In their run to the NBA Finals final season, they relaxed, in accordance with Jayson Tatum, in collection towards the Bucks and Heat. They finally acquired via to the championship spherical, however made it tougher on themselves within the course of.
After they took a commanding 3-1 collection lead over the Hawks, Tatum wished the Celtics to behave with the urgency and consciousness they lacked in these moments final spring. He wished his crew to enter Tuesday’s Game 5 with the mindset that they had been down 3-1, not up.
Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics places one up in-between Trae Young #11 and Clint Capela #15 of the Atlanta Hawks throughout the first quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics bobbles the ball in entrance of Bogdan Bogdanovic #13 of the Atlanta Hawks as Clint Capela #15 seems on throughout the first quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
throughout the first quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics goes after a free ball towards Onyeka Okongwu #17 of the Atlanta Hawks as Robert Williams III #44 seems on throughout the first quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Malcolm Brogdon #13 of the Boston Celtics and Aaron Holiday #3 of the Atlanta Hawks go after a free ball throughout the second quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics celebrates Jaylen Brown #7 shot as Jalen Johnson #1 of the Atlanta Hawks walks off throughout the second quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics play protection towards Onyeka Okongwu #17 of the Atlanta Hawks throughout the second quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Malcolm Brogdon #13 and Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics double crew Saddiq Bey #41 of the Atlanta Hawks throughout the second quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics and De’Andre Hunter #12 of the Atlanta Hawks bobble the ball throughout the second quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics steals the ball from Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks throughout the second quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Malcolm Brogdon #13 of the Boston Celtics scores simply previous De’Andre Hunter #12 of the Atlanta Hawks throughout the second quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Derrick White #9 of the Boston Celtics hits a 3-pointer as Marcus Smart and followers scream out throughout the second quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs towards the Atalanta Hawks on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics rebounds towards Saddiq Bey #41 of the Atlanta Hawks throughout the second quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Al Horford #42 of the Boston Celtics blocks Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks shot throughout the second quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics reveals off his frustration throughout the fourth quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs towards the Atlanta Hawks on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics reveals off his frustration after going after a free ball with Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks throughout the fourth quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks and Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics go after a free ball throughout the fourth quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics struggles to get the ball in-between Bogdan Bogdanovic #13 and De’Andre Hunter #12 of the Atlanta Hawks throughout the fourth quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics will get blended up with Bogdan Bogdanovic #13 of the Atlanta Hawks throughout the fourth quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics tries to move round Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks throughout the fourth quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Blake Griffin #91 of the Boston Celtics tries to rebound away from Bogdan Bogdanovic #13, John Collins #20 and Onyeka Okongwu #17 of the Atlanta Hawks throughout the fourth quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Robert Williams III #44 of the Boston Celtics rebounds throughout the fourth quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs towards the Atlanta Hawks on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics makes an attempt a shot over Saddiq Bey #41 of the Atlanta Hawks over the past half second of the fourth quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks screams out in celebration throughout the fourth quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs towards the Boston Celtics on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics reacts after fouling Trae Young #11 of the Atlanta Hawks throughout the fourth quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics reaches into John Collins #20 of the Atlanta Hawks throughout the fourth quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
The Boston Celtics Green Team carry out throughout the fourth quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics throughout the fourth quarter of Round One, Game Five of the NBA Playoffs towards the Atalanta Hawks on the TD Garden on Tuesday in Boston, MA. (Matt Stone/Boston Herald) April 25, 2023
They didn’t. And, unfathomably, inexplicably, this collection is heading again to Atlanta for Game 6 on Thursday.
The Celtics had been in management, effectively on their method to closing out the inferior Hawks. But then they blew it in disastrous vogue. After going up by 12 halfway via the fourth quarter, the Celtics suffered an epic meltdown, and Trae Young stole the night time with a collection of unimaginable photographs – together with the game-winning 3-pointer with 1.8 seconds left – in a devastating 119-117 Game 5 loss at TD Garden.
“Smoked the game,” Jaylen Brown stated.
Brown scored 35 factors in a dominant efficiency, but it surely was no match for Young, who scored 38 factors, together with 14 over the ultimate 3:18. Down one because the clock was winding down, Young stepped again and drilled a 29-footer over Brown. Tatum’s shot on the buzzer was off because the Hawks escaped with one of many wildest victories in latest playoff reminiscence.
