(2) Celtics vs. (7) Magic First Round Playoff Series Thread

[Im Still Ballin]

(2) Boston vs. (7) Orlando

• Game 1: Celtics 103, Magic 86
• Game 2: Celtics 109, Magic 100
• Game 3: Magic 95, Celtics 93
• Game 4: Celtics 107, Magic 98
• Game 5: Celtics 120, Magic 89

Celtics win series 4-1

[MrFonzworth]

Magic in 7

[Im Still Ballin]

Celtics in 5. Orlando has the defense to make Boston work, but not the offense to stay in the fight. They'll steal a game off hot shooting.

[HylianNightmare]

Celtics in 5. Orlando has the defense to make Boston work, but not the offense to stay in the fight. They'll steal a game off hot shooting.

This is pretty much a logical magic fans take if everything goes right I could see the magic taking two games off the Celtics but there is no Universe in which we win this series unfortunately

[Wally450]

The Celtics will play down to their opponents level at times, which has unnecessarily extended series to 5-6 games. I expect them to do the same with this series. Orlando has given Boston fits the last few years, and I expect them to do it to a degree this series. Should realistically end in 5, but I can see the Celtics messing around too much and letting the Magic get two games.

Celtics in 6.

[ArbitraryWater]

Magic will win a game, maybe even 2. Any other outcome would really surprise me.

[fsvr54]

Suggs and Mo's injury robbed this series, could've been amazing

[Meticode]

Looks like Brown is fully cleared. Celtics say they're not limiting his minutes.

[Nowoco]

I have a soft spot for the Magic so I'm going to say Celtics in 6 although it will probably be in 5.

[warriorfan]

https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F890af7e 2-a10d-4c23-9229-652bca79dbde_1816x1490.png

[Meticode]

Please be a good game compared to the Thunder/Grizz.

[Nowoco]

Please be a good game compared to the Thunder/Grizz.

It really has to be because the next game will likely go like the last one.

[Hey Yo]

Please be a good game compared to the Thunder/Grizz.

I doubt it, probably another 20+pt thumping throughout the game.

[HylianNightmare]

I can't stand looking at everything about Corey Joseph

[Meticode]

I doubt it, probably another 20+pt thumping throughout the game.

I'll take that over a 50+ difference.

[Hey Yo]

Brown sizes up his initiated contact, makes a tragic I'm in pain face and flops to the ground

[HylianNightmare]

What a finish by isaac

[Meticode]

Brown sizes up his initiated contact, makes a tragic I'm in pain face and flops to the ground

Many NBA players today have this skill.

[Street Hunger]

Celtics lead Magic 26-18 after 1Q.

White 8, Tatum 4, Brown 4; Banchero 7, Wagner 7.

Magic 8 offensive rebounds

Paolo Banchero (7) and Franz Wagner (7) have 14 of Orlando's 18 points. Only two others have scored: Jonathan Isaac and Cole Anthony.

[FKAri]

JB looking like Luka. Just without the scoring and passing ability.

[Neal Romer]

Payton Pritchard jump stops and has nowhere to go, so he takes two more long strides to the basket and lays it in.

"Thats cool with us!" says the NBA.

[FKAri]

Payton Pritchard jump stops and has nowhere to go, so he takes two more long strides to the basket and lays it in.

"Thats cool with us!" says the NBA.

He didn't discontinue his dribble so it's not a jump stop.

[Neal Romer]

He didn't discontinue his dribble so it's not a jump stop.

He was dribbling as he jumped?

[Hey Yo]

:kobe:

[Hey Yo]

Definitely didn't expect Boston to be down at the half

[FKAri]

He was dribbling as he jumped?

He hopped but didn't gather the ball. This is one of the oldest tricks in the books to throw off a defender who thinks you've jump stopped.

[Neal Romer]

He was dribbling as he jumped?


I saw the replay again, maybe he just takes one step. It still feels like something you shouldnt be allowed to do. Perhaps it was legal, but ehhh.

