Celtics vs Heat ECF Redux Discussion Thread

soxin6

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The Heat are playing unbelievably, keep in mind that Butler sat out game 2 of the NY series and if he doesn’t, good chance they sweep that and are 11-1 combined so far against MIL/NY/BOS. They play every game like it’s a NCAA tournament elimination game, it’s like watching prime Princeton led by two superstars.
This is one of the most frustrating and accurate parts of these playoffs. Miami has played lights out and looks like the best team in the East. We have seen situations like this in the NHL, where a team squeaks into the playoffs and gets on a roll, but it doesn’t normally happen in the NBA. Miami has shown how meaningless regular season success is when your team is ready and has the right focus for. playoff run.
 

CapeCodYaz

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This is one of the most frustrating and accurate parts of these playoffs. Miami has played lights out and looks like the best team in the East. We have seen situations like this in the NHL, where a team squeaks into the playoffs and gets on a roll, but it doesn’t normally happen in the NBA. Miami has shown how meaningless regular season success is when your team is ready and has the right focus for. playoff run.
they have often shown at times when are vulnerable--double teaming Butler, running on them and high pick and roll the other game they could not defend against--do this with discipline and you beat them and come on they have guys that are not great defenders--got at them and post up against Bam to wear him down--too easy on Heat D when we get into the lazy 3 mode
 

Ed Hillel

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This is one of the most frustrating and accurate parts of these playoffs. Miami has played lights out and looks like the best team in the East. We have seen situations like this in the NHL, where a team squeaks into the playoffs and gets on a roll, but it doesn’t normally happen in the NBA. Miami has shown how meaningless regular season success is when your team is ready and has the right focus for. playoff run.
Miami was almost eliminated in the play in, this isn’t like some team playing possum. They remind me of the 2013 Red Sox, except Miami has turned it on for the playoffs whereas somehow that 2013 Sox team like everyone had a career year at the same time over the course of 180 games.
 

tims4wins

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Miami was almost eliminated in the play in, this isn’t like some team playing possum. They remind me of the 2013 Red Sox, except Miami has turned it on for the playoffs whereas somehow that 2013 Sox team like everyone had a career year at the same time over the course of 180 games.
Kemba Huskies, perhaps?

Edit: or maybe the 2009 Jets, who had no business making the playoffs
 

bosockboy

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Keep coming back to the Butler missed 3 last year; we have one Finals appearance with this core because of a missed 3 that saved us from blowing a 13 point lead with 2 mins left and the worst loss in franchise history. These problems have always been there. The mask was just ripped off this year instead of last year.
 

8slim

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Last year when they were basically looking like an all-time great defense and torching everybody by 20+, they were still switching everything but doing so AGGRESSIVELY. So everybody covered everybody, picked up guys beyond the 3pt line, and they didn’t yield an inch, and if the first man got beat TL was there with help and they recovered out to the perimeter in a flash. Very high energy high commitment D. That’s just totally gone now. They yield the 3pt line to everyone (they started off these playoffs going under screens for Trae and Harden I mean come on). At least with Jimmy he is not a shooter but backing off is still an open invitation to the paint where he is most dangerous. Then when he is there they overcollapse and he has his pick of wide open shooter.

Shit, last night they couldn’t keep DUNCAN ROBINSON out of the paint on a drive and it led to a wide open three when 2-3 guys totally collapsed. They are inviting open looks as if to say “it will even out eventually). Miami’s “toughest” looks are probably those coming off screens on the move but even those have still been pretty clean.

Sometimes with these heavy help/switch-style defenses, it is easy for the players to get lazy because they think “well when the screen comes or the guy gets by me, the D is designed to have someone else pick him up, so it’s fine.” But if you aren’t working your ass off at the point of attack, and the 4 other guys are ball-watching and/or also not working their ass off, it all falls apart. Soooo many buckets these playoffs from an off-ball defender being in position to either help on a penetration or jump out on a shooter, doing neither, and allowing a clean look. I don’t blame the scheme—the execution and effort has been terrible outside of random stretches of a few minutes here and there. That said, the scheme seems no longer suited to the team. I don’t understand, for example, Tatum relentlessly switching off of Butler in situations where Bam or whoever is only flashing a screen but ends up slipping it. It’s like we just go through the motions, “here comes a screen guess I have to switch.”
Great post. Your last line is what I've been seeing as well, and I'm a dummy when it comes to Xs and Os. Lots of half-assed attempts at D, but little intensity, urgency or committment.

