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1. Again at nighttime days of 2021, the Boston Celtics made blowing large leads an undesirable artwork type. These Celtics misplaced all types of video games in all types of the way.
These Celtics, the 2022 model, put video games away. After closing out Sport 3 to take a 3-0 sequence lead over the Brooklyn Nets, Boston is on the verge of closing out the sequence too.
The gamers have all talked about studying from the early-season struggles in clutch moments. After Sport 3, Ime Udoka spoke about how far his group has come.
“It took a while for the blokes to be taught the playbook. And it took us, the teaching employees, a while to be taught the gamers too,” Udoka stated. “Now, we all know who we’re and what we need to do late in video games.”
Realizing who you might be as a group is actually essential. The Celtics have a very agency grasp of who they’re at crucial a part of the season.
2. A part of that identification for Boston is getting complete once more and that occurred with the return of Rob Williams. Crucial a part of Williams’ return is that he stated he felt nice after the sport with no ache and no setbacks.
Exterior of his timing and rhythm being a tad off, Williams seemed good. He brings one other dimension to the Celtics protection, both as a assist defender or in straight man-to-man protection:
Jayson Tatum might have drove this ball or taken the floater with the small defender on his again, however Tatum wished to welcome Williams again with the Rob Lob:
3. The Nets tried to throw a wrinkle on the Celtics early on with some zone protection within the first quarter. Previously, zones gave Boston some bother, however they solved this one fairly shortly.
Brooklyn was taking part in a hybrid 1-2-2/3-2 look. That leaves gaps on the wing for shooters. Marcus Sensible merely finds Jayson Tatum in that hole:
That is good offense towards the zone. Derrick White is affected person and finds Al Horford on the nail. Kevin Durant has to step as much as Horford. As a result of Jaylen Brown is spaced out on the wing, Nic Claxton doesn’t need to depart him. That leaves Grant Williams open for the simple layup:
4. Payton Pritchard had an enormous second quarter and it got here when Boston’s offense had hit a little bit of a bumpy patch. Pritchard scored all 10 of his factors within the second quarter, in a five-minute stretch the place he scored 10-of-12 factors for the Celtics.
Usually, it’s the jumper for Pritchard, however this was a tricky floater:
Pritchard’s jumper was fairly good additionally:
5. It wasn’t a dynamic scoring sport by Marcus Sensible, even when he did make a number of some large buckets late. However Sensible did his factor operating the present. This was the primary basket of the sport for the Celtics, as Sensible discovered Daniel Theis on an extended roll to the rim:
Boston is getting a variety of mileage out of those performs the place Brown and Tatum display for one another off-ball. The Nets protection will get caught one or the opposite pops free. Right here, Brooklyn is apprehensive about Tatum, so Brown slips the display and Sensible dimes him on the backdoor reduce:
6. As they did in Video games 1 and a couple of, the Celtics actually locked on to the Nets stars. Boston continued to be bodily with Kevin Durant on each reduce he makes. On this one, Jayson Tatum set a brand new career-high with six steals. Lots of them coming by merely working tougher for the place and ball than Durant. Right here’s an excellent instance, plus Marcus Sensible rewards Tatum for the great protection too:
Kyrie Irving shook unfastened in Sport 1, however the final two video games he’s had a minimal influence. A part of that’s the Boston defenders are staying linked and leaping him regularly. That is excellent protection by Derrick White. First, he closes onerous, however then White strikes his toes to remain in entrance of Irving to power the journey:
7. The official field rating logged 25 fastbreak factors for the Celtics on this one. Unofficially, the transition scoring rely was nearer to 40. For instance, this isn’t a fastbreak hoop, but it surely’s an ideal transition basket as Jaylen Brown assaults earlier than the protection is ready:
Right here’s Jayson Tatum creating one other steal and bucket. Having your 6-foot-10 large man operating the break like Al Horford does helps too:
This was the very best one in every of all. Derrick White would possibly need to see a couple of tryout down the street in Foxboro after dropping this bomb to Tatum:
8. Regardless of being in management for many of the sport, the Celtics nonetheless needed to put the Nets away. To take action, Fourth Quarter Jaylen Brown is changing into a factor.
Brown had a stretch the place he created 12 straight factors for Boston. Right here’s a snippet beginning with a step-back triple:
On the subsequent journey, Blake Griffin is up a little bit larger. He doesn’t need to get beat with the step-back once more. Brown blows by for the robust end on the rim:
Subsequent time down the ground, Kevin Durant helps on the drive, however you’ll be able to’t assist off Jayson Tatum within the nook. Brown makes him pay with the help:
The Nets mercifully obtained Griffin off Brown, however Patty Mills is just too little to trouble this shot:
Right here’s the factor: All of these performs have been wanted from Brown, as a result of the Nets simply saved coming. And Brown delivered large time.
9. After Brown’s heroic run, Jayson Tatum put a capper on issues. After Grant Williams (who performed one other nice sport himself) stole the inbounds move, he discovered Tatum on the break for the and-1:
This can be a good backdoor reduce by Tatum earlier than he wraps the move across the protection to seek out Al Horford for the open nook three:
Lastly, one final steal and it’s time to drive dwelling safely:
10. The Celtics are up 3-0. It’s been stated that the distinction between superb groups and nice groups is closing out opponents instantly. It’s not a catastrophe if it’s not a sweep. Issues might simply finish in Sport 5 again in Boston.
However why let it get to that?
You in all probability don’t have to fret about that with these Celtics. They’re locked in and supremely targeted on the subsequent sport. Not the subsequent sequence, not the convention finals, not the NBA Finals. Simply the subsequent sport.
That mindset will serve them effectively as they go for the sweep.
Sport 4 is on Monday, April 25 at 7:00 PM ET.
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