The Garden Report goes live to preview the Celtics Round 2 matchup vs the Cavaliers. CLNS Media’s Bobby Manning, Josue Pavon and John Zannis break it all down ahead of Game 1.
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#Celtics #NBA #GardenReport #CLNS
This episode of the Garden Report is brought to you by:
Get in on the excitement with PrizePicks, America’s No. 1 Fantasy Sports App, where you can turn your hoops knowledge into serious cash. Download the app today and use code CLNS for a first deposit match up to $100! Pick more. Pick less. It’s that Easy! Go to https://PrizePicks.com/CLNS
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SportsTranscript
00:00 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:05 Can you say hard hats, folks?
00:07 Hard hats, lunch pail, steel tool, boots.
00:09 Anything short of a championship this year is a failure.
00:11 It's not even--
00:12 Look at this boomer right here.
00:13 You've just got so much talent here.
00:16 Somebody said we need to apologize for Jaylen.
00:18 Can I pull the John?
00:19 What are we apologizing for?
00:20 What did we say?
00:21 What did we do?
00:22 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:25 [MUSIC PLAYING]
00:31 Low key, one of my favorite parts of that open
00:33 is the Bobbies, what are we apologizing for?
00:35 I know look at this boomer right here.
00:37 Gets a lot of love.
00:39 You know?
00:39 That's my favorite.
00:41 It's great.
00:41 Look at this boomer right here.
00:43 But--
00:45 I don't remember what game it was,
00:46 but I think Jaylen played great.
00:49 And it played bad the game before, two games before.
00:52 And everyone was like, apology cam for Brown.
00:54 And it was like, what?
00:57 That's not how this works, people.
00:59 Because then you have to apologize
01:00 if he plays bad next time.
01:02 That's not how it works.
01:03 Anyway, we're doing a Celtics Cavaliers preview.
01:07 Play Cleveland Cavaliers, round two of the NBA playoffs.
01:10 We know this.
01:11 And we are here to talk you through it.
01:14 Some serious predictions on--
01:17 let's be serious.
01:20 A boring ass series.
01:21 Doesn't mean it's not a losable.
01:23 Doesn't mean it's not something that they could lose.
01:26 It just is what it is.
01:27 You think the magic would have been more fun?
01:29 Nope.
01:30 I do not.
01:31 I do not.
01:32 But it is what it is.
01:33 That's what we've got.
01:34 We're not going to complain.
01:35 Because you know what?
01:36 We like doing garden reports.
01:38 We're going to keep doing them.
01:39 We want to tell you that the garden report is
01:41 presented by Prize Picks, right?
01:45 As always.
01:47 Yes, it is.
01:48 America's number one fantasy sports app.
01:51 Got to love it.
01:53 Make sure you sign up today.
01:55 And I'm looking for the other one.
01:57 I'm in.
01:57 I lost game time.
01:58 Lost it.
01:59 Don't have it.
02:02 Just don't have it.
02:03 There it is, game time.
02:07 Download the game time app.
02:10 Do that as well.
02:11 Number one mobile ticket marketplace app out there.
02:14 Welcome.
02:15 Welcoming game time to the CLNS Media Network
02:17 and to the garden report.
02:19 And guys, let's get right into it.
02:21 As the series progressed, and as you
02:24 were watching more of Cleveland and Orlando
02:26 when it was clear that, OK, well, I mean,
02:28 obviously you knew you were getting them the whole time.
02:30 But you start to focus in on it after the Celtics wrap things
02:32 up.
02:33 And you watch game six.
02:34 And you watch game seven.
02:35 And I know Jared Allen's not playing there.
02:38 So Cleveland's a little bit affected.
02:40 He's questionable for game one.
02:43 How did your opinions evolve of this matchup?
02:45 I had a tough time centering around who would I rather play.
02:49 And I don't know that I ever landed on anything
02:51 that I felt good about.
02:52 But I don't know.
02:53 Where did you guys land, Josue?
02:56 Well, I landed on--
02:57 believe it or not, I landed on the Cleveland Cavaliers.
02:59 Because I just thought without Chris Stapps--
03:01 That's what you preferred.
03:03 That's what I prefer for Boston, yeah.
03:04 Because I think with the-- and we
03:06 talked about it after the first round wrapped up.
03:09 Just the challenges in terms of the size, athleticism, hunger,
03:13 that whole, we're not supposed to be here,
03:15 but here we are against the Celtics.
03:17 I just thought that it would be a tougher series overall,
03:19 again, without Chris Stapps, Portzingis.
03:21 With the Cleveland Cavaliers, I think it's--
03:25 I don't want to say easier, but the challenges are different.
03:28 And I feel like against the Cavs,
03:30 there's a lot of mismatches and a lot of things
03:34 that the Celtics can take advantage of.
03:36 And what I mean by that is, especially if Jared Allen's
03:39 supposed to miss one, two, or three games in this series,
03:42 that takes a lot out of what Cleveland
03:44 is going to try to do defensively.
03:46 And even without Chris Stapps, I just
03:48 think with Al spreading the floor and the way
03:50 he's focused right now in the sense of, hey, no Chris Stapps,
03:53 I got to step up here.
03:54 Even though he's talking about his role
03:56 doesn't really change, I just think
03:57 you get a much more focused and consistent Al,
04:00 better than what we saw throughout the first round,
04:02 because of the circumstances.
04:04 And I just think one through five,
04:06 it just provides a lot of tough matches for the Cleveland
04:10 Cavaliers.
04:11 However, if they get out in front,
04:12 if they play in transition, I think that's big for them.
04:15 And of course, Donovan Mitchell is a big part of that.
04:17 Of course, Darius Garland.
04:18 I mean, we know the kind of points
04:20 that these two can put up in that backcourt.
04:22 But I just think a lot of who else
04:24 is going to really step up consistently for these guys
04:27 offensively to offset the type of mismatches
04:30 and complicated offense that Celtics essentially have been,
04:34 especially throughout that Heat series.
04:36 I feel like they really adapted.
04:38 They do a really good job of just adapting to the way
04:41 they're being covered.
04:42 And then in the second half, they sort of run away with it.
04:44 Of course, after game two Celtics
04:46 that we saw, that version of the Celtics
04:48 that we saw against the Heat.
04:50 I think that's what, for the most part,
04:51 we're going to see against the Cavs.
04:52 They're going to have to really rely on other guys
04:54 to step up offensively, whether it's
04:56 Levert, whether it's old friend Marcus Morris.
04:59 I just think it gets really thin for these guys
05:03 outside of Garland and Donovan Mitchell's
05:07 offensive production.
05:09 Yeah, the health is key.
05:11 I think you can rule Porzingis out for this series.
05:13 I'm popping out for two seconds, Bobby.
05:15 Same question, obviously, to you.
05:16 I'll be right back.
05:17 Sorry, just have to grab--
05:19 Yeah, I'm interested to see what the health
05:22 situation ends up being.
05:24 I hedged my prediction.
05:25 I just put our predictions up on clnsmedia.com
05:28 so you can check those out.
05:30 I hedged mine on Cleveland not being healthy
05:34 because a rib injury sounds bad, sounds like something
05:39 that takes some time here.
05:41 And I know Alan's questionable for game one.
05:44 But I don't see him being ready to start this series.
05:48 Dean Wade is out officially.
05:50 And if that's the situation the Cavs are going to be playing in,
05:53 I don't think they have a chance here.
05:55 Now, if those guys get back in and you
05:57 have your full assortment at depth
05:58 and Porzingis is out on that Boston side,
06:01 this is a real series to me.
06:03 And I don't think the Magic were capable of putting together
06:05 a real series.
06:06 They might have stolen one.
06:08 The Celtics fell asleep or didn't play right.
06:10 They could have stolen two.
06:12 But I didn't think there was any real chance the Magic could
06:14 win that series, especially--
06:16 I mean, they were shooting 30% or under from three.
06:20 Worst three-point shooting team in the league, I think,
06:22 or one of them.
06:23 Worst one in the playoffs, at least, Orlando.
06:26 And you just can't make up that gap if you're the Magic,
06:29 especially when you're not prolific.
06:31 I know they generated the most free throws in the NBA, which
06:33 could have helped them out.
