2021-22 Celtics Playoffs Discussion

[Moranis]

StatMuse: KD when guarded by Tatum this series: 10 points 10 turnovers He’s made only 2 baskets vs Tatum in 3 games. pic.twitter.com/sFEnowHV3m – via Twitter statmuse

That stat is insane, to the point where I’m skeptical!  That’s basically unheard of with a superstar.

I believe it. Tatum is the most underrated defender on the team. I’m probably going to get killed for this, but I think Jayson is a better defender than Smart due to his height, length and athleticism. Bigger 2/3’s like KD, Kawhi, Middleton, Butler, can shoot over  Marcus. Can’t do that to JT, since he’s 6’10 with a 7’ wingspan. At only 24, Jayson is not even in his physical prime either. I also think that Timelord is a better defender than both of them.

KD is shooting 2-15 when guarded by Jayson. 0-4 from three.

That is unbelievable. Not sure I've ever seen anything like it. Maybe from Kawhi on Giannis?

Tatum is one of the few guys that is long enough, fast enough, and strong enough to guard Durant.  There really are only a couple guys in the sport that can do that.  Still amazing that someone that is as good a shooter as Durant can ever go 2 of 15 against someone, but if you were going to pick players to do it, Tatum would be right there with Giannis as a guy you would pick that is capable of doing it.

Agreed. That’s why I think he’s the second most important defensive player on the team, behind Timelord. Honestly think Tatum could be a Kawhi level talent, just elite on both ends.

Kawhi's defense stopped being so good when he took on a real offensive load.  That hasn't happened to Tatum yet.

[gouki88]

StatMuse: KD when guarded by Tatum this series: 10 points 10 turnovers He’s made only 2 baskets vs Tatum in 3 games. pic.twitter.com/sFEnowHV3m – via Twitter statmuse

That stat is insane, to the point where I’m skeptical!  That’s basically unheard of with a superstar.

I believe it. Tatum is the most underrated defender on the team. I’m probably going to get killed for this, but I think Jayson is a better defender than Smart due to his height, length and athleticism. Bigger 2/3’s like KD, Kawhi, Middleton, Butler, can shoot over  Marcus. Can’t do that to JT, since he’s 6’10 with a 7’ wingspan. At only 24, Jayson is not even in his physical prime either. I also think that Timelord is a better defender than both of them.

KD is shooting 2-15 when guarded by Jayson. 0-4 from three.

That is unbelievable. Not sure I've ever seen anything like it. Maybe from Kawhi on Giannis?

Tatum is one of the few guys that is long enough, fast enough, and strong enough to guard Durant.  There really are only a couple guys in the sport that can do that.  Still amazing that someone that is as good a shooter as Durant can ever go 2 of 15 against someone, but if you were going to pick players to do it, Tatum would be right there with Giannis as a guy you would pick that is capable of doing it.

Agreed. That’s why I think he’s the second most important defensive player on the team, behind Timelord. Honestly think Tatum could be a Kawhi level talent, just elite on both ends.

Kawhi's defense stopped being so good when he took on a real offensive load.  That hasn't happened to Tatum yet.

Not really. He was an elite defensive force in 2016-17, then he got injured. He took a while to regain that form, but was an elite defensive force again in 19-20... he just got injured again and hasn't looked like getting back to that level.

I don't think he was ever able to continue his DPOY level defence while carrying that offensive load, but neither has Tatum ever reached that kind of level on D.

[GreenlyGreeny]

StatMuse: KD when guarded by Tatum this series: 10 points 10 turnovers He’s made only 2 baskets vs Tatum in 3 games. pic.twitter.com/sFEnowHV3m – via Twitter statmuse

That stat is insane, to the point where I’m skeptical!  That’s basically unheard of with a superstar.

I believe it. Tatum is the most underrated defender on the team. I’m probably going to get killed for this, but I think Jayson is a better defender than Smart due to his height, length and athleticism. Bigger 2/3’s like KD, Kawhi, Middleton, Butler, can shoot over  Marcus. Can’t do that to JT, since he’s 6’10 with a 7’ wingspan. At only 24, Jayson is not even in his physical prime either. I also think that Timelord is a better defender than both of them.

