Celtics (16-16) at Bucks (21-13) Game #33 12/25/21

[Kuberski33]

Back in the Bird era, it was the Celtics playing the role of Milwaukee. They'd be behind for 3 quarters to lesser teams, then come back and dominate in the 4th quarter when Bird would do whatever he wanted - kind of like Giannis today.

Talent matters in this league - probably more than another other sport.

Gianniss/Middleton > Tatum/Brown.

[Ogaju]

Back in the Bird era, it was the Celtics playing the role of Milwaukee. They'd be behind for 3 quarters to lesser teams, then come back and dominate in the 4th quarter when Bird would do whatever he wanted - kind of like Giannis today.

Talent Star status matters in this league - probably more than another other sport.

Fixed that for you.

[hpantazo]

This team is mentally weak. They tighten up down the stretch game after game. Can’t play with a lead.

Guys seemed gassed in 4th quarter, which is not surprising considering how many players are out. Calling them mentally weak after leading for 95% of the game is a bit unfair...

Yeah. They also had one of the best teams in the league on the ropes, just couldn't close it out down the stretch despite several great looks for Tatum and Brown. I can't understand the loser mentality that you can't win if you don't have a Giannis or Lebron on your team when a very shorthanded Celtics team took the Bucks and Warriors to the edge.

moral victories do not count on the scoreboard.

That kind of loser talk means nothing when you have 10+ guys out and have been playing half the season without one of your top 2 guys in Brown. Just saying. Give these guys credit. They brought it big time today.

doesn’t change the fact…moral victories do not count.

If your hung up on win loss records during this period where most teams have half the roster in covid protocols and are filling rosters with D-leaguers and retired guys, then your going to be stressing out over nothing.

Give credit to these Celtics for coming out and playing one of their best games of the season , playing hard and playing together despite it all. Those missed shots coming up short in the last few minutes are what happens when your legs are gone because there's nobody on the bench the coach can put in to give you a rest.

[seancally]

This team is mentally weak. They tighten up down the stretch game after game. Can’t play with a lead.

Guys seemed gassed in 4th quarter, which is not surprising considering how many players are out. Calling them mentally weak after leading for 95% of the game is a bit unfair...

Yeah. They also had one of the best teams in the league on the ropes, just couldn't close it out down the stretch despite several great looks for Tatum and Brown. I can't understand the loser mentality that you can't win if you don't have a Giannis or Lebron on your team when a very shorthanded Celtics team took the Bucks and Warriors to the edge.

moral victories do not count on the scoreboard.

That kind of loser talk means nothing when you have 10+ guys out and have been playing half the season without one of your top 2 guys in Brown. Just saying. Give these guys credit. They brought it big time today.

doesn’t change the fact…moral victories do not count.

If your hung up on win loss records during this period where most teams have half the roster in covid protocols and are filling rosters with D-leaguers and retired guys, then your going to be stressing out over nothing.

Give credit to these Celtics for coming out and playing one of their best games of the season , playing hard and playing together despite it all. Those missed shots coming up short in the last few minutes are what happens when your legs are gone because there's nobody on the bench the coach can put in to give you a rest.

I’ve seen this team fumble away enough leads to be giving them the benefit of the doubt for playing hard. If you can build a 19 point lead then you can also win the game. That this team continuously loses these games after leading tells me they are mentally weak. This isn’t controversial.

[Ogaju]

This team is mentally weak. They tighten up down the stretch game after game. Can’t play with a lead.

Guys seemed gassed in 4th quarter, which is not surprising considering how many players are out. Calling them mentally weak after leading for 95% of the game is a bit unfair...

Yeah. They also had one of the best teams in the league on the ropes, just couldn't close it out down the stretch despite several great looks for Tatum and Brown. I can't understand the loser mentality that you can't win if you don't have a Giannis or Lebron on your team when a very shorthanded Celtics team took the Bucks and Warriors to the edge.

moral victories do not count on the scoreboard.

That kind of loser talk means nothing when you have 10+ guys out and have been playing half the season without one of your top 2 guys in Brown. Just saying. Give these guys credit. They brought it big time today.

doesn’t change the fact…moral victories do not count.

If your hung up on win loss records during this period where most teams have half the roster in covid protocols and are filling rosters with D-leaguers and retired guys, then your going to be stressing out over nothing.

Give credit to these Celtics for coming out and playing one of their best games of the season , playing hard and playing together despite it all. Those missed shots coming up short in the last few minutes are what happens when your legs are gone because there's nobody on the bench the coach can put in to give you a rest.

I do not disagree with you, but I don’t understand why you want to disagree with the fact that moral victories don’t count in the NBA.

[hpantazo]

This team is mentally weak. They tighten up down the stretch game after game. Can’t play with a lead.

