NBA Playoffs | Page 23 | The Boneyard

NBA Playoffs

MadDogRevival said:
Yeah, but they were playing against the greatest coach and QB in the history of the league, they weren't heavy favorites, and so on. 3-1 choke by GS is a much bigger choke, especially considering Game 7 was at home.
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When you're a 73 win team that blows a 3-1 lead in the finals with two of those games coming at home, it's definitely a choke no matter how you slice it.

But subjectively speaking, I just didn't come away from those three games thinking that way. Honestly, Cleveland was probably better. Oklahoma City was probably better. I know it sounds crazy to say that about a 73 win team, but that team was better built for the regular season. They had looked very mortal at times in the previous postseason (they trailed Memphis 2-1 in 2015 and then lost games two and three to Cleveland without Kyrie/Love) and then followed that up by beating the Thunder in a series in which they lost two games by over 25 points.

Add that to the fact that Draymond was suspended for game five and Kyrie and LeBron did things humans aren't supposed to do, and it doesn't rank that high for me as an all-time collapse. I thought the Clippers blowing a 3-1 lead to Houston was worse, I thought Dallas against Miami in 2006 was worse, I thought Miami against Dallas in 2011 was worse. The 2008 Celtics going 7 with the 37 win Hawks was inexplicable to the point that I'll nominate that even though they won.
 
intlzncster said:
They choked it away sans KD. It's a whole other monster now.
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I tend to agree, but once a team has had it happen to them once, I can never totally forget it. I also feel that Houston has been building this team for a few seasons now, and they are really good, so I can't count them out.
 
The Draymond suspension is over-hyped. They lost four games that series and he played in three of those loses.

That series came down to LeBron being LeBron and Kyrie finally showing up in game three and beyond.

This version of GS shouldn't get close to losing a game, let alone a series. Barring major injury, or two, if they don't win it all....someone has to be fired.
 
MadDogRevival said:
Yeah, but they were playing against the greatest coach and QB in the history of the league, they weren't heavy favorites, and so on. 3-1 choke by GS is a much bigger choke, especially considering Game 7 was at home.
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Bigger than '04 yankmes?
 
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Celtics have some great pieces already in place. It's scary to think that they're missing Kyrie and Gordon.
 
huskypantz said:
Celtics have some great pieces already in place. It's scary to think that they're missing Kyrie and Gordon.
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Most important piece is the coach. If you gave me the choice between Embiid, Giannis, AD or Stevens to start a team with, I'm going with Stevens.

They might not win this series – LeBron might end up being too good. But as long as Stevens is on the sideline they will win the coaching battle pretty much every single time, and that raises the probability of success so, so high. Add in switchable two-way future studs like Brown & Tatum, and I expect the Celtics will be hanging multiple banners over the next decade.
 
Celtics really just let the Cavs back in. All it takes is LeBron getting a few calls {which he already has) and getting hot. . They need a mini run right now
 
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Will be interesting to see how the Cavs respond.
LBJ played soft today and kept passing early rather than trying to create.
Refs let the defense play physically.
Only option for the Cavs is to respond in kind.
It's ugly basketball, but the Cavs have no chance unless LBJ decides he's going to fight through the wrestling match every possession in order to make things happen. In that case, the refs are going to decide the series . . . if they let the D goon him every time, the Cavs have no chance.
Today was a combination of soft LeBron, C's shooting hot, C's excellent D, Cavs shooting poorly.
C's should not be overconfident - things can change quickly.
Huge talent differential between the two teams. Today exposed how weak the Cavs are 2-5 when LBJ is not setting the table for them. Is Keven Love's vertical more than 12"?
If LeBron goes to Philly next year then Philly/C's is going to be a war for a few years.
 
Curious question, with Celts successful performance minus Irving and Hayward, would a trade with the Spurs for Leonard be in play with any of these players?

Parker and Ginobli need va iable replacement and Irving (+?) for Leonard would solve that. Or replacing Leonard with Hayward (+? ) would also seem a win for Boston. If Boston sweetens the deal (Ainge and Hayward) then San Antonio would be just fine going forward, especially with Kyrie. Anyway to me that makes Boston on par or certainly competitive with GS, and atop the EC. I wonder if astute Ainge will consider this next month.
 
Kitaman said:
Curious question, with Celts successful performance minus Irving and Hayward, would a trade with the Spurs for Leonard be in play with any of these players?

