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Post by Admin on May 8, 2019 0:43:01 GMT -5
ESPN's Jalen Rose has some strong feelings about Kyrie Irving
By Justin Quinn Brian Babineau/NBAE
Let's be clear, last night's loss -- and this most underwhelming of seasons -- is not all on Kyrie Irving.
And while there's plenty of blame to spread around, the swagger and laid-back attitude he's displayed this season simply have not lived up to what the ball has told us, and we know about balls and lying.
While there still may be one more chance at redemption for Irving, no one in their right mind is looking at the situation and wondering if the Boston Celtics still have something left to "flip a switch"; this team is deeply faulted, and it's hard not to look to Kyrie after the cavalcade of lofty nonsense he's foisted in place of meaningful buckets.
Talk is cheap, so as much as I won't give Uncle Drew credit for his unfulfilled promises, I'm also not sure I'm buying everything ESPN's Jalen Rose is selling about Kyrie's future in Boston, either. Don't get me wrong, right now, I'm angry and looking for scapegoats like the rest of you. But I also realize there may be more chapters in the Kyrie/Boston saga.
Those chapters are dependent on what happens this summer, and how his teammates and coach (who ought to be getting their own share of blame, save perhaps Al Horford and Jaylen Brown) actually feel about this season and Irving.
What do you think? Angry green lenses off, what do you think the future holds? Is there another win left in the season? Is Kyrie gone? Do his teammates actually feel how Rose suggests? Watch the video above, and let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
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Post by sfbosfan on May 8, 2019 12:03:20 GMT -5
Keep in mind that Irving's star status was achieved many times while the opposition needed guard LeBron. We thought the same would happen here with Hayward being the other star. He really didn't like sharing the limelight with LeBron and I don't believe LeBron took any guff from him. Personally, I think he's a Prima Dona and I would let him go. Yup, if he plays with Durant, he'll achieve star status some more...Durant is incredible and almost unstoppable driving to the basket and his perimeter shooting is exceptional too.
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Post by Admin on May 8, 2019 12:29:08 GMT -5
Keep in mind that Irving's star status was achieved many times while the opposition needed guard LeBron. We thought the same would happen here with Hayward being the other star. He really didn't like sharing the limelight with LeBron and I don't believe LeBron took any guff from him. Personally, I think he's a Prima Dona and I would let him go. Yup, if he plays with Durant, he'll achieve star status some more...Durant is incredible and almost unstoppable driving to the basket and his perimeter shooting is exceptional too.
Seems to me that Gordon was the main ball handler on the Jazz. Kyrie was 2nd fiddle to Lebron in CLE and wanted to be the man here. The C's accommodated him since Gordon was injured and far from ready to be the main ball handler. I think with KI gone we will see a much more comfortable, aggressive, confident leader in Hayward ... the type of leader guys like Brown & Tatum can get behind and still shine on their own.
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2019 13:06:33 GMT -5
Gordon is a decent passer and sees the court well.
He by no means is in the same laegue as Jamesnnnnnnn.Not close
Come on now these excuses are getting old.
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Post by Admin on May 8, 2019 13:24:13 GMT -5
Gordon is a decent passer and sees the court well. He by no means is in the same laegue as Jamesnnnnnnn.Not close Come on now these excuses are getting old. Who's comparing Gordon to James?
My point is only that Gordon & Kyrie were a bad fit from the get go since both want/need to control the action. Difference is that Gordon is a more willing passer than Kyrie and a more likeable leader ...
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Post by Admin on May 8, 2019 13:30:16 GMT -5
Gordon Hayward: Bad contract or vital piece of Celtics future?
By Tom Lane
Gordon Hayward has been taking a lot of heat lately, and no wonder. He has been virtually a no-show in the last three playoff games. So the question is, are the Celtics looking at two more years of paying big money for little production or an All-Star who will come back in September at 100% of what we saw from him in Utah.
Photo via Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images
Here are Gordon's Utah stats from the 2016-17 post-season: 37.4 MPG, 24.1 PPG, 6.1 RPG, 3.4 APG, 44% FG, 41% 3's, 93% FT. Hayward was the Alpha Dog in Utah, playing alongside 35-year-old Joe Johnson, George Hill, Rudy Gobert and Joe Ingles. Much of the on-court action went through Gordon, and he did a bit of everything.
