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1. Jaylen Brown Masterclass Earlier than Ejection
In one of many greatest video games of the season Jaylen Brown was ejected with 3:42 left within the second quarter after he was pushed out of bounds. Crew Chief referee Tyler Ford was standing proper there watching the foul and simply determined to not name it, making Brown rightfully mad. Ford gave Brown the primary technical foul but it surely was the aspect choose Suyash Mehta who ejected him from the sport.
That may be a disgrace as a result of in his quick time within the recreation, Brown was poised to have a MVP stage night time. He had 8 factors and seven assists on 4-8 capturing in quarter-hour. It makes me sick to consider how good Brown may have been. He was simply beginning to get it occurring offense and he was attacking Victor Wembanyama, accepting the problem. Only a brutal technique to finish the night time for Jaylen Brown.
2. Derrick White Tried to Carry
When Jaylen Brown was ejected, Payton Pritchard out, and Jayson Tatum nonetheless coming again, Derrick White did every part in his energy to attempt to convey the Celtics again into the sport. He ended up ending with a season excessive 34 factors, 7 assists, and 5 rebounds on 11-22 capturing. Sadly he simply ran out of gasoline within the fourth quarter but it surely was a valiant effort.
White’s third quarter was actually particular, scoring 19 factors on 7-12 capturing. White did all of his scoring with solely making one three pointer. He was capable of work round some nice screens by Neemias Queta to get to the basket and make some wild finishes over the defenders together with Victor Wembanyama. My favourite was his third basket when he took Wemby off the dribble, bought beneath him, and completed with a layup earlier than he may block it.
3. Jayson Tatum Continues to Enhance
In Jayson Tatum’s third recreation again he began to point out much more glimpses of his previous self. He completed with a season excessive 24 factors, 5 rebounds, and a couple of steals, on 10-24 capturing from the sector and 4-14 capturing from three. Tatum had stretches on this recreation the place he began to take over briefly scoring bursts the place he carried the Celtics offense by himself.
Clearly the capturing numbers don’t look one of the best on paper however I believed outdoors of some performs, Tatum appeared fairly comfy attending to his spots and capturing. His drives proceed to look spectacular, having two performs the place he beat Victor Wembanyama off the dribble that resulted in photographs on the rim.
His stretch early within the fourth quarter is a superb instance of how he began to take over. Tatum scored 7-straight factors off of some nice performs over Wembanyama contests and a fall away three pointer that pressured the Spurs to name a timeout and reduce their result in 3 factors. If he wasn’t on a minutes restriction, I used to be satisfied Tatum had an opportunity of main a comeback win but it surely simply wasn’t meant to be.
4. Ron Harper Jr Profession Sport
Ron Harper Jr has appeared good briefly spurts this season. With Payton Pritchard being out for this recreation, he bought an opportunity to point out what he may do towards the Spurs and didn’t disappoint. Harper completed with a profession excessive 22 factors on 8-11 capturing and 6-9 from three. Was this profession night time resulting from enjoying towards his little brother Dylan Harper, possibly, however Ron actually confirmed out on this recreation.
His three level capturing was completely insane on this recreation. All of his threes on this recreation have been closely contested by San Antonio and Harper Jr was capable of shoot over them prefer it was nothing. Whether or not it was from the nook or the highest of the important thing or with the shot clock working down, Ron Harper Jr confirmed tonight that he’s a respectable NBA position participant.
5. Sam Hauser Stable Contributor
Coming off a scorching sizzling recreation towards the Cavaliers on Sunday, Sam Hauser continued his strong play towards the Spurs, ending with 11 factors and seven rebounds on 4-10 capturing from the sector and 3-8 capturing from three. Over his final 5 video games, Hauser is capturing 39% from past the arc and has actually accomplished an ideal job within the beginning lineup with Tatum’s return.
The second quarter was the place Hauser made his mark on this recreation, scoring 9 factors on 3 three pointers. He was capable of hearth the ball shortly on his catch-and-shoot alternatives and he was a giant cause the Celtics have been forward early on this recreation.
