Victory Cigar!!! BOS 143, SA 140 (34-30)

[JHTruth]

TT haters where yaaa at???

Still here. Hes been better since his return but lets not get crazy. Going with Nesmith in the 2nd was what turned it around

[Feed Your Head]

Nesmith is going to be a stud btw, and I think it’s beautiful that he thoroughly outplayed Vassell, who a bunch of people wish we got.

[playa-hater]

I think the most exciting thing is that you can imagine Tatum doing that it the playoffs as well.

He and JB definitely have a Bird/McHale scoring duo thing going on this season. Since the rest of our roster blows chunks*, they could keep it going when it counts.

*not you, Rob Williams, Smart, and Nesmith

my feelings are hurt you did not include PP.

[playa-hater]

Nasty game from Tatum. The biggest hole in his game has been in the paint. He has always been too soft and timid in the paint for me. The lack of free throw attempts were just a symptom of that. He seems to have figured it out over the past month. He is attacking with an intensity that we haven't seen from him. It's one thing to do it against Karl Anthony Towns (the start of Tatum's aggression). It's completely different against Poeltl. He is under the radar one of the best defenders in the NBA, yet Tatum was still dominant attacking the rim and getting to the line. Amazing. Tatum has been a superstar outside of 15 feet going back to last year. This kind of progress in the paint takes him to another level.

Hat tip to the kamikaze. Back to back fantastic games for Nesmith. His hustle wasn't just entertaining in this game, it was unbelievably impactful for the 2nd straight game. If he starts hitting stand still wide open catch and shoot 3s, he is going to be great for the Celtics. Any kind of movement and he is a sniper. Maybe he should just shuffle back and forth.

Smart was also pretty amazing in the 2nd half. I think that last defensive play was relatively clean as well. I'm not sure they call it in the playoffs.

Nice playoff adjustment to put wings on Poeltl as well. They killed us with pullup mid rangers in the first half. Its usually something you can live with as a defense, but they just weren't going to miss any of them. Moving a switchable wing on to Poeltl took away the comfortable pullups against the drop.

Jaylen was ass, but hit the big one.

Scott Wall, my gawd. That was embarrassing. He did everything he could to kill the momentum over and over.

first off excellent post and Kamikaze is such a good description of Nesmith. so much for a 3 and D player. Those usually just stand in the corner.

*meanwhile I wanted to thank you again. the streaming service you recommend me has been flawless. I can't believe the shet I used to have to watch on..

[playa-hater]

Only 30 players have ever scored 60 in a regular season game. Kemba and Bird have also done it.

In the world where he gets the continuation and hits the FT for 61 points, the number of players at 61+ in a game drops to 22, with no Kemba or Bird. Of the 76 games where someone scored 60+ and the 60 games someone scored 61+, Wilt had 32 and 29 of them, respectively. There have only been 11 games with someone scoring 70+, with 6 of them being Wilt. One of the others was Devin Booker in a loss in Boston a few years ago.

There have only been 34 games since 1978 where someone scored 60+, and only 20 with someone scoring 61+. In the last 20 years, there have only been 23 and 13, respectively.

There have been two playoff games with a scorer at 60 points or above. Jordan dropping 63 on the 1986 Celts (Bulls were swept), and Elgin Baylor dropping 61 on the 1962 Celts to put the Lakers up 3-2 in a Finals that we eventually won in 7.

There is one blessing in Tatum getting 60 and not 61, that is he now has to try to untie the record. My guess he does that sometime in the not too distant future.

[playa-hater]

tatum obviously wins it and nesmith gets the puff but i voted for tristan because he deserves a shout out. he was as intense as i've seen him in that second half. the great thing about tristan is, when things aren't going well, he gets angrier and plays harder, but still within himself. the kids need to learn from that. JB and smart play angrier and harder but they don't stay within themselves, instead try to force the issue. it's a good lesson for our young team to watch tristan's energy and focus when the chips are down.

I love this part X million. I, to this day, play all out and angry. There is no difference between me and KG except for talent times a billion.

"Anger is a gift" when used appropriately

[playa-hater]

Lost in the Tatum/Nesmith show last night was Fournier was starting to come around with his play and shot. So important to get Fournier back to strength and playing well before the playoffs.

Having Fournier and Nesmith as wings coming off the bench in the playoffs gives me great hope

WINGS WINGS WINGS.. my favorite and most needed position in today's NA a far as I am concerned.

[playa-hater]

Like Hal said above, Scal really thought this game was there for the taking even when we were down 20+.

