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

[Donoghus]

This team is going to break some posters on this blog.

[kraidstar]

This team is going to break some posters on this blog.

This team is depressing. I've reached a point where I'm so used to their BS that I'm not even angry anymore

[blink]

Couldn’t agree more.  There are 12 year olds with more basketball IQ.  JB is a very talented player but he makes the same boneheaded plays time after time.  After last years’ Finals turnover extravaganza, you’d think he’d go to work on strengthening his handle in traffic.  Not to be.  Still turns it over at high rate and loves to go into hero ball iso mode (especially when the Cs have a lead).

JB had some absolutely dumb plays last night.  I am a huge JB fan but he looked out of it last night.  BUT, JB isn’t the only culprit, when our best player turns the ball over 3 times during the 90 seconds when we are down 4 or 5 trying to get back with about 3 min left in the game that is inexcusable as well. 

I would argue that all three of JB, JT , and Smart just lose their ability to play intelligent basketball too much.  I don’t think it is mainly their handles. It is their decision making ability.  It is so shocking that a core so experienced in the playoffs can make so many poor decisions and not come ready to play 100% of the time in the ECF.

But even those turnovers and dumb plays could have been overcome last night if we had played one ounce of def in the 3rd quarter.  The lack of focus, intensity and effort on defense as a team was what cost us the game.

So hard to watch this team as a fan.  The frustration level exceeds the rewards so much you wonder if you should keep watching or not.

[BringToughnessBack]

Yes, this team has really depressed me in some games. Feel bipolar watching them sometimes.

I am really starting to get a feeling that having too many options during major playoff games towards the end is actually a bad thing. I am going back in my memory banks and it seems, the teams that always won titles knew exactly who should have the ball when things are bad and when things are tight. We do not seem to have that ability in some games and I believe this is where one of the true issues lies.

Look what happened in game 7 vs the Sixers when our best player had the ball every quarter. The offense was run through Tatum and he made everyone around him better. A strong coach would push this narrative. A strong coach would stop the bleeding as well when it is needed. The 3rd quarter last night was a failure on so many levels.

How does Tatum have the ball in his hands like 5 times in the first 18 minutes of the second half when hell was breaking loose? Why couldn't Smart continue to distribute the ball vs Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyding it to become a shooter. 

The team needs to be built around Tatum as option A and it needs to be hammered home in the playoffs, the offense needs to run through him for 4 quarters. If Joe cannot get on that same page, he needs to go. No matter if we get through the Heat and win a title or get eliminated, for the success of our team long term, One superstar option is the way to go with a solid supporting cast.

Kobe, Magic, Bird, Jordan, Duncan, Lebron...think about all of those players and in big games, the game goes through them. How many titles did those teams win? They had good supporting cast as well but when it counted, the teams they were on knew where the offense should be driven by. We do not do that consistently with Tatum and this is a failure.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Couldn’t agree more.  There are 12 year olds with more basketball IQ.  JB is a very talented player but he makes the same boneheaded plays time after time.  After last years’ Finals turnover extravaganza, you’d think he’d go to work on strengthening his handle in traffic.  Not to be.  Still turns it over at high rate and loves to go into hero ball iso mode (especially when the Cs have a lead).

JB had some absolutely dumb plays last night.  I am a huge JB fan but he looked out of it last night.  BUT, JB isn’t the only culprit, when our best player turns the ball over 3 times during the 90 seconds when we are down 4 or 5 trying to get back with about 3 min left in the game that is inexcusable as well. 

I would argue that all three of JB, JT , and Smart just lose their ability to play intelligent basketball too much.  I don’t think it is mainly their handles. It is their decision making ability.  It is so shocking that a core so experienced in the playoffs can make so many poor decisions and not come ready to play 100% of the time in the ECF.

But even those turnovers and dumb plays could have been overcome last night if we had played one ounce of def in the 3rd quarter.  The lack of focus, intensity and effort on defense as a team was what cost us the game.

So hard to watch this team as a fan. The frustration level exceeds the rewards so much you wonder if you should keep watching or not.

yup. apathy is about to set in. once it does it will require major changes to get fans back interested again,

[celticinorlando]

As much as I loved the 51 from Tatum...I would gladly trade that for him consistently showing up every 4th quarter. He disappears for whatever reason way to much. Then he has a game 6 4th quarter.

But there have been times in the last 2 playoff runs where he just doesn't shoot in the 4th. Yesterday was putrid. More turnovers by him that shots.

[Roy H.]

This team is going to break some posters on this blog.

This team is depressing. I've reached a point where I'm so used to their BS that I'm not even angry anymore

I'm still angry, because as dumb and lazy as the team is at times, they're still not being put in the best situation to succeed.

It does amaze me how they come out and find new ways to lose, though.  Not giving Tatum the ball in the fourth?  That's a new one.

[celticinorlando]

Can't wait to see what Spo has in store for Game 2. We know Joe will not make any adjustments at all.

If the Celtics lose this series in 5 games do they fire Joe?

[SparzWizard]

This team is going to break some posters on this blog.

This team is depressing. I've reached a point where I'm so used to their BS that I'm not even angry anymore

I'm still angry, because as dumb and lazy as the team is at times, they're still not being put in the best situation to succeed.

It does amaze me how they come out and find new ways to lose, though.  Not giving Tatum the ball in the fourth?  That's a new one.

Again, that's a coaching issue that does not hold his players accountable. And the questionable decisions being made.

