When to get excited?

IdiotKicker

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 21, 2005
10,815
Somerville, MA
It’s time. Win one more and then you’ve got your chance to advance. I am also enjoying that the last two games haven’t been close. Get another strong start on Saturday and put Miami on their heels again.
 

lexrageorge

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2007
18,183
Just need to reattach Brogdon's tendon and wrap it minutes before game time to have a bloody armband for Game 6. Anyway, now it's officially interesting.
 

Kenny F'ing Powers

posts way less than 18% useful shit
SoSH Member
Nov 17, 2010
14,476
Bunch of cowards. Too afraid to keep doubting your favorite team? Don't worry. I'll stand on this lonely wall.
 

Light-Tower-Power

ask me about My Pillow
SoSH Member
Jun 14, 2013
16,006
Nashua, NH
This really does remind me of 2004. Elation after Game 5 that quickly turned to nerves. But definitely excited because if they can find a way to win on Saturday, Monday is going to be bonkers.
 

NDame616

will bailey
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2006
2,338
When the Cs were down 0-3 they were +700 to win the series (which BTW is insanely LOW. I'd expect it to be somewhere around +2000)
This afternoon it was +220
Now it's + 110

According to Vegas it's practically a coin flip
 

radsoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 9, 2009
13,712
Vegas is probably overrating us. 538 gives us a 37% chance of winning the series.
Well 538 has had us as big favorites for years (far more than Vegas and common perception) all the way back to the bubble.

It's about time they start to underrate us, maybe that means this is our year.
 

nighthob

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
12,703
This team always plays best with its back against the wall. I like their odds in game 6. It's game 7 I'm worried about.
 

lars10

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2007
11,732
This team always plays best with its back against the wall. I like their odds in game 6. It's game 7 I'm worried about.
It's really all about Vincent's health at this point.. if he can't play his normal rotation then the Celtics are just too deep for Miami.
Miami was basically winning on smoke and mirrors after Herro went down.. the smoke is gone and they have to figure out how to win again. If Vincent can't defend and can't shoot as insanely hot as he's been in the playoffs.. then Miami is in trouble. Because Jimmy can't do it on his own.. and Bam looks like he'll turtle as soon as he gets punched.. Barkley called the C's frontrunners.. and I don't think it's true.. Miami though. That team is full of undrafted players that live on being out in front and being able to rub your face in their next three.. if they aren't falling and they can't stop you on D.. then they lose like they've done the last two.
 

kazuneko

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 10, 2006
2,837
Honolulu HI
It's really all about Vincent's health at this point.. if he can't play his normal rotation then the Celtics are just too deep for Miami.
Miami was basically winning on smoke and mirrors after Herro went down.. the smoke is gone and they have to figure out how to win again. If Vincent can't defend and can't shoot as insanely hot as he's been in the playoffs.. then Miami is in trouble. Because Jimmy can't do it on his own..
Seemed like Haywood Highsmith did a stellar job of stepping in for Vincent. Isn’t 15 points on 75% shooting from 3 about what we’ve come to expect from Vincent this series?
 

lars10

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2007
11,732
Seemed like Haywood Highsmith did a stellar job of stepping in for Vincent. Isn’t 15 points on 75% shooting from 3 about what we’ve come to expect from Vincent this series?
For all of the work Highsmith did.. how close did Miami get? The C's were up by 15-20 by the time Highsmith scored a point? Highsmith basically played garbage time the entire time he was in. Maybe he makes a huge difference next game... or maybe he's just what he is.. a bench player that performs well after the game is basically over.

edit:... to put it another way.. wtf is Highsmith on the bench if this is what he's capable of.
 
Last edited:

lars10

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 31, 2007
11,732
It's definitely the wrong word for a team that's at its best when its back is against the wall.
I think Miami are frontrunners.. mainly because they have to be out in front to do what they do... and so much of their game relies on confidence and ball movement.

Barkley's comments obviously made zero sense when talking about the C's
 

kazuneko

Member
SoSH Member
Nov 10, 2006
2,837
Honolulu HI
Highsmith basically played garbage time the entire time he was in. Maybe he makes a huge difference next game... or maybe he's just what he is.. a bench player that performs well after the game is basically over.
edit:... to put it another way.. wtf is Highsmith on the bench if this is what he's capable of.
Highsmith played a team high 36 minutes today, but I suppose it is true that the game was so non-competitive that pretty much the whole thing might be described as garbage time. That said, as someone previously mentioned he seems to perform particularly well against the Cs, with 3 of his 4 best scoring games coming against them..
 

ElUno20

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
6,116
I think Miami are frontrunners.. mainly because they have to be out in front to do what they do... and so much of their game relies on confidence and ball movement.

Barkley's comments obviously made zero sense when talking about the C's
I think what he was trying to say was the Cs need to be kinda rolling early to start snowballing teams in a game. But i feel like that's true of most of the nba.

In response to the thread title, now. Now is when you get excited.
 

m0ckduck

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 20, 2005
1,738
There's a real emotional inflection point for me personally between six and seven games, even if they lose the series. Getting to a G7 and losing would suck, but they will have acquitted themselves well enough to justify running it back with the same core next year (discussion for another thread, I know). Lose in 6 and it feels like, "Well, they showed some pluck at the end" but were still clearly outclassed over the course of the series by a 44-38 team.
 

