Topic: American Sports

@Th3solution I'm only kinda messing with the Mazzulla stuff, but Celtics pregame live featured an interview he did where he says "I don't get why some sports are allowed to clear the benches, it's not like we have sticks or bats to use as weapons, just a ball, maybe they should let us throw down a little bit" 😭😂😭😂

If you're having a hard time getting into NBA early, just follow the Celtics, and you'll be locked in 💪 I do agree, some teams are a little slow and boring early on, as well as it feeling like they are kind of not playing for much, but if you follow one team it's always going to be more interesting any time of the year, especially if it's an interesting team. There's always stories within the games, the players competing for spots, all that good stuff, and you get to see it advance and take twists and turns through the season

I hope you checked out the game tonight. I'm watching on a slight delay so I can skip timeouts and ads, but the fact this game even went to overtime is nuts. It's the worst the celtics have played all season, down 24, and then they just go to work.

Weirdly, the last few games they've not used Queta at all, and I've kept thinking why not put him in for a few minutes to change up the defence to disrupt and work the glass at both ends (not sure I love Tilman playing too much anyway as hes a bit clumsy or rushed with his hands on rebounds and finishing) but as soon as Queta he got in the game tonight they couldn't attack the rim any more and he was making hustle plays at both ends and Celtics walked down the 24 point deficit.

Looks like Indy are getting the W, but very interesting watch. TJ McConnell is a menace, and Mathurin a star in the making. The rest of the league will have to watch out now we've woken the pacers up again

@Ravix Well, I guess the Celtics aren’t going to go 82-0. You’re going to have to settle for 81-1.😜

I didn’t get to watch the game but just saw the result and the stat sheet. ‘Live by the 3, and die by the 3’, I suppose. Tatum and Brown being a combined 6/29 from beyond the arc is something that just jumps off the page 😬

I can’t figure out the Pacers. If they could be a little more consistent then it would be easier to believe in them, but they always feel to me like a team that’s a good team, not a great one, but has occasional runs of being amazing. They’re one of those teams that will likely improve as the season goes on and if they get hot at the end of the year again like last year then they could be legit contenders.

@Th3solution the funny thing was watching the game that isn't why they lost at all. They absolutely could not finish at the rim. Holiday, Brown, Tatum, Tilman, Kornet, just endless misses from under the basket. Holiday was the most surprising, as he is Mr cool, but they just all seemed weirdly rushed. In the 4th quarter Derick White literally said to Mazzulla "just give me the ball" and he instantly got under the basket, pump faked, stepped through like an old fashioned center and finished, if the team had had the wherewithal to do that a little earlier and settle themselves down it would have been a Celtics win, despite playing a little behind the pace.

To my eye it looked like offensively they were just a tenth of a second out on decision making, it got to a point where they would hitch or take an extra moment on shooting threes for some reason (Pacers do defend the line, but the mini delays helped them to get out when initially it was an open shot, so it was a little bit of good defence, indecisive offense) maybe knowing Pacers would defend the three just put that itch of doubt, but there were still some good looks. And defensively, I don't think we were ready to defend the full 24, when Pacers run and get a quick chance and then get to drive over and over for 24 seconds if they get a rebound, it can be demoralising.

I think overall we needed to face this style though as the openers have been too easy. And our set defence doesn't really have issues, so it will give them something to work on in transition. Last year the transition defence got to be very high level anyway, but it is maybe one of those things that is rusty early in a season.

Pacers probably won't play like that vs everyone, but if they commit to it, that's when they can get dangerous. They were locked in defensively, almost playoff style defence. But again, it was solvable if Celtics had finished on their drives, and played off of two feet in the paint. A simple layup isn't going to cut it when you're surrounded, at least pump fake or head fake a little to have a better chance at a shot 😅

@Ravix Yeah, that’s the danger of just coming to conclusions from the stat sheet. Sometimes you’ll see a player 4/4 from three with 18 points and you might think, “wow, he really played a good efficient game” but in reality the baskets were meaningless superfluous padding and the player with the stat line of: 1/11 from three, 24 points, 11 boards, 5 assists, 0 turnovers, 3 steals and 2 blocks was the the more critical player. Hustle plays don’t translate all the time onto a stat sheet - deflections, alteration of opposing player shots, being a decoy to get another player an open look, etc, etc.

Sometimes it’s all about timeliness of when the player makes a play. If you fill up the stat sheet that’s great and all, but if you clank open shots or free throws in crunch time, or blow a defensive assignment in the last minute, then it’s all for naught. I watched some highlights of some games yesterday and the Mavs / T-wolves Western Conference finals rematch was one to catch my eye and Luka had a very pedestrian game by his standards from a stat perspective, 24-8-8, and 1/8 from three, but that three he did make was in the clutch moments of the closing of the game when Minnesota was just about to come from behind and steal the game at the end and Luka hit the deep three to squash the comeback. He missed the earlier ones but hit it when it was critical.

