2024 NBA Playoffs: East Semifinals: #1 Boston Celtics vs #4 Cleveland Cavaliers (BOS WINS 4-1)

[The Corey's]

I don't claim to know but people being dismissive about how impactful a fully healthy Cavs squad could be vs a Celtics squad without KP is wild to me.

If you have Mobley on Tatum and Wade on Brown, which allows Mitchell to be on White, then have Allen to help rebound and rotate... I'm not sure how anyone can argue it wouldn't produce a different result than last night's blowout.

Does it mean the Cavs are guaranteed to win? Obviously not but to think sliding in 2 good defenders with size to a line-up that can't get stops, makes little to no difference is "logic" i can't follow. Especially because it is not based on anything.

If neither team is healthy then isn't it a wash?

I am dismissive of the Cavs. They don't have the offense to hang.

No, it's not a wash lol there are clearly levels to this.

The Cavs are missing arguably their 2 best defenders. Causing tons of players to play outta position and give up height and/or size disadvantages.

Be dismissive all you want, it's not rooted in anything, because again, the Celtics have never faced a healthy Cavs team this season.

Here's a level. The Cavs aren't even half as good as the Celtics.

They were having winning the series and arguing wether it was 5 or 6 is moot cause Jarret Allen isn't making the difference.

I don't know why on one hand you're calling me dismissive while on the other dismissing the Celtics superiority because they haven't played the Cavs healthy.

82 games were played and we know what each team is.

[The Corey's]

The Celtics were one 4th quarter meltdown away from sweeping the Cavs in the regular season.

They have no chance to win more than a game with or without their full roster.

Yes, because nothing unpredictable has ever happened in the game of basketball before.

It would of been a miracle and one of the biggest upsets in NBA history.

I wouldn't bet on it.

[The Corey's]

FWIW, the Celtics have never faced a fully healthy Cavs squad this season. So, i don't think that's a fair statement/assessment.

Sounds like a fully healthy cavs squad doesn't exist. Nor will they be playing one in the playoffs.

I mean, the only team who missed more games this season due to injury is the Memphis Grizzlies, and we all saw how their season turned out.

And you're right, Wade and Allen probably never play a single minute in this short series.

It is still up to jb to find a way to make these games competitive, with the pieces he has, in the shape those pieces are in.

Maybe this is why you think I'm being dismissive

I dismiss the idea that the Cavs have a roster that could beat the Celtics roster. Fully healthy and playing at their peak they don't have the guns for it.

I don't see it and there's no evidence you can bring that says otherwise. The Celtics are just a better more talented team and that's ok.

[Fencer reregistered]

I don't claim to know but people being dismissive about how impactful a fully healthy Cavs squad could be vs a Celtics squad without KP is wild to me.

If you have Mobley on Tatum and Wade on Brown, which allows Mitchell to be on White, then have Allen to help rebound and rotate... I'm not sure how anyone can argue it wouldn't produce a different result than last night's blowout.

Does it mean the Cavs are guaranteed to win? Obviously not but to think sliding in 2 good defenders with size to a line-up that can't get stops, makes little to no difference is "logic" i can't follow. Especially because it is not based on anything.

If neither team is healthy then isn't it a wash?

I am dismissive of the Cavs. They don't have the offense to hang.

No, it's not a wash lol there are clearly levels to this.

The Cavs are missing arguably their 2 best defenders. Causing tons of players to play outta position and give up height and/or size disadvantages.

Be dismissive all you want, it's not rooted in anything, because again, the Celtics have never faced a healthy Cavs team this season.

Evan Mobley is not one of the Cavs' 2 best defenders? I didn't know that!

[JujitsuFlip]

Sounds like a fully healthy cavs squad doesn't exist. Nor will they be playing one in the playoffs.

I mean, the only team who missed more games this season due to injury is the Memphis Grizzlies, and we all saw how their season turned out.

And you're right, Wade and Allen probably never play a single minute in this short series.

It is still up to jb to find a way to make these games competitive, with the pieces he has, in the shape those pieces are in.

Maybe this is why you think I'm being dismissive

I dismiss the idea that the Cavs have a roster that could beat the Celtics roster. Fully healthy and playing at their peak they don't have the guns for it.

I don't see it and there's no evidence you can bring that says otherwise. The Celtics are just a better more talented team and that's ok.

That's the thing though, you're arguing against a strawman.

I never once said healthy or otherwise the Cavs were beating the C's in a 7 game series.

I just said you saying healthy or not it makes no difference, is asinine. Clearly being healthy would make some difference.

