Observations and different notes of curiosity from Thursday evening’s 127-102 NBA playoff loss to the Boston Celtics:
– Yes, the Celtics hit 3-pointers as in the event that they have been layups.
– Yes, they excelled when getting out in transition.
– Yes, the offensive numbers have been overwhelming within the first half, with 70 (70!) factors at intermission.
– And but this was concerning the different finish.
– The protection that made the Celtics the NBA’s finest staff over the second half of the season.
– This is the code the Heat now should crack, the one that features Marcus Smart and Al Horford.
– The one the place Robert Williams and Grant Williams takes them to the following degree.
– The one the place it may well’t merely be Jimmy Butler taking pictures free throws because the Heat’s offensive bailout.
– For months the Heat have labored their very own protection.
– And that usually has been adequate.
– As effectively as sufficient to spark the offense.
– But this, now, is the place Tyler Herro has to take it to a different degree.
– Or Victor Oladipo.
– Or the place the Heat’s 3-pointers must move just like the Celtics’ did Thursday.
– The dwelling successful streak is over.
– And now there have to be a playoff street victory.
– Without the consolation of how they went into Atlanta or Philadelphia.
– Three rounds in, the problem arguably begins now.
– With Kyle Lowry out once more, Gabe Vincent once more was within the Heat beginning lineup.
– With the same old different 4 of Butler, Bam Adebayo, P.J. Tucker and Max Strus.
– With the beginning, Butler tied Moses Malone and Dennis Rodman for eightieth on the NBA all-time playoff record, transferring previous Kenyon Martin.
– With the beginning, Butler additionally tied Goran Dragic for ninth on the Heat all-time playoff record.
– Butler additionally tied Dan Majerle and Jamal Mashburn with the looks for 18th on the Heat all-time playoff record.
– With Smart and Horford again for the Celtics, they opened alongside Jayton Tatum, Jaylen Brown and Robert Williams.
– Smart, lately named 2022 NBA Defensive Player of the Year, opened defensively towards Butler.
– Making this nothing like Game 1 for Butler.
– Tyler Herro and Dewayne Dedmon entered because the Heat’s first two reserves.
– With the looks, Herro tied Chris Andersen for seventeenth on the Heat all-time playoff record.
– Victor Oladipo adopted.
– And then Caleb Martin for 9 deep.
– It later reached the purpose of Duncan Robinson.
– Vincent’s second help moved him previous Shane Battier for twenty fourth on the Heat all-time playoff record.
– Butler hit a number of milestones, together with passing on the NBA all-time playoff scoring record Sidney Moncrief, Terry Porter, Rick Barry and Joe Johnson, whereas additionally passing Mario Chalmers for fifth on the Heat all-time playoff scoring record.
– Butler’s sixth conversion from the sector moved him previous Dick Barnett for 99th on the NBA all-time playoff record.
– Heat coach Erik Spoelstra was requested pregame about being proactive or reactive together with his teaching changes.
– “I don’t know,” he mentioned. “It really, like it’s so broad. It depends on the game. It depends on who you ask. I know, it usually comes down to, you know, ball in the air, ball on the floor, who is winning those big-muscle areas.”
– There was not a whole lot of proactive or reactive on this one.
– When the Heat defeated the Celtics within the 2020 East finals, it was with a heavy dose of zone. Spoelstra was requested concerning the chance this time round.
– “It depends,” he mentioned. “You know, that team we had two years ago is totally different. So even [don’t] think you could compare it. It just depends what’s called for in the game.”
– Spoelstra once more was requested Thursday about Adebayo’s defensive versatility.
– “We have so many guys that are committed defensively, but you know, for us to be the best version of our defense, it’s in large part because of Bam and his toughness, his versatility, his size, his quickness, his ability to defend in any scheme,” Spoelstra mentioned. “We feel like the last two or three years he could be in the conversations for Defensive Player of the Year because of that. And this year, our team defense backed that up as well. Yeah, so he’s vital to what we do.”
– Celtics coach Ime Udoka acknowledged Thursday that his staff’s drop protection in Game 1 could have been too deep of a drop.
– “I think we were too low with our bigs being that far back,” he mentioned. “We didn’t want them that far back. So an adjustment we want to make is being up especially with Herro and some of those guys looking to come off and shoot.”
– Celebrating his thirty sixth birthday, former Heat guard Mario Chalmers was amongst these within the crowd.
– As was former Heat championship guard Jason Williams.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com