Celtics-Raptors 2nd Round--Dethrone the Champs

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,239
I’ve never bought that theory of “Whoever wins this game wins the series”........but that feels like the case in G4.

Other thought posed as a question. If Jaylen cannot manage to negotiate a screen when in a zone defense to where he is responsible for an area specifically designed to AVOID screens.......how do you think he’d handle that screen when he’s responsible for a specific player? Frankly, I cannot believe how little hest JB is taking nationally due to this JR Smith-level brain fart.....and I’m a big Jaylen guy.
 

BigSoxFan

Member
SoSH Member
May 31, 2007
47,211
I’ve never bought that theory of “Whoever wins this game wins the series”........but that feels like the case in G4.

Other thought posed as a question. If Jaylen cannot manage to negotiate a screen when in a zone defense to where he is responsible for an area specifically designed to AVOID screens.......how do you think he’d handle that screen when he’s responsible for a specific player? Frankly, I cannot believe how little hest JB is taking nationally due to this JR Smith-level brain fart.....and I’m a big Jaylen guy.
Does Jaylen’s strong off the court image impact the criticism he gets in the media for on the court play? Not sure.

Either way, it hurts my sports heart to have such a negative play attached to Jaylen. I really hope he atones tonight with a monster game.
 

benhogan

Granite Truther
SoSH Member
Nov 2, 2007
20,292
Santa Monica
I’ve never bought that theory of “Whoever wins this game wins the series”........but that feels like the case in G4.

Other thought posed as a question. If Jaylen cannot manage to negotiate a screen when in a zone defense to where he is responsible for an area specifically designed to AVOID screens.......how do you think he’d handle that screen when he’s responsible for a specific player? Frankly, I cannot believe how little hest JB is taking nationally due to this JR Smith-level brain fart.....and I’m a big Jaylen guy.
TY...basic zone principle

and the communication excuse is weak. Tatum pointed and Smart yelled at him twice in a quiet arena

Brown took full responsibility for the mistake, which he labeled a miscommunication. Jayson Tatum, initially on Anunoby, said he should have done a better job alerting his teammates that he was passing along the responsibility.“It was just a miscommunication,” Brown said. “That’s really all (that) happened. At the end of the day, we’ve just gotta be better as a unit. Regardless of what we were in, we know we had to guard the 3-point line. So that was just a fucking disgrace at the end of the game. That was just terrible. No way we should have lost that game. I take responsibility for that.
 
Last edited:

Captaincoop

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
13,488
Santa Monica, CA
He cost them the game, no doubt. But there's no player in history who hasn't made mistakes - the great ones respond and don't let it get them untracked. Come back and play well today in a win and all is forgiven.
 

Captaincoop

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
13,488
Santa Monica, CA
And make no mistake - if the Celtics win today this series is over. Has any NHL or NBA team won a game down 3-0 or 3-1 in these bubbles? There's a point where, consciously or subconsciously, guys just want out.
 

lovegtm

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2013
12,119
This is what the 2018 Philly series would have felt like if Bellinelli’s foot had been an inch further back.

They’re still a superior team to Toronto. If one messed up zone assignment sinks your team, you weren’t going anywhere to start. Toronto probably feels they should have won game 2; that’s why they play 7 of em.

Agree that it feels like tonight’s game determines the series.
 

cmurphycode

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 9, 2009
1,313
And make no mistake - if the Celtics win today this series is over. Has any NHL or NBA team won a game down 3-0 or 3-1 in these bubbles? There's a point where, consciously or subconsciously, guys just want out.
You'd have to have mile high expectations of yourself to come back after losing 3 in a row
 

Red Averages

owes you $50
SoSH Member
Apr 20, 2003
9,132
If Toronto loses tonight the series is effectively over. If Toronto wins it’s back to a toss-up with the Celtics still seemingly the better team. You’re all overreacting to a frustrating loss if you think tonight is somehow must win.

Fortunately this team has shown incredible fortitude and I expect them to get off to a fast start tonight.
 

Nator

Member
SoSH Member
It took a perfect pass across the width of the court and then a perfect shot to win. If that pass is an inch or two off in either direction and OG has to re-gather it to get to a shooting position then it's either a shot clock violation or Jaylen gets a fingertip on it and that's 3-0.

You just have to tip your cap sometimes.