06:34 And they're great on the offensive boards.
06:36 But they just didn't have the firepower,
06:38 didn't have the creation, turned the ball over too much.
06:40 Cavs do that, too.
06:42 I think they're pretty similar.
06:44 It was really hard to pick one team or the other.
06:46 I know you probably went back and forth a little bit, John,
06:49 as you're coming in.
06:50 A little blurry.
06:51 A little blurry there.
06:53 How's that?
06:53 Is that better?
06:55 A little bit, actually.
06:57 I know.
06:57 I'm just kidding.
06:58 I got the chin going.
07:00 If the Cavs get to full health, this is a real series.
07:03 If they're not, they don't have a chance.
07:05 And it's not looking good to start for them on that front.
07:08 But this is a team that's played you tough for two years.
07:11 And I know I expected the Heat to play you pretty tough.
07:14 They really didn't.
07:15 And injuries were a big part of that.
07:18 So I think the Cavs are going to run into a similar challenge
07:21 here by just not having their key guys.
07:24 But Mitchell's available.
07:26 Garland's available.
07:28 You have Wings.
07:29 You have Mobley.
07:31 So the guys who are out shouldn't remove them
07:34 from competitiveness in this series,
07:36 the way the Heat's absence just made them a complete no-show
07:39 for most of that series.
07:40 So these are real games.
07:42 I don't know if game one will be real.
07:44 I think the Celtics might just come out and smoke them again.
07:46 John, you lost to them the last time you played them.
07:49 And the first two games were decided by like six to eight
07:51 points.
07:52 Yeah, what's his name win all for the game of his career?
07:54 So it doesn't count?
07:55 The Celtics are fully healthy.
07:57 It counts.
07:58 But does it really strike fear in these guys,
07:59 if you're the Celtics?
08:00 It's not fear.
08:01 Do it again.
08:02 That's a thing.
08:03 I think they can win our game.
08:05 I think if the Celtics puke all over themselves,
08:08 they can win too.
08:09 If the Cavs are fully healthy, you think this is five games?
08:13 If the Celtics are fully healthy,
08:14 I think it's five games.
08:15 Generally speaking, I just don't see it,
08:18 because I don't think they're that good.
08:21 And like I said, I put in my prediction,
08:23 I got two words for you, Marcus Morris.
08:27 Like if Marcus Morris is your next--
08:29 You do a lot worse than Marcus Morris, John.
08:31 Come on.
08:32 Marcus Morris was playing as much NBA basketball
08:35 as you were a month ago.
08:37 Like Marcus Morris--
08:40 He thought the full would ring sooner.
08:41 That's true.
08:42 He thought it would--
08:43 --was on the street, OK?
08:45 I mean, give me a break.
08:46 That's why I'm saying full health, John.
08:47 If they're full health, he's not playing.
08:49 I mean, are we talking about Dean being one of the guys
08:52 returning to full health because he had one ridiculous game
08:55 against you?
08:57 No, he's a big wing who can guard Tatum,
08:59 who's done it in the past.
09:01 They need that.
09:02 And they need their assortment of big men.
09:04 Two more words, Bobby.
09:05 Stay in front.
09:06 I don't know if he can guard.
09:07 Two more words for you.
09:09 Tristan Thompson, OK?
09:11 Yeah.
09:11 I mean, come on.
09:12 The fact that Thompson and Morris are in this rotation,
09:14 yeah, that's a good point.
09:16 What are we doing here?
09:17 OK.
09:17 Again, if Mobley and Allen are healthy, he's not playing.
09:21 So that's the thing.
09:22 If it's going to be the Thompson and Morris
09:24 showing a chore as a start, they're done.
09:27 But let's see what players show up.
09:29 I think this is my exact take.
09:32 It should be 4-1.
09:33 It might be 4-2 if they get too cool for school.
09:35 Literally, this was my original prediction.
09:38 And I was like, screw it.
09:39 That's a coward.
09:40 I'm taking 5.
09:41 Because of that.
09:42 Because of just the firepower.
09:44 And they just don't play well.
09:48 But it's all about matchups, John.
09:50 You run into the best defensive team in the world in that.
09:54 This is worse than the Magic's defense?
09:57 No, I'm saying this is worse for Cleveland
09:59 to go up against compared to what
10:01 they went against in Orlando.
10:03 And they just did horribly.
10:05 Every series is different.
10:07 The Magic, they have the fewest possessions in the league.
10:11 They play like University of Virginia.
10:13 They just slow the game to a halt,
10:15 and it becomes this defensive clash.
10:17 And they're missing Allen for three games.
10:19 We don't have to talk about them.
10:20 And they're missing Wade.
10:21 Right, I'm just saying, if we're going to say what five teams
10:25 have played the Celtics the toughest over the last two
10:28 years, that includes this year.
10:29 Those first two games were decided by less than 10.
10:32 And the Cavs won the third game.
10:34 You're talking Denver.
10:36 You're talking OKC.
10:39 You're talking probably the Heat.
10:41 And whoever you want to put in there is the fourth team.
10:46 But you're definitely putting the Cavs
10:48 on that list of teams that have played the Celtics the toughest
10:51 over the last two years.
10:52 They took three out of four games.
10:54 That's all last year, though, Bobby.
10:56 Most of that is--
10:56 But this year, too.
10:57 That's a completely different team.
11:00 Go back and watch the start of the first game of the year
11:02 these two teams played.
11:04 The Cavs exploded out to a 25 to 10 lead.
11:07 Porzingis played terrible in the first half.
11:10 And they turned it around and won.
11:11 Closed out the game great in crunch time.
11:14 But these are going to be real games.
11:16 First round, they weren't real games.
11:19 He just didn't have anything.
11:20 I'm going to agree with this Celtics take two.
11:23 This is another one.
11:24 I'm sorry.
11:25 Like, we can talk it up because I
11:28 don't think anything is automatic with the Celtics
11:30 when their demons show up.
11:35 I know Porzingis, John.
11:36 We got to account for that.
11:38 Yeah, but again, I know it.
11:41 You can guard the Celtics differently.
11:43 I wrote this as well.
11:44 I think you can, but I also think
11:46 it forces them to play with a little bit more pace, which
11:49 keeps them from reverting back to their bad tendencies.
11:53 So that's the trade-off with the Porzingis thing.
11:55 I think they play a tad faster.
11:57 They move the ball a little bit better.
11:59 They're not just trying to force it.
12:01 They match up Hunt a teeny bit less.
12:03 And I think they'll end up with, again,
12:05 I threw some number out there with the assists
12:08 and the three-pointers.
12:08 And when they hit those metrics, they win.
12:10 And I just think that that's what they're going to do here.
12:12 And I just don't think Cleveland can score with them.
12:14 Like, yeah, great.
12:15 I'll give you a one play with your food game
12:17 and a 149-point Donovan Mitchell out of his mind game.
12:21 And maybe they sneak two games out.
12:22 That's as much as I can see here.
12:25 That's exactly it.
12:26 Yeah, I mean, that could be the same game too, right?
12:28 So maybe that's--
12:29 Yeah, maybe.
12:31 --the performance we see from Cleveland in this series.
12:33 That could vary a lot.
12:34 That's why it could be the same game.
12:36 Absolutely.
12:37 I think Al changes a lot.
12:39 I really do.
12:39 I just think-- I mean, to your point, John,
12:41 I feel like you don't have that, OK, nothing else is working.
12:45 Let's just dump it into Chris Stapps,
12:46 you know, which they've done a lot,
12:48 when the offense just kind of goes stagnant.
12:50 But I think Al, being that constant threat,
12:53 just spreads the floor off for guys like Tatum, Brown,
12:56 Derek White, what he's been doing.
12:58 I think that carries over into this series
13:00 as well because he sort of has that freedom, especially
13:02 in transition and making the opposing defenses pay.
13:06 I don't think that slows down in this series, you know?
13:09 Because I think a lot of the focus
13:11 is going to be on their wings, obviously,
13:13 between Tatum and Brown.
13:14 But also, just what Derek White brings defensively as well
13:17 is going to be really hard on top of Drew Holiday,
13:20 contain that backcourt.
13:21 I just think it's a lot for them to--
13:23 a lot has to go well for the Cavs to string together
13:25 a win in this series.
