2023/2024 NBA THREAD: WHO WANTS TO GO ON PARADE?!?

[The SnowShow]

Good start Celts!!

The Celtics are the balls!

https://youtu.be/w8itH10OFc8?si=NEbGbkJNlLdFFO-v

[Self Jupiter]

I guess Porzingis is ready to put in some good minutes, that was ridiculous.

[riser4]

Let's go!!!

[TahoeJ]

Can I revise my Celtics in 7 pick to Celtics in 5? Yeesh. Also, Kyrie remains one of the most overrated players ever because of his hot streaks and pretty handles.

[t-the-east]

That was a dominant game by the Celts last night. I’m sure Dallas will adjust and game 2 will be more of a battle. Good thing Porzingis wasn’t too rusty from all that rest. Let’s go Celtics!

[riser4]

Can I revise my Celtics in 7 pick to Celtics in 5? Yeesh. Also, Kyrie remains one of the most overrated players ever because of his hot streaks and pretty handles.

No. I think it goes 7. Do not underestimate my favorite team's ability to practice autoerotic asphyxiation. Huge first half lead cut to within 8 pts? If KP or anyone else on the Celtics gets hurt, we're doomed. Of course Luka is nursing his own injuries.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

Can I revise my Celtics in 7 pick to Celtics in 5? Yeesh. Also, Kyrie remains one of the most overrated players ever because of his hot streaks and pretty handles.

I thought this before game one. Celtics are a bad matchup for the Mavs. There is nowhere to hide Kyrie or Luka on D, while the C's have no shortage of guys who can at least make things slightly difficult for the Mavs' stars. Jrue and White are both so much stronger than Kyrie. They're even big enough to play solid D on Luka. The Mavs are busting ass almost every possession while the C's were constantly finding themselves with friendly matchups.

The Mavs need Luka to play like prime Lebron every game to keep it close. But he isn't is powerful as explosive as prime Lebron. Or they need Horford or Porzingis to get hurt.

[The SnowShow]

Man it was good to have Porzingis back last night.

[jackstraw]

Mavs were throwing up bricks. If or when their shooting % goes up it will be a different game.

Celtics in 6. I think we're too deep to lose, but it certainly could happen.

[plugboots]

Maybe after the fifth block shot the Mavs needed to not drive the lane right into some tall guy about to block their shot, but noooooo

[riser4]

Maybe after the fifth block shot the Mavs needed to not drive the lane right into some tall guy about to block their shot, but noooooo

I for one am glad they kept trying that.

[El Chupacabra]

Everything went perfectly for the Celtics in game 1 - - Mavs shots weren't falling, they looked a step behind the whole game.

Either the Mavs figure out some adjustments and their shots connect, or this is going to be a short series.

[Diamond Joe]

No. I think it goes 7. Do not underestimate my favorite team's ability to practice autoerotic asphyxiation. Huge first half lead cut to within 8 pts? If KP or anyone else on the Celtics gets hurt, we're doomed. Of course Luka is nursing his own injuries.

I think, like every other series. the Cs will have a down game - maybe two - where they play less than inspired ball and/or shots don't fall and/or the other team shoots 78%, but in a 7 game series, I like their chances. There is just too much talent on this roster, and I feel like the hunger is really there after coming oh so close so many times in recent memory.

I also think there that both Tatum and Brown have matured a ton from earlier in their careers. and I am constantly impressed by Jrue Holliday. Man that guy just does so many things so well.

[riser4]

I think, like every other series. the Cs will have a down game - maybe two - where they play less than inspired ball and/or shots don't fall and/or the other team shoots 78%, but in a 7 game series, I like their chances. There is just too much talent on this roster, and I feel like the hunger is really there after coming oh so close so many times in recent memory.

I also think there that both Tatum and Brown have matured a ton from earlier in their careers. and I am constantly impressed by Jrue Holliday. Man that guy just does so many things so well.

I'm impressed with the starting 5 plus the next 5. Deep talent.

[mcski]

Huge fan of Brad Stevens since he took Butler to back to back ncaas (and should have won the first if not for an in and out at the buzzer.) Don’t care much about the celts, but I’d like to see him win a title

[Danno]

Brad has done an amazing job with this team

[Diamond Joe]

The trade to send Marcus Smart to the Grizzlies and acquire Porzingis was a BRILLIANT move.

