2023-24 NBA Thread

[MU82]

Good to see the Celtics wearing their classic home whites with green trim.

Not sure exactly when it happened or why, but over the last X years more and more NBA and NHL home teams have opted to wear their dark (formerly road) uniforms at home.

It's not a big deal. It doesn't "matter." But I liked the Celtics in white last night.

[lawdog77]

Good to see the Celtics wearing their classic home whites with green trim.

Not sure exactly when it happened or why, but over the last X years more and more NBA and NHL home teams have opted to wear their dark (formerly road) uniforms at home.

It's not a big deal. It doesn't "matter." But I liked the Celtics in white last night.

Many in Boston like their Celtics white as well.

[MU82]

Naturally.

[MuggsyB]

Kyrie has lost 11 straight in Boston. 

[MuggsyB]

Luka may need 55 tonight. 

[PGsHeroes32]

Dallas gonna need a player not named Luka to realize the NBA finals are going on

[MuggsyB]

Not a good sign that Boston is 4-25:from three but up 10. 

[tower912]

It is for Boston.

[PGsHeroes32]

That was the back breaker

[MuggsyB]

Kyrie may nor be the most talented player in the history of the NBA.  What a bizarre comment from Lebron. 

[MuggsyB]

Porzingas may be hurt.  Dallas still has time to get their heads out of their asses. 

[MuggsyB]

Holiday just slammed the door.  3 consecutive plays.

[Tyler COLEk]

The media and "export analysis" around the NBA Finals has felt like one insane fever dream. The Mavericks cannot match up with the Celtics at virtually any position. This might be the biggest talent mismatch of any Finals in decades. And the Celtics have a much better coach (and organization) to boot.

Special shout out to ESPN/ABC for incessantly pushing the "Luka/Kyrie greatest scoring backcourt duo ever" + "Kyrie one of the few greatest scoring guards ever" narratives. Both humiliatingly absurd takes from an organization producing pitiful broadcast after pitiful broadcast for one of the greatest sporting events in the world.

[BM1090]

The media and "export analysis" around the NBA Finals has felt like one insane fever dream. The Mavericks cannot match up with the Celtics at virtually any position. This might be the biggest talent mismatch of any Finals in decades. And the Celtics have a much better coach (and organization) to boot.

Special shout out to ESPN/ABC for incessantly pushing the "Luka/Kyrie greatest scoring backcourt duo ever" + "Kyrie one of the few greatest scoring guards ever" narratives. Both humiliatingly absurd takes from an organization producing pitiful broadcast after pitiful broadcast for one of the greatest sporting events in the world.

Agree with most of this, but Mazulla is a bad coach. His guys love him so he is doing something right, but an Xs and Os perspective he's one of the worst in the league from what I've read.

[Tyler COLEk]

Agree with most of this, but Mazulla is a bad coach. His guys love him so he is doing something right, but an Xs and Os perspective he's one of the worst in the league from what I've read.

I've watched ~80 Celtics games this year and that simply isn't true. I think that's something the media expects/wants because he's so young, wasn't originally intended to be the Celtics HC, etc. I was a skeptic of his last year too, but he's improved significantly across the board. Game planning, in-game adjustments, play calling, huddles, plays out of timeouts, lineups, even challenges are all solid to great. I'm not sure how you could watch the Celtics this postseason (especially these two Finals games) and not be impressed with the game planning in particular. No doubt he benefits from the most talented roster in the NBA, but keeping star-laden teams focused and together is a key characteristic of great coaches.

My original comment was also about bad Jason Kidd is. I think he's brutal. I'd take Mazzulla over him any day of the week.

[BM1090]

I've watched ~80 Celtics games this year and that simply isn't true. I think that's something the media expects/wants because he's so young, wasn't originally intended to be the Celtics HC, etc. I was a skeptic of his last year too, but he's improved significantly across the board. Game planning, in-game adjustments, play calling, huddles, plays out of timeouts, lineups, even challenges are all solid to great. I'm not sure how you could watch the Celtics this postseason (especially these two Finals games) and not be impressed with the game planning in particular. No doubt he benefits from the most talented roster in the NBA, but keeping star-laden teams focused and together is a key characteristic of great coaches.

My original comment was also about bad Jason Kidd is. I think he's brutal. I'd take Mazzulla over him any day of the week.

