Celts Lasso Bulls In The 4th! NBA Cup Victory Cigar vs CHI 11/29

[Jammer]

Tatum played like League MVP, AGAIN. PAYTON PRITCHARD TURNED IN A 1rst Team ALL-NBA performance. Jaylen Brown took 21 shots to get 21 points, which is hugely inefficient. Would have run up the score more if he let his more skilled shooting teammates have a few more (either Pritchard, White, Porzingis, Holiday or Tatum). Al Horford probably had one of his 3 worst games as a Celtic, but Porzingis played like an All-Star despite only playing 25 minutes. Derrick White was fabulous in 24 minutes, Holiday was impactful and the superlative play of Tatum, Pritch, Zinger, White and to a lesser extent Holiday offset miserable performances by Horford, Brown and Hauser.

An Alternative view:

Pts. + Rebounds + (0.5 x Assists) + Steals + (0.5 x Blocks) - Missed Field Goals - (0.5 x Missed Free Throws) - Turnovers - (0.5 x Fouls)

+42.5 Jayson Tatum 36 minutes

+31 Payton Pritchard 29 minutes

+23 Kristaps Porzingis 25 minutes
+20.5 Derrick White 24 minutes

+13.5 Jrue Holiday 36 minutes

+6.5 Jaylen Brown 37 minutes
+2.5 Neemias Queta 7 minutes

+2.5 Sam Hauser 22 minutes
-1.5 Al Horford 25 minutes

Team Total = 140.5

[bucknersrevenge]

Is it time to let Pritchard atart running some high screen/roll with KP with the Jay's in the corner at times? I feel absolutely comfortable with Payton making the right play. His improvement has been remarkable to see. You continue to see the trust this team has in him making plays. I think he can run some offense at times and would like to see him handling and negotiating screens with the ball.

BTW JT for VC with an MVP performance. Crypto P for the CP.

[Gant]

For the Cup enthusiasts:

"Pistons win big at Indiana.

It will come down to Tuesday for the Celtics and the NBA Cup.

Boston needs...

Orlando to beat New York AND...

Milwaukee to beat Detroit by 6 OR
Detroit to beat Milwaukee by 7."

-- via Sean Grande

If Orlando beats NY, I think it might be enough for Milwaukee to beat Detroit by 5 OR
Detroit to beat Milwaukee by 6

Either of those exact numbers would make for a tie between the Celts and the Bucks or Pistons in point differential. Then it goes to the next tiebreaker which is total points in group stage.

The Celtics have 482, Mil 334 with a game left, and Det 340 with a game left. It's unlikely for those teams to hit 148 or 142 points in their next cup game.

[Fencer reregistered]

Pritchard's heroics kind of clouded Tatum's great game. Both smoke the cigar tonight.

Porzingis and White didn't disappoint. The rest of the team had a night to forget.

Next up: Let's extend the Cavs' back-to-reality week.

Jrue slept for 3 quarters and then made some winning plays

He did have 3 offensive rebounds on the night.
Pritchard had 4.
The whole rest of the team combined for 4 more.

[Lee Van Cleef]

Magic don’t really have an incentive to win. They will advance either way. Knicks will win. We shouldn’t have lost to that miserable Hawks squad, at home.

[ConstableGeneva]

Boom! Back on top of ORtg rankings. KP has played just 2 games, Sam can't even shoot now.



OKC and Cs only two teams with double digit net ratings after tonight.

Mini-goal: Crack top 5 in defense before new year (currently 9th) and stay there.

[ConstableGeneva]

"Joe Mazzulla asked Derrick White about his foot and White told him he’ll be fine. But Mazzulla said he doesn’t know for sure yet."
-- via Jared Weiss

"SELECT COMPANY: Celtics with 35+ points, 14+ rebounds, 5+ assists & a .667 FG PCT in a game

Tatum, tonight
Russell, 12/17/67 at LA, 37/19/7/.739
McHale, 36/14/5 vs. PHX, 36/14/5/.789
Bird, 35/15/7 vs. NY, 35/15/7/.684"
-- via Dick Lipe

[Fierce1]

Magic don’t really have an incentive to win. They will advance either way. Knicks will win. We shouldn’t have lost to that miserable Hawks squad, at home.

What are you talking about?

It's still a regular season game that will impact the playoff seedings.

[Fierce1]

That last play where Sam made the buzzer beater could be an option down the road.

The formation of the Cs during that last play was unique.

Joe could use that play again in the playoffs or finals.

[Shak_Celts]

i NEED to say, playoffs or regular season, after his impact on us winning the chip I’ll never doubt Pritch again. That is a short BEAST! He doesn’t care about anything, when it’s time for winning, he’ll hit a shot from hell to win it if he has to!! He’s never going half force, good game or bad, he gives his all!

