I think they would have KD play it the same was Rob does, which is to say, KD's man would be a corner shooter, just like Rob's.
Celtics vs. Nets, Round 1 Discussion
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The breathless writing about Simmons's possible return is nauseating. Hardly an exhaustive search, but I havent seen any writers saying "no, it's prety fucking unlikely no matter what Nash says." It's like they are all afraid to say something like that. Meanwhile, most writers are perfectly willing to surmise that Player A wants Player B to die because of the at one time he didn't pass him the ball.
Fair, but other than Mr. COrner Office himself, who else does that apply to? It just seems like putting your best defender on the other team's weakest offensive player seems to be less than effective unless your defender has the otherworldly level hops of the Time Lord.
Durant is something of an athlete himself (and a taller one than Rob) who can cover some ground and who is good at help defense. Taking him off of Tatum is bad from the point of view of defending Tatum (although he might be able to come late on some of Tatum's drives), but it is probably good from the point of view of cutting back on KD's workload in the hope of jumpstarting his offense.
After re-watching the last 18-minutes of Game 1 I believe IME would be wise to keep Tatum's minutes at 42 or below.
JT's defense was pretty porous in Q4 and he wasn't really doing much on offense until the very last second
Just let him sit the last 2-4 minutes of Q1 and Q3
JT's defense was pretty porous in Q4 and he wasn't really doing much on offense until the very last second
Just let him sit the last 2-4 minutes of Q1 and Q3
In fairness, Bill Simmons has been pounding this point in podcasts, throwing shade on the idea that Ben Simmons will play.
Great post; thanks for breaking out those numbers.
From memory, I'm guessing that KD started a lot of plays on JT but did not end the play on him.
BRK doesn't have a whole lot of other choices. BOS is really big so it's not like they are going to put KD on Marcus. They could put KD on Theis but who does Curry play then?
BRK may try to play more zone though.
http://nyyfansforum.sny.tv/forum/forum/general-baseball-forums/sabermetrics-stats-fantasy-baseball/106424-a-close-analysis-of-yankee-projections
Hughes2.50 - the author of the fabled cubic transformation model - even tries to distract from his bullshit by lobbing bombs at our very own Eric Van!
From a June 2007 post in the linked thread:
‘ Although I can appreciate the work you went through typing up this Unabomber Manifestor, directed at me, I will not participate in a wild goose chase following around your wrong impressions. However, this last post allows for an opportunity to actually do what science intends to do, and that is - predict what a system will do. Given that, I would be more than happy to compare my system with Eric Van's. I'll start with a comparison of the two names you just mentioned and their performance this year so far (MDERA).
Gallardo's MDERA so far in 2007 is an incredible 222. So clearly, even Eric Van's formula which he himself says he pulled out of an orifice, and my system agree. Gallardo is having an impressive year - still we want to see how these numbers look at the end of the year. On the other hand, Inman's MDERA is a solid (especially for a pitcher as young as he is), if unspectacular 110. The MLE adjustments at Brevard didn't smile upon Gallardo last year either - so maybe the adjustments at Brevard might be too depressed.
In any event, Inman's numbers place him behind both Buchholz and Bowden on the MDERA statistic. How did I know you wanted to know that?
Btw, is Eric Van still on the employ of the Red Sox. If so, talk about compromised systems.’
I mean, Nash is throwing water on it. It's pretty clear that the impetus is Simmons' camp pushing the idea that he's working hard and almost back to Woj and Shams (no coincidence that Shams who has been the Klutch go to guy for all things Simmons had it first). Their ideal scenario is he's almost ready and then the team loses to the Celtics, and they say... "Simmons wanted to go but the Nets wanted to take it slow"
Is Simmons whole deal here that he just wants teams to pay his contract money for as long as he can get them to and then he’ll retire? Like does he have PTSD from the playoffs last year?
I get Fultzian “shoulder thoratic outlet syndrome” vibes from all this.
I get Fultzian “shoulder thoratic outlet syndrome” vibes from all this.
In this case, when they announced he had an epidural I was listening to Raja Bell's podcast and his thought was:
1. He clearly hurt himself trying to ramp up too fast
2. He was done for the year.
Once he got traded he definitely started working out/practicing hard, plenty of team sources were saying that, I think he thought he'd come back at the same time and Kyrie and they'd go on a big run.
