The last time I saw a bunch of dinosaurs taking that much of a pounding, Morgan Freeman was narrating an asteroid hitting Earth in the late Cretaceous.
The Cleveland Cavaliers crushed the Toronto Raptors by 13 points in their series opener this weekend, but that margin doesn’t reflect just how strong the Cavaliers look.
They took a 21-point lead into the fourth quarter, allowing Cleveland to rest some of its key contributors, like Evan Mobley.
Our Raptors vs. Cavaliers predictions are optimistic about Cleveland’s forward, and my NBA picks are taking him to clear his points prop again on Monday, April 20.
Raptors vs Cavaliers prediction
Raptors vs Cavaliers best bet: Evan Mobley Over 16.5 points (-115)
Cleveland Cavaliers big Evan Mobley just topped his 16.5-point scoring prop in Game 1, doing so through only three quarters.
With the Cavs holding a comfy 21-point cushion entering the fourth quarter, Mobley logged less than six minutes and missed his only shot attempt in that final frame. He finished with 17 points on 6-for-9 shooting through 33 minutes.
The versatile 6-foot-11 forward is a matchup nightmare for the Toronto Raptors. Toronto can put big bodies on Mobley or counter with quicker defenders, but the Raps lack Mobley's combo of size and speed.
After getting shredded by the guard duo of Donovan Mitchell and James Harden in Game 1 (shooting a collective 8-for-14 from 3-point range), expect Toronto to hedge harder on the Cavs’ screen-heavy schemes and not drop as much in an effort to limit those 3-point looks.
That will generate a ton of space for screeners like Mobley, who will also force bad switches and enjoy exploiting size mismatches when the Raptors’ guards swap off pick-and-roll action.
Game 2 has the same spread as the opener, so oddsmakers expect a more competitive effort from Toronto. That will keep Mobley on the floor for more minutes — or at least more involved in the offense.
Player projections range from 17.5 to as high as 18.3 points from Mobley in Game 2, with my number at 17.9.
Raptors vs Cavaliers same-game parlay
The Cavaliers have too many options, including a much stronger bench. Cleveland’s reserves made a massive impact in Game 1, contributing 40 points. Tonight’s tilt will be more competitive than the series opener, but the Cavs will take a 2-0 series lead north of the border.
Toronto can’t just trade threes for twos against the Cavs. The Raptors need production from the perimeter, and Brandon Ingram was very quiet in the opener. He missed his lone 3-point attempt, but closed the regular season with at least two triples in four of his final six games. Game models lean toward two 3-point makes from B.I. tonight.
Raptors vs Cavaliers SGP
Cavaliers moneyline
Evan Mobley Over 16.5 points
Brandon Ingram Over 1.5 made threes
Our "from downtown" SGP: Tall Order
The Cavaliers' guards gashed the Raptors in Game 1. With Toronto overcommitting, Cleveland's big men have their time to shine. Both Jarrett Allen and Mobley are projected to top their scoring prop tonight after taking their foot off the gas in the final frame of Game 1.
The Toronto Raptors have gone Under the total in 27 of their last 40 away games (+12.70 Units/29% ROI). Find more NBA betting trends for Raptors vs. Cavaliers.
How to watch Raptors vs Cavaliers Game 2
Location
Rocket Arena, Cleveland, OH
Date
Monday, April 20, 2026
Tip-off
7:00 p.m. ET
TV
Peacock/NBCSN
Raptors vs Cavaliers latest injuries
Not intended for use in MA. Affiliate Disclosure: Our team of experts has thoroughly researched and handpicked each product that appears on our website. We may receive compensation if you sign up through our links.
MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN - SEPTEMBER 29: Ryan Rollins #13 of the Milwaukee Bucks poses for a portrait during media day at Fiserv Forum on September 29, 2025 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Geoff Stellfox/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In our first pop quiz, you were tested on the most iconic player in franchise history, Giannis Antetokounmpo. And while his season might have been his most disappointing yet, Ryan Rollins just had his best. By far.
Prior to the season, the forecast on Rollins’ free agency seemed clear: as a restricted free agent, all signs pointed to his return to Cream City. Then the Bucks rescinded his qualifying offer, making him an unrestricted free agent, and his time in Milwaukee seemed to be over. But unlike his first pitch with the Brewers, which followed a linear path—even if it did bounce to the plate—the offseason threw another curveball, with Rollins returning to the Bucks on a three-year, $12m deal. And shortly after, he rocketed to eighth in our preseason rankings, where we envisioned him battling for the starting point guard role but more likely being part of the rotation, playing steady minutes as one half of the “Mosquito Fleet” next to his “T-shirt Twin,” Cole Anthony. Remember him?
Of course, when the season got underway—and Kevin Porter Jr. went down with an ankle injury after playing just nine minutes against the Washington Wizards on opening night—Rollins assumed starting point guard responsibilities. And he did not disappoint. Solid outings against the Toronto Raptors and Cleveland Cavaliers turned into statement games against the New York Knicks and Golden State Warriors, and it soon became apparent that Rollins was cut from a different cloth. Yet, despite his brilliance, as the Bucks continued to disappoint, even Rollins found himself subject to fans’ scrutiny, with 43% feeling he isn’t untouchable in trade talks this offseason. Regardless, 2025–26 was a major breakout season for the 23-year-old and, as the onlyplayer in the entire league to finish with averages of over 17 points, five assists, and 1.5 steals, while shooting over 40% from three, Rollins is sure to feature in end-of-season Most Improved Player voting (even if somehow he isn’t a finalist).
Tantalising totals
(1) Rollins had a career-high 36 points in a blowout loss against which Western Conference team?
Click to reveal answer
The Portland Trail Blazers.
(2) Rollins had more than 10 assists just four times for the season. What was his highest assist total: 10, 12, 14, or 16?
Click to reveal answer
14, vs. the Philadelphia 76ers.
(3) Rollins led the Bucks with 298 deflections on the season. Where did this rank him in the entire league?
Click to reveal answer
Fourth, behind Cason Wallace (339), Ausar Thompson (317), and Dyson Daniels (314).
