Fire Joe! ... or critique Joe ... or defend Joe... or worry about Joe's coaching

[green_bballers13]

Joe did a great job today of reminding us that it?s OK to smile during wars,? Tatum said. ?It?s OK to have fun during high-pressure moments. We would love to win tomorrow, more than anything. But if it doesn?t happen, it?s not the end of the world. We have more opportunities. So just setting that (mindset) of ?Don?t surrender to that idea that we have to win tomorrow.? We would love to, absolutely. But Game 5 is the biggest game of the season because it?s the next game on the schedule. So (it?s) going with that mindset and just have fun. That?s really what we talked about today. Get back to having fun and being a team and how special we are and the team that got us here.? 2 mins ago ? via New York Times

Good message. Have fun and loosen up. Playing tight would be a mistake.

[moiso]

Tatum is the most nervous star in the league, which he seems to be aware of and trying to downplay.

[Roy H.]

Joe did a great job today of reminding us that it?s OK to smile during wars,? Tatum said. ?It?s OK to have fun during high-pressure moments. We would love to win tomorrow, more than anything. But if it doesn?t happen, it?s not the end of the world. We have more opportunities. So just setting that (mindset) of ?Don?t surrender to that idea that we have to win tomorrow.? We would love to, absolutely. But Game 5 is the biggest game of the season because it?s the next game on the schedule. So (it?s) going with that mindset and just have fun. That?s really what we talked about today. Get back to having fun and being a team and how special we are and the team that got us here.? 2 mins ago ? via New York Times

Good message. Have fun and loosen up. Playing tight would be a mistake.

I like a lot of the message, but the "there's always Game 6" part of the message is weird:

We would love to win tomorrow, more than anything," said Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who is shooting 36.5% in the Finals. "But if it doesn't happen, it's not the end of the world. We have more opportunities. So just setting that table of: Don't surrender to that idea that we have to win tomorrow. We would love to, absolutely. But Game 5 is the biggest game of the season because it's the next game on the schedule."

"It would be awesome to get it done. It would be great," added Celtics reserve Sam Hauser. "If we do lose, it's not like the end of the world. We'd still be up 3-2, but to do it at home would be pretty special."

It seems like they are already prepared to lose. That's just so contrary to everything I've ever been taught in sports. 

[SparzWizard]

Nah that type of commentary is unacceptable and don't fly with me. You close out a series as soon as possible. Don't care and don't matter for extra opportunities.

You see what happened to Kristaps Porzingis? You see what happened to ours truly Jayson Tatum from 2023 ECF against the Heat? Play too relaxed like you don't care and series get prolonged and injuries start piling up. Play serious, and close them out at the first possible chance. I can accept playing closely contested and losing, but to get blown out by 40 in the biggest stage is just ridiculous.

They purposely didn't show up in Game 4 is how that comment is implied. And if they lost tonight, pressure goes up to them for Game 6. Momentums are a big factor to basketball, too.

[Vermont Green]

Tatum's mantra all season has been "don't skip any steps".  I understand that they want to come into this game as if it is just another step in the process.  A step you don't want to skip.  Winning this game is a step in the process.

Tatum has been tight.  He has been double and triple teamed all game, every game too.  Mazzulla is just trying to help Tatum.  This is a message specifically for Tatum, I suspect.  Just do your things.  Get back on defense, box out, and so on.  Focus on those things every possession.  Don't get caught up in the bigness of the moment.  Easy to say, hard to do.

[Who]

Joe did a great job today of reminding us that it?s OK to smile during wars,? Tatum said. ?It?s OK to have fun during high-pressure moments. We would love to win tomorrow, more than anything. But if it doesn?t happen, it?s not the end of the world. We have more opportunities. So just setting that (mindset) of ?Don?t surrender to that idea that we have to win tomorrow.? We would love to, absolutely. But Game 5 is the biggest game of the season because it?s the next game on the schedule. So (it?s) going with that mindset and just have fun. That?s really what we talked about today. Get back to having fun and being a team and how special we are and the team that got us here.? 2 mins ago ? via New York Times

Good message. Have fun and loosen up. Playing tight would be a mistake.

