A wry grin appeared on Jayson Tatum’s face as he sat on the podium inside TD Garden within the early hours of Saturday morning.
His Celtics had simply misplaced a second consecutive sport to the underdog however fearless Heat, placing them in a 2-0 sequence deficit within the Eastern Conference Finals. Tatum didn’t appear upset or pissed off by the state of affairs. “I mean, it’s no point in being up here sad and (expletive),” Tatum stated. And when he was requested if the Celtics are able to profitable 4 of their subsequent 5 video games to avoid wasting their season and advance to the NBA Finals, he expressed confidence.
“Yeah,” he responded with a smile, earlier than standing up and strolling off the stage.
History is definitely not on the Celtics’ facet as they attempt to overcome this 2-0 gap.
In 339 tries, solely 27 groups in NBA historical past have overcome a 2-0 deficit in a best-of-seven sequence. Of these 27 groups, solely 5 of them – the 1969 Lakers, 1994 Rockets, 2005 Mavericks, 2017 Celtics and 2021 Clippers – gained a seven-game sequence after shedding the primary two video games at residence.
The 1994 Rockets had been the one workforce of these 5 to go on and win a championship. And this will probably be eerily acquainted territory for Marcus Smart, Al Horford and Jaylen Brown, every members of the 2017 Celtics that dropped the primary two video games at residence to the No. 8 Bulls earlier than reeling off 4 consecutive wins.
Remember who was on that Bulls workforce? Jimmy Butler, in fact.
This is a unique problem, although. Six years later, Butler has reworked right into a postseason star. He’s main a gaggle of unheralded gamers who refuse to stop after knocking off the top-seeded Bucks. The Heat boast top-of-the-line coaches of his era in Erik Spoelstra.
The Celtics are clearly extra gifted, however beating this Heat workforce – which has added motivation after shedding to the C’s in final yr’s convention finals – will take extra. They’ve proven their potential in stretches, constructing double-digit leads in every of the primary two video games solely to break down each instances. To beat the Heat requires a full 48-minute effort of focus and energy. Now, the Celtics don’t have a margin for error. To lose Sunday night time in Miami and fall right into a 3-0 deficit could be a deadly blow.
“We’re not dead or anything,” Tatum stated. “We got a great opportunity. I still have the utmost confidence, everybody has the utmost confidence.”
“Just got to come out fighting, play basketball,” Brown added. “I think both of these two games they have been able to come out on top, but who is to say we can’t come out on top in the next two games? We just got to come ready to play basketball, can’t lose our confidence. It’s the first to four. It should make for a better story.”
Recurring issues
The Celtics have faltered in crunch time in each video games of this sequence. One widespread denominator? Tatum hasn’t been a consider both fourth quarter. He didn’t have a subject objective try – although had six free throws – and dedicated three turnovers within the last interval of Game 1, then went 0-for-3 with 5 free throws and a pair of turnovers in Game 2.
His lack of manufacturing hasn’t essentially come right down to a scarcity of involvement, not less than in Game 2 when he had the ball for many possessions down the stretch. But the Heat appeared to make an effort to pressure the ball out of his palms, and the Celtics’ offensive execution pale.
“I had the ball a lot,” Tatum stated. “Playing more point and making plays. Obviously, I draw a lot of attention, so creating for others. Sometimes shots just don’t go in. We generated some good shots and I think we got some really good looks.”
Unexpected risk
In final season’s convention finals, Caleb Martin didn’t pose as a hazard to the Celtics as they repeatedly used middle Robert Williams as his defender, trailing off of Martin and daring him to shoot. In the rematch, they’re utilizing the same technique, however Martin is making the Celtics pay this time.
Martin scored 15 factors on 6-for-11 capturing off the bench in Game 1, then had an enormous efficiency in Game 2 as he put up 25 factors on 11-for-16 capturing. He was the explanation why the Heat stayed within the sport for many of the night time earlier than his teammates took over within the fourth.
Martin stated Friday that when the Heat drew the Celtics, his thoughts went again to final season’s sequence and the way they guarded him. He stopped in need of calling it disrespectful that the C’s are defending him equally this yr, however he’s clearly been prepared for his second.
“Everybody has a game plan or a scheme to follow. I get it,” Martin stated. “When you’re coping with guys pretty much as good as Jimmy, Bam (Adebayo), guys that draw a lot consideration, you type of have to select your poison. I’m on the brief finish of the stick in terms of that.
“But you know, I welcome that. It’s my job to continue to prove to people that I can be the guy to do that off of. I’ve got to not only with that, but that’s just me doing my job and creating space and making things easier on our main guys.”
Source: www.bostonherald.com