The Celtics Didn't Screw Around And Were Even More Dominant In Game 2. Now They Have The Hawks On The Ropes
Brian Babineau. Getty Images.2 down, 14 to go.
In Game 1, things were over in a blink of an eye. The game started and before you knew it, the Celts were up by 12. Then it was 17. Then it was 25. Then it was 32. An ass whooping like you read about in almost every possible way. It was clear that the Hawks find themselves in a bit of a matchup problem against the Celts, and when you aren't really threatened at any point over the course of 48 minutes, it's hard to know what to takeaway from that game other than when the Celts decide to try, this series shouldn't be close.
Heading into Game 2, my biggest concern was complacency. I've watched enough Celtics basketball in my life to know that when they feel like they're better than someone, sometimes it bites them in the ass. Sometimes the effort and energy level are inconsistent because they just assume a win is coming no matter what. They fall into bad habits because they don't think they can be stopped rather than continuing to play connected and focused basketball.
Every game in a playoff series is basically its own little mini series. Momentum in a series can shift so quickly, you cannot fuck around. Blowing out the Hawks in Game 1 means jack shit if you turn around and then drop Game 2, and you knew given what happened in the first game that you were going to get a better, more desperate effort from the Hawks this time around.
Don't let the final score fool you, this was another ass kicking. These late game fake comebacks make the score look respectable, but this was another 20 point game for the majority of the second half including the final 1:58 of the fourth quarter. The Celts took an early punch from the Hawks right to the chin and didn't flinch. How would they respond? Pretty fucking well if you ask me.
As I said after the opener, you do not win series by winning a series by winning Game 1, and the same is true after Game 2. All the Celts did was what they were expected to do which is protect homecourt. Teams who are 2-0 in the playoffs are 410-32 all time and 180-12 in the first round. If the Celts win on Friday, this series is essentially over.
That's why last night was so important. Let's talk about it.
The Good
- You know how there are some guys who you watch play and the immediate takeaway is that this player was put on this earth to be a member of the Boston Celtics? In the event that may just be me, I kindly ask you to watch these highlights of Derrick White
Let me be perfectly clear about something.
Derrick White is a perfect Celtic.
He plays every single game no matter what. Sprained ankle, or a ruptured ear drum, who gives a shit. This dude suits up and plays hard every single second he's on the floor. He's humble to the point where you can tell he's embarrassed to even talk about how well he's playing which at this point makes me love him even more. The biggest "we not me" player that my eyes have ever seen. He does the little things that help you win, he does the big things that help you win, he plays both ends of the floor at an elite level.
Tell me I'm not describing the perfect Celtic? The very foundation that this franchise is built upon is everything that Derrick White is as a player and more importantly, as a person. You know who knew? This fuckin guy
To put it simply, Derrick has been the best player on this team to start this series. That is fact, not opinion.
Game 1: 24/5/7/2 on 53/57% splits
Game 2: 26/7/2/3/1 on 68/40% splits
Remember when Smart went out in late January and then Jaylen got hurt so Derrick had to turn into a #1 scoring option and he went nuts? That's what we're seeing happen right now, only everyone else is also healthy and on the floor. You're getting this type of production IN ADDITION to whatever the rest of the roster gives you. Talk about luxury.
Everyone from the fans to the coaches to the players knows the same thing when it comes to DWhite. When he plays with confidence and doesn't think, he's an absolute force. You watch him play and there is no hesitation in his game. He's taking his catch & shoot 3PA with confidence and consistent form, which is probably why he's shooting 50% from deep for the series. He's driving with a purpose where I trust he'll always make the right decision whether it's his float game or finding a teammate once the defense rotates.
To see Derrick feel empowered and confident enough to call his own number like he did last night has me the most excited. This is the version of White that makes the Celtics impossible to guard. Oh yeah, and defensively? He has Trae Young in absolute hell
59 possessions / 14 points / 5-17 shooting. Welcome to hell.
