2018 PLAYOFFS: (2) Boston vs. (4) Cleveland

[Lamrock]

After a promising first round, the playoffs have come to a screeching halt with none of the second round series going more than five games. Now, the only thing between LeBron James and an eighth straight NBA Finals berth is a scrappy Boston Celtics team missing two of its three all-star players.

I want to believe in the Celtics, I really do. But as much of a demigod coach Brad Stevens is, I don't see him getting his guys past a Cavs team finally hitting its stride. I think Kevin Love will pick up LeBron's dry-cleaning, and the Cavs will roll to the NBA Finals in five... fuck it, six games.

[Andrew]

I'd love to see the Celtics' run continue, but I'm picking the Cavs in 5.

[SoF'nAwesome]

Celts in 7 tbh

[Dee4Three]

Celtics in 7.

The balanced attack, and more length than last year, will hopefully put them over the edge.

I like Brads defensive schemes, and I like the number of players the C's have that can create there own shots.

Let's go Celtics.

[Sauru]

no way the celtics are getting by lebron without kyrie and gordan. great season all around but its ending in 6

[JaoSming]

GSW v CLE until...........







......BOSTON IN 7

[SoF'nAwesome]

no way the celtics are getting by lebron without kyrie and gordan. great season all around but its ending in 6

hey man how are you?

[NovU]

Cavs in 4.



lmao, lucky bron doesn't get to face a better team in 76ers.

[shadowgrin]

Not surprised that the Cavs and Celtics made it to the ECF again without ballhogs Isaiah Thomas and Kyrie Irving.

[Dee4Three]

Cavs in 4.

[ Image ]

lmao, lucky bron doesn't get to face a better team in 76ers.

Salty much

I know you talk around me, and pretend to not acknowledge things I say (Even though you do, just in a different way), but watching you get upset over the Celtics winning the series (4 out of 5 games no less), is really enjoyable. Not only that, stating the better team LOST 4 out of 5 games, is really amusing.

Ill tell you what, if the Cavs sweep the Celtics, I'll buy you one of Arcanes cool NLSC shirts that he sells.

[air gordon]

boston. their wings will play korver off the court and klove should be limited in this series.

i suppose if George hill can beat the odds and stay healthy, the Cavs chances are better

[NovU]

Key match up that interests me the most in this series obviously is LeBoston vs Tatum(& cos). Or will Morris be the primary handler guarding LeBron? I am guessing the latter because I don't think Tatum has toughness and strength not just yet to guard LeBoston. But I am hoping it happens more often than not because this could well be the match up of Current Great vs Future Great, like MJ vs AI, Olajuwon vs Shaq.

How I think it's gonna go down? Here's a hint:

phpBB [video]

[I Hate Mondays]

Cavs in 4 ez series for LeBron. He's already thinking about resting in that junk time when the Cavs lead by 25 at the end of the 3rd

[Dee4Three]

Key match up that interests me the most in this series obviously is LeBoston vs Tatum(& cos). Or will Morris be the primary handler guarding LeBron? I am guessing the latter because I don't think Tatum has toughness and strength not just yet to guard LeBoston. But I am hoping it happens more often than not because this could well be the match up of Current Great vs Future Great, like MJ vs AI, Olajuwon vs Shaq.

How I think it's gonna go down? Here's a hint:

phpBB [video]

So if certain comments can be called "Retarded", its certainly acceptable for me to say the following:

The LeBronto, LeBoston, LeBroston stuff is reserved for those childish "fans" who know very little about the game, or are complete and total fanboys. Like the kid who sits across from me at work who knows the names of maybe 20-25 NBA players, but likes players who have "cool dunks", and only watches the headlines on ESPN. The same type of "fans" (which by the way, the kid who sits across from me did this) who show up to a Celtics game wearing a LeBron James jersey just to get attention, even though he doesn't actually care who wins the game, doesn't even know anything about LeBron, and doesn't really know anything about the NBA in general. NovU, you used that twice in one paragraph... and while I think that you are quite silly with your comments at times, I do actually believe you know about the game more than the people who say LeBronto, LeBoston, and LeBroston. If you get a moment, go look at the people who make those comments on social media (Facebook/Twitter, etc), literally teenagers, young adults, and fanboys. The same who say "Hater" all the time, or "Why are you crying?", etc. I do believe you know more about basketball than these people, so please be better.

