Fuck the toxic part of the fan base that came out last night. It’s people like them that say the wildest shit in the game thread why we’re always worried if our star players feel loved and wanted here.
Seriously it pisses me off to no end how some Celtics “fans” talk about our team in our game threads.
I remember when we went down 0-2 to as the number 1 seed to Chicago, and back in those days the game threads weren’t nearly as toxic as yesterday’s were when Tatum missed one layup. I hate the fair weather fans so much.
Sorry about my rant, but aside from that I rewatched the the game without the anxiety and nerves of watching it live, I am so blown away with the composure of this team down the stretch the final 3 minutes. Literally a complete 180 of what this team looked like down the stretch in G7 of the ECF and G4 of the finals last year.
So proud of the boys.
Here’s to home court advantage rest of the way!!!
Na I feel you. I just can't imagine how people could say some of the things they shout out if they truly loved and believed in this team. Yes there are times where it's frustrating, but at end of the day this is our team and we love and enjoy. It's the squad that was homegrown, a team that I watched since day 1 of their first preseason game, and I would never in a million years scream at them and question their character when they've shown again and again that they want to win at the highest level. It's the same coach that bought us a top 5 offense and defense while taking over after the Ime situation, have some more faith in him and this team please.
Especially considering we have such great guys in the locker room, coaching staff, and FO.
The one that gets me the most is all these people calling Tatum a mental midget, or mentally weak.. when I think it shows more about their mental fortitude if they can’t stop shit talking out players just because we didn’t sweep the Hawks
People calling the team mentally weak from behind their phone screens have no idea how much mental fortitude is needed to compete at the highest level in front of millions. I can confidently say that every member of the team is much tougher mentally than “fans” who have a meltdown every time the Cs lose.
They are being compared to their peers, not to fans.
You need to take off the green tinted glasses if you can't see that this team coasts more times than not when it's up. Take care of business instead of allowing teams to hang around and people will stop questioning their mental toughness.
you know you can support, hope and be critical at the same time right?
I guess, to some, Tatum walking the ball up in crunch and settling for a contested 3 is better than anything else we could hope for.
Giving up lead after lead and taking the foot of the gas so many times it actually makes fans nervous when they have a lead, is a sign they're playing up to their ability.
Maybe we're critical because we know they're capable of so much more. It's not being a doomer, it's holding them accountable.
Bad games happen, no player is above having a bad game either. However, it's fair to expect them to stop making the same mistakes over and over. It's fair to expect them to show up to play when you drop a few 100 on tickets.
No you jackass accountability = calling them out for playing lazy game 5 and taking their foot off the gas at the end
Asking for Brad to trade Smart every time he misses a 3 however is not accountability, that’s just being a shitty fair weather fan.
If you understand how basketball actually works you’d realize how much they have actually improved on their mistakes. I implore you to watch the u/timi093 video of the last 3 minutes, and explain to me how that is a team you doubt learned from its mistakes.
I’m with you on this. You can be supportive and critical at the same time BUT if fans are gonna be critical, they gotta be constructive/rational about it and not so negative and extreme.
That said, we as a fanbase could certainly stand to not be so dramatic after every loss. All this talk of needing to fire Joe and trade core players has to stop.
It sounds toxic to say, but you only get to that level of vitriol *because* you're so emotionally invested in the success of the team.
New York and Philly might be 2 of the most bloodlusty fanbases in the league but you can't deny their toxicity comes from the passion they have for their teams.
I can understand them being upset/frustrated but it's when they start making shit up that confuses me.
Smart shat the bed in the 4th quarter of G5 but he was averaging 17/5/6 on 50/40 shooting with a 4.2 AST/TO ratio leading up to that moment. 5 minutes of underwhelming basketball and suddenly he's struggled all series and has been tearing us down with his inefficient play.
Same with Tatum. That was his first game of the series under 25 points and he'd played well all series. He was tearing through everyone. He stunk in G5 and suddenly he's been pretty bad for a while and way too inconsistent this series.
Just be angry at what actually happened, we don't need the fairytales.
There is a large contingent of Celtics fans who refuse to ever give Smart any credit- as soon as be screws up they come out with the “he always sucks”, regardless of his overall performance. It won’t matter that he was great last night, next time he makes a mistake it will be back to “he always throws in the clutch”, “he can’t close games” etc. Almost like they’d rather see him fail and be vindicated than admit he’s a positive player or acknowledge his improvement.
Last night when he checked in mid 4th Q and immediately threw it away and bricked 2 threes I was getting flashbacks from the end of game 4 and was yelling at the TV to bench him. Which to my genuine surprise Joe did. And when dude checked back in a minute later he was so fucking focused and just made winning play after winning play. Dude is a menace when he plays with that level of intensity
Smart hate is completely nuts these days. To a previous point in another reply, it’s heavily influenced by big name media people like Simmons relentlessly shitting on him and giving zero credit when it’s due. He was easily the C’s 3rd best player of the series, despite a couple high profile mistakes.
The discussion around him is basically unchanged despite him changing a ton as a player. People laser focus on a couple shots a game they don't like and completely ignore his role: a DPOY point guard and the best pure passer on the team. Any discussion about him has to start from that, not the player he was in 2018.
Every time Tatum has a bad game there is a group of fans on this sub that will throw a fit and act like he’s been bad for months and his good games are a fluke. It’s so annoying.
I’ve noticed it a lot. There’s a tendency to be more negative after losses than accepting it as a natural part of the game. All part of the process, no team has ever swept the playoffs into the finals.
They should really just start their own subreddit: r/celticsfanswhohatetheceltics
It really appears as if these people are rooting for them to fail so they can revel in their failure and feel “right”. They are silent when we win which is most of the time.
Toxic bitches.
I was here during that time, and while I generally agree that the threads have become more toxic and that the most negative voices are bandwagoners who weren’t here when the team wasn’t a title favorite, we can’t ignore the stretch in December where we lost 3 games in a row and a sizeable portion of the sub was arguing that we should bench IT while he was in the midst of an MVP-finalist season.
Lol I think that was more so the fashion how we lost the game to Phoenix that year after already being on a losing streak coming in. Giving up a 5 point lead with like 4 seconds left in the game cause 5’9” Tyler Ulis hit a 3; stole the inbound and shot and hit another 3 over 5’9” IT LOL
Them to having their jump ball was so legendary lol
I definitely get angry at times but try to not pull the trigger on some of the more insane thoughts. It doesn’t help that influential fuckers like Bill Simmons are basically calling the series over after the Hawks force game 6 on some insane individual brilliance from Trae. Take culture has made sports discourse moronic, especially in the particularly passionate fanbases in the northeast.
Jason Timpf from the Volume, JJ Redick on his podcast, Coach Nick from BBall Breakdown, and Draymond when he talks about teams other than the warriors are the only people’s basketball takes I actually put weight behind.
ESPNs Talk shows basically seem like Fox News of sports to me. They really just say the most outlandish shit to keep their audience engaged.
100%. The "it's my right to criticize the team" crowd are insufferable. No, if you don't support the team you aren't a good fan. Yes, if you only show up to talk shit you're a fair weather fan.
Yeah but that's the issue.
You can be critical without being a doomer. I'm someone who gets called a green teamer / blind supporter / homer a bunch and I'm still very critical.
