Rollercoaster Celts Grind to a Halt :( ECF Game 7 Loss vs MIA 5/29 (MIA wins 4-3)

[CelticsPride18]

I still can’t get over the fact that a team who had a waived two-way guy from two years ago as their best player beat us in the ECF. We have been consistently told that top talent wins in the NBA.

Lol I was mad we were going to keep Struss over Tacko.

I'll always believe we win if Tatum doesn't get injured, doesn't even have to be true. Hopefully Panthers and Heat both have crushing Final losses.

I think they honestly came out pretty well, the first few minutes. They just could not survive Tatum being so passive and uninvolved and letting Jaylen and Marcus try to make plays after a few minutes.

Shame. He clearly didn’t want to be out there on that ankle and just vanished for large parts of the game.

Tatum could barely move after the ankle sprain.

[Froob]

How the hell is it possible to out choke the Bruins? How?

Bruins was worse for sure lol. They were up with like ten seconds to go in game 7 and ended up in OT.

The Bruins were worse because they were more competitive?

The bruins got their ass kicked in that game and battles back in the third which is way more than you can say about the Celtics.

Not to mention hockey is a different breed, a hot goalie goes a long way and it happens every playoff regardless of seeding.

Celtics went down 3-0 to the worst offense in the NBA....

Bruins had the best record in NHL history and were up 3-1.

[The Corey's]

Bruins was worse for sure lol. They were up with like ten seconds to go in game 7 and ended up in OT.

The Bruins were worse because they were more competitive?

The bruins got their ass kicked in that game and battles back in the third which is way more than you can say about the Celtics.

Not to mention hockey is a different breed, a hot goalie goes a long way and it happens every playoff regardless of seeding.

Celtics went down 3-0 to the worst offense in the NBA....

Bruins had the best record in NHL history and were up 3-1.

Those weren't your original points.

Either way. The Celtics were way less competitive.

[BK_2020]

I know I was emotional last night saying this team needs to move on from Brown and they're not going to win anything with him.(which I still believe)

I'm not sure Boston has much choice but to pay him unless they want to be the seventh seed every year. I'm sure the organization would rather be in the contention conversation with brown than without him.

Boston was +4.6 with Jaylen Brown on the floor and +10.7 with him off.
With both Jaylen and Tatum off, they were +3.7, albeit in a small sample of 723 minutes.
Jaylen on, Tatum off, they were +3.4.
I think we could straight up replace Jaylen Brown with a replacement level guy and still be in the top 4. Pretty easily, actually.
Replacing him with someone like Lauri or Simons, let alone a Siakam or a Trae Young, may improve our net rating.

[NYCelticsfan136]

Still disgusted. You even had a benchwarmer taunting Celtics fan. Embarrassing performance at home.

[ryan in Maine]

Read on Twitter

The Comedian, me, and others have had the same stance since the beginning. He shouldn’t have the ball all that much. Not all his fault since Tatum got injured, but last night his usage was 34.8%. Next highest was White at 22.4%. High usage JB was never the answer esp against tougher, smarter defenses. JB has had more freedom under Joe to do whatever. Brogdon, who was supposed to take on some of the playmaking burden, being injured also didn’t help our cause.

I don't mind high usage so much as high dribblage/holdage. If you can't tighten up your handle, if you can't strengthen your decision-making like a muscle, if you can't even reliably bring the ball up the court -- you're a finisher by default. Some of the best offensive players in league history were finishers. No shame in that game.

[lon3lytoaster]

This team needs a penetrating guard.

A Garland, Fox, Morant, Brunson type of guard that forces defenses to collapse.

Honestly, no one this team can do that, and no one has been able to since Kyrie. And I know Kyrie went crazy, but that first season he was here he was a KEY part in this team that went to game 7 in the ECFs.


That is what is needed, penetration.

Tatum is ok
White is ok
Smart is OK
Brogdon is ok

Brown is horrible

Horford cant


That is the #1 problem outside of coaching being D2 level.


We need THAT GUY.

You’re not wrong. Has been weird seeing these last couple teams without a high volume guard.

