The 2024 Celtics are resilient as hell.
If these are the same old Celtics, well this is what those Celtics do.
Since the 2021-22 run, the Celtics lead the NBA in playoff road wins, with 15.
The Warriors (#3) and the Nuggets (#4).
Mentally, I think we all need this.
Us fans, the players, Joe, everyone.
you better cleanse your soul with the purity of Mazzulla Ball on both ends of the floor.
That means in Game 3, you punch first and never let them off the mat.
Just like what we saw in Game 1.
A wire to wire ass kicking is exactly what the doctor ordered.
That’s what made Game 3 so important.
It’s a swing game.
For now, up 2-1 is all that matters.
The Good
- After his Game 2 performance, Kristaps Porzingis promised us he would be better.
The last time that happened was following the back to back Hawks losses.
KP admitted he wasn’t playing at his level and that he would be better.
He then immediately went onto dominate and win Player Of The Week.
Shall we guess what happened?
It’s no secret that Porzingis is the X-Factor of this entire run.
- So far through 3 games, it’s fair to say both of the Jays have showed up.
In a game like this, you know where things start.
To pull out a road win in that spot requires the Celts two best players to lead by example.
Play smart, play with energy, show up offensively, play with toughness etc.
Once they set that tone, the rest will follow.
I loved everything about what we got from Jayson Tatum in this game on both ends of the floor.
As always, when you want to know what Tatum’s energy level is, look to the rebounding.
In this game, Tatum led the team with 11.
A focus on winning the margins and the effort categories while then sprinkling in some buckets when needed.
With Jaylen in this matchup, he’s giving you all you need form a #2.
Efficient scoring, good rebounding (8), and like Tatum much better ball security.
Going up against MIA the jokes all were about Jaylen’s left hand and TOs right?
Well through 3 games he has only 5 TOs.
- What a difference effort and ball pressure can make huh?
THIS was an example of how much harder you should be closing out on shooters.
For starters, the pick up points were much higher.
In Game 2, whenever the Heat would drive, the Celtics would always overhelp.
Look at all of those Herro drives and what do you see?
In the first clip, we see Derrick White stay with Jacquez in the corner.
He is abiding by the #1 rule in life, which is never help off the strongside corner.
That is not what we saw in Game 2.
In the second clip, it’s the same thing.
Sure there was an OREB putback, but the initial defense is what matters.
In the fourth clip, here you go again.
KP is still in drop coverage, but look at Al.
So contrary to what the internet was demanding, the issue of Game 2 wasn’t really playing drop.
you might play drop against MIA and be effective, as long as you play it correctly.
Sometimes it’s just staying home on the shooters and letting your 7'2 unicorn do his thing.
You combine that with harder closeouts on 3s, and that’s how you get a dominant defensive performance.
Even though the Heat shot a solid percentage on those (38%), that’s fine.
The issue is when they shoot 65% on wide open 3s like we saw in Game 2.
Last night, it felt like he was aggressive from the jump.
Whenever the Celts needed a respond bucket, White was there to deliver.
When it came to making the small margin plays, White was there to deliver.
- Speaking of turning the ball over, this might have been my favorite part of this entire win.
To beat MIA in the playoffs, you cannot give up points off TOs.
In the Game 2 loss, that number was 20.
Way, way too many points off TOs.
They won that battle 24-4.
This is what I lay awake at night praying for.
For years it’s been the same story when playing MIA in the playoffs.
Take care of the ball, limit points off TOs, and you will win.
Don’t, and you will lose.
It is those TOs that help feed into the Heat’s black magic.
Those wasted possessions lead to transition open 3s, and once those start dropping they become more powerful.
Just look back at Game 2.
The 6 AST, 2 TOs and much better defense?
Do I love the fact that Holiday is shooting under 30% to start the playoffs?
Does it scare me a little?
But he was fantastic in this win and that is what matters more.
Winning a road playoff game in which you only shoot 29.7% from three is big time stuff.
Al Horford forever.
That’s all that needs to be said.
The Bad
- Alright, what the hell is going on with Jayson Tatum’s FTs.
I’m not sure I can remember a time where he missed 4 FTs in a single game.
Is it his new routine before shooting?
This has been a weird trend for him all year it feels like and frankly it makes no sense.
At this point, I am dumbfounded how Derrick White isn’t the defacto FT shooter for this team.
He’s a 90% FT shooter.
So far in this series, the Celts have just a 108 ORTG in the second half.
That’s pretty gross.
If you look at just the last 2 games, the Celts second half ORTG is a brruuuuuutal 97.6.
On one hand, this is concerning.
The offense hasn’t really shown up for 48 minutes so far this series.
- Not sure I’m totally thrilled about only having 22 AST on 39 FGM.
I just didn’t know he was capable of doing such a thing.
My body is pre-conditioned to see him go up for one and just assume it’s going in.
In fact, I think we scrap double bigs all together.
Play one big and shooters and spread the Heat out.
It’ll probably happen again this postseason.
But the insane overreaction to Joe, who they are as a team etc was a little pathetic.
The playoffs are hard.
Winning is even harder.
There are going to be ups and downs over the course of a playoff run.
We saw what happens when the Celts have better execution and play with the right energy.
They didn’t reinvent the wheel, they just got back to playing how we know they should play.
Sometimes you just need to execute better.
We now turn the page to Game 4, and the Celts now control their own destiny.
Put the pressure on and head back to the Garden up 3-1 and then close this shit out.