I like a lot of the message, but the "there's always Game 6" part of the message is weird:

We would love to win tomorrow, more than anything," said Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who is shooting 36.5% in the Finals. "But if it doesn't happen, it's not the end of the world. We have more opportunities. So just setting that table of: Don't surrender to that idea that we have to win tomorrow. We would love to, absolutely. But Game 5 is the biggest game of the season because it's the next game on the schedule."

"It would be awesome to get it done. It would be great," added Celtics reserve Sam Hauser. "If we do lose, it's not like the end of the world. We'd still be up 3-2, but to do it at home would be pretty special."

It seems like they are already prepared to lose. That's just so contrary to everything I've ever been taught in sports.

If you don't match the hunger & intensity of your opponent, you are in trouble.

Dallas is playing for their lives. If Boston doesn't match that desire, it is advantage Dallas.

[tenn_smoothie]

Joe did a great job today of reminding us that it?s OK to smile during wars,? Tatum said. ?It?s OK to have fun during high-pressure moments. We would love to win tomorrow, more than anything. But if it doesn?t happen, it?s not the end of the world. We have more opportunities. So just setting that (mindset) of ?Don?t surrender to that idea that we have to win tomorrow.? We would love to, absolutely. But Game 5 is the biggest game of the season because it?s the next game on the schedule. So (it?s) going with that mindset and just have fun. That?s really what we talked about today. Get back to having fun and being a team and how special we are and the team that got us here.? 2 mins ago ? via New York Times

Good message. Have fun and loosen up. Playing tight would be a mistake.

I like a lot of the message, but the "there's always Game 6" part of the message is weird:

We would love to win tomorrow, more than anything," said Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who is shooting 36.5% in the Finals. "But if it doesn't happen, it's not the end of the world. We have more opportunities. So just setting that table of: Don't surrender to that idea that we have to win tomorrow. We would love to, absolutely. But Game 5 is the biggest game of the season because it's the next game on the schedule."

"It would be awesome to get it done. It would be great," added Celtics reserve Sam Hauser. "If we do lose, it's not like the end of the world. We'd still be up 3-2, but to do it at home would be pretty special."

It seems like they are already prepared to lose. That's just so contrary to everything I've ever been taught in sports.

Remember Bird's locker room quote before game 6 vs Houston in 1986 ?

"They (fans) want blood and if it's not theirs, it's gonna be ours."

THAT is what I want to hear a Celtic say, not this soft "It won't be the end of the world if we lose" mentality.

[Roy H.]

Joe did a great job today of reminding us that it?s OK to smile during wars,? Tatum said. ?It?s OK to have fun during high-pressure moments. We would love to win tomorrow, more than anything. But if it doesn?t happen, it?s not the end of the world. We have more opportunities. So just setting that (mindset) of ?Don?t surrender to that idea that we have to win tomorrow.? We would love to, absolutely. But Game 5 is the biggest game of the season because it?s the next game on the schedule. So (it?s) going with that mindset and just have fun. That?s really what we talked about today. Get back to having fun and being a team and how special we are and the team that got us here.? 2 mins ago ? via New York Times

Good message. Have fun and loosen up. Playing tight would be a mistake.

I like a lot of the message, but the "there's always Game 6" part of the message is weird:

We would love to win tomorrow, more than anything," said Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who is shooting 36.5% in the Finals. "But if it doesn't happen, it's not the end of the world. We have more opportunities. So just setting that table of: Don't surrender to that idea that we have to win tomorrow. We would love to, absolutely. But Game 5 is the biggest game of the season because it's the next game on the schedule."

