I agree. Will mess with everyone’s heads for G7We're winning this by 30, book it.
Now game 7, no clue there.
I agree. Will mess with everyone’s heads for G7We're winning this by 30, book it.
Now game 7, no clue there.
And like 30% of what they were for this game the whole time through beginning of game 4.Tickets for the nosebleed seats are literally half of what they were for games 3 and 4.
Nothing substantive to add to this, but I like it. Seems predictably unpredictable, and thus on par with the whole postseason.Hot take. Game 6 will be tougher. C’s eek out a 2-3 point win and then win Game 7 handily.
Because it has been, and continues to be, a a great ride.I just don’t get everyone singing the “It was a great ride” dance.
It has been a great ride, but it has been as frustrating as it has been great.I just don’t get everyone singing the “It was a great ride” dance. Maybe it’s an age thing and those who are older appreciate it more - I’m admittedly spoiled, since I was 12 during the first of the 12 titles in 17 years (plus 2 Football nattys thrown in)
I could understand that sentiment if they showed up and were so clearly overmatched. But once they were up 2-1, and led by 5 with 5 to go in Game 4… that went out the window. At that point I can’t settle for “what a ride”. At that point they’re too close to the finish line to just be grateful for the ride.
I said all along that C’s had to do this in 6 because they weren’t winning a Game 7 in SF. But the more I think about it… the fact they seem dead to rights ATM makes me wonder if GS would get tight in a close game in Game 7 - the pressure would be SQUARELY on them. Have to get there first.
I think this has been largely true of the playoffs. I don’t remember exact numbers but one of the major talking points on a few nba pods towards beginning of conference finals was the amount of blowouts. At one point there was like a 17 game stretch where there were a negligible amount of lead changes.Have the Celts won any games this postseason in which both teams played pretty well? Maybe one or two games in the Nets series? Feels like all of their wins are either blowouts or a few close ugly wins thrown in. Like I can’t say GS played well in game 1 or 4 when they put up 16 and 11 in the 4th. But maybe that’s true the other direction as well, you rarely feel like your team played well if they lose.
Right. While the series have been captivating and tight, the individual games haven't been all that great. It's a weird dynamic.I think this has been largely true of the playoffs. I don’t remember exact numbers but one of the major talking points on a few nba pods towards beginning of conference finals was the amount of blowouts. At one point there was like a 17 game stretch where there were a negligible amount of lead changes.
IIRC, after Bill Walton broke his foot early in the 86-87 season (while rehabbing from a broken finger), Bob Ryan said in a column that: 1) thanks for 85-86, but this *has* to be the end for Walton; and 2) Walton's absence means it's unlikely Bird will ever get 2 NBA championships in a row. Not exactly predicting the nadir-around-the-corner, but still pretty good.There are never any guarantees in the NBA: no one thought after 1986 that the Celtics were going to become a franchise in decline and then a bottom feeder. But to the extent these things are predictable the Celtics as a franchise are in a good spot.
Remember what happened between the 1986 win and Walton breaking his foot? It wasn’t just Walton that led to Ryan’s claim.IIRC, after Bill Walton broke his foot early in the 86-87 season (while rehabbing from a broken finger), Bob Ryan said in a column that: 1) thanks for 85-86, but this *has* to be the end for Walton; and 2) Walton's absence means it's unlikely Bird will ever get 2 NBA championships in a row. Not exactly predicting the nadir-around-the-corner, but still pretty good.
Of course. Just a mild response to "who could've predicted....." Ryan had more stuff (working totally from memory here) about the overall age of the team (both in years and beatings) that fed into his point. I mostly remember it because he was really a lone voice on the "we've seen the best of these Celtics" / "end is near" train.Remember what happened between the 1986 win and Walton breaking his foot? It wasn’t just Walton that led to Ryan’s claim.
Also, there’s a case to be made that they win anyway in 1987 but for a different broken foot.
Yeah, the nadir started after Bias death…it was as if Red’s deal with the devil had finally come due. Broken feet, broken back, another death, lost #1 pick…Remember what happened between the 1986 win and Walton breaking his foot? It wasn’t just Walton that led to Ryan’s claim.
Also, there’s a case to be made that they win anyway in 1987 but for a different broken foot.
I'll add some questionable Zarba blocking/charge calls to this. This has been a great run but it ends tonight.If it's close down the stretch, I can see Smart missing multiple semi-open 3s early in the shot clock, and/or Brown losing the ball every time he drives, and/or Tatum front rimming (or air-balling) multiple jumpers, with the rest of the roster disappearing entirely.
You can be grateful for a fun ride and extremely frustrated with the end of the ride. It doesn't have to be one or the other...on my end I've thoroughly enjoyed the last five months of watching this team have one of the best in season turn arounds of all time, completely dominate the last couple months of the regular season, and then make it to the finals beating Durant/Kyrie/Giannis/Butler along the way. The last week has been maddening, and will likely end that way. But these celtics, who were 18-21 after blowing a 24 point lead to the shitty knicks, are playing on the 2nd to last possible day of the season. No matter what I'm grateful for that alone.I just don’t get everyone singing the “It was a great ride” dance. Maybe it’s an age thing and those who are older appreciate it more - I’m admittedly spoiled, since I was 12 during the first of the 12 titles in 17 years (plus 2 Football nattys thrown in)
I could understand that sentiment if they showed up and were so clearly overmatched. But once they were up 2-1, and led by 5 with 5 to go in Game 4… that went out the window. At that point I can’t settle for “what a ride”. At that point they’re too close to the finish line to just be grateful for the ride.
