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Post by puddin on May 26, 2018 21:49:25 GMT -5
"It's not going to be pretty," Marcus Smart said. "You got to be able to get down and get dirty. You can't go out and try to look pretty. You have to be ready for a dog fight. We got to be ready to come up with our nose bloodied, we got to be ready to come out with our mouth bloodied, we have to be coming out ready to fight."
Nobody gets down and dirtier...
...than this guy.
JB is quoted as saying that Smart was born with dirty hands.
Go get 'em Marcus!!!
Pud
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Post by fierce on May 26, 2018 22:14:34 GMT -5
You also said the Celts will have trouble getting past Philly. It's not rocket science, Pete. Kevin Love is the Cavs' 2nd best player behind Lebron. Saying that the Cavs are better without Love is simply not true. Just because the Cavs played better without Love for one game, it doesn't mean the Cavs are better without Love for Game 7. No Kevin Love means less 3-point shooting and less rebounds from the Cavs. Fierce, who said anything about one game? I'm sure you predicted the Celtics would beat the Sixers in five too. But then again, that has nothing to do with tomorrow's game 7, does it? " The Cavaliers have played some of their best basketball this series when Love is off the court. Cleveland is minus-20 in point differential with Love in the game but plus-18 when he's off. In fact, the team's offensive efficiency spikes 11.8 points per 100 possessions without Love." (http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23613755/kevin-love-cleveland-cavaliers-game-7). Maybe you ought to check your facts when you suggest the Cavs played better in "one game" without Love. It's the entire series. My main point is that we cannot let up because we think the Cavs are not as dangerous with Love out of the lineup. Milwaukee, Philly and, now Cleveland, made that mistake against the Celtics without Kyrie in the lineup. Who said anything about letting up? Like I said, it's simple for me, Celts will win by 5 points or 10 points at most. Why? Because I believe the Cavs will struggle without Kevin Love. Simple as that. How about you, Pete, who you think wins Game 7?
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Post by Admin on May 26, 2018 22:18:47 GMT -5
Point: Cavs +/- pts with Love off the court a plus Counter-Pt: James will need to do even MOAR with him gone With Kevin Love Out, the Cavs Will Need Even More [MOAR] From LeBron JamesLove will miss Sunday’s winner-take-all Game 7 with concussion-like symptomsBy Justin Verrier
Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images
What a cruel irony it is that in order to save a season in which LeBron James pushed himself to his limits in almost every way, he will have to do even more. A day after scoring 46 points in 46 minutes to stave off elimination in Game 6 of the Cleveland Cavaliers’ Eastern Conference finals against the upstart Boston Celtics, James will now have to somehow win a game in Boston—something he has yet to do this postseason—without his only reliable teammate by his side. Almost 24 hours after Chris Paul’s hamstring injury rocked the Western Conference finals, an injury may now shape the East, too. Kevin Love was ruled out for Sunday’s winner-take-all Game 7 at TD Garden after a head injury suffered in Friday night’s 109-99 victory led to concussion-like symptoms, according to the team. Love banged heads with Celtics rookie Jayson Tatum midway through the first quarter. Both players immediately seemed shaken by the collision, though Love, who was struck in the front of his head, immediately crumpled to the ground:
The All-Star forward left the game and did not return. He was placed in the NBA’s concussion protocol thereafter. Love, for what it’s worth, also sat out a game in the 2016 NBA Finals and a game in March because of concussions. Surprisingly, the Cavs’ non-LeBron teammates responded in Love’s absence. James indeed played all but two minutes, despite Cleveland at one point leading by 16 points. (No lead is safe when J.R. Smith is one of your best players.) But George Hill (20 points, his most this postseason) and Jeff Green (14 points) gave James the support he needed to take over yet another elimination game. It’s hard to read too much into the result of one playoff game in a series that swings wildly depending on location, but the Cavs may have even found something, rotation-wise, without their second-best player on the court. While Love has been a fairly consistent source of offense for the Cavs since a wobbly first-round series, he has the worst net rating on the team (minus-7.4) in the East finals outside of the self-eating virus that are Rodney Hood minutes (minus-23; how!); Tristan Thompson wasn’t much of a factor in Game 6, but his emergence