13:27 So I think it happens once.
13:28 I really do.
13:29 And that's the thing.
13:30 With Bobby, with me, it's less a prediction for me
13:33 and it's more of a dare, you know?
13:35 Like, I dare you to just go out and just wipe this team out
13:38 in five games because that's what you should do.
13:40 Like, I dare you.
13:41 Go do it.
13:41 Anything less than that is going to be annoying, I think.
13:44 That's just the way I feel about it.
13:46 So look, it's ugly.
13:49 And I know people are saying this.
13:50 Did we watch the series?
13:53 Yeah, I watched all of it.
13:55 It was rough.
13:56 And you know why?
13:57 Orlando's good at defense.
13:59 Second rank, third rank defense in the league.
14:01 Celtics are good at defense.
14:02 And the Cavs are so injured.
14:05 Like, are we really about to do this again?
14:07 And the Cavs can't really score.
14:09 And so I'm just not--
14:10 even throughout the course of the year,
14:12 it just is not a team that strikes any fear in you.
14:15 I do think, as you said, you've got a couple of good players.
14:17 But it's the NBA.
14:18 Everyone's got a couple of good players.
14:20 You know, that's that.
14:21 What are they doing?
14:22 Well, I know that he didn't--
14:23 what do the Cavs do that worry you, you know?
14:26 And Sam, thank you for everything and all
14:29 that you do as well, guys.
14:31 And thank you for any super chat.
14:33 I don't know.
14:34 I'm trying to figure it out.
14:36 I agree with you.
14:36 No, they have real--
14:38 they have real problems.
14:39 I agree with what you said, Bobby.
14:41 I actually wanted to play Cleveland more
14:43 for the Celtics' perspective.
14:45 But in an odd way, I also think they
14:48 present the greater chance of the two potential opponents
14:51 they could have faced to lose.
14:53 Because they have-- there is enough real there.
14:57 It's just I look at it as, not could Cleveland go out
15:00 and steal a game in Boston.
15:01 Absolutely.
15:02 Can Cleveland win four out of seven games against the Celtics?
15:05 I can't see that under any circumstances.
15:08 I can't.
15:08 Under any?
15:09 I can't.
15:10 Zero, none.
15:12 Let's say the Celtics lose one more guy, the Cavs get--
15:15 Well, I mean, that's ridiculous.
15:16 You're seeing circumstances, Bobby.
15:18 He said anyway.
15:20 Let's say it snows on the court and they don't wake it up
15:22 on the Celtics' side.
15:23 Like, it doesn't--
15:24 I mean, what are you talking about?
15:26 I'm just trying to give this team real respect, John.
15:29 And I know I did that last round,
15:30 and they weren't warranted of respect.
15:32 But you still have Mitchell here.
15:34 And that's the big thing.
15:35 It's a thing you do.
15:36 I understand.
15:37 I respect it.
15:38 Which Mitchell are we getting here?
15:41 Because that was not Donovan Mitchell last round.
15:44 I know he had 50 points in one of the games,
15:46 but he shot 25% from three.
15:48 I think he was under 30 off the bounce, which is his thing.
15:52 And just didn't look like he had that burst to him.
15:56 So again, another thing we have to factor here,
15:58 like Allen, Wade, who I do think is important here,
16:02 and Mitchell.
16:04 I think Garland's dealing with a little something too,
16:06 like a back.
16:08 Man, are we about to do this again?
16:10 The whole other team's just obliterated,
16:12 and it's just going to be a practice
16:14 series for the Celtics?
16:16 Kind of.
16:17 I mean, it's out of their hands, right?
16:20 So they can't control that.
16:21 But that's just what's going on.
16:23 That's what's going on in the Eastern Conference.
16:25 Yeah, I mean, listen, if you're the Celtics,
16:28 you count your blessings that, OK, yeah, the Kristaps
16:31 got hurt.
16:32 But you're also thankful that it's not more guys.
16:34 Because look across the Eastern Conference, that's the case.
16:37 For almost every team, that's still in it.
16:39 And the Celtics have been fortunate.
16:41 So let's talk about--
16:43 I think Allen's out to start.
16:45 Mitchell's going to play.
16:47 Wade's already officially out for game one.
16:49 So let's just rule Allen and Wade out
16:51 for the start of this series for however long.
16:54 It's going to be a slog for the Cavs offensively.
16:57 But can they make it tough enough defensively
16:59 on the Celtics, where it's going to be a close game, where
17:03 you'd keep it in play until crunch time,
17:06 and then we start to see a crunch time between two
17:08 of these teams?
17:09 Because we didn't see a single crunch time
17:11 in the Miami series, did we?
17:12 Not that I can remember.
17:14 So that's how the Cavs are going to have to do this.
17:16 I'll be interested to see how they deploy Mobley.
17:19 You can put them on Tatum directly
17:20 and just try to take them out of the series completely.
17:23 And Tatum did shoot 38% in this matchup
17:26 during the regular season.
17:27 So this could be another team that says, Tatum,
17:29 we're just taking you out of the series.
17:31 Everybody else is going to have to beat us here.
17:34 Horford's going to be the big one.
17:36 And Joe Swain mentioned it.
17:37 If I'm the Cavs, I shy away from him
17:41 and try to make him beat you from three,
17:44 make him beat you against a small,
17:47 and just put extra pressure on those perimeter guys.
17:49 And then, of course, White comes into play there, too.
17:52 Probably put Mitchell on White.
17:54 So that puts that Garland matchup on Drew.
17:57 And can Drew exploit that?
17:58 And so this is a series, I think,
17:59 where you're going to have to look to Jalen again.
18:02 You're going to have to look to Drew
18:03 to get involved offensively.
18:05 And Horford's going to have to hit his shots.
18:06 Because it's a real defense.
18:09 I think this team's going to scheme tough.
18:12 I think there's a couple guys that make it tough on you
18:14 defensively.
18:16 And like you said, John, if they're just not able to put
18:18 points up and chase you on that end, it won't really matter.
18:23 But we'll go back to the Celtics.
18:25 I think that's going to be a possible hurdle for these guys,
18:26 man.
18:27 We'll go back to the Celtics.
18:28 If they're struggling to get it done offensively,
18:31 if Tatum's not getting his points,
18:32 can they still stay in the game enough in all the little areas
18:36 to extend their leads and make these uncompetitive games?
18:40 I thought Tatum did a phenomenal job of that in round one.
18:43 He's going to have to do it again here, John.
18:44 This is another series where he could be shooting 40%
18:47 and has to do all the other little things
18:49 to keep the Celtics in position.
18:50 Well, then that's what he's going to need to do.
18:52 We'll talk more about Tatum.
18:54 We'll talk about what, if anything,
18:55 the Celtics could do to lose this,
18:58 what they need to do to win it.
18:59 Do the Cavaliers have an edge anywhere?
19:01 We'll talk about all of that.
19:02 First off, we want to let you know about our sponsor
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21:26 Let's get into some of the stuff.
21:28 As you mentioned, no Chris Epps, Porzingis.
21:31 Where does this affect the Celtics most here?
21:33 And again, when you're missing your second or third best
21:35 player, it affects you everywhere.
21:39 Where is it going to affect the most
21:40 in this particular matchup?
21:43 I think it's going to put an onus on them to move the ball,
21:46 play with pace, and find their matchups
21:49 within the flow of the offense, right?
21:50 Because I think the Cavs would probably do a pretty good job
21:53 hiding Garland.
21:54 You can maybe put him on holiday to start,
21:57 sneak him on Horford at different points.
22:01 That's the guy you're going to want to target there, right?
22:03 Garland.
22:03 He shot 50% against him during the year.
22:06 Not much of a defender.
22:09 Smaller guy.
22:10 So you're targeting him.
22:12 You can try to go at Mitchell too.
22:14 But I was actually surprised to see he held up.
22:16 Celtics only shot 40% against Mitchell during the year.
22:19 And he missed that third game.
22:21 Mitchell, as far as the metrics go-- and again,
22:24 maybe there's some Sam Houser kind of BS going on here.
22:26 Mitchell had a very solid defensive year
22:28 relative to what we're used to seeing from him.
22:31 So I don't think that's an aberration.
22:33 And he's strong.