The C's will be pissed, and they will come out to destroy tonight.
 

bankshot1

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 12, 2003
24,752
where I was last at
Given the way these 2 teams play D normally, tonight's going to be a freaking rock-fight. I expect a very physical game and maybe sloppy game.

I've no idea who wins tonight.

I think the Celts are the better team, but the Raptors are tough, tested and can win this series.
 

BigSoxFan

Member
SoSH Member
May 31, 2007
47,211
Given the way these 2 teams play D normally, tonight's going to be a freaking rock-fight. I expect a very physical game and maybe sloppy game.

I've no idea who wins tonight.

I think the Celts are the better team, but the Raptors are tough, tested and can win this series.
Basically a pick’em game in the betting markets as well. You never want to let a championship team get off the mat. Tonight is a great opportunity for Tatum to assert his alpha dog status in the series. He’s the best player on the court and we need him to bring it.
 

Red Averages

owes you $50
SoSH Member
Apr 20, 2003
9,132
Yes a battle of zone defense vs a team that wants to do everything it can to remove transition points. And the O/U is 214.
 

Preacher

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 9, 2006
6,450
Pyeongtaek, South Korea
It took a perfect pass across the width of the court and then a perfect shot to win. If that pass is an inch or two off in either direction and OG has to re-gather it to get to a shooting position then it's either a shot clock violation or Jaylen gets a fingertip on it and that's 3-0.

You just have to tip your cap sometimes.

The C's will be pissed, and they will come out to destroy tonight.
It wouldn’t have been a shot clock violation. It would have been game over.

But definitely a cap tip situation. Pass and shot were perfect.
 

radsoxfan

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 9, 2009
13,701
And make no mistake - if the Celtics win today this series is over. Has any NHL or NBA team won a game down 3-0 or 3-1 in these bubbles? There's a point where, consciously or subconsciously, guys just want out.
Interesting theory, but doesn't check out.

Colorado Avalanche went down 3-1 and forced game 7 (lost).
Vancouver Canucks went down 3-1 and forced game 7 (lost)
Philadephia Flyers went down 3-1 and forced game 7 (TBD).

Denver Nuggets went down 3-1 and forced game 7 (won).

To be honest it's been a lot higher than you would expect in hockey, though that's probably a fluke. Definitely no evidence that teams are giving up when they get in a big hole though.
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,239
And make no mistake - if the Celtics win today this series is over. Has any NHL or NBA team won a game down 3-0 or 3-1 in these bubbles? There's a point where, consciously or subconsciously, guys just want out.
I don’t even think I need that “get me out of the bubble” angle when you have no travel and no home court advantage to change the dynamics of the next matchup. The bubble greatly favors the better team and unless you have two really evenly matched teams you aren’t going to see much different results from one game to the next......and even in the right series you can clearly see where the difference lays (Harris returns to completely change how Den defends the pick n roll.)
 

HomeRunBaker

bet squelcher
SoSH Member
Jan 15, 2004
30,239
Does Jaylen’s strong off the court image impact the criticism he gets in the media for on the court play? Not sure.

Either way, it hurts my sports heart to have such a negative play attached to Jaylen. I really hope he atones tonight with a monster game.
I think in Boston it does along with him taking responsibility. Nationally it seems that all they are talking about was how Lowry made a great skip pass and OG knocked down a jumper. Completely ignoring Jalen’s blunder or how poorly Tacko had been taught how to be active in that situation rather than stand there like a statue.
 

Captaincoop

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
13,488
Santa Monica, CA
Interesting theory, but doesn't check out.

Colorado Avalanche went down 3-1 and forced game 7 (lost).
Vancouver Canucks went down 3-1 and forced game 7 (lost)
Philadephia Flyers went down 3-1 and forced game 7 (TBD).

Denver Nuggets went down 3-1 and forced game 7 (won).

To be honest it's been a lot higher than you would expect in hockey, though that's probably a fluke. Definitely no evidence that teams are giving up when they get in a big hole though.
Amazing failure by my research department.
 

wade boggs chicken dinner

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 26, 2005
30,682
I think in Boston it does along with him taking responsibility. Nationally it seems that all they are talking about was how Lowry made a great skip pass and OG knocked down a jumper. Completely ignoring Jalen’s blunder or how poorly Tacko had been taught how to be active in that situation rather than stand there like a statue.
They are ignoring JB's blunder because he didn't make one . . . . :)

The Cs are apparently averaging 0.69 ppp against TOR's zone: https://ca.nba.com/news/stat-just-happened-where-the-toronto-raptors-are-proving-to-be-a-nightmare-for-the-boston-celtics/b6gp1jjifx7v1wks5zga6d38z

They better work this out quick or it's going to be a lot tougher battle than it ought.
 

