2023-24 NBA Thread

[Dish]

Haliburton last minute of regulation:

-Terrible step back fade away 3, with 15 left on shot clock

-Dribbles ball off his leg, leads to Pacer turnover

-Barely tries to get open on side inbounds pass

-Whatever that last terrible possession was

[MuggsyB]

This will be a quick series.  Pacers lost their opportunity. 

[PGsHeroes32]

Hailburton

Your table among the greats...........aint ready.

[MuggsyB]

Hailburton

Your table among the greats...........aint ready.

Carlisle also deserves some blame. 

[PGsHeroes32]

Pacers fans should be physically ill

That was their chance to make it a series early. Meltdown.

[MuggsyB]

Pacers fans should be physically ill

That was their chance to make it a series early. Meltdown.

I thought that rebound foul on Siakam (that was reviewed) changed everything.  But your point is well taken. You can't lose a game like that.  Unmitigated disaster is accurate. 

[tower912]

Is it an unmitigated disaster for Celtics fans?   What if you don't have a rooting interest and don't bet?     It was an exciting  game.   

[MuggsyB]

Is it an unmitigated disaster for Celtics fans?   What if you don't have a rooting interest and don't bet?     It was an exciting  game.

I am rooting for Indians.  It was a cataclysmic disaster to throw away a game like that Tower.  Can't happen.  Carlisle does some dumb things btw. 

[The Sultan]

Indiana went down 1-0 to the Bucks.  2-0 to the Knicks.

I know that was a brutal ending, and that the Celtics may win the series, but there is a long way to go.

[MU82]

If Halliburton doesn't lose concentration and kick the ball out of bounds late in regulation, Indiana wins that game. That he did the exact same thing late in OT was stunning.

Plenty of things happened that had nothing to do with Carlisle, the refs, etc, to cost the Pacers the game.

When your best player effs up royally doing the simplest of tasks (simple for an NBA All-Star, anyway), that's how you lose.

[The Sultan]

Carlisle is a very good coach. Let's not get silly here.

[MuggsyB]

Carlisle is a very good coach. Let's not get silly here.

He definitely should have fouled that possession imo.  I hope you're right but I think Indy is in severe trouble.  Tatum did not play particularly well yesterday.  The Pacers are an explosive offensive team but they can't really guard and can kick tbe ball away.  Not being able to in bound the ball, up 3, with 8.5 secs left, just cannot happen.  It's Wojoesque regardless of the fact that Brown was pulling on a jersey.

[BM1090]

He definitely should have fouled that possession imo.  I hope you're right but I think Indy is in severe trouble.  Tatum did not play particularly well yesterday.  The Pacers are an explosive offensive team but they can't really guard and can kick tbe ball away.  Not being able to in bound the ball, up 3, with 8.5 secs left, just cannot happen.  It's Wojoesque regardless of the fact that Brown was pulling on a jersey.

I don't watch Boston religiously, but probably do 10-15 times per year. That is always how Tatum plays when I see him. Talented shot maker, good defender, maddening shot selection. Sometimes the shots go in. He might shoot better, but I don't think he'll play better. That's his game.

[JWags85]

I don't watch Boston religiously, but probably do 10-15 times per year. That is always how Tatum plays when I see him. Talented shot maker, good defender, maddening shot selection. Sometimes the shots go in. He might shoot better, but I don't think he'll play better. That's his game.

I feel like 90% of their end of clock situations is a Tatum iso, and not a particularly good one.  Ive been with friends who have bets on 1H or quarter totals and its 1-2 points shy, Boston comes down with 20 seconds left and the possession results in an off balance or turnaround jumper from Tatum and they lose their minds.  Its part of the reason I don't think very highly of Mazulla.  He just has a supremely talented roster, but I rarely see any impressive tactical coaching.  And like you said, Tatum really feels like he's plateaued.  Insanely talented shot maker but I struggle to ever see him as a top 3-5 guy in the league the way he plays.

