BGleas

Are we talking about the play with about a minute left when Horford blocked Bogdonovic? That wasn’t a foul.

They have improved, but the Celtics should be better and should certainly beat them at home, though a caveat is the Celtics were playing 2nd night of a back-to-back, while the Bazers had been in Boston a couple days waiting.

@KoB2011, I have to admit when I'm wrong. I wanted to believe in Kyrie because I wanted the Celtics to take that next step so bad and I let that cloud my better judgement. Kyrie, while maybe playing his most efficient basketball of his career, has completely jacked up this Celtics season from a leadership perspective. Much like IU during January and early February, the Celtics just look lifeless and like there are a ton of chemistry issues. and most is due to Kyrie not being able to keep his mouth shut in the media. You were right. The problem for the Celtics now is they're in quite a bind and the C's/Kyrie really are the key to the entire summer. They have more assets than anyone to make runs at Anthony Davis and/or Durant, but the problem is to get those guys the Celtics need Kyrie to commit. Those guys aren't coming without Kyrie being in Boston. If Kyrie leaves, then Boston is stuck with a young core, some really good draft assets, but they'll miss out on the stars needed to take the next step. Going to be a tricky summer for Danny Ainge.

Not hugely efficient shooting, but Eric Gordon led Houston in scoring with 25 points in the Rockets win at Golden State last night.

So glad to see Bryant finding his footing in the NBA. I always really liked him and enjoyed watching him play, and without him the 15-16 team doesn’t come close to the conference title and Sweet Sixteen.

I think for OKC not only was moving on from Melo huge, but one of the best, yet underrated, moves of the offseason was OKC adding Dennis Schroeder. He’s been a great addition for them.

I think the Celtics can still get it together. Before these two bad losses they were 25-9 since Nov 26th which I believe was the best record in the league over that span? I saw the stat, it might have been 2nd best, I can’t remember. But, they were playing as good as anyone But as far as coming out of the East, I think that is not going to happen, simply because homecourt in the playoffs is so critical and there is no way the Celtics are catching Milwaukee or Toronto.

Yes, second 20+ point blown lead in a row, both at home. Had won 10 of 11 coming into it.

I didn’t see the Celtics game either, but in reading the recap it looks like Kyrie went down in the second quarter and didn’t return, though that is absolutely no excuse for blowing a 28 point lead. Apparently Marcus Morris ripped the entire team afterwards. This is such a weird team/season, every time it looks like they’ve turned the corner (won 9 of 10, had the best record over something like a 25 game period), they lose a bunch of inexplicable games.

I hear what you're saying, as starters do play more minutes in the playoffs, but depth definitely matters as well. Guys get into foul trouble in the playoffs, guys get hurt, etc., and with the other teams starters playing more minutes you need quality guys off the bench to produce in the minutes they do get. It might not matter much in the first round, but if Philly is playing Boston, Toronto or Milwaukee in the second round it will matter, and will definitely matter if they are able to advance to the ECF. I'll use the Celtics as an example since I know their roster best, but there will be playoff games where Al Horford gets in foul trouble, but the Celtics will be able to bring Aaron Baynes off the bench. He's no Horford, but he plays good D, rebounds and can knock down open 3's. They'll have playoff games where maybe Kyrie has to sit because of an ankle or something or maybe foul trouble, and the Celtics will be able to turn to Terry Rozier, etc. The Sixers, at least now, will not have that luxury or margin of error.

Yeah, they gave up a ton for Tobias Harris. The Sixers now have on paper a great starting five (though I still question how ball dominant everyone is), but they have no bench whatsoever. Wonder if they'll try and move Markelle Fultz for bench help?

The Wizards are such a disaster. Mostly self-inflicted by bad decisions (re-signing Otto Porter to a max deal), but man they've been unlucky too.

Agree with HH, there is no way the Lakers back off AD. LeBron and Rich Paul are in charge of this and they're pulling out all of the stops right now with leaking info, etc. If I'm the Pels, my one fear is that this almost all rests on Boston going all in. The concern for waiting would be if the Celtics try and low-ball the Pels this summer, or that they aren't willing to put their "all-in" offer together due to AD not agreeing to resign. At that point the Lakers can begin to draw their offer back and not put everything they're putting in now, so the Lakers offer this summer could be worse if Ainge doesn't go all-in. A very interesting game of chicken going on right now between LeBron, the Pels and Ainge. Side note/rant, if Davis doesn't want to play in Boston that is fine. Some people want to live in certain places and not others. But this BS that Davis/LeBron are putting out that he doesn't want to play for Boston because of how they treated IT is complete garbage. First, how is Davis being loyal to New Orleans? Secondly, the Celtics made a trade for a better player to improve their team. Third, there isn't an organization that treats former players better than the Celtics.