NoXInNixon

Member
SoSH Member
Mar 24, 2008
5,322
And make no mistake - if the Celtics win today this series is over. Has any NHL or NBA team won a game down 3-0 or 3-1 in these bubbles? There's a point where, consciously or subconsciously, guys just want out.
Toronto will not quit if they're down 1-3 in the series. They will play game 5 with full effort. I have no doubt.
 

Imbricus

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 26, 2017
4,860
Brad's going to be more ready for the look of the zone tonight. He's had time to review the tape, and I'm sure they practiced some plays yesterday. What scares me more tonight is that Toronto rediscovers its three-point shooting. Celts better attack those close-outs.
 

TripleOT

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 4, 2007
7,769
Putting Kanter into the game in the third quarter of game 3 was a bad idea. He got pick/rolled to death and it resulted in the tiny Toronto guards getting, and making, more comfortable looks from three, along with some easy layups.

Tatum has the size and skill to be a zone killer of the 2/3. In the triangle and two, Brad has to counter by having five offensive threats on the floor, minutes be damned. Space out the two man defenders, and feast in the open spaces with the other three players not covered by man to man.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Dec 24, 2002
48,505
Putting Kanter into the game in the third quarter of game 3 was a bad idea. He got pick/rolled to death and it resulted in the tiny Toronto guards getting, and making, more comfortable looks from three, along with some easy layups.

Tatum has the size and skill to be a zone killer of the 2/3. In the triangle and two, Brad has to counter by having five offensive threats on the floor, minutes be damned. Space out the two man defenders, and feast in the open spaces with the other three players not covered by man to man.
 

Attachments

benhogan

Granite Truther
SoSH Member
Nov 2, 2007
20,292
Santa Monica
Does Jaylen’s strong off the court image impact the criticism he gets in the media for on the court play? Not sure.

Either way, it hurts my sports heart to have such a negative play attached to Jaylen. I really hope he atones tonight with a monster game.
Jaylen had a monster game alright, some might even call it a horror show. :(

Kemba and Tatum will be needed to score early on Monday and get the team into a rhythm. Watching JB force 11 3pt shots yesterday was painful
 

NomarsFool

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 21, 2001
8,228
They were good looks, though. I don’t think it’s fair to call them forced, they just didn’t go in. Sometimes that happens, yesterday it happened a lot. The “normal” expected shooting percentage and the Celtics win the game.
 
They better wake the fuck up because they look like a team that wants to be at home.
No, they don't. (Understandable hyperbole from a fan, but still, no.)

Btw, I'm sure this was brought up in the game thread, but how many freaking times did Brian Anderson reference Anunoby's shot at the end of Game 3 and how it had given Toronto a new lease on life in the series? I'm not even a Celtics fan, and it was jarring just how often he went back to that well.
 

lovegtm

Member
SoSH Member
Apr 30, 2013
12,119
No, they don't. (Understandable hyperbole from a fan, but still, no.)

Btw, I'm sure this was brought up in the game thread, but how many freaking times did Brian Anderson reference Anunoby's shot at the end of Game 3 and how it had given Toronto a new lease on life in the series? I'm not even a Celtics fan, and it was jarring just how often he went back to that well.
Meh, just judging from my Youtube recs etc, it seems to have been a big moment for neutral fans. Defending champs on the ropes, 0.5s from being effectively eliminated, miracle shot. If the Raptors go on to win the series or the title, it will end up as an even bigger deal than Kawhi's 4-bouncer.
 

BigSoxFan

Member
SoSH Member
May 31, 2007
47,211
Meh, just judging from my Youtube recs etc, it seems to have been a big moment for neutral fans. Defending champs on the ropes, 0.5s from being effectively eliminated, miracle shot. If the Raptors go on to win the series or the title, it will end up as an even bigger deal than Kawhi's 4-bouncer.
Yeah, my Spurs fans all texted me that it was Derek Fisher all over again. That shot may have cost the Spurs a title as they would have gone up 3-2 and would have had Game 7 at home. I think they would have won WCF and beaten Detroit, as they did the next year.

