How are your nerves?

[Roy H.]

I've got to say, this is the least emotionally invested in a Finals series involving the Celtics that I can remember.  Whatever the outcome, I think I'll be at peace.  If we win, obviously I'll be ecstatic, but if the team doesn't come through, I've enjoyed the ride.

I think that comes with expectations and hope for the future.  Coming into the year, I didn't expect a title team.  I didn't even realistically hope for a title team.  The goal -- in my mind -- was for a more entertaining team than last year, with some growing pains adjusting to a new coach.  I was thinking finishing top-3 or top-4 in the East would be a great finish.  So, now that the team has exceeded my expectations, everything is sort of gravy in a way.  Losses tend to be hard in the moment, but they fade by the next morning with me.

I compare this feeling to 2010, i.e., the worst Game 7 of all-time.  There, I had so much emotional investment.  We were playing against the Lakers, to keep our lead in banners.  We were playing the Super Villain Kobe.  We held a 3-2 lead in the series, meaning that feeling of "one win away" lasted for multiple games.  We held a decent-sized lead in the 4th quarter, before we got absolutely screwed by the refs.  And, I think in my heart, I knew it was likely a "last stand" for the Pierce / KG / Ray / Rondo / Perk team, and I knew that we were looking at rebuilding in the near future.

2010 hurt for months.  Losing that series still is a painful memory, mitigated only by the signing of Shaq and the 2011 team's fantastic start.   This year, though, I'm not feeling that.  I think I'll be able to move on pretty quickly if the team falls short, because they *should* have a fantastic future.  This core is amazing, and is going to contend for a long time, ring or not.

That said, I fully reserve the right to change my opinion after the inevitable screw job in Game 7, haha.

[Celtic]

I too feel different about this series. I don't think either one of these teams is a great team. This playoffs has more of a war of attrition than anything else.

[Phantom255x]

I said it at the start of the series, but I felt a bit of calm and relief after reaching the Finals and finally getting that "ECF monkey" off our backs. Felt like an achievement just to reach the Finals after 12 years and like 4 ECF losses in the stretch between 2010-2022, including a few heartbreakers.

I honestly might have felt a lot more bummed if we lost the Heat series and lost another ECF, which looked really possible after Jimmy Butler pulled a "2012 Lebron Game 6" in very similar fashion just a few weeks ago at TD Garden

[angryguy77]

I feel pretty numb. Was mad yesterday, but not as much as I was at the game four loss. They sucked the soul out of me in that one.

I can't feel good if the series is a loss because of the way they lost. Sloppy play and self inflicted wounds as reasons for losing makes it hard to take anything away from this.

Ever since brad game, the offense has been erratic when things don't go as planned. When the 3 doesn't hit, they become some disorganized monster that finds it difficult to put the car back on the rails. I thought that was gone, and for the most part it was until this series. It's not as bad but it's showing its head at the worst time possible. Are they ever going to outgrow this? I've seen so many playoff games devolve into this garbage that it almost feels like it's so ingrained in their DNA that it's just going to be an albatross around their neck.

I don't know about the future. Will we be just OKC 2.0? Giannis will have a healthy Middleton next year. They're going to be a force for several years to come and it's possible we become the Knicks to their Bulls.
The Heat might actually sign someone not suited for the D league. Phily and the Nets might ge their act together as well.

Having to go to 2 game 7's against depleted teams means we're just marginally better than them. All MKE has to do is get healthier to be better.

If I saw some actual growth out of the J's this finals I'd feel better, but I'm not seeing leaps made honestly.

[Atzar]

My head generally agrees with your sentiment that this is all gravy and we've rediscovered our bright future with this season.  That the Jays are not finished products (and that could be extended to Ime as a coach as well) and our entire rotation is still getting better at basketball aside from Al.  That no run should be taken for granted, but at the same time we look like we'll be a problem for the league for a long time and should have more great seasons.  Having said all of that, my heart is invested anyway and I want them to find a way to push this over the finish line so badly. 

A bit of a tangent, but my biggest concern from this playoff run is that I don't know what this is costing Rob.  Hopefully he's okay long-term and this really is just a matter of pain management rather than sustaining further injury, but the dude looks like he's dying out there.  I don't want to shorten his career or stunt his ceiling for the sake of this run.  He's a massive part of our future and I don't know if that sacrifice is worth it. 

[dannyboy35]

  For all the complaining about the league isn’t physical e Pugh , this is what it looks like. The constant fouling that isn’t being talked about is impeding the progress of cutters. This is 90’s type stuff and it’s terrible to watch. The refs needed to nip this in the bud right away when all the grabbing began in game 2. No’s it’s every player in every possession. It wasn’t anything like this in any other series. Terrible basketball.

[RMO]

The only problem I have with the "they're young" and "this is just the beginning for our team" stuff is that things change very fast in the NBA.  I remember how valuable that Memphis pick was and then two seasons later, it's a pick in the mid-teens.

[droopdog7]

I'm starting to move toward acceptance so the nerves have calmed down a bit. 

[Neurotic Guy]

I'm starting to move toward acceptance so the nerves have calmed down a bit.

Same here.   I am working my brain back to the idea that I didn't expect anything close to what we've gotten from this team this year.  It's been an incredible run.  Yes there've been big frustrations but to this point every time they've been down they've risen to the challenge.  That's not to say I expect the same now, but just to say that it's been an exciting run.

The downside of course is that getting to the Finals ain't easy and you never know if/when it will happen again with this core.  But I've basically accepted that this probably isn't the year for banner 18.  That said, should they pull off a win on Thursday, I'll be a mess by Sunday.

[Who]

Calm. Happy. Excited.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

zero nerves. numb since we blew game 4. sinking feeling. we got away with skating on thin ice last 2 series but it looks like we are about to break the ice now and drown.

i bet on GS last game as a buffer and it worked. I will do the same next game. if we win somehow i will bet GS again game 7.  at least i can walk away with money for my pain and suffering. if we have not learned in 6 years i am not sure this team ever will learn. the young excuse does not fly anymore. whatever brad and imme are teaching they are failing offensively 

have to strike when iron is hot. bucks may rout us next year. no guarantee we make it back. major changes are needed in this club all around. teaching, methodology and players added as needed.

[SparzWizard]

This isn't/wasn't as bad as losing in 2010. If we win, I'd def feel ecstatic. If we lose, well, that shucks but life goes on.

Just wished we can just smoke by these teams and win banner 18. Why do we make it look so hard to win a finals.

[Kernewek]

This isn't/wasn't as bad as losing in 2010. If we win, I'd def feel ecstatic. If we lose, well, that shucks but life goes on.

Just wished we can just smoke by these teams and win banner 18. Why do we make it look so hard to win a finals.

This is how I feel to a tee. 2010 was a bummer because it was somewhat obviously the last hurrah and we were so close, and it didn't feel like it was possible to throw it going into the fourth.

This team,as other posters have said, has massively overachieved. I'm happy if they win, happy if they lose - not being able to watch live definitely contributes to this attitude though.

[scaryjerry]

Fine, I’ve already accepted they’re losing the series so if they happen to win, great

[Sketch5]

Better than yesterday. I always worried the bench wasn't strong enough and the injuries would catch up. It is frustrating that they could have won by now just keeping it simple and going away from moving the ball. And if the win the Finals its on fathers day, which is cool.

But thinking of the future, they have some tweaking to do, a legit playmaker, some one that can break down D with the dribble, You can't have Brown and Tatum both have lose handles.

But we have 3 pretty decent TPE's and getting to the finals will get guys who are wiling to take a paycut to get a ring looking at Boston.