BOSTON – Playoff basketball is again, and the Boston Celtics kicked issues off with Sport 1 in opposition to the Atlanta Hawks on Saturday afternoon. They dominated from the bounce, getting issues accomplished on each ends of the courtroom, but it surely was their protection that allowed them to earn a cushty victory.
The Celtics allowed simply 19 factors within the 1st, a mark that ties Atlanta’s fourth-worst scoring quarter of the common season. Trae Younger and the Hawks had been shut down within the paint and on the perimeter, pressured to accept mid-range jumpers as an alternative.
Crew protection led the best way for Boston, but it surely was highlighted by unbelievable particular person performances.
“He was bodily,” head coach Joe Mazzulla stated of Marcus Sensible. “His pick-up factors had been nice. He has a presence to be the quarterback on the defensive finish, the place we will change coverages, change matchups. And when he does that, our protection is particular. It begins with him. I assumed he introduced it each bodily and mentally.”
The reigning Defensive Participant of the 12 months placed on a defensive present in Sport 1, notching one in every of his extra spectacular shows of the season on that finish. He completed the night time with three steals and two blocks.
Atlanta began off the sport taking pictures 1-for-16 from three-point vary and completed the night time at 5-of-29. Pressured to take second-choice pictures, Atlanta was fully rattled by Boston’s flocking protection.
Whereas the Hawks’ poor three-point taking pictures was partly a results of Boston’s elite defensive effort, in addition they went chilly early on. Letting the Hawks discover a rhythm within the second half might have problematic results later within the sequence, however Boston isn’t resting on their laurels, both.
“Nothing. Every recreation is its personal story,” stated Jaylen Brown when requested what it meant for the Celtics to go up by 30 factors. “So, we anticipate to get their greatest shot subsequent recreation. Can’t take the staff as a right. We allow them to get somewhat bit extra snug within the second half, so I anticipate the following recreation for them to be somewhat bit extra ready, so we obtained to be somewhat bit extra ready as nicely.”
Failure to execute on the offensive finish was the downfall of Atlanta, however they managed to outwork the Celtics in different areas. The Hawks dominated the glass, gobbling up 14 offensive rebounds (together with 5 for Onyeka Okongwu).
Regardless of their success on the glass, Atlanta wasn’t capable of capitalize. Actually, the Celtics outscored the Hawks on second-chance alternatives 16-12. Atlanta shot simply 4-for-14 on these appears to be like.
Whereas it didn’t come again to chunk the Celtics in Sport 1, their rebounding points have price them loads of video games this 12 months. One have a look at their first matchup in opposition to the Utah Jazz ought to be sufficient to scare them into focusing extra of their efforts on the glass, which is one thing they’ve been engaged on.
“Rebounding is the important thing to this sequence,” stated Brown. “That’s been a degree of emphasis for us in each observe. Attempt to preserve these guys off the glass. They’re younger, they’re athletic, and so they crash laborious. That’s going to proceed to be our problem throughout this sequence. Simply maintaining these guys off the glass is hard. They obtained some nice rebounders on their staff.”
Their incapability to make the most of their rebounding prowess was an inner drawback, however the Celtics additionally had a hand within the cookie jar. On Saturday night time, even after they managed to earn a second probability, Robert Williams and a swarm of inexperienced jerseys had been there to fulfill them on the rim.
“Simply his presence on the rim on each ends of the ground,” Mazzulla stated of Williams. “I assumed he did a great job defending us within the paint, particularly within the first half. And I assumed he did a terrific job of maintaining the spacing and creating the correct screens and angles for our guys. And so, when we’ve that vertical risk, that basically helps us. He actually helps us with the rim safety as nicely.”
When it wasn’t Williams, it was Al Horford. When it wasn’t Horford, it was Sensible. When it wasn’t Sensible, it was Derrick White. Atlanta was constantly stifled on the inside, as these 4 Celtics mixed for seven blocks.
With Williams and Horford able to play assist protection and Sensible’s and White’s skills to play catch-up and block pictures from behind, the Celtics have a plethora of choices on that finish of the ground. It makes life simpler for everybody concerned.
“We’ve got a particular group with a great defensive staff,” stated Jayson Tatum. “I believe we stress the ball, and we’ve assist behind us if we get beat. And never even simply the bigs. It was the guards, [too]. All people. Simply making these second and third efforts. It’s referred to as profitable performs. We simply attempt to make as lots of these as we will all through the sport.”
Horford, stoic in nature, confirmed a ton of emotion in opposition to his former staff. The playoffs usually deliver out the fireplace in everybody, and the massive man is not any exception.
After a protracted, taxing defensive possession within the second quarter, Atlanta was referred to as for an over-the-back name in opposition to Horford. After the cease, Horford grabbed the ball, walked to the opposite finish of the courtroom, and let loose a thunderous scream. TD Backyard erupted into cheer.
That type of power is strictly what fueled the Celtics of their Sport 1 win.
“When issues are going good, he’s rallying everyone up,” White stated of Horford. “When issues are going dangerous, he’s bringing everyone collectively. That’s simply how he’s been since I’ve been right here. He makes huge performs after we want him. Huge, emotional performs. And he was enormous for us tonight, and we simply form of fed off of that.”
A lapse within the second half noticed Atlanta make a run, besides, Boston referred to as a timeout and ripped off a 6-0 run that was paired with a giant defensive cease.
The Hawks will make runs, and sooner or later within the sequence, the run might give them the lead slightly than minimize a 30-point deficit to 12. Their surge in Sport 1 mirrored the identical blown leads Boston was giving up earlier within the season.
Nonetheless, this time round, their protection suffocated the run. In the event that they wish to proceed to dominate the sequence as they did within the first half on Saturday, the continuity of their defensive depth is the important thing. And so they appear to understand it.
