF PREVIEWS! Thirty! How is that legal?
(MY NOTE: You've apparently never watched an NBA game on network TV) [Bob Heckler]
Cracked me up ! It’s been some yrs since I checked in regularly here, bob heckler, and I’ve always liked catching what you have to say.
bigpygme- Posts : 1202
Join date : 2009-10-18
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
I'd prefer the third option...a FORFEIT by either team on general principles!! I'm thinking JT wants to go into MSG and shut them all up for their two home games and sweep them as we would have won the first two at home as JT has promised us!! I'll take NYK.
db
db
dbrown4- Posts : 5614
Join date : 2009-10-29
Age : 61
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
I must have heard wrong. I thought if NYK wins tonight, we start up Sunday. Have they moved this start to Tuesday regardless? But I like this. More rest.
db
db
dbrown4- Posts : 5614
Join date : 2009-10-29
Age : 61
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
db
I had read something different that indicated a Knicks win tonight would start the ECF on Sunday but it shows the earliest start date for the Celtics is Tuesday. So the Celtics get 6 days off.
That's good news because it gives the Celtics more prep time. We went 4-1 vs the knicks and 3-2 vs the Pacers.
Both of those teams made mid-season trades and we have yet to play against either team with their new additions and/or subtractions. Interestingly the play-in tournament resulted in us playing 5 regular season games against both teams. That is rare indeed.
I am pulling for the Pacers to win tonight because it will force a 7th game. That should take a bite out of each team.
I had read something different that indicated a Knicks win tonight would start the ECF on Sunday but it shows the earliest start date for the Celtics is Tuesday. So the Celtics get 6 days off.
That's good news because it gives the Celtics more prep time. We went 4-1 vs the knicks and 3-2 vs the Pacers.
Both of those teams made mid-season trades and we have yet to play against either team with their new additions and/or subtractions. Interestingly the play-in tournament resulted in us playing 5 regular season games against both teams. That is rare indeed.
I am pulling for the Pacers to win tonight because it will force a 7th game. That should take a bite out of each team.
dboss- Posts : 19221
Join date : 2009-11-01
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5498299/2024/05/16/jaylen-brown-celtics-knicks-pacers-nba-playoffs/?source=freedailyemail&campaign=601983&userId=13921316
Jaylen Brown says playing nice in NBA playoffs is over: ‘Embrace that villain’
Jay King
May 16, 2024
BOSTON – Late Wednesday night, after the Boston Celtics had turned off their celebratory postgame music, Jeff Van Gundy mimicked raising a banner on one side of the team’s locker room. If this was college basketball, the senior consultant told a few nearby players, the Celtics would have been raising another Final Four banner.
Van Gundy, who reached the conference finals twice during a well-respected head coaching career, was sharing his perspective on the Celtics’ recent success. During a short conversation, he reminded the players how difficult it is to win one playoff game, let alone a series. In other words, he seemed to be saying, appreciate the accomplishments when they come. The Celtics have not won a championship since 2008, but, by closing out the Cleveland Cavaliers in a five-game second-round series, they secured an Eastern Conference finals berth Wednesday for the sixth time in the last eight seasons.
Such sustained relevance is rare. Jaylen Brown, whom Boston drafted in 2016, has been part of all those “Final Four” berths. The Celtics’ win against Cleveland gave him more conference finals appearances (six) than 13 franchises, though the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets will each have a chance to tie Brown’s mark in the coming days. He has advanced past the first round in every season of his eight-year career but one — and, in the lone exception, he missed Boston’s first-round series after season-ending wrist surgery. With Brown on the roster, the Celtics have almost always been in the contending mix, though they have never won the ring he so badly wants.
“It’s easy to keep (the success) in perspective when you’ve lost all six times,” Brown said. “Yeah, it’s a blessing, but what keeps it in perspective is that I haven’t gotten over that hump but one time to go to the (NBA) Finals. So that keeps everything in perspective right there.”
