76ers (1-3) at Celtics (3-1) Round 1 Game 5 4/28/26

[letsgoblue86]

14-23 from the FT line at home is quite something

[Celtics2021]

I must ask - is there a possibility our expectations of this team were too high? They over-excelled in the regular season, but the playoffs was always going to be the true test of whether we were contenders or not. And we did trade away a lot of experience. Plus we have a guy who came back from an Achilles tear just a month or two ago.

Conversely, did we underestimate a full-strength Philly team?

The regular season was a ton of fun because our expectations were low and we were planning on a gap year and those were exceeded. Now on the basis of that we're expecting to win the East, possibly win the championship since we split our regular season matchup with OKC 1-1, and the Sixers, who had to get through a play-in (like Miami a few years ago) are giving us a hard time (though to be fair they've only given us a hard time in 2 games but that's 2 too many). We're calling for our coach to be fired, Brad to be punished for punting the season, Jaylen Brown to be traded for Giannis...is it possible we are overreacting due to unreasonably high expectation?

There?s an argument to be made that the Sixers are just better than we are. We had a better regular season, but Embiid only played 38 games and George was suspended for 25 games. Instead of being rusty, they are actually just well rested. Their depth is more proven than ours as well.

Nobody wants to admit it, but we lost a lot of talent in the offseason and we made it up with great coaching and low ceiling young players. Some who aren?t really playing. We should still win the series, but there are no guarantee moving forward. The Knicks aren?t exactly lacking in talent either.

Last night was bad, but it?s not that we are always choking. Tatum is still getting right from his Achilles injury and I don?t think anybody really should have thought that Brown was truly a 1st Team All-NBA caliber player. And now one of our most trusted reliable guys in Derrick White is suddenly awful

Sure, you can argue that.  But it is not true and the Celtics will win this series.

[Jiri Welsch]

I must ask - is there a possibility our expectations of this team were too high? They over-excelled in the regular season, but the playoffs was always going to be the true test of whether we were contenders or not. And we did trade away a lot of experience. Plus we have a guy who came back from an Achilles tear just a month or two ago.

Conversely, did we underestimate a full-strength Philly team?

The regular season was a ton of fun because our expectations were low and we were planning on a gap year and those were exceeded. Now on the basis of that we're expecting to win the East, possibly win the championship since we split our regular season matchup with OKC 1-1, and the Sixers, who had to get through a play-in (like Miami a few years ago) are giving us a hard time (though to be fair they've only given us a hard time in 2 games but that's 2 too many). We're calling for our coach to be fired, Brad to be punished for punting the season, Jaylen Brown to be traded for Giannis...is it possible we are overreacting due to unreasonably high expectation?

There?s an argument to be made that the Sixers are just better than we are. We had a better regular season, but Embiid only played 38 games and George was suspended for 25 games. Instead of being rusty, they are actually just well rested. Their depth is more proven than ours as well.

Nobody wants to admit it, but we lost a lot of talent in the offseason and we made it up with great coaching and low ceiling young players. Some who aren?t really playing. We should still win the series, but there are no guarantee moving forward. The Knicks aren?t exactly lacking in talent either.

Last night was bad, but it?s not that we are always choking. Tatum is still getting right from his Achilles injury and I don?t think anybody really should have thought that Brown was truly a 1st Team All-NBA caliber player. And now one of our most trusted reliable guys in Derrick White is suddenly awful

Sure, you can argue that.  But it is not true and the Celtics will win this series.

I know last night "felt different" for a lot of fans, because the team dramatically laid an egg in a closeout game. And it was in the same exact way that many thought they had learned and moved on from.

It's a little sobering and makes it feel like this isn't a championship team.

[Larry for 3]

Severely out coached last night. Mazzulla is so weak. Someone correct me if I?m wrong but why wasn?t Pritchard on the floor in the first 6 min of the 4th? 

[Celtics2021]

I must ask - is there a possibility our expectations of this team were too high? They over-excelled in the regular season, but the playoffs was always going to be the true test of whether we were contenders or not. And we did trade away a lot of experience. Plus we have a guy who came back from an Achilles tear just a month or two ago.

Conversely, did we underestimate a full-strength Philly team?

