Mentality Heading into Game 5

[BaseballJones]

From the 7:30 minute remaining in G4 thru the first 11 minutes of G5, the Celtics were outscored 47-18.

47-18.

There’s no way to sugarcoat things. Just a disgusting collective performance that underscores just how poorly this team has executed in the biggest moments of their season.

The turnovers are completely inexcusable and clearly a fatal flaw.

Not fatal....YET. As Cris Collinsworth said when Jermaine Kearse caught the ball at the five yard line, "But they're not...in...yet."

Golden State is on the precipice. But they're not there....yet.

What's actually incredible is that the Celtics took the frigging lead last night despite the HORRENDOUS play. They had a chance to steal that game. They had actually taken a five-point lead at 66-61 with 3:55 left in the third. They had seized control of the game. Then it went back and forth a little and I told my son that I worried if Boston didn't extend the lead there. They didn't. In fact, it went the other way.

Key sequence: Up 71-67, Poole hits a three. Tatum misses. Payton hits a shot. Brown gets an and-one. Poole and Brown exchange missed threes (Brown's coming on a terrible play by Tatum, who was fouled but no call). Then Poole drains the ridiculous bank three from 33 feet away that gives GS the lead going into the fourth quarter, 75-74. So Boston got outscored by 6 points after taking a 5-point lead. All that work by Boston to come back...yeah they were still in the game, but they had given the lead back. Then GS rolled in the fourth.

 

[jmcc5400]

Yeah. I get a little sick of everyone speaking with such authority on this stuff. They choked against the Bucks...until they didnt. Miami series was over after 2 games...until it wasnt. The Dubs were done after 3 games...until they weren't.

Nobody knows anything, except this team has been resilient for months. I'm not counting them out until their out.

Thank god the team is more resilient than a good portion of its fanbase that has been so eager to pronounce its time of death after Game 5 of the East semis and Games 1, 3 and 6 of the ECF. Still have to win 4. May as well see what happens after all this team has given us over the course of 105 games.

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

Less Warriors overconfdence and more the Celtics realizing that the pressure to deliver a title is off them now, so they will play more freely and execute better. But really I expect them to lose game 6.

Or - and just hear me out - they play better than GS.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

Or - and just hear me out - they played better than GS.

If you watched the last 2 games and see “the Celtics played better.” then green tint in your glasses must be so dark that they are opaque.

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

If you watched the last 2 games and see “the Celtics played better.” then green tint in your glasses must be so dark that they are opaque.

No. I'm saying if they win Game 6, and will be because they play better than GS.

The dumb narratives - like GS will only lose if they're overconfident - are embarrassing for this board.

The Celtics were the best team in basketball for the last half of the season. They're more than capable to win 2 games against any team, and they don't need any narratives for that to be true.

 

[Strike4]

The big red flag for me is that they had not lost back-to-back games in the playoffs yet and they just did, and did it gloriously stinky fashion. The fatigue is real but so are the fatal flaws.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

No. I'm saying if they win Game 6, and will be because they play better than GS.

The dumb narratives - like GS will only lose if they're overconfident - are embarrassing for this board.

The Celtics were the best team in basketball for the last half of the season. They're more than capable to win 2 games against any team, and they don't need any narratives for that to be true.

That’s a trivially true statement, then. Nowhere did I say that the Celtics might pull out a win in game 6 despite playing worse.

They were the best team for a huge stretch of the season, but not now. Obviously not now.

 

[BigSoxFan]

The big red flag for me is that they had not lost back-to-back games in the playoffs yet and they just did, and did it gloriously stinky fashion. The fatigue is real but so are the fatal flaws.

For me it’s how they lost. They choked Game 4 in Q4, said we need to clean up the turnovers, etc. Then, they come out like absolute dogshit, fight their way back valiantly, and then do the exact same thing in Q4 in Game 5.

That was very discouraging to see.

 

[Devizier]

The killer for me has been seeing the Celtics bench, which looked like a strength early in the playoffs, turn into a pumpkin. The Warriors are a deep team for sure, and their bench is absolutely pantsing the Celtics’.

 

[Kenny F'ing Powers]

That’s a trivially true statement, then. Nowhere did I say that the Celtics might pull out a win in game 6 despite playing worse.

That's great. I don't care that you didn't say that. Because what you DID say infers that the Celtics can only win if the Warriors are overconfident. Which means if the Celtics win, the primary reason ISNT because they played better, but simply because the Warriors fucked up.

This is over for all practical intents and purposes

Maybe the Celtics take it to 7 because the Warriors are overconfident and there is no more pressure on the Celtics now.

You say pretty clearly that (A) the series is over (B) unless the Warriors are overconfident.

I countered that they may win just because they play better and not because "the Warriors are overconfident."

You replied with a mealymouthed response because you know standing behind your actual statement - a radio show narrative with very little truth - is asanine.

I agree with some of your postgame analysis youve made in here. I also think that theyve been great content and topic drivers for the forum and an awesome way to engage conversation with Celtics fans. So, seriously, thank you for that.

