Orlando Magic (23-19) at Boston Celtics (28-12) Game #41 1/17/25

[tenn_smoothie]

It occurs to me that this team is not so much physically tired, but mentally exhausted.

Mental focus in sports takes a lot of energy. Our players have had several long seasons with late playoff runs, never mind the summer Olympic and Team USA basketball tournaments some of the starters have participated in. Add in the fact that smart basketball decision making does not come easy for a few of our current players, especially the two All-Stars, J & J, along with the fact that I never got the sense that these guys have a natural hunger for competition.

Compare Tatum and Brown and some of the others with Celtic greats like Garnett, Bird, Cowens, Russell, Havlicek, McHale, Max, DJ, even Pierce. Those guys lived for playing basketball and competing and winning and kicking somebody's ass in the process. Larry Bird has always talked about how much he looked forward to getting to the Garden or even an away arena for game nights. Jayson and Jaylen seem to be out of gas mentally to me.

[jpotter33]

I know Orlando is banged up without Suggs and others, but this is still an elite defensive team that is second ranked in the league.

Yet we're hanging 60+% on them from both 3 and overall fg% - but that's only because we're (for the most part) taking smart/good threes and less threes overall, including bad ones. We're also taking very efficient shots at the rim.

Not only does this show that we can still be an elite offense without shooting a high volume of threes given our elite iso players and finishers, but it also highlights that to increase your volume you almost necessarily have to increase your volume of *bad* quality threes, too. When taking a big volume of threes, it's just unavoidable that a good portion of them will be of poor quality, and I just don't know how often that gamble makes sense, especially when we're in a slump.

[liam]

Don't like that at the end. KP and White were open for a corner 3 if Tatum hits them quickly. Instead he airballs a stepback 3

Tatum and Brown both can play some with blinders on. They need to pass the ball more. I actually like it when both of them play off the ball. You don't see too many double teams when a guy does have the ball and he's on the move.

[jpotter33]

So we come out with three straight threes after that first half. Interesting. Two of them were good shots, at least, not the Jrue one.

[tenn_smoothie]

Brown getting bounced around hustling for rebounds but no fouls called.

[Goldstar88]

JB, will you just grab the [dang] rebound instead of tipping it!

[Phantom255x]

That's actually impressive lol. KP goes for a poster and they actually defended that well, granted it was a foul

[jpotter33]

And that's EXACTLY why the offense needs to be more varied.

After a season low half for three point attempts, our first four attempts in the second half were from three, but at least three of those were excellent, open looks because the defense has adjusted to us taking it to the hole.

Hopefully this is Joe recognizing the need for more variability in Mazzulla Ball.

[Phantom255x]

Dang my heart almost stopped there

[Goldstar88]

KP about to give everyone a heart attack

[Silas]

Watching early season Celtics and lovin it....

[Phantom255x]

Man this team is playing like last year's. Just beautiful all around again.

[tenn_smoothie]

Tatum taking a few midrange shots is so good to see.

[Phantom255x]

Idk if they made a trip to the Fountain of Youth, but most of the guys especially Jrue look way more active on defense and are all hustling.

[jpotter33]

JT FINALLY faked the three and took two dribbles in for the better midrange jumper. Is this Heaven?