SAN FRANCISCO – A 3-point spinal flurry that leaves the opponent helpless, seeking answers from a higher power. The players on the bench celebrate with deserved arrogance every time the ball bursts through the net without resistance from the edge. A dot run that makes you look at record books without realizing that something so devastating has ever happened before.
In the first-ever NBA Finals game at Chase Center, this was to be the story of the Golden State Warriors – their return to the top echelon of the basketball universe. Instead, the Boston Celtics continued an unprecedented run in the fourth quarter caused by headlights and precise ball movement to come out with a 120-108 victory in Game 1 in San Francisco, exhausting lives from what was an electrically furious sold-out crowd. .
Golden State’s story, which is too good to be true, was already written in the middle of the first quarter. Stephen Curry was on an unstoppable heater that only he is capable of, going 6-on-8 from a range of 3 points on the way to 21 points in the starting frame. Fast forward to the second half, when the Warriors’ third-quarter trademark turned their two-point deficit into a 15-point lead with just over two minutes left.
Such a third quarter with 38 points was a knockout for many unfortunate rivals in the last eight seasons of Warriors basketball. To say Boston responded would be one of the biggest underestimations in the NBA’s 75-year history.
When people think of Warriors, they probably think of 3-pointers – the long-distance waves of Curry and Clay Thompson stand above all other shooters in basketball. On Thursday, however, Boston used the Warriors’ favorite weapon against them.
The Celtics outscored Golden State 40-16 in the last frame, making it even more striking than the incredible 9-on-12 shooting with 3 points they poured over the Bay Area and its fans. At one point, they made seven consecutive 3 points, with the last of Al Horford giving his team a six-point lead, which, given the imbalance of momentum at the time, seemed virtually insurmountable.
The turnaround was even more remarkable, given that Jason Tatum, Boston’s leading scorer who just won an MVP in the Eastern Conference finals, was held to 12 points in 3 of 17 shots, facing a variety of aggressive defensive views. all night, including box and -one. However, his 13 assists embody the Celtics – backed by head coach Imode Udoka’s announcement – committed to playing the right game, however simple, believing it will ultimately yield positive results.
“They do a great job of helping things like that. So, you know, it’s obviously just as simple as pulling two, finding someone who’s open, “Tatum said after Game 1.” That’s exactly what I was trying to do. “
Not only did the Celtics make 3 – they were 21 against 41 for the game – that was the way they set them up. They moved the ball quickly, penetrating the paint and kicked to players in perfect position with even more perfect passes. Take a look at this game, where the Celtics make four passes in six seconds, leading to an open 3 for Horford, who set an NBA record for players making their debut in the final with six 3 points a night.
We dare say that the movement of the ball looks like Warriors.
The Celtics also used a small ball, a staple of Golden State from previous years, to dominate the fourth quarter at both ends. The unit on the court when Boston finally took the lead was Horford in the center, along with Tatum, Jaylan Brown, Derrick White and Peyton Pritchard. Less than three minutes later, the Celtics developed a six-point lead and played Warriors center Kevan Looney off the court. Steve Kerr competed with the Poole Party from Curry, Thompson, Draymond Green, Andrew Wiggins and Jordan Poole – who dispersed after looking undefeated against the Denver Nuggets in the first round – but failed to fill the gaping holes in the dam. Warriors, which the Celtics tore off fiercely.
The attack was so widespread that the Warriors had no one to involve. Horford, Brown, White and Marcus Smart made two 3s in the fourth quarter. Pritchard added one. “Strength in numbers” has been Warriors’ motto for years, but on Thursday it certainly applies to the Celtics.
“We are proud that everyone can contribute from both sides,” Udoka said after the match. “It’s rewarding, especially on a night when your best has a night off.”
In defense, the Celtics moved on to many more shifts and pre-shifts in the fourth quarter to limit Curry’s shooting and Warriors’ penetration. Udoka said the small unit he played also played with more physique and “looked worn out.” [the Warriors] They held Golden State to 6 of 15 shots in the fourth quarter, including 1-for-6 from a 3-point range, before the benches were emptied at the last minute, forcing as many turnovers as the Warriors had assists. the composition of the small balls paid dividends for Boston and this is something that should be watched as the series progresses.
In a sense, it was appropriate for the Celtics to get out of a big deficit in their first game of the NBA Finals – after all, their regular season was marked by an incredible act of switching. After a mediocre start, they turned 25-25 on January 28th. From that point on, they came out 26-7 with a net rating plus -13.8, five points better than their nearest rival, and won No. 2 in the Eastern Conference standings. The Celtics know how to fight back because they fought all year, and Udoka continued to preach resilience as the Warriors increased their lead in the third quarter.
“We’ve been through a lot. We’ve been through a lot of experiences, a lot of losses. We know what it takes to win,” Brown said after Game 1. “I pay tribute to everyone in this locker room from top to bottom. We have a great, resilient group. your weakest link. “
The strangest part of the playoffs and especially the finals is that once the last buzzer sounds in match 1, everything is for game 2. Both teams will review the film and make adjustments, knowing that the complexion of Sunday’s rematch may not look like a opener. But on Thursday, the Celtics confirmed what they’ve come up with over the past five months – they believe they have what it takes to be NBA champions, and nothing can stop them from thinking that.
“We can’t go too high and we can’t go too low. We played very well, but we have to compare that energy in the next game and we understand that,” said Smart. “We all know this game is a running game. You don’t get into the game by planning to play badly. Things happen. You just have to find a way.”
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