The only hoops team I watch regularly is Syracuse. And the way the Cs play D reminds me of the seasons when SU employs a passive 2-3 zone and gets shredded.
 

jablo1312

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Last year when they were basically looking like an all-time great defense and torching everybody by 20+, they were still switching everything but doing so AGGRESSIVELY. So everybody covered everybody, picked up guys beyond the 3pt line, and they didn’t yield an inch, and if the first man got beat TL was there with help and they recovered out to the perimeter in a flash. Very high energy high commitment D. That’s just totally gone now. They yield the 3pt line to everyone (they started off these playoffs going under screens for Trae and Harden I mean come on). At least with Jimmy he is not a shooter but backing off is still an open invitation to the paint where he is most dangerous. Then when he is there they overcollapse and he has his pick of wide open shooter.

Shit, last night they couldn’t keep DUNCAN ROBINSON out of the paint on a drive and it led to a wide open three when 2-3 guys totally collapsed. They are inviting open looks as if to say “it will even out eventually). Miami’s “toughest” looks are probably those coming off screens on the move but even those have still been pretty clean.

Sometimes with these heavy help/switch-style defenses, it is easy for the players to get lazy because they think “well when the screen comes or the guy gets by me, the D is designed to have someone else pick him up, so it’s fine.” But if you aren’t working your ass off at the point of attack, and the 4 other guys are ball-watching and/or also not working their ass off, it all falls apart. Soooo many buckets these playoffs from an off-ball defender being in position to either help on a penetration or jump out on a shooter, doing neither, and allowing a clean look. I don’t blame the scheme—the execution and effort has been terrible outside of random stretches of a few minutes here and there. That said, the scheme seems no longer suited to the team. I don’t understand, for example, Tatum relentlessly switching off of Butler in situations where Bam or whoever is only flashing a screen but ends up slipping it. It’s like we just go through the motions, “here comes a screen guess I have to switch.”
completely agree. Wide open 3’s coming from over-helping, and honestly just not putting enough effort and focus into rotating properly. Contrast it with how Miami’s alleged weak defenders are mucking up the Celtics half court o and it’s night and day.

The D-rob stuff is so frustrating and indicative. All in the 2q, Jaylen lets him come off a DHO wide open on multiple occasions, then grant falls asleep 2x and let’s him get open layups on backcuts, then White overplays a DHO, Robinson drives the other way and a kick out to a wide open Vincent for 3 after the defense collapses. Credit Miami for giving them different looks but part of this is the Celtics just not locking in defensively.
 

NomarsFool

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This may not be fair, but I feel like the Celtics seem to have the approach that they have identified a perspective that the best strategy in any given situation X is Y, and that regardless of how that is playing out in a game, they will stick with Y. For example, deciding to play Butler one on one instead of double teaming him. I think there can be some merit to that approach. If you have decided that, based on a significant sample of evidence, that a particular strategy is the right one, it's not necessarily smart to go away from that strategy just because somebody hits a couple of shots in a row.

That said, this seems to ignore two factors:

1) It's very possible that the pre-defined strategy could be incorrect for a given game situation, given how players are performing on a given night. So, sticking with the pre-defined strategy too long is ignoring real time information.

2) The Celtics don't really seem to use the strategy of trying different things during a game, in an apriori way. As we've seen against the Celtics, many teams do different things against us. Double, don't double, etc. NBA players are really, really good. If you keep doing the same thing against them, they can't beat it. Keeping your opponent off-balance seems like it should be a key component of the strategy. I could be completely wrong here - but I don't feel like the Celtics do that.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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The Heat are playing unbelievably, keep in mind that Butler sat out game 2 of the NY series and if he doesn’t, good chance they sweep that and are 11-1 combined so far against MIL/NY/BOS. They play every game like it’s a NCAA tournament elimination game, it’s like watching prime Princeton led by two superstars.
Good post and certainly the Heat are playing really well over the last couple of weeks but what I don't get at all is that this is basically the same team BOS beat last year. It would be one thing if this was a team like Orlando that came out of nowhere and BOS had to prepare for on the fly but BOS's played this team, what, 15 times in the last two years so everyone should know what works and what doesn't work.