Fast-forward to now. In the Milwaukee series, he has been a shadow of what he was two years ago. The question is WHY. Is it the ankle still. Most likely, but I doubt that is a major factor. He is averaging roughly 30 minutes/game, but he is no longer the #1 focus on offense. He is option four, five or six, depending on how you look at it. Is Brad Stevens correct? Is he not doing a good job of setting Terry Rozier and Gordon up for success? Brad needs to get better with that. He has been slow to adapt to the changes within his own team.
There is hardly an NBA analyst in Celtics-Land that doesn't think there is a major disconnect among the staff and players. That will not be fixed in the short time remaining prior to tonight's Game 5. Gordon has been a victim of a serious injury and the disruption within the team, and he most-likely needs to take some blame with everyone else.
Hayward is owed $32.7 million next season and $34.2 million for 2020-21 - with a player option. There is little time for injury recovery in the regular season or playoffs, but the off-season may bring him back to 100%. Gordon relies more on basketball IQ and craftiness than elite athleticism and quickness. That may be in his favor if the injury persists somewhat.
So I don't view Hayward as simply a bad contract. If his recovery is close to complete as of this summer, Trader Danny Ainge could use that large sum in a trade of Hayward. Alternatively, a fully-healthy Gordon Hayward in the starting unit next season alongside the right pieces could work nicely. As I have previously written, this current Celtics crew is a bad mix - and it shows in many ways. I, for one, am optimistic about next season. My personal feeling is that both Jaylen Brown and Gordon have been adversely affected the most by the internal strife within the Celtics ranks. Ainge should find a way to cure that this summer.
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2019 13:45:12 GMT -5
Gordon is a decent passer and sees the court well. He by no means is in the same laegue as Jamesnnnnnnn.Not close Come on now these excuses are getting old. Who's comparing Gordon to James?
My point is only that Gordon & Kyrie were a bad fit from the get go since both want/need to control the action. Difference is that Gordon is a more willing passer than Kyrie and a more likeable leader ...
Damn it didn't mean you. Obviously Stevens and Ainge do they pay him about the same as James. What's the best thing about this forum. ?You still have free speech i don't know how ya pull it off with an asshole like me |
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2019 13:49:19 GMT -5
Oh and yea i'll take Hayward all day long over Irving. Point taken I have not been critical of him if anyone would happen to notice.
Jeez i'll be glad to get to work for 3 months so i don't run folks away from here. Just being honest. Want to go to Germany with me? In September
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Post by Admin on May 8, 2019 13:53:29 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on May 8, 2019 14:05:54 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on May 8, 2019 14:17:05 GMT -5
Boston Celtics Marcus Morris before Game 5: ‘We ain’t going on vacation for another month’ By John Karalis | JKaralis@masslive.com
 (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)MILWAUKEE -- Some people might not blame the Boston Celtics for having a foot out the door right now. Game 5 against the the NBA’s only 60 win team and the probable MVP is just hours away and Boston is down 3-1. We’ll find out tonight if anyone actually is checked out, but Marcus Morris will not be one of them.
It’s brash but very on-brand for the always-confident Morris. In a wildly inconsistent season for the Celtics, Morris’ truth-telling, at least how he sees it, has been the one constant.
“At the end of the day this is what we play for. You can’t go into a game being down 3-1 just thinking it’s over,” he said. “Because in my mind, I still think we’re the better team. We’ve just had a couple bumps in the road during the games where the game changes for us.”
Morris has been Boston’s most consistently good player this postseason. He’s shooting a scorching 65.6 percent from the field in this series, including more than half his 3′s. He’s also as frustrated as anyone by Boston’s overall return to some bad habits that yield big Milwaukee runs and bad Boston meltdowns.
"We have to try to play the best way we can for 48 minutes and not take those breaks. It is the playoffs and, for 48 minutes, we need everybody to be locked in and on the same page. You just can’t have the same mistakes you have during the regular season.”
Milwaukee’s late bursts have overshadowed what has been mostly good basketball from the Celtics until those points. Again, that’s par for the course with these guys.
“The last three games in the third quarter it’s a one-possession game, in all four games. Obviously in Game 1 we pulled away.," Brad Stevens said. “The last three games when they pulled away we didn’t respond. You have to be able to move on to what’s next, play better, and not play what I would call somewhat haphazard. Ultimately we have to stay the course.”
