The Heat is on, ECF here we come!

benhogan

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The play was so telegraphed that there was little to no threat of anything else happening, which has to make it easier to defend. IIRC Spoelstra even subbed in a longer guy who played 5 minutes total to contest the three. Damn smart move.
Brad tried subbing the "longest" guy for .5 seconds and got heavily criticized around here
 

lovegtm

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https://theathletic.com/2070798/2020/09/16/hollinger-prevent-offense-prevents-boston-from-winning-game-1/

The Athletic's John Hollinger on the disaster that was Boston's late-game offense in the opener.
Yeah, this. That's on Brad imo.

Fortunately, the adjustment after game 1 losses of "do the same stuff, but harder and with more purpose" is effective a shockingly high amount of the time in the playoffs. I think it's something about having seen exactly what your opponent is going to do and the specific ways in which you need to give effort. Similar to HRB's theory about defenses locking in as a series progresses, but applicable on both ends. (Sometimes you just need to have your offense fall off less than the other team's does.)

The "win 4 out of 6" thing sounds daunting, but bienvenido a los playoffs. It happens all the time.
 

NomarsFool

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Is it conceivable that they didn’t want to run a play too early, and leave the chance for a steal or return score if they missed, given that they had been winning all night—they preferred to take the chance in OT where there is less variability in more time? Or is that just dumb talk? Admittedly, they had just given away the lead, but it’s the only thing I could think of.
There's a chance for a steal when Tatum is just pounding the ball in the floor as well. At some point, you need to try and win the game, and they ended up with a fairly low percentage shot when they had all the time in the world to get a better one.

Was John Madden telling them just to take a knee and head into overtime?
 

lovegtm

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Literally everything else that happened at the end of the game is better for 2nd-guessing than Tatum's end-of-regulation shot. He wound the clock down to nothing and got a clean look on a shot that he hits around 40%. You're not going to do much better than that at the end of a game.

I was meh on the dunk attempt, since he can get a stepback 3 against anyone on Miami, it's a 35-40% shot, and that saves you from another overtime with no Theis.
 

BigSoxFan

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Literally everything else that happened at the end of the game is better for 2nd-guessing than Tatum's end-of-regulation shot. He wound the clock down to nothing and got a clean look on a shot that he hits around 40%. You're not going to do much better than that at the end of a game.

I was meh on the dunk attempt, since he can get a stepback 3 against anyone on Miami, it's a 35-40% shot, and that saves you from another overtime with no Theis.
Yeah, I was hoping for 3 attempt there. If he makes the dunk, Miami has about 4 seconds to score and they probably would have or Butler would have drawn a foul.
 

bankshot1

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It took a tremendous play from Bam to block Tatum at the rim, and anything less than Bam's perfect play ends up in a tie-game and IF the refs call it right, and a +1 to win it.

it will be interesting to see if that play has any lingering impact on the Celts going to the rim or whether they avoid the paint and play perimeter ball and hope to hit 3s.

I hope they stay appropriately aggresive and not concede the paint.
 

The Social Chair

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Yeah, I was hoping for 3 attempt there. If he makes the dunk, Miami has about 4 seconds to score and they probably would have or Butler would have drawn a foul.
Same. I think a pass to Marcus gets a clean look here. I don't think Crowder recovers.

34270
 

BigSoxFan

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Same. I think a pass to Marcus gets a clean look here. I don't think Crowder recovers.

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Yeah although I don’t blame the dunk attempt after you’ve committed to it. A pass could easily be deflected in that situation. All in all, just a crappy ending but feel comforted that it took an extraordinary play to stop us. And there was a very real chance of a flush and foul.
 

DourDoerr

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I liked the aggressiveness of the dunk - and the high percentage of a finish - so was perfectly fine with JT feeling it out and pouncing. That threat to drive is an important tool in his toolkit and it enables him to get better looks at 3's, etc. As it's been said above it took an extraordinary - with a capital "E" - play to thwart it. While it might make JT a little less timid to try again, it might make him more likely to hit the open shooter out of a drive.

I have more quibbles with Kemba's drives - particularly one late in the game where he drove head down into, I think, Crowder with Herro collapsing and leaving a wide open Brown in the corner. Kemba's got to keep his head up.
 

NomarsFool

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Yes, Kemba's scrambles looked awful. Somebody's got to get that guy some sneaks with better traction, too.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Yes, Kemba's scrambles looked awful. Somebody's got to get that guy some sneaks with better traction, too.
it isn’t only Kemba. Everyone was sliding all over the place in G1. Butler went down twice on hard cuts, Theis did one time, and another Heat player fell twice in the same spot on one possession.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Wife thought she was doing me a favor and set up the game for me except she put it on ESPN with no volume and ground level baseline camera so I was digging it not having to hear Van Gundy. As I’m watching I’m thinking that neither team made any adjustments out of the gate, which is what I expected. Another quick Celtics start and it wasn’t until Dragic’s corner 3 off a C’s basket to make it 8-3.........that I realized this was a replay of G1.
 

