Pacers (0-0) at Celtics (0-0) Eastern Conference Finals Game 1 5/21/24

[SparzWizard]

And as expected the narrative today is the Pacers Lost the game and the C's didn't win it.  The Pacers can hang with this team and win the series.  The C's escaped.  The C's are lucky to have won. 

I just hope the team sees these headlines and come out and put Indy in their place with a blowout win Thursday.  They need to make a statement and come out swinging and keep swinging until the game is over.  The Pacers are a good team but the C's are a much better team.  They need to dominate to shut the naysayers up.

Celtics haven't shown they can respond back to these headlines comfortably. Game 2 is still gonna be a dogfight. It's the "adjustment" game for the opposing team and the home team should be expected to lose. Nonetheless, Boston needs to bury them. Last game was abysmal.

Blow them out and the media will say "they're the #6 seed who got past banged up Bucks and Knicks team. Nothing special".
Barely beating them or lose to Pacers media will say "Celtics are frauds. Can't even put teams away by 30! They even lost to these scrubs!!"

[celticinorlando]

They are using Boston for clicks. Doesn't matter what anyone says as long as they keep winning. By 1 or by 30. All counts the same.

[ozgod]

Just watched this on replay…man they picked on PP a lot, switched on to him at every opportunity, then someone always had to help and Indy found the open guy…no wonder he was a -15. We did the same with McConnell. Joe has to figure out how to counter that as we kind of need PP’s energy off the bench.

[GreenEnvy]

And as expected the narrative today is the Pacers Lost the game and the C's didn't win it.  The Pacers can hang with this team and win the series.  The C's escaped.  The C's are lucky to have won. 

I just hope the team sees these headlines and come out and put Indy in their place with a blowout win Thursday.  They need to make a statement and come out swinging and keep swinging until the game is over.  The Pacers are a good team but the C's are a much better team.  They need to dominate to shut the naysayers up.

Celtics haven't shown they can respond back to these headlines comfortably. Game 2 is still gonna be a dogfight. It's the "adjustment" game for the opposing team and the home team should be expected to lose. Nonetheless, Boston needs to bury them. Last game was abysmal.

Blow them out and the media will say "they're the #6 seed who got past banged up Bucks and Knicks team. Nothing special".
Barely beating them or lose to Pacers media will say "Celtics are frauds. Can't even put teams away by 30! They even lost to these scrubs!!"

They responded when they lost Game 2 to Miami.

They responded when they lost Game 2 to Cleveland.

And they responded when they “barely” won Game 4 against a depleted Cleveland team.

When haven’t they responded to the headlines?

Dallas lost two game against a Kawhi-less Clippers.

Minnesota lost by 27 at home and 3 in a row.

Indiana barely advanced against not one but two depleted teams.

Three of the teams are being praised for making it to the Conference finals. The other, with the best record, best point-differential, and HCA… are underachieving and disappointing.

[ozgod]

I really hope we see the Cs treat this game like a loss and come out like they usually do in game 3s.

They got punched in the face, they know that the Pacers can beat them. Sometimes beating a team by 25 in game 1 is not a good thing...esp with this team.

Maybe a close game one like this will focus them for game 2. I just don't see the Pacers keeping these shooting numbers up. Water finds its level usually.

And some of the 3s Indiana hit yesterday were just circus shots. 2 by Haliburton and one by Turner.

And keep taking their small guards into the post.

brown was pretty upset after the game. hopefully that leads them to taking game #2 more seriously than previous rounds.

if a team is have trouble taking Eastern Conference final games seriously then Houston (no pun intended) we have a problem.

When we say “taking the game seriously”, what does that mean for us though? 30 point win? Because we won games against Cleveland by 10-odd points and nobody was happy.

Wire to wire win where the other team never leads? We led most of this game except in the 3rd where they led once and again in the 4th where they led until Jaylens three that tied the game.

Or maybe it’s a win where we in the game threads are comfortable and don’t have to hit panic stations…a game where we lead early and never give up a run so Indy never close the gap, it just gets bigger and bigger. I think that will really only happen if we shoot really well from 3 and they shoot really bad.

I’m asking because I’m having trouble defining what exactly my realistic expectation should be…I would love for one of those 3 scenarios I outlined but I’m not confident the Cs will realistically deliver any of those scenarios for me every game…maybe one but not every game so I guess I will have to be happy with wins, even by 1 point 

[Phantom255x]

Game 2 is in 32 hours. I'm not gonna be ready

whoa! whoa! whoa! you will be fine just
remember the checklist:

1) ventilator? check

2) defibrillator? check

3) bottle of high strength anxiety pills? check

4) alcohol? check....now i know you do not drink but my buddy bringtoughnessback likes his wine and at this rate he will need a CRATE of it!