But I'm so fucking sick of the devolution of conversations into tedious and pedantic gotcha-isms on this board. That type of "conversation" has been board approved and has become almost the exclusive way to discuss on the forum.

You made the post. The Celtics can only win if the Warriors are overconfident. Have some spine and stand by it instead of talking around it. I don't even care if you're *gasp* wrong...the fucking cardinal sin of SoSH. God forbid someone have an opinion and stand by it.

 

[Jeff Van GULLY]

Udoka will have these guys ready. We’re not going to see them come out flat again and they’ll have a great chance to even the series. Especially if they stop worrying about the refs and focus on their own execution. Get down hill and limit turnovers.

Tatum and Brown can’t play the entire game again and the bench needs to put in some quality minutes or they’ll be in trouble.

 

[Eddie Jurak]

You say pretty clearly that (A) the series is over (B) unless the Warriors are overconfident.

And because the pressure is off the Celtics, which is also right there in what you quoted. That's a bigger deal to me although I didn't make it clear in my post.

If they win game 6, regardless of 'why,' we'll be able to look back at the game and see better execution. Fewer turnovers, fewer missed free throws, running their offense better, not losing their focus on the game because Smart looks at Curry the wrong way and gets whistled for a foul despite not actually having touched him.

Our disagreement is this: I see their poor execution and focus in the key moments of game 4 and almost the entirety of game 5 as an indication that, for whatever reason, this team has reached the end of the line. You don't see it that way. That's fine - we'll soon find out. I hope you are right on this one.

 

[bosockboy]

Udoka will have these guys ready. We’re not going to see them come out flat again and they’ll have a great chance to even the series. Especially if they stop worrying about the refs and focus on their own execution. Get down hill and limit turnovers.

Tatum and Brown can’t play the entire game again and the bench needs to put in some quality minutes or they’ll be in trouble.

And W’s will have their foot off the gas ever so slightly in a non must win game. Just win Thursday. I’m oddly confident they can pull off another game 7, just get there.

 

[lexrageorge]

Just win Game 6; if you're going to lose, make the Warriors earn victory the hard way in 7. This matchup deserves to be a 7 game series.

 

[Auger34]

The Warriors are a front running team that can take their foot off of the gas (the Celtics aren’t front runners but appear to have the “take our foot off the gas” gene).

I am incredibly, incredibly confident the Celtics win Game 6. Between the home crowd, what should be some pretty crazy home cooking calls from the refs after tonight, and the Celtics playing with their backs against the wall I think it’s almost a certainty….

However, I have lost some confidence in the group. It’s entirely possible that they are just gassed. Hard fought 7 game series back to back lead to people getting banged up and it’s got to take a mental toll as well. Rob’s knee, Jaylen’s hammy, Tatum’s shoulder, Smart’s entire right side…the Warriors just seem like a much healthier, energized team.

BUT….in a Game 7 who the fuck knows what happens?! And I’d definitely ride with this group in a must win game

 

[Auger34]

Just win Game 6; if you're going to lose, make the Warriors earn victory the hard way in 7. This matchup deserves to be a 7 game series.

From your lips to Gods ears….(and probably from Adam Silvers lips to the refs ears honestly)

 

[Batman Likes The Sox]

Games 4 and 5 were disappointments, to be sure, but I don't know how anyone here can feel confidence about what's going to happen in game 6 or perhaps game 7.

This Celtics team will either go down as one of the most erratic Conference Champions or one of the most erratic NBA Champions of all time. It's been this way the whole season. Will the "good" Celtics (moving the ball, protecting the ball, ferocious defense) or the "bad" Celtics (bad shots in isolation, turnover city, defensive lapses) show up Thursday? How could you even pretend to know at this point? It feels entirely possible that the Celtics would come in and win both game 6 and game 7 by 20. It also feels entirely possible that the series is over about three quarters from now.

I'm here for all of it. And hopefully many more years of it (with increasing consistency and experience) to come.

 

[tims4wins]

First time since 1988 that the first 5 games of a Finals were all 10+ margin of victory. Game 4 was obviously closer than that on paper, as was game 1 (and even game 3). But an interesting stat.

 

[bosockboy]

First time since 1988 that the first 5 games of a Finals were all 10+ margin of victory. Game 4 was obviously closer than that on paper, as was game 1 (and even game 3). But an interesting stat.

Interestingly that’s the last year a team won 3 7 game series.

 

[fairlee76]

Thank god the team is more resilient than a good portion of its fanbase that has been so eager to pronounce its time of death after Game 5 of the East semis and Games 1, 3 and 6 of the ECF. Still have to win 4. May as well see what happens after all this team has given us over the course of 105 games.

The swings in the game thread have been weird to watch. Especially the reaction to Tatum's injury in game 3 of the Miami series. Multiple people saying "he is just doing this to get attention/have an excuse for his play!!!1111" and a few others losing grip and screaming about the team being a bunch of
'losers."

Or as James Marshall Hendrix would say "manic depression is a frustrating mess."

 

[bakahump]

JVG says it....and it seems to be true. If you can keep JB and JT from getting to their right....this offense looks pedestrian.

Over the summer they need to level up their lefts.