PG: BELIEVE

[Galvationknicks]

Read on Twitter

this is the world i envisioned with OG and Mikal prowling around
took them 90+ games to figure this **** out
finally taking advantage of long bois

It’s not about figuring anything out other than when to play with playoff intensity and when it isn’t that important. We played the season wearing weighted armor now we took it off and going all out

The actual benefit of thibs. Team is so used to heavy minutes. Celtics and cavs had so many blowouts they didn't play nearly the mins we played this season. This is straight out of coach Carter lol. Our weighted armor is off and our power levels is up.

[rajajackal]

Read on Twitter

this is the world i envisioned with OG and Mikal prowling around
took them 90+ games to figure this **** out
finally taking advantage of long bois

It’s not about figuring anything out other than when to play with playoff intensity and when it isn’t that important. We played the season wearing weighted armor now we took it off and going all out

The actual benefit of thibs. Team is so used to heavy minutes. Celtics and cavs had so many blowouts they didn't play nearly the mins we played this season. This is straight out of coach Carter lol. Our weighted armor is off and our power levels is up.

my brothers i am all the way with this narrative

[Jalen Bluntson]

We have a couple days to enjoy this. Looking forward to game two. If we can crush their souls snatching another victory on the road I'll start giving 10% of my income to the Church instead of the bartender!

[Capn'O]

Mitchs contest on the Tatum switch at the end of regulation was clutch. He didnt get worked on the step back and forced Tatum into a difficult shot.

early on, first time mitch got switched on to tatum on the perimeter, reggie was talking how this is what they want mitch can't defend that far out. like bro mitch blocked this exact player at the 3 point line off a switch just the last time they matched watch some tape before you analyze a series

Guarding on the perimeter is what made Mitch special his first 2 years. He gained weight to become a true interior defender, so people forget that certain instincts might still be there.

Right. That was the big concern about Mitch in a Boston series and he's done better than iHart typically does both yesterday and in our last meeting of the year with the Cs. He's an asset in this series.

[Capn'O]

We have a couple days to enjoy this. Looking forward to game two. If we can crush their souls snatching another victory on the road I'll start giving 10% of my income to the Church instead of the bartender! :lol:

Why mess with what's working?

[Polk377]

The thing that gives me confidence about this series is unlike Detroit, Boston doesn't have that long, athletic player they can just stick on Brunson all game long. As great of a defender as Holliday is, JB can muscle him and get his shot off. They can't stick Tatum or Brown on him because JB can get them into foul trouble. Our best player will have his opportunities to win us games.

[GettinitDone]

C's had their looks, they took 60 3s and missed 45. I don't think they will shoot 25% from downtown in this series again

Brown also missed a layup that went in and out with 40 secs left that would've cut our lead to 1

They're gonna be a lot better

---

But like JD of KFTV said we also had to overcome foul trouble, missed free throws, 20 pt deficit, hack a Mitch

It's not gonna get easier but I'm hopeful we're up to the challenge

[Capn'O]

Maybe we had some other actions in our pocket for the postseason. I'm being dead serious that we didn't show our full hand in the regular season. Brunson was actually negative in on off this year. Not so much in the playoffs.

thibs holding things back in the regular season to win games? come on cap

I'm dead serious. It looks like we basically had one regular season strategy and are now much more team specific in our approach for the playoffs.

[Garbagelo]

Similar facial reactions

[rajajackal]

We have a couple days to enjoy this. Looking forward to game two. If we can crush their souls snatching another victory on the road I'll start giving 10% of my income to the Church instead of the bartender!

if we go home 2-0 i'm selling my car to go to the game

[Jalen Bluntson]

C's had their looks, they took 60 3s and missed 45. I don't think they will shoot 25% from downtown in this series again

Brown also missed a layup that went in and out with 40 secs left that would've cut our lead to 1

They're gonna be a lot better

---

But like JD of KFTV said we also had to overcome foul trouble, missed free throws, 20 pt deficit, hack a Mitch

It's not gonna get easier but I'm hopeful we're up to the challenge

I was so convinced we were done before the series started. I didn't see us winning a single game and the third quarter looked to be the proof. Holy shyt what a turnaround. We just made it a dogfight and it's not the size of the dog in the right. It's the size of the fight in the dog. I feel we have at this now. Let's see if they can pull it in off!

[Polk377]

KAT is the x-factor in this series. The other 5 starters have raised their intensity and level of play in these playoffs. KAT has been on and off so far. He's got to find his lane and maybe that's just hitting open 3's, the occasional post-up, acting as a decoy, and then killing them on the offensive boards. Maybe that's all he needs to focus on while playing competent defense and we can win this thing.

Come on, KAT... rise to the occasion.

