Celtics vs Hawks, Round 1 Discussion

[ManicCompression]

Mostly just disappointed they still have that killer instinct gene missing. They played probably 3 unnecessary games against the Bucks and Heat last year because they couldn’t close out and those 3 games caught up with them in the back half of The Finals. They really need to get this done in 5.

Really just felt like they took their feet off the gas last night. They were happy to stay behind the line and take threes all night instead of attacking, even though their aggressiveness and points in the paint were the reasons they did so well in games 1 and 2. I couldn't believe that their "minute left, down six" shot was a Jaylen three pointer from nearly half-court - that's the shit we were making fun of Trae for. Overall, disappointing effort from most everyone on the team.

I swear, if Marcus flops his way into an injury, I'm going to rip my TV out of the wall.

 

[the moops]

I swear, if Marcus flops his way into an injury, I'm going to rip my TV out of the wall.

After seeing how lousy he played, I may prefer a hurt Smart on the bench

 

[InstaFace]

The problem last night was the defense. Complaints about shot selection miss the mark. If even our plus defenders are getting blown-by for layups, the rest is all deck chairs on the titanic.

 

[benhogan]

I wouldn’t say it was terrible but it was inconsistent. Even when it was good Dejounte made a bunch of high difficulty shots. Then they got a lot of second chances that we didn’t take advantage of when they didn’t get them. If the Hawks don’t shoot at an unsustainable level we aren’t even having this discussion. G4 we need to up the overall focus rather than going in and out.

I should have said terrible in the first half. They tried to turn it on in the 2nd half but the Hawks made a few tough shots and Tatum missed a wide-open 3. It turned into a coin toss game.

The C's need to come out in Game4 with a sense of "urgency", pick up on-ball defense high, & get physical with Trae/Murray up top (Playoff Refs let bumping happen away from the basket).

Philly/Embiid/Harden need the rest, so they are probably feeling good getting a few extra days.

 

[reggiecleveland]

The problem last night was the defense. Complaints about shot selection miss the mark. If even our plus defenders are getting blown-by for layups, the rest is all deck chairs on the titanic.

I agree. they did take a few early one on on one shots, but it was in matchups they have been dominating.

 

[ManicCompression]

The problem last night was the defense. Complaints about shot selection miss the mark. If even our plus defenders are getting blown-by for layups, the rest is all deck chairs on the titanic.

These two things go hand in hand. How many positions did they put the Atlanta d in the blender and force them to work? Not a ton because they were taking early in the clock threes. So not only did the long rebounds lead to transition baskets for Atlanta, they had a ton more energy to be the better, more aggressive offense.

 

[Cellar-Door]

The problem last night was energy/effort/decision making. On Defense is showed up in Jaylen dying on every screen and just saying "oh well", and it showed with the bigs not consistently playing at the level giving easy shots, it showed up in lazy switches, then on offense it showed it terrible shot selection and turnovers.

 

[TripleOT]

Game three will either be a valuable lesson, or the way this team is going to go throughout the playoffs. Letting up in the second half also was a mistake. Their goal should be to totally dominate for all 48 minutes. We shall see in game four if this playoff run is going to be a constant struggle, or a taking care of business coronation

 

[BigSoxFan]

Game three will either be a valuable lesson, or the way this team is going to go throughout the playoffs. Letting up in the second half also was a mistake. Their goal should be to totally dominate for all 48 minutes. We shall see in game four if this playoff run is going to be a constant struggle, or a taking care of business coronation

I think Philly being 2 up on playoff wins is going to motivate this team to wrap this up. At least I hope.

 

[radsoxfan]

It's an easy take after game 4, but Rob changes everything for this team. So many extra tips, hustle plays, rebounds, blocks, contests, etc. I hope he can keep it up.

Still fascinated to see how Mazzulla comes up with a crunch time 5 with 7 starters. I was a little surprised Al got so many minutes but I guess he liked the look of 2 bigs. Smart was out a big chunk of the end of that game.

