Not So Cavalier Now Are You?!? NBA Cup Victory Cigar vs CLE 11/19

[He_Got_Game]

I didn't quite understand what happened in real time in that third quarter but this is one of the rare occasions where the box score reveals a lot. Basically our starters obliterated the Cavs starters and the Cavs bench obliterated our bench. Other than that, the Celtics controlled this game from start to finish. Cleveland is good but this Celtics team is something else.

[He_Got_Game]

Horford and White were the 2 best players tonight. Not particularly close either.

Huh? JT is really underappreciated on here. My God. They had absolutely no answer for him whatsoever.

[He_Got_Game]

Tatum is the second best player in the NBA. Offense, defense, special teams, who cares. He dominates every game.

Yessir

[reload141]

Yall made more threes, we were without 4 key rotation pieces, you were at home, ill take that. See you next week in Cleveland!

And we didn’t have KP.

Plus, you had Brothers and still didn’t win

[Fierce1]

Not one of JB's best games, but his 2 baskets down the stretch gave the Cs some breathing room.

[GreenBloodedC]

Tatum is the second best player in the NBA. Offense, defense, special teams, who cares. He dominates every game.

Yessir

Yes he is.

He is also coachable, and has a good work attitude. M

[Fierce1]

Just look at JT's face during games.

What I see is a guy totally not worried about anything.

JT's mental state right now is in a great place.

All the pressure was lifted when they got Banner 18.

The not too high, not too low mentality is working for JT.

[ConstableGeneva]

Defensive rating with Queta on the floor: 163.3
Defensive rating with Horford on the floor: 103.0

Pretty much confirms what we saw esp. in the 3rd Q comeback of the Cavs.

Tatum's on-off numbers dragged down by Pritchard and Queta in this game. Those two got hunted the most. Something for coaching staff to figure out moving forward (adjust scheme? play them less?).

[Fierce1]

Defensive rating with Queta on the floor: 163.3
Defensive rating with Horford on the floor: 103.0

Pretty much confirms what we saw esp. in the 3rd Q comeback of the Cavs.

Tatum's on-off numbers dragged down by Pritchard and Queta in this game. Those two got hunted the most. Something for coaching staff to figure out moving forward (adjust scheme? play them less?).

The Jays and White will play 40 minutes per game in the playoffs.

Q might not even play, if KP and Al are healthy.

And PP will have a short leash in the playoffs.

[ConstableGeneva]

Issue with the Cavs that still needs addressing... They're not the most effective when four of their best players share the floor together. In 187 minutes with DG-DM-EM-JA, they only have a net rating of 2.6. It's when they sprinkle in their bench players that they've dominated this season. That's less of a factor come playoff time when they have to face starter-heavy lineups.

It's worse for the Knicks 'cos they've been so so bad defensively with Towns as their defensive anchor. Net rating of -0.3 in 250 minutes of JB-MB-OA-KT.

Other teams try and replicate the starting five of the Celtics. Keep trying. Cs legitimately have 5 guys (6 with Horford) that are above average on both ends of the floor. DW-JH-JB-JT currently have a net rating of 19.2 in 176 minutes together. (Outside of PP and some stints with Q, Celtics bench admittedly weak this season compared to last).

[Deivork]

Agree with most on Horford and White being key last night, but JT is on an incredible level and keeps improving. Great win.

Don't know if it's been said, but even if some calls were wrong, the Cavs runs coincided with JT focused on complaining to the refs.

It's a shame because it seems that stars in the NBA are somehow rewarded for doing that, but I think he shouldn't do that. Brown pulling the same **** way too often too. I don't believe in "refs wanted the Cs to lose". Nope. You're simply not gonna get all the calls.

And then the team loses its focus. It's a trickle-down effect. I wish they would stop with that, but I guess it won't happen.

[Deivork]

Joe Mazzulla on keeping Neemias Queta in Q3:

“Some of the shots they hit were tough, some of the stuff we gave up, he’s gotta work on. But if we’re going to believe in our guys and get them to a level that they need to get to, those are things that you have to go through."

via Noa Dalzell

So he's still experimenting at the risk of a loss against the top seed in the conference. Not criticizing it, but talk about confidence.

Actually, given how long the RS is I kind of applaud it after the W. In the moment, I did not like it. Specially with Scal making it so obvious.

