Pacers just could not get it done. It took a great performance from James and Tristan Thompson adding his stuff to beat the Pacers. Cleveland won 4 games by a total of 14. Those were all very close and could have went either . Pacers won three by a total of 54. Indiana is a good young team and hopefully on the rise.

I don't think the Cav's will get past the Raptors.

Well Stephen and other Celts fans good luck, starting tonight it's Sixers vs. Celts.

Two classic franchises and two currently very tough teams, this should be a great series. But with all the injuries, I have to go with Philly. If Kyrie had not gone down I wouldn't say that. Sure not gonna be easy though, Celtics are very tough defensively. I'll be watching tonight for sure...........love to watch Ben Simmons play. Just wondering where Celtics scoring is going to come from..........they are going to need 4 or 5 different guys to have a solid series on the offensive end, as in averaging in double figures.

[Edited on 4/30/2018 by robslob]

I was really hoping the Bucks would finally get out of the first round for the first time since the BigDawg/Ray Allen-era. But not too surprised considering they couldn't get over the hump in the regular season. Hopefully they can carry that into next season and add some more shooters to support "the Freak", though that was the hope when the Raptors ousted them early last season. The NBA has always been top-heavy, but they are now 0-8 in first round series since 2003.

I was really hoping the Bucks would finally get out of the first round for the first time since the BigDawg/Ray Allen-era. But not too surprised considering they couldn't get over the hump in the regular season. Hopefully they can carry that into next season and add some more shooters to support "the Freak", though that was the hope when the Raptors ousted them early last season. The NBA has always been top-heavy, but they are now 0-8 in first round series since 2003.

they need jabari parker to be healthy for an entire season

Hopefully a good series Rob -- Stephen C returns tomorrow nite, Xclnt news for GSW!
Unsure where the points will come from w/no Jaylen tonite -- plus, a good idea from Phila coach, he showed Sixiz videos of past Celtics-76ers games (espn article says)

he didn't show em the 1968 series tho 😮 -- they beat us the year before, crushing us 140-116 in the final game
they were up 3-1 the next year (1968), phans had their Boston Is Dead signs ready to break out once again
EL SMOKO -- we win the next 3 & win back the title

we'll give Phila a battle -- they're very good

[Edited on 5/14/2018 by Stephen]

No Jaylen Brown. No problem. Celts get big offensive games from Horford, Rozier and Tatum and continue to show they can play defense against anyone. No matter who is in the lineup they know how to play defense and how to execute the offense. It is amazing how deep in his bench Stevens has players prepared.

No Jaylen Brown. No problem. Celts get big offensive games from Horford, Rozier and Tatum and continue to show they can play defense against anyone. No matter who is in the lineup they know how to play defense and how to execute the offense. It is amazing how deep in his bench Stevens has players prepared.

Could not agree any more! I've thought for years that The Warriors were the deepest team in the NBA. After last night, I may need to reassess that.

Terry Rozier was unstoppable in the second half, Tatum amazing as well. Al Horford also had a great game, mostly in the first half. Defense by the entire Celtics squad was just sterling.

I don't know how many teams could survive losing Gordon Hayward, Kyrie Irving and Jaylen Brown and still come out with a performance like that against a very, very good 76ers team. But it's very early. Philly will be back. But if Boston plays overall like they did last night it's going to be a tough row to hoe for them.

I see this as a very, very fun series to watch!

I thought for sure the Raptors would have won last night. It looks like the rest of the Cav's(besides James) came to life for this one.

I thought for sure the Raptors would have won last night. It looks like the rest of the Cav's(besides James) came to life for this one.

The Raptors had them and then let them off the hook. Will be a great series but Toronto had home court advantage for the first time against the Cavs and blew it.

Nice win for the Jazz!

Nice win for the Jazz!

imo the jazz coach is coach of the year. look at what they lost who they gained and how they are performing

Here's an embarrassment of a sport. Tanking to get the best player is not a strategy. Possibly 5 good teams overall. Zero intensity in the playoffs.

I've watched LeBron for his entire career but game 2 vs. Toronto today was as dominant an offensive display from him as I have ever seen. Just unstoppable and it came from ALL over the court. And Oh Yeah.......Raptors seemed to have forgotten that this Kevin Love dude can do some things too. Toronto got steamrolled on their home court two consecutive games. Sure don't see them recovering from this. Just their luck to land in the same conference as The King because he's been doing this to them for a LOT of years now. LeBron must be the most hated man in Toronto.

Sure don't see them recovering from this.

