Crowder on W meaning Atl: We did all that for that. We could've taken the L

[walker834]

Toronto are clearly the 2nd best team in the East.
No one will be surprised to see them take Cleveland to 7 games or even beat Cleveland. They've been without Caroll for most of the year and their bench is excellent.

As far as our match up goes, ATL are simply an awful match up for us. Their D is excellent at stopping IT inside and we're going to struggle to contain Millsap who is arguably the most under rated player in the NBA.

No one said it would be easy, we are just lucky to have a healthy playoff rotation and hopefully we can upset ATL while Durant is watching.

They are the 2nd best team.  Lowry and Derozan are also very good players. They also have a well rounded team and a lot of depth. Lowry in particular gives them an edge.  But they aren't a dominant team.  They might be a bit better than the hawks the last few years because of Lowry, but it's close.  I think Toronto can be upset fairly easily by a team like us.  I don't see a huge difference between the Hawks or Toronto either, although Toronto is definately the team trending in the right direction.  But it's the playoffs.  Who knows.

[SparzWizard]

Toronto are clearly the 2nd best team in the East.
No one will be surprised to see them take Cleveland to 7 games or even beat Cleveland. They've been without Caroll for most of the year and their bench is excellent.

As far as our match up goes, ATL are simply an awful match up for us. Their D is excellent at stopping IT inside and we're going to struggle to contain Millsap who is arguably the most under rated player in the NBA.

No one said it would be easy, we are just lucky to have a healthy playoff rotation and hopefully we can upset ATL while Durant is watching.

They are the 2nd best team.  Lowry and Derozan are also very good players. They also have a well rounded team and a lot of depth. Lowry in particular gives them an edge.  But they aren't a dominant team.  They might be a bit better than the hawks the last few years because of Lowry, but it's close.  I think Toronto can be upset fairly easily by a team like us.  I don't see a huge difference between the Hawks or Toronto either, although Toronto is definately the team trending in the right direction.  But it's the playoffs.  Who knows.

Paul Pierce isn't in the East to stop Toronto, so I'm certain they'll make it past the first-round now.

[greece66]

Jae on W meaning Atl: "We did all that for that? That was my reaction. We laid it on the line like that for nothing?We could've taken the L"

I hope he was joking

Do we have the source?

[MattyIce]

Jae on W meaning Atl: "We did all that for that? That was my reaction. We laid it on the line like that for nothing?We could've taken the L"

I hope he was joking

Do we have the source?

https://youtu.be/d25lpnyWnmk

[greece66]

Jae on W meaning Atl: "We did all that for that? That was my reaction. We laid it on the line like that for nothing?We could've taken the L"

I hope he was joking

Do we have the source?

https://youtu.be/d25lpnyWnmk

thx

kek i always have such a hard time understanding what Jae says.

[DesertDweller]

Celtics have a better chance at beating Cleveland than beating Atlanta. we got screwed and Crowder wasn't kidding. any other matchup would have worked better for us in the first round. right on Jae, all of this for what??? the Hawks will dismantle the C'S in four. what a bummer after playing this hard!!!

[Surferdad]

Celtics have a better chance at beating Cleveland than beating Atlanta. we got screwed and Crowder wasn't kidding. any other matchup would have worked better for us in the first round. right on Jae, all of this for what??? the Hawks will dismantle the C'S in four. what a bummer after playing this hard!!!

Disagree on two points:
1) He was kidding.  There's no way Crowder would tank.
2) Hawks WILL NOT dismantle the C's.  If they play defense like they did in the second half last night, the Hawks should be quaking in their boots.  C's in 7.

[ssspence]

I actually like the way it lays out. Hawks challenge this team to be its best. If the play hard and well, and lose, no one will blame them -- including potential FA targets. If they win, it's a major feather in their cap.

Same goes for CLE in round 2.

Play better competition earlier -- see what we're made of.

[straightouttabahstun]

At first I hated the idea of having to play ATL in the first round. But we've beaten them before. I'm sure they aren't scared of them. Clamp Millshap and Schroeder and they'll get the job done. Let's make some noise!!!

 I predict monster games for Smart, Thomas, and Sullinger in this series.

[CelticGuardian]

I'm not sure Jae should've said that, makes us look weak and scared. He should of just said whoever is in front of us we are going to war with.

[CelticGuardian]

At first I hated the idea of having to play ATL in the first round. But we've beaten them before. I'm sure they aren't scared of them. Clamp Millshap and Schroeder and they'll get the job done. Let's make some noise!!!

 I predict monster games for Smart, Thomas, and Sullinger in this series.

I don't think Smart is ready to handle a scoring load in a playoff game. I'd say our key cogs in this series is Thomas, Sully, and Turner with the X-factor being Olynyk. Smart is going to come in and do what he does best, but CBS needs to let him know these coming games aren't shootarounds..

[straightouttabahstun]

At first I hated the idea of having to play ATL in the first round. But we've beaten them before. I'm sure they aren't scared of them. Clamp Millshap and Schroeder and they'll get the job done. Let's make some noise!!!

 I predict monster games for Smart, Thomas, and Sullinger in this series.

I don't think Smart is ready to handle a scoring load in a playoff game. I'd say our key cogs in this series is Thomas, Sully, and Turner with the X-factor being Olynyk. Smart is going to come in and do what he does best, but CBS needs to let him know these coming games aren't shootarounds..

 I agree on the scoring end. That will be an offseason thing he will have to work on. A "monster" game for Smart in this particular playoff series this year would be clamping the hell out of Dennis Schroeder and helping keep Millshap grounded since he's actually pretty ok at defending big men. I also think he'll drop lots of dimes.

[mef730]

IT said something else that made me nervous. He made it clear that it was a joke, but I don't need too many players going in with that attitude. Makes it seem like players are talking themselves down.

From the Boston Globe:

“Yeah, I told Danny [Ainge], ‘Man, why didn’t you say something during the game? We could have subbed everybody out.’ Thomas said with a smile. “Nah, I said that as a joke, but I mean it is what it is. It happened to work out that way, and we’re confident in ourselves that we can win a playoff series.”

Mike

[j804]

IT said something else that made me nervous. He made it clear that it was a joke, but I don't need too many players going in with that attitude. Makes it seem like players are talking themselves down.

From the Boston Globe:

“Yeah, I told Danny [Ainge], ‘Man, why didn’t you say something during the game? We could have subbed everybody out.’ Thomas said with a smile. “Nah, I said that as a joke, but I mean it is what it is. It happened to work out that way, and we’re confident in ourselves that we can win a playoff series.”

Mike

yea don't like this thinking at all joking or not

[RockinRyA]

They are probably expected homecourt with the win (plus they are confident in a series vs the Heat). But dang, the Hawks lost and everything is in disarray.