Celtics/NBA 2023 Playoffs Round 3 - Back to South Beach

[EverettMike]

I feel like I'm losing my mind.

The LAST THING the Celtics wanted to do was fire their African American coach the players respected and who just got them to the Finals in his first season right before the new season started when they had no good replacement. Ime had to royally f*** up to get canned. The bar at that moment was insanely high. Whatever he did obviously warranted his dismissal. Blame him for this situation. He alone created it.

 

[BernieMcAvoy]

I don't think having a consensual relationship with another woman even if she works for the team is worthy of being fired but i can admit seeing what some of these athletes or coaches have done and kept their jobs and signed huge contracts after has probably lowered my expectations of what to expect and something like this feels like nothing

 

[Johnnyduke]

Also, what the f*** is wrong with this team? Almost every other group waits until they've actually been eliminated to spill the dirty tea. These losers are doing it before game 4.

Game 3 was the funeral mass though. They know it's over. I guess we'll call game 4 the burial. Or maybe game 3 was the burial and game 4 is the reception in South Beach.

As far as the Celtics not buying into Mazzulla, that's a crutch to me. They were #2 seed and big favorites in ECF. Doesn't make any sense to try and pin this series on how players felt during the season about Udoka situation. I don't have a problem with them being upset about Udoka firing but you're in the ECF. If you're thinking about Udoka you've already lost.

Some of these guys knew and had a relationship with Udoka from Team USA, they wanted him as the coach and i think most people would feel a certain type of way if a friend or someone they respected lost their job over something you didn't find worthy of being fired over. That's not even looking at it competitively either, the front office made their team worse, now having a coach who's clearly not ready to be a head coach and for what? Ime Udoka didn't commit a crime, the league didn't suspend him and he's already a head coach for another team. I get it if they are pissed off at the team. When these decisions have a big impact on the players personally of course it's not something they are just going to get over.

Coach K is the only answer now!

 

[Johnnyduke]

It's tough to say without knowing all details but when I see other teams almost immediately being interested in Udoka it doesn't compute that he HAD to be fired. I am thinking there were alternative solutions. But whatever, Udoka isn't Phil Jackson or John Wooden. There should be no shortage of top candidates for this job. I just wonder if Brad Stevens has the balls to fire him right now after naming him permanent coach.

 

[CDJ]

I don't think having a consensual relationship with another woman even if she works for the team is worthy of being fired but i can admit seeing what some of these athletes or coaches have done and kept their jobs and signed huge contracts after has probably lowered my expectations of what to expect and something like this feels like nothing

That’s what the initial leak to Woj from Ime’s team said it was. I wish that was all it was! It was not. People always go with what they see first though unfortunately

https://www.si.com/nba/2022/09/23/ime-udoka-celtics-suspension-unwanted-comments-toward-female-staffer-report

 

[Maine Fan]

As stated on the countdown show for the Lakers game. The players have not over how the Ime situation went down and how the Celtics handed it with the players and the world..

I agree it was poorly handled as many if us said. It is effecting the players and their relationship with the team, owner and management. Mazzulla is too young to handle this type of problem.

This is all on Wyc and Brad.

 

[Johnnyduke]

Kinda refreshing to see Nuggets-Heat in the finals. No LeBron. No Warriors.

The Heat run is just so out of the norm for the NBA. They were losing the 2nd play in game late in 4th quarter. And are down Herro.

 

[BernieMcAvoy]

That’s what the initial leak to Woj from Ime’s team said it was. I wish that was all it was! It was not. People always go with what they see first though unfortunately

https://www.si.com/nba/2022/09/23/ime-udoka-celtics-suspension-unwanted-comments-toward-female-staffer-report

There will probably be more leaks soon either about how it's worse than what was said trying to take heat off the team or someone pissed and trying to pour more gas on the fire

 

[Johnnyduke]

Can't afford to get the coaching decision wrong when the Bucks and Sixers are also looking for coaches.

 

[JoeIsAStud]

very happy for the Nuggets, I'm gonna be rooting hard for them in the finals.

What a classy, and classic player Jokic is. He is just so incredible out there. I also love the success of people like Jokic, because to me it shows that a guy like Larry Bird could have played, and been every bit as dominant, if not more dominant if he played in this era

 

[quietbruinfan]

According to Jimmy Stewart, they want to keep Mazzulla because they are a family! You idiots!

