NBA Finals Thread - Celtics vs Mavericks

[HuskyHawk]

Can't argue with that. I will not openly root for the Mavs. But I won't be upset if the Celtics lose.

It's a nice problem to have. You can't lose.

 

[nomar]

Can't argue with that. I will not openly root for the Mavs. But I won't be upset if the Celtics lose.

The heart wants what the heart wants

 

[gtcam]

It’s not hate, it’s just what it is. Porzingis is great and has a huge impact, but he is their 3rd/4th/5th best player (He White and Jrue are so close imo).

The teams they played were missing the outright best player. Again, wouldn’t have changed much, but it isn’t a fair comparison.

White is perhaps the most important player for the C's on the floor but he doesn't receive the attention. The guy has the complete arsenal - he is multi-faceted in his offensive game and plays unreal D. He is extremely cerebral on the court, and you can see he is a coach's son. He is an ALL NBA caliber player but plays with 2 or 3 others (JT, JB and KP).

 

[nelsonmuntz]

Yes. Many people paid to be NBA experts on television picked the Mavs to win this series. I saw a hilarious list yesterday but I've got a 1:30 so I'm not going to dig it out now.

I thought I was jumping on the bandwagon when I predicted Celtics in 5 with a decent shot to sweep. I guess not.

 

[Chuck]

I have a conundrum tomorrow night. Someone gave me a free ticket for game 5, if it's played. So I have to root for the Mavs to win game 4. Even though it's a low probability that the Mavs win 4 straight, you never want to let the other team win and let them back in the series. But there probably won't be many, if any, times in my life I'll be at a game that clinches the NBA Finals. So "Go Mavs" tomorrow.

I actually was at game 6 two years ago when the Warriors clinched the NBA Finals in Boston. I didn't even stay for the trophy presentation then because I figured who wants to see that on your home court.

I rooted against the Yankees in the 1981 World Series for that reason. I was a kid. My dad got tickets for Game 6 from his company. 5 rows back of the visiting dugout. I was so excited. The Yankees won games 1 and 2. I needed them to lose 2 games and they obliged... by not winning again. I got to see game 6, but it was all Dodgers.

Re this NBA series, I hate just about everything Boston, but I don't hate this Celtics team. My dislike for Kyrie in particular has me inwardly pulling for the Celtics while externally saying I don't care either way. Go Celtics!

 

[aceboon]

PR team definitely made the call for a sitdown after how bad the optics looked for him after game 3

 

[HuskyHawk]

White is perhaps the most important player for the C's on the floor but he doesn't receive the attention. The guy has the complete arsenal - he is multi-faceted in his offensive game and plays unreal D. He is extremely cerebral on the court, and you can see he is a coach's son. He is an ALL NBA caliber player but plays with 2 or 3 others (JT, JB and KP).

I'll say this, he makes the best decisions late in close games. He's not going to do anything stupid in those situations. I think he's more super roll player than star, but he's as good in that Swiss army knife roll as anybody. Doesn't get flustered, always calm.

 

[nomar]

I thought I was jumping on the bandwagon when I predicted Celtics in 5 with a decent shot to sweep. I guess not.

You weren’t. Very few people picked the Celtics in 5 or a sweep.

 

[nomar]

I'll say this, he makes the best decisions late in close games. He's not going to do anything stupid in those situations. I think he's more super roll player than star, but he's as good in that Swiss army knife roll as anybody. Doesn't get flustered, always calm.

If somebody’s gotta take a 30-footer to beat the shot clock, I want it to be him. So clutch.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Two reports on local TV

Porzingis is available tonight.

Luka has scored a combined 8 points in the three 4th quarters.

 

[nomar]

Didn’t see the Celtics getting blown out, gotta say

Keystone Kops

 

[nomar]

Two reports on local TV

Porzingis is available tonight.

Luka has scored a combined 8 points in the three 4th quarters.

1. Just kidding!
2. Looks like he’ll probably score 0 tonight

 

[aceboon]

Mavs definitely locked in but this is a pathetic performance from the Celtics so far

 

[WlfdHusky]

I dont watch the nba much but when I do, it is ugly. Tonight the Celtics arw butt ugly.

 

[husky429]

Mavs definitely locked in but this is a pathetic performance from the Celtics so far

They want to close it out at home. These guys aren't even trying.

 

[Matrim55]

One thing that stands out about this Celtics team: When they let go of the rope they really, really let it go.

 

[Scoe]

Celts will wrap it up Sunday, it would be such a Celtics thing to do though to have it go to a game 6 and then win game 6 in Dallas.

 

[HuskyWarrior611]

Mavs with a worthless game 4 win. There’s no way the Celtics don’t close it out in Boston in game 5. Nobody has ever came back down 0-3.

 

[HooperScooper]

They want to close it out at home. These guys aren't even trying.

They just wanted me there to celebrate with.

 

[IndyLives]

Absolutely pathetic effort and intensity by the C's. Not what you want to see in a closeout game. Confidence may have shifted. I wouldnt mind a competitive loss, but a blowout loss from the mid Q1 is worrisome.

 

[nelsonmuntz]

It is hard to sweep, and while the Mavs are not great, they don't suck either. There is about one swept NBA Finals a decade. It wasn't going to be the Celtics without Porzingis doing it.

 

[navery12]

Absolutely pathetic effort and intensity by the C's. Not what you want to see in a closeout game. Confidence may have shifted. I wouldnt mind a competitive loss, but a blowout loss from the mid Q1 is worrisome.

The Celtics will be fine, they'll win this series in however many games they want to. Whenever they decide to stop messing around with the Mavs the series will be over

 

[JohnFSilver]

One thing that stands out about this Celtics team: When they let go of the rope they really, really let it go.

It is like there is no wasted faux efforts while lose by 20 with effort when you can not break a sweat and lose by 35.

 

[champs99and04]

The Celtics will be fine, they'll win this series in however many games they want to. Whenever they decide to stop messing around with the Mavs the series will be over

Everyone assumes they're just messing around, but the reality is that, despite the gaudy record, they haven't been the same dominant team in the last three rounds that they were for most of the regular season. Minus Porzingis, they're not much better than the Mavs.

 

[HuskyHawk]

Everyone assumes they're just messing around, but the reality is that, despite the gaudy record, they haven't been the same dominant team in the last three rounds that they were for most of the regular season. Minus Porzingis, they're not much better than the Mavs.

My concern is really that the shooting continued to be bad while Dallas got incredibly hot. Don‘t ever give the team that is down confidence that they can win. Now Dallas knows it’s possible. Boston better be great on Sunday.