[ImKobe]

Orlando's defense is fun to watch but not enough offense/3PT shooting to keep up with Boston for a whole series, only chance they have is if Celtics keep bricking 3s like they did in that ECF loss against Miami but I feel like even then the Magic's half court sets are not good enough to close games in crunch time.

[warriorfan]

Tatum with the herky jerky crossover back and forth to the step back 3 airball

:roll:

[Hey Yo]

Dude thought he was lookin flashy, all big and shit, then the air ball

[ImKobe]

Tatum with the herky jerky crossover back and forth to the step back 3 airball

:roll:

worst "superstar" in the league lmao

[Hey Yo]

Lame upgrade

[Mask the Embiid]

Who is the best player in this series?

If there was a pick up game with just these 24 players. Who would you take with the 1st pick? Knowing that you had to build the rest of the team around that player with the remaining players available.

[Im Still Ballin]

Derrick White is like a guard Shane Battier. Such a good player!

[Meticode]

Derrick White is like a guard Shane Battier. Such a good player!

Ehhh, kind of? Battier was a 3 and D specialist and a better defender than White (at least so far). I'm not saying White is a bad or even average defender. He's definitely a great defender, but Battier was Top 5 in DPoY voting several times. He was basically the second coming of Bruce Bowen minus the flying karate kick.

White is far and and away a better offensive player and equally good shooter. White > Battier

[Meticode]

Tatum has been diagnosed with a bone bruise on his shooting wrist.

[Wally450]

We need Tatum for his defense, rebounding, and playmaking. He's known for having shit shooting performances in the playoffs. It won't get much better with this injury. Gonna need Derrick White to continue his run, Pritchard to continue shooting the ball well, and Jaylen to turn it up a bit despite his knee.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Tatum's out.

[Nowoco]

Tatum's out.

It would have been crazy to play him unless he's 100%. They'll win easily without him, at home at least.

Anything less than a championship is a fail for the Celtics and they need him ready to go to do that.

[Meticode]

Tatum's out.

Probably the best call since it's not urgent. Celtics have shown multiple times this season they can win without him or Brown in the lineup. All it means is more spacing for what the Celtics do which is shoot the three, which means Pritchard will get more playing time.

[Real Men Wear Green]

It would have been crazy to play him unless he's 100%. They'll win easily without him, at home at least.

Anything less than a championship is a fail for the Celtics and they need him ready to go to do that.
They certainly have a chance to win but it's not a certainty. JB is ailing and Banchero was a force last game, especially in the first half. Orlando defends and bustles, which makes them a threat to take a game.

Not saying the Celtics don't have a championship or bust standard, just talking about the game tonight.

[Meticode]

They certainly have a chance to win but it's not a certainty. JB is ailing and Banchero was a force last game, especially in the first half. Orlando defends and bustles, which makes them a threat to take a game.

Not saying the Celtics don't have a championship or bust standard, just talking about the game tonight.

It just means players have to step up who didn't last game. Namely KP.

[Nowoco]

They certainly have a chance to win but it's not a certainty. JB is ailing and Banchero was a force last game, especially in the first half. Orlando defends and bustles, which makes them a threat to take a game.

Not saying the Celtics don't have a championship or bust standard, just talking about the game tonight.

The Celtics are 10-2 without Tatum this year. The two losses were both against...?

Orlando.

[Street Hunger]

Boston lead Magic 10-8 almost halfway through the first quarter of Game 2.

Jaylen Brown (7 points) and Al Horford (3) have all 10 points for Boston early.

Tatum out today

[Street Hunger]

Not a pretty game in this first quarter

[Neal Romer]

Not a pretty game in this first quarter


The Celtics have one of the ugliest offenses in basketball, but their threes go in so it's never mattered :lol We'll see if thats gonna be a winning formula again this year.

