Post Game - Celtics vs. Indiana Pacers - Saturday, May 25, 2024 - Game 3 Eastern Finals (W 3-0)

https://www.espn.com/nba/boxscore/_/gameId/401672000

Nail biter, now hopefully for the sweep.

Here's the last quarter:



We played much better defense in the 2nd half.

This is the one, you know, before THE ONE!



Same kinda Tatum behind the back pass to Horford!

And no Rick crying about ref’ing again and again and again???? I read that he was pretty nasty after the game. Hey Rick, your boys blew an 18 point lead what went wrong…..oh…Jrue Holiday…I forgot

Not sure how to write this one.  For starters, if you ever wondered why Brad went out and got Jrue, you saw it twice at the end of G3 under a minute left.  Once with the score 111-109 to tie it up/take the lead and then with the steal heard 'round the world.  Damn, Jrue.  Glad you're going to be around for 4 more years!  That should make the other 29 teams just cringe, cry, bow down and toss it in.  Should have Supermaxed Jrue as well.  

I want to drink from the Fountain of Youth Al is drinking from.  If you've ever seen a guy that knows where he is, who his center is, and wants a championship more all the rest of his teammates added up and squared, please show me that person. Just watch his post-game presser.  You'll see it all.  Grounded and taking this all in stride, just like his coach.

JT comes out!  Welcome, my brother from another mother.  We've been expecting you!  And he'll be out until he and his teammates raise the O'Brien Trophy.  Spectacular, gutsy, in-your-face leadership game by him for the ages.  Oh, there's more to come.  This performance was just a getting the bad taste out of his mouth tidbit for what's coming from him.  He's as pissed as JB was with the slight he received.  Just for other reasons.  

Derrick White just quietly steps aside, takes a side seat somewhat and let's the stars shine about him but plays a huge role in this victory.  Brilliant, Derrick, just brilliant.  Glad you will be around for 3-4 more years as well.    

Well, folks my Step 2 was to see who blinked first in the battle of the undefeated home and away people.  Well, as predicted with great accuracy, IND blinked first.  I watched this game very weirdly because I was watching the other IND team, the Fever, and kept seeing the score for the Celtic game in the scroll below.  I had fallen asleep and hadn't even started watching the Celtic game on 45-minute delay like I normally do!  I know.  Pathetic!  ESPN/ABC needs to quit putting these games on at 8:30pm!!  Seeing they were getting crushed, I kept watching LAV vs. IND but kept my eye on the scroll.  It started to look an awful lot like the Mavs game the night before.  Finally, after that game was over I went live for the last 38 seconds.  Then I woke my wife up and we watched the game from about halfway through the 2nd quarter on, wherever we got down by 18.  When I woke here up I told her, "Uh, you're going to want to watch this!"

Step 2?  IND blinked?  Check.  Ready for Step 3?  Well, not so fast.  I have one last question for you.  The DB 4-0 Express is issuing its last call for passengers!  Come on, people!  I can't lay it out there any better than what you just saw from this team last night in G3.  Do you really think we're going to blow G4 and go win G5 in front of our fans?  Really?  With everything that is at stake?  Screw that.  Oh, I've got the G4 prediction too.  You're not going to immediately jump on board for that one either!  But I have the reasoning and you will agree.

OK.  That's enough for now.  Clearly, more to follow over the next 36 hours!  Dang! (BANG!!  BANG!!!), what a game and what a team we have.  Oh yeah.  And all this without KP so far!  Holy Crap!!  Now we're seeing pieces of championship play and behavior.  

db

P.S.  Oh.  We're going to get into Crybaby Rick!! Watch his presser first if you haven't.

DB, what an enJOYable post frkm you. Davidson College must have a great English Department. Thanks.

We took their best punch and punched back even harder. Thank you Milwaukee for letting Jrue go. What a monster 4th Q by Jrue with the flu. Hey, that rhymes.

Al with 7 three's. Wow.

Derrick blocking the crap outta Pacer shots and pllaying the priceless poise of a true pro.

I love Jaylen when he gets pissed. What a bulldog.

And Jayson. Forget his splendid 35 points. How about his  beautiful behind the back pass to Al for an uncontested three. Even Cooz would be envious.

Oh yeah. One more thing. Sam. He lacks the mental toughness needed, to win. sorry to say. Cut back his time on the floor.

Well, one more one more thing. Kudos to Joe. He outcoached Rick again. Can we finally agree that Mazzulla is a masterful coach. Thanks Brad for constructing this team of hardourt magicians with Joe at the helm.

I have always had alot of respect for Carlisle. There have been 3 different teams his team has played against, and three different times all he has done is complain about the ref'ing, I know our guys can get on our nerves with complaining but this guy is the coach Actually I thought he had won the battle last night, flipping Mark Davis and his phantom calls, but in the end, they shut up, played solid defense and caused more turnovers/missed shots that let to the Celtics getting back into this game. They opened the door, and the Celtics took the giant step thru the doorway. Face it, you got out played and out coached Rich

Wow Wow Wow

What an incredible game!! Such an exciting comeback. Ended the game on a 13-2 run with everybody contributing to the cause in the most harmonious and determined way. This team has character. Executed with hellbent poise down the stretch. Credit to coach Joe and the players for sticking with it and coming together to just find a way.

Al was incredible with 7-13 from 3. Tatum finally got going the way we need him to at the perfect time. That’s the way HoFers play in big games and zero turnovers. Jaylen did his job and was there whenever needed. DWhite with some huge intangibles, as usual. What more can be said of Jrue? Just has the perfect demeanor and made the key winning plays in the ultimate clutch moments. Such a heady player that makes winning plays and covers every position.

Credit the Pacers, they are such a scrappy bunch and are so well coached. I know we have a great defense and the way they have been scoring and scorching on us is amazing. They are gonna be a force in this league for a long time with so many talented young players. Adding Siakim to that team is perfect for them, with the improvements of Turner, TJ McConnell and where did they find this kid Nembhard? He’s like a faster version of Jalen Brunson, hope that was his best moment in the game and he fades into oblivion. That team has earned my respect, despite whinny Rick.

PHEW. I couldn't sleep until the wee hours.Am I crazy in considering Jrue deliberately missing the second FT so time runs out before coach Cry-lisle can advance the ball wuth 1.4 seconds left?

The difference between Jrue and Smart, no player has it going every game, but you never see him doing too much. Too much so that it hurts the team. I always thought Smart wasn’t reined in enough and would always have too much baggage throughout the season and especially playoffs. Never see that quality with Jrue.