"It would be awesome to get it done. It would be great," added Celtics reserve Sam Hauser. "If we do lose, it's not like the end of the world. We'd still be up 3-2, but to do it at home would be pretty special."

It seems like they are already prepared to lose. That's just so contrary to everything I've ever been taught in sports.

If you don't match the hunger & intensity of your opponent, you are in trouble.

Dallas is playing for their lives. If Boston doesn't match that desire, it is advantage Dallas.

I mean, that's what I've always been taught.  If you go into a game with a "I hope we win, but if not it's okay" attitude, you're at a disadvantage.

Give me KG.  Give me Kobe.  "It's not the end of the world if we lose"?  That's something you say in Little League.   And I don't care if Joe said it; it's the job of competitors to reject it.

[Roy H.]

Joe did a great job today of reminding us that it?s OK to smile during wars,? Tatum said. ?It?s OK to have fun during high-pressure moments. We would love to win tomorrow, more than anything. But if it doesn?t happen, it?s not the end of the world. We have more opportunities. So just setting that (mindset) of ?Don?t surrender to that idea that we have to win tomorrow.? We would love to, absolutely. But Game 5 is the biggest game of the season because it?s the next game on the schedule. So (it?s) going with that mindset and just have fun. That?s really what we talked about today. Get back to having fun and being a team and how special we are and the team that got us here.? 2 mins ago ? via New York Times

Good message. Have fun and loosen up. Playing tight would be a mistake.

I like a lot of the message, but the "there's always Game 6" part of the message is weird:

We would love to win tomorrow, more than anything," said Celtics star Jayson Tatum, who is shooting 36.5% in the Finals. "But if it doesn't happen, it's not the end of the world. We have more opportunities. So just setting that table of: Don't surrender to that idea that we have to win tomorrow. We would love to, absolutely. But Game 5 is the biggest game of the season because it's the next game on the schedule."

"It would be awesome to get it done. It would be great," added Celtics reserve Sam Hauser. "If we do lose, it's not like the end of the world. We'd still be up 3-2, but to do it at home would be pretty special."

It seems like they are already prepared to lose. That's just so contrary to everything I've ever been taught in sports.

Remember Bird's locker room quote before game 6 vs Houston in 1986 ?

"They (fans) want blood and if it's not theirs, it's gonna be ours."

THAT is what I want to hear a Celtic say, not this soft "It won't be the end of the world if we lose" mentality.

It's so foreign to me.  Can you ever remember a player -- let alone two players, and presumably a coach -- saying something like this?

I assume it's a generational thing, but I read the quotes to my 12-year-old, and her jaw dropped.

[tenn_smoothie]

Tatum after a Game 5 loss to Dallas, "It's not the end of the world if they are the first team in history to come back from a 3-0 deficit and win."

This mentality from our supposed leader has been part of the problem with this group.

Now, hopefully the Celts win anyway tonite (they had better), but to win multiple titles, which this team has the talent to do, they are gonna need a real alpha (Garnett, Bird, Cowens, Russell) for whom winning is the only acceptable outcome.

[Goldstar88]

Fire him now! Before it?s too late!! 

[Moranis]

Guess he set the right tone to let them play loose and free. Just what the team needed.

[ashanm10]

Cant reply in the game thread but holy

We finally did it boys! All those years and so many teams we saw go by which is why many of us can't reply in the gamethread AHAHAH (hopefully unblocked going forward as a championship should redeem us this cleansing!)

We finally did it guys..and I wish it's the beginning of many more!

I love you all and let's go Celtics - let's go our pride and joy!

Another title for Title Town!

Love from Greece and my other shamrock team won too (Panathinaikos!) ☘️

[SCeltic34]

Joe.  Thank you.  I've been a big critic at times, but I've seen the improvement this year.  Awesome job.

[ozgod]

So Joe keeps his job? I thought for sure he was gonna get fired after thst Dallas run in the 3rd

Guess we?re stuck with him and this thread all next season