NBA 2021-2022
- Thread starter elmo
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I was thinking all game the fact that C's could stay in the game with Tatum shooting so badly speaks volumes. Warriors relied on Curry's brilliance far too much, the difference when he wasn't on the floor was night and day. I don't think Warriors will be able to cope with the C's defensive pressure over 7 games.
I don't really know what to make of last night's game because I would expect Tatum to be more efficient but then I'm not sure I would expect White and Smart to shoot as well while I don't imagine that Boston will defend Curry the way they did in the first quarter but at the same time I would expect Klay and Poole to at least have some better games. Huge win for the Celtics though, it means that whatever situation they find themselves in in this series they will believe that they can find a way out of it and it's certainly given me pause for thought because the last 2 Miami games had made me really question whether the Celtics were going to execute if the games were tight and they certainly did last night.
Celtics definitely shot way better from three than they are going to for the series, however Tatum will get better and they will probably get more points through drives. Warriors shot as well as you could expect them to from three but similar to Celtics not that well from two.
All the pressure is now on Warriors as if they go to Boston down 2-0 then it's basically done. I keep expecting Boston to regress, as does everyone seemingly but they keep performing at an extremely high level that cannot really be explained. I mean they were not even close to being contenders for any of the previous three seasons and literally the only significant thing that changed is that they got rid of score first point guards and got pass first point guards (+ Horford returned but damn, that guy was considered bad contract for the previous 18 months!). They are just such a solid team where everybody contributes, with almost no bench but the bench players who get to play have produced extremely well.
In part I'm trying to convince myself that I still believe in my pre-series prediction of Warriors in 6 but you're absolutely right about this Boston team and the series being basically over if they win again on Sunday.
I was under the impression that the Warriors weren't willing to compete for 50/50 basketballs. The Celtics are a lot more like the Memphis or the Wolves when it comes to physicality and the Warriors "struggled" against these teams this season.
We talked about experience and from Game 1, Jordan Poole's inexperience in the highest stage of the NBA got to him. And he didn't make the in game adjustments. -19 in only 25 minutes with 4 turnovers a team high. I think it was in the 4th quarter when GSW just came out from a timeout after Boston started the quarter on a 7-0 run and Poole drives to the rim, throws a pass towards Iguodala, but it results in a turnover. Those are killer moments and momentum enhancers.
Poole didn't get to the rim as easy, had another traveling/carrying violation, and it was clear that Boston was going to just shuffle their feet to their left in anticipation of him driving towards his strong hand and forcing him to pull up or pass off balance. Poole was just all over the place as the 2nd unit leader.
White single handidly outplayed the bench combo of Poole and Porter (whom I though had a good game, but faded towards the end).
Another point, Celtics had 21 points off 14 Warriors turnovers. There are turnovers, then there are bad turnovers which don't allow your team to transition back on defense.
Poole didn't get to the rim as easy, had another traveling/carrying violation, and it was clear that Boston was going to just shuffle their feet to their left in anticipation of him driving towards his strong hand and forcing him to pull up or pass off balance. Poole was just all over the place as the 2nd unit leader.
White single handidly outplayed the bench combo of Poole and Porter (whom I though had a good game, but faded towards the end).
Another point, Celtics had 21 points off 14 Warriors turnovers. There are turnovers, then there are bad turnovers which don't allow your team to transition back on defense.
It is a few years the Cs were knocking, to be fair… and went to a number of Eastern Conference finals since Brad Stevens’ inception, with his college-style coaching of the many picks Ainge got from the infamous Brooklyn trade in 2013.
It was Isaiah Thomas first, with Bradley, Crowder and Smart, Brown, Tatum as rookies… then it was the failed all-in with Irving & Hayward and Kemba Walker. Now they are (finally!) entering their prime, and the contenders window.
It was Isaiah Thomas first, with Bradley, Crowder and Smart, Brown, Tatum as rookies… then it was the failed all-in with Irving & Hayward and Kemba Walker. Now they are (finally!) entering their prime, and the contenders window.
Celtics ability to suffocate another team's offense is massive advantage. They don't need to shoot the lights out like last night and it will still allow them to stay in the game. But when both things combine they will blow you out of the water.
Far from over of course, but the Warriors should be worried. This Celtics team has a dog mentality (what people thought Clippers will be once Kawhi and PG joined).
Far from over of course, but the Warriors should be worried. This Celtics team has a dog mentality (what people thought Clippers will be once Kawhi and PG joined).
I’m getting really old…
Holy shit that press by J. Kroenke, feck all of self awareness, mentioning Arsenal as some success, mentioning success of other teams they own on question regarding Denver that has zero connection. Bullshit all around, dodging everything valid more than in freaking Matrix.This is a bit less big picture than some of the other videos on the channel but it does a good job of highlighting some of the small adjustments made by both teams down the stretch - still think that the big question coming out of this game is how the Warriors cope with the Celtics' small lineup with Horford at the 5. That essentially nullifies Draymond as a roamer - Horford is shooting 46% from 3 these playoffs.
Found good tactical analysis
Warriors look bad so far, missing some easy buckets.
Warriors getting some ridiculous calls.
Surprisingly quiet in here today.
Warriors playing much better to start the third but shades of Game 1 perhaps. If Boston gets back to making threes...
Warriors playing much better to start the third but shades of Game 1 perhaps. If Boston gets back to making threes...
Warriors defence making the difference tonight. Don't think Celtics can make the same turnaround in the last quarter.
Boom! Insane run in the second half of the third quarter. Would be an all-time epic comeback for Boston to pull this rabbit out.
Nail in the coffin that
Surely we can hold on to this lead?
