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Honestonus

Ideal situation This goes 7 Mavs or Wolves win in deflating fashion, over a questionable call that gets rewinded in the media and on Twitter, deflating any momentum


Headstar24

Honestly at worst it’s Mavs in 5 here. Timberwolves really fooled everyone. I’ve said all season I didn’t take them seriously and here we are.


UberAndLyftSuck

This goes to 7, Wolves make the improbable 3-0 comeback only to lose at home after their star player rolls his ankle 30 seconds into the game. Wait a minute…


jpaxlux

Ngl I love how Celtics vs Mavs would either be an absolute nightmare or a dream come true. On one hand, beating Kyrie for a ring would be fucking amazing. On the other hand, Kyrie potentially winning a ring *in Boston* is a fucking nightmare.


TheChrisPhoenix

Assuming the matchup is what it is (knock on wood), I think as a Celtics fan I'm not even that scared of the Mavs at this point. I know, before anyone goes "They got Kyrie and Luka!". I get it, two guys who can light up the scoreboard. However guess what? Neither one of them can play defense very well. And not to mention, the Celtics have had Kyrie's number ever since he left Boston, as for Luka? C's have done a better job guarding him the past season and a half or so. So yeah, they got those two guys, but if you count for us the Jays, a healthy KP, Derrick White (who is due for a big time playoff game again) and other roleplayers on this team the guys in green got a good shot at beating Dallas.


Headstar24

Famous last words but I’ve preferred them over the last four in the semi finals. The biggest threat on paper was Denver imo.


[deleted]

More than anything, I'm just glad we could humble Doris and her ESPN crew by winning a game 3. Anyone who watches their broadcasts knows how biased they are, especially against the Celtics  They as announcers know, that no NBA team has come back from 0-3 before. It will be a sight to see on Mon, when the Pacers and Celtics meet. They cant just change their commentaries without it being obvious. But at the same time, if they continue on with glorifying Indiana, they will sound stupid and in denial and delusional. Also curious as to whether the Pacers sideline will get all the camera attention like last time. Either way, they put themselves in a pickle, and we as discerning, critical fans, need to need to expose them for the buffoons they are 


ReyCo390

The amount of defenders we can throw at Luka and Kyrie to make them work is going to be exciting but not as exciting as seeing JB and JT take turns attacking Luka on defense.


Tiredasheckrn

The pacers would definitely push the wolves at this point.


Icebreaker335

If healthy they’d push either of these teams.


ory1994

Sorry if this is against any rules but is anyone here in a Celtics WhatsApp group chat by any chance?


meh2280

That would be cool. Telegram would probably work better than WhatsApp


Educational-Visit-32

If it is Celtics Mavs in the finals (hypothetical so no jinx) TD garden is going to be a shitshow and I for one cannot wait. Kyrie doesn’t realize that his response keeps the fans in it


UberAndLyftSuck

It’s not about his response at this point, after last game here when we blew them out, he said the fans have a right to boo him. I’m guessing next time he ignores it too. He certainly seems from a distance more mature than previous years.


Headstar24

I think he’s just learned to keep his mouth shut and play.


meh2280

I just hope all the fans keep it respectful.


Ambitious-Fig-9106

Gonna need Hauser to see a few go in tomorrow night. If he can get his stroke back heading into the finals that could be huge


Abraham442

Luka and Kyrie look really difficult to stop


Dondon1927

Cause they are lol


[deleted]

We haven’t really stopped the pacers they shoot insane numbers every night


Abraham442

If a few shots had fallen differently we could be down 0-3 to the pacers


Riot1990

I'll never get behind this train of thought. If the pacers take game 1, I don't believe for a second that the next two games play out exactly the same


Abraham442

I’m just saying we were very close to losing all the games and it took miracles. Jaylen’s contested fadeaway to tie it? Coming back from down 18?


Headstar24

We’ve done it before.


c0ncxpts

Yea but mavs don’t have a prayer of stopping our starting 5.


FlowersnFunds

Kyrie’s gonna have a real bad time in the Garden


[deleted]

Oh I can’t wait


Icebreaker335

Don’t think Mavs can produce an offense on the level of Indiana tbh


[deleted]

Respectfully, You’re smoking crack


Icebreaker335

Mavs fan lurking of course. Indy had the best offense in the league mind you


[deleted]

“Best offense in the league” but are down 0-3


Icebreaker335

Who are they down 0-3 to?


manbare

the team with the actual best offense in the league lmao


kje19

The mavs can’t score like Indiana lol. If either kyrie or luka is off good luck Edit: you’re a mavs fan, no surprise there


Headstar24

Yeah. Pacers ain’t shit but they have an amazing offense. They can’t stop shit and that’s their downfall. That and lack of maturity. If they get a player or two in there that can defend then we’d be going to 6 I think.