Befuddling.
 

astrozombie

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After enjoying this team so much during the regular season, I have to say I am pretty disappointed with all this. In no particular order:
1. I want to like Mazzulla, but I have to wonder if he is part of the problem. After the Udoka situation I am sure the team was kicking themselves for losing Hardy, who did a solid job with Utah. Maybe he will end up being a great coach, but he just seems thoroughly outclassed here. That the players look sort of defeated and can't keep up the intensity for 4 quarters is partially on the coach.
2. I like JB and I am going to be sad when he flees Boston at the first possible opportunity. That said... I will not miss the needless and frequent turnovers.
3. That this team seizes up and does iso ball as soon as things get remotely tight, despite them being successful with ball movement all year is frustrating. Especially when Tatum does not seem to get the calls.
4. This whole season I have been trying to convince myself that TL looks fine, but I know I am lying to myself. Not necessarily the injury, but last year he was consistently Godzilla on defense and this year, it just looks different. Inconsistent, wrong place... something.
5. I really wanted Smart and Horford to get rings. Not that anyone "deserves" one, but they both brought a lot of stability to a team in transition and it sucks that their two best opportunities (this year and last) look like they will come up short.

I was thrilled when the Hawks beat the Heat because the Heat always seem to have the Cs number. Moreover, they can always seem to take people who have little to offer or no pedigree and turn them into valuable pieces. That's a credit to their coaching staff. I didn't think they would get past Milwaukee and I can't believe they have thoroughly outclassed the Celtics at every level.
 

the moops

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2. If Tatum is going to win a championship, he has to perfect the post fadeaway. Butler has it. Nearly every best player on a championship team has had elite post scoring, probably through the entire history of the NBA. Teams can't rely on the variance that comes with three-point shooting. Brown actually had a few in the first quarter, yesterday, then everything fell apart.
Agree with this. Whenever MIA needs a bucket, they can post Butler up and he can go to work. Whether he passes out of it, or takes a shot, it tends to be a really good look.
 

benhogan

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Miami coaching/system/culture + 1.5 All-Stars & a bunch of role players destroyed 3 good teams in Milwaukee, Knicks, & Boston.

This is freaking NBA pundits out who have held on forever that it's all about talent and the Coach has little impact.
 

dhellers

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Miami coaching/system/culture + 1.5 All-Stars & a bunch of role players destroyed 3 good teams in Milwaukee, Knicks, & Boston.

This is freaking NBA pundits out who have held on forever that it's all about talent and the Coach has little impact.
Kind of like "there is no such thing as clutch hitting"... until David Ortiz walks in the stadium.
 

Toe Nash

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Wow, what a crazy stat. Celtics are 29% and the Heat are 52%. That’s pretty much the series right there
Yeah. I don't think the Celtics have played well on defense and they have too many turnovers, but they are generating open looks on offense and they're not falling. I think some of this is the Heat getting in their head and being tight or whatever, that could explain some of the airballs last night, but with some normal luck the first two games would have been coinflips.

Nothing you can do about those games now, but I hope this goes into the offseason thinking about what went wrong and I expect it will.
 

Euclis20

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Yeah. I don't think the Celtics have played well on defense and they have too many turnovers, but they are generating open looks on offense and they're not falling. I think some of this is the Heat getting in their head and being tight or whatever, that could explain some of the airballs last night, but with some normal luck the first two games would have been coinflips.

Nothing you can do about those games now, but I hope this goes into the offseason thinking about what went wrong and I expect it will.
Jaylen, Al and Brogdon all air-balled open 3's, pretty jarring to see.

White is 9-16 from 3, and Grant is 3-5. The rest of the Celtics rotation (Tatum, Brown, Smart, Horford, Brogdon) is a combined 16-75, or 21%. At the same time, Miami's rotation 3 point shooters (Martin, Vincent, Strus, Robinson, Lowry and Love) are a combined 42-86, or 49%.
 

8slim

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Miami coaching/system/culture + 1.5 All-Stars & a bunch of role players destroyed 3 good teams in Milwaukee, Knicks, & Boston.

This is freaking NBA pundits out who have held on forever that it's all about talent and the Coach has little impact.
I've been assured this is a "make or miss league". Coaching and defensive commitment don't matter, apparently.
 

128

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Miami coaching/system/culture + 1.5 All-Stars & a bunch of role players destroyed 3 good teams in Milwaukee, Knicks, & Boston.

This is freaking NBA pundits out who have held on forever that it's all about talent and the Coach has little impact.
These same pundits are already discounting Miami's chances against Denver, which, on paper, has the better roster. We've seen how much that matters in these playoffs.
 

sezwho

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Agree with this. Whenever MIA needs a bucket, they can post Butler up and he can go to work. Whether he passes out of it, or takes a shot, it tends to be a really good look.
Was thinking this too. It felt almost like an option Butler used early to get a feel for the shot. It’s not easy to master (duh) but it’s almost sky hook-y in that it’s not really defensible.