 

[koufax32]

Really need to finish them Tues so the PHI series can start Saturday. Hoping for a significantly hobbled Embid.

 

[PedroKsBambino]

It's an easy take after game 4, but Rob changes everything for this team. So many extra tips, hustle plays, rebounds, blocks, contests, etc. I hope he can keep it up.

Still fascinated to see how Mazzulla comes up with a crunch time 5 with 7 starters. I was a little surprised Al got so many minutes but I guess he liked the look of 2 bigs. Smart was out a big chunk of the end of that game.

Agreed, and I'd guess the two bigs was primarily about defensive rebounding and secondarily about maxmizing the Hawks reliance on jumpers by shutting off more of the inside play. Probably the right assessment.

Grant had a great game 3 and hardly played at all (even after Muscala in rotation) showing height was a focus tonight

 

[DGreenwood]

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ7rNIgH1rE&ab_channel=NBA

 

[HomeRunBaker]

Agreed, and I'd guess the two bigs was primarily about defensive rebounding and secondarily about maxmizing the Hawks reliance on jumpers by shutting off more of the inside play. Probably the right assessment.

Grant had a great game 3 and hardly played at all (even after Muscala in rotation) showing height was a focus tonight

Agree w you and DOTB on the prioritizing the elimination of second chances with the two bigs. As well as Grant played he had that Big Baby feel to him every time Capela, Bey or Okongwu reached over his head for a rebound…..and this was always going to be a difficult matchup for him in this series. I do like Mazz giving him rotation minutes in G3 when up 2-0 bc we are going to need him once we dispose of the Hawks on Tuesday.

 

[RorschachsMask]

In a huge 4th quarter on the road, Tatum had 16 on 7 shots, and Jaylen had 12 on 7 shots.

That was a big-time quarter from both of them.

 

[Ed Hillel]

Won’t happen, but in the regular season this is an auto suspension:
View: https://twitter.com/creatorjordan23/status/1650312410593480704?s=46&t=11SXTvIYT-tl8b6e7iEUVQ

Actually, they probably HAVE to suspend him.

 

[CoffeeNerdness]

Hauser has played ~44 mins in the series while only making two threes and he's been mediocre to really bad on D. It would be great if Grant could return to form.

 

[Bunt4aTriple]

Really need to finish them Tues so the PHI series can start Saturday. Hoping for a significantly hobbled Embid.

Is it definitely Saturday if it finishes Tuesday?

 

[Light-Tower-Power]

Won’t happen, but in the regular season this is an auto suspension:
View: https://twitter.com/creatorjordan23/status/1650312410593480704?s=46&t=11SXTvIYT-tl8b6e7iEUVQ

I assume he would have gotten tossed if that happened during game time, but probably will be a fine and that’s it.

 

[Deathofthebambino]

Is it definitely Saturday if it finishes Tuesday?

Here is the schedule depending on when this series ends:

View: https://twitter.com/BySamDiGiovanni/status/1650312414796062732

 

[Auger34]

I assume he would have gotten tossed if that happened during game time, but probably will be a fine and that’s it.

It’s becoming pretty clear why the Spurs got rid of Murray…he seems to have a pretty gigantic attitude problem.

There have been multiple incidents on the off-season, the regular season and these playoffs where he’s acted like a massive jackass and this is the latest example

 

[Auger34]

Jaylen won them this game tonight. He too the mask off and became a superhero

 

[Bunt4aTriple]

Here is the schedule depending on when this series ends:

View: https://twitter.com/BySamDiGiovanni/status/1650312414796062732

Bah! Won't be able to go to game 1 or 2.

 

[Light-Tower-Power]

It’s becoming pretty clear why the Spurs got rid of Murray…he seems to have a pretty gigantic attitude problem.

