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

[Coach Carter]

Lol...just no...what the Celtics have right now is a ton of young talent, chemistry, and a coach/GM on their way to being all-time greats....Lakers are nowhere near that right now...

Wtf Lakers haven’t made the playoffs in 5 years. Don’t even put them in a sentence with the Celtics

Amen brother

Offcourse you need a good side but when you get that, the legacy plays a role since the players know who they are playing for. In other words there are expectations since the predecessors were great. When lakers get good, this will be telling. They have majic who is a constant reminder of greatness.

[GreenBloodedC]

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.

And Brad has a chance to closely study the Warriors.

[Scarletfire81]

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.

Zero chance they let Smart walk, he will be signed. Not sure about Rozier but at least he’s a RFA after next year.

[Jedi32]

Similar to lakers, celtics have something other teams don't have and that is the weight of the jersey due to so much previous success

Lol...just no...what the Celtics have right now is a ton of young talent, chemistry, and a coach/GM on their way to being all-time greats....Lakers are nowhere near that right now...

That's not what the poster was implying but it's comical seeing fans of teams that had one average playoff run in almost 20 years trying to clown. Wow

[hickfromfrenchlick]

Kevin Love is a classy dude.

[Blaze4G]

Hill is an upgrade defensively and a better floor general than the closer the Cavs gave up, not much of a downgrade overall.
Love has been injured and playing through injury so if he seems to have regressed it's the wrong assumption. He is getting better by the day. Smith was terribly unreliable during the regular season and literally flipped the proverbial switch and has been damn good the entire playoffs. I think the assumptions the Cavs are not as good as last year are incorrect overall.

Yeah are we talking about the same JR Smith averaging 8 points on 40% shooting? Wow so he was that bad during the regular season that this is now his "switch"?

Raptors didn't really have anyone good defending Love so let's see how he does against horford.

Really? Hill is not much of a downgrade compared to Kyrie...oh wait it's Stillwater replying.
Nevermind, hill is top 5 PG.

You are severely over rating KI as a 2-way player if you think his offensive supremacy over Hill makes him that much of a better player next to Lebron. Smith has been rock solid defensively.
That's alright get your kicks in now before the beatdown comes.

Loving the beat down from Smith and hill. Boy was I wrong about hill. He is definitely close to Kyrie and wow JR has flipped the switch! Beast!

[Splashin]

Yeah are we talking about the same JR Smith averaging 8 points on 40% shooting? Wow so he was that bad during the regular season that this is now his "switch"?

Raptors didn't really have anyone good defending Love so let's see how he does against horford.

Really? Hill is not much of a downgrade compared to Kyrie...oh wait it's Stillwater replying.
Nevermind, hill is top 5 PG.

You are severely over rating KI as a 2-way player if you think his offensive supremacy over Hill makes him that much of a better player next to Lebron. Smith has been rock solid defensively.
That's alright get your kicks in now before the beatdown comes.

Loving the beat down from Smith and hill. Boy was I wrong about hill. He is definitely close to Kyrie and wow JR has flipped the switch! Beast!

[ITYSL]

Yeah are we talking about the same JR Smith averaging 8 points on 40% shooting? Wow so he was that bad during the regular season that this is now his "switch"?

Raptors didn't really have anyone good defending Love so let's see how he does against horford.

Really? Hill is not much of a downgrade compared to Kyrie...oh wait it's Stillwater replying.
Nevermind, hill is top 5 PG.

You are severely over rating KI as a 2-way player if you think his offensive supremacy over Hill makes him that much of a better player next to Lebron. Smith has been rock solid defensively.
That's alright get your kicks in now before the beatdown comes.

Loving the beat down from Smith and hill. Boy was I wrong about hill. He is definitely close to Kyrie and wow JR has flipped the switch! Beast!

yo ease up, didnt your mama teach you that its mean to pick on the kids riding the short bus?

[jonjames]

Boston in 6. I think they have what it takes to go all the way to the NBA Finals this year. One thing's for certain, the Celtics are going to be a much tougher out for the Cavs than the Raptors were. The Celtics actually have heart and a really good head coach as well.

Raptors had the coach of the year and look what good that did them...I agree Boston will play with more fire, but it won't be enough.

WHAT NOW?

[lakerz12]

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.

No team hits on all of their picks, but I'd say we are doing pretty well with Ingram, Randle, Ball, Kuzma, and Hart.

