PLAYOFFS: Rnd 2, Gm 5 – Sixers (2) @ Celtics (2) – 7:30PM, Tues, May 9, 2023

soxfan2003 · Post #21 » by **soxfan2003** » Mon May 8, 2023 8:31 pm

The Celtics hit 16 out of 22 free throws. 76ers hit 19 out of 22. Reverse those free throw stats and Celtics win the game by 5 points instead of lose it by 1 so the Celtics played well to withstand Harden's great shooting.

Unlike many other playoff losses and some wins, the Celtics played pretty darn hard and unselfishly and for the most part played intelligent basketball. Only 10 team turnovers despite the game going into OT.

I missed part of the first half but there wasn't many Tatum or Brown driving against 3 defenders waiting for them. When Tatum attracted a crowd on that last play, he just passed a split second too late.

I don't blame the coach for not using timeouts to setup the play given it gives Philly a chance to setup their defense and more of an opportunity to force a turnover on the out of bounds play.

At the end of the day, outside of teams with a young Lebron James who was just phenomenal driving to the basket, pretty much every team that truly holds for the last shot will shoot a lower percentage at the end of the games. Defenses KNOW you are playing for the last shot so you are obviously much easier to defend. But if you shoot with 4 to 6 seconds left, the other team has plenty of time to setup a quality shot.

This is not a Tatum problem or a Marcus Smart problem. It wasn't a Paul Pierce problem but to be fair, Rivers did get too predictable at times making life harder for Pierce. It really becomes advantage defense if you are shooting with around 3 seconds left. As the coach said, the Celtics got very good looks and Smart hit one of them but just a split second too late....

One thing I would like to see schooled into the players once it becomes apparent that it will be the "final shot", it is okay to move in a foot or two even if you cross the 3 point line... if a 2 wins it just as well as a 3, no sense taking the 3. But if you are shooting with 4 seconds left, obviously an open 3 may be better than open 2 since other team will have a shot to score themselves.

lon3lytoaster · Post #22 » by **lon3lytoaster** » Mon May 8, 2023 8:51 pm

The Corey's wrote:
Kalela wrote:

Read on Twitter

We in **** trouble.

He is just either lying to himself or is delusional.

1) Marcus Smart since last year has shot 22% in games +/- 5 with 3 minutes to go on 20 shots.
2) We did not even get a last shot off.

I'm not absolutely opposed to having Marcus facilitate in those situations, we've seen him assist game winners before but him having his number called twice passed the 3pt line is insanity.

Post #23 » by **Feed Your Head** » Mon May 8, 2023 8:52 pm

Celtics by 227.

Green89 · Post #24 » by **Green89** » Mon May 8, 2023 9:04 pm

lon3lytoaster wrote:
The Corey's wrote:
Kalela wrote:

Read on Twitter

We in **** trouble.

He is just either lying to himself or is delusional.

1) Marcus Smart since last year has shot 22% in games +/- 5 with 3 minutes to go on 20 shots.
2) We did not even get a last shot off.

I'm not absolutely opposed to having Marcus facilitate in those situations, we've seen him assist game winners before but him having his number called twice passed the 3pt line is insanity.

Weird, because didn't he admit twice in reg. season losses he should have called timeout? I think he's just trying to save face on the national.media stage.

ConstableGeneva · Post #25 » by **ConstableGeneva** » Mon May 8, 2023 9:38 pm

Read on Twitter

At least we're not physically injured. Collective BBIQ is still problematic.

bigfoot_cryptozoology · Post #26 » by **bigfoot_cryptozoology** » Mon May 8, 2023 9:45 pm

ConstableGeneva wrote:

Read on Twitter

At least we're not physically injured. Collective BBIQ is still problematic.

Unfortunately, Mazzulla isn't out...

bigfoot_cryptozoology · Post #27 » by **bigfoot_cryptozoology** » Mon May 8, 2023 10:08 pm

Mr_Mojo_Risin · Post #28 » by **Mr_Mojo_Risin** » Mon May 8, 2023 10:59 pm

It’s become crystal clear to me that Joe says whatever’s needed to backup his guys in the media.

He is a smart guy (despite what some think), I have zero doubt there would have been improvement discussions in film session. The last plays would have been analysed and many others. The first half should have been because that’s where we really lost it.

Joe knows JB already knows he shouldn’t have left Harden and JT knows he should have started the play earlier.

The other thing we need to recognise is the other team. Philly have been playing well and toughing it out. I think we are the better team and should win the series but I don’t doubt for a second about our effort.

Credit to them for taking a couple but it’s about consistent effort and talent and I think we have more left in the tank after the last game.

ajones9219 · Post #29 » by **ajones9219** » Tue May 9, 2023 1:15 am

Celtics 7.5 point favorites

Post #30 » by **Feed Your Head** » Tue May 9, 2023 1:27 am

Feed Your Head wrote:Celtics by 227.