Guys seemed gassed in 4th quarter, which is not surprising considering how many players are out. Calling them mentally weak after leading for 95% of the game is a bit unfair...

Yeah. They also had one of the best teams in the league on the ropes, just couldn't close it out down the stretch despite several great looks for Tatum and Brown. I can't understand the loser mentality that you can't win if you don't have a Giannis or Lebron on your team when a very shorthanded Celtics team took the Bucks and Warriors to the edge.

moral victories do not count on the scoreboard.

That kind of loser talk means nothing when you have 10+ guys out and have been playing half the season without one of your top 2 guys in Brown. Just saying. Give these guys credit. They brought it big time today.

doesn’t change the fact…moral victories do not count.

If your hung up on win loss records during this period where most teams have half the roster in covid protocols and are filling rosters with D-leaguers and retired guys, then your going to be stressing out over nothing.

Give credit to these Celtics for coming out and playing one of their best games of the season , playing hard and playing together despite it all. Those missed shots coming up short in the last few minutes are what happens when your legs are gone because there's nobody on the bench the coach can put in to give you a rest.

I do not disagree with you, but I don’t understand why you want to disagree with the fact that moral victories don’t count in the NBA.

It's more that regular season in the NBA doesn't matter much at all as long as you make the playoffs and are healthy for the playoffs. If this wasn't a problem then the NBA wouldn't be bending over backwards trying to create a mid-season tournament to keep fans interested. Everyone knows a large part of the league sleepwalks through the regular season.

If I see a team using the regular season for development while they get their guys to the playoffs healthy, and I see continued improvement and effort, then they've done their job.


Regarding the last few games, what the heck meaning do you get out of win loss records in this mess of D-leaguers and retired players filling in for guys in covid protocols?

[Phantom255x]

How is anyone supposed to feel good about this team when you have these kinds of games consistently. Even if they have a 30-point lead you never feel confident they can win. Some nice leads late against the Sixers and Bucks, lost them quickly and lost the games too.

Also, it's cringe watching Tatum trying to heroball at the end with iso, stepback 3s or watching him drive right into like 3 defenders and getting stripped or stopped at the rim. It's becoming predictable too.

Yes, Giannis can drive inside and make plays but there were also plays where Giannis drew a double team and made the right pass. Tatum still can't seem to do that well late in games.

[colincb]

Up by 13 with 5:28 to go, the Bucks outscored the Cs in a 21 to 4 run as the Cs choked on both sides of the ball down the stretch.

[liam]

Up by 13 with 5:28 to go, the Bucks outscored the Cs in a 21 to 4 run as the Cs choked on both sides of the ball down the stretch.

Yeah, we needed offense to finish off the game.

[colincb]

Up by 13 with 5:28 to go, the Bucks outscored the Cs in a 21 to 4 run as the Cs choked on both sides of the ball down the stretch.

Yeah, we needed offense to finish off the game.

Giving up 21 points in less than 6 minutes isn't good either.

[colincb]

StatMuse@statmuse 51m

Jayson Tatum in the clutch this season:

35.3 FG%
2-16 3P
51 FGA (2nd in NBA)
4 AST
9 TOV

He was 0-2 with 2 turnovers in the last 5 minutes vs the Bucks today.

[hpantazo]

StatMuse@statmuse 51m

Jayson Tatum in the clutch this season:

35.3 FG%
2-16 3P
51 FGA (2nd in NBA)
4 AST
9 TOV

He was 0-2 with 2 turnovers in the last 5 minutes vs the Bucks today.

Tatum's improved is passing, but he still holds on to the ball too long when teams trap him late in games.

[Atzar]

Best mother****er on the planet killed us in the second half.  Losing never feels good, but I find it hard to be too bent out of shape over this one.  We fought our asses off and it wasn’t enough.

[liam]

Up by 13 with 5:28 to go, the Bucks outscored the Cs in a 21 to 4 run as the Cs choked on both sides of the ball down the stretch.

Yeah, we needed offense to finish off the game.

Giving up 21 points in less than 6 minutes isn't good either.

No, but if they score 8 points instead of 4 they win.

[Silas]

Just returned from dinner with friends.  Missed the second half and hard to believe they blew a lead and should have won.  A couple of thoughts about looking at the box score:  Rob had another great game 38 min, 11 points, 14 reb., 4 assists and 2 blocks. Payton had a good game 30 min., 16 points, 5 reb, 5 assists, and 0 TOs.   I am pleased that Payton is getting minutes and making the most of them.   Tatum, Brown, and Smart way too many TOs between them (11).  Crazy that Smart took 10 3s, he and Brown were 5/17 on 3s.  On to Minnesota for Monday night.