All of our best players are 23 and younger. Give it a little time. We have a ton of cap space.

If we aren't going deep into the playoffs within 3 years, then you can call it a failure.

[jonjames]

I honestly can’t not underrate the Celtics. They keep proving me wrong so who knows how this goes. They match up well with us. I think cavs in 6 but I’m probably wrong.

Good post.

[hickfromfrenchlick]

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..

Dynamite drop-in, Monty

[AGAVE]

Balance

This is what I see in this collection players Ainge has assembled.
And from a west coast view, its admirable!

At this point,
If the Celtics can obtain an inside presence, a real baller who takes the load off of their starters ,
Then I can see a real situation of trading Irving for that complimentary player.

Your team already has a nice core.
And Hayward has not yet even made his presence felt.

[phanman]

So, uh, anybody want to check on the Toronto fans? Didn't think it was possible for that sweep to look worse.

[Splashin]

We now have a 9 game sample of what Cleveland's offense looks like against Indiana/Boston. Pretty embarrassing for Toronto.

I think Raptors fans should have to apologize for arrogantly hyping their team all year in every thread.

[bakesale]

You know what would be the funniest thing ever?

If Lebron and Westbrook somehow joined the Rockets and they still lost to Steph in the Conference finals. LMAO!!!

Then Lebron leaves Houston after just 1 year for Philly but sill loses to Boston

No no, please keep him away from my Philly!

You can have him in Toronto then lose to Philly or Boston LOL

[Blaze4G]

We now have a 9 game sample of what Cleveland's offense looks like against Indiana/Boston. Pretty embarrassing for Toronto.

I think Raptors fans should have to apologize for arrogantly hyping their team all year in every thread.

Head over to the raptors board. Many of the raps fan still believe they would have beaten the Celtics and that their team is better

I think if the Celtics and raps had a series this playoffs and the Celtics swept the raptors by an average of 45 points some raptors fans would still think their team is better.

[Jaqua92]

definitely gets taken for granted. However, to be the clearcut goat / best person to play imo you have to be able to score 60 in a game like this with ease. That's why I can't put him above other goats or arguable goats. Still an all time great

You cant put him above other goats because he cant score 60?

no I'm simply saying that some act as though jordan or bron or kareem are head and shoulders above everyone, but there has simply never been anyone good enough at basketball to be considered the clearcut goat IMO. That player who can score 10 threes per game while getting 15 ast and scoring 60 to 80 with ease. I don't see a goat, I see amazing nba legends

Please, you should see my created player in MyLeague in 2k.

6"7 point guard
Over this time, shot 58% and 49% shooting the 3
2020 34.9/8.3/13.2
2021 36.5/10.5/11.2
2022 39.8/10.1/14.9
2023 36.5/9.4/13.5

[Leor_77]

Cavs luck is that Boston is such a bad road team.

[G R E Y]

Great sportsmanship on the part of the Cs to let the clock run out on their final possession and take the turnover. That's how it's done.

Very impressed with Brown's post-game interview, already had that 'on to the next game' focus, put this game into perspective, and spoke with insight about facing LBJ in Cleveland. Really level headed and poised and focused. All of these guys just seem locked in on the greater goal, and after each game is over, it's the base for the next level. As I've said before, they're resilient, and show this unique ability to learn and adapt as they're playing.

This was a game of contrasting halves: the first was LBJ taking the game over and putting his team on his back; the second, the Cs adjusting, getting more rebounds, getting more shots inside, playing better D. First half, Cavs 54-48; second, Cs 59-39. Huge swing.

Looking at the scoring distribution is a tell-tale sign of the game plan, with LBJ and Love combining for 64 points, and the other three starters combining for 11 points, and the bench for 19. All of the Cs starters were in double figures, and the bench combined for 28, but of course, the contributions of Smart, for instance, go well beyond the points. Their D and overall team effort is really what stands out, so that they're able to absorb, withstand, and overcome LBJ's onslaught, and the Cavs' runs.

It's weird that the next game is all the way on Saturday, but LBJ will likely need the extra days to recover; the effects of these types of hits hurt more the second and third day. Assuming he's healthy (he didn't look right in the second half), it'll be interesting to see how one of the greatest basketball minds matches up against the quick-study team-oriented game of the Cs in Cleveland. It's not a series until a team wins on the road, and while home court has served the Cs so well this post-season, the next step is to do it more consistently on the road. Can't underestimate Cavs clicking in the post-season.