PLAYOFFS: Rnd 1, Gm 4 – Celtics (2) @ Magic (1) – 7:00PM, Sun, April 27, 2025

[ConstableGeneva]

I get where you're coming from but Tillman and Brissett didn't play real minutes until ECF. They were getting garbage time duty in the first two rounds.

Last years first round, Kristaps got hurt but we could still run starters with Al.
This year Jrue already missing 2 games and JB being hindered, is a significantly more challenging problem.

How to approach it? I'd probably increase the rotation, try to play faster, among other things. But the basic issue of JB/Jrue being on the injury report is just a bigger problem than last yrs first round, imo

The Celtics don't play fast. Never has in the Mazzulla era. One of the slowest paced teams in the league. They won't change their stripes overnight.

I do subscribe to the idea of having fresh legs at least in the first half to save the main guys for the 4th.

[bisme37]

Hey we got any volunteers to do the postgame thread for this one?

I've felt like **** the last few days and now both my 75 year old parents are really sick with covid. If no one else can do it I'll probably be able to do something half-assed, but I would prefer to not have to worry about it.

[redslastlaugh]

Yea, I agree with you. Joe has his pace preferences and it seems protecting transition defense takes priority over playing fast. I think they foolishly turn down high percentage scoring opportunities because of this as well.
Sometimes PP dribbles up in semi-transition and the defense isnt set and it looks like PP could blowby defender, get to the hoop, and lay it in, but instead he stops at the 3 pt line and takes a couple of dribbles backwards.

If JB is hurting but cleared to play & Jrue is out...
I honestly don't know what the coaching staff will try to do. If JB is out and neither Baylor, Craig, nor Queta get any competitive minutes, I'm going to be concern level 9, at least. I'll tell you this much.

[ConstableGeneva]

Yea, I agree with you. Joe has his pace preferences and it seems protecting transition defense takes priority over playing fast. I think they foolishly turn down high percentage scoring opportunities because of this as well.
Sometimes PP dribbles up in semi-transition and the defense isnt set and it looks like PP could blowby defender, get to the hoop, and lay it in, but instead he stops at the 3 pt line and takes a couple of dribbles backwards.

If JB is hurting but cleared to play & Jrue is out...
I honestly don't know what the coaching staff will try to do. If JB is out and neither Baylor, Craig, nor Queta get any competitive minutes, I'm going to be concern level 9, at least. I'll tell you this much.

We ran a bit in the first game I think. Most fastbreak points ORL gave up. Problem in game 3 was they were crashing the glass off their misses and we couldn't secure clean boards. C's do run when the opportunity presents itself.

Queta won't get minutes over the 3 bigs available. It's Craig who I think can help bring some energy and hustle. BS for more ballhandling against ORL pressure though he's obviously untested in these situations.

[redslastlaugh]

I also doubt Queta plays. This is largely understandable but also Luke had two bad games and the good game he played he was tossed around on the boards at times. I'd be tempted to play Queta for aggressiveness and physicality. But am not expecting it. If Luke has a game today like gms 1 and 2 though, you'd have to be open to the Queta idea, i would think.

Also, as you say, we're not likely to change our stripes. In which case, really the outcome is twofold: is JT+JB gonna have 13 turnovers. And how many 3pt attempts will we make.

[PierceFan4ever]

No Sam Hauser. 40+ minutes for the Jays and White. Play faster. Pray KP doesn’t play like the worst player on the court

[playa-hater]

It's like you guys who support Joe's so much. Don't even know him. There is no chance of rookie like rico will even get a minute when he barely played in a rotation at the end of the year.

TC might have a chance..

[redslastlaugh]

It's like you guys who support Joe's so much. Don't even know him. There is no chance of rookie like rico will even get a minute when he barely played in a rotation at the end of the year.

TC might have a chance..

I was so negative on Joe after the 2023 Miami loss... and in the times since, I've been very critical of his coaching, but this year, I'm trying to be more hopeful, positive and optimistic ... lol

If Semi Ojeyele could play 13 minutes per in the playoffs as a rookie, Baylor Scheierman can play a four minute stint in the first half. Also Rico is literally turning 25 before next season, what are we waiting for?

edit: Baylor is a year older than Franz Wagner, lol ... dude is ready to play, LETS GO

[Ben-N1ce]

KP is shooting like 30 % and zero from 3. He needs to be better and they need to rebound. That's about it. He lost them the last game. Tie game missed a 5 foot shot then got cooked by Franz twice and that was the game.