That first 75 seconds of the 4th would indicate the Warriors weren't going to let what happened on Thursday happen tonight. The Celtics were going to have a game like this at some stage, they've had a couple in each of the last 2 rounds, but tonight with things evening up sets the rest of the series up nicely.
What's sad from a Warrior's point of view, is that apart from one excellent quarter where the Celtics played out of their skin the Dubs could easily have been up 2-0.
Does Skip Bayless ever discuss sports in a normal manner? It appears to me, every time he opens his mouth its got to be some sort of hot take. After game 1 he called Curry a choker and tonight he was ragging on Jayson Tatum. Curry is leading the Dubs in scoring at 31.5 ppg and shooting 46% from 3, while Tatum led the Celtics in scoring tonight and was 6-9 from 3. Bayless has actually become just a parody of himself and continues to spout ridiculous nonsense.
I don't often agree with Kevin Durant but he's right when he says that these talking heads having changed basketball for the worse.
I don't often agree with Kevin Durant but he's right when he says that these talking heads having changed basketball for the worse.
Bayless, Stephen A, and other hot take morons are just a reflection of their audience who lap up that shit passed as analysis.
There are analysts out there who break the game down in a knowledgeable way without resorting to nonsense like "choked" and "bottled", but they aren't as popular, so they don't get the limelight.
It's the same in football (soccer) too. NFL does a much better job I think, going all the way back to Madden.
Warriors in 6 looks right.
Yep.
ESPN turned sports shows into this and it makes it worse. When Stephen A is doing pre-game or post-game with Jaylen Rose, Wilbon, etc., he's loud, but he's usually much more measured and objective. He's a really smart dude and is a very good writer/journalist. But ESPN has created this persona of him, especially Bayless, where it's hot takes and taking sides and being partisan, just so they and then the media have a lot of 'drama' and conversation that sets the tone for their agenda throughout the day and days ahead.
NFL toots their horn way, way too much (i.e Kapernick getting a "tryout"). NFL isn't that relevant during the spring, outside the draft. They make such a huge discussion about Super Bowl runs in spring/summer, which never works out because the season is so far ahead into the future and rosters haven't been totally constructed and of course, injuries haven't taken their toll on championship caliber teams.
Mr. Insecure ain't gonna take that one well.
Tbh Steph is carrying the team in this series so far.
Warriors lost the first game because Kerr in his wisdom decided to rest both Steph and Wiggins at the start of the 4th quarter. They were 12 points up then, when he brought them back, there was a 4 point deficit.
Even in this game, Klay was terrible. As was Poole, leaving aside the two 3s he got in the final minute of the 3rd quarter by which point the Cs has given up.
GP2 coming back is big for the Warriors. Having him makes their defense work against this Celtics team.
As for predictions,
Warriors take this if between Klay and Poole, they have 2 good shooting games (not in the same game)
Celtics win this in 6 if Steph is the only one scoring on the Warriors
Warriors lost the first game because Kerr in his wisdom decided to rest both Steph and Wiggins at the start of the 4th quarter. They were 12 points up then, when he brought them back, there was a 4 point deficit.
Even in this game, Klay was terrible. As was Poole, leaving aside the two 3s he got in the final minute of the 3rd quarter by which point the Cs has given up.
GP2 coming back is big for the Warriors. Having him makes their defense work against this Celtics team.
As for predictions,
Warriors take this if between Klay and Poole, they have 2 good shooting games (not in the same game)
Celtics win this in 6 if Steph is the only one scoring on the Warriors
I'm not sure what you want from Jordan Poole. He had 17 points off the bench and shot over 50% from 3. As to the the two threes he hit at the end of the third quarter. They were daggers. The Warriors were up by 17 at the time and had just thrown away a 15 point lead in game 1. I'm sure Boston didn't think they were out of it at that point. After the game 1 debacle, I certainly didn't.
As for GP2. His return is huge. I honestly believe if he had played in game 1 the Dubs would have won. He is the best perimeter defender on the team and would have defended the three a whole lot better in the 4th quarter than the pitiful attempts the Dubs put together in game 1.
I do agree Klay has got to be better, but in each series so far in these playoffs he has had his ups and downs. They need a few "ups" in the next couple of games if they are going to win this series.
Steph has been Steph. For all the idiots who say he doesn't perform in finals, they need to look at his stats. There is only one player in NBA history to be on the winning side in a finals, average 26 points and 6 assists and not win finals MVP. Steph Curry - and he has done it 3 times.
Tied series which is kind of the right position based on how close it’s been. Some massive overreaction after game 1 and I am hoping that we don’t have the same today
I think they'll split the Boston games and then Warriors win game 5 before closing it out, just, in 6 in Boston.
Game 3 and 4 will go to Boston, Game 5 to GSW and then Boston to seal it in Game 6
2-2 after the two games in Boston hopefully and then… ok corral.
The bookmakers now have the Dubs as favorites again, although it really is the toss of coin now. They have the Warriors at -115 and the Celtics at -105.
If the Dubs are going to win the finals, they are going to have to continue their streak of 26 consecutive series of winning at least one road game.
If the Dubs are going to win the finals, they are going to have to continue their streak of 26 consecutive series of winning at least one road game.
I would be shocked if Celtics won all 3 home games
How do those odds work? I see it during both NHL and NBA games now but I can't figure it out. How much would I get if I bet $10 on either team?
Nah, just watched the game, the ok corral began yesterday… hoping my Cs will be fired up for the two home games incoming.
In this case, both teams are odds on which means you would have to bet $115 on the Warriors to win $100 and $105 on the Celtics to win $100.