2024 NBA Playoffs: East Semifinals: #1 Boston Celtics vs #4 Cleveland Cavaliers (BOS WINS 4-1)

[axeman23]

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[RAPSinCAPS]

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Wow that's a good point. Never saw it that way

[Gregoire]

Boston in 6

[theFireBlanket]

Cavs fans what do you think of this assessment?

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I would say only if you're doing no hedge + Jrue and White going over/through the screen. Can't just completely go under the screen and have no hedge.

Suggs was successful because he fought through and over the top of screens. He obviously got away with some fouls in those situations too though.

As bad of a first round as Garland had, he still shot 40% from deep on 5 attempts per game.

Also, Strus has it in him to shoot 41% from deep, like he did in the playoffs last season against the Bucks. However, maybe playing against his former team will just be too much for him and his crappy shooting will continue. I'm hoping for a revenge mindset.

Then there is Mitchell, with his last basket to give him 50 in game 6 was a deep 3, probably wanna play up on him.

Niang is an unsung slinger & mighty is Merrill.

Georges, Max, Sam. its over, Cavs in 7.

[LaLover11]

How many pts is Mitchell scoring tonight?

I'm going 42pts

[metalinguss]

I got Celtics in 5 in this round even when their opponent wasn't determined yet.

[Mr Loggins]

if Kristaps is out and cavs get Allen back full strength, I have celtics in 6

[jbk1234]

Man has gotta play through the pain!

I mean if he's going to be ineffective doing it, and he could further aggravate the injury, it's probably best he waits. One of the reasons I was less upset than other Cavs fans when we lost the second play-in game to the Hawks, is Allen was trying to play center with one hand due to a broken finger. Suffice to say, I didn't view that as a good idea and he was really hampered offensively. Unless it's a bad contusion, he should be back by Game 3 or 4.

Windy said he can't even lift his arms without discomfort, I doubt between now and Saturday that changes much.

The normal recovery time for a mild rib contusion is 2 weeks. The more serious ones can take up to 6 weeks. Allen sustained his injury on April 27.

[Chuck Everett]

If Tatum has any guts at all, he will average 30ppg in this series. Unlike Paolo, he is much more consistent shooter. Whether it's Strus, Okoro, Levert, Morris brother or whoever, they have no one to put on him. This series should be lightwork for him and if it isn't, then I would be worried if I was Celtics' fan.

[UNCBlue012]

I'm starting to see a trend that people do not respect Boston based on past playoff failures when this team is very different. It's clear that Porzingis' injury is tough, but Boston went something like 19-4 without him in the regular season and had a slightly better point differential. The playoffs are tricky, but bad logic is being thrown around to fit agendas.

Aren’t the old weaknesses still there? Coming through in crunch time when their offense develops to the Js iso’ing. Getting out coached. Getting outworked & beaten up inside.

The bar is higher because your strengths are even stronger so it’s easier to just out talent your problems, and when KP can drag his man out to the perimeter that negates some of the disadvantage inside.

Of course some of those concerns could be solved just by your core maturing and Mazulla’s improvement, but until we see that I think it’s fair to question.

That's fair to a certain extent. But this was once a key weakness that's barely a weakness anymore. Boston constantly rested starters throughout the season and still had one of the best differentials in the history of the NBA and continued to win with any starting lineup. i get it - but I think people are magnifying something that's not a key issue anymore.

Maybe I'm wrong and all of those problems come up in the next round, but I watched every game but two this season and did not see the same team or issues. I see narrative, but not reality.

[cgf]

I'm starting to see a trend that people do not respect Boston based on past playoff failures when this team is very different. It's clear that Porzingis' injury is tough, but Boston went something like 19-4 without him in the regular season and had a slightly better point differential. The playoffs are tricky, but bad logic is being thrown around to fit agendas.

Aren’t the old weaknesses still there? Coming through in crunch time when their offense develops to the Js iso’ing. Getting out coached. Getting outworked & beaten up inside.

The bar is higher because your strengths are even stronger so it’s easier to just out talent your problems, and when KP can drag his man out to the perimeter that negates some of the disadvantage inside.

Of course some of those concerns could be solved just by your core maturing and Mazulla’s improvement, but until we see that I think it’s fair to question.

