Game 7 Confidence Level

What is your Game 7 confidence level?

  • They got this - no chance Celtics lose

    Votes: 12 4.3%
  • Really confident - they’re better team and will show it once again

    Votes: 46 16.3%
  • Confident but a little nervous - I can’t stomach seeing smug Pat Riley

    Votes: 81 28.7%
  • Confident and not really nervous - I can deal with the result

    Votes: 33 11.7%
  • Not very confident and nervous - hoping for the best but I think they may have blown it

    Votes: 86 30.5%
  • It’s over - they blew their shot in Game 6

    Votes: 17 6.0%
  • Other

    Votes: 7 2.5%

  • Total voters
    282

BigSoxFan

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Disappointing home performance forces a Game 7 in Miami. Home teams generally win about 75-80% of Game 7’s in the playoffs so it won’t be easy. So, where does your confidence level sit for the next game?
 

Jed Zeppelin

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Marcus often follows up his worst performances with his best, which bodes well.

Game 5 against Milwaukee was one of the most devastating losses I've ever witnessed and they came back from that to win 2 in a row including a road win. That gives me hope. That was a much worse loss than this one if you strictly look at it from how badly it was choked away. This comparatively was just a slow burn loss. They've really responded well in this situation so far.

Another point in our favor is that the scenarios generally seem to be either a close game that can go either way or the Celtics running them off the floor, excluding G1 which was chock full of extenuating circumstances. All you can ask for is a chance at the end and I expect them to have it.
 
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Light-Tower-Power

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Confident but a little nervous. Feels like 2012, except this time they win G7 in Miami. I would have voted not confident and think they blew it 10 years ago and been right, but LeBron, Wade, and Bosh aren’t walking through that door this time around.

Anyone who votes it is over should be banned from watching the game.
 

djbayko

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Look, the Heat didn't roll over in Game 6, and the Celtics didn't play like shit. Games at this point of the playoffs are tough to win. All you can do is get behind your guys who have gotten you here and hope for the best. They have what it takes to win, but so do the Heat if a couple players have great games.

Confident but nervous.
 

DeadlySplitter

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Went with confident / not really nervous.

If they can't beat this Heat team, they weren't winning against the Stephen Curries anyways.

EDIT: I don't give a shit about 75-80%. WIth this team, this Heat team and probably "let them play" mentality from the refs, they should be favorites (and Vegas reflects this last I heard).
 
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Light-Tower-Power

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Look, the Heat didn't roll over in Game 6, and the Celtics didn't play like shit. Games at this point of the playoffs are tough to win. All you can do is get behind your guys who have gotten you here and hope for the best. They have what it takes to win, but so do the Heat if a couple players have great games.

Confident but nervous.
Agreed. If the unspeakable happens on Sunday, I think we stare directly at G3, and not so much at tonight.
 

RedSoxFan

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Tatum, Smart, Brown, Horford all know they have to win this. Dangerously close to 4 falls of Buffalo territory. They find a way.
 

RG33

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This feels like the classic series that has been back and forth, no sustained momentum, and then. . . . . . . The home veteran team wins.

I hate to say it, but I’m not confident. I feel like they have blown it. They are young and immature, and I won’t hold it against them too long, but it feels like this series has been lost to me.
 

LesterFan

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FWIW, the line for Sunday is currently Celts -2.5 and 59% implied win probability.
They were -8.5 tonight and Miami led mostly the entire game.

I voted it's over. They've bounced back after tough losses before, even on the road, but nothing like this. This was a home game to move on to the Finals and they got outplayed. Had a chance to still win and blew it. Guys are hobbled and these games are taking a toll especially after last series. Miami probably gets Herro back too. Hope I'm wrong but I think they blew their chance.
 

djbayko

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They were -8.5 tonight and Miami led mostly the entire game.

I voted it's over. They've bounced back after tough losses before, even on the road, but nothing like this. This was a home game to move on to the Finals and they got outplayed. Had a chance to still win and blew it. Guys are hobbled and these games are taking a toll especially after last series. Miami probably gets Herro back too. Hope I'm wrong but I think they blew their chance.
Yeah, the line only represents what the market feels is the average outcome across a range of possible outcomes (obviously). I'm not sure we can draw any conclusions from the disparity of the Game 6 spread vs. final score, just as we shouldn't assume that the Game 7 line means Celtics win by 2...and a half :) I was just providing one perspective.

Voting it's over after seeing the Heat bounce back from Game 5 or the Celtics bounce back after Game 5 last series - or watching any NBA games at all - seems wild to me. They still have one more chance.
 

Jed Zeppelin

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They were -8.5 tonight and Miami led mostly the entire game.

I voted it's over. They've bounced back after tough losses before, even on the road, but nothing like this. This was a home game to move on to the Finals and they got outplayed. Had a chance to still win and blew it. Guys are hobbled and these games are taking a toll especially after last series. Miami probably gets Herro back too. Hope I'm wrong but I think they blew their chance.
Game 5 against Milwaukee, also at home, was miles worse than this and left them needing to win two straight including a game on the road 2 days later.
 