May have understated it.

JR Hawks · Post #31 » by **JR Hawks** » Tue May 9, 2023 1:42 am

CelticsPride18 wrote:This is a blowout. The fat POS won’t have another good game this series

We heard that after Game 1. Harden is better than anyone wants to admit.

Marvel · Post #32 » by **Marvel** » Tue May 9, 2023 2:02 am

How do you contain Embiid flopping to the floor technique? Answer, you can not.

Triple7 · Post #33 » by **Triple7** » Tue May 9, 2023 2:05 am

Green89 wrote:
lon3lytoaster wrote:
The Corey's wrote:
We in **** trouble.

He is just either lying to himself or is delusional.

1) Marcus Smart since last year has shot 22% in games +/- 5 with 3 minutes to go on 20 shots.
2) We did not even get a last shot off.

I'm not absolutely opposed to having Marcus facilitate in those situations, we've seen him assist game winners before but him having his number called twice passed the 3pt line is insanity.

Weird, because didn't he admit twice in reg. season losses he should have called timeout? I think he's just trying to save face on the national.media stage.

He **** wanted to be a spectator in that moment, instead of being a true leader for this guys.
We are in deep **** with this clown!

NotAKnicksFan · Post #34 » by **NotAKnicksFan** » Tue May 9, 2023 2:32 am

ajones9219 wrote:Celtics 7.5 point favorites

Thats just very telling

Sixers were only 3 games behind, they got the current MVP and scoring champ, former mvp and scoring champ harden, tobias harris, maxey , solid bench, pj tucker

But celtics are 7.5 favs

Other games home home are like -3 or -4 like the lakers vs gstate. Or denver vs pheonix

Vegas thinks boston is way better than philly

Boston by 14

Triple7 · Post #35 » by **Triple7** » Tue May 9, 2023 3:00 am

Mr_Mojo_Risin wrote:It’s become crystal clear to me that Joe says whatever’s needed to backup his guys in the media.

He is a smart guy (despite what some think), I have zero doubt there would have been improvement discussions in film session. The last plays would have been analysed and many others. The first half should have been because that’s where we really lost it.

Joe knows JB already knows he shouldn’t have left Harden and JT knows he should have started the play earlier.

The other thing we need to recognise is the other team. Philly have been playing well and toughing it out. I think we are the better team and should win the series but I don’t doubt for a second about our effort.

Credit to them for taking a couple but it’s about consistent effort and talent and I think we have more left in the tank after the last game.

Tell that to Smart, when he walked that half court like it was the 3rd quarter. Jt got the ball with around 7secs remaining. Nothing much you can do about that. Our point guard stinks period. Low bbiq!

exculpatory · Post #36 » by **exculpatory** » Tue May 9, 2023 3:35 am

Nothing to say x
Bubbles is a moron.
7 has no court awareness in year 7.
Smart should not even sniff the court in crunch time.
I have no idea what to expect.

And PI #8 seed rolls on.

SMMFH.

ConstableGeneva · Post #37 » by **ConstableGeneva** » Tue May 9, 2023 3:37 am

Hope we win, but not expecting it. I don't even care. Why am I still posting about the Celtics?!

ajones9219 · Post #38 » by **ajones9219** » Tue May 9, 2023 3:49 am

lol Gotta love this "Smart isn't clutch" narrative. Dude has been insanely clutch his whole career. People out here wilding after every loss.

Bad-Thoma · Post #39 » by **Bad-Thoma** » Tue May 9, 2023 3:59 am

A better night of hitting open shots and free throws and we head back to Philly up 3-2, close it out there in a slugfest. Philly fans go home quiet and Tommy Heinsohn smiles wherever he is.

exculpatory · Post #40 » by **exculpatory** » Tue May 9, 2023 4:00 am

ajones9219 wrote:lol Gotta love this "Smart isn't clutch" narrative. Dude has been insanely clutch his whole career. People out here wilding after every loss.

Look at Comedian’s stats in the last post-loss thread on Page 26.

And THIS from lon3lytoaster]:

“Smart since last year has shot 22% in games +/- 5 with 3 minutes to go on 20 shots. I'm not absolutely opposed to having Marcus facilitate in those situations, but having his number called twice past the 3pt line is insanity.”

Bubblegum should have called appropriate TOs TWICE & then sent them back out with effectively designed AT0 plays with multiple options - designed for JT to score or get fouled on the drive or shoot the pull up J, or pass to 7 or Brog or DWhite for the 3 - BUT NOT TO MARCUS BRICKS FOR THE MOTHER **** 3 over & over & over again!

But BUBBLES IS INCOMPETENT & incapable of doing this. Once again, he is MORON.