Once he hurt the back and it lingered though, I always assumed he was done until next year, not sure what the "he's pushing to come back" narrative is about, but to be fair that is what most players do/say when hurt even when most people assume they are done for the year.
Yup. 46% from 3 point again from the Nets. At some point they’ll miss and they are going to get blown out of the building.
The Celtics really need to keep pushing the ball off of rebounds/turnovers. The offense is so much more dynamic.
But really, this Celtics defense is just incredible. I know Durant couldn’t hit a shot, but he’s gotta be exhausted with how hard they are making him work, not letting him get to his spots and shoot fade-aways.
Game 3 is must win for the Nets
View: https://twitter.com/tomhaberstroh/status/1516956983978606595
Worst half of Durant's career from the field
Worst half of Durant's career from the field
Just wait to see what kind of whistle Durant gets in Brooklyn. It's going to be a sight to behold.
Credit to Ime for sticking with Pricthard. I would have yanked him after a few minutes when he was hurting them, but he turned it on and was a huge part of the turnaround.
Underrated flaw for BKN tonight was coaching.
This could have gotten tight, we kept fouling Durant, couldn't get a clean stop. Have it up 7 w/ 45 seconds left, Claxton looks to the bench, ready to give the foul and Nash says no. We run 21 seconds off the clock and get a layup... game over. Criminal mismanagement not to extend the game there.
This could have gotten tight, we kept fouling Durant, couldn't get a clean stop. Have it up 7 w/ 45 seconds left, Claxton looks to the bench, ready to give the foul and Nash says no. We run 21 seconds off the clock and get a layup... game over. Criminal mismanagement not to extend the game there.
I just can't wait for young people to once again tell me how much better KD is than Bird, or Magic, after this performance against "physical" defence. In the 90s or 80s he shoots maybe 4 fts when defended like that. "
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Nash may need to rethink the heavy minutes he's giving KD. He looks tired and his shooting % and turnovers reflect that also.
This game was an emotional roller coaster that ended with a satisfying win.
For the first 2:30, they were lifeless as Bruce Brown ran up a 9-0 lead practically all by himself. For the next 5 minutes or so, they tighened up their defense but mostly opted for the 1-on-3 heroball kind of offense and mostly didn't. Smart had nice looks to Theis and Horford for easy baskets, and I hoped that would send the team a message but it didn't really. Even Al Horford tried a slow post-up of a double team and was rejected. Brooklyn opened up a big lead, but the Celtics narrowed it to 9 on a couple of late Grant threes. Adding insult to injury, Derrick White picked up 3 fouls in the first.
I had hoped they would get back into sync at the quarter break, but they didn't really. they made a couple of short runs only to let up and have Brooklyn rn the lead back up. Brooklyn eventually ran the lead up to 17 but Boston narrowed it to 65-55 at the half, which, for how they played, felt like a win.
For most of this game, Brown and Tatum were ice cold. At one point, the Celtics 3 leading scorers were Grant with 17 points, Horford with 16, and Theis with 15.
The Celtics went on a great run in the third, eventually tying the game at 79 all, before NJ went on a little run to get up 5 (90-85) entering the 4th.
The Celtics opened the 4th quarter with a mostly bench lineup: Pritchard-White-Brown-Grant-Theis. I was worried about whether the Celtics could hang on with Smart, Tatum, Horford all resting, but they played even for 2 minutes and when Horford and Tatum came back in (for Theis and White), the Celtics broke out, led by Jaylen Brown. Brown hit an incredible basket late in the third, a well defended drive that he finished with a layup off a weird part of the glass. He had a couple more drives for layups along with hitting a three on a nice feed from Tatum and hitting a deep 3 because he was feeling it. Meanwhile, the Celtics absolutely locked the Nets down defensively. The 4rth quarter scoring was 29-17, but most of the Nets offense came late after the game was all but gone. Jaylen Brown stuck a deep three to put the Celtics up 12 with 2:07 left, and the 4th Q scoring up to that point was 23-6.