I guess I’m crazy, but I still think the Celtics have the punchers chance. They just need to keep moving the ball on O and lock up the D.

Jimmy ‘it’s not a random walk’ Butler is just one man.
 

Euclis20

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Miami coaching/system/culture + 1.5 All-Stars & a bunch of role players destroyed 3 good teams in Milwaukee, Knicks, & Boston.

This is freaking NBA pundits out who have held on forever that it's all about talent and the Coach has little impact.
If Miami wins the title, they will have knocked off both #1 seeds and a 3rd team that was the title favorite for most of the regular season and playoffs. There were no world beaters this year, but on paper that's gotta be one of the most impressive playoff runs of all time.
 

bakahump

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Weird aside and not even sure where this info exists.....But it certainly SEEMS LIKE....

Every (ok hyperbole.....but ALOT of) Miami possession goes to about <5Seconds on the shot clock. So for 20 seconds boston plays at lease passable (passable enough to delay any scores for 20 seconds) defense. Miami has then (for the most part) then hit the shot. Totally deflating as a fan and as a player.

Noticed it to a lesser extent against Philly as well.

Am I crazy?
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Setting aside all of the narratives, I would love to see the result of one game between these two teams where they each revert closer to their regular season shooting. I really can't recall a team that shot as well as Miami has in a series as they are here. White hot indeed.

Its not lost that the Cs are giving the Heat some great looks but they are making tough shots too. Meanwhile, the Cs seem to be missing so many open opportunities...
 

NomarsFool

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Weird aside and not even sure where this info exists.....But it certainly SEEMS LIKE....

Every (ok hyperbole.....but ALOT of) Miami possession goes to about <5Seconds on the shot clock. So for 20 seconds boston plays at lease passable (passable enough to delay any scores for 20 seconds) defense. Miami has then (for the most part) then hit the shot. Totally deflating as a fan and as a player.

Noticed it to a lesser extent against Philly as well.

Am I crazy?
I don't think so, I think it's the result of Miami moving the ball around until they find someone open for an open shot.

The Celtics take a lot of shots without much time on the clock, but that's more from their slow pace and pounding the ball in the floor and not starting anything until there is 12-14 seconds left. I think they have gotten a little better at that - by a small amount. So, there's some growth there - but it's still a lot.

One thing i also noticed is that when the Celtics do push, it seems like there are 5 Heat back all the time.
 

PedroKsBambino

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We've seen that in 3 series now, good smaller guys torching them.
yup. That’s the substantive thing that has changed defensively—they are not consistently able to stop at the point of attack. How much of that is effort I don’t know (DuncanRobinsondoing it is effort/focus for example) but smart, Al, tl, Brogdon all a half step less quick and that matters
 

nazz45

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I take back any criticism on Game 1 Pritchard usage. He may be their best pick and roll defender. Which may not say much, or at least says a lot about their other guards.
 

PedroKsBambino

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I do wonder if that was part of idea on PP. But…Heat are too smart for that solution, they roast him on switches.

I do think a big part of game 4 is as simple as make more shots/don’t focus on refs/win every loose ball. Changing when they go under picks and really emphasizing not to double are useful tactically. Offensively Celts have not really figured out heat D…there’s some good looks, some driving lanes, but they switch it up a lot. At that end, I got nothing beyond stay with it and shoot better.
 

TFisNEXT

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If Miami wins the title, they will have knocked off both #1 seeds and a 3rd team that was the title favorite for most of the regular season and playoffs. There were no world beaters this year, but on paper that's gotta be one of the most impressive playoff runs of all time.
Almost like the 1995 Houston Rockets when they ran the gauntlet as the 6 seed....They beat the top 3 seeds in the west plus the 1 seed in the east (Orlando) in the finals all without home court advantage. The biggest difference though was that Rockets team was probably significantly better than this Miami team. Hakeem Olajuwan and Clyde Drexler both missed time in the 2nd half of the season and both got healthy before the playoffs and that team was a beast when their stars were healthy.
 

lexrageorge

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If Miami wins the title, they will have knocked off both #1 seeds and a 3rd team that was the title favorite for most of the regular season and playoffs. There were no world beaters this year, but on paper that's gotta be one of the most impressive playoff runs of all time.
It's so infrequent for anything like that to happen in the NBA, so kudos to the Heat for what could very well be a historic run if they were to go all the way.