Also I lol'd when KP pushed Carter into a hunched position when the shot went up, then fouled him immediately again by launching himself over Carter's back for the rebound, at which point Porzingis was awarded free throws :roll:

Some fine officiating in these playoffs so far boys.

[Meticode]

KP got his head rocked. Blood everywhere.

[HylianNightmare]

That real tough for KP

[Meticode]

Lol they're going to like KP play with blood in his hair l

Edit nm he's shooting freethrows

[Axe]

Yikes, bitadze is a very bad man. :no:

[HylianNightmare]

What a pass

[Real Men Wear Green]

Celtics are winning the series but losing the fight.

[theman93]

KCP is literally stealing money. Home boy has been an absolute scrub this year lmao

[Axe]

KCP is literally stealing money. Home boy has been an absolute scrub this year lmao
Damn coach is back.

[Meticode]

Celtics are winning the series but losing the fight.
:kobe:

[Real Men Wear Green]

KCP is literally stealing money. Home boy has been an absolute scrub this year lmao Didn't do them any good but he did manage to knock Tatum out for tonight.

[BarberSchool]

The Celtics have one of the ugliest offenses in basketball, but their threes go in so it's never mattered :lol We'll see if thats gonna be a winning formula again this year.

Also I lol'd when KP pushed Carter into a hunched position when the shot went up, then fouled him immediately again by launching himself over Carter's back for the rebound, at which point Porzingis was awarded free throws :roll:

Some fine officiating in these playoffs so far boys.

As ridiculous as that play was (Carter should have protested violently), I feel like between allowing obvious excessive contact in some series, and wildly head scratching calls left and right…. I think it’s high time for a very serious demand from the players for 4 officials instead of 3. Too many viewing angle limitations to abuse.

[ArbitraryWater]

Damn coach is back.


Thats not coach

[Real Men Wear Green]

Tatum and Brown are playing. Holiday is not.

[Meticode]

I expect Boston to be up 3-0.

[Real Men Wear Green]

I expect Boston to be up 3-0.
They're favorites but holiday is statistically the best defense on Banchero. Tatum can challenge him but tonight would be the night for Banchero to get 50 with Holiday out.

[AirBonner]

They're favorites but holiday is statistically the best defense on Banchero. Tatum can challenge him but tonight would be the night for Banchero to get 50 with Holiday out.

Banchero is good but his shot isn’t wet enough yet for a 50 ball

[Nowoco]

The Magic need a fast start, its as simple as that. Anything less and it's going to be a sweep.

[Meticode]

They're favorites but holiday is statistically the best defense on Banchero. Tatum can challenge him but tonight would be the night for Banchero to get 50 with Holiday out.

I don't think that changes the outcome. If anything I'd want him to get 50 as long as Wagner, Black, Anthony, etc aren't contributing. The biggest reason the Magic won their play-in isn't because of Banchero. It was Black and Anthony stepping up.

[Meticode]

Banchero is good but his shot isn’t wet enough yet for a 50 ball

To be fair he had one against the Pacers this season, but obviously the playoffs are a different story. 50/13/9 game on 61% shooting.

[Nowoco]

Derrick White is like an insect flying around you. Really annoying, impossible to swat and won't go away.

[Meticode]

Derrick White is like an insect flying around you. Really annoying, impossible to swat and won't go away.

Best thing he ever did was shave his head to get rid of that ridiculous hairline. Now he's one of the most underrated players in the league and the second coming of Jrue Holiday.

[Axe]

It's hard to see banchy going nuclear against the defending champs but maybe it's not impossible.

[Nowoco]

I was at the Magic Dallas game last month in Orlando. I don't know if they do this every game but between the 1st and 2nd quarter, the break in play guys came out and had the ingenious idea to give these huge cardboard cutout things to the people at the bottom of the arena. The challenge was who can pass them crowd surfing style to the back the quickest. Any people on here who go to Magic games will probably know what I'm talking about.

