Celts Build Brick Wall, Put Their Backs Against It! G5 Loss vs PHI 5/9 (PHI leads 3-2)

[Fantaxp7]

While just about everyone stunk it up one that just popped into my head...Grant Williams checking in an committing two STUPID fouls in a row...giving Embiid zero space he obviously draws contact then the stupid attempt at swatting at the ball. That sorta compounded things in my head...I think Horford had just checked out who had been bad but then Grant comes in and looks like an idiot.

[MagicBagley18]

To me this is all about defense….we are the 10th ranked playoff team in defense I believe-if you can’t get stops you can’t get out in transition and run on them.

The offense will come and go but the defense has to always be there and it hasn’t at all. Just a joke really

As soon as I'm ready to blame the offense I see a stat like that one showing us at 10th and I'm ready to blame the defense again. Sad really a case could be made for both and just shows we really aren't playing well on either side in these losses.

It’s hard to pin point because you are absolutely right- the offense looks downright ugly at times but I just always believe if you get stops that’ll get easy baskets which can get guys into rhythm….

[chrisab123]

I wonder if Philly’s energy won’t be right in Game 6 when they come out? Probably not because they aren’t a bunch of Divas who think they are better than they are.

The hope for the Celtics is that Philly remembers its the playoffs and reverts back to the NBA equivalent of the Boston Bruins.

[MagicBagley18]

To be clear I still think we can win this series and achieve all our goals but what I miss most about this team is the identity…last year you knew if you played us you were gonna get pushed around and it was gonna be a scrap.

Duplicating last years defense which was like historically good wasn’t gonna happen- but I figured there would be some resemblance of it and while the defensive stats show very good numbers for the regular season- I never felt like we got into guys and made them feel us consistently this season.

You do see flashes, the end of the hawks game, the 4th quarter of game 4 to take the lead back from Philly but it’s not there nearly enough.

I’m not one of these guys who doesn’t accept the league is changing and you need to shoot 3s but they’ve really just become way tied into their %s from 3 and how it correlates to winning or losing.

[Celts17Pride]

To me this is all about defense….we are the 10th ranked playoff team in defense I believe-if you can’t get stops you can’t get out in transition and run on them.

The offense will come and go but the defense has to always be there and it hasn’t at all. Just a joke really

As soon as I'm ready to blame the offense I see a stat like that one showing us at 10th and I'm ready to blame the defense again. Sad really a case could be made for both and just shows we really aren't playing well on either side in these losses.

It’s hard to pin point because you are absolutely right- the offense looks downright ugly at times but I just always believe if you get stops that’ll get easy baskets which can get guys into rhythm….

Agree 100%. Celtics made the Finals last year in large part because their defense could gets stops. This year not so much.

[bobbutts]

Am I crazy to be upset that Muscala and or Blake didn't get a chance before garbage time? I'd choose Al and Rob if everyone is healthy and right but those guys have not been. Muscala brings some range shooting and Blake hustle and experience. I get playing the best 8 or 9 in the playoffs but when the team looks like it did yesterday I'd personally bend that rule.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

Last year when we lost to the Bucks game 5 at least we played good and had an elite defense. There was hope of stealing game 6. Last night we got blown out. Yes when a team is up 12-14 points the entire game it’s a blowout. Losing a game without Embiid, no urgency, no defense. This series is over. You are not overcoming these bad habits.

This team just isn't built the same as last year's team. Despite Boston winning against Atlanta that first round should have been a concern. Last year's team would have swept Atlanta.

[Celts17Pride]

Celtics guards are not keeping Philly guards out of the paint, Horford is old and Rob Williams is invisible. Not a great combination.

[Fantaxp7]

Celtics guards are not keeping Philly guards out of the paint, Horford is old and Rob Williams is invisible. Not a great combination.

There were a ton of bad "ole" style defense last night where Maxey and Harden ended up getting easy shots or layups.