Atypically advanced
(1) Rollins’ season-high game score of 33.0—after posting 29 points, eight assists, four rebounds, three steals, and a block, while shooting 11/13 from the field and 6/7 from three—came in a one-point win against which team?
Click to reveal answer
The Charlotte Hornets.
(2) True or false: Rollins finished with a higher clutch time* true shooting percentage than notable clutch performers Anthony Edwards (68.7%), Jamal Murray (68.6%), and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (66.8%)?
Click to reveal answer
True, 69.5%.
*Clutch time is defined as the final five minutes of the fourth quarter or overtime when the score is within five points.
Obscure optics
(1) True or false: More than 70% of Rollins’ career minutes were played this year?
Click to reveal answer
True, 2377 of his 3336 career minutes (71%) were played this year.
How did you fare? Share your score in the comments and don’t forget to drop your thoughts along with it—which stat stands out?
“I’m still rehabbing,” said Tatum, then later added, “Still trying to ramp up.”
If this is “Still Rehabbing” Tatum then … sheesh.
Here are three numbers that stand out from Boston’s dominant Game 1, beginning with Tatum’s all-around prowess:
Two-way superstar
Tatum totaled 25 points, 11 rebounds, seven assists and two steals over just 32:25 of game action. He did most of his offensive damage in the first half while helping Boston build a big cushion, then let Jaylen Brown take the offensive baton as the Jays sent a very loud reminder of Boston’s 1-2 championship punch while KOing the Sixers at TD Garden.
Perhaps more encouraging than Tatum’s offensive output was his play on the defensive end. He got switched onto speedy Tyrese Maxey multiple times in the first half but utilized his length to disrupt Philadelphia’s twitchy guard.
The Sixers were a mere 6-of-19 shooting (31.6 percent) when Tatum was the primary defender, per NBA tracking. Maxey finished 1-of-5 shooting with two points when defended by Tatum, with the lone make being a tough finish in traffic around the basket.
Tatum also grabbed 27.5 percent of all defensive rebounds during his floor time as he continues to be the top rebounding forward in the NBA since his return. Boston had a +31.7 net rating during Tatum’s floor time, including a 91.0 defensive rating.
About the only thing that went wrong for Tatum was his 3-point efficiency, as he went 1 for 7 beyond the arc. Connecting on 8 of 10 shots inside the arc helped jolt his overall shooting numbers (9 for 17). Tatum also created 15 assist points in Sunday’s game while committing just one turnover.
Given the way players up and down Boston’s roster answered all the questions about their ability to grow into larger roles during Tatum’s absence, nothing has been more important since Tatum’s return than him working his way back closer to the All-NBA player we saw prior his injury in Round 2 against the Knicks last postseason.
Maybe what Tatum has done over the past 45 days will eventually stop feeling so improbable. You can see the explosion is still working its way back — though it didn’t hinder him from exploding through the 76ers defense multiple times on Sunday.
Tatum is still maybe a slight bit hesitant to dive onto the floor, and understandably so coming back from his injury. But his impact is undeniable, and to think that there’s another level that he might ascend to during these playoffs has to be daunting news for East rivals.
That the Celtics were able to limit Tatum’s workload to start this postseason is a positive as well, even though they’ll need him to maintain his two-way output as Boston gets deeper into this postseason trek.
We’ll just keep saying it: What Tatum is doing at this early juncture simply feels light years ahead of what could have been reasonably expected to this point. And it’s wild to think that, as good as he’s been, there’s another level he might eventually get to.
Not all NBA turnovers are equally. A decade ago, after a turnover-plagued playoff loss, then-Celtics coach Brad Stevens told his players he would rather they punt the ball into the stands than give up a live-ball turnover to an opportunistic opponent.
That notion remains a pillar of Boston’s offensive approach. The Celtics didn’t just commit the fewest turnovers in the NBA during the 2025-26 season (1,014 total); they committed 90 fewer live-ball turnovers than the next-closest rival.
Boston led the league while committing just 506 live-ball turnovers, which, for context, was 382 fewer than 30th-ranked Portland.
The Celtics entered Sunday’s Game 1 knowing that the easiest way to activate Philadelphia’s middling offense was to give up easy transition opportunities. The Celtics committed just three live-ball turnovers all game — including one where Nikola Vucevic simply lost the ball going up for a layup — which led to just three points off live-ball turnovers (all by Tyrese Maxey).
All it takes is a couple lazy passes and Maxey can kickstart a lopsided run. Instead, the Celtics made him work against set defenses and rarely let him see ways to get to the basket in a straight line. The Celtics survived 10 live-ball turnovers in the last regular-season meeting against the Sixers but absolutely have to value the ball given the competition they might see along their playoff path.
Boston’s 3.1 assist-to-turnover ratio Sunday was second-best among all Game 1 teams, trailing only Oklahoma City (3.5).
The Sixers’ already anemic offense (96.4 points per 100 possessions) generated just 83.9 points per 100 possessions against a half-court defense. Philadelphia saw 88.8 percent of its plays against a half-court defense, the highest percentage in Game 1s per Cleaning the Glass data.
Vooch’s debut
Nikola Vucevic got the early call in Game 1 when Neemias Queta got in foul trouble in the first quarter. The big question is how Vucevic will hold up defensively, particularly given the various bigs the Celtics might encounter on their playoff path.
In Game 1, NBA tracking had the Sixers shooting 1 for 7 when Vucevic was the primary defender. He had a few instances where his presence around the basket impacted the Sixers, most notably when Dominick Barlow steamrolled at the rim late in the first quarter and Vucevic spilled beyond the baseline taking a hit to contest the layup. Vucevic disrupted a Maxey baseline drive in the second quarter.
One thing the Celtics need to adjust to with Vucevic on the floor: his penchant for wanting to tip rebounds in the direction of teammates rather than always trying to secure them on his own. Boston’s defensive rebound rate was a team-worst 62.5 percent during Vucevic’s floor time.
FanDuel is giving its customers the option to protect against injury-induced losses throughout NBA playoff games.
Bet Protect+ is a new optional feature that will either give customers refunds for straight bets or remove parlay legs if a player leaves the game at any point due to injury.
Key Takeaways
Users must apply Bet Protect+ to wagers before they are submitted.