Yeah ,I agree at this point. I thought Toronto would have taken last nights game, but failed.

Another spectacular performance for LeBron and Love had a huge game and Toronto in deep trouble now.

Meanwhile a 22 point deficit for the Celtics. No problem. They roar back with an extended 50-20 run and Al Horford continues to provide great leadership and winning plays and to lead the youth brigade as the Celtics take a 2-0 lead and Tatum and Rozier and the rest continue to shine. Very impressive even to this old Celts fan.

The guy is just amazing -- as hard a competitor as there is -- LeBron is tops in every phase of the game
Russell Westbrook had a unstoppable performance like this in 2nd half of Gm 5 against Jazz, singlehandedly bringing OKC from Way back for a win -- these are amazing athletes in a zone and a treat to watch

May 3, 2017 comes right to mind for C's fans in this respect -- Isaiah Thomas, 53 points -- that little man, using the entire court, playing to the heavens on the occasion of the birthday of his sister, who'd recently died unexpectedly

Don't think Quin Snyder is coach of the year, but for sure he is right there w/coach Stevens & Brett Brown -- the Jazz use numerous players in a variety of scenarios around the Gobert/Favors/Rubio/Ingles nucleus -- Jonas, Royce O'Neal, their many guards like Exum, Burks, Neto

Jae Crowder has been a big addition -- Donovan Mitchell, rookie of the year in my view -- still early, Houston wasn't 1 seed for nothing

[Edited on 5/4/2018 by Stephen]

Lebron played in a zone & also made the team and each individual player way more effective.

a masterpiece of an artistic performance.

The Wall Street Journal
U.S. Edition
May 4, 2018

Jason Gay has been letting his kids stay up late because he wants them to watch LeBron James play basketball while the Cavs star is still in his prime.

By Jason Gay
May 2, 2018 10:11 a.m. ET

If you run into my children in the next few weeks, a warning: they might be a nightmare. I mean, more of a nightmare than they usually are. They might be especially cranky and tired, demanding cheese sticks and juice boxes. They might wind up on the floor, kicking and howling, like an adult at the Apple Genius Bar.

It’s not their fault. It’s mine.

I’ve been letting them stay up late to watch LeBron.

My children are 5 and 3. They are not sports fans. They are children. They would much prefer to watch a crocodile wrestle a boa constrictor. Or a volcano eruption. Or “Octonauts.”

But for the past few weeks, we’ve fallen into a routine whenever the Cleveland Cavaliers have an evening playoff game. The children do their normal child-schtick of wandering out of their bedrooms after bedtime, complaining they can’t sleep. This is a lie.

They ask if they can sit on the couch and watch a little TV.

MORE BY JASON GAY

I’m Letting My Kids Stay Up Late to Watch LeBron James May 2, 2018

I should say no, because they really need to go to bed. But I say yes, because LeBron James is playing basketball—and I want my children to have watched LeBron James play basketball, when he was still in his prime.

I know it sounds corny, but I think this is important. It’s pretty obvious by now that James is one of the greatest basketball players of all time. When he finally wraps his career, he may have a case alongside Michael Jordan as the greatest ever, and I want my children, when they’re 35 or 62—or 147, living on Mars with their own great-great-great-grandkids, and Elon Musk and Tom Brady —to be able to say: Yeah, I saw LeBron James play.

I think this is the kind of thing I’m supposed to do as a parent. Sure: I’m supposed to teach them to brush their teeth, tie their shoes, drive a stick shift and make an Old-Fashioned the proper way, with a muddler and real sugar and not some garbage simple syrup. But I also think it’s essential that when something miraculous is happening in sports, you make sure that your kids see it.

Cubs fans know what I mean. Cubs fans woke up newborns for the final out of Game 7.

My tennis-nut Dad did this with me, making sure I saw Jimmy Connors and Billie Jean King and Bjorn Borg. This was easier, since tennis was on during the day—or in Wimbledon’s case, the morning. I feel like I watched every point of Borg’s 1980 Wimbledon epic with John McEnroe. I’m not certain I did—I may have taken a nap or wandered outside to chase squirrels. But I know what that match means to tennis, because I saw some of it live.

That’s another thing. I know some people may ask: Hey, Jason, why can’t you just DVR LeBron and show your kids the game in the morning? Blecch. It isn’t the same. It’s really not. I may as well show them YouTube highlights of Bob Cousy. Or a crocodile wrestling a boa constrictor. Live in the moment is everything.

(I will show them YouTube highlights of Bob Cousy eventually, however. And Bill Russell, Jordan, Willie Mays, Billie Jean and Eddy Merckx. And the San Diego Chicken.)

