Raptors (0-2) at Celtics (2-0) Round 2 Game 3 9/3/20

[GreenFaith1819]

We'll see how our team responds.

Either we'll get mad that we let them off the hook OR we'll cower in fear at a TOR resurgence - which would lead to a sizable TOR win on tomorrow.

I think BOS has the DNA to bounce back from this - as long as they're mad about TOR's win.

[nickagneta]

Looks like the final play was a hodgepodge of miscommunication between everyone but Tacko. Did Stevens get way too cute putting in Tacko and going to that modified zone, which isn't a defense the Celtics play very often? Should he just have stuck with his starters playing man and not defended the inbounds? I sure think so.

What's sad is I see a lot of bloggers putting this exclusively on Jaylen Brown and it's pretty clear from watching the replay that the whole dysfunction started with poor communication between Smart and Tatum that allowed Anunoby to go completely unchecked along the baseline to the opposite side and then more miscommunication between Jaylen and Theis on who had Gasol leading to Brown being out of position on Anunoby. Though, IMO, Anunoby should have been covered by Tatum who shouldn't have passed him off to double Lowry with Smart. To me it was a team wide breakdown in communication which was precipitated by playing a bad initial zone defense that the players just don't play very often.

As I said earlier in the thread, I got to put the blame on Stevens here. That defense did not put his players in the best position to win that game.

[RMO]

i'm a little concerned.  In both games 2 and 3 I didn't think the Celtics played particularly well.  While that's a testament to a good team, not playing well and winning, Toronto didn't look too good either.  In game 3 their guys started making more shots and I don't expect some of those guys who have been quiet in this series to stay quiet.  Also, their defense has forced a lot of Celtic turnovers.  That isn't going away (the defense - hopefully the Celtics can take care of the ball better).

Hope they prove me wrong.  Part of me saw the merits of them not sweeping this series so they don't go into the next one on too much of a high but I really wanted them to go up 3-0 first.

[BE-Celtic]

Looks like the final play was a hodgepodge of miscommunication between everyone but Tacko. Did Stevens get way too cute putting in Tacko and going to that modified zone, which isn't a defense the Celtics play very often? Should he just have stuck with his starters playing man and not defended the inbounds? I sure think so.

What's sad is I see a lot of bloggers putting this exclusively on Jaylen Brown and it's pretty clear from watching the replay that the whole dysfunction started with poor communication between Smart and Tatum that allowed Anunoby to go completely unchecked along the baseline to the opposite side and then more miscommunication between Jaylen and Theis on who had Gasol leading to Brown being out of position on Anunoby. Though, IMO, Anunoby should have been covered by Tatum who shouldn't have passed him off to double Lowry with Smart. To me it was a team wide breakdown in communication which was precipitated by playing a bad initial zone defense that the players just don't play very often.

As I said earlier in the thread, I got to put the blame on Stevens here. That defense did not put his players in the best position to win that game.

While I agree with most of what you say, I think it's unfair to put the blame on Brad Stevens : his coaching has been excellent so far and it's still a miracle play from the Raptors. We're in the easy position here, watching the replay afterwards and saying what should have been done. I think that the right reaction is to say it was a team mistake (coach included) and move on, as a team. Is it really necessary to have a scapegoat on the play ? I don't think so

[jbpats]

It was a freak loss tbh. Shocked OG even had enough time to get the shot off, I always assumed that .5 was not enough time to catch and shoot which makes me believe the clock didn't start fast enough. A tip in maybe but not a catch and shoot.

That type of win in that situation happens maybe 1 in every 1000 games - you chalk it up to bad luck and move on.

I think this team has the will power, experience and leadership to bounce back and forget about it.

[td450]

Looks like the final play was a hodgepodge of miscommunication between everyone but Tacko. Did Stevens get way too cute putting in Tacko and going to that modified zone, which isn't a defense the Celtics play very often? Should he just have stuck with his starters playing man and not defended the inbounds? I sure think so.

What's sad is I see a lot of bloggers putting this exclusively on Jaylen Brown and it's pretty clear from watching the replay that the whole dysfunction started with poor communication between Smart and Tatum that allowed Anunoby to go completely unchecked along the baseline to the opposite side and then more miscommunication between Jaylen and Theis on who had Gasol leading to Brown being out of position on Anunoby. Though, IMO, Anunoby should have been covered by Tatum who shouldn't have passed him off to double Lowry with Smart. To me it was a team wide breakdown in communication which was precipitated by playing a bad initial zone defense that the players just don't play very often.

As I said earlier in the thread, I got to put the blame on Stevens here. That defense did not put his players in the best position to win that game.

