Heat (0-0) at Celtics (0-0) ECF Game #1 5/17/23

[blink]

The Heat scored 45 points in the third quarter and, in his pre-4th quarter interview, Mazzulla mentioned offense as the first and second reasons why the game changed. Go figure!

We held the Sixers to less than 90 points in two consecutive elimination games, but the offense is the key, Joe? We can’t wait until Joe gets a clue or to face elimination to step on his toes, vets have to do it now.

What we can’t have is Lowry, Strus, Vincent, and Martin scoring 15 each; that was not happening under Ime.

We need to pick what we’re shutting down: Butler or his teammates.

I’d let Jimmy play 40+ MPG and have to score 40+ PPG, but shutdown his teammates like last season. He’s a great player, but this is a marathon and eventually the workload will be too much to sustain for 3 more games.

The Knicks chose to make it tough on him (still averaged 24/6/5) and got torched by the others, worn down, and out-hustled by the end of the series. We can’t have that.

tonight was 100% about defense, or lack thereof, in the fourth quarter. everything else pales in comparison.

good post. TP.

+1  it was all about our crappy def.

[tenn_smoothie]

What did grant do to get buried on the bench? He can help. Same with Hauser. They need their shooting

Very strange decisions by Mazzulla.

His little 3d quarter tantrum during the tv timeout was yet another embarrassing, immature incident for him.

yeah, the clipboard throw, followed by the walk away from the huddle mid-timeout, was high school level cringe. he’s not a leader of men and needs to go asap.

not playing grant is a massive head-scratcher. he seems to be a good matchup vs. the heat.

"high school level cringe"  .............. what a perfect description.

[libermaniac]

The Heat scored 45 points in the third quarter and, in his pre-4th quarter interview, Mazzulla mentioned offense as the first and second reasons why the game changed. Go figure!

We held the Sixers to less than 90 points in two consecutive elimination games, but the offense is the key, Joe? We can’t wait until Joe gets a clue or to face elimination to step on his toes, vets have to do it now.

I couldn’t watch the second half thanks to TNT having technical difficulties but is it possible that the Cs couldn’t set up defensively due to bad offense? Were the 6 3s all on wide open looks or were they typical shots that sometimes fall and sometimes don’t?

Just curious because I couldn’t see anything.

As for the key stretch in the third quarter of game 7, am I the only one who thought Philly had tons of open looks during that stretch that they made earlier in the series but just missed?

Sometimes luck plays a role. Was it possible today? I mean Miami did outscore us by 18 points from 3 on only 2 more attempts.

[SparzWizard]

The Heat scored 45 points in the third quarter and, in his pre-4th quarter interview, Mazzulla mentioned offense as the first and second reasons why the game changed. Go figure!

We held the Sixers to less than 90 points in two consecutive elimination games, but the offense is the key, Joe? We can’t wait until Joe gets a clue or to face elimination to step on his toes, vets have to do it now.

I couldn’t watch the second half thanks to TNT having technical difficulties but is it possible that the Cs couldn’t set up defensively due to bad offense? Were the 6 3s all on wide open looks or were they typical shots that sometimes fall and sometimes don’t?

Just curious because I couldn’t see anything.

As for the key stretch in the third quarter of game 7, am I the only one who thought Philly had tons of open looks during that stretch that they made earlier in the series but just missed?

Sometimes luck plays a role. Was it possible today? I mean Miami did outscore us by 18 points from 3 on only 2 more attempts.

I know that Caleb Martin 3 late in the 4th was the same corner 3 that Harden took; players ditched the coverage and went to double-help on Butler. Butler passes out to Martin and he nailed that corner 3. Just bad defense.

[blink]

The Heat scored 45 points in the third quarter and, in his pre-4th quarter interview, Mazzulla mentioned offense as the first and second reasons why the game changed. Go figure!

We held the Sixers to less than 90 points in two consecutive elimination games, but the offense is the key, Joe? We can’t wait until Joe gets a clue or to face elimination to step on his toes, vets have to do it now.