[MuggsyB]

If I'm not mistaken, the Pacers had a time out before they inbounded the ball with 8.5 secs.  I believe they could have advanced the ball, but does anyone know for sure? 

[The Sultan]

Pairing this Celtics roster with Joe Mazulla is really a questionable decision.

[MuggsyB]

I feel like 90% of their end of clock situations is a Tatum iso, and not a particularly good one.  Ive been with friends who have bets on 1H or quarter totals and its 1-2 points shy, Boston comes down with 20 seconds left and the possession results in an off balance or turnaround jumper from Tatum and they lose their minds.  Its part of the reason I don't think very highly of Mazulla.  He just has a supremely talented roster, but I rarely see any impressive tactical coaching.  And like you said, Tatum really feels like he's plateaued.  Insanely talented shot maker but I struggle to ever see him as a top 3-5 guy in the league the way he plays.

Tatum has the propensity to launch contested 3's in iso ball situations.  It's not the percentage play.  The guy is 6'10 and has the ability to play consistently closer to the rim.  He's strong enough to punish guards on switches inside.  It was interesting that until the tying shot and overtime, Brown and Tatum were pretty awful in the 4Q. 

[PGsHeroes32]

Tatum has the propensity to launch contested 3's in iso ball situations.  It's not the percentage play.  The guy is 6'10 and has the ability to play consistently closer to the rim.  He's strong enough to punish guards on switches inside.  It was interesting that until the tying shot and overtime, Brown and Tatum were pretty awful in the 4Q.

Tatum was even meh early OT too. Was saved on one bad pass. Had the brutal TO to Haliburton and missed a shot or two. Got going late with that And 1.

Just doesn't seem to have that consistent alpha in him. This Celtics roster is stacked enough and the east blows enough, it might still get him a ring tho.

[MU82]

If I'm not mistaken, the Pacers had a time out before they inbounded the ball with 8.5 secs.  I believe they could have advanced the ball, but does anyone know for sure?

They did, and Carlisle later expressed regret that he didn't use it.

I feel like 90% of their end of clock situations is a Tatum iso, and not a particularly good one.  Ive been with friends who have bets on 1H or quarter totals and its 1-2 points shy, Boston comes down with 20 seconds left and the possession results in an off balance or turnaround jumper from Tatum and they lose their minds.  Its part of the reason I don't think very highly of Mazulla.  He just has a supremely talented roster, but I rarely see any impressive tactical coaching.  And like you said, Tatum really feels like he's plateaued.  Insanely talented shot maker but I struggle to ever see him as a top 3-5 guy in the league the way he plays.

Agree about Mazulla - very unimpressive in-game coach. But he did run a nice play to free Brown up for the tying 3, so credit where it's due. And maybe (I don't know, just thinking out loud), he's good at managing egos and some of the other important stuff that good coaches do well.

[MUfan12]

Agree about Mazulla - very unimpressive in-game coach. But he did run a nice play to free Brown up for the tying 3, so credit where it's due.

True, but if Indiana just switches that screen it's not as clean of a catch.

[MuggsyB]

They did, and Carlisle later expressed regret that he didn't use it.

Agree about Mazulla - very unimpressive in-game coach. But he did run a nice play to free Brown up for the tying 3, so credit where it's due. And maybe (I don't know, just thinking out loud), he's good at managing egos and some of the other important stuff that good coaches do well.

Then that was just a horrible mistake and inexplicable frankly. 

[MU82]

True, but if Indiana just switches that screen it's not as clean of a catch.

Sure. But you can say similar about any play that works: "If only the defense ... "

[PGsHeroes32]

There can't possibly be a worse player in the NBA than Kyle Anderson. Incredible this dude still plays.

[MuggsyB]

There can't possibly be a worse player in the NBA than Kyle Anderson. Incredible this dude still plays.

He just hit a shot.

[MuggsyB]

Two shots.