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

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

We just have to hope our talent come overcome our stupidity to get this title.

as we said

if we win

we win IN SPITE of JOE SCHMOE

[j804]

Don't let us up off the mat Indiana

oh heck here we go

yup. INDY could not finish us and they paid a heavy price on jaylens circus shot

Love it need some Ultimate Warrior in here as well that was a hell of a finish

TP brotha 

[celticinorlando]

I feel like a close game in game 1 will really change the way they approach game 2.

This to me will focus them for Thursday.

Get to Indy up 2-0 and split there. Come home for game 5.

[tonydelk]

A win is a win.  I think this is the best indy can play.  Its not even close to the best the Cs can play.  Win game 2.  Blow them out and demoralize them.

[celticinorlando]

Something has to be done about the bench. Hauser and Kornet are getting abused on defense and Hauser refuses to shoot.

I’d play Tillman and Brissett. Let Brissett hustle, defend and rebound. Hauser is giving us zero in the playoffs.

He’s unplayable

Celtics need to prepare for game 2 as if this was a loss because they sure can play better

[Kuberski33]

The Jay's said the right things post game. They weren't exactly celebrating. That and the way they came back is convincing me that they may be ready to take the next step.

[celticinorlando]

Maybe this propels the Celtics like the Tatum basket vs the nets two years ago

[SCeltic34]

TD Garden came alive in the late 4th and OT, but that was a pretty lackluster crowd by Boston standards.  I expect better in Game 2.  And much better if we do make it to the Finals.

[tenn_smoothie]

Did you hear Carlisle's response to a question about the foul shooting discrepancy ?

"My daughter has already had to take one semester off this year, I can't have her miss an entire year"

One of the funniest, wittiest comments by a coach about officiating of all time.

[keevsnick]

What a game. Brown with the forced turnover on the inbound then the game tying three. Tatum wit the huge OT. Lucky? Sure. But also clutch all around.

That felt like a game the Pacers had to have.

Was in the building tonight, thought the crowd was GREAT. A lot more energy than in the previous two series.

[tenn_smoothie]

TD Garden came alive in the late 4th and OT, but that was a pretty lackluster crowd by Boston standards.  I expect better in Game 2.  And much better if we do make it to the Finals.

Any possible reasons for that ?
Maybe this team has finally just beaten down everyone's spirit at this point.
Fans were loud and energized by the start, but watching another meltdown sucked the air out of everyone.

[tenn_smoothie]

Pritchard played well I thought.
Hauser is struggling I get it, but when you start being inconsistent with his minutes, he is not able to get in a rhythm.
We have seen that in the past with him. We need his scoring.

[keevsnick]

TD Garden came alive in the late 4th and OT, but that was a pretty lackluster crowd by Boston standards.  I expect better in Game 2.  And much better if we do make it to the Finals.

Any possible reasons for that ?
Maybe this team has finally just beaten down everyone's spirit at this point.
Fans were loud and energized by the start, but watching another meltdown sucked the air out of everyone.

I thought the crowd was great tbh, with the exception of the end of the third quarter when they were melting down, but that's more on the Celtics than the fans.

[j804]

Jrue was amazing. We need to go to him more. He could have probably had 40. He had the most quiet 28 I’ve ever soon. None of their guards can defend him. I’d rather that than a fadeaway jumpshot from Tatum any day of the week given our opponent

[jpotter33]

https://x.com/_jasonlt/status/1793085587827871948?s=46&t=lGU0TGXtwjkuVuoin6WTNw

Interesting stat: Per Synergy, Boston has been the very worst pick and roll defense in the playoffs so far out of all 16 teams by a wide margin, allowing 1.09 points per possession including passes.

Their bigs just don't do well in space.

The strategy has to change. No more extreme drop coverage, and we simply have to play X and/or smaller more. No exceptions.