Brown first reached the Eastern Conference finals as a 20-year-old rookie playing a minor role. At 27, he is now a three-time All-Star, a reigning member of the All-NBA second team and one of the highest-paid players in basketball. His team’s consistent success through the years has helped keep him in the spotlight, but the attention hasn’t always been positive. While sitting in front of his locker, he reflected on how he once struggled to handle the pressures of starring for such a prominent team before eventually learning how to ignore the scrutiny that accompanies the job.
“It’s a blessing,” Brown told The Athletic. “There’s definitely been pressure but you handle it and you take it one step at a time. You don’t give in. To me, there’s only one direction you can go and that’s growing and getting better. That’s how I kind of look at it. I block out everything at times and just be the best version of yourself, add value to your team.”
Jaylen Brown has used the defeats of playoffs past to help propel him this season. (Adam Glanzman / Getty Images)
If the Celtics are under a less forgiving lens than their fellow contenders, that’s one price they pay for being so close to championship level over the years, but never quite good enough. They have accomplished enough to raise the expectations on them to championship or bust. They have won enough to ensure their greatest failures have come on the biggest stages, in front of the most eyeballs. They have lived near the top long enough to provide all the critics with plenty of opportunities to see their flaws. At times, it has been easy to pick them apart.
“It is what it is,” Brown said. “I’ve accepted that. Personally, the amount of criticism you get, no matter how well you do, it’s always going to be the criticism that comes first. I’ve struggled with that at times, but as I get older in my career, it is what it is. I come out, I put my best foot forward, I get better every year, I add to winning, I make my teammates around me better, I empower my teammates around me and I celebrate the city as best I possibly can. It is what it is but I’m grateful to be here.”
Even now, with the Celtics having followed a 64-win regular season by racking up a dominant plus-12.8 net rating over the first two rounds of the playoffs, plenty of the discussion about them has focused on their potential downfalls. And that’s after seven double-digit wins in two quick series wins. Imagine what the analysts will say if the Celtics ever actually struggle later in the postseason.
Despite a Game 2 loss in each series, the Celtics have cruised so far. They dispatched the Miami Heat without Jimmy Butler in five games, then did the same to the Cavaliers without Jarrett Allen. Boston led Cleveland 2-1 before a calf injury sidelined Donovan Mitchell for the remainder of the second-round series. The Cavaliers still made the final two games of the series competitive, but the Celtics controlled the key moments of each game.
Despite the bad injury luck for their opponents, Brown didn’t want to hear anything about the idea the Celtics have had an easy path so far. (For their part, the Celtics closed out the Heat and beat the Cavaliers without starting center Kristaps Porziņģis.)
“I don’t think there’s any such thing as an easy path,” Brown said. “We’ve gotta come out and play. … I’ve got no comment on that (notion). And we’re not going to apologize for winning.”
To keep on winning, the Celtics will need to beat either the New York Knicks or Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals.
“‘Definitely gotta get ready to just bring it,” Brown said. “Both of those teams play hard as s—. That’s what you’ve gotta be ready for. It’s just, how bad do you want it? Those dudes are out there putting their lives on the line, it seems like. They’re diving for loose balls, pulling hamstrings, whatever. How much are we willing to do that? That’s going to be the key.”
The Celtics have usually been up to the challenge during Brown’s tenure. Only 13 active players have more postseason wins than his 66. Still, his playoff runs have always ended badly. During last season’s Eastern Conference finals, he committed eight turnovers in a Game 7 loss to the Heat. He left that game knowing he needed to tighten up his skills.
If the Celtics win a championship, it might be because of how much stronger past playoff losses have made them. They have gifted Brown with valuable experience. They have provided him with a mirror to see his weaknesses closely. They have given the critics fodder, and in turn, forced Brown to add another layer of resiliency.
“Whatever you do is going to be scrutinized — or no matter how good you are, it’s never going to be enough or (bring) any praise or any media attention,” Brown said. “It’s tough, but at the same time it is what it is. You’ve gotta embrace that villain. And as I’m getting older I’m starting to embrace it more. Embracing not giving a f— whether they see (his value) or don’t see it, whether they appreciate it or don’t appreciate it. I’m focused on helping my team, helping my family, helping the city and I go from there.”