If Celtics drop this series, they are absolutely joining that “what if” group of teams. Let’s avoid that.
 

benhogan

Granite Truther
SoSH Member
Nov 2, 2007
20,292
Santa Monica
They were good looks, though. I don’t think it’s fair to call them forced, they just didn’t go in. Sometimes that happens, yesterday it happened a lot. The “normal” expected shooting percentage and the Celtics win the game.
JB had a handful of decent looks. BUT 11 3's is too many considering he wasn't particularly close/soft misses. The first 5-6 clanks should have him thinking about moving the ball or attacking the rim (plus he hasn't shot them particularly well for 7 straight playoff games).

I'm sure I'll get pushback from JB's fanbase that feels he can do no wrong.:rolleyes:
 
Last edited:

ifmanis5

Member
SoSH Member
Sep 29, 2007
63,908
Rotten Apple
Brad's going to be more ready for the look of the zone tonight. He's had time to review the tape, and I'm sure they practiced some plays yesterday.
They were not ready. They had no plan B other than missing lots of 3's. The effort level was also disappointing.
Brad can't make the shots for them but that was a huge dud of a performance all around.
 

bankshot1

Member
SoSH Member
Feb 12, 2003
24,752
where I was last at
I made a TIC comment at the half last night, that if the Celts had made some shots they'd be up by 10, so they could piss away a 10 pt. lead in the 3rd qtr.

There's some truth in that snarkiness.

The Raps have been taking over games after the half, making adjustments and the Celts have consistently lost leads, and momentun in the 3rd qtr. .

There's a lot of shared responsibility in these losses, and Brad and staff own some too.
 

CoffeeNerdness

Member
SoSH Member
Jun 6, 2012
8,846
The terrible shooting isn’t unprecedented.

View: https://twitter.com/jaredweissnba/status/1302417114733649920?s=21


Boston shot 7/35 (20%) tonight. This was the 7th time in NBA history a playoff team shot 20% or less on 35+ attempts. They've all come in the past 4 years and Boston now has 3 of them.

They better wake the fuck up because they look like a team that wants to be at home. From 3-0 to 2-2, ugh.
33996

So that's game 5 (the series ender) versus the Bucks last year, game 7 versus the Cavs, and last night after the nut punch loss. Obviously some player turnover on those rosters, but these guys seems to play really tight in the biggest moments. I won't be shocked at all if tomorrow's game starts with Lowry attacking at will and the C's bricking threes.
 

BigSoxFan

Member
SoSH Member
May 31, 2007
47,211
View attachment 33996

So that's game 5 (the series ender) versus the Bucks last year, game 7 versus the Cavs, and last night after the nut punch loss. Obviously some player turnover on those rosters, but these guys seems to play really tight in the biggest moments. I won't be shocked at all if tomorrow's game starts with Lowry attacking at will and the C's bricking threes.
The common theme is Jaylen.

12-45 from field in those 3 games.

Jaylen playing poorly is a really bad omen for this team and now he may be in his own head after his Game 3 inbounds disaster.
 

bosockboy

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 15, 2005
19,957
St. Louis, MO
The common theme is Jaylen.

12-45 from field in those 3 games.

Jaylen playing poorly is a really bad omen for this team and now he may be in his own head after his Game 3 inbounds disaster.
Yes. Core players can’t let one bad game become two. That’s a fatal flaw.
 

128

Member
SoSH Member
May 4, 2019
10,069
Meh, just judging from my Youtube recs etc, it seems to have been a big moment for neutral fans. Defending champs on the ropes, 0.5s from being effectively eliminated, miracle shot. If the Raptors go on to win the series or the title, it will end up as an even bigger deal than Kawhi's 4-bouncer.
Kawhi's shot came with the score tied, so at worst the Raptors were heading to overtime, where they might well have won anyway. If OG misses, the series is, for all intents and purposes, over.
 

RedOctober3829

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 19, 2005
55,430
deep inside Guido territory
Winning this series comes down to three things for me: 3-point shooting, keeping Lowry out of the paint, and limiting 2nd chance points. For as much attention as the 3-pt shooting is getting(and for good reasons), Kyle Lowry has gotten off to great starts in Games 3 and 4. That has allowed Toronto’s shooters to get open easier. When they missed last night, it was way too easy for them to get offensive rebounds and put them back in for buckets. That’s more effort than anything.
 

Caspir

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
6,896
No, they don't. (Understandable hyperbole from a fan, but still, no.)

