BGleas

Exactly, and now Tatum has 3 fouls.

Agree on both. Tatum got fouled going to the basket in the last minute, no call. Then Crowder gets a similar call immediately on the other end.

I know I complained a lot about the refs in the Toronto series, but I haven’t at all this series. Tonight? These refs suck. While Boston has taken a lot of 3’s, Tatum and Brown have also attacked a lot and they’re getting zero calls, and they are getting fouled. Yet on the other end Miami is getting everything. Tatum should have 6 more free throw attempts than he does.

That was awful. Honestly, I was stunned at the initial call on Kemba, then when Brad challenged I was like “ok, no chance this doesn’t get overturned.” It was so blatantly a foul on Butler, like not even close. Seriously, how can 3refs review that and get it so glaringly wrong?

Well, the Celtics just bombing quick 3's off of one pass again. Not going to win that way.

I think he's going to be a much better NBA player than Chapman was. Seriously, watching him last night the player that most came to mind was Steph Curry. Not saying he's going to be an MVP, but Herro has a chance to be a year in and year out All-Star at some point soon.

I don't know, it was a bad call. I'll take it though, because Butler got away with an equally as bad pushoff earlier in the game that Miami scored on. Tatum has to watch that though, he does that 3-4 times a game and gets called for it a lot.

The Celtics shouldn't have turned the ball over 20+ times. I'm a Kemba fan, he's definitely a much better fit than Kyrie was, but its going to be difficult for this team to win a title with him being such a huge defensive liability. Toronto in the last series and now Miami have just abused him. Its not a lack of effort, he's just too small.

They changed it, rightfully so, to a shooting foul.

Being up 5 with under a minute to go and losing Game 1 is going to haunt the Celtics. Tough loss and not looking good for my C’s. - Kemba is a massive liability defensively. - Way too many 3’s, when they won last game by passing up 3’s and attacking the basket. - Over 20 turnovers was the difference. - While he bounced back in a big way in the second half, you can’t have your best player go 0’fer in the first half. - Tyler Herro is going to be a star in the NBA. Ugh, and that’s who Ainge wanted at #14 and Miami took him at #13.

Tyler Herro is a special player. This kid has some Steph Curry I’m him.

Great win for them. A shame they lost Game 2 with that buzzer beater. The Nuggets are so tough and skilled. Fun to watch. The bubble has been awesome! I think we’re really seeing the effect of these guys not having to travel all over the country and not having to play back-to-backs, etc. The guys are fresh, rested, and playing hard every night. It’s been great.

I thought Kenny Atkinson did a phenomenal job in Brooklyn. I’m still not sure what happened there. Is there something about him I’m missing? He’d be a good hire.

It's a shame because Denver owned the execution that 3 minutes. The Lakers were actually pretty bad the last 3 minutes and Denver played excellent defense the last possession right up until that play. Again, Malone never should have put Plumlee in there.

Ugh, bad move by Malone to go big on that last defensive possession inserting Plumlee. Immediately led to a miscommunication defensively on the last possession giving Davis a clean look at the game winner. Phenomenal job by Davis to hit a game winner 3 like that.

The Lakers have the two best players of all the teams left. In basketball the team with the best players usually wins. I'd be shocked if the Lakers lost, and I'd favor them in any series against any of the teams left. WIth that said, the officiating in game 1 was a complete joke. The refs 100% took Jokic completely out of that game. It was ridiculous. I'm not necessarily saying it's some league conspiracy or anything, but the officiating was atrocious and completely slanted in favor of the Lakers.

Good win for the Celtics. Main reason was they (primarily Brown, Tatum and Smart) attacked the basket and didn’t settle for lazy, bad 3’s. Also didn’t hurt that Hayward was back and played really, really well.

Watching Celtics-Heat pregame, and had this thought, is there a team that has benefited more from The Bubble than Miami? What I mean is, they’re a strong shooting team, and that versatile, skilled depth is what makes them good. But, they also have a lot of young guys contributing (Bam, Duncan Robinson, Tyler Herro), along with role guys playing super consistent basketball (Crowder, Dragic). Are those guys playing as well and consistent if they’re playing road playoff games in Indiana, Milwaukee and Boston? I’d argue not. This isn’t to make excuses for the teams that have lost to them or for the zceltics who are currently behind in their series, I just don’t think Miami is 10-1 in the playoffs under normal circumstances, an I think setup is probably built to thrive in this environment.

Who knows who wins, but like you said the Nuggets had the lead at the end of the 1st and then all of the sudden the Lakers get 25 free throws in the second quarter. Howard came in and the refs completely let him play the goon/disruptor role, yet called Jokic for the fouls when Howard is instigating everything. The refs completely took Jokic out of the game. We don’t know who would win, but the refs made sure the Nuggets didn’t have a chance.

Geez, then they call Jokic for his 4th foul 40 seconds into the 3rd quarter.

Denver called for 20 fouls in the first half and the Lakers attempted 32 free throws.

Geez, the Lakers have 2 of the top 5 players in the league, they don’t need the refs bailing them out. They’ve taken 25 free throws in the first half including 17 in the second quarter. The refs completely took Jokic out of the game, allowing Dwight Howard to come in and shove and push, while they ignore it, then bait Jokic into quasi fouls. Completely jobbed him. Jokic, Murray and Milsap all called for 3 first half fouls.

I don’t know if they come back and win the series or not, but I agree that this is basically nothing. One, because these things happen, media and fans just blow them out of proportion, but also and mainly because of who the two main guys involved were (Smart and Brown). Those are two of the most respected guys in that locker room, if not the two most respected. Teammates love them.

I’m excited that Langford is a Celtic because of the IU connection, etc., but it is tough watching how well Tyler Herro is playing knowing that Herro is who Ainge really, really wanted and Pat Riley scooped him up one pick ahead. Something has just seemed off to me with Langford since his year at IU. Ultra talented, but something missing, and then of course snakebitten with injuries as well.