The Celtics can make a better offer though. I think the Pels might pull the trigger now though, because clearly Rich Paul and LeBron are running this thing, but I don’t know why they would pull the trigger now. It just makes sense to find out how the lottery shakes out and to get the Celtics and others involved.

I think the real big difference is that Celtics have other teams first round picks to throw in. The Lakers own pics, if they have Davis, LeBron and another star player they acquire in the offseason aren’t going to be worth much. The Celtics own picks won’t be worth a ton either, but the Celtics also have upcoming picks from Memphis, Sacramento and the Clippers. Those picks have a chance to be really valuable As far as the Celtics young guys vs. the Lakers, definitely not a ton of difference in the stats. As HH pointed out when you’re splitting hairs, the Celtics young guys have delivered in prime time. They’ve done it in the playoffs and come through.

Kind of a ridiculous stance from a guy who’s son just demanded a trade in the middle of the season with an entire year and half still left on his contract, and is demanding to only go to one team. Especially when the Celtics treat former players as well as any team in sports.

You will also never convince me that when the Shaq/Kobe Lakers played the Kings and Blazers in the Western Conference Finals that those series weren't rigged as well. The Kings series especially.

I think it’s interesting that since the Fall Kyrie has said he’s resigning with the Celtics. Even during the season he’s made comments about the Celtics future as a team (in the sense it’s with him included). Then all of the sudden Anthony Davis announces he wants a trade, basically giving the Lakers 9 days to get him without the Celtics involved, and within 24 hours there’s all these reports of Kyrie might not come back. Even tonight the report is he wants to play with LeBron again. I’m going conspiracy theory here, but seems to me LeBron, through Rich Paul, is pulling all the strings here.

I didn't mean you give up all your picks. But, you're going to have to give up probably two firsts (one being the Celtics own, which won't be a great one). But yes, as much as I love Tatum I would trade him in a heartbeat for Anthony Davis. I wouldn't even think twice. But to your point, I would first do whatever I could to build the deal around Brown and 1st round picks to start, but if it came down to Tatum or no deal, I'm trading Tatum. Tatum has a chance to be a really good one, but Davis is already a great one.

"Filler" wasn't the right word. I didn't mean something like Tatum, Ojeleye and a pick. I just meant from the available options, and assuming Rozier, Morris and Horford might be off the table due to their contracts, and I don't think the Pels would want Hayward given the injury recovery and size of the contract. I think the sticking point would be Brown and Tatum vs. Brown or Tatum. Maybe it's Tatum, 2 first rounders and some combination of Smart, Robert Williams, and another player? If I'm Ainge I only want to give up one of Brown/Tatum, if I'm New Orleans I want both.

You've got to give up something to get something.

Plus I don't think Boston would do it. If you're Boston, you're looking to add AD to Kyrie, not swap them out. You're goal would be to pack only 1 of Brown/Tatum, filler and picks. Going forward you'd have something like: AD/Baynes Horford/Morris Brown/Morris/Hayward Smart/Hayward Kyrie/Rozier

Yeah, it's not even really close. Add to it Horford is on an expiring deal next season. Below are the Celtics draft picks the next couple years. The Grizzlies one could be really good if it convey's to 2021 as unprotected. 2019 Sacramento Kings’ top-1 protected pick Memphis Grizzlies (If pick falls outside top-8) Los Angeles Clippers (If pick falls outside top-14) Own pick 2020 Memphis Grizzlies (If pick has not yet been conveyed and falls outside top-6) Los Angeles Clippers (If pick has not yet been conveyed and falls outside top-14) Own pick 2021 Memphis Grizzlies (If pick has not yet been conveyed. Pick would be unprotected)

While things can change, he publicly announced this Fall in front of season ticket holders at a season kick-off party that he plans to resign with the Celtics.

I don't know, I think if you're Davis you want to go play with veterans, and does Dallas even have assets to get that done? The Pelicans would probably want Doncic in order to give up Davis.