LivingLegend wrote:

DLeethal wrote:Mikal was special. That dude that showed up tonight with the middys is a huge asset to pair with Brunson.

Give Thibs some credit here as we are starting to see a pattern (a change) where Thibs rests Jalen to start the 4th and has started initiating offense thru Mikal off high screen.

It took some time to bake this in but it's happening and Mikal is making it work --- he's been SO CLUTCH.

Some of those shots were TOUGH

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At 1 point in 4th we were up 12 -- a 26 point 2nd half swing in absolutely must win game.

2nd half was the vision of what we thought this team could look like.

martin wrote:

nycericanguy wrote:The Mitch/KAT pairing hasnt looked too bad either.

its crazy I really underestimate Ihart, because if we had Ihart/Randle and Divo instead of KAT I think we are a better team. But... that just wasnt possible.

I haven't been able to focus on the games and get a good enough feel if the double big lineup is working, or just work against Boston?

Can this be a starting pair if the team has enough time to figure it out and has Huk and whatnot backup healthy?

i mean BOS is arguably the best "5 out" team in the league, with that pairing you worry about guarding the perimeter but they've done well.

Imagine a finals vs OKC. Chet and Ihart... would be an ideal matchup to use the twin towers.

LivingLegend wrote:

martin wrote:I’ll trust Fred on this

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I agree with this 100%.

I couldn't sleep last night so happily sat down and re-watched game.

My initial feel after watching 1st time was that Kat was MEH in the game but watching the 2nd time my mind changed completely.

- yes - he makes bonehead fouls and decisions EVERY GAME (this is who he is -- a little Julius like)
- last night he punished the Celtics at the rim 11-15 (23 points) and 11 boards. He had 3 other buckets waived off for either defensive/offensive fouls - could have easily been 14-18 and +30 points. Kat also thru his elbows around a few times going aggressively downhill to the rim.

- On D Tatum got the best of him but Kat defended him well (mostly) and made Tatum put up 3s in iso situations.

The biggest change to our fortunes is getting Kat out of drop coverage and forcing both Kat/Jalen to switch/guard.

KAT was crucial for the battle of the boards. Celts really have no answer for our double bigs and if KAT is getting tough buckets it changes things more than him launching bombs (which are great fun but I think plays into Celts hands better where their bigs are bit soft or old, or old and soft)

nycericanguy wrote:

martin wrote:

nycericanguy wrote:The Mitch/KAT pairing hasnt looked too bad either.

its crazy I really underestimate Ihart, because if we had Ihart/Randle and Divo instead of KAT I think we are a better team. But... that just wasnt possible.

I haven't been able to focus on the games and get a good enough feel if the double big lineup is working, or just work against Boston?

Can this be a starting pair if the team has enough time to figure it out and has Huk and whatnot backup healthy?

i mean BOS is arguably the best "5 out" team in the league, with that pairing you worry about guarding the perimeter but they've done well.

Imagine a finals vs OKC. Chet and Ihart... would be an ideal matchup to use the twin towers.

Randle, DDV works too

I think Kat got 10 of his 11 field goals at/around the basket and he got 1 got darn free throw. Also called for multiple offensive fouls.

Derrick White standing at 3 point line chucking 11 3 pointers and he went to line 7 times.

Officiating so sketch.

Chandler wrote:THe Celts are still a great team so no chicken counting allowed.

no idea what their starting line up will look like now but have to imagine they'll shoot even more 3s out of necessity

Yep - to a large degree the pressure is now off them in game 5 = dangerous.

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fishmike wrote:

martin wrote:I’ll trust Fred on this

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https://www.twitter.com/jledwardsiii/status/1922125340618453357

I get KAT is spazzy and tough to watch but he was a star in the 2nd half. When Tatum finally started missing it was on long jumpers that KAT was staying true on. You know they target him and he responded really well in the 2nd half.

With Bridges making these easy mid range 2s we are a nightmare team to close against.

We are literally built to close games.

Asking out loud - does KAT feel more comfortable switching and getting up on people on the perimeter with Mitch in the lineup? Its clear that KAT is capable when he's committed to the switch and not defaulting to drop.

That said he did it in the 3rd when we were making our run. Its all about his discipline and staying on the game plan

Chandler wrote:THe Celts are still a great team so no chicken counting allowed.

no idea what their starting line up will look like now but have to imagine they'll shoot even more 3s out of necessity

Maybe....but also Tatum has gotten 45 3's in 4 games...that's a ton of volume they are losing. I would assume Pritchard has to enter the SL if Tatum is out and you know he will put them up. He is very dangerous and hard for us to guard (pesky and can keep his dribble like TJ Mc, but mainly gonna shoot 3's vs drive to the basket). Can't take them lightly.