 

[CDJ]

There will probably be more leaks soon either about how it's worse than what was said trying to take heat off the team or someone pissed and trying to pour more gas on the fire

Maybe, maybe not. But this report was from back when it happened. Ime f***ed up, there’s no need to defend him. He could not be allowed back given that conduct, especially in todays world.

There’s a reason why the nets dipped quickly after digging in right before hiring him

 

[BostonBob]

Hey everybody - I've just been knocked out of the Playoffs but I still NEED EVERYBODY'S FULL ATTENTION ON ME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mione134]

Hey everybody - I've just been knocked out of the Playoffs but I still NEED EVERYBODY'S FULL ATTENTION ON ME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Not a chance. He's already said many times he wants to play with Bronny. Bonny starts at USC next year. Plays 1 year. Declares. Gets drafted. Lebron wants to play with him one season. After that he'll provide retire.

 

[CDJ]

Jaylen Brown for Lebron James wow

 

[KrejciMVP]

After watching Brady retire, could see Lebron taking the same route. life after basketball probably on his mind, nothing left to prove

Not a chance. He's already said many times he wants to play with Bronny. Bonny starts at USC next year. Plays 1 year. Declares. Gets drafted. Lebron wants to play with him one season. After that he'll provide retire.

not sure I can see an organization beiing on board with that, these teams have to think of the future rather than an older Lebrons ambitions

 

[JoeIsAStud]

After watching Brady retire, could see Lebron taking the same route. life after basketball probably on his mind, nothing left to prove


not sure I can see an organization beiing on board with that, these teams have to think of the future rather than an older Lebrons ambitions

Brady is of course 7 years older than LeBron. I would be shocked to see Lebron walk away

I have my doubts on Bronny, but he does look like a draftable kid, somewhere in the late first, maybe early second. If you are a good team and could get something 80% of this years LeBron for a year, while maybe overdrafting a kid a bit you'd probably do it.

 

[Johnnyduke]

Maybe, maybe not. But this report was from back when it happened. Ime f***ed up, there’s no need to defend him. He could not be allowed back given that conduct, especially in todays world.

There’s a reason why the nets dipped quickly after digging in right before hiring him

Lol, he could absolutely be allowed back. The Celtics can certainly take the moral highground but it's not like the Nets declined and then that was the end of Udoka's career. He just got hired. And if not the Rockets it would have been somebody else. Landed another job during the SAME season after such a horrible transgression!

 

[Johnnyduke]

I can't see LeBron retiring. When do these guys ever retire with a massive amount of money still on the books? Andrew Luck? He's probably just trying to strong arm the Lakers into doing what he wants or trying to get traded.

47m next year and then a player option for 50m the year after that.

 

[Alicat]

After listening to Lebron talk about Bronny and how proud he was of him I could actually see him retire so he can be there for every one of Bronny's games at USC. I get the sense that he's ready to spend time at home as well as work more with his investments and his foundation.

They will drag it on until sports go quiet and then announce it to be at the top of the news cycle.

Carmelo finally retired yesterday and unless you pay attention you'd never know it.

 

[JoeIsAStud]

After listening to Lebron talk about Bronny and how proud he was of him I could actually see him retire so he can be there for every one of Bronny's games at USC. I get the sense that he's ready to spend time at home as well as work more with his investments and his foundation.

They will drag it on until sports go quiet and then announce it to be at the top of the news cycle.

Carmelo finally retired yesterday and unless you pay attention you'd never know it.

I saw numerous stories on Carmelo retiring. Honestly I didn't know he had played this season

 

[Alicat]

I saw numerous stories on Carmelo retiring. Honestly I didn't know he had played this season

I only saw it because I follow the NBA on twitter

 

[PatriceBergeron]

“Re-sign Reeves and Hachimura and try to get Kyrie or I’ll retire”

No way Lebron goes out without a farewell tour with his ego

 

[EverettMike]

Lebron just wants attention. He does this all the f***ing time. Zero percent chance he retires. Zero.

 

[DangleCity]

Lebron just wants attention. He does this all the f***ing time. Zero percent chance he retires. Zero.

He already said on multiple occasions he was going to play a season with his son. So yeah, he is definitely full of it.



One of Brown or Smart has to go, possibly both if you ask me. You have to keep Tatum because his talent is just so high level.