The Lakers wouldn’t use fatigue as an excuse or an explanation for their collapse.

But they were visibly gassed down the stretch in Game 2, @jovanbuha writes.https://t.co/5x1ER30poh pic.twitter.com/V27Qohf1zW

— The Athletic NBA (@TheAthleticNBA) May 19, 2023

bearister said:

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Pistol Lite had virtually the same stats in Game 2 that he had in Game 1:
50% from the field; 55% from arc with 22 points (identical shooting percentages in Game 1 with 23 points).

https://media.tenor.com/2TQobrJeGiwAAAAC/austin-reaves-lakers.gif

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HoopDreams said:

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Boston loses two home games

Jaylen had two bad games:

Game 1:
10-21, 1-6 from 3. Team high 9 rebounds. +3
(5 assists, 6 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Game 2:
7-23, 1-7 from 3. Took the most shots, and had the worst +/-
(4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Every year it looks like it could be Boston's year, but they seem to get knocked off along the way. Not sure if they have the right core

---

HoopDreams said:

---

Boston loses two home games

Jaylen had two bad games:

Game 1:
10-21, 1-6 from 3. Team high 9 rebounds. +3
(5 assists, 6 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Game 2:
7-23, 1-7 from 3. Took the most shots, and had the worst +/-
(4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Every year it looks like it could be Boston's year, but they seem to get knocked off along the way. Not sure if they have the right core

---

dimitrig said:

---

HoopDreams said:

---

Boston loses two home games

Jaylen had two bad games:

Game 1:
10-21, 1-6 from 3. Team high 9 rebounds. +3
(5 assists, 6 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Game 2:
7-23, 1-7 from 3. Took the most shots, and had the worst +/-
(4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Every year it looks like it could be Boston's year, but they seem to get knocked off along the way. Not sure if they have the right core

---

Tatum is a great player, but not sure he is good enough to build a championship team around. He would be an awesome 2nd star to pair with a great point guard or big man. I think Tatum and Brown are too similar to each other. You can't win with your two best players being wings. I can't recall the last team that did.

The other problem with Boston is that while Brown and Tatum are excellent, they don't have a lot of talent after that. They could win if they had a decent point guard or big man to take some pressure off.

---

dimitrig said:

---

HoopDreams said:

---

Boston loses two home games

Jaylen had two bad games:

Game 1:
10-21, 1-6 from 3. Team high 9 rebounds. +3
(5 assists, 6 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Game 2:
7-23, 1-7 from 3. Took the most shots, and had the worst +/-
(4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Every year it looks like it could be Boston's year, but they seem to get knocked off along the way. Not sure if they have the right core

---

Tatum is a great player, but not sure he is good enough to build a championship team around. He would be an awesome 2nd star to pair with a great point guard or big man. I think Tatum and Brown are too similar to each other. You can't win with your two best players being wings. I can't recall the last team that did.

The other problem with Boston is that while Brown and Tatum are excellent, they don't have a lot of talent after that. They could win if they had a decent point guard or big man to take some pressure off.

---

calumnus said:

---

dimitrig said:

---

HoopDreams said:

---

Boston loses two home games

Jaylen had two bad games:

Game 1:
10-21, 1-6 from 3. Team high 9 rebounds. +3
(5 assists, 6 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Game 2:
7-23, 1-7 from 3. Took the most shots, and had the worst +/-
(4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Every year it looks like it could be Boston's year, but they seem to get knocked off along the way. Not sure if they have the right core

---

Tatum is a great player, but not sure he is good enough to build a championship team around. He would be an awesome 2nd star to pair with a great point guard or big man. I think Tatum and Brown are too similar to each other. You can't win with your two best players being wings. I can't recall the last team that did.

The other problem with Boston is that while Brown and Tatum are excellent, they don't have a lot of talent after that. They could win if they had a decent point guard or big man to take some pressure off.

---

Don't know the <last> Championship team whose two best players were wings, but Jordan and Pippin immediately comes to mind.

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Anarchistbear said:

---

dimitrig said:

---

HoopDreams said:

---

Boston loses two home games

Jaylen had two bad games:

Game 1:
10-21, 1-6 from 3. Team high 9 rebounds. +3
(5 assists, 6 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Game 2:
7-23, 1-7 from 3. Took the most shots, and had the worst +/-
(4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Every year it looks like it could be Boston's year, but they seem to get knocked off along the way. Not sure if they have the right core

---

Tatum is a great player, but not sure he is good enough to build a championship team around. He would be an awesome 2nd star to pair with a great point guard or big man. I think Tatum and Brown are too similar to each other. You can't win with your two best players being wings. I can't recall the last team that did.

The other problem with Boston is that while Brown and Tatum are excellent, they don't have a lot of talent after that. They could win if they had a decent point guard or big man to take some pressure off.

