News from the Orlando Bubble

[Lipoli390]

Some thoughts on the Celtics loss last night. First of all, it was really fun to watch. Two really good teams playing really hard up until the final buzzer. But here are a few more thoughts.

Listening to NBA radio earlier today, commentators were almost universally holding Jason Tatum responsible for the Celtics' loss. The refrain I heard repeatedly was that a great player doesn't go scoreless for an entire half like Jason did in the first half last night even though he ended up with 28 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. One commentator said that Jason looked like he was sulking in the first half.

I agree that your best player, as one of the top players in the League, shouldn't go scoreless for an entire half in a key playoff game. But I think the blame foisted on Tatum for last night's loss is excessive. First of all, it's worth remembering that Jason Tatum is barely 22 years old in only his 3rd NBA season after one year of college. Second, before last night, he had been carrying the Celtics through the playoffs all the way to the Eastern Conference finals against the Heat. Without Tatum's consistently stellar performances throughout the playoffs, the Celtics wouldn't have been playing at all last night. Finally, and most important of all, critics should take a long look at Kemba Walker. He's the veteran on that team. He was acquired last summer with the idea that he would be a third star and probably their star veteran leader. Yes, he scored in both halves last night, but he ended up with only 20 points and only one more assist than Tatum. His numbers throughout the playoffs have been good, but not great. He's contributed far less than Tatum and Brown to the team's playoff success.

The Celtics strike me as more talented than the Heat and they should win this series. If the Celtics end up losing the series to Miami, as it appears they will, anyone looking for a player to blame should focus on on Kemba Walker, not Jason Tatum.

[khans2k5 [enjin:6608728]]

Denver is down 3-1 so the series has officially begun

[AbeVigodaLive]

Some thoughts on the Celtics loss last night. First of all, it was really fun to watch. Two really good teams playing really hard up until the final buzzer. But here are a few more thoughts.

Listening to NBA radio earlier today, commentators were almost universally holding Jason Tatum responsible for the Celtics' loss. The refrain I heard repeatedly was that a great player doesn't go scoreless for an entire half like Jason did in the first half last night even though he ended up with 28 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. One commentator said that Jason looked like he was sulking in the first half.

I agree that your best player, as one of the top players in the League, shouldn't go scoreless for an entire half in a key playoff game. But I think the blame foisted on Tatum for last night's loss is excessive. First of all, it's worth remembering that Jason Tatum is barely 22 years old in only his 3rd NBA season after one year of college. Second, before last night, he had been carrying the Celtics through the playoffs all the way to the Eastern Conference finals against the Heat. Without Tatum's consistently stellar performances throughout the playoffs, the Celtics wouldn't have been playing at all last night. Finally, and most important of all, critics should take a long look at Kemba Walker. He's the veteran on that team. He was acquired last summer with the idea that he would be a third star and probably their star veteran leader. Yes, he scored in both halves last night, but he ended up with only 20 points and only one more assist than Tatum. His numbers throughout the playoffs have been good, but not great. He's contributed far less than Tatum and Brown to the team's playoff success.

The Celtics strike me as more talented than the Heat and they should win this series. If the Celtics end up losing the series to Miami, as it appears they will, anyone looking for a player to blame should focus on on Kemba Walker, not Jason Tatum.

You said it yourself...

Walker was brought in to be the 3rd star... as for Tatum... along with criticism comes glory. As you also said, "[Tatum] has been carrying the Celtics through the playoffs."

You get the lion's share of praise when you win... you get the lion's share of criticism when you go 0 - 7 down the stretch of Game 1 while playing selfishly, or go scoreless in the pivotal Game 4.

The real story for the Celtics is the gem they seem to have in Brown.... one of the guys presumably being "carried" by Tatum. He is a distant second fiddle to Tatum, in pretty much everything. But he just keeps doing his thing. He's a consummate pro at 23 or 24?

He's averaged 20+ points in every round. He's at 21 ppg while shooting 56% vs. Miami.



[Note: What makes the Celtics so good... and what cost them in Game 1 when they went away from it... is that nobody needs to carry the Celtics. Tatum is the team's best player, but clearly not head-and-shoulders better where it's accurate to say he's been carrying that team.]

[Lipoli390]

Some thoughts on the Celtics loss last night. First of all, it was really fun to watch. Two really good teams playing really hard up until the final buzzer. But here are a few more thoughts.

Listening to NBA radio earlier today, commentators were almost universally holding Jason Tatum responsible for the Celtics' loss. The refrain I heard repeatedly was that a great player doesn't go scoreless for an entire half like Jason did in the first half last night even though he ended up with 28 points, 9 rebounds and 4 assists. One commentator said that Jason looked like he was sulking in the first half.

I agree that your best player, as one of the top players in the League, shouldn't go scoreless for an entire half in a key playoff game. But I think the blame foisted on Tatum for last night's loss is excessive. First of all, it's worth remembering that Jason Tatum is barely 22 years old in only his 3rd NBA season after one year of college. Second, before last night, he had been carrying the Celtics through the playoffs all the way to the Eastern Conference finals against the Heat. Without Tatum's consistently stellar performances throughout the playoffs, the Celtics wouldn't have been playing at all last night. Finally, and most important of all, critics should take a long look at Kemba Walker. He's the veteran on that team. He was acquired last summer with the idea that he would be a third star and probably their star veteran leader. Yes, he scored in both halves last night, but he ended up with only 20 points and only one more assist than Tatum. His numbers throughout the playoffs have been good, but not great. He's contributed far less than Tatum and Brown to the team's playoff success.