Ime let Payton Pritchard play the first 7:30 of the 4th quarter, during which the Celtics went on a 14-4 run, along with the final minute when the Nets were trying to come back. He hit a late clock dagger long 2 that was supposed to be a stepback 3 but he had a foot on the line. Overall, he shot 5-7 from the field, missing both threes, and was able to drive effectively against this Nets team.
Jayson Tatum struggled from the field until he hit a couple of key baskets late. But he contributed to the comeback with some assists, too. He finished with 19 points on 5 of 16 from the field, 6 rebounds, 10 assists. Brown led the team in scoring with 22 points including 10 in the 4th. He took over the Celtics offense for a stretch, beginning with a three off a nice feed from Tatum at 9:02, then a pair of layups (sandwiched around the killer Pritchard step back), then a deep 3 at 6:04.
Brooklyn came out physical and energetic and the Celtics were not ready for it and rattled - they missed a lot of free throws, too. But I don't think Brooklyn can play like that for 48 minutes against the Celtics. Kyrie and Durant combined to shoot 8 for 30 from the field. Duranrt was the game's high scorer with 27 points on 4 for 17 shooting, including 1 for 2 from three? How the F do you get 27 points out of that? 18 of 20 from the line. Kyrie had 10 points on 4 for 13.
I think the Celtics win this series - though at the end of the half I was starting to think they would lose it. I just don't think Brooklyn can play against the Celtics for 48 minutes. Maybe they will go for the Ben Simmons wild card.
For the first 2:30, they were lifeless as Bruce Brown ran up a 9-0 lead practically all by himself. For the next 5 minutes or so, they tighened up their defense but mostly opted for the 1-on-3 heroball kind of offense and mostly didn't. Smart had nice looks to Theis and Horford for easy baskets, and I hoped that would send the team a message but it didn't really. Even Al Horford tried a slow post-up of a double team and was rejected. Brooklyn opened up a big lead, but the Celtics narrowed it to 9 on a couple of late Grant threes. Adding insult to injury, Derrick White picked up 3 fouls in the first.
I had hoped they would get back into sync at the quarter break, but they didn't really. they made a couple of short runs only to let up and have Brooklyn rn the lead back up. Brooklyn eventually ran the lead up to 17 but Boston narrowed it to 65-55 at the half, which, for how they played, felt like a win.
For most of this game, Brown and Tatum were ice cold. At one point, the Celtics 3 leading scorers were Grant with 17 points, Horford with 16, and Theis with 15.
The Celtics went on a great run in the third, eventually tying the game at 79 all, before NJ went on a little run to get up 5 (90-85) entering the 4th.
The Celtics opened the 4th quarter with a mostly bench lineup: Pritchard-White-Brown-Grant-Theis. I was worried about whether the Celtics could hang on with Smart, Tatum, Horford all resting, but they played even for 2 minutes and when Horford and Tatum came back in (for Theis and White), the Celtics broke out, led by Jaylen Brown. Brown hit an incredible basket late in the third, a well defended drive that he finished with a layup off a weird part of the glass. He had a couple more drives for layups along with hitting a three on a nice feed from Tatum and hitting a deep 3 because he was feeling it. Meanwhile, the Celtics absolutely locked the Nets down defensively. The 4rth quarter scoring was 29-17, but most of the Nets offense came late after the game was all but gone. Jaylen Brown stuck a deep three to put the Celtics up 12 with 2:07 left, and the 4th Q scoring up to that point was 23-6.
Ime let Payton Pritchard play the first 7:30 of the 4th quarter, during which the Celtics went on a 14-4 run, along with the final minute when the Nets were trying to come back. He hit a late clock dagger long 2 that was supposed to be a stepback 3 but he had a foot on the line. Overall, he shot 5-7 from the field, missing both threes, and was able to drive effectively against this Nets team.
Jayson Tatum struggled from the field until he hit a couple of key baskets late. But he contributed to the comeback with some assists, too. He finished with 19 points on 5 of 16 from the field, 6 rebounds, 10 assists. Brown led the team in scoring with 22 points including 10 in the 4th. He took over the Celtics offense for a stretch, beginning with a three off a nice feed from Tatum at 9:02, then a pair of layups (sandwiched around the killer Pritchard step back), then a deep 3 at 6:04.
