I thought you gave up after game 4?Jaylen Brown also needs to not be overmatched against Kyle Korver.
I thought you gave up after game 4?Jaylen Brown also needs to not be overmatched against Kyle Korver.
Which group does Al Horford fit into? If he plays his normal game, last night becomes a coin flip. He sucked out loud last night and that was our biggest issue.It’s almost as if, at times, they look like an overachieving group of young guys and role players
Cleveland is hell bent on taking him out of the equation. He’s being doubled on his first move every single time and they’re doing a good job sagging off the other guys and clogging the lane.Which group does Al Horford fit into? If he plays his normal game, last night becomes a coin flip. He sucked out loud last night and that was our biggest issue.
He's what, 6'10", looks like 270 to me, handles the ball like a guard and moves like a RB. He is without a doubt the most powerful guy to play in the NBA since Shaq, only he gets a running start. Given the rules of basketball, yes he simply goes through everyone.Also I've been watching Lebron all series, and I know it shouldn't come as a surprise, but I'm still amazed at the incredible ability he has to finish around the rim, no matter what obstacles are in the way. It's like you could shoot a cannonball point-blank through his chest and his disembodied arms would find a way to flip the ball up and in. I think a big key to game 7 will be for Brad to find a way to really make him work hard and wear him down, because he clearly is going to try to go into superhero mode. They gotta make sure his legs are water when the fourth quarter starts.
It would be nice for him to get a token charge or other offensive foul occasionally—the one where he trucked Brown in 4th quarter was egregious.He's what, 6'10", looks like 270 to me, handles the ball like a guard and moves like a RB. He is without a doubt the most powerful guy to play in the NBA since Shaq, only he gets a running start. Given the rules of basketball, yes he simply goes through everyone.
I'm assuming he goes off tomorrow like he did in IND. Hopefully the role players will revert to for.. I mean has Jeff Green ever played two big games in a row?
What?!!!Jaylen Brown also needs to not be overmatched against Kyle Korver.
Him and Terry, anyway. Combined they went off for 55 points on 21/34 from the field, 8/13 from downtown. Celtics players not named Jaylen, Terry or Jayson (7/13) went 10/27 from the field.What?!!!
Jaylen was fantastic last night and arguably kept the Celtics in the game all by himself.
That's an insane comment.
JB is averaging 20.8 ppg in only 32 minutes against Cleveland on 47% shooting, 40% from three. There's only one player in the entire series outplaying him.What?!!!
Jaylen was fantastic last night and arguably kept the Celtics in the game all by himself.
That's an insane comment.
He is so strong he can casually, slowly gain ground off the dribble. But, even though it is not a collision it should be called an o foul.It would be nice for him to get a token charge or other offensive foul occasionally—the one where he trucked Brown in 4th quarter was egregious.
Yes, I know, as likely to happen as me being called in to ref game 7 but still a guy can hope
Marcus has his right thumb taped in this video. Did he have an injury I'm forgetting about? This must have been shot pre-season because Hayward is in there.The work in practice on this video came up big time last night. There were multiple occasions that Tatum fronted LeBron and either stole the ball or made it difficult.
Tir Na Nog is the usual suggestion. I'll be at Dive Bar at 95th and Amsterdam, 2 express stops from times square. @Lose Remerswaal may join.Maybe not quite the right place to ask this .... I will be in NYC all weekend and (despite my Friday afternoon hopes) will need to watching NBA basketball on Sunday night. Can anyone suggest a celtics/bostonSports bar in midtown Manhattanish?
Two that I can remember in game 4 alone. And the Celtics in general have been trying to make Korver look like the second coming of Michael Cooper.I mean there’s been two possessions this entire series that’s been true, but keep doing you Felger Jr
Young team on the road in a close out game on the road against Lebron with chance to go to the NBA Finals?Is there an explanation for all the turnovers? Just sloppy play, or something Cleveland is doing...
The few times that I caught Baynes guarding Lebron it was en route to an easy path to the basket.Love Brad, but I think this loss is on him. Marcus Morris played very poorly and the Celtics got absolutely destroyed on the glass. Meanwhile after Love went down Baynes sat a lot and played only 18 minutes. Morris was useless vs LeBron. You swap Baynes and Morris and the Celtics have a good shot in this one.
No Love.
Thanks ... maybe I will wander up to 95thTir Na Not is the usual suggestion. I'll be at Dive Bar at 95th and Amsterdam, 2 express stops from times square. @Lose Remerswaal may join.
This is also possible. I admit to being a bit angry about the game last night and I see red re: everything LeBron at times. I think tho... things like 'the decision' and his complaining/flailing/diving on the court are a bit childish... but as I said I'm knowingly biased.This seems like the opposite of what I think. He has never really acted like a 18 year old for he never had the chance. It's like he skipped adolescence and arrived as a 30 year old man.
Then how do you watch the NBA? Flailing, flopping, diving, complaining is rampant.This is also possible. I admit to being a bit angry about the game last night and I see red re: everything LeBron at times. I think tho... things like 'the decision' and his complaining/flailing/diving on the court are a bit childish... but as I said I'm knowingly biased.