Closest example I can think of is the 1969 Celtics. Finished 4th out of 4 Eastern Conference qualifiers for the playoffs with a 48-34 record. Knocked off a Sixers team that had 3 Hall of Fame players on its roster that finished 7 games ahead in the standings. Followed that up by knocking off a supremely talented Knicks team (Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, et al). And then closed out the West/Baylor/Wilt Lakers team in 7 games, a team that was #1 seed in the west.

Due to the playoff format, the Celtics did not have to play the #1 seeded Bullets, who were upset by the Knicks in the opening round, so not quite as daunting as Miami's path.
 

BaseballJones

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Was thinking this too. It felt almost like an option Butler used early to get a feel for the shot. It’s not easy to master (duh) but it’s almost sky hook-y in that it’s not really defensible.

I guess I’m crazy, but I still think the Celtics have the punchers chance. They just need to keep moving the ball on O and lock up the D.

Jimmy ‘it’s not a random walk’ Butler is just one man.
Win game 4 by hook or by crook.

Then win game 5 back in Boston.

The pressure would be in Miami in game 6 then, and Boston would have lots of co dude Dr and momentum. The Celtics could win that one.

Then game 7 back in Boston.

Obviously a very long shot to pull this off but I can see a scenario.
 

Auger34

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Win game 4 by hook or by crook.

Then win game 5 back in Boston.

The pressure would be in Miami in game 6 then, and Boston would have lots of co dude Dr and momentum. The Celtics could win that one.

Then game 7 back in Boston.

Obviously a very long shot to pull this off but I can see a scenario.
There’s definitely an outline for a comeback. You have to imagine the shooting goes cold, not a dig at the Heat, it’s just that they are making shots at a historic clip.

Im very interested in what Game 4 looks like. If there’s another rollover then there needs to be changes. Smart probably needs to go. Mazzulla would absolutely need to go.

If they win Game 4, then at least there’s some semblance of fight and we can go from there
 

jon abbey

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Almost like the 1995 Houston Rockets when they ran the gauntlet as the 6 seed....They beat the top 3 seeds in the west plus the 1 seed in the east (Orlando) in the finals all without home court advantage. The biggest difference though was that Rockets team was probably significantly better than this Miami team. Hakeem Olajuwan and Clyde Drexler both missed time in the 2nd half of the season and both got healthy before the playoffs and that team was a beast when their stars were healthy.
Also that team was defending champions so they already knew what it took to get there, plus Hakeem was the best player in the league then.
 

Light-Tower-Power

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There’s definitely an outline for a comeback. You have to imagine the shooting goes cold, not a dig at the Heat, it’s just that they are making shots at a historic clip.

Im very interested in what Game 4 looks like. If there’s another rollover then there needs to be changes. Smart probably needs to go. Mazzulla would absolutely need to go.

If they win Game 4, then at least there’s some semblance of fight and we can go from there
There’s definitely an outline for a comeback. You have to imagine the shooting goes cold, not a dig at the Heat, it’s just that they are making shots at a historic clip.

Im very interested in what Game 4 looks like. If there’s another rollover then there needs to be changes. Smart probably needs to go. Mazzulla would absolutely need to go.

If they win Game 4, then at least there’s some semblance of fight and we can go from there
This has to be one of the best teams ever to be down 0-3 in a series, right? Especially considering it’s not due to injury. They absolutely have the talent to win multiple games in a row against this Miami team. Maybe not 4, but enough to make things interesting. Will they lock in and do it? Seems like a pipe dream at this point, but if there was ever a team capable of pulling off the first 0-3 miracle it is this Celtics team. It’s going to happen at some point. It’s extremely unlikely but I’ll still be watching tomorrow.
 

TFisNEXT

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Also that team was defending champions so they already knew what it took to get there, plus Hakeem was the best player in the league then.
Yeah and Hakeem showing up The Admiral and Shaq in back to back series was the stuff of legends. He was ridiculous that playoffs. I think one of those games was when David Robinson received his MVP award too and then Hakeem went out and utterly schooled him.

Game 5 (winner-take-all game back then) in the first round on the road against the Utah Jazz was kind of underrated too. All the role players were ice cold that game and Clyde Drexler and Hakeem completely carried them that game....they were down like 12 or 13 at one point in the 3rd quarter and then they just took over. I think they each put up a 30-burger in a relatively low scoring game.
 