Brooklyn came out physical and energetic and the Celtics were not ready for it and rattled - they missed a lot of free throws, too. But I don't think Brooklyn can play like that for 48 minutes against the Celtics. Kyrie and Durant combined to shoot 8 for 30 from the field. Duranrt was the game's high scorer with 27 points on 4 for 17 shooting, including 1 for 2 from three? How the F do you get 27 points out of that? 18 of 20 from the line. Kyrie had 10 points on 4 for 13.
I think the Celtics win this series - though at the end of the half I was starting to think they would lose it. I just don't think Brooklyn can play against the Celtics for 48 minutes. Maybe they will go for the Ben Simmons wild card.
Problem is... he's their only consistent player, he's the best defender as well.
Al is so, so good, and playing his best backetball right now. 16-6-2 with 2 steals and a block tonight.
It is a problem! And so are his two game totals:
Kevin Durant this series: 13-41 FG (32%) 2-7 3P 8 AST 12 TOV
He is -23, the lowest on the Nets.
Hiding him defensively down the stretch on Claxton was Auerbachian level stuff. Pritchard is a freakin gamer no doubt!!
The Nets just kept feeding Durant down the stretch and I couldn't understand why Kyrie wasnt getting some looks. Was it a choice by Nash? A product of the Celtics defense? Even more surprising when they had Pritchard out there.
yep, the Celtics are selling out to cover him, body him up and the Nets have no real answers other than "hope Kyrie goes supernova and 2-3 of the roleplayers have good nights.
Today they got the latter, not the former, and it wasn't enough.
yeah, Nets had to go to Claxton for defense, but it took away what they did to White which was every time he switched onto Drummond they gave him the ball in the post and he abused White. Didn't have the confidence to do that with Claxton.
I'm sure it's Celtic bias, but it sure felt like Brooklyn had an awful lot of lucky offensive rebounds. Maybe it just stings more because the Celtics played (for the most part) such great defense and it's just such a killer when you force the team into a bad shot and they luck into an offensive board.
An underrate coaching move was Ime playing Pritchard on D for Thies. the nets didn;t adjust and he got a couple of scores and opened up the key. He also blocked out and battled like crazy on the D boards.
The Nets best offense tonight seemed to be coming from pushing the ball off Celtics misses. I think if the Celtics tighten it up on offense it will be even stronger clamps on the Nets. This is always true for any team, but it feels compounded in this series because the Celtics halfcourt D looks so locked in.
KD is really taking a beating. He's not the biggest guy so it must affect him.
Misses and TOs. BRK also got a bunch of offense on second chance points. Not a lot in half court with KD and KI both off.
He and Grant are really fundamentally sound boxer-outers. They might not get the ball, but their man doesn't either.
I mean for every foul they called there were 3-4 they ignored. I have this sinking feeling that Durant's going to score a 35 FTA night in Brooklyn.
There is some debate about what to do. The Nets seem to use the 'get to the foul line' technique, sinc elots of 3s come out to that spot.
Meh. Durant was turning the ball over all game after having two days off. Fatigue wasn’t a factor when he was playing the same way the entire game.
When Bruce Brown has as many FG as Durant and Kyrie combined, you know you're doing something right on defense.
Hard to believe we got Al back for the corpse of Kemba Walker.
Hard to believe we got Al back for the corpse of Kemba Walker.
He was getting blitzed repeatedly and it took a toll on him mentally and physically like a fighter continuously taking body blows. It was glorious.
That was an excellent summary, covered pretty much everything. Tatum hit that three with 2:07 left, but just semantics lol.
The defense in the 4th was brilliant. Jaylen had 10 on 4/6 shooting in the 4th, think an assist too. Tatum had 7 on 2/3 shooting, with 4 assists. They both had incredible 4ths, on both ends of the court.
Pretty amazing the Nets only had 6 points 10 minutes through the 4th. And there was only maybe one wide open look they missed that I can remember. Everything else seemed like tough shots.
Good lord, how can Granite barely get a mention in a recap after that game?
All the guy does is play some stifling defense on Durant and get 17pts on 4 FGA
They are down by 20 at the half without Grant and that's being generous