Celtics vs. Nets, Round 1 Discussion
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I agree this will happen in the first 5ish minutes of game time, but like game 2 I expect the C’s to stay the course, play their game and end up making it a game by Q4
If they find themselves in a big hole like they did Wednesday night, its going to be a lot harder to dig themselves out of it on the road.
It’s Brooklyn though. There will be a lot of C’s fans there.
From a physical endurance standpoint the C’s have proved they can outlast the Nets and they don’t quit while the Nets have looked tired in both games. So no lead seems out of reach.
From a mental standpoint it sure seems this Nets team is on the verge of collapse. So much of the game is breaking the other team’s will and one team is brimming with confidence and the other seems lost so we’re close if not there already. I would be very surprised to see the Nets break out a big lead to be honest and more surprised to see them keep it.
I think k-factory has the right of this. Brooklyn may win game 3, but they have not yet shown themselves capable of sustaining the effort-level needed to beat the Celtics for the full 48 and I am not sure there is any reason to expect that to change.
Brooklyn might take this one, but I do not foresee a blowout.
We know Kyrie is a quitter so if the Celtics could get off to a fast and sustained start (say up 15 at the end of the first or something), I could see the Nets completely wilting and leaving it to Durant to just do everything.
This Ringer article - https://www.theringer.com/2022/4/21/23035300/celtics-nets-defense-nba-playoffs - points out that the Cs have gotten the best shot quality in the playoffs and BRK has gotten the worse. BRK's actual EFG% is 56.8 percent, which is about 10 percentage points higher than their shot quality, which actually speaks to how good BRK is.
From YAY TIMELORD to Womp Womp:
View: https://twitter.com/nickfriedell/status/1517545084916572161?s=21&t=llYtk_wQp3wK1JDHtqrCJw
View: https://twitter.com/nickfriedell/status/1517545084916572161?s=21&t=llYtk_wQp3wK1JDHtqrCJw
I’ll be interested to see how the start of Game 3 is officiated — not just because Durant is likely to get the early whistles given the physicality of Boston’s defense (which is wearing Durant down and contributing to his second half shooting woes), but because Tatum is getting bodied pretty hard, too. In Game 2, seemed pretty obvious that Brooklyn’s scheme was to double Tatum and be physical about it. Tatum did a good job passing out of it, but still wasn’t having a great shooting game (which made that dagger three in the fourth all the more impressive).
If the refs decide to call a tighter game, and they’re at all equitable about it, then Tatum should be going to the line a lot, too. Not as much as Durant, maybe, but it should still be a parade. And a whole lotta guys on both teams will be in foul trouble.
If the refs decide to call a tighter game, and they’re at all equitable about it, then Tatum should be going to the line a lot, too. Not as much as Durant, maybe, but it should still be a parade. And a whole lotta guys on both teams will be in foul trouble.
It is not like they have been calling a loose game so far. The real question is whether they call a "look at Durant the wrong way and it is a foul" game.
This makes sense. The Nets are "physical" as a substitute for overall great defense. The Celtics play overall great defense and are playing more "physical than usual." The only way this goes south is if only one team is allowed to play "physcial." I dont think the Nets can play above-average defense without committing fouls.
The person that would be nice to get going a bit more would be Derrick White. Terrible foul trouble in Game 2, but also wasn't much of a factor in Game 1, either. I think the chances of it happening are pretty much zero, but would be interesting to start White instead of Theis to throw a different look at the Nets and try and get him going (I feel like White's been in sort of a slump since like his second week here). Starting White is difficult because of the timing on when you rest Smart - so as I said, extremely unlikely Ime goes away from the double big approach that he has used pretty much the whole season.
Durant had 20 free throws last game. How many more can he realistically have? 30? 40?
