The Boston Celtics won their place in the semifinals of the Eastern Conference after their 116-112 victory over the Brooklyn Nets in Game 4 of their best series of seven. Jason Tatum was fantastic for Boston, who finished with 29 points, five assists and three rebounds to lead the Celtics. In the end, Tatum’s efforts, combined with the rest of the Celtics’ contribution, were enough to keep Kevin Durant’s monstrous game for the Nets, as he finished with 39 points, nine assists and seven rebounds.
Boston will go ahead to face the winner of the Milwaukee Bucks and Chicago Bulls series, which the Bucks are currently leading 3-1. There will be a lot of questions for the Nets this off-season and it seems safe to say that they will have to deal with these issues much sooner than anyone expected.
Here are three main conclusions from Game 4.
1. Historically close scope
Let’s look at the limits of victory in each of the four games within this scope:
Game 1: Celtics with 1
Game 2: Celtics with 7
Game 3: Celtics with 6
Game 4: Celtics with 4
That’s 18 points in four games. Nick Claxton missed 18 free throws in the series. The difference between these teams was so small. A little more luck on the line, a few rebounds for Brooklyn, and in another world the Nets could be the team that is sweeping the Celtics right now.
None of this is meant to undermine the Celtics. If nothing else, sweeping this particular Nets team in four close games is perhaps even more impressive than doing it in four shots. The whole advantage of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving is that your team should always be able to generate a good shot in the middle of the field. It’s one of the best hit-making duos in NBA history, and with so much time dependent on half-court kicks, beating them in the clutch four times is insanely impressive.
But before you shoot your jokes about the destruction of the Nets, just keep in mind how close this series really was. The last difference of 18 points makes it the third closest result in four games in NBA history, according to ESPN Stats & Info. Only the Cavaliers of 2017 (above the Pacers) and the Warriors of 1975 (above the Bullets) were closer and both had a difference of just 16 points.
There is a chance, albeit a small one, that Boston will win the championship without ever playing a series that is so close in terms of the difference in points. They may not pass every round or even reach the finals. But what they did to a Nets team that was far better than their injuries were entitled to be considered was one of the most impressive achievements we will see this postseason. The Celtics are on their way to something special, and the Nets may be back there in a year.
2. Too little, too Blake
Andre Drummond played about 60 minutes in this series. Brooklyn lost those minutes by 25 points. They won the rest of the series by seven. Nick Claxton showed a significant improvement in defense, but shot 1 of 11 from the foul line. It was fantastic, but those missed free throws were the difference in the game. As such, the only big man who proved reliable at both ends tonight was Blake Griffin.
The Nets have hardly used Griffin all season. He made his debut in the series until Game 3. He played 18 minutes in Game 4 and the Nets won those minutes with 10 points. He was also predictably gassed at the end of the fourth quarter and had to catch his breath in the final minutes. This happens when someone who is out of your rotation becomes a key figure in the middle of a playoff series.
It’s hard not to wonder if Griffin could have played a game or two if he had been introduced to the series earlier, or even the Nets had to work harder to reintegrate him into the regular season rotation if they felt they could. to be needed in the playoffs. Griffin really struggled for most of the season. Brooklyn relied on him to make open 3s last year and he shot just 26.2 percent behind the arc this season. He is not the same physically.
But when you rely on a central rotation made up entirely of players who make minimal money, getting the most out of each of them is probably crucial. The Nets found Griffin too late and they paid the price for this series.
Please check the checkbox to confirm that you want to subscribe.
Thank you for registering!
Keep an eye on your inbox.
I’m sorry!
There was an error processing your subscription.
3. With or without Tatum
In the grand scheme of things, Boston’s survival in the last 2:38 without Jason Tatum does not change the scale of their victory. With or without him, they would advance to the second round. But there are always a few invisible moments on the way to the championship that make a team believe it can win a championship.
Bucks had to win two games without Janice Adetokunmpo a year ago. The Lakers from 2000 is a famous victory in game 4 of the finals in 2000, after Shaquille O’Neill dropped out because Kobe Bryant took over. It’s not always an absence, but when teams win championships, it’s rarely easy or clean. There are moments of doubt, moments when it seems that the car can get out of the way. Watching a 15-point lead fall apart at the hands of Kevin Durant and Kyrie Irving could be one of those moments.
But Boston fought for victory and made it as a team. Tatum will be fine. He will do his part. But winning a championship requires everyone to complete their role, and the Boston players just gained a tremendous amount of confidence as they tried to fulfill theirs.
Add Comment