I said all along that C’s had to do this in 6 because they weren’t winning a Game 7 in SF. But the more I think about it… the fact they seem dead to rights ATM makes me wonder if GS would get tight in a close game in Game 7 - the pressure would be SQUARELY on them. Have to get there first.
It's not all that different from the 2021 Red Sox. The Celts were what, 5 minutes away from a 3-1 series lead? IIRC the Sox were 2 innings away from a 3-1 series lead after a very unexpected run throughout the playoffs where at times they looked unbeatable. It was a frustrating ending to a team that was ultimately superior, but it was still a fun ride that I was / am grateful for.You can be grateful for a fun ride and extremely frustrated with the end of the ride. It doesn't have to be one or the other...on my end I've thoroughly enjoyed the last five months of watching this team have one of the best in season turn arounds of all time, completely dominate the last couple months of the regular season, and then make it to the finals beating Durant/Kyrie/Giannis/Butler along the way. The last week has been maddening, and will likely end that way. But these celtics, who were 18-21 after blowing a 24 point lead to the shitty knicks, are playing on the 2nd to last possible day of the season. No matter what I'm grateful for that alone.
edit: I'll add that I already had one edible today. Correlation doesnt equal causation, but Im sure that played a factor in my over the top, rosy colored glasses post above. As far as my mentality for this specific game goes, 10 addtional mg's of gummies are awaiting me around 7pm. That says it all.
Ugh, I'm still not sure that homer Altuve hit off Whitlock in the 8th of game 4 has landed.It's not all that different from the 2021 Red Sox. The Celts were what, 5 minutes away from a 3-1 series lead? IIRC the Sox were 2 innings away from a 3-1 series lead after a very unexpected run throughout the playoffs where at times they looked unbeatable. It was a frustrating ending to a team that was ultimately superior, but it was still a fun ride that I was / am grateful for.
A couple of years I was at SeaWorld and went on a roller coaster where they locked your legs in and pitched you forward so it was like you were flying. The ride was incredible, but at the end it stopped and broke, and we were left hanging there in that awkward position for 15 minutes. My hamstrings started to cramp and there was nothing I could do about it.You can be grateful for a fun ride and extremely frustrated with the end of the ride.
Yup the 2021 Sox parallels are pretty good if they lose tonight.It's not all that different from the 2021 Red Sox. The Celts were what, 5 minutes away from a 3-1 series lead? IIRC the Sox were 2 innings away from a 3-1 series lead after a very unexpected run throughout the playoffs where at times they looked unbeatable. It was a frustrating ending to a team that was ultimately superior, but it was still a fun ride that I was / am grateful for.
This is probably good news for the Celtics. Zarba’s awful but this seems like a crew that will be really influenced by the crowd.
To fill your time, please feel free to post here instead...As the token Celtics-Yankees fan on this board, I tend to avoid this forum. I have posted in two game threads and the Celtics lost both games. I'll avoid the thread tonight and cross my fingers that the C's can somehow force a Game 7.
Because what does a professional sports team owe you? It's entertainment. Two to three hours out of our days to be distracted by our day-to-day lives.I just don’t get everyone singing the “It was a great ride” dance. Maybe it’s an age thing and those who are older appreciate it more - I’m admittedly spoiled, since I was 12 during the first of the 12 titles in 17 years (plus 2 Football nattys thrown in)
I could understand that sentiment if they showed up and were so clearly overmatched. But once they were up 2-1, and led by 5 with 5 to go in Game 4… that went out the window. At that point I can’t settle for “what a ride”. At that point they’re too close to the finish line to just be grateful for the ride.
I said all along that C’s had to do this in 6 because they weren’t winning a Game 7 in SF. But the more I think about it… the fact they seem dead to rights ATM makes me wonder if GS would get tight in a close game in Game 7 - the pressure would be SQUARELY on them. Have to get there first.
Pretty good (and obvious) comp, now that you've pointed it out.It's not all that different from the 2021 Red Sox. The Celts were what, 5 minutes away from a 3-1 series lead? IIRC the Sox were 2 innings away from a 3-1 series lead after a very unexpected run throughout the playoffs where at times they looked unbeatable. It was a frustrating ending to a team that was ultimately superior, but it was still a fun ride that I was / am grateful for.
This seems a weird take to me.Have the Celts won any games this postseason in which both teams played pretty well? Maybe one or two games in the Nets series? Feels like all of their wins are either blowouts or a few close ugly wins thrown in. Like I can’t say GS played well in game 1 or 4 when they put up 16 and 11 in the 4th. But maybe that’s true the other direction as well, you rarely feel like your team played well if they lose.
It might be a function of that. Looking back at their wins post round 1:This seems a weird take to me.
Giannis put up some monster numbers in games the Bucks lost. If we're saying, yeah, he was great but the rest of the team wasn't, then this seems to me to be begging the question: naturally, for a team to have lost, certain things have to have gone wrong.
More broadly: the C's have scarcely won or lost two games in a row since the opening round. In those losses, do you feel that the same dynamic has applied, where they've generally looked bad? (I do, with the possible exception of Finals G4). Because at that point, we'd be saying only one team plays well in each of these games and yet it constantly switches back and forth, which seems coincidental. I see it more as there being something about the C's style of play that creates these optics, that their brand of "winning basketball" excludes the possibility of the other team looking really good in the process.