Official NBA thread

[cp176]

f***ing excellent post.

 

The dopes on Comcast were rolling their eyes when they asked Tommy what were the three keys to the game and he said one two three the refs. I did not see the entire game as there was an Annette Benning movie on and I have always want to bang her.

 

So Tommy was right. From what I did see Philly was holding a lot. There was a ton of contact.

 

Oh well. The Celts need to destroy these ham and eggers Wednesday.

 

Embid and The Non-Rookie are both cry baby punks.

 

I have watched them all and it was a poorly officiated game in my opinion. If talent ultimately wins this thing and I'm pretty sure that it will, Boston will advance. 76ers have quite a few one dimensional players out there. Embed is big and talented but he is a long way from being the last word in basketball. He commits an offensive foul everytime he backs in form the mid post. Never called but it is a fact. I think that they also should paint the lane the some color as the rest of the court as well because there is no such thing as a 3-4 or 5 second rule in the NBA these days. Also, Embed is a whiner and I just don't like whiners. One last thing - Simmons made a number of mistakes in game 3 the Celtics took advantage of maybe none bigger than the missed dunk that could have simply been laid in - kind of like what Brown did for the Celts on the pass from Rozier when they needed to score or lose the game- he just laid it in off the board.

[Jasonbay44]

I have watched them all and it was a poorly officiated game in my opinion. If talent ultimately wins this thing and I'm pretty sure that it will, Boston will advance. 76ers have quite a few one dimensional players out there. Embed is big and talented but he is a long way from being the last word in basketball. He commits an offensive foul everytime he backs in form the mid post. Never called but it is a fact. I think that they also should paint the lane the some color as the rest of the court as well because there is no such thing as a 3-4 or 5 second rule in the NBA these days. Also, Embed is a whiner and I just don't like whiners. One last thing - Simmons made a number of mistakes in game 3 the Celtics took advantage of maybe none bigger than the missed dunk that could have simply been laid in - kind of like what Brown did for the Celts on the pass from Rozier when they needed to score or lose the game- he just laid it in off the board.

 

If "talent" ultimately wins, with all the Celtics injuries, there is no doubt the 76ers are the more talented team at the moment. However, there is also no doubt that Stevens is a top 2 coach in the league, and the veteran guys on the Celtics (Horford/Smart) are abusing the young 76ers players. The 76ers are having so many mental errors in this series, I don't know if its coaching, inexperience or what, but Saric, Embiid, Simmons, and etc have had some awful decisions late in games. 76ers are going to be a very good team, Simmons is only 21, Embiid 24, Saric 24 and I'm not even including a guy who is super talented and has basically had a lost season due to injuries, Fultz who is only 19, but right now they are clearly not ready for this stage.

 

The refereeing in this series has been atrocious though. Embiid gets away with more than almost any player in the league, and has the audacity to complain about every call. He is a great player, one of the more polished bigs in the league, especially at his age, but his act is growing tiresome.

[cp176]

If "talent" ultimately wins, with all the Celtics injuries, there is no doubt the 76ers are the more talented team at the moment. However, there is also no doubt that Stevens is a top 2 coach in the league, and the veteran guys on the Celtics (Horford/Smart) are abusing the young 76ers players. The 76ers are having so many mental errors in this series, I don't know if its coaching, inexperience or what, but Saric, Embiid, Simmons, and etc have had some awful decisions late in games. 76ers are going to be a very good team, Simmons is only 21, Embiid 24, Saric 24 and I'm not even including a guy who is super talented and has basically had a lost season due to injuries, Fultz who is only 19, but right now they are clearly not ready for this stage.

 

The refereeing in this series has been atrocious though. Embiid gets away with more than almost any player in the league, and has the audacity to complain about every call. He is a great player, one of the more polished bigs in the league, especially at his age, but his act is growing tiresome.

 

I really have to question whether this Sixers team has more talent than the Celtics. Don't get me wrong, many of the sixers are more talented at the specific things that they do but they are really quite one dimensional players. I absolutely believe that Boston has the better athletes to send out against them even without Irving and Heywood.

