Game Thread: Knicks (25-26) @ Celtics (25-26) – 7:30PM, Wed. 04-07-21

[Parliament10]

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Previous Game Highlights

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VC Count, 2020-21
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Victory Cigar
(7) Jaylen Brown
(7) Jayson Tatum
(3) Robert Williams
(2) Payton Pritchard
(2) Kemba Walker
(1) Marcus Smart
(1) Semi Ojeleye
(1) Luke Kornet
(1) Evan Fournier



Ties go to the Team.
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(6) Jayson Tatum
(4) Robert Williams
(3) Jaylen Brown
(2) Tacko Fall
(2) Payton Pritchard
(2) Grant Williams
(1) Stevens/Team
(1) Carsen Edwards
(1) Aaron Nesmith
(1) Daniel Theis
(1) Kemba Walker
(1) Evan Fournier


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[tfribs45]

act like you care boys! show some pride and move up those standings....

[Celts17Pride]

Last game against the Knicks the Celtics were pushed around. Celtics had no answer for the Knicks physicality. Expecting more of the same. One of these days the Celtics will show some heart and fight. Right?

[darrendaye]

[greenroom31]

Another well coached team that hustles and plays D. Going to need to make a bunch of 3s to win this one and RW3 needs to have a bounce back game.

[zoyathedestroya]

Fun Stat: Celtics are 0-8 vs. the current top 5 defensive teams in the league. That may say something about how reliable and potent our offense is.

Knicks are currently 4th in defensive rating. We'll see how we do. No Fourny, No Kemba.

[WeLikeOurGuys]

Is Kemba playing tonight? Because he no showed last night.

[CelticsPride18]

Start Romeo. Give some minutes to Nesmith.

[JediMasterRevan]

I feel like its a loss.
Hate to say it but I have zero faith in the team right now.

Feel like Brown and Tatum has zero faith in it too.

[greenroom31]

Smart / Jaylen / Tatum / RW3 + who for the starting 5?

Grant? Semi? TT?

or will it be Langford or Pritchard?

Damn our options are not very appealing. And then our bench will be skunk. Maybe we get to see some Nesmith tonight at least?

[Green89]

The fact that this is a game for the 8th seed ... with the Knicks ... is damn embarrassing. Every member of the franchise and wearing that uniform should take it personal right now.

[Asian Celtic]

Fun Stat: Celtics are 0-8 vs. the current top 5 defensive teams in the league. That may say something about how reliable and potent our offense is.

Knicks are currently 4th in defensive rating. We'll see how we do. No Fourny, No Kemba.

That's not really fun

[tfribs45]

I feel like its a loss.
Hate to say it but I have zero faith in the team right now.

Feel like Brown and Tatum has zero faith in it too.

This is the type of game that JT and JB need to take over.... Ever since the Allstar break, they have been below their average all around. They wouldn't have made the Allstar game if you only focused on the second half of the season?! Not sure what's going on, maybe JB is upset because JT wants Beal in his place? hmmmmm either way they need to grow a pair and start carrying this team like the proclaimed duo stars that they are..... This is a playoff game tonight, hoping they all bring it!

[BillessuR6]

We have more talent but I would not be surprised if we lose. They are the better team, have a better coach and have an actual system. The positive thing is Kemba isn`t playing, so our defense should be better!

[Hal14]

Last game against the Knicks the Celtics were pushed around. Celtics had no answer for the Knicks physicality. Expecting more of the same. One of these days the Celtics will show some heart and fight. Right?

1) One of the main big guys who did the pushing around for the Knicks (Mitchell Robinson) is on the injured list and will not play tonight
2) That game was probably the absolute worst the Celtics have played all year and for the most part is an outlier, one of those weird game you just chalk it up and say "we didn't have it this game", happens one game to every team each season when they just lay an egg
3) Tatum was out that game
4) It was literally the first game Kemba played in all year after sitting out training camp, sitting out preseason and sitting out our first 11 games..he was on mins restriction and only played 20 mins
5) We didn't have Langford that game

Both Celtics and Knicks are 5-5 in their last 10. They don't have Robinson but we're missing Fournier, Kemba and Thompson. We're at home but they've had an extra day of rest. You have to call Knicks slight favorite in this one but I'm optimistic that the Celtics are a little ticked off about how they played last night and really come out with some more intensity tonight.

Barrett averages 17 points a game. I want to see lots of Langford tonight (yes, LOL), especially with Fournier and Kemba out. In a small sample size of 2 games, Langford has been really freaking good on defense. I might even put him in the starting lineup. Barrett averages 34 mins a game. I'm not saying you put Langford on the court whenever Barrett is out there and you take Langford out when barrett sits (not going that extreme because it would be way too much of a jump in mins for Langford. He played 12 mins vs Charlotte and 14 vs Philly. It's 2nd night of back to back so you don't want to push him too much. I say you give Langford 17-19 mins tonight should overlap with barrett's 34 mins so when langford is out there he is always covering Barrett (even though I know we switch on everything but still) More mins will also help him get in more of a rhythm on offense.

[The_Ghost_of_JB]

Celtics were 8-4 and looking pretty good then got blown out by the Knicks over 2 months ago. Since then they have been 17-22. Knicks broke the Celtics.

How's that for a hot take?

[Hal14]

Smart / Jaylen / Tatum / RW3 + who for the starting 5?

Grant? Semi? TT?

or will it be Langford or Pritchard?

Damn our options are not very appealing. And then our bench will be skunk. Maybe we get to see some Nesmith tonight at least?

I vote for Langford to start. Put him on Barrett.

Off the bench you go Pritchard/Kornet/Grant. Those are your primary 8 guys.

For additional depth you have Semi/Wagner/Nesmith but try not to play them too much and if they're out there make sure it's a lineup that is balanced with at least 2-3 starters out there.

The wildcard here of course is Thompson. If he plays that helps our depth, rebounding, size upfront and also gives us a veteran presence on a team that otherwise is a bunch of college kids (especially with Kemba and Fournier both out)

[Hal14]

Celtics were 8-4 and looking pretty good then got blowout by the Knicks over 2 months ago. Since then the have been 17-22. Knicks broke the Celtics.

How's that for a hot take?

That game definitely seemed to really rattle the confidence of the team and get them feeling down on themselves.

Losing to the lowly Pistons early in the season and then coming back the next game and only beating them by 2 was also a bad sign.

[CeltsfanSinceBirth]

This might get ugly tonight.

[Hal14]

This might get ugly tonight.

It could. Going up against the no. 1 defense in the league (according to opponent FG%, opponent 3 point % and opponent points per game) without 2 of our top 4 scorers.

Let's hope they really focus on coming out with more energy, more intensity, more togetherness and focus on ball movement.

Against a long/athletic/aggressive defense like Philly or NY, you need to hit the guy in the middle at the high post, look opposite, make skip passes, make backdoor cuts and most importantly ball fakes..