If the refs/league decide that there were a lot of uncalled fouls despite KD’s 20 free throw attempts (and there’s a lot of footage from Game 2 where KD was abused attempting to go through screens), maybe Dwight Howard should worry about his record (39)…
Not really, of course — the list of most FTA is dominated by guys who were sent to the line for good reason (Howard, Chamberlain). But could Adrian Dantley’s mark of 31 (highest number for someone who could actually shoot free throws) be at risk? You betcha.
As @joe dokes said above, this is only a problem if the refs blow the whistle for only one team/one player. If they want to get the players to dial down the physical play, the refs are going to have to call Nets players for their equally aggressive approach to Tatum. Will they? I’m a jaded skeptic, so I doubt it.
I think the foul concern is more if you see Tatum, Jaylen or Al pick up 2 or 3 in the first quarter more so than the free throw attempts.
Have they reported the ref assignments for game 3? Expecting Tony Brothers or Scott Foster - hopefully both to take them out of the running for game 4.
They could call a tighter game, resulting in more fouls earlier, which would cause the Celtics to have to be more careful down the stretch. The number of fouls doesn't have to be drastically different in order for there to be a significant impact.
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I’m sure it takes timeto reactivate Dick Bavetta.
Curious as well: as you note doesn’t look like they are assigned yet.
I’m sure it takes timeto reactivate Dick Bavetta.
I shuddered seeing Scott Foster and Ed Malloy next to each other, then realized that was Tor/Phila
I agree that the rigging angle is dumb but I would like a more experienced crew than we got on Wednesday, and I think we do.
and we're just the crowd that will expend that energy
half the game threads are dedicated to blown calls, ref bias, relitigating the whistles
And at the end of the day, with the exception of completely egregious screwjobs like Kings-Lakers, it doesn't affect the eventual champion.
The Celtics are getting called for a lot of fouls on Kevin Durant because they're fouling him a lot. It's part of an effective strategy to beat him up over the course of 1 game and a series. But you're going to hear whistles when you go with that strategy.
You and I have been the Tatum fanclub lately, but it's nice to see the national narrative about his D catch up with his performance. Dude should be perennial all-Defense.
This. There are always going to be some ticky tack fouls (Horford's #6 on Brown for instance) but the Celtics were committing a foul on Durant just about every time down the floor.
There is always going to be bodying up/touching. The longer, stronger, more athletic player that is committed to defense will always be at a huge advantage to the shrimpy, less committed defender.
Trae Young puts his hands or body on the opposing PG most every trip down. But a good offensive player can easily play through it. Now when Marcus Smart puts his mitts or barrel chest on you it's like moving through a cement pillar.
I'm not sure the Celtics foul that much more than other teams.
I think its a cop-out to say physical defense = more fouls
At least that should be the narrative
Trae Young puts his hands or body on the opposing PG most every trip down. But a good offensive player can easily play through it. Now when Marcus Smart puts his mitts or barrel chest on you it's like moving through a cement pillar.
I'm not sure the Celtics foul that much more than other teams.
I think its a cop-out to say physical defense = more fouls
At least that should be the narrative
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Thanks for posting.
It's amazing to me that Jaylen Brown - who is off the charts athletically and in this series is tasked with guarding KI straight up at time, chasing around Curry and Mills, going mano-a-mano against KD, and guarding bigs like Drummond and Claxton and keeping them off the boards (JB had a couple of key rebounds down the stretch in G2) is considered the "worst" defender of the Cs starting five. Particularly on a lot of teams he might be considered the best defender.
I know at the beginning of the year people were pointing out that JB sometimes fell asleep on defense or missed rotations. That's not happening very much these days if at all.
Amazing what happens when you put five of the best 25-50 defenders in the NBA together, they might really be able to shut down opponents.
The starting 5 when TL is in reminds me of the 2000 Ravens.
No kidding. It's his 5th year, he's made 3 all-star teams, he's played in over 50 playoff games. Nothing Tatum is doing right now should be surprising to someone who watches NBA games for a living.