Btw, I'm sure this was brought up in the game thread, but how many freaking times did Brian Anderson reference Anunoby's shot at the end of Game 3 and how it had given Toronto a new lease on life in the series? I'm not even a Celtics fan, and it was jarring just how often he went back to that well.
Yea that was whiny of me.

I feel like this series should be over, but that damn buzzer beater changed the momentum so much. I don’t blame them for repeatedly noting it at this point. We really just need JB to get his head out of his ass.
 

SteveF

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 14, 2005
2,010
I wasted my time and did a deep dive on the 3 point shooting in this series to compare it to the regular season. It's a spreadsheet with no data visualization, but you can get a general idea.

Toronto is taking slightly more pull ups compared to regular season, driven mostly by Lowry. Celtics are getting more corner 3s than usual. The Raptors are getting fewer. Both teams are getting fewer open looks compared to what they get during the regular season, though percentage wise I'd say the Raptors have been tighter to 3P shooters than the Celtics, though the Celtics are generally better at making contested 3s (as you might expect given Toronto is undersized, Celtics are oversized at guard, and how the Celtics generate their 3s combined with how the algorithm determines what counts as open/wide open).

Much of the poor 3P shooting in the series is being driven by Lowry and Brown.

There's not enough data here to take this seriously. It's just a fun look at some trends.
 
By the by, a lot of the Stanley Cup playoff feeds I've been watching here in the UK have been taken from the CBC's Hockey Night in Canada, and it's been cute how excited the studio guys have been about the Raptors. The day after Game 3, they were starting a key intermission in what IIRC was the Dallas-Colorado Game 7, and Ron MacLean's first comment was, "OK guys...do you want to watch OJ Anunoby's shot again?" And there was another point when the Raptors-Celtics game was going on and MacLean (who I really like) said something like, "There's a really good basketball game going on right now - we don't want you to watch it, of course, so don't change the channel, but the Raptors are doing pretty well."
 

chilidawg

Member
SoSH Member
Jan 22, 2015
5,946
Cultural hub of the universe
Winning this series comes down to three things for me: 3-point shooting, keeping Lowry out of the paint, and limiting 2nd chance points. For as much attention as the 3-pt shooting is getting(and for good reasons), Kyle Lowry has gotten off to great starts in Games 3 and 4. That has allowed Toronto’s shooters to get open easier. When they missed last night, it was way too easy for them to get offensive rebounds and put them back in for buckets. That’s more effort than anything.
This is spot on imo.
 

reggiecleveland

sublime
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Mar 5, 2004
27,992
Saskatoon Canada
By the by, a lot of the Stanley Cup playoff feeds I've been watching here in the UK have been taken from the CBC's Hockey Night in Canada, and it's been cute how excited the studio guys have been about the Raptors. The day after Game 3, they were starting a key intermission in what IIRC was the Dallas-Colorado Game 7, and Ron MacLean's first comment was, "OK guys...do you want to watch OJ Anunoby's shot again?" And there was another point when the Raptors-Celtics game was going on and MacLean (who I really like) said something like, "There's a really good basketball game going on right now - we don't want you to watch it, of course, so don't change the channel, but the Raptors are doing pretty well."
Stick your cute comment in a bag. There are more NBA guys coming out of Tornto than where excatly? Basketball is getting bigger and bigger in Canada, and the nockey teams are out. Don Cherry is gone, and part of what really pissed him off was how much more popular and successful the Raptors have been. There was something about the makeup of the NBA and that the Raptors fans don't "look the same" as Leafs fans that bugged Cherry. Mclean talking hoops was very subtle dig at the idea not supporting Cherry's racism would cost him viewers.
 

NomarsFool

Member
SoSH Member
Dec 21, 2001
8,228
Every time Tatum had the ball, it seemed like Toronto either flat out doubled him, or they had a tag team style double where one guy was right on him and another guy was focused on Tatum as well, a few paces behind the first guy. Sometimes he tried to beat both defenders (very often meeting a 3rd closer to the basket) but that's a tough ask. The best basketball play in that situation is to pass to someone for an open jumpshot. That person was JB for much of the game, and they just didn't fall. To me, that's quite different than a player just taking pull up 3s from well behind the arc with 20 seconds on the shot clock. That's also different than taking step back, contested 3s. If you're open for a 3, you pretty much need to be able to take it and hopefully make them ~40% of the time (I'm talking about open 3s, I know overall 3s aren't going to be made by most at that clip).