There have been multiple incidents on the off-season, the regular season and these playoffs where he’s acted like a massive jackass and this is the latest example

He does seem to be quite the tool and if the Hawks were any real threat would probably be on his way to becoming public enemy #1 for the rest of the series. Alas, I am having a hard time finding the energy to get too worked up over any of the Hawks. I’m already worked up over the Sixers.

 

[HomeRunBaker]

It’s becoming pretty clear why the Spurs got rid of Murray…he seems to have a pretty gigantic attitude problem.

There have been multiple incidents on the off-season, the regular season and these playoffs where he’s acted like a massive jackass and this is the latest example

I don’t think that is the primary reason. They were moving both of their guards for a complete rebuild including the one Pop loved and didn’t have an attitude problem in White.

 

[TrapperAB]

Bah! Won't be able to go to game 1 or 2.

I’m the opposite — it was going to be hard for me to get to a game this week, but Saturday? Perfect. Gotta go find some tix…

Murray should be suspended for Tuesday’s game — league can’t let that level of bump and staredown go unpunished. Player confrontation with refs is bad enough as it is — but if they can body check and get in a ref’s face like that? I’ll be shocked if the refs don’t call the league and insist that something happen. Because if they don’t, and another player does the same thing and gets punished, the player‘s association will rightly argue “WTF you let Murray do it in a fucking playoff game.”

 

[GeorgeCostanza]

Hauser has played ~44 mins in the series while only making two threes and he's been mediocre to really bad on D. It would be great if Grant could return to form.

What games are you watching bro? He’s been great on D for the most part.

 

[Light-Tower-Power]

The more I watch it the more I think he might be starting his summer vacation a couple days early.

 

[riboflav]

Won’t happen, but in the regular season this is an auto suspension:
View: https://twitter.com/creatorjordan23/status/1650312410593480704?s=46&t=11SXTvIYT-tl8b6e7iEUVQ

Actually, they probably HAVE to suspend him.

Agree. The NBA cannot just overlook that or treat it like it was only verbal and fine him.

 

[BaseballJones]

Oh Murray absolutely should get a game for that. That was totally intentional and meant to intimidate. 100% and it's pretty easy. That was no "oops".

 

[the moops]

I think there is zero chance that Murray is not playing next game. That seems like such an easy 1 game

 

[Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat]

I think there is zero chance that Murray is not playing next game. That seems like such an easy 1 game

Wait, zero chance he is not or he is?

Personally, I think he's getting a game off.

 

[CJM]

Murray has become the dude I root against this series. Between his shitty comments about D White, his preening and yapping on the court, and now this, I'll be glad when his ass gets sent packing for the summer.

I wouldn't want Trae or Collins on the C's, but I can't hate the guys. I'd *love* to have Okongwu on the C's (or Bogdanovich before Stevens shored up the team so well). Murray, on the other hand, can eat a bag.

 

[the moops]

Wait, zero chance he is not or he is?

Personally, I think he's getting a game off.

Sorry not clear. I think he is definitely getting a game. Zero chance he isnt

 

[the moops]

Between his shitty comments about D White,

I missed this

 

[CJM]

I missed this

Dejounte: "They really have me competing against Derrick White... I love Pop, but I felt like he sided with Derrick more than me because I wasn't a yes man. Not saying Derrick is any of that... Getting personal, you can't play with me like that."

 

[TripleOT]

Dejounte: "They really have me competing against Derrick White... I love Pop, but I felt like he sided with Derrick more than me because I wasn't a yes man. Not saying Derrick is any of that... Getting personal, you can't play with me like that."

So he wasn’t saying that Derrick was a yes man? OK

If you can’t say yes to Pop, who else are you going to accept hard coaching from?

 

[radsoxfan]

It's possible Pop sided with White because he's not a dick and he's also better at basketball. I'll take our guy, DARKO would too.

Murray's Reb/Ast spike his last year in SA was likely some stat padding and not really indicative of how he can contribute to a contending team.