It may be too much to ask of the Celtics to change 90 games worth of bad habits, but maybe they can quick cold turkey long enough to prove Morris right.
“You’re trying to win a playoff game, it’s blood, sweat and tears. You have to give 100 percent effort, everything you’ve got the entire game," Morris said. "We watched games where we had some breakdowns that we shouldn’t have fighting to get to the next round.”
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Post by Cabutan on May 8, 2019 14:20:14 GMT -5
we know how Hayward plays without Kyrie. Also, at least Hayward wants to be a Celtic, does not complaint nor talks nonsense after games. I dont remember a guy with such a bad attitude as Irving. yea, we had Rondo but he loved being a Celtic. Ditto with Thomas. Irving??? bad attitude, does not care if he is a Celtic or not. Who was the last dude with such a bad attitude wearing Green? ??
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Post by Admin on May 8, 2019 14:23:51 GMT -5
The Celtics need Gordon Hayward more than ever
After an encouraging first round, Hayward has been all but invisible against the Milwaukee Bucks
By Daniel Poarch
Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images
The Celtics’ second-round struggles against Milwaukee have been a more or less perfect microcosm of their disappointing regular season, from their dizzying highs (Game 1’s 22-point triumph on the road) to their frustrating lows (just about everything else). Now, once again, they find themselves in a hole of their own making, a 3-1 series deficit with their season hanging in the balance.
Among the familiar struggles the team has faced in the past week has been the latest slump from Gordon Hayward, whose second round malaise continued Monday night with a two-point performance on 1-of-5 shooting from the field across 26 minutes. Hayward’s disappearing act has coincided neatly with the team’s collapse in the series. He’s shot just 4-of-18 combined in the team’s three consecutive losses, and the Celtics have been outscored by 49 points in his 89 minutes over that span of time.
The nadir of this stretch came at the very beginning: in 30 minutes in Game 2, Hayward made just one of his five shot attempts, grabbed no rebounds and dished just three assists while turning the ball over once and fouling three times. It would be difficult to be less extant on the court than Hayward was.
The most striking thing about this recent slump is how much less confidence Hayward appears have in his ability to attack the paint. This was a trend we saw early in the year, when he was still finding his footing in his return from last season’s ankle injury: Hayward would either attack the paint too meekly or not look to shoot at all, instead kicking it out to a shooter as soon as he made any penetration.
Against the Bucks, both problems have returned in spades.
This comes as a surprise because, while Hayward is still undergoing rehab on the ankle in question, he’s looked substantially more spry in recent weeks. Contrast this — from just two weeks ago against Indiana — to the clips above.
It doesn’t help matters that his jumper has more or less completely abandoned him at this point.
As a defender, Hayward has been slightly more palatable, but still inconsistent. As the Boston defense goes, so does he; he’s been active and engaged for stretches where the Celtics have flustered the Milwaukee offense, but he’s been just as prone to agonizing mental lapses as anybody on the team, especially during their miserable second halves.
Notably, Hayward has been worryingly bad at the point of attack, struggling to contain his man off the dribble. Though he recovers to pick up the block here, it shouldn’t be so easy for Connaughton to get past him.
There was a point, after his stellar Game 4 against Indiana and his solid Game 1 against Milwaukee, where you could have reasonably argued that Hayward was the best bench player in the Eastern Conference Playoffs. Factor in his three-game slump, though, and suddenly, he’s not even the best wing player on the bench in the series. In fact, that honor likely belongs to Hayward’s Milwaukee counterpart, Pat Connaughton.
Pressed into service late in the regular season in the wake of Malcolm Brogdon’s injury, Connaughton’s performance in the semifinals has been something of a mirror image to Hayward’s — a disastrous Game 1, followed by three valuable performances to solidify the Bucks’ widening bench advantage. Connaughton is outshooting Hayward 48% to 42% in terms of effective field goal percentage, and he’s grabbing a surprising 25% of Milwaukee’s rebounds when he’s on the floor. The 26-year-old journeyman has unquestionably had the upper hand on the 28-year-old former All-Star, an equation that does not work out in Boston’s favor.
Hayward’s backslide is especially disappointing in relation to how he ended the regular season. Yes, he’s still rehabbing from a catastrophic injury, and yes, there were always going to be continued set-backs. Still, it seemed like he was finally starting to turn the corner, shooting better than 50% from the field in each of his last seven regular season games. His 20-point performance in the clincher against Indiana feels much further away than just two weeks ago.