I wanted Caruso something fierce, would have traded Pritch early last season, but mostly wanted them both. Because defense wins championships, squabble with your momma! The thing is, I didn’t account for EVERYTHING Pritch could do. I knew he could get red hot and he’s always been a shooter but what he did last season, even more this early season, I didn’t think he would do consistently enough that his height wouldn’t make it diminished in the playoffs. Flashes mean nothing if you can’t show it in the playoffs because you can’t get in the game because of D (height).

He did miss some minutes because of his height in the playoffs (finals), but those threes we love to watch weren’t just great because of how far they were or for being buzzer beaters, they had huge impact on us winning the chip. Both sucked every bit of thought they would win from the mavs! Just saw it crush their souls, but not only that, it gave the others players a lift that they may not have had otherwise. It was like, “if he’s hitting those, this must be our time!” The boost it gave the guys was crazy! They all spoke about it.

He also gave Luka hell in important moments a few times on D too! I really thought he gave us a boost so many times throughout the playoffs that we may not have won without it. Everyone that played gave us boosts and were key in the playoffs in their few opportunities, it doesn’t get said enough. We don’t win without that bench!

What Pritchard has done this season has already won us games even if he’ll never get the recognition he deserves!

Not just for tonight, it adds to it of course, but I think Pritchard is Brunson on another team. I just believe now, for what we need, he’ll have to sacrifice that. Can he start and win the chip, i don’t know, Brunson may have to prove that before I believe… unless Pritch gets the chance here (please no, someone important would be hurt).

Sometimes a guy has IT that may not be the #1 or even #5, but can be a major key to you winning a ring. Big Shot Bob will never be mistaken for top 100 all time, maybe not close, but he was a major winner, he hit the clutch shots for chips multiple times. Some people could be KG without Horry. No diss either way. Pritch can do something like that. He’ll just have to accept, maybe for his career, not being all he can.


Pritchard is exciting to watch even when his shot isn’t dropping, because he’s always doing something! The guy just cares about the game!! It feels good to see people not taking their talent for granted. Yes, it’s times 1000 when the shot is dropping but the guy is always worth watching because he’ll do ANYTHING to contribute. Sometimes he’ll shoot poorly that a person could forget the guy is assisting and rebounding his butt off and NEVER turning it over! When people talk about the great dribblers they need to speak on P because, how is he not turning it over?

HIS GREAT HANDLES are underrated, even by Celts fans. No, it’s not flashy like a Kyrie, but that man has strong hands and they are quick asl! It is amazing to see when I just focus on him. Plus he’s low to the ground, not just height wise, it’s like he bounces the ball so low at times, it’s like you can’t push a dime under it. No one can steal it because it’s out of reach! Special. I saw his dribbling videos long ago, rookie season and after, but it wasn’t until this off-season where I really watched him and thought about it. I had to focus on it to appreciate just how excellent it is.

Anyway, I’m not going to pretend like I was his biggest fan forever. Would have traded him if we needed to for Caruso. Didn’t fully believe in what he could be for us. Saw the box and put him in it. I know a few people believed and never wavered. History/I won’t hide that I want one of those people. I just want to say, I feel good when I watch him, and I’m happy the organization stood on what they believed! They knew and they stood on business to keep him! Thank you BRAD AND CELTICS, most of all, THANK YOU PLEASURE P!!

[SuperDeluxe]

^^^^Beautifully written. You should probably also post it in the Pritchard thread.

[Shak_Celts]

^^^^Beautifully written. You should probably also post it on the Pritchard thread.

Thanks

You’re right, didn’t think about that. Just so happy for the guy and we were going to be discussing him tonight after that fourth quarter. It also wasn’t supposed to be as long as that, but I be talking.

[djFan71]

If we lose on point differential I blame 31to6evic.

[Fencer reregistered]

"Joe Mazzulla asked Derrick White about his foot and White told him he’ll be fine. But Mazzulla said he doesn’t know for sure yet."
-- via Jared Weiss

"SELECT COMPANY: Celtics with 35+ points, 14+ rebounds, 5+ assists & a .667 FG PCT in a game

Tatum, tonight
Russell, 12/17/67 at LA, 37/19/7/.739
McHale, 36/14/5 vs. PHX, 36/14/5/.789
Bird, 35/15/7 vs. NY, 35/15/7/.684"
-- via Dick Lipe

I presume the "67" is a year rather than a stat?

[ConstableGeneva]

"Joe Mazzulla asked Derrick White about his foot and White told him he’ll be fine. But Mazzulla said he doesn’t know for sure yet."
-- via Jared Weiss

"SELECT COMPANY: Celtics with 35+ points, 14+ rebounds, 5+ assists & a .667 FG PCT in a game

Tatum, tonight
Russell, 12/17/67 at LA, 37/19/7/.739
McHale, 36/14/5 vs. PHX, 36/14/5/.789
Bird, 35/15/7 vs. NY, 35/15/7/.684"
-- via Dick Lipe

I presume the "67" is a year rather than a stat?

