The Boston Celtics defeated the Miami Heat in Game 4 by a score of 116-99. Jayson Tatum was excellent all game on both sides of the ball. The Boston Celtics regained their composure and knocked down threes while getting stops defensively. Additionally, leading in steals and forcing 16 turnovers helped the Celtics dominate Game 4. Overall, it was a great performance from the Celtics; they would have wished to come earlier in the Eastern Conference Finals.
Boston’s main focus was avoiding the sweep and keeping the season alive for another game. However, in Jayson Tatum’s postgame press conference, he stated, “Try to take it one game at a time; we weren’t thinking about winning four in a row, just trying to save our season and win tonight.” This is the right mentality in the situation the Celtics put themselves in, and now Boston has a foothold to stand on in this series. Jimmy Butler was spectacular once again, scoring 29 points with 9 rebounds, but Jayson Tatum outshined him tallying 33 points, 11 rebounds, and 7 assists.
The Boston Celtics Finally Regain Their Identity
Role Players on The Boston Celtics Determined Game 4
The Miami Heat’s undrafted stars had dominated in the playoffs. In Game 4, it was the Celtics’ role players and bench that sparked a much-needed victory. Instead of laying down to die, Boston made it a street fight and took it to the Heat in Miami. Key players like Marcus Smart, Derrick White, and Jaylen Brown all had 2 steals in the game, which shifted momentum at big moments in the contest. In addition, Grant Williams and Al Horford came alive from outside the arc, Williams with 14 and Horford with 12.
Going into Game 5, the Celtics will need the same defensive effort and great shooting that earned them another game. When the Boston Celtics take the court again Thursday night, they will need the entire rotation to be at their best. A player who hasn’t produced yet and who will need to the remainder of the series is Malcolm Brogdon. The Sixth Man of the Year is only averaging 8.5 points, 3.3 rebounds, and 2 assists per game in the Eastern Conference Finals.
The Boston Celtics Found Their Stroke From Deep in Game 4
Going into Game 4, the Miami Heat had knocked down 13 more threes than the Boston Celtics. The difference is only three after the Game 4 victory, where the Celtics made 18 threes to the Heat’s 8. The trend will have to continue if the Boston Celtics hope to send the series back to Miami. Boston has been a three-point shooting team all season, but in the playoffs, the Celtics lost their identity, and the offense has been a struggle.
Stan Van Gundy mentioned a lot in the broadcast on TNT about the importance of touching the paint. Boston made a living off of kick-out threes all year until this Eastern Conference Finals. The pressure of the series seemed to weigh on Brown and Tatum, who were trying too much one-on-one. If the Celtics can shoot like they did in Game 4, then the series will live to see Game 6.
Boston Celtics Look To Become A Statistical Anomaly After Game 4 Win
Never in the history of the NBA has a team come back from an 0-3 series deficit. However, after the performance plus the situation Boston is in looks to be an intriguing final three games. Now that the Celtics have woken up and played how they did in the regular season, they need a momentum-boosting Game 5 win. The confidence seems like it cannot be higher for a team down 3-1.
A similar message was repeated by the entire team in postgame press conferences that it is one at a time. Overall, the pressure of winning four straight is insurmountable, while a game-by-game approach is not impossible. Believing is the most important part of the process. It will be a long road to come back from the 0-3 hole, but nothing is impossible.
