Because this is what I was living through.
This was the Celtics basketball that I knew and still loved.
It’s not normal.
If it were easy, a lot of other teams would do it.
Knowing that, I think both things can be true.
All I know is heading into this postseason, the expectation was to win.
The Celtics have done that (so far).
The expectation was to make quick work of their series.
The Celtics have done that (so far).
While we can’t predict the future, what we can do is appreciate the present.
So let’s dive in.
If Al Horford is willing to die for this win, then everyone else needs to be as well.
Every year we have to hear the same old bullshit
“Is Tatum a dawg?”
“Does he have that special it factor?”
“Will he ever show up in the playoffs?”
It’s as if these people have the memories of a goldfish.
A performance that has only happened5 timesin all of NBA history.
Unless your name is LeBron, Jokic, Isaiah Thomas (!!!
), Latrell Sprewell and now Jayson Tatum, it’s never happened.
Think about that for a second.
Guess who the only other Celtic is to ever do something like that?
This fella named Larry Bird, maybe you’ve heard of him.
Appreciate what we are watching.
It is not normal.
Tatum was an efficient 9-16 in this game.
Get Tatum to a closeout game, and he’s going to come through.
- There’s a reason Aggressive Derrick White is so important to the success of this basketball team.
The players know it, Derrick knows it, we all know it.
So far in these playoffs, they’re 6-0.
- Boy was it great to get back to seeing this team move the ball.
That was crazy to see live.
Zero help, zero doubles, just strength on strength between a point guard and a center.
Then there were his buckets early in the 4th.
If he doesn’t make those shots, who knows what happens?
They sure as shit don’t wrap this up in 5 without him.
- Same thing with Pritchard.
Why is that important?
When this team defends, they become devastating to beat.
It’s been a disaster.
When it comes to guarding the ball handler, things aren’t all that better.
This is a problem because guess who runs a fuck ton of P&R?
The Knicks, Mavs, and Pacers.
Having KP available will help with this, but who knows about his availability.
So far, the Celtics have not stopped it.
Watch these Mobley highlights and look at how poor the P&R defense is.
That simply has to be fixed moving forward.
How does Adam Silver allow shit like this to happen?
We see players ALL THE TIME have way more disrespectful reactions towards officials and it’s nothing.
Hell it happened in this very game!
Yet your calling a tech on Tatum for doingthat?
In a playoff game?
Fuck Tony Brothers man, just the absolute worst.
Another case of a ref getting emotional and taking it out on the players.
- I would like to know where this Mook offensive performance was in Game 7 of the 2018 ECF.
Where were the 25 points on 10-13 (5-6) shooting in that game?
The crazy part is after a few open ones, the majority of Mooks' makes were contested.
If they had lost this game after a performance like that, I may have never recovered.
- Everything about the Celtics defense early was awful.
If guys are going to make contested looks, you live with it.
At some point, the Celts will play a team with their best players.
Is he in the doghouse for something?
Isn’t this situation the exact reason why Brad traded for him?
None of it makes any sense.
This is a guy who has playoff experience and plays a position of need right now.
- I’ll say this about the crowd.
I think most of the issue is with how it comes across on TNT/ESPN/ABC.
Being in the building, I didn’t think it was a dead crowd.
Yet people were tweeting me that it sounded dead on TV.
Maybe that’s what people are referencing.
In such a big postseason, everyone is on edge.
And now, we wait.
What matters is this team did what we all wanted and handled their shit.
8-2 to start the playoffs with a +11.3 differential is the kind of shit that wins you a title.
Now it’s time to rest up and be ready for whoever comes next.
8 down, 8 to go.
