NBA Playoffs Season 2014-2015

[Adelaide Celt]

Patty Mills - clutch 

Aussie , Aussie, Aussie 

[CelticSooner]

Well ladies and gentlemen, we've got a first round series worth watching.

1 out of 8 ain't too bad, right?

I'm enjoying watching my team in the playoffs.

Yeah, the extended week of losing basketball should go a long way towards helping us build a champion.

You never know. It's entertainment and I find this team highly fun to watch. Everybody rebuilds eventually.

[LarBrd33]

Well ladies and gentlemen, we've got a first round series worth watching.

1 out of 8 ain't too bad, right?

I'm enjoying watching my team in the playoffs.

Yeah, the extended week of losing basketball should go a long way towards helping us build a champion.

You never know. It's entertainment and I find this team highly fun to watch. Everybody rebuilds eventually.

I'm enjoying it too.  Hopefully this week-long participation at the LeBron James basketball camp teaches Marcus Smart some life-long lessons. 

Maybe years from now Smart will be like, "It wasn't until the Cavs steamrolled us in 4 straight games that I realized how hard I needed to work if I was ever going to be relevant in this league."   

Maybe like they discuss in "Whiplash"... this can be Smart's Charlie Parker moment... LeBron throwing a cymbal at his head and inspiring him to obsessively practice. 

[mr. dee]

Well ladies and gentlemen, we've got a first round series worth watching.

1 out of 8 ain't too bad, right?

I'm enjoying watching my team in the playoffs.

Yeah, the extended week of losing basketball should go a long way towards helping us build a champion.

Stop watching the series then. Nobody forces you to watch the young C's lose against the heavily favored Cavs. Every rebuilding have steps. And losing (competitively, not blatantly) is one of them. Let's not talk like Pierce, KG, Kobe, Wade and Durant didn't have shares of first round exits.

[PhoSita]

Well ladies and gentlemen, we've got a first round series worth watching.

1 out of 8 ain't too bad, right?

I'm enjoying watching my team in the playoffs.

Yeah, the extended week of losing basketball should go a long way towards helping us build a champion.

You never know. It's entertainment and I find this team highly fun to watch. Everybody rebuilds eventually.

This series is worth watching only because we have an emotional connection to the team.  It's like saying a Michael Bay movie is worth watching because your brother, who is a struggling actor type, has a minor role in it, and you're just thrilled to finally see him get a part.

[krumeto]

28 and 11 from a 39 year old man in the playoffs. Just an all-time great player.

With a good defense on top of it. Respect!

Pepsi should have just hired Uncle Tim. Still kicking young bloods' backseats, no makeup necessary.

[cman88]

I dont get you Larbrd33 when the Celtics were pushing for the 8th or 7th seed you were all for the playoff push. not that they are in it and expectidly going to lose the series you are all "oh yeah im sure losing this series will really help us long term"

so, which is it? while we are likely going to lose, I think this series should be a good learning experience for smart, olynyk, sullinger even Thomas, stevens.

[Celtics18]

Man, those Memphis Grizzlies!!  Every season, I barely see them during the regular season, and when I do, they kind of bore me.

Then the playoffs roll around and they instantly become my favorite non-Celtic NBA team.  Their grit, cohesiveness, and defensive intensity are a joy to watch. 

[LarBrd33]

I dont get you Larbrd33 when the Celtics were pushing for the 8th or 7th seed you were all for the playoff push. not that they are in it and expectidly going to lose the series you are all "oh yeah im sure losing this series will really help us long term"

so, which is it? while we are likely going to lose, I think this series should be a good learning experience for smart, olynyk, sullinger even Thomas, stevens.

I was fine with us making the playoffs. Mostly because I wanted to keep brad Stevens engaged and the players supportive of him.  He's a good coach. Another lotto season and those "Stevens returning to College" rumors would have gotten louder.  I didn't want him to lose his team.  Also maybe Ainge can sell free agents on the "winning" culture. Maybe.  Also, I don't think there will be a ton of difference between picks 9-16.

But I expected a sweep and have never believed that an extra week of basketball would make any long term difference for the players.  Maybe seeing how inferior they are will motivate the young guys to train harder than they would have otherwise. 

[PhoSita]

Man, those Memphis Grizzlies!!  Every season, I barely see them during the regular season, and when I do, they kind of bore me.

Then the playoffs roll around and they instantly become my favorite non-Celtic NBA team.  Their grit, cohesiveness, and defensive intensity are a joy to watch.

I was hoping the Blazers would get to shine this year, but due to injures that ain't happening.

I'd like to see the Grizz finally make the Finals, though I really like this Warriors team, too.

[SCeltic34]

Can any team in the East beat the Cavs?

I think Chicago can give them a challenge but won't have enough to beat them in a series.

I picked Atlanta to knock off the Cleveland in the Eastern Finals.  Boston has had some success on offense despite our lack of outside shooting and lack of playmaking ability outside of IT and ET.
- Jeff Teague is better than any player on our team.  So is Horford.  Paul Milsap is better than any of our big men.
- Instead of Crowder launching up long 2's and 3's early in the shot clock, you have Demare Carrol and Kyle Korver.  Succinctly put, the Hawks are a far superior shooting team overall than the C's.
- The Hawks are a better defensive team than we are.
- Cleveland has holes defensively, which the Hawks will be able to exploit far better than we are able to.

If we learned anything from last year's finals, chemistry and teamwork can overcome great talent, even if it's not as common as superstars leading their team to championships. 

I'd love to see the Hawks advance to the Finals.

[PhoSita]

Can any team in the East beat the Cavs?

If healthy and on a roll, I could see either the Hawks or Bulls beating the Cavs.  Much better defensively, much deeper, and more experienced as a whole in the playoffs.

I think the Wizards would have a chance, too, though not a great one.

The Cavaliers are a dangerous offensive team but because they lack depth, defense, and experience, they are vulnerable.  More vulnerable than some of the less talented teams LeBron led in Cleveland back in '09 and '10.

[GetLucky]

Can any team in the East beat the Cavs?

If the Celtics are giving the Cavs this much trouble, they can definitely be beaten.

[PhoSita]

Maybe seeing how inferior they are will motivate the young guys to train harder than they would have otherwise.

If anything, I have to admit that one of my hopes with this playoff run was that some of the more die-hard members of the fanbase would see how inferior the team is and gain some perspective on how far this roster has to go before it's ready to really compete.

But I guess that was probably a silly thing to hope for all along.

[manl_lui]

Can any team in the East beat the Cavs?

If the Celtics are giving the Cavs this much trouble, they can definitely be beaten.

I think a healthy Bulls team has a legit chance