Lakers (14-6) at Celtics (10-7) Game #18 1/30/21

[bopna]

Breaking down that last sequence:
- multiple double teams helped Semi make a stand against AD
- Kemba with a great steal as the shot was going up
- Alex Caruso hustling down the floor stopped the JB layup
- Semi with a great decision to pass it to Kemba
- Kemba drove with Schroeder on his hip and stops on a dime
- Kemba misses the open stop-n-pop
- Theis misses the follow (or was it late?)
- C’s lose by 1

MORAL of the STORY:
Don’t tip in opponents baskets!!!

AND MAKE FREE THROWS.

Brown missed two critical free-throws that decided the game as well

I think this is those basketball gods correcting the wrong call.

Lebron was called for a phantom foul on JB..anyways the gods must he a faker fan as they made sure Brown..a usually reliable FT shooter miss both..had one gone in..well.

[RPGenerate]

JB missed free throws really hurt. He’s improved but still shaky from line sometimes. Missing two at end really hurt. It’s like a turnover.

He flat out choked at the worst possible moment, after such a great game too...

[jpotter33]

AND YET ANOTHER BLOWN GAME DOWN THE STRETCH BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO CALL A TIMEOUT DOWN THE STRETCH. PATHETIC. FIRE BRAD. tHERE WAS NOTHING GOING THERE.

no, this one's not on Brad.  made sense to go with it based on who the Lakers had on the floor.  Kemba had a makable shot even with the helter skelter passing.  he needed to make it.

For all Brad's faults, he's an elite ATO play designer.

That is absolutely the wrong call there - especially given that he LITERALLY drew up a great play for a Tatum shot just the previous play. A 1-12 guy getting the final shot on a scramble is not a good shot.

Just an awful in-game and end-game coach. He's lost us dozens of games down the stretch due to those kinds of dumb decisions.

You’re gonna pass up a fast break with Kemba/Brown with 8 seconds left to give the Lakers a chance to set their good defense? Come on man.

Absolutely for three reasons:

1) It wasn't a clean fastbreak. Sure, you try and see if you can get an easy look off the fastbreak, but as soon as JB pulled that back out Brad should've called a timeout. Kemba shooting an off the dribble fadeaway with his night tonight is NOT a good shot, no matter what people want to try and rationalize.

2) Brad is elite with ATO plays, literally just getting Tatum a good look that he knocked down the play before due to an ATO play.

3) They have nobody that can truly challenge Brown and Tatum on the iso, especially Tatum. Given both of their nights, I absolutely ride them that take the chance on that broken fastbreak.

[knuckleballer]

Pierce just said so himself, Celtics got no depth.
Not a contender bench. Time to get some vets, can’t have half a team 1-3 years experience.

I’ll be really disappointed if Ainge doesn’t use the TPE by the deadline and hopefully sooner than later.

[MICeltsfan]

Love the original PP but don’t always like what he says as a commentator. Totally agree with him tonight though. Great game - one point game and got almost nothing out of Walker. No reason to hit the panic button. The tip ins are killer but bet JB is beating himself up about the free throws at the end.

His point about Kemba not having his legs yet is spot on.

Yup for sure, totally agree.
Understand the frustration from fellow posters, but I still think this team (kemba included) will be ready come playoffs.

[hwangjini_1]

We need Payton.  How sad.

We don’t need Payton. We need someone better than Teague lol doesn’t sound like the hardest thing to do.

Payton is better than Teague.

i agree. next time the celtics should have pritchard on the court. i am looking forward to it.

[scaryjerry]

I bet LeBron doesn't want to see us in the Finals.  We have personnel that can defend and score against him.

Lol I’m sure lebron would love to see us in the finals.

Blatant hometown, but hopefully you were kidding.

[tenn_smoothie]

We need a center and a playmaking point guard along with a couple of knock-down shooters.

We may had two of those if Danny makes the deal with Indy for Turner and McDermott - maybe not, but you can't tell me Turner is not better than Tristan Thompson. If you want, let Kemba and Marcus lead a very strong second unit. Lay their egos aside for the ability a team like that would have to win some titles these next 7-8 years. Would help if the head coach would grow a pair.

[NKY fan]

Breaking down that last sequence:
- multiple double teams helped Semi make a stand against AD
- Kemba with a great steal as the shot was going up
- Alex Caruso hustling down the floor stopped the JB layup
- Semi with a great decision to pass it to Kemba
- Kemba drove with Schroeder on his hip and stops on a dime
- Kemba misses the open stop-n-pop
- Theis misses the follow (or was it late?)
- C’s lose by 1

MORAL of the STORY:
Don’t tip in opponents baskets!!!

AND MAKE FREE THROWS.

Brown missed two critical free-throws that decided the game as well

I think this is those basketball gods correcting the wrong call.

Lebron was called for a phantom foul on JB..anyways the gods must he a faker fan as they made sure Brown..a usually reliable FT shooter miss both..had one gone in..well.

The call was laughable. Ball don’t lie

[RJ87]

AND YET ANOTHER BLOWN GAME DOWN THE STRETCH BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO CALL A TIMEOUT DOWN THE STRETCH. PATHETIC. FIRE BRAD. tHERE WAS NOTHING GOING THERE.

no, this one's not on Brad.  made sense to go with it based on who the Lakers had on the floor.  Kemba had a makable shot even with the helter skelter passing.  he needed to make it.