In regards to defense, I think the C's will put Semi Ojeleye on him a bit. They had him guarding Giannis quite a bit in the first round, but his minutes went down against Philly because that individual matchup didn't exist for him. I think we may see Jaylen Brown on him a bit as well, he guarded him quite a bit during the regular season matchups. Tatums upper body is strong, his legs are not as strong, so I am slightly worried about his balance in that matchup. However, he keeps surprising me, so who knows.

Here's the link to Arcanes apparel. Make sure to pick out your favorite piece in case of a sweep, you are quite confident that it will happen (Or not, could be just hatred for the C's). Personally, I like the blue NLSC Shorts. I'll purchase one item and ship it to you right after the series.

http://forums.nba-live.com/viewtopic.php?f=147&t=103034

[air gordon]

Wonder who lbj is guarding this series

[Dee4Three]

Wonder who lbj is guarding this series

That is a great point actually.

I wonder if the Celtics will attack him and make him work more on that end, I'm sure Brad has something up his sleeve.

However, in the Raptors series, LeBron was being hid on Anunoby when Anunoby was on the floor. He spent hardly any time on Derozen, and obviously didn't spend time on Lowry. They did that during the regular season as well (Which I pointed out earlier and showed videos of). When CLE played HOU, they had him on Mbah a Moute, in another game they had him on Dante Cunningham, another game they had him on Liggins.... Seldom does he guard the best player. However, in the finals on the biggest stage he couldn't really hide (Especially on a GS team with so many weapons), so he was forced to guard Durant. Which didn't go well. In the Feb 11th game, James spent most of his time on Marcus Morris.

I'd like to see the C's attack him from the get go.

[NovU]

Does it matter? Stevens' offense constantly forces defenders to shuffle like scrambled eggs.

[shadowgrin]

Cavs in 6. LeBron gonna give Brad Stevens PTSD again.

[Sauru]

no way the celtics are getting by lebron without kyrie and gordan. great season all around but its ending in 6

hey man how are you?

living the dream my man. living the dream


but on a more serious note: fuck the lakers

[dwayne2005]

Not surprised that the Cavs and Celtics made it to the ECF again without ballhogs Isaiah Thomas and Kyrie Irving.

Isaiah Thomas was more efficient for the Celtics over a season (62.5% TS in 2016-17) than Michael Jordan ever was for the Bulls (topped at 61.4% TS in 1988-89 but for most seasons was vastly less efficient than that). Or Kobe for the Lakers (topped at 58.0% in 2006-07). Or Bird (topped out at 61.2% in 1986-87). In terms of roughly 30 point per game scorers, if memory serves he was the best in terms of true shooting percentage (for slightly smaller scoring rates, LeBron James and surely Charles Barkley were more efficient). So if any player was justified in scoring so many points in the history of the NBA, it was him! EDIT: Karl Malone had a .1% better TS percentage at 29.3 points per game in 1989-90.

As for Kyrie, Kyrie had a 61% TS percentage and was also equally justified in being the teams scorer. So if you're going to attack them for the coincidence of getting this far into the playoffs, attack them for something else.

The celtics incidentally went 2 and 4 without Isaiah Thomas during the regular season last year. Without Kyrie, the Celtics went 14-8 this year. Both Cleveland and Boston were extremely lucky to get passed the first round this year, something people have already forgotten (in fact, Cleveland may not have gotten through without 6th man of the year: the refs). Even though 2 of the 4 games in Cleveland's second round sweep were decided by a couple of points in their favor (could have easily swung the other way).

[dwayne2005]

I read that fact about Isaiah being the most efficient scorer for a player over 25 points per game and took it as fact (already knew it must be wrong when I read it because of Stephen Curry's 2015-16 but I had selective amnesia). This is the list I came up with:

