Where has perspective gone?

[rocknrollforyoursoul]

I get it. They played the worst basketball game that has ever been played, including pickup games at the local elementary school during recess.

My only point is- why focus on one terrible game 7 vs the 100 other basketball games? The Celtics have a crazy bright future.

Almost like going on a date with a smoking hot woman while focusing solely on the pimple on her chin.

More like, you had a chance to seal the deal with the smoking hot woman but didn't, and despite how rosy the future seems, there's no guarantee you'll ever again be in the position you were before, no guarantee you'll ever again have a chance with any smoking hot woman.

In short, you've gotta capitalize when opportunities present themselves. And they didn't do that.

[Beat LA]

I'm not one for "Just happy to be here"....You don't know how any year will turn out--you gotta do what you can to Win now.

Sure, they over achieved all year. Last night was just a terrible strategy-When we could have run that old team into dust, Instead, we walked the ball up ALL GAME- letting them set up their defense til we had to chuck up bad shots.

TP , as I couldn't agree with you more on that one, as even if we're not crippled by injuries, next season, you can't simply count on being able to "get it next year", plus, who knows as to what will happen in terms of free agency? After all, it only takes the movement of one player to dramatically change the landscape of the league. What if Lebron leaves Cleveland and forms another super team with the Lakers, for example?

[Beat LA]

I get it. They played the worst basketball game that has ever been played, including pickup games at the local elementary school during recess.

My only point is- why focus on one terrible game 7 vs the 100 other basketball games? The Celtics have a crazy bright future.

Almost like going on a date with a smoking hot woman while focusing solely on the pimple on her chin.

More like, you had a chance to seal the deal with the smoking hot woman but didn't, and despite how rosy the future seems, there's no guarantee you'll ever again be in the position you were before, no guarantee you'll ever again have a chance with any smoking hot woman.

In short, you've gotta capitalize when opportunities present themselves. And they didn't do that.

Uhh...

[green_bballers13]

I get it. They played the worst basketball game that has ever been played, including pickup games at the local elementary school during recess.

My only point is- why focus on one terrible game 7 vs the 100 other basketball games? The Celtics have a crazy bright future.

Almost like going on a date with a smoking hot woman while focusing solely on the pimple on her chin.

More like, you had a chance to seal the deal with the smoking hot woman but didn't, and despite how rosy the future seems, there's no guarantee you'll ever again be in the position you were before, no guarantee you'll ever again have a chance with any smoking hot woman.

In short, you've gotta capitalize when opportunities present themselves. And they didn't do that.

Uhh...

Yeah, I agree. This doesn't make sense at all.

Going to the finals isn't sealing the deal. This is Boston- we don't celebrate championship appearances.

[Eja117]

To be fair I think when you dominate a team two games in a row and also win game 5 maybe the perspective changes a little

[green_bballers13]

To be fair I think when you dominate a team two games in a row and also win game 5 maybe the perspective changes a little

I know that there exists a lot of anti-Lebron bias on this site. Some people call him "Lebum", which  makes very little sense.

Some people have stated that CLE is a terrible team with a terrible coach and bum as a star. I think history will look differently at the Cavs. While they will end up losing a ton of championships, I don't think that they will be considered one of the worst teams. Rather, they will be considered one of the best teams.

I think the Cavs were not taken seriously by Celtics fans. As a result, I can see why people would be upset by losing to a team that they think stinks.

[cman88]

the way im reading some of these posts of "missing our opportunity" or "they may never get there again" did posters really think that the Celtics could win the championship this year?

we at most wouldve won one, maybe 2 games against golden state/Houston. This isn't celtics team at full strength blowing game 7 that had a legitimate shot. Its a shell of the team that started the season or that will start next years season.

[Boston Garden Leprechaun]

the way im reading some of these posts of "missing our opportunity" or "they may never get there again" did posters really think that the Celtics could win the championship this year?

we at most wouldve won one, maybe 2 games against golden state/Houston. This isn't celtics team at full strength blowing game 7 that had a legitimate shot. Its a shell of the team that started the season or that will start next years season.

just because we would have gotten killed in finals does not mean we should not have won the east.  who said we would never get back? there are no guarantees though. the east would have felt like a title with the 10 year storyline of lebron and us. the finals expericne and exposure would have been great and  great story. i talked about this the other day.

