Time To Panic? I Think So

[Kernewek]

I looked quickly over the comments in this thread but the coaching doesn't seem to be getting enough blame[.]

If there was ever a better synopsis of this board's reaction to this season, I haven't read it.


(edit: it's a reasonable post, this just struck me as funny).

[bello_man09]

The most painful part of this season is that the door is wide open in the East. we are our own biggest problem, what a coke job by smart and tatum.

[celticinorlando]

I looked quickly over the comments in this thread but the coaching doesn't seem to be getting enough blame (not to take ANY responsibility way from the players - they certainly deserve the blame they're getting).  I did just gloss over it so maybe I missed some comments.

At one point in the fourth I think the Celtics only had one turnover in the entire game and they proceeded to turn it over on I think three of the next four possessions.  The offense was in a total flux, Atlanta was scoring and not a single timeout.

Did Joe understand the implications of losing this game?  This is not the regular season where you can let them figure it out.  The title is there for the taking.  Milwaukee is down 3-1, Embiid is hurt and all of the western conference teams seem flawed.

Joe is to blame. I am still baffled they trade for Brogdan for moments like this and he is on the bench. But yet Smart, who turns it over, fouls at half court and plays hero ball is on the floor in go time.

If smart is out there because of his defense on young...then STOP having him switch off young leaving Al on his own there.

Also they had to have known Young was going to shoot the three. When he picked up his dribble he should have been swarmed and double teamed. Instead they play off and he hits a long 3.

I am also tired of the drop coverage defense. It is why this is even a series. Too many open looks all over the floor and yet young still gets in the lane and shoots the floater.

[Moranis]

I expect Boston to win game 6 by like 30 points.  Just wire to wire domination.

I expected that in game 5 and I’m sure you did too

I thought Boston would win, but I didn't think it would be blowout.  I thought Young might have that game in him still this season.  He has now had it and I don't think he can do it again and the Hawks don't really have anyone else that can take over and dominate like Young can.

[Moranis]

I expect Boston to win game 6 by like 30 points.  Just wire to wire domination.

I hope so, but we haven't seen that yet in the playoffs, and we rarely saw it in the last two-thirds of the season. 

I don't quite understand why, but last year's team loved stomping on the throats of other teams.  This year, they haven't showed the same killer instinct.

I'm not sure that is true.  Every game against Brooklyn went down to wire last year.  They did have a couple of games where they pulled away from the Bucks or Heat, but they've also beaten the Hawks by double digits twice this series as well.

I just think people have had a view of this team that isn't based in reality. 

I mean this is the overall season long stats for this year vs. last year

Record 57-25 vs. 51-31
ORTG 2nd vs. 7th
PPG 4th vs. 12th
DRTG 3rd vs. 2nd
OPPG 5th vs. 1st
Pace 20th vs. 24th
Net Rating 1st vs. 2nd
SRS 6.38 (1st) vs. 7.02 (1st)

So a better offensive team and a very slightly worse defensive team.

[celticinorlando]

Have seen this way too much this season:

"The Celtics were up 10 with 5:09 to play in Game 5 and then ...

Next four possessions: Ball never got closer than 14 feet from hoop. Two turnovers, two pull-up misses from Jays. ATL rallies to tie with 2:42 to go.

2 more turnovers on next 3 possessions."

[Kuberski33]

The good news is this Hawks team isn't good enough to win 3 straight vs the C's. They are due for a clunker when nothing goes in. But Joe certainly didn't help last night by at least attempting to force someone other than Young to beat him.

And you now lose the chance to rest Rob - and Al for that matter who will be needed vs Phil. 

[angryguy77]

The good news is this Hawks team isn't good enough to win 3 straight vs the C's. They are due for a clunker when nothing goes in. But Joe certainly didn't help last night by at least attempting to force someone other than Young to beat him.

And you now lose the chance to rest Rob - and Al for that matter who will be needed vs Phil.

They're not going to keep clunking shots with drop defense giving up wide open looks. Our defense last night was predicated on the Hawks beating themselves rather than us making them miss.

[Atzar]

I'm not panicking per se, but I've been continually disappointed by this team's lack of killer instinct.  My opinion is that we have everything we need in terms of personnel.  Guards, wings, bigs, top-end talent, depth.  Maybe I'd prefer another good defensive big to rotate in, but that's it - and every other team has their own hole at least as big as that.  Ask Milwaukee if they'd appreciate a good strong wing defender right about now, for instance.

But their mindset bothers me.  I want this team to enjoy blasting lesser teams.  Revel in it.  Instead we play visibly different against the Hawks compared to the Bucks or Sixers.  We don't pressure the ball.  Our help is late.  We aren't crisp and decisive with the ball.  We stop moving.  We settle.  It's frustrating as hell to me, because it's completely counter to every word you hear out of these guys in press conferences.  They say all of the right things and then come out and toy with their food again. 