For all Brad's faults, he's an elite ATO play designer.

That is absolutely the wrong call there - especially given that he LITERALLY drew up a great play for a Tatum shot just the previous play. A 1-12 guy getting the final shot on a scramble is not a good shot.

Just an awful in-game and end-game coach. He's lost us dozens of games down the stretch due to those kinds of dumb decisions.

You’re gonna pass up a fast break with Kemba/Brown with 8 seconds left to give the Lakers a chance to set their good defense? Come on man.

And sub out Montrezl? Again, I'm not mad at the final shot. Kemba can and has hit that shot consistently. It just didn't go down.

With that said, this team needs far more talent to compete. I worry that Marcus is gone for awhile (dunno if it's a popped Achilles, you can actually diagnose those without imaging. But I still think it's significant). I'm of the thought that Jayson and Jaylen can go toe to toe with other stars in this league, but their supporting cast is garbage. Hot soupy garbage.

[LilRip]

Jaylen and Jayson are super fun young guys to watch develop but there’s something fundamentally wrong with this team and they’re going nowhere

We need shooters! Either Semi needs to become one, Nesmith has to magically mature, or we need to pick one up.

Tmac was an amazing talent but he wasn’t winning in Orlando. That lineup with Tatum-Teague-Semi-TT-?? (I forget who the 5th man was) was a Tmac lineup. The 3-4 minutes they played was when LA erased the 7-pt lead

Kemba also needs to show up

[bopna]

I bet LeBron doesn't want to see us in the Finals.  We have personnel that can defend and score against him.

Even last year...i think we could beat the Fakers in the finals...too bad we are a terrible match for the cHeat.

[jpotter33]

AND YET ANOTHER BLOWN GAME DOWN THE STRETCH BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO CALL A TIMEOUT DOWN THE STRETCH. PATHETIC. FIRE BRAD. tHERE WAS NOTHING GOING THERE.

no, this one's not on Brad.  made sense to go with it based on who the Lakers had on the floor.  Kemba had a makable shot even with the helter skelter passing.  he needed to make it.

For all Brad's faults, he's an elite ATO play designer.

That is absolutely the wrong call there - especially given that he LITERALLY drew up a great play for a Tatum shot just the previous play. A 1-12 guy getting the final shot on a scramble is not a good shot.

Just an awful in-game and end-game coach. He's lost us dozens of games down the stretch due to those kinds of dumb decisions.

no jp, just no. i know you are obsessed with timeouts and CBS, but it was the right play to attack the basket. they got a great look for walker, but he just was off shooting tonight.

no problem with how the celtics attacked after the turn over, they just missed.

this celtic team is good, i think they can beat the lakers in a a7 game series.

This is contradictory, though. Given Kemba's awful shooting night and that he's coming back from injury, that's not a good shot.

I do agree about us being good, though. JT and JB are superstars at this point, and once the injuries, Covid infections, and everything else settles down, we're going to be a top contender for the chip.

[kraidstar]

So what is our record this year with Kemba playing?

Ziltch..the man is a good person but im done with him as a basketball player..a max player at that.

Yeah love Kemba the person and think he use to be a fantastic player
He’s been pretty much consistent garbage for us and unfortunately don’t see that changing much

He needs more time to gel. It is early still. Team had no real preparation going in. This is a legitimate problem

[PAOBoston]

AND YET ANOTHER BLOWN GAME DOWN THE STRETCH BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT TO CALL A TIMEOUT DOWN THE STRETCH. PATHETIC. FIRE BRAD. tHERE WAS NOTHING GOING THERE.

no, this one's not on Brad.  made sense to go with it based on who the Lakers had on the floor.  Kemba had a makable shot even with the helter skelter passing.  he needed to make it.

For all Brad's faults, he's an elite ATO play designer.

That is absolutely the wrong call there - especially given that he LITERALLY drew up a great play for a Tatum shot just the previous play. A 1-12 guy getting the final shot on a scramble is not a good shot.

Just an awful in-game and end-game coach. He's lost us dozens of games down the stretch due to those kinds of dumb decisions.

You’re gonna pass up a fast break with Kemba/Brown with 8 seconds left to give the Lakers a chance to set their good defense? Come on man.

Absolutely for three reasons:

1) It wasn't a clean fastbreak. Sure, you try and see if you can get an easy look off the fastbreak, but as soon as JB pulled that back out Brad should've called a timeout. Kemba shooting an off the dribble fadeaway with his night tonight is NOT a good shot, no matter what people want to try and rationalize.

2) Brad is elite with ATO plays, literally just getting Tatum a good look that he knocked down the play before due to an ATO play.

3) They have nobody that can truly challenge Brown and Tatum on the iso, especially Tatum. Given both of their nights, I absolutely ride them that take the chance on that broken fastbreak.

If I had an odd man break with the Lakers lesser defensive players led by KB and Kemba, I’d take my odds. They got two good opportunities with the Kemba shot and the Theis putback. Not sure why you would just pass that opportunity up to call a timeout so they can draw up an iso step back against Lebron or AD.