The good and the bad from Game 1
What a game. What a finish. Everyone knew this was not going to be an easy series. The Nets were the #1 team in the east until KD got hurt. Durant is arguably the best player in the world. Kyrie went off. In more ways than one. More on that little piss ant later. The Nets have as good of a chance to come out of the East as anyone. With out a doubt the Celtics have the hardest path the to Finals. Brooklyn, Bucks, Miami/76ers. So, to get the win in game one was HUGE.
The Good
The defense kicked things off causing 7 turnovers in the 1st quarter. Three of those came off of strips from KD. He was smothered all night. It was clear they were not okay with Durant beating them. Kyrie? Well, I guess they had less faith he could deliver. Good call. Kinda.
UGLY
Problem in the 1st half was the Celtics couldn’t capitalize on the turnovers. They never were able to push ahead and grab a significant lead. The offense looked a little disjointed at times, but it was more both teams were playing well. That and the god damn refs getting trigger happy. All Nets starters had at least 4 fouls. All Celtics starters but Al Horford had 4 and Al had 3. Both teams in the bonus all night. Ugly to watch.
More GOOD
The 3rd quarter. C’s offense found their groove. Tatum turned up the heat and they started executing their offense. They defense stayed sharp. They won the 3rd quarter 35-24 and built their lead to 15. And then,
The BAD
Tell me if you’ve heard this before. The Celtics blew a double digit lead in the 4th quarter. I know they won, but come on. You lost the 4th quarter 29 -19 and blew a 12 point lead soley to Kyrie Irving while he flipped off the Garden and KD was on the bench. Not great. But listen great players do great things in the playoffs. Unless it’s Kyrie as a Celtic agains the Bucks. So you can even excuse some of the shots they gave up to Irving. The Celtics offense went nearly 5 minutes with out a point. They missed at least 3 point blank layups. Their offense went to shit. They started playing too fast. This is going to be their achilles heal all post season. Hopefully they can learn how to win in the middle of this run.
Maybe the end of this will propel them. They were able to rein in their composure just in time. They cleaned up a 5 point deficit with under 5 minutes to go. Their offense got Jaylen an open 3 and then a successfully executed the two for one which set up the final sequences of the game.
The most GOOD
I LOVE Ime running with out a time out. Mainly because Celtics track record out of a time out aint great, but also there is a lot to be said about not allowing the defense to get set. We saw the perfect example of it on the winning play. KD was ball watching, Kyrie was lost and half the Nets were scrambling around. What I love most about the sequence is who touched the ball. Your best players handled the decision making and your best player hit the game winner. Kudos Marcus Smart on your progression as an NBA basketball player. Thank god he passed that ball. Thank god Tatum hit the layup. Neither of which have been guarantees in the young careers of our local hoopsters.
As I said, here’s to hoping with every crucial win in these playoffs this team learns a little bit more how to execute in the 4th quarter and win. Just win baby.
P.S. Fuck. Kyrie. Irving. Coward.
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