InstaFace

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Kemba is a complete lost cause, IMO. I have seriously downgraded my expectation for him. The knee simply has to be bothering him. He needs to figure out what the new version of him can do. And we need Hayward. Brad also needs to be realistic and go Wanamaker more, if needed. Kemba’s flat out killing this team.
RIP this take
 

HomeRunBaker

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Halftime Adjustment:

Spoelstra 37
Stevens 17

This is occurring way too often these days.5D245FA2-4F64-4556-A952-9CDC1058F1B6.png
 
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Eddie Jurak

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Well, this is a Celtics team that could and should be so much better than it actually is. They have now showed up and played a full game exactly once in their past 7 playoff games. That just isn't going to get it done.

Edit: And it can't be blamed on Kyrie Irving this time. This playoff 'effort' is poor enough that the Celtics maybe have to consider reshuffling things in some way in the offseason.
 

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Tatum is immensely talented and has the potential to be a top 3 player in the league. But he's 22 and not yet ready to take over a game in crunch time. That's not even a knock on him, it's just the reality this year. The zone killed him, and that's about execution.
And not having Hayward's court vision, composure, and shooting is really a material loss against this zone.
 

HowBoutDemSox

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Kanter was an interesting move, it works when Butler is sitting but once Butler comes back in, he needs to sit.

Kemba off ball was also a good adjustment, it seems they went away from that in the second half.

Would like to see them getting Jaylen more involved, handling the ball more rather than largely standing in the corner while Tatum and Kemba get trapped. A dribble handoff to Jaylen wouldn’t kill them there.

Grant should be getting all of Semi’s minutes.
 

DeadlySplitter

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no choice now but to try to get Hayward in, if he's healthy enough of course.

a full 48 minute, healthy effort and they should blow this team out. we've seen it for quarters at a time. really locking up late in games in embarrassing fashion.
 

riboflav

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Tatum is immensely talented and has the potential to be a top 3 player in the league. But he's 22 and not yet ready to take over a game in crunch time. That's not even a knock on him, it's just the reality this year. The zone killed him, and that's about execution.
And not having Hayward's court vision, composure, and shooting is really a material loss against this zone.
Completely agree but dammit we green teamers don't want to hear this right now.
 

slamminsammya

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Stevens needs some heat for leaving in Kanter too long tonight.

I wonder if the Langford sub so early had something to do with Jaylen Brown's attitude. Dude looked pretty checked out at times in game 1 and had a pretty bad game tonight as well.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Grant should be getting all of Semi’s minutes.
I’d have to assume Hayward gets those minutes in G3. This Miami team is freakin tough......shooters everywhere with Jimmy and Bam scoring in the paint. Spo’s defensive game plan was fantastic. I don’t think the Celtics did anything wrong tonight either....they just got beat by the better team. Brad doesn’t have the personnel to defend their pick-n-roll when Miami forces switches to create massive mismatch advantages.
 

Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat

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Stevens needs some heat for leaving in Kanter too long tonight.

I wonder if the Langford sub so early had something to do with Jaylen Brown's attitude. Dude looked pretty checked out at times in game 1 and had a pretty bad game tonight as well.
Nah, it was just trying to get his athleticism and D in there for a little while. Extend the bench, give then a little spark.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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Miami was 18-23 in the paint. Otherwise, Robinson & Deagic aside, they shot poorly. The Celtics need to slow Miami down low.

It and the Heat defense which has been great, zone or not, have been the main issues for Boston. Miami is so well prepared and they seem to know whom they want to stop each sequence.
 

Red Averages

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“Imploding”. I’ll take being pissed down 0-2 over complacent when blowing two straight double digit leads.
 

slamminsammya

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Sometimes I feel like Smart is the only guy on the team I really trust.

Then other times he does the thing he did tonight at one point where he dribbles into a crowd and throws up a ridiculous rainbow floater that doesn't catch rim.

But usually I trust him.
 

128

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We know this series will go at least four games. So why hasn't the date for Game 4 been set yet?

(If it's been scheduled, I can't find it on NBA.com or ESPN.com.)
 

JCizzle

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Kanter was an interesting move, it works when Butler is sitting but once Butler comes back in, he needs to sit.

Kemba off ball was also a good adjustment, it seems they went away from that in the second half.

Would like to see them getting Jaylen more involved, handling the ball more rather than largely standing in the corner while Tatum and Kemba get trapped. A dribble handoff to Jaylen wouldn’t kill them there.

Grant should be getting all of Semi’s minutes.
This team acts like they have a couple Hardens instead of a complementary team. The offense just looks so stagnant to me. Jaylen doesn't look to pass much himself, but he does drive and dish at least. To my eye, Tatum and Walker tend to attempt a dribble or two toward the rim (after pounding it for a few seconds feet behind the 3PT line) and just pass it around the perimeter when they can't get theirs.

