Wolves vs Celtics at this very moment in time

[jkvonny]

Celtics had the best record when shooting below 30% from 3 this season but hey Stephen A said we live & die by the 3 so it must be true ..

Some of these comments are baffling. Can Minnesota beat the Celtics if they were to match up with them in the finals ? Of course. But for certain people to say they trust a Timberwolves team that just made the second round with this core for the first time over the Celtics because of how they performed in the Finals 2 years ago is insane.

Timberwolves have not experienced any real pressure as of yet. They weren’t expected to win both games in Denver which is why they played with so much confidence. Games 3 & 4 will determine if this Timberwolves team is ready to win a championship. The pressure is on them for the first time.

Most games Cs' 1st shot of the game is the 3 ball. Tonite was no different.

Tonite, the CS first shot ......is the 3 ball (missed)....2nd shot of the game,.....3 ball (made).
Just as it was tonite. Very predictable. First C's shot....3 ball.

Miss the 3 ball, grab rebound, instead of a lay up or dunk.....kick the ball out, swing it around some more, launch another 3 ball. Rinse and repeat.

C's launched nearly 50 threes tonite. GS Warriors of the East.

Pressure is also on these Cs team as well. Paper champs for the past few season and no NBA title since 2008.

If we become the Warriors of the East, I’ll be a very happy man.

Fair enuff.

[Sweet Serenity]

Celtics had the best record when shooting below 30% from 3 this season but hey Stephen A said we live & die by the 3 so it must be true ..

Some of these comments are baffling. Can Minnesota beat the Celtics if they were to match up with them in the finals ? Of course. But for certain people to say they trust a Timberwolves team that just made the second round with this core for the first time over the Celtics because of how they performed in the Finals 2 years ago is insane.

Timberwolves have not experienced any real pressure as of yet. They weren’t expected to win both games in Denver which is why they played with so much confidence. Games 3 & 4 will determine if this Timberwolves team is ready to win a championship. The pressure is on them for the first time.

Meanwhile this rendition of the Celtics will be battle tested against hobbled Miami, an awful Cavs team and either the injury plagued Knicks or a Pacers team that has no business sniffing a CFs.

You’re forgetting the last half decade we’ve been battle tested.

[GrandTheftRondo]

After seeing how the Wolves are playing vs the Celtics are currently playing, you'd be insane to choose the Celtics. Wolves would win in 5 right now. Tatum is playing like garbage like usual in the playoffs. Career 44% in the playoffs and he's under 42% so far. Dude ain't a playoff performer. Edwards is.

How many conference/nba finals has Ant made? Thanks in advance.

Playoff series wins Ant/JT

1/11

(BTW I really don't like Tatum as a player)

Tatum is 26, and has been on super talented teams in the weak East all his career.

Edwards is 22, and so far looking more impressive/determined and more fearless in the playoffs compared to Tatum.

thanks in advance.......

Super talented teams LMAO

[KamikazeK]

Ironically, people are now sleeping on the Celtics. Especially that defense. C's can match the wolves on that end and also have more weapons.

[SweaterBae]

Tatum is 26, and has been on super talented teams in the weak East all his career.

Edwards is 22, and so far looking more impressive/determined and more fearless in the playoffs compared to Tatum.

thanks in advance.......

Answer the question, perhaps?

nahh, it's a stupid question without any context.

So it's "insane" to choose the Celtics? That's the context here. Try to keep up.

[svart]

Celtics are experienced against physical playoff defenses. And they've done it themselves.

What people seem to forget is that not only will the Wolves' defense face it's toughest task, but their offense will to.

Boston, despite not relying on it, was the #2 defense this year.

They also have a better defensive rating this post season. The Celtic defense will give Minnesota's offense problems. Wolves will have multiple games where they don't reach 100 points.

It's a winnable series, but Boston matches up too well.

People are gobbling up the hype too much. Celtics without question win in 5/6.

Like you did in 22?

[jkvonny]

People are gobbling up the hype too much. Celtics without question win in 5/6.

Like you did in 22?

Sounds like Boston the past 5 plus seasons or so.

[durden_tyler]

FYI

Odds for “Final Exact Forecast”

Celtics beat Wolves (3.80)
Wolves beat Celtics (6.00)

Others for context and comparison;
Celtics beat Thunder (6.50)
Thunder beat Celtics (12.00)
Celtics beat Mavericks (13.00)
Mavericks beat Celtics (26.00)

So yes, the Celtics will be slight favorites if and when they meet the Wolves (or Thunder) in the NBA Finals.

