Eastern Conference Finals: (1) Boston Celtics vs. (6) Indiana Pacers

[coin24]

Celtics suck. Go mavs!!

[BarberSchool]

"What's the work been like facing those 3 teams without most of their stars?"
:cheers:

[Wally450]

Didn't you say Miami would beat them even without Jimmy Butler? You Celtic haters can't stop melting down. It's unfortunate and unfair that opposing teams lost stars but that's part of the game and I don't recall the Celtics being cut any slack when they lost Hayward and Irving. Did anyone have sympathy the season jayson tatum had to take on KD and Irving without Jaylen Brown? Or last year they had to deal with injuries to Robert Williams and Malcolm Brogdon. Even this year they just won the East without their 20 ppg starting center. No one gives them a pass for any of that. Fact of the matter is that if everyone is healthy the 64 win team is still going to win the East.

Like it's our fault other players got hurt. We probably still get by these teams if they're healthy anyways. But because they're hurt, people want to bitch and blame the Celtics for some weird reason.

I actually feel for the Warriors fans who caught nothing but criticism for their path in 2015. Like, okay they played a bunch of teams that weren't healthy, why is that the Warriors problem?

We won, we're going to the Finals again. Deal with it. :pimp:

[hold this L]

The x factor for the finals has to be the Unicorn. If he comes back and is able to play 20 minutes without breaking down and being physically fit, they should be able to beat Mavs. If not, then the series is a lot tighter.

[Real Men Wear Green]

The x factor for the finals has to be the Unicorn. If he comes back and is able to play 20 minutes without breaking down and being physically fit, they should be able to beat Mavs. If not, then the series is a lot tighter.He's going to play a lot more than 20 minutes.

[tpols]

We probably still get by these teams if they're healthy anyways. Deal with it. :pimp:

You guys literally lost to the Heat last year with Jimmy Butler. Like... what?

And it's not just about that, it's about the gauntlet. Pacers with a hurt Haliburton had you on the ropes in game 1. Cleveland with Mitchell and Allen... literally their two best players, take you deep. And imagine the reverse. If Tatum and like jrue holiday went down and Donovan and Allen healthy. They would've beat you.

This Celtic path to the Finals is one of the weakest EVER. At least when Lebron was running through the east his opposition was healthy... àlbiet totally overmatchèd, but they were playing.

If the Celtics were out West they'd have been knocked out or at least roughed up a little bit instead of the cupcake path they've had.

[AirBonner]

No porzingis keep crying

[tpols]

Bro the leading scorer of the team you just beat last night in the ****ing Conference Finals was Andrew Nembhard.

It's just beyond a joke...

[Wally450]

You guys literally lost to the Heat last year with Jimmy Butler. Like... what?



What does that have to do with this year? Jayson Tatum rolled his ankle 24 seconds into game 7 last season. We're probably going to 3 straight Finals if that doesn't happen to Tatum.

[tpols]

Bullshit. :oldlol:

Miami healthy was a very formidable opponent. They were kicking ass left and right. Tatum played that whole series and game.

To act all non chalant like yous guys would handle them no problem is a total joke.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Bullshit. :oldlol:

Miami healthy was a very formidable opponent. They were kicking ass left and right. Tatum played that whole series and game.

To act all non chalant like yous guys would handle them no problem is a total joke.
So other teams getting injured is unfair but Tatum rolling his ankle doesn't matter and aparently the Celtics adding two new star starters is unimportant. Got it.

[hold this L]

Bullshit. :oldlol:

Miami healthy was a very formidable opponent. They were kicking ass left and right. Tatum played that whole series and game.

To act all non chalant like yous guys would handle them no problem is a total joke.

Bucks would have been tough, Jimmy is getting old now IMO

[AirBonner]

Why does everyone sweep under the rug that we weren’t playing with our star center and starting 40 year old Al Horford?

[tpols]

Why does everyone sweep under the rug that we weren’t playing with our star center and starting 40 year old Al Horford?

Because your other 4 starters are all All Star talents and all of your opponents have been missing their best players.

[AirBonner]

Because your other 4 starters are all All Star talents and all of your opponents have been missing their best players.

So Celtics played Al Horford a player that couldn’t cut it as a backup center on the 76ers 5 years prior. Right.

[tpols]

Im... not sure what your argument is. Al Horford hasn't even played or shot bad so far in the playoffs.

But beating up on 3 teams in a row without their best players every time doesn't garner respect.

[warriorfan]

Why does everyone sweep under the rug that we weren’t playing with our star center and starting 40 year old Al Horford?

because porzingus is literally never healthy and i’m sure lots of people said this was gonna happen. porzingus breaking down is nothing new

[Wally450]

Why does everyone sweep under the rug that we weren’t playing with our star center and starting 40 year old Al Horford?

Because they're mad the Celtics are simply doing their job.

[AlternativeAcc.]

This was an incredibly weak run to the finals but let's not act like it's on par with the 2015/2022 Warriors runs.

Those were the weakest runs in history.

[CurryOverLebron]

After sweeping Pacers, the Celtics are close to becoming the first preseason favorite to win the NBA Finals since 2018 (https://www.yahoo.com/sports/after-sweeping-pacers-the-celtics-are-close-to-becoming-the-first-preseason-favorite-to-win-the-nba-finals-since-2018-173107522.html)

The Boston Celtics are four wins away from being the first preseason favorite to win the NBA Finals since the Golden State Warriors.

Boston opened the season as the co-favorite for the 2024 title at BetMGM with the Milwaukee Bucks at +400. Both teams saw their odds drop significantly over the course of the offseason; the Celtics added Jrue Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis, while Milwaukee traded Holiday to the Portland Trail Blazers as part of a package to acquire Damian Lillard.

If Boston beats the Dallas Mavericks, the Celtics will be the first preseason title favorite to actually win the Finals since 2018. That season, the Warriors opened at -187 to win the title per Basketball Reference after they went 67-15 and won the NBA Finals the season before.

Here’s a look at the preseason favorites over the past five seasons and how they’ve fared in the playoffs.

2019
Preseason favorite: Golden State Warriors (-168)
NBA Finals winner: Toronto Raptors (+1850)

2020
Preseason favorite: Los Angeles Clippers (+425)
NBA Finals winner: Los Angeles Lakers (+450)

2021
Preseason favorite: Los Angeles Lakers (+275)
NBA Finals winner: Milwaukee Bucks (+550)

2022
Preseason favorite: Brooklyn Nets (+240)
NBA Finals winner: Golden State Warriors (+900)

2023
Preseason favorite: Boston Celtics (+500)
NBA Finals winner: Denver Nuggets (+1800)

[jayfan]

Do the Pacers lose anyone for next year?

With the experience they gained from this playoffs, if this team stays intact & healthy, I'll take them to win the East next year.


.