Interesting that Kyrie wasn't in the building for a Game 7. Kinda bizarre if you ask me.Really missed Kyrie. People were hesitating about what they should do and it cost them. They played their hearts out but as good as JT has been, they didn't have a guy like LBJ, Harden, KD, Curry, etc.
Give Pierce credit. He called it after G4 that the Celtics would have to close it out in Cleveland because a G7 in the EC Finals is a different animal and you're going up against LeBron.Pierce on now again showing that he is the motherfucking Truth. Jesus people some young players made mistakes in a huge game, get a grip.
That being said I'm looking forward to the Lebronaires getting swept by the Warriors
Seriously. We had the benefit of watching it in slow-mo. I have no idea how he knew to snap his head back like that in real time.That Marcus flop to draw LBJ’s second foul belongs in a masterclass.
Rozier was awful and I would have benched him. But I think Stevens was out of options...even having Larkin would have helped.An NBA coach is only as good as his players but what Rozier did down the stretch was more about forcing bad shots which is the same poor decision making he showed the entire game. Hated seeing him return to the game. Felt it was biggest decision of game bringing him back in.
You’re both taking it way too far to absolutes. They just missed too many open looks. Classify that however you like, but outside Rozier, I can’t finger a guy who play poorly in a mental capacity. Shits generally didn’t fall/weren’t hit, but Terry made a ton of bad choices.it was absolutely accurate. They weren’t up to it. Excusable in a team lacking its two best offensive players, but what was left was a team not ready to win.
That is a pretty shocking stat but considering Cleveland had just 2 offensive rebounds and Boston had 11 it's hard to really make anything out of it.Sorry guys, very disappointing last game, but a heck of a season.
I think I might be most shocked by Horford having 4 rebounds in that brick fest I'm 40 minutes. I don't really know how that is possible.
Future is bright, and hopefully my guys will be there fighting you for it.
Very bizarre. I wonder what the hell that's about.Interesting that Kyrie wasn't in the building for a Game 7. Kinda bizarre if you ask me.
He pretty much did. He went out with 8 minutes left, came in for one minute for Jaylen who was also awful, then went right back out for Jaylen. Then he played the last bit of garbage time.Rozier was awful and I would have benched him. But I think Stevens was out of options...even having Larkin would have helped.
I think Stevens was correct that Baynes would have been abused defensively in fourth, and unless you want him out there you need to gamble Rozier picks it up don’t you? There’s just not enough bodies.
Sorry guys, very disappointing last game, but a heck of a season.
I think I might be most shocked by Horford having 4 rebounds in that brick fest I'm 40 minutes. I don't really know how that is possible.
Future is bright, and hopefully my guys will be there fighting you for it.
That’s what Smart theoretically does, too, so why they were both out there together in the fourth at any point is a complete mystery.Brown should've stayed in because at least that the defensive mismatches at a minimum, but it's not an easy call. Theoretically Rozier was able to create for others, but it didn't work out like that.
Yeah, this is right.Tremendous season, horrifying game.
It was a 4-point game with the ball and 2 1/2 minutes to play when Rozier returned to launch an ill-advised 3 that missed badly then followed that up by sending LeBron to the line on the rebound. Two possessions later, still a 5-point game, he again missed badly on a forced 3 then was removed following our TO once it was a 7-point game with a minute left. It was the critical 90 second stretch when Cleveland took complete control of the game......that isn't garbage time.He pretty much did. He went out with 8 minutes left, came in for one minute for Jaylen who was also awful, then went right back out for Jaylen. Then he played the last bit of garbage time.
Don't know who else besides Tatum, Horford, Smart and Morris should've been in trailing late. Not a lot of offensive fire power left on that bench.
Next year, with Gordon Hayward as its third option, this team is going to lay waste to the Eastern Conference and go on to win the title.it's really hard to get to the Finals; it's not automatic next season even with the return of Gordon Irving. Ainge has his work cut out for him this offseason.
Options (in order)Next year, with Gordon Hayward as its third option, this team is going to lay waste to the Eastern Conference and go on to win the title.