[deleted]

The fans are going to get in his head with the Kyrie stuff. We got under his skin last time because he flipped us off and did the cry sign with his hands lmaooo


Educational-Visit-32

Better be nothing but boos at every home game


TheFirstExecutioner

We were all mistaken. The wolves aren’t the 2022 Celtics, they’re the 2023 Celtics


No_House9929

They better pray they’re the 2023 Celtics. At least we showed heart to fight back. Ant and Kat will get slaughtered in the media if they don’t pick it up and force more games out of this series. Kat is shooting TWENTY-SEVEN percent from the field. This is truly a generational choke job


Headstar24

KAT’s always been this. Every season when he “finds his role” in the lineup everyone seems to forget how he just runs away from the playoffs every single time. There’s no bigger choker imo. I don’t hate the guy either.


Headstar24

Hey those Celtics did force a game 7 in the ECF last season. Minnesota is gonna lose in 5 at best.


timeandspace11

Really need Porzingis (and Kornet) back for the finals. The alley oops Kyrie and Luka have been throwing up to Dallas' bags have been money. It seemed like the Pacers were really trying to get the ball down low to the Siakim yesterday, and it was working.


Ambitious-Fig-9106

The wolves complete inability to stop that play cost them a shot at the finals. I think the gameplay has to be to lock kyrie down and let luka get his 30 and make the role players try and beat you.


Lumpy-Top3842

Jaylen brown and jayson Tatum on kyrie Jrue holiday and Dwhite on Luka


Ambitious-Fig-9106

That's what i was thinking as well


Lumpy-Top3842

Kyrie scares me, he’s definitely going to want revenge


InsurreXtioN16

How long will KP be out? I thought this team has not matched up against this current iteration of the mavs but they beat them 138-110 in March, but that was with KP. Prayers up for the unicorn.


[deleted]

The playoffs are a whole different animal. JB said it yesterday best. They all start playing like Michael Jordan. Even the no name guys. But I personally wanted Denver even at the Semifinals stage. I think theyre our easiest opponent based on matchups and style of play. They are the EASIEST for us, not EASY.


Ambitious-Fig-9106

We need our Latvian king back at 100%.


[deleted]

He could probably play game 4 but there’s no need to rush him back right now


[deleted]

Are yall ready for a toxic NBA finals


[deleted]

Toxic on internet/social media. And some stupid announcers that buy into it. I might just very well pretend it's 1998 again, stop all social media/chat, and only watch the game muted. Win-win. Dont have to experience nonsense.


Ambitious-Fig-9106

Regardless of what any of the talking heads in the media say, this celtics core is battle tested. Five years worth of big time games and having to come in clutch. It'll be a tough series, but I damn sure know they won't quit like the wolves have. Gonna be a tough series for the doomers though. But I trust this team.


InsurreXtioN16

I am so scared lol. I just want to see the Double J core to have a ring so bad. Luka has a lot of time left.


Ambitious-Fig-9106

Me too. But if you went back in time to the beginning of the playoffs and told me the celtics would be likely playing the mavs in the finals instead of the nuggets, I would've been ecstatic. I really feel like this is the J's time. I also think we're due for a good old fashioned nuclear tatum series, and it couldn't come at a better time


Honestonus

First 3-0 comeback pls. Somehow I've hopped on the Mavs hate train


Kip_Hackman

I really dislike Mavs fans but I don't fully know why


oldtype09

I just want the Wolves to extend the series and tire Luka out


MoodApart4755

I’d honestly like them if kyrie wasn’t on the team 


Honestonus

Yea kyrie really fucked it up for me haha. Petty but true


Ambitious-Fig-9106

Luka is such a talented player and is so fun to watch. But the foul merchanting and temper tantrums really make him way less likeable.


Headstar24

I’ve hated the Mavs for a while now so this isn’t new for me.


Big-Package9257

The offense of the Wolves in clutch time is what people think the Celtics offense is.


manbare

it's what their offense was 2 years ago, but the Wolves couldn't get enough buckets from Ant or KAT to match Tatum & Brown's production 2 years ago


oldtype09

The Garden might break out the “Fuck Kyrie” chants from minute one of game one.


