ECF: P1 | (2) Boston Celtics vs (4) Cleveland Cavaliers | BOS 2-0

[Pure_Basketball]

As long as Celtic give the Warriors a good shot I don't mind them going forward, but I'm just worried all these guys that look good now, will **** the bed. Remember Milwaukee took them to 7 games...

[BBallchallenged]

Too many Celtic haters.

Proof is in the pudding regardless of what happens over the next 5 games, if healthy the celtics go to the finals.

Even hurt they potentially still goto finals.

You should wanna kill for a team that fights like that in a league full of superstar me first all American pampered McDonalds type players.

I don't want them going to the finals hurt. Everyone needs to get there healthy on both teams so there is no doubt who the champions are.

[lakerz12]

Amen brother

Celtic fans speaking poorly of the Lakers? Stop the presses.

Speaking poorly would to lol at who the Lakers gave picked over the last 5 years.

Who they have in charge of picking players in the draft.

Talking about the nba handed them the 2010 ship.

Talking about how they havent made the playoffs in 5 years and that their young players arent on the level or the celtics players isnt a insult. It's literally speaking a fact.

Why cant you just be happy with the Lakers 30 year run of 11 titles? Time to share the wealth.

I disagree with all of your opinions.

But the reason I said what I did is because someone made the comment that the Laker and Celtic jerseys carried some intimidation factor because of past success.

While I too disagree with that idea, the Celtics fans could have just taken it as a compliment.

[jonjames]

Regardless of this series' outcome, the Celtics have already legitimized themselves with this playoffs run. Pegged as heavy underdogs for these past-two series, not many will continue to misdetermine them by their injuries alone after seeing them gentleman-sweep the 76ers and get a 2-0 stranglehold against the Cavaliers—the first Eastern Conference team to accomplish that feat against a LeBron-led team since the 2008 iteration of this same franchise.

As a Bucks fan, I'm still embittered by our first-round series against them, which was winnably competitive and one many expected us to win since we outmanned them, but it at least feels more forgivable knowing that the Celtics have defied odds against other teams since. It feels better knowing the team that deprived us of the second round isn't your typical playoffs fodder (at least out East).

I'm not ready to conclude that this series is over unless the Celtics win at least one of this upcoming road games, though. The Cavaliers will have ample respite before starting off their homestand, and the Celtics' roadplay has left a bit too much to be desired this postseason; but depending on how massive of a psychological advantage they now have over the Cavaliers, perhaps they will continue to surprise me during these upcoming games.

Lol you said Cleveland in 6 before the series began. Don't act like you know what you're talking about

[TroubleS0me]

series like these LeBron misses Kyrie

[BigTrade92]

As long as Celtic give the Warriors a good shot I don't mind them going forward, but I'm just worried all these guys that look good now, will **** the bed. Remember Milwaukee took them to 7 games...

Uh, so?

The 8th seeded Atlanta Hawks, with a rookie Al Horford, took the 2008 Celtics to 7 games. The 2008 Celtics still won the title.

Not every series is a cakewalk.

[joeyAdaMan]

Not selfish the way that Harden and Westbrook are. He leaves a lot of his teammates on an island. They stand around waiting to see what he is going to do. If he isn't doing virtually everything, they wither.

Could it be because they can't be counted on to generate their own offense consistently ? JR, Hood and maybe Clarkson can do it in spurts, Love is inconsistent and not a ball handler, I've never seen Korver dribble in my life, Thompson and Green are well, Thompson and Green, nothing more needs saying..

Exactly. It's the most horrible form of basketball.

I agree, Lebron at his peak was just so special that it worked at times. To be fair, when he's had players worth deferring to like Wade and Kyrie he has shown a willingness to step back and let them do their thing. Either way, it would be nice to see Lebron play for a truly great coach or within a proven system for once. He has an ego but he is highly intelligent and clearly wants to win...maybe this will be the season he learns that lesson....better late than never I guess

[basketballwacko2]

Too many Celtic haters.

Proof is in the pudding regardless of what happens over the next 5 games, if healthy the celtics go to the finals.

Even hurt they potentially still goto finals.

You should wanna kill for a team that fights like that in a league full of superstar me first all American pampered McDonalds type players.

Barring something crazy I think the Celtics are going to the finals. If they were fully healthy with Hayward and Irving I'd give them a shot at winning it all. But I'm not looking forward to what the Warriors will do.

[Jedi32]

JR Smith 0-7 FG
George Hill 1-4 FG
Jeff Green 2-5 FG, 5 TO, -18

Boston's clearly the better team, but Cleveland didn't put up a fight collectively. I'm including Lue in that critique as well.

Love played good though

[The Corey's]

Celtic fans speaking poorly of the Lakers? Stop the presses.

Speaking poorly would to lol at who the Lakers gave picked over the last 5 years.

Who they have in charge of picking players in the draft.

Talking about the nba handed them the 2010 ship.

Talking about how they havent made the playoffs in 5 years and that their young players arent on the level or the celtics players isnt a insult. It's literally speaking a fact.

Why cant you just be happy with the Lakers 30 year run of 11 titles? Time to share the wealth.

I disagree with all of your opinions.

But the reason I said what I did is because someone made the comment that the Laker and Celtic jerseys carried some intimidation factor because of past success.

While I too disagree with that idea, the Celtics fans could have just taken it as a compliment.

If the Lakers had hit on all their picks, they wouldnt of been the 10th worst team in the league. Separated by being the 5th worst by only 4 games.