[cp176]

I really have to question whether this Sixers team has more talent than the Celtics. Don't get me wrong, many of the sixers are more talented at the specific things that they do but they are really quite one dimensional players. I absolutely believe that Boston has the better athletes to send out against them even without Irving and Heywood.

 

 

Oh and I agree with you about Embed. To be that young, that talented , and that much of a whiner - just too bad.

[Spudboy]

If "talent" ultimately wins, with all the Celtics injuries, there is no doubt the 76ers are the more talented team at the moment. However, there is also no doubt that Stevens is a top 2 coach in the league, and the veteran guys on the Celtics (Horford/Smart) are abusing the young 76ers players. The 76ers are having so many mental errors in this series, I don't know if its coaching, inexperience or what, but Saric, Embiid, Simmons, and etc have had some awful decisions late in games. 76ers are going to be a very good team, Simmons is only 21, Embiid 24, Saric 24 and I'm not even including a guy who is super talented and has basically had a lost season due to injuries, Fultz who is only 19, but right now they are clearly not ready for this stage.

 

The refereeing in this series has been atrocious though. Embiid gets away with more than almost any player in the league, and has the audacity to complain about every call. He is a great player, one of the more polished bigs in the league, especially at his age, but his act is growing tiresome.

 

Sorry JBay. I always respect your posts because you generally know some things about which you speak.

 

 

But here I must exert a homer post.

 

You speak of the sixers being clearly more talented ( at the moment ). I do not agree.

 

At the moment the Celt are missing their two marquee playahs, Gordon and Erving. These guys are established all-stars and have been among the top 25 or so best players in the league.

 

We can set them aside as you are speaking about this moment. Oh, let's not forget Daniel Theis. A "rookie" from Germany. He is 6'10' and a fast slasher type that can play with his back to the basket. He has a good medium jump shot, blocks shots, rebounds, passes, and out-runs almost all the players his size in the league. Once he got regular playing time he was humiliating 4s and 5s with his shut down defense. He is out with , I believe, a knee injury.

 

The Celts have a slew of young talent as good are better than the young guys on the sixers.

 

Rozier is about 22-23 and has recently shown that he can be among the best performing point guards in the league with about 20 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, and zero TOs a game. He is one of the fastest athletes in the league and can be a shut down defender.

 

Semi Ojileye ( sp ) is also about 21-22 and a rook. He saw limited action for most of the season but has shown that he can shut down or limit the damage of many top 3s and 4s. Plus he is smart and can run.

 

Jalen Brown is a perennial all star in the making at 21 and in his second year.

 

Jason Tatum (20 ) along with the kid in Utah are the real rookies of the year. A lot is made about how Simmon's game is NBA ready. This is only partially true. The kids suck at the most critical of basketball skills. Shooting. He is not just poor at it, he blows. Tatum does everything well and is a second perennial all star in the making. He was the real 1st pick and for good reason. The kid can score on anyone and can play d.

 

Then you have two guys not ready for prime time but with enormous offensive skills, Yabuselle(sp) and Abdel Nader. These guys are 1st round picks as well.

 

The Celts have a clear advantage in young talent in my view. Of course I am biased as I have seen them over 80 times this season.

 

We also have the absolute best white hope in the game in Aron Baynes to bang with anyone in the paint. He actually has skills.

 

And I have not mentioned Al Horford. This guy is one of the best passing and defensive 4s in the game that can bring it in the low post as well.

 

Sorry, the sixers made some noise late in the season and that was cool to see after that franchise has sucked ass for at least two decades of process.

 

The Celts are the second best team in the league and are a championship waiting to happen.

 

I don't swallow all the headlines about the sixers.

 

I watch the Celts so I know who they are.

 

Homer rant ovah.

Edited May 9, 2018 by Spudboy

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown are both in some pretty elite company with their performance in these playoffs. Tatum is the first Celtics rookie ever to score 20+ points in 5 straight playoff games. They both have some s*** they need to work on (passing and ball handling), but that will come. Don't trade either of them for ANYBODY.

