tectonic shift in sentiment

[Ilikesports17]

In all honesty I feel this team tries harder than 90% of the other teams in the league all season. But in the playoffs every team is going hard and that's where we realize this gutsy group just isn't that much talented. I only want them to bust their butts and not cave in like game 3 and 4. Fight darn it, FIGHT!

I agree completely.  Our team survives regular season by mostly playing with playoff zeal.  There just isn't another gear.  Csfan1984 is right--all we can do is cheer on our squad and hope they muster what it will take to overcome Washington.  It can be done and I'm not going to criticize our team or fiddle with "what ifs."  Instead I'll revel in the commitment these players have made to get us this far.  Are you in?

the idea that we tried our way to 53 wins is absurd to me. you dont get to where we are without talent.

[rollie mass]

how much is home court advantage worth?
how can anyone expect us to win with isaiah  getting to the foul line zero times
What effect did his being grabbed and not getting to foul line contribute to that 26-0 run?
for a 5-9 guard to get the foul line taken away from him so abruptly the first half he hit all those threes looked like he was focused,i'm really not going to watch that game again
what happened after two quarters to totally disrupt the celts-obviously a 26-0 run but what component of that run so demoralized us that the fight was gone-was it their home court?

[obnoxiousmime]

I think that a lot of people readjusted their expectations based on the no. 1 seed, which is understandable. Even if most people knew that Cleveland was better, they probably expected the Celtics to at least be at the top of that second tier which includes Toronto and Washington.

I wouldn't mind the Celtics losing to a team that only finished four games behind them record-wise and has a starting lineup of one overall #1 pick, two overall #3 picks, another lottery pick and an accomplished center in his prime. However, it would still be a little disappointing in that it makes it easier to sell free agents and trade targets on coming here when you can definitively say this is the team that is closest to challenging LeBron in a couple years or so.

Also, it's frustrating when it doesn't appear that certain players are playing up to their potential. It wasn't really widely publicized until recently that Bradley was dealing with injuries, for example. Crowder has taken a step back defensively and Smart hasn't really upped his game for the playoffs.

Nobody is really accusing them of not playing hard, just that they should play up to their ability or better. What we should acknowledge though is that Washington is probably a little better than we thought, especially defensively.

[Thruthelookingglass]

In all honesty I feel this team tries harder than 90% of the other teams in the league all season. But in the playoffs every team is going hard and that's where we realize this gutsy group just isn't that much talented. I only want them to bust their butts and not cave in like game 3 and 4. Fight darn it, FIGHT!

I agree completely.  Our team survives regular season by mostly playing with playoff zeal.  There just isn't another gear.  Csfan1984 is right--all we can do is cheer on our squad and hope they muster what it will take to overcome Washington.  It can be done and I'm not going to criticize our team or fiddle with "what ifs."  Instead I'll revel in the commitment these players have made to get us this far.  Are you in?

the idea that we tried our way to 53 wins is absurd to me. you dont get to where we are without talent.

It's not an either/or thing.  The Nets tried too.

[PAOBoston]

I think a lot of the issues that plagued the C's all year have carried into the playoffs. They have a Jekyll and Hyde issue with their role players, particularly AB and Crowder. AB had a good stretch vs Chicago and was basically a difference maker that series. I assume his hip pointers know have limited his performance. With Crowder, I have no idea. Outside of one game, we been incredibly poor this entire post season. If he can't make open shots then he's basically useless on the court because he refuses to attack the basket.

During the regular season when you play against inferior teams, it is easier to overcome. In the playoffs though, you actually have to face better teams so when AB/Crowder do not carry their weight on the court, IT/AH aren't enough to carry them to wins. They need the role players to step up consistently in order to advance.

[Celtics4ever]

We are a good team but a far cry from an elite one.   Are we made for playoff basketball?   In the Bulls series we bounced back after looking like a "no".   Tonight, that question will be answered.

I think we have gaping holes that could be upgraded.   We need a scorer and another big.  I think this playoffs have shown us some of our holes that need addressed.  I know many will be against it but I would love to have Crowder come off the bench next year.

[More Banners]

In all honesty I feel this team tries harder than 90% of the other teams in the league all season. But in the playoffs every team is going hard and that's where we realize this gutsy group just isn't that much talented. I only want them to bust their butts and not cave in like game 3 and 4. Fight darn it, FIGHT!

I agree completely.  Our team survives regular season by mostly playing with playoff zeal.  There just isn't another gear.  Csfan1984 is right--all we can do is cheer on our squad and hope they muster what it will take to overcome Washington.  It can be done and I'm not going to criticize our team or fiddle with "what ifs."  Instead I'll revel in the commitment these players have made to get us this far.  Are you in?

the idea that we tried our way to 53 wins is absurd to me. you dont get to where we are without talent.

Well, regular season records on 82 games only allow so much comparison. Half of the opponents are lotto bound. The east, where we play teams 3-4 times, has only 1 contender. So there is no world where a decent team doesn't get to the high 40's in wins. Catch some breaks, a superior opponent on an off night, hot shooting, foul trouble or injured star opponent, and you get to 50+.

In the west, we likely don't get hca at all or out of the first round.

A dominant regular season - or horrid one - is different. 66-16 says something. But 53 in the east this year doesn't indicate a dominant team. Just a good one. With some talent, yes, but there are no "great" players on this squad.  No HOF guys here. Just lots of hustle and jump shooters.

[Csfan1984]

In all honesty I feel this team tries harder than 90% of the other teams in the league all season. But in the playoffs every team is going hard and that's where we realize this gutsy group just isn't that much talented. I only want them to bust their butts and not cave in like game 3 and 4. Fight darn it, FIGHT!