22:34 He's bigger.
22:35 He was better.
22:36 He was better.
22:37 So you can't just run pick and roll with Chris Stapps
22:40 to get Garland in the post and just finish right over him.
22:43 And I know LeVert's a little weak there too.
22:46 And Mitchell, at least size-wise,
22:49 you can try to finish over him.
22:50 But to do it, to line up those matchups,
22:54 you're going to have to play fast.
22:55 You're going to have to pass the ball effectively.
22:59 The turnovers are going to be so crucial in this series.
23:02 Cavs turn it over a lot.
23:03 I think that's when you look at those metrics we always
23:06 look at, like the matchup stats.
23:08 That's the one where they really lose bad to the Celtics.
23:10 The three-point shooting is actually pretty close.
23:13 The rebound's pretty close.
23:16 And the free throw is actually a little bit
23:18 in the Cavs' advantage.
23:20 So turnovers, you can't do it in this series.
23:24 You can't give the ball away.
23:25 You can't give the Cavs that edge too.
23:27 That's what's actually going to make these games close.
23:29 So it's going to be these facilitators.
23:31 Tatum, can you do it again in this series?
23:33 Make those great reads.
23:34 Find that matchup.
23:36 This is another big Derek White series, I think.
23:38 Those guards are going to be on him.
23:40 He can take advantage of those guys.
23:42 You've got to get it to him.
23:44 And you can't just try to attack this defense head-on
23:46 if it's just going to be, let's say, a corner on Tatum
23:49 to start and Mobley standing at the rim, waiting for him
23:52 and help position.
23:53 This is going to be a tough one for Tatum.
23:55 Again, I think.
23:56 He's really going to have to dedicate to being a passer,
23:58 because they are not going to let him beat them.
24:01 Yeah, no, no question.
24:02 I think, yeah, again, you don't have Chris Stapps to bail you
24:06 out of those situations.
24:08 But my whole thing is also on the defensive side,
24:11 or at least throughout the second unit,
24:13 I think guys like Luke Cornett probably
24:15 get some more playing time a little bit.
24:18 You need some consistency from your bench.
24:19 Now that Horford is not a part of that,
24:21 so I think there's a little more pressure on guys
24:22 like Hauser and Pritchard.
24:24 This is a great Cornett series, Josue.
24:26 It is.
24:27 It is.
24:27 It's a big spot for your boy there.
24:29 And you know if he doesn't come correct, Bobby,
24:31 someone's going to take the spot.
24:33 Oh, here we go.
24:34 But yeah.
24:35 I mean, look, you're on mute.
24:38 You're on mute, John.
24:39 The second unit overall, I think,
24:41 is a-- puts a little extra pressure on them.
24:43 It's just the hyperbole.
24:44 Just don't say this is a great Cornett series.
24:47 It is a great Cornett series.
24:48 Just say, I think Cornett could be effective here.
24:52 It's a good spot for him.
24:53 Yeah, it is.
24:54 But again, I don't-- without--
24:56 like without Chris Stapps, I don't think that means you up
25:00 Al Horford's usage rate.
25:01 You know what I mean?
25:02 I don't think it changes a whole lot.
25:03 I think you do see him play a little more minutes.
25:06 But I think this applies pressure a little more
25:08 on the second unit.
25:09 And I think when you look at this Cavs team,
25:11 it's pretty thin, you know?
25:12 Guys coming off the bench.
25:14 If you're Cleveland, you're hoping
25:15 one of these guys catch fire.
25:16 I mean, George's Nyang, you guys see that in the first round?
25:19 He combined for like nine points in the first three games.
25:22 He was brutal.
25:23 Like that's what they're dealing with right now.
25:25 People think that Marcus Morris is a--
25:28 this is ideal for them.
25:29 No, like they're going down to him because they
25:32 have nobody else, man.
25:33 And look, I've been a big fan of Marcus.
25:36 But not having that phone ring for as long as it did,
25:39 it obviously played a part in him trying to get back
25:42 into motion and all that.
25:43 This is a problem we have with players whose names we know,
25:46 who we haven't seen much of recently.
25:48 You remember them being effective at some point
25:51 and don't realize how long it's been
25:53 since they've been that guy.
25:55 And then you look and you're like, oh, geez,
25:57 Marcus hasn't done shit in four years.
25:59 And you're like, oh.
26:00 Philly got-- they grew really impatient.
26:02 They're like, look, we need somebody else.
26:04 And they were looking for someone
26:06 to come at that eighth, ninth spot
26:08 that you could turn to for 9, 10, 11 minutes.
26:10 And they just decided that they were going to go another route.
26:13 And I think Marcus thought that phone would ring a lot sooner.
26:16 And again, because of what Cleveland's going through,
26:19 that's why he essentially got that phone call, yeah.
26:21 Yeah.
26:22 It's been a couple of years, again, of nothingness.
26:24 He had those couple of years in Cleveland
26:26 where he was shooting the freaking lights out,
26:29 particularly from three.
26:31 And it was like, wow.
26:32 Let's get a guy like that.
26:33 Last two years have just been dead years.
26:36 And again, we saw him.
26:37 And I'm not-- it sounds insensitive.
26:39 I don't mean to be-- he just looked heavy and slow.
26:42 He just didn't look like he had any juice at all.
26:44 So again, I just--
26:47 I don't see it there.
26:49 I'm going to--
26:49 He'll muck the game up, though, John.
26:51 I think that's something he might do, just for--
26:53 What is the Celtics' biggest edge here in the series?
26:56 I think he'll muck the game up a little bit.
26:58 They have a lot, obviously.
27:00 But when I-- it's why I bring Luke up here,
27:04 not just because of Luke.
27:05 They can play drop all day against this team.
27:09 And this actually surprised me.
27:12 Someone on Twitter brought it up.
27:13 I didn't see these--
27:14 Just time out.
27:15 Real quick, I just want to point out here
27:18 that my question was, what is the Celtics' biggest
27:22 advantage versus Cleveland?
27:24 And within the first seven words of your answer,
27:28 Luke's name came up.
27:29 It's like, what's going to be the Celtics' snowball?
27:32 It's not about him, though.
27:33 I don't mind talking a little about Luke.
27:35 Do we really believe that he belongs
27:38 in the first sentence of an answer to the question,
27:41 what's the biggest advantage the Celtics have here?
27:45 Only because they're going to be able to play
27:47 drop all day long in this series,
27:50 whether it's double big, whether it's single big for the Cavs.
27:53 Their wings are just so bad at shooting,
27:55 as Joe Sway said there, that they can just drop their big.
28:00 And Cornett, that's what he's best at.
28:02 And Horford will do it, too, obviously.
28:04 But I was stunned to see this Cavs team, 30th in mid-range
28:09 shot frequency.
28:11 They were dead last this year in taking mid-range shots.
28:14 And they have Mitchell.
28:15 They have Garland.
28:16 They have these guys you'd think step into mid-rangers.
28:18 But that area where we've talked about, John,
28:21 in the past where the Celtics look vulnerable,
28:23 that mid-range area, the Cavs just won't take those.
28:26 And I was talking to Justin about that last night, too,
28:28 in our preview show.
28:31 Of all the things we're talking about here
28:33 that the Cavs are up against it, the Celtics
28:35 are just going to give them that mid-range area,
28:37 take away the rim, try to take away those threes.
28:40 And the Cavs do shoot a lot of threes,
28:42 more than you would think.
28:43 But they're not taking mid-rangers.
28:45 I can't believe it.
28:46 So that's what opens the door for Luke in this series,
28:49 to me, to really be effective.
28:50 Horford, I think he can drop back more
28:54 than Switch in this series, which I think
28:55 is going to help him here, too.
28:58 So the Celtics' defense, that's how I'll label it, John.
29:00 Not Luke.
29:01 The Celtics' defense, I think, can be their biggest strength
29:04 in this series.
29:05 I'm going to go with Tatum and Brown for 500.
29:08 I'll go with that.
29:09 No, because I don't think--
29:10 Who is Tatum and Brown?
29:12 Are they going to let those guys beat them, Josue?
29:14 Too easy.
29:15 I just think it's a constant threat
29:17 that they're going to have trouble trying to stop,
29:19 honestly, man.