as a consistent starter this series has proved an effective counter to the Celtics’ early-series success. The regular starting lineup (James, Love, Thompson, Smith, and George Hill) has a respectable 5 net rating. But their best two with a double-digit-minute sample size don’t feature Love, and instead place James at the nominal 4 next to either Thompson or Larry Nance Jr.: James-Green-Nance-Kyle Korver-Jordan Clarkson (49.8 net rating in 31 minutes), and Hill-Smith-Green-James-Thompson (16.3 net in 24 minutes). The Cavs reportedly almost traded Love last offseason, before the Kyrie Irving fiasco ensued, for Paul George, which would have left Cleveland thinner in the frontcourt but far more dynamic on both sides of the ball. The deal of course never happened, but the Cavs clearly valued the basic premise, moving Love to the 5 for the bulk of the regular season to lean into versatility. The deeply flawed, old roster Cleveland has built around James has made it difficult to keep up with teams playing the more modern style, leaving the Cavs’ efforts to look like something approximating your parents doing the Nae Nae. But while LeBron can make the best of any situation (see: every game this season), his ideal environs may be playing next to specialists that can fill in what he can’t—in this case, a traditional 5 to eat up the rebounds like Thompson and Nance (seven in Game 6), and three shooters on the wing. Love has had the sort of team success he never could’ve dreamed of in Minnesota by fitting in (not out) next to James, but even at his best, his once-fantasyland skill set has been reduced to a more specific utility. That’s the bargain you strike when teaming up with LeBron: He can bring you to new heights, but it will be done his way. The Cavs and any other serious suitor for his services in free agency this summer will be reminded of that soon enough. When, though, will be dictated by Sunday’s result. Which will again be dictated by LeBron. Each playoff team has a slogan emblazoned on their warmup gear. For the Cavs, it’s rather simple: Whatever It Takes. For LeBron, the answer is everything.
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Post by fierce on May 26, 2018 22:24:12 GMT -5
Let's be realistic here.
The Cavs will not miss Love's 9.8 rebounds per game against the Celts?
Cavs played their best ball when Love is off the court?
Sure.
But did the article say anything about the Cavs being better without Kevin Love from the start of the game until the final buzzer sounds?
It's not rocket science.
Al Horford will have to defend Love at the 3-point line.
Kevin Love has to be boxed out at all times because he's going to get a lot of rebounds if you don't put a body on him.
I just don't buy that crap about the Cavs being better without Kevin Love.
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Post by fierce on May 26, 2018 22:31:03 GMT -5
Cavs only needed one great game from Kevin Love.
If Love was available, that great game could be Game 7.
It's a good thing Love is not available because there's very little chance a guy like Tristan Thompson or Larry Nance will burn the Celts for 25 points in Game 7.
Kevin Love is more than capable of erupting for 20 points or more, just like in Game 2.
But since Love won't be available for the whole Game 7, it's advantage Celtics!
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Post by petey62 on May 26, 2018 22:34:58 GMT -5
Fierce, who said anything about one game? I'm sure you predicted the Celtics would beat the Sixers in five too. But then again, that has nothing to do with tomorrow's game 7, does it? " The Cavaliers have played some of their best basketball this series when Love is off the court. Cleveland is minus-20 in point differential with Love in the game but plus-18 when he's off. In fact, the team's offensive efficiency spikes 11.8 points per 100 possessions without Love." (http://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/23613755/kevin-love-cleveland-cavaliers-game-7). Maybe you ought to check your facts when you suggest the Cavs played better in "one game" without Love. It's the entire series. My main point is that we cannot let up because we think the Cavs are not as dangerous with Love out of the lineup. Milwaukee, Philly and, now Cleveland, made that mistake against the Celtics without Kyrie in the lineup. Who said anything about letting up? Like I said, it's simple for me, Celts will win by 5 points or 10 points at most. Why? Because I believe the Cavs will struggle without Kevin Love. Simple as that. How about you, Pete, who you think wins Game 7? Who do you think is going to win? The Celtics will win. Don't really understand the question. We haven't lost at home this playoffs. There is nothing to suggest that will change tomorrow. But there is this little knot in my stomach -- nervousness I suppose.
