Last night, the Celtics got their version of luck.
Make no mistake, the Celtics pulled this win out of their ass.
That’s the beauty of this team and this run.
This time, the luck worked in their favor.
Sure they needed things to break their way, but they also had to execute in those moments.
When it came time to make a play, the Celts made that play.
The interesting thing is they also mostly played like shit.
At least not for this team.
I think Jaylen Brown said it best
This is the perfect mindset to have.
You take the win and 1-0 series lead, but you operate as if you lost.
That was the question about this team right?
Could they win even when things don’t go their way?
Would their best players show up in the biggest moments?
Last night, the answer was yes to both.
It was glorious, and also hell to live through all at the same time.
Basically, it was your typical night watching Celtics basketball.
Let’s talk about it.
The Good
- For the third time this postseason, we are beginning with Jrue Holiday.
If you were to look up “clamp” in the dictionary, you would see that sideline possession.
Joe mentioned his poise after the game, and that was as important as anything else Holiday did.
That’s what champions do, and his experience showed up big time last night.
We know that at the end of the day, things will always come down how the Jays play.
As the best players, things start and stop with them.
Thankfully, Brad is the one making decisions for this team.
The fact that Jaylen became just the 7th player ever to get a Mike Breen double bang also rules.
Earlier in his carer, I feel like his mindset is different after making a shot like that.
But after years of playoff scars, he’s not taking the bait.
That feels HUGE moving forward.
- And then there’s probably the most underappreciated superstar in the league, Jayson Tatum.
Well, how’s this look?
I don’t think anyone would suggest this was a perfect Tatum performance, but life isn’t perfect.
What matters was did he show up when the team needed him most?
The answer is unequivocally yes, and it showed up on BOTH ends of the floor.
This is what often times gets lost in the Tatum discourse.
Just like Jrue and Jaylen, Tatum’s defense played a GIGANTIC role in this win.
The truth is, he’s a complete two way player.
This performance sort of reminded me of his Game 6 on the road vs PHI.
Remember when he couldn’t buy a shot to save his life and was like 4-16?
Then what happened in the final 4 minutes?
That was Tatum’s 4th quarter/OT for me.
Granted he’ll be slandered today because that’s what happens with Tatum.
We should be used to that by now, even if it’s extremely embarrassing.
The important number to remember with White is 12 FGA.
The Celtics are 7-0 this postseason (28-6 during the year) when White takes at least 12 shots.
Last night he finished with 13.
- How important is ball movement to the Boston Celtics?
During the regular season, the Celts were 23-2 when finishing with at least 30 assists.
When the Celts move the ball and force this defense to rotate, the Pacers are cooked.
By falling into bad isolation habits or over-relying on that, you’re letting the defense off the hook.
This is who they are.
On the surface, it felt like the Celts defense was dogshit.
128 points on 53% shooting?
Allowing 56/50% splits in the first half?
Long stretches where it felt like the Celts couldn’t get a stop to save their life?
None of it was good enough.
But maybe it’s all a matter of perspective?
I think the truth is somewhere in the middle.
Where I feel like the Pacers points per possession were much higher than 1.143 was in P&R.
If they go in, credit to them.
The early leads are one thing, teams are going to go on runs.
But the 14-2 run over the final 2:47 of the 3rd quarter when the Celts were on the bench?
This team cannot play Al Horford 40 minutes every game, so Joe has decisions to make.
If Tillman is back, maybe it’s him.
Maybe it’s Brissett time for the energy.
The real solution isn’t a different rotation, it’s these guys simply playing better.
Maybe you play Kornet, but double-check it’s not also during Turner minutes?
He’s going to eat that matchup alive it feels like.
Games are now every other day, so there’s no more built in rest for Al.
That has to be monitored moving forward.
- 6 missed FTs in the 3rd quarter is unacceptable.
While the Celts responded and made big FTs late, shit like that cannot happen.
Would anyone call that flawless?
I would call it disastrous.
The fact that it didn’t come back to bite them is arguably the luckiest part of last night.
Being this careless with the basketball in the games biggest moment is losing basketball.
Look, a win is a win is a win.
3 wins away from the Finals and 7 away from the title.