The Tjerks article on attrition that is linked in your piece is also worth a read: https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/5/24/17386458/warriors-rockets-rotations-wcfOne last appeal for people to read the Danny Chau article on the last Warriors Rockets game. We are not related nor do I get anything for click-throughs. It does, however, explain to people watching what is really going on in these games rather than "player x isn't trying hard or is getting owned by player y" analysis.
The bottom line is that all these guys are trying their hardest to make plays. The problem, for all four remaining teams, is that there is no mystery left. Cleveland's entire team knows by heart where on the block Horford likes to catch the ball, what moves he likes to use to get the ball up to the rim and what his first, second and third options are when looking to kick the ball out in the event that he cannot take the shot himself due to doubling etc. So they will make sure he cannot get to the spot where he wants to catch the ball and failing that, they will double him if they sense he is going to try an up/under move. And they will know and anticipate the passing lanes he tends to utilize. This is true for all of the other players in both series too and younger, more limited and inexperienced guys (like Tatum) will feel this the most. Hell, even guys like Durant are successfully defended using this approach.
Its here where having a guy like LeBron can be the true delta. As has been noted upthread, he can get to the cup whenever he wants or needs to. It costs him in terms of punishment and exertion. But he can do it. And its here where the C's miss having a playmaker like Kyrie too.
However even for guys like him or Durant or Curry or Harden, the cumulative impact of the defensive intensity, high leverage minutes on both ends of the floor and the lost element of surprise can stifle their games. In other words, these guys don't choke or suck - its more that the other team is simply effective at taking away their respective games. IMHO, "Do better" isn't really the answer here even if we all feel that way watching the games.
Thank you - I meant to mention that article too (as a side note, with KOC, Tjarks, Chau, Haley O'Shaughnessy, Justin Verrier and Shea Serrano, its worth mentioning again how great the Ringer's NBA coverage is these days). So if you buy the arguments that Tjarks and Chau are making - and I clearly do - these games simply boil down to guys making plays in the face of intense pressure and its not just mental. They are literally being moved out of their respective comfort zones and pushed to their physical limitations. It makes what LeBron did last night, and all playoffs long, as well as the outstanding performances of some of the other guys all the more staggering.The Tjerks article on attrition that is linked in your piece is also worth a read: https://www.theringer.com/nba/2018/5/24/17386458/warriors-rockets-rotations-wcf
the physicality of these conference finals games is pretty amazing.
We are in desperate need of a SoSH basketball web site ala ITP.Don't know if anyone saw this article on ESPN on the Cav/Celts series, but I thought it was a good one. The five-person panel fielded some interesting questions including:
* Fact or fiction: Jaylen Brown and/or Jayson Tatum should be untouchable in future trade talks. (three panelists said fiction, but two said fact)
* Is this series more about the Celtics or more about the Cavs?
* 2. Rank these by which is most responsible for Cleveland's issues:
A. Roster construction
B. Coaching/strategy
C. Player performance
Then of course they were asked what percentage chance Cleveland had to win the series. Interestingly enough, two said 50%, and this was before game six.
Admittedly I watch less and less.. but with the Celtics being better recently I do like watching them.. and most of the players on the Cs don’t play that way.Then how do you watch the NBA? Flailing, flopping, diving, complaining is rampant.
Marcus Smart is a top 5 flopper in the NBA.Admittedly I watch less and less.. but with the Celtics being better recently I do like watching them.. and most of the players on the Cs don’t play that way.
This never gets old. Favorite clip of the year. Go C's.Anyone having trouble passing the time until tomorrow night?
This just isn’t true. And if he does it’s usually on D. On offense he doesn’t get the calls that Bron, Harden, Curry get (not that he ‘deserves’ to)Marcus Smart is a top 5 flopper in the NBA.
I'm fine with that.Refs tonight;
Marc Davis
James Capers
Zach Zarba
Alt Kane Fitzgerald
that is all.
Poor RocketsRefs tonight;
Marc Davis
James Capers
Zach Zarba
Alt Kane Fitzgerald
that is all.
Marcus has toned it down a bit in the past year, but the highlight reels of his flops on D are long and funny. The guys you mentioned get star calls on offense, and whine when they don't get them, and embellish contact, but Marcus on D was next level in terms of going full soccer.This just isn’t true. And if he does it’s usually on D. On offense he doesn’t get the calls that Bron, Harden, Curry get (not that he ‘deserves’ to)
The raiders' owner really should stop moonlighting.Refs tonight;
Marc Davis
That new stadium is really expensive...The raiders' owner really should stop moonlighting.
I agree he does it on D but there are a ton of guys that do it on both sides of the ball.. I just don’t think he’s close to top five but then again I’m currently having trouble thinking of a ton more currently in the league so maybe I’m wrong.. the one thing I’d say is that Marcus doesn’t play nearly the amount of time others do.. so maybe on a flip per minute he’s the worst.. vs number of flops.Marcus has toned it down a bit in the past year, but the highlight reels of his flops on D are long and funny. The guys you mentioned get star calls on offense, and whine when they don't get them, and embellish contact, but Marcus on D was next level in terms of going full soccer.