 

Rozier is good but we have a decision to make with him this summer. If we're expecting Kyrie back healthy next year, that means that Rozier has to go from playoff star to settling back onto the bench next season. I don't think he would be happy with being relegated to such a role after he's shown what he can do in these playoffs, but more than that, it would stunt his development. I think the best thing for both sides would be to trade him off this summer while his stock is as high as it's ever going to be in a Boston uniform. 6-2 trigger-happy scoring guards are among the most replaceable commodities in the NBA. Danny could probably find his replacement at #27 in the upcoming draft. Remember that him taking Rozier at #16 in 2015 was considered a huge reach.

 

Nader looked completely lost on the court this season. I can't recall a single instance where I thought he helped us win a game or helped keep us in one. I'm ready to write him off. Yabusele is very raw but has his moments, I could take him or leave him. Can't see him getting many minutes on next year's roster, he might find himself headed elsewhere in a package with Rozier. Jabari Bird is the guy I'd like to take another look at. In limited minutes toward the end of the season (after playoff seeding was secured) he showed some real speed, athleticism, and intensity, particularly on the defensive side. Definitely want to bring him back next season and see what he can do.

Edited May 9, 2018 by Jacoby_Ellsbury

[cp176]

Some great posts on this page. Very impressive. My only addition would be that I have gone from accepting the fact that Marcus Smart would not be back with us to absolutely hoping that he will. I think that the arguement against him is basically his streaky shooting. I feel that he does so many things for this team that just do not show up in the box score. What Baynes does physically in the post, this guy does all over the court. He makes big plays both offensively and defensively when his team needs them the most. He may not look the part of a pure smooth NBA player but he does what he does as well if not better than most.

[Spudboy]

Some great posts on this page. Very impressive. My only addition would be that I have gone from accepting the fact that Marcus Smart would not be back with us to absolutely hoping that he will. I think that the arguement against him is basically his streaky shooting. I feel that he does so many things for this team that just do not show up in the box score. What Baynes does physically in the post, this guy does all over the court. He makes big plays both offensively and defensively when his team needs them the most. He may not look the part of a pure smooth NBA player but he does what he does as well if not better than most.

 

I agree about what Smart does and I would like to see him back next season. His shooting is not the problem. It's the idea of paying big bucks for him that is not appetizing. J E could explain that much better since he follows all that salary stuff.

[mvp 78]

Tatum and Brown are f***ing great. I don't know how long Rozier can keep it up, but I know Danny has been really high on him ever since he was drafted. I bet Ainge does his best to keep the band together for a while.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Embiid loves to talk inane s*** until he loses the series, then he slunks off to the locker room to go chew on his cum rags the second the clock hits 0. f*** him.

[Jasonbay44]

Sorry JBay. I always respect your posts because you generally know some things about which you speak.

 

 

But here I must exert a homer post.

 

You speak of the sixers being clearly more talented ( at the moment ). I do not agree.

 

At the moment the Celt are missing their two marquee playahs, Gordon and Erving. These guys are established all-stars and have been among the top 25 or so best players in the league.

 

We can set them aside as you are speaking about this moment. Oh, let's not forget Daniel Theis. A "rookie" from Germany. He is 6'10' and a fast slasher type that can play with his back to the basket. He has a good medium jump shot, blocks shots, rebounds, passes, and out-runs almost all the players his size in the league. Once he got regular playing time he was humiliating 4s and 5s with his shut down defense. He is out with , I believe, a knee injury.

 

The Celts have a slew of young talent as good are better than the young guys on the sixers.

 

Rozier is about 22-23 and has recently shown that he can be among the best performing point guards in the league with about 20 points, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, and zero TOs a game. He is one of the fastest athletes in the league and can be a shut down defender.

 

Semi Ojileye ( sp ) is also about 21-22 and a rook. He saw limited action for most of the season but has shown that he can shut down or limit the damage of many top 3s and 4s. Plus he is smart and can run.

 

Jalen Brown is a perennial all star in the making at 21 and in his second year.

