Short Handed Again

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     C's are even more short handed tonight. There will be no Jrue, Al, KP, JB or Sam I am. JT is back and he along with Derrick and Payton will have to carry the load. Tonight's starters include Luke, Queta, and Peterson alongside DW and JT. Should be an interesting game to say the least. I'm hoping we get another PP and DW show tonight. Plus it would be nice to see JT go off vs Philly again. 

     C's are wearing their ugly uniforms tonight. Luke has already made an impact by diving on the floor for the loose ball. DWhite hits the first three of the game. What a play by Luke and JT on the give and go for three! Luke is such a cerebral player. That was a high IQ play which led to the JT swish. I can't believe how poorly this Sixer team is overall. DWhite hits his second three of the night! 

     These refs suck! I love seeing Joe wearing his cross! No other Coach in the league does so. What a BLOCK BY Queta! Those are plays I love to see. C's have a very small lead early on. I really want to see Torrey Craig get some run tonight. He should especially being so short handed tonight. I wonder if we will get a full lineup Saturday night. What a steal by Drew! 

     KP is rocking the best jacket of all time! This old school Celtics one! I used to have that exact one! I loved that jacket. JT just shredded the entire Sixer defense right there. Tonight is going to have to be an all hands on deck. Everyone who steps on the court needs to contribute. So many games this year with way too many guys out. The good thing is everyone knows they can impact the game. PP hits a three and he's off an running again! C's lead after the first.

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      Watching Lonnie Walker makes me think what if. He would be such an asset for the C's. Too bad they let him get away. I do like Craig very much and expect good things from him. So far tonight he's giving his body up for the team. He's even hit a corner three! Despite being short handed I love the effort I'm seeing tonight. From the starters to the bench.       

     Watching how Queta positions himself out there shows how much he's grown. His post foot work has also improved but still needs work. He's a definite throwback to old school big men. What a rebound dunk but Craig! He damn near jumped out of the gym! He's a heck of an athlete! I really think he can be used during the post season run. Defensively first and foremost, yet can knock down a shot if needed. 

     Wondering about these next two games. I really think the Celtics should be able to crush the Lakers. Like light them up start to finish! Come Wed night, they are going to give the Thunder all they can handle.  This time we won't be losing any leads. This time we will come out victorious. I'm not afraid of any team in either conference. C's are the best team top to bottom I don't care what records say. C's lead at the half. 

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      I have to tip my cap to Sir Charles! That rant he had against ESPN is spot on! The way they fawn all over the Fakers and Warriors is disgusting. As much as I down play the Cavs, he's right about them and OKC. For him to bring up the Leflop Jordan thing that ESPN pushes, he's a 100 percent right. ESPN always puts narratives out there that have no real validity. Personally Jordan stands in a class all his own. Leflop doesn't even come close! 

     I'm looking forward to seeing what lineups Joe presents us with here in the third. He's been using all the right pieces early on despite being short handed. The only player I'm not really impressed by is Walsh. I don't see much upside for him going forward. At this point he gets in a lot of cardio out here. He really should be in the G League, not sure what the C's see in him. 

     C's have come out here in the third and are executing like a well oiled machine. The ball movement has been very crisp! Kornet is a guy who Tatum loves to get involved on offense. Kornet knows where to be and that's huge. You have to love Joe getting on the refs when they don't make the right calls. Especially because they never give Tatum the love he deserves. Joe has an edge and fire that you have to love. These Celtics have shown that even when they are short handed they come to play.  

     Philly has made a run and the C's need a timeout. I'm really impressed with Lonnie Walker tonight. He's showing the C's what they had and let go of. Coming out of this timeout I need to see the ball get in Tatum's hands so he can initiate the offense. Time to see him get the rock to Pritch or Craig and have them knockdown some shots. I have been pleasantly surprised with how the kid from Creighton has played tonight. C's lead after three. 

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     In my opinion here are the rankings of the teams I see in the Celtics way. In the East it's the Bucks. C's can beat them but it would be a war. The Cavs are maybe the only other team but not really. C's would beat them in five games. Finals wise I'd rank the Thunder and Nuggets as the two toughest opponent out there. The way the Thunder play D is beyond elite. The Nuggets have Joker and he's just simply something else.  

     JT put on a master class tonight. He was elite on so many levels! His abilities have grown and continue to. We are truly watching greatness on a nightly basis from him. I expect these playoffs to be his signature moments up to this point in his career. By the end of the Finals he will be hoisting a Finals MVP amongst the NBA championship trophy!

     C's have won back to back games despite being so short handed. Whatever comes their way Saturday night they will be ready to handle. Even if the refs try to keep the Fakers in the game. My prediction on Saturday, C's by a mile! Another prediction is we will hear all game about how the forty year old is playing at such a high level. With that said has he ever been tested for performance enhancing drugs? Maybe some day we will get answers...

Celtic Pride! Bleed Green! C Us Rise!