[vgroc]

The problem is that we cannot really gauge how good the Celtics currently are due to how bad the east is right now. The only east team that had the talent to present a challenge to the Celtics was a well-operating injury-free Bucks. The Celtics should sleepwalk to the Finals where their first real test will be.

[basketballRob]

The problem is that we cannot really gauge how good the Celtics currently are due to how bad the east is right now. The only east team that had the talent to present a challenge to the Celtics was a well-operating injury-free Bucks. The Celtics should sleepwalk to the Finals where their first real test will be.

Famous last words. Sleep walk to the Finals.

Sent from my SM-G781U using RealGM Forums mobile app

[Sweet Serenity]

After seeing how the Wolves are playing vs the Celtics are currently playing, you'd be insane to choose the Celtics. Wolves would win in 5 right now. Tatum is playing like garbage like usual in the playoffs. Career 44% in the playoffs and he's under 42% so far. Dude ain't a playoff performer. Edwards is.

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[Sealab2024]

All depends on how they ref it. If they let them play Minnesota wins, if we get a full series of ref ball Celtics win..

[Johnny Firpo]

If they referee it the same way they have been, the Celtics' only chance is getting really hot from three, and if Porzingis doesn't play, forget it.

[Ssj16]

I still don't fully trust the Celtics after their previous years and I feel like if Minny were to make it, Ant would be the best player in the series and also, they have a very solid playoff team as seen per the Suns and Denver match ups.

[thinktank]

After seeing how the Wolves are playing vs the Celtics are currently playing, you'd be insane to choose the Celtics. Wolves would win in 5 right now. Tatum is playing like garbage like usual in the playoffs. Career 44% in the playoffs and he's under 42% so far. Dude ain't a playoff performer. Edwards is.

Boston is currently winning by an average margin of 16 lol. Celtics also played way better in the regular season and rank top 5 in playoff experience

Wolves winning by 15 and have the best defense in the league by a large margin, as well as the best offense in the playoffs.

[TheSheriff]

Celtics crushing opponents by 20 points a game, while playing the end of the bench for the fourth quarter. Could they lose to Minnesota? absolutely. But should you revise your analysis after part of a semifinal series?

[TheSheriff]

After seeing how the Wolves are playing vs the Celtics are currently playing, you'd be insane to choose the Celtics. Wolves would win in 5 right now. Tatum is playing like garbage like usual in the playoffs. Career 44% in the playoffs and he's under 42% so far. Dude ain't a playoff performer. Edwards is.

Boston is currently winning by an average margin of 16 lol. Celtics also played way better in the regular season and rank top 5 in playoff experience

Wolves winning by 15 and have the best defense in the league by a large margin, as well as the best offense in the playoffs.

The Celtics have the best net rating by a very very large margin.

You are looking at small samples sizes. Do not overrate the significance.

[ChiTownHero1992]

Celtics are still better but would love to see Wolves win that match up

[Fencer reregistered]

Way too early for this thread.

Boston needs to get by Cavs/Pacers/Knicks first. But they are clearly favs to win the East, Most talented and deepest team in the East/

Minn needs to get past the defending champs (Nuggets)/Thunder/Mavs first.

But with this particular matchup? I'd lean TWolves. Best defense in the league and they are deep as well, big, physical and athletic.
Pack the paint, let the Cs continue to launch 3s (live/die by the 3s), Minn will kill the boards (on misses) and clean up on the other end. Esp with Porzingus banged up.

Porzingis is a big loss in other ways ... but not in rebounding. But the Celtics don't depend on their centers for a lot of rebounding anyway, except to the extent Kornet camps under the offensive boards. E.g., in the game where they got 11 offensive rebounds to Minny's 6, Holiday and Pritchard had 3 of those each.

[titlebound1]

I still don't fully trust the Celtics after their previous years and I feel like if Minny were to make it, Ant would be the best player in the series and also, they have a very solid playoff team as seen per the Suns and Denver match ups.

So you don't trust the team that has ton of playoff success, multiple conference finals appearances and a finals appearance. But you do trust the team that has won.....a single playoff series?

Yup makes sense