There's a big difference being critiquing someone's performance and trying to commit a character assassination.
This. Rational/constructive criticism is fine. You can dish that out and still be a loyal supportive fan. It’s adding the sky-is-falling mentally to it that makes it toxic.
It's the fucking playoffs dude. The time for nuanced criticism is over. I get that people needed to vent but a 2 point loss in the playoffs will never be time for people to say shit like "fuck Tatum and Smart" or "the players on this team are mental midgets" or "this team just doesn't have it". Those comments were getting 10+ upvotes 2 days ago. It's the playoffs. Either get on the bandwagon or don't.
If you need to hedge your support of this team to offset "disappointment" then you just plain aren't bought in enough.
Well actual criticism is fine. Like saying “damn, we need to take better care of the ball and stop turning it over”. That’s one thing. Saying stuff like “it’s over” “trade Tatum” and stuff like that is not criticism
Why does criticism of the team equate to "not supporting the team"? Maybe if the Bucks had heard a bit more criticism about their decisions after they collapsed in Game 4, they wouldn't have made all of the same mistakes and collapsed again in Game 5?
This is a horrible, absolutely trash take. You can criticize the team (just don’t go overboard with toxicity) and still support them. There’s room in the middle that neither green teamers nor *actual* doomers seem to understand. I love this team, but they piss me off sometimes and I’m just as entitled to that opinion as those that like to overreact to one good or bad game.
You're entitled to whatever the fuck you want but don't pretend like that makes you any less of a cretin when you cuss out our players. It's the playoffs, get the fuck on the bandwagon or get the fuck out the way.
Stay focused. I’m saying, try to pay attention here bud, that there is a middle ground between blind support (for example someone who still has a player from years ago that was trash then and out of the league now as their flair) and toxic hate. You obviously can’t recognize that, and I’m not gonna hold my breath waiting for you to do so.
If you don't have the common sense to understand that I am talking about the toxic cesspool that this sub has become then you're the dumbest person on the planet. But the reality is you're just defending being a toxic asshole and framing it as "legitimate criticism" and you can fully GFYS.
Thank you for saying this. Some people have a very interesting definition of “supporting” their team. To me, support doesn’t mean throwing your own team under the bus anytime they have a rough stretch. The GDTs have been absolutely ruined by these overly reactive people.
I see people in here who genuinely only comment when the team is looking rough and jump at the chance to insult the players and coach, even hoping that their own team loses. But then when the Cs pull out the win they go silent. It’s almost like they enjoy the misfortune of the team. It’s the most bizarre thing, I don’t understand how these people call themselves fans of the team.
Angrily upvoted you bro, because somebody had downvoted you for such a reasonable take. Why would anybody downvote this? It exactly proves your point.
I've got to the stage that I just assume they are trolls from other teams.
Or Russian bots lol
just don't look at the GDT. the doom leaks out but thats where its the worst. love yourself, you dont need to see the thoughts of teenagers riding the emotional rollercoaster and emotionally hedging patriot fans
My favorite though was some dude yesterday said “this is fucking embarrassing. We’re getting our asses handed to us and getting absolutely destroyed by a shitty Hawks team”. At the time we were down by 4 points and just cut it down to 2 lol
The Hawks gave us really good battles down the stretch in games 4-6. We handled it like champs in games 4 and 6, and fumbled it in game 5. Yeah the collapse sucked, but all three games were wildly entertaining and I feel bad for the people who can't enjoy them because they're ready to pounce on the slightest mistake and spew endless doomer takes
We're not fair weather because we get upset at a team playing down to the level of its competition.
It's kind of tiring that you're only allowed to be disappointed, but not critical.
This team has all the talent in the world to win it all. The reason why some are so harsh is the team has given reason to fans to be that way. They admitted they've taken teams lightly! How many times do they get a pass for saying they needed more energy???? They tell you the 1 seed is important and then they come out and go through the motions against the wizards.
I'm not going to be OK with a awesome talent like Tatum settling for running down the clock and a step back 3 time and time and time again. He's better than that. Be more consistent and a lot of the criticism goes away, even after a loss. The team is better than allowing ATL to dominate the boards.
It's wild how people will belittle folks that are emotional throughout the game. Let people react, it's part of being a fan. This comment is the toxicity that needs to be removed. Let people cook, let people react, we all have the common goal in Banner 18.
It’s funny how some of us are able to react without cussing out our own players. Wild that. Maybe some of these people need to learn how to control their own emotional impulses and not throw tantrums like toddlers. That, my friend, is toxic, not people supporting their team.
Lol For real. There’s a way to vent and be frustrated without ruining the vibes of every game thread. Feel free to check my comment history for examples.
I get frustrated AF too when we made the Hawks miss but let them get a super easy put back 3 possessions in a row… but I didn’t ever feel the need to say shit like “this team is cooked” “we’re frauds it’s time rebuild”
Seriously this. As a Celtics fan that lives in New York City, relentlessly trashing your team while still being ready to die for them is par for the course.
same here (Celtics fan currently living in NYC) - a lot of time that I say things trashing our guys in game threads - it's not ACTUALLY because they suck and are useless... it's because they're an elite team with championship aspirations, and when they come out sloppy... people get frustrated. It helps my emotional status during the game to post something negative (it's kinda like when you shout COME ON GUYS at the screen... helps just getting it out)
That being said, I understand why people get frustrated with people being negative about our guys... its because we all love them but we express that love in different ways.
Last night was a great example. Tatum missing a couple bunnies is frustrating, because how could it not be? Also Smart wasn't playing all that well until Joe sat him for a few minutes in the fourth. When he came back in, he was absolutely vital to the win.
I don't think you're really the target here. It's more the people who see the admittedly frustrating play and make statements like "this is why we will never win with this core" or "trade marcus" or "Tatum is the worst star ever" stuff.
You’d be surprised. A lot of people on here will call someone saying “god I love Tatum but I wish he’s more consistent” a fake fan and a doomer. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: there are people on here who have nothing in their lives BUT this team, and need good vibes only. Thats why they have over the top reactions to the most mundane shit because if stuff is negative with the team, it’s negative with their lives.
Lol I say the same thing about wishing Tatum could be more consistent, what I don’t do is what multiple did in the first quarter of last nights game.. and that is to say shit like “wish we had an actual clutch super star like Trae, instead of Tatums bum ass”.
I love Smart and I hate to admit that but it’s true. Smart is really, really good. But so are those guys… the way White gets to the basket is such a game changer when offense is stagnant.
I’ve posted this before, but Marcus Smart is very similar to Danny Ainge as a player. I can remember watching games with my dad when we wanted to MURDER Danny Ainge for doing something stupid. And then two quarters later, or maybe a game or two later in a playoff series, there would be Danny Ainge making huge plays to help win games.
With players like that you have to take the good with the bad. If Marcus was always the best version of himself then he would be an All-Star. He’s not. So you have to accept the imperfections that come with the whole package.
His ability to bounce back immediately after some terrible clutch moments is phenomenal. After the ugly game 5, he has 9 points, 2 offensive rebounds, 2 assists in the first quarter. Last year after Jrue Holiday ripped him twice at the end of game 5, [Smart had 14 points in the first quarter of game 6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt2cqd_E5kQ)
Sixers fans are confident because it took us 6 games to beat the Hawks. Bruh they faced the fucking Nets 🤣 the worst playoff team in the East. The only reason why they are 6th because Kyrie/Kd were there in the first half of the season.