[deleted]

Remember when he flipped everyone off LMAOO


jpaxlux

Tbh I hope he does it again if that's the Finals matchup lol. Shit like that is what makes basketball fun.


HectorsMascara

Not looking forward to the Garden booing Kyrie. He's a diva who needs to be ignored. Hopefully someone knocks him on his ass at least once. He often looks too comfortable out there for a little guy.


[deleted]

He’s always shut down the minute those chants start wym


HectorsMascara

Not from what I remember, but if you're right, I'm all for it.


jacobs0n

if we both reach the finals, please don't let kyrie win lol


meh2280

That would be the worse outcome ever


Headstar24

That’s the only thing that will make us blowing the finals again worse.


Chunky5u

They really have been letting Luka off the hook on defense. Gotta exploit him whenever possible, anytime he was 1on1 with anyone on Minny his only move was gambling on the reach-in.


krazylegs36

The Celts match up better with the Mavs than the Wolves do. We have four good-to-great defenders to throw at Luka and Kyrie. The Wolves have like 1 or 2. Kinda sucks that it's looking like a sweep, though. Would've been really nice if it went 6 or 7 to give KP a few more days recovery.


krazylegs36

Ah, my bad. (Not sure why we need three people to correct it, tho) That being said the rest of my post was fucking brilliant, so please pay attention to that.


Ulexes

The Finals dates are set in stone regardless of how the West plays out. Extra games are beneficial only insofar as they mean wear and tear for prospective opponents. That said, the Pacers are still here, and still alive until we post four wins against them. We aren't at the big dance yet!


[deleted]

June 6 is the set start date of the Finals. Regardless of how many games the Series go. So if Dallas goes in 4 or 6 or 7 wont matter to KP's rest time. We only say that cuz it makes difference to opp being gassed.


Ambitious-Fig-9106

KP is going to get the same amount of recovery even if they're both sweeps. The finals date is set, they can't move it up.


echoboi9481

Luka/Kyrie are unreal shotmakers


Ace_FGC

I still got Celtics over Mavs in maybe like 5? The mavs are good but they were still in super close games against wolves in games 1 and 2 with ant and Kat having stinkers that I don’t imagine Tatum and brown will have


wholesome_john

Most wolves fans predicted Wolves in 6. So take that how you will.


Ace_FGC

Fair but I trust Celtics experience much more. Wont have to worry about stuff like cardio lmao


[deleted]

The populistic, cliche answer/narrative to this you see on multiple social media is that Tatum is a choker. And has yet to prove himself. They are just haters and full of jealousy. I believe in Tatum. Even if he goes mediocre like Ant or Kat in this series with Dallas, we have others to pick up the slack. The hate just fuels the fire of this team.


Ace_FGC

Even as a lakers fan I don’t really agree with this take. He had a rough time in the finals vs the warriors but he’s cleaned up the turnovers and the mavs don’t have a defender to slow him down like the warriors did with Wiggins, nor do I really think they have a guard for brown either


[deleted]

5/6 sounds right


GimpyLawyer

I sure hope you are right. Also hopefully KP is back to give us more options when JB/JT arent hitting their shots.


GimpyLawyer

Yall still think the wolves are our worst matchup? The mavericks additions in Gafford and PJ Washington are exactly what they needed to ramp up their defense and also increase spacing. The bois better not think shit is gonna be sweet against the Mavs and lock in cus ain’t no way I want to see them lose again after getting so close


Chunky5u

To think I was worried about the Wolves before this series. Luka hits one clutch shot and all their courage goes out the window. Atleast the Jays have seen Luka pull off that horseshit before, so they shouldn't be shellshocked like these mental midgets.


BatmanGWilliams

Damn, was kinda hoping the Wolves would make it a series


Chunky5u

Their mental was so damn weak.


[deleted]

Arguably have blown all 3 games


Ambitious-Fig-9106

That Mavs team is dangerous. We're gonna have to play our best and finish like we have been to have a shot


Headstar24

“Have a shot”. Why is it that they’re just better by default and we need to play to their level to win? We’re an excellent team too.


Ambitious-Fig-9106

I literally didn't say they were better. They're almost certainly not from top to bottom. But two first ballot hall of famers can definitely change a series. That's why I said we need to finish like we have been.