Then, you take trade away the so-so center you no longer need anyhow, to replace Smart with a very similar but MUCH better overall player (Jrue) - *chefs kiss*

I mean this is basically the same core of guys (Tatum, Brown, Horford, White, Pritchard) who went to the finals in 22 except you replaced a mediocre center with a game-changing, all-star caliber center, and a tough, defensive-minded guard with a guard who is even BETTER defensively (literally in the DPOTY conversation every season) AND who is much better offensively... You can't help but respect the guy who made those moves

[Danno]

Bringing back Horford.
Trading for White.
Developing Pritchard/Hauser
Signing Brogdon (who won 6th Man award)
Flipping Brogdon and Time Lord for Jrue
Trading away the heart of the team -- Smart -- for KP was a particularly bold age successful move

[TahoeJ]

I thought this before game one. Celtics are a bad matchup for the Mavs. There is nowhere to hide Kyrie or Luka on D, while the C's have no shortage of guys who can at least make things slightly difficult for the Mavs' stars. Jrue and White are both so much stronger than Kyrie. They're even big enough to play solid D on Luka. The Mavs are busting ass almost every possession while the C's were constantly finding themselves with friendly matchups.

The Mavs need Luka to play like prime Lebron every game to keep it close. But he isn't is powerful as explosive as prime Lebron. Or they need Horford or Porzingis to get hurt.

I had Celtics in 7 because I just wasn't sure what they'd get out of Porzingas after missing so much time. He answered that question in less than a quarter.

[jackstraw]

Bringing back Horford.
Trading for White.
Developing Pritchard/Hauser
Signing Brogdon (who won 6th Man award)
Flipping Brogdon and Time Lord for Jrue
Trading away the heart of the team -- Smart -- for KP was a particularly bold age successful move

Yeah, the Smart trade was tough when we heard it. That guys D and spirit was well liked by the fans. Those guys pushing the buttons cannot let emotions slip into any decisions. Switching gears, I think that may have been Belichicks downfall at the end of his tenure. The Butler decision lost them that Superbowl. That appears to have been ego and emotions.

[TahoeJ]

Wanna make an omelet? Gotta break a few eggs. Jrue + KP instead of Smart and Williams turned out to be pretty brilliant. Gotta roll the dice. We always knew KP had the talent but not as a number one - so he found his spot.

[Danno]

I love Marcus, but one thing that trade did was make the team unequivocally Tatum's and Brown's, or at least it looks that way to someone not in the locker room but following the team closely. That seems like a good thing, even if it was hard to give up the energy Marcus brought.

[fool]

Ahh, but why is that exactly? Has there never been another woman coming into the league with tremendous potential? No - there have been many. Could she a transcendent player? Possibly, but the odds are not in her favor. if she's as good as Sue Bird, it will be a win-win situation, but to pretend that the WNBA was second rate until Kaitlin showed up is BS, and I don't blame the vets fro being a little sour (Reese is not a vet and should shut her mouth) . I hope she exceeds expectations, but she's never going to be able to be a one woman show at this level.

Why? Because she’s a transcendental talent: she scored more points in the college than anyone, man or woman. Danno captures it well.

I have probably watched ~10 hours of women’s basketball coverage in the last six months. That’s more than I’ve watched in the last 10 years. Why is that? Caitlin Clark. Yes, Cameron Brink is huge, as is Angel Reese, etc., but I think I probably would have watched 0 hours of women's basketball this year if not for CC (just as I did in the previous years).

And while that’s anecdotal, I imagine it’s likely not uncommon for a moderate-serious NBA fan, just as we’re talking about it in this thread. (Has there been any discussion of the WNBA on TGR/in the NBA thread in the last 10 years? I’m not a close enough follower to know - my hunch is no.)

Don’t forget Cameron Brink. She all over the place right now. Playing 3x3 in Olympics, too.

PB, it's hard to take your point seriously when you repeatedly misspell her name.

I get why the vets are irritated by all the attention on her, they've been busting their butts for a long time. That said, the reality is she IS bringing an enormous amount of attention and money. Did she appear at the right time, at a tipping point? Maybe. But she also was a transcendent player in college, not just a right place right time player. But the notion that Sue Bird is her best case is ludicrous, as good as Bird was. Absent an injury, she will be a transformative star for the league.

[PB]

If Caitlin blossoms the way we all hope she does, watching her journey over time will be special. If she cracks and flounders because the expectations are sky high, that would be criminal. FFS, people are complaining because she wasn't included in the Paris Women's team roster. Let's just settle down and enjoy the ride.

[buttahflake]

‘People’ actually watch the WNBA?