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Post by Admin on May 26, 2018 22:41:53 GMT -5
Home Is Where the Wins Are The Celtics haven’t lost in Boston all postseason. Can they clinch an NBA Finals berth with their second road win? Or, with another home game on deck if they can’t, do they even need it? By Jack McCluskey
Getty Images/Ringer illustration
Consider the rookie. A St. Louis native who spent one season at Duke, Jayson Tatum had probably been to Boston a handful of times in his life before this season. Now it’s home. His mom has an apartment a few floors above his, which means when he’s in town he literally enjoys home cooking.
He knows how to get to the arena. He knows what to expect once he gets there. And he knows that when he lights up the scoreboard, the TD Garden crowd will reward him with vocal-cord-straining screams.
Tatum coaxed the crowd to glass-shattering pitches more than once in Wednesday night’s 96–83 Game 5 win over LeBron James and the Cavs. He did it when he had a drive stopped by George Hill, dribbled behind his back to open up a stepback elbow jumper, and drained it. When he zipped a no-look pass through two defenders to a cutting Aron Baynes for a dunk. And when he jumped into a passing lane, tapped the ball ahead to himself, then outran James to the rim for a layup.
The Celtics have often mirrored their young star during this unlikeliest of playoff runs. When Tatum is strutting, scoring 20-plus points in seven straight games, setting rookie records left and right, throwing up three fingers after a splashed trey, and jumping passing lanes for steals like he did Wednesday, the team has clicked on both ends.
Brad Stevens’s offense thrives on quick passes, and on moving the ball and the defense until a good shot becomes a great one or a clogged lane turns into a freeway for Jaylen Brown or Al Horford to power down to the rim. The defense tries to take away an opponent’s preferred option, pushing the offense to less-desirable outlets. Think J.R. Smith dancing with his dribble like a nervous kid at prom and then launching a long 2 that clangs just as loudly as that kid attempting to land a first kiss on someone who’s out of his league.
But Tatum and Co. struggled mightily in games 3 and 4 in Cleveland, losing both by a combined 39 points. The two defeats evened the series, dropped the Celtics to 1–6 on the road in the postseason, and made Game 5 a practical must-win. The Celtics, a below-average offensive team in the regular season, rank ninth this postseason (and last among teams still playing) in offensive rating, at 105.8 points per 100 possessions. They’ve been even worse in the conference finals (103.3), but that’s only because of their performances on the road. Boston has a 107.7 offensive rating at home in the conference finals, compared with 96.6 on the road. Al Horford alone is averaging six fewer points and two fewer shots on the road. The center’s usage is a key indicator for the Celtics: He took eight shots or fewer in four of their six road losses this postseason, including just four in the Game 3 shellacking in Cleveland.
In the first two games at Quicken Loans Arena, the Celtics missed shots they normally make, including a parade of lipped-out layups and clanged dunks that led directly to Cavs points, and played porous defense against an amped-up Cleveland offense (bolstered by resurgent performances from Kyle Korver, George Hill, and Tristan Thompson). Tatum’s point total didn’t exceed his age once in the first four games, and he attempted only two 3-pointers in the two road matchups combined. The lack of production from their key offensive players, more than any lack of a boost from green-laden supporters, has made the difference on the road.
That is not to say that home-court advantage isn’t real. Studies have shown that in the NBA, in particular, playing in front of a friendly crowd seems to boost home teams’ fortunes.
