How worried are you about Celtics closing this out?

How nervous are you about Celtics closing this series out?

  • Not at all - this ends Monday night

    Votes: 195 44.4%
  • Not at all - they may not win G5 but will win G6 or G7 for sure

    Votes: 115 26.2%
  • A little concerned - there are some warning signs

    Votes: 87 19.8%
  • More than a little concerned but not panicking just yet

    Votes: 29 6.6%
  • Very concerned - hold me!

    Votes: 9 2.1%
  • They’re going to blow it - congrats on the ring, Luka

    Votes: 1 0.2%
  • Other (please specify)

    Votes: 3 0.7%

  • Total voters
    439

BigSoxFan

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May 31, 2007
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Well, last night sucked. A lot. But, it was only 1 game and the Celtics still have 3 more chances to close it out, including 2 at home. However, KP is still a giant question mark and real pressure will mount if they lose G5.

So, where do you sit on the spectrum of sports fan nerves?
 

SeoulSoxFan

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Jun 27, 2006
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I'm very, very much in the HOLD ME camp.

Also had a nightmare about being on a bus that fell off a cliff, right after the game.
 

NickEsasky

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Jul 24, 2001
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Last night sucked and was incredibly painful to watch but it doesn’t raise my concern about them winning the series very much.
 

Boston Brawler

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Jan 17, 2011
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Not at all. They only lost two games in a row 4 times all season. Never three or four in a row. They aren’t going to lose four in a row now.
 

lars10

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Jul 31, 2007
12,850
I don’t expect White, Holiday, Brown to start as off or tentative as they did last night. Also Dallas’ young talent plays entirely different at home.. if they miss shots they start to lose confidence. Boston’s D won’t play that poorly four games in a row… and maybe Luka won’t get away with hip checking Boston players on almost every drive or the Cs will get calls when they’re hacked at the rim.

JM has made successful changes all year as well.
 

Beomoose

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May 28, 2006
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My concern is mainly wrapped up in my concern about their shooting being atrocious for increasingly long stretches. Q1/2 of game 4 was less "Kidd has figured out a secret formula for success" and more "they can't throw it in the ocean right now."
 

Ed Hillel

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Dec 12, 2007
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Not concerned. They might not even win Monday, but they’ll win one of the next 3. I could definitely see them winning in Dallas Game 6 amidst a tornado of panic, seems like it would fit.
 

kfoss99

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Jul 15, 2009
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I'm not worried today. I won't be worried tomorrow. I'll be a nervous wreck all day Monday.

I can't see absolutely everything going wrong two games in a row, though.
 

TrapperAB

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Nov 25, 2002
3,773
West Hartford, CT
I spent Game 4 worried. Was worried when I went to bed last night. Woke up worried. Worry will spike into calamitous anxiety over the course of the weekend.

But that has everything to do with me and nothing to do with the Celtics.

They’ll get the job done Monday.

But I will remain worried until Silver hands over the fucking trophy.
 

John Marzano Olympic Hero

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Apr 12, 2001
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The Celts are too good to lose four in a row and the Mavs aren’t that good to win four in a row from Boston.

They’ll be fine. Last night sucked but they’ll be okay.
 

bankshot1

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Feb 12, 2003
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I watched last night and felt more disappointment than anger or angst. Dallas was desperate and clearly played with more desire and defense. That was expected. The Celts playing road patsy wasn't.
I didn't like what I saw from the Celts in the 1st qtr, no fight, settling for fast 3s, no ball movement, it was lazy ball. I became as resigned as they seemed to a G5. My wish for this team is to grow the fuck up and lose the sense of entitlement. They are going to have to win this series no one's going to give them the crown.
 

Archer1979

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While I wish the score was closer last night, this does give KP another few days rest. If was truly available last night, then he "should" be available on Monday night... and in Boston, where they have lost six games all season long (including the playoffs).
 

Ed Hillel

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I wouldn’t overlook lack of sleep as a factor in Game 4. I doubt many of those guys slept well, maybe not even Al, who had his first championship closeout game in 19 years. This walloping probably made sleep a lot easier, as will their actual beds.
While I wish the score was closer last night, this does give KP another few days rest. If was truly available last night, then he "should" be available on Monday night... and in Boston, where they have lost six games all season long (including the playoffs).
Yup, 43-6.
 

AlNipper49

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Apr 3, 2001
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I'm very, very much in the HOLD ME camp.

Also had a nightmare about being on a bus that fell off a cliff, right after the game.
Compared to the game that you watched while you're awake I think that it's technically a dream. Way preferable. Way less messy.
 

radsoxfan

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Aug 9, 2009
14,425
Minimally concerned, part of that is just the fact that this team has had a lot of rough losses and hasn't gotten over the hump yet.

WIth KP, we are comfortable favorties. Without him, we lose some of margin for error but still are better.

Over the next 3 games we are probably 70% to win the home games and 50% to win in Dallas?

