Well, damn, that was a very entertaining game 7. Yea I’ve been pulling for the massive underdog Heat the whole series, but I didn’t expect them to actually win it. Or pull away in the first quarter and never allow Boston to get close the rest of the way. Or see Caleb Martin deliver heroic playoff awesomeness.
I do feel a slight bit of sympathy for Tatum getting injured on the first!! possession of the game. That sucks, and I can’t believe he played nearly the whole rest of the game, gimping the whole time. The NBA gods are effing cruel. Still, Miami actually had to win it.
It’s weird to be a Miami fan. But even so, go Nuggets!
So, is he the next coming of Kobe now or will he go back to being the 12th guy off the bench next year? That dude was hitting some shots where I'd be like "Let's start the bus" if I'm the Celtics coach.
They absolutely could have - given the results the Kemba Walker trade is moving toward "top five worst of the decade" territory at the moment. While a healthy Malcolm Brogden would have helped a lot, it's pretty clear even with him that Boston currently has two sixth man PG's, and no real shooting guard. They are trending toward the same problem GS has - too much money (over 75 mil for Boston, 80 for GS) for players who are effectively small forwards. In other news, Al Horford is now officially old, and Grant Williams is not the solution. But watching Boston's problems makes me understand why GS was willing to pay Poole, and also makes me feel Poole might be worth more in trade than we GS fans tend to think (and to also feel GS won't trade him). There just aren't a lot of guards out there.
If Denver wins the championship, they will have done it facing the 8 seed, 4 seed, 7 seed, and 8 seed. By seeding, the easiest 4 round road to a championship of all time. Could only have been easier by seeding if the Clippers had won.
This is about as good of a second post-season option as I could’ve hoped for. Rooting for Jokic. After him… Embiid will be the remaining monster center who hasn’t won a championship (out of Giannis, Jokic, Embiid).
If you ever watched Chronicles of Riddick (loved it) when Riddick tells Toombs “Shoulda taken the money, Toombs” before leaving him locked up in Crematoria. Anyways that was Demarcus Cousins when the Pellies offered him 2 years 40 mil and he declined the offer. That achilles tear really robbed him of any remaining athleticism. Worse was that 3 point shot (which wasnt great to begin with) just couldn’t push off well enough from long distance.
Cousins taking his rookie extension, rather than going to free agency was probably worse, TBH. Don't know if that was him or his agent, but his agent should have been shot if that was his recommendation.
On his second contract, starting in 2014, he was putting up all-NBA numbers at $15 mil a year (by contrast, Javale McGee was making $11 mil in 2014 and scoring 4.6 per game).
Steph's Game 4 performance in last year's Finals, followed by the Game 3 and Game 7 fiascos against the Heat, ought to be enough to close the Celtics' potential championship window. Don't see how they recover from this. Jaylen Brown is now damaged goods, and Smart and Horford aren't getting any younger.
Jaylen Brown doesn't really seem like a 16 game type of player to me. He has to add more to his game to adjust to playoff adjustments. Once teams realizes he can't really dribble he turns into an awful unwatchable player
I haven't looked yet, but I would imagine that Miami is favored over the Nuggets. Pat Riley, 5 rings as a coach, some more as the GM with Miami. Spoelstra, 2 rings, 6 eastern Conf. championships.
He’s always a great listen, imo, whether his teams win or lose. In the last one, he and Russillo didn’t go so far as to *predict* a Heat win in Game 7, but both clearly saw the Cs flaws that would make it eminently possible (despite the surface appearance of facing a lesser and likely demoralized team at home).
Both also spent a lot of time heaping praise on Caleb Martin *before* the game.
There is something to be said for having a killer instinct. Closing out another team in the playoffs might as well be a different sport. These dudes on Boston are gonna end up with PTSD.
I'd be interested to see Trae Young for Jaylen Brown. Sends Brown back home to Atlanta and gives Boston the playmaking/ball handling they need. If any defense could take on a liability like Trae, I would think it's Boston.
James Harden replacing Jaylen Brown fills the biggest need and Boston offense has no real coherent philosophy. Harden would bring them one . . . . . . . . (this suggestion is made for entertainment value only - actual results could vary)
That's not a bad call, actually. Problem is Harden doesn't want to be on a team with the pressure to win a Chip. At this point in his career, think he just wants to ball and make cheddar with a little less pressure.
Bunch of the core guys were on the 2020 finals team and have . . . "unfinished business" (Butler, Herro, Adebayo, Robinson, Vincent) - and Love and Lowry have rings. I figure they aren't just happy to be here.
took two more game then I thought it would but they got the job done.
Well, damn, that was a very entertaining game 7. Yea I’ve been pulling for the massive underdog Heat the whole series, but I didn’t expect them to actually win it. Or pull away in the first quarter and never allow Boston to get close the rest of the way. Or see Caleb Martin deliver heroic playoff awesomeness.
I do feel a slight bit of sympathy for Tatum getting injured on the first!! possession of the game. That sucks, and I can’t believe he played nearly the whole rest of the game, gimping the whole time. The NBA gods are effing cruel. Still, Miami actually had to win it.
It’s weird to be a Miami fan. But even so, go Nuggets!
Caleb Martin smoking the Celtics in the ECF was the funniest thing ever
So, is he the next coming of Kobe now or will he go back to being the 12th guy off the bench next year? That dude was hitting some shots where I'd be like "Let's start the bus" if I'm the Celtics coach.
Celtics could really have used Rozier……again.
