Raptors (1-2) at Celtics (2-1) Round 2 Game 4 9/5/20

[keevsnick]

Hot take: JB cost us two games in a row

We can argue game 3 was not his fault, but game 4 certainly was.

I mean he shot 2-11, but nobody else in the starting lineup could hit one either. Kemba, Smart, Tatum all 1-6. Tatum and Smart with 5 turnovers a peice, many in the 4th. Jaylen was the worst of the bunch, but its not like anybody really played their best.

The good news is I don't think they can possibly shoot worse next game.

[gouki88]

Hot take: JB cost us two games in a row

Very very fair take I think.

He's 8/30 from 3 in this series (27%) and has shot the 3 at 15% over the last two games.

He had done a fantastic job on Siakam but that also went out the window today

It's funny, Siakam shot similarly terribly from 3 (2/13) but found other ways to score. JB needs to do that

[johnnygreen]

The fact that Toronto's backcourt played the entire game, is a testament to how unagressive Kemba has been. Kemba needs to shoot and put pressure on the refs to call falls. Force Nurse to sit his guys for foul trouble.

BTW, Lowry is ridiculous with his constant flopping.

[Scottiej23]

Stevens got completely outcoached tonight.

Checkers vs. chess.

Will he make adjustments for G5 — and will it matter?

We shoot at anywhere even close to our regular 3 point % and we win this.

I do get some pleasure though out of playoff losses from the regular sooks that populate (infest?) the forum though, that can be almost as entertaining as a win.

If only everyone was such a clear-headed cool customer like you

Yep, it'd definitely make the world a better place. Although probably a little more boring.

[gouki88]

The fact that Toronto's backcourt played the entire game, is a testament to how unagressive Kemba has been. Kemba needs to shoot and put pressure on the refs to call falls. Force Nurse to sit his guys for foul trouble.

BTW, Lowry is ridiculous with his constant flopping.

Lowry and FVV were in significant foul trouble G3 and got played anyway - Nurse will risk it

[KrazyLegs]

I feel like Brad Stevens is always trying to sell me insurance.

What a boring, lifeless coach.

[GreenEnvy]

You can call me a lot of things, but Brad Stevens needs to be fired. It's the reality. He just isn't the right coach for this team. He's like another Brett Brown- great on a rebuilding team but with all these star players he's had he just can't get it done. He's not screaming or lighting a fire under this team's bums. All these lack of timeout callings, terrible defense at the end of game 3, terrible substitutions, and just poor execution in Game 4....ugh.

He's done, in my eyes. Will be surprised if the Celtics win this series, but doubt it now. Should have been down 3-1.

I know it’s easy to forget, but Hayward being out is a big factor. The defense has been really good for the most part, so us not getting baskets says more about our stars than Brad. Tatum was bad last game, Brown was just as bad this one. He’s got no depth without Hayward to sit them.

A much better case can be made that we should be up 3-1 than down 3-1. I can see placing some blame on Brad for trying the Tacko stunt, but let’s be honest the mixup by Tatum/Theis/Brown was on the players.

I think the C’s have been playing too nonchalant. They deserve to get chewed out after this performance, so let’s see how they come out next game.

[coco]

7-35 from 3 in a 7 point loss.  That gives me confidence. It sucks we blew the 3-0 chance but this series is far from over. This team will not quit. Toronto having no depth will wear them down as the series progresses and they’ll go back to cold shooting. Go Cs!

These are Champions we are playing against.  We have to bring it in Game 5 or will get humiliated.  They know how to close a series if the go ahead and take next game.  These are Champions we are playing against!

[hpantazo]

You can call me a lot of things, but Brad Stevens needs to be fired. It's the reality. He just isn't the right coach for this team. He's like another Brett Brown- great on a rebuilding team but with all these star players he's had he just can't get it done. He's not screaming or lighting a fire under this team's bums. All these lack of timeout callings, terrible defense at the end of game 3, terrible substitutions, and just poor execution in Game 4....ugh.

He's done, in my eyes. Will be surprised if the Celtics win this series, but doubt it now. Should have been down 3-1.

I know it’s easy to forget, but Hayward being out is a big factor. The defense has been really good for the most part, so us not getting baskets says more about our stars than Brad. Tatum was bad last game, Brown was just as bad this one. He’s got no depth without Hayward to sit them.

A much better case can be made that we should be up 3-1 than down 3-1. I can see placing some blame on Brad for trying the Tacko stunt, but let’s be honest the mixup by Tatum/Theis/Brown was on the players.

I think the C’s have been playing too nonchalant. They deserve to get chewed out after this performance, so let’s see how they come out next game.

Yeah, all you have to do to realize how important Hayward is, is to look to the fact that Semi wouldn't be playing if Hayward was healthy.

Also, Smart would be coming off the bench which would be huge.

[gouki88]

You can call me a lot of things, but Brad Stevens needs to be fired. It's the reality. He just isn't the right coach for this team. He's like another Brett Brown- great on a rebuilding team but with all these star players he's had he just can't get it done. He's not screaming or lighting a fire under this team's bums. All these lack of timeout callings, terrible defense at the end of game 3, terrible substitutions, and just poor execution in Game 4....ugh.