So a 5% chance of blowing this? Crazier things have happened I suppose. Let's please end this in Game 5.
 

m0ckduck

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Jul 20, 2005
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Not concerned. They might not even win Monday, but they’ll win one of the next 3. I could definitely see them winning in Dallas Game 6 amidst a tornado of panic, seems like it would fit.
Agree with this. As I wrote in the other thread, would be extremely Celtics-y to blow the home closeout game and then win G6 as the entire fanbase freaks out.
 

brendan f

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Jan 13, 2019
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Only slightly worried because of the lead they've built in the series, but no KP hurts them a lot.
 

Euclis20

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Aug 3, 2004
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I'd be in the "not at all" category if KP were healthy, as I'm confident that the full roster is solidly better than this Mavs team. Without him, I think it's a pretty even matchup. That still gives us the edge because it's hard to lose three straight games when the matchup is even and you've got two of three remaining at home, but I'm definitely "a little concerned."
 

Ed Hillel

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Dec 12, 2007
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Worth noting that, even with KP out, Boston still probably has 5 of the 7 best players in this series. Don’t let one bad game fool you.
 

bigq

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Jul 15, 2005
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Worth noting that, even with KP out, Boston still probably has 5 of the 7 best players in this series. Don’t let one bad game fool you.
The Dallas best back court in the history of the game thing still gives me a chuckle. Let's see Luka put up 4 quarters of high intensity play on both sides of the ball. I don't think he has it in him.
 

Ale Xander

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Oct 31, 2013
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Yeah, it's one game, they were bound to have a bad game on the road eventually. I'd honestly rather lose by 40 than by 1. It just counts as one game. They are better than the Mavs, even without KP. Joey Mazz and assistants will figure out how to minimize Gafford, he was the key I thought in the 2nd. Let Doncic get his 30+, and control the rest. This isn't peak Kyrie and Pj and the gang don't scare me. Just play smart and hard and tough. Celtics in 5, like the first 2 rounds. Cavs had just as much talent as the Mavs.

The Celtics Brand is strong.
 

Mystic Merlin

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Sep 21, 2007
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I miss polls where we had to own our votes. Admittedly I still just really wanna know who picked Dallas in 4/5 games, and whether that was a bit.
 

SemperFidelisSox

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A Game 7 would be sphincter tightening time, but then I remember the Celtics running out of gas in Game 7 vs Miami last year when they tried to pull this off. It’s really freaking difficult to keep up that high level of performance for four straight wins.
 

Bleedred

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Feb 21, 2001
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I think KP is out for the series, so I'm a little concerned about Al holding up/ staying out of foul trouble. I think it ends Monday night, but if not, then I'll really start to worry
 

8slim

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Nov 6, 2001
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Before last night's game I watched the documentary that the NBA produced about the 2008 team. While we all remember that those first two playoff rounds went 7 - losing all 6 road games - I had forgotten that we got freakin' pasted by the Cavs in game 3, and lost an absolutely garbage contest to them in game 6.

Which is just to remind us all that great teams put up colossal stinkers from time to time. Especially on the road in the playoffs.

We'll win Monday.
 

Mooch

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Jul 15, 2005
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If we were going to lose game 4, a blowout was the best possible scenario for Al. He will have played 23 minutes in the past 5 days when he takes the court Monday. He should be very fresh for Game 5.
 

The Social Chair

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Feb 17, 2010
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A Game 7 would be sphincter tightening time, but then I remember the Celtics running out of gas in Game 7 vs Miami last year when they tried to pull this off. It’s really freaking difficult to keep up that high level of performance for four straight wins.
Running out of gas or Tatum getting injured? The latter is why you need to close this out right away.
 

Light-Tower-Power

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Jun 14, 2013
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Not at all. They’re the best team in the league that got blitzed by a desperate team at home. It happens. They haven’t lost 3 in a row all year they’re certainly not losing 4.
 

BlackJack

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Oct 11, 2007
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I voted other. Mostly I’m not bothered. I expect the series to get wrapped up on Monday. But there are intrusive thoughts lurking about them losing that keep creeping in.
 

lovegtm

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Apr 30, 2013
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Rationally, I'm not super worried.

Emotionally, I will probably not be able to watch game 5 live.
 

DeJesus Built My Hotrod

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The honest answer is that any time a team gets life in a series, its a concern. And contrary to some of the content around this series, Dallas isn't some paper tiger who lucked into the Finals. Their size and defense has been effective for them getting here and it was on display in game four.

I don't know if anyone would change their votes in the poll but if the question is "are you as confident about the Celtics closing this out as you were yesterday?" we might get a different result.

More to the point, hopefully the team has internalized that a bunch of human beings who were provided an easy way out - lose and you don't have to get on a plane to Boston where you may well lose anyway - didn't take it. The Mavericks will stay in this series for exactly as long as the Celtics let them. The C's are going to have to work and beat this team.
 

jsinger121

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Jul 25, 2005
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Not concerned. It’s not easy to sweep an NBA finals as it’s only happened 9 times for a reason. It’s suppose to be the toughest matchup. Guys like Bird, Magic, Jordan, Lebron never swept a finals. Hell Jordan went up 3-0 in the 96 finals and that series went to 6 games.
 

Devizier

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Jul 3, 2000
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Fanduel has the Celtics winning the series at -3500.

The money says the Celtics win this.
Inferred odds of the Celtics having a ~70% chance to win each of the individual (potential) games. Which incidentally is what was set before the series started, if I recall correctly.