That's fair to a certain extent. But this was once a key weakness that's barely a weakness anymore. Boston constantly rested starters throughout the season and still had one of the best differentials in the history of the NBA and continued to win with any starting lineup. i get it - but I think people are magnifying something that's not a key issue anymore.

Maybe I'm wrong and all of those problems come up in the next round, but I watched every game but two this season and did not see the same team or issues. I see narrative, but not reality.

That's reasonable. I think some of those questions can only truly be answered in the playoffs, but progress in the regular season is often a harbinger of progress in the post season. So those could well be problems that you're now ready to handle, even when you can't just talent your way past them.

Kinda how I feel about Randle after remembering that nobody can stop him from getting to the rim without help. It led him to unlock a new level in the regular season that should translate to playoff ball...and even limited last year we were better with him on the court...but until he proves it in the playoffs I can understand people continuing to question him.

[Zman80000]

This may or may not be a hot take but the best player in this series is Mitchell...therefore the Cavs do have a chance if he goes supernova

That's crazy lol. Mitchell isn't better than Tatum.

He is in the clutch.
Tatum shrinks when the stakes get higher.

[Zman80000]

I'm starting to see a trend that people do not respect Boston based on past playoff failures when this team is very different. It's clear that Porzingis' injury is tough, but Boston went something like 19-4 without him in the regular season and had a slightly better point differential. The playoffs are tricky, but bad logic is being thrown around to fit agendas.

People not respecting Boston?
Go look at the poll results so far.

No matter the match up or odds, you will always get some people picking something absurd like Cavs in 4.
People do it for fun.

[cgf]

If Tatum has any guts at all, he will average 30ppg in this series. Unlike Paolo, he is much more consistent shooter. Whether it's Strus, Okoro, Levert, Morris brother or whoever, they have no one to put on him. This series should be lightwork for him and if it isn't, then I would be worried if I was Celtics' fan.

Okoro is a tough SOB with the strength to reroute Tatum...even with the progress Tatum's body has made. Now Tatum is a lot longer than Okoro and he should still be skilled enough to take him...but I like that kid. If his shot was just good enough to be respected, like Hart's, I'd love him as a role player. Very scrappy.

[cgf]

How many pts is Mitchell scoring tonight?

I'm going 42pts

At least 44. Can't be less than ol Bighead

[Tyakack]

If Tatum has any guts at all, he will average 30ppg in this series. Unlike Paolo, he is much more consistent shooter. Whether it's Strus, Okoro, Levert, Morris brother or whoever, they have no one to put on him. This series should be lightwork for him and if it isn't, then I would be worried if I was Celtics' fan.

Weird take. I don't think a single Celtics fan is worried about how many points Tatum will average in this series. Reading your comment is the first time that thought even crossed my mind. We care about how the team looks and how the team plays, and wins. Tatum is a big part of that obviously, but he impacts the game in so many ways. PPG is not the end all be all with him.

[Chuck Everett]

If Tatum has any guts at all, he will average 30ppg in this series. Unlike Paolo, he is much more consistent shooter. Whether it's Strus, Okoro, Levert, Morris brother or whoever, they have no one to put on him. This series should be lightwork for him and if it isn't, then I would be worried if I was Celtics' fan.

Weird take. I don't think a single Celtics fan is worried about how many points Tatum will average in this series. Reading your comment is the first time that thought even crossed my mind. We care about how the team looks and how the team plays, and wins. Tatum is a big part of that obviously, but he impacts the game in so many ways. PPG is not the end all be all with him.

He has a huge matchup advantage and as such I believe he should dominate it. I didn't say he needed to do the same against Miami. But this is particular series has different personnel going against him. Hey if the Celtics hit 15-20 threes every game and they spread the points around, fine, but the playoffs are all about hunting mismatches.

[LaLover11]

How many pts is Mitchell scoring tonight?

I'm going 42pts

At least 44. Can't be less than ol Bighead

45 pts for Spida just to show he's better than Big Head Brunson

[cgf]

How many pts is Mitchell scoring tonight?

I'm going 42pts

At least 44. Can't be less than ol Bighead

45 pts for Spida just to show he's better than Big Head Brunson

At least. Anything else would be a disappointing scrub total.

[LaLover11]

At least 44. Can't be less than ol Bighead

45 pts for Spida just to show he's better than Big Head Brunson

At least. Anything else would be a disappointing scrub total.

Donte is saving your boy lmao and the refs