“I truly believe it’s our fans,” Horford said after Game 5, asked about the difference between Boston’s home and road performance. “I feel like our guys feed off of them and it really just drives us as a group. … You get on the road and you’re just out there against everybody else. Here, I just think that our guys just feel comfortable and good. It’s a credit to the atmosphere that’s here.”
That’s an understandable sentiment, and one that has been repeated ad nauseam in this Boston run. (“It’s fun playing in the TD Gahden,” Baynes said after Game 2 against Cleveland, his Aussie accent mirroring the Boston variety in certain places. “All the fans are so smaht and they get behind you at the right times.”) It’s not only coming from the Celtics, either.
“Well, if you watched the first four games, I think both home teams shoot the ball a lot better,” Cavs coach Tyronn Lue said. “They’re comfortable. Their crowd is great, just like our crowd is great. They did a good job protecting home court in Game 5. Now we’ve got to be ready to go in Game 6.”
The Celtics are 10–0 at TD Garden this postseason, the team’s longest run of home playoff wins since a 14-game streak spanning the 1986 and 1987 playoffs, and the longest in the league since … Golden State won a record 16 straight between 2016–17 and 2017–18. The second-longest active streak of home playoff wins? Seven, by the Cavs.
The real advantage, however, may have less to do with loud (and rude) Bostonians affecting the players than it does with their effect on the other people on the hardwood.
Consider the officials. Oh, the poor, unthanked officials.
Imagine yourself in their sneakers. There’s a turnover, and the action suddenly swings to the other end. You sprint your ass off to try to get an angle on a defender who’s using his inside hand to poke at a small ball that’s almost constantly in motion, your vision screened by several mammoth human beings moving faster than should be possible. You have to make a split-second decision — Was it a foul or not? — and act on it. And if your whistle goes against the guys in the home colors, you’re going to hear about it. Loudly.
In their 2011 book, Scorecasting: The Hidden Influences Behind How Sports Are Played and Games Are Won, Tobias J. Moskowitz and L. Jon Wertheim describe their research into foul calls on loose-ball collisions between star and nonstar players in the NBA:
One study, on the influence of crowds on referees in the German Bundesliga, showed that more injury time was awarded to home teams in close matches when the host trailed … and that the crowd had less of an effect when there was more distance between it and the officials on the field.
It’s things like that, unconscious omission bias in referees — affecting the game by trying to not affect the game — that likely makes the difference in home-court advantage, especially in a fast, physical game like basketball, played in large arenas with fans literally sitting courtside (and not always acting as passive observers).
Take, for example, one of noted defensive guru Kyle Korver’s blocks on Jaylen Brown in Game 4 in Cleveland:
Brown gathers his own miss, jumps, and extends the ball in his right hand; from behind, Korver either swats the ball away or whacks Brown’s hand, causing the ball to skitter away from Brown and out of bounds. Can you tell definitively what happened? A foul call there would have given Brown two free throw attempts, potentially pulled the Celtics a little closer to the Cavs, and added a foul to Korver’s ledger, thus affecting the way he’d defend the rest of the game.
Now consider this Baynes block on Jordan Clarkson from Game 5:
Does Baynes get all ball, or does he get a little bit of Clarkson’s hand as well? It’s nearly impossible to tell, even when it’s running on a loop. Now imagine having to decide in the moment, with 18,000 people willing you toward one (non-)call.
This is not to suggest that the referees are the reason for the Celtics’ home run (or the Cavs’ run on their home court); that would be foolish, given the average margin of victory in the series is 18 points. (After Game 4, Stevens said you’ll never catch him criticizing the officials.) But it is among the many factors leading to such a dramatic split. For instance, the Celtics defense comes and goes based on location: At home, they’ve given up 86.7 points per game; on the road, they’ve given up 113.5.