During a year in which they had no incentive to tank cause they didnt have a pick.

[Naero]

Regardless of this series' outcome, the Celtics have already legitimized themselves with this playoffs run. Pegged as heavy underdogs for these past-two series, not many will continue to misdetermine them by their injuries alone after seeing them gentleman-sweep the 76ers and get a 2-0 stranglehold against the Cavaliers—the first Eastern Conference team to accomplish that feat against a LeBron-led team since the 2008 iteration of this same franchise.

As a Bucks fan, I'm still embittered by our first-round series against them, which was winnably competitive and one many expected us to win since we outmanned them, but it at least feels more forgivable knowing that the Celtics have defied odds against other teams since. It feels better knowing the team that deprived us of the second round isn't your typical playoffs fodder (at least out East).

I'm not ready to conclude that this series is over unless the Celtics win at least one of this upcoming road games, though. The Cavaliers will have ample respite before starting off their homestand, and the Celtics' roadplay has left a bit too much to be desired this postseason; but depending on how massive of a psychological advantage they now have over the Cavaliers, perhaps they will continue to surprise me during these upcoming games.

Lol you said Cleveland in 6 before the series began. Don't act like you know what you're talking about

I did, and I admit that I'll most likely have been disproven, but it is a bit of a strawman to say that I ever suggested the Celtics were the logical favorite for this series to begin with. I never projected the Celtics to go up 2-0 after seeing how badly Cleveland outmatched them last year, nor have I revised that initial predictory post; I simply acknowledged the Celtics' reinforced legitimacy, specifically citing these past-two games—an unforeseen breakthrough to most.

Even the soundest inductive reasoning can draw the most inaccurate predictions, so there is no shame in re-evaluating teams after the fact.

[infinite11285]

JR Smith 0-7 FG
George Hill 1-4 FG
Jeff Green 2-5 FG, 5 TO, -18

Boston's clearly the better team, but Cleveland didn't put up a fight collectively. I'm including Lue in that critique as well.

Love played good though

Yeah, for a half on the offensive end.

[jason bourne]

Cavs cant beat the Cs if Love and korver dont have better games. Jr was trash. a lot of WIDE OPEN 3S.

Love played his game. He could've scored more or made more assists, but Hill, JR and Green folded. Korver was hurrible on D. Lue's gonna have to play Hood, Clarkson and maybe Nance if this happens again.

[itrsteve]

As long as Celtic give the Warriors a good shot I don't mind them going forward, but I'm just worried all these guys that look good now, will **** the bed. Remember Milwaukee took them to 7 games...

Worst case scenario, It’s just 4 extra games of experience.

This was the team that was suppose to get smoked by Milwaukee in 4.

[BarryLird]

Que the no help for Lebron narrative. Lol, he's losing to a "team" with no stars. Unselfish team ball >>>>>>>>>>>LeBron ball.

Can't wait for the day that people stop making excuses for this dude. His style of basketball makes teammates codependent. That's why all his teams have the same problems. It's not team basketball, it's stat pad LeBron basketball.

Why are they so god damn awful when he's off the court then?

Codependency. Players play a system. In the case of the CAVS, LeBron is the system. These guys play, practice, scheme all season long in a certain system. You can't ask them to all of a sudden start playing another way. This is the LeBron effect. We've seen it on the Cavs his first go around, then he took his talents to Miami on a stacked handpicked team, same thing. Lebron ball makes LeBron look great at the cost of marginalizing everyone else.

[Curmudgeon]

How can the Cavs complain about anything when Jaylen Brown and Terry Rozier were shooting treys like they were alone in the gym? What's that all about? Is Cleveland not paying guys enough? What an embarrassment for Tye Lue and his staff.

Those plays weren't LeBron's fault. He can't guard 5 guys. They play as though they don't like LeBron and don't like each other.

[jonjames]

Cleveland was a 0.59 SRS, 29th ranked D team in the regular season. No one should be surprised by the results of this series. They already shown in the Pacers series that there is no playoff switch for Cleveland this year. Don't be fooled by the Raptors being a joke making Cleveland look better than they actually are. Boston is the better team. I knew this before the series began. They beat an arguably better team than the Cavs in Philly the round before. The only question mark for me was are the Celtics players scared of Lebron and Cleveland like Toronto was. I thought that they would have a great chance at beating Cleveland as long as they are not scared of them. This Celtics team has a lot of toughness and heart. They deserve to be the Eastern Conference Champs this year!

[TA42]

Boston has been so impressive this post season. Now, can these young guys go into Cleveland and win one? If they do that's some next level sheet.

Can and will. The reason why is they’re the number one defensive team and they’re too young and cocky to care that they’re facing LeBron.

[basketballwacko2]

As long as Celtic give the Warriors a good shot I don't mind them going forward, but I'm just worried all these guys that look good now, will **** the bed. Remember Milwaukee took them to 7 games...

Worst case scenario, It’s just 4 extra games of experience.

This was the team that was suppose to get smoked by Milwaukee in 4.

Playoff experience will help Brown and Tatum become better players. I'm doubtful that Smart and Rozier will be long term players unless the Celtics move on from Irving at some point.

[AIfan3]

As long as Celtic give the Warriors a good shot I don't mind them going forward, but I'm just worried all these guys that look good now, will **** the bed. Remember Milwaukee took them to 7 games...

The Warriors are going to take a massive dump on either team that comes out of the East. I'm considering not even watching the finals. It's not going to be pretty..