My children are not watching the entire Cavs game. Calm down. They usually hang in for about 15 minutes. I think the longest anyone has gone is until halftime. But I’m pretty certain the 5-year-old knows who LeBron is— big guy, fisherman’s beard, always has the ball, usually doing something thrilling. That’s one of the many great things about LeBron. He always plays. He barely sits. And on the court, he’s at the center of everything.

That’s one of the greatest basketball players who has ever lived, I tell my children. I really do! It’s so pathetic and corny. I sound like I’m in a commercial for life insurance.

I think the 5-year-old gets it. I have no idea what the 3-year-old thinks. I think the 3-year-old is simply hoping to steal the remote and switch over to “Octonauts.”

I’ll keep on letting them watch, because LeBron seldom fails to deliver. Even this season, when he’s playing with a roster the Cavaliers found on eBay. Cleveland will have a hard time marching to the Finals this year. They barely squeaked past Indiana in the first round. James looks like someone who’s been asked to carry a piano up a staircase. And yet, he’s doing it, somehow.

This is what matters in sports. I really believe that. We spend a lot of time today arguing with each other about controversies and contracts and inane topics like bat flips or Bill Belichick’s cutoff sleeves, but the whole reason we get addicted to sports is the off chance of seeing the type of greatness like LeBron James is offering pretty much every other night. He’s 33 now, in his 15th season, and he’s still the best. It’s amazing, close to magical, and I think everyone should be watching.

[Edited on 5/4/2018 by dadof2]

This is what matters in sports. I really believe that. We spend a lot of time today arguing with each other about controversies and contracts and inane topics like bat flips or Bill Belichick’s cutoff sleeves, but the whole reason we get addicted to sports is the off chance of seeing the type of greatness like LeBron James is offering pretty much every other night. He’s 33 now, in his 15th season, and he’s still the best. It’s amazing, close to magical, and I think everyone should be watching.

YUP. X 3......

Kyle Korver in a live TV interview about a week ago gave probably the best summary of LeBron: "He doesn't have to say anything. You see it by the look on his face when you show up for practice 1/2 hour early and see him working. You know just by his attitude that he's wondering why you weren't there with him. Because you know that he was there 2 HOURS before practice working on his game."

[Edited on 5/4/2018 by robslob]

"James continues to ascend and astound. He's averaging 34.4 points, 10 rebounds, 9 assists and 41.7 minutes in his 13th postseason. He's led Cleveland in points and assists in 10 consecutive playoff games games, tying Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson for the longest such streak in postseason history." quote from AP article

Have been astounded by how Celts have ascended this season
expecting long stretches of dominant play by Phila -- it's just the pattern of the games, you can't help but have an extra spring in your step being cheered on your home floor -- we saw that last night in NO -- Simmons is unlikely to have another no show
Envision a split in Phila -- on a beautiful Saturday morning of Green Up Day, let's go boys, show em the green way

LeBron hits another game winner to take the commanding 3-0 lead over the Raptors. DeRozan gets benched down the stretch and the Raptors make a furious comeback only to see LeBron top them yet again.

Meanwhile. The Celtics continue to shrug their collective shoulders at any obstacle in front of them and now dead set on a collision course with the Cavs. And with the regular season that is 6 out of 7 over the Sixers so can we please stop all this silly idea that the Sixers are more talented or whatever. The Celtics are better than they are. Period.

The King strikes again. Wow is about all I can say about that.

Celts proving their mettle as if I need to say so. Young guys Terry Rozier and Jayson Tatum must be making Celts fans forget about the loss of Kyrie. I am amazed at how deep the Celtics are. The main worry if I were a Celtics fan would be keeping everyone around. The Warriors only lost one player from last year (Ian Clark who is playing well for N.O.) but had to go WAY into the luxury tax to do it. Also took some help from Kevin Durant who let $$$ go by restructuring his contract. The Celts have so much talent that keeping the key ones around is going to be a financial nightmare.

The King strikes again. Wow is about all I can say about that.

Celts proving their mettle as if I need to say so. Young guys Terry Rozier and Jayson Tatum must be making Celts fans forget about the loss of Kyrie. I am amazed at how deep the Celtics are. The main worry if I were a Celtics fan would be keeping everyone around. The Warriors only lost one player from last year (Ian Clark who is playing well for N.O.) but had to go WAY into the luxury tax to do it. Also took some help from Kevin Durant who let $$$ go by restructuring his contract. The Celts have so much talent that keeping the key ones around is going to be a financial nightmare.