Atlanta got fleeced.

 

[CoffeeNerdness]

What games are you watching bro? He’s been great on D for the most part.

You think he's been great? He's got zero steals, zero blocks, and the Hawks instantly go at him the second he steps on the court and it's been working. He's had some decent moments. Tonight he was terrible.

 

[Euclis20]

You think he's been great? He's got zero steals, zero blocks, and the Hawks instantly go at him the second he steps on the court and it's been working. He's had some decent moments. Tonight he was terrible.

They are definitely going right at him every time, but they aren't exactly killing him when they get the matchup. He's had a positive +/- every game (overall he's +17 in 45 minutes). I'm a bit surprised we're not seeing more Grant because theoretically he gives him like 80% of the shooting with 200% of the defense (and while Grant is kind of a weak rebounder for 3/4 guy, Hauser isn't exactly great either). Either the Celtics really doesn't trust Grant, or they aren't too worried about Atlanta picking on Hauser defensively. Really hoping it's the latter, because even if it doesn't matter now, it probably will down the road.

 

[InstaFace]

Actually, they probably HAVE to suspend him.

How do we know he wasn't saying "good game, Zach"? He leaned in and maybe bumped head-to-head the tiniest bit, it wasn't a shove or anything totally outrageous.

I dunno, man. I'm a big proponent of enforcing decorum and respect for the officials, it's something I frequently criticize in soccer, but this strikes me as "basically nothing". I would be very surprised bordering on shocked if they gave him a playoff game off after that.

 

[lars10]

You think he's been great? He's got zero steals, zero blocks, and the Hawks instantly go at him the second he steps on the court and it's been working. He's had some decent moments. Tonight he was terrible.

How many points are they scoring against him though? To say he was terrible seems like you should have some stats to back that up.

 

[lars10]

How do we know he wasn't saying "good game, Zach"? He leaned in and maybe bumped head-to-head the tiniest bit, it wasn't a shove or anything totally outrageous.

I dunno, man. I'm a big proponent of enforcing decorum and respect for the officials, it's something I frequently criticize in soccer, but this strikes me as "basically nothing".

He crossed the court and bumped into him on his blind side..and then put his head in towards him in an attempt to intimidate him.

They don't let you do this in soccer either.. this wasn't in game.. if a soccer player did this to a ref after a game it would get almost certainly the same reaction as this will.

edit: are you really saying it's ok for a player to make contact head to head? I mean there's zero reason for him to get close to the official at that point in the game/postgame.

 

[Jimbodandy]

You think he's been great? He's got zero steals, zero blocks, and the Hawks instantly go at him the second he steps on the court and it's been working. He's had some decent moments. Tonight he was terrible.

Counting steals and blocks won't tell you a lot about a guy's defense generally. There have been articles cited in this forum about how all teams have been having a "go at him" and what a terribly inefficient strategy that has been to date. A few fell tonight, granted. But in the series as a whole, Hauser has been fine.

Nice to see the team hammer out the ending like bosses tonight.

 

[Cellar-Door]

The Hawks, like everyone all year try to ISO Hauser, and clear space. And it's incredibly ineffective, because not only is he not that bad, the more static players off ball put the Celtics in great position to help, with excellent help defenders like TL, White and Smart. I haven't seen any indication that has changed much in the playoffs, he's not a great defender, but attacking him generally provides worse offense than running good offense and getting guys into multiple actions.

How do we know he wasn't saying "good game, Zach"? He leaned in and maybe bumped head-to-head the tiniest bit, it wasn't a shove or anything totally outrageous.

I dunno, man. I'm a big proponent of enforcing decorum and respect for the officials, it's something I frequently criticize in soccer, but this strikes me as "basically nothing".

