The Celtics have been with out Jaylen Brown and you might actually inform. Boston had a tricky time getting something going constantly on offense and Indiana was not a lot better. Nonetheless, the Celtics nonetheless had an opportunity to win this sport late within the fourth quarter regardless of some chilly taking pictures. Derrick White tied the sport with a layup on the 29.1 second mark, however Pascal Siakam would reply out of a Pacers timeout with a floater to take the lead once more. White missed the ultimate three-point try for the sport and Boston begins out their highway journey 0-1.
2. Three Level Capturing Distinction
Boston was on this sport all the means and actually may have damaged it open in the event that they have been simply capable of hit their three pointers. The Celtics shot 9-35 (26%) from three and it actually was the distinction between them successful and dropping. The Pacers are recognized for not being an important three-point taking pictures staff and have misplaced two video games to the Celtics this 12 months as a result of they bought off to a scorching taking pictures begin and fell off within the second half. Nonetheless on this sport, Indiana was capable of hit their threes at a better clip, taking pictures 16-37 (43%) from past the arc. It’s a make or miss league and on this sport, the Celtics simply missed too many threes.
3. Begin of Third Quarter Felt Just like the Turning Level
At halftime, the Celtics have been successful 56-53 and it felt like with an excellent begin to the third quarter, they may doubtlessly begin to run away with the sport. Nonetheless, on the 5:49 mark of the quarter, the Celtics had 2 factors on 1-9 taking pictures with 4 turnovers and by no means had the lead once more for the remainder of the sport. Indiana was capable of rating 15 factors in that point and opened up their largest lead of the evening within the third quarter at 13 factors. The Celtics would bounce again from this gradual begin, ending the quarter on a 19-11 run but it surely actually did really feel just like the momentum shifted to the Pacers.
Coming into this sport, Payton Pritchard had averaged 26.5 factors and 9 assists within the 2 video games that Jaylen Brown has missed this season. Pritchard as soon as once more put up a stable efficiency, scoring 23 factors with 8 assists on 10-22 taking pictures.
He began the sport in his bag and doing an important job facilitating the offense. Within the first quarter, he bought Jay Huff on an island by himself on the high of the three-point line. He hit Huff with a hesitation dribble and blew proper by him to make a go to a wide-open Luka Garza beneath the basket for a layup.
Pritchard had a stretch towards the top of the third quarter the place he scored 9 straight factors and led the Celtics to slicing the Pacers 13-point result in 2 by the top of the quarter. His aggressiveness on attending to the basket was a giant a part of this explosion, like this bucket the place he bought an important display from Garza and blew by Micah Potter for the layup.
5. Queta Strong Efficiency
Though he completed with a -12 on the evening, I believed Neemias Queta had an excellent efficiency on this sport, ending with 15 factors and eight rebounds on 7-9 taking pictures in 32 minutes.
When the Celtics have been coming again within the third quarter, Queta made this unimaginable play. He bought the steal from Pascal Siakam and handed it forward to Sam Hauser. Hauser handed it to Pritchard who discovered a streaking Queta coming down the lane for a giant slam.
The opposite play that impressed me on this sport was the poster dunk he had on Quenton Jackson. Queta slipped out of a display from Derrick White as two Pacers defenders went for the ball. White discovered him and Queta unloaded this monster slam on Jackson.
6. Walsh seemed assured
This season has been a breakout 12 months for Jordan Walsh but it surely hasn’t all the time been good. After a stretch of 20 video games in a row with him within the beginning lineup, Joe Mazzulla determined to maneuver him again to the bench on January third towards the Clippers and in that point, Walsh has seemingly bounced again. Within the 6 video games he’s performed since coming again to the bench he’s averaging 4.2 factors and 5.2 rebounds whereas taking pictures 45% from the sector and 40% from three whereas sustaining his unimaginable hustle performs. Walsh completed with 6 factors, 9 rebounds, and three steals on 3-5 taking pictures and is beginning to flip again into the man we noticed in the beginning of the season when he was beginning to escape.
On the finish of the third quarter, Walsh made an important minimize when Pritchard was caught beneath the basket. Walsh bought the dump off go, pump faked, and completed with a reverse layup.