I know he puts off some people, but I love Scal, and he can read a game at an elite level.

I don't know how some people have a problem with Scal TBH.

[Feed Your Head]

This will make some of the nervous nellies happy.

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[playa-hater]

Celtics.won when they decided to go witht the Smart Nesmith backcourt which really improved their defense which was a sieve in the first hopefully they go to that more

I mentioned this is the other thread. That is insane all out "Kamikaze" defensive backcourt. One reason I want this more going forward.

[Kids Are Alright]

I can’t give Tremont a cigar or anything, but I think Smart watched him put his foot on the gas when we were sucking and came out with the same mindset and initiated the comeback with that A plus effort on both sides of the ball.
Tremont almost deserves a cigar for 100% three shooting (1/1) and a “T”.

[31to6]

This will make some of the nervous nellies happy.

Read on Twitter

?s=20

I’m nervous that Mike doesn’t know how to spell Tatum’s first name. **** HATES the guy it’s over!!

[Kids Are Alright]

Tatum>>Nesmith=T squared>Smart for D

[Feed Your Head]

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[Half-Full]

I can’t give Tremont a cigar or anything, but I think Smart watched him put his foot on the gas when we were sucking and came out with the same mindset and initiated the comeback with that A plus effort on both sides of the ball.
Tremont almost deserves a cigar for 100% three shooting (1/1) and a “T”.

I really like the kid. He has responded well (for the most part) when called upon. I don't know what plans the Celtics have for him, but I would like to see him stay.

[Taget]

Not even 70? Tatum is a slacker.

[VeryMuchWoke]

A 38% usage with 0 turnovers in over 40 minutes is impressive in itself. Never mind the 60 and his defense, Scal was in awe in the postgame.

Read on Twitter

?s=20

Melo had 62 points but 0 assists.
Klay had 60 points but just 1assist.

60 points, 5 assists and 0 turnovers is absolutely insane.

[soxfan2003]

Great game by Tatum and nice to see Nesmith do really well again.

With regards to Tatum my opinion of his upside still hasn't really changed much since the NBA draft. (My opinion of the league has changed a bit.) The league is drastically changed since the 1990's. Players barely above scrub level now drop 40 without it being news. I remember when Acie Earl dropped 40 in the mid 90's and everyone was making a big deal out of it even though they knew he was unlikely to ever repeat it. If the equivalent wing does that today, no one really notices. What impressed me more than the points is the getting a bunch of points and ending up with zero turnovers.

Short to long term, games like this do help out Tatum if the game doesn't go to his head too much. Refs more likely to treat him like a major star and get a few more 50/50 calls when they count in the playoffs. Perhaps, more importantly if the Celtics ever prioritized getting cap room 2-3 years from now, maybe a major FA signs with them. For the Celtics, Tatum is a bit better of a pitch guy than IT and Tom Brady. He probably needs to have a reputation as a good defender/passer to be a super strong drawing card. I am hoping for a big much better than Bradley Beal.

13 of the 78 60 point games in NBA history have been in the last 5 years. I believe all by guards or wings.

Only 5 games of 60+ points in the entire 90's and some of those by bigs to go along Jordan. I wasn't a fan of 90's basketball overall but the league would probably be at its best trying to combine the way the game is played today with the 80's/90's and that can't take place without somehow devaluing the 3.

Much easier for wings to put up numbers because of the influence of the rule changes and every team hoisting up 3's.

[31to6]

I think the most exciting thing is that you can imagine Tatum doing that it the playoffs as well.

He and JB definitely have a Bird/McHale scoring duo thing going on this season. Since the rest of our roster blows chunks*, they could keep it going when it counts.

*not you, Rob Williams, Smart, and Nesmith

my feelings are hurt you did not include PP.

My fault. Big fan of 8 mile. Least daunted unexpectedly good rookie guard since Dee Brown. Game wise, he reminds me of Hayward, the way he patiently gets where he wants and decelerates at the rim to good effect.

[AKFO]

Like Hal said above, Scal really thought this game was there for the taking even when we were down 20+.

I know he puts off some people, but I love Scal, and he can read a game at an elite level.

I don't know how some people have a problem with Scal TBH.

People can't get over that he acts like an NBA player and not some teddy bear meme that we treated him as when he was in the NBA. He's definitely 90th%ile+ among color commentators when it comes to actual basketball-related analysis and "reading the game," but a crazy amount of C's fans can't appreciate that and want him gone because he poked fun at Kyle Draper a couple times.