Bet Protect+ costs 3% of a user’s stake per wager.
Affected bets will be refunded or have an affected leg removed from a parlay.
Bet Protect was first introduced to FanDuel Sportsbook users in September, ahead of the new NFL season. The NBA playoffs began this past weekend and customers can now enjoy full-game injury protection on the hardwood.
All customers have the option to trigger Bet Protect+ before placing their favorite wagers. Anyone who wants to add it will pay an additional flat 3% fee to the total stake of the selected wager.
Full-game player prop bets placed before a playoff game begins will be eligible for Bet Protect+, as indicated by a toggle box in users’ bet slips. Bonus bets cannot be used to cover the 3% fee, which will be charged when wagers are submitted. However, bonus bets can be used for the stake itself.
In the event that a player leaves a game with an injury and a user protected a bet involving that player, they will trigger one of two possibilities:
Refunds for straight bets (stake only)
Removing the affected leg from a parlay, which is then recalculated as if the affected leg was never there
Live betting odds cannot be protected, although FanDuel is working on adding that feature.
"The challenge is that even with the most well-planned bet, the most comprehensive research, the best hunch – it can all get squashed by an unexpected injury. We want to allow our customers to regain that loss of control," said Jon Sadow, FanDuel's sportsbook product vice president, in a release.
Rules and requirements
Players are accustomed to playing heavy minutes during the playoffs as they battle to climb NBA Finals odds and eventually compete for the championship.
The heavy strain can lead to an unfortunate increase in injuries, as seen with several star players going down during last year’s postseason. With Bet Protect+, bettors won’t have to couple the feelings of losing the best player on their favorite team with losing their favorite bet.
Bet Protect+ only applies to injuries that knock a player out for the rest of the game. Situations in which players are ejected, foul out, get themselves into foul troubles, or are benched will not be covered. A bet on a player who plays, leaves with an injury, and then returns also will not be protected.
Customers also cannot protect bets in other sports, or parlays that include legs from the NBA and other sports or leagues. Only NBA straight bets and parlay legs will be eligible.
Rewards tokens, such as profit boosts, can be applied in combination with Bet Protect+ to eligible wagers.
FanDuel’s NBA playoff odds
Heading into the first round of the NBA Playoffs, FanDuel had the Oklahoma City Thunder as a +100 favorite to repeat as league champions.
The San Antonio Spurs and Boston Celtics led the chase pack at +550 each, before a sizable drop-off to the next competitors. The Denver Nuggets (+1,200), Cleveland Cavaliers (+1,300), and Detroit Pistons (+1,800) were the only other teams with odds shorter than +2,000.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 19: Victor Wembanyama #1 of the San Antonio Spurs dunks the ball during the game against the Portland Trail Blazers during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by Jesse D. Garrabrant/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The San Antonio Spurs didn’t return to the playoffs. The playoffs returned to San Antonio. Accordingly, these modern San Antonio Spurs didn’t win their first playoff game. Their first playoff game won the San Antonio Spurs, or whatever Kirk Lazarus aka Lincoln Osiris might have said. Everyone’s geeked out once in a while, especially come playoff time. It’s Hollywood—I mean, Fiesta.
And party time never looked so good: Victor Wembanyama had a game-high 35 points scored while De’Aaron Fox and Stephon Castle had 17 points apiece. The Spurs as a a team went 15 -33 from downtown, good for 45% in their game 1 win.
The national media and social media made a big hullabaloo about the decked out Fiesta colors in the arena and the soft peer pressuring of fellow fans into wearing their (free!) designated t-shirts (looking at you, Tim Duncan) to capture the spirit of Fiesta, and for this time of year, basically a common law marriage with the Spurs also in the playoffs. I’m a little biased, rightfully so, but the Spurs should get some love and attention for a great season and launching of a hopefully even better postseason.
Wemby's first playoff game. Spurs’ first home playoff game in six years.
Victor Wembanyama got lower than a pair of apple bottom jeans (boots with the fur) to drive his way past two defenders to earn a tough bucket. We can all breathe a sigh of relief that the team notched game 1, but it does feel like this team also has the “appropriate fear” and respect for the Portland Trailblazers because it will be a long series.
As a not-so-side note, it’s also easy to root for interim Trail Blazers head coach and former Spur Tiago Splitter. He’s done a fantastic job leading his team to the playoffs after an atypical start to the season where head coach Chauncey Billups was arrested as part of a wide FBI gambling investigation. Regardless of what happens this offseason, Splitter should find himself as a top candidate for head coaching gigs whether in Portland or elsewhere.
You know when the washing machine is unbalanced so it makes that loud noise during the spin cycle? There was nothing unbalanced about this spin move Wembanyama put on the defense as he cleared his own path for a clean bucket. Overall, Wembanyama seemed as poised, collected, and in control as any 22-year-old basketball star might be in their first playoff game.
This clip below doesn’t do proper justice to the tremendous end-of-the-quarter sequence by the Spurs where De’Aaron Fox pushed the ball in transition full court knowing full well he was going to laser a perfect pass to Keldon Johnson for the three. Fox drove just far enough toward the basket to draw in the defense and then immediately pivoted toward a trailing Johnson for the open look.
My wife, who hasn’t watched a minute of any Spurs game this season (she’s a busy woman), looked up right when Dylan Harper threw this perfect lob to Wembanyama and said, “Man, that was easy. How do you stop that?” Me, being my usual obnoxious self, tried to mansplain that well actually any lob thrown at Wemby looks perfect because he has an 8-foot wingspan, which makes his catch radius really insanely wide.
She didn’t respond because she was already looking back down at her laptop for work, immune to my long-winded rants.
You have to wonder, though, if any Joe could step on a court and throw a lob to Wembanyama over other professional basketball players and it would look as cool and on the dot as these alley oops.
I know the Chris Paul/Blake Griffin era Los Angeles Clippers own the Lob City moniker, but can we borrow it just for a moment? Paul is a former Spur (once a Spur . . . always a Spur) and Griffin is busy making funny commercials with the great Luis Guzmán—I’m sure they won’t mind.
