@Blair Kiel posted:Oops.
I don't mind you going back and "Eeyoring" me. I think it's fun banter, but when I made the comment that Bud might have to decide when to wave the white flag and make sure everyone was healthy for Game 6, the Celtics had a 98% percent win probability (8 minutes left). The Celtics hadn't lost a playoff game in which they led by 14 in the 4th quarter in 25 years.
In situations like that (not potential series-ending games) coaches have to make tough decisions on when to sit guys. Is it better to play your starters 42 minutes and fight all the way to lose by 8 instead of by 20 for a low probability of pulling off a miracle, or it is better to get them off the court and not risk injury? Ja Morant originally got dinged up in this season's playoffs because he was playing in the 4th quarter of a game the Grizzlies were trailing by about 25. Embiid broke his orbital bone when he was still in the game with Philly up 20 with about 3 minutes left.
Obviously, Bud never had to make that decision because Connaughton and Matthews hit 3s that got it back to 5 or 6 points instead of 12 within 2 minutes of that point they were down 12-14. But when do you decide that a 12-14 point lead is too much in a game like this? With 4 minutes left? With 2 minutes left?