A lot needs to go right for the Celtics to pull off their improbable comeback. Kyrie Irving hasn’t lived up to his billing as an accomplished postseason player, Jayson Tatum seemingly hasn’t hit a shot in four games and as a whole, the team has struggled through frustrating lapses on both ends of the court. Still, perhaps nothing outweighs the need for an improved Gordon Hayward. The Celtics just can’t pull this off without him.
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2019 14:38:32 GMT -5
we know how Hayward plays without Kyrie. Also, at least Hayward wants to be a Celtic, does not complaint nor talks nonsense after games. I dont remember a guy with such a bad attitude as Irving. yea, we had Rondo but he loved being a Celtic. Ditto with Thomas. Irving??? bad attitude, does not care if he is a Celtic or not. Who was the last dude with such a bad attitude wearing Green? ?? Ainge. He was just here for the money. Tried ist to play b ball for Toronto i think. Couldn't hit a lick or catch a cold. Never complained once when he was traded. Funny how NONE of the old Celtics speak kindly of him. This ain't my first Rodeo |
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2019 14:42:36 GMT -5
Pressed into service late in the regular season in the wake of Malcolm Brogdon’s injury, Connaughton’s performance in the semifinals has been something of a mirror image to Hayward’s — a disastrous Game 1, followed by three valuable performances to solidify the Bucks’ widening bench advantage. Connaughton is outshooting Hayward 48% to 42% in terms of effective field goal percentage, and he’s grabbing a surprising 25% of Milwaukee’s rebounds when he’s on the floor. The 26-year-old journeyman has unquestionably had the upper hand on the 28-year-old former All-Star, an equation that does not work out in Boston’s favor
The reason being the Bucks have a coach that knows how to match up. Also knows an inside outside wins over musical chairs that pussy ass Stevens plays. I'll run him outa town wait and see.
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Post by Cabutan on May 8, 2019 14:45:46 GMT -5
we know how Hayward plays without Kyrie. Also, at least Hayward wants to be a Celtic, does not complaint nor talks nonsense after games. I dont remember a guy with such a bad attitude as Irving. yea, we had Rondo but he loved being a Celtic. Ditto with Thomas. Irving??? bad attitude, does not care if he is a Celtic or not. Who was the last dude with such a bad attitude wearing Green? ?? Ainge. He was just here for the money. Tried ist to play b ball for Toronto i think. Couldn't hit a lick or catch a cold. Never complained once when he was traded. Funny how NONE of the old Celtics speak kindly of him. This ain't my first Rodeo wow. Never knew. Interesting to say the least!! |
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2019 14:46:42 GMT -5
I'm sure ya all remember me slaying the Midget, Left town huh just like i suggested. Stevens will too.
Perkins didn't acknowledge the EAST was much more weak when the Midget played. Bogus remark or hearsay won't hold up in court.
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2019 14:49:58 GMT -5
Ainge. He was just here for the money. Tried ist to play b ball for Toronto i think. Couldn't hit a lick or catch a cold. Never complained once when he was traded. Funny how NONE of the old Celtics speak kindly of him. This ain't my first Rodeo wow. Never knew. Interesting to say the least!! The Chief and Bird and Dennis Johnson had some remarks off the record. Some on the record . Before Twitter and social media BS.....Maybe some others i have forgot. |
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2019 14:54:50 GMT -5
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Post by kyceltic on May 8, 2019 15:01:33 GMT -5
we know how Hayward plays without Kyrie. Also, at least Hayward wants to be a Celtic, does not complaint nor talks nonsense after games. I dont remember a guy with such a bad attitude as Irving. yea, we had Rondo but he loved being a Celtic. Ditto with Thomas. Irving??? bad attitude, does not care if he is a Celtic or not. Who was the last dude with such a bad attitude wearing Green? ?? Sidney Wicks and Curtis Rowe!! |
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Post by Deleted on May 8, 2019 15:07:28 GMT -5
we know how Hayward plays without Kyrie. Also, at least Hayward wants to be a Celtic, does not complaint nor talks nonsense after games. I dont remember a guy with such a bad attitude as Irving. yea, we had Rondo but he loved being a Celtic. Ditto with Thomas. Irving??? bad attitude, does not care if he is a Celtic or not. Who was the last dude with such a bad attitude wearing Green? ?? Sidney Wicks and Curtis Rowe!! Correct |
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Post by Cabutan on May 8, 2019 15:53:57 GMT -5