Stephon Castle on this play looked like he forgot how low the basket is when he jumps that high because it looked like he was at the apex of his hop when he realized that the rim was a full half foot lower than he expected. Castle and Fox, for their part, kept the Spurs offense moving on Sunday night, and we should fully expect them to rack up even more assists between the two of them as the series progress.
Considering how young these Spurs are, Devin Vassell is the wily vet making his own playoff debut. He did not disappoint as he played the most minutes, was impactful on both sides of the ball (2 blocks for good measure), and drained four 3-pointers. On a balanced team of unselfish players, being the fourth highest scorer is a luxury the Spurs will appreciate and use to their advantage.
Notice how he was the last one in his section to put on the shirt. It’s like that time Kramer wouldn’t wear the ribbon. Oh Timmay, you’re still my favorite player of all time.
OK but David Robinson looks younger than Duncan in this clip. You’d think Number 21 would remember The Admiral’s advice to use Edge shave gel, not just any ol’ shaving cream.
(note: Edge shave gel is not a sponsor of Pounding the Rock. I just like their old commercial featuring Robinson and Duncan. But, if they do want to sponsor us, I will accept H-E-B bucks and garden gnomes as payment.)
David Robinson and Tim Duncan having a great time watching Wemby and the Spurs beat the Blazers! 🔥 Go Spurs Go! #Spurspic.twitter.com/AIEGgONTZB
If you missed the game because you were too busy with wild horses dragging you away from your television, iPad (tablet), or iPhone (smartphone) (seriously, it’s the playoffs!) (but fellow Spurs fans understand . . . sort of), here are the full-game highlights:
Next up, the Spurs hope to hold home court as they take on the Portland Trailblazers in game 2 on Tuesday, April 21, 2026.
There’s a certain kind of honesty that only arrives with the benefit of time. Former Los Angeles Lakers’ center Vlade Divac delivered that honesty recently when he said:
“When I became a GM, I would trade myself for Kobe Bryant.”
He said it with a grin in Amazon Prime’s new documentary Jerry West: The Logo, and the line lands like a punchline wrapped around two decades of basketball truth.
Back in 1996, Divac was a beloved center for the Lakers. But general manager Jerry West saw something in a skinny, unproven, and fearless 17-year-old kid from Philadelphia named Kobe Bryant.
West famously worked Bryant out in Los Angeles against Michael Cooper and he walked out of the gym that day convinced he’d seen the future face of the NBA.
That’s why on Draft Day he decided to ship out Divac to the Charlotte Hornets for the teenager who hadn’t played a single professional minute of basketball yet.
“Jerry saw it, I didn’t,” said former Lakers’ athletic trainer Gary Vitti in the documentary. “I saw a 17-year-old kid trying to imitate Michael Jordan. But he wasn’t Michael Jordan.”
Divac didn’t want to go to Charlotte and he fought it. He felt blindsided by the trade and had every right.
“If you’re going to make a trade like that, you better be right,” said former Lakers guard and coach Byron Scott in the documentary.
Divac, years later as general manager of the Sacramento Kings, now sees it clearly. The irony isn’t lost on him.
“Back then I was upset and I didn’t like it,” said Divac in the doc. “Bu I trusted Jerry that he saw something nobody had seen before. He did a good decision.”
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
Less than 24 hours after the Golden State Warriors saw their season collapse in a 111-96 loss to the Phoenix Suns in the play-in game, Steph Curry traded out the basketball court for echoes of bass lines underneath the Indio night sky at the Coachella Music Festival.
Curry, alongside his brother Seth Curry, and their wives, were spotted on Saturday night weaving through the festival grounds, part of a celebrity-laced audience watching Justin Bieber headline in the desert.
Just hours earlier, Curry had 17 points in the Warriors’ final game of the season, as Golden State lost out on the eight-seed in the Western Conference and a first round date with the Oklahoma City Thunder. Seth logged one minute in the loss and did not attempt a shot.
Ayesha Curry offered a glimpse into the family’s pivot to Coachella, posting on her Instagram story of the couple smiling in front of the stage.
Back in Phoenix, Warriors’ head coach Steve Kerr wrapped his arms around Steph and Draymond Green at the end of the game, delivering something closer to a farewell than a timeout speech.
“I don’t know what’s going to happen next,” Kerr told them. “But I love you guys to death. Thank you.”
Kerr’s future with the Warriors is uncertain, but one thing is for sure. Now that their season is over, they will all have plenty of time for concerts, vacations, and tee times on the golf course.
Download The California Post App, follow us on social, and subscribe to our newsletters
LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 18: Kevin Durant #7 of the Houston Rockets looks on before the game against the Los Angeles Lakers during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 18, 2026 at Crypto.Com Arena in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Juan Ocampo/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
The Houston Rockets were without star forward and leading scorer Kevin Durant in Game 1 versus the L.A. Lakers due to a knee bruise he suffered in practice last week. According to Ime Udoka, it was a mobility issue for KD and not a pain one. Whether that’s just the coach covering for his player or not, who knows? But latest reports are suggesting that KD should be back for Game 2. According to USA Today, Durant has a “good chance” of returning in Game 2.
“KD, from what I’ve heard, there’s a good chance he could return in Game 2. “There’s hope that Kevin Durant can return by Game 2, which is on Tuesday night.”
You haven’t been around here long if you don’t already know my feelings on Kevin Durant. Generational scorer, terrible leader and personality (cough, cough burners), and maybe even a little bit soft. I certainly don’t have him in my top 10 or even my top 15 of all-time like many do, though he can be considered one of the better gun-for-hire types the NBA has seen. No loyalty to team or teammates, but if you pay him enough and have enough pieces already in place, he may grace you with his presence. I honestly feel that the Kevin Durant trade completely ruined Houston’s athletic, running, in-your-face defense mentality in favor of a let’s all stand around and admire KD approach. KD basically does that to every location he goes to that didn’t already have a generational superstar heirarchy in place (Golden State, but he even wore out his welcome there), but that’s a story for another day.
Are the Rockets good enough to win without KD? It doesn’t appear so now that the team has lost its indentity. Are they good enough to win WITH KD? I’m not even sure of that right now, to be honest. A team without an identity is not going far in the NBA Playoffs, and that’s Houston’s biggest problem right now. Jalen Green, Dillion Brooks, Fred VanVleet and Steven Adams were tone setters with physicality and athleticism. This is KD’s team right now, for better or worse, and it’s mostly been worse.
