Game Thread – Celtics @ Thunder – 8:00PM, Tues, Jan. 2, 2024

[fallguy]

Hope we win, but mostly hope we play smart, especially in crunch time.

Crunch time has sadly been our bane. I feel as if in crunch time, ball should be in Drew or White's hands. Cause they make the best decisions. Brown and Tatum go full ISO way too often.

I find myself hoping for close games these days. Want to see Jaylen under ball pressure. Want to see what they run (or if they run anything). Defense will lock down in the playoffs. The crunch time offense remains the big question.

But yeah, I'd have White run the show.

[steefP2]

I know Okc has a ton of owed picks, but are there any of those that are actually really good? I mean, outside of late lotto kind of good?

Not really. They are either protected until late lotto or belong to teams that while not championship contenders won't really be early lottery pick odds teams, like the Philly 2026 pick or the Clippers 2025 and 2027 swaps.
Maybe the Clippers 2027 swap will be good but the chances of any team hitting on these unprotected picks like the Celtics did is low.

Yeah that was my thought. I suppose it's possible you hit big with so many swaps etc. but does that really transfer if you send 2-3 over to another team.

Overall seems like a team that's due for a bit of an offensive regression imo, some of the shooting %s don't seem super sustainable.

Yeah I think they’re really really good but the 3 point shooting will come down. I would expect them to win around 55 wins. Their main weakness has been rebounding, both offensively or defensively but the shooting has carried that offense in the meantime.

[ConstableGeneva]

Read on Twitter

Tatum was nominated for East PotW. My boy Haliburton won it.

[Ben-N1ce]

Looking forward to this one. I love OKC's roster. Very talented if they keep the right pieces they can be good for a long time.

[bigfoot_cryptozoology]

General Board dissing the Celts as usual with most picking OKC to win....
and I think a lot of this comes down to Tatum - they expect him to be outplayed by Shai....

[TheMartian]

Not to be a Debbie Downer, but I'm still waiting to see the consistency in this team's play for me to be as confident as some of you are. We could see a repeat of the Raptors game where the team comes out flat again. Hopefully if they do, they stage another comeback just like that game.

[TheMartian]

General Board dissing the Celts as usual with most picking OKC to win....
and I think a lot of this comes down to Tatum - they expect him to be outplayed by Shai....

Big test for JT today. I'm sure he's hearing all the noise about SGA surpassing him in the MVP ladder. Curious to see how JT will respond to that but I sincerely hope it's not about the stats for him.

[Kalela]

I wouldn't be surprised if the Celtics lost tonight. This Thunder team is playing amazing basketball.

[bisme37]

Read on Twitter

[ConstableGeneva]

Friendly reminder that the Celtics are undefeated this season when they outscore the opponent by the time the final buzzer sounds. They do that again tonight, they can beat this OKC team!! Go Cs!!

[KillahGhostface]

Both teams probably looking at this as a statement type of game.

Should be really good.

[Celts17Pride]

This one should be fun! Let’s Go Celtics!!!

[Shak_Celts]

When you have a dream, you've got to grab it and never let go. Nothing is impossible. The word itself says 'I'm possible!’ There is nothing impossible for those who will try. Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. You define your own life. Don't let other people write your script. Do not allow people to dim your shine because they are blinded. Tell them to put some sunglasses on. During our darkest moments, we must focus to see the light. Believe you can and you're halfway there.


IT’S OUR TIME, BANNER 18 IS OURS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Bar Fight]

This game could go a long way for SGA's MVP case

[bisme37]

Enjoy the big game everyone!

Go C's let's get this win!!

[Triple M]

Did they say grace in okc, never seen that b4

[ConstableGeneva]

Did they say grace in okc, never seen that b4

Cs about to EAAAAAATTTTT!!

[PierceFan4ever]

Tatum playing like dog **** early

[playa-hater]

Every shot attempt for 0 k c is high quality so far..

[Fencer reregistered]

Did they say grace in okc, never seen that b4

Long ago, I was invited to somebody's home for dinner in Atlanta. I was told that the house custom was to hold hands around the table as grace was said.

I refrained from mentioning this was my first meal where grace had been said at all -- in my entire life.