Victory Cigar!!! CLE 83 @ BOS 96 (3-2)

[Asher77]

Not sure it has been brought up yet but i think it was huge that Brad flipped the switch on Tatum and Brown.
Tatum stayed in for the 1st while Brown got the early hook.
It worked.

[ViperGTS]

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We'll be averaging 142 ppg next season.

No joke. I’ve thought that actually. The same exact thing.

[RB34]

I’m glad there is not much time between games. LeBron doesn’t have much time to rest and Lue doesn’t have much time to figure out the Semi-Korver situation.

[Celts17Pride]

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[Valid]

I’m glad there is not much time between games. LeBron doesn’t have much time to rest and Lue doesn’t have much time to figure out the Semi-Korver situation.

[VeryMuchWoke]

Lue saying he didn't play Korver because Semi didn't play is among the more baffling things I've ever heard a coach say.

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[LuckyLeprechaun]

Lebron started hamming it up for the cameras when he knew the game was out of hand. Cant wait for Brian Windhorst to talk about how tired Lebron is.

Lebron deserves to be tired. Not only has he done a huge amount for the Cavs offensively; he's had defensive bursts as well.

I'm OK with the idea that the Cavs are the better team for as long as Lebron can do more and expend more energy than any other player in basketball, but the Cs are the much better team when he finally runs out of gas. Stamina is often a big part of championship-level sports.

Lebron literally looked like he aged 3-4 years in 2 days. His shooting stats were fairly typical but he just looked truly lethargic/tired out there. Even in game 1 when he wasn't that aggressive and didn't even shoot as well as this game, it looked more by design or based upon what the Celtics were doing and not because he had nothing in the tank. if he only has this level of energy in game 6, I don't expect this to even go 7.

He openly admitted earlier in the playoffs that he tries to limit his energy expenditure to save himself for key moments. After game 1 he realized he can't beat us without going all out. Problem is he can't manage that at 34 with only 1 day off between games. Make him tired early in game 6 and the series is ours.

[threrf23]

Slappy deserves more love than he is getting in this poll but I went with Tatum. What a stand up moment up from a rookie. Really it is head shaking. When has a kid this young been this good? I have monuments to Paul Pierce in my house and office and Jayson Tatum is showing a composure that took PP years to develop.

As for Horford this run is all about him and why he came to Boston.

In fairness to PP, I think you are at least slightly underestimating his composure as a young'in. Also, Brad Stevens is a better influence than Rick Pitino.

[31to6]

I’m glad there is not much time between games. LeBron doesn’t have much time to rest and Lue doesn’t have much time to figure out the Semi-Korver situation.

LeBron is 33 years old and played 82 games for the first time in his career.

Playing a mangy young team 600+ miles apart every two nights now, with a roster full of nickels around him, after playing into June each year for seven straight years.

I still fear the man and will until he can't do it anymore -- but it's not outside the realm of possibility that

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[CelticsPride18]

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I hate Rappaport but this **** was hilarious.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

Lebron doing his photographic memory schtick again at the presser. Smh

[Patsfan1081]

Oh another C's win and another round of Lebron excuses for the national media. Hopefully Boston finishes this in Cleveland without Lebron putting his hand sanitizer on his hips.

[Ed Pinkney]

Damn this team. They just keep raising my hopes and expectations with each accomplishment. I love being up here, but it is a long way to fall when you get this close.

[Afam]

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[Afam]

Shaking my head.

[PierceFan4ever]

Skip Bayless:

“I’m getting sick and tired of the Boston Celtics,” Bayless lamented on FOX Sports 1. “I’ve seen enough. They’re overrated. They got exposed in Game 3 and exposed in Game 4 for what they were. They were the 18th ranked offense in the entire NBA and that was with Kyrie Irving. ” … They just don’t have enough firepower. Cleveland now leads this series 2-2. … They are in control of this series, they’re going to win game 5, they’re going to win Game 6. It is ov-ah. (The Celtics) have been put back in their places.”

Oh. Good thing we were put back in our places. I'd hate to see what we would have done to the Cavs tonight if we weren't.

How the hell can anyone call the Celtics overrated? All they talk about is Lebron in every sports channel and the Celtics have been heavy underdog by Vegas which seems like every game. They’re also missing their 2 best players; that should be the last word that should be talked about when mentioning these Celtics who are arguably putting up one of the greatest underdog runs I’ve seen in sports. Jackass

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[threrf23]

I had a tough time choosing this cigar.

You look at the boxscore, and Tatum seems like a no-brainer. His line checks off every category; possibly his best all around performance in the playoffs.

But watching the game? He played his part really well but didn't really stick out that much. He wasn't unstoppable nor drawing vital assignments for the most part. Granted, nobody else stuck out more...

Baynes provided some needed toughness and some nice defense out of the gate and Al manned up and pulled down nearly as many rebounds as Love & TT combined. We finally turned TT into a weakness tonight.

Generally, we played well offensively tonight. Terry shot 3-15 yet contributed in other respects and really played fairly well. Jaylen was a sore spot on offense, but he still got to the line a bit and finished with 17. Mook didn't make you want to punch him.

I voted Al to give him as many votes as Baynes had at the time.

[ddb]

Tatum by a mile. He is amazing.
With that said I have a random factoid to share with all of you. I was in Milwaukee for Game 4. Celts obviously lost but played a solid game. Bucks, like every organization had t-shirts on the seats...so I left with a couple "Fear the Dear" shirts. I don't know why but something told me to keep the shirts. So I kept them. Once the Celts won the series I figured, "good shirt to paint in, or do yard work."
So I have. But there is a method. The Celtics are 4-0 If I rock the Fear the Fear shirt during the day and/or if I do yard work. Of course I would never where that shirt during a game, so I dont. But 4-0 including today. Today I wore it on purpose to see if it would work.
#superstition

Sent from my SM-G930T using RealGM mobile app

[threrf23]

Lebron started hamming it up for the cameras when he knew the game was out of hand. Cant wait for Brian Windhorst to talk about how tired Lebron is.

Lebron deserves to be tired. Not only has he done a huge amount for the Cavs offensively; he's had defensive bursts as well.

I'm OK with the idea that the Cavs are the better team for as long as Lebron can do more and expend more energy than any other player in basketball, but the Cs are the much better team when he finally runs out of gas. Stamina is often a big part of championship-level sports.

Lebron literally looked like he aged 3-4 years in 2 days. His shooting stats were fairly typical but he just looked truly lethargic/tired out there. Even in game 1 when he wasn't that aggressive and didn't even shoot as well as this game, it looked more by design or based upon what the Celtics were doing and not because he had nothing in the tank. if he only has this level of energy in game 6, I don't expect this to even go 7.

He lost faith in his teammates, perhaps.

A younger Lebron would quasi-quit on his team in this situation. I think an older Lebron might be above that, but he's also older.

It'll be interesting to see how that goes.