That being said, let’s see how the Rockets look if/when KD is back. They’re already in a hole. Whether he plays or doesn’t play, going down 2-0 to the hobbled Lakers is a place no good team should be. And if a series loss happens, honestly someone should lose their job. I doubt they will, but Houston should be embarrased by their Game 1 performance. It’s gut check time whether Get-off-my-injured-list-erson (or whatever his new burner name is) plays or not.
That sounded like closure, but now the language has shifted subtly.
Curry can clearly still play at an elite level. Last Wednesday in the Warriors play-in game victory over the Clippers, Curry scored 35 points, 27 in the second half as he rallied his team back from a 13-point fourth quarter deficit.
Curry will be 40 years old in 2028, and the question won’t be whether or not he can still shoot. That part is certain. The real question will be if he’s healthy and wants to compete.
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 19: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics shows off his jersey before Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs against the Philadelphia 76ers at TD Garden on April 19, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
In Sunday’s Brotherhood Playoff Action, Jayson Tatum and the Boston Celtics crushed the Philadelphia 76ers, 123-91. Jared McCain and the OKC Thunder took care of the Suns, 119-84. Paolo Banchero and the Orlando Magic shocked the Detroit Pistons, 112-101. Finally, Mason Plumlee and the San Antonio Spurs hammered the Portland Trail Blazers, 111-98.
Tatum nearly pulled off a triple-double, with 25 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists, and 21 of his points came in the first half.
Out in Oklahoma City, McCain had 5 points in 8 minutes for the Thunder. For Phoenix, Grayson Allen and Mark Williams were both listed as questionable, and neither played. Khaman Maluach got 15 minutes and three rebounds, but did not score.
Paolo Banchero had 23 points, 9 rebounds, and 4 assists at Detroit, while Wendell Carter got 17 points, 6 rebounds, and 5 assists.
Mason Plumlee, in the twilight of his NBA career, did not play against the Trailblazers.
Apr 19, 2026; Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA; Phoenix Suns guard Jalen Green (4) moves around Oklahoma City Thunder guard Isaiah Joe (11) in the second quarter during game one of the first round of the 2026 NBA Playoffs at Paycom Center. Mandatory Credit: Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images | Alonzo Adams-Imagn Images
What happened in Game 1 was expected for the Phoenix Suns. You know it, I know, it the NBA universe knows it. Why? Because the Oklahoma City Thunder are the better team, and they showed it.
Sunday afternoon was a clear reminder of the gap. Phoenix can ride good vibes and shot-making, but Oklahoma City lives in execution. Possession after possession, detail after detail. That is where the difference shows up, and that is where the Suns as a franchise want to get to one day: a place where you can beat teams in multiple ways, with multiple contributors, without needing everything to look perfect.
This game highlighted what we have seen all season. Phoenix leans heavily on jump shooting. When the shots fall, it looks great. When they do not, it gets tight in a hurry. Against a defense like Oklahoma City, that margin shrinks even more. They are connected, disciplined, and relentless at the point of attack. Every look feels crowded, every decision feels rushed.
It is like watching two versions of the same idea at different levels. If the Suns are Mario, the Thunder are Mario after grabbing the mushroom. Everything looks similar at first glance, then you realize one version is bigger, stronger, and operating with more room for error. The defense hits harder. The closeouts arrive faster. The shooting holds up. And inside, on both ends, there is a presence Phoenix cannot match right now.
So you walk away from Game 1 without shock. The result lines up with what we expected. Now it becomes about what comes next, what adjustments are made, and whether the Suns can find a way to close that gap, even if it is only for a night heading into Game 2.
Bright Side Baller Season Standings
Jalen Green, the Michael Jordan of the Play-In. His 36 points against the Warriors propelled the Suns into the postseason. And it also broke the tie between he and Mark Williams for fifth place in the BSB standings. He is there all alone now. He now has his sights set on Brooks and Allen.
Bright Side Baller Nominees
Game 85 (Game 1) against the Thunder. Here are your nominees:
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 18: James Harden #1 of the Cleveland Cavaliers handles the ball during the game against the Toronto Raptors during round one Game one of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 18, 2026 at Rocket Arena in Cleveland, Ohio. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photo by Jeff Haynes /NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
When the Toronto Raptors stepped into the Cleveland Cavaliers’ arena on Saturday, the 3 year playoff drought ended for the country of Canada, quickly replaced by a feeling of dread as the third quarter saw the Raptors begin to get blown out on the road. The Cavs just couldn’t be stopped at home, taking game one authoritatively. So, what can the Raptors do to make sure that doesn’t happen again?
Bucket Getters Getting Buckets
Much has been said about Brandon Ingram’s performance in the first game of the series, himself noting that “[him]shooting 9 shots is not going to win basketball games”. Indeed, Ingram took the second fewest shots of any Raptors starter save for Jakob Poeltl while taking more free throws than attempted field goals. Ingram was brought in as the 1-B to Scottie’s 1-A, with the primary responsibility of scoring points and allowing Barnes to put more emphasis on what he excels at, facilitation and defence. Friday was an example of how that dynamic went under-utilized, so making sure that Ingram can get to his spots in the midrange and gets more aggressive from the three-point line will certainly be a key to success. Cleveland runs defensive schemes to take the ball out of his hands, but, it’s the playoffs – games are going to be physical, and whether or not Toronto and Ingram can push through to make sure a scorer is scoring will be what makes all the difference tonight.
Defence and the Centre Situation
The Raptors have struggled at the 5 all year, with varying attempts to patch a starter-sized hole during Jakob Poeltl’s absence that saw rookie Collin Murray-Boyles and Sandro Mamukelashvili play a lot of minutes at centre. The culmination of that was seen over the weekend, with all three players playing heavy rotational time. Murray-Boyles had an especially good game, but making sure that the other two – especially Poeltl – remain more involved in both defence and offence will be important to put more pressure on Cleveland’s bigs defensively. As noted in the preview, Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen were largely kept in check, neither of Cleveland’s big men having breakout games.
