On an evening that was honoring Isaiah Thomas, it appeared becoming that the Celtics used an enormous fourth quarter to take down the Miami Warmth 129-116. Boston shot 13-21 from the sphere and hit a brand new franchise file 10 three-pointers, taking pictures 10-15 from past the arc.
The Celtics had a 3-point lead going into the ultimate quarter however Boston got here out swinging with 6 straight threes from Sam Hauser, Derrick White, and Anfernee Simons that made Warmth head coach Erik Spoelstra name 3 timeouts within the first 4 minutes. This killed any likelihood of a Miami comeback as Boston was capable of slam the door shut and snap their two-game dropping streak.
2. Derrick White Sizzling Capturing
There’s one thing about taking part in the Miami Warmth that turns Derrick White into prime Steph Curry and tonight was one other installment of this as he scored a season excessive 33 factors on 9 three pointers together with 6 assists, 5 rebounds, and 4 blocks. White is the primary participant in NBA historical past with 9 threes and 4 blocks in a recreation as his taking pictures was important to holding the Celtics within the recreation when the rating was nonetheless shut.
One in every of my favourite threes of the evening from him got here on the 1:08 mark of the third quarter the place he made an entry move to Jaylen Brown who obtained the ball on the free throw line. With no the place to go, Brown handed it again out to White on the prime of the three-point line the place he hit a walk-up three.
My different favourite three of the evening got here on the 10:11 mark of the fourth quarter when the Celtics have been hitting all the pieces to begin the quarter. White had the ball and was being defended by Dru Smith who was draped throughout him. This led to White throwing up a fadeaway three with the shot clock expiring and it splashed in.
When Derrick White is hitting pictures there isn’t any one who’s going to cease him and tonight proved it. Erik Spoelstra talked about it post-game, saying, “I believe he’s essentially the most underrated participant within the league. The man is an absolute winner, no matter position you place him in … He simply does so many issues … He’s the most effective shot-blocking guard within the league.”
It actually is sweet to see him have these large scoring nights once more after struggling to shoot early on within the season. If White retains this up, there might be a late All-Star marketing campaign coming for him sooner or later.
3. Jaylen Brown Makes Historical past
Jaylen Brown made historical past vs. the Warmth as he handed Tommy Heinsohn for thirteenth place on the Celtics all time main scoring record. He additionally completed together with his ninth 3o+ level efficiency over his final 10 video games as he had 30 factors with 9 rebounds and seven assists on 9-18 FG and 2-4 3PM. Brown struggled within the first half of this recreation as he solely scored 6 factors on the half however he had an explosive third quarter as he scored 15 factors and alongside White, saved Boston within the recreation.
After struggling to get to the midrange, Brown simply began going downhill straight into the enamel of the protection of Miami and it yielded nice outcomes. Nothing highlights this alteration higher than the basket he made historical past on as with a full head of steam, he blew by Jaime Jaquez Jr. and had a simple layup on the rim.
Via 6 video games within the month of December, Brown is averaging an insane 32.7 PPG, 6.7 REB and 5.7 AST whereas taking pictures 54% from the sphere and 43% from three! It’s actually cool to see Jaylen Brown be capable to utterly change his play type nearly quarter-to-quarter when one a part of his recreation isn’t working. His facilitating and rebounding have additionally taken a considerable tick up because the starting of the season which I believe is a driving drive to the Celtics offense having the ability to click on. He wants severe consideration for 1st Group All-NBA as a result of that is elite stage basketball coming from Brown.
4. Sam Hauser Would possibly Be Again
The final two video games have been tough for Sam Hauser; he shot a mixed 0-11 going into the sport vs. Miami. Nevertheless, it appears like he busted out of his hunch. He scored 15 factors on 5-6 taking pictures from three. Hauser has been too good of a shooter in his profession up to now, so it was to see him return to kind on this recreation.
