The conference final between Miami and Boston continues to be an exchange of blows in the purest style of the legendary Bud Spencer and Terence Hill. There are four games, and starting with the Heat, in all of them there has been a clear dominator, a team that has firmly imposed its law. In Game 4 the turn was for the Celtics, and that they were without Marcus Smart.
We do not exaggerate. Pulling what was the best defense of the regular season, the greens marked the way to victory with a spectacular 29-11 in 12 minutes (during the first seven they left the Florida team with a measly point). From there, Ime Udoka’s boys dedicated themselves to staying the course to get to enjoy rents of up to 32 points (69-37 at the beginning of the third period). Yes, directly there was no game at the Garden until 102-82 with which regulation time expired.
The truth is that the Celtics defense shattered the rival attack. Victor Oladipo was uncovered from the bench with 23 points (Tyler Herro was low), which led him to exceed the 18 points that they accumulated among the entire starting five… They were 9 points for Bam Adebayo and 6 for Jimmy Butler… Basically Boston showed that intensity that he projects following each defeat, and that is that he is 5-0 in the playoffs when he lost the previous match.
“I just have to be able to muster the same energy when we come out of a win as when we come out of a loss. This is now a three game series. We will not always be able to change the mentality when we come from a defeat and that feeling of despair appears, “says Udoka, head coach of the greens.
The collective plan worked for Boston without cracks, but beyond that they regained their smile when they saw Jayson Tatum play at his best level. After a complicated third game, the forward returned to his usual tone to conclude the night with 31 points, 8 rebounds and 5 assists; that being so, neither he (1 of 7) nor the team (8 of 34) were good from the three-point line.
“Obviously we all knew how important this game was. Everyone had to think in a different sense of urgency, “says Tatum regarding what was seen on the parquet.
Spoelstra, resigned
That’s how it is. The clash concluded with a landslide victory for the Celtics, who dominated the rebound 60-39 and left the Heat with 33.3 percent shooting from the field –they signed a not much better 39.7 percent–, Erik Spoelstra He avoided making up what happened to simply make it clear that the rival had been better this time. “They came out and came following us. We are not making any excuses. It is certain that we were outclassed tonight. We might never control the game, “admits the head coach of the Florida team, who is already thinking regarding the fifth game of the series, which will be played this Wednesday.
Energy without Marcus Smart
What is most striking regarding Boston’s performance last night – for the better – is the fact that they reached such a defensive level without counting on the award-winning NBA Best Defensive Player of the 2021-22 season, Marcus Smart. The guard he sprained his right ankle in the second half of game three and was unable to play in game four. The Celtics bordered on defensive perfection without him, which is another big piece of news in Massachusetts’ fantastic campaign.
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