How do the Celtics keep rolling up deep playoff runs? Not many teams can take hits and keep on building like they have. Their roster has been overhauled several times during this run of Eastern Conference finals appearances. With Brown and Jayson Tatum, Boston has shuffled through three head coaches, all of whom have taken the team to the third playoff round at least once. Some teams fade after crushing losses. Not the Celtics. Not so far, at least. They seem to keep coming back stronger no matter how much pain they endure. And they have experienced plenty of pain over Brown’s eight seasons, some of it self-inflicted.
Brown has come back stronger, too.
“It’s just a mindset where I don’t care if you boo or celebrate,” Brown said. “I don’t allow the emotion of appreciation or the emotion of scrutiny to have any effect whatsoever.”
Through 10 playoff games, Brown has averaged 23.1 points per game on 55.4 percent shooting. He has cut down his turnovers while scoring more efficiently than ever. He has worked hard on his all-around game. After he attempted only nine shots Wednesday in an 11-point outing, he said Van Gundy told him nobody would give him the proper credit for how sharp a game he played. Brown finished with seven assists, including three in the fourth quarter as the Celtics pulled away.
They have reached the Eastern Conference finals again. The pressure over the years could have broken them, but didn’t.
“It almost makes you stoic a little bit,” Brown said. “I feel like I’ve adopted that over the last years. And I’m embracing it even more: Just be a robot. Just come out here and do what you’ve gotta do. And that’s it.”
Bob
.
Jaylen Brown says playing nice in NBA playoffs is over: ‘Embrace that villain’
Jay King
May 16, 2024
BOSTON – Late Wednesday night, after the Boston Celtics had turned off their celebratory postgame music, Jeff Van Gundy mimicked raising a banner on one side of the team’s locker room. If this was college basketball, the senior consultant told a few nearby players, the Celtics would have been raising another Final Four banner.
Van Gundy, who reached the conference finals twice during a well-respected head coaching career, was sharing his perspective on the Celtics’ recent success. During a short conversation, he reminded the players how difficult it is to win one playoff game, let alone a series. In other words, he seemed to be saying, appreciate the accomplishments when they come. The Celtics have not won a championship since 2008, but, by closing out the Cleveland Cavaliers in a five-game second-round series, they secured an Eastern Conference finals berth Wednesday for the sixth time in the last eight seasons.
Such sustained relevance is rare. Jaylen Brown, whom Boston drafted in 2016, has been part of all those “Final Four” berths. The Celtics’ win against Cleveland gave him more conference finals appearances (six) than 13 franchises, though the Dallas Mavericks and Denver Nuggets will each have a chance to tie Brown’s mark in the coming days. He has advanced past the first round in every season of his eight-year career but one — and, in the lone exception, he missed Boston’s first-round series after season-ending wrist surgery. With Brown on the roster, the Celtics have almost always been in the contending mix, though they have never won the ring he so badly wants.
“It’s easy to keep (the success) in perspective when you’ve lost all six times,” Brown said. “Yeah, it’s a blessing, but what keeps it in perspective is that I haven’t gotten over that hump but one time to go to the (NBA) Finals. So that keeps everything in perspective right there.”
Brown first reached the Eastern Conference finals as a 20-year-old rookie playing a minor role. At 27, he is now a three-time All-Star, a reigning member of the All-NBA second team and one of the highest-paid players in basketball. His team’s consistent success through the years has helped keep him in the spotlight, but the attention hasn’t always been positive. While sitting in front of his locker, he reflected on how he once struggled to handle the pressures of starring for such a prominent team before eventually learning how to ignore the scrutiny that accompanies the job.
“It’s a blessing,” Brown told The Athletic. “There’s definitely been pressure but you handle it and you take it one step at a time. You don’t give in. To me, there’s only one direction you can go and that’s growing and getting better. That’s how I kind of look at it. I block out everything at times and just be the best version of yourself, add value to your team.”