The most important pictures of the evening got here within the fourth quarter when the Celtics solely had a 3-point lead and Hauser hit back-to-back threes to place Miami on their heels. The primary three got here when he slipped out of display and the Warmth had two gamers shut out on Derrick White who made a fast move to Hauser who had a large open three. The second three of the quarter got here off of a steal from Hugo Gonzalez who handed it forward to Neemias Queta. Queta discovered a streaking Hauser who pulled up and splashed a 3 that had TD Backyard on its ft.
I hope that is the beginning of a sizzling taking pictures run for Hauser now as a result of what he gives off of the bench for the Celtics is crucial. He has by no means shot under 40% from three in his total life (actual stat, not hyperbole) so even with the sluggish begin, I’m optimistic the water will discover its stage.
5. Hugo Gonzalez is Chaos Incarnated
Describing the best way Hugo Gonzalez performs basketball is like watching Taz from Looney Toons. When Gonzalez will get on the court docket, a path of destruction and chaos follows go well with and it places a smile on my face once I watch, particularly when he will get elevated minutes like he did vs. the Warmth. In 29 minutes, Hugo scored 10 factors with 8 rebounds, 2 steals and 1 block whereas ending as a +22.
Chaos was the definition of the primary basket Gonzalez obtained when after Derrick White missed a shot, Josh Minott made an unimaginable hustle play to maintain the ball in bounds and move it again to White. White then dribbled by the defender to discover a streaking Gonzalez who put Jaime Jaquez Jr. on a poster.
On the defensive finish Gonzalez was swarming, as he made an unimaginable block on Dru Smith who thought he had a large open three within the nook however Hugo ran throughout the court docket to contest the shot. His greatest steal of the evening got here firstly of the fourth quarter when the Warmth have been making an attempt to only make a move. Gonzalez fought to maintain it inbounds and got here away with it, resulting in a Sam Hauser three and really hyped response.
Gonzalez obtained excessive reward from his teammates as post-game Derrick White talked about his influence saying, “I noticed within the Summer time League what everybody was saying about him, that he simply by no means stops. That’s what I anticipated when he obtained right here and it’s been true.” It’s cool to see White give the rookie reward as a result of Gonzalez has actually been spectacular. I can’t wait to proceed watching Hugo Gonzalez develop this season and I actually hope we get extra video games with him taking part in elevated minutes.
6. Anfernee Simons, Legit Contributor
I’ve mentioned in 10 Takeaways articles prior to now that Anfernee Simons exhibits up in large time matchups and tonight was an excellent instance of that as his scoring was enormous for the Celtics. Simons completed with 14 factors on 6-10 FG and 2-5 3PM and a number of the baskets he had on this recreation actually impressed me.
The primary one which got here to thoughts was Simons’ first shot of the sport on the finish of the primary quarter. With time operating low and having Bam Adebayo switched on to him, Simons confirmed some blazing pace to blow by Bam and end with a layup. This skill to make use of his pace downhill is one thing that Simons is actually good at and I would love to see extra of.
One other play the place he showcased his pace was within the fourth quarter the place he had Kel’el Ware one-on-one. Simons hesitated and blew by Ware for a candy trying. finger roll. Anfernee Simons will all the time be an authorized bucket and his scoring tonight actually was a optimistic for the Celtics as an entire.
Norman Powell is among the most underrated gamers within the NBA and is having an all-star stage season with the Miami Warmth this 12 months. Nevertheless, the Celtics have been capable of restrict his scoring and maintain him fairly fairly mush the whole evening as he completed with 18 factors however on 7-21 FG and 1-11 3PM.
Early within the recreation, Powell was making an attempt his greatest to get to the rim as a lot as he may however the Celtics have been capable of keep in entrance of him and swarm him with our bodies. Payton Pritchard did an excellent job on this play to remain in entrance of him and drive him into a troublesome shot with Derrick White additionally leaping in his face.
After his makes an attempt at making an attempt to get to the paint have been foiled, Powell actually simply began chucking as many threes as he may. Identical to at first of the sport, the Celtics have been capable of contest these pictures and with him additionally having an off evening, it resulted within the Warmth’s offense actually struggling. Miami’s offense is based on pace and if you attempt to get the shot off as rapidly as potential and you retain lacking them, these missed pictures can actually decelerate your offense.
