NBA: *** 2024 NBA thread ***

[HFCS]

Steve Kerr says even after the Tatum season ending injury, the Celtics still have TWO players who are drastically better than Jason Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton.

This game (and possibly one or two more) is going to test his theory. Celtics might win if Kerr is right and those other stars can shine without Tatum getting in the way.

 

[IASTATE07]

Steve Kerr says even after the Tatum season ending injury, the Celtics still have TWO players who are drastically better than Jason Tatum and Tyrese Haliburton.

This game (and possibly one or two more) is going to test his theory. Celtics might win if Kerr is right and those other stars can shine without Tatum getting in the way.

Brown and who?

 

[HFCS]

Brown and who?

Brown and Derrick White probably like 240 Olympic minutes combined to Haliburton and Tatum maybe 20 minutes combined.

If Kerr was the Celtics coach this Tatum injury might have been a blessing to him so his better players can finally shine.

 

[heitclone]

OKC/Minnesota should be really good. I'm trying to be optimistic about the Nuggs but they've had them dead to rights the last two games and couldn't finish. OKC looks really good but Denver isn't known for being a great defensive team and they've frustrated them a bit, especially with the zone. Wolves are bigger and more athletic than Denver and defend really well, they could be deadly in that zone. It'll be an interesting matchup.

 

[HFCS]

These games in Boston have been nearly 50% Knicks fans cheering.

I know they are close on the map but would not expect from a defending champ.

 

[HFCS]

OKC/Minnesota should be really good. I'm trying to be optimistic about the Nuggs but they've had them dead to rights the last two games and couldn't finish. OKC looks really good but Denver isn't known for being a great defensive team and they've frustrated them a bit, especially with the zone. Wolves are bigger and more athletic than Denver and defend really well, they could be deadly in that zone. It'll be an interesting matchup.

Nuggets are just 1-2 players short. The Nuggets and Pacers are my adopted teams and the more I watch the Pacers the more obvious it is their depth makes them so much more dangerous. Jokic covers it up some games but even 40-20-15 type games can't always cover it up.

Pacers have 7-8 guys that can kill you on a given night. Nuggets only have 5-6.

 

[heitclone]

Nuggets are just 1-2 players short. The Nuggets and Pacers are my adopted teams and the more I watch the Pacers the more obvious it is their depth makes them so much more dangerous. Jokic covers it up some games but even 40-20-15 type games can't always cover it up.

Yup, it only hurts them for short stretches but it ends up being the difference. Especially against OKC, they are really deep and balanced. Nuggets have outplayed them for 40 minutes the last two games, they could have ended this but OKC just keeps coming at you, eventually they get that run.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

This Knicks - Celtics is a great game

 

[HFCS]

Brunson's pushoffs are gonna drive me nuts next round.

It might be worth it for Carlisle to have a bench guard like Ben Shepherd or McConnell push off on purpose like that 2-3 plays in a row to force it to be called. Actually serious.

 

[HFCS]

That's a horrible call, yeah Brunson got hit on the chin but he created the contact himself. White was just cutting to basket to score.

 

[Cyclones_R_GR8]

That's an awful call. He slipped

 

[Cyientist]

My gawd, I haven't seen so many consecutive whistles for 1 guy. Celtics need to iso him and drive until they get his 6th.

 

[HFCS]

My gawd, I haven't seen so many consecutive whistles for 1 guy. Celtics need to iso him and drive until they get his 6th.

Refs live for Brunson and Knicks.

Steve Kerr doctrine seeming not crazy at least for one game. Maybe he’s right and Tatum is only like the 7th best player in this series.

 

[Cyientist]

See ya!

 

[cyclonespiker33]

Refs live for Brunson and Knicks.

Steve Kerr doctrine seeming not crazy at least for one game. Maybe he’s right and Tatum is only like the 7th best player in this series.

So the frustration of the refs getting Donovan Mitchell 30 free throws each game will continue next series?

 

[HFCS]

So the frustration of the refs getting Donovan Mitchell 30 free throws each game will continue next series?

Brunson might be even worse at just hurling himself into people.

 

[CHim]

Brunson might be even worse at just hurling himself into people.

We don't disagree with you we would just hear more of other stuff. Your input on Kerr was interesting and looks like it is worth following. I wasn't surprised the Celtics won at home, lot of pride at play and I think Mazzulla can play that fiddle. But would be really surprising if they can force a game 7. Mazzulla seems half crazy but it sure does seem like him and Brad Stevens are a good fit together. Will be interesting to see what they can do with a roster build vs roster tweak.

Side benefit if the Wolves can make it past OKC would be Mike Conley getting a shot at a ring. He has always seemed like a great pro and super solid PG. Always nice to see the good guys win. I thought I saw that he has never got a technical in his entire career?

 

[CHim]

Julius Randle seems to be doing well as a second option vs primary. Seems like he might be in a similar situation as when Aaron Gordon moved from Orlando to Denver.

 

[simply1]

We don't disagree with you we would just hear more of other stuff. Your input on Kerr was interesting and looks like it is worth following. I wasn't surprised the Celtics won at home, lot of pride at play and I think Mazzulla can play that fiddle. But would be really surprising if they can force a game 7. Mazzulla seems half crazy but it sure does seem like him and Brad Stevens are a good fit together. Will be interesting to see what they can do with a roster build vs roster tweak.

Side benefit if the Wolves can make it past OKC would be Mike Conley getting a shot at a ring. He has always seemed like a great pro and super solid PG. Always nice to see the good guys win. I thought I saw that he has never got a technical in his entire career?

But needed Monte back in Minneapolis!

 

[CHim]

But needed Monte back in Minneapolis!

Shoot how awesome would that be if it was Monte with the Wolves vs TH and the Pacers? Terrible and awesome at the same time.