29:20 I think that's a big advantage, if you ask me.
29:22 For sure.
29:23 I mean, when you don't have the type of offense
29:25 to counter that, or at least the type of guys
29:28 who are ready for this moment, for this series,
29:31 I mean, outside of Donovan Mitchell, it gets really thin.
29:34 Yeah, Darius Garling has shown you
29:36 what he can do offensively, but he hasn't been
29:38 in a series like this before.
29:40 I mean, none of these guys really have.
29:41 I just feel like, when it comes down to it,
29:44 especially throughout the course of a game,
29:46 going into the third quarter, going to the fourth,
29:48 these guys should be equipped to the point where it's like,
29:51 OK, this is what we need to do to make this a 12, 15-point
29:54 game.
29:55 And I think that's going to happen a handful of times
29:57 in this series, whether it's Jalen or whether it's Tatum.
29:59 I just think that's going to be a constant,
30:03 like, we can't stop the bleeding type of thing
30:05 between these two.
30:06 And it'll be enough to create that type of space
30:09 they need in the second half to run away with a 15,
30:12 16-point win, especially in game one.
30:16 But yeah, I think that's a huge advantage in this series,
30:19 having those guys.
30:19 All right.
30:20 What do you say, John?
30:23 As far as advantage, I think it's overall talent and just
30:26 the ability to play multiple different ways,
30:28 which the Celtics have.
30:30 And I think that that's kind of the problem,
30:31 is you can take something away, but something else
30:34 is going to beat you.
30:35 So let's draft the players in this series.
30:38 That's a bigger issue.
30:39 But I don't think it really--
30:42 like, sure, you assume Garland's going
30:45 to go ahead of Derek White in a player draft.
30:47 You're telling me he's more valuable to this series
30:49 than Derek White is?
30:50 No freaking way.
30:51 No.
30:51 I'm sorry.
30:52 That's the problem, is I think Mitchell is your X-factor
30:56 because he's got to get you the points.
30:58 And you're going to need Mobley to kind of man up there
31:00 in the middle.
31:01 And after Garland, I'm not going to say I'm not worried.
31:05 He's a really talented guy.
31:07 It's Tatum first, right?
31:09 Yeah.
31:10 I mean, if I do this, I'm just going to upset everybody.
31:13 Who goes-- no, just be fair.
31:15 Bobby really wants to do this.
31:16 It's Tatum one.
31:18 OK, if you really want, it's Tatum one.
31:20 It's Donovan two.
31:21 Donovan two.
31:22 It's Derek White three.
31:25 Sorry.
31:26 So it's two to one.
31:27 I mean, it's sure.
31:28 55%, almost 60.
31:29 Then I'll throw in Jalen four, Garland five, Holiday six.
31:35 If you really--
31:35 What about Mobley?
31:37 Yeah, he's in there.
31:38 He got blurry again.
31:38 I'm going to go seven, maybe.
31:41 All right, wait, you do it, Josue,
31:43 because John rushed through it a little bit.
31:44 Who are you drafting?
31:45 I'll go Tatum, Mitchell.
31:47 I don't know, Brown or White.
31:52 You can flip a coin, honestly.
31:53 So it's number three or four?
31:55 I go Garland five, honestly.
31:57 Garland five.
31:59 Six is probably Mobley.
32:02 Mobley's so huge in this series.
32:05 And we talked about it last night.
32:07 People were talking about him as Tim Duncan
32:10 coming into the league.
32:12 And he hasn't met the mark.
32:16 He needs to be great in this series for the Cavs
32:19 to even have a chance.
32:20 And he just hasn't been.
32:21 And this has been a brutal matchup for him.
32:23 He missed the first two games of this series
32:27 during the regular season.
32:29 Then he came out in that third game, and the Cavs won.
32:31 But he shot two for eight.
32:32 Horford just completely took him out.
32:34 So if it's going to be Horford or Mobley to start this series,
32:37 that's another big Celtics advantage right now.
32:40 Yeah, for sure, man.
32:42 Especially because Al can hold his own in the top of the key.
32:46 If he has to guard some of these guys for a few possessions,
32:49 I don't think there's a whole lot of drop off there,
32:51 even though there's no Chris tabs.
32:53 I think they'll just drop him back, though.
32:55 I'll ask you guys if the Cavs have an edge here, what is it?
33:00 It's got to be Mitchell, right?
33:02 His ability to take over a game, steal a game,
33:05 win a crunch time moment.
33:07 Who are you putting on him to start?
33:08 Are you putting Holiday on him?
33:09 You putting Jalen on him?
33:12 I think you put Jalen on him and try to just--
33:14 I want to put Jalen on him just to make sure
33:17 that he doesn't play it cool, right?
33:21 You want to give it to him, right?
33:24 Like, sink or swim.
33:26 And let Holiday do some off-ball stuff,
33:28 some disruptiveness away from--
33:30 Plus, these guys are just fighting for their lives
33:32 a couple of days ago.
33:33 I mean, yeah, give them the tougher assignment,
33:36 which would be Jalen for sure.
33:37 He can stay in front of them.
33:39 The Cavs are going to have a lot of issues on offense,
33:41 if El Coro's starting, if the Mobleys start.
33:44 Those guys just don't shoot the ball.
33:47 So you can really muck it up defensively
33:49 if you're the Celtics.
33:50 And I'll say something similar to what I said last series,
33:52 John.
33:53 You need to make defense your strength in this series.
33:55 Because if you take the Cavs' offense out of play, it's over.
33:59 That's exactly it.
34:01 Exactly it.
34:02 Is the Celtics' ability to-- and again, the Cavaliers can--
34:06 are a way where--
34:07 Because you're punching a wall a little bit on offense.
34:09 They're a good regular season defensive team.
34:11 I think when you eliminate-- when you take Allen out
34:13 of that mix, that's going to affect it.
34:15 But I think Porzingis affects the Celtics' ability
34:18 to rim protect a little bit for sure.
34:20 That being said, I think the Celtics can win the series
34:24 flat out with solid defense and mediocre offense.
34:28 Cleveland cannot.
34:29 You know, that's the problem.
34:32 So you know you just go balls out with your defensive effort.
34:36 I don't know that Cleveland can muster together enough wins
34:39 there, even if your offense sputters a little bit.
34:42 Because I just don't think Cleveland's going
34:43 to be able to put up the points.
34:45 But that's just me.
34:48 Yeah.
34:48 Yeah, I'm with you, John.
34:49 I mean, I'm just finding a hard time of putting it together
34:53 for these guys.
34:55 Maybe LeVert has a big game on the bench.
34:57 Maybe these guys can muster up points in that way.
35:01 But I just think, well, between Yang,
35:04 possibly you get a double digit--
35:08 him scoring a double digit, I feel like it's
35:10 really hard in the playoffs.
35:11 And I just think that's a huge hole
35:14 to have in the sense of not having that someone that
35:16 can score from the wing or some sort of three-point threat,
35:19 something to force the Celtics to defend the three-point arc.
35:22 I think it's going to kill them in this series, man.
35:24 Yeah.
35:25 What in the world was that?
35:28 It's bike season, man.
35:30 First time we hit, what, 80 degrees today?
35:32 So yeah, a lot of bikers out there.
35:33 [IMITATES BIKE NOISES]
35:35 That's all good.
35:36 Ahmed, I need an updated--
35:37 Jeep bikes out here.
35:39 Yeah, no doubt about it.
35:40 Bobby had to tap out for a little bit.
35:44 Hold on one second.
35:45 And we'll keep talking about it here and again.
35:47 We're just going to hang out for a little bit here.
35:49 Do you think we get a revenge game for Max?
35:53 Do you think that happens, Max?
35:55 Shrews?
35:56 Cedric Maxwell?
35:57 I know.
35:58 As soon as I said Max, I was like, wait, no, not that guy.
36:01 What's the revenge?
36:03 I don't know, just like a 22-point game
36:06 where he makes like six threes?
36:08 I like Max.
36:09 I really do.
36:10 I always liked the guy.
36:12 And I like him.
36:14 I do.
36:15 But I don't know.
36:16 Bobby, you think that happens?
36:17 Do we get a revenge game for Max?
36:18 Max is the guy who makes you pay when you decide you're just
36:21 not going to cover the three-point line.
