2017-2018 Boston Celtics: No Irving! No Hayward! No Brooklyn Pick!

[godfather]

Any dynamic 1 can be the clutch PG king when he gets the type of calls the green jersey makes possible.

Kyrie was called Mr. 4th Quarter before LB came here.

He's always been clutch.

I hate that article BTW. I found it so fucking disrespectful, the original Title was "Isaiah who?"

How disrespectful. I'd say that no matter what team he's on currently. There's just no reason to go there.

Even Celtic fans in the comment section called out the hack writer.

ESPN blows, they're not worthy of reading. I haven't read or watched them in years.

 

[MediumBaller]

I know we hate Kyrie now, and that's the thing to do around here

But wow,

we can't even enjoy the shot of his that helped us WIN A TITLE?!?

What? Seriously? Kinda disturbing to me some rather celebrate the shot by Ray Allen, on that team, when we hated them.

More than the shot Kyrie hit for us.

I don't even care if you don't like him now. Kinda sad some are that upset, they don't even want to embrace that shot even?



Couldn't disagree more. I think both are clutch shots. But one, the Heat were desperate.

I always think hitting a shot while you're down is less pressure. You got nothing to lose. You're losing, its SA that has the pressure. Miami basically had that game blown.

Not the same for us. The game was tied, both teams were on the verge of winning a title. No one had scored in minutes. Kyrie knew ahead of time he's getting the shot. And he did it on the road, in a really hostile environment.

And his was a step back, off the dribble, a much more difficult shot.

I think his was more clutch/impressive IMHO.

Kinda sad we can't even be at least bias, nevertheless, and embrace that shot at least though as fans. A Cav fan should say that shot.

Hey, we can still celebrate that shot, no? It helped us win a title. Just don't think people should let their opinion of Kyrie spoil their memories of us winning our only title in franchise history.

That doesn't make any sense. If Ray Allen misses that shot he loses the NBA finals. It's over. That's a whole lot to lose. If Kyrie misses his shot there's still game left to play. Allen's shot was a much more difficult shot. He's back pedaling, he has to get his feet behind the line while every Spur is running toward him. It's nothing against kyrie, his shot just wasn't as tough as Allen's was.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

Kyrie was called Mr. 4th Quarter before LB came here.

He's always been clutch.

I hate that article BTW. I found it so fucking disrespectful, the original Title was "Isaiah who?"

How disrespectful. I'd say that no matter what team he's on currently. There's just no reason to go there.

Even Celtic fans in the comment section called out the hack writer.

ESPN blows, they're not worthy of reading. I haven't read or watched them in years.

Totally agree.


I was pretty deep into a bottle of rum last night so I had to get at least one passive aggressive dig in at Kyrie.

 

[godfather]

Totally agree.


I was pretty deep into a bottle of rum last night so I had to get at least one passive aggressive dig in at Kyrie.

Bro, it's all good, I don't mind any shots taken at Kyrie. FUCK HIM, for the things he said about Cleveland. If he didn't go there, it'd been all good for me at least.

That doesn't make any sense. If Ray Allen misses that shot he loses the NBA finals. It's over. That's a whole lot to lose. If Kyrie misses his shot there's still game left to play. Allen's shot was a much more difficult shot. He's back pedaling, he has to get his feet behind the line while every Spur is running toward him. It's nothing against kyrie, his shot just wasn't as tough as Allen's was.

I get that. I'm saying I just don't there's as much pressure. Didn't say no pressure at all.

I just feel when your back is against the wall, there's not as much to lose, compared to a team that's tied, or already winning. When you're losing teams tend to be more relaxed.

Look at the Warriors, they were winning, and choked, because the pressure was mounting that badly.

Agree to disagree. For the record, Allen has made that shot time and time again in his career.

It's a tough shot, just think you're underselling how hard it is to shoot of the dribble, stepping away, like Kyrie did.

That's a really fucking hard shot Kyrie made. There's no defense for it.. Curry played it well, and contested as well as you can, too. It was good defense on Kyrie.

Allen wasn't blanketed man. Look at the clip, he had some daylight, and once he got it off, Parker rushes over him, with a late and hard contest. But Allen was still open, bro.

Both are great shots. It's worth a debate.

I think Kyrie's was more clutch. Because he's on the road, its game 7. Going against a team that won 73 games.

I think hitting shots on the road is much more difficult than at home.

But the point remains. Why would some rather celebrate the Allen shot, more than the Kyrie one?

Just don't get that I guess. Even if we don't like Kyrie anymore. Still think we can embrace that shot, and separate Kyrie and our feelings for him is all I mean.

 

[InBoobieWeTrust]

FWIW, I think Kyries shot is at least on the same level as Ray Rays. Was probably a “bigger” shot IMO.

Game 7, final minute. That was “it”.

Heat still had to play in and win another game to win the title. Yeah the shot made that possible but it had nothing to do with anything that happened in game 7.

That said, fuck Kyrie.

 

[czvo]

Kyrie's shot literally won a championship. Allen's shot extended a game.

Ray's shot was amazing. Second greatest shot in finals history. But I'll take the title winner in game 7, on the road, against the best team ever, when neither team had scored for 3+ minutes... to end a 52-year drought.

I mean, fuck, man.... that's a shit ton of pressure.

 

[Cassity14]

Ray's shot was house money. If he misses that, nobody is looking at him for the team's loss in the series. It's also off the catch, which makes it easier according to percentages. He's also at home, it's coming against a scrambling defense, etc. He misses, oh well, nobody expected him to make it.

Kyrie's was different for the reasons listed. Even if it's not the biggest shot in NBA finals history, it's easily the greatest shot in Cavs history, and probably the greatest single moment in Cleveland sports history.