6. Bench With No Pritchard
The Celtics bench was stretched extremely skinny on this recreation with each Nikola Vucevic (fractured proper ring finger) and Payton Pritchard (neck spasms) being dominated out for this recreation. Exterior of Ron Harper Jr who had 22 factors, the remainder of the bench solely scored 11 factors between Baylor Scheierman (6 factors), Luka Garza (3 factors), Hugo Gonzalez (2 factors) and Jordan Walsh (1 level).
Lacking Vucevic killed the Celtics when it got here to throwing one other physique at Victor Wembanyama. I’m undecided he would have accomplished a greater job defending him, however I do assume he would have a greater probability than Garza who bought cooked all night time. I really feel Vucevic would have given Wemby a little bit extra of a problem and will have additionally helped be a 3rd middle when Garza bought into foul bother.
Lacking Pritchard was felt closely as soon as Jaylen Brown was ejected. In video games the place Brown didn’t play this season, Pritchard has averaged 23.6 Factors on 46% capturing from the sector and 45% capturing from three. He would have had an opportunity to supply Tatum and White with extra assist when it got here to being one other participant who may create his personal shot. Fortunately his neck spasms don’t appear severe so he may come again to play towards the Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder within the Celtics subsequent matchup.
7. Celtics Ran Out of Gasoline
After shedding Jaylen Brown within the second quarter and being with out the providers of Pritchard and Vucevic, the Celtics have been solely down 97-90 after three quarters. Boston reduce the Spurs result in 1 level on the 6:38 mark of the fourth quarter and it appeared like they’d an opportunity to drag off an enormous victory.
Sadly, San Antonio would then rattle off a 12-0 run and Boston simply couldn’t hit a shot to avoid wasting their lives in response. They battled on this recreation however capturing 9-24 (38%) from the sector and 6-17 (35%) from three simply wasn’t sufficient to beat the Spurs who have been simply on hearth from three.
8. Spurs Three Level Taking pictures
Coming into this recreation, the Spurs ranked seventeenth within the NBA in threes made per recreation at 13.4. In opposition to the Celtics, they shot 20-47 (43%) and principally beat Boston at their very own recreation. They have been utilizing Victor Wembanyama to attract two gamers away from the three level line and that opened up so many vast open photographs that San Antonio knocked down.
Wembanyama helped by making 8 of these 20 threes but it surely was only a loopy sizzling capturing night time for the Spurs that the Celtics simply couldn’t cease.
9. Victor Wembanyama is Insane
You may activate any Spurs recreation and be marveled by how good Victor Wembanyama is however when he does it towards your staff it simply feels totally different. Wemby completed with 39 factors and 11 rebounds on 11-20 capturing from the sector and 8-15 capturing from three.
He tied his profession excessive for 3 pointers made in a recreation and was making the most of Luka Garza and Neemias Queta enjoying drop protection on him. It appeared just like the Celtics recreation plan was to simply let him shoot and Wembanyama made them pay.
When he turns right into a 7’5” Steph Curry whereas additionally with the ability to dunk on each participant in your roster, you simply have to take a seat again and scratch your head at the way you even guard him. If it wasn’t apparent to you but, Victor Wembanyama goes to be the subsequent face of the NBA and its solely a matter of time earlier than he reaches his full energy and reeks havoc on the basketball world.
10. Potential Finals Preview?
With the all of the craziness that occurred on this recreation between Brown and the Spurs capturing just like the 2017 Warriors from three, I might say Boston performed a reasonably good recreation. I additionally wouldn’t put previous the possibility that this might be a possible NBA Finals matchup.
If each groups did make it to the finals this season, I might assume Boston would have the slight edge simply primarily based on their championship expertise. Tatum, Brown, White, Pritchard, and Hauser have all been a part of the Celtics core on their 2024 championship in order that they know what it takes to win all of it. Exterior of Harrison Barnes and former Celtic Luke Kornet, the Spurs younger core simply doesn’t have the expertise. To that time nevertheless, Victor Wembanyama is a basketball demi-god so expertise may not matter.
Out of the contenders within the West, the Spurs positively seem like the best choice on paper for the Celtics to beat over the Denver Nuggets and Oklahoma Metropolis Thunder. So if the celebrities aligned and we bought a Boston vs San Antonio NBA Finals matchup, I feel the Celtics would have a respectable shot to win the collection simply primarily based on the best way they’ve been capable of compete towards them thus far within the common season.
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