As coach Darko Rajakovic noted postgame, the Cavaliers are a deep team, meaning that the Raptors need to pick and choose who they have their best defenders on. It’s clear, however, that Scottie Barnes might indeed be better off focusing more energy on Cleveland’s backcourt. Neither Allen nor Mobley is a lauded scorer, and while it would not do to leave either with mismatched defenders (especially Allen, who with Harden, is an especially dangerous threat in the paint), it is clear that Harden and Mitchell are Cleveland’s offensive weapons, and taking any steps to neutralize them will be the only way to keep this series alive. Playing a tall-ball lineup with two of the three centres and Scottie could do a lot to keep Cleveland’s scoring guards in check.
SAN ANTONIO, TX - APRIL 19: Tim Duncan and David Robinson attend a game between the San Antonio Spurs and the Portland Trail Blazers during Round One Game One of the 2026 NBA Playoffs on April 19, 2026 at the Frost Bank Center in San Antonio, Texas. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2026 NBAE (Photos by David Dow/NBAE via Getty Images) | NBAE via Getty Images
If you attend games regularly, you know that David Robinson has a pair of second row seats and on any given night the camera finds him smiling for the fans.
Last night, Robinson was seated in the box occupied by Spurs GM Brian Wright and guests of the Spurs Organization. The Admiral was in relative incognito as he donned a baseball cap and a Spurs shirt, one of the 18,000+ plus fiesta-colored shirts worn by nearly every attendee in the Frost Bank Center.
Robinson, the Spurs first ever #1 draft pick was seated next to the Silver & Black’s second #1 draft pick, his twin tower teammate Tim Duncan.
The two received a rousing applause during a time out.
After the game, Victor Wembanyama said the applause for Duncan and Robinson was the loudest he heard the arena outside of the regular play.
There were multiple reminders for fans to put on their shirts. The entire arena decorated with fans in large swaths of fiesta flare. The duo who were integral to the Spurs first title complied, setting the example for all to see.
Wemby also stated that having them in his corner was uplifting and supportive. Here he responds to Ramona Shelburne’s during the postgame presser:
Victor Wembanyama was asked by @ramonashelburne whether he feels the weight of following in the footsteps of Sours legends like Tim Duncan and David Robinson.
“I wouldn’t say weight. I would say it feels safe. It feels like if you trip, there’s a lot of hands that’s ready to… pic.twitter.com/lWT4VsR4AX
In addition to the Spurs big men, George Gervin was honored at halftime in recognition of the 30th anniversary of the George Gervin Academy schools that support education throughout San Antonio.
Manu Ginobili was in attendance with his family, as he is often seen in the crowd.
And Pop, who was seen on social media interacting at the Spurs practice facility earlier this week, was watching from a suite as well.
Spurs Family is just that, family. After the game, Devin reiterated just how deep the roots are with the Spurs.
“It’s a big family thing here. I feel that’s the biggest thing, it’s all about family. They are here all the time put in their support. It’s just huge for us.”
The young Spurs, many of whom played their first playoff game, were definitely not alone. And the institutional knowledge in the arena was with them on multiple levels.
Game 2 of the series takes place at the Frost Bank Center Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. CST.
Go Spurs Go!
Welcome to the Thread. Join in the conversation, start your own discussion, and share your thoughts. This is the Spurs community, your Spurs community. Thanks for being here.
Our community guidelines apply which should remind everyone to be cool, avoid personal attacks, not to troll and to watch the language.
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY - FEBRUARY 7: Former team members from the 1996 Kentucky Wildcats team Cameron Mills and Derek Anderson celebrate with head coach Mark Pope of the Kentucky Wildcats after the game against the Tennessee Volunteers at Rupp Arena on February 7, 2026 in Lexington, Kentucky. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Mark Pope has openly joked about the group chat he shares with his 1996 national championship teammates, claiming they keep him grounded. But according to former Kentucky star Derek Anderson, that chat is a lot more intense than Pope has let on.
During a recent appearance on KSR, Anderson pulled back the curtain on the ongoing conversations between the guys who helped Kentucky cut down the nets. He revealed that the chat is still going strong, but teammates frequently type out messages only to delete them because the critiques of Pope’s coaching job may be too “brutal.”
As someone who works closely with NBA players and top-100 high school recruits, Anderson didn’t hold back his thoughts on why Pope’s third year at Kentucky is facing so many structural hurdles that have resulted in too many big losses.
Mark Pope has a “rah-rah” problem
Anderson’s primary concern isn’t Pope’s character; he knows he is an awesome guy. It is not the message he is sending to recruits on visits; he believes he can connect with anyone. For Anderson, the key to fixing Mark Pope’s issues in Lexington resides in Pope’s temperament.
“He can relate to the guys because he’s a great guy,” Anderson explained. “When you’re at BYU, you get to kind of run and play, and it’s a different style when you’re in the SEC and Kentucky thing. We were coming for your throat, and that’s a different mentality. Is he teaching that mentality? Because he’s never been that rah-rah guy anyway.”
Anderson pointed out the stark contrast in how he and Pope differed when they were on the court together. “You saw when we played, I’m dancing when I dunk on you. He’s just like this, ‘Good play, DA. Go sit down.’ Like, that’s a great guy, but that’s not Kentucky. Like, I was taught to dominate players whenever I played, and that was a mentality.”
There has been a little bit of that killer instinct missing at times under Pope. And it could be that he values emotional balance so much that his guys never feel free to really go after it. That mentality all starts on the practice court for Anderson.
Flawed practice habits
That lack of edge apparently bleeds into how Pope constructs his practices and pregame speeches/routines. Anderson shared a specific anecdote about Pope’s free-throw drills that contrasts with where the two men stand.
Pope demands absolute silence in the gym when players are shooting free throws. Anderson strongly disagrees with the method.
“We wanted everybody loud,” Anderson said. “If I’m at the free throw line, I need to hear noise so I know it at the end of the game, when there’s crazy going on, I gotta concentrate… If you don’t teach that, and when it happens in a game, how am I prepared? I’m not.”
DA is totally right here. I love the Mark Pope moment of silence thing. I understand visualization is key. But I also believe you play the way you practice. And we need to see some more fire from these guys on gameday.