It probably doesn’t hurt that the Celtics have one of the lowest average ages in the NBA, and the Cavaliers have one of the highest. “For us to have a young team, fresh legs, and still be able to play like we’re not young is a great feeling,” Marcus Smart said. Meanwhile, Smith attributed the Cavs’ bounceback performance in Game 3 to a three-day layoff. “’Cause we old,” he explained. LeBron also looked exhausted at times Wednesday night, and is carrying the heaviest minutes load of his 15-year career.
“We played with a lot more poise,” Tatum told ESPN’s Doris Burke on the Garden floor immediately after Game 5. “It’s tough going on the road, playing against somebody else in their house, with their crowd. So we were just comfortable. We came back home and defended home court like we have all playoffs.”
Burke, consummate pro that she is, followed up with the logical question: How do you take that success on the road? And despite the friendly environs, Tatum made one of his only mistakes of the evening in his response.
“We’ve just gotta be focused, compoised” — he said, combining composed and poised, before correcting himself — “composed — and play with a lot of poise, and we’ll be fine.”
So far this postseason, that’s been true … at least when the banners they’re playing beneath are green and white.
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Post by fierce on May 26, 2018 22:43:11 GMT -5
Who said anything about letting up? Like I said, it's simple for me, Celts will win by 5 points or 10 points at most. Why? Because I believe the Cavs will struggle without Kevin Love. Simple as that. How about you, Pete, who you think wins Game 7? Who do you think is going to win? The Celtics will win. Don't really understand the question. We haven't lost at home this playoffs. There is nothing to suggest that will change tomorrow. But there is this little knot in my stomach -- nervousness I suppose. I guess being nervous is normal. But when I heard the news Kevin Love is out, it automatically made me think Brad Stevens' job got easier. Now the Celts can pack the paint to prevent Lebron from driving. Guys like Baynes, Horford, and even Monroe can now be used as help defenders as Nance or Thompson will not shoot 3-pointers. Not having Love also means less rebounding for the Cavs. We can't deny the fact that even when Love was not really playing well, he was still rebounding well. Only way Celts lose this game is if Lebron scores 40 or more again, which is highly unlikely. Yes, he's super human, but still human.
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Post by fierce on May 26, 2018 22:49:53 GMT -5
Expect a big game from Al Horford in Game 7.
I'm also expecting Monroe getting some minutes. Cavs have nobody that can guard Monroe 1 on 1. It's just unfortunate that Monroe is so bad defensively. But I think with Love out, Brad can use Monroe.
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Post by Cabutan on May 26, 2018 22:53:42 GMT -5
Expect a big game from Al Horford in Game 7. I'm also expecting Monroe getting some minutes. Cavs have nobody that can guard Monroe 1 on 1. It's just unfortunate that Monroe is so bad defensively. But I think with Love out, Brad can use Monroe. cant expect anything from Horford. He is an enigma when it comes to what kind of game he will have. Lets hope might be a more reasonable petition
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Post by sfbosfan on May 27, 2018 0:57:47 GMT -5
I don't want to hear the Cavs play better when Love is out. Fact is he is a good 3 pt shooter and a good rebounder and is the 2nd best player on the team. I would compare him to our Hayward. If we lose with him out I will not say well we had a good year without Irving at the end and Hayward at the beginning. I will be pissed !!! Some might feel 3 years ago we lost 4-0, two years ago 4-1 and this year we got 3 games…hogwash. We needed 1 out of 2 with their 2nd best player out and 1 game on our home court. We are 10 and 0 at home and better get # 11 !!!
We need 15-20 each from Tatum, Brown, Rozier and, most important, Horford, who becomes an enigma from game to game with great performances to mediocre/average outings…he is an all-star and should play like one always…15-20 pts, 10+ rebs, 5+ assists and good defense.
I believe the Warriors will win game 7 and I think we match up better with them…we are good defenders, 2 fast break teams, good 3 pt shooters (they are a bit better) and neither has a domineering 7 + foot defender in the post. Golden State Warriors on the verge of elimination were down by 17 points and won by 29…115 to 86 so that was a 17+ 29 = 46 point swing !!! It helped Paul was out and will be again in game 7. Big reason too, living here, that I hope to go to a couple of games. Ace in the hole if we lose, I’ll be a GS fan to root for LeBron to lose !!!