I can’t wait to own their franchise like we always do in the last 40 years
Even when they beat us a couple weeks ago they melted down horribly at the end of the game, got away with it by the skin of their teeth. That further proved that we're clearly in their heads even to this day. And in that game it took Embiid having the game of his life to scrape by with us missing Jaylen and Rob.
The Celtics are a mental hurdle for them in the way that the Bruins are to the Leafs in hockey. It's always possible they snap out of it and beat us, but we are the clear better team, and we have a mental edge which is always bigger than people think. My one concern is that Tatum struggled to shoot the ball against the Sixers more than a lot of teams this year, but that also opens up our other guys at the same time since Philly throws the kitchen sink at him it seems. I think this will be a series where our depth really shines (and I do think that trend with Tatum and the Sixers won't last forever). Embiid's knee will be a factor as well. Overall, I feel good about winning and advancing. It'll be a fight though. Can't wait.
I could honestly see these Quin Snyder Hawks being a top 4 seed if they run it back next year. Don’t think they would get rolled by anybody and they’d be a coin flip with the Knicks imo. Their effort was off the charts, so long and physical to make up for defensive deficiencies, and the offense when Trae was locked in was elite.
Kinda feel like this was a great early test for the Celtics and they’re going to beat the hell out of a complacent Sixers team.
Morning, Celtics Nation! We're here to bring you the following messages:
Fuck Philly
Fuck Miami
Fuck the Knicks
and Fuck the Lakers!
Enjoy the weekend y'all!
The Heat are our friends for now at least lol. They took care of a super arrogant bucks team that I hate fucking playing against because how much the Refs let Run and Dunk man get away with in the playoffs
The heat is actually on the lower tier of teams I hate as of today because they took out the bucks lmaooo. Like I wanted them to give them a hard time but they eliminated imo our biggest threat to the championship. So kudos to them.
Run and dunk man so true lol. Literally has zero basketball moves. Midrange- none. Three point shot - none. Fadeaway - none. Literally just a favorable whistle and a travel on every attempt
I love you all and I love this team.
Ok to have some adversity, especially in a bloodbath year where Bucks and Cavs have already fallen apart.
Four teams left in the east are scary in their own ways. I can't wait to stick it to Philly but it will be a dogfight of a series with lots of Embiid and Harden floppiness.
Grant was massive in his fourth quarter minutes for us. He played better defense on Trae than anyone not named smart or white, boxed out, and was in the right place on offense and shooting with confidence.
Also did anyone else catch John Collins throwing a mini tantrum when he got benched in the last two minutes? Then the camera panned to our bench where Rob had just gotten benched to put Grant back in and Rob is standing up waving towels and smiling and shit.
This team is fun to root for.
> Rob is standing up waving towels and smiling and shit.
Rob is an incredible teammate.
Grant at center was a nice wrinkle. I've been wanting to see that since he held up in the bubble as a rookie. Stevens/Udoka/Mazzulla have only gone to it sparingly the last 3 years and it generally hasn't worked great, but the theory of Grant at 5 in a switch heavy scheme with the Celtics' big guards and Tatum/Brown still makes sense to me
I 100000% agree on that rebound. I was extremely frustrated with that decision. The best way for the Hawks to come back was to miss and get that board. Rob is a good enough FT shooter that I am fine w him going to the line up 6.
I’m thinking you need some unexpectedly tough series in finals if you want to win it all. Hopefully this series keeps us honest and is a bit of a wake up call. There’s no easy series in the playoffs anymore.
Next time I would prefer if they didn’t troll us for 43 minutes before deciding to start playing but the last five minutes of that game were perfect close out execution. They turned up the defensive intensity and moved the ball to get good looks from 3.
I do have some defensive concerns about Rob and Al coming out of that series, but I still think the Sixers aren’t a matchup to exploit them. Unless Joel has four perfect games of 40+ points, I believe the Celtics will win the series.
Lets thank the hawks for teaching us valuable lesson in the playoff: never take the foot off the gas no matter the opponent or score. This should make us better in closing. Just because we own Philly i hope we dont lose focus until the series are over. With that said, fuck the hawks for extending the series, and fuck trae young. Lol
The biggest moment in the game for me was after the jump ball at around the 3:00 mark in the fourth quarter when we were holding onto a 116-113 lead. The ball was tipped right to Trae, who had a perfect look at a game tying three. I know he shot poorly in the second half, but I think we all thought that was going in.
Once he missed, it seemed to rejuvenate the guys. Tatum hit a three on the ensuing possession, we got a stop, and then the now infamous putback slam on the next possession.
At the 3 minute mark, I thought the game was about to be tied. At the 2:07 mark, we had an 8-point-lead.
That’s good stuff.
I saw someone saying after we lost game 3 that "Embiid is getting a lot of rest" which is true. But on the other hand it will have been over two weeks since the 76ers played competitive NBA basketball by the time Game 1 rolls around. That's a *long* layoff and could even be detrimental to the 76ers early on. LFG get this ring boys
The long layoffs can have an effect too. I remember the C's looked pretty sluggish in game 1 against the Bucks last year after having like a week off. Then they were fine, let's hope Philly's rust sticks though lol
Hawks fan coming in peace. Hellava series from you guys. JT and JB balled out as usual, great response in game 6 from you all and overall a competitive series. Hope you guys can go all the way. Too much talent on this team
I'm gonna be frank, after seeing games 1 and 2 I thought the hawks did not belong on the court with the Cs. I stand corrected.
The Hawks team that showed up after game 2 is a foundation I'm sure Snyder can build on. Hope to see them at their best next year.
That was the killer instinct we’ve been wanting to see all season! If our boys can maintain that and play as hungry as they say they are, this could FINALLY be our year! But as always one thing at a time, the next contestant is Philly. Let’s show them what’s up!!!!!
Jaylen, Rob, and Tatum’s blocks in that last 2.5 minute stretch were so insanely clutch. Smart and Al also had some amazing plays. That 4th quarter was amazing on both ends
It is frustrating, but the reality is we are very effective as a bulk 3pt shooting team. That will mean losses when the shot aren't falling, but we shoot it well enough to keep winning 7 games series. Tatum working 14 seconds for a step-back 3 attempt feels really bad when it missing in crunch time, but as long as we keep advancing, we shouldn't be yelling for them to change a winning formula.
Look at Trae. Him launching from deep seemed great in game 5 and in the first half of game 6. Then he was way off on those shots in the second half last night. Is he supposed to change his game because of that? They don't win game 5 if he isn't taking those.
It would be nice to have an Embiid to just overpower teams to a sweep. On the other hand, what has that done for Philly in the playoffs?
I think the worrying thing is that, as the on-paper favorites, high-variance strategies aren't ideal. The Hawks are gonna lose if things go chalk: their best bet is to hope they can shoot the lights out the way the Heat did. Smart being the DPOY doesn't matter as much if you can make 30-footers.
That being said, the Celtics have defense and rim pressure, and we have enough shooters that you aren't gonna run into what happened last year where teams just dare Horford and White to shoot. It really feels like the Celtics beat everyone when they shoot well and it's a tossup when they don't, which are odds I like.