I was with my lady and sat next to a Canadian couple who we were talking too. One of the things was being passed up and hit the Canadian girl right in the forehead at speed. I saw her fella checking on her with his hands covered in blood. They quickly left to get medical attention. He came back 10 minutes later to grab their bags and leave, telling us she needed stitches. Everyone was shocked. They didnt return. What a lovely memory for them on their vacation :facepalm

[HylianNightmare]

Black should've sold that as a flagrant

[Meticode]

What the hell is going on?

Score was 29-33 Magic. I walk away for 10 minutes and come back and it's 29-35. LOL

[Axe]

Looks like the magic are fighting in this one.

[Meticode]

What the hell is going on?

Score was 29-33 Magic. I walk away for 10 minutes and come back and it's 29-35. LOL

[Nowoco]

Banchero thought he was playing football then.

[Axe]

Tatum is having some fun in the first half.

[Meticode]

Pretty much going as the other games. Banchero and Wagner is all the offense. Black is doing well 9 points in 6 minutes. Everyone else?

Carter Jr. zero points.
KCP zero points.
Joseph three points
Harris zero points.
Anthony two points.

[Axe]

Damn, what a run by the magic atm.

[BarberSchool]

Pretty much going as the other games. Banchero and Wagner is all the offense. Black is doing well 9 points in 6 minutes. Everyone else?

Carter Jr. zero points.
KCP zero points.
Joseph three points
Harris zero points.
Anthony two points.
Suggs 3’s came in so handy.
All the others you listed benefitted from the spacing Suggs created.

[HylianNightmare]

Cole is such a shit show. Love his passion but calm fown

[HylianNightmare]

Here we go

[Neal Romer]

Must be crunch time because Tatum I see is bricking hero shots. Lucky Banchero bailed him out with a stupid foul on one of them.

[SouBeachTalents]

Boston got kind of hosed on that one, I felt like there was at least 0.8 left when they called timeout.

[Axe]

ImKobe gonna whine about tatum's supposed 'empty stats' now. :oldlol:

[ImKobe]

Must be crunch time because Tatum I see is bricking hero shots. Lucky Banchero bailed him out with a stupid foul on one of them.

Tatum ain't that guy.

[Meticode]

Celtics lost because of turnovers (21) and the combo of the Magic getting too many second chance points.

[SouBeachTalents]

Tatum ain't that guy.
He's not even as good as Ingram.

[ArbitraryWater]

Need Magic to tie this up in game 4

[ImKobe]

He's not even as good as Ingram.

Just wait til Ingram comes back next season.

[ArbitraryWater]

He's not even as good as Ingram.

same level tbh

[SouBeachTalents]

same level tbh
:whatever:

[Wally450]

So we gonna pretend the Celtics didn't get cheated out of .5 seconds? Should've been at least .8 on the clock.

[Axe]

Just wait til Ingram comes back next season.
Would be interesting to see him lift toronto outta lottery.

[Meticode]

So we gonna pretend the Celtics didn't get cheated out of .5 seconds? Should've been at least .8 on the clock.

They should've gotten more time. I slowed down the video by 75% and Tatum got the rebound with at LEAST 1.4 left, maybe even 1.5. Horford called for timeout with 0.9 left. It could've came sooner from the bench area too.

The officials didn't even go to the monitors to look at it.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Holiday is out again tonight.

As much attention as is going to the officiating the main reason the Celtics lost was that 11 point 3rd quarter. Just can't have a team-wide collapse of that magnitude. Not putting all or even most of it on him but thinking about it, qit has been a while since the last time Sam Hauser had a hot shooting night. He's a better player than what we've seen but more than any other Celtic his value on the court is tied into hitting threes. Hope he can get it going.

[Meticode]

Holiday is out again tonight.