And that’s where there’s an argument to be made about the “hero ball” where although it’s a team sport, it does come down to one guy needing to make a play at the critical moment, usually the end of the game. It will always come down to that. Sometimes that play will be making a pass to an open teammate, blocking a shot, or getting a steal (like the famous “Bird stole the ball” game, as a Celtics reference) but usually it’s hitting a clutch shot. The great players are defined by being closers — Kobe, Jordan, Steph, Shaq, Wade, etc. There’s lots of good players that just filled a stat sheet but never achieved true greatness because they lacked the killer instinct — Barkley, Ewing, Lillard, Westbrook, Malone, Iverson, etc, etc.

And another thing (while I’m just rambling about basketball theory and pulling things out of my rear) there’s a unquantifiable “chemistry” that great teams (and players) have — you can usually tell, if you watch the games, which teams are clicking together and enjoy one another and have each other’s backs. Then there’s teams and players who just are going through the motions side-by-side. Team culture goes a long way and sometimes one guy can just ruin it. I think it’s why we see young teams full of talent do so well and why OKC is so dangerous. I think those guys enjoy playing together and no one seems to have an ego.

@PorkChopExpress I watched the first part of that game. Boos within 1 Jets play 😂😂 New York is something else, but I don't blame them to be honest.

Horford sat last night for 'old man reasons' giving Kornet the start and Queta big minutes off the bench. It's almost a novelty having a center come in and do things like this 😅 he's going to become a big cult favourite in Boston. I guess Tilman was dropped/benched (whatever the US term is for not playing because the coach thought you were a bit rubbish last time) as I don't believe he got on the court at all last night, and I've already pointed out his clumsiness here.

What do you guys reckon? No technical because the stare down happened whilst he was still riding on the dude from the poster dunk? 😂👀 that's maybe the one thing we got away with

But speaking of technicals and fouls... what does anyone make of the league wide joke that is Grant Williams? 😅 I'm going to guess that's a topic that will be discussed in the US, seeing as the ridiculous foul was on Tatum, his "friend that he will always look out for" 🙄 The Hornets absolutely lost their minds last night. I'm hoping it gets coverage, as it's genuinely interesting to analyse.

First we had Grant truck Tatum for no real reason, he later claimed he was just reaching for the ball and didn't intend to hit him 🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄🙄👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀👀 on the resulting freethrows, after the ejection, Lamelo was half undressing himself as Tatum shot, which just looked like he was done for the night. On the resulting possession from getting the ball back, Tatum took a three, and Lamelo landed under his ankle, which will happen from time to time. But the fact he was on 5 fouls, and showed he was clearly done for the night seconds before makes me ponder if he did it on purpose. Because as soon as he made the foul he was back to getting his shirt off, in exactly the same way as he was during the freethrows. Just looks a little suspicious, but I doubt anyone will notice that and everyone will move on and put it down to just a regular play. They also had another ejection soon after, where I think a player just punched the ball into the crowd, but I didn't catch it on the footage 😅 Charles Lee also had his first ever technical as a coach, but we all like Charles Lee. The pressures of being a head coach must already be telling, though.

Mazzulla also had a technical earlier and looked like he wanted to fight the refs 😂😂😂 I think he's getting wound up by the constant really weird decisions against the Celtics this year, and refs just being consistently wrong with regular calls about who should get possession, goaltending, all the little nuisance stuff that should not require coaches wasting challenges and isn't based on opinion, it's factually wrong decisions they are missing in droves. I mean, in that game they even called Tatum for stepping out of bounds when he was about 3 or 4 inches in bounds 😅 on top of a bunch of other bad decisions, but that's insignificant, it's just a very weird call to make, like a lazy "oh he was probably out as he was driving the baseline... whatever I didnt see it" call. But it all adds up when you're a super OCD coach 😁

I think the most intriguing thing is it's game two Vs Charlotte tonight, so a quick turnaround and lots of stories going in.

@Th3solution I'll tag you in as you will know if any of this got any coverage on the sports networks etc 😛

@Ravix Yeah, usually we’d call it being ‘benched’. You’ll also see ‘DNPCD’ or ‘did not play, coach’s decision’.