I really believe that is a huge part of why we see so many slow starts.
Anderson also sees a teaching issue.
A complete lack of basketball IQ
The most interesting critique from Anderson centered on the lack of teaching the basic fundamentals. He expressed shock at last year’s team’s inability to execute even the most basic basketball concepts. He believes that falls directly on Pope and the assistants, who have now mostly been replaced (Cody Fueger, Mark Fox, and Mikhail McLean are the holdovers, for now).
“We didn’t know how to play basketball. It was literally, we couldn’t throw a bounce pass,” Anderson said, referencing the recent struggles. He noted that players fail to use basic pump fakes against 2-3 zones, and criticized the assistant coaches for doing “nothing” and walking away while players shoot free throws instead of forcing them to hold their follow-throughs.
“It was not teaching,” Anderson stated firmly. “And I was always telling him, you’ve got to teach the IQ part and understanding of the game if you want players to be better. You can’t just let them go and say, well, they’ll figure it out.”
Again, DA is right on the money. I know Mark doesn’t want to spend a lot of practice time on teaching things guys should have learned in junior high, but the reality is the game has changed. Most of these kids play on AAU traveling teams that only care about 2 things: winning and money. No longer do they teach them drop steps; it is now the Euro step. No longer is it bounce pass drills; it’s all Steph Curry two-hand-two-ball drills.
You have to sometimes take a step back in order to take a step forward.
Can a coaching staff shakeup fix this?
Anderson’s comments shine a glaring spotlight on the current state of Kentucky’s bench. It is abundantly clear that Pope has significant work to do in terms of teaching the game, but he cannot do it alone.
So far this offseason, Kentucky has only hired Mo Williams to the staff. With Mark Fox operating on an expiring contract and an open coaching vacancy still waiting to be filled, Pope has a crucial opportunity to change the dynamic. If he is going to be the “nice guy” head coach, he desperately needs to hire assistants who are willing to teach the fundamentals, enforce the “throat-stepping” mentality, and demand accountability in practice.
I know he loves this place, and I think everyone wants him to succeed here, but if he fails to address what DA has brought up, I don’t see him staying past year 3.
Do you agree or disagree with Anderson’s take on Pope?
BOSTON, MA - APRIL 19: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics goes in for a dunk against the Philadelphia 76ers during the first half of Game One of the Eastern Conference First Round NBA Playoffs at TD Garden on April 19, 2026 in Boston, Massachusetts. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo By Winslow Townson/Getty Images) | Getty Images
1. Playoff Jayson Tatum Is Back
The last time Jayson Tatum played in the playoffs was May 12th 2025. He dropped 42 points, 8 rebounds and 4 assists before he suffered what is known as one of the worst injuries a basketball player could sustain in a Torn Achilles. It was only 342 days later where Tatum was back playing in a playoff game and it looks like he hasn’t skipped a beat, finishing with 25 points, 11 rebounds, 7 assists, and 2 steals on 9-17 shooting.
Jayson Tatum is now 5th in Eastern Conference history in 25-point playoff games with only LeBron James, Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, and Dwayne Wade having more. Tatum joined Jimmy Butler in 2022 and Russell Westbrook in 2017 as the third player in NBA Playoff History with 21+ Points, 8+ Rebounds, 4+ Assists, and 2+ Steals in the first half of a playoff game in the last 30 years.
21+ PTS, 8+ REB, 4+ AST, 2+ STL in 1st Half of Playoff Game, last 30 years
Tatum today Jimmy Butler vs. Celtics, 5/27/22 Westbrook vs. Houston, 4/19/17
Tatum played most of his best basketball in the first half of this game, finishing with 21 points, 8 rebounds, and 4 assists on 7-11 shooting. Tatum had 10 of those points in the first quarter, where he exploited the fact the 76ers didn’t have a wing defender that could guard him. He was able to slice through Philly’s defense like a cheese steak to get to easy buckets in the midrange and some aggressive finishes at the basket.
Tatum did a great job of getting to the line in the second quarter, finishing 6-6 at the charity stripe. Philadelphia did not have any answers for him and you can tell they were frustrated. He was 1-7 from three in this game but that one he hit made him pass Kobe Bryant for 11th place on the all-time playoff three-pointers made list. Tatum put an exclamation point on his incredible first half performance with an emphatic slam off a Sam Hauser steal.
Tatum only played in 12 minutes the rest of the game but his first half performance stamped his impact on this win. He was serenaded with a standing ovation from the TD Garden crowd in the fourth quarter, being shown the respect he deserved for his great game.
Jayson Tatum gets a standing ovation as he leaves the game in the fourth quarter pic.twitter.com/qgZRI9tBWC
Jaylen Brown started game this game a little slow with only 10 points on 4-12 shooting in the first half but really stepped up his game in the third quarter. Brown played the entire third quarter and finished with 16 points on 7-9 shooting from the field and 2-2 from three. The play that really ignited his fire in the quarter came at the 6:24 mark where he deflected an errant pass by Andre Drummond and turned it into a wide open three pointer.
This three sparked a 10-0 run by the Celtics that took any possible chance the 76ers had of coming back in this game. Brown shot 5-6 after his steal, twisting the knife even deeper into Philadelphia’s defense. No matter who Philly threw out there to defend him, Brown was able break them down and finish in his spots.
This game was the 50th time that both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum scored 20+ points in the same playoff game, the second most in Celtics history only behind Larry Bird and Kevin McHale who did it 58 times. It is the 19th time that Brown and Tatum have both scored 25+ in the same playoff game. If Game 1 was any indication of how these playoffs are going to go, we could see the Jays breaking that record this season.
Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum each scored 20+ points in the same playoff game for the 50th time, the second most in Celtics history behind Larry Bird and Kevin McHale (58) ☘️ pic.twitter.com/7ATI79CtuU
For the first time in his NBA Career, Sam Hauser shot under 40% from three in a season, finishing at 39.3% with the Celtics this season. He seemed to take that personally going into Game 1 where finished with 12 points and 7 rebounds on 4-6 shooting from behind the arc. He started the game off hot, hitting back-to-back threes in the first quarter and set the tone for the Celtics offense.