36:23 He plays his ass off.
36:24 And that's to bag off people.
36:25 Yeah.
36:25 Well, hey, it could happen.
36:26 I mean, for Celtics fans that don't know,
36:28 I mean, he was cut essentially for what,
36:30 was it Javante Green in the re-season?
36:33 Yeah.
36:35 I love that they're going from the whole heat thing
36:38 to Shrews extending that heat thing into the second round
36:41 here.
36:42 Oh, yeah, he didn't forget.
36:44 He reminded people.
36:44 He wanted that.
36:45 Yeah.
36:46 Bobby and I believe Josue both went to Celtics practice today.
36:51 And I'm going to get a sense of your vibe in terms of the team.
36:55 And again, we're talking about subjective reads like focus,
36:59 their attitude, loose, and blah, blah, blah.
37:02 But here's some of what they had to say about facing the Cleveland
37:06 Cavaliers from Bobby and Josue catching up with them today.
37:10 It's not playing.
37:14 It's a different team.
37:15 There it is.
37:16 In Miami.
37:18 I think they got a little bit more offensive firepower.
37:21 Maybe some longer bigs.
37:28 I don't know.
37:29 But you just get ready to play.
37:31 That's it.
37:32 He's like, whatever.
37:34 You can't even--
37:35 Right.
37:38 Ain't no friends in the playoffs.
37:40 Just got to get ready to play.
37:42 So that's what I got to say.
37:44 Yeah.
37:46 That's what I like.
37:46 Mowgli, Allen, he's going to be back eventually.
37:50 Coro, they got a lot of guys that can create problems.
37:55 And so we just got to continue to have the right spacing
37:57 and the right attacking and make the right decisions at the rim.
38:01 So all great defenders.
38:03 And it's going to be a challenge.
38:04 Yeah, they changed matchups.
38:05 They changed coverages.
38:06 And they mixed it up.
38:08 So I think they're an underrated defensive team,
38:11 even though they're on the top.
38:12 But they're underrated in some of the intricacies
38:14 that they do with the ability that they
38:15 have to change matchups, the ability
38:17 that they have to change coverages on the fly.
38:19 And you got to be sharp and ready to attack those
38:22 within the game.
38:25 I love how they say they have some nice guys.
38:28 And they mention the same two, three guys.
38:30 I love that.
38:30 Jalen was like, I don't freaking know.
38:34 I have to say something nice, I guess.
38:37 Yeah, I mean, that was--
38:39 He even smiled.
38:39 He couldn't keep a straight face.
38:42 That was the vibe today.
38:45 Yeah, we're playing them.
38:47 Yeah.
38:48 We're good.
38:49 The Celtics are us here.
38:52 Yeah.
38:53 Maybe some longer bigs.
38:54 I don't know.
38:55 Their shoes are shiny.
38:56 They're nice.
39:02 I think half of that's the Cavs, John.
39:04 But I also think half of that's Joe's approach of,
39:08 who cares about the other side?
39:09 We're not even talking about these guys.
39:11 We're talking about what we do and what we have to do.
39:14 And I think that's the right approach to some degrees.
39:17 We've talked about it.
39:18 It's going to be the Celtics that prevent themselves
39:20 from advancing.
39:21 That's exactly it.
39:24 That's kind of it.
39:24 And that's why in my initial--
39:28 My initial--
39:29 Analysis?
39:30 I was just basically going to say,
39:32 they'll lose as many games as they make themselves lose.
39:34 I just don't think--
39:36 again, it's one of those series where, yeah, it's an NBA team.
39:39 Anybody can shoot the lights out.
39:40 You can have a bad day.
39:41 You can lose games.
39:42 You don't expect to beat better teams every single time.
39:45 But I really do think most losses or anything that
39:48 is bad to the Celtics here will be entirely self-inflicted.
39:52 We want to tell you guys again briefly before we wrap up.
39:54 And we're going to talk for a little while longer.
39:57 Then we're going to let you guys go.
39:58 Final sponsor here at the Garden Report
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41:15 Going back to the series here and as again,
41:19 let me get off the, oh, someone put my commercial on.
41:21 That's fun too.
41:22 Going back to the series here, just general thoughts,
41:26 kind of heading into it.
41:27 You guys talked about it here after we listened to them
41:33 and the sound from these guys.
41:34 It's like a whatever sort of thing.
41:39 Any fear of like the whole playing with your food
41:42 sort of thing again, of not taking them seriously.
41:44 And again, there's not a lot of villains out here.
41:47 It doesn't mean they're not gonna get up for any--
41:51 - They're friends with these guys.
41:53 - They're buddies, there's no Philly.
41:55 It went through Miami, but it wasn't really Miami.
41:58 - You got the we want Boston chant.
42:00 That's a little something.
42:01 - There's no Milwaukee, you got a little we want Boston,
42:03 but who gives a crap, they don't care.
42:05 - Donovan was like chill.
42:07 - O'Shea Berset didn't like it round one.
42:09 - Ooh, O'Shea's mad, cheated the series.
42:13 - What, he put out a blog or something?
42:16 - I mean, that's just a little something you mentioned
42:18 going into the series.
42:19 Oh, the fans chanted we want Boston.
42:21 - We're gonna hit this before we leave.
42:22 I know you're asking for it.
42:23 Go ahead, Bobby, sorry, go ahead.
42:24 - So what was the question again?
42:27 - Any chance that they play with their food?
42:31 - I mean, they did it in round one, right?
42:33 In the second game there, they didn't defend.
42:36 They let guys shoot, those guys got hot.
42:38 - That's what always kills me, right?
42:39 With these guys is when they have the game one blowout,
42:42 it's almost the worst thing that can happen.
42:44 'Cause then they're like, oh, let's just give me the ball,
42:46 let me cook, and then they get away from what they're doing.
42:49 And that's what happened against Miami.
42:52 - No, and I think that'll probably happen again here
42:54 'cause the Celtics, they're just so fresh.
42:56 The Cavs just got torn up physically in that last series
43:00 and played two days prior.
43:03 So yeah, it's hard not to imagine a game one big win
43:07 for the Celtics here in this series.
43:09 So what's your level of focus off of that?
43:12 Do you feel like you got it at that point?
43:14 Is the attention to detail there?
43:15 'Cause again, the stuff you have to account for here,
43:18 you have to account for Mitchell, even Hurt,
43:20 banged up, he scored 50 in that game six.
43:23 You have to account for Garland
43:25 and the shooting he brings to the table.
43:26 He shot pretty well in that first series from three.
43:29 And then we'll see what is available beyond that there.
43:33 But it really is just about dealing with those wins
43:38 the right way and following up on them.
43:40 And they've done a pretty good job with it.
43:41 The mentality of this team, John,
43:43 I know they've had a lot of slip ups in the past,
43:46 but that's one thing you've been able to rely on them
43:48 pretty solidly this year is their consistency,
43:52 their attention to detail,
43:54 and their ability if they do have a bad loss here
43:56 in this series, and they might have won.
43:58 There's just not many sweeps anymore
44:00 to bounce back and respond to that.
44:04 And I think the road environments will be pretty
44:06 tough in this series.
44:09 I think that's a good crowd there in Cleveland.
44:11 You lost the game there that you played there
44:14 during the regular season.
44:15 So I'll be interested to see how the road games
44:16 go in this series, but coming so soon
44:18 off that last series, just like,
44:20 I just think the exhaustion and injury factor
44:23 in these first two games are gonna make
44:25 really difficult for the Cavs.
44:27 And I know we didn't play a lot of Cav sound tonight,
44:29 but there was a funny moment in that game seven,
44:31 Mitchell was kind of talking about playing the Celtics.
44:34 And he was like, yeah, we'll go up there
44:37 and try to get a game or two.
44:40 The prospect of them winning two in Boston
44:44 isn't even in their mind right now.
44:45 They're just gonna try to steal one.
44:47 - Like a Freudian slip for sure.
44:48 Yeah, no, I just think that's the advantage
44:52 of wrapping up your series as quickly
44:54 as the Celtics did, right?
44:55 That you have to play for the Cavs, right?