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2018 2:32:15 GMT -5
Bottom line, the Cavs won game 6 after Love went out because George Hill had a whale of an offensive game and the Cavs defense became much more active with Nance and Jeff Green. The changed defense caught the Celts unprepared and Ty Lue stuck with it by hardly playing TT.
Game 7, you shut down JR Smith and George Hill and the Celts win going away, no matter what LeBron does. But if LeBron can get help, this will become a contest. I have to think that the Garden 6th man will play a big role.
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Post by kivancb on May 27, 2018 4:29:47 GMT -5
I have a problem with Jaylen Brown not sticking it to Korver on offense. He should have been abusing Korver, which definitely is not the case up to now.
Not according to Kobe Bryant.
Kobe said Korver was a much better defender in the lane than on the perimeter and Brown needs to put a move on him (head fake. crossover, etc) or find the open man in those situations.
Check out the Game 6 thread for Kobe's analysis of Brown.
Yeah Kobe has said that, but who was aware of that fact that Korver was a good defender on the lane? I'm not buying it. In all his career Korver has been a liability on defense and now he could challenge Browns post ups? Brown should be eating his lunch, and then some. This is a matchup we oughta be winning with a big margin.
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Post by puddin on May 27, 2018 7:59:41 GMT -5
Let's be realistic here. The Cavs will not miss Love's 9.8 rebounds per game against the Celts? Cavs played their best ball when Love is off the court? Sure. But did the article say anything about the Cavs being better without Kevin Love from the start of the game until the final buzzer sounds?It's not rocket science. Al Horford will have to defend Love at the 3-point line. Kevin Love has to be boxed out at all times because he's going to get a lot of rebounds if you don't put a body on him. I just don't buy that crap about the Cavs being better without Kevin Love. If the Cavs missed Love this past regular season when he didn't play in games at all.... they didn't miss him all that much.
The Cavs were 13-10 when Kevin didn't play a lick.
Pud
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Post by kivancb on May 27, 2018 9:48:46 GMT -5
Sorry to bother you folks with this but take a look at this video: www.espn.com/video/clip?id=23609054I have a bad feeling about this - like, being on the same side with the tool known as Stephen A. Smith...
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Post by hedleylamarr on May 27, 2018 10:37:43 GMT -5
I love this quip from Micheal Pina:
Seven years ago I thought Jeff Green would start a Game 7 in the Garden and help lead Boston to the Finals. Today I feel the same way.
10:16 - 27 May 18
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Post by hedleylamarr on May 27, 2018 10:42:21 GMT -5
Sorry to bother you folks with this but take a look at this video: www.espn.com/video/clip?id=23609054I have a bad feeling about this - like, being on the same side with the tool known as Stephen A. Smith... Stephen A talks a whole bunch, but he doesn't really say anything! That entire video could have been done in 1 min....instead, he "Stephen A'd" us!!
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Post by sfbosfan on May 27, 2018 11:17:17 GMT -5
I love this quip from Micheal Pina: Seven years ago I thought Jeff Green would start a Game 7 in the Garden and help lead Boston to the Finals. Today I feel the same way. 10:16 - 27 May 18 Love the quote too...thanks for sharing. But we most definitely can't let a guy we unloaded come back with a vengeance to help beat us !!! Unfortunately, I think NBA fans not with their 4 teams in the conference finals would like to see LeBron probably vs GS but if Paul returned , Houston, could give them a battle too but also Love should be available for the Cavs too !!!
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Post by kyceltic on May 27, 2018 12:53:45 GMT -5
I think we have to blow them out to win!! It will be real hard to beat them in a close game!
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Post by puddin on May 27, 2018 13:45:03 GMT -5
I think we have to blow them out to win!! It will be real hard to beat them in a close game! If we blow them out, it will be the last blow out we enjoy this season.