No joke I don't see how someone can follow this team and not be an alcoholic or a pillhead.

The media/other fanbases wonder why C's fans are so rowdy and vulgar, but it's obvious: we've been driven into heavy intoxication/self-medication by the team's schizophrenic inconsistency

I get intoxicated on iced coffee and teas. My insides are filled with coffee/tea, not blood 

[celticinorlando]

I’ve gone ahead and revoked Kendrick Perkins Celtics card. He’s nothing but a huge clown that only takes shots at Boston

[blink]

I’ve gone ahead and revoked Kendrick Perkins Celtics card. He’s nothing but a huge clown that only takes shots at Boston

but but but...the 2008 team never had to come back in any game, they won every game, and did everything perfect lol.

I can't wait to hear Perk's comments if we win the title....will it be hard to compliment Tatum and Brown at that point?  I guess so.

[celticinorlando]

I’ve gone ahead and revoked Kendrick Perkins Celtics card. He’s nothing but a huge clown that only takes shots at Boston

but but but...the 2008 team never had to come back in any game, they won every game, and did everything perfect lol.

I can't wait to hear Perk's comments if we win the title....will it be hard to compliment Tatum and Brown at that point?  I guess so.

I’m convinced he hates the Celtics. I wonder what his excuse is for going 7! Vs Atlanta and 7! Vs Cleveland

[Neurotic Guy]

I’ve gone ahead and revoked Kendrick Perkins Celtics card. He’s nothing but a huge clown that only takes shots at Boston

but but but...the 2008 team never had to come back in any game, they won every game, and did everything perfect lol.

I can't wait to hear Perk's comments if we win the title....will it be hard to compliment Tatum and Brown at that point?  I guess so.

I’m convinced he hates the Celtics. I wonder what his excuse is for going 7! Vs Atlanta and 7! Vs Cleveland

I must be missing these anti-Celtics Perk rants.  He hasn't been bad when I've seen him.

[blink]

I’ve gone ahead and revoked Kendrick Perkins Celtics card. He’s nothing but a huge clown that only takes shots at Boston

but but but...the 2008 team never had to come back in any game, they won every game, and did everything perfect lol.

I can't wait to hear Perk's comments if we win the title....will it be hard to compliment Tatum and Brown at that point?  I guess so.

I’m convinced he hates the Celtics. I wonder what his excuse is for going 7! Vs Atlanta and 7! Vs Cleveland

I must be missing these anti-Celtics Perk rants.  He hasn't been bad when I've seen him.

It isn't every time he is on TV, but he is kind of paid to be a contrarian, and I guess that means dog on the C's.

[Neurotic Guy]

Just watched this on replay…man they picked on PP a lot, switched on to him at every opportunity, then someone always had to help and Indy found the open guy…no wonder he was a -15. We did the same with McConnell. Joe has to figure out how to counter that as we kind of need PP’s energy off the bench.

Thanks for that analysis. It will be disappointing if PP can’t be effective - or, becomes a liability on defense throughout the series.  He is a hard worker and has brought great energy all year. He plays an important role.  And I’d love to see him best TJ overall.  Hope they can solve for this, if nothing else hope he gets some good looks to counter what they’re doing on him defensively.

Also really hope Sam can have a game. I don’t see any reason why he’ll suddenly be unable to get looks v. Indy. Hope to see a three-spree by Sam before the series ends.

[celticinorlando]

I’ve gone ahead and revoked Kendrick Perkins Celtics card. He’s nothing but a huge clown that only takes shots at Boston

but but but...the 2008 team never had to come back in any game, they won every game, and did everything perfect lol.

I can't wait to hear Perk's comments if we win the title....will it be hard to compliment Tatum and Brown at that point?  I guess so.

I’m convinced he hates the Celtics. I wonder what his excuse is for going 7! Vs Atlanta and 7! Vs Cleveland

I must be missing these anti-Celtics Perk rants.  He hasn't been bad when I've seen him.

He said today that Tatum does nothing but choke.

[Who]

I don't agree with the idea that we stole that game last night. The Celtics were leading for what felt like 90% of the game.

Yeah, it was a funny game. It felt like we stole the game late on because Indy should have had the game wrapped up.

But ... Boston had 3 double digit leads and gave them away 3 times earlier in the game. They had one in the first quarter, the second quarter, and third quarter. Gave it away each time. Still maintained the lead throughout.

Then the fourth quarter was close and Indy just nudged ahead at the right moment. At that point you would have said they stole it / or that BOS gave it away. They threw away 3 double digit leads. Only for Indy to blow it right at the finish. And Boston to sneak into OT and come away with the win.

[celticinorlando]

TNT saying the Pacers controlled for entire game until the end is absolutely rubbish. Boston was up 13 twice. I think the pacers got up 5 at most.

If anything it’s Boston that gave the game to the pacers