The guard has already changed, it's just obvious to fewer people now.A finals appearance, even in being swept, would have represented a changing of the guard in the EC, and would have given us first crack at it. We blew it
You mean Greg Kite. You forgot James Posey, Celtics 08. He was teammate of Shaq on the 06 Heat.Since 1984, every NBA championship team has had at least one player who was a teammate of Shaq. The Cavs are the last remaining team to have one of Shaq’s teammates on their roster. I guess it was meant to be? Go Warriors/Rockets!
1984 (Celtics) — George Kite (Magic, 1994)
1985 (Lakers) — Byron Scott (Lakers, 1997)
1986 (Celtics) — George Kite (Magic, 1994)
1987 (Lakers) — A.C. Green (Lakers, 2000)
1988 (Lakers) — A.C. Green (Lakers, 2000)
1989 (Pistons) —Dennis Rodman (Lakers, 1999)
1990 (Pistons) — John Salley (Lakers, 2000)
1991 (Bulls) — Horace Grant (Lakers, 2004)
1992 (Bulls) — Horace Grant (Lakers, 2004)
1993 (Bulls) — Horace Grant (Lakers, 2004)
1994 (Rockets) — Robert Horry (Lakers, 2003)
1995 (Rockets) — Robert Horry (Lakers, 2003)
1996 (Bulls) — Steve Kerr (Magic, 1993)
1997 (Bulls) — Ron Harper (Lakers, 2001)
1998 (Bulls) — Ron Harper (Lakers, 2001)
1999 (Spurs) — Steve Kerr (Magic, 1993)
2000 (Lakers)* — Kobe Bryant (Lakers, 2004)
2001 (Lakers)* — Tyronn Lue (Lakers, 2001)
2002 (Lakers)* — Rick Fox (Lakers, 2004)
2003 (Spurs) — Steve Kerr (Magic, 1993)
2004 (Pistons) — Lindsey Hunter (Lakers, 2002)
2005 (Spurs) — Robert Horry (Lakers, 2003)
2006 (Heat)* — Dwyane Wade (Heat, 2008)
2007 (Spurs) — Robert Horry (Lakers, 2003)
2008 (Celtics) — Paul Pierce (Celtics, 2011)
2009 (Lakers) — Derek Fisher (Lakers, 2004)
2010 (Lakers) — Luke Walton (Lakers, 2004)
2011 (Mavericks) —Sasha Pavlovic (Celtics, 2011)
2012 (Heat) — Udonis Haslem (Heat, 2008)
2013 (Heat) — Ray Allen (Celtics, 2011)
2014 (Spurs) — Boris Diaw (Suns, 2009)
2015 (Warriors) — Leandro Barbosa (Suns, 2009)
2016 (Cavaliers) — LeBron James (Cavaliers, 2010)
2017 (Warriors) — Matt Barnes (2009, Suns)
*Shaq was part of that Championship team
Totally agree. It’s easy to overanalyze this one. Credit to the Cavs’ D, but if the C’s have average shot luck, we win easily. (To be fair, the Cavs missed more than their share of open shots too.)You’re both taking it way too far to absolutes. They just missed too many open looks. Classify that however you like, but outside Rozier, I can’t finger a guy who play poorly in a mental capacity. Shits generally didn’t fall/weren’t hit, but Terry made a ton of bad choices.
Only seven guys played last night, and Brad definitely didn’t trust Baynes late. He only had so many options.That’s what Smart theoretically does, too, so why they were both out there together in the fourth at any point is a complete mystery.
Last nights game still really stings. UghIt was a 4-point game with the ball and 2 1/2 minutes to play when Rozier returned to launch an ill-advised 3 that missed badly then followed that up by sending LeBron to the line on the rebound. Two possessions later, still a 5-point game, he again missed badly on a forced 3 then was removed following our TO once it was a 7-point game with a minute left. It was the critical 90 second stretch when Cleveland took complete control of the game......that isn't garbage time.
I still want to know.....where was Kyrie tonight?
I get it, and less drunk I hear you. But point was...76ers are coming and if they get Bron, they have every reason to believe THEY are the team going forward. Winning this year, diminished as we are, would have set us as the bar for them to surpass.We blew it, but let’s not pretend there was some set back about ‘changing of the guard’. That’s nonsense. Bron is gone and even if he stays, we just took him to 7 without our two best players.
The guard has finished his shift. We’re on the clock now.
