As one might expect on paper, and especially hope, this clash of the Eastern Conference, remake of the final of the conference final last spring, has kept all its promises.
At the end of an ultra attacking match, the Celtics have indeed won (134-121), for the fifth time in a row and more broadly for the 18th time in 22 games this season. As since the beginning of the exercise, the “Beantown” squad offered a superb offensive score, with 55% of its shots converted and 22 award-winning shots scored, under the impetus of its leader, Jayson Tatumwho again hit very hard, with 49 points and 11 rebounds!
On the side of the Heat, nothing to be ashamed of since the collective performance was frankly good (52% on shots including 45% at 3-pts, seven players at 10 points or more), but not enough to compete with that of their opponents, who therefore offer themselves a fifth consecutive success and continue to walk on water (and on the rest of the league) this season, especially at home (11th victory in 12 games).
WHAT YOU MUST REMEMBER
– Celtics offense reaches peak