Overall I doubt that Jaylen is a statue out there by choice. He's a super active player - like that awesome putback - but the gameplan never seems to account for a third or fourth player. Compare that to all the cutting and movement from the Heat... who seem to do a great job of keeping all their players involved and active in the game. I never get the sense from them that a guy is waiting for "his turn" out there.

I dunno.
 

HomeRunBaker

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Miami was 18-23 in the paint. Otherwise, Robinson & Deagic aside, they shot poorly. The Celtics need to slow Miami down low.

It and the Heat defense which has been great, zone or not, have been the main issues for Boston. Miami is so well prepared and they seem to know whom they want to stop each sequence.
This was the price to pay. Celtics switched, rotated and closed out on Miami’s 3-point shooters. All well and good but the Heat were prepared and it created open lanes for Butler and Bam inside. This is an elite offense that we don’t have any answers for thus far. It’s a big problem.
 

osori

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This team acts like they have a couple Hardens instead of a complementary team. The offense just looks so stagnant to me. Jaylen doesn't look to pass much himself, but he does drive and dish at least. To my eye, Tatum and Walker tend to attempt a dribble or two toward the rim (after pounding it for a few seconds feet behind the 3PT line) and just pass it around the perimeter when they can't get theirs.

Overall I doubt that Jaylen is a statue out there by choice. He's a super active player - like that awesome putback - but the gameplan never seems to account for a third or fourth player. Compare that to all the cutting and movement from the Heat... who seem to do a great job of keeping all their players involved and active in the game. I never get the sense from them that a guy is waiting for "his turn" out there.

I dunno.
Hayward is the only one on the team that has superb court vision and can constantly feed the cutters. Jaylen I love him, I think he is a very smart person but honestly his BQ on offense is not good. Tatum, once he tries to see the court he can't dribble, and when he focuses on dribbling he can't see the court.
 

riboflav

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Totally get it.
But damn, I wish there was someplace here where we could actually talk basketball.
Impossible. Hayward at the FT line v. the 3/2 would be effective as a decisive player who can threaten and pass. Also, just not enough depth and shooting. Inside bigs who can score would be nice, too. Wait. Also, the Celts key alphas are really young (but Kemba). Wish we had Miami's roster but nah.
 

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Impossible. Hayward at the FT line v. the 3/2 would be effective as a decisive player who can threaten and pass. Also, just not enough depth and shooting. Inside bigs who can score would be nice, too. Wait. Also, the Celts key alphas are really young (but Kemba). Wish we had Miami's roster but nah.
Kanter is an inside big who can score.
Tatum is the team's alpha, and he's 22. How many teams have won championships this way? I mean, even MJ was 28 when he won his first.
Frustrating as this is, it's great experience for Tatum especially.
 

riboflav

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Maybe the Celts should 3/2 the Heat (even without the length the Heat have bc they don't have Hayward)! Put the dynamic Dragic at the FT line with an abundance of outside shooters on the perimeter and Bam roaming and cutting to play high low. What could go wrong?
 

riboflav

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Kanter is an inside big who can score.
Tatum is the team's alpha, and he's 22. How many teams have won championships this way? I mean, even MJ was 28 when he won his first.
Frustrating as this is, it's great experience for Tatum especially.
I mean I'm agreeing with you. Kanter can score low but gives up too much defensively so it can be a wash at best.
 

riboflav

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Kanter is an inside big who can score.
Tatum is the team's alpha, and he's 22. How many teams have won championships this way? I mean, even MJ was 28 when he won his first.
Frustrating as this is, it's great experience for Tatum especially.
Totally agree about Tatum. SoSH expects way too much of him at this point.
 

HowBoutDemSox

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Kanter is an inside big who can score.
Tatum is the team's alpha, and he's 22. How many teams have won championships this way? I mean, even MJ was 28 when he won his first.
Frustrating as this is, it's great experience for Tatum especially.
Bird was a couple years older (born December 1956, first won 1981), Magic (born August 1959, first won 1980) was the only one that comes to mind who really lead his team to a championship at a younger age than Tatum, and he had Kareem.
 

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Bird was a couple years older (born December 1956, first won 1981), Magic (born August 1959, first won 1980) was the only one that comes to mind who really lead his team to a championship at a younger age than Tatum, and he had Kareem.
I was talking about this with a buddy, and that's exactly what we came up with.
 

HowBoutDemSox

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I was talking about this with a buddy, and that's exactly what we came up with.
Going back further, Bill Russell won as a rookie in 1957, age 23, a year older than Tatum. There may be others but Magic is the only one who did it younger than Tatum is now that I can think of, and, again, having Kareem on your team helps (though Magic famously didn’t need him to win the clinching game, of course).
 

Bob Montgomerys Helmet Hat

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Going back further, Bill Russell won as a rookie in 1957, age 23, a year older than Tatum. There may be others but Magic is the only one who did it younger than Tatum is now that I can think of, and, again, having Kareem on your team helps (though Magic famously didn’t need him to win the clinching game, of course).
And Russell wasn't the guy with the ball in his hands in crunch time.