2019 Playoffs: (4) Boston vs. (5) Indiana

[Lamrock]

Bet you thought I'd forget this year. Ha!

This match-up is set in stone for the first round, and I believe the Celtics have secured home court as well. In this showdown between the league's second most disappointing team and a scrappy young(ish) squad missing its best player, this series likely comes down to which side will be able to outscore the other four times out of seven.

I've got Boston in 5. While they've struggled quite a bit this year, they still have the talent to compete with anyone in the East, and Hayward seems to be returning to form. The Pacers didn't seem to miss a beat at first after Oladipo's injury, but have regressed to the mean and have been pretty bad in recent weeks. While it's hard to say which Celtics team we'll see in the post-season, I think they handle Indiana with a gentleman's sweep.

[JaoSming]

I predict strugs

[Andrew]

I'll go with Celtics in 5 as well. I don't see Indiana winning the series, but they're scrappy enough to take a game from a team that hasn't lived up to expectations this year.

[Kevin]

Bet you thought I'd forget this year. Ha!

I missed y'all.

Hayward having this resurgence this late in the season is fucking scary. Teams basically are going into the playoffs trying to play him game by game. Hard to root against the Celtics right now versus the Pacers BUT the Pacers have shown that they're a scrappy and resilient team after Oladipo went down. No way this goes to 6 games, though. Celtics in 5 with at least 1 Boston win going down to the wire.

[Dee4Three]

C's in 6.

[Kevin]

C's in 6.

Almost went with this prediction after convincing myself that one of Boston's wins is going down the wire. What do you think would be the reason why the Pacers would get 2 games off of the Celtics? Feel like a Myles Turner tip in would be it or maybe a Bogdanovic explosion lol.

[Dee4Three]

C's in 6.

Almost went with this prediction after convincing myself that one of Boston's wins is going down the wire. What do you think would be the reason why the Pacers would get 2 games off of the Celtics? Feel like a Myles Turner tip in would be it or maybe a Bogdanovic explosion lol.

The Pacers are an effort team, just like the Clippers. Where they lack in superstar power (Because Oladipo went down), they make up for with grit, determination, and overall high IQ basketball. I believe the C's could drop a couple games based on either being complacent/cocky, or just overall not getting more of the 50/50 balls, and getting beat on the boards. Celtics will have hands full with Sabonis/Young/Turner, all three guys who can score on the block and extend the floor (Sabonis is good from mid), and they are scrappy as hell on defense.

The high effort teams are the ones who have made the Celtics look a little foolish this season at times, not the teams with superstar power. I've watched the Celtics a lot this season, and the defense has looked very poor at times. Teams running them into the ground on the break, players not getting out to shooters, etc.

Yes, it's the playoffs. Yes, the Celtics sense of urgency and intensity will be higher. However, practice makes perfect, and practice of poor effort and bad habits can also be hard to get rid of.

[air gordon]

Pacers are reminiscent of celtics team last year. great story. boyan been on a great run. have doubts he can sustain it in playoff bball and against a Brad stevens coached team.

Celtics win

[shadowgrin]

Celtics with blowout wins. Nate McMillan is a terrible coach.

[[Q]]

Fuck Boston. Pacers sweep in 3.

[I Hate Mondays]

Celtics in 7. That struggle they had during the season will be in the first round too. Indiana is a young, motivated team with great chemistry. I can see them pulling the upset.
This will be Celtics' doom or wake up call. It will be close nevertheless.

[Dee4Three]

Brad shortening the rotations makes us look and operate like a completely different team.

Seeing Kyrie coming in at around the 8 minute mark in the 4th instead of the 5 minute mark, seeing Tatum/Horford out there for most of the 4th, and Jaylen Brown being used more than Marcus Morris, are all things that would have had us winning many more games during the regular season. Myself and others have been clamoring all season for Brad to do this, as we have lost a bunch of close games because of the wrong people being on the floor for extended amounts of time. I understand it, it's the regular season.... but it didn't make it sting any less.

Playoff Tatum is back, and is showing some serious maturity already. A key pass with his head up to seal the game (To Hayward), a corner three on a pass from Brown after he had just missed two (Confidence, balls), a couple key late drives/dunks. Jaylen Brown (only a year or so older than Tatum), locking up Thaddeus Young in the post on multiple possessions because of switches, tipping rebounds to himself (He had like 4 or 5 boards in the 4th). Rozier playing mature, turnover-free and unselfish basketball (Finally), etc. The young guys playing mature basketball beyond there years makes a huge difference. It elevated my hope for this team.

Kyrie looking up at Brad around the 9 minute mark of the 4th like "PUT ME IN DAMMIT" because he so badly wants to be apart of the game, seeing him lead the team the way he did, also gives me quite a bit of hope. His ability to hit clutch shots is well known, but his leadership will go a long way with helping this team win. We looked like a team that wanted to win for eachother and for the fans, as opposed to a team going through the motions, or playing selfish basketball.

Yes, the Pacers are missing Oladipo. But those behaviors, the maturity shown, the emotion, etc can carry into the later rounds.

Hoping we end this in a sweep.

Go Celtics.

[Andrew]

A sweep it is.

[air gordon]

excellent. boston gets its mojo back in time for a great 2nd round matchup