The Warmth are a very nice rebounding crew and once they began a double large lineup with Bam Adebayo and Kel’el Ware I used to be a bit involved in regards to the Celtics skill to rebound. There have been instances on this recreation the place the Warmth have been capable of get additional possessions however over all Boston did a terrific job of controlling the boards. The Warmth out rebounded them nevertheless it was solely be one (47-46) nevertheless it was the Celtics who did numerous work with 42 factors within the paint vs Miami’s 36. The Warmth seemed a step sluggish when it got here to defending the basket all evening and perhaps it was as a result of it was the second recreation of a back-to-back for them however both manner Boston did a terrific job of profiting from their protection.
9. Mazzulla For Coach of the Yr
The beginning of this season has proved to me that Joe Mazzulla goes to go down as among the best coaches in Celtics historical past. That is likely to be loads however the best way he has been capable of get essentially the most out of the fellows on this roster like Neemias Queta, Jordan Walsh, Hugo Gonzalez, Josh Minott, and Baylor Scheierman is one thing that’s particular. The Celtics teaching workers as an entire has completed an unimaginable job in relation to getting them ready and that was seen when everybody was bloody and overwhelmed throughout follow earlier than this recreation even began.
All the educating got here again tonight because the fourth quarter three level taking pictures was a microcosm of Mazzulla Ball. Mazzulla was capable of push all the proper buttons tonight when it got here to lineups as effectively. He seen Walsh wasn’t hitting his pictures early on so he gave Gonzalez and Hauser extra minutes and it labored to perfection as he coached circles round Erik Spoelstra.
His submit recreation presser actually seemed like this recreation meant one thing to him. He talked in regards to the followers and even after the 0-3 begin to season, they nonetheless confirmed up. Mazzulla mentioned, “Even once we have been 0-3.. I all the time turned to Sam Cassell and I’m like, ‘Man, this place continues to be packed.’ So individuals simply respect actually good basketball.”
I really like listening to stuff like this as a result of it exhibits Joe actually cares about this crew and the town as an entire. He needs the most effective for the Celtics group irrespective of if Jayson Tatum is taking part in or not and its translating to wins and the eighth highest scoring differential in Celtics historical past. If the Celtics are a prime 4-6 seed within the East by the point the playoffs roll round, I don’t see how Joe Mazzulla doesn’t win Coach of the Yr as a result of he deserves it.
The Celtics honored Isaiah Thomas again to TD Backyard tonight as they have been celebrating his 52 level efficiency vs the Warmth on December thirtieth, 2016. He was sitting court docket aspect with Celtics proprietor Invoice Chisholm and obtained a really lengthy and lound standing ovation by the TD Backyard crowd.
The entire evening felt devoted to him and the Celtics did a terrific job giving him his flowers. He had an interview on NBC Sports activities Boston in the course of the recreation the place he talked about his former teammate Jaylen Brown saying,“I might be mendacity if I mentioned I assumed he can be the place he’s proper now… it’s so dope to see him now as an All-Star, Finals MVP, NBA champion… I’m like a proud large brother.” He was additionally proven on the video board earlier than the fourth quarter began to hype up the group and perhaps the King of the Fourth’s magic rubbed off on the Celtics as that they had a terrific taking pictures quarter to finish the sport. General a terrific evening that was devoted to him.
It makes me assume how a lot I really like all the love that the town of Boston offers to IT. It actually places a smile on my face. Thomas was the participant to first get me actually into basketball again in 2016 and continues to be my favourite participant to today. He impressed an entire technology of Celtics followers together with his play and though it might need ended on a bitter observe, he has by no means had a nasty factor to say in regards to the metropolis of Boston. I actually hope Boston can discover a solution to signal him to a 10-day contract and even only a 1-day contract to retire as a Celtic as a result of it appears like it could be the proper ending to his story, ending his profession within the place that cherished him essentially the most.
