Celtics '24'25 - REIGNING NBA CHAMPIONS

[trojanfan12]

but I’m old I guess

You and me both. lol

 

[redseat]

I think everyone agrees run ‘n gun bball is lousy, but if there’s an open, take the shot. The Celtics are (usually) great at finding the open man and every position can shoot … including some on the bench

Yeah when you are open then sure shoot it.. For the most part... Celtics still need to drive the lane and score in the paint and they are starting to do that more it seems

 

[realityball]

Yeah when you are open then sure shoot it.. For the most part... Celtics still need to drive the lane and score in the paint and they are starting to do that more it seems

watching JT and Luke master the pick and roll this season has been kool … add Pritchard’s charging the basket and they have new options from last year

 

[Gman]

Fin on the regular season.

61-21.

Relatively healthy going into the playoffs.

Right where we want to be going for the 2-peat.

...

 

[realityball]

… sooo … was this dogfight with the Magic a help or hinder to the Cs going forward? They certainly learned how to play a different game , but did that throw them too far off of what got them here? …
I hope they get to play the thunder now more than ever just to see how the two will match up with that OK defense …

note: I wrote ‘hope’ and put it in italics to differentiate it from expectations

 

[Gman]

… sooo … was this dogfight with the Magic a help or hinder to the Cs going forward? They certainly learned how to play a different game , but did that throw them too far off of what got them here? …
I hope they get to play the thunder now more than ever just to see how the two will match up with that OK defense …

note: I wrote ‘hope’ and put it in italics to differentiate it from expectations

Orlando is tough... that was a good series, and the C's did well to put them away in 5.

The (minor, hopefully all minor) injuries are concerning. But it is what it is.

I imagine whoever we play next... to some extent it will feel like we're running with the wind to our back when we're on offense.

When healthy, the Magic are easily a top-5 defense in the NBA.

 

[realityball]

Orlando is tough... that was a good series, and the C's did well to put them away in 5.

The (minor, hopefully all minor) injuries are concerning. But it is what it is.

They def could use Holiday back … the rest will do the others a lotta good

I imagine whoever we play next... to some extent it will feel like we're running with the wind to our back when we're on offense.

Let’s hope Orlando didn’t sell anyone the blueprint … I fear OKC already has it

When healthy, the Magic are easily a top-5 defense in the NBA.

It looked like a perfect setup against the Cs with the Magic having the best D in the league against the 3s …

 

[LogicMan]

Orlando is tough... that was a good series, and the C's did well to put them away in 5.

The (minor, hopefully all minor) injuries are concerning. But it is what it is.

I imagine whoever we play next... to some extent it will feel like we're running with the wind to our back when we're on offense.

When healthy, the Magic are easily a top-5 defense in the NBA.

JT was outstanding

They should have played the bench more

 

[realityball]

Orlando shut their 3s down mostly by closing in on the perimeter passing … I don’t think we’ll see that and an ability to also close the lanes as much as the Magic did

 

[Gman]

Orlando shut their 3s down mostly by closing in on the perimeter passing … I don’t think we’ll see that and an ability to also close the lanes as much as the Magic did

The Knicks aren't soft or anything like that... but compared to the Magic, they got weak links on the defensive end that we should be able to exploit.

Our offense should feel like they're running with the wind to their back after that Orlando series.

 

[realityball]

Our offense should feel like they're running with the wind to their back after that Orlando series.

Until the Orlando series, I thought the best way to beat the Celtics would be a good defense to throw them off … not so sure now … now I think it would be up to each sides offense: whether the Cs can keep up with an opponent on fire … as we know can happen here on out

 

[realityball]

I’m hearing the Celts could be beaten by the knicks if one of their two stars misses some games …
I think they’re deeper than that … here’s my homer take on who they could do without for 2 games per series and still win:
Knick’s: Tatum
Cavs: Brown
Thunder: Porzingis

mic drops … rolls off stage … shatters

 

[realityball]

I’m hearing the Celts could be beaten by the knicks if one of their two stars misses some games …
I think they’re deeper than that … here’s my homer take on who they could do without for 2 games per series and still win:
Knick’s: Tatum
Cavs: Brown
Thunder: Porzingis

mic drops … rolls off stage … shatters

^^ that went from dumb to stupid

 

[realityball]

well … that’s all folks

I’ve seen most of the 18 champions and for some reason I liked this one as much as the ‘86 team … I wish they had a longer run for themselves

 

[Black Adam]

^^ that went from dumb to stupid

Least you were man enough to own it...

 

[Gman]

Tough way to go out.

Not only losing to an inferior team in the mere conference semifinals, but losing Tatum for all of the '25'26 season.

Yet... not unsurprising, either. The championship year will likely go down as the exception, getting outworked by a mentally tougher team in the playoffs is more the rule.

Now with Tatum out an entire season... we go from defending Champions at the very top of the league to facing a semi-rebuild.

Guys like Porzingis, Holiday and even Derrick White aren't getting any younger... but they've all got big salaries and we probably can't afford all 3 anymore. Horford is about to turn 39 and a UFA.

--------

In the end... we're probably lucky to have gotten 1 NBA Championship in the Tatum/Brown years.

 

[The Q]

Tough way to go out.

Not only losing to an inferior team in the mere conference semifinals, but losing Tatum for all of the '25'26 season.

Yet... not unsurprising, either. The championship year will go down as the exception, getting outworked by a mentally tougher team in the playoffs is more the rule.

Now with Tatum out an entire season... we go from defending Champions at the very top of the league to facing a semi-rebuild.

Guys like Porzingis, Holiday and even Derrick White aren't getting any younger... but they've all got big salaries and we probably can't afford all 3 anymore. Horford is about to turn 39 and a UFA.

--------

In the end... we're probably lucky to have gotten 1 NBA Championship in the Tatum/Brown years.

Lucky is the wrong wonder for underachieving

But I think white is a real risk to get traded

He is gonna be 32 the next time they play meaningful basketball

It’s a good time to sell high, especially with a pick frozen

Zinger and jrue also gotta go

 

[Gman]

Lucky is the wrong wonder for underachieving

But I think white is a real risk to get traded

He is gonna be 32 the next time they play meaningful basketball

It’s a good time to sell high, especially with a pick frozen

Zinger and jrue also gotta go

I tend to agree... 3 out of 4 if not 4 out of 4 of Zinger/White/Holiday/Horford should be gone next season...

... simply put: it makes no sense to try to put the band back together when the lead singer is gonna be out.

 

[Wamu]

Tough way to go out.

Not only losing to an inferior team in the mere conference semifinals, but losing Tatum for all of the '25'26 season.

Yet... not unsurprising, either. The championship year will likely go down as the exception, getting outworked by a mentally tougher team in the playoffs is more the rule.

Now with Tatum out an entire season... we go from defending Champions at the very top of the league to facing a semi-rebuild.

Guys like Porzingis, Holiday and even Derrick White aren't getting any younger... but they've all got big salaries and we probably can't afford all 3 anymore. Horford is about to turn 39 and a UFA.

--------

In the end... we're probably lucky to have gotten 1 NBA Championship in the Tatum/Brown years.

One title's better than none. Will Joe be back or will he be gone too?

 

[Wamu]

well … that’s all folks

I’ve seen most of the 18 champions and for some reason I liked this one as much as the ‘86 team … I wish they had a longer run for themselves

My favorite Celtics titles are the ones when they beat the purple 'n gold. And while I have nothing to back this up I still say L.A. cheated in '85, '87 and '10.