I think one of the most frustrating parts of all of this is that other teams visibly enjoy playing against us. Basketball is easy and fun when you play against the Celtics. Every single person in this organization should take that personally.
Even a Thunder team with no stars, maybe even no starter level players, went to the line 36 times against us. Everyone likes getting a great whistle and you get one against the Celtics, every game!!! It gives players confidence.
I don't give a s*** about the whistles. That's a symptom, but not the disease.
The part that gives them confidence is the fact that we give them whatever they want. They want to get to the rim? They got it. They want to get out and run? Go ahead, we'll let you. Trying to get your shooters some good looks from three? Drive and kick, set a screen, or just pull up and jack it. We'll give you what you want. We're going to be two steps late, scrambling to catch up to whatever teams do. That's what leads to the foul tallies that teams rack up against us - we're always late.
We don't take a thing away from anybody and other teams love it. We just sit there and watch Rozier and Graham laugh and high-five after every open layup and three we hand out. We watch the Thunder throw out a team of nobodies that proceed to flex on us.
P***es me off.