 

Jason Tatum (20 ) along with the kid in Utah are the real rookies of the year. A lot is made about how Simmon's game is NBA ready. This is only partially true. The kids suck at the most critical of basketball skills. Shooting. He is not just poor at it, he blows. Tatum does everything well and is a second perennial all star in the making. He was the real 1st pick and for good reason. The kid can score on anyone and can play d.

 

Then you have two guys not ready for prime time but with enormous offensive skills, Yabuselle(sp) and Abdel Nader. These guys are 1st round picks as well.

 

The Celts have a clear advantage in young talent in my view. Of course I am biased as I have seen them over 80 times this season.

 

We also have the absolute best white hope in the game in Aron Baynes to bang with anyone in the paint. He actually has skills.

 

And I have not mentioned Al Horford. This guy is one of the best passing and defensive 4s in the game that can bring it in the low post as well.

 

Sorry, the sixers made some noise late in the season and that was cool to see after that franchise has sucked ass for at least two decades of process.

 

The Celts are the second best team in the league and are a championship waiting to happen.

 

I don't swallow all the headlines about the sixers.

 

I watch the Celts so I know who they are.

 

Homer rant ovah.

 

I was saying on paper they are more talented, with Irving and Hayward not apart of the equation, obviously with those two guys, Celtics are favorites in the East..

[cp176]

I was saying on paper they are more talented, with Irving and Hayward not apart of the equation, obviously with those two guys, Celtics are favorites in the East..

 

This was a Celtics throwback game for me. A working class team. They are a perfect match with our greater Boston community. They are of course much more talented than they look but there are times when it really looks like there is no way that they can do what they just do. When the ball is loose and rolling around out there who would you put your $ on the Celtics or anybody else? I'll give credit to Philly for playing hard and I have to say that a healthy Embid is an absolute force.

[Jasonbay44]

Celtics are definitely a very talented team, its a shame they suffered so many injuries this season, because they could've easily made the finals this year. I doubt they beat Golden State (I doubt anyone does, that team isn't even fair), but I could definitely of seen them beating the Cavs. Besides Lebron/Love, there really has been much production from that team in the playoffs, at least until recently. It took one of the most dominant performances in NBA playoffs history for Lebron to get by the Pacers in 7 games.

 

However, without Kyrie, Hayward, and etc, I can't see them beating the Cavs, Lebron is on a mission and its almost like he wants to prove a point that he can carry any team around him to finals.

[Thunder]

Celtics are definitely a very talented team, its a shame they suffered so many injuries this season, because they could've easily made the finals this year. I doubt they beat Golden State (I doubt anyone does, that team isn't even fair), but I could definitely of seen them beating the Cavs. Besides Lebron/Love, there really has been much production from that team in the playoffs, at least until recently. It took one of the most dominant performances in NBA playoffs history for Lebron to get by the Pacers in 7 games.

 

However, without Kyrie, Hayward, and etc, I can't see them beating the Cavs, Lebron is on a mission and its almost like he wants to prove a point that he can carry any team around him to finals.

 

I'm pulling for the Celtics as hard as any real Celtics fan is right now, but I just don't see how it can be done. LeBron carrying this team on his back looks a lot like Brady carrying the Patriots to the Super Bowl back when they had no competent healthy receivers and one of the worst offensive lines in the league. I will always root for the underdog in sports, and I will always love to see a changing of the guard, or at least not seeing the same teams in the championship games every year (the big issue I have with the NBA at the moment), but when the G.O.A.T. is on a rampage, it's just impossible to stop. I'm still in shock that the Eagles beat the Patriots, and I will be just as surprised, if not more so, if the Celtics win this series, even though I really want them to. As for the Finals, assuming it's between Golden State and Cleveland, that one is up in the air. Advantage Golden State, but anything goes right now with LeBron.