And maybe the Cavs wouldn't need "the guns" if they were able to slow a couple of em down. Tuesday night the C's got whatever they wanted whenever they wanted. Mostly due to size advantages and then secondarily to jb being a terrible coach.

[JujitsuFlip]

If neither team is healthy then isn't it a wash?

I am dismissive of the Cavs. They don't have the offense to hang.

No, it's not a wash lol there are clearly levels to this.

The Cavs are missing arguably their 2 best defenders. Causing tons of players to play outta position and give up height and/or size disadvantages.

Be dismissive all you want, it's not rooted in anything, because again, the Celtics have never faced a healthy Cavs team this season.

Evan Mobley is not one of the Cavs' 2 best defenders? I didn't know that!

Okay, 2 of their 3 best lol but it's moot when Mobley has to try to defend the rim and close on shooters simultaneously. It negates a lot of what he does, without Allen and to a lesser extent Wade. Heck, I would even like to see TJ with his height out there too.

[bmurph128]

...........

Edit your post

I'll admit White should be way higher - he has consistently looked like Boston's best player to me.

But that would also entail Tatum being moved way down, and Mitchell looking like the best player in the series when you factor in all the variables. I don't think any of that is really warranted just yet though.

Why does moving up White require moving Tatum down?
Mitchell is amazing on offense but pedestrian on D.
Tatum
Mitchell
White
Brown
Allen if he were playing
Jrue
Horford
Garland

Seems more realistic. Strus and Mobley are down the list a bit with Pritchard/ Kornet/ Hauser

The implication of quoting my post after one game and making that statement is that the one game made a difference.

And defense or not, Tatum didn't look like he belonged on the same planet as Mitchell in that one game.

Better to leave White lower than that, and Garland higher than Horford, rather than overreact to one game (or in White's case an extended stretch)

[brackdan70]

I'll admit White should be way higher - he has consistently looked like Boston's best player to me.

But that would also entail Tatum being moved way down, and Mitchell looking like the best player in the series when you factor in all the variables. I don't think any of that is really warranted just yet though.

Why does moving up White require moving Tatum down?
Mitchell is amazing on offense but pedestrian on D.
Tatum
Mitchell
White
Brown
Allen if he were playing
Jrue
Horford
Garland

Seems more realistic. Strus and Mobley are down the list a bit with Pritchard/ Kornet/ Hauser

The implication of quoting my post after one game and making that statement is that the one game made a difference.

And defense or not, Tatum didn't look like he belonged on the same planet as Mitchell in that one game.

Better to leave White lower than that, and Garland higher than Horford, rather than overreact to one game (or in White's case an extended stretch)

Yeah I would have said the same before game 1. Garland is offense only , white has been exceptional all year. Horford is amazing.
Tatum had a good all around game. Great D. Shooting was off but still had a positive impact…

I would backtrack one thing in my post. Mobley should be higher.

[Darth Celtic]

I'll admit White should be way higher - he has consistently looked like Boston's best player to me.

But that would also entail Tatum being moved way down, and Mitchell looking like the best player in the series when you factor in all the variables. I don't think any of that is really warranted just yet though.

Why does moving up White require moving Tatum down?
Mitchell is amazing on offense but pedestrian on D.
Tatum
Mitchell
White
Brown
Allen if he were playing
Jrue
Horford
Garland

Seems more realistic. Strus and Mobley are down the list a bit with Pritchard/ Kornet/ Hauser

The implication of quoting my post after one game and making that statement is that the one game made a difference.

And defense or not, Tatum didn't look like he belonged on the same planet as Mitchell in that one game.

Better to leave White lower than that, and Garland higher than Horford, rather than overreact to one game (or in White's case an extended stretch)

The point wasn't that one game adjusts to our ranking. The point was your ranking were way inflated for cavs players and game one was just an example showing how. And the further we go, the worse your rankings will look.

[durden_tyler]

Cavs dogs still by 13.5 pts and that sweep line is just still too easy.


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[The Corey's]

I mean, the only team who missed more games this season due to injury is the Memphis Grizzlies, and we all saw how their season turned out.

And you're right, Wade and Allen probably never play a single minute in this short series.

It is still up to jb to find a way to make these games competitive, with the pieces he has, in the shape those pieces are in.

Maybe this is why you think I'm being dismissive

I dismiss the idea that the Cavs have a roster that could beat the Celtics roster. Fully healthy and playing at their peak they don't have the guns for it.

I don't see it and there's no evidence you can bring that says otherwise. The Celtics are just a better more talented team and that's ok.

That's the thing though, you're arguing against a strawman.

I never once said healthy or otherwise the Cavs were beating the C's in a 7 game series.

