With their season on the road, the Boston Celtics staved off elimination on Friday night time, defeating the Milwaukee Bucks 108-95. The story of the sport was Jayson Tatum’s electrical 46-point efficiency. He hit the large photographs when it mattered most. Nonetheless, what flew below the radar had been two top-notch performances from the workforce’s two combo guards, Marcus Good and Derrick White.
Boston’s start line guard acquired it carried out on each ends of the ground in Recreation 6. Boston’s drive-and-kick offense discovered him a ton within the first quarter, and he didn’t hesitate to make Milwaukee’s protection pay. He dropped 14 first quarter factors en path to a 21-point efficiency on the night time.
He was requested about his sizzling begin after the sport. Good mentioned that he knew he needed to ‘set the tone.’ Simply as ‘America runs on Dunkin,’ the Celtics Run on Good. Each he and his teammates know that:
We go as I’m going. I’m the guts and soul of this workforce. My teammates say that to me on a regular basis. And you understand, I attempt to be that for them. The power that I deliver is contagious, and I do know that, and I simply attempt to deliver it each sport.
For a man not recognized for his three-point taking pictures, that’s precisely what he offered the Celtics in Recreation 6. He shot 5-of-9 from distance, with 4 of them coming within the first quarter alone. However Good’s affect wasn’t simply felt on the offensive finish.
The Defensive Participant of the Yr discovered himself guarding two-time MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo greater than traditional. Regardless of the scale distinction, Good held his personal and matched up towards Antetokounmpo greater than any Celtic. The Greek Freak nonetheless dropped 44 factors, however it wasn’t sufficient to earn the win.
When requested if the sport plan known as for him to protect Antetokounmpo, Good mentioned it didn’t. He famous that the Celtics’ plan is to easily make Antetokounmpo’s life as onerous as potential every time he has the ball:
The sport plan was simply, whoever is on him, simply make it as robust as we are able to. I acquired matched on him a couple of occasions and simply tried to do the very best I can. Dude’s a beast. Seven-foot plus, and seven-plus wingspan, and takes these lengthy strides. It’s robust. So, you understand, we simply wish to make it as robust as potential irrespective of who was on him.
Good was preventing the demons of Recreation 5 as he walked into Fiserv Discussion board on Friday. Whereas he wasn’t the only cause for Boston’s late-game collapse, his two turnovers within the contest’s remaining moments had been the discuss of the city for the final two days. Throughout his post-game interview, Good revealed how a lot the tip of Recreation 5 haunted him. He admitted that it resulted in a few sleepless nights:
I’ll simply say tonight to be the primary night time since that sport that I get some sleep. I haven’t been to sleep but. Proper after that sport, I went straight again to the observe facility. Simply acquired my thoughts proper and simply tried to do every thing I can to organize for tonight. Guarantee that we and myself bounce again.
Along with his efficiency in Recreation 6, it’s secure to say that Good greater than made up for his Recreation 5 lapses. He completed second on the workforce in scoring, led the Celtics in assists with seven, and performed nice protection on one of many league’s cease superstars.
However whereas Good was nailing threes and meting out dimes, White was moving into the paint and doing the soiled work. White’s taking pictures numbers (3-for-9 from the sector, 1-for-5 from behind the arc) don’t inform the total story of how impactful he was for Boston on each ends of the courtroom.
After the sport, Al Horford caught up with Abby Chin of NBC Sports activities Boston and praised White for his efforts, saying merely, ‘he’s a winner’:
Profitable performs. Derrick, he’s a winner. He is aware of learn how to play. He’s attempting to play the best approach. I’m so comfortable for him, the best way that he performed tonight. He hung in there and made performs for us down the stretch.
White ended the night time with 5 rebounds, with two of them approaching the offensive aspect of the ball. 5 could not look like a ton, however it was the timing of White’s boards that mattered. Three of them got here within the remaining three minutes of the sport.
On the offensive finish, White was capable of do what few different Celtics might – get into the paint. Milwaukee’s protection is designed to stop straightforward seems within the paint. Whereas he wasn’t capable of work his option to the rim, White’s capability to snake his approach into the enamel of the protection created straightforward seems for others.
On this play, White manages to get by George Hill, which forces Milwaukee’s protection to break down. In consequence, Good is wide-open for a simple three.
White’s contributions on the defensive finish had been simply as essential. He was a menace on the perimeter and even managed to attract a cost on Antetokounmpo in transition.
A number of large performs from Derrick White throughout the 1st half. This one could have been probably the most impactful, as he attracts the cost for Giannis’ third foul. pic.twitter.com/nON2WWZ4kP
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) May 14, 2022
Good and White each got here up large when it mattered most for the Celtics. They made performs on offense, crashed the boards, and even held their very own towards a seven-foot bulldozer. Now, it’s all about Recreation 7.
Boston’s season will as soon as once more be on the road this Sunday, however this time, they’ll be at TD Backyard. Recreation 7 is about to tip off at 3:30 p.m. EST on ABC.