He's done, in my eyes. Will be surprised if the Celtics win this series, but doubt it now. Should have been down 3-1.

I know it’s easy to forget, but Hayward being out is a big factor. The defense has been really good for the most part, so us not getting baskets says more about our stars than Brad. Tatum was bad last game, Brown was just as bad this one. He’s got no depth without Hayward to sit them.

A much better case can be made that we should be up 3-1 than down 3-1. I can see placing some blame on Brad for trying the Tacko stunt, but let’s be honest the mixup by Tatum/Theis/Brown was on the players.

I think the C’s have been playing too nonchalant. They deserve to get chewed out after this performance, so let’s see how they come out next game.

Yeah, all you have to do to realize how important Hayward is, is to look to the fact that Semi wouldn't be playing if Hayward was healthy.

Also, Smart would be coming off the bench which would be huge.

But according to some here he's easily replaceable and we don't even really need him!

[Greenality]

Raps were down 0-2 to Bucks with a hell of a win in game #3 last PO. I wonder, does this factor in the mentality issues our guys seems to have. Their players certainly remember that)

[tstorey_97]

Been watching Celtics playoffs games since the 60's.

If you want to go home at 2-2? Knock yourself out.

1984? Your kidding right? Lakers win game one 115-109 in the freaking Garden? Game three Lakers destroy us 137 - 104...they're up 2-1....they have home court now? Celtics win in 7.

In 1974 Milwaukee and the Celtics are tied 2-2 in the finals. In the 7th game Kareem hit 26 pts, but Cowens got 28 and Hondo 16...Celtics win another title. Boston was on fire for that series. Johnny Most was on every radio everywhere....Tommy Heinsohn had the biggest lapels and sideburns in the world.

Are you kidding me two to two?

This thing hasn't even started yet. Three game series coming up.

[Surferdad]

7-35 from 3 in a 7 point loss.  That gives me confidence. It sucks we blew the 3-0 chance but this series is far from over. This team will not quit. Toronto having no depth will wear them down as the series progresses and they’ll go back to cold shooting. Go Cs!

Na.  Toronto’s key guys (FVV, Lowry, Siakam) didn’t look gassed at all.  Nurse is riding his big horses and they are winning.  Winning will give them the energy they need. Tor in 6.

[Ogaju]

You can call me a lot of things, but Brad Stevens needs to be fired. It's the reality. He just isn't the right coach for this team. He's like another Brett Brown- great on a rebuilding team but with all these star players he's had he just can't get it done. He's not screaming or lighting a fire under this team's bums. All these lack of timeout callings, terrible defense at the end of game 3, terrible substitutions, and just poor execution in Game 4....ugh.

He's done, in my eyes. Will be surprised if the Celtics win this series, but doubt it now. Should have been down 3-1.

I know it’s easy to forget, but Hayward being out is a big factor. The defense has been really good for the most part, so us not getting baskets says more about our stars than Brad. Tatum was bad last game, Brown was just as bad this one. He’s got no depth without Hayward to sit them.

A much better case can be made that we should be up 3-1 than down 3-1. I can see placing some blame on Brad for trying the Tacko stunt, but let’s be honest the mixup by Tatum/Theis/Brown was on the players.

I think the C’s have been playing too nonchalant. They deserve to get chewed out after this performance, so let’s see how they come out next game.

Chewed out by whom? Brad?

[jpotter33]

You can call me a lot of things, but Brad Stevens needs to be fired. It's the reality. He just isn't the right coach for this team. He's like another Brett Brown- great on a rebuilding team but with all these star players he's had he just can't get it done. He's not screaming or lighting a fire under this team's bums. All these lack of timeout callings, terrible defense at the end of game 3, terrible substitutions, and just poor execution in Game 4....ugh.

He's done, in my eyes. Will be surprised if the Celtics win this series, but doubt it now. Should have been down 3-1.

I think this is a bit of an overreaction, and I don't necessarily think he should be fired, as you can always get worse. However, Stevens is clearly overrated, both among Celtics fans and league wide. He has some pretty serious shortcomings that aren't talked about enough.

While he's an expert tactician in gameplanning and strategies, he's not a great in-game coach by any means, as evidenced by his questionable rotation decisions (e.g. Kanter the other night), his faulty philosophy with timeouts, inability to adjust his gameplan on the fly mid-game, etc. He's someone who figures out a gameplan, and will not deviate from it throughout the game, for better or worse. This was evidenced tonight by his inability to deal with the zone and the swarming of Tatum offensively.

I also think his demeanor is a major negative. He's just simply too nice and calm. He doesn't ride the refs and advocate for his guys like literally every other coach does, and, most importantly, he doesn't seem to hold his guys accountable. The fact that Brown can shoot us out of this game and shoot twice as many threes as anyone else - sometimes twice in the same possession - without Brad benching him or trying to curb this bad behavior reeks of a lack of discipline and accountability.