What have we learned from this series?

[rondohondo]

1) IT isn't a primary option on offense, though I think most of us already knew this

2) Sully needs to go

3) KO will never be a legit starter, too soft , can't play when hurting.

4 ) Amir and Jerebko can  contribute  in big games

5) AB and Smart are a very solid combo at the SG spot .

We need a go to guy and starting PF or c  who can control the paint .

[Rondo9]

We've also learned that the series isn't over yet.

[alldaboston]

1. Agree. He's a fine starter. But not a primary option. Could be solid second/third option with another star on board.

2. Yep. Plain and simple.

3. Also yep. He's fine when he can shoot it (more like, has the confidence to shoot it) but otherwise doesn't give a whole ton besides spacing, especially when hurt.

4. Amir needs more time. Same with jerebko, but especially Amir. He has been very solid this series before Brad pulled him short this game.

5. Avery is so important to this team. Smart might be figuring out his stroke, but those step back and heat check threes...eh.

[Csfan1984]

I see a team that just isn't good enough. Every player is being asked to do things they can't do on a consistent basis. Once again they are all good to great role players. The young guys need to grow and the vets are what they are. Off season needs to yield some big additions if we want to compete for ECF let alone a championship. I was hoping collectively they could achieve but it's the opposite. Collectively they are failing. I'd had like to see a player have a full great series but no. No one has. That is the biggest disappointment everyone has struggled heavily at times. All this makes me feel the team is still two Stars away from being a contender, ouch.

[Rondo9]

I see a team that just isn't good enough. Every player is being asked to do things they can't do on a consistent basis. Once again they are all good to great role players. The young guys need to grow and the vets are what they are. Off season needs to yield some big additions if we want to compete for ECF let alone a championship. I was hoping collectively they could achieve but it's the opposite. Collectively they are failing. I'd had like to see a player have a full great series but no. No one has. That is the biggest disappointment everyone has struggled heavily at times. All this makes me feel the team is still two Stars away from being a contender, ouch.

They won 48 games this year.

[crimson_stallion]

We learnt that you cant play defense with effort for one quarter and expect to win a game.

Nothing new, we've learnt that numerous times this year.

[MJohnnyboy]

Primarily that you never give up on this Celtics team because they fight through a lot of adversity. This series went from a potential sweep to a potential seven game dogfight. That came from the Celtics not backing down despite the momentum Atlanta built against them. Because of that, I firmly believed that the Celtics had a good chance of winning tonight's game, and I still believe they can win game 6 and heck, the series even if the likelihood is pretty low. Matter of the fact is, I'm so proud of this team for not rolling over when the odds were against them.

This Celtics team has so little talent but make up for it with their cohesion and versatility that they are that much more fun to watch. If the Celtics lose, I won't blame them. I'll blame the NBA's dumb playoff seeding format.

No they are not contenders, but they are on the rise.

[Csfan1984]

I see a team that just isn't good enough. Every player is being asked to do things they can't do on a consistent basis. Once again they are all good to great role players. The young guys need to grow and the vets are what they are. Off season needs to yield some big additions if we want to compete for ECF let alone a championship. I was hoping collectively they could achieve but it's the opposite. Collectively they are failing. I'd had like to see a player have a full great series but no. No one has. That is the biggest disappointment everyone has struggled heavily at times. All this makes me feel the team is still two Stars away from being a contender, ouch.

They won 48 games this year.

Yeah well they lost 34 games this year.

[Rondo9]

I see a team that just isn't good enough. Every player is being asked to do things they can't do on a consistent basis. Once again they are all good to great role players. The young guys need to grow and the vets are what they are. Off season needs to yield some big additions if we want to compete for ECF let alone a championship. I was hoping collectively they could achieve but it's the opposite. Collectively they are failing. I'd had like to see a player have a full great series but no. No one has. That is the biggest disappointment everyone has struggled heavily at times. All this makes me feel the team is still two Stars away from being a contender, ouch.

They won 48 games this year.

Yeah well they lost 34 games this year.

Still way over .500

[SparzWizard]

A bad offense can't win games.

[Csfan1984]

I see a team that just isn't good enough. Every player is being asked to do things they can't do on a consistent basis. Once again they are all good to great role players. The young guys need to grow and the vets are what they are. Off season needs to yield some big additions if we want to compete for ECF let alone a championship. I was hoping collectively they could achieve but it's the opposite. Collectively they are failing. I'd had like to see a player have a full great series but no. No one has. That is the biggest disappointment everyone has struggled heavily at times. All this makes me feel the team is still two Stars away from being a contender, ouch.

They won 48 games this year.

Yeah well they lost 34 games this year.

Still way over .500

Just .085 over .500

[LGC88]

I have learned that despite having a long experience watching bball, I still can't understand games like the one last night.
I mean, Celtics were great defensively, we went up by 9. Hawks were losing confidence.
And you might think, that's it, we go from here and make open shots and layups. And we'll have the better chance to win this game?
But no ! The exact opposite happened !
It has been a long time I haven't been that frustrated. The last time was when KG, PP, Rondo couldn't get us going offensively vs the knicks (their last playoff series together).

[passesofftodj]

I have learned that despite having a long experience watching bball, I still can't understand games like the one last night.
I mean, Celtics were great defensively, we went up by 9. Hawks were losing confidence.
And you might think, that's it, we go from here and make open shots and layups. And we'll have the better chance to win this game?
But no ! The exact opposite happened !
It has been a long time I haven't been that frustrated. The last time was when KG, PP, Rondo couldn't get us going offensively vs the knicks (their last playoff series together).

Leads and runs in the NBA seem a lot different than the old days.  No hand checking, lots of 3 pt shooting, bad defense, quick shots/lots of possessions, and refs parading people to the line with lame fouls allow momentum to change and HUGE score fluctuations.

It seems like every night I watch a game where a team essentially dominates, often for a half or even fairly deep into the 3rd, and still loses by 20.

[BornReady]

Kind of hard to draw conclusions from our team with us not 100%

But first, I'm really liking Rozier and his potential. Stevens has played him more thanks the other rookies and he hasn't really frozen up like other rookies that have barely played throughout the season.

Also we need more offensive power, which isn't new. But we can't expect to win playoff series just relying on Thomas for offense. Other payers need to step up like game 3 and 4 or most likely we need to get Thomas some help that is a consistent shot creator.

[LilRip]

1. That home court advantage means a lot in the playoffs
2. That the Hawks are a bad matchup
3. That Giannis would've been a better pick than KO.