LesterFan

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Game 7 on the road vs Miami in particular just gives me a bad feeling. Especially if it's a close game down the stretch and we need to get buckets. I think the moment will be too big for them, whereas Jimmy Butler is fearless. Miami was a dead team coming off a historically bad shooting game and Celtics gave them life by not closing it out at home.
 

The Social Chair

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I just don't see Miami losing 3 straight games at home if their injury issues are really past them.

In the 2nd half tonight they clogged the lane on Tatum/Brown drives and put it on Smart, Al, White, and Grant to beat them from the perimeter. I'm not super confident White can replicate his G6 performance or that Smart (injury) & Grant can step up.

Butler won't get 45+ again, but at home they just need a couple of their role players to be pull half of a Grant Williams G7 vs Milwaukee.

Game 5 against Milwaukee, also at home, was miles worse than this and left them needing to win two straight including a game on the road 2 days later.
We're Milwaukee now.
 

Devizier

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I figured every series was going to be a grind, given the depth of the EC, and they have been. Even the BRK games were usually close. Confident but not really nervous, but that’s because I expected this. Feels like a true toss up now.
 

benhogan

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The Heat hit too many buzzer-beating heaves last night. Credit to them for the win, but Marcus clamps down on Jimmy Game 7 and they move on.

Confident & not really nervous

It's been a great season regardless of the result. The Celtics are growing, progressing at a much faster pace than I could have imagined starting this season. Feels like they are a season early, either way, they have a multi-year run ahead of them.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

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MIA hit 43% from 3P, and some of those were really tough, plus they got 47 from Butler - and if JB hits those 2 FTs we have a much different game.

If MIA shoots over 40% from 3P, the Cs probably lose. But I don't think they will. Also, I saw TL look like he was in pain too; I assume he'll play but the more he can play, the better.

The Cs are a better team. I think they will win but it's not a sure thing.
 

Boston Brawler

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In the words of KG- “Anything is possible”

I voted confident but nervous. I don’t think either team is going to fold and it will come down to Tatum and Butler. I’ll side with our guys. We are 5-0 after losses this postseason after all.
 

Eddie Jurak

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I'm an emphatic "Other." I have no read on where game 7 goes. I think people could make a reasonable case for any of the 6 options in the poll - though that alone is reason to be skeptical of "They got this" or "They are done."

They are 2-0 when facing elimination in these playoffs - that is the biggest reason for optimism.
 

BigSoxFan

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My feelings about this team are two-fold:

1. They are very resilient coming off of an L, as we’ve seen. 5-0. And they have been very good on the road. 6-2

BUT

2. They are not good in “close and late” situations.

Milwaukee Game 3
Milwaukee Game 5
Miami Game 3
Miami Game 6

These were all L’s where they were close in the last 5 minutes and let it slip away. Milwaukee Game 4 is the only example last 2 rounds where they got it done.

If this is a tight game in last few minutes, I won’t have a lot of confidence in this team to execute their offense. I feel like this is the final weight that needs to be lifted off of their shoulders.
 

jsinger121

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The Boston Celtics haven’t won a road game 7 since the 1974 NBA World Championship series against Milwaukee. Almost 5 decades. They blew their chance in my eyes.
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

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Close game early, 5 - 8 point halftime lead, 15 point win that feels closer than it actually is.

Supremely confident.
 

Light-Tower-Power

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You know, Miami played a perfect game last night. Jimmy Butler was fantastic, they hit a ton of threes (several of which were prayers), forced turnovers, and played good defense in general. And they barely eked it out. Anything is possible in a G7 and they can do it again, but I’m even more confident after sleeping on it than I was last night.
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

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I can't tell if you're serious or if you're still mocking everyone for planning the NBA Finals. But either way I hope you're right.
I'm serious.

My point wasn't that the Heat should beat the Celtics. It was simply pointing out the absurdity of completely discounting them.

The Cs are the better team. ALOT went wrong for them and right for the Heat, and the Cs still had the lead with a few minutes left.

They'll make adjustments, both teams will start with jitters, and the cream will slowly rise to the top throughout the game.

We're going to the finals.
 

nolasoxfan

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I grew up in New England in the 1970s, rooting for its sports teams. It was and is my birth right.
Of course, I’m friggin nervous and expecting the worst. No amount of counseling can ever overcome the PTSD induced by Ed Armbrister, Bucky Dent, Guy Lafleur, Ben effing Dreith, et al.

Just win…please.
 
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bankshot1

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Not to put it on one player, because its usually never just one player, but its time we got the answer to

Turtle or Tatum?

The 1st team all NBA guy needs to have his epic huge prime-time everyone will remember game.

