Do you still believe?

[nyceltsfan]

8-Unit Play Take Boston -8 over Miami (8:30 p.m. EST, Thursday May 25)

Boston has tons of talent and a lot of playoff experience, and we don't think they are out of this series yet. We don't even think they are panicked. They sure didn't look like it in Game 4. They put their heads down and confidently got the job done. That was a 17-point road win with their season on the line. All they need to do is take this one game at a time and a win here would put them right back in this series. And the oddsmakers seem to agree with this line. But we aren't worried about the points here. Boston has covered in every game they have won this postseason, and in 12 straight stretching back to the regular season. Even though we took Miami in the first three games of this series, we love to back the Celtics this season because of their resilience and their competitive fire. They don't want to just win, they want to dominate. We think they captured the momentum in this series and we expect another big win as they have seemed to figure things out a bit and made the necessary adjustments.

This is an interesting perspective.  Everything they are saying is absolutely true.  When the Celtics win, they tend to win easily.  Your handicapper has the stats on this.  But as Celtics fans, we are gun-shy having seen the inconsistency the entire season.  I don't bet and even if I did, I wouldn't bet on my home teams, for just this reason.  Those painful losses all season leave scar tissue on us as fans but to the professional handicappers, it is just another number.

The line that is out there tells you that most bettors believe the Celtics are going to win this with some room to spare.  That is the rational, logical conclusion to arrive at based on the facts.  Some bettor in the mid-west did not suffer though the gut-wrenching losses where the Celtics just didn't show up.  They know about this series, but are assuming that the Celtics have snapped out of it.

I am with you though.  I understand that the Celtics should be favored in this game, but I am on pins and needles realizing just how inconsistent this team can be.

yes normally avoid betting your favorite team. or bet against as a  hedge if we lose. only game i bet on boston to win was game 3 in philly. i knew we were winning that.

problem here is we watch this team and know it way better than any handicapper. also, while we tend to win big when we do win we have lost many where we were favored. we are bad at home. yeah this series has gotten crazy as far as getting a feel. i was gonna stick with miami until they close out. but now i am having doubts at least for this game. i might bet against us game 6. IF WE MAKE it. LOL

Perhaps I am too much of a pessimist or skeptic, but the narrative has completely over shifted in our favor IMO, just where Miami likes it.  Expect a huge game from Butler, Lowry and Bam tonight.

I have a feeling that if the Cs win, it will have to be their first close, nail-biting win of the postseason.  They are horrendous in those situations and tighten up down the stretch of those games.

[JSD]

I've been discussing extensively what it takes for a team to stage a comeback and win a series after being behind 3-0.

In my view, all the necessary elements are present. We possess greater talent compared to the Heat, we hold the advantage of playing a Game 7 at home, and we have far more playoff experience.

If you doubt the Celtics' ability to overcome a 3-0 deficit and make a comeback, given these variables, then you simply don't believe it's achievable ever. However, you're mistaken because it is indeed possible. I think there’s a very good chance we’re going to see it play out.

Far more playoff experience?

Yes.

Heat:

Lowry - 132
Jimmy Butler - 113
Kevin Love - 96
Bam - 63
Duncan - 58
Gabe - 58
Max - 37
Caleb - 33

Total playoff games played by the Heat: 550

Celtics:

Horford - 172
Smart - 119
Brown - 109
Tatum - 91
TL - 72
Grant - 63
White - 53
Brogdon - 49

Total playoff games played by the Celtics: 728

How about championships?  Or games played in the Finals?

Also, none of those numbers are correct.  Brogdon has played in just 41 playoff games (including this year) as an example.

You are acting like the Heat are the Kings who never made the playoffs before this year.

Those numbers are all slight exaggerations, weirdly, but the point still stands that we have more playoff experience. Particularly when guys like Love play 11MPG, and Lowry 25MPG.

Regarding the numbers, my guess is that JSD got them from BBR.  With Brogdon:  he's played in 41 career playoff games.  However, he's been on the roster for 49 playoff games that his team has played.

https://www.basketball-reference.com/players/b/brogdma01/gamelog-playoffs/

Correct.