KD is shooting 2-15 when guarded by Jayson. 0-4 from three.

That is unbelievable. Not sure I've ever seen anything like it. Maybe from Kawhi on Giannis?

Tatum is one of the few guys that is long enough, fast enough, and strong enough to guard Durant.  There really are only a couple guys in the sport that can do that.  Still amazing that someone that is as good a shooter as Durant can ever go 2 of 15 against someone, but if you were going to pick players to do it, Tatum would be right there with Giannis as a guy you would pick that is capable of doing it.

Agreed. That’s why I think he’s the second most important defensive player on the team, behind Timelord. Honestly think Tatum could be a Kawhi level talent, just elite on both ends.

Kawhi's defense stopped being so good when he took on a real offensive load.  That hasn't happened to Tatum yet.

Not really. He was an elite defensive force in 2016-17, then he got injured. He took a while to regain that form, but was an elite defensive force again in 19-20... he just got injured again and hasn't looked like getting back to that level.

I don't think he was ever able to continue his DPOY level defence while carrying that offensive load, but neither has Tatum ever reached that kind of level on D.

This.

When Kawhi is healthy and playing his best D, almost nobody other than Smart (just recently) is his peer. Prime Kawhi shutdown Prime LeBron in the 2014 Finals, folks. Tatum will likely never be as good on defense as Kawhi at his best, but clearly Tatum is now as good on offense as Kawhi ever was (2019 NBA playoffs).

[GreenlyGreeny]

StatMuse: KD when guarded by Tatum this series: 10 points 10 turnovers He’s made only 2 baskets vs Tatum in 3 games. pic.twitter.com/sFEnowHV3m – via Twitter statmuse

That stat is insane, to the point where I’m skeptical!  That’s basically unheard of with a superstar.

I think there’s a mental aspect to what is happening in this series: Durant now realizes he’s on his way down the charts, being leapfrogged by Tatum, and what does he have to show for his time at the top? Two rings after creating an unfair cartel in Golden State, and then making the boneheaded move of teaming up with headcase Kyrie, who is so out of it he passed up being a part of the JT/JB rise to the top (and is such a headcase he scared off notorious headcase James Harden).

KD was absolutely demoralized in the post-game conference. It’s going to be a long off-season for him and do not be surprised if he demands a trade to the Clippers or somewhere like that to try his luck with Kawhi…

[Moranis]

StatMuse: KD when guarded by Tatum this series: 10 points 10 turnovers He’s made only 2 baskets vs Tatum in 3 games. pic.twitter.com/sFEnowHV3m – via Twitter statmuse

That stat is insane, to the point where I’m skeptical!  That’s basically unheard of with a superstar.

I believe it. Tatum is the most underrated defender on the team. I’m probably going to get killed for this, but I think Jayson is a better defender than Smart due to his height, length and athleticism. Bigger 2/3’s like KD, Kawhi, Middleton, Butler, can shoot over  Marcus. Can’t do that to JT, since he’s 6’10 with a 7’ wingspan. At only 24, Jayson is not even in his physical prime either. I also think that Timelord is a better defender than both of them.

KD is shooting 2-15 when guarded by Jayson. 0-4 from three.

That is unbelievable. Not sure I've ever seen anything like it. Maybe from Kawhi on Giannis?

Tatum is one of the few guys that is long enough, fast enough, and strong enough to guard Durant.  There really are only a couple guys in the sport that can do that.  Still amazing that someone that is as good a shooter as Durant can ever go 2 of 15 against someone, but if you were going to pick players to do it, Tatum would be right there with Giannis as a guy you would pick that is capable of doing it.

Agreed. That’s why I think he’s the second most important defensive player on the team, behind Timelord. Honestly think Tatum could be a Kawhi level talent, just elite on both ends.

Kawhi's defense stopped being so good when he took on a real offensive load.  That hasn't happened to Tatum yet.

Not really. He was an elite defensive force in 2016-17, then he got injured. He took a while to regain that form, but was an elite defensive force again in 19-20... he just got injured again and hasn't looked like getting back to that level.