The team had a defensive scheme with rules we don't know. It appeared to be zone rules. Either way, Tatum did nothing right. Hard to say what Theis was coached to do, but it seemed reasonable for him to stay with VanVleet. He was literally hugging VanVleet when Tatum decided to move up to cover him too. Both were way out of position to rotate to Gasol. He would have had a layup. Jaylen had to do what he did.

Brown actually couldn't have played it any better, preventing a Gasol layup and still almost getting his hand on that shot.

[RMO]

Sorry if this has already been discussed but did Lowery's whining about the flagrant cost the Celtics the game?  I don't remember if they were in the penalty, if the free throws were made or if they scored on the ensuing play.

[LilRip]

UGH! Heartbreaking loss.

That was on CBS. Absolutely on CBS. When guys are disorganized coming out of a timeout? That’s on the coach.

For all the heroics of Lowry and OG, let’s recognize the real problem here: Nick Nurse. He saved Toronto’s season in the 3rd quarter. This series has been pretty stressful because of this constant chess match between CBS and Nurse. CBS made a bad call at the end of this game.

[johnnygreen]

Sorry if this has already been discussed but did Lowery's whining about the flagrant cost the Celtics the game?  I don't remember if they were in the penalty, if the free throws were made or if they scored on the ensuing play.

I felt like the push by Siakam on Williams was a makeup call for the Theis' "flagrant". I don't think Smart and the rest of the Celtics bench would have been so demonstrative and asking for a review, if it wasn't for the crying Lowry pulled earlier.

BTW, the antics by Lowry on the layup by Wanamaker, was ridiculous. The guy couldn't move while the refs were reviewing the call, but as soon as they said there was no flagrant, did you notice how Lowry was suddenly fine and able to play?

[SparzWizard]

And exactly why did Brad Stevens draw up zone defense??? I'm getting sick of him costing team's games. This is one of those reasons why I wasn't that excited about his contract extension. It's upsetting. This is a playoff game, stop getting cute with these things.

[johnnygreen]

With only 0.5 seconds remaining, is there really any need to guard the player inbounding the ball? Shouldn't the philosophy be to face guard the four guys on the court, and have a defender roaming, who follows where the inbounder is passing the ball?

[Briantir]

With only 0.5 seconds remaining, is there really any need to guard the player inbounding the ball? Shouldn't the philosophy be to face guard the four guys on the court, and have a defender roaming, who follows where the inbounder is passing the ball?

Brown almost blocked the shot this was just really great play by the Raptors...

I said it before the series and I'll say it again whoever wins this series will go to the NBA finals.

[seancally]

With only 0.5 seconds remaining, is there really any need to guard the player inbounding the ball? Shouldn't the philosophy be to face guard the four guys on the court, and have a defender roaming, who follows where the inbounder is passing the ball?

Brown almost blocked the shot this was just really great play by the Raptors...

I said it before the series and I'll say it again whoever wins this series will go to the NBA finals.

Agree.

Folks - we lost a playoff game to a higher seed on a last half-second play that was a third option off a side-out that had to be perfectly executed, blown coverage or not. We go into the weekend up 2-1 against a top rival without having played our best game. Sometimes games end like this. It sucks and I’m p---ed and had trouble falling asleep last night - coulda been up 3-0! - but we’re on to Saturday. That’s the attitude our coaching staff has and I’m glad for that.

Many predicted a 7-game series. It was unlikely to ever be uncompetitive.

[bdm860]

When you lose the game, no matter what you do, everyone says you'd should have done the opposite.

28 years later, everybody is still blaming Pitino for not guarding the inbounder.

https://thespun.com/acc/duke-blue-devils/fans-are-saying-the-same-thing-about-a-ncaa-classic

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uo3G2MfOYeA

[Briantir]

With only 0.5 seconds remaining, is there really any need to guard the player inbounding the ball? Shouldn't the philosophy be to face guard the four guys on the court, and have a defender roaming, who follows where the inbounder is passing the ball?

Agree.

Folks - we lost a playoff game to a higher seed on a last half-second play that was a third option off a side-out that had to be perfectly executed, blown coverage or not. We go into the weekend up 2-1 against a top rival without having played our best game. Sometimes games end like this. It sucks and I’m p---ed and had trouble falling asleep last night - coulda been up 3-0! - but we’re on to Saturday. That’s the attitude our coaching staff has and I’m glad for that.

Many predicted a 7-game series. It was unlikely to ever be uncompetitive.

Brown almost blocked the shot this was just really great play by the Raptors...

I said it before the series and I'll say it again whoever wins this series will go to the NBA finals.