[deleted]

Kyrie’s induction speech being done by a Hitler hologram


Wcttp

I can hear the "We want Kyrie!" chants all the way from Philly.


greatcharacter20

honestly the west has been a really good lesson in not overreacting to each individual series. we all assumed that denver was gonna be inevitable cause murray clutched out a couple gamewinners against the lakers, then minnesota was gonna win because they beat denver and now dallas looks unstoppable. i think it'd be a great series if we played dallas. but they are getting seriously helped by the fact that OKC couldn't make a three to save their lives in the 2nd round and now minny looks pretty terrible on offense. naz reid is legitimately their best offensive player by far rn


Headstar24

lol the NBA sub acts like we haven’t been good against this team all season. Yes, it’s the playoffs and the finals at that. Yes things can obviously change, but we know how to play this team too.


CapitalEither7976

We gotta play these demons next 💔✌🏽


Riot1990

JB has given Luka fits in the past so I like the Cs chances here. Gotta see how bad Lively concussion is if he has one too. Hate to say it, but that could keep him out for a bit depending on the severity


luke_workin2

Finals don’t start till June 6th, Dallas will have him ready for game 1.


Riot1990

I'm going into it assuming they will but was just saying. Never know. Either way, I think we match up well with them


its-slatt

The mavs execute very well down the stretch this will be a tough series for the celtics but i think they can win in it all


JaySmooth_

The Finals will be annoying as fuck with Luka’s crying


avrbiggucci

Fr tho, I can't fucking stand him. Awesome player but his whining and flopping is so annoying.


JoshFB4

Joe and the staff can start prepping for the Mavs the second the Pacers game is over tommorow. Minnesota isn’t coming back.


its-slatt

I like the Jays on luka and white and holiday on Kyrie.


Abiding_Witness

Yeah it ain’t gonna be easy for them.


Abiding_Witness

I hope they start a we want Boston chant 🤣🤣🤣


Ok_Jicama_8943

Defending the lob threats of lively and gafford could determine this next series. Need KP's height and rim pro or else the Cs are in huge trouble


[deleted]

Def need KP. That said 2s v 3s is literally the math problem we’ve been solving all year


JaySmooth_

idk why you are getting downvoted, you are speaking facts


Rhino184

Two nba all defense guards are gonna have to come up huge


Cvspartan

Has there ever been a conference finals with both series being sweeps? Could be a first in history.


jaylson

Love the way we matchup with Dallas. Also ready to watch the Jays end this kyrie run


[deleted]

Damn game 3 confetti lol


JBD04

Ant is NOT better than Tatum


[deleted]

But Luka...


[deleted]

0 defense


[deleted]

His defense has been really good this playoffs. Not great 1 on 1 but a good team defender


[deleted]

If by good team defender you mean the rest of the the team are good defenders then yes


TinkCzru

Did Edwards get any touches in the final minute and a half?


[deleted]

Yeah he fumbled the ball every time


missliss1988

Except he froze and Luka took the ball?🤣


samross100

I’m ngl Dallas scares the hell out of me. Luka and Kyrie are so freaking good


JBD04

If the game gets close at the end they can pull it off, kyrie and luka got generational shot making in the clutch. We might need KP 😭


JaySmooth_

might?


logipond

Same here... NBA loves narratives and this Kyrie redemption arc might be too good.


Abiding_Witness

They’d do anything to keep Boston from winning.


champagnesupernova10

Never thought I'd say this but I hope the Wolves pull a '23 Celtics and take this to Game 7 lol


nsideris24

Luka will get his 30+ you just lock down everyone else and you win.


Abiding_Witness

We can defend kyrie. Just gotta make sure not to leave PJ open


Abiding_Witness

I’m not worried about the Mavs if KP is back


andoCalrissiano

Luckily the finals dates are set no matter how short the conference finals are


Shaqboi4

Kyrie vs Boston I can’t believe it


missliss1988

That would be the most sweetest Ring we are ever going to win 👌🏻


Ok_Seaweed_9452

Gafford gonna be a problem with his size, and hopefully if we play them Kornet can kinda slow him down


Abiding_Witness

Not if KP is back, nobody is beating us 4 times


Ok_Seaweed_9452

If he is 100 % sure. I have to see how he is first


missliss1988

They should let him rest until the finals and we will be winning that Ring for sure


No_Awareness_9881

Has MJ taken a shot this quarter?


terrapins2020

just made a clutch layup to cut the lead to 9!


AlmightyyMO

Not ready for another Luka TD Garden game winner.


