Celtics 2024 Playoff Run Thread

[Kernewek]

So now that we're officially back in the Finals, how are we feeling about our playoff run so far?

[cman88]

So now that we're officially back in the Finals, how are we feeling about our playoff run so far?

12-2 the majority without our 3rd scorer. 6-0 on the road. and proving we can win in "clutch time" situations. have to feel pretty good about it. the team just feels different to me than years past. tired of hearing about the "cakewalk" path. yet no one cared when milwaukee, denver, or lebron and the cavs all those years waltzed to the finals.

sure the path was harder in 2022. but I still feel that team just traded blowouts most of the time. and the offense was pretty abysmal that year with it finally catching up to us against golden state.

[Neurotic Guy]

So now that we're officially back in the Finals, how are we feeling about our playoff run so far?

I think v. good not great teams the Celtics can withstand lackluster play - poor 3-point shooting, poor defensive intensity - and still pull out wins. Against better competition, which Dallas appears to be, I doubt the Cs go 3-0 in tight games. Based on what I’ve seen in the Timberwolve series, Dallas has done well to limit easy shots in the lane - and Minny hasn’t made them pay from distance.  I expect the Cs to have more trouble driving the lane v. Dallas than they’ve had the last 4 games, but I think they’ll get good looks outside - and will need to make them.  Hitting threes at high % should soften things. 

Dallas’ run has been really solid and Luka and Kyrie look very good… and clutch.  Cs will have a tough time.  And so will Dallas.

[Donoghus]

So now that we're officially back in the Finals, how are we feeling about our playoff run so far?

I fully expected them to be in the Finals (and been saying they’re winning the title since fall) but there was no way I anticipated them being 12-2 and undefeated on the road while getting there.  This is more dominant than I expected.

The clutch time play has been unreal.

[Vermont Green]

Dallas still has to win one more but looks like we got DAL in the finals. We get Porzingis back, they get Kleber back.  It is going to be a tough series. Don’t be fooled.  BOS will have to take it up a notch to win. 

[celticinorlando]

So now that we're officially back in the Finals, how are we feeling about our playoff run so far?

Right where they should be. I picked them to win it all so we are on schedule.

I also am not buying the recent hype around the Mavs.

I am very encouraged that the late game disaster from playoff series past have been made a strength for this team. No way they win those games last playoffs.

Also I am a tad tired of the narative that the Celtics have not had a tough road injury wise. They lost their 3rd leading scorer and rebounder that protects the rim and changes so much on offense for the Celtics for most of the playoffs.

[jpotter33]

It’ll be interesting to see Dallas’ D against an all out offense like the C’s with KP back. With KP back and Dallas not being particularly big, I think our rotation will be our normal 8 of White, Jrue, Brown, Tatum, KP, Al, PP, and Hauser, which means every single person is a legit three point threat.

Dallas can get away clogging the paint with Rudy in there, as well as a few other average shooters from deep. There’s no doing that against Boston, which when coupled with some poor perimeter defenders in Luka and Kyrie who can get exploited should lead to easy offense for us.

Defensively, we’re going to have to figure out the PnR that has killed us all playoffs.

[celticinorlando]

We need Hauser to find his shot.

[Donoghus]

We need Hauser to find his shot.

He's got a week & a half now to work on it.

He's getting decent looks. It's just not falling. 

[0003323344]

We need Hauser to find his shot.

I think he will. All those shots that aren't falling now will in the Finals.

[celticinorlando]

Let's say the big 4 of JB, JT, Kyrie and Luka wash each other out in the playoffs...which do you like better?

Al
KP
PP
Hauser
Holiday
White

or

Washington
Gafford
Green
Kleber
Jones Jr.
Lively

I don't even think its close. Boston's other guys are better all aroundnand often in the finals that is who sways the championship.

[ozgod]

Let's say the big 4 of JB, JT, Kyrie and Luka wash each other out in the playoffs...which do you like better?

Al
KP
PP
Hauser
Holiday
White

or

Washington
Gafford
Green
Kleber
Jones Jr.
Lively

I don't even think its close. Boston's other guys are better all aroundnand often in the finals that is who sways the championship.

To me it depends on how close the games are. In a close game you can never rule Cryrie and Luka out, they won't make the mistakes Nembhard or Siakam or McConnell did. To your point it's going to be the supporting cast that should help us get some separation so we're not relying on Luka or Cryrie missing a game winner.

But I have a feeling every game will be close

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

We need Hauser to find his shot.

He's got a week & a half now to work on it.

He's getting decent looks. It's just not falling.

is it ok if i have a request as well?

Can JB learn to shoot a free throw in this time period or is that a lost cause?

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

Let's say the big 4 of JB, JT, Kyrie and Luka wash each other out in the playoffs...which do you like better?

Al
KP
PP
Hauser
Holiday
White

or

Washington
Gafford
Green
Kleber
Jones Jr.
Lively

I don't even think its close. Boston's other guys are better all aroundnand often in the finals that is who sways the championship.

To me it depends on how close the games are. In a close game you can never rule Cryrie and Luka out, they won't make the mistakes Nembhard or Siakam or McConnell did. To your point it's going to be the supporting cast that should help us get some separation so we're not relying on Luka or Cryrie missing a game winner.

But I have a feeling every game will be close

i will expect some nail biters. if it is close we are playing with fire. cryrie and luka can drop daggers in us at any time. gonna need a 6,7,8,9 point lead at the end just in case. at least to where 2 threes only ties it and hopefully we can respond.

[Briantir]

Who do you guys think the best player in the series is, I've watched over a decade of playoff basketball usually the team with the best player always has a slight advantage.