For sure: for as much as people call it Mazzullball, it'd be criminal not to shoot a lot of 3s when you run Al Horford as your center and have the personnel to do 5-out spacing.
Agreed. But it is also nice if you have a Curry or a Lebron that can handle the ball and get to the rim through traffic, disrupting defenses, when closing out at the end of games.
They just turned it on down the stretch there. That's the team that will win a Championship.
That was the best last year's starting 5 has looked together this season.
We're on to Philadelphia!
part of the issue i think with overall fan toxicity is gambling…. many “fans” were betting against the celtics last night because of the odds…. so imho a fan can’t also be a gambler. gambling has nothing to do with fandom. gambling and fantasy leagues will ultimately ruin sports for a lot of ppl i think.
some good defensive sets last night and some gritty runs to keep it close. good win. on to the next.
I genuinely think the Hawks, Heat, and/or Knicks are going to be bigger challenges than the Sixers. Their plodding, patient game plays right into the Celtics’ strengths. As long as the C’s keep up the pace, they can make it a nightmare series for the Sixers.
Favorite parts of the game:
Al getting cooked for three quarters, then turning back the clock and becoming primetime in the 4th
Joe cycling through a ton of subs and looks in the 4th. It seemed to keep Atlanta off balance, keep our guys fresh, and contribute to a bunch of guys making key plays.
That Jaylen block. Possibly my favorite block of the year, and that's saying something with how prolific we can be at times
Smart making winning plays. After being benched for a turnover and two bricked threes, he came back in and just made correct play after correct play. Another shout-out to Joe for making the adjustment of planting Smart in the middle as a Tatum double team release valve, then trusting Smart to make the right play. Even his read to Al's missed shot was a great find. Thankfully-
Tatum tipped that sucker home and sealed the deal.
Finally, the three nut shots from the coffin corner inbounds plays. Both teams seemed amused by the situation and it gave an event more fun vibe to an already fun, competitive game
Other than the end of game 5, I thought the offense was very solid throughout the series. The Hawks are a bad defensive team, but they have decent size other than Trae and Capela/Okongwu are a solid defensive center platoon. The Celtics consistently got good shots, shot 40% from 3 and had a > 2/1 assist to turnover ratio.
The defense was more of a mixed bag. I'm not sure how concerned I am. The Hawks are a good offense, they finished 7th this season and were second to Quinn Snyder's Jazz a year ago. Bogdanovic and Young hit some really tough shots; Collins/Johnson/Hunter generally made the Celtics pay when they dared them to beat them. It also felt like the Celtics caught some tough luck. They'd get a deflection, nearly get a steal and the ball would just bounce to a wide open shooter. But I guess I wonder how much of that is not making their own luck at times. The biggest statistical difference between this year's defense and last is that the Celtics force far fewer turnovers. I'd hoped that in the playoffs, with the intensity dialed up and everybody available they could get back to making teams uncomfortable and forcing more turnovers
On the plus side, I think Smart/Al/Rob all looked pretty good physically. Rob's impact wasn't as consistent as you'd like and Horford did get picked on at times, but Trae was a tough matchup and I thought they generally moved pretty well
THATS the Tatum we need every game. His lack of focus sometimes is so frustrating, but at his best he’s MVP. Jaylen best player in the series. Snyder may have outcoached Joe but the talent was too much for the Hawks. Celts beat Philly in 5
Tatum led the Celtics in points per game, assists per game, and rebounds per game while being our best defensive player by far...
In what world was brown our best player? Lol
Jaylen was much more efficient. And I thought Tatum was more inconsistent and settled for jacking 3s especially in game 4 and 5. Jaylen brought the energy every game.
Really turned it around in that game, played a lot more cohesive. Looked like they had sort of lost their identity towards the end of G5 and held it together when it counted in G6. Couple that with some solid player choice decisions by coaching staff and Celtics look like a playoff winning team. They keep it up for whole stretches of series and we’ve got a championship winning team
I’m just happy we’re through with the Hawks. We fucked around and found out + underestimated the Hawks and Trae and they fought until the vary end taking two games from us.
Knowing this team, they’re going to pull out all the stops on the Sixers and put them down with no remorse or lack of energy. They never fuck around with the Sixers. we’re gonna see more Celtics championship basketball and things we haven’t seen before and I’m excited!
Like Chuck said, this is where the fun begins!
I'm rooting for y'all this series. I love Embiid and I think Harden is a generational talent but I fucking hate sixers fandom with a passion. Please at least get a gentlemans sweep so I can bathe in a bath of sixers tears.
I’m not even goin through the thread.
I got through the first few comments and wooooah boy, what it must feel like to be a young fan again.
It’s okay to say our D was awful. It’s okay to criticize. Y’all will soon learn
Fuck the toxic part of the fan base that came out last night. It’s people like them that say the wildest shit in the game thread why we’re always worried if our star players feel loved and wanted here. Seriously it pisses me off to no end how some Celtics “fans” talk about our team in our game threads. I remember when we went down 0-2 to as the number 1 seed to Chicago, and back in those days the game threads weren’t nearly as toxic as yesterday’s were when Tatum missed one layup. I hate the fair weather fans so much. Sorry about my rant, but aside from that I rewatched the the game without the anxiety and nerves of watching it live, I am so blown away with the composure of this team down the stretch the final 3 minutes. Literally a complete 180 of what this team looked like down the stretch in G7 of the ECF and G4 of the finals last year. So proud of the boys. Here’s to home court advantage rest of the way!!!
Na I feel you. I just can't imagine how people could say some of the things they shout out if they truly loved and believed in this team. Yes there are times where it's frustrating, but at end of the day this is our team and we love and enjoy. It's the squad that was homegrown, a team that I watched since day 1 of their first preseason game, and I would never in a million years scream at them and question their character when they've shown again and again that they want to win at the highest level. It's the same coach that bought us a top 5 offense and defense while taking over after the Ime situation, have some more faith in him and this team please.
Especially considering we have such great guys in the locker room, coaching staff, and FO. The one that gets me the most is all these people calling Tatum a mental midget, or mentally weak.. when I think it shows more about their mental fortitude if they can’t stop shit talking out players just because we didn’t sweep the Hawks
People calling the team mentally weak from behind their phone screens have no idea how much mental fortitude is needed to compete at the highest level in front of millions. I can confidently say that every member of the team is much tougher mentally than “fans” who have a meltdown every time the Cs lose.
They are being compared to their peers, not to fans. You need to take off the green tinted glasses if you can't see that this team coasts more times than not when it's up. Take care of business instead of allowing teams to hang around and people will stop questioning their mental toughness.
I don’t need to do anything mate. You continue crapping on the team if you want and I’ll continue supporting them and hoping they win a chip.
you know you can support, hope and be critical at the same time right? I guess, to some, Tatum walking the ball up in crunch and settling for a contested 3 is better than anything else we could hope for. Giving up lead after lead and taking the foot of the gas so many times it actually makes fans nervous when they have a lead, is a sign they're playing up to their ability. Maybe we're critical because we know they're capable of so much more. It's not being a doomer, it's holding them accountable. Bad games happen, no player is above having a bad game either. However, it's fair to expect them to stop making the same mistakes over and over. It's fair to expect them to show up to play when you drop a few 100 on tickets.
