Heat (48-28) at Celtics (47-29) Game #77 3/30/22

[slamtheking]

This isn't me downplaying their winning streak or calling it a fluke. I still think the team can make a deep run.

But last night's game kind of highlights the areas where the C's could be screwed, particularly with the depth and secondary scoring now that Timelord's out. Guys like G-Will and Pritchard can't combine for only 7 points off the bench. And with Tatum, teams will definitely double or in some cases even triple team him and force another guy to win the game. This will happen against good teams in the playoffs and they'll need to figure out a way. Because last night, only 6 points in the final 5 minutes and 15 points total in the quarter. Not ideal. I believe that's also how they lost to the Mavs, Tatum was pressured and the rest of the team couldn't cover.

Tatum can still put up good numbers when the focus is on him, but he won't always be able to put up 40+

Another thing that could be a bit troubling is, yes they have the impressive win over BKN late, but otherwise it feels like when the C's are in a tight game late, more often than not they can't close or can't come up in the clutch. The problem is, a lot of playoff games tend to be close games.

this.

this team hasn't shown it knows how to close out close games successfully on a repeated basis.  they win these types of games once in a while but not as often as a contending team should.  It's been a very different story with a lot of their wins coming from games where they build a huge lead and hang on but even watching those there's a collective holding of breaths when the other team makes a run and wondering if the C's fold like they did earlier this season.

the talent is there to make a run to the finals.  question is whether they have the smarts and BBIQ to handle how other teams will take away what the C's want to do to win.

This isn't a one way street though. Our defence has been amazing and our offence has matched it over the last few weeks - give us a whole series to continuously adjust and I like our chances to beat any team over 7

I don't dispute that, but in the playoffs you'll have to find a way to win or steal a close game in a series especially after the first round of the playoffs. It does seem to me that this team will either win in blowouts or lose close games lol, rarely in-between

This team has a boatload of playoff experience. Combine that with the way they've been playing much of the time since early January, I feel pretty good that they'll be fine come playoff time.

that's what's actually disconcerting is that with the experience they've had they still have these meltdown issues and can be easily flustered by basic zone defenses.  so many times players go into iso mode and don't stick to the offensive schemes.  so many times they blow defensive assignments down the stretch of games. 

I'm glad you feel confident in the team for the playoffs.  I wish I did or more accurately, I wish I did in close games

[Rondo9]

So a two game skid and it’s back to doomsaying?

[slamtheking]

So a two game skid and it’s back to doomsaying?

more like frustrating that lessons that should have been learned by now don't seem to have sunken in yet

[Phantom255x]

So a two game skid and it’s back to doomsaying?

Celticsstrong was becoming too optimistic 

[nickagneta]

So a two game skid and it’s back to doomsaying?

more like frustrating that lessons that should have been learned by now don't seem to have sunken in yet

Yup, it's frustrating that fans still haven't learned by now not to doubt this team every time they very, very, very infrequently lose. You would have thought it would have sunken in by now that such doubts are unnecessary.

[86MaxwellSmart]

Marcus The Chucker is BACK~!!