44:58 You have to play after a game seven,
45:00 two days after a game seven, whereas the Celtics,
45:02 they do well in these types of situations
45:04 when they have all that time off to brainstorm,
45:06 to go through things and recover essentially
45:09 from the mistakes they made in round one.
45:11 I don't think for a second that Joe Mazzuolo
45:13 didn't remind them of that,
45:14 even the ones that didn't result in a loss.
45:17 I just think the Celtics traditionally
45:20 or historically throughout the season,
45:22 they've responded well, and I don't think
45:24 game one will be any different.
45:26 Do we see that version of the Celtics
45:27 that we saw in game two against the Heat?
45:29 Maybe, but if we do, I think it happens in Cleveland.
45:31 I don't think it happens in this-
45:34 - I agree.
45:35 - In this homestand, at least the first two games
45:36 of the series, and that's where I think
45:40 the Cavs get their one win in this series.
45:43 - Especially if Allen's out the first two games.
45:45 - I have Boston winning this in five,
45:47 and it wouldn't surprise me if we see
45:50 potentially Allen, I know it's a tough injury,
45:52 but maybe they try to get him back in this series,
45:55 and that helps defensively against the Celtics,
46:00 but yeah, I've seen the Celtics drop
46:02 in one of these first two games of the series.
46:05 - What's the outlook, John, for some rib bruising?
46:08 - What, getting banged up here?
46:11 - With Allen, is that something
46:14 that's just gonna shelve him here?
46:15 - Oh, Jesus, I don't know, I have no idea.
46:17 I'm surprised he's missing games, honestly.
46:19 I thought that would be a pain tolerance thing.
46:21 - It's gotta heal its own, yeah, it's not one of those.
46:24 - Yeah, I think that's just kinda like
46:25 you just gotta play through it.
46:28 So I mean, he's gotta be super uncomfortable here.
46:30 I don't think you can exacerbate that injury.
46:33 I think it just hurts, so he must just be
46:36 in just so much discomfort that he can't go out there
46:38 and feel he can be effective.
46:39 - No, someone was telling me last night
46:40 he can't even raise his arm over his head
46:42 and he's having trouble breathing.
46:43 - That's the thing, it's a straight up
46:45 pain tolerance sort of thing, so if he's so banged up
46:48 that he can't literally function in his normal day to day,
46:52 he's not gonna be able to play basketball,
46:54 it's just gonna hurt too much.
46:55 But that's also the type of thing
46:57 that's gonna get him a knock of just shoot it up and play.
47:00 - He's so important too, man.
47:02 He's a real advantage. - Oh my God.
47:04 - For Cavs physically.
47:05 - Just as important on the offense too.
47:07 - That is one big physical tough center.
47:11 Yeah, I love his game.
47:15 - Yeah, it changes, it changes for sure if he's healthy.
47:19 And I'm not ruling him entirely out,
47:21 it's just as we said so many times with the Celtics this year
47:24 I'm always less concerned with what the other team does
47:27 and just simply whether they do what they're supposed to do.
47:29 Now, you drop a player, the margin for error decreases here.
47:34 I mean, decreases, so when Porzingis is gone,
47:39 yeah, you can't just show up and win.
47:43 But Allen does change it, does change the equation for sure.
47:48 I don't think he's, I mean, he's questionable for game one.
47:51 So even if he doesn't play, I don't believe you're missing.
47:55 I have to guess if they're calling him questionable
47:58 for game one, there might be gamesmanship here, right Bobby?
48:00 Like we'll call him questionable, but he's not.
48:03 - He never came out.
48:04 - I got a feel you see him by the time you get to Cleveland.
48:07 I can't imagine he misses the whole thing with this,
48:09 but I don't know, who knows?
48:11 Who knows what he's going through?
48:12 - Yeah, it's hard to say,
48:14 but it's definitely a pain tolerance thing for sure.
48:18 You kind of just have to let the rib heal.
48:20 You know, it's something you can really do
48:21 to expedite that process.
48:24 - Yeah, yeah.
48:28 One thing people were talking about,
48:30 and we are gonna wrap here,
48:32 but I know there was other news going out there.
48:35 Interesting to see like the teams
48:37 that have already been dispatched
48:41 and what might happen there.
48:43 You know, the Bucs were a mess with, you know,
48:46 changing head coaches, making the trade.
48:48 Lillard clearly never wanting to be there.
48:51 Who knows what the future is gonna hold there.
48:53 Philly could be in a bit of turmoil as well.
48:56 - Knicks down in game one, by the way.
48:58 - Knicks are down in game one for sure.
49:00 The other thing that's going on with,
49:02 over in Miami was interesting today.
49:05 Jimmy Butler, people saw over the weekend,
49:08 you know, did some social media post about like,
49:10 you know, if I'm playing Boston's home right now,
49:13 whatever, you know, standard athlete bravado bullshit.
49:17 I don't give a crap about it.
49:18 Everybody does it.
49:20 So it doesn't tweak me at all.
49:22 And it honestly doesn't tweak,
49:23 nor should it tweak the Celtics
49:25 because Miami's home and they're playing
49:27 and nobody gives a crap.
49:28 But it did tweak Pat Riley, who did not like it at all.
49:32 Here's Riley talking about it.
49:34 - Having to say that, you know, I thought,
49:38 is that Jimmy trolling or is that Jimmy serious?
49:42 You know, if you're not on the court playing against Boston
49:47 or on the court playing against a New York Knicks,
49:49 you should keep your mouth shut.
49:51 - Tell emoji.
49:52 Tell him.
49:55 - That is great.
50:00 - Very matter of fact, but he went on to say
50:02 and some interesting stuff here.
50:03 He did go on to say that like,
50:05 there was a question about whether or not, you know,
50:07 they're going to sign him and Butler,
50:09 or, you know, they're going to give him a contract extension.
50:11 I think he's got another year here,
50:13 but Riley was like, yeah, you know, contract extension.
50:17 - Yeah, we still want him.
50:19 - But no, what he said was that depends on his availability.
50:23 I think they might've thought Butler
50:25 might've cruised a little this year or, you know,
50:28 they didn't love it.
50:31 They didn't love it.
50:32 He signed for next year, $52 million player option.
50:36 Yeah, he could decline it, but he wants more.
50:39 He wants an extension.
50:40 And Miami has until whatever it is,
50:44 I forget, league year, end of June to figure it out.
50:47 And he just said, yeah, we'll see.
50:50 He's just got to play a little bit more.
50:52 So it's interesting what's going on there.
50:54 It might just be,
50:55 I love that Riley's not afraid to say shit like that.
50:58 I don't know how Butler reacts.
51:00 I think Butler is one of those classic, you know,
51:04 it's a matter of when, not if, you know,
51:07 he has an expiration date.
51:09 He's going to wear out his welcome, you know, eventually.
51:12 But when you start to get older,
51:13 you kind of lose a little bit of that.
51:15 Like you can't really,
51:18 you're not quite the commodity you were before
51:21 when you start to get up there a teeny bit in age.
51:23 And especially when you're not able to get on the court.
51:25 So interesting stuff there, guys, thoughts on that?
51:28 - Yeah, it's interesting for sure,
51:29 because that's a big part of,
51:31 if they've gone to rebuild on the fly
51:33 or try to extend this team, this era,
51:35 I mean, he's a big part of that.
51:37 But at the same time, like you said, John,
51:38 he's not getting any younger.
51:40 This whole- - He's going to be 35
51:42 when the season starts.
51:43 He's 34 right now.
51:44 He turns 35 in September, yeah.
51:46 - These last four years went by really fast.
51:48 Maybe that's the result of the bubble,
51:52 the condensed season, the year after and all that.
51:54 But this whole like, oh,
51:56 you can coast through the regular season
51:57 and save him for the playoffs,
51:58 that didn't work this year.
51:59 And it's hard to envision that working next year
52:02 or the year after that as he gets older and older.
52:03 And it's harder for him to come back from these injuries
52:07 and wear and tear and all that.
52:08 So yeah, I think there's a conversation
52:10 that has to be had between the organization and Jimmy.
52:13 Like, hey, if we're gonna bring you back here,
52:15 we have to find somewhere in the middle here.
52:17 Like, sure, it wouldn't be best for both parties
52:21 if you play all 82 games every single year.
52:23 Of course not, but we need some more of you on the floor.