Yep, December 17, 1967. McHale and Bird's should've had dates there too. Lipe Typo. Lypo.

[brackdan70]

i NEED to say, playoffs or regular season, after his impact on us winning the chip I’ll never doubt Pritch again. That is a short BEAST! He doesn’t care about anything, when it’s time for winning, he’ll hit a shot from hell to win it if he has to!! He’s never going half force, good game or bad, he gives his all!

I wanted Caruso something fierce, would have traded Pritch early last season, but mostly wanted them both. Because defense wins championships, squabble with your momma! The thing is, I didn’t account for EVERYTHING Pritch could do. I knew he could get red hot and he’s always been a shooter but what he did last season, even more this early season, I didn’t think he would do consistently enough that his height wouldn’t make it diminished in the playoffs. Flashes mean nothing if you can’t show it in the playoffs because you can’t get in the game because of D (height).

He did miss some minutes because of his height in the playoffs (finals), but those threes we love to watch weren’t just great because of how far they were or for being buzzer beaters, they had huge impact on us winning the chip. Both sucked every bit of thought they would win from the mavs! Just saw it crush their souls, but not only that, it gave the others players a lift that they may not have had otherwise. It was like, “if he’s hitting those, this must be our time!” The boost it gave the guys was crazy! They all spoke about it.

He also gave Luka hell in important moments a few times on D too! I really thought he gave us a boost so many times throughout the playoffs that we may not have won without it. Everyone that played gave us boosts and were key in the playoffs in their few opportunities, it doesn’t get said enough. We don’t win without that bench!

What Pritchard has done this season has already won us games even if he’ll never get the recognition he deserves!

Not just for tonight, it adds to it of course, but I think Pritchard is Brunson on another team. I just believe now, for what we need, he’ll have to sacrifice that. Can he start and win the chip, i don’t know, Brunson may have to prove that before I believe… unless Pritch gets the chance here (please no, someone important would be hurt).

Sometimes a guy has IT that may not be the #1 or even #5, but can be a major key to you winning a ring. Big Shot Bob will never be mistaken for top 100 all time, maybe not close, but he was a major winner, he hit the clutch shots for chips multiple times. Some people could be KG without Horry. No diss either way. Pritch can do something like that. He’ll just have to accept, maybe for his career, not being all he can.


Pritchard is exciting to watch even when his shot isn’t dropping, because he’s always doing something! The guy just cares about the game!! It feels good to see people not taking their talent for granted. Yes, it’s times 1000 when the shot is dropping but the guy is always worth watching because he’ll do ANYTHING to contribute. Sometimes he’ll shoot poorly that a person could forget the guy is assisting and rebounding his butt off and NEVER turning it over! When people talk about the great dribblers they need to speak on P because, how is he not turning it over?

HIS GREAT HANDLES are underrated, even by Celts fans. No, it’s not flashy like a Kyrie, but that man has strong hands and they are quick asl! It is amazing to see when I just focus on him. Plus he’s low to the ground, not just height wise, it’s like he bounces the ball so low at times, it’s like you can’t push a dime under it. No one can steal it because it’s out of reach! Special. I saw his dribbling videos long ago, rookie season and after, but it wasn’t until this off-season where I really watched him and thought about it. I had to focus on it to appreciate just how excellent it is.

Anyway, I’m not going to pretend like I was his biggest fan forever. Would have traded him if we needed to for Caruso. Didn’t fully believe in what he could be for us. Saw the box and put him in it. I know a few people believed and never wavered. History/I won’t hide that I want one of those people. I just want to say, I feel good when I watch him, and I’m happy the organization stood on what they believed! They knew and they stood on business to keep him! Thank you BRAD AND CELTICS, most of all, THANK YOU PLEASURE P!!

Beautifully stated. He’s got grit. It’s easy to fall into that trap of I want big guards, I want 6’8 wings and I want Unicorn bigs, but sometimes, especially with role players the best ones don’t fit that physical mold exactly.
Pritchard has elite quickness, elite handle, elite shot making, and tremendous grit. Love him.

[ConstableGeneva]

VC/CP:

Watch on YouTube

Watch on YouTube

[bisme37]

Magic don’t really have an incentive to win. They will advance either way. Knicks will win. We shouldn’t have lost to that miserable Hawks squad, at home.

I wouldn't go that far. Knicks have more incentive cup-wise, but it's also an RS game the Magic are currently trying to hold off the Knicks for 3rd in the East. Both teams want this win imo.