I think we all understand what is at stake tonight and how important this Game 2 is.
Teams that go up 2-0 are 414-33 all time.
In the Conference Finals, that team is 56-6. you oughta walk out of the Garden 1-1.
It wasn’t too long ago the Celts found themselves in this exact position.
Dropping Game 1 against the Sixers, Harden going off for 40+, they needed to punch back.
We then witnessed a 121-87 ass kicking.
The Miami Heat are not the Sixers.
Spo is not Doc.
But in the playoffs, talk is cheap.
Actions speak louder than words.
The Heat turned up the physcality in the second half and the Celts folded.
Don’t talk about it, be about it.
I sure as shit know that’s what the Heat do.
Take that video above.
Does that look like a team that is locked in?
I have NEVER seen Rob play defense (or not play really) like that.
We did not see the level of intensity anywhere close to good enough.
I’ll tell you what.
Some of the dumbest, laziest basketball the Celts have played this entire season.
The good news is, everything you just watched in that thread is correctable.
So what bang out of adjustments should we expect to see tonight?
In today’s NBA, it’s crucial that you be able to keep pace from behind the arc.
Because they were not themselves when it came to their 3PA volume.
This team only taking 29 3PA is a problem.
Think back to Game 1 and 2 vs PHI.
In Game 1, the Celts had 66 points in the paint, 18 FTA and lost.
Because the Sixers went 17-38 from deep compared to 10-26 for the Celts.
In Game 2, the Celts got back to themselves, went 20-51, and blew doors.
That seems pretty familiar right?
Trading 2s for 3s is not going to cut it.
So far, the team with more 3PM has won something like 85% of the games.
Game 1 was the 2nd fewest 3PA game of the Celts entire playoff run.
That needs to change.
Remember, last year vs MIA the double bigs had a 100 Ortg / 115 Drtg / -15 net.
In Game 1, it was 88 / 144 / -55.
Their best lineups from that game used 1 big.
He had a solid series last year (41/38%, +6).
He can help you defensively and on the boards.
He can help stretch the floor so there’s still shooting out there.
To me this is the easiest and most obvious Game 2 adjustment.
Grant needs to play.
I wouldn’t even be against maybe spot starting him to be honest.
That’s sort of a weird hybrid double big lineup that might work.
3.Enough of the soft switching bullshit
Just watch that thread again.
The repeated soft switching and lazy effort on that end cannot happen.
Either fight over the screen or go under it and make Butler beat you with jumpers.
It’s a death wish.
Use your point guards
This was maybe the most frustrating part of the second half/fourth quarter.
Your point guards are good.
They made their bed, now do something about it.