Interesting...Tatum clearly thrived in his opportunity and may move up but he still has to show me he’s ahead of the other two on the court.Options (in order)
1. Tatum
2. Hayward
3. Kyrie
After Tatum's dunk and three put the Celtics up 1, he had just one shot attempt the rest of the game. The Celtics as a team went 0-8 (and 0-6 from three) while the Cavs went on the 13-2 run that won the game. Going 0-1 doesn't sound as bad as going, say, 0-6 or whatever, but neither Kyrie nor Hayward would have let themselves be held without a shot during the most crucial part of the game.Interesting...Tatum clearly thrived in his opportunity and may move up but he still has to show me he’s ahead of the other two on the court.
1-Kyrie (everything flows through him)
2-Healthy Hayward
3-Tatum (don’t think I’m taking anything away from him here just recognizing the greatness of 1&2)
Edit- would be fun to be wrong here!
The entire team needed to recognize the hot hand in that situation and run the offense through Tatum. Disappointed that they didn’t.After Tatum's dunk and three put the Celtics up 1, he had just one shot attempt the rest of the game. The Celtics as a team went 0-8 (and 0-6 from three) while the Cavs went on the 13-2 run that won the game. Going 0-1 doesn't sound as bad as going, say, 0-6 or whatever, but neither Kyrie nor Hayward would have let themselves be held without a shot during the most crucial part of the game.
Which is to say you are right - as of now, Tatum is #3 on that list.
I don't think it's a team failing, so much as it is that Tatum isn't yet ready for that role. Clevalnd no doubt thought "if we cover Tatum, we win", which is exactly how it turned out.The entire team needed to recognize the hot hand in that situation and run the offense through Tatum. Disappointed that they didn’t.
Hopefully a scoring veteran with Kyrie's pedigree will help in those situations. Hayward is going to be huge in general, but we really missed that elite go-to scorer to prevent big scoring droughts.Last night's disaster aside, the real reason the Celtics didn't move on is because they couldn't win a game on the road. It's crazy that they even made it to Game 7 of the ECF with only winning one game on the road the entire playoffs. I don't know what has to change, and I know winning on the road is tough in the playoffs, but they weren't even competitive in most of their road games during the postseason. Going up early in Game 6 and then having that atrocious second quarter where it looked like they threw everything that worked prior to that out the window for god knows what reason is the most disappointing to me.
I’m choosing to chalk it up as the depth issue rearing its head rather than some critical failing of the coach or whatever that I’m sure some people want to ascribe to it.Last night's disaster aside, the real reason the Celtics didn't move on is because they couldn't win a game on the road. It's crazy that they even made it to Game 7 of the ECF with only winning one game on the road the entire playoffs. I don't know what has to change, and I know winning on the road is tough in the playoffs, but they weren't even competitive in most of their road games during the postseason. Going up early in Game 6 and then having that atrocious second quarter where it looked like they threw everything that worked prior to that out the window for god knows what reason is the most disappointing to me.
Thanks. I copied the list. But I don’t think it’s actually “forgetting” anyone. I believe it’s intended to highlight at least one player per year, not all of them.You mean Greg Kite. You forgot James Posey, Celtics 08. He was teammate of Shaq on the 06 Heat.
And half a foot from Bellinelli from an 0-fer. Agreed, losing I can deal with but the turtling and non-competitiveness is concerning. But you need horses to win NBA road playoff games, and we get two next year.Last night's disaster aside, the real reason the Celtics didn't move on is because they couldn't win a game on the road. It's crazy that they even made it to Game 7 of the ECF with only winning one game on the road the entire playoffs. I don't know what has to change, and I know winning on the road is tough in the playoffs, but they weren't even competitive in most of their road games during the postseason. Going up early in Game 6 and then having that atrocious second quarter where it looked like they threw everything that worked prior to that out the window for god knows what reason is the most disappointing to me.
Honest question - at what point when you’re typing have you thought anyone actually wants to hear your doomsday scenarios you pulled out of your ass? Go to the game thread if you want to spout nonsense. This is a Celtics thread.
What in the serious fuck was this bullshit?On a Celtics board. Either back up your garbage or stfu.