[Celts17Pride]

from Brian Windhorst:

This year's Celtics have different priorities, much of it coming from the styles of their coaches.

Last season, Ime Udoka generally focused on defense first and made lineup and strategy decisions to back it up. For example, Udoka often played defensive specialist big men Al Horford and Robert Williams III together. Horford is a strong on-ball big man defender. Williams is one of the best weakside shot-blockers the league has seen in the past decade and is especially dangerous when he is allowed to roam free as a safety-style protector.

Celtics first-year coach Joe Mazzulla was on Udoka's coaching staff, but Mazzulla has a different view. He tends to focus on offense and makes decisions that lean that way. For example, the Robert Williams-Horford pairing is largely a thing of the past and hasn't been seen against Joel Embiid and the 76ers.

But the Celtics rank 10th among playoff teams in defense this year, a big drop from last season.


That pretty much sums things up.

[return2glory]

I just want to say, I think we all agree this core is mentally weak. Down 3-2, put on your big boy pants and win 2. That’s not a high bar, teams do it all the time. It’s just about refusing to quit. I’d love to see it from our guys, and shorten what is sure to be a long offseason…

Sorry this makes no sense, at all.

You got the first part right in saying this core is mentally weak. Knowing that, you can stop right there.

Expecting a mentally weak team to not quit and win the next 2, then if they could pull that off they wouldn't be a mentally weak team. It's like betting on a horse with a bad leg to win the big race.

We have a mentally weak team with a rookie coach who is in over his head. Let's see them for who they are and stop expecting much from them.

This team had their shots to win the series but blew games 1 and 4. This series is over/season is over.
This isn't the Charlotte Hornets were are playing against. They can't protect home court. I would love them to surprise us,
but I'm not counting on it.

[return2glory]

from Brian Windhorst:

This year's Celtics have different priorities, much of it coming from the styles of their coaches.

Last season, Ime Udoka generally focused on defense first and made lineup and strategy decisions to back it up. For example, Udoka often played defensive specialist big men Al Horford and Robert Williams III together. Horford is a strong on-ball big man defender. Williams is one of the best weakside shot-blockers the league has seen in the past decade and is especially dangerous when he is allowed to roam free as a safety-style protector.

Celtics first-year coach Joe Mazzulla was on Udoka's coaching staff, but Mazzulla has a different view. He tends to focus on offense and makes decisions that lean that way. For example, the Robert Williams-Horford pairing is largely a thing of the past and hasn't been seen against Joel Embiid and the 76ers.

But the Celtics rank 10th among playoff teams in defense this year, a big drop from last season.


That pretty much sums things up.

This is garbage: "Williams is one of the best weakside shot-blockers the league has seen in the past decade."

The above statement applies prior to this year. Rob has taken steps back, not a step but steps. He isn't the same high flier has he used to be. He has become a layoff master instead of a high flying, head near the rim dunker.

Ask yourself this. Who watches more Celtics games, you for Windhorst? Who knows more about this years team, you or Windhorst?
Who follows the Celtics team more, game in and game out, you or Brian Windhorst?
I'm guessing it's you.

Any Celtics fan closely following this team, this year knows Rob isn't the same guy.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

I said before this series started that Boston absolutely has to play better than they did against Atlanta. That simply hasn't been the case they're either playing the same as they did against Atlanta or worse.

The reality is all the **** they got away with against Atlanta they simply can't get away with it against Philly and that's why they're on the brink of elimination.

[keevsnick1]

I'm just not sure how to view this team.

Its worth noting they were in this exact situation last year, lost game 5 at home to the Bucks to go down 3-2 before winning game 6 and 7. I honestly don't remember, but was the board this mad at that time?

My main issue with the team right now is the defense just seems sort of soft. They don't force ANY turnovers, I think they were dead last in that this year. Not turning the ball over leaves you vulnerable to hot shooting games because it makes it relaly hard to win the possession battle.