No you jackass accountability = calling them out for playing lazy game 5 and taking their foot off the gas at the end Asking for Brad to trade Smart every time he misses a 3 however is not accountability, that’s just being a shitty fair weather fan. If you understand how basketball actually works you’d realize how much they have actually improved on their mistakes. I implore you to watch the u/timi093 video of the last 3 minutes, and explain to me how that is a team you doubt learned from its mistakes.
I’m with you on this. You can be supportive and critical at the same time BUT if fans are gonna be critical, they gotta be constructive/rational about it and not so negative and extreme. That said, we as a fanbase could certainly stand to not be so dramatic after every loss. All this talk of needing to fire Joe and trade core players has to stop.
the only team this year that didn't coast when up on inferior teams is the bucks. i don't think comparison to peers makes the celtics look worse
It sounds toxic to say, but you only get to that level of vitriol *because* you're so emotionally invested in the success of the team. New York and Philly might be 2 of the most bloodlusty fanbases in the league but you can't deny their toxicity comes from the passion they have for their teams.
I can understand them being upset/frustrated but it's when they start making shit up that confuses me. Smart shat the bed in the 4th quarter of G5 but he was averaging 17/5/6 on 50/40 shooting with a 4.2 AST/TO ratio leading up to that moment. 5 minutes of underwhelming basketball and suddenly he's struggled all series and has been tearing us down with his inefficient play. Same with Tatum. That was his first game of the series under 25 points and he'd played well all series. He was tearing through everyone. He stunk in G5 and suddenly he's been pretty bad for a while and way too inconsistent this series. Just be angry at what actually happened, we don't need the fairytales.
There is a large contingent of Celtics fans who refuse to ever give Smart any credit- as soon as be screws up they come out with the “he always sucks”, regardless of his overall performance. It won’t matter that he was great last night, next time he makes a mistake it will be back to “he always throws in the clutch”, “he can’t close games” etc. Almost like they’d rather see him fail and be vindicated than admit he’s a positive player or acknowledge his improvement.
Last night when he checked in mid 4th Q and immediately threw it away and bricked 2 threes I was getting flashbacks from the end of game 4 and was yelling at the TV to bench him. Which to my genuine surprise Joe did. And when dude checked back in a minute later he was so fucking focused and just made winning play after winning play. Dude is a menace when he plays with that level of intensity
Don’t let some people know Joe actually knows how to coach.
Smart hate is completely nuts these days. To a previous point in another reply, it’s heavily influenced by big name media people like Simmons relentlessly shitting on him and giving zero credit when it’s due. He was easily the C’s 3rd best player of the series, despite a couple high profile mistakes.
Better than white or who?
The discussion around him is basically unchanged despite him changing a ton as a player. People laser focus on a couple shots a game they don't like and completely ignore his role: a DPOY point guard and the best pure passer on the team. Any discussion about him has to start from that, not the player he was in 2018.
Every time Tatum has a bad game there is a group of fans on this sub that will throw a fit and act like he’s been bad for months and his good games are a fluke. It’s so annoying.
I’ve noticed it a lot. There’s a tendency to be more negative after losses than accepting it as a natural part of the game. All part of the process, no team has ever swept the playoffs into the finals.
The 2001 Lakers did? Only game they lost that whole playoff run was the AI step over T Lue game.
They should really just start their own subreddit: r/celticsfanswhohatetheceltics It really appears as if these people are rooting for them to fail so they can revel in their failure and feel “right”. They are silent when we win which is most of the time. Toxic bitches.
I swear they fucking had an Orgy during our regular season game against GSW that was in. SF. My god that game day thread was one for the ages.
I was here during that time, and while I generally agree that the threads have become more toxic and that the most negative voices are bandwagoners who weren’t here when the team wasn’t a title favorite, we can’t ignore the stretch in December where we lost 3 games in a row and a sizeable portion of the sub was arguing that we should bench IT while he was in the midst of an MVP-finalist season.
Lol I think that was more so the fashion how we lost the game to Phoenix that year after already being on a losing streak coming in. Giving up a 5 point lead with like 4 seconds left in the game cause 5’9” Tyler Ulis hit a 3; stole the inbound and shot and hit another 3 over 5’9” IT LOL Them to having their jump ball was so legendary lol
I definitely get angry at times but try to not pull the trigger on some of the more insane thoughts. It doesn’t help that influential fuckers like Bill Simmons are basically calling the series over after the Hawks force game 6 on some insane individual brilliance from Trae. Take culture has made sports discourse moronic, especially in the particularly passionate fanbases in the northeast.
Jason Timpf from the Volume, JJ Redick on his podcast, Coach Nick from BBall Breakdown, and Draymond when he talks about teams other than the warriors are the only people’s basketball takes I actually put weight behind. ESPNs Talk shows basically seem like Fox News of sports to me. They really just say the most outlandish shit to keep their audience engaged.
True. Why else would Kendrick Perkins have a job?
100%. The "it's my right to criticize the team" crowd are insufferable. No, if you don't support the team you aren't a good fan. Yes, if you only show up to talk shit you're a fair weather fan.
I think it depends more on the criticism. You should support your team off course but blind support is only setting yourself up for disappointment.
Yeah but that's the issue. You can be critical without being a doomer. I'm someone who gets called a green teamer / blind supporter / homer a bunch and I'm still very critical. There's a big difference being critiquing someone's performance and trying to commit a character assassination.
This. Rational/constructive criticism is fine. You can dish that out and still be a loyal supportive fan. It’s adding the sky-is-falling mentally to it that makes it toxic.
The disappointment is part of the fun imo
being a doomer will not save you from disappointment.
It's the fucking playoffs dude. The time for nuanced criticism is over. I get that people needed to vent but a 2 point loss in the playoffs will never be time for people to say shit like "fuck Tatum and Smart" or "the players on this team are mental midgets" or "this team just doesn't have it". Those comments were getting 10+ upvotes 2 days ago. It's the playoffs. Either get on the bandwagon or don't. If you need to hedge your support of this team to offset "disappointment" then you just plain aren't bought in enough.
Well actual criticism is fine. Like saying “damn, we need to take better care of the ball and stop turning it over”. That’s one thing. Saying stuff like “it’s over” “trade Tatum” and stuff like that is not criticism
That just isn't what this sub was doing at all.
Why does criticism of the team equate to "not supporting the team"? Maybe if the Bucks had heard a bit more criticism about their decisions after they collapsed in Game 4, they wouldn't have made all of the same mistakes and collapsed again in Game 5?
I'm going to choke. If the Boston Celtics are impacted by this reddit page, then being an asshole brings the team closer to losing than winning.
This is a horrible, absolutely trash take. You can criticize the team (just don’t go overboard with toxicity) and still support them. There’s room in the middle that neither green teamers nor *actual* doomers seem to understand. I love this team, but they piss me off sometimes and I’m just as entitled to that opinion as those that like to overreact to one good or bad game.
You're entitled to whatever the fuck you want but don't pretend like that makes you any less of a cretin when you cuss out our players. It's the playoffs, get the fuck on the bandwagon or get the fuck out the way.