They absolutely could have - given the results the Kemba Walker trade is moving toward "top five worst of the decade" territory at the moment. While a healthy Malcolm Brogden would have helped a lot, it's pretty clear even with him that Boston currently has two sixth man PG's, and no real shooting guard. They are trending toward the same problem GS has - too much money (over 75 mil for Boston, 80 for GS) for players who are effectively small forwards. In other news, Al Horford is now officially old, and Grant Williams is not the solution. But watching Boston's problems makes me understand why GS was willing to pay Poole, and also makes me feel Poole might be worth more in trade than we GS fans tend to think (and to also feel GS won't trade him). There just aren't a lot of guards out there.
If Denver wins the championship, they will have done it facing the 8 seed, 4 seed, 7 seed, and 8 seed. By seeding, the easiest 4 round road to a championship of all time. Could only have been easier by seeding if the Clippers had won.
2 or 3 seed could have a slightly easier theoretical path with 7 + 6 + 8 +8. But this is still pretty nuts
Good point, didn't even think of that
This is about as good of a second post-season option as I could’ve hoped for. Rooting for Jokic. After him… Embiid will be the remaining monster center who hasn’t won a championship (out of Giannis, Jokic, Embiid).
https://twitter.com/LaGuerraBSN/status/1663370240045072384
Another idea for next season's backup center lol
If you ever watched Chronicles of Riddick (loved it) when Riddick tells Toombs “Shoulda taken the money, Toombs” before leaving him locked up in Crematoria. Anyways that was Demarcus Cousins when the Pellies offered him 2 years 40 mil and he declined the offer. That achilles tear really robbed him of any remaining athleticism. Worse was that 3 point shot (which wasnt great to begin with) just couldn’t push off well enough from long distance.
Cousins taking his rookie extension, rather than going to free agency was probably worse, TBH. Don't know if that was him or his agent, but his agent should have been shot if that was his recommendation.
On his second contract, starting in 2014, he was putting up all-NBA numbers at $15 mil a year (by contrast, Javale McGee was making $11 mil in 2014 and scoring 4.6 per game).
Let me share a thought for the “clever” C’s fan who got a tattoo last year, declaring Celtics 2022 champions before the finals: no way to recycle it!
https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/34026752/nba-finals-2022-boston-celtics-fan-already-tattoo-predicting-win-golden-state-warriors
When I think I’ve acted in a dumb way I think of him…and I feel better!
Steph's Game 4 performance in last year's Finals, followed by the Game 3 and Game 7 fiascos against the Heat, ought to be enough to close the Celtics' potential championship window. Don't see how they recover from this. Jaylen Brown is now damaged goods, and Smart and Horford aren't getting any younger.
MVP voters count was 5 for Butler and 4 for Martin.
Jaylen Brown doesn't really seem like a 16 game type of player to me. He has to add more to his game to adjust to playoff adjustments. Once teams realizes he can't really dribble he turns into an awful unwatchable player
I haven't looked yet, but I would imagine that Miami is favored over the Nuggets. Pat Riley, 5 rings as a coach, some more as the GM with Miami. Spoelstra, 2 rings, 6 eastern Conf. championships.
How many for Malone or the Nuggets?
What kind of logic is this? If Denver suddenly hires Phil Jackson, or Red Auerbach's ghost then they become favorites?
We are talking about current, living, working, NBA coaches. and. GMs. My logic seems okay. You may not agree, but that is acceptable.
Without looking, I can tell you Denver are going to be big favorites.
Yeah I was like... isn't Denver clearly the way better team and has been all year?
(Looking…)
Yep, huge favorites: Miami +300, Denver -400.
Nah. Denver gonna be favored by a fair bit I'm guessing
I'll take a stab in the dark at a line of Denver at -125 for the series.
assistants don't count.
you ask him.
I did. Brown says they count.
where's the proof? show me stats in any major collection. The major voice is the coach or GM in these kinds of stats.
For any Bill Simmons fans/haters
https://twitter.com/artbutsports/status/1663378547526729733?s=46&t=vc-I5qQChYCDw3ztvhZe4g
You don’t get up for a post game podcast after that
He actually did, I might just listen to it rn 😂
He’s always a great listen, imo, whether his teams win or lose. In the last one, he and Russillo didn’t go so far as to *predict* a Heat win in Game 7, but both clearly saw the Cs flaws that would make it eminently possible (despite the surface appearance of facing a lesser and likely demoralized team at home).
Both also spent a lot of time heaping praise on Caleb Martin *before* the game.
Butler named Larry Bird award winner on the Celtics floor.
And in the same postseason as Jokic getting the Magic Johnson award on the Lakers court!
Man that feels better to me than I think it should
This just in: Boston team appearing as guests on next Saturday Night Live. Will perform as guests in the hit sketch, "What's Up With That?"
There is something to be said for having a killer instinct. Closing out another team in the playoffs might as well be a different sport. These dudes on Boston are gonna end up with PTSD.
They're the Suns East at this point. What star are they going to gut their team for do we think?
I'd be interested to see Trae Young for Jaylen Brown. Sends Brown back home to Atlanta and gives Boston the playmaking/ball handling they need. If any defense could take on a liability like Trae, I would think it's Boston.
James Harden replacing Jaylen Brown fills the biggest need and Boston offense has no real coherent philosophy. Harden would bring them one . . . . . . . . (this suggestion is made for entertainment value only - actual results could vary)
That's not a bad call, actually. Problem is Harden doesn't want to be on a team with the pressure to win a Chip. At this point in his career, think he just wants to ball and make cheddar with a little less pressure.
Miami players are quite subdued for just having won the ECF. Maybe because they’re not at home. Or they’re already thinking of Denver.
Bunch of the core guys were on the 2020 finals team and have . . . "unfinished business" (Butler, Herro, Adebayo, Robinson, Vincent) - and Love and Lowry have rings. I figure they aren't just happy to be here.