My favourite play of the evening from Walsh got here on the 2:16 mark of the fourth quarter. After chasing down Siakam on protection and grabbing the steal, the Celtics went the opposite means for a quick break. Walsh then sprinted beneath neath the basket the place Hauser handed it in to him. Two Pacers defenders went at Walsh so as soon as he acquired the go he discovered a large open Pritchard for 3 the place he knocked it down.
Wether he goes again into the beginning lineup or stays within the bench function, Walsh appears like he’s getting his confidence again.
7. Celtics tough stats within the clutch
Tonight was the twentieth time this season the Celtics have been in a “clutch” sport this season and have fallen to a file of 8-12; that’s 80% of Boston’s losses this season. The Celtics final 4 losses have additionally are available clutch time and it makes you marvel if the Celtics have an issue ending shut video games.
You may have the ability to excuse this sport towards the Pacers since Jaylen Brown was out, however the final three losses have had Brown within the lineup. Within the loss to the Path Blazers on December twenty eighth, they allowed Donovan Clingan to attain a sport successful layup off an offensive rebound. Boston then turned the ball over in again to again possessions to finish the sport. Within the loss to the Nuggets on January seventh, Denver outscored Boston 35-28 within the fourth quarter, together with a 22-6 run to start the quarter that seemingly put the sport out of attain. The Celtics tried to make a late comeback enjoying the free throw sport however they nonetheless misplaced. Lastly, within the loss to the Spurs on January tenth, they as soon as once more bought outscored within the fourth quarter and Victor Wembanyama had his means with Boston’s protection. The Celtics had an opportunity to tie the sport late however turnovers and missed pictures ended any likelihood of that occuring.
Coming into this sport towards the Pacers, the Celtics had the worst defensive score within the NBA in clutch time this season at 128.2. Lack of execution within the fourth quarter has actually been an issue and ensuing within the Celtics dropping a number of shut video games that they arguably ought to be successful. The addition of Jayson Tatum in these conditions may repair these issues when he will get again to full power however as of now, these numbers are regarding.
8. Refs Calls Didn’t Actually Change
After Jaylen Brown referred to as out the refs in his postgame press convention within the Celtics loss to the Spurs on Saturday, he was fined $35,000 from the league. Did his feedback change the best way the Celtics have been being referred to as? Probably not. Each groups have been referred to as for 7 private fouls on the evening and Boston did win the free throw differential 9-6 but it surely nonetheless felt just like the Celtics misplaced the sport on a fairly unhealthy no name.
Earlier than Pascal Siakam hit his sport winner, he set what seemed like an unlawful display on Derrick White. This allowed White to have to modify on Siakam and allowed him to hit the sport successful floater.
Joe Mazzulla was adamant in his postgame, giving the identical reply to each query he was requested saying, “unlawful display.” Watching the play again, it actually does seem like an unlawful display and the Pacers bought away with it there. I assume Mazzulla may get fined for his feedback.
9. Strengthening Brown’s MVP Case?
Jaylen Brown was dominated out for this sport with Low Again Spasms and though the Celtics are 2-0 when he doesn’t play this 12 months, they actually wanted him tonight. Within the 2 video games that Boston has performed Indiana this season, Brown is averaging 30.5 factors, 6.0 rebounds, and three.0 assists on 53% taking pictures from the sector and 44% taking pictures from three. In a bizarre means I can see this sport serving to strengthening an MVP case for Brown simply by how a lot the Celtics struggled. Brown has been capable of be the offensive engine for Boston all season and in crunch time, they usually flip to him to guide the Celtics to the win. However in a sport the place he didn’t play, the Celtics misplaced to the worst staff within the NBA. Seems like a fairly beneficial participant should you ask me.
10. Celtics honor Paul Pierce
Boston has been carrying their Metropolis Jerseys this season to honor legendary moments in Celtics historical past. Tonight, they wore them to honor Paul Pierce’s legendary Recreation 4 efficiency within the 2003 Quarterfinals towards the Pacers the place he dropped 37 factors, 10 rebounds, and seven assists to guide Boston to the win. Nonetheless, this sport is perhaps higher recognized for play the place Pierce was jawing backwards and forwards to Al Harrington earlier than hitting a step-back three in his face to finish the third quarter with one of the vital legendary calls of all time from Mike Gorman.