[BK_2020]

Read on Twitter

The Comedian, me, and others have had the same stance since the beginning. He shouldn’t have the ball all that much. Not all his fault since Tatum got injured, but last night his usage was 34.8%. Next highest was White at 22.4%. High usage JB was never the answer esp against tougher, smarter defenses. JB has had more freedom under Joe to do whatever. Brogdon, who was supposed to take on some of the playmaking burden, being injured also didn’t help our cause.

I don't mind high usage so much as high dribblage/holdage. If you can't tighten up your handle, if you can't strengthen your decision-making like a muscle, if you can't even reliably bring the ball up the court -- you're a finisher by default. Some of the best offensive players in league history were finishers. No shame in that game.

He's not good at being a "finisher."
He doesn't know how to move off ball, he's one of the worst I've ever seen at using screens. He can't sense what the defense is doing and cut the other way. Plus he can't square up and shoot off a stop and his shot release is slow. If he was an exclusively off-ball player, he would just be standing in a corner waiting for a catch and shoot or a close out.
Despite his flaws as an on-ball player, he would actually be worse if he was asked to play like Curry/Klay/Reggie Miller/Huerter/Ray Allen.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

I know I was emotional last night saying this team needs to move on from Brown and they're not going to win anything with him.(which I still believe)

I'm not sure Boston has much choice but to pay him unless they want to be the seventh seed every year. I'm sure the organization would rather be in the contention conversation with brown than without him.

Boston was +4.6 with Jaylen Brown on the floor and +10.7 with him off.
With both Jaylen and Tatum off, they were +3.7, albeit in a small sample of 723 minutes.
Jaylen on, Tatum off, they were +3.4.
I think we could straight up replace Jaylen Brown with a replacement level guy and still be in the top 4. Pretty easily, actually.
Replacing him with someone like Lauri or Simons, let alone a Siakam or a Trae Young, may improve our net rating.

Yeah but he's not easily moved because he's in a contract year. I don't think teams are going to give up any real assets to get him when he can just walk away at the end of the season.

[JTfor3]

I knew it was over when JT hurt his ankle. Brutal way to go out after winning 3 in a row. Would’ve preferred to lose in Game 6 over last nights **** show. I don’t think Marcus Smart is it long term. They need a legit PG to set up the offense and not have bone headed home run turnovers, time after time. JB will be resigned but he has to do some soul searching and for gods sake work on your **** handle. Enough of these stupid pool workouts. AL flamed out these playoffs, I thought Rob was ok. But long term we need to find a reliable big man for the future or at least a 3rd big to give us 10 minutes a game. I would like to resign Grant, PP can leave he will never get enough minutes here. Brogdon getting hurt after being healthy all year was a kill shot.

Front office has to see what they can get for JB. But like some have said here it would have to be another star. I don’t want role players for a 2nd team All NBA player. Even tho JB was horrible he’s still a top 15 player when healthy. He’s not a 1A player tho.

Can’t believe Caleb Martin outplayed everyone on our team besides Tatum. Tatum was bad in those first 3 4th quarters of this series. Still thinking about that d-bag Duncan Robinson mocking us in the 4th while up 20. If Herro was healthy he would have never seen the floor. Oh well I hope Denver crushes them.

[meatball sub]

Maybe smart is the real problem. We don’t have a **** point guard who can set other guys up and run an offense.

None of these guys make each other better. Get a real **** point guard

[BigTrade92]

Lmao what a joke…the fake 0-3 comeback was nothing short of a disaster.

All they did was give this inept ownership an out as for why Mazzulla is brought back. They would’ve been better off getting swept!

Nothing changed besides knowing for an absolute fact now that Jaylen Brown is a mental midget who will fail spectacularly as a number one option. If this guy wants out, oblige him and get some talent in here with actual stones.

Big changes need to happen. This franchise has turned into a laughing stock and now instead of titles, they give us yearly playoff choke jobs as a tradition for the last 15 years and counting…

[BRUNiNHO91]

Maybe smart is the real problem. We don’t have a **** point guard who can set other guys up and run an offense.

None of these guys make each other better. Get a real **** point guard

People talk a lot about Jaylen but I’m also looking at Smart and Brogdon here. Brogdon’s value is at an all time high and he can probably net us a pretty decent big.

[ThePigeon]

I know I was emotional last night saying this team needs to move on from Brown and they're not going to win anything with him.(which I still believe)

I'm not sure Boston has much choice but to pay him unless they want to be the seventh seed every year. I'm sure the organization would rather be in the contention conversation with brown than without him.

