NBA PLAYOFFS: Rnd 1, Gm 3 – Celtics @ Magic – 7:00PM, Fri, April 25, 2025

[ConstableGeneva]

It must be demoralizing for the Magic to still lose to a team missing their MVP candidate and two more top players.

[Shak_Celts]

OK I now have more Fuel for the Fire, and I am about to Blow. What is my main Complaint during the regular season? The Short rotation Joe does. I say we need to have more players ready in cases just like this. It's already tough enough that 2 starters are suffering from injuries that are or can be related to wear and tear in Jrue - Hamstring and J Brown with "Knee issues" and now players like Queta-Scheierman-Craig may have to step up in a key/Big role. Those players were often ignored on DNP list and didn't gain any extra experience yet will now have to "step up" in a playoff game??

Losing game 3 to Orlando will only serve to give Life and Momentum to a team like Orlando. Then what?? it's an all-out game 4?? on the road? who knows what can happen there. We have seen how Butler and Ja can be totally killed on a "fluky-dirty play.

Whatever. Nothing can be done now. But shet can happen and you have to be better prepared.

Plenty of championship teams have had to rely on a player or two who rarely got on the floor during the regular season, that went out there and helped save or win a series. The 08 Celtics, the warriors when they beat us, and more. Your way is one way but not the only way. We picked up TC because he’s been there and done that. He’s going to come out fighting no matter the circumstances. We even gave Rico minutes at the end of the season.

Look at game 3 in the finals last season, X came in and gave an unexpected boost. The same guy we were begging Joe to play more after we picked him up. He didn’t play much but he was trusted to step in. We didn’t have injuries really, because KP had already missed all that time, it was pretty much our same rotation. Joe still trusted that he would do his job and he did just that.

Get out there and do your job! Everybody has practiced and tried to out duel our best players all season and last, they know how to play. This is the playoffs, go all out when your name is called! If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, that doesn’t mean your way would have.

Just last season Jalen Williams got minutes with OKC and got to the playoffs and disappeared. Played all he could handle but it didn’t matter when the playoffs rolled around. I’m sure if I wasn’t lazy, I could find more examples.

[cloverleaf]

It must be demoralizing for the Magic to still lose to a team missing their MVP candidate and two more top players.

They're missing two of their top players.

[cloverleaf]

It's tempting to have KP be the guy who plays with lots of reserves. E.g.

Porzingis
Kornet
Hauser
Pritchard
Scheierman or White

That lineup could be very successful at both ends of the floor.

Let's hope that doesn't end up as their starting lineup for game 2!

As I was saying...

I hope Al's good for his first alternating days game.

[fallguy]

A Pritch 25-spot would be nice tonight. Or maybe actually get Sam some looks.

[London2Boston]

If Orlando loses this game against 3 starters missing then they might as well transition into WWE.

[Fencer reregistered]

Now Jaylen is questionable too. What a mess of injuries at the worst possible time.

Round ONE, up 2-0, isn't quite the WORST possible time.

[strokerace]

Anything is possible and I will never count out our guys but if JB is a no show tonight without JT playing, we know we have a serious problem going forward here. Really hoping this is just some Mazzula mind games here.

[ConstableGeneva]

It must be demoralizing for the Magic to still lose to a team missing their MVP candidate and two more top players.

They're missing two of their top players.

...and?

[Scarletfire81]

Anything is possible and I will never count out our guys but if JB is a no show tonight without JT playing, we know we have a serious problem going forward here. Really hoping this is just some Mazzula mind games here.

Jaylen has been hurt for awhile. Yes it’s a problem but he has proven he can still play well despite it. It’s all about managing it. JT will be back but it’s unknown how it will affect him.

[Bill Lumbergh]

Anyone else surprised they scheduled a back to back in the freaking playoffs ?!? for Sunday and Monday, which includes travel? To me that seems really stupid of the NBA. Be better.

[ConstableGeneva]

KeithSmithNBA‬
‪
The Celtics have added Jaylen Brown to the injury report for Game 3. He's questionable with the same knee injury he's been managing.

Brown wasn't on the injury before Game 1 or Game 2.

Jrue Holiday is still questionable. Jayson Tatum is still doubtful.

Maybe the 42 minutes in Game 2 wasn't such a great idea for Jaylen Brown. Isn't that why you signed Torrey Craig?

I don't think playing 36 mins vs. 42 mins would've made much of a difference.

You know what would've if we're talking woulda, shoulda, coulda? Getting that injection early March and sitting him rest of the regular season.

[ConstableGeneva]

Anyone else surprised they scheduled a back to back in the freaking playoffs ?!? for Sunday and Monday, which includes travel? To me that seems really stupid of the NBA. Be better.

There are no back to backs in the playoffs.

[leper-con]

so does this mean the injection JB had isn't working?

[fallguy]

Now Jaylen is questionable too. What a mess of injuries at the worst possible time.

Round ONE, up 2-0, isn't quite the WORST possible time.

I appreciate your optimism!

[fallguy]

KeithSmithNBA‬
‪
The Celtics have added Jaylen Brown to the injury report for Game 3. He's questionable with the same knee injury he's been managing.

Brown wasn't on the injury before Game 1 or Game 2.

Jrue Holiday is still questionable. Jayson Tatum is still doubtful.

Maybe the 42 minutes in Game 2 wasn't such a great idea for Jaylen Brown. Isn't that why you signed Torrey Craig?

I don't think playing 36 mins vs. 42 mins would've made much of a difference.

You know what would've if we're talking woulda, shoulda, coulda? Getting that injection early March and sitting him rest of the regular season.

We're proooooobably ready to pivot to load managing our stars starting next year.

[Fencer reregistered]

Anyone else surprised they scheduled a back to back in the freaking playoffs ?!? for Sunday and Monday, which includes travel? To me that seems really stupid of the NBA. Be better.

It would be very surprising if true.

Fortunately, it's false.

Game 5, if necessary, will be on Tuesday.

[Fencer reregistered]

Now Jaylen is questionable too. What a mess of injuries at the worst possible time.

Round ONE, up 2-0, isn't quite the WORST possible time.

I appreciate your optimism!

Optimists believe we live in the best of all possible worlds.

Pessimists, on the other hand, believe we live in the best of all possible worlds.

[meatball sub]

Kinda crazy that we’re dealing with so many injuries at the worst possible time.

JT it must be a precaution and not trying to have him play until it’s absolutely necessary — but at that point we don’t even know how he’d perform when relying on him to help turn the series back around.


Need guys like Hauser to step up tonight — I wonder if they throw Baylor or Davison into the mix tonight to see if they provide a spark off the bench with JT & Jrue out

[ConstableGeneva]

To me, it's this simple -- if the Celtics don't win tonight, the series will be 2-1. If we do win, it will be 3-0.