Oh well. Another clutch LeBron performance pulling victory out of thin air. I guess this is how Patriots' opponents must feel about Tom Brady.
...said pretty much every opponent Brady has vanquished, as I recall.This was way more on the Celtics than on Lebron.
That ill advised three was a wide open look after a scramble on the missed FT and subsequent missed Morris three (in which Rozier made a hell of a play on the offensive glass to give them a second look).It was a 4-point game with the ball and 2 1/2 minutes to play when Rozier returned to launch an ill-advised 3 that missed badly then followed that up by sending LeBron to the line on the rebound. Two possessions later, still a 5-point game, he again missed badly on a forced 3 then was removed following our TO once it was a 7-point game with a minute left. It was the critical 90 second stretch when Cleveland took complete control of the game......that isn't garbage time.
Here's where we all died a little:
2:34 Marcus Morris makes free throw 1 of 2 78 - 74
2:34 Terry Rozier enters the game for Jaylen Brown 78 - 74
2:34 Marcus Morris misses free throw 2 of 2 78 - 74
2:31 Marcus Smart offensive rebound 78 - 74
2:29 Marcus Morris misses 26-foot three point jumper 78 - 74
2:23 Marcus Smart offensive rebound 78 - 74
2:21 Terry Rozier misses 28-foot three point jumper 78 - 74
Drive and score (or get hacked). That's all the C's needed down 4. With Smart's gutsy ORs and Cleveland's defense standing around (as they did much of the game, despite commentary's insistence that they were good - they were not), they decided not to drive. Instead, Morris and Rozier threw up 3s (contested in Morris's case, wide open in Rozier's, which of course he missed), and the game was over.
They had the whole shot clock to create a shot, preferably for Horford or Tatum who were productive. Instead the opted for 2 desperation threes, each shot with 22 seconds on the clock, one contested, the other deep. That's the mark of a team that doesn't think it can create a good opportunity late in a close game.That ill advised three was a wide open look after a scramble on the missed FT and subsequent missed Morris three (in which Rozier made a hell of a play on the offensive glass to give them a second look).
He then had another wide open look from the corner.
He missed the shots so he sucks, I get it. But you gotta take those shots in those spots and you can't place any blame on the coach when open looks like those are missed.
The press is gonna press, this is hot takes heaven, and Lebron certainly grasps what he is facing in the Finals.What burns me is the ballwashing by the press afterwards. Lebron had another exceptional game, but his teammates were hot garbage most of the game. He's clearly the best of his generation, and top 5 all time, but he almost seemed upset to be moving on to get pwned by either of the West squads. Unless 2-3 Rockets/Warriors destroy legs or ankles tonight in game 7, it'll be a 5 game series at best.
FYI, Ainge just said that Kyrie had deviated septum surgery and was recovering.I'm hoping Kyrie was just sick, and the team didn't want his germs in the locker room. Failing that, the most likely explanation is either he needs his knee amputated, or he is part of a 5 team trade for Anthony Davis and Larry Fitzgerald.
I didn't call that garbgage time. The last 40 seconds went they put him back in was garbage time.It was a 4-point game with the ball and 2 1/2 minutes to play when Rozier returned to launch an ill-advised 3 that missed badly then followed that up by sending LeBron to the line on the rebound. Two possessions later, still a 5-point game, he again missed badly on a forced 3 then was removed following our TO once it was a 7-point game with a minute left. It was the critical 90 second stretch when Cleveland took complete control of the game......that isn't garbage time.
I still want to know.....where was Kyrie tonight?
Neither of his shots were contested or deep. Go watch the replay. He missed them, but this team would have been hard pressed to find a better look than those two open shots.They had the whole shot clock to create a shot, preferably for Horford or Tatum who were productive. Instead the opted for 2 desperation threes, each shot with 22 seconds on the clock, one contested, the other deep. That's the mark of a team that doesn't think it can create a good opportunity late in a close game.
If Terry shouldn't take those shots, the Celtics shouldn't be playing basketball.Neither of his shots were contested or deep. Go watch the replay. He missed them, but this team would have been hard pressed to find a better look than those two open shots.
Exactly. You dont pass up open looks like that. The chances of getting a better look are pretty smallIf Terry shouldn't take those shots, the Celtics shouldn't be playing basketball.