Raptors (2-3) at Celtics (3-2) Round 2 Game 6 9/9/20

[Atzar]

It's not as simple as "just don't switch Kemba onto Lowry". 

There's a reason ball screen offense has become the norm for almost every team:  no matter what you do, you give something up.  If you don't switch the screen, you either risk a foul by fighting through or you risk a three by going under (and Lowry was 6/10 on those tonight).  Worst case, you give up a three AND foul when you run up the ball-handler's back.  You could blitz him, but Lowry has good vision and will likely pass out of it... now you have three to guard four.  There's no perfect answer.

Kemba has to handle his business on defense, and in the playoffs, he generally has.  And on that particular play, I don't really fault Kemba.  Lowry hit a tough shot.  That happens.

It's because the NBA allows so many moving screens.

That's definitely part of it.  The other part is that nearly every ball handler is a threat to pull up at any time, from anywhere in today's NBA.  Curl around a screen and fire?  Pull up behind the screen?  Pull up BEFORE the screen?  Yes, yes, and yes. 

If there was a simple answer to that offense, everybody would be doing it. 

[Tr1boy]

Theis was thoroughly mediocre today, but Timelord's absolute inability to guard the 3-point line makes him unplayable when Ibaka is on the court. Every time we sag on Ibaka he kills us, and it's usually Timelord who does it.

I also hated how non chalant he was chasing Lowry.  Just too far away

Lowry with the easy step back

Its almost like he is jogging out there and can't turn it up a notch

This is why I wouldn't mind if the Celts draft Achiuwa.   That guy works his tail off

[SparzWizard]

Feels like Game 7 will be like the Game 7 of 2018 in the East Finals. Just don't have the vet experience to will this team and get their heads together. You saw how they dropped Game 4 after a devastating Game 3 loss.

Would be nice for the C's to prove me wrong otherwise, but just getting this ick feeling.

[Mahk E Mahk]

This one is on Danny for the bench he built ... his never ending eagerness to make draft picks brought us to this situation in a high stake game where we only have 5-6 playable basketball players

What? Our bench has been amazing this series. Brad Wannamaker has been good. Time Lord and Grant Williams has contributed. Semi Ojeleye contributes on the defense. Our bench is fine.

Did you really expect Brad to play them on what is essentially a do-or-die game in Overtime against the defending champions? The Raptors themselves didn't dip on their bench for the 1st and 2nd OT.

I have no idea why you're blaming our bench when they have been good this series.

technically, brad is on the bench.

[Yoki_IsTheName]

This one is on Danny for the bench he built ... his never ending eagerness to make draft picks brought us to this situation in a high stake game where we only have 5-6 playable basketball players

What? Our bench has been amazing this series. Brad Wannamaker has been good. Time Lord and Grant Williams has contributed. Semi Ojeleye contributes on the defense. Our bench is fine.

Did you really expect Brad to play them on what is essentially a do-or-die game in Overtime against the defending champions? The Raptors themselves didn't dip on their bench for the 1st and 2nd OT.

I have no idea why you're blaming our bench when they have been good this series.

Not blaming the bench! They do what they can .. it’s Danny who should have brought vets for the bench if he anticipated we would be playing tight games like this in the playoffs .

But he did.

Brad Wanamaker is a well traveled vet that have played big European games. Semi Ojeleye has plenty of playoff experience. So is Enes Kanter, even though he wasn't used.

I really don't know what else would you ask for? Yeah, in a perfect scenario we would like to have better vets than them, but they are battle tested. Brad could have brought them in and contributed, but he decided to run with the starting five. I don't think that's an indictment of our bench, or how Danny built this team.

[jpotter33]

https://twitter.com/ByJayKing/status/1303880151646834688?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1303880151646834688%7Ctwgr%5Eshare_3&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fbleacherreport.com%2Fboston-celtics

Jaylen Brown said things got out of hand, including with the coaching staffs. Asked about the play where Nick Nurse was in the corner, he said, “I think there’s a lot of emotions. It’s very intense. ... Grown men should be able to control themselves — especially coaching staffs.”

Good on Brown. At least someone on our team isn't a boy scout and is willing to call out the BS, even if our coach won't do it. It's embarrassing watching Nurse on the sidelines. He's every bit as bad as Lowry on the floor.

If you could just combine Stevens' and Nurse's personalities/characters, you'd have the perfect coach...

[86MaxwellSmart]

You know what really bugs me off, this one.

I mean, Tatum should have better presence of mind on that one, sure, but how was Nick Nurse allowed to do this? He's literally on the playing court. He knew exactly what he was doing here. Unless this is not breaking the rules, what the heck?

