In their series win over the Miami Heat, the Boston Celtics brought back their defensive intensity to close out at TD Garden.
The NBA postseason is a proving ground for teams and players alike. In Boston’s case, after losing last season in the conference finals to Miami, this first round series was just as much a test of mental fortitude as it was of pure skill.
With a litany of players sidelined for the Heat including star Jimmy Butler, the Celtics were favored on paper, but there were still murmurs of Miami having an edge on Boston mentally. An upset road win in Game 2 by Miami only further stoked criticism of the Celtics after giving up a historic amount of three pointers.
Credit where credit is due: Spo has his guys ready and gives them confidence. Miami read the situation accurately, as per usual, and went to bombing threes. Boston never adjusted after they got hot.
It’s on the Celtics to now adjust on defense and to play their game on offense.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) April 25, 2024
Even in the postseason, outliers like Game 2 can happen, but it’s not about the loss; it’s about how you react to it. So much rides on how a team responds after getting punched in the mouth, especially after the bold overreactions from the NBA community. After taking one on the chin, Boston responded with a massive statement, winning two straight in Miami and closing out the series in blowout fashion at home.
What’s most impressive is how Boston’s defense adapted after Miami’s record-setting shooting performance in Game 2. Miami shot a historic 23-of-43 on threes in their lone win, with Tyler Herro leading the charge on 6-of-11 shooting from deep; Herro only hit 6 more shots from deep the remaining three games of the series. As a team, Miami shot a combined 21-of-90 (23.3%) from beyond the arc the rest of the series.
The Celtics outscored Miami by 61 points since Jimmy Butler’s Game 3 interview.
They trailed the Heat for a grand total of 56 seconds from that point until the end of the series.https://t.co/0oSstzgZi4
— Taylor Snow (@taylorcsnow) May 2, 2024
Boston peeled back the curtain on Miami’s offense and revealed it for the straw man it was: a significantly-limited group propped up by the past and an outlier Game 2 performance. The Heat relied on parlor tricks, disguising choppy play as toughness and demanding respect after a regular season in which they hadn’t earned it. Tack on injuries to Jimmy Butler, Terry Rozier, and Josh Richardson to start the series, and Miami was playing on borrowed time.
After closing out the series, the Celtics are third in offensive rating (117.7), third in defensive rating (100.7), and first in net rating (17.0) out of all playoff teams in the first round. Even after losing Kristaps Porzingis to injury for at least 1-2 weeks, the Celtics remain determined and locked in while they await the winner of the Cavaliers-Magic series. In either matchup, Boston will need to rely on their defense, and with depth at the big man position, the team can stay afloat until their star center returns.
Jayson Tatum said the Celtics needed to be honest with themselves.
“What are teams — what’s their message, what’s their game plan to beat us?” he said. “And it’s to pick up the pace, the pressure, be more physical, crash the glass, do all the intangible things.”
But what if…
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) May 2, 2024
Make no mistake, the Celtics still boast one of the most lethal offenses in recent memory, with multiple players capable of taking over each and every night. Visions of Derrick White are certain to haunt Heat fans for the next decade.
It’s Boston’s versatility on both sides of the floor that allows them to change up their approach based on matchups, but so much of it will be spawned from their defensive efforts. Against Miami, the Celtics pushed the dial to 11, absolutely dominating the glass defensively while robbing the Heat of second chance and fastbreak opportunities.
Those kind of stats don’t just come from sheer luck or chance; they’re manufactured through pure hustle, positional awareness and raw effort. Hustle beats talent when talent doesn’t try hard enough, but the Celtics are the product of when talent hustles.
Jayson Tatum with some illuminating words on the concept of ‘toughness’:
“It’s easy to say teams can out-tough us. I never understood what’s the definition of tough? Having louder guys on your team? That shit don’t make you tough. Everybody has their own definition.” pic.twitter.com/PTIXTABIdI
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzellNBA) May 2, 2024
Boston’s playstyle and domination of Miami have given them the path forward in the playoffs. Putting the Heat firmly in their rearview, the Celtics can turn their attention towards the Magic and Cavs, which hopefully will go seven games and allow for as much rest as possible for Porzingis.
Miami was a necessary test for Boston to overcome, but in the end made them stronger and more prepared for the challenges ahead. Getting revenge for last year was just the cherry on top.