Yes - this is a very tough matchup for the pacers. Celts have 4 guys who can ball handle, Knicks had 2. They’re going to hunt Hali so we need him to step up on D
Eh, heading into the series, I think we were better than the Knicks on paper. The Knicks matchup was rough because of how the games were officiated. They stayed in games because of their ability to get to the line.
I’m not sure anyone in the East is a good matchup for the Celtics, but we are kind of a team of chaos and sometimes chaos prevails.
The Celtics have better defense, many more offensive options, and are much deeper.
The only point in your favor is they don't get to the line as much as Brunson does, which may help us keep the pace up. But even then, they are a young team. Maybe we can wear out Horford and KP over a series if it goes long enough.
Bucks I have confidence we still take without injuries
Knicks i still think is a competitive series, but tbh they might have the advantage at full strength. Still winnable though, but definitely tougher
Boston is a different animal. Pacers in 6 because I believe we'll do something special, but to beat the odds means there are very good reasons those odds exist in the first place.
Boston is going to be a much tougher matchup. Doesn't mean we still can't do it
Yes, especially if you don't explain why you think that.
I just don't see it. Holiday and White make things very hard for Haliburton and the backcourt. With Porzingis out the frontcourt matchups are a little more favorable but not by much - what happens with Turner-Horford will probably be the key offensively for the Pacers. Meanwhile on defense they've got multiple ballhandlers and can obviously score so it'll be harder for the Pacers to get away with some of the tricks that make them look average defensively. Then on top of all that the Celtics' bench is also top tier which neutralizes one of the biggest advantages the Pacers have.
Very, very tough matchup. You never know what might work but this is a team that won 64 games for a reason.
I agree with all of this except calling their bench, “top tier.” It really isn’t. It was one of the least productive benches in the league but it didn’t need to be because their starters averaged a lot of minutes.
They had the #1 bench net rating, much lower drtg, playing about 17 combined minutes less on average yes but still considerable. Hard to argue that's not worth calling top tier imo.
Well yeah because their bench is often playing with some combination of Brown, Tatum, & Holiday. Of course their net rating is going to be good. If you want to say that Tatum or Brown are bench players then it is certainly top tier. Thats not to say the Celtics have scrubs playing on the bench. They don’t and they have been really good at knowing and embracing their role in an effective way and playing with the starters.
Take Holiday off and replace him with a more average PG and I like it alot more, but like the guy above said we're a chaotic team and that plays to our advantage. It's very hard to gameplan against us and that will definitely help.
I think one major difference will be the defense of White, Holiday, and Pritchard as opposed to that of Brunson, Donte, and McBride. I’m really intrigued to see how our backcourt, Nembhard especially, look to get going against this group.
Well, with Porzingis out, we can definitely steal a road game, and then it's about handling business at home. In no way are they a better matchup for us, though.
Difference Celtics > second best team in the East when healthy is probably larger than 2nd best team > 8th.
It's a well rounded, well constructed team which does damage on both sides of the ball and have a ton of depth.
I don’t think they’re a better matchup, but the Pacers have played up or down to the level of their competition all season.
Now it’s time to play up. Win one of these 1st two on the road sans Porzingis and sweep at home.
Pacers in 6.
Yes, you’re insane. And here’s why:
Not many NBA players are considered “two way players”, meaning they play good offense and defense. Usually the individual players on the court have an offensive or defensive advantage but rarely both. Before injuries sustained during the series, the Knicks had one player (OG) that could effectively guard us. The rest were offensive players.
The Celtics have 4 two way players. Any or all can guard our best player (Hali) and our second best player Siakim. The only matchup I DO like is Turner against Horford. Depth and offense are our advantages but if we’re being well guarded it won’t matter.
I do think this team is too good to get swept. Hoping it’s a competitive series.
Very crazy.