---

Brogdon is 6 th man of the year, Smart is a DPOY, White is a versatile guard and all NBA defensive player, Williams/ Horford provide rim protection and 3 point shooting. Their supporting cast is fine- certainly better than Miami's and enough talent to make the finals

The problem is they can't seem to close out games especially at home. As you point out Tatum and Brown are both wings but neither of them respond well to ball pressure and this results in a lot of turnovers, or attempts to bully three people. This gets worse as the game goes on. If they aren't hitting 3's they aren't winning.

Contrast that with Jimmy Butler and the no names where Butler gets the ball, everybody knows what he will do and he still scores or makes a pass to a teammate who does. The guy is fantastically tough and rises to challenges. The Celtics are soft.

---

bearister said:

---

Pistol Lite had virtually the same stats in Game 2 that he had in Game 1:
50% from the field; 55% from arc with 22 points (identical shooting percentages in Game 1 with 23 points).

---

bearister said:

---

bearister said:

---

Pistol Lite had virtually the same stats in Game 2 that he had in Game 1:
50% from the field; 55% from arc with 22 points (identical shooting percentages in Game 1 with 23 points).

https://media.tenor.com/2TQobrJeGiwAAAAC/austin-reaves-lakers.gif

---

Pistol Lite Game 3:

70% from field; 60% from arc for 23 points

---

bearister said:

---

His Playoffs performance is going to make him serious bank.

*Current contract:
Austin Reaves signed a 2 year / $2,488,776 contract with the Los Angeles Lakers, including $2,488,776 guaranteed, and an annual average salary of $1,244,388.

* Austin Reaves has averaged 16.9 points, 4.7 assists and 4.6 rebounds in 15 games in the playoffs in his career.
https://www.statmuse.com/nba/ask/austin-reaves-playoff-stats

---

bearister said:

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Jimmy Butler is hard and a closer.

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DiabloWags said:

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bearister said:

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Jimmy Butler is hard and a closer.

---

Yup.
Jimmy Buckets is a flat out BALLER!

I think the Lakers "peaked" against the Dubs. They look tired and their shooting percentage is now in the dumpster.

---

ducky23 said:

---

dimitrig said:

---

HoopDreams said:

---

Boston loses two home games

Jaylen had two bad games:

Game 1:
10-21, 1-6 from 3. Team high 9 rebounds. +3
(5 assists, 6 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Game 2:
7-23, 1-7 from 3. Took the most shots, and had the worst +/-
(4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Every year it looks like it could be Boston's year, but they seem to get knocked off along the way. Not sure if they have the right core

---

Tatum is a great player, but not sure he is good enough to build a championship team around. He would be an awesome 2nd star to pair with a great point guard or big man. I think Tatum and Brown are too similar to each other. You can't win with your two best players being wings. I can't recall the last team that did.

The other problem with Boston is that while Brown and Tatum are excellent, they don't have a lot of talent after that. They could win if they had a decent point guard or big man to take some pressure off.

---

I think what Boston needs is Jordan poole, wiggins and kuminga

---

philbert said:

---

ducky23 said:

---

dimitrig said:

---

HoopDreams said:

---

Boston loses two home games

Jaylen had two bad games:

Game 1:
10-21, 1-6 from 3. Team high 9 rebounds. +3
(5 assists, 6 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Game 2:
7-23, 1-7 from 3. Took the most shots, and had the worst +/-
(4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Every year it looks like it could be Boston's year, but they seem to get knocked off along the way. Not sure if they have the right core

---

Tatum is a great player, but not sure he is good enough to build a championship team around. He would be an awesome 2nd star to pair with a great point guard or big man. I think Tatum and Brown are too similar to each other. You can't win with your two best players being wings. I can't recall the last team that did.

The other problem with Boston is that while Brown and Tatum are excellent, they don't have a lot of talent after that. They could win if they had a decent point guard or big man to take some pressure off.

---

I think what Boston needs is Jordan poole, wiggins and kuminga

---

I do wonder if Boston would consider trading him. With both Tatum and Brown eligible for a Super max contract, will they want to pay both of them? The new CBA makes it harder to build a team if you have multiple big contracts like that.

---

ducky23 said:

---

philbert said:

---

ducky23 said:

---

dimitrig said:

---

HoopDreams said:

---

Boston loses two home games

Jaylen had two bad games:

Game 1:
10-21, 1-6 from 3. Team high 9 rebounds. +3
(5 assists, 6 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Game 2:
7-23, 1-7 from 3. Took the most shots, and had the worst +/-
(4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Every year it looks like it could be Boston's year, but they seem to get knocked off along the way. Not sure if they have the right core

---

Tatum is a great player, but not sure he is good enough to build a championship team around. He would be an awesome 2nd star to pair with a great point guard or big man. I think Tatum and Brown are too similar to each other. You can't win with your two best players being wings. I can't recall the last team that did.