I don't think he was ever able to continue his DPOY level defence while carrying that offensive load, but neither has Tatum ever reached that kind of level on D.

He played 57 games in 19-20 and George often defended the best offensive wing on the other team.  I'm not saying he wasn't still a great defender either, he absolutely was, but I do think there is a reason that basically every great player when given more offensive responsibility slacks defensively, especially as they age.  I mean even Jordan took a lot plays off defensively and he let Pippen take the harder matchup.  Tatum is still on the upswing, so I'd expect him to be able to go full bore on both ends for at least a couple more years, though Tatum obviously lets Brown take on a lot of the harder defensive matchups.  Guys quite simply can't go full bore on both ends of the floor all game long for very long in their careers.   Kawhi went from being the best defender in the game, to a top 10 type defender, when he started scoring more, but especially when he took on more of the distributor role. 

[vjcsmoke]

How SWEEP it is!!! The Celtics enjoy the 4-0 victory, over Kyrie Irving and the Brooklyn Nets.  A mammoth effort by KD wasted, and even though Tatum fouled out on two back to back BS calls with under 3 minutes left, it wasn't enough.  Celtics move on to the NEXT round!  Let's GO!!!!

[Phantom255x]

It's nice to see the C's being able to win close games and being able to close games properly now.

It was understandably a criticism during the season, where the C's would typically win in blowouts BUT lose when it was a close game late. They proved the doubters wrong and have shown they can finish.

Even tonight, when JT fouled out (F*&$ you Foster) the C's could have easily ended up losing, but guys like Jaylen, Big Al, Smart and Batman stepped up big time in the 4th and chipped in to make sure the C's stayed ahead and won. That's what championship teams do, figure out a way to win even with some adversity.

[libermaniac]

Pretty much the reason they were so bad in close games is that all of their close games came in 2021 before they flipped the switch. After that they blew everyone out. 

[Kiorrik]

Can we acknowledge also

How good Marcus Smart has been

On so many levels

Dude's had so many great assists. So many great drives to the rim. So many defensive possessions where he puts the clamps on people.

I'll take his back luck on firing 3s - he's been so amazing on so many different levels.

That dive after the ball today towards the end of the game after poking it away from KD made me think of Rondo - only the refs called a foul (on diving after a loose ball lololol Scott Foster)



Captain Marcus.

I'm here for it.

[trickybilly]

I actually feel sorry for Patty Mills, but next year is a player option for him.

He should opt out and seek a longer deal with a good team. Maybe Dallas or Milwaukee.

Interesting to see where all their FA vets go too...

[makaveli]

So proud of the way we are playing.

Grant wins player of the game for me, but in all seriousness, only White didn’t perform at a high level in this series.

I’m excited to see us at full strenght for the rest of the way, i hope

Lets goooooo

[colincb]

BBRobb:

If the Bucks win their series in five or six games, league sources tell MassLive that Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Semifinals could start as soon as Sunday afternoon (or even Saturday night if the Bucks win in 5). If the Bulls-Bucks series goes seven games, the series would begin on next Tuesday. Boston will host Game 1 of any potential series against Milwaukee or Chicago at the TD Garden after securing homecourt advantage for their second round series on the final day of the regular season.

[RockinRyA]

So proud of the way we are playing.

Grant wins player of the game for me, but in all seriousness, only White didn’t perform at a high level in this series.

I’m excited to see us at full strenght for the rest of the way, i hope

Lets goooooo

White had a good game 4 imho

[gouki88]

So proud of the way we are playing.

Grant wins player of the game for me, but in all seriousness, only White didn’t perform at a high level in this series.

I’m excited to see us at full strenght for the rest of the way, i hope

Lets goooooo

White had a good game 4 imho

Me too. He drove aggressively and scored well inside the arc. I also thought he played well in game 1, coming up with timely steals and decent passes.

[gift]

Is Jaylen's hamstring ok? I missed the tail end of the game but it was right after Scal momentarily talked about Jaylen grabbing his hamstring.