He will work on his dribble in the pool workout in the summer
Also on his feel for the game

I don't think that Brow or Smart are the problem
Problem is philosophy and coaching
Play to the strength of the players you have. Don't force them to commit to a style of play which exposes their weaknesses

[CelticsPride18]

Maybe smart is the real problem. We don’t have a **** point guard who can set other guys up and run an offense.

None of these guys make each other better. Get a real **** point guard

People talk a lot about Jaylen but I’m also looking at Smart and Brogdon here. Brogdon’s value is at an all time high and he can probably net us a pretty decent big.

Smart saved the season twice Game 6 at Philly and Game 6 at Miami. He sucked last night but his usage wasn’t that high. Brown was just destructive the whole night.

[BK_2020]

I know I was emotional last night saying this team needs to move on from Brown and they're not going to win anything with him.(which I still believe)

I'm not sure Boston has much choice but to pay him unless they want to be the seventh seed every year. I'm sure the organization would rather be in the contention conversation with brown than without him.

He will work on his dribble in the pool workout in the summer
Also on his feel for the game

I don't think that Brow or Smart are the problem
Problem is philosophy and coaching
Play to the strength of the players you have. Don't force them to commit to a style of play which exposes their weaknesses

What exactly do you think is the strength of our players? Jaylen Brown already jacks up a million midrange shots. That's all he does. Smart's best offensive skill is three point shooting. He's not good at it but he's worse at everything else. Horford can't score inside anymore. Rob is already asked to score on put backs and dunks exclusively.

[Fantaxp7]

I am still in awe that Tatum got inured within 30 seconds. Screw Van Gundy for saying we don't get to complain about that because of Tyler Herro...which one of them were in the MVP race again Van Gundy? What an absolute joke of a comment in that moment...

[GrandTheftRondo]

Reality is the offence was awful all series for a number of reasons.

Brown was horrific. There were none of his usual momentum shifting threes he tends to hit early in games or at key moments. It led him to pressing even worse than last year and Miami just pounced on it.

Tatum was never in a proper flow and couldn’t buy a three all series. He had some solid games but other than the first half of game 6, nothing came easy.

Horford was brutal compared to last ECF. Seemed like he lost all confidence in his 3. Then led to some shocking indecision in the paint and mid range area which allowed the zone to work.

Lastly the lack of Brogdon just allowed Miami to relax knowing they didn’t have to worry about his penetration.

I agree some of the 3 jacking was straight up awful and dumb basketball. No different to last year.

However, we genuinely had some great looks particularly in the earlier games and they didn’t fall. It makes it very easy for the defence in todays NBA when shots don’t fall. A few Tatum and Brown threes fall and suddenly the paint becomes much easier to get into. Al can penetrate with pump fakes.

There was just nothing because the team just shot like complete dog ****. Miami meanwhile continually made shots, and in particular tough shots when needed.

[GrandTheftRondo]

I am still in awe that Tatum got inured within 30 seconds. Screw Van Gundy for saying we don't get to complain about that because of Tyler Herro...which one of them were in the MVP race again Van Gundy? What an absolute joke of a comment in that moment...

The bozo just ignored that our sixth man of the year was a complete non factor all series because of an injury too

[Tyakack]

Maybe smart is the real problem. We don’t have a **** point guard who can set other guys up and run an offense.

None of these guys make each other better. Get a real **** point guard

People talk a lot about Jaylen but I’m also looking at Smart and Brogdon here. Brogdon’s value is at an all time high and he can probably net us a pretty decent big.

Agreed, you have different people that look at Jaylen or Smart. I'm looking at both. I want them both gone. Only for the right pieces though. I don't want them gone just for the sake of them being gone.

Alot of people on here have agendas and binkies. I have none of that. I just want what's best for the team and I want to win a f***** title. I have said that I think the makeup of this team needs to change. I think trading 2 of the core will go a long way in doing that.

I know we can win without brown and smart if we replace them with the right pieces and I also know these 2 are a huge reason we never go all the way and why we play the way we do.

They will win you alot of games but they are far too often the reason we lose alot of very important games that prevent a title from happening.