As much attention as is going to the officiating the main reason the Celtics lost was that 11 point 3rd quarter. Just can't have a team-wide collapse of that magnitude. Not putting all or even most of it on him but thinking about it, qit has been a while since the last time Sam Hauser had a hot shooting night. He's a better player than what we've seen but more than any other Celtic his value on the court is tied into hitting threes. Hope he can get it going.

Any idea why this thread was closed right after you posted in it?

http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/showthread.php?521392-2-people-amp-1-organization-owe-Zubac-drinks-today

[Real Men Wear Green]

It's open. Second time I've made that mistake of late. Weird. Sorry

[Wally450]

Banchero out here with 25 shots taken and we've still got 4 minutes left in the 3rd quarter lol

[Axe]

Banchero out here with 25 shots taken and we've still got 4 minutes left in the 3rd quarter lol
25 shots? Seriously?

[Neal Romer]

As Stan pointed out, the Celtics have completely gone away from the KP rim run for no apparent reason.

I've been calling for them to do more of that since they got him in 2023, they finally figured out after Game 3 of their 2025 first round playoff series that it might be useful.

It worked to productive effect for a half, and then they just stopped. I know he's sat a lot due to foul trouble but they didnt even look for it during the minutes he has played in the second half.



:confusedshrug:

[04mzwach]

I remember the days when KP was known as a tweener now everyone is a tweener.

[Meticode]

I remember the days when KP was known as a tweener now everyone is a tweener.

Now we have the tweener of tweener who's 7'4".

[Meticode]

Magic crowd is embarrassing.

Magic are down 2-1 in the series.

Your team is down 3-points and they have the ball with 4 minutes left.

This could be the last time you see your team this season because if they lose this game they're probably going to go back to Boston to get eliminated.

Crowd quiet as mouse when the Magic were on offense.

[ArbitraryWater]

Tatum flopping

[Neal Romer]

Tatum flopping

Hes doing mamba mentality tonight as usual. The shots are falling enough to likely get this win tonight, but I'm liking the Cavs more and more in that looming matchup.

[04mzwach]

Magic making a bunch of rookie mistakes. You can see the worry in their faces so maybe they just need more experience

[Real Men Wear Green]

Good to get a win in Orlando. Solid performances from just about everyone that played (even Tatum, who apparently flopped his way to 37 and 14). Good to see Hauser make some shots he's been an important missing ingredient. Finally managed to stop Banchero. A shame JB won't be eligible for an all-D selection.

[Wally450]

Good to get a win in Orlando. Solid performances from just about everyone that played (even Tatum, who apparently flopped his way to 37 and 14). Good to see Hauser make some shots he's been an important missing ingredient. Finally managed to stop Banchero. A shame JB won't be eligible for an all-D selection.

I enjoyed watching tonight because they utilized the inside of the 3 point line a lot. Saw Tatum shoot a lot more mid range jumpers. Same with Jaylen. Porzingis was doing what he normally does getting the ball in the high post and going to work. Only 31 attempts tonight and 9 makes. Sometimes those games with 9 makes come on games with 49-50 attempts and we lose one of those stupid Monday night games to Charlotte.

Happy with tonight's performance.

[fsvr54]

Magic crowd is embarrassing.

Magic are down 2-1 in the series.

Your team is down 3-points and they have the ball with 4 minutes left.

This could be the last time you see your team this season because if they lose this game they're probably going to go back to Boston to get eliminated.

Crowd quiet as mouse when the Magic were on offense.

Orlando is a weird/crap city with weird people. I'm from FL and it's the worst city in FL.

[Meticode]

Orlando is a weird/crap city with weird people. I'm from FL and it's the worst city in FL.
I didn't notice when I made the comment, but there were a ton of Celtics fans there. Which makes sense since everyone up north either retires to Florida or vacations roughly around this time. In any case the Celtics got a good ovation from the crowd when the buzzer sounded and sealed their win.

Also, makes sense the people are wierd. My brother has lived in Apopka, FL all his life and is...I wouldn't say weird, but yea...