[SparzWizard]

Can't wait to see what Spo has in store for Game 2. We know Joe will not make any adjustments at all.

If the Celtics lose this series in 5 games do they fire Joe?

They better

[SparzWizard]

Hey JB, so much for the "energy shifting" tweet you made a couple days ago. The only thing shifting is the ball coming off your hands and letting the other team retrieve it...bad handles. 

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Hey JB, so much for the "energy shifting" tweet you made a couple days ago. The only thing shifting is the ball coming off your hands and letting the other team retrieve it...bad handles. 

ouch

[LilRip]

Joe lost us this one as much as the Heat won this one.

The problem with Joe’s “random offense” is that there’s no go to play to get your best player going. Tatum was frozen out because of the Heat defense (credit to Spo for the adjustment) and the C’s were happy to let them and just react from that.

JB is a gifted scorer. One of the best in the league. But if the ball is in his hands a lot, that’s a recipe to beat the C’s and stall out our offense.

[Who]

Does ownership have it in them to step in and fix this cluster after the season ends (badly).

This is as much on Brad as it is Joe. Joe is in way over his head, it is obvious.
They let the Ime thing drag on through the summer without being prepared to hire a replacement.
Then they throw this moron into the fire one week before training camp started.
What a disservice to a talented contender entering the prime years of it's core guys.
If there was ever an experienced, talented team that needed a firm hand and solid coaching, this group is it.
Lots of talent with some of the main guys dumber than a rock on the basketball court.

Ownership needs to have the sense of urgency their team so often lacks.
They are wasting the next Celtics championship group and it is very hard to watch.

Ownership bought into College Boy Brad philosophy. To be frank, I am done with Brad. He's been here for 10 years and it's just the same soft mentality attitude that comes outta here. We need guys who can kill on the court. Guys who play bully ball. Guys who throw elbows around and scream at other teammates to inspire them and fire them up.

Gosh if it's Lakers/Celtics Finals, Old Man LeBron and the Lakers gonna annihilate this team in 4 games.

+ a million on your brad take. He sucked as a coach and equally sucks as a gm.

This proud franchise is owned, managed, and coached by morons.

They do pretty well for morons then. How many ECF in the last 8 years? Any other teams with that kind of sustained success in the East?

Cute accomplishments for teams without a legacy. I'm sorry, I thought I was a fan of a franchise who hung banners, not participation trophies

ECFs are great, but when it gets to a point where you've had multiple ECF exits it becomes redundant and frustrating. The team needs more than just ECF. They need banners and championships!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

and the dumbness of this team has never been fixed. that falls on the coaches and management I refuse to believe our players  cannot be taught or fixed. bad trend. If not why do we still keep them? we need players with high BBIQ.

Jaylen Brown is one of the dumbest basketball players I have ever seen. Maybe a smart dude off the court but he has zero basketball IQ....or handles.

I don't know that Jaylen is dumb. I just think he is limited. He is not that good of a passer. He is not that good of a ball-handler.

His offense is ... one dimensional is not the right word but not well rounded ... He doesn't have the skill-set to exploit defenses in different ways. Only really through his scoring.

That Jaylen is limited skill-wise more than dumb.

[angryguy77]

Does ownership have it in them to step in and fix this cluster after the season ends (badly).

This is as much on Brad as it is Joe. Joe is in way over his head, it is obvious.
They let the Ime thing drag on through the summer without being prepared to hire a replacement.
Then they throw this moron into the fire one week before training camp started.
What a disservice to a talented contender entering the prime years of it's core guys.
If there was ever an experienced, talented team that needed a firm hand and solid coaching, this group is it.
Lots of talent with some of the main guys dumber than a rock on the basketball court.

Ownership needs to have the sense of urgency their team so often lacks.
They are wasting the next Celtics championship group and it is very hard to watch.

Ownership bought into College Boy Brad philosophy. To be frank, I am done with Brad. He's been here for 10 years and it's just the same soft mentality attitude that comes outta here. We need guys who can kill on the court. Guys who play bully ball. Guys who throw elbows around and scream at other teammates to inspire them and fire them up.

Gosh if it's Lakers/Celtics Finals, Old Man LeBron and the Lakers gonna annihilate this team in 4 games.

+ a million on your brad take. He sucked as a coach and equally sucks as a gm.

This proud franchise is owned, managed, and coached by morons.

They do pretty well for morons then. How many ECF in the last 8 years? Any other teams with that kind of sustained success in the East?

Cute accomplishments for teams without a legacy. I'm sorry, I thought I was a fan of a franchise who hung banners, not participation trophies

ECFs are great, but when it gets to a point where you've had multiple ECF exits it becomes redundant and frustrating. The team needs more than just ECF. They need banners and championships!

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^THIS^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

and the dumbness of this team has never been fixed. that falls on the coaches and management I refuse to believe our players  cannot be taught or fixed. bad trend. If not why do we still keep them? we need players with high BBIQ.

Jaylen Brown is one of the dumbest basketball players I have ever seen. Maybe a smart dude off the court but he has zero basketball IQ....or handles.

I don't know that Jaylen is dumb. I just think he is limited. He is not that good of a passer. He is not that good of a ball-handler.

His offense is ... one dimensional is not the right word but not well rounded ... He doesn't have the skill-set to exploit defenses in different ways. Only really through his scoring.

That Jaylen is limited skill-wise more than dumb.

Idk.....how many smart people would continue to dribble into a double team after already turning it over a ton?

Awesome talent, but the Ball IQ is suspect.