I couldn’t watch the second half thanks to TNT having technical difficulties but is it possible that the Cs couldn’t set up defensively due to bad offense? Were the 6 3s all on wide open looks or were they typical shots that sometimes fall and sometimes don’t?

Just curious because I couldn’t see anything.

As for the key stretch in the third quarter of game 7, am I the only one who thought Philly had tons of open looks during that stretch that they made earlier in the series but just missed?

Sometimes luck plays a role. Was it possible today? I mean Miami did outscore us by 18 points from 3 on only 2 more attempts.

I know that Caleb Martin 3 late in the 4th was the same corner 3 that Harden took; players ditched the coverage and went to double-help on Butler. Butler passes out to Martin and he nailed that corner 3. Just bad defense.

Yup, the team (I think that means the coach, but I am not sure if we have a coach anymore) needs to decide what they are going to take away defensively.  I say let Butler try to get 40-50 every game, shut down the role players, and take our chances with one on one coverage of Butler.  But that means you cant play PP, because he is going to get roasted and hunted by Butler.  Joe needs to get the bug out of his butt regarding Grant Williams and play that dude. 

[makaveli]

Tatum was trash on defense all game long. They were just faster and got opem looks which they made.

[gouki88]

Tatum was trash on defense all game long. They were just faster and got opem looks which they made.

This is a nice lie

[scaryjerry]

Typical.
If we win this series it’s gonna be another 7 gamer, which I pretty much knew before the series started. All the hopefuls saying we would easily win this series are delusional

[CelticsWhat35]

Seems to me a relatively easy fix defensively is not switching on screens for Butler and slipping under them.  Butler doesn’t want to take 3’s anyway, and if he does, have at it.  I’d rather him take the uncontested 3’s and not get to the line 15 times than guys having to double off penetration and Strus, Vincent, etc being left wide open for corner 3’s.

Offensively, their first half was possibly their best of the playoffs and over 70% of their shots were inside the line.  They inexplicably abandoned that in the 2nd half

[cman88]

We all saw this coming after an emotional game 7 win.

Still confident in the series. I mean we lost game 1 against Philly and Miami last year and Milwaukee. We have proven we are a better road team. And Miami shot 51% from 3. If we tighten up I don't think they can consistently hit at that clip.

But now we are going  probably 7. Unless this team realizes they can't take quarters off on defense.

Now smart and brown saying we didn't take the game seriously and treated it like a regular season game. I don't get it.... And don't get why they get these lapses of effort.

It's easy to blame Joe but we are on the 3rd coach in 3 seasons and it's the same exact story. So it's on the players.

But overall I think we bounce back big next game. Probably take a game in Miami and it's just gonna be a slugfest. But ultimately I think their roleplayers don't keep it up and our talent takes over.

I still feel like if this Miami team somehow made it to the finals they get demolished by whatever western conference team is there. It's pretty clear their talent is jimmy/bam and THATS IT. But if you gonna let their roleplayers shoot 51% from 3. It's gonna be hard to win

Only reason I'm not as negative as others is that I saw this...just last series...we lost game 1 to embiid-less philly.

[celticinorlando]

I mean…I just can’t anymore

Jaylen Brown: "We came out too cool. It was almost like we were playing a regular season game."

Marcus Smart: "We get tired of doing the little things sometimes."

[Celtics4ever]

This is bipolar,  one game they can be the best team in the world, the other they come out and play to the level of their opponents.  Nothing is ever easy

[celticinorlando]

This is bipolar,  one game they can be the best team in the world, the other they come out and play to the level of their opponents.  Nothing is ever easy

And it’s all self inflicted

[scaryjerry]

Miami is tough I give them credit. Jimmy butler is an absolute beast but isn’t even the best player in the series and beyond him, bam and a washed up klove/Lowry the heat have a g league roster. Inexcusable to lose to them, if we somehow get beat by them they won’t even be competitive in the finals.

[SHAQATTACK]

Fire Joe

Here comes Doc , because they don’t know what else to do ,  they fired the best coach and let all his associates leave.

Thanks owners ….you own the trouble