Thunder (53-12) at Celtics (47-18) Game #66 3/12/25

[liam]

Doesn't look like either of these teams can really stop the other.  OKC has a just-let-them-shoot strategy that has allowed us to hit 41% of our threes.  On the other hand, we can't keep them out of the paint and we're so unaccustomed to boxing out that we don't appear to even understand the rules. 

You CANNOT box out face-to-face.  I don't care if guys are flopping, they'll call it every time because boxing out face-to-face is against the rules.  Tatum got T'ed up for whining about a legitimate foul.

You don't care if guys are getting away with flopping? That's soccer!!!

Context.  I'm talking about boxing out specifically.  JB fouled SGA despite the acting job because he was boxing out face-to-face.  You can't do that. 

I already acknowledged that OKC flops a lot.

It only looked like a box out because of the flop. Tatum is allowed to stand in front of SGA or is he?

[liam]

This would be a really frustrating series to watch. I knew this team flopped a ton, but the amount of flopping they've done tonight is just sickening.

Particularly SGA. That's unbecoming conduct from a potential MVP, particularly for a practice that the league has "supposedly" tried to crack down on.

He makes butler look legit.

Eh, Butler is a foul-baiter, but I don't consider him a "flopper" like this. He would regularly get guys in the air, but he would draw legitimate fouls on them.

This team - particularly SGA - is about half legitimate fouls and half embellished contact, flailing, and flops. That loose ball "foul" by JB on SGA was an egregious flop.

SGA is the new LeBron.

[jpotter33]

OKC seems really fast to every ball and it seems every player on their team is. I do wonder if they will have another level come playoff time but they are great no doubt. Historically good regular season and they are without Jalen Williams and Caruso.

This is my read on them, as well. Very akin to the old IT Celtics teams. We were a great regular season team, but that was mostly because we played hard and intense every single game.

I see this OKC team doing the exact same thing. They play very, very hard every single night, but I'm not sure that they can really take it up a level from where they are. And we'll see if this unsustainable shooting from them - ahem, Dort - continues through the pressured playoffs, too.

Idk, we keep saying this stuff and yet CLE/OKC play us hard and both teams are still on pace for like 68-70 wins. I hope I'm wrong but it does feel like an OKC-CLE Finals this year

Those mid-2010s Hawks never won 66+ either

Your fascination with Cleveland still baffles me. Despite being healthy for only one of those games, we were up 20 on them in every single game, and the only ones they won were close games when we were down two starters.

*IF* healthy, I don't think Cleveland is a matchup for us, and I'd honestly be surprised if it gets to 6 games. We just matchup too well. OKC is another issue. They matchup better with us, though I still think they're downgrading some once the playoffs come and the competition/intensity increases.

What I will say is that our margin for error is definitely smaller this year, and we'll need good health throughout the playoffs to make it all the way.

[Atzar]

Maybe @Who or someone smarter than me here can attest to this, but something I've noticed is, it seems certain teams like OKC and MEM have played us this season where they purposely leave guys open, or dare us to take 3s because they feel they can't defend the Jays and our guards that well inside. Particularly, Horford and Jrue. It seems a safe bet if you leave one or both open and just let them shoot, there's a chance they won't make many and they are also on the older side.

MEM did this with success earlier in the year in a game they beat us and Jrue was like 4-17 from 3. OKC did a little of that in the first matchup, and they seem to be trying it again today although Horford has actually torched them. White has also gone nuclear. Jrue is 1-5 so far. You know they'll keep leaving Jrue open, you just have to pray he can make some in the 2nd half

I don't know if I'm smarter than anybody, but it's worth noting that Cleveland tried the exact opposite.  Their strategy was to let the Jays get what they get and try to take everybody else away. 

I kinda think teams just try things sometimes.  It's a regular season game, so throw some stuff at the wall and see if anything sticks.  Leave Jrue open, see what happens.  Leave Horford open, see what happens.  Overplay the Jays.  Play the Jays straight up. Worst case you lose a game.  Last year GS tried ignoring JB on the perimeter.  He cut them in half and we won by 200.  But best case?  You may have yourself a blueprint.

[Phantom255x]

OKC seems really fast to every ball and it seems every player on their team is. I do wonder if they will have another level come playoff time but they are great no doubt. Historically good regular season and they are without Jalen Williams and Caruso.

This is my read on them, as well. Very akin to the old IT Celtics teams. We were a great regular season team, but that was mostly because we played hard and intense every single game.

I see this OKC team doing the exact same thing. They play very, very hard every single night, but I'm not sure that they can really take it up a level from where they are. And we'll see if this unsustainable shooting from them - ahem, Dort - continues through the pressured playoffs, too.

Idk, we keep saying this stuff and yet CLE/OKC play us hard and both teams are still on pace for like 68-70 wins. I hope I'm wrong but it does feel like an OKC-CLE Finals this year

Those mid-2010s Hawks never won 66+ either

Your fascination with Cleveland still baffles me. Despite being healthy for only one of those games, we were up 20 on them in every single game, and the only ones they won were close games when we were down two starters.

*IF* healthy, I don't think Cleveland is a matchup for us, and I'd honestly be surprised if it gets to 6 games. We just matchup too well. OKC is another issue. They matchup better with us, though I still think they're downgrading some once the playoffs come and the competition/intensity increases.

What I will say is that our margin for error is definitely smaller this year, and we'll need good health throughout the playoffs to make it all the way.

Yeah, I definitely think this year we're gonna actually need Porzingis in the playoffs. We got by without him for 70% of the run in 2024, but it'll be much harder this year with a tougher field.

[jpotter33]

Really need JB to step up his scoring, and Jrue has to hit his open shots, especially with no KP.

I do think KP is needed and really helpful in this matchup given this intense pressure defense.

[Silas]

Interesting talking heads not mentioning that the Cs are playing without their starting center.

[Who]

Feels like OKC has about 8 of the same players. Same build, same skill. Cookie cutters

Yeah

Cason Wallace + Alex Caruso copies of one another

I Joe and A Wiggins = copies of one another

K Williams and Jaylin Williams = similar to each other

[celticinorlando]

Dort is terrible on offense for so many games until he plays Boston

[Phantom255x]

Interesting talking heads not mentioning that the Cs are playing without their starting center.

Same story last playoffs lol. We didn't have him for 70% of the run. Didn't matter, apparently Luka being "hurt" mattered more even though he played and also played in the Olympics (lol)

[jpotter33]

This Dort stuff is infuriating. No way this sustains through the playoffs.

And for the love of God can we box out?!

[liam]

CALL IT BOTH WAYS REFS!!!

[Phantom255x]

Good to see Holiday get a score, hope that gets him going

[celticinorlando]

Cs have no chance tonight without KP. Sorely miss everything he does

[Who]

I love Holmgren. What an awesome talent.