But regarding the other happenings you mentioned, I didn’t get a chance to watch any sports news or highlights but the game summary I read did talk about all the ejections and flagrants and I watched the video clips of the Williams foul and the Bridges ejection. I’ve actually seen worse fouls than that not called, to be honest. But yeah, it was an egregious “non-basketball” take down and an appropriate flagrant 2. But it didn’t look like an intent to harm or injure. I’ve seen guys swing closed fists, elbow players in the face, kick or hit another’s crotch (or grab!), etc, etc and get less of a reaction from the refs, sometimes not ever acknowledged at all.

The Bridges ejection seems extreme though. It didn’t look like he was trying to hurt anyone or anything and it was a little outburst of frustration against the ball. A standard technical would suffice. But I guess the refs were trying to gain control of the game so they often start making examples out of players on a team that’s about to blow up.

But yeah, the article I read didn’t talked about that nuance of Lamelo maybe weaponizing his last foul since he was about to sit anyway. So that will probably get swept under the rug.

I’ll be interested to see how the game goes tonight. Players and coaches going against former teams always creates drama. Grant Williams has really been a joke indeed. He seems like a head case, but beyond that, he’s just so overrated in general.

@Th3solution I think it was the blindsided nature of it, plus force and pure blatantness that made it easy for the refs, some of those ones you mention can kind of be exaggerated by slow mo, or be kind of sly and hidden, like a rabbit punch can be concealed at times, and elbow can look bad but be an accident on a pump or ball gather, stuff like that. But Grant Williams, he is one hell of a lump, and definitely decided to body check him from 15 yards away, and Tatum did not see it coming at all. It could have easily made him have a freak landing injury, like on the wrist or something. Or even nastier stuff can happen when it's an unexpected shot to the body.

But from my point of view, the idiot foul is one thing, but it's the fact he is supposed to be still good friends with people on the team, and it's just a sly, dirty thing to do. Like, if you work with someone you like and move jobs, you don't suddenly then see them in the street and decide to steal their wallet 😅 I can't be bothered to make a better analogy, but the change in job shouldn't change how you act towards the people you supposedly trust and respect.

I mean, these are the people that stood up for him in the media when he was doing all his other idiot stuff on teams, too 😅

I think the best summary I saw was people maybe think Grant is acting all buddy buddy, but he is pissed Tatum didn't do something to keep him in Boston. But it might even go deeper, I don't think Deuce, Tatum's son, likes Grant Williams much, as displayed in this awkward clip 👀

Tatum literally has to lead his son away from him. Something ain't right there, Deuce didn't look like he was doing that reaction for giggles 😭😅 take me away from the bad man 👀

The only people that liked Grant Williams were some of the Celtics, and a very small number of the fans, mostly because he did stuff for the community, and had one good game in a game 7, but I'd imagine he has now achieved the 'nobody likes me' status. So if he keeps at it, his career might be done, if there's a lack of people to back him.

I don't imagine Charles Lee was patting him on the back for turning a fairly good game into a sideshow late on, when it was not even entirely over, either 😬

Even Draymond Green thinks he's a tool,.and that's saying something 😂

Will you be watching the "rematch" tonight? I can't imagine the Hornets will have much left after blowing their chance, but you never know, it could boil over into something

@Ravix Nah, I didn’t watch Celtics-Hornets Part II. It looks like it wasn’t much of a game. Although it was encouraging (for Celtics fans, that is) that they did fine without Brown, which blows my theory that he’s their most valuable player. 😅 This is Charlotte though, which is hardly much of a test for a team. So it’s difficult to draw any conclusions and start planning the parade route yet after beating up on them.

That is funny about Tatum’s son. First of all that his name is “Deuce”, which of course usually is slang for the 2 card in a standard deck, or a bowel movement. 😂 I’m hoping it’s a nickname because he’s actually named Jayson Jr.

But the poor kid’s name aside, it definitely looks like he and Williams aren’t buddies.

@Th3solution yeah, Jayson II. He didn't name his son 'poo', surprisingly 😛

Oh, yeah, definitely not a basketball skill test. Just a bit more of a mental test, as they let a few quarters slip, but rectified it. Plus the Grant Williams debacle on top. It was a mostly Celtics crowd night two, it must be kind of weird for teams home crowds to just not turn up at all and be outnumbered by away fans. But by the third quarter it was dead and that's when the Celtics started playing bad basketball. Mazzulla called a timeout after a couple of minutes and marched on the court saying "what are you doing?!" And then privately talking to D White, probably saying to sort them all out and run the team 😅 by the 4th they'd snapped out of it and Derick White was making defensive plays and running the offense, although it still took a while for them to realise they had to just give him the ball to settle it down. He is the real MVP, btw. The superstars are the superstars, but he is the glue.