- If there's one thing you should know about me by now, it's that I appreciate NBA history. When I see someone do some shit we've basically never seen before, I consider it a big deal. Enter Jayson Tatum
When I say Jayson Tatum is a generational Celtic, I am not kidding. This is what that looks like
Call me crazy, but this was one of the most effortless 29/10/6 performances I've ever seen Tatum have. He finished with 54/55% splits, made 5 3PM, and when Tatum is shooting/scoring at will but then also passing like he did in this game, it's a wrap for you. Oh, you want to double him? OK, you morons. Tatum has been seeing doubles since he was in diapers, watch him easily break it and find a shooter for three. Oh, you aren't going to double him? Enjoy watching him blow by whatever perimeter defender you put on him for an easy finish at the rim.
You can see the Hawks' dilemma here. Whatever they want to try and do, the Celts have an easy counter.
Whenever you have these potential "letdown" games, it's crucial that your best players show up and make sure that doesn't happen. That doesn't just mean scoring either. It means rebounding, passing, defending, and playing a complete game. That is what Jayson Tatum gave us last night. He led the Celts in points and rebounds and was 2nd in assists. He was aggressive and efficient, with 13 of his 22 FGA coming from inside the paint. This is a near perfect approach if you ask me
You remember that he also missed some wide open point blank layups, and realistically this should look even better.
- All year long, those that for some unknown reason refused to believe in how the Celtics play kept coming back to one thing
"Sure they're making their 3PAs now, but what happens when they can't rely on 3s in a playoff series? They're cooked!"
During the regular season, the Boston Celtics averaged 42.6 3PA a night, which was close to the top of the league. It's a huge part of their offense, no doubt about it.
In this series, the Boston Celtics are taking 33.0 3PA a night. Out of the 16 teams in the playoffs, that is the 11th most.
So what are the Celts going to do if they can't rely on 3PA? Oh I dunno, maybe just win other ways
It hasn't mattered one bit whether the Hawks have Clint Capela or Onyeka Okongwu on the floor, the Celts are feasting in the paint and that's largely due to one main factor.
The Hawks have zero perimeter resistance. If you can't stop the point of attack against this team, you have no shot. There are just too many weapons. The second you focus too much on limiting the Celtics three point shooting, they shift their approach and murder you in the paint. If you pack it in and try and prevent drives, they bury you from behind the arc no matter who is on the floor. It's a true pick your poison that has no good option.
- If I've said it once I've said it a thousand times. The importance of good guard play cannot be understated when talking about the ceiling of this team. We saw what Derrick did, but he was not alone
14/5/6/3 on 6-11 (2-6) for Marcus Smart with 1 TO and 13/7/8/1/1 on 4-11 (1-4) for Malcolm Brogdon with 1 TO.
If you're telling me I am going to be getting 20+ from White, and games where Smart/Brogdon finish with 14 assists and just 2 TOs, well no shit the Celtics probably blew someone out. This is the best three headed guard trio in the league, and I'm not even sure it's all that close. They are locking down on defense, playing selflessly offensively while fully embracing their roles. Shit, Brogdon isn't even shooting the ball well this series (24/14%) and it hasn't mattered one bit given all the other positives he's bringing to the table.
Tatum and Brown are obviously very important to the success of this team. But the guard play, that's the head of the snake. When this team gets good guard play they are able to reach a ceiling that no team in the NBA can match. So far, they're 2 for 2.
- Quick update on Mazzulla Ball. You know, the style that is still undefeated in his postseason career.
People get caught up and think Mazzulla Ball is just shooting threes. That's wrong. Mazzulla Ball is a way of life. It's locking in and playing together, moving the ball, defending, and overall just being dominant.
So far through 2 playoff games, I'd say Joe looks more than ready. The moment does not look too big for him, he's shown an ability to adjust his approach in order to win. There will be MANY more tests down the road, but we finally have an answer to what Joe does when the Celts get punched in the mouth first. Is he able to calm everyone down and not let things get out of hand.
The answer last night? Yes.