Reverend

for king and country
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jan 20, 2007
64,409
Are @bigq and I the only people to note that Jaylen Brown made a Kevin Millar reference after the game? I have trouble believing that.
 

benhogan

Granite Truther
SoSH Member
Nov 2, 2007
20,301
Santa Monica
I think what he was trying to say was the Cs need to be kinda rolling early to start snowballing teams in a game. But i feel like that's true of most of the nba.

In response to the thread title, now. Now is when you get excited.
"Frontrunner" is an odd description, especially when Boston trailed by 9 early in G4 & Miami had all the momentum.

Barkley is good-natured entertainment, with very little Celtic insight (like most of the National NBA media)
 

RedOctober3829

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
55,433
deep inside Guido territory
If they win tomorrow, I'll get excited. Right now, all they've done is save themselves from a full-on embarrassment. Let's see them do it again tomorrow. They have not yet earned my trust.
Ok I’m in now. Game 6 will be the hardest one to get. Miami will be so desperate to win at home because Game 7 will be next to impossible for them to win. Withstand the early big push from the Heat and get this back to Boston! LFG!!
 

pk1627

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
May 24, 2003
2,532
Boston
The 0-3 hole is an already a gift that keeps on giving. Could it be 2 gifts?

Alive!
 

bigq

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
11,153
As you should know, holiday weekend starts tomorrow, we are each going away.

I’ve been right more times in my life than Jimmy Butler has been in his life.
For sure and by a wide margin I would guess. I was glad to see that Jaylen Brown agrees with you.

https://www.boston.com/sports/boston-celtics/2023/05/26/boston-celtics-joe-mazzulla-jaylen-brown-jayson-tatum-nba-comeback-miami-heat/?p1=hp_secondary

It’s a blessing to be able to play this game each and every night. It’s a blessing to be in the playoffs. It's highs, it’s lows. Intense moments, moments [you’re] pissed off. There’s moments where you’re extremely excited. It’s just amazing. These next two games should be fun.
But let's not talk about who has been wrong more. ;)
 

reggiecleveland

sublime
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 5, 2004
27,996
Saskatoon Canada
In memorable comebacks 86 ALCS, 04 ALCS, SIxers last round I thought if they win 6 they are favorites in game 7. Same thoughts here.
I went to workout, not wanting to see Cs get swept in game 4, so I worked out during the game yesterday, and I will be at the gym during game 6.
 

Auger34

used to be tbb
SoSH Member
Apr 23, 2010
9,443
Are @bigq and I the only people to note that Jaylen Brown made a Kevin Millar reference after the game? I have trouble believing that.
He made the same comments after Game 3 and 4 (Smart made the comment after 3). That’s why CHB posted the picture of Brown’s face over Millar’s on his twitter
 

Van Everyman

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2009
27,085
Newton
I’m wondering if the better question now is “At what point will you be heartbroken if they lose?” For me, I’m now expecting them to play connected, with energy and focus. That doesn’t really mean I think they’ll win – the job is only halfway done. But I’m wondering at what point I’ll get my hopes up about this – and when I might be crushed if they lose.
 

NomarsFool

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 21, 2001
8,232
If they are able to battle back for game 7 and lose, I guess that's better than if they got swept, but part of me isn't sure. Getting swept would have been excrutiating to hear a whole summer of the chokers label. But, coming back to win 3 straight and then eventually lose will be pretty tough, too. I guess it depends on how that last game goes. You can lose a game because your opponent plays out of their mind and you just tip your cap to them. Those don't hurt as much.

Of course if they advance to the Finals, this is going to be glorious.
 

Reverend

for king and country
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Jan 20, 2007
64,409
He made the same comments after Game 3 and 4 (Smart made the comment after 3). That’s why CHB posted the picture of Brown’s face over Millar’s on his twitter
Oh. Somehow I missed that. Thank you.

(And by somehow, I mean that I actually read
pretty slowly, and these threads start moving pretty rapidly during the playoffs! So, yes: Thank you.)

CHB trying to make himself part of 04 in a positive way annoys me
No shit, right? Ew.
 

Montana Fan

Member
SoSH Member
Oct 18, 2000
8,908
Twin Bridges, Mt.
I’m excited for the possibilities the games this weekend present but I’m also satisfied since they came out and fought hard the last 2 games. If they lose game 6 or 7, I can accept it and look forward to next season.
 

InstaFace

The Ultimate One
SoSH Member
Sep 27, 2016
22,103
Pittsburgh, PA
I’m wondering if the better question now is “At what point will you be heartbroken if they lose?” For me, I’m now expecting them to play connected, with energy and focus. That doesn’t really mean I think they’ll win – the job is only halfway done. But I’m wondering at what point I’ll get my hopes up about this – and when I might be crushed if they lose.
All I can ask for is that they play their game, stay focused and give it their best. Miami is capable of beating us if we play a B / B+ game, especially given shooting variance. I'll only be heartbroken if they come out flat and get run out of the gym by a jeering Miami crowd that only showed up in the second quarter. That would suggest to me that "maybe this team can't win a championship". But a well played game by the Jays and the whole gang, where the shots just don't fall? At this point after 2 brilliant wins, that would be a loss with honor, and I'd live with that and enjoy rooting for Jokic.