Jaylen Brown has used the defeats of playoffs past to help propel him this season. (Adam Glanzman / Getty Images)
If the Celtics are under a less forgiving lens than their fellow contenders, that’s one price they pay for being so close to championship level over the years, but never quite good enough. They have accomplished enough to raise the expectations on them to championship or bust. They have won enough to ensure their greatest failures have come on the biggest stages, in front of the most eyeballs. They have lived near the top long enough to provide all the critics with plenty of opportunities to see their flaws. At times, it has been easy to pick them apart.
“It is what it is,” Brown said. “I’ve accepted that. Personally, the amount of criticism you get, no matter how well you do, it’s always going to be the criticism that comes first. I’ve struggled with that at times, but as I get older in my career, it is what it is. I come out, I put my best foot forward, I get better every year, I add to winning, I make my teammates around me better, I empower my teammates around me and I celebrate the city as best I possibly can. It is what it is but I’m grateful to be here.”
Even now, with the Celtics having followed a 64-win regular season by racking up a dominant plus-12.8 net rating over the first two rounds of the playoffs, plenty of the discussion about them has focused on their potential downfalls. And that’s after seven double-digit wins in two quick series wins. Imagine what the analysts will say if the Celtics ever actually struggle later in the postseason.
Despite a Game 2 loss in each series, the Celtics have cruised so far. They dispatched the Miami Heat without Jimmy Butler in five games, then did the same to the Cavaliers without Jarrett Allen. Boston led Cleveland 2-1 before a calf injury sidelined Donovan Mitchell for the remainder of the second-round series. The Cavaliers still made the final two games of the series competitive, but the Celtics controlled the key moments of each game.
Despite the bad injury luck for their opponents, Brown didn’t want to hear anything about the idea the Celtics have had an easy path so far. (For their part, the Celtics closed out the Heat and beat the Cavaliers without starting center Kristaps Porziņģis.)
“I don’t think there’s any such thing as an easy path,” Brown said. “We’ve gotta come out and play. … I’ve got no comment on that (notion). And we’re not going to apologize for winning.”
To keep on winning, the Celtics will need to beat either the New York Knicks or Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals.
“‘Definitely gotta get ready to just bring it,” Brown said. “Both of those teams play hard as s—. That’s what you’ve gotta be ready for. It’s just, how bad do you want it? Those dudes are out there putting their lives on the line, it seems like. They’re diving for loose balls, pulling hamstrings, whatever. How much are we willing to do that? That’s going to be the key.”
The Celtics have usually been up to the challenge during Brown’s tenure. Only 13 active players have more postseason wins than his 66. Still, his playoff runs have always ended badly. During last season’s Eastern Conference finals, he committed eight turnovers in a Game 7 loss to the Heat. He left that game knowing he needed to tighten up his skills.
If the Celtics win a championship, it might be because of how much stronger past playoff losses have made them. They have gifted Brown with valuable experience. They have provided him with a mirror to see his weaknesses closely. They have given the critics fodder, and in turn, forced Brown to add another layer of resiliency.
“Whatever you do is going to be scrutinized — or no matter how good you are, it’s never going to be enough or (bring) any praise or any media attention,” Brown said. “It’s tough, but at the same time it is what it is. You’ve gotta embrace that villain. And as I’m getting older I’m starting to embrace it more. Embracing not giving a f— whether they see (his value) or don’t see it, whether they appreciate it or don’t appreciate it. I’m focused on helping my team, helping my family, helping the city and I go from there.”
How do the Celtics keep rolling up deep playoff runs? Not many teams can take hits and keep on building like they have. Their roster has been overhauled several times during this run of Eastern Conference finals appearances. With Brown and Jayson Tatum, Boston has shuffled through three head coaches, all of whom have taken the team to the third playoff round at least once. Some teams fade after crushing losses. Not the Celtics. Not so far, at least. They seem to keep coming back stronger no matter how much pain they endure. And they have experienced plenty of pain over Brown’s eight seasons, some of it self-inflicted.
Brown has come back stronger, too.