I agree completely.  Our team survives regular season by mostly playing with playoff zeal.  There just isn't another gear.  Csfan1984 is right--all we can do is cheer on our squad and hope they muster what it will take to overcome Washington.  It can be done and I'm not going to criticize our team or fiddle with "what ifs."  Instead I'll revel in the commitment these players have made to get us this far.  Are you in?

the idea that we tried our way to 53 wins is absurd to me. you dont get to where we are without talent.

Well, regular season records on 82 games only allow so much comparison. Half of the opponents are lotto bound. The east, where we play teams 3-4 times, has only 1 contender. So there is no world where a decent team doesn't get to the high 40's in wins. Catch some breaks, a superior opponent on an off night, hot shooting, foul trouble or injured star opponent, and you get to 50+.

In the west, we likely don't get hca at all or out of the first round.

A dominant regular season - or horrid one - is different. 66-16 says something. But 53 in the east this year doesn't indicate a dominant team. Just a good one. With some talent, yes, but there are no "great" players on this squad.  No HOF guys here. Just lots of hustle and jump shooters.

Exactly no great players and the 53 isn't even an impressive number to say that required a lot of talent. It's the play and effort we can't dismiss. Hell even the coach, DA and team said it, they aren't talented enough to win without putting in a lot of effort. It was said a few Xs in post game loses interviews. The C's got to where they were mostly with effort they need to not give up and least go down fighting. If not we could see some changes.

[Future Celtics Owner]

In all honesty I feel this team tries harder than 90% of the other teams in the league all season. But in the playoffs every team is going hard and that's where we realize this gutsy group just isn't that much talented. I only want them to bust their butts and not cave in like game 3 and 4. Fight darn it, FIGHT!

I agree completely.  Our team survives regular season by mostly playing with playoff zeal.  There just isn't another gear.  Csfan1984 is right--all we can do is cheer on our squad and hope they muster what it will take to overcome Washington.  It can be done and I'm not going to criticize our team or fiddle with "what ifs."  Instead I'll revel in the commitment these players have made to get us this far.  Are you in?

the idea that we tried our way to 53 wins is absurd to me. you dont get to where we are without talent.

Well, regular season records on 82 games only allow so much comparison. Half of the opponents are lotto bound. The east, where we play teams 3-4 times, has only 1 contender. So there is no world where a decent team doesn't get to the high 40's in wins. Catch some breaks, a superior opponent on an off night, hot shooting, foul trouble or injured star opponent, and you get to 50+.

In the west, we likely don't get hca at all or out of the first round.

A dominant regular season - or horrid one - is different. 66-16 says something. But 53 in the east this year doesn't indicate a dominant team. Just a good one. With some talent, yes, but there are no "great" players on this squad.  No HOF guys here. Just lots of hustle and jump shooters.

Exactly no great players and the 53 isn't even an impressive number to say that required a lot of talent. It's the play and effort we can't dismiss. Hell even the coach, DA and team said it, they aren't talented enough to win without putting in a lot of effort. It was said a few Xs in post game loses interviews. The C's got to where they were mostly with effort they need to not give up and least go down fighting. If not we could see some changes.

God I hope so. I want a team that is built for the playoffs and talented players can turn up their effort like every other team.

btw I've been nagging about this since 2015,,,not bc we lost 2 games to Washington. Though WAS does truly reveal that IT needs to be hidden on defense and is possibly down the road going to be a huge liability for max money. It's still my opinion that his stats are padded bc of the roster of our team and that no one else is a true scorer

[Ilikesports17]

In all honesty I feel this team tries harder than 90% of the other teams in the league all season. But in the playoffs every team is going hard and that's where we realize this gutsy group just isn't that much talented. I only want them to bust their butts and not cave in like game 3 and 4. Fight darn it, FIGHT!

I agree completely.  Our team survives regular season by mostly playing with playoff zeal.  There just isn't another gear.  Csfan1984 is right--all we can do is cheer on our squad and hope they muster what it will take to overcome Washington.  It can be done and I'm not going to criticize our team or fiddle with "what ifs."  Instead I'll revel in the commitment these players have made to get us this far.  Are you in?

the idea that we tried our way to 53 wins is absurd to me. you dont get to where we are without talent.

Well, regular season records on 82 games only allow so much comparison. Half of the opponents are lotto bound. The east, where we play teams 3-4 times, has only 1 contender. So there is no world where a decent team doesn't get to the high 40's in wins. Catch some breaks, a superior opponent on an off night, hot shooting, foul trouble or injured star opponent, and you get to 50+.

In the west, we likely don't get hca at all or out of the first round.

A dominant regular season - or horrid one - is different. 66-16 says something. But 53 in the east this year doesn't indicate a dominant team. Just a good one. With some talent, yes, but there are no "great" players on this squad.  No HOF guys here. Just lots of hustle and jump shooters.

Exactly no great players and the 53 isn't even an impressive number to say that required a lot of talent. It's the play and effort we can't dismiss. Hell even the coach, DA and team said it, they aren't talented enough to win without putting in a lot of effort. It was said a few Xs in post game loses interviews. The C's got to where they were mostly with effort they need to not give up and least go down fighting. If not we could see some changes.

no it isnt.

I did not mean to impy that we are a great team. We are a good team. Clearly outside of the contenders. I am not going to sit here and say we actually have a chance against Cle or GSW (the only 2 teams that actually cost the regular season). We dont, we just arent talented enough, but people are acting like we have 8 -seed talent. We dont. We have as much if not more talent than any team in the East who isnt a true contender.