 

[rabman_gold]

Maybe I'm thinking differently, but what Kyrie did has some perspective. It was in the final 2 minutes of the most critical moment in any NBA Finals series (game 7), along with the fact the two teams were within a single possession of each other.

Ray Allen's critical jumper happened in the game before. Which is important for keeping the Heat's chances alive, but did not have the same importance for San Antonio. If that were the case, you could say the same about Abdul-Jabbar's sky hook against the Celtics in the 1974 NBA Finals (also game 6). Or Jerry West's 60 foot heave in 1970. Or Jordan's series clincher over Byron Russell in 1998 (also a game 6).

Let's keep in mind that there's only 19 total game 7s in an NBA Finals. If you ignore the early years (1950s) and the Celtics' dominance over the Lakers in the 60s, there's been 10 game 7s in the Finals since 1970.

• 1970 - New York Knicks beat the Lakers
  • Willis Reed's emotional impact carries Knicks through the final game

• 1974 - Boston Celtics beat the Bucks
  • The Celtics sell out on Kareem Abdul-Jabbar

• 1978 - Washington Bullets beat the Sonics
  • Wes Unseld hits key free throws despite only hitting 58.7%

• 1984 - Boston Celtics beat the Lakers
  • Cedric Maxwell's 24-8-8 keeps the Celtics in front

• 1988 - Los Angeles Lakers beat the Pistons
  • Lakers hold on despite Pistons' furious run

• 1994 - Houston Rockets beat the Knicks
  • Hakeem outscores Ewing in the first 6 games, does it again in game 7

• 2005 - San Antonio Spurs beat the Pistons
  • Duncan and Ginobili help Spurs pull away in the fourth

• 2010 - Los Angeles Lakers beat Celtics
  • Laker take control in the fourth quarter

• 2013 - Miami Heat beat Spurs
  • Heat outlasts Spurs

• 2016 - Cleveland Cavaliers beat Warriors

If we compare what Irving did, it's best to use actual game 7s. In the NBA Finals.

------

It's hard to have the opportunity to hit a shot with the game in doubt on the biggest stage with the biggest stakes on the line.

Yet Irving did it. It's like the Jordan shot in 1989 or the Stockton shot vs Houston in 1997, but instead of the first round or conference finals, it's the last game of the entire season where either team could win it all.

 

[godfather]

FWIW, I think Kyries shot is at least on the same level as Ray Rays. Was probably a “bigger” shot IMO.

Game 7, final minute. That was “it”.

Heat still had to play in and win another game to win the title. Yeah the shot made that possible but it had nothing to do with anything that happened in game 7.

That said, fuck Kyrie.

They're both great shots. Just thinking anyone that's a Cav fan should be bias.

And agree, fuck Kyrie, but I think we should always celebrate that shot. Not going to let Kyrie rob me of that.


Kyrie's shot was definitely a pressure moment shot. No one can seriously say otherwise.

It takes a lot of BALLS! To take that shot, on the road, tie game. That's a pressure shot.

Ray Allen's, although awesome, make no mistake. Don't care what anyone says. There's not as much pressure when you're losing, and that shot is more desperation than anything.

No one feels pressure the same way when you're losing, compared to being tied, or winning.

We've seen it time and time again. Teams that choke, literally, from pressure are always teams that are winning or teams tied up. That's when pressure truly hits you.

Anyone that's ever played sports knows that.

 

[PIP]

Speaking of Kyrie— that whole can’t win games without LeBron on the floor is all but over..

My goodness I’m captivated watching this dude in Boston.. Probably 100x’s more than I was with Bron in Miami...

 

[godfather]

Speaking of Kyrie— that whole can’t win games without LeBron on the floor is all but over..

My goodness I’m captivated watching this dude in Boston.. Probably 100x’s more than I was with Bron in Miami...

It was also the narrative when IT was playing well last year and Boston was winning.

"IT is doing what Kyrie could never do narrative, and that's lead a team."

I just think people weren't remembering -- how truly bad we were then as a team.

We were trotting out lines up with Earl Clark, Alonzo Gee, and Jarred Jack... That's either a team trying to lose, or just really awful at evaluating talent.

Also, Kyrie was really young.

 

[Rich]

Look, I'm not going to act like Kyrie isn't playing well.

But his team is, by a wide margin, the best defensive team in the league, and that's not due to him. It's due to literally everyone else.

He's still not a top 10 player and he still shouldn't be in the MVP discussion, but is because that's what happens when a player changes teams and that team does well. It's the one situation where everyone just kinda ignores individual play.

 

[The Oi]

Kyrie’s shot won the NBA Finals in game 7. Ray Allen’s tied NBA Finals game 6 and kept his team alive.

Similar time left on the clock after shots went in. Similar degrees of difficulty.

Cavs were severe underdogs playing the supposed greatest team of all time and ended a 52 year drought.

Not sure I see the debate here...

 

[Gus Zing]

Totally agree.


I was pretty deep into a bottle of rum last night so I had to get at least one passive aggressive dig in at Kyrie.

Here's thing about Kyrie's shot. It was so great

that everyone forgot just how awful his shot the next finals (which probably still would have kept it a series) was
View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=afPxnbxYfWY


Such a horrible possession that never gets talked about enough. Had the ball with 45 seconds on the clock. Enough time for a two for one. We're down just 1 point.

The truth is Kyrie was VERY reckless at the end of game 7 in the finals as well. He just so happen to hit the biggest shot in some time so all is forgiven. But yea as great of a shot that was I still shake my head to this day on what Kyrie was doing/thinking on that play.

 

[Tlyons]

Is it possible that Kyrie thinks He should have gotten Fmvp? His case would have been strong any other finals but LeBron was so great that it wasn't even a debate and rightfully so.