The regular season was a ton of fun because our expectations were low and we were planning on a gap year and those were exceeded. Now on the basis of that we're expecting to win the East, possibly win the championship since we split our regular season matchup with OKC 1-1, and the Sixers, who had to get through a play-in (like Miami a few years ago) are giving us a hard time (though to be fair they've only given us a hard time in 2 games but that's 2 too many). We're calling for our coach to be fired, Brad to be punished for punting the season, Jaylen Brown to be traded for Giannis...is it possible we are overreacting due to unreasonably high expectation?

There?s an argument to be made that the Sixers are just better than we are. We had a better regular season, but Embiid only played 38 games and George was suspended for 25 games. Instead of being rusty, they are actually just well rested. Their depth is more proven than ours as well.

Nobody wants to admit it, but we lost a lot of talent in the offseason and we made it up with great coaching and low ceiling young players. Some who aren?t really playing. We should still win the series, but there are no guarantee moving forward. The Knicks aren?t exactly lacking in talent either.

Last night was bad, but it?s not that we are always choking. Tatum is still getting right from his Achilles injury and I don?t think anybody really should have thought that Brown was truly a 1st Team All-NBA caliber player. And now one of our most trusted reliable guys in Derrick White is suddenly awful

Sure, you can argue that.  But it is not true and the Celtics will win this series.

I know last night "felt different" for a lot of fans, because the team dramatically laid an egg in a closeout game. And it was in the same exact way that many thought they had learned and moved on from.

It's a little sobering and makes it feel like this isn't a championship team.

Eh, maybe.  I think most people who think we can win a championship think this is still the best team in the East, and looking around at the four series going on, even last night?s disappointment did not change my mind.  If you get to the Finals you can win a championship, because anything can happen in a series.  I do not think we would be favored vs either the Thunder or the Spurs, and did not think that entering the post-season, but that does not mean a banner is out of reach.

[Donoghus]

I must ask - is there a possibility our expectations of this team were too high? They over-excelled in the regular season, but the playoffs was always going to be the true test of whether we were contenders or not. And we did trade away a lot of experience. Plus we have a guy who came back from an Achilles tear just a month or two ago.

Conversely, did we underestimate a full-strength Philly team?

The regular season was a ton of fun because our expectations were low and we were planning on a gap year and those were exceeded. Now on the basis of that we're expecting to win the East, possibly win the championship since we split our regular season matchup with OKC 1-1, and the Sixers, who had to get through a play-in (like Miami a few years ago) are giving us a hard time (though to be fair they've only given us a hard time in 2 games but that's 2 too many). We're calling for our coach to be fired, Brad to be punished for punting the season, Jaylen Brown to be traded for Giannis...is it possible we are overreacting due to unreasonably high expectation?

On this message board? Noooooo.

[Roy H.]

To me, the only discouraging thing about this series has been Queta's inability to stay on the floor.

I expected at least a six game series.  Philly has a ton of talent, and there will be nights when we don't make our shots.

But, Queta playing less than 20 mpg?  I didn't have that on my bingo card.

[Donoghus]

I must ask - is there a possibility our expectations of this team were too high? They over-excelled in the regular season, but the playoffs was always going to be the true test of whether we were contenders or not. And we did trade away a lot of experience. Plus we have a guy who came back from an Achilles tear just a month or two ago.

Conversely, did we underestimate a full-strength Philly team?

The regular season was a ton of fun because our expectations were low and we were planning on a gap year and those were exceeded. Now on the basis of that we're expecting to win the East, possibly win the championship since we split our regular season matchup with OKC 1-1, and the Sixers, who had to get through a play-in (like Miami a few years ago) are giving us a hard time (though to be fair they've only given us a hard time in 2 games but that's 2 too many). We're calling for our coach to be fired, Brad to be punished for punting the season, Jaylen Brown to be traded for Giannis...is it possible we are overreacting due to unreasonably high expectation?

There?s an argument to be made that the Sixers are just better than we are. We had a better regular season, but Embiid only played 38 games and George was suspended for 25 games. Instead of being rusty, they are actually just well rested. Their depth is more proven than ours as well.

Nobody wants to admit it, but we lost a lot of talent in the offseason and we made it up with great coaching and low ceiling young players. Some who aren?t really playing. We should still win the series, but there are no guarantee moving forward. The Knicks aren?t exactly lacking in talent either.

Last night was bad, but it?s not that we are always choking. Tatum is still getting right from his Achilles injury and I don?t think anybody really should have thought that Brown was truly a 1st Team All-NBA caliber player. And now one of our most trusted reliable guys in Derrick White is suddenly awful

Sure, you can argue that.  But it is not true and the Celtics will win this series.

