They needed a step on your throat performance, and that requires the right mindset.
This team will not be defined by how they play in the first round.
We all know that.
Most notably, the 2008 Boston Celtics.
In the playoffs, it’s about how you respond.
It’s about immediately stopping the bleeding and righting the ship.
That’s what happened in Game 4, and it was beautiful to watch.
Let’s dive in.
The Good
- The top spot today wasn’t as easy as you think.
We are beginning with Robert Williams.
That 10/15 performance from Bill Walton came in Game 2 against the Bulls in the 1986 playoffs.
A healthy Rob changes EVERYTHING.
This was a drastic improvement from Game 3, where that number was 35.7%.
There are a lot of things that can elevate this team.
The Jays, their guard play, ball movement etc.
Not only that, but Joe kept him under 30 minutes again.
To keep it simple, Rob is incredible.
- There was a time when every talking head said the same thing.
It was time to break up Tatum and Brown.
Despite it making no goddamn sense, they all parrotted the same bullshit because that’s what makes headlines.
One person did not
Funny how we don’t hear those same hot takes anymore right?
Because it was all bullshit.
This isn’t just a Hawks thing, this is a rest of the NBA thing.
If you might’t stop the Celts wings, you’re cooked.
Everything we thought would happen in this series when it comes to those two is happening.
They are getting whatever the hell they want.
Jaylen ditched the mask and immediately bounced back from his 1-7 start with a 10-15 run.
What I loved about it was their approach.
Jaylen had something crazy like 18 of his 31 points in the paint.
There was no settling, there were quick decisions, and it was all great.
- We are witnessing the best playoff stretch of Marcus Smart’s career.
To say he’s been awesome in this series doesn’t really do it justice.
Through 4 games he has 25 assists and just 6 TOs.
That assist number leads the Celtics.
With Smart, it’s not just the production, it’s the decision making.
He’s playing exactly how everyone wants him to play, and the exact way he looked pre-injury.
He’s too big, and too strong.
Of his 68 total points this series, 30 of them have come in the paint.
- The best part?
Smart is not alone.
All of the guards have been awesome in this series, just like we all expected they would.
As awesome as Smart has been, it’s fair to say that Derrick White hasbeen even better.
The way he’s shooting the ball with confidence and zero hesitation has changed everything for him.
It shouldn’t surprise you then that the Celts are 3-0 in this series when that happens.
He only took 7 in Game 3 and never really looked like himsef after that early foul trouble.
Last night there was no foul trouble and look what happened.
If your team has that, they are probably in a good spot.
Now what do you think happens when you get to add Malcolm Brogdon to the mix as well?
Just a little 14/4/4 off the bench on 6-10 (1-2) shooting.
What we’re seeing in the playoffs is more of what we saw during the year.
There is no letup.
Honestly, Joe has been about as near perfect as you could expect.
There was a moment where Smart was maybe getting a little tired, so he swapped out Brogdon.
All while leaving Derrick on the floor, which is exactly what everyone wanted.
After getting crushed on the glass, what did he do?
He adjusted to the double big and it completely changed the game.
The Hawks had no counter.
While there are still many tests to come, so far Joe has been great.
- Speaking of Mazzulla Ball, still good!
He finished with 11 huge rebounds, 5 assists and 0 TOs.
As always, Al is perfect.
A true gift from God.
- It didn’t burn them, but 16 TOs is once again too many.
The Hawks had 11 points off those turnovers, and that’s the concerning part moving forward.
The Celts have to stop shooting themselves in the foot with these pop in of mistakes.
Turnovers and rebounding are basically the only way they lose.
- Whatever the hell the last like 15 seconds were.
Just hold onto the ball!
You know, the exact same shit they did in Game 3.
The exact same shit that all year long essentially guaranteed a win.
Man that Game 3 Hawks shooting is such bullshit
This series should be over smh.
It’s literally their entire offense at this point.
Once you get into the 4th quarter, you NEED clean defensive possessions.
The Celtics are giving up a 40% OREB% in the 4th quarter of that series.
Legit worst in the NBA by a mile.
The good news is, the Celts did what they had to do.
Play like they did last night, and this will be over in 5.