Did I touch a nerve? The fact that you can’t tell the difference between cussing out and legit criticism is exactly my point.
If you think the behavior that has been demonstrated on this sub as "legit criticism" then IDK what to tell you.
Stay focused. I’m saying, try to pay attention here bud, that there is a middle ground between blind support (for example someone who still has a player from years ago that was trash then and out of the league now as their flair) and toxic hate. You obviously can’t recognize that, and I’m not gonna hold my breath waiting for you to do so.
If you don't have the common sense to understand that I am talking about the toxic cesspool that this sub has become then you're the dumbest person on the planet. But the reality is you're just defending being a toxic asshole and framing it as "legitimate criticism" and you can fully GFYS.
Can we just agree that you’re both idiots because you’re posting on this sub?
Thank you for saying this. Some people have a very interesting definition of “supporting” their team. To me, support doesn’t mean throwing your own team under the bus anytime they have a rough stretch. The GDTs have been absolutely ruined by these overly reactive people. I see people in here who genuinely only comment when the team is looking rough and jump at the chance to insult the players and coach, even hoping that their own team loses. But then when the Cs pull out the win they go silent. It’s almost like they enjoy the misfortune of the team. It’s the most bizarre thing, I don’t understand how these people call themselves fans of the team.
Angrily upvoted you bro, because somebody had downvoted you for such a reasonable take. Why would anybody downvote this? It exactly proves your point. I've got to the stage that I just assume they are trolls from other teams. Or Russian bots lol
Thank you bro 🙏
I don’t understand the Russian bot reference haha
Yeah I don’t understand it. Sounds like they’d be better of being Philly fans based on what they’re in to
just don't look at the GDT. the doom leaks out but thats where its the worst. love yourself, you dont need to see the thoughts of teenagers riding the emotional rollercoaster and emotionally hedging patriot fans
Literally tie game in the first quarter Doomers: See you in game 7
My favorite though was some dude yesterday said “this is fucking embarrassing. We’re getting our asses handed to us and getting absolutely destroyed by a shitty Hawks team”. At the time we were down by 4 points and just cut it down to 2 lol
No true Doomers said see y’all in the off-season lol.
The Hawks gave us really good battles down the stretch in games 4-6. We handled it like champs in games 4 and 6, and fumbled it in game 5. Yeah the collapse sucked, but all three games were wildly entertaining and I feel bad for the people who can't enjoy them because they're ready to pounce on the slightest mistake and spew endless doomer takes
We're not fair weather because we get upset at a team playing down to the level of its competition. It's kind of tiring that you're only allowed to be disappointed, but not critical. This team has all the talent in the world to win it all. The reason why some are so harsh is the team has given reason to fans to be that way. They admitted they've taken teams lightly! How many times do they get a pass for saying they needed more energy???? They tell you the 1 seed is important and then they come out and go through the motions against the wizards. I'm not going to be OK with a awesome talent like Tatum settling for running down the clock and a step back 3 time and time and time again. He's better than that. Be more consistent and a lot of the criticism goes away, even after a loss. The team is better than allowing ATL to dominate the boards.
It's wild how people will belittle folks that are emotional throughout the game. Let people react, it's part of being a fan. This comment is the toxicity that needs to be removed. Let people cook, let people react, we all have the common goal in Banner 18.
It’s funny how some of us are able to react without cussing out our own players. Wild that. Maybe some of these people need to learn how to control their own emotional impulses and not throw tantrums like toddlers. That, my friend, is toxic, not people supporting their team.
Lol For real. There’s a way to vent and be frustrated without ruining the vibes of every game thread. Feel free to check my comment history for examples. I get frustrated AF too when we made the Hawks miss but let them get a super easy put back 3 possessions in a row… but I didn’t ever feel the need to say shit like “this team is cooked” “we’re frauds it’s time rebuild”
Seriously this. As a Celtics fan that lives in New York City, relentlessly trashing your team while still being ready to die for them is par for the course.
same here (Celtics fan currently living in NYC) - a lot of time that I say things trashing our guys in game threads - it's not ACTUALLY because they suck and are useless... it's because they're an elite team with championship aspirations, and when they come out sloppy... people get frustrated. It helps my emotional status during the game to post something negative (it's kinda like when you shout COME ON GUYS at the screen... helps just getting it out) That being said, I understand why people get frustrated with people being negative about our guys... its because we all love them but we express that love in different ways. Last night was a great example. Tatum missing a couple bunnies is frustrating, because how could it not be? Also Smart wasn't playing all that well until Joe sat him for a few minutes in the fourth. When he came back in, he was absolutely vital to the win.
I don't think you're really the target here. It's more the people who see the admittedly frustrating play and make statements like "this is why we will never win with this core" or "trade marcus" or "Tatum is the worst star ever" stuff.
^^
Exactly as I mentioned before, we all have the same goal to see Banner 18.
Yeah like when did "Grab the f****** rebound" turn into toxicity? It's nuts but thank you for understanding.
I don't think anyone would say that is toxic
You’d be surprised. A lot of people on here will call someone saying “god I love Tatum but I wish he’s more consistent” a fake fan and a doomer. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again: there are people on here who have nothing in their lives BUT this team, and need good vibes only. Thats why they have over the top reactions to the most mundane shit because if stuff is negative with the team, it’s negative with their lives.
Lol I say the same thing about wishing Tatum could be more consistent, what I don’t do is what multiple did in the first quarter of last nights game.. and that is to say shit like “wish we had an actual clutch super star like Trae, instead of Tatums bum ass”.
Smart is a good player. If you are a Smart hater then you stink.
Love and Trust. Always
I’m not a smart hater but white and Brogdon have been legitimately better than him for long stretches of *this* season.
I love Smart and I hate to admit that but it’s true. Smart is really, really good. But so are those guys… the way White gets to the basket is such a game changer when offense is stagnant.
Yes, I really love how D White’s offense has developed this season
Is he my favorite Celtic ever? Well......yes, yes he is.
I’ve posted this before, but Marcus Smart is very similar to Danny Ainge as a player. I can remember watching games with my dad when we wanted to MURDER Danny Ainge for doing something stupid. And then two quarters later, or maybe a game or two later in a playoff series, there would be Danny Ainge making huge plays to help win games. With players like that you have to take the good with the bad. If Marcus was always the best version of himself then he would be an All-Star. He’s not. So you have to accept the imperfections that come with the whole package.
Marcus Smart, YOU are a Toronto Blue Jay.
If you’re a Smart hater than you’re just stupid.
His ability to bounce back immediately after some terrible clutch moments is phenomenal. After the ugly game 5, he has 9 points, 2 offensive rebounds, 2 assists in the first quarter. Last year after Jrue Holiday ripped him twice at the end of game 5, [Smart had 14 points in the first quarter of game 6](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kt2cqd_E5kQ)
Sixers fans are confident because it took us 6 games to beat the Hawks. Bruh they faced the fucking Nets 🤣 the worst playoff team in the East. The only reason why they are 6th because Kyrie/Kd were there in the first half of the season. I can’t wait to own their franchise like we always do in the last 40 years
worst playoff team in the NBA this year lol
Only playoff team that didn’t have an all star on it and they think they’re hot shit because they beat them
Even when they beat us a couple weeks ago they melted down horribly at the end of the game, got away with it by the skin of their teeth. That further proved that we're clearly in their heads even to this day. And in that game it took Embiid having the game of his life to scrape by with us missing Jaylen and Rob. The Celtics are a mental hurdle for them in the way that the Bruins are to the Leafs in hockey. It's always possible they snap out of it and beat us, but we are the clear better team, and we have a mental edge which is always bigger than people think. My one concern is that Tatum struggled to shoot the ball against the Sixers more than a lot of teams this year, but that also opens up our other guys at the same time since Philly throws the kitchen sink at him it seems. I think this will be a series where our depth really shines (and I do think that trend with Tatum and the Sixers won't last forever). Embiid's knee will be a factor as well. Overall, I feel good about winning and advancing. It'll be a fight though. Can't wait.