The Celtics strike me as more talented than the Heat and they should win this series. If the Celtics end up losing the series to Miami, as it appears they will, anyone looking for a player to blame should focus on on Kemba Walker, not Jason Tatum.

You said it yourself...

Walker was brought in to be the 3rd star... as for Tatum... along with criticism comes glory. As you also said, "[Tatum] has been carrying the Celtics through the playoffs."

You get the lion's share of praise when you win... you get the lion's share of criticism when you go 0 - 7 down the stretch of Game 1 while playing selfishly, or go scoreless in the pivotal Game 4.

The real story for the Celtics is the gem they seem to have in Brown.... one of the guys presumably being "carried" by Tatum. He is a distant second fiddle to Tatum, in pretty much everything. But he just keeps doing his thing. He's a consummate pro at 23 or 24?

He's averaged 20+ points in every round. He's at 21 ppg while shooting 56% vs. Miami.



[Note: What makes the Celtics so good... and what cost them in Game 1 when they went away from it... is that nobody needs to carry the Celtics. Tatum is the team's best player, but clearly not head-and-shoulders better where it's accurate to say he's been carrying that team.]

Totally agree with you on Brown. I also agree that the Celtics hurt themselves by relying so much on Tatum in lieu of the more team-oriented game, which is really their strength.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

LeBron headed to his 10th Finals. That's insane. I think his durability might stand out as much as anything about the guy. Has he ever gotten hurt in the playoffs?

[Lipoli390]

LeBron headed to his 10th Finals. That's insane. I think his durability might stand out as much as anything about the guy. Has he ever gotten hurt in the playoffs?

Yes, his durability is amazing. But for me, his total number of trips to the Finals and championships will always have an asterisk signifying his ring chasing, especially his collaboration with other stars to form the League's first player-made super team in Miami. The fact that his Miami team lost to Dirk's Mavericks team is telling. And one of his three championships in Miami wouldn't have happened without Ray Allen's incredible shot-making down the stretch in game 7. Yes, it's hard to deny LeBron's greatness or his status as probably the second best player in League history. But he's way down on my list of favorites - behind Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Hakeem, Allen Iverson and others.

[Q12543 [enjin:6621299]]

LeBron headed to his 10th Finals. That's insane. I think his durability might stand out as much as anything about the guy. Has he ever gotten hurt in the playoffs?

Yes, his durability is amazing. But for me, his total number of trips to the Finals and championships will always have an asterisk signifying his ring chasing, especially his collaboration with other stars to form the League's first player-made super team in Miami. The fact that his Miami team lost to Dirk's Mavericks team is telling. And one of his three championships in Miami wouldn't have happened without Ray Allen's incredible shot-making down the stretch in game 7. Yes, it's hard to deny LeBron's greatness or his status as probably the second best player in League history. But he's way down on my list of favorites - behind Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Hakeem, Allen Iverson and others.

That's fair. He certainly isn't my favorite player or person, but he absolutely is a marvel in terms of his combination of size, skills, and athleticism. He does pair with other stars, but we've seen how a lot of those pairings involving other players don't ultimately work out (Harden/Westbrook, Harden/Paul, Leonard/George). It seems to work out for him every single time. Why? Because he's the best of the bunch.

[Lipoli390]

LeBron headed to his 10th Finals. That's insane. I think his durability might stand out as much as anything about the guy. Has he ever gotten hurt in the playoffs?

Yes, his durability is amazing. But for me, his total number of trips to the Finals and championships will always have an asterisk signifying his ring chasing, especially his collaboration with other stars to form the League's first player-made super team in Miami. The fact that his Miami team lost to Dirk's Mavericks team is telling. And one of his three championships in Miami wouldn't have happened without Ray Allen's incredible shot-making down the stretch in game 7. Yes, it's hard to deny LeBron's greatness or his status as probably the second best player in League history. But he's way down on my list of favorites - behind Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, Hakeem, Allen Iverson and others.

That's fair. He certainly isn't my favorite player or person, but he absolutely is a marvel in terms of his combination of size, skills, and athleticism. He does pair with other stars, but we've seen how a lot of those pairings involving other players don't ultimately work out (Harden/Westbrook, Harden/Paul, Leonard/George). It seems to work out for him every single time. Why? Because he's the best of the bunch.

You're right, Q.

[kekgeek]

Jimmy in the NBA Finals. We didn't need him.

Thibs was right, Jimmy was right.

Don't want to hear it wasn't in the timeline for the Wolves.

Bam: 3rd year player
Robinson: 2nd year player
Herro: rookie
Dragic: vet middle tire starting pg.

Also off of not making the playoffs for the heat

Thibs was right and Wolves fucked it up.

But get rebuild of the rebuild is happening

Go wolves

[Camden [enjin:6601484]]

Jimmy in the NBA Finals. We didn't need him.

Thibs was right, Jimmy was right.

Don't want to hear it wasn't in the timeline for the Wolves.

Bam: 3rd year player
Robinson: 2nd year player
Herro: rookie
Dragic: vet middle tire starting pg.

Also off of not making the playoffs for the heat

Thibs was right and Wolves fucked it up.

But get rebuild of the rebuild is happening

Go wolves

I was coming here to say something like this. Instead, I'll just co-sign yours.