52:26 We need seating.
52:28 That's gotta be a priority now.
52:29 We can't just assume
52:30 that we can make that type of run we did in 2023
52:33 or in 2020, oh yeah, 2023, you know, play in tournament.
52:37 And then hopefully we can cruise through.
52:39 Like, that's not an easier,
52:40 that route doesn't get any easier
52:42 as the NBA continues with this, you know,
52:44 end season tournament, so, or play in tournament rather.
52:47 So I just think that's the first thing they have to do.
52:49 Have that conversation,
52:51 talk about potential targets and all that,
52:53 but they have to be on the same page
52:55 before you go ahead and resign someone like that
52:57 who about to turn 35 in a couple of months or next month.
53:01 - Yep.
53:02 - That's exactly, I think Howard Beck,
53:04 week or two ago,
53:05 floated out there that they're maybe not
53:07 on the same page here and a little more recently.
53:10 So those rumblings have been out there that,
53:13 you know, I think it's pretty obvious.
53:15 You don't want to extend a guy at Jalen Brown Money
53:19 who is as sparsely available as Butler is
53:26 and who's aging to this degree that he is.
53:30 And his stats all dropped off this year.
53:33 He went from an all NBA guy to a guy who wasn't really close
53:35 and certainly ineligible under the new rules here.
53:38 And it's not that he got hurt in the play-in,
53:40 that was, you know, a contact injury, a freak play,
53:43 but the fact that his, you know,
53:45 absence throughout the year set them up to be an eight seed
53:48 and they were an eight seed a year ago.
53:49 And you can't do that every year.
53:52 You can have a miracle run once or twice here
53:55 over four or five years,
53:56 but that can't be your formula for getting to the finals.
53:58 And then when they've gotten to the finals,
54:00 they faced a team that they had no chance against.
54:03 So I felt for a little while,
54:06 and I don't know if they can get enough value from him.
54:08 That's going to be the question here,
54:10 but you have to look to trade him this summer.
54:12 I think you just have to do a mini reset,
54:16 roll over to whatever the next star is going to be here.
54:18 And maybe that guy comes right in as he goes out,
54:21 but you need a more well-rounded team.
54:23 You need real role players in depth.
54:25 And if you have to go to the draft for a rough year here,
54:28 it's not the worst thing in the world.
54:30 I know these next couple of drafts aren't the best here,
54:32 but they've drafted well.
54:33 And we've seen like a Tyrese Maxey
54:35 can get you right back in the mix.
54:37 - Look, it's a great infrastructure.
54:39 You have a great, you know,
54:40 guy who runs the operation in Riley.
54:44 You have the best head coach in basketball and it's Miami.
54:46 So people are always going to want to go there.
54:47 - You want to think it's bigger than Butler, right?
54:50 - You don't need Jimmy Butler
54:52 because a rebuild in Miami is easy
54:54 because of easier, because of all of those things.
54:57 You always want people to come play with you.
54:59 You find a way to clear out cap space.
55:01 And then two guys come free and say,
55:02 let's team up and go form a super team.
55:04 And that's how it works.
55:05 And it's Miami and people are going to want to do that.
55:07 So I think they have some leeway here regarding Butler.
55:11 - Who would you be interested in seeing him go to?
55:15 - I don't care at all.
55:16 I really don't.
55:17 Like, you know, this league,
55:21 I think the olds,
55:22 we're kind of done with the olds here a little bit.
55:24 You're seeing it.
55:25 You're seeing a little bit of a changing of the guard.
55:26 I think we're going to pay less attention to the Georges
55:29 and the Leonards and the Butlers and this and that.
55:31 And the Anthony Davis's.
55:32 I think we are turning a page here
55:34 where those guys are fine,
55:36 but where they go and what they do starts to matter less
55:38 and less because you're kind of seeing the league being,
55:42 you know, really shifting now more towards the younger
55:44 talent who are taking it over.
55:45 So I'm done with the olds, you know,
55:48 I respect the hell out of them.
55:50 I just don't think that their movement,
55:51 the player movement of those guys forcing their way out
55:54 and throwing tantrums and this and that is really going to
55:56 have enough of a major impact anymore going forward,
56:01 given the state of the rest of the league.
56:02 We do have to wrap up.
56:04 - That's the thing, John, real quick.
56:05 I think that's why if you're Miami,
56:06 you almost have to keep them, you know,
56:08 because you want to draw in some interest and let's face it,
56:11 Bam out of bio, Jimmy Butler,
56:13 that's not a bad place to start for a lot of potential,
56:16 maybe not free agents,
56:17 but trade targets that could turn up.
56:19 - I know, if he keeps getting worse though,
56:21 Josue, it's going to turn bad for that contract.
56:24 - Yeah, but that's the,
56:25 you sort of have to bite that bullet and hope that two year
56:27 window, you can squeeze out a run.
56:29 I mean, that's pretty much where they're at right now.
56:31 And I don't think any of us are surprised, you know,
56:33 we didn't see, I mean,
56:34 we all saw this coming before the season started for sure.
56:37 That window gets smaller and smaller, but yeah, you're right.
56:40 - No doubt about it.
56:41 Anyway, game one tomorrow,
56:43 Celtics versus the Cleveland Cavaliers.
56:45 Should be a lot of fun.
56:46 We're going to be here.
56:47 We're going to be loaded up.
56:48 And finally, we've got some games,
56:50 covering the team home and away here at CLNS Media,
56:52 because that's what we do.
56:53 Follow Bobby Manning, follow Josue Pavon,
56:56 and follow Celtics CLNS.
56:58 Make sure you like this video and subscribe.
57:01 Tell all your friends about it.
57:02 Again, round two people, let's go.
57:05 Let's get it up.
57:06 - Get excited, let's go.
57:07 - I'm trying to get excited.
57:10 I might need you guys to help us get excited, okay?
57:13 - We got some Bruins coverage tonight.
57:16 - I was going to say, well, John Swamp's-
57:17 - George.
57:18 - Moving on across.
57:19 - Yes, George Kalopaska.
57:22 Yeah, we have some, and it's honestly really good.
57:25 Bruins post game show, Evan Marinovsky,
57:28 heading the charge over there,
57:31 and getting good numbers over there on those shows.
57:34 It's really getting a lot of people kind of tuning in here.
57:37 We didn't even make it to round two last year,
57:38 which is great.
57:39 And Carl Corazzini, former NHL player.
57:43 It's a very fun, entertaining,
57:45 and informative post game show.
57:47 Evan is great.
57:48 Carl really knows his stuff.
57:50 Check it out.
57:50 The Bruins are tied, 0-0 after one.
57:53 Pacers and Knicks really going at it.
57:55 Breaking basketball news right now.
57:59 Rudy Gobert is out tonight,
58:01 so that'll change the complexion of that game.
58:02 - By the way, everybody's got a shoe in,
58:05 Knicks Celtics here, and I really hope it happens,
58:07 but the Pacers are going to give the Knicks
58:10 everything they got.
58:12 That's going to be a long series.
58:13 - I'm definitely not stunned.
58:15 Yeah, I'm not stunned by it.
58:18 Yeah, I wouldn't be stunned by it.
58:19 I think it's going to be a good series too.
58:21 Everyone's having more fun in the other series.
58:23 These Celtics series are boring.
58:25 Everyone else is having a great one.
58:26 - Not a bad thing, I guess.
58:28 - Yeah, but we are going to wrap it.
58:30 We'll see you guys tomorrow a lot more.
58:31 We'll have the full crew back
58:32 with Sherrod and Jimmy in there as well.
58:35 So we do thank you guys, as always, for tuning in.
58:38 Wouldn't be the show without you.
58:39 We will see you guys tomorrow night,
58:41 immediately after the game.
58:42 - Wait, Ahmed's got an outro for us, I think.
58:45 - No, he doesn't.
58:45 - You said he was going to work on an outro.
58:48 - He had a phenomenal game.
58:50 - Phenomenal game.
58:52 (laughing)
58:53 - Poor Firdoud, I think it's an odd one.
58:55 (laughing)
58:58 - That did not sound like a chair.
59:00 - It was a freaking chair.
59:02 It does sound like a chair.
59:03 (upbeat music)
59:06 (upbeat music)