I just said you saying healthy or not it makes no difference, is asinine. Clearly being healthy would make some difference.

And maybe the Cavs wouldn't need "the guns" if they were able to slow a couple of em down. Tuesday night the C's got whatever they wanted whenever they wanted. Mostly due to size advantages and then secondarily to jb being a terrible coach.

You're not arguing that they win and I'm not arguing it makes a difference. What's the difference? I see none. Cavs might win a game but I doubt it.

[azcatz11]

I pray the Cavs win tonight!!! Let’s go Cavs!

[bmurph128]

Why does moving up White require moving Tatum down?
Mitchell is amazing on offense but pedestrian on D.
Tatum
Mitchell
White
Brown
Allen if he were playing
Jrue
Horford
Garland

Seems more realistic. Strus and Mobley are down the list a bit with Pritchard/ Kornet/ Hauser

The implication of quoting my post after one game and making that statement is that the one game made a difference.

And defense or not, Tatum didn't look like he belonged on the same planet as Mitchell in that one game.

Better to leave White lower than that, and Garland higher than Horford, rather than overreact to one game (or in White's case an extended stretch)

The point wasn't that one game adjusts to our ranking. The point was your ranking were way inflated for cavs players and game one was just an example showing how. And the further we go, the worse your rankings will look.

Ehh I don't think so. I mean, Kyrie outplayed Steph in the 2016 finals - that didn't change anyone's perception of those players though.

That's White and Garland on a much, much, much, much smaller scale here. He's playing REALLY well right now. And he's a superior defender. But Garland is still the better player despite his playoff struggles and White's current playoff dominance.

In this series White is certainly playing better though, no arguing that, and that's one of the primary reasons this series is basically over.

I was too low on White though - I didn't realize he was better than Holiday but I didn't watch Boston very much this year.

[bluejerseyjinx]

Despite 4 blow out wins in 5 games, the Celtics are in a no win situation no matter what they do or it looks like, especially from the non Celtic fans and haters. Its like when a kid comes home from school with his rank card and shows his dad that he got straight A's and all he says, "is that the best you can do?"

[bluejerseyjinx]

I pray the Cavs win tonight!!! Let’s go Cavs!

Better do a lot of praying.

[brackdan70]

I pray the Cavs win tonight!!! Let’s go Cavs!

What sort of God would be interested in that type of prayer

[brackdan70]

The implication of quoting my post after one game and making that statement is that the one game made a difference.

And defense or not, Tatum didn't look like he belonged on the same planet as Mitchell in that one game.

Better to leave White lower than that, and Garland higher than Horford, rather than overreact to one game (or in White's case an extended stretch)

The point wasn't that one game adjusts to our ranking. The point was your ranking were way inflated for cavs players and game one was just an example showing how. And the further we go, the worse your rankings will look.

Ehh I don't think so. I mean, Kyrie outplayed Steph in the 2016 finals - that didn't change anyone's perception of those players though.

That's White and Garland on a much, much, much, much smaller scale here. He's playing REALLY well right now. And he's a superior defender. But Garland is still the better player despite his playoff struggles and White's current playoff dominance.

In this series White is certainly playing better though, no arguing that, and that's one of the primary reasons this series is basically over.

I was too low on White though - I didn't realize he was better than Holiday but I didn't watch Boston very much this year.

Man if you think Garland is better than White I don’t think we can come into any reasonable discussion.
Enjoy the game.

[Romeiro Celtic]

I pray the Cavs win tonight!!! Let’s go Cavs!

What sort of God would be interested in that type of prayer

Certainly not any Irish Celtic God neither christianity God for both catholics and protestants, that's for sure.

[jbk1234]

Churchill once said that the Americans will do the right thing, after they've exhausted all other possibilities. That's how I feel about JBB. At some point, he's going to figure out that surrendering size at every position in order to get in a shoot out with the best 3-point shooting team in the NBA ain't it. At some point, he's going to identify that 1/3 ball screen with White and Tatum as the Celtics most dangerous set. Whether we're down 1, 2, or 3 games at that point is anyone's guess.

[JujitsuFlip]

Churchill once said that the Americans will do the right thing, after they've exhausted all other possibilities. That's how I feel about JBB. At some point, he's going to figure out that surrendering size at every position in order to get in a shoot out with the best 3-point shooting team in the NBA ain't it. At some point, he's going to identify that 1/3 ball screen with White and Tatum as the Celtics most dangerous set. Whether we're down 1, 2, or 3 games at that point is anyone's guess.

He may wait until we're down 4 games lol

In jb's 5 seasons with the Cavs he has never been good at self reflection or accountability for his coaching.