Clever, I'll give you that, but darn!

Maybe if C's started crying like Lowry, something might be called.

[Tr1boy]

Feels like Game 7 will be like the Game 7 of 2018 in the East Finals. Just don't have the vet experience to will this team and get their heads together. You saw how they dropped Game 4 after a devastating Game 3 loss.

Would be nice for the C's to prove me wrong otherwise, but just getting this ick feeling.

yup

Raptors been through hell/pressure last season

Celtics have never been that far.  Nobody in the lineup has won a ring/finals experience

Celts have more talent but Raptors clearly have one up on "been through hell" factor

lets just hope Lowry is drained and can't recover properly.   

[slamtheking]

Nick Nurse allowed on court to masquerade as a Celtics player in the corner.

and Brad claimed he was unaware of this in the post-game conference.  if he's telling the truth, that's p----poor coaching.  if he's lying, that's stupid because he should be calling out the blatant crap the refs are letting slide by the Raps

[Atzar]

Theis was thoroughly mediocre today, but Timelord's absolute inability to guard the 3-point line makes him unplayable when Ibaka is on the court. Every time we sag on Ibaka he kills us, and it's usually Timelord who does it.

Williams drops because he doesn't have the lateral quickness on the perimeter to switch onto the guard.  This is an area where he needs to improve, and a possible cause for concern regarding his upside. 

My hope is that getting him in a lower stance, where he's not constantly preparing to jump through the ceiling for every block attempt, will make a difference.  But if it doesn't...

[liam]

Theis was thoroughly mediocre today, but Timelord's absolute inability to guard the 3-point line makes him unplayable when Ibaka is on the court. Every time we sag on Ibaka he kills us, and it's usually Timelord who does it.

Williams drops because he doesn't have the lateral quickness on the perimeter to switch onto the guard.  This is an area where he needs to improve, and a possible cause for concern regarding his upside. 

My hope is that getting him in a lower stance, where he's not constantly preparing to jump through the ceiling for every block attempt, will make a difference.  But if it doesn't...

I think Timelord is dropping to contain penetration and can't get back quick enough.

[Atzar]

Theis was thoroughly mediocre today, but Timelord's absolute inability to guard the 3-point line makes him unplayable when Ibaka is on the court. Every time we sag on Ibaka he kills us, and it's usually Timelord who does it.

Williams drops because he doesn't have the lateral quickness on the perimeter to switch onto the guard.  This is an area where he needs to improve, and a possible cause for concern regarding his upside. 

My hope is that getting him in a lower stance, where he's not constantly preparing to jump through the ceiling for every block attempt, will make a difference.  But if it doesn't...

I think Timelord is dropping to contain penetration and can't get back quick enough.

That's exactly what he's doing.  But drop coverage is not ideal when the screener can shoot.  Williams is doing that because he lacks the quickness to switch.

If we could trust him to handle Lowry or FVV on the perimeter from time to time, then we don't have to drop him and we don't leave Ibaka open.  He's getting toasted in both cases, which is why his minutes are down. 

[hpantazo]

If Tatum was going to pass it to Nick Nurse, he could have at least whipped it at his face.

[liam]

You know what really bugs me off, this one.

I mean, Tatum should have better presence of mind on that one, sure, but how was Nick Nurse allowed to do this? He's literally on the playing court. He knew exactly what he was doing here. Unless this is not breaking the rules, what the heck?

Clever, I'll give you that, but darn!

Maybe if C's started crying like Lowry, something might be called.

Nobody can tell me that the horrid end to end officating didn't effect this game.

[liam]

Theis was thoroughly mediocre today, but Timelord's absolute inability to guard the 3-point line makes him unplayable when Ibaka is on the court. Every time we sag on Ibaka he kills us, and it's usually Timelord who does it.

Williams drops because he doesn't have the lateral quickness on the perimeter to switch onto the guard.  This is an area where he needs to improve, and a possible cause for concern regarding his upside. 

My hope is that getting him in a lower stance, where he's not constantly preparing to jump through the ceiling for every block attempt, will make a difference.  But if it doesn't...

I think Timelord is dropping to contain penetration and can't get back quick enough.

That's exactly what he's doing.  But drop coverage is not ideal when the screener can shoot.  Williams is doing that because he lacks the quickness to switch.

If we could trust him to handle Lowry or FVV on the perimeter from time to time, then we don't have to drop him and we don't leave Ibaka open.  He's getting toasted in both cases, which is why his minutes are down.

He may not be fast enough to switch but I would think he's doing what he's being told to do.