“It’s just a mindset where I don’t care if you boo or celebrate,” Brown said. “I don’t allow the emotion of appreciation or the emotion of scrutiny to have any effect whatsoever.”
Through 10 playoff games, Brown has averaged 23.1 points per game on 55.4 percent shooting. He has cut down his turnovers while scoring more efficiently than ever. He has worked hard on his all-around game. After he attempted only nine shots Wednesday in an 11-point outing, he said Van Gundy told him nobody would give him the proper credit for how sharp a game he played. Brown finished with seven assists, including three in the fourth quarter as the Celtics pulled away.
They have reached the Eastern Conference finals again. The pressure over the years could have broken them, but didn’t.
“It almost makes you stoic a little bit,” Brown said. “I feel like I’ve adopted that over the last years. And I’m embracing it even more: Just be a robot. Just come out here and do what you’ve gotta do. And that’s it.”
Bob
.
bobheckler- Posts : 62620
Join date : 2009-10-28
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
As KP continues to recover from his unfortunate calf injury, the Celtics will have to win round 3 without his services. If we are lucky maybe he gets back in the middle of the next series but the Celtics must stay focused on winning without him again.
Brad Stevens knew that he needed to sure up our center position and he made the trade to acquire Tillman and he converted Queta to a regular contract. While Tillman has played a few minutes, Queta has been glued to the bench. They may need him vs NY but definitely against a big strong physical team like Minnesota. I think we will need a lot more physicality moving forward.
It appears to me that CJ has SH on a short leash. I cannot figure out why that is happening. His MPG went from 22 down to 14.6 That is a substantial drop off. I do not understand why CJ has shortened rotation minutes for him especially when you consider that our 3rd scorer KP is out. Sam is still shooting the ball really well (48.8% and 44.1% from deep) The Celtics defensive rating is at 106.6. I thought maybe they are not satisfied with his defense however his defensive rating is 103.1 Offensively he has a rating of 129.2
CJ is supposed to be an analytics guy. The Celtics have struggled on offense as compared to their production during the regular season. We do not have Kristaps so why on earth is CJ not playing Sam more minutes. The numbers scream play him more minutes and get him more looks at least at the level that he got during our 64-18 regular season.
The Celtics posted identical 4-1 records in both series and identical sequence of wins with one loss. But let's not overlook the fact that both teams were missing multiple starters. I am not suggesting that we would not have won those series. What I am saying is that the Celtics have yet to play against a really good and healthy team. If we get the Knicks it will be a continuation of the same. One team will be missing at least 2 starters.
I know all too well that injuries are part of the game but I do not recall this many contenders limping through their playoff games. The teams out West have been a lot healthier than the teams in the East.
Brad Stevens knew that he needed to sure up our center position and he made the trade to acquire Tillman and he converted Queta to a regular contract. While Tillman has played a few minutes, Queta has been glued to the bench. They may need him vs NY but definitely against a big strong physical team like Minnesota. I think we will need a lot more physicality moving forward.
It appears to me that CJ has SH on a short leash. I cannot figure out why that is happening. His MPG went from 22 down to 14.6 That is a substantial drop off. I do not understand why CJ has shortened rotation minutes for him especially when you consider that our 3rd scorer KP is out. Sam is still shooting the ball really well (48.8% and 44.1% from deep) The Celtics defensive rating is at 106.6. I thought maybe they are not satisfied with his defense however his defensive rating is 103.1 Offensively he has a rating of 129.2
CJ is supposed to be an analytics guy. The Celtics have struggled on offense as compared to their production during the regular season. We do not have Kristaps so why on earth is CJ not playing Sam more minutes. The numbers scream play him more minutes and get him more looks at least at the level that he got during our 64-18 regular season.
The Celtics posted identical 4-1 records in both series and identical sequence of wins with one loss. But let's not overlook the fact that both teams were missing multiple starters. I am not suggesting that we would not have won those series. What I am saying is that the Celtics have yet to play against a really good and healthy team. If we get the Knicks it will be a continuation of the same. One team will be missing at least 2 starters.
