2023-24 Season | Game #61 | Celtics @ Cavs | March 5, 2024 | 7:30 p.m. | TNT

[Pierre Pan]

Cavs percentage points behind the Bucks for 2nd. A win tomorrow ties them. Who has the tie break?

Eastern Conference​

TEAM	W	L	WIN%	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	ROAD	OT	LAST10	STREAK
1 Boston Celtics- ps	48	13	.787	--	33-7	15-1	29-3	19-10	2-3	9-1	L 1
2 Milwaukee Bucks	41	21	.661	7.5	29-13	10-7	25-7	16-14	2-1	8-2	W 6
3 Cleveland Cavaliers	40	21	.656	8	27-15	9-5	21-11	19-10	2-1	5-5	W 1
4 Orlando Magic	36	26	.581	12.5	25-15	7-6	21-8	15-18	2-1	8-2	W 4
5 New York Knicks	36	26	.581	12.5	25-14	7-4	20-12	16-14	0-0	3-7	L 1
6 Miami Heat	35	26	.574	13	23-16	11-2	17-13	18-13	1-0	8-2	W 2
7 Philadelphia 76ers	35	26	.574	13	23-18	5-7	19-13	16-13	0-2	5-5	L 1
8 Indiana Pacers	35	28	.556	14	25-15	10-2	20-12	15-16	0-0	6-4	W 1
9 Chicago Bulls	29	32	.475	19	16-22	4-9	16-15	13-17	6-3	5-5	W 1
10 Atlanta Hawks	27	34	.443	21	16-26	7-6	15-16	12-18	3-1	5-5	W 1
11 Brooklyn Nets	25	37	.403	23.5	17-19	3-8	16-18	9-19	0-3	4-6	W 1

We split the season series with them, 2-2, which I believe is the first tiebreaker; beyond that, it’s way too early to even look at them. See you tomorrow, my friend. I have a feeling that a lot of us will sleep better tonight than we did Sunday night. Of course, I’m going to stay up and watch the whole game again on TNT @ 1:30

 

[MrDonut]

In the last two minutes Garland missed a free throw, fouled Porzingis on a layup with the Cavs down by 2, resulting in a 3-point play, and was responsible for two turnovers trying to force the ball to Allen who had Porzingis on him.

Darius did a lot of good things tonight but he fell apart in the final two minutes, making ill-advised passes, committing a dumb foul that could have lost the game, and missing a huge free throw.

He also committed an 8 second violation right before the last 2 minutes that went uncalled

 

[Pierre Pan]

 

[Pierre Pan]

I just came to the realization that JBB would have taken out Deano if Mobley hadn’t gotten hurt (or if we had a full healthy roster)

 

[Pierre Pan]

In the last two minutes Garland missed a free throw, fouled Porzingis on a layup with the Cavs down by 2, resulting in a 3-point play, and was responsible for two turnovers trying to force the ball to Allen who had Porzingis on him.

Darius did a lot of good things tonight but he fell apart in the final two minutes, making ill-advised passes, committing a dumb foul that could have lost the game, and missing a huge free throw.

Just watched the TNT replay and Garland was just plain awful during those last 2 minutes; and you neglected to mention what was almost a 3rd turnover when he barely got the ball across the timeline and made his first pass with 4.5 seconds left on the shot clock (which almost went out of bounds and luckily got bailed out on the foul call) AND his awful shot which missed the rim and fortunately Deano cleaned it up for what turned out to be the game winner …AND his out of control drive and a between the legs pass to JA with 3 seconds left on the shot clock which miraculously JA was able to corral and get Deano for another 3. Simply poor play after play after play late. We were so fortunate to overcome those and win thanks to an epic performance by Dean.

But, we won and it’s certainly better than Sunday’s result

 

[2 For The Brew]

Boston: 22 point lead, 8:55 left, 11 straight wins by an average of 22 points, team 100% healthy, Cavaliers missing Don, Max, Ev.

Enter Dean Wade who outscores the Boston Celtics in the fourth quarter.

Max Strus and Dean Wade going full Clint Eastwood on the Mavs and Celts:

”I know what you’re thinking punk. You’re thinking there’s no way he can shoot five threes and make all five. But being that this is Dean Fucking Wade, the most powerful force from Kansas, and can blow your team off the floor, you have to ask yourself a question, do I feel lucky? We’ll do ya, punk?”

Frank Isola just saying that Dean Wade looks like a Kelce brother. So does Niang. And Strus a bit.

The Cleveland Wrecking Crew strikes again.

Dean with the best Cavaliers game ever by any D Wade.

 

[sloveniafan]

What an interesting look...We are used to see Kelce be almost tallest man on the field, here from this angle he looks near Dean almost like hobbit or dwarf

 

[CLEfan330]

I do not care.

Dude is coming off an injury that kept him from basketball for 2 months. He's playing through rust.

His play down the stretch isn’t new. Crunch time DG as the facilitator never works. Go back the last two years. He’s doing too much and forcing too much. He drives to the basket without a plan and forces crap up or tries to make some crazy risky pass that more often than not turns into a TO. It’s a legit concern.

