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Post by Admin on May 27, 2018 17:55:48 GMT -5
Celtics Cannot Let the Cavaliers’ Role Players Follow James’ Lead in Game 7
by Andy Goffin
The Celtics must stop players like George Hill and Jeff Green from having solid games. The duo combined for 34 points in Game 6. Green filled in after Love’s injury in the first quarter, and put together a critical performance in the Cavs’ victory. He will start in Love’s place in Game 7 hoping to replicate his success from Friday night.
The front-court must collectively step up in stopping Green. He is 31-years-old, and usually is not thrown into such a significant role. Role players tend to play better at home, so he will not have the crowd to back him in Game 7.
George Hill has dominated the Celtics when he has been aggressive. Yet those games have only been in Cleveland, and Hill has struggled significantly on the road. The Celtics should still be cautious of Hill and his quick first-step to the hoop, but Hill has yet to prove himself in Boston so far this series.
Larry Nance Jr. went 5-5 in Game 6 and finished with 10 points to go with 7 boards. He ended up stealing most of Tristan Thompson‘s minutes in that game. Many of Nance’s baskets this series have been a result of the Celtics just not paying attention to him. In those situations, the Celtics’ bigs did not box him out or notice his openness in the paint. Nance is usually a strong finisher at the rim, so the Celtics will need to be more cautious of where he is on the floor, particularly when the shot goes up.
J.R. Smith has been anyone but himself this series, so the Celtics will not have much to worry about with him. Kyle Korver and Jordan Clarkson have the potential to contribute, but coach Tyronn Lue chooses when he wants to play the two of them by matchups. Korver has seen a great deal of minutes this series, and if the Celtics let up open looks to him, he will catch fire and burn the Celtics’ defense. He can possibly have the most impact offensively with Love out, if presented the opportunity.
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Post by cole on May 27, 2018 18:09:23 GMT -5
Jr Smith has been exactly himself. The only time he was good was in the one warriors series 2 years ago.
I used to watch a lot of nuggets (my region) before I got league pass. Jr has always been unpredictable at the very best.
Korver scares me. Moving screens by Smith not called leading to korver threes.
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Post by Admin on May 27, 2018 18:32:11 GMT -5
With Kevin Love out, Celtics prepare for ugly, 'beautiful' game Brad Stevens: When Marcus Smart says "ugly and physical, in his mind that's beautiful" By Tom Westerholm
WALTHAM -- After the Boston Celtics fell to the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 6 of the Eastern Conference Finals on Friday, Marcus Smart promised blood in Game 7 (kind of).
Stevens walked back Smart's comments at shootaround on Sunday, prior to Game 7. Kind of.
"I just think you try to play appropriately physical," Brad Stevens said, smiling. "And the difference is I think that Smart -- when Smart says ugly and physical, in his mind, that's beautiful. It's all a matter of interpretation."
The Celtics don't mind getting physical. They don't mind instigating either. When the Cavaliers shove, they will push back. When the Celtics score, they will stare down whichever Cavalier stood in their way. Even in the midst of a Game 6 outpouring, when LeBron James was roasting every Celtic defender unfortunate enough to guard him, 21-year-old Jaylen Brown was happy to challenge him (politely, from the looks of things) after the whistle in the second half.
Admin Insert:
The Celtics will have a bit of an edge in the physicality department from the tip in Game 7: Cavaliers star Kevin Love was ruled out with a concussion on Saturday, stemming from a collision with Jayson Tatum in the first quarter of Game 6. Love, who has now had multiple concussions this season, went to the locker room and never returned after he and Tatum smacked heads as Tatum pursued a defender around a screen set by Love. According to Stevens on Saturday, Tatum is fine.
In this series, whichever team has won the rebounding battle has won the game. The importance of Love in that category wasn't lost on the Celtics.
"He's a great rebounder, and he can really shoot the ball," Al Horford said. "But also Jeff Green will be in, we're aware of him. He can also shoot the ball as well and do some different things as well. Our game plan doesn't change much. I'm sure it's a big loss for them."