KAT just needs to play smarter on defense and be OK with taking whatever the defense gives him. He is a very unselfish player to a fault sometimes. He needs to know when it is his time to step up.

[GONYK]

KAT is the x-factor in this series. The other 5 starters have raised their intensity and level of play in these playoffs. KAT has been on and off so far. He's got to find his lane and maybe that's just hitting open 3's, the occasional post-up, acting as a decoy, and then killing them on the offensive boards. Maybe that's all he needs to focus on while playing competent defense and we can win this thing.

Come on, KAT... rise to the occasion.

KAT just needs to play smarter on defense and be OK with taking whatever the defense gives him. He is a very unselfish player to a fault sometimes. He needs to know when it is his time to step up.

KAT needs his offense schemed for him when it comes to the playoffs. Every one of his offensive strengths is a double-edged sword.

- Good post player, but not great and doesn't pass out of doubles well.
- Good driver when guarded by the 5, but can't drive from a standstill, doesn't pass on drives when the defense floods the paint and falls on the ground every time, creating a 5-4 imbalance the other way.
- Great shooter, but doesn't create his own shot on the perimeter, so needs the spot up opportunity created for him

It's hard for him to just "step up" in the playoffs unless his faceup midrange jumper is super hot, otherwise him calling his own number needs to be managed.

[rajajackal]

this game is proof that the true blues are the best knick uniforms

[NoDopeOnSundays]

we salute that brother. his parents and ancestors did something right.

The salty hater in me will not allow me to salute him, only thing I will do is kiss my teeth and pretend I'm happy for them.

nodope at the surprise engagement dinner like:



bumboclaaaaaaaaaaaaa

Shottas is a classic that I watch at least once a year. I'd be driving home from dinner blasting this

Watch on YouTube

[Polk377]

KAT is the x-factor in this series. The other 5 starters have raised their intensity and level of play in these playoffs. KAT has been on and off so far. He's got to find his lane and maybe that's just hitting open 3's, the occasional post-up, acting as a decoy, and then killing them on the offensive boards. Maybe that's all he needs to focus on while playing competent defense and we can win this thing.

Come on, KAT... rise to the occasion.

KAT just needs to play smarter on defense and be OK with taking whatever the defense gives him. He is a very unselfish player to a fault sometimes. He needs to know when it is his time to step up.

KAT needs his offense schemed for him when it comes to the playoffs. Every one of his offensive strengths is a double-edged sword.

- Good post player, but not great and doesn't pass out of doubles well.
- Good driver when guarded by the 5, but doesn't pass on drives and falls on the ground every time, creating a 5-4 imbalance the other way.
- Great shooter, but doesn't create his own shot on the perimeter, so needs the spot up opportunity created for him

It's hard for him to just "step up" in the playoffs unless his faceup midrange jumper is super hot, otherwise him calling his own number needs to be managed.

I agree. He is a system player and not an iso player. That falls on Thibs to develop good looks for him and put him into better spots to get good shots. The top of the key pick and pop isn't ideal because JB doesn't hit the pick hard and dances around it so it doesn't create enough separation for KAT. He would be better off showing and rolling hard instead of popping. Also might want to have OG set the pick occasionally and roll while having KAT in the corner for some spot up 3s. There are things that can be done that haven't because Thibs will Thib.

[3toheadmelo]

Maybe we had some other actions in our pocket for the postseason. I'm being dead serious that we didn't show our full hand in the regular season. Brunson was actually negative in on off this year. Not so much in the playoffs.

thibs holding things back in the regular season to win games? come on cap

I'm dead serious. It looks like we basically had one regular season strategy and are now much more team specific in our approach for the playoffs.

He definitely switched much more instead of deploying drop coverage that everyone has been asking for. Thibs the mad genius.

[robillionaire]

Let’s just jump all the way out the window this Celtics team has never beaten an actual good playoff team and if Randle Mitch OG and Hart didn’t all get injured last year Boston wouldn’t have ever won the championship just like they got spanked by an 8 seed the year before last in the conference finals and we’d be repeating. They also needed jimmy butler and Donovan to get hurt last year just to play fluke competition in the ECF and finals. The veil is slipping on these fake contenders. This is the first 3 seed or higher team they’ve ever had to play. They beat an injured 8, 4, 6 and 5 seed last year. Fraud alert! Regular season pretenders!

[Capn'O]

KAT

- Good post player, but not great and doesn't pass out of doubles well.

Send him to Hakeem! If there's one thing he could really improve on out of the limitations you mentioned it's that.

[Iron Mantis]

I heard someone say that the tracking data says the Celtics had 45 wide open 3-point attempts. ...

Can anyone confirm this?