Add the big double-digit spread heading to it?
We’ve all seen how this game plays out a million times before.
Teams fall into this trap all the time.
But you know what?
You don’t get penalized for something that “almost” happened.
Like how the Marcus Smart weirdos keep saying “YEAH!
HE ALMOST LOST US GAME 7 AGAINST MIA!!!”
OK, but he didn’t.
He had 24/9/5 and made the two FTs to seal the win.
Sure, this version of the Hospital Celtics almost experienced a horrific disaster with the way this game ended.
But they didn’t.
I am a firm believer in I don’t really care how you win, just win.
I would rather spend my time focusing on what we’re seeing from this team.
Why is this so significant?
Because a handful of those wins, especially lately, have all come via the Hospital Celtics.
Does that exist anywhere else in the league?
Oh, and only 1 of those players is a starter??
People understand how ridiculous that is correct?
If not, I am here to tell you that is very, very ridiculous.
He was just 2-8 (1-6) in the first half, off mostly clean looks.
But that’s the beauty about his level of shooter, all it takes is one.
After he saw that first 3PM go down in the 3rd, we were off to the races.
He’s never had a season in his basketball life where he wasn’t.
Why does this matter?
Because think of what that does in games where Hauser is on the floor with the normal rotation.
Defenses are so focused on stopping the Jays, they also now have to worry about Hauser off movement?
It’s too many problems to deal with while not having enough solutions.
Even without taking a single shot, Hauser’s spacing is crucial to how everything in this offense operates.
Then if he’s also making his 3s?
You get performances like this.
- Here’s a fun fact given to us by Dick Lipe after the game.
Since the All Star break, there isone (1) playerin the entire NBA who is averaging 26/6/4/1.5.
From 2FGA, Jaylen was 8-15 while also being 10-11 from the FT line.
Since February, did you know Jaylen is shooting 82% from the FT line?
That can be Jaylen, it can be Jrue or Derrick or Payton Pritchard.
This time, they just didn’t fall.
I don’t care about misses, I care about being hesitant and not shooting.
Shots will go in, shots will miss, the bigger focus needs to be on the process.
Against the Blazers, we saw what Derrick is capable of with his 40 bomb and 9 3PM.
Last night, it was his defense and playmaking that can make a winning impact.
Kids, that’s what we call being an all around player.
When your shot isn’t dropping, can you find ways to make a consistent winning impact?
If your name is Derrick White, the answer is yes.
The first, will be how he looks on his corner 3s.
Remember, this is a shot he made at a 60% clip last year.
Not only is he making corner 3s, Jrue is making MASSIVE corner 3s in huge moments.
and I’m not sure there was a bigger moment than that second 3PM.
Then of course there’s the part of Jrue’s game where he pulls off a game sealing steal.
That’s how you know he’s getting closer and closer to being back to his old self.
We all remember the game sealing steal against the Pacers right?
Well, here’s the regular season version
Not quite the same stakes as IND, but still awesome.
- Pretty solid minutes from both Queta and Torrey Craig in this win, which is what you expect.
Good energy, solid rebounding, good defense, Craig making his 3s and Queta finishing around the rim.
Just be playable, that’s the bar.
I get it “20 point leads aren’t what they used to be” blah blah blah.
That’s life in the NBA.
But that is NOT what we’ve been seeing since the Cavs collapse and every game that’s followed.
That’s annoying as fuck, even with them eventually pulling it out.
Their TS% is mid at best, coming in at 14th.
Their 4th quarter defense at home this season is 28th in the NBA!
Their net rating is -5.6 which is good for 24th.
That seems impossibly bad, yet here we are.
What’s that about?
Isn’t this the time to actually get him some run?
Baylor wasn’t all that great, he was fine.
- An off night from Pritchard (3-11, 2-8) but I couldn’t possibly care.
I think he’s shows enough to have an off night here and there.
The guy plays every game, we move.
- Then of course there was the KP news
I’ll be honest, this doesn’t sound great.
You’re telling me this isn’t just the flu or whatever?
Also, is this a season ending thing?
Is he back tomorrow?
Why am I more confused now than I was before his tweet?
On one hand, this does prevent any potential injury, which I don’t hate.
On the other hand, does he legit have the bubonic plague?
The whole thing stinks.
The Ugly
- You know the rules, 5 in a row and we skip this section!
And now we can finally focus on the rematch with OKC.
Not in the sense that LAL/BOS was a final preview, but one that might actually happen.