- The thing about Al Horford is that he's simply one of the greatest humans in existence. I guess we should also start calling him the greatest playoff shooting center in existence because that is what he is
In his career, Al has made 125 postseason 3PM. A total of 111 of those have come as a Celtic. So, essentially, Al Horford came to Boston and became the greatest playoff shooting center in NBA history. For those curious, he did not make a single 3PM as a Sixer, which I found very funny.
- Sam Hauser's defense is a legitimate weapon. Game 2 told us that he has an uncanny ability to bait the Hawks into targeting him offensively because of his whiteness, and then the next thing you know they find themselves on Hauser Island getting completely locked up. It didn't matter who it was, Hauser had them in jail. When going at Hauser, the Hawks finished 5-12. Dejounte Murray/De'Andre Hunter took the majority of the FGA against Hauser, and they finished just 2-7.
This is not new to anyone who has watched Sam Hauser this season, and the important part is if he's going to defend like this, Grant will not play in this series. If you're getting good defense and knockdown shooting from Hauser, he's gonna be the 8th guy.
- With a fucked up hand, Jaylen Brown is shooting 51/40% to start this series. Yeah, I think he's going to be just fine
The Bad
- While 14 TOs was a slight improvement from Game 1, it's still a few too many for my liking. The Hawks had 22 points off turnovers, and against a better team this is going to be a way bigger issue. We know that because we've seen it.
Both Jaylen and Tatum were responsible for 8 of those 14 (White had 3), and almost all of them were of the live ball variety. The Celts have to find a way to not be so careless with the basketball, especially against a team that isn't even good defensively. Lazy passes, dribbling mistakes, these are the things that get the Celts into trouble and just because it hasn't burned them yet in this series doesn't mean it won't.
If the Celts take care of the ball, they are untouchable. Stop giving opposing teams a chance to hang around by being careless. It's the playoffs, cut it out.
- Joe is going to kill me, I am certain of it. I get having a shorter playoff rotation. That's fine. But I'm also pretty sure when the lead is 20 points with like 3 minutes left, everyone doesn't need to be on the floor. When it's 20 points with 2 minutes left, Robert Williams DEFINITELY does not need to be on the floor.
This is now the 2nd time this has happened in this series, and I need someone to get through to Joe. The last thing you need is something like what happened to Julius Randle in their game last night
All it takes is one play. In the playoffs, it's about limiting risk. Your entire season can end by having guys on the floor at the end of these blowouts. There's no reason for it and no need for it. This isn't a "prevent burnout" thing. This is an "everyone is healthy and your team is a wagon so please don't fuck it up by being stupid" thing.
- The fact that Tatum has 2 FTA in 2 games (both at home) to start this series is a joke. He is not settling, he is being aggressive and attacking the rim, so what the hell? Between his no calls at the rim and the no call on that CLEAR landing space flagrant, it's starting to get a little ridiculous.
Looking around the league and seeing the whistles that other stars are getting, I cannot understand how a guy who is finishing top 4 in MVP has 2 FTA in 2 games. That's pathetic.
The Ugly
- Easily the 19 OREB. It was an issue in Game 1 and it was another issue last night. That's just way too many. There should be no game in which the Celts get outshot 101-86, and every single Hawks starter had at last 2 OREB. Some were maybe bad bounces, but the majority of those 19 weren't. Al only had 4 rebounds in his 32 minutes, Rob had 5 in his 22. Jaylen only had 2.
Between this and the turnovers, the Celts are playing with fire a little bit. You can't keep giving teams 3 or 4 tries on a single possession, eventually, they are going to make a shot and start to get confident. Good defense is fine, but great defense is ending the possession clean. The easiest way to ensure this is a quick series is to stop fucking around on the defensive glass. We knew this was going to be an area of focus heading in, and so far the Celts have been pretty poor at it.
At the end of the day, 2-0 is 2-0. It's impossible to have a better start, I did the math. Now we have another 2 day break and then 3-0 is in play once we get to Friday. Win that, rest up, and end this thing as quickly as possible.
Love and Trust.