[HylianNightmare]

Orlando is a weird/crap city with weird people. I'm from FL and it's the worst city in FL.

Yeah there's definitely magic fans but allot of the city isn't big into sports. It's allot of casuals. And the fact that any NY, Boston game has more fans of the other team than the magic. Jacksonville is definitely worse than orlando though, and allot of south Florida is the absolute trenches

[Meticode]

Game 5, 8:30 EST, NBA TV

I fully expect the Celtics to close this series out with it returning to TD Garden. They'll want that extra rest for Tatum, Holiday and Brown who are all dealing with injuries while they wait on whoever wins that battle between the Knicks and Pistons. Magic show heart on defensively and keep the games close, but depending on Banchero to break down the defense himself and turning Wagner into a jump shooter isn't going to win games usually.

[Wally450]

The Celtics out here just completely changing their game plan lol. 0 threes made and only 6 taken as of the 2 minute mark of the first half. Tatum and Brown taking it to the rim and utilizing the mid range.

[HylianNightmare]

What a finish by banchero

[Meticode]

This game is almost a carbon copy of all the other ones in the series. All the offense from Banchero and Wagner, the Magic play tough defense to keep it close, but you're waiting for the talent of Boston to prevail.

[HylianNightmare]

5 fouls on paulo is gonna do it. Called celtics in 5 or 6 so this isn't surprising

[Meticode]

5 fouls on paulo is gonna do it. Called celtics in 5 or 6 so this isn't surprising

Not good.

[HylianNightmare]

Celtics probably getting a 20+ point lead before paulo can get back in. That JI airball to goga unable to corral it despite no other player being within 6 feet of him is telling of the outcome of this game

[HylianNightmare]

Celtics probably getting a 20+ point lead before paulo can get back in. That JI airball to goga unable to corral it despite no other player being within 6 feet of him is telling of the outcome of this game

20+ end of the 3rd. Shocker as a fan i should watch to the end. but that nuggets clippers game is gonna be better for my emotional well-being

[Wally450]

36-13 in the third quarter, and the onslaught started once Banchero went to the bench with his 5th foul.

[Meticode]

Celtics probably getting a 20+ point lead before paulo can get back in. That JI airball to goga unable to corral it despite no other player being within 6 feet of him is telling of the outcome of this game

You pretty much called it.

Can someone step up for Orlando please?

Wagner: 23 points

Carter+Joseph+KCP+Isaac+Anthony+Black+Harris+Bitad ze+Houstan: 24 points combined

[Real Men Wear Green]

I'm still paranoid about being the jinx, so after I knock on wood...I ask this question: why does Johnathan Isaac shoot threes? I have gained a healthy respect for Orlando in this series. Franz Wagner can't hit the three but he's still a fantastic player with his finishing ability. And Isaac is also impressive defensively. Orlando made Porzingis look a lot worse than he really is. But I don't understand why Isaac shots threes. Like, ever.

Banchero got a 3... shutting up now.

[Real Men Wear Green]

Enough stat-padding please pull the starters.

[Manny98]

Tatum pushing 40 minutes in a 30 point blowout

Most shameless stat padder in the league

[Real Men Wear Green]

Tatum pushing 40 minutes in a 30 point blowout

Most shameless stat padder in the league
I know, right? Good thing the Nets got rid of him.

[Wally450]

31/11/5 for Tatum.

Most of the damage came after he hurt his wrist in game 1.

Against a stout defense. :bowdown:

[Real Men Wear Green]

31/11/5 for Tatum.

Most of the damage came after he hurt his wrist in game 1.

Against a stout defense. :bowdown:
It's amusing how quiet some folks have gotten. Of course they'll be talking again whenever he next has a bad game.

[Axe]

It's amusing how quiet some folks have gotten. Of course they'll be talking again whenever he next has a bad game.
http://www.insidehoops.com/forum/image.php?u=286918&dateline=1530622220

[StrongLurk]

Tatum with a massive series here.