Auger34

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This has to be one of the best teams ever to be down 0-3 in a series, right? Especially considering it’s not due to injury. They absolutely have the talent to win multiple games in a row against this Miami team. Maybe not 4, but enough to make things interesting. Will they lock in and do it? Seems like a pipe dream at this point, but if there was ever a team capable of pulling off the first 0-3 miracle it is this Celtics team. It’s going to happen at some point. It’s extremely unlikely but I’ll still be watching tomorrow.
100%. On paper they absolutely have the goods. Before last game's abomination, I would have said that this team always comes out and fights when their back are against the wall.
Under Joe, they've leaned heavily into the variance of the 3P shot and you have to imagine that work turns somewhat. Of course, the other side of this is that this team can never keep their focus for a full game, how can they do it for 4 straight? They have literally no room to fuck up now.
It's really important that they come out fast and into the game....if they come out slow, I dont want to think about what could happen
 

JakeRae

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I do wonder if that was part of idea on PP. But…Heat are too smart for that solution, they roast him on switches.

I do think a big part of game 4 is as simple as make more shots/don’t focus on refs/win every loose ball. Changing when they go under picks and really emphasizing not to double are useful tactically. Offensively Celts have not really figured out heat D…there’s some good looks, some driving lanes, but they switch it up a lot. At that end, I got nothing beyond stay with it and shoot better.
My guess is that not being a historically awful shooting team would be a big part of “solving” Miami’s defense. Any offense is going to look bad shooting under 30% on open threes, but one that is designed to get open threes is going to look particularly bad.
 

Toe Nash

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There’s definitely an outline for a comeback. You have to imagine the shooting goes cold, not a dig at the Heat, it’s just that they are making shots at a historic clip.

Im very interested in what Game 4 looks like. If there’s another rollover then there needs to be changes. Smart probably needs to go. Mazzulla would absolutely need to go.

If they win Game 4, then at least there’s some semblance of fight and we can go from there
I agree with this. I was not so disappointed going into the second half last night because yet another role player shot lights-out, and I thought they had a shot if they bore down and played a good second half, but they way they responded was pretty pathetic -- losing guys on defense even more and getting upset at the refs.

I wouldn't overreact based on game 4 if I were PBS but it will make me feel much better as a fan if they can win one or two, even if they ultimately fall short.
 

Light-Tower-Power

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100%. On paper they absolutely have the goods. Before last game's abomination, I would have said that this team always comes out and fights when their back are against the wall.
Under Joe, they've leaned heavily into the variance of the 3P shot and you have to imagine that work turns somewhat. Of course, the other side of this is that this team can never keep their focus for a full game, how can they do it for 4 straight? They have literally no room to fuck up now.
It's really important that they come out fast and into the game....if they come out slow, I dont want to think about what could happen
They absolutely can at least win the next two and make things uncomfortable for Miami, but I have a strong inclination that they’re going to come out somewhat energized to start tomorrow then quickly wilt and fall apart when Miami makes a run and it ends up being a fairly comfortable Miami close out win. I’m all for “why not us” but this cake seems baked.
 

bosockboy

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
22,121
St. Louis, MO
This has to be one of the best teams ever to be down 0-3 in a series, right? Especially considering it’s not due to injury. They absolutely have the talent to win multiple games in a row against this Miami team. Maybe not 4, but enough to make things interesting. Will they lock in and do it? Seems like a pipe dream at this point, but if there was ever a team capable of pulling off the first 0-3 miracle it is this Celtics team. It’s going to happen at some point. It’s extremely unlikely but I’ll still be watching tomorrow.
The 2004 Sox were actually a much better team than the Yankees but dug a huge hole. Teams with much more talent rarely get down 0-3. This Celtics team qualifies.
 

Auger34

used to be tbb
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
11,897
They absolutely can at least win the next two and make things uncomfortable for Miami, but I have a strong inclination that they’re going to come out somewhat energized to start tomorrow then quickly wilt and fall apart when Miami makes a run and it ends up being a fairly comfortable Miami close out win. I’m all for “why not us” but this cake seems baked.
If this happens then you have to imagine that, at the very least, Mazzulla gets fired right?
 

Light-Tower-Power

ask me about My Pillow
SoSH Member
Jun 14, 2013
16,567
Nashua, NH
I’d be really interested to see what a Game 5 crowd would feel like.
I’d expect one of the best crowds of the playoffs. Thursday night, tickets I’m sure will be less expensive than previous games. If they win tomorrow and then come out strong in Game 5 the crowd is going to fully lean into 2004 ALCS and 28-3 and it’s going to get loud.