I know all too well that injuries are part of the game but I do not recall this many contenders limping through their playoff games. The teams out West have been a lot healthier than the teams in the East.
dboss- Posts : 19221
Join date : 2009-11-01
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
I honestly can't remember where I saw or heard that. I just remember it because it stuck out with two different start dates. But I'm with you, the more days off right now the better right now with KP because once this series starts, it's every other day to the end. 12 days if my math is right.
db
db
dbrown4- Posts : 5614
Join date : 2009-10-29
Age : 61
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
https://www.espn.com/nba/stats/team/_/view/differential/table/offensive/sort/avgPoints/dir/desc
dboss- Posts : 19221
Join date : 2009-11-01
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/40167492/celtics-kristaps-porzingis-expected-opening-games-east-finals-optimism-return-series
willjr- Posts : 838
Join date : 2009-10-19
Age : 61
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
That's is true, dboss! I'm really struggling with this one as the deeper we get, the larger the mistakes tend to play out exponentially. We learned this last year vs. MIA. We can't afford to get down two right out of the gate against NYK no matter who shows up for NYK or how much we want to slam the traps shut of the NYK Garden crowd.
Now that IND forced a G7, the picture gets even more complicated. At this point, I don't care who we play. I do know and can predict with great accuracy it will be either NYK or IND. (haha) That's all I can offer. I don't have a preference. I know how a wounded animal can manage to win 4 games. We evidently love sacrificing home court only to recover on the road but JT has promised these next two rounds the Celtic home crowd will be rewarded. Combine that with our desire to crush and humiliate the competition on their home floor needs to continue as well. Don't give up one for the other. Get this over in 4.
IND presents some advantages for us as well. Jrue/we can shut down Halliburton for 4 games. NYK is desperate. The whole city is desperate. If there was ever a series we need to reach into the Knicks respective hearts, pull it out and throw it into the wood chipper, this is the one. Leave ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT who's in charge.
I can see us winning in 4, us winning in 7, Knicks winning in 7 & 6, the Knicks taking the first two games in Boston and winning in 4. Celtics cannot underestimate the rabid, gutsy nature of the Knicks and their fans. With IND, I still don't know. They are going to have to win tomorrow in NY first. Not too many people betting on IND which if you're betting, bet big. Everyone's picking NY. At least Steven A. and Perk were wrong about NYK's wrapping it up last night.
Great weekend, though! Gotta love 2 G7's and maybe another one on Monday all as we watch with our belly wash, popcorn and Twizzlers!
db
Now that IND forced a G7, the picture gets even more complicated. At this point, I don't care who we play. I do know and can predict with great accuracy it will be either NYK or IND. (haha) That's all I can offer. I don't have a preference. I know how a wounded animal can manage to win 4 games. We evidently love sacrificing home court only to recover on the road but JT has promised these next two rounds the Celtic home crowd will be rewarded. Combine that with our desire to crush and humiliate the competition on their home floor needs to continue as well. Don't give up one for the other. Get this over in 4.
IND presents some advantages for us as well. Jrue/we can shut down Halliburton for 4 games. NYK is desperate. The whole city is desperate. If there was ever a series we need to reach into the Knicks respective hearts, pull it out and throw it into the wood chipper, this is the one. Leave ABSOLUTELY NO DOUBT who's in charge.
I can see us winning in 4, us winning in 7, Knicks winning in 7 & 6, the Knicks taking the first two games in Boston and winning in 4. Celtics cannot underestimate the rabid, gutsy nature of the Knicks and their fans. With IND, I still don't know. They are going to have to win tomorrow in NY first. Not too many people betting on IND which if you're betting, bet big. Everyone's picking NY. At least Steven A. and Perk were wrong about NYK's wrapping it up last night.
Great weekend, though! Gotta love 2 G7's and maybe another one on Monday all as we watch with our belly wash, popcorn and Twizzlers!
db
dbrown4- Posts : 5614
Join date : 2009-10-29
Age : 61
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
dboss wrote:New poll needed.
Knicks or Pacer. Which team would you prefer, not that the Celtics have any control over that.
