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Looks like the bench won this game for us.
Woo hoo #18 in the bag .yes, yes it is - since 2024.
agreed.I noticed in a few games this year that opposing teams are isolating their taller, good shooting forwards against our smaller Celtic forwards. Sometimes it feels they are taking uncontested layups from 10 feet away because of the height differences.
When this happens, might it be a good idea for Joe to consider inserting a taller, defensive minded Amari into lineup? I realize he's not ready for prime time because of his lack of rebounding awareness. Anyone agree or disagree with trying out this strategy?
You're assuming he will be able to fulfill the task you expect of him at an NBA level. Personally, I think he needs a year in the G-league at least, before he's ready to be put in an NBA game and be expected to contribute. I could be wrong, but I've not seen anything that would suggest otherwise.
No, it is you. It was not just Tatum tearing his Achilles. It was Brown playing the entire postseason on a torn meniscus. It was Porzingis being a shell of himself with an illness that is still affecting him this year. It was Holiday missing time in the playoffs with a hamstring and also having some other condition that caused the Blazers to rescind draft picks in a trade. It was Tatum getting leveled by the Magic and injuring his wrist. The Celtics were an injured and old team in the playoffs, and faded down the stretch during games. They bombed threes because they did not have the energy to do much else.
Agree with Roy, Mazzula deserves strong credit for our play so far. I say that as someone who has been very critical of him at times. Last season was a major failure, especially the playoffs. 3rd quarter of game 1 against the Knicks was straight up coaching malpractice after a successful, balanced first half. It was the most ineffective and idiotic quarter of basketball I've ever seen, employing Joe's rigid 3-point happy philosophy and moving away from what was working. I'll never forget it, and quite frankly I think Joe helped us squander another title run. But I digress. If I'm going to criticize him, I should also praise him when things are going well.
The fact that we're still one of the top defensive teams despite the roster turnover and missing one of our best defenders in Tatum says a lot. 4th in defensive rating as a few games ago IIRC. Always important to be a good defensive team, so I'm glad that's the emphasis. The youngsters are developing well. And the offense has been functioning better than expected while missing Tatum. So props to Joe, for now.
Yeah, I think Tatum tearing his Achilles squandered the title run. But that?s just me.
It's just you. We were underachieving pretty much the entire series with the way we were playing and lost in embarrassing fashion twice with him before he got injured. If we beat the Knicks, it'd have been difficult to beat an Indiana team that was probably better than us despite having less inherent talent, and were definitely better than the Knicks. Even if we beat Indy, we would have lost to OKC. They were simply better than we were, and better coached too.
Edit: I guess long story short is Joe failed to get the most out of his roster that year. The players deserve most of the blame, as they always do when they lose badly, but Joe had no small part in the playoff failure. IMO the roster that year had all the right personnel to defeat the Knicks and exploit their defensive weaknesses. Instead we just bombed 3's and died by it, all while putting together a defensive effort that was not reflective of the incredible versatility and talent we possessed. Squandered.
No, it is you. It was not just Tatum tearing his Achilles. It was Brown playing the entire postseason on a torn meniscus. It was Porzingis being a shell of himself with an illness that is still affecting him this year. It was Holiday missing time in the playoffs with a hamstring and also having some other condition that caused the Blazers to rescind draft picks in a trade. It was Tatum getting leveled by the Magic and injuring his wrist. The Celtics were an injured and old team in the playoffs, and faded down the stretch during games. They bombed threes because they did not have the energy to do much else.
I think we have now won too many games to tank.
We could lose the rest of our games and not end up with the worst record. Probably over a couple of teams. So yeh. I?d say tanking isn?t on the agenda.
Not to mention the team is playing its butt off.
I think we have now won too many games to tank.
I think Brad nailed the pick. Sure, he is a 19 year old, but his comfort level is amazing. You can tell this isn't his first stop in the professional leagues. I can't wait to watch him develop as we contend.Hugo is one of those guys who is going to be underrated nationally because he doesn't score a bunch of points. But if you actually watch the game, he is such a positively impactful player.
He is one helluva rebounder....we have a real winner with the kid.
Hugo still reminds me so much of a young Dan Majerle. That hustle. That never give up mindset. Similar physique and athleticism. No fear. Hard nosed competitor.
Agree with Roy, Mazzula deserves strong credit for our play so far. I say that as someone who has been very critical of him at times. Last season was a major failure, especially the playoffs. 3rd quarter of game 1 against the Knicks was straight up coaching malpractice after a successful, balanced first half. It was the most ineffective and idiotic quarter of basketball I've ever seen, employing Joe's rigid 3-point happy philosophy and moving away from what was working. I'll never forget it, and quite frankly I think Joe helped us squander another title run. But I digress. If I'm going to criticize him, I should also praise him when things are going well.
The fact that we're still one of the top defensive teams despite the roster turnover and missing one of our best defenders in Tatum says a lot. 4th in defensive rating as a few games ago IIRC. Always important to be a good defensive team, so I'm glad that's the emphasis. The youngsters are developing well. And the offense has been functioning better than expected while missing Tatum. So props to Joe, for now.
Yeah, I think Tatum tearing his Achilles squandered the title run. But that?s just me.
It's just you. We were underachieving pretty much the entire series with the way we were playing and lost in embarrassing fashion twice with him before he got injured. If we beat the Knicks, it'd have been difficult to beat an Indiana team that was probably better than us despite having less inherent talent, and were definitely better than the Knicks. Even if we beat Indy, we would have lost to OKC. They were simply better than we were, and better coached too.
Edit: I guess long story short is Joe failed to get the most out of his roster that year. The players deserve most of the blame, as they always do when they lose badly, but Joe had no small part in the playoff failure. IMO the roster that year had all the right personnel to defeat the Knicks and exploit their defensive weaknesses. Instead we just bombed 3's and died by it, all while putting together a defensive effort that was not reflective of the incredible versatility and talent we possessed. Squandered.