I wish they had last years pressure swarming defense. If i have any issue with mazzula its he plays the defense too conservatively.

Also, I really wish they could re-balance their offense. Tatum taking 25+ shots is fine, Jaylen needs to be up 20+ every game and hasn't cracked that mark once this series. Less Smart as well please.

[keevsnick1]

from Brian Windhorst:

This year's Celtics have different priorities, much of it coming from the styles of their coaches.

Last season, Ime Udoka generally focused on defense first and made lineup and strategy decisions to back it up. For example, Udoka often played defensive specialist big men Al Horford and Robert Williams III together. Horford is a strong on-ball big man defender. Williams is one of the best weakside shot-blockers the league has seen in the past decade and is especially dangerous when he is allowed to roam free as a safety-style protector.

Celtics first-year coach Joe Mazzulla was on Udoka's coaching staff, but Mazzulla has a different view. He tends to focus on offense and makes decisions that lean that way. For example, the Robert Williams-Horford pairing is largely a thing of the past and hasn't been seen against Joel Embiid and the 76ers.

But the Celtics rank 10th among playoff teams in defense this year, a big drop from last season.


That pretty much sums things up.

This is garbage: "Williams is one of the best weakside shot-blockers the league has seen in the past decade."

The above statement applies prior to this year. Rob has taken steps back, not a step but steps. He isn't the same high flier has he used to be. He has become a layoff master instead of a high flying, head near the rim dunker.

Ask yourself this. Who watches more Celtics games, you for Windhorst? Who knows more about this years team, you or Windhorst?
Who follows the Celtics team more, game in and game out, you or Brian Windhorst?
I'm guessing it's you.

Any Celtics fan closely following this team, this year knows Rob isn't the same guy.

Not only that, but even if he was this isn't a great match up for him. He can't guard Embiid, he just stands no chance, fouls to much, ect. Then when he's in there on offense he gives Embiid a guy to guard down low and allows Embiid to camp in the paint which kills Boston's spacing. The offense works must better when Embiid is getting pulled out of the paint by Grant/Al at the five.

[Red2]

Joe killed this team’s shot at a title. Under him Grant, Rob and Pritchard have all bern buried. He’s gotten better on TO’s but knows nothing about ATO’s which is shocking for a guy who talks exclusively about offense. He’s demonstrated that he is the wrong coach for this team and has to go. Whatever magic we had last year is gone

[fallguy]

Joe killed this team’s shot at a title. Under him Grant, Rob and Pritchard have all bern buried. He’s gotten better on TO’s but knows nothing about ATO’s which is shocking for a guy who talks exclusively about offense. He’s demonstrated that he is the wrong coach for this team and has to go. Whatever magic we had last year is gone

Not convinced Joe knows much about offense beyond his three-point obsession.

Would anyone here identify him as an offensive savant?

[Feed Your Head]

Defense is 100000% the issue.

[Red2]

I dont live in boston so am curious if brad ever talks to the media? He’s stripped us of first round picks and gave us a crap bench. Or it might be an ok bench but the guy he picked to be the coach doesnt play them. His big deadline move was muscala who doesnt even play. And he rolled the dice on an old al horford who couldnt play back to back and a coddled, often injured rob williams. Why bother getting brogdon if you werent going to add a decent big? Brad might need to go as well

[fallguy]

I dont live in boston so am curious if brad ever talks to the media? He’s stripped us of first round picks and gave us a crap bench. Or it might be an ok bench but the guy he picked to be the coach doesnt play them. His big deadline move was muscala who doesnt even play. And he rolled the dice on an old al horford who couldnt play back to back and a coddled, often injured rob williams. Why bother getting brogdon if you werent going to add a decent big? Brad might need to go as well

I have no real issues with this roster, at least for this season. I wanted a starting quality big at the deadline but whatever.

I do think Brad blew the coaching issue on about four fronts this season. He's really saddled us with a problem.