I am happy to see the Knicks/Pacers series go to a 7th game. Let them beat up on each other a little more.
I am leaning toward playing the Knicks. I think Holiday matches up well against Brunson. I also think if D White or JB end up on Brunson via switches they can guard him. If the Knicks go three guards with McBride and Devencenzo I think Holiday, D White, and JB all can handle them. They will probably get OG back but JT can check him. The key will be keeping them off the offensive glass. As far as scoring, I don't see them shutting us down.
The Pacers on the other hand are healthy and have length and talent. JB has always handled Siakam pretty well. Haliburton is a tough cover, but Holiday or D White can check him. Turner is definitely a concern, especially if we don't have KP. McConnell looks like a clone of PP without the three point shot. PP has to be able to get the better of him. He's killing the Knicks right now. The Pacers like to play fast, so we will have a lot of open threes.
I think we will handle either team with or without KP, but I just see the Knicks as a better matchup for us.
What does everyone think?
Celtics17- Posts : 422
Join date : 2022-09-21
Age : 66
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
I just thought I'd remind everybody that the Celtics are the only team of the 8 left that is already done with their Semi-Finals round. Some of that goes to our opponents, both Miami and Cleveland were very undermanned and didn't really have a chance, and some of it goes to the parity in the other games that are all going to 7 but, regardless, we're getting time off for our bodies to heal, for us to work on our own games without having to cram for tomorrow night's opponent.
Joe needs to keep his guys at a high emotional level despite not knowing who they are playing next, and maintain their cardio and game rhythm despite having 6 days off between games. This is not easy, especially with this group who can get a bit smug at times. We play 3 games next week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday). If you are NY or Indy that would mean you will have played 10 games in 19 days (their series started May 6th, Saturday is May 25th), more than 1 game every other day, as opposed to our 8 games in 18 days (May 7th - May 25th). If we play hard these first 3 games, and push them, they will be dead on their feet one week from today, they'll be down 0-3 and it will be all over except for the crying (in NY or Indianapolis).
Bob
.
Joe needs to keep his guys at a high emotional level despite not knowing who they are playing next, and maintain their cardio and game rhythm despite having 6 days off between games. This is not easy, especially with this group who can get a bit smug at times. We play 3 games next week (Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday). If you are NY or Indy that would mean you will have played 10 games in 19 days (their series started May 6th, Saturday is May 25th), more than 1 game every other day, as opposed to our 8 games in 18 days (May 7th - May 25th). If we play hard these first 3 games, and push them, they will be dead on their feet one week from today, they'll be down 0-3 and it will be all over except for the crying (in NY or Indianapolis).
Bob
.
bobheckler- Posts : 62620
Join date : 2009-10-28
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
I like your thinking there, bobh!! I am still hoping to take the wrapping off the broom I just bought!
db
db
dbrown4- Posts : 5614
Join date : 2009-10-29
Age : 61
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
Hi,
Just an update: KP will miss first 2 games in ECF per AWoj. https://x.com/malika_andrews/status/1791630002263638448?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
AK
Just an update: KP will miss first 2 games in ECF per AWoj. https://x.com/malika_andrews/status/1791630002263638448?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Etweet
AK
sinus007- Posts : 2652
Join date : 2009-10-22
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
Then Joe needs to show them every replay of every game that they got totally embarrassed in and call out what they did wrong. Gloves off
RosalieTCeltics- Posts : 41267
Join date : 2009-10-17
Age : 77
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
If NY wins this afternoon, I hope these ECF's with NY will look a lot like the MIA that showed up in the Finals to play DEN just after we play pushed them to the limit. Just out of gas and outmatched at every position. For the Knicks, that's a lot games non-stop if you're injury-ridden. But that series cannot, and I repeat, cannot get into a long, drag-out 6-7-game series. The longer that one would go, it works against us. Hence my plea in another thread to cut out even the tiniest resemblance to crap or playing with our food. Now that playoff order has restored itself vs. last year's anomaly and the riff-raff of the playoffs are all at home watching on TV, the real men and teams are present. We will have the Final Four by about 10:30pm-11:00pm tonight. Each one will have earned and deserved their respective spots, except of course if you listen to and believe the media and Boston is the weakest link and shouldn't even be in the NBA.