Give Deuce a pre-game hug, tell him you love him, but Daddy got some work to do

become a fucking assassin Jason
 

Mooch

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Very optimistic. Butler played a shit ton of minutes last night and will be hard pressed to repeat that level of aggression tomorrow night. Plus, give Ime a chance to counter that Heat game plan from last night and I think the Celtics will pick the Heat apart on both ends. As for a “road game 7” being daunting, are you fucking kidding me? Miami is the worst home crowd in the league. This is almost a neutral site game.

Celtics by 20+. This won’t be close.
 

BaseballJones

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Not confident. Not NOT confident. I have NO idea what game 7 holds. I thought they blew it with the game 5 loss to Milwaukee, then they rallied in an incredible way. So who the heck knows.
 

TrapperAB

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Lowry and Butler must have gotten his and his cortisone shots after Game 5. Can’t do that again, so they’re going to be older and slower in Game 7. That’ll be the difference.

Celts by 15.
 

tims4wins

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You know, Miami played a perfect game last night. Jimmy Butler was fantastic, they hit a ton of threes (several of which were prayers), forced turnovers, and played good defense in general. And they barely eked it out. Anything is possible in a G7 and they can do it again, but I’m even more confident after sleeping on it than I was last night.
I had a similar thought this morning. It took Miami having Butler go OFF, including a bunch of 3s, as well as Strus and Lowry shooting fantastic. While there's no way that White will play that well again in game 7, I do expect improvements from Grant, Al, and Marcus.

So while anything can happen, I think they're gonna be ok.
 

BaseballJones

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Butler doesn’t have to go OFF, if Herro plays and hits a few threes and if Bam gives them 15 points.

They have other ways to score.
 

tims4wins

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Butler doesn’t have to go OFF, if Herro plays and hits a few threes and if Bam gives them 15 points.

They have other ways to score.
Right. But the chances of Butler going off AND the other guys raining a bunch of 3s happening in the same game seems low. Tucker / Lowry / Strus went a combined 9-19. And Butler himself went 4-8. He had hit only two 3's all SERIES prior to game 6.
 

Ferm Sheller

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Like the 2011 Bruins, this team loses some tough games but they always seem to come through when they must. Celtics with their backs against the wall is the best team in basketball.
 

radsoxfan

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Lots of competing factors pushing both ways, especially injuries. Smart's has been particularly rough, he can play but he just isn't the same guy.

538 has it as 52/48, Celtics to win the game. Feels about right to me, coin flip game.

I am hopeful that Butler et al won't have so many fluky shots and 30 footers go in. That'll help.
 

JakeRae

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It's just like vs the Bucks, when it seemed highly unlikely that the Celts would lose three home games in a series. It seems unlikely that the Heat will lose three games in a series. But who the hell knows. I think this game is a genuine toss up.
We’re not playing three more games in Miami. We’re just playing one more. We only need to win that one, final game.

I think Boston is a small favorite going into this game but Miami is a very good team with an elite coach. Losing to them wouldn’t be shocking. The Celtics need everyone to step up as the only player who had an unambiguously strong performance in Game 6 was White.
 

bgo544

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I said "other", as I have really no idea which version of the Celtics will show up on a given night. They are a very good team with a high level of variance in performance, so who knows.
 

JoePoulson

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Zero confidence. They proved so many of us wrong in the past series but this series just feels different. No consistency, low energy and no agency in the awful losses. And I don't understand the home/road discrepancy. Championship teams just don't go 5-4 at home.

I obviously hope like hell they pull it out and make me look like an ass but I feel Spo is just too good of a coach and won't let Miami lose a game 7 at home.
 

sezwho

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Like the 2011 Bruins, this team loses some tough games but they always seem to come through when they must. Celtics with their backs against the wall is the best team in basketball.
After the Giannis series it’s on the table with a win but if the Heat pull out G7, doing more with less, would we have to give them the nod?

Side note: at times I have pined for Lowry as the piece to unlock the Js, which makes me feel dirty with each flop. Really glad Smart has been able to fill that gap but even a broken down Lowry is scary.
 

Ralphwiggum

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I'm a casual Cs fan who has watched more as the season progressed and into the playoffs. I thought this would be a tough series and never really got the seemingly irrational confidence that Cs fans and even pundits had about the Celtics being the clear favorites. Then they won games 4 and 5 and had it and I was in on the irrational confidence. Then last night happened. I don't think its over and they have no chance, but I think it's a huge ask for this team to win a game 7 on the road. I voted hoping for the best but I think they may have blown it.
 

Ferm Sheller

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I'm a casual Cs fan who has watched more as the season progressed and into the playoffs. I thought this would be a tough series and never really got the seemingly irrational confidence that Cs fans and even pundits had about the Celtics being the clear favorites. Then they won games 4 and 5 and had it and I was in on the irrational confidence. Then last night happened. I don't think its over and they have no chance, but I think it's a huge ask for this team to win a game 7 on the road. I voted hoping for the best but I think they may have blown it.
You could have said the same thing about the Heat going into Game 6, which was a "Game 7 on the road" for them after they came off a couple of bad performances.