[Setshot33]

Magic did a very good job pushing them off the 3 line the other night. Need KP to keep them honest in the paint. He’s getting good looks, there’re just not falling.

They're just not falling because KP is soft and gets intimidated by physical play in the paint. It's not like shots are just rimming out, he's not even drawing iron.

[The Corey's]

I expect the Celtics by 20

[meatball sub]

jrue being out is such a **** annoyance. entire team is dealing with unnecessary injuries now playing this **** ass dirty orlando team

[31to6]

ah good, our solution to playing terrible and losing by 2 is more Torrey Craig and/or Scheierman minutes, so they can rack up those transition buckets at the rim that Hauser doesn't get.

My solution is KP remembering how to score, and Tatum not taking idiotic/impossible shots

[lon3lytoaster]

It's like you guys who support Joe's so much. Don't even know him. There is no chance of rookie like rico will even get a minute when he barely played in a rotation at the end of the year.

TC might have a chance..

I was so negative on Joe after the 2023 Miami loss... and in the times since, I've been very critical of his coaching, but this year, I'm trying to be more hopeful, positive and optimistic ... lol

If Semi Ojeyele could play 13 minutes per in the playoffs as a rookie, Baylor Scheierman can play a four minute stint in the first half. Also Rico is literally turning 25 before next season, what are we waiting for?

edit: Baylor is a year older than Franz Wagner, lol ... dude is ready to play, LETS GO

I think Joe had a really bad first post season run. They struggled with the Hawks much more than they should have and also got themselves into a hell of a hole with Philly before getting down 0-3.

Last year felt like he was much better, which makes sense, but he still very rarely deviates from the game plan he has coming in. Still a point of frustration for me.

[31to6]

Physicality used to mean not calling touch fouls in the playoffs. Now it means just allowing fouls that affect the score and allowing cheap shots that alter the game, increase injuries, and introduce variance where teams with lesser talent can win games by knockout. It’s not basketball, imo

Imagine “physicality” in a pickup game. You’re jockeying for position under the boards and the guy you’re trying to box out grabs you by the waste, throws you to the floor, grabs the board, lays it in and flexes… lol, that’d be like a fist fight or straight brawl in any gym or court in America

Disagree that this level of physicality is new. To me it feels like a throwback to the Bad Boy Pistons and 90s Knicks. Nothing new. And if you remember that the Cavs limped into R2 against us 12 months ago: this is why.

Sounds like you like easy/friendly pickup. I do too, but it's not all I play!

[chrisab123]

I also doubt Queta plays. This is largely understandable but also Luke had two bad games and the good game he played he was tossed around on the boards at times. I'd be tempted to play Queta for aggressiveness and physicality. But am not expecting it. If Luke has a game today like gms 1 and 2 though, you'd have to be open to the Queta idea, i would think.

Also, as you say, we're not likely to change our stripes. In which case, really the outcome is twofold: is JT+JB gonna have 13 turnovers. And how many 3pt attempts will we make.

I do think he plays and might play the goon character. Someone is probably getting punched in the mouth tonight.

[redslastlaugh]

Getting EXCITED for this game.
Two things, I am really harping on, is let gets some ball movement going and lets get some OPEN looks
This series we're averaging 18 asst, 15 gm 3 w/out Jrue, that's just not Celtics basketball
Secondly, we're getting so few OPEN looks, just open shots through motion and passing, and I hope we don't ignore that
because the sometimes problem we fall into in the Mazzula era is so much wanting to keep players in the 3pt area that they're just not getting open by moving to open areas on the court.

I'm super excited for this GAME
letsgo !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[playa-hater]

I am also extremely excited while waiting for this game. But to be honest with you I just don't know what to expect. I am not a blind optimist who can just say I guarantee we're going to win by 20. I think we certainly can but there is enough doubt in my thinking because of how Boston has played in the last few years and games like this I just don't know.

[OnlyTheTruth]

jrue being out is such a **** annoyance. entire team is dealing with unnecessary injuries now playing this **** ass dirty orlando team

Time for Celtics to grow a pair of balls and be physical as well.....but our bigs are soft as a marshmallow. KP is a glass.....Hortford a senior citizen and Luke looks like he needs to check his testosterone levels

[leper-con]

A win that is all