If IND wins today in a few hours, more power to them. They present an interesting challenge in which Coach Joe will be more than ready. And he will have the players ready. So will Jayson Tatum. I'm holding him to his promise after the CLE series about prioritizing home court without letting up on our flawless road record so far. IND likes to run but when they do, their defense suffers. We can score with them, but defense will be the difference there. Plain and simple. This is why we got Jrue. It was supposed to be for DL. MIL was supposed to be waiting for us in the ECF. But with Griffin fired, (the mistake of the century) DL got caught in Doc-Speak along with Giannis-Speak and they are out. Sucks to be a Bucks fans when your best, generational player wants to be GM and coach.
Jrue's original mission has been re-written and he is now presently needed to either shut down or negate Jaylen Brunson or Tyrese Halliburton. It should be much easier to cut the head off the NY snake with all the injuries but both NYK and IND are tough outs. It's not the 1st round anymore.
I think our team is more like the Russell Celtics in that they would much rather win on the road than win at home. Well, they'd prefer both, but history shows it just doesn't go that way. As far as the players go, nothing is better or sweeter than a visitor's arena of 20,000 fans all sitting on their hands. Russell/Bird/Tatum Celtics all want(ed) to sweep everybody as well. This team has shown that their play at home is mediocre at best vs. the road over the last 6-7 years. Numbers don't lie. But being undefeated on the road this year is quite spectacular in and of itself. But here we are, 8 games from the crown.
Well, in 6 hours, we will know who we will be playing. Time to get ready to two classic G7's!!
db
If IND wins today in a few hours, more power to them. They present an interesting challenge in which Coach Joe will be more than ready. And he will have the players ready. So will Jayson Tatum. I'm holding him to his promise after the CLE series about prioritizing home court without letting up on our flawless road record so far. IND likes to run but when they do, their defense suffers. We can score with them, but defense will be the difference there. Plain and simple. This is why we got Jrue. It was supposed to be for DL. MIL was supposed to be waiting for us in the ECF. But with Griffin fired, (the mistake of the century) DL got caught in Doc-Speak along with Giannis-Speak and they are out. Sucks to be a Bucks fans when your best, generational player wants to be GM and coach.
Jrue's original mission has been re-written and he is now presently needed to either shut down or negate Jaylen Brunson or Tyrese Halliburton. It should be much easier to cut the head off the NY snake with all the injuries but both NYK and IND are tough outs. It's not the 1st round anymore.
I think our team is more like the Russell Celtics in that they would much rather win on the road than win at home. Well, they'd prefer both, but history shows it just doesn't go that way. As far as the players go, nothing is better or sweeter than a visitor's arena of 20,000 fans all sitting on their hands. Russell/Bird/Tatum Celtics all want(ed) to sweep everybody as well. This team has shown that their play at home is mediocre at best vs. the road over the last 6-7 years. Numbers don't lie. But being undefeated on the road this year is quite spectacular in and of itself. But here we are, 8 games from the crown.
Well, in 6 hours, we will know who we will be playing. Time to get ready to two classic G7's!!
db
dbrown4- Posts : 5614
Join date : 2009-10-29
Age : 61
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
I just wish KP was around.........getting a little nervous
RosalieTCeltics- Posts : 41267
Join date : 2009-10-17
Age : 77
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
Pacers are hammering the Knicks. I can’t tell if the Knicks defense sucks, or the Pacers are that good.
Pete
Pete
pete- Posts : 2923
Join date : 2009-10-13
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
Agree, if it stays close to the same in the second half, ya all know who we’ll be playing.
CorkyM- Posts : 18
Join date : 2024-05-19
Age : 79
Re: Celtics Playoffs 2024
For now anyway, things appear to be changing. The Knicks came out hot. I love a close game.
CorkyM- Posts : 18
Join date : 2024-05-19
Age : 79
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