I know last night "felt different" for a lot of fans, because the team dramatically laid an egg in a closeout game. And it was in the same exact way that many thought they had learned and moved on from.

It's a little sobering and makes it feel like this isn't a championship team.

Eh, maybe.  I think most people who think we can win a championship think this is still the best team in the East, and looking around at the four series going on, even last night?s disappointment did not change my mind.  If you get to the Finals you can win a championship, because anything can happen in a series.  I do not think we would be favored vs either the Thunder or the Spurs, and did not think that entering the post-season, but that does not mean a banner is out of reach.

This is where I'm at.  Last night was disappointing but certainly not end of world.  For whatever reason, this core tends to make things harder on themselves than they need to be.  I think that's much of a reflection on the players as it is the coaching.    Celtics are still going to win this series and most likely the next two series after that.  Then who knows come June.

[jambr380]

I must ask - is there a possibility our expectations of this team were too high? They over-excelled in the regular season, but the playoffs was always going to be the true test of whether we were contenders or not. And we did trade away a lot of experience. Plus we have a guy who came back from an Achilles tear just a month or two ago.

Conversely, did we underestimate a full-strength Philly team?

The regular season was a ton of fun because our expectations were low and we were planning on a gap year and those were exceeded. Now on the basis of that we're expecting to win the East, possibly win the championship since we split our regular season matchup with OKC 1-1, and the Sixers, who had to get through a play-in (like Miami a few years ago) are giving us a hard time (though to be fair they've only given us a hard time in 2 games but that's 2 too many). We're calling for our coach to be fired, Brad to be punished for punting the season, Jaylen Brown to be traded for Giannis...is it possible we are overreacting due to unreasonably high expectation?

There?s an argument to be made that the Sixers are just better than we are. We had a better regular season, but Embiid only played 38 games and George was suspended for 25 games. Instead of being rusty, they are actually just well rested. Their depth is more proven than ours as well.

Nobody wants to admit it, but we lost a lot of talent in the offseason and we made it up with great coaching and low ceiling young players. Some who aren?t really playing. We should still win the series, but there are no guarantee moving forward. The Knicks aren?t exactly lacking in talent either.

Last night was bad, but it?s not that we are always choking. Tatum is still getting right from his Achilles injury and I don?t think anybody really should have thought that Brown was truly a 1st Team All-NBA caliber player. And now one of our most trusted reliable guys in Derrick White is suddenly awful

Sure, you can argue that.  But it is not true and the Celtics will win this series.

As I also said in my response. But we?re also lucky that Embiid didn?t play until game 4 of the series.

As Roy said, Queta reverting to 2023-24 Queta has been disastrous for us. Vucevic has been Enes Kanter level bad on defense and Garza?s barely getting a chance. But it?s not like he?s going to stop Embiid either

[Phantom255x]

Forget Finals, to even make the ECF they'll realistically need White to actually show up and shoot better than he has. He doesn't need to become Steph Curry, even someone who can consistently score 12-14+ PPG and knock down 35-40% of 3s is good enough to go along with the little things, but he's not that done that at all this series and has mostly been horrific. Made some good rebounds/plays late in Game 3 to help but that's it.

_{(I'm not even thinking of losing this first round series, if they do that then that's colossally bad)}

[Larry for 3]

To me, the only discouraging thing about this series has been Queta's inability to stay on the floor.

I expected at least a six game series.  Philly has a ton of talent, and there will be nights when we don't make our shots.

But, Queta playing less than 20 mpg?  I didn't have that on my bingo card.

This is who he is. At least at the moment. He looks great against teams who are tanking or teams without competent bigs. But his flaws come out against anybody good or if coaches try to exploit it. He?s a terrible pick and roll defender and he?s foul prone. It won?t get any better against the Knicks. Worse probably.

[ScoobyDoo]

From Donoghous

"This is where I'm at.  Last night was disappointing but certainly not end of world.  For whatever reason, this core tends to make things harder on themselves than they need to be.  I think that's much of a reflection on the players as it is the coaching.    Celtics are still going to win this series and most likely the next two series after that.  Then who knows come June".