we know how Hayward plays without Kyrie. Also, at least Hayward wants to be a Celtic, does not complaint nor talks nonsense after games. I dont remember a guy with such a bad attitude as Irving. yea, we had Rondo but he loved being a Celtic. Ditto with Thomas. Irving??? bad attitude, does not care if he is a Celtic or not. Who was the last dude with such a bad attitude wearing Green? ?? Sidney Wicks and Curtis Rowe!! Out of my time but will search. Thanks! |
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Post by Admin on May 8, 2019 16:07:03 GMT -5
we know how Hayward plays without Kyrie. Also, at least Hayward wants to be a Celtic, does not complaint nor talks nonsense after games. I dont remember a guy with such a bad attitude as Irving. yea, we had Rondo but he loved being a Celtic. Ditto with Thomas. Irving??? bad attitude, does not care if he is a Celtic or not. Who was the last dude with such a bad attitude wearing Green? ?? Ainge. He was just here for the money. Tried ist to play b ball for Toronto i think. Couldn't hit a lick or catch a cold. Never complained once when he was traded. Funny how NONE of the old Celtics speak kindly of him. This ain't my first Rodeo
When it looked like Ainge might get cut by the Bluejays, Red got his opening and convinced Danny that he would have a better career in green over blue.
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Post by Admin on May 8, 2019 16:15:43 GMT -5
Marcus Smart strives to have late impact for Celtics By Mark Murphy
 (Staff Photo By Christopher Evans/MediaNews Group/Boston Herald)MILWAUKEE — Of all the players who have played in this conference semifinals series against Milwaukee, Marcus Smart is the least culpable for the 3-1 hole the Celtics now have to escape starting with Game 5 tonight against the Bucks. But Smart, after playing for the first time in a month in Game 4, hopes to not only do more, but spend a little more time on the floor as the Celtics face elimination. The good news, he says, is that beyond some soreness, his healing oblique muscle has responded well to activity. “Unscathed. Everything went well, the oblique was fine, it’s a little sore today, as expected,” Smart said prior to this morning’s shootaround. “But, for the most part, it’s everything is good. Hopefully tonight I can be on the court a little bit longer, more minutes.” Especially an increased minutes load, he hopes, after only 14 minutes in Game 4. “I hope so. I have no clue. Brad’s the coach and whatever he decides, obviously we’re going to roll with it, and if it’s 15 minutes, if it’s 20 minutes, if it’s even more than that, whatever it is, I’m going to get in there and give it everything I got,” he said, knowing what he has to do differently, regardless of that minutes allotment. “I just have to be more aggressive. To be honest, I didn’t really know what to expect with the oblique,” he said. “I knew it was fine, I knew all the boxes were checked, but it’s still that little part that’s just like not really quite sure. But just going through Game 4, everything is good. I should be back to my normal self.” In the meantime, Smart wants to return to his normal work load without disrupting chemistry, such as it is on a team on the verge of elimination. Not really wanting to mess up the rhythm that these guys had as a group, just trying to reinsert myself because I have been gone four weeks,” said Smart. “Not that I looked like I missed it but the simple fact that I’ve been out for long, these guys had to step in and build a relationship with each other without me. So I try, without messing up anything try to get back in the routine and try to reassert myself into the group.”
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Post by sfbosfan on May 8, 2019 17:18:08 GMT -5
I'm sure many Buck's fan were concerned after game 1. I said this before, their coach made some great adjustments while it seems after the game 2 loss, we made none and, perhaps, there is little we can do. Only Smart being a bit more healthy could help us win game 5. Ya know, in games 3 and 4 we were ahead 12 pts one time in game 3 and then 10 and 8 pts in game 4. When they wiped out the leads we seemed to trade baskets for a long stretch until both times about the middle of the 3rd Qtr. they pulled away and were always good enough to be happy to trade baskets with 10+ pt. lead. Would love to put some hurt on their fans as they have ours on our home court and put a little fear in them and win this game. I'd like to be positive if that happens and we give our fans at home a little pleasure with a game 6 victory at home but God forbid we return home and lose again..I mean OMG 3 losses at home and we were striving for home court advantage all year.
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