Is it possible the scheme is helping cover for some of Jaylen’s defensive shortcomings? He is known for falling asleep a bit, missing a rotation, etc, but to my eye the way this switching/handoff scheme works seems to actually simplify things a bit. A lot of little decisions to make, but easier and more clearly defined decisions because it’s really about everyone being able to cover anyone and winning individual matchups all over the floor, which is better for JB’s skillset on D.
I can understand when he is talking about in context of covering Durant though. Nobody blocks Durant's midrange or bothers his shot as much as Tatum did these past two games. That is shocking
That last game was one of Jaylen's best defensive games ever.
It seemed like he helped and stripped KD 3x. Turning them into offensive transition baskets
IMEs attention to detail and accountability has tightened things up all season
Watching the Celtics pour their souls into defense is so rewarding as a fan. It makes me nostalgic for the days when college teams improved every year and the NCAA tournament was chock a block with games where an experienced team willed themselves to victory through a complete belief and commitment to the concept of preventing the other team from getting to do anything by choice.
Ime and staff must be excited by the prospect of folding TimeLord back into the mix - they’ve learned a lot about the rest of the team in his absence.
I’m not worried about how hard the Nets punch in game three. It’s coming and the Celtics will absorb, deflect and counter-attack.
The Nets are dead men walking, they just don’t know it yet (Well no. 11 has an inkling and even said it out loud).
Ime and staff must be excited by the prospect of folding TimeLord back into the mix - they’ve learned a lot about the rest of the team in his absence.
I’m not worried about how hard the Nets punch in game three. It’s coming and the Celtics will absorb, deflect and counter-attack.
The Nets are dead men walking, they just don’t know it yet (Well no. 11 has an inkling and even said it out loud).
I'm sorry for not verifying. I guess referee assignments is what you worry about, getting impatient with two days between games.
View: https://twitter.com/padre_block/status/1517988131034701824?t=g1isMz-sOhlrbLfEuhVt9A&s=19
Jay King says TL is available tonight!
Jay King says TL is available tonight!
Hard to believe that in game three of the same two teams matched up in last year's playoffs the Celtics top eight by minutes played was:
Tatum
Smart
Fournier
Walker
Thompson
Langford
G Williams
Nesmith
Having Jaylen Brown back is a huge. Moving on from Fournier, Walker, Thompson and Langford and bringing in Horford, White and Theis is a dramatic improvement.
Edit - forgot to mention that Rob Williams’ development this year has been a game changer.
Tatum
Smart
Fournier
Walker
Thompson
Langford
G Williams
Nesmith
Having Jaylen Brown back is a huge. Moving on from Fournier, Walker, Thompson and Langford and bringing in Horford, White and Theis is a dramatic improvement.
Edit - forgot to mention that Rob Williams’ development this year has been a game changer.
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I've been thinking more about Ben Simmons since this - even though I'm still skeptical we see him at all.
On offense, he fits best if the Nets play him with Durant and 3 guards. Then he can either handle the ball or go to the dunker spot. If they play him with Durant, Claxton/Drummond, and 2 guards, one of whom is Bruce Brown, then the Celtics can focus their defense on stopping the drive and the 2 shooters (Durant and KI) - but in that scenario Simmons is a liability when he is off ball, and both Durant and KI like to handle the ball.
On defense he's simply an asset no matter what the lineup.
On offense, he fits best if the Nets play him with Durant and 3 guards. Then he can either handle the ball or go to the dunker spot. If they play him with Durant, Claxton/Drummond, and 2 guards, one of whom is Bruce Brown, then the Celtics can focus their defense on stopping the drive and the 2 shooters (Durant and KI) - but in that scenario Simmons is a liability when he is off ball, and both Durant and KI like to handle the ball.
On defense he's simply an asset no matter what the lineup.
Nets got it down to 4 with 7 minutes to go. From that point on, Tatum went 5-5 for 14 points, 2 assists, 3 rebounds, and a steal.