1. Stephen Curry (Warriors) - 66.9%* in 2015-16 sustained for 30.1 points per game (89.9% win-loss over 79 games)
2. Charles Barkley (76ers) - 66.5% in 1987-88 sustained for 28.3 points per game (43.8% win-loss over 80 games)
3. Kevin McHale (Celtics) - 65.5%* in 1986-87 sustained for 26.1 points per game (71.4% win-loss over 77 games)
4. LeBron James (Heat) - 64.9% in 2013-14 sustained for 27.1 points per game (67.5% win-loss over 77 games)
5. Kevin Durant (Thunder) - 63.5%* in 2013-14 sustained for 32.0 points per game (71.6% win-loss over 81 games)
6. Karl Malone (Jazz) - 62.6% in 1989-90 sustaind for 29.3 points per game (67.1% win-loss over 82 games)
7. Isaiah Thomas (Celtics) - 62.5% in 2016-17 sustained for 28.9 points per game (67.1% win-loss over 76 games)
8. Bernard King (Knicks) - 61.9% in 1983-84 sustained for 26.3* points per game (58.4% win-loss over 77 games)
9. James Harden (Rockets) - 61.9% in 2017-18 sustained for 30.4 points per game (81.9% win-loss over 72 games)
10. David Robinson (Spurs) - 61.5% in 1990-91 sustained for 25.6 points per game (67.1% win-loss over 82 games)
11. Michael Jordan (Bulls) - 61.4% in 1988-89 sustained for 32.5 points per game (58.0% win-loss over 81 games)
12. Larry Bird (Celtics) - 61.2% in 1986-87 sustained for 28.1 points per game (73.0% win-loss over 73 games)
13. Dirk Nowitzki (Mavericks) - 61.2% in 2010-11 sustained for 23.0 points per game (75.3% win-loss over 73 games)
14. Kyrie Irving (Celtics) - 61.0% in 2017-18 sustained for 24.4 points per game (68.3% win-loss over 60 games)
15. Shaquille O'Neal (Magic) - 60.5% in 1992-93 sustained for 29.3 points per game (60.5% win-loss over 81 games)
16. Klay Thompson (Warriors) - 59.7%* in 2015-16 sustained for 22.1 points per game (88.8% win-loss over 80 games)
17. Kevin Love (Timberwolves) - 59.1%* in 2013-14 sustained for 26.1 points per game (50.6% win-loss over 77 games)
18. George Gervin (Spurs) - 58.7%* in 1979-80 sustained for 33.1 points per game (51.3% win-loss over 78 games)
19. Kobe Bryant (Lakers) - 58.0% in 2006-07 sustained for 27.9 points per game (50.6% win-loss over 77 games)
20. Hakeem Olajuwon (Rockets) - 57.7% in 1992-93 sustained for 26.1 points per game (67.1% win-loss over 82 games)
21. Tim Duncan (Spurs) - 57.6% in 2001-02 sustained for 25.5 points per game (70.7% win-loss over 82 games)
22. Dominique Wilkins (Hawks) - 57.0% in 1992-93 sustained for 28.8 points per game (54.9% win-loss over 71 games)
23. Scottie Pippen (Bulls) - 55.5% in 1991-92 sustained for 21.0 points per game (81.7% win-loss over 82 games)
24. Russell Westbrook (Thunder) - 55.4% in 2016-17 sustained for 31.6 points per game (56.8% win-loss over 81 games)

*Curry's peak was 67.5% in 2017-18 and McHale's peak was 65.6% the following season, but they scored about 4 points per game worse so on balance I thought these were better representative seasons. Kevin Durants bests were 64.7% and 65.1% but they were over 6 points per game worse than the given season. Bernard King peaked at 61.9% in 1983-84 but was a significantly better scorer in 1984-85 but I have not included that season since he played only 55 games. George Gervin peaked at 60.4% in 1976-77 but he was about a 10 points per game better scorer in 1979-80. Kevin Love had over 61% this year, but he scored under 18 points per game which is well below the bar I have set here.

He may not have been the most efficient, but the Celtics had one of those players in 2016-17 and you couldn't fault Isaiah for running the offense. I also have a theory great players up their games when teams are jampacked because they need to get their points per game (it may mean they're capable of being even better than they normally are, but they lack motivation). It happened with McHale and LeBron James, and probably Kevin Durant. It might be assumed it has happened with Stephen Curry. In fact, you could easily argue Larry Bird shouldn't have taken so many shots when Kevin McHale was overall a more efficient scorer and they HAD multiple capable scorers, unlike the 2016-17 Celtics.

[Dee4Three]

Looks like it only took one game for NovU's sweep prediction to blow up, and it was quite the convincing win.

Not completely over, but up by 28 with 6 minutes left, certainly over. Crushed them in the first half as well.

Looks like the purchase from Arcanes inventory won't happen. Great job Celtics.

7 turnovers by James, sloppy as hell. Almost got that triple double though

[I Hate Mondays]

[Dee4Three]

5-16 from the floor. Not getting back on defense (staying in the backcourt complaining). Pissed that his plowing/offensive foul junk wasn't getting him defensive fouls, actually got called for traveling (couldn't believe it). A -32 for the game.

Hopefully the officiating stays consistent and he doesn't suddenly shoot 15 free throws in 2 different games like in the Pacers series.

[I Hate Mondays]

I'm honestly taking the Celtics over the Cavaliers right now as the East team with the slightest chance to compete with whatever team is emerging from the West.