[ConstableGeneva]

Joe Mazzulla on keeping Neemias Queta in Q3:

“Some of the shots they hit were tough, some of the stuff we gave up, he’s gotta work on. But if we’re going to believe in our guys and get them to a level that they need to get to, those are things that you have to go through."

via Noa Dalzell

So he's still experimenting at the risk of a loss against the top seed in the conference. Not criticizing it, but talk about confidence.

Actually, given how long the RS is I kind of applaud it after the W. In the moment, I did not like it. Specially with Scal making it so obvious.

Didn't like it either lol. Joe with the longer view. He chalked up the Cavs run to "nature of the game", but it was clear we could've stopped the run if we wanted. Queta was doing so much damage (for us) in the 3rd on both ends that putting in Walsh for him might've gotten better results.

Hope this investment pays off. Hard balancing act for our Pyscho coach.

EDIT:
Celtics were up 16 when PP and Q came in for White and Horf w/ around 7 mins left in the 3rd. Lead was cut to 2 before that Tatum buzzer beater where he sent Niang to another planet on the stepback.

[tfribs45]

Yall made more threes, we were without 4 key rotation pieces, you were at home, ill take that. See you next week in Cleveland!

And we didn’t have KP.

Plus, you had Brothers and still didn’t win

Love how the Cavs fans have there mojo back..... If it wasn't for Tony Brothers blatant hate on the court and our third string CTR playing starter minutes this games a +20 loss. Queta was terrible and Joe almost blew it in the 3rd....Take the L and enjoy the regular season. Long wayyyy to go

[ConstableGeneva]

VC/CP:

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

Jayson Tatum is currently the only player with 50+ threes made and 100+ FTs made.
Al Horford is currently the only player averaging 25+ mpg shooting 50/40/90.

[ConstableGeneva]

Jays combined for 24 potential assists. Cs cashed in on 15 of them for 42 points. Keep this up please. Much more dangerous team when everybody eats.

JT and JB averaging 12.3 and 7.6 potential assists, respectively. Just five seasons ago, it was only at 5.5 and 4.1. Their growth as playmakers for others has been fun to watch.

[31to6]

I liked the part where the Celtics won the game.

Voted for the two All NBA wings. Jaylen for closing it late -- he made good decisions with the ball when the team needed a few more buckets to put it away. Tatum had defaulted down the stretch to 'step back 30 footer' mode, and thankfully the team was able to ice him out and actually generate some offense. Until that point, thought Tatum was really good on both ends of the floor so he gets a vote from me -- glad to see Big Al will be one of the winners tonight though, because normally I'd go there!

[jmr07019]

Queta was god awful last night. Won’t really need him once KP gets back but man was that disappointing. Will other teams copy Cleveland’s strategy of making him defend in space? Most likely. Queta will have to adjust.

[Fierce1]

Joe Mazzulla on keeping Neemias Queta in Q3:

“Some of the shots they hit were tough, some of the stuff we gave up, he’s gotta work on. But if we’re going to believe in our guys and get them to a level that they need to get to, those are things that you have to go through."

via Noa Dalzell

So he's still experimenting at the risk of a loss against the top seed in the conference. Not criticizing it, but talk about confidence.

Actually, given how long the RS is I kind of applaud it after the W. In the moment, I did not like it. Specially with Scal making it so obvious.

Confidence!

That's the magic word.

This bunch, including Joe, are not lacking in that department.

A lot of fans criticized the Cs for taking a lot of 3s last season.

Some even said the Cs are a one trick pony.

But Joe and the guys never wavered in their system and it resulted in a chip.

[phincsfan]

Defensive rating with Queta on the floor: 163.3
Defensive rating with Horford on the floor: 103.0

Pretty much confirms what we saw esp. in the 3rd Q comeback of the Cavs.

Tatum's on-off numbers dragged down by Pritchard and Queta in this game. Those two got hunted the most. Something for coaching staff to figure out moving forward (adjust scheme? play them less?).

The Jays and White will play 40 minutes per game in the playoffs.

Q might not even play, if KP and Al are healthy.

And PP will have a short leash in the playoffs.

Yup, Joe's playing the long game with Neems this season. I expect a even better version of Neems next season.