2024 Playoffs Western Conference First Round: (1) Oklahoma City Thunder vs (8) New Orleans Pelicans
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Pretty much and it's also just a general reflection of where we're at with this Celtics team both nationally and locally (maybe less so). Anything short of 30-point wins against full squad HoF personnel is almost seen as a disappointment/failure for them. As in, sweeping the Heat is expected so yawn. Anything less is a harbinger of doom. Growing up in the 80s, this would have been a team coming of age, making key trades to improve their weakness, tweaking around the margins, and overcoming the obstacles in their way. Until they win it all the narrative won't change. The next two months should be fun. But, there are many who will try hard to make it not fun. Whatevs. I choose to enjoy what is an all-time great team.
Wait until we lose a game due to a bad 3-pt shooting night and trying to convince the person that this is THE most efficient offense IN THE HISTORY of the game. Or imagine the game thread! Lol
Needless to say, this game would have been more fun with Zion playing. And I wish Tatum got the whistle that SGA does.
The Thunder came up big in a clutch game. And, in the end, isn't that what basketball is really all about?
Thunder were rested and at home with maniacal fans cradling their babies as they are screaming for their team! They played a team less than 2 days off an elimination game in which they lost their franchise player while having to travel…..and the game was a toss-up the entire night.
My one takeaway aside from the Thunder being young and too small up front is the same as it is every time I watch them…..and that is I really hope they move Giddey for his own good. Here you have an All-Star level talent playing the 2008 Rondo role of hiding in the corner watching SGA do his thing.
Oh yes of course. Though I do agree with Homerun Baker that the ball was out on a tee for them. My point was aimed more at the stupid narratives that so called experts cannot get off of or help themselves from. There is no way you can call the okc win as gritty and the Celtics win as anything equating that or less. The Celtics did what was expected and that will be portrayed as a yawn. Whereas the other one seed had the same shit going for them (short turnaround for their opponent and down their star player) and it will be portrayed as a gutsy win. These narratives are constructed by two factions: 1. Those who want to sell themselves and their brand or just sell ads. 2. Those who never played or coached at a competitive level.
SGA gets a better whistle because he's quicker (which is fine because Tatum has 2-3 inches and at least 20 pounds on him) and because whenever he's working for a mid-range shot, he's hunting for the foul. I wish Tatum played this way more often - he's long enough and has a high enough release that he should feel more comfortable pump faking to get defenders in the air for the easy foul. SGA is great at this, Butler may be even better. It's the next thing to add to his offensive game.
I feel like Tatum definitely got the defender in the air and got the dummy shooting foul call a few times yesterday. Including at least once, maybe twice from 3. Maybe that should be a bigger part of his bag, but it's certainly in his bag.
The NBA is such a freaking joke with these reviews. Ingram isn’t allowed to bring his arms up to shoot the ball? Do you really believe he intended to hit SGA in the head, really? So stupid, and we spend 10 minutes interrupting the game looking at this.
In the grand scheme of things, would it make much of a difference if the officiating were more to your liking?
For all the hype he got, he's only going to end up being like the 4th or 5th best Duke guy in the last 5-10 years. I'd easily take Banchero over him.
Yeah, I've been pretty low on Zion all along---hasn't built a jumper to augment his physical game and that physical game both exacerbates his injury/conditioning issues and will age poorly. But his upside remains well beyond Banchero. Though I agree with you that the most likely outcome favors Banchero, who has a motor and reliability far in excess of Zion
I was low on him too even at Duke. Not enough elements to his game as you said. It's hard to see him on a championship team, whether it is as the lead or a supporting guy. His skillset just doesn't lead to titles.
With how quiet Ingram has been, I still would've put the over under at 4.5 total games for this series. Neither he nor McCollum has scored over 20 in a game yet. Maybe they steal game 1, but they haven't even been competitive for the last two.
