The NBA

[WestPhillyPunisher]

The Heat took the lead in the second quarter and never gave it up, even turning the game into a rout in the fourth quarter. Jimmy Buckets returned to playoff form while Jayson Tatum was only a shell of himself after appearing to have turned an ankle on the first play of the game and was a non-factor the rest of the way.

[Surf]

Ok, so Boston, for which this iteration is it for them collectively, REALLY only won 1 game in the Easter Semis. The Game 6 White miracle I still am blown away by, they played pretty well but Butler's absence spoke more to that. He let that game pass by for what reason I'm not really sure. Game 4 was the only convincing Celtics win all things considered. The rest of the series they were dusted, 3-times in Boston. Tatum's ankle only effected the end of the series and he's have needed 40 to keep up with Gabe and his friends anydamnway.

Jaylen Brown really let me down this series, the early shots and turnovers, cmon bruh. Good luck to him on his next team. I'm looking forward to these Finals.

[Scott Taylor]

Should be a vey good finals. I'm looking forward to having these two teams in there. On paper, the Nuggets should win but I've never been a big fan of paper. The pundits seem to mostly be picking the Nuggets also and they are favored by the Vegas odds.

So I'm going with the Heat. Lets not forget that the Godfather is behind their success. Don't count out team Michael Corleone!

[babyblob]

I thought the series was over when the Heat were up 3-0. But Boston came back. I didnt think they would pull it out but they gave me a scare for a couple of games.

[Deathstroke]

Warriors GM/president Bob Myers is leaving the team at the end of his contract. Article Link

[WestPhillyPunisher]

So, did Boston’s near completed comeback save Joe Mazzulla’s job?

[MRP]

So, did Boston’s near completed comeback save Joe Mazzulla’s job?

Celts didn't lose because of Mazulla. They lost for the same reasons they lost last season, Brown has nights where he does things like sets a team record for turnovers in game 7 and almost tied the NBA record for it while shooting around 33% from the floor, and nights where their stars, Tatum and Brown shoot under 40% from the floor for the entire night. If you look at those 2 players' percentage in games 1-3 and 7, it's horrendous. In the games where it is at or near 50% of better, they win going away. As long as those two are the players carrying the team, they will live or die on their shooting percentage, not the coaching. Those two also stop playing defense when they are shooting poorly, which exacerbates things. They did it under Udoka last season too, so its not the coaching, and replacing Mazzula won't change it either. They won't change their roster, so they have to blame the coach, I get it, but firing Mazzula won't change the core issue with the team.

Udoka tried to fix it by focusing on defense and size with the rest of the players on the floor, and they got to the finals but fell short. Mazzula tried to address it by adding speed and 3 point shooting with the rest of the players on the floor, and they got to the Eastern Conference finals and fell short. Udoka's fix got them one more series, but in the end it didn't fix the team's fatal flaw. Nether did Mazzula. A new coach will try something different, but if it doesn't change that fatal flaw at the heart of the Celts' make up, it won't make a difference. When they shoot bad and Tatum and Brown are sulking and losing focus because of it, good teams can beat them. You only play good teams in the playoffs and Tatum and Brown are too inconsistent not to have bad shooting nights often enough in a series that they can be beat by those good teams. When they are at the top of their game, Tatum and Brown are elite, but all too often one or both don't show up in top form. If it's only one, the other is often good enough with the supporting cast to still win on many nights. When it's both, like in games1-3 and 7, no coach is going to salvage a victory with that team if their playing a quality opponent.

-M

[WestPhillyPunisher]

Celts didn't lose because of Mazulla. They lost for the same reasons they lost last season, Brown has nights where he does things like sets a team record for turnovers in game 7 and almost tied the NBA record for it while shooting around 33% from the floor, and nights where their stars, Tatum and Brown shoot under 40% from the floor for the entire night. If you look at those 2 players' percentage in games 1-3 and 7, it's horrendous. In the games where it is at or near 50% of better, they win going away. As long as those two are the players carrying the team, they will live or die on their shooting percentage, not the coaching. Those two also stop playing defense when they are shooting poorly, which exacerbates things. They did it under Udoka last season too, so its not the coaching, and replacing Mazzula won't change it either. They won't change their roster, so they have to blame the coach, I get it, but firing Mazzula won't change the core issue with the team.

Udoka tried to fix it by focusing on defense and size with the rest of the players on the floor, and they got to the finals but fell short. Mazzula tried to address it by adding speed and 3 point shooting with the rest of the players on the floor, and they got to the Eastern Conference finals and fell short. Udoka's fix got them one more series, but in the end it didn't fix the team's fatal flaw. Nether did Mazzula. A new coach will try something different, but if it doesn't change that fatal flaw at the heart of the Celts' make up, it won't make a difference. When they shoot bad and Tatum and Brown are sulking and losing focus because of it, good teams can beat them. You only play good teams in the playoffs and Tatum and Brown are too inconsistent not to have bad shooting nights often enough in a series that they can be beat by those good teams. When they are at the top of their game, Tatum and Brown are elite, but all too often one or both don't show up in top form. If it's only one, the other is often good enough with the supporting cast to still win on many nights. When it's both, like in games1-3 and 7, no coach is going to salvage a victory with that team if their playing a quality opponent.

-M

All that said, I understand Brown is up for a big deal in his next contract. Will the Celts give it to him, taking into account his deficiencies?

[Scott Taylor]

Yah I think they let Brown go and make this into Tatum's team. The other way ain't working. The Heat have had an historical run and the Celtics were their latest victims, but lets face it the Celtics screwed the pooch on that entire series. Brown would benefit from a move, too, I think.

[Hiromi]

I mean it's a fairly simple question, do you believe you can build a championship team around Tatum and Brown when they're taking up 110 million of your cap, which is what you'd have to pay when Tatum opts out of his player option after the 24-25 season, keep in mind that the new CBA is draconian for teams over the cap. So I think you do want to bring Brown back but ONLY if he accepts less than his max, which given the relationship between him and Boston doesn't look especially good(and why would it after using him as trade bait for the last several offseasons) good luck on that

[Deathstroke]

The Detroit Pistons are going to be hiring Monty Williams as their next head coach. Article Link

[babyblob]

Finals start tonight. Im picking Nuggets to win in 6.

[Kirby101]

I think Jokic and Butler will play to expectations and it will come down to the guys around them.

[MRP]

Celtics Brad Stevens said today Mazzula will return as coach next season. However, three of his assistants are leaving to join Udoka's staff in Houston.

-M

[JT221]

Finals start tonight. Im picking Nuggets to win in 6.

I will honestly be surprised if the series takes longer than five games. That said, Miami has been surprising. Maybe they have one more left.