I do think this team is capable of winning a championship this year so I agree with you. The issue is mental for them, not a talent issue. Anyone who's ever played competitive basketball knows there is what your coach tells you do and what needs to get done. You have to have the mental discipline to not play hero ball and to take the right shots at the right time. It's also a mental toughness issue to pick up your effort not let is slack when you have a team down. Understanding how to step on a team when you have them is a mental skill - it's a mental toughness, discipline and aggression issue - something both Tatum and Brown sorely lack, which is why teams lead by them constantly lose pivotal games you 100% expect them to win.

[ScoobyDoo]

"2018 - Celtics defended home-court up until Game 7. They met LeBron, with the sense of urgency to comeback from double-digit and beat the Celtics at the Garden. This is on the Celtics.
2019 - Series against the Bucks. Bucks were just talented all-around, but the C's completely shafted after their Game 1 win in Milwaukee. Just flat out quit. I didn't expect them to win, but to not even show up, wow.
2020 - This one is also on the Celtics. Against a 5-seeded Miami Heat team, and they allowed the Heat to go up 2-0 before winning the series 4-2. This is on the Celtics.
2021 - Injured
2022 - Played with their food. How do you blow Game 5 at home against the Bucks? With a chance to take a 3-2 lead, instead, trail 3-2 and required Tatum to go off in Game 6 and a masterful night from Grant Williams in Game 7. Same thing with the Heat...Game 7. Then with a 2-1 series lead over the Warriors, they start with the sloppy plays and turnovers and basically choked away the series. This one is on the C's.
2023 - Humiliation. Playing with their food again. 6 games against the Hawks, 7 games against the 76ers. Down 0-3 against the 8-seeded Heat before losing Game 7 at the Garden. This one is on the C's.
2024 - The one outlier year. Ok you should win your games, but they also dumped on crappy injured teams and were fortunate enough to evade Denver and played Dallas instead. Take any championship we can.
2025 - How do you blow b2b home games after leading by 20 in each game? Idk, if you win Games 1-2, you'll ease up and stress less for Games 3 and 4 and maybe Tatum doesn't get injured. But KP and Jrue were also hurt so Idk what's going on. On the Celtics/injuries.

2026 - Here we are. Could've defended home-court but didn't. Now they find themselves up 3-2 with pressure on them instead of resting tonight getting ready for NY/ATL".

This is so spot on by CelticinOrlando.

These guys get a 2-0 lead or get a 10 point lead and they think the series of the game is over, their effort slacks and they end up getting it stuck to them. I can understand this happening over time but over and over and over again? How many times do you have to get hit in the head with a sledgehammer before you learn a lesson. They are chokers. They revert to hero ball to create horrible shot opportunities when things get tight.

Here is how it goes and this happened again in last night's game multiple times. We get a ten point lead so they start coming down the court slowly and jack up terrible, lazy three point shots, which they miss. So, instead of getting a good couple two point hoops to go up twelve or 14, they miss and the other team invariably comes back down court with a good two a few times and now it's a 6 point game again instead of a 14 point game. It's a total momentum killer.

If I were coaching this team, I would call a timeout every time they got up by 8-10 points and literally just light them up for the entire timeout, tell them they're front running chokers who couldn't win a game if their life depended on it - try to get them really p---ed off so they actually play with some intensity once they get a team down instead of jerking around every time and letting teams back into games and series. Nothing else has seemed to work for them. 

Lastly, if we're going to watch our team play with lackluster intensity every time they get a lead, I would at least play players who work their butts off and play with maximum effort at all times; Garza, Pritchard, and Gonzalez specifically. I don't know why Hugo can't get any minutes but he does very important things that are required in playoff games such as maximum defensive and rebounding effort, loose ball effort and he plays with some emotional fire. When Tatum and Brown get in tight game situations they trot up the floor or dribble walk the ball up the court so we're already at 15 seconds on the shot clock by the time we get into our offensive sets. Let Pritchard run the pace of the game and tell him to push it - and demand Tatum and brown keep up by actually running up the court after made shots by the other team. Give our offense maximum shot clock time to create a good shot with ball movement rather than the god awful hero ball.     

[ScoobyDoo]

14-23 from the FT line at home is quite something

That's called choking...massive choking.

[ScoobyDoo]

Quote
Quote from: Goldstar88 on Today at 12:39:02 AM
Tim Bontemps: Boston closed out tonight?s game with 16 straight missed field goals.
x.com

They were 3-17 FGA in Q4 with a couple of minutes left.

2 Hauser threes and a lob pass from Jaylen to Queta. The 3 buckets in Q4.


Again, this is called choking...massive choking.