The Celtics had a golden alternative to shut this collection at residence towards a Hawks crew that was with out suspended star guard Dejounte Murray. The 76ers are ready within the second spherical whereas MVP candidate Joel Embiid nurses an injured knee. But now he has two extra days to heal up after the Celtics needlessly made life tougher for themselves.
“Our mindset and mentality is to get ready for the next one,” Brown stated. “We’ve been in conditions like this earlier than. It’s unlucky, however you’ll be able to run and level fingers or you’ll be able to take possession of the scenario. We’ve acquired two possibilities to win one, so come out and prepared for the subsequent recreation. …
“We had a tremendous opportunity. We had control of the game, for the most part, and Trae Young just put on a hell of a performance in the fourth quarter, made some big threes. The last one, of course, was a stinger. But the only thing you can say is get ready for the next one.”
The Celtics had been in full management of the sport, main by 12 with 5:24 within the fourth when the whole lot collapsed on them. The Hawks went on a 12-0 run.
The Celtics dedicated simply two turnovers within the first half, however then gave it away 4 occasions over the ultimate stretch. Tatum turned the ball over to De’Andre Hunter, then was known as for a foul earlier than Hunter may get away for a breakaway layup. That led to a triple for Young, who then stole the ball from Marcus Smart and drilled a game-tying 3-pointer, knotting the sport at 111 with 2:42 to go.
The C’s answered when Robert Williams put residence a putback on a three-point play, however he missed the free throw. The Celtics then continued to lose their poise. With 1:39 remaining, Horford was known as for a taking pictures foul on Young however Tatum was known as for a technical foul after swatting the ball away. Young made all three free throws to present the Hawks a 114-113 lead.
“I mean, ya’ll see it all the time in the regular season after whistles,” Tatum stated. “Guys block the shot after the whistle all the time. I wasn’t mad or anything, I just was doing something that I would normally do in the regular season. It kind of happens all the time but I guess he didn’t see it that way.”
With 25 seconds to go, the Celtics received a leap ball and Tatum discovered Williams, who completed a lob to present the C’s again the lead. On the subsequent Atlanta possession, Smart went in for a steal on Young however fouled him. Young made each free throws for the lead earlier than Derrick White was fouled on the subsequent journey with 6.5 seconds to go.
White made each free throws, giving the Celtics a one-point lead. The Hawks known as a timeout earlier than Young accomplished his heroics.
“Trae Young is pretty shifty getting to his right hand, so that’s what I was looking to take away,” Brown stated. “He stepped back, pulled one from the logo. It’s a tough basket, a tough shot in the playoffs. Maybe I could have forced him towards the basket a little bit more if I could have picked him up a little bit better, but maybe we shouldn’t have been in that position in the first place.”
Other takeaways from the loss:
– In the Celtics’ Game 4 win, Brown eliminated his masks – which is defending a facial fracture he suffered in early February – after a poor begin and the change paid dividends as he scored 29 factors on 11-for-15 taking pictures the remainder of the sport.
It appeared like Brown was ditching the masks for good however that wasn’t the case. The masks returned in Game 5, however not a lot modified in his efficiency. Brown was on a mission from the opening tip, and hit the primary 5 photographs he took. He was getting completely something he wished within the paint, which largely contributed to the Celtics’ early 34-16 edge inside. With Jayson Tatum beginning gradual – he was 3-for-11 within the first half – Brown’s play was instrumental within the C’s taking management late within the first half. He had 23 factors on 10-for-13 taking pictures within the half.
– With Murray suspended for the Hawks, Al Horford pressured the significance of defending the 3-point line with extra consciousness. The early returns weren’t supreme. The Hawks began the sport taking pictures 8-for-13 distance, together with one make late within the first quarter that drew the ire of Joe Mazzulla, who threw his arms within the air after Saddiq Bey drilled a wide-open triple.
– Horford continues to show the clocks again defensively when the playoffs begin. The veteran massive man had a dominant begin on that finish that helped the Celtics get going within the second quarter. He recorded 4 blocks within the first half. He acquired again in transition one play to power a turnover. He sniffed out an alley-oop try, deflecting the ball into transition that resulted in a layup for Tatum. Horford was all over the place, and completed with 5 blocks.
That defensive depth propelled the Celtics as they took a 13-point lead late within the first half after trailing for many of the half. The Celtics posted a 20-0 benefit in quick break factors at halftime.
Bhagyashree Soni is a software engineer with soft writing skills. She is a degree holder from the International School of Entrepreneurial Leadership. She has been a state-level badminton champion and chess player. A woman with a forthright attitude enjoys her writing passion as her chosen career. Writing in the context of feminism, social cause and entrepreneurship is her forte.