So why not grind out a hard win and learn how its done.
That serves us well in the NBA Finals where any/every win will likely be an uphill pull for the Cs.
Pud
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Post by cole on May 27, 2018 14:38:34 GMT -5
It just depends on LeBron. If he has another game like last one they have a chance though I still doubt it would be enough. The bench isn't likely to play as well in Boston.
It will take 40, 15, 10 from LeBron AND help from the officials. We have to match their physicality and force the officials to blow the whistles. Letting them foul on their end and playing clean on ours lets the refs off the hook.
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Post by cole on May 27, 2018 14:40:45 GMT -5
It just depends on LeBron. If he has another game like last one they have a chance though I still doubt it would be enough. The bench isn't likely to play as well in Boston. It will take 40, 15, 10 from LeBron AND help from the officials. We have to match their physicality and force the officials to blow the whistles. Letting them foul on their end and playing clean on ours lets the refs off the hook. For the record, I don't think LeBron can do that again. The team was spent emotionally and physically. Interesting LeBron deferred in the first quarter on Friday which is the opposite of Wednesday.
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Post by DaCeltics on May 27, 2018 16:24:58 GMT -5
This is gonna be EXCITING!!!!!!
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Post by DaCeltics on May 27, 2018 16:27:06 GMT -5
Does Jayson Tatum overtake Kareem Abdul Jabbar in rookie playoff scoring?!
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Post by Admin on May 27, 2018 17:51:15 GMT -5
Celtics cannot rely on three point shooting by Joshua Bateman
The Boston Celtics cannot rely too much on three point shooting in game 7
Three point shooting is always going to be a part of this Boston Celtics team, and is often going to be their biggest strength. The Celtics generate great looks and have guys they can trust to his those shots. Nevertheless, when it comes to game seven against LeBron James, there is too much risk in trying to win with the deep ball.
When the Celtics start taking too many three pointers, they tend to develop bad habits. They take more contested looks, they do not move the ball through the shot clock and they end up making things much more difficult on themselves and are prone to making more mistakes.
James already does enough to make this the most difficult game for this core of players, and the Celtics know they can generate the easier looks that will put the pressure on the Cleveland Cavaliers.
The Celtics know they have inside matchups they can exploit with Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier going against George Hill, Kyle Korver and J.R Smith. The Celtics want to avoid this becoming an inevitable game of runs, because they can get the stability that will ensure James alone will not be enough to destroy this game.
The Celtics should be faster at every position and have all kinds of strength they can use on the inside. Tristan Thompson will cause problems, but with Kevin Love out, the front court depth of the Cavaliers is nonexistent, and that is where the Celtics need to attack.
The Celtics need to establish good rhythm and get everyone involved. There are too many streaky shooters to expect everyone to be contributing from deep. When they have great ball movement and off ball movement, they generate easy looks for anyone that is on the court.
The Celtics are a different team when everyone gets involved, and they are able to attack in a lot of different ways if they don’t rely on the three pointer too much. The Celtics want to make sure they are putting constant pressure on a weak defense, and they are simplifying things for their opponent when the offense is just looking for three point shots.
The Celtics know they are capable of winning this game, but their consistency has been a concern all season long. The Celtics need to do everything they can to mitigate the factors that can make them susceptible to big runs.
One way or another, three point shooting will lead to a run. The Celtics know they need to be able to hit their shots tonight, but they don’t need some miracle three point shooting night to win this game.
The Celtics need to always be attacking and always be confident, and they can get that out of everyone if they are generating easy looks inside. More of these players will hesitate on decent looks from deep, because they are not a top shooter.
No matter who is attacking, they will be aggressive and confident with easy looks on the inside. The Celtics have to work to get everyone involved, and we have seen before how good they can be when they get good looks that they can sustain their offense with.
The Celtics know that James will come out with an otherworldly performance, but they also know if they play the right way they will be able to control game seven.
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