The Celtics will need to take advantage of a Cavaliers team with very little help around LeBron James. They will need to match and exceed the physicality. They will need to rebound. But in a Game 7 nobody expected them to reach, playing against the greatest player of his generation, Stevens said (not for the first time in this series) he just wants his players to enjoy themselves.
"If you don't have fun with this, why are you here?" Stevens said. "That's the way that I look at it, that's the way that they look at it. We realize that we still have to focus on the task and the task is great. But we have to do our jobs on every possession and there's a lot of physical demands that go along with that. There's a lot of emotional and mental demands that go along with that. That's what these guys prepare for every minute of every day. How much fun is it to still be a part of playing, and get a chance to do something like this, there's nothing like it."
Al Horford joined the team in the summer of 2016 citing moments like Sunday evening at the TD Garden as one of the reasons.
"It's going to be electric," Horford said. "I just think our fans are going to be ready to go from the beginning. I've been telling you guys, these are the kind of moments that we want to play in and be apart of in TD Garden. I'm just excited."
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Post by cole on May 27, 2018 19:10:02 GMT -5
The hype machine is way green tonight. I feel they expect us to win
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Post by kyceltic on May 27, 2018 19:13:51 GMT -5
Please, hit free throws tonight!!
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Post by cole on May 27, 2018 19:23:25 GMT -5
Huh. They're also reminding Cleveland fans they won one.
I'm probably the only guy who looks at marketing to guess a winner, Huh?
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2018 19:31:19 GMT -5
Time to go close it out. Go Celts!
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Post by Admin on May 27, 2018 19:32:49 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on May 27, 2018 19:36:43 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2018 19:39:47 GMT -5
For the first time these playoffs, I am nervous. Not scared but nervous.
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Post by Admin on May 27, 2018 19:41:43 GMT -5
That's just excitement for a WIN!
and then MOAR vs your GSW team ... is that making you nervous?
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Post by Admin on May 27, 2018 19:42:43 GMT -5
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2018 19:47:48 GMT -5
That's just excitement for a WIN! and then MOAR vs your GSW team ... is that making you nervous? No, I am not nervous about Dubs. Getting nervous about a momentous occasion. The dethroning of a king.
Lets do it Celts!
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Post by kivancb on May 27, 2018 19:49:03 GMT -5
Paul Piercey start from Jayson!
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Post by cole on May 27, 2018 19:50:14 GMT -5
And it's not like LeBron has been saving energy. He's taken over from the start
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2018 19:52:03 GMT -5
Two bad bounces for the Celts!
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Post by cole on May 27, 2018 19:54:18 GMT -5
A lot of bounces.
JB might think about driving.
Oh, there!
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Post by Cabutan on May 27, 2018 19:55:23 GMT -5
Morris.
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Post by elvissurfs on May 27, 2018 19:55:40 GMT -5
That's just excitement for a WIN! and then MOAR vs your GSW team ... is that making you nervous? Prakash lives and dies with the Celts, Dubs are second in line...I know how it is...I lived up there 24 years, my son however (just like Prakash's family) is traitorous and roots for the Dubs over Celts...
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Post by Cabutan on May 27, 2018 19:57:20 GMT -5
We should be up 10. Green travelled didnt he
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Post by Cabutan on May 27, 2018 19:57:55 GMT -5
Scary, lebron hasnt done anything and we are up only 2
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Post by Cabutan on May 27, 2018 19:59:09 GMT -5
Mn. Annoying. Missing easy stuff. Looks all familiar
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2018 19:59:36 GMT -5
Other than Tatum, nobody is hitting shots.
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Post by elvissurfs on May 27, 2018 20:00:33 GMT -5
Brown inside passing out to Tatum...wtf?...
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Post by Deleted on May 27, 2018 20:00:35 GMT -5
Lets settle down. Lets do something to get the crowd in it.
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