The other problem with Boston is that while Brown and Tatum are excellent, they don't have a lot of talent after that. They could win if they had a decent point guard or big man to take some pressure off.

---

I think what Boston needs is Jordan poole, wiggins and kuminga

---

I do wonder if Boston would consider trading him. With both Tatum and Brown eligible for a Super max contract, will they want to pay both of them? The new CBA makes it harder to build a team if you have multiple big contracts like that.

---

While my silly trade proposal was said in jest, I do believe that a sweep (or even gentleman's sweep) will really force Boston to reassess whether the two can play together (especially both at the max)

If brown demands the max, I really don't know what Boston does. Cause no matter what Boston does around the edges, it doesn't appear that Boston can win with the two of them as their best players

Unfortunately I don't think the warriors have the assets to entice Boston…(nor do I know if it's even a viable trade), but one can dream of Jaylen in blue and gold again. I can't think of s better complement to Steph on both ends of the court

---

GMP said:

---

ducky23 said:

---

philbert said:

---

ducky23 said:

---

dimitrig said:

---

HoopDreams said:

---

Boston loses two home games

Jaylen had two bad games:

Game 1:
10-21, 1-6 from 3. Team high 9 rebounds. +3
(5 assists, 6 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Game 2:
7-23, 1-7 from 3. Took the most shots, and had the worst +/-
(4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Every year it looks like it could be Boston's year, but they seem to get knocked off along the way. Not sure if they have the right core

---

Tatum is a great player, but not sure he is good enough to build a championship team around. He would be an awesome 2nd star to pair with a great point guard or big man. I think Tatum and Brown are too similar to each other. You can't win with your two best players being wings. I can't recall the last team that did.

The other problem with Boston is that while Brown and Tatum are excellent, they don't have a lot of talent after that. They could win if they had a decent point guard or big man to take some pressure off.

---

I think what Boston needs is Jordan poole, wiggins and kuminga

---

I do wonder if Boston would consider trading him. With both Tatum and Brown eligible for a Super max contract, will they want to pay both of them? The new CBA makes it harder to build a team if you have multiple big contracts like that.

---

While my silly trade proposal was said in jest, I do believe that a sweep (or even gentleman's sweep) will really force Boston to reassess whether the two can play together (especially both at the max)

If brown demands the max, I really don't know what Boston does. Cause no matter what Boston does around the edges, it doesn't appear that Boston can win with the two of them as their best players

Unfortunately I don't think the warriors have the assets to entice Boston…(nor do I know if it's even a viable trade), but one can dream of Jaylen in blue and gold again. I can't think of s better complement to Steph on both ends of the court

---

This is a very impatient and too-in-the-moment take.

Less than a year ago, basically this same squad was two wins from winning the title. They didn't just suddenly forget how to win together. They're just having a bad series.

---

GMP said:

---

ducky23 said:

---

philbert said:

---

ducky23 said:

---

dimitrig said:

---

HoopDreams said:

---

Boston loses two home games

Jaylen had two bad games:

Game 1:
10-21, 1-6 from 3. Team high 9 rebounds. +3
(5 assists, 6 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Game 2:
7-23, 1-7 from 3. Took the most shots, and had the worst +/-
(4 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 TOs, no steals or blocks)

Every year it looks like it could be Boston's year, but they seem to get knocked off along the way. Not sure if they have the right core

---

Tatum is a great player, but not sure he is good enough to build a championship team around. He would be an awesome 2nd star to pair with a great point guard or big man. I think Tatum and Brown are too similar to each other. You can't win with your two best players being wings. I can't recall the last team that did.

The other problem with Boston is that while Brown and Tatum are excellent, they don't have a lot of talent after that. They could win if they had a decent point guard or big man to take some pressure off.

---

I think what Boston needs is Jordan poole, wiggins and kuminga

---

I do wonder if Boston would consider trading him. With both Tatum and Brown eligible for a Super max contract, will they want to pay both of them? The new CBA makes it harder to build a team if you have multiple big contracts like that.

---

While my silly trade proposal was said in jest, I do believe that a sweep (or even gentleman's sweep) will really force Boston to reassess whether the two can play together (especially both at the max)

If brown demands the max, I really don't know what Boston does. Cause no matter what Boston does around the edges, it doesn't appear that Boston can win with the two of them as their best players

Unfortunately I don't think the warriors have the assets to entice Boston…(nor do I know if it's even a viable trade), but one can dream of Jaylen in blue and gold again. I can't think of s better complement to Steph on both ends of the court

---

This is a very impatient and too-in-the-moment take.

Less than a year ago, basically this same squad was two wins from winning the title. They didn't just suddenly forget how to win together. They're just having a bad series.

---