EC FINALS, Gm 1 – Pacers @ Celtics – 8:00PM, Tues, May 21, 2024

[Fierce1]

To be fair, that Nembhard 3 near halfcourt in Game 3 was just a lucky shot.

Pacers had no shot if they lost that Game 3.

Sometimes that's just how it is in the NBA.

[Fierce1]

Jay King: Jrue Holiday said Joe Mazzulla coaches with “controlled madness.” Said he brings a spark and some “weird energy.” Holiday has used the term craziness to describe some of Mazzulla’s coaching. Why? “Because he’s crazy,” Holiday said. 12 hours ago – via Twitter ByJayKing
https://hoopshype.com/team/boston-celtics/

[Sweet Serenity]

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Stunned that this isn’t the main headline leading into this series.

[flintsky21]

I don't usually root for the Celtics, but I hope you beat the Pacers by 40 pts, every game. Easy 4-0 victory. Pacers deserve some Ls after playing two injury riddled teams to get this far.

We'll take it. And your team played with so much heart and grit despite the circumstances. Nothing to be ashamed of.

[Fierce1]

If Joe is stubborn, Thibs is worse.

Running the starters to the ground really cost NY the series.

[zoyathedestroya]

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[BK_2020]

Nesmith is chomping at the bit. Hope the Celtics can end it in 5.

I’m not worried about Nesmith but also don’t want to see him for any longer than is absolutely necessary. Like damn kid, get over it.

Dumbest chip on the shoulder we ever scene. Celtics developed him, and then traded him to a place where he got a chance to show his skills.

Boston fans loved the player for his hustle, and he needed to go somewhere and play basketball. Turned out great for him.

Strus is worse imo. Bro got cut in the training camp or something.

[Fierce1]

Cs picked Javonte over Strus.

[jonige94]

Gonna be a way tougher series than people anticipate, the Pacers are deep, and their offense is really good, everyone is moving, a lot of actions which are tough to guard.

We're gonna need Porzingis.

[Fierce1]

Gonna be a way tougher series than people anticipate, the Pacers are deep, and their offense is really good, everyone is moving, a lot of actions which are tough to guard.

We're gonna need Porzingis.

A tougher series only helps the Cs for the next level.

But if the Cs are locked in from the start, this will be over in 4 games and KP might only play in one of the 4 games.

[shi-woo]

I think C's win, but i'm more interested in seeing what happens with KRistaps. There's a part of me that hopes he never really had a serious injury, and C's were just resting him once it became apparent MIA, MIL, NY, and PHI weren't at 100%.

He needs to get a few games under his belt before the finals, assuming we make it. The last thing I want is to have a Jameer Nelson type of situation were an All-Star level player comes back after a long layoffs in the finals, and just costs his team the series because they aren't ready mentally, or the team has a rough time conexisting after playing so long without them.

Really hope we've just been super cautious with him, and he's good to go for the last few games of this series.

Experience is everything in the playoffs, and I like this group to finally put it all together this round. If/when they lose a game, I think it will light a fire, this team doesn't want to go out like that again in the ECF. I expect the nerves of the moment show at times for both teams, but Hali, Nesmith, and that young bench of theirs might show it more.

I think Turner is low key their X-Factor. If he's banging 3's on offense and raising hell as a shot blocker on defense that would be trouble.

I think Celtics take this in 5, 6 if Pascal and Turner are on one game

[Luv those Knicks]

I don't usually root for the Celtics, but I hope you beat the Pacers by 40 pts, every game. Easy 4-0 victory. Pacers deserve some Ls after playing two injury riddled teams to get this far.

We'll take it. And your team played with so much heart and grit despite the circumstances. Nothing to be ashamed of.

I get that. Knicks played hard and played hurt. It still hurts to be up 3-2 and lose 4-3. Fans are disappointed, even if we didn't expect to win the ECF, we wanted to get there.

But, wow are we banged up. It's crazy.

[zoyathedestroya]

I don’t care if it takes 8 games, but the Celtics have to win this series and make the Finals. Disappointment is too weak a word to describe the feeling of fans (yes, I have talked to ALL of them) if we fail to do so.

[tfribs45]

C's in 5 maybe 6, look at the regular season game against these guys.... Your kidding yourselves if you think this is a sweeeeeeeep. Maybe a gentlemen's sweep if the J's go off! LFG C's it's our time!!!!!

[London2Boston]

I can see them have a couple games where they absolutely explode. They definitely have that in them. Fortunately they give up a lot of points too.

Official prediction for me is we inevitably drop a home game of the first two. Split in Indy and then win back to back to win in 6.

[Froob]

Have to be locked in on defense. No falling asleep off ball.

[fallguy]

Have to be locked in on defense. No falling asleep off ball.

We're also going to torture Halliburton on D.

[shackles10]

I'm going to need the Celtics to take care of business at home for once so these ticket prices in Indy can go down. Worked in 2019 when we swept, but I'm not trying to spend $1,000+ for my oldest son and I to barely sit in lower level.

[lon3lytoaster]

Have to be locked in on defense. No falling asleep off ball.

We're also going to torture Halliburton on D.

If they even come close to what they did to Herro, he’ll be posted every possession.

Siakam is a positive defensively, but I actually don’t hate the Al/Turner matchup. He’ll be drawn out of the paint and isn’t great at moving off of close outs to attack the rim.

Most worried about KP maybe/probably coming back. Re-integrating a key role player and starter this late is a little scary, could cause a loss or two if we’re not careful.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

I think Boston is the better team but Indy can score. Even this late into the season Boston continues to take quarters or entire games off. Fully expect indy to take one of the first 2 game as the celtics will inevitably miss 75% of the threes they take either game 1 or 2.

Also not expecting KP back for this series either.