Parker and Ginobli need va iable replacement and Irving (+?) for Leonard would solve that. Or replacing Leonard with Hayward (+? ) would also seem a win for Boston. If Boston sweetens the deal (Ainge and Hayward) then San Antonio would be just fine going forward, especially with Kyrie. Anyway to me that makes Boston on par or certainly competitive with GS, and atop the EC. I wonder if astute Ainge will consider this next month.
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There is no way in hell they’d trade Irving for Leonard. I don’t think they would bother trying to trade Hayward for Leonard either. Hayward may be a better fit for their system and they play the same position. Certainly Leonard is superb defensively, but they are similar offensively, and Hayward is above average on D. Not sure who you had in mind as a + with Hayward, but Ainge isn’t trading himself. It has been discussed. Max Kellerman Suggests Celtics Trade Gordon Hayward For Kawhi Leonard

If Boston tries to trade for anyone, I think it will be a 4-5 frontcourt player.
 
Matrim55 said:
Most important piece is the coach. If you gave me the choice between Embiid, Giannis, AD or Stevens to start a team with, I'm going with Stevens.

They might not win this series – LeBron might end up being too good. But as long as Stevens is on the sideline they will win the coaching battle pretty much every single time, and that raises the probability of success so, so high. Add in switchable two-way future studs like Brown & Tatum, and I expect the Celtics will be hanging multiple banners over the next decade.
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Next year vs golden state should be an epic series.

Yes I’m calling that shot already. Only thing that might change that is Lebron to Houston.
 
HuskyHawk said:
There is no way in hell they’d trade Irving for Leonard. I don’t think they would bother trying to trade Hayward for Leonard either. Hayward may be a better fit for their system and they play the same position. Certainly Leonard is superb defensively, but they are similar offensively, and Hayward is above average on D. Not sure who you had in mind as a + with Hayward, but Ainge isn’t trading himself. It has been discussed. Max Kellerman Suggests Celtics Trade Gordon Hayward For Kawhi Leonard

If Boston tries to trade for anyone, I think it will be a 4-5 frontcourt player.
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Boston would be crazy not to trade Hayward for Leonard.
 
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Matrim55 said:
Most important piece is the coach. If you gave me the choice between Embiid, Giannis, AD or Stevens to start a team with, I'm going with Stevens.

They might not win this series – LeBron might end up being too good. But as long as Stevens is on the sideline they will win the coaching battle pretty much every single time, and that raises the probability of success so, so high. Add in switchable two-way future studs like Brown & Tatum, and I expect the Celtics will be hanging multiple banners over the next decade.
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You're getting carried away with this one.
 
HuskyHawk said:
There is no way in hell they’d trade Irving for Leonard. I don’t think they would bother trying to trade Hayward for Leonard either. Hayward may be a better fit for their system and they play the same position. Certainly Leonard is superb defensively, but they are similar offensively, and Hayward is above average on D. Not sure who you had in mind as a + with Hayward, but Ainge isn’t trading himself. It has been discussed. Max Kellerman Suggests Celtics Trade Gordon Hayward For Kawhi Leonard

If Boston tries to trade for anyone, I think it will be a 4-5 frontcourt player.
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I assume you must be talking about Meyers Leonard, there's no way in hell Gordon Hayward is a better fit for any system than Kawhi freaking Leonard. Neither is Irving for that matter. The only way the Celtics wouldn't make that deal would be if they didn't think he'd re-sign (and there are still no assurance with Irving, despite his being bullish on the franchise in general) or if they were concerned about his health.

It's so crazy that Boston basically emptied their roster (and the unprotected Brooklyn pick) last summer for Kyrie and Hayward. I'm starting to get excited that I'm going to be so wrong about the Celtics that I will end up being right when we are forced to conclude that Kyrie Irving is useless because everybody who plays for Brad Stevens automatically turns into God anyways. #humbled

What if they were sitting on the cusp of the finals right now with room for two max players and say, Mo Bamba or Colin Sexton? Maybe those two max players end up being Hayward and Irving. We'll see.
 
champs99and04 said:
I assume you must be talking about Meyers Leonard, there's no way in hell Gordon Hayward is a better fit for any system than Kawhi freaking Leonard. Neither is Irving for that matter. The only way the Celtics wouldn't make that deal would be if they didn't think he'd re-sign (and there are still no assurance with Irving, despite his being bullish on the franchise in general) or if they were concerned about his health.

