Boston Celtics can’t withstand the Heat in flat, sloppy Game 3 loss
If the Boston Celtics want to reach the NBA Finals, they must stop having bad quarters like the first quarter of Game 3 Saturday night at TD Garden. They also need Jayson Tatum to score more than 10 points in a game.
After blitzing the Miami Heat in Game 2, the Celtics couldn’t match the intensity of a veteran team that was embarrassed on their own home court just a couple days prior.
Fueled by the return of Kyle Lowery and a rejuvenated Bam Adebayo, the Heat jumped out to a huge opening quarter lead in which they got everything they wanted offensively and turned the Celtics into a turnover mess. They just couldn’t match the physicality early in the game which head coach Ime Udoka pointed out following the 109-103 Game 3 loss.
"“Just had a big game, Game 2, and all they talked about was upping their physicality,” Udoka said, via Masslive.com. “Being embarrassed at home, and that’s what we spoke about, not being caught off guard or complacent or content with getting a win at their place, and understanding how they’re going to guard guys, be physical, and we didn’t match that from the start.”"
Boston Celtics responded, but couldn’t get over the hump in Game 3
It wasn’t the way a championship contending team should come out in a game, especially a Conference Final game. And especially when the opposing team’s best player, Jimmy Butler, doesn’t even play in the second half of the game. But, to give the Celtics some credit, they did wake up two minutes prior to half time when they went on a 10-0 run to cut the lead down to 15.
After an injury scare when Marcus Smart went down screaming with what appeared to be a pretty series lower leg injury, the Celtics put some energy in the game to eventually cut that 26-point lead all the way down to 1. But that sloppy basketball once again resurfaced, and the team couldn’t get over the hump despite a 40-point effort out of Jaylen Brown.
Something else that resurfaced was a miserable game from Jayson Tatum, who not only couldn’t put the ball in the basket, but he also contributed to the team’s 24 turnovers with a few of his own in that second half. The frustrating part if you are a Celtics fan is just an average night from Tatum would’ve probably been enough to win the game.
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In a position that is starting to get familiar, Tatum knows he must bounce back after an underwhelming performance.
"“Six turnovers and no field goals in the second half, that is unacceptable,” Tatum said following the game. “Honestly, I’ve got to play better. I feel like I left the guys hanging tonight. That’s on me. I acknowledge that. That was a tough one.”"
At least Tatum and the Boston Celtics had Brown to pick up the slack, but even he had a tough time protecting the ball as the Heat defense really had the Celtics trying to force things even during their frantic comeback.
Moving forward in this series, the Celtics need consistency out of their superstar and now they must find a way to stop the inside presence of Adebayo. That is where a healthy Robert Williams will come in to play.
Next. Selecting the Boston Celtics All-Time starting lineup. dark
Actually, health and self-inflicted mistakes are the only things in the way of this team finally reaching the Finals. No, the No. 1 seed in the East is not being overlooked, but when the Boston Celtics are at full strength and fully engaged on both sides of the ball, the chances are pretty high that they’ll win.