If anybody remembers when Boston played the Nets they made it difficult for Kyrie and Durant to score. They did score mind you but the FG% was woeful for both of them.
The Cs had a bad game as far as shooting the ball in game 2 esp from deep and still led by as many as 14.. If they get back on track offensively the rest of the series could look more like game 1. The one thing that has been consistent is Boston's defense and that is good enough to keep them in games. The only way I see Dallas coming back is if Kyrie and Luka start playing a bit more of a complete game. Teams who don't play or at least contribute at some point to both sides of the ball don't win rings
I'm expecting Dallas to come back strongly; no way Irving shoots that badly 3 times in a row, and Luka will make adjustments to bring his team mates into the game on offence. The big worry for the Mavs is defence. Luka must be hurt - he does not look great in defence and the Celtics are ruthlessly targeting him; look back on so many of the Celtics' scoring plays, and they happen when Tatum or Brown go past Luka like he's a revolving door. Against OKC and the T-Wolves, Luka played much better defence and he could effectively be "hidden" in match ups (especially against the T-Wolves, where Gobert is basically just a "screen" in offence and Lively and Gafford could just clog up the paint and not guard the perimeter). The Celtics' all round scoring power means you just can't leave anyone open, and they adjusted superbly to an inside game when the 3's weren't falling in game 2. Expect desperation , a Luka masterclass and much better from Irving in Game 2; whether it will be enough remains to be seen, and imagine if Tatum's scoring finally comes good in this game!
One of the enduring and eternal traits of the early Bill Russell/Havlicek era and later was very good team chemistry, selfless play always without any egocentric nonsense. Everyone played a crucial role in so many little and big ways without being stars or shooting lights out on offense.
Kyrie should have kept his big mouth shut after bragging about outplaying the T-wolves Anthony the 'Ant Man' and him not being able to defend him. Karma is always waiting in the wings to be summoned to lower the boom on prideful people.
Dwhite and Jrue playing like hungry wolves in this series. This Celtics is scary not only in this season but in the coming years. But the most impressive for me in this series is Cs discipline of sticking to game plan strategy no matter what happens and never overreact even if mavs made a run and not fouling.
The best playmaker in the playoffs? well, if you're the best playmaker then, why isn't it winning you chips? more like the best ballhog. The rules have been watered down in the league for players from East Europe like him to thrive. He's slow, it's almost like he's playing in slowmotion. He's not agile, not athletic & little to no d. If only he played during the 80-90's, nobody will know who he is. He doesn't have my respect & never will because he's too consumed with being a superstar & desperately trying to prove he can hold his own in a league dominated by brothas but, such mindset wasn't what got Dirk the chip. This one never gets his teammate involved, they built that great-white-hope team around him & this is where it's gotten them.
perfectly broken-down! they don't understand its not about Luka vs Tatum or Kyrie Vs Brown. Nobody on that Dallas Team can or will out-work White & Holiday
The best part of watching all these highlights and breakdowns is rewatching Luka throwing his hands up when the guy HE'S SUPPOSED TO BE GUARDING scores hahahahaha.. He can't play defense good enough
Tatum was 1 rebound from a triple double.. Boston is up 2-0 right now because Celtics defense and the fact that the "best duo in history" from Dallas CANNOT PLAY DEFENSE
Not surprising at all. Doncic & Kyrie's kindergarten D without any good 3 & D complementary players with a coach not known for his D is supposed to find it difficult to beat a team that has top 7 guys all switchable with top 5 all defensive level players and can pass and shoot 3s
Well y'all saw the fact that during the game when the Mavericks were picking up speed and regaining momentum the refs came in and shut them down With one call after another of ridiculous fouls
When Kyrie starts hitting those jump shots Dallas starts winning. Yes Holiday and White are great defenders but Kyrie missed a lot of good opportunities which he normally makes even with good defense.
The best back court in history baby Bird lmao Larry is AMERICAN we built different over here don't ever compare this guy with pedestrian defense to Larry legend. Bird was a whole athlete fast and he can jump this is a fat guy that can't get touched or it's a foul literally taking practice shots in a game
They had KP/ Horford on the perimeter, forcing Lively/ Gafford out of the paint and put Jrue in the dunker spot. This softened Dallas's rim defense, allowing Tatum and Brown to drive over and over, but Jrue is such a capable paint player, the Celtics didn't anything on post offense.
Spot on; a great adjustment by Boston when the 3's weren't falling, and testament to Tatum that he didn't ignore Jrue in favour of keeping on shooting to discover shooting form.