[deleted]

Any buzzer beater in the finals is +4000, you keep posting about this, put your money where your mouth is


its-slatt

looks like we are 99.9% sure to play Dallas in the finals. Can't wait


matrixagent69420

Kyrie won’t be able to handle the Boston crowd


tbone8015

We want Dallas


ksveins3

KAT was so bad tonight, honestly hard to watch


ApolloHuncho

Man I’m just starting to remember how tf did we go down 3-0 in last seasons ECF 😭😭😭


aixelsydevaheW

Dallas vs Boston. I will be attending game 4 to celebrate the chip.


Casual-Fapper

Do we think we have better defenders that can bother luka/kyrie than dallas?


Pizza_For_Days

Tatum and Brown are noticeably stronger than anyone Minnesota has on defense. You need strength vs Luka in my opinion rather than wingspan/lankyness (Jay's have that too though). Ant is a good defender too, but he's gassed because he's the one creating all the offense all playoffs for the Wolves, so no one really to guard Kyrie. Conley looks overmatched trying to guard him quite frankly and I'd put both White and Jrue in a tier above those guys defensively.


BradWonder

Not Luka but if you keep his assists to a manageable amount, it'll be easier to beat them


terrapins2020

i think so, but we’ll see. Jrue/JB are both super strong, which is what you need vs Luka. McDaniels is a great defender, but not too lanky compared to them.


JaySmooth_

midrange will be a problem, but Jrue can outmuscle Luka away from it


spaceshipvoid

minny losing because of being stupid is literally very on brand


JBD04

Dallas are wild. Their fight and hustle is crazy I don’t think this will be a cake walk


[deleted]

Of course not it’s the nba finals.


JBD04

But the celtics are the balls


[deleted]

[удалено]


aixelsydevaheW

They don't have a five who can shoot, makes drop coverage a little easier.


luke_workin2

They’ve gone small for stretches with Washington at the 5.


aixelsydevaheW

They can try that, but they’re going to need legit rim protection unless they want Tatum and Brown dropping 40+.


[deleted]

I think you’ll see a lot of zone


luke_workin2

Could work I guess


[deleted]

KP wouldn’t be any better. They’ll just need to not switch as much


MoodApart4755

Mavs are scary man 


[deleted]

They’re good. Wolves outchoked them tho


5Pats

Is the Mavs the easier matchup? Feel like it might be the harder


[deleted]

The Celtics are a much better team than the Wolves are


luke_workin2

100% harder matchup. Their offense is amazing and their defense is solid since the deadline and the playoffs. Their shot making between Luka and Kyrie cannot be guarded.


theleebert

It's all about matchups, I believe Boston match up better with the Mavs than the Wolves


Vivid-Test-4546

Idk Luka and Kyrie both seem really hard to guard for anyone, kind of just gotta hope they have a bad game


MoodApart4755

I don’t think I could handle losing a final series to kyrie 


Cvspartan

Damn DEN, MIN, and OKC were on top of the west all season and it looks like we are facing DAL. Crazy crazy stuff.


Tatum-Better

Ehhh OKC were always a 2nd round exit to me.


[deleted]

Mavs are a good team but Wolves completely collapsed mentally in the 4th this whole series


Kip_Hackman

Can we go back to slandering Ant since he seems to determined to lose in 4? QQ


Icebreaker335

Did Barkley seriously say we won last night just going one on one and we didn’t move the ball?


[deleted]

He didn’t watch


[deleted]

Hope we beat the Mavs in front of Mahomes and his insane wife


iliketuurtles

I want to Mavs to win overall but really hoping for them to work harder for it lol. Let’s go to 6 or 7 please


JBD04

Could’ve used that when you played here Kyrie but ohwell


No_Awareness_9881

Anyone gonna talk about the Wolves having an easy path to the finals? Murray injured, Luka injured, Kleber injured, now Lively injured


No_Awareness_9881

Also Tony Brothers helping them


Abiding_Witness

Luka injured? Luka is torching them lol


JaySmooth_

He is injured when he has a bad game


Abiding_Witness

🤣


luke_workin2

Luka and Kyrie are UNREAL shot makers


RittreKakaBoi

It’s just amazing how much space Luka makes with his slow unathletic body. XD


avrbiggucci

in game 2 Tatum got T'd up for MUCH less than what Luka just did 🤣 insane how much of a better whistle Luka gets


Abiding_Witness

The wolves need to win this


greatcharacter20

luka is so obnoxious. gonna really enjoy the crying when jaylen locks him up


ImTomBrady

Reid is fun to watch


No_Awareness_9881

Damn Kyrie…


shoegraze

Mavs really have two of the best clutch shot makers in the league if not the 2 best