IT Playing Reckless

[86MaxwellSmart]

The entire Hawks (and last year's Cavs)...Playoff strategy---is to stop IT, and make the rest of the team beat you....With AB out and Crowder a shell of himself offensively---you can see the results...Awful offense from the Celtics.

I still expect the Celtics to win the next game--if only because Atlanta really aint as good as they look right now--and the C's should be more comfortable at home.

[Smart457]

It'll be unfair, but if this continues I think the hot take will be "Thomas can't lead a playoff team."

Not easy to lead a team when your second and third shooting options are Smart and Crowder. These guys are so bad right now that there are times in the second half they are playing hot potato with the ball. IT will pass it and they will just give it right back to him. The defense doesn't even need to shift because the ball comes right back to IT.

Yes. That's part of what will make it unfair.

I doubt it will be a hot take. It's only his second playoff experience and he's on an average team. He won't get blasted.

[rondohondo]

Would like to see IT play off the ball more and maybe start Turner with him . Rozier can handle the ball to ,maybe his penetration can get IT some open looks to get him going .
 
Would be nice to have KO back for game 3 to help create offense too ....

[Boris Badenov]

It'll be unfair, but if this continues I think the hot take will be "Thomas can't lead a playoff team."

Not easy to lead a team when your second and third shooting options are Smart and Crowder. These guys are so bad right now that there are times in the second half they are playing hot potato with the ball. IT will pass it and they will just give it right back to him. The defense doesn't even need to shift because the ball comes right back to IT.

Yes. That's part of what will make it unfair.

I doubt it will be a hot take. It's only his second playoff experience and he's on an average team. He won't get blasted.

I hope not. We have some positive buzz right now.

[td450]

What I blame him for is not being ready for game two mentally. In that first quarter, he wasn't locked in at all. He had to know he had to pick it up defensively without Bradley, but he came out playing soft and loose defense and got burned several times. Teague saw he wasn't paying attention and just ran by and took the ball from him in the open court without any pressure. His passing was late and sloppy and resulted in several turnovers.

You could see by his body language that he wasn't up to the challenge. He lacked intensity and effort. I don't blame him for the lack of shooting by his teammates but I want to see full out effort.

[slamtheking]

What I blame him for is not being ready for game two mentally. In that first quarter, he wasn't locked in at all. He had to know he had to pick it up defensively without Bradley, but he came out playing soft and loose defense and got burned several times. Teague saw he wasn't paying attention and just ran by and took the ball from him in the open court without any pressure. His passing was late and sloppy and resulted in several turnovers.

You could see by his body language that he wasn't up to the challenge. He lacked intensity and effort. I don't blame him for the lack of shooting by his teammates but I want to see full out effort.

this was my observation as well.  tbh, I've critiqued his passing and ball handling skills since he arrived.  he has a luxury during the regular season that teams aren't playing at their top level to stop him and force him to play to his weaknesses.  The playoffs are a different story. 

I strongly feel he's best suited to a 6th man role.  unfortunately, we don't have better players to start ahead of him.

[celts55]

What I blame him for is not being ready for game two mentally. In that first quarter, he wasn't locked in at all. He had to know he had to pick it up defensively without Bradley, but he came out playing soft and loose defense and got burned several times. Teague saw he wasn't paying attention and just ran by and took the ball from him in the open court without any pressure. His passing was late and sloppy and resulted in several turnovers.

You could see by his body language that he wasn't up to the challenge. He lacked intensity and effort. I don't blame him for the lack of shooting by his teammates but I want to see full out effort.

Have to agree. On too many occasions after turning the ball over or missing a shot, he appeared to jog back on D. I wouldn't say he looked like he didn't care, but he also didn't look mad. I know, even playing pick up, if I turn the ball over I bust it back. He seems almost resigned to losing.

[Timdawgg]

From the article on the front page...this video actually made me laugh out loud...it is crazy how open they are leaving everyone but Thomas..

https://streamable.com/jxv2

[rollie mass]

INJURIES-i saw isaiah land from height on his wrist i knew there was a problem then he was missing layups,
crowder playing hurt ,bradley out and kelly out
 just allowing atlanta to pack the paint-
we almost pulled off an upset in first game,atlanta was beatable if we were healthy
i worry for isaiah how many times can he take those constant falls
this game of basketball ,when you play at isaiah's level or crowders little things can seriously effect your game-