ECF Game 1: Boston Celtics extinguished by Heat in second half explosion
A second half explosion or an implosion by Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown and the Boston Celtics led the Miami Heat to a 118-107 victory in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals.
Without Marcus Smart and Al Horford, the Celtics came out flying with the energy in the first half of the game, but a disastrous third quarter, which included a 22-2 run by the Heat made the team’s first half efficiency on both sides of the ball look like a dream as Jimmy Butler put up an historical 41-point performance to drain the spirits of the Green.
Along with the 41 points, Butler pulled down 9 rebounds, had 5 assists with 4 steals and 3 block shots to become the first player in NBA playoffs history to reach that statistical line since steals and blocks were first records back in 1974.
Jimmy Butler was too hot to handle for the Boston Celtics
Butler also tied Charles Barkley in recording his fifth career playoff game with 40 points on 60 percent shooting.
Jimmy Butler recorded his 5th career playoff game with 40 points on 60% shooting, tied with Charles Barkley for 3rd-most over the last 30 postseasons.
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) May 18, 2022
The only players with more are LeBron James (12) and Shaquille O'Neal (8). pic.twitter.com/GWoTgLkXLz
It took that type of effort to take down an undermanned Celtics team who again, came out flying in the game.
Led by Jayson Tatum and his 21 first half points, it was the Celtics taking it to the Heat coming out on fire in that first half. Robert Williams, Derrick White, Payton Pritchard and Aaron Nesmith helped spark that rise in the first half, but in the second half, the Heat shifted the momentum and also the energy.
Maybe that is where Smart and Horford were missed the most. Not only did the Boston Celtics shoot themselves in the foot with careless turnovers, but they were also out-hustled and simply punched in the mouth.
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Yes, Tatum needed to be better in that situation despite his first half start, but as Jaylen Brown relayed after the game, the team needs a better total effort going forward.
"“They were beating us at 50-50 balls, it seemed like everything was going their way and we were just standing around watching and that’s not what we do,” Brown said, via NBC Sports Boston. “I’ve got to be better. I will be better. The Celtics will be better. That wasn’t our best effort. They outplayed us tonight.”"
In all, Brown didn’t have a bad game. He finished the game by recording a double-double with 17 points and 10 rebounds and was 4 of 8 from beyond the arc. But it wasn’t enough to match the Heat and furthermore to match Butler who just took it to the Celtics in that second half.
Like the last series against the Milwaukee Bucks and even in the first-round series against the Brooklyn Nets, it will come down to how the Celtics respond after being punched in the mouth. How will both Tatum and Brown lead the team.
Next. Job not done with series victory over the Milwaukee Bucks. dark
Let’s remember, they did lose the opening game to the Bucks last series and responded strong in Game 2. They will need that same energy and a complete game to steal Game 2 in Miami. They will also need to have Smart and Horford back to take some of the weight off both Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown.
Simply put, a 39-14 quarter can’t happen again, or the Celtics will get smoked in this series. It’s time to turn up the heat and keep the temperature of their effort high.