Led by the inevitable greatness of Al Horford, the Boston Celtics wrapped up their Spherical 2 collection towards the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday evening with a 113-93 victory in Recreation 5. Horford stole the present, going forwards and backwards with an electrical TD Backyard crowd all evening.
Listed here are three stuff you may need missed from the sport.
1. Jaylen Brown’s decision-making
For as nice as Horford was, and he was wonderful, Jaylen Brown and the remainder of the Celtics stepped up when it mattered most, too.
Brown solely took 9 pictures in Recreation 5, however that was a product of his elite decision-making, which is completely embodied by this candy dump-off to Horford below the basket.
So many instances prior to now, Brown would have risen up for a contested layup. And perhaps he would have made it. However to have the composure to decelerate, see Horford, and make the learn exhibits how a lot he’s grown over time.
2. Joe Mazzulla’s perspective on successful
After the victory, I requested Mazzulla about his concept of “no matter it takes,” that each recreation and each collection would require one thing completely different from the Celtics in the event that they need to earn a victory, and the way they should be able to embrace that.
His response was good.
“All people desires to win till it’s actually time to win as a result of then you definitely received to nut up and do a bunch of s*** that you just don’t need to do,” Mazzulla mentioned. “So, the blokes, credit score to them. They persistently do this. And we simply must maintain that up.
“Each recreation’s gonna be completely different. Each collection is gonna be completely different, no matter who we play, it’s gonna be completely different. Sub patterns, completely different matchups, completely different lineups. Simply gotta do it. And the blokes get it, so credit score to them.”
3. Loudest TD Backyard crowd of the playoffs
Via the primary two rounds of the postseason, the crowds at TD Backyard has been fairly underwhelming. It felt like their hearts weren’t absolutely in it.
However Recreation 5 was completely different.
Due to Horford, the group was absolutely engaged. It was the loudest the constructing has been all through the playoffs, and hopefully, for the Celtics’ sake, they solely construct on it from right here on out.