It's so crazy that Boston basically emptied their roster (and the unprotected Brooklyn pick) last summer for Kyrie and Hayward. I'm starting to get excited that I'm going to be so wrong about the Celtics that I will end up being right when we are forced to conclude that Kyrie Irving is useless because everybody who plays for Brad Stevens automatically turns into God anyways. #humbled

What if they were sitting on the cusp of the finals right now with room for two max players and say, Mo Bamba or Colin Sexton? Maybe those two max players end up being Hayward and Irving. We'll see.
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Bradley for morris worked out fine.

I think it’s really interesting that the Cavs were basically screwed no matter what.

Either kyrie would’ve missed their postseason (likely) or they’re in the current situation where they had to move IT.
 
Matrim55 said:
Most important piece is the coach. If you gave me the choice between Embiid, Giannis, AD or Stevens to start a team with, I'm going with Stevens.

They might not win this series – LeBron might end up being too good. But as long as Stevens is on the sideline they will win the coaching battle pretty much every single time, and that raises the probability of success so, so high. Add in switchable two-way future studs like Brown & Tatum, and I expect the Celtics will be hanging multiple banners over the next decade.
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I know you understand this is insane, right? Sarcasm?
 
Huskyforlife said:
I know you understand this is insane, right? Sarcasm?
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People are getting carried away. But he isnt on an island. I think Zach Lowe said something similar, a guy who some people consider smart.

With an absolutely trash roster, sure, Stevens had sub 500 teams his 1st 2 seasons. Prime Giannis or AD will never be sub 500 even if surrounded by 4 cadavers. I would rather have Stevens than say the 20th best player in the league but AD? Silly.
 
Walker11 said:
People are getting carried away. But he isnt on an island. I think Zach Lowe said something similar, a guy who some people consider smart.

With an absolutely trash roster, sure, Stevens had sub 500 teams his 1st 2 seasons. Prime Giannis or AD will never be sub 500 even if surrounded by 4 cadavers. I would rather have Stevens than say the 20th best player in the league but AD? Silly.
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I think Lowe said he'd consider taking Stevens over anyone not in that elite tier.

No way I'm passing on AD for any non-player.

As for Kawhi, I'm not trading (a) Brown or Tatum, both still on their rookie deals and both looking like future stars or (b) Hayward, which would be a huge to him and Stevens, and would send a message to any future FAs that you'll be on the block the minute you sign your deal. I like that Ainge is cold as ice but that would not be a good look. Horford was the first big name FA to sign with the Celtics ever. I wouldn't want Hayward to be the last.

If we could do Rozier plus picks, I'd certainly do it, but they wouldn't.
 
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nomar said:
I think Lowe said he'd consider taking Stevens over anyone not in that elite tier.

No way I'm passing on AD for any non-player.

As for Kawhi, I'm not trading (a) Brown or Tatum, both still on their rookie deals and both looking like future stars or (b) Hayward, which would be a huge to him and Stevens, and would send a message to any future FAs that you'll be on the block the minute you sign your deal. I like that Ainge is cold as ice but that would not be a good look. Horford was the first big name FA to sign with the Celtics ever. I wouldn't want Hayward to be the last.

If we could do Rozier plus picks, I'd certainly do it, but they wouldn't.
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Trade Kyrie, keep Scary Terry (who again, needs a far better nickname).
 
superjohn said:
Boston would be crazy not to trade Hayward for Leonard.
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Spurs are not offering that deal straight up and you know it. What else would you give up? Not Brown or Tatum. Not the Laker's pick.
 
How much trade leverage does SA have with Leonard? Does anyone really know what's going on with him health-wise? When was the last time he played like a star for more than a week or two?
 
I know it's impossible to really tell from my couch, but Tyronn Lue looked like a passive participant in the game. Was he officially gelded by Lebron?
 
Yardigan said:
How much trade leverage does SA have with Leonard? Does anyone really know what's going on with him health-wise? When was the last time he played like a star for more than a week or two?
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Their biggest piece of leverage with Leonard is that they can give him by far the most money.

but no one really knows how bad, if at all, he wants to leave SA.
 
the Q said:
Their biggest piece of leverage with Leonard is that they can give him by far the most money.

but no one really knows how bad, if at all, he wants to leave SA.
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And my concern as a Boston fan is why he wants to leave. Is he having problems with Pop? Would I expect the same with Stevens? And @nomar makes a good point about trading Hayward after he signed to come to Boston as a FA. It's a bad look.

In short, while Leonard is an upgrade on Hayward, he's not a guy at a position of need, he's a guy playing the position they are strongest at. Morris has been a good pick up for Boston, but they could use an upgrade on Baynes. They are going to be dealing with Embiid for years, inside the division. I really hope they get lucky with a miracle draw on the Laker's pick.
 
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