Lamelo fouled out again. I think he's just pretty stupid tbh, and generally lacks awareness of how to win games. He is such a good talent but one of those that might end up wasting all of that because he is always in foul trouble, injured or just stuck where he is. If he was smarter and could last a season unhurt he'd be a trade target for a lot of teams, you'd think.

The highlight of last night was when Tatum got a breakaway dunk and as he hung there the momentum took his rear end into Grant Williams' head 😂 so I think that ended that little saga with Tatum having the last laugh.

Weirdly, with a minute or so to go, no chance of winning he decided to wrap up Tatum fairly roughly for a foul. And a bit after as White was trying to inbound he got in the way, and then flopped really comically trying to get a foul on White. So I think we can just accept he is upset he never got to win a ring with the Celtics and has since fallen to epic lows with the Dallas debacle and now Charlotte.

It’s early in the NBA season but the strength and depth of the West already apparent. A 5-5 record gets you the #3 seed in the East and it’s worth #11 in the West (not even in the playoffs). If the season ended today, a 0.36 winning percentage gets you a playoff game in the East. 😂

@Th3solution yeaaah... the improved East hasn't really taken shape. I'm not sure what they are all playing at. Cavs are good though, have they still not even lost yet?

Remember first time the Celtics played the Bucks and I said about Giannis being both the reason they are good, and the reason they f***ing suck, basically. It is so true. They were up by about 20 on us the second time we played, but as I was watching I still thought "calm down, G, we're still going to win this game" because it was just awful offence they were playing, and they only scored because Giannis is really good at getting baskets when he's going down hill. But my God, it was awful play, absolutely no ball movement, and just relying on one guys sheer ability is not how to play basketball. And what happened when the Celtics locked in? Derrick White got a monster block on Giannis and then they were fresh out of ideas from that point on, no one else was involved and so we slowly came back and put them down.

He is like the Anti-MVP, the whole game he gets himself going, and then he moans at the rest of the team when they can't suddenly hit form at the end of games after having spent two or three quarters stood there watching him go to work for himself 😂

@Ravix I have to admit, the Bucks are one of my biggest disappointments. Giannis hero mode aside, I just didn’t expect them to be this bad. It’s early though so I imagine they’ll make a run and end up competitive by end of year. And by competitive I mean in the playoffs. Giannis has won a couple MVPs and won a championship, so I suspect he’ll figure it out. D Lillard is hurt now, though. Concussion apparently. And Kris Middleton hasn’t played yet due to his injury.

In fact, the injury bug it already having devastating effect all over. The usual suspects are already missing time (or have not even played yet) — Kawhi, Zion, Durant, J Butler. And Embiid, George, and Maxey haven’t even played together yet. Even some of the young phenoms are missing a lot of time like Banchero, Lively, and Chet Holmgren.

Even our boy Jaylen Brown has been hobbled and isn’t quite hitting his stride yet, but seems like he’s back. Enough to pick a fight with Giannis at least 😅

@Th3solution Giannis and his wild elbows that don't even get looked at on the monitor, as well as two players landing under JT and them not even looking at the monitor or even calling the first one 😅 not saying the Giannis elbow is dirty, or not, but he really gets a lot for favour with refs still. But with all that nonsense, and the Celtics playing at about 40% capacity and effort, plus being down the starting center and having JB working back from his hip issues, it shows just how bad the Bucks really are 💀

They can't get better as they are, they really can't. Giannis will win them some games, but he won't get anyone else anywhere close to regular season form. He likes to play fast, Dame slow, Lillard wasn't even that interested in shooting in that game, so I don't know if he had a concussion already??? He didn't look himself (pi$$ed at Big G already?) The team is old and slow and might just fall way back in the regular season unless it's scrappy games, and basketball isn't scrappy anymore, everyone will run on them, move the ball, and beat them quite consistently.

If it was the playoffs now, they'd probably do okay in terms of competing individually, but in regular season games I think teams will look to take it to them now while they are flailing

@Ravix oh and I don’t know how I missed KP in my injury report above, but it’s a given he’s not playing. 😂

I haven’t watched any Bucks games yet, I’ve just seen a lot of Giannis over the years and also Lillard. They are both great individual players. We’ll see if they can co-exist.

As far as Giannis’s flailing elbows, like I said in that earlier post - “…I’ve seen guys swing closed fists, elbow players in the face, kick or hit another’s crotch (or grab!), etc, etc and get less of a reaction from the refs, sometimes not ever acknowledged at all…”
It’s frustrating that some players get away with this stuff. They called the offensive foul I think on that play, but I don’t think he got a flagrant call, which a blow to the face/head/neck is usually at least a flagrant 1.