This mistake actually hurt my point, the true numbers are even more dramatic for the Celtics.

[Big333223]

I don't know if I believe... but they got me dreaming.

[Phantom255x]

Truth be told I expect them to lose Game 6.

BUT if they win Game 6, they win the series. Whoever wins Saturday will win the series. If Miami wins they obviously advance, but if Boston wins they’ll win Game 7 at home.

Make no mistake though, Miami has all the pressure on them now. I’m sure they realize they have to win Saturday or they are screwed. I wonder if the pressure makes them tight on Saturday too. Our defense looks locked in again

[CelticSooner]

I wouldn’t be surprised if they win this series because the talent difference has really showed up these last two games. I don’t think you can spot any team a 3-0 advantage and survive. Things are finally interesting now though.

[Donoghus]

Now it’s getting real interesting

[kraidstar]

Bill believes

[CelticsWhat35]

Truth be told I expect them to lose Game 6.

BUT if they win Game 6, they win the series. Whoever wins Saturday will win the series. If Miami wins they obviously advance, but if Boston wins they’ll win Game 7 at home.

Make no mistake though, Miami has all the pressure on them now. I’m sure they realize they have to win Saturday or they are screwed. I wonder if the pressure makes them tight on Saturday too. Our defense looks locked in again

I don’t agree with this thought process.  I think the Heat win game 6 too, but if it goes to game 7, I don’t think it’s a forgone conclusion the Celts win.  Yes there would be a ton of pressure on the Heat to not be on the wrong side of history.  But there would also be a large amount of pressure on the Celtics because they would be on the cusp of etching themselves into the record books.

It all comes down to how they play.  If they bring the defensive intensity and take care of the ball, they could win 10 in a row against the Heat, nevermind 4.  They’ve just never proven to do that consistently

[celticinorlando]

Celtics need to move the basketball and play defense like they did tonight. Do that and they have a chance.

Jimmy butler will carry Miami in game 6. He’s going to make it a personal mission

[celticsclay]

I've been discussing extensively what it takes for a team to stage a comeback and win a series after being behind 3-0.

In my view, all the necessary elements are present. We possess greater talent compared to the Heat, we hold the advantage of playing a Game 7 at home, and we have far more playoff experience.

If you doubt the Celtics' ability to overcome a 3-0 deficit and make a comeback, given these variables, then you simply don't believe it's achievable ever. However, you're mistaken because it is indeed possible. I think there’s a very good chance we’re going to see it play out.

Far more playoff experience?

Yes.

Heat:

Lowry - 132
Jimmy Butler - 113
Kevin Love - 96
Bam - 63
Duncan - 58
Gabe - 58
Max - 37
Caleb - 33

Total playoff games played by the Heat: 550

Celtics:

Horford - 172
Smart - 119
Brown - 109
Tatum - 91
TL - 72
Grant - 63
White - 53
Brogdon - 49

Total playoff games played by the Celtics: 728

How about championships?  Or games played in the Finals?

Also, none of those numbers are correct.  Brogdon has played in just 41 playoff games (including this year) as an example.

You are acting like the Heat are the Kings who never made the playoffs before this year.

Those numbers are all slight exaggerations, weirdly, but the point still stands that we have more playoff experience. Particularly when guys like Love play 11MPG, and Lowry 25MPG.

I agree we have more playoff experience but I think the poster was pointing out the biggest gap is spoelstra and Joe, which we can’t just not count as experience.

[celticsclay]

I’m happy guys

[Celtics2021]

I’m happy guys

That’s a good thing

[Who]

Series is back on.

I gave up on the team after 0-3 down and did not believe after the Gm 4 win. But Gm5, now 2-3 ... this series is up for grabs. It is there to be taken.

[ozgod]

[dang] right I still believe! I will keep believing until we are eliminated after game 4 

Still believing...we're not eliminated yet 

Two games, our backs to the wall, anything can happen.

[SparzWizard]

If the C's do somehow win this series, they ought to be called the "We Believe Celtics" season, similar to the Warriors back in the 07s haha