Unfortunately, I think Brown's foul trouble also made him less effective on containing Siakam (or Siakam is just figuring out how to beat Brown). Hopefully Toronto's starters show their fatigue in game 5. They should be tired.
 

PedroKsBambino

Well-Known Member
Lifetime Member
SoSH Member
Apr 17, 2003
31,306
A few thoughts...

Offensively, more Kemba obviously is needed. Agree that Brown being assertive (and effective) early will help free up Tatum. Felt to me like the more they spread out the better the looks—Toronto has managed problems with one on one matchups by using more zone looks. Need to be ready to rotate the ball quickly and attack the rotations. Hayward is great at this...sigh. May also want more handoffs and screens designed to set up Tatum, Walker, or Brown iso on a side....not many of those and they can get good looks on those if it’s not a zone.

Defensively, I’m not sure I see a ton. Worth considering Smart on Lowry early to keep him from getting off strong, but otherwise thought D was ok. Toronto started to shoot well and some looks were cleaner than I’d like but that is about effort to me more than scheme. Anyone see anything to adjust?

Finally, need to really want it this game. Toronto played desperate in game 4 and Celts need to do so in game 5
 

BaseballJones

ivanvamp
SoSH Member
Oct 1, 2015
24,616
Funny how after the first two games some folks were thinking the series was over and that there was really not much that Toronto could do to effectively change the outcome. Well, here we are at 2-2 and the Celtics are in trouble. These two teams are evenly matched, and obviously it could be argued that Toronto is actually better - they did have a better record this year and are the defending champs, and even without Kawhi they're formidable. I said at the end of game 2 in the game thread that Toronto was still going to be a tough team to put away. I didn't have the miracle three-point buzzer-beater in mind and obviously with 0.5 seconds left I thought Boston would be up 3-0. But, well, here we are.

For game 5... Kemba needs to have a GAME. Taking 9 shots really isn't acceptable. I don't want him to force it, but he needs to play really well, especially if they're going to continue to double Tatum, which I think they are. And Brown doesn't need to go off, but he does need to be...decent. 4-18 overall, and 2-11 from three just killed them. All he needs, if he's going to shoot 18 times overall and 11 times from three, is to go like 8-18 (44.4%) and 4-11 from three (36.4%). If he did that last game, the Celtics would have won.

Between Brown, Kemba, and Smart, they shot 10-35 (28.6%), and 4-23 (17.4%) from three. It just won't take much for them to shoot better than that and if they do, they should be in good shape.

Defensively, keep doing what they're doing. They held Toronto to just 39.5% from the floor (38.6% from three). Toronto took more than half their shots from three (44 out of 86 total FGA), so I'd like to see the Celtics force them into the midrange a little more, but that's easier said than done.

Best two out of three, between two evenly matched teams. Should be pretty fun.
 

Captaincoop

Member
SoSH Member
Jul 16, 2005
13,488
Santa Monica, CA
Stick your cute comment in a bag. There are more NBA guys coming out of Tornto than where excatly? Basketball is getting bigger and bigger in Canada, and the nockey teams are out. Don Cherry is gone, and part of what really pissed him off was how much more popular and successful the Raptors have been. There was something about the makeup of the NBA and that the Raptors fans don't "look the same" as Leafs fans that bugged Cherry. Mclean talking hoops was very subtle dig at the idea not supporting Cherry's racism would cost him viewers.
I keep seeing this post and thinking it will make sense the next time I read it.
 

benhogan

Granite Truther
SoSH Member
Nov 2, 2007
20,292
Santa Monica
And Brown doesn't need to go off, but he does need to be...decent. 4-18 overall, and 2-11 from three just killed them. All he needs, if he's going to shoot 18 times overall and 11 times from three, is to go like 8-18 (44.4%) and 4-11 from three (36.4%). If he did that last game, the Celtics would have won.
I wouldn't expect Brown to hoist 11 3PA again. He had never attempted that many in his previous 330+ games.
 

HowBoutDemSox

Member
SoSH Member
Aug 12, 2009
10,130
I wouldn't expect Brown to hoist 11 3PA again. He had never attempted that many in his previous 330+ games.
I guess it depends how many good looks he gets; if they double off Brown to help on Tatum and Kemba, and he keeps getting open corner shots, I could see him letting them fly again at a high rate.