just another game where our offense wasn't better than the other team's offense. we could not stop anyone in the paint the entire 4Q
Let's take that. And I agree. But what you are casting as our Fatal Flaw, I see as our shining light.
The Celtics are supremely methodical, marked by defense of the highest order. A true NBA contender of veterans. Best team in the league?
What happened? We enforced our will on them. Win or lose, they played our game and that is why we had a chance. A patently superior team was run ragged, beaten up, and in disarray.
And not just a superior team, but a model of methodical fundamentals and smothering defense.
In the 4th Q I said clutch rebounds would seal it for us. And we eneded up giving Garknee the 2nd chances that got the game tied.
Still, it took a no-call and rare inside miss by STAT to even give Rupaul the chance to a maybe-push off tough jumper he had to make; and for us to then come 1/10th a second from outright winning.
Excuses? Yes.
But make no mistake: it was BOS that needed the clutch shot, foul calls, and rebounds to scramble to win this FROM us.
That is the key from this game. BOS had to win it FROM us.
System-philosophy based offense was our savior; and it shows that it is unstoppable from being able to impose it's will on --any-- team.
We didn't get the key rebounds, the key shot...Because we are an INCOMPLETE team! Our stable of centers entering the season are DNPs and we have brought in zero replacements.
If a couple extra rebounds, a better inside prescense of size, and keeping STAT and Felton and Co. a bit fresher are the difference in us -- a rebuilding team who on paper was supposed to fight for an 8 seed -- cementing wins against the likes of BOS:
Halle'****ing'jula!
Sign M.Gasol, Big Baby, use our 1st/2nd/2nd to draft a bigtime sharpshooter or p&r backup pg.
Chandler, Gallo, Felton, Fields are only improving. Felton is only growing more comfortable alongside STAT and as a pg in a SSOL-driven offense. SSOL gives great freedom and choice and thus responsibility to the position that already demands the most of it: PG. Felton's rapid ascent stands to only improve. A la Nash, needing 1.5 seasons to truly hit stride and max comfort level for himself and his teammates.
Add in a quality starting C, let a cumulative combo of Fields/Gallo/Chandler play more time as a 6th man force, STAT is fresher to dominator at will, and a basic PG backup who can run a quality p&r.
And who wins this game? Or the last BOS game even? Or many of our season losses?
If we played BOS's style and game what happens? Or play anywhere close to where they are in rhythm and --comfortable--? We get eviscerated. Like most teams. BOS has cultivated the style and players for their team and it's identity. All top teams have that identity that they thrive off of. It's a lifeline and keeps the heart beating in rhythm.
BOS is just better. When you're better you'll score more points. If we held them to 50 and they get 52, same thing. It would only happen if we sacrificed offense, somehow, and deflated offense. It's no more or less noble and respectable than dropping ~120 on BOS. This way is just the most feasible and possible "extreme" version of being able to impose a will on opponents and dictate terms.