Done hearing the nonsense.  "We need to X", "we didn't Y", "this one's on me".  Stop talking about it and go do it. 

[slamtheking]

I expect Boston to win game 6 by like 30 points.  Just wire to wire domination.

I hope so, but we haven't seen that yet in the playoffs, and we rarely saw it in the last two-thirds of the season. 

I don't quite understand why, but last year's team loved stomping on the throats of other teams.  This year, they haven't showed the same killer instinct.

I'm not sure that is true.  Every game against Brooklyn went down to wire last year.  They did have a couple of games where they pulled away from the Bucks or Heat, but they've also beaten the Hawks by double digits twice this series as well.

I just think people have had a view of this team that isn't based in reality. 

I mean this is the overall season long stats for this year vs. last year

Record 57-25 vs. 51-31
ORTG 2nd vs. 7th
PPG 4th vs. 12th
DRTG 3rd vs. 2nd
OPPG 5th vs. 1st
Pace 20th vs. 24th
Net Rating 1st vs. 2nd
SRS 6.38 (1st) vs. 7.02 (1st)

So a better offensive team and a very slightly worse defensive team.

this is misleading to say the least.  try comparing these teams from when they finally put it together under Ime going into the playoffs last year vs how mediocre they've been this year after their really hot start.   you'll see a far bigger spread in their stats that will demonstrate last year's team was poised to push through the playoffs whereas this year's team is coasting as far as they can get.

[SparzWizard]

The good news is this Hawks team isn't good enough to win 3 straight vs the C's. They are due for a clunker when nothing goes in. But Joe certainly didn't help last night by at least attempting to force someone other than Young to beat him.

And you now lose the chance to rest Rob - and Al for that matter who will be needed vs Phil.

We never know. The C's is also good enough to lose 3 straight as demonstrated in the regular season. Tatum ISOs, chucking 3's, Smart and JB turnovers. The first five games of this series haven't changed my view on them on whether they really matured or flipped the switch. C's should've buried them by 30+ in Games 1 and 2 but almost let it slipped away. Game 5 they just let it slipped. The loss of Ime hurts here.

[bello_man09]

if it goes to 7...smh. and if we come out flat in game 6. these guys dont want it. As a fan I feel like why should i care more than you, I am not the one getting paid millions of dollars. Hello Tatum

[Phantom255x]

if it goes to 7...smh. and if we come out flat in game 6. these guys dont want it. As a fan I feel like why should i care more than you, I am not the one getting paid millions of dollars. Hello Tatum

If this goes 7 I'm not making it to Saturday night lol

But it'd be embarrassing if this went 7. It already feels like an L that this is going 6

[bello_man09]

if it goes to 7...smh. and if we come out flat in game 6. these guys dont want it. As a fan I feel like why should i care more than you, I am not the one getting paid millions of dollars. Hello Tatum

If this goes 7 I'm not making it to Saturday night lol

But it'd be embarrassing if this went 7. It already feels like an L that this is going 6

This loss really hurt I went to the bar and poured down like 3 drinks. it was like the bucks game where marcus got stripped, I could not sleep at night. I will join game 6 late they usually do better when I am not screaming and throwing things around.

[Moranis]

I expect Boston to win game 6 by like 30 points.  Just wire to wire domination.

I hope so, but we haven't seen that yet in the playoffs, and we rarely saw it in the last two-thirds of the season. 

I don't quite understand why, but last year's team loved stomping on the throats of other teams.  This year, they haven't showed the same killer instinct.

I'm not sure that is true.  Every game against Brooklyn went down to wire last year.  They did have a couple of games where they pulled away from the Bucks or Heat, but they've also beaten the Hawks by double digits twice this series as well.

I just think people have had a view of this team that isn't based in reality. 

I mean this is the overall season long stats for this year vs. last year

Record 57-25 vs. 51-31
ORTG 2nd vs. 7th
PPG 4th vs. 12th
DRTG 3rd vs. 2nd
OPPG 5th vs. 1st
Pace 20th vs. 24th
Net Rating 1st vs. 2nd
SRS 6.38 (1st) vs. 7.02 (1st)

So a better offensive team and a very slightly worse defensive team.

this is misleading to say the least.  try comparing these teams from when they finally put it together under Ime going into the playoffs last year vs how mediocre they've been this year after their really hot start.   you'll see a far bigger spread in their stats that will demonstrate last year's team was poised to push through the playoffs whereas this year's team is coasting as far as they can get.

every game matters.  This years team is better than last years team.  The data supports that.