So... is there a Game 5?

[seancally]

We've all analyzing been the recent past (last night's awful showing) and the somewhat distant future (offseason, next year's roster, possible moves). But I think there's still a game to be played. Possibly 2. Maybe even more!... well at least one.

Just wanted to make sure we all remembered that. For what it's worth, how the team handles the next game and beyond if there is a beyond has implications for next year. Even if we accept the Celtics are likely toast - and I for one do - consider:

If Kyrie lays another egg, does his market change? Four straight stinkers, 2 at home, one in elimination, and his PG counterparts are Bledsoe and George Hill. Does the NBA market change, even a tiny bit, with that information? Do the Celtics offer him the full max automatically? On the other hand, if these guys clawed to a Game 7 and played it tough in elimination on the road, would that change everyone's perception here?

[Fafnir]

Sure there is, but given how the C's have looked the last 3 second halves its hard to have a ton of faith in them gutting out a tough road win. I hope they do but I'm not very optimistic.

This team bouncing back to force a game 7 would definitely improve my feelings on them.

As for Kyrie's market, he's going to have max contract offers from 4 teams at least as long as he's healthy this off season.

[Roy H.]

Unless Kyrie gets seriously injured, his market won’t change.

[wiley]

I expect the Celtics to lose game 5.

But if they win game 5 I think they can win the series...The Celtics can be unstoppable when they play happy instead of sad.  Game 5 win = happy Celtics.

[gift]

I expect the Celtics to lose game 5.

But if they win game 5 I think they can win the series...The Celtics can be unstoppable when they play happy instead of sad.  Game 5 win = happy Celtics.

It would be like this team to lose 3 in a row and then win 3 in a row after being declared dead.

I don't remember another team clinging to life, falling apart, coming together and solving its problems, falling apart, rinse, repeat etc. as much as this team. At some point it will be over. I just don't know when.

[slamtheking]

Kyrie's contract situation won't change -- he's getting the max no matter how he performs the rest of this series.  I will say that if he lays another egg in game 5, he won't be viewed as THE guy that a team can build a contender  around.  if he goes elsewhere (I'm pretty confident he resigns which is the key doing the AD deal) he'll put some butts in seats and win some games down the stretch just like he did for us this year but come playoff time, he will not be viewed as the guy a team can trust to carry them to victory.

[Fafnir]

I don't think any team views Kyrie as a MVP caliber player that they can build around, probably never did.

There is a reason Boston has wanted to pair him with AD for two years, and why all the teams mentioned as destinations for him have two slots or one slot and another star.

[angryguy77]

Game 5 spoiler:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnPmBCIParY

[angryguy77]

edit: dup post

[gift]

Game 5 spoiler:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SnPmBCIParY

In that case, perhaps this is the offseason speech the Celtics front office will need:

“Now and then, for no good reason a man can figure out, life will just haul off and knock him flat. Slam him again’ the ground so hard it seems like all his insides is busted. But it’s not all like that. A lot of it’s mighty fine. And you can’t afford to waste the good part frettin’ about the bad. That makes it all bad.”

[rondofan1255]

Expecting them to fold easily in G5.