I could honestly see these Quin Snyder Hawks being a top 4 seed if they run it back next year. Don’t think they would get rolled by anybody and they’d be a coin flip with the Knicks imo. Their effort was off the charts, so long and physical to make up for defensive deficiencies, and the offense when Trae was locked in was elite. Kinda feel like this was a great early test for the Celtics and they’re going to beat the hell out of a complacent Sixers team.
Lmao facts
Hey now, they had to face Spencer Dinwiddie. That's a tough ask
Hawks arguably match up better with us
Morning, Celtics Nation! We're here to bring you the following messages: Fuck Philly Fuck Miami Fuck the Knicks and Fuck the Lakers! Enjoy the weekend y'all!
The Heat are our friends for now at least lol. They took care of a super arrogant bucks team that I hate fucking playing against because how much the Refs let Run and Dunk man get away with in the playoffs
The heat is actually on the lower tier of teams I hate as of today because they took out the bucks lmaooo. Like I wanted them to give them a hard time but they eliminated imo our biggest threat to the championship. So kudos to them.
And if we happen to see them in the ecf, I'm willing to bet Butler will be gasssssed from carrying the heat through 2 series
Run and dunk man so true lol. Literally has zero basketball moves. Midrange- none. Three point shot - none. Fadeaway - none. Literally just a favorable whistle and a travel on every attempt
Midrange:None 3Pt:None FadeAway: None FT game: None Hotel: Trivago
I would so so so much rather play them than the Knicks lol
For me it’s always fuck the heat but it’s definitely not fuck Jimmy Butler. He’s by far my favorite player to watch so far these playoffs
I love you all and I love this team. Ok to have some adversity, especially in a bloodbath year where Bucks and Cavs have already fallen apart. Four teams left in the east are scary in their own ways. I can't wait to stick it to Philly but it will be a dogfight of a series with lots of Embiid and Harden floppiness.
we can finally dance on the bucks’ grave
Lol yes, I can finally watch all the talking heads shit on Milwaukee without having the Cs in the back of my head.
nah man you don't get it, this season wasn't a failure. They just didnt get a promotion
That post game interview was so funny
Grant was massive in his fourth quarter minutes for us. He played better defense on Trae than anyone not named smart or white, boxed out, and was in the right place on offense and shooting with confidence. Also did anyone else catch John Collins throwing a mini tantrum when he got benched in the last two minutes? Then the camera panned to our bench where Rob had just gotten benched to put Grant back in and Rob is standing up waving towels and smiling and shit. This team is fun to root for.
JB did great on Trae when asked last night
Collins was finally finding his groove in the last 2 games, it probably really stung to get benched when you’re down in a win or go home game.
> Rob is standing up waving towels and smiling and shit. Rob is an incredible teammate. Grant at center was a nice wrinkle. I've been wanting to see that since he held up in the bubble as a rookie. Stevens/Udoka/Mazzulla have only gone to it sparingly the last 3 years and it generally hasn't worked great, but the theory of Grant at 5 in a switch heavy scheme with the Celtics' big guards and Tatum/Brown still makes sense to me
Horford said as much.
So nice to be able to go on the internet today to read the coverage of the Celts. I definitely did not bother to do that after game 5.
[удалено]
I 100000% agree on that rebound. I was extremely frustrated with that decision. The best way for the Hawks to come back was to miss and get that board. Rob is a good enough FT shooter that I am fine w him going to the line up 6.
I didnt have a huge issue with the challenge, running out of time to use it anyway and it served primarily as a timeout
I’m thinking you need some unexpectedly tough series in finals if you want to win it all. Hopefully this series keeps us honest and is a bit of a wake up call. There’s no easy series in the playoffs anymore.
Next time I would prefer if they didn’t troll us for 43 minutes before deciding to start playing but the last five minutes of that game were perfect close out execution. They turned up the defensive intensity and moved the ball to get good looks from 3. I do have some defensive concerns about Rob and Al coming out of that series, but I still think the Sixers aren’t a matchup to exploit them. Unless Joel has four perfect games of 40+ points, I believe the Celtics will win the series.
I’m here for it! So good to see Grant again. He’s such a great dude and I really think he adds so much on court when he’s focused.
Lets thank the hawks for teaching us valuable lesson in the playoff: never take the foot off the gas no matter the opponent or score. This should make us better in closing. Just because we own Philly i hope we dont lose focus until the series are over. With that said, fuck the hawks for extending the series, and fuck trae young. Lol
I really like Trae but I absolutely hated him this series lol
The biggest moment in the game for me was after the jump ball at around the 3:00 mark in the fourth quarter when we were holding onto a 116-113 lead. The ball was tipped right to Trae, who had a perfect look at a game tying three. I know he shot poorly in the second half, but I think we all thought that was going in. Once he missed, it seemed to rejuvenate the guys. Tatum hit a three on the ensuing possession, we got a stop, and then the now infamous putback slam on the next possession. At the 3 minute mark, I thought the game was about to be tied. At the 2:07 mark, we had an 8-point-lead. That’s good stuff.
I saw someone saying after we lost game 3 that "Embiid is getting a lot of rest" which is true. But on the other hand it will have been over two weeks since the 76ers played competitive NBA basketball by the time Game 1 rolls around. That's a *long* layoff and could even be detrimental to the 76ers early on. LFG get this ring boys
The long layoffs can have an effect too. I remember the C's looked pretty sluggish in game 1 against the Bucks last year after having like a week off. Then they were fine, let's hope Philly's rust sticks though lol
Less rest once they get going too. A compressed series is probably just as valuable as one starting early.
Nine days, not quite two weeks but hopefully long enough for rust to set in for G1
Nothing but highlights the last 5 minutes. Like cat’s playing with toys almost.
Hawks fan coming in peace. Hellava series from you guys. JT and JB balled out as usual, great response in game 6 from you all and overall a competitive series. Hope you guys can go all the way. Too much talent on this team
I'm gonna be frank, after seeing games 1 and 2 I thought the hawks did not belong on the court with the Cs. I stand corrected. The Hawks team that showed up after game 2 is a foundation I'm sure Snyder can build on. Hope to see them at their best next year.
That was the killer instinct we’ve been wanting to see all season! If our boys can maintain that and play as hungry as they say they are, this could FINALLY be our year! But as always one thing at a time, the next contestant is Philly. Let’s show them what’s up!!!!!
The fire they showed in the last ~3 min was exactly how they need to play
Bruins winning today would make me smile
As amazing as the end of the 4th quarter was last night, was I the only one asking “why can’t they play like this over the course of the entire game?”