Good post and I agree . Love him or hate him , he put on a clinic In clutch time. That was pretty amazing. I know its hard to compare players and from the eras they p!ayed, but man oh man he is one of the best.

Rob, you mentioned Celtics might have trouble financially keeping this lineup together. Do you think GS will run into those issues at sometime?

Rob, you mentioned Celtics might have trouble financially keeping this lineup together. Do you think GS will run into those issues at sometime?

I thought I detailed the Warriors' issues in keeping the team together in my post that you are referring to.

Rob, you mentioned Celtics might have trouble financially keeping this lineup together. Do you think GS will run into those issues at sometime?

I thought I detailed the Warriors' issues in keeping the team together in my post that you are referring to.

You just wonder how long players will "who let $$$ go by to restructure contracts". I guess it does happen and it depends on who the individuals are . Some players might want there payday eventually.

I guess I was wrong about the Cavs and Raptors series. 😉 Cleveland dispatched them pretty handedly. They probably wished Indiana finished them off when they had their chances . That was a more competitive series.

Here is a SNL skit about the other Cavaliers,

So the Celtics get it done in 5. 7 games in a row with over 20 for Jayson Tatum and another all round team win as the Celtics fight off a 4 pt deficit with 90 seconds left. Now they wil spend days hearing how they have no chance against the Cavs. We shall see. Should be fun conference finals.

Now the playoffs get really interesting as eliminations have left what in my opinion are the best four teams standing.

Picking The Warriors to win it all for the 3rd time in 4 years. I just don't see that anyone can handle their depth. I think they will take Houston out in 6. I think Boston will beat Cleveland.
I think Warriors - Boston will be a very tough series but again I say Warriors in 6. I fear Boston the most of any team because they are the only team that has the depth to match the Warriors (even with all the injuries). Also Boston may be the toughest team defensively in the entire league. Brad Stephens is Coach of the Year in my opinion. But Warriors' talent and playoff experience will show and put them over the top once again.

Now the playoffs get really interesting as eliminations have left what in my opinion are the best four teams standing.

Picking The Warriors to win it all for the 3rd time in 4 years. I just don't see that anyone can handle their depth. I think they will take Houston out in 6. I think Boston will beat Cleveland.
I think Warriors - Boston will be a very tough series but again I say Warriors in 6. I fear Boston the most of any team because they are the only team that has the depth to match the Warriors (even with all the injuries). Also Boston may be the toughest team defensively in the entire league. Brad Stephens is Coach of the Year in my opinion. But Warriors' talent and playoff experience will show and put them over the top once again.

I definitely don't disagree about the Warriors going all the way. Even with Chris Paul, the Rockets should be easily dispatched.

However--Boston beating Cleveland? Not this year IMO. LeBron won't let that happen

Rob, you mentioned Celtics might have trouble financially keeping this lineup together. Do you think GS will run into those issues at sometime?

Here's a good article that addresses what the Warriors have faced and will face in trying to financially keep this team together. I assume Boston eventually will face very similar issues in years to come. It's a nightmare trying to keep that many superstars together...........I'm talking Steph Curry, Kevin Durant, Klay Thompson and Draymond Green, who are ALL world class basketball players and all of whom made the All-Star team this year. Durant's willingness to take $10 million less this year than he could have made on the open market allowed them to keep both Andre Igoudala and Shaun Livingston. Anyone who's watched the Warriors much knows that those two guys are very essential to the Warriors' rotation. David West could have made $10 million more in San Antonio last year but wanted to get a ring, and he got one. Another key contributor who likes what is happening in Golden State, so sacrificed $$$.

https://www.yahoo.com/sports/klay-thompson-warriors-reportedly-discussing-team-friendly-contract-extension-192105938.html

[Edited on 5/11/2018 by robslob]

Ups to Phila, they came as advertised in 5 tough games
missed calls played a part at the end, esp the no-call when Embiid was fouled
but they've stayed w/Brett Brown thru thick & thin -- the process has come full circle, Markelle Fultz has put his year into it & 6ers will only be better next year -- Sixiz are great going all the way back to their Warriyz days, as they demonstrated by wearing a patch on their uniforms w/# 15 on it to honor all-time top Phila scorer, the great Hal Greer

how do we deal w/LeBron? we don't -- he isn't one of us right now -- just no way to know how it'll play out, but wotta treat & let's go Celts -- west final every bit as good, but WATTA TEAM -- all-due ups, it's us & the three others in semis

[Edited on 5/14/2018 by Stephen]