Nah, he walks 50+ feet at the end of the game out of his way to bump him and lean into his face, it's exactly what the NBA doesn't want you to do, and it was so obvious what he was doing. If he 'accidentally' bumps a ref right near him as he's walking off... maybe, but for you to go all the way cross court, away from your path to the back? Also, you can see from the ref's reaction that whatever he said, and the bump really pissed him off.

 

[reggiecleveland]

Won’t happen, but in the regular season this is an auto suspension:
View: https://twitter.com/creatorjordan23/status/1650312410593480704?s=46&t=11SXTvIYT-tl8b6e7iEUVQ

Actually, they probably HAVE to suspend him.

Expect Hawks fans th=o be spreading this clip.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Jayson Tatum pushes one ref and yell at another one but they focus on Trae Young ‍ <a href="https://t.co/z9TVkss2yS">pic.twitter.com/z9TVkss2yS</a></p>&mdash; Roy Harris (@Brotha2ThaNite) <a href="View: https://twitter.com/Brotha2ThaNite/status/1650298168616026113?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
">April 24, 2023</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[InstaFace]

Yeah if you want to know that I'm wrong about the odds of suspension, look no further than the new front-page ESPN article, "NBA looking into Murray's [end of game] conduct with officials"

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/36277055/source-nba-investigating-dejounte-murray-actions-officials

That said:

He crossed the court and bumped into him on his blind side..and then put his head in towards him in an attempt to intimidate him.

edit: are you really saying it's ok for a player to make contact head to head? I mean there's zero reason for him to get close to the official at that point in the game/postgame.

It wasn't at all clear to me that he actually made contact with the ref's head, and even if he had, may have been the lightest of incidental touches. Or might not have been. Really depends on what was said, and having a better angle on it than the twitter clip. Murray is clearly upset about something, though, but his gestures as he's walking away aren't directed at that same ref.

 

[lars10]

Yeah if you want to know that I'm wrong about the odds of suspension, look no further than the new front-page ESPN article, "NBA looking into Murray's [end of game] conduct with officials"

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/36277055/source-nba-investigating-dejounte-murray-actions-officials

That said:

It wasn't at all clear to me that he actually made contact with the ref's head, and even if he had, may have been the lightest of incidental touches. Or might not have been. Really depends on what was said, and having a better angle on it than the twitter clip. Murray is clearly upset about something, though, but his gestures as he's walking away aren't directed at that same ref.

He pretty clearly made contact.. do you really think he's walking over to the ref to say, 'Nice game'? The rest seems pretty immaterial.

To say this is 'incidental'? He walks from the other side of the court directly toward the ref.. he's not just walking past him.. he walks right towards him and gets as close to him as physically possible if he didn't make contact... there's really no excuse for a player to do what he did. If that was a C's player I'd expect a suspension.

 

[Justthetippett]

He pretty clearly made contact.. do you really think he's walking over to the ref to say, 'Nice game'? The rest seems pretty immaterial.

To say this is 'incidental'? He walks from the other side of the court directly toward the ref.. he's not just walking past him.. he walks right towards him and gets as close to him as physically possible if he didn't make contact... there's really no excuse for a player to do what he did. If that was a C's player I'd expect a suspension.

It's an easy, low cost way for the league office to send a message to all the players. Going after a ref post game to try to intimidate him, get out frustration, whatever it was is obviously something that's bad for the game. Suspension is easy to justify, will have zero effect on the outcome of this series, and addresses this immediately before it becomes a bigger issue. I'd be really surprised if he doesn't get game 5 off.

 

[djbayko]

He pretty clearly made contact.. do you really think he's walking over to the ref to say, 'Nice game'? The rest seems pretty immaterial.

To say this is 'incidental'? He walks from the other side of the court directly toward the ref.. he's not just walking past him.. he walks right towards him and gets as close to him as physically possible if he didn't make contact... there's really no excuse for a player to do what he did. If that was a C's player I'd expect a suspension.

I think the death stare that the ref gives him after the bump makes it obvious that it wasn't a friendly exchange.