Celtics (26-9) at Thunder (29-5) Game #36 1/5/25

[SCeltic34]

We're going away from what was working in the first half.  Why?

[jpotter33]

Look what we're doing when we're not just chucking threes. We're letting the defense dictate what kind of offense we need to excel. Only 21 attempts and 6 makes thus far. So we don't necessarily have to shoot a ton of threes every time to always win games. Sometimes more threes are needed, and other times they're not.

Also important to note - Tatum's willingness as the team's best player to let others get theirs when it's helping the team is so crucial to this team being as elite as it is. JB has it going, and it's largely because Tatum is drawing the Dort assignment and they're focusing on stopping them and the threes altogether. This allows JB to do what he does best, which is iso score and get himself to the bucket and easy shots. JB has 12 attempts to just 6 attempts for JT, with White having 9, KP 5, and Jrue 4 and his MVP competition in SGA having 12.

Love that team-first mentality from our best player. It may not ever win him a MVP, but he's much more likely to get multiple titles and even a repeat or possible threepeat than any other current star.

I have Tatum 3rd on my MVP list behind SGA & Jokic.

He is playing great this season. Not getting much credit for it though. I don't think he will be in the top 5 come end of season.

Eh, I think he'll still be top 4, especially with Luka no longer to likely be a candidate due to games missed. Who do you think will surpass him?

But I agree about not getting enough credit. It's just really tough for him being on this elite of a team with so much more balance compared to Jokic, SGA, Doncic, and even Giannis who have so much more usage and ability to put up those bigger offensive numbers. Tatum could force things to get more touches and points up, but he generally plays the right way, which leads to better basketball and more wins.

[jpotter33]

That's a dumb challenge. His leg is clearly hit while he's in the air.

[jpotter33]

Ugh, come on Tatum. Pretty questionable free throw shooting this year.

[SCeltic34]

Overhelped off the corner again.

[SCeltic34]

Man these two announcers are annoying AF.  They whine about the officiating more than the fans do.

[liam]

How is that not flagrant?

[SCeltic34]

Our offense is so bad this quarter.

[jpotter33]

Okay, why are we just back to chucking threes this half?

Two awful quick threes by Hauser when he's not been hitting. Come on, guys. Don't try to fix what's not broken!

[Silas]

3s aren't falling.

[SCeltic34]

WHY.  WHY ARE WE CHUCKING THESE STUPID 3'S.

So frustrating.  We were dominating from 2 in the first half.

[SCeltic34]

Go back and watch the tape Joe.  Go ahead and tell me this is good offense 

[blink]

need to get back to what we were doing in the 1st half.   attack the basket, let the 3s come from the attack.

[jpotter33]

Terrible, terrible, terrible response and rotation in the third. This double big lineup makes absolutely zero sense when we go back to chucking threes, and it's constantly leaving people open for shots.

And the more fundamental question is why are we going back to chucking threes again in the first place when what we were doing was working so well in the first half? 21 threes in the first and then 14 that quarter, only making 1. Idiotic offense.

[blink]

Joe needs a time out right now.