He hit two more threes in the fourth quarter but what really impressive from Hauser was his defensive effort in this game. Via Taylor Snow on X, Sam Hauser played 1,934 minutes in the regular season and drew 0 charges but 2 minutes into the playoffs he drew a charge on Adem Bona who barreled right through him. When asked about taking the charge, Hauser laughed and said, “I was scared” but he was just trying to make a play.
Hauser made another great defensive play in the second quarter, picking off an inbounds pass and finding Jayson Tatum the other way for a wide open dunk. After struggling for most of the season, this was a great start what hopefully is a big playoff run for Hauser this season.
4. Jordan Walsh Energy Minutes
Jordan Walsh played some big minutes for the Celtics down the stretch of the regular season and got his first chance to show out in the playoffs, finishing with 5 points, 2 rebounds, and 2 assists on 2-5 shooting. He was thrown in at the 3:49 mark of the third quarter and was immediately tasked to stop Tyrese Maxey. Walsh stepped up by playing some great defense that resulted in him getting a fast-break layup off a nice pass from Jayson Tatum at the end of the first quarter.
JAYSON TATUM TO JORDAN WALSH FOR THE BASKET TO END END THE 1ST QUARTER!
Walsh checked back in at the 3:36 mark of the third quarter, where he once again brought the energy on the defensive end that the Celtics were looking for. After Brown missed a midrange jumper, Walsh grabbed a big offensive rebound in traffic, drawing a foul and hyping up the crowd. This is a great example of why Walsh is so important to the Celtics with the instant energy he provides on the defensive side of the ball.
5. Neemias Queta X-Factor
Neemias Queta had an up-and-down game against the 76ers in his first career playoff start. The good was that he finished with 13 points and 1 block on 5-5 shooting but the bad was that he committed 5 fouls in only 15 minutes of play. Some of the fouls were bad but when he was out there, Queta dominated the 76ers inside, just like he did on March 1st when he dropped a career 27 points with 17 rebounds.
Much like most of the games at the end of the regular season when Queta went off, he was a monster in the pick-and-roll against Philadelphia. If he wasn’t in foul trouble I believe the Celtics would have spammed the same play over and over again until the 76ers could stop him. The 76ers looked like they wanted no business in guarding him and if that is the case, Queta will be a big X-factor for the Celtics in this series if he can stay out of foul trouble.
6. Nikola Vucevic Adventure
With Queta in foul trouble, Nikola Vucevic got a lot more minutes off the bench, finishing with 18 in total. If I had to describe his performance it would be: an adventure. Much like Queta, Vucevic also was in foul trouble, finishing with 4 fouls. On the positive side he finished with 3 points, 6 rebounds, 3 assists, and a +13. We saw Vucevic have a rough game early on, getting dunked on by Kelly Oubre Jr and air-balling a wide open shot at the basket.
However he was also able to be a real positive for Boston on the glass, doing a great job of sealing off Bona and Drummond to secure defensive rebounds to start the Celtics offense. He was even able to turn one of these rebounds into a transition three. It was cool to see TD Garden yell “VOOCH” as the shot went up and the subsequent cheers after it went in. Joe Mazzulla praised his ability to keep the 76ers big men off the glass in his post game press conference, so although it might not look the prettiest, Vucevic is an important part of this rotation.
7. Garza/Scheierman Step Up In Spot Minutes
With both Queta and Vucevic in foul trouble at points in this game, Luka Garza got a chance to play 14 minutes off the bench and finished with 7 points and 2 rebounds. Garza started the second quarter for the Celtics and immediately grabbed a big offensive rebound to get free throws. He followed that up with a three pointer and even though he only played 5:27, in the second quarter, the Celtics were able to open up their lead to 15 points. Garza played a little bit of spot minutes in the second half as well and although he didn’t put up a ton of numbers on the stat sheet, he was able to keep Philadelphia’s big men under wraps.
Baylor Scheierman also started the second quarter alongside Garza, and had one sequence where he made an impact. He finished a nice floater late in the shot clock on offense and then blocked Paul George on defense the next possession. Seeing Garza and Scheierman excel in spot minutes is huge for the Celtics and is a testament to everyone being ready for when their number is called.
8. Three-point Disparity
When asked about limiting the Celtics three-point shooting pregame, 76ers head coach Nick Nurse said that he wanted his team to cut the number of three point attempts down in this series by “4-5.” Safe to say, that game plan did not work out well. Boston was 16-44 (36%) from three which isn’t great but was substantially better than Philadelphia who finished 4-23 (17%).
The three-pointer is the great equalizer when it comes to the NBA. It can both win you and lose you games based on how good the team shooting is. Safe to say the 76ers might want to try a little harder to force the Celtics off the three-point line a little more, given they lost by 32 points and Boston didn’t even it shoot it well. I wonder what the score would look like if the Celtics made even 40% of their threes.
Celtics Shooting Zone Chart (Via NBA.com)
9. Maxey Non-Factor
Tyrese Maxey is the engine that makes the Philadelphia 76ers offense go but he is also playing through a right finger tendon injury that he suffered on his pinky. When he isn’t able to have a big game, the 76ers have a hard time generating offense and we saw it in this game where Maxey finished with only 21 points on 8-20 shooting. The primary defenders on Maxey in this game were Derrick White, Jayson Tatum and Jordan Walsh and all of them did a great job of forcing him into tough shots. Maxey is still going to get his and might have a big game in this series at some point, but I liked what I saw out of the Celtics defense.
10. TD Garden Crowd
The best part about the Celtics being back in the Playoffs is that we get to hear the roar of the TD Garden crowd. I was there covering the game for CelticsBlog as a media member for the first time in a playoff game and sitting in the press box it was amazing to hear how loud the crowd got in big moments. The crowd was engaged from the jump ball and I thought even sounded loud on TV.
The highlight of the night was during the fourth quarter when in garbage time, the TD Garden broke out in a “We Want Boston” chant. This was a response to the Philadelphia 76ers crowd chanting it at the end of their Play-In Tournament victory against the Orlando Magic on Wednesday April 15th. We saw Gino Time, the wave, and a Celtics victory, it doesn’t get much better than that.