 

[jjvors]

What an interesting look...We are used to see Kelce be almost tallest man on the field, here from this angle he looks near Dean almost like hobbit or dwarf

What struck me was how massive Dean looks. He has some bulk. I'm used to thinking of him as slender.

 

[Wham with the Right Hand]

Just watched the TNT replay and Garland was just plain awful during those last 2 minutes; and you neglected to mention what was almost a 3rd turnover when he barely got the ball across the timeline and made his first pass with 4.5 seconds left on the shot clock (which almost went out of bounds and luckily got bailed out on the foul call) AND his awful shot which missed the rim and fortunately Deano cleaned it up for what turned out to be the game winner …AND his out of control drive and a between the legs pass to JA with 3 seconds left on the shot clock which miraculously JA was able to corral and get Deano for another 3. Simply poor play after play after play late. We were so fortunate to overcome those and win thanks to an epic performance by Dean.

But, we won and it’s certainly better than Sunday’s result

Yeah, I forgot that he tried a layup with 19 seconds left and us down by a point that missed the rim entirely. Fortunately, Wade followed him down the lane and crushed the putback which saved the game. And I think it was LeVert who made an incredible athletic play to save a wild pass from Garland that was almost another turnover.

Garland was awful down the stretch. However, on the final possession the Celtics got exactly what they wanted - Tatum backing down Garland for the game winning shot. Garland bodied him up, not reaching in, not fouling, and not letting him get to the low post. He wouldn't let Tatum go around him or muscle him into the paint. He used his strength and lower center of gravity to keep Tatum further from the rim than he wanted to be. His strength, technique, and positioning was textbook.

Darius forced him to shoot a 15-foot fallaway with Garland's hand in front of his face and he did it without contact. Just a great defensive play with the game on the line against an MVP candidate who has a 7" height advantage.

It's crazy that Garland was so bad offensively in the last two minutes but then got a huge stop against one of the best offensive players in the world. Wade gave him a chance to redeem himself and he did it in the last way you would expect.

 

[Fish Monger]

Okoro has been stone cold at home since Donovan went down. Timing couldn't me worse.

If 7/16 from 3 in the past two games is stone cold, fucking sign me up!

 

[shoes22]

Cavs percentage points behind the Bucks for 2nd. A win tomorrow ties them. Who has the tie break?

Eastern Conference​

TEAM	W	L	WIN%	GB	CONF	DIV	HOME	ROAD	OT	LAST10	STREAK
1 Boston Celtics- ps	48	13	.787	--	33-7	15-1	29-3	19-10	2-3	9-1	L 1
2 Milwaukee Bucks	41	21	.661	7.5	29-13	10-7	25-7	16-14	2-1	8-2	W 6
3 Cleveland Cavaliers	40	21	.656	8	27-15	9-5	21-11	19-10	2-1	5-5	W 1
4 Orlando Magic	36	26	.581	12.5	25-15	7-6	21-8	15-18	2-1	8-2	W 4
5 New York Knicks	36	26	.581	12.5	25-14	7-4	20-12	16-14	0-0	3-7	L 1
6 Miami Heat	35	26	.574	13	23-16	11-2	17-13	18-13	1-0	8-2	W 2
7 Philadelphia 76ers	35	26	.574	13	23-18	5-7	19-13	16-13	0-2	5-5	L 1
8 Indiana Pacers	35	28	.556	14	25-15	10-2	20-12	15-16	0-0	6-4	W 1
9 Chicago Bulls	29	32	.475	19	16-22	4-9	16-15	13-17	6-3	5-5	W 1
10 Atlanta Hawks	27	34	.443	21	16-26	7-6	15-16	12-18	3-1	5-5	W 1
11 Brooklyn Nets	25	37	.403	23.5	17-19	3-8	16-18	9-19	0-3	4-6	W 1

Nobody answered your question, but I will. The Cavs would have the tiebreak over the Bucks if they have the same record, because the next tiebreak after head to head is division record, for teams in the same division.

The Bucks are 10-7 in division games with none left, and the Cavs are 9-5 with 2 division games left. (Both games are against Indiana, 1 home and 1 away). If we win just one of those games, we clinch the tiebreaker over the Bucks.

 

[Cavatt]

Nobody answered your question, but I will. The Cavs would have the tiebreak over the Bucks if they have the same record, because the next tiebreak after head to head is division record, for teams in the same division.

The Bucks are 10-7 in division games with none left, and the Cavs are 9-5 with 2 division games left. (Both games are against Indiana, 1 home and 1 away). If we win just one of those games, we clinch the tiebreaker over the Bucks.

Winning one isnt guaranteed

 

[buzzdog]

WHERE IS COMEBACK KID

 

[buzzdog]

JBB will probably get zero credit for this. Underman, going against the best team. Give him some credit, you fucking haters.

He gets credit because Mobley twisted his ankle forcing him to play Wade who would otherwise be riding the pine and watching the L?