Interesting. I'll take your word for it and try to watch them more.

[MU82]

I've watched ~80 Celtics games this year and that simply isn't true. I think that's something the media expects/wants because he's so young, wasn't originally intended to be the Celtics HC, etc. I was a skeptic of his last year too, but he's improved significantly across the board. Game planning, in-game adjustments, play calling, huddles, plays out of timeouts, lineups, even challenges are all solid to great. I'm not sure how you could watch the Celtics this postseason (especially these two Finals games) and not be impressed with the game planning in particular. No doubt he benefits from the most talented roster in the NBA, but keeping star-laden teams focused and together is a key characteristic of great coaches.

My original comment was also about bad Jason Kidd is. I think he's brutal. I'd take Mazzulla over him any day of the week.

During the playoffs at least (which are all the Celtics games I've seen), Mazzulla has had a good feel for when to call time-outs. Almost every time, Boston is reeling a bit when he calls them, and then plays much better after they get back on the court.

People form early perceptions and those can be hard to shake. If last year's playoff collapse was largely Mazzulla's fault, shouldn't he get at least some credit for what's happening this year?

[The Sultan]

During the playoffs at least (which are all the Celtics games I've seen), Mazzulla has had a good feel for when to call time-outs. Almost every time, Boston is reeling a bit when he calls them, and then plays much better after they get back on the court.

People form early perceptions and those can be hard to shake. If last year's playoff collapse was largely Mazzulla's fault, shouldn't he get at least some credit for what's happening this year?

Sure. However I don't think Boston could have asked for a more fortunate road given their health and everyone else's key injuries. This is probably the least compelling NBA playoffs I have seen for a long while.

[MuggsyB]

Sure. However I don't think Boston could have asked for a more fortunate road given their health and everyone else's key injuries. This is probably the least compelling NBA playoffs I have seen for a long while.

It certainly hasn't been compelling since the 2nd rd. 

[The Sultan]

It certainly hasn't been compelling since the 2nd rd. 

And even the two game 7s in that round were pretty dull.

[MuggsyB]

And even the two game 7s in that round were pretty dull.

Ya....really the only good series has been Dallas/OKC. 

[MU82]

Sure. However I don't think Boston could have asked for a more fortunate road given their health and everyone else's key injuries.

All you can do is play the teams on your schedule. Boston also had a major injury and nonetheless kept winning.

Meanwhile ...

Jrue Holiday has 38 points and zero turnovers in the Finals so far. He had 26 points and 11 rebounds last night, and played his usual brand of in-your-face D.

He also had this exchange with a reporter during the post-game press conference:

Reporter: "If Jaylen and Jayson are the superstars on this team, what's your role? And if you're gonna be the team's leading scorer, leading rebounder and shoot the highest percentage in Game 2 of the Finals, why aren't you a superstar, as well?"

Holiday: "I'm a utility guy. I'll do whatever. I'm here to win. ... At the end of the day, this is their team. ... The pressure that they have on themselves to execute and to be great is a little bit different than my pressure. I've always been honest about that, and how they handle themselves [has] been so honorable. So it's slightly different. They're superstars and I'm here to support."

‌Can't help but love that attitude. What a great pickup he was by the Celtics.

[The Sultan]

All you can do is play the teams on your schedule.

Right. But my point is that these playoffs are not really a great example of Mazulla's in-game coaching acumen. He may have grown into the role, but they haven't gotten a great test from anyone.

[MU82]

Right. But my point is that these playoffs are not really a great example of Mazulla's in-game coaching acumen. He may have grown into the role, but they haven't gotten a great test from anyone.

Understood. I'm a "benefit of the doubt" kind of guy, so I'll give him some credit. But sure, he hasn't stood the test of time yet.

[Tyler COLEk]

During the playoffs at least (which are all the Celtics games I've seen), Mazzulla has had a good feel for when to call time-outs. Almost every time, Boston is reeling a bit when he calls them, and then plays much better after they get back on the court.

This is an example of his improvement year-over-year. He was really bad using timeouts last season. He was stubborn and tried to let them team play through too many rough patches. Way better this season. The timeout he used when the Celtics were chaotically advancing the ball in transition last night (in the 3rd?) was probably the most impactful TO I've seen a coach use this postseason. I don't mean to sound hyperbolic, but this stuff does matter.