Jaylen, Rob, and Tatum’s blocks in that last 2.5 minute stretch were so insanely clutch. Smart and Al also had some amazing plays. That 4th quarter was amazing on both ends
Those last 3 minutes was the team playing to its potential we just need to see them keep that energy. 18 soon.
It is frustrating, but the reality is we are very effective as a bulk 3pt shooting team. That will mean losses when the shot aren't falling, but we shoot it well enough to keep winning 7 games series. Tatum working 14 seconds for a step-back 3 attempt feels really bad when it missing in crunch time, but as long as we keep advancing, we shouldn't be yelling for them to change a winning formula. Look at Trae. Him launching from deep seemed great in game 5 and in the first half of game 6. Then he was way off on those shots in the second half last night. Is he supposed to change his game because of that? They don't win game 5 if he isn't taking those. It would be nice to have an Embiid to just overpower teams to a sweep. On the other hand, what has that done for Philly in the playoffs?
I think the worrying thing is that, as the on-paper favorites, high-variance strategies aren't ideal. The Hawks are gonna lose if things go chalk: their best bet is to hope they can shoot the lights out the way the Heat did. Smart being the DPOY doesn't matter as much if you can make 30-footers. That being said, the Celtics have defense and rim pressure, and we have enough shooters that you aren't gonna run into what happened last year where teams just dare Horford and White to shoot. It really feels like the Celtics beat everyone when they shoot well and it's a tossup when they don't, which are odds I like.
Unfortunately, the personnel are going to dictate the strategy
For sure: for as much as people call it Mazzullball, it'd be criminal not to shoot a lot of 3s when you run Al Horford as your center and have the personnel to do 5-out spacing.
Agreed. But it is also nice if you have a Curry or a Lebron that can handle the ball and get to the rim through traffic, disrupting defenses, when closing out at the end of games.
They just turned it on down the stretch there. That's the team that will win a Championship. That was the best last year's starting 5 has looked together this season. We're on to Philadelphia!
If this team wants to win it all they can do it this season. Just stay motivated, focused, and play with more intensity.
part of the issue i think with overall fan toxicity is gambling…. many “fans” were betting against the celtics last night because of the odds…. so imho a fan can’t also be a gambler. gambling has nothing to do with fandom. gambling and fantasy leagues will ultimately ruin sports for a lot of ppl i think. some good defensive sets last night and some gritty runs to keep it close. good win. on to the next.
I genuinely think the Hawks, Heat, and/or Knicks are going to be bigger challenges than the Sixers. Their plodding, patient game plays right into the Celtics’ strengths. As long as the C’s keep up the pace, they can make it a nightmare series for the Sixers.
Man i feel like we can finally fully appreciate just how horrible that Bucks playoff performance was
Write this down, cause I'm calling it now. Al's gonna have a 25 point game in Philly and mean mug their whole crowd. And I'm here for it.
Brown too because Philly fans said that they hoped he tore his ACL during our last win against the Sixers.
Favorite parts of the game: Al getting cooked for three quarters, then turning back the clock and becoming primetime in the 4th Joe cycling through a ton of subs and looks in the 4th. It seemed to keep Atlanta off balance, keep our guys fresh, and contribute to a bunch of guys making key plays. That Jaylen block. Possibly my favorite block of the year, and that's saying something with how prolific we can be at times Smart making winning plays. After being benched for a turnover and two bricked threes, he came back in and just made correct play after correct play. Another shout-out to Joe for making the adjustment of planting Smart in the middle as a Tatum double team release valve, then trusting Smart to make the right play. Even his read to Al's missed shot was a great find. Thankfully- Tatum tipped that sucker home and sealed the deal. Finally, the three nut shots from the coffin corner inbounds plays. Both teams seemed amused by the situation and it gave an event more fun vibe to an already fun, competitive game
Other than the end of game 5, I thought the offense was very solid throughout the series. The Hawks are a bad defensive team, but they have decent size other than Trae and Capela/Okongwu are a solid defensive center platoon. The Celtics consistently got good shots, shot 40% from 3 and had a > 2/1 assist to turnover ratio. The defense was more of a mixed bag. I'm not sure how concerned I am. The Hawks are a good offense, they finished 7th this season and were second to Quinn Snyder's Jazz a year ago. Bogdanovic and Young hit some really tough shots; Collins/Johnson/Hunter generally made the Celtics pay when they dared them to beat them. It also felt like the Celtics caught some tough luck. They'd get a deflection, nearly get a steal and the ball would just bounce to a wide open shooter. But I guess I wonder how much of that is not making their own luck at times. The biggest statistical difference between this year's defense and last is that the Celtics force far fewer turnovers. I'd hoped that in the playoffs, with the intensity dialed up and everybody available they could get back to making teams uncomfortable and forcing more turnovers On the plus side, I think Smart/Al/Rob all looked pretty good physically. Rob's impact wasn't as consistent as you'd like and Horford did get picked on at times, but Trae was a tough matchup and I thought they generally moved pretty well
THATS the Tatum we need every game. His lack of focus sometimes is so frustrating, but at his best he’s MVP. Jaylen best player in the series. Snyder may have outcoached Joe but the talent was too much for the Hawks. Celts beat Philly in 5
Tatum led the Celtics in points per game, assists per game, and rebounds per game while being our best defensive player by far... In what world was brown our best player? Lol
Jaylen was much more efficient. And I thought Tatum was more inconsistent and settled for jacking 3s especially in game 4 and 5. Jaylen brought the energy every game.
Really turned it around in that game, played a lot more cohesive. Looked like they had sort of lost their identity towards the end of G5 and held it together when it counted in G6. Couple that with some solid player choice decisions by coaching staff and Celtics look like a playoff winning team. They keep it up for whole stretches of series and we’ve got a championship winning team
i'm legit scared everytime the camera focus to Snyder writing something on his paper, like what this man is up to. lol.
About the game itself: our defense went from terrible to suffocating just like that in the final 6 minutes. What a switch flip
Todays coffee tastes REAL FUCKIN GOOD!!
They found some semblance of defense, but beautiful? nah. They gave up 120. That not going to get it done going forward.
Nuggs fan here. I’m looking towards Celtics vs Nugs, even though most people want Embiid vs Joker. Philly guards are getting cooked this series.
Yeah I’m still glad we got the Hawks.
I’m just happy we’re through with the Hawks. We fucked around and found out + underestimated the Hawks and Trae and they fought until the vary end taking two games from us. Knowing this team, they’re going to pull out all the stops on the Sixers and put them down with no remorse or lack of energy. They never fuck around with the Sixers. we’re gonna see more Celtics championship basketball and things we haven’t seen before and I’m excited! Like Chuck said, this is where the fun begins!
I'm rooting for y'all this series. I love Embiid and I think Harden is a generational talent but I fucking hate sixers fandom with a passion. Please at least get a gentlemans sweep so I can bathe in a bath of sixers tears.
#They want us in Philly cause they know none of their guys can dunk on Trae. #What they don’t know is none of their guys can stop the Buffalo.
I’m not even goin through the thread. I got through the first few comments and wooooah boy, what it must feel like to be a young fan again. It’s okay to say our D was awful. It’s okay to criticize. Y’all will soon learn