[Spudboy]

I'm pulling for the Celtics as hard as any real Celtics fan is right now, but I just don't see how it can be done. LeBron carrying this team on his back looks a lot like Brady carrying the Patriots to the Super Bowl back when they had no competent healthy receivers and one of the worst offensive lines in the league. I will always root for the underdog in sports, and I will always love to see a changing of the guard, or at least not seeing the same teams in the championship games every year (the big issue I have with the NBA at the moment), but when the G.O.A.T. is on a rampage, it's just impossible to stop. I'm still in shock that the Eagles beat the Patriots, and I will be just as surprised, if not more so, if the Celtics win this series, even though I really want them to. As for the Finals, assuming it's between Golden State and Cleveland, that one is up in the air. Advantage Golden State, but anything goes right now with LeBron.

 

Well written.

 

And an excellent post.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Cleveland will almost certainly be the end of the line. I don't know if it will be a slaughter like last year, since they don't have Kyrie anymore and compared to last time our team is much more unselfish, has fewer guys who need the ball in their hands to have a positive impact on the game (just Morris), and has no defensive liabilities for them to exploit. But I'd be floored if we won this series. Edited May 12, 2018 by Jacoby_Ellsbury

[Spudboy]

I am already very curious to see how the Celt's roster looks to begin next season.

 

Danny has been pretty clever so far. But as always, decisions have to be made.

[Thunder]

The thing worth noting here is that Boston's wings are far better than any that Cleveland has faced so far in the playoffs. If their youth shines in the moment and they get hot, they could pose a matchup problem for the Cavs. This applies to the other side of the ball as well.

[Spudboy]

Celts putting to the vaunted Cavs. Leading by 28 late in the 4th.

 

Lol. The experts know s***.

 

I love it!

[StephenCurry30]

its a 7 game series.

[Spudboy]

its a 7 game series.

 

Really?

 

Thanks for the edification Sport.

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Brad completely mindf***ed LeBron and Lue. They had no idea what hit them.

 

I'm still not going to be confident about this series until we have 4 wins.

[cp176]

Pretty sure the Cavs will be back but it did look like they have some serious matchup problems with this Celtics edition. As they mature, it is becoming obvious that Brown, Tatum, and Rozier are pretty tough to contain when they are playing fast and hard. For most of the game, they looked like they were playing at a different speed than Cleveland.

[Thunder]

Brad completely mindf***ed LeBron and Lue. They had no idea what hit them.

 

I'm still not going to be confident about this series until we have 4 wins.

 

Agreed. If anybody comes back from 3-0, it'll be LeBron. Not saying it will get to 3-0, however.

[Jasonbay44]

This Rockets/Warriors series has the potential to be one of the best ever. There is so much star power on the court.

[User Name]

f*** the Warriors.

[Jasonbay44]

f*** the Warriors.

 

I don't disagree with that, I'm definitely hoping any team but them wins it all, but I can't deny the talent on that team. Durant, Klay, Curry, Draymond, CP3 and Harden on the same court is crazy.

[Thunder]

Golden State showed why they're still the best team in the league last night in Game 1

[Jacoby_Ellsbury]

Well, somehow we are up 3-2 and one win away from the Finals. LeBron looked completely gassed last night. His numbers were okay, but his defense left a lot to be desired. The fact that he's clearly fatigued and the Cavs have no more room for error being on the brink of elimination makes me think the Celtics might actually pull this off. But it's just as likely that they blow a winnable game in Cleveland tomorrow night and then LeBron gets it together for game seven and one of their role players wakes up has a random 25 point game and thanks to that they steal the series.

 

Just avoid getting blown out in Cleveland. Make them play LeBron 36+ minutes.

[mvp 78]

Well, somehow we are up 3-2 and one win away from the Finals. LeBron looked completely gassed last night. His numbers were okay, but his defense left a lot to be desired. The fact that he's clearly fatigued and the Cavs have no more room for error being on the brink of elimination makes me think the Celtics might actually pull this off. But it's just as likely that they blow a winnable game in Cleveland tomorrow night and then LeBron gets it together for game seven and one of their role players wakes up has a random 25 point game and thanks to that they steal the series.

 

Just avoid getting blown out in Cleveland. Make them play LeBron 36+ minutes.

 

It's too bad that Cleveland never found Lebron a Scottie Pippen. He would have never left for Miami and he'd have more rings.