It’s only normal that your brain might be going to dangerous places today.
The longer the Celts find a way to survive, the more hope you get.
With that hope comes dangerous thoughts.
In fact, they got through the easy games.
It only gets harder.
Just like in Game 4, nothing we saw was an aberration.
It’s not like they had some prayer bench guy go 6-6 with 5 3PM or something uncharacteristic.
That is why for the Celts to pull this off, they just have to be normal.
They don’t need to overachieve, they just need to not play like complete dickheads.
Extreme dickhead basketball
Games 4-5?
They said it on Inside The NBA a few times last night and it continues to ring true.
When the Celts play well, the Heat might just not have enough.
If they do neither of those things, everything changes.
Think of what we still haven’t seen yet in this series.
This team canstillreach higher levels and frankly, they’re probably going to need to for finish this comeback.
I say let’s worry about tomorrow later.
People cry and cry and cry when he takes good, open looks.
Just look at these playoffs.
The Celtics are now 9-2 when Smart takes 10 or more FGA.
When he’s under 10?
This offense is at its best when Smart is aggressive, and that doesn’t mean taking poor shots.
In these last two games, he’s shooting 42/40% in the first 12 minutes.
For the playoffs, he’s shooting 40/50% in the 1st quarter.
Smart is 14-28 from deep, so we’re talking some decent volume.
To me, this makes perfect sense.
In 1st quarters, he’s shooting 66% in these playoffs from the corners.
Where exactly did his early 3PA come from last night again?
Oh, that’s right.
When we got to the second half, where did the majority of Smart’s FGA come from?
Oh that’s right, the paint
This is the way.
- The exact same thing can be said about Derrick White, and this is where things get spooky.
But now…I’m starting to get a little weirded out.
Everyone remembers that Pedro was the starter in Game 5 of the 2004 series correct?
He was OK I guess, 6 innings 7 hits 4 runs and 6 Ks.
He gave them enough to stay in it.
Well, here was Derrick’s Game 5
For my money, much better than Pedro.
A cool 24/3/1/2 on 8-11 (6-8) and a +18 in his 37 minutes.
This is who Derrick has been essentially through the entire playoff run.
While the entire roster has struggled shooting, Derrick has been the one constant.
He does not have a single game this series where he’s made under 3 3PM.
When he doesn’t think and just shoots, good things follow.
He’s active in passing lanes, he’s guarding his yard.
With Brogdon cooked, White’s production from here on out becomes crucial.
Hopefully, this puts it into perspective for you
Here’s the thing about Tatum’s night.
He only had 21 points, but he was in complete control.
In terms of his shooting, he did finish 9-16 which to me is more than good enough.
Some brutal 1-6 shooting from deep, but he didn’t let that ruin his overall night.
It was Tatum’s passing early in this game that got everything started.
As we know, the Basketball Gods reward good ball movement.
When the Heat tried to trap him, he took his time and found the right guy.
- Then there was Jaylen.
He was also efficient going 9-18 (3-5).
But the best part?
Jaylen only had 1 TO.
It should be no surprise that in these last two wins, Jaylen has a combined 2 TOs.
His drives to the rim were an adventure, but he came through.
11 TOs in the 3 losses (6 in Game 1) and 2 TOs in the 2 wins.
Suddenly, that energy has started to shift and the results are coming with it.
- To me, Al Horford looked 25.
The energy he played with is something we haven’t seen for a few weeks really.
Between him and Rob, they continued to find ways to make Bam’s life hell.
He’s not feasting in that set like he did in Game 3.
- Speaking of the defense, I mean what needs to be said that we don’t already know?
When this team defends, they live.
The proof is in the pudding.
The Celtics are now 6-0 this postseason when they hold a team to under 100.
It all starts on that end.
The beautiful ball movement and hitting of 3s?
That’s from the defense.
The getting out and scoring in transition?
The Celts had 27 points off 16 MIA TOs, so yeah, defense is pretty fucking important.
They took just 23 in this game which when you’re playing the Celtics is simply not enough.
I don’t think we saw a single Duncan Robinson 3PA coming off a screen in this game.
That’s the Celts defense.
Yes, you have to play defense.
Yes, you have to take care of the basketball.
They got back to their normal 42% range and what happened?
They haven’t lost.
You could say water is maybe starting to find its level.
He played just 7 minutes last night, and I don’t know what this team does moving forward.
It now puts more pressure on streaky shooters like Smart to come through offensively.
They need Derrick to continue to shoot like he has been.
That leaves Sam Hauser, who hasn’t played all series.
Every game it seems like both Caleb Martin and Duncan Robinson are getting whatever they wanted.
He cannot be an 18 point per game player moving forward.
Limit that, and you put yourself in a good spot.
- Another game with 5 missed FTs.
What are we doing?
It’s Tatum, it’s Smart, it’s Grant.
These are free points!
The Ugly
- OK, let’s play a game.
Who had the worse decision?
Was it Marcus Smart?
or was it Jayson Tatum?
Both terrible decisions, but I think I have to go Smart’s.
At least Tatum tried to get his guy on the break and just threw it a little too hard.
With Smart’s, I mean, he knows that’s Derrick White right?
That’s a pass not even Rob is bringing down, and that shit wasn’t even close.
These are the spots where not going for the homerun play is OK. Just take your time and execute.
It got a little too dicey for my nerves if we’re being honest.
A lot of clock killing and 3PA which didn’t drop and then buckets on the other end.
But in the end, this team lives to see another day.
That is all that matters.