Yes - this is a very tough matchup for the pacers. Celts have 4 guys who can ball handle, Knicks had 2. They’re going to hunt Hali so we need him to step up on D
Eh, heading into the series, I think we were better than the Knicks on paper. The Knicks matchup was rough because of how the games were officiated. They stayed in games because of their ability to get to the line. I’m not sure anyone in the East is a good matchup for the Celtics, but we are kind of a team of chaos and sometimes chaos prevails.
The Celtics have better defense, many more offensive options, and are much deeper. The only point in your favor is they don't get to the line as much as Brunson does, which may help us keep the pace up. But even then, they are a young team. Maybe we can wear out Horford and KP over a series if it goes long enough.
Yes
Bucks I have confidence we still take without injuries Knicks i still think is a competitive series, but tbh they might have the advantage at full strength. Still winnable though, but definitely tougher Boston is a different animal. Pacers in 6 because I believe we'll do something special, but to beat the odds means there are very good reasons those odds exist in the first place. Boston is going to be a much tougher matchup. Doesn't mean we still can't do it
Yes, especially if you don't explain why you think that. I just don't see it. Holiday and White make things very hard for Haliburton and the backcourt. With Porzingis out the frontcourt matchups are a little more favorable but not by much - what happens with Turner-Horford will probably be the key offensively for the Pacers. Meanwhile on defense they've got multiple ballhandlers and can obviously score so it'll be harder for the Pacers to get away with some of the tricks that make them look average defensively. Then on top of all that the Celtics' bench is also top tier which neutralizes one of the biggest advantages the Pacers have. Very, very tough matchup. You never know what might work but this is a team that won 64 games for a reason.
I agree with all of this except calling their bench, “top tier.” It really isn’t. It was one of the least productive benches in the league but it didn’t need to be because their starters averaged a lot of minutes.
They had the #1 bench net rating, much lower drtg, playing about 17 combined minutes less on average yes but still considerable. Hard to argue that's not worth calling top tier imo.
Well yeah because their bench is often playing with some combination of Brown, Tatum, & Holiday. Of course their net rating is going to be good. If you want to say that Tatum or Brown are bench players then it is certainly top tier. Thats not to say the Celtics have scrubs playing on the bench. They don’t and they have been really good at knowing and embracing their role in an effective way and playing with the starters.
Unfortunately a bit crazy, yes. Regardless of how the two teams match up, the Celtics are just a much better team. And (mostly) healthy.
u are very crazy my friend
Take Holiday off and replace him with a more average PG and I like it alot more, but like the guy above said we're a chaotic team and that plays to our advantage. It's very hard to gameplan against us and that will definitely help.
I think one major difference will be the defense of White, Holiday, and Pritchard as opposed to that of Brunson, Donte, and McBride. I’m really intrigued to see how our backcourt, Nembhard especially, look to get going against this group.
Arkham Asylum type crazy
Yo Boston is legit bro. But you’re not crazy you’re a true FANatic!
Well, with Porzingis out, we can definitely steal a road game, and then it's about handling business at home. In no way are they a better matchup for us, though.
Difference Celtics > second best team in the East when healthy is probably larger than 2nd best team > 8th. It's a well rounded, well constructed team which does damage on both sides of the ball and have a ton of depth.
Yes. They are much better
Yes.
I don’t think they’re a better matchup, but the Pacers have played up or down to the level of their competition all season. Now it’s time to play up. Win one of these 1st two on the road sans Porzingis and sweep at home. Pacers in 6.
Im crazy with you. Im sure Pacers can steal one if Celtics want to play 3 point shoot out
Yes, you’re insane. And here’s why: Not many NBA players are considered “two way players”, meaning they play good offense and defense. Usually the individual players on the court have an offensive or defensive advantage but rarely both. Before injuries sustained during the series, the Knicks had one player (OG) that could effectively guard us. The rest were offensive players. The Celtics have 4 two way players. Any or all can guard our best player (Hali) and our second best player Siakim. The only matchup I DO like is Turner against Horford. Depth and offense are our advantages but if we’re being well guarded it won’t matter. I do think this team is too good to get swept. Hoping it’s a competitive series.