Celtics
Butler completed with 35 factors and 6 steals, persevering with a powerful playoff efficiency.
The Celtics dropped Recreation 1 of the Jap Convention Finals in disheartening trend to Jimmy Butler and the Warmth, falling 123-116.
Listed below are the takeaways.
1. Nicely, that was most likely to be anticipated.
One sport faraway from their greatest efficiency of the playoffs — and the most effective particular person performances in franchise historical past by Jayson Tatum — the Celtics bought demolished within the second half by the Warmth, a tough-minded crew that ought to show to be extra of a problem than any the Celtics have confronted to date.
Jimmy Butler was sensible, notching 35 factors on 12-for-25 capturing with six steals that value the Celtics dearly. The Warmth had been unreasonably scorching from 3-point vary (16-for-31), they usually coaxed the Celtics right into a paltry 10-for-29 efficiency which merely gained’t win this Celtics crew very many video games. The Warmth bought an enormous efficiency from their function gamers — Kyle Lowry, Gabe Vincent, Max Strus, and Caleb Martin all scored 15 apiece.
And, maybe most regarding for the Celtics, they turned the ball over 10 occasions within the second half and appeared somewhat just like the crew that was wrong-footed and unsure in opposition to the Warmth final yr as properly.
The Celtics can (and may) bounce again. They’ve extra expertise than the Warmth, and a number of the statistical anomalies ought to clean themselves out. However each playoff sport issues an excellent deal, and the Celtics — as soon as once more — will discover themselves preventing for his or her lives in Recreation 2.
2. The Celtics had been utterly out-classed within the third quarter — a disastrous stretch that the Warmth gained 46 (sure, you learn that proper: 46!) to 25, erasing a Celtics lead that ballooned as excessive as 13. When Max Strus buried a 3-pointer on the finish of the interval, the Celtics had been all of the sudden down double digits and going through an uphill climb within the fourth.
Butler and Strus had been the primary culprits. Butler completed the interval with 12 factors and three assists, whereas Strus added 13.
Joe Mazzulla waited an eyebrow-raising period of time to name a timeout because the Warmth’s offense began to roll downhill and choose up pace — a lot so, that followers beseeched him to cease the motion and attempt to staunch the bleeding. When he lastly did midway via the interval, the Celtics had been primarily down by one (the sport was tied, however the Warmth had a free throw).
Mazzulla threw a clipboard and advised the crew to get again into the best mindset, however the harm was already achieved — instantly afterward, the Warmth bought a simple layup in transition, and the Celtics made a number of ugly performs together with a totally unforced turnover by Robert Williams after securing a defensive rebound and a brutal lob/shot hybrid by Brown.
Mazzulla’s refusal to name timeouts is a considerably overstated downside, however nonetheless an issue. Our two cents: Name a timeout, save a clipboard.
3. The Celtics began the fourth quarter on a 7-0 run and appeared nice on the defensive finish. Go forward and take a guess what Erik Spoelstra did instantly.
4. Marcus Sensible was at his very best within the first half — defending like an offended wasp and stitching the Celtics’ offense along with a collection of attractive passes. Defensively, he slapped away an alley-oop and helped power an 11-turnover stretch for the Warmth. Offensively, he was simply 0-for-1 from the ground, however usually, the video games through which Sensible barely shoots are his greatest ones, and he recorded 10 first-half assists.
Sensible helped choose the Warmth protection aside when it went zone within the first half, and he reduce large slashes in transition, spreading passes round equitably. He drove into the paint and whipped a nifty move to Al Horford within the nook for an open triple. He referred to as for the ball in transition and located a slicing Malcolm Brogdon for a layup. And on the Celtics’ closing possession earlier than halftime, he found Robert Williams — maybe his favourite goal — with an absurdly correct lob that led Williams right into a two-handed slam.
Sensible began the second half scorching with a second lob and a made 3-pointer, however that was it. He didn’t document an help the remainder of the way in which and completed with 13 factors and 11 assists.
5. Robert Williams was comparatively quiet in opposition to the 76ers, though his addition to the beginning group appeared to assist because the Celtics went again to their double-big lineup from final yr. Embiid is a troublesome matchup for Williams, who is healthier as a roaming, shot-blocking menace than as a bruiser who can preserve a giant middle away from the rim.
Towards the Warmth, Williams appeared extra at dwelling. He was a harmful lob risk, and he grabbed 4 offensive rebounds. His flurry at the beginning of the primary quarter was an encouraging signal. Establishing him as a continuing risk to the Warmth at any time when he’s within the sport will likely be important.
6. One encouraging signal for the Celtics: They blew the doorways off the Warmth zone within the first half. The Warmth have a variety of defensive targets on the ground at any given time for the Celtics, and the zone is a vital option to restrict the harm.
However, the Celtics are at their greatest once they make a variety of 3-pointers, and most of their factors got here once they attacked the rim. Watching how the Celtics stability the temptation of attacking the Warmth’s weaker defenders with entering into the offense that bought them right here will likely be attention-grabbing all through the collection.
7. Payton Pritchard made an early look, which was a little bit of a shock as Pritchard has largely been out of the rotation for many of the season, and utterly out of the common rotation for the reason that playoffs began.
Perhaps Joe Mazzulla needed some additional capturing on the ground and he most popular Pritchard’s means to deal with the ball over Sam Hauser’s pure spot-up means. Perhaps he saw the brand new CBA and determined he wanted to get Pritchard extra playoff reps. In both case, Pritchard did little or no, and his presence over Hauser and Grant Williams was somewhat inexplicable.
8. The Celtics missed seven free throws, going 22-for-29 from the free-throw line. They misplaced the sport by seven factors. No crew expects to have an ideal evening on the free throw line, however Sensible and Malcolm Brogdon — each of whom are very strong shooters — mixed to overlook 5 complete. A pair extra makes might need tightened the sport down the road.
The Celtics will look to bounce again on Friday at 8:30 p.m. As soon as once more, they discover themselves in determined want of a win.
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