[ozgod]

The Celtics season was a 10/10 success. Nobody thought that they would be anywhere close to game 7 of the ECF once Hayward went down. The Celtics had a great regular season, then we found out that Kyrie was out for the year. At this juncture, many thought that we couldn't get past Milwaukee. They did. Not only did they beat the Bucks, they beat the Sixers in a series that they were not favored. They didn't just squeak by Philly- they beat the crap out of them in 5 games. Then they were an underdog vs Cleveland. After a great series without their two best players, the Celtics had a bad game. One bad game.

 

Why is it crazy to think that this season was a smashing success?

Probably because sports is serious business 

[green_bballers13]

the way im reading some of these posts of "missing our opportunity" or "they may never get there again" did posters really think that the Celtics could win the championship this year?

we at most wouldve won one, maybe 2 games against golden state/Houston. This isn't celtics team at full strength blowing game 7 that had a legitimate shot. Its a shell of the team that started the season or that will start next years season.

Two guys that blew the game for them were Terry Rozier and Marcus Smart. In what future playoff game will these two players get 24 shots? Granted, they only hit 3 of them, but still. This team was running on fumes. I think many were caught off guard by the success, so they were convinced that this team would take down Golden State. While we will never know, I'm guessing that was a pipe dream.

[tenn_smoothie]

Yes, we did get tight in the biggest game of the season and choked some of those open shots.

Another big factor - and it sounds like an excuse, but is a fact - this team was worn out from fighting, fighting, fighting to overcome injury after injury. And tired legs = missed shots.

Yes, i know Cleveland was tired too, but not like we were. They had more rest during the playoffs and their first 7 were used to playing more minutes than our guys, who were not accustomed to the shortened rotations Stevens went to. Why didn't he throw Ojeleye out there to pressure James for short stints ? I know Monroe has been inconsistent, but when we were struggling to score, why not get it inside to him? Then there is Baynes sitting out too much of the second half.

I'm not suggesting even 10+ minutes for some of these guys, but 6-8 would have thrown fresh legs in the game and given the first 7 some much needed rest.

[green_bballers13]

The Celtics season was a 10/10 success. Nobody thought that they would be anywhere close to game 7 of the ECF once Hayward went down. The Celtics had a great regular season, then we found out that Kyrie was out for the year. At this juncture, many thought that we couldn't get past Milwaukee. They did. Not only did they beat the Bucks, they beat the Sixers in a series that they were not favored. They didn't just squeak by Philly- they beat the crap out of them in 5 games. Then they were an underdog vs Cleveland. After a great series without their two best players, the Celtics had a bad game. One bad game.

 

Why is it crazy to think that this season was a smashing success?

Probably because sports is serious business 

Haha TP. It seems like sadness and pessimism is the holy grail for some.

[Sophomore]

To be fair I think when you dominate a team two games in a row and also win game 5 maybe the perspective changes a little

I know that there exists a lot of anti-Lebron bias on this site. Some people call him "Lebum", which  makes very little sense.

Some people have stated that CLE is a terrible team with a terrible coach and bum as a star. I think history will look differently at the Cavs. While they will end up losing a ton of championships, I don't think that they will be considered one of the worst teams. Rather, they will be considered one of the best teams.

I think the Cavs were not taken seriously by Celtics fans. As a result, I can see why people would be upset by losing to a team that they think stinks.

There’s some of that. But based on the way the series went - and the way game 7 went, in particular - it’s pretty clear we beat ourselves last night. LeBron is an all-time great, but you still need a team to win. We were not outclassed last night - not remotely.  If we had even one of Terry or Jaylen play an average game - not a great game, an average game - we win.

I think what also is disappointing is that this team had shown a special resiliency - an ability not to be fazed by big deficits or big moments. We thought we were seeing something really special. And we did, too, for a long run. But last night that run came to an end. I won’t say we choked - I’m not angry that way - but we clearly performed well below our ability. If the team had fought hard and played well but was simply beaten I think the reactions would be different. 

[PhoSita]

Part of the point of all the winning when people expect you to lose is proving you belong with the better teams and should be judged as those teams are judged.

I feel good that the Celtics proved they should be seen as one of the best teams in the league with as much talent, albeit young and inexperienced, as anyone.

I feel bad that ultimately, when the season was on the line with a few minutes on the clock, they fell apart against a team they absolutely could have beaten.  A great team should not fall apart like that and it is correct to judge it a failure.

Nonetheless, the season overall was a smashing success even if it ended with an embarrassing failure.

[kozlodoev]

Perspective is right here.

In vacuum, we were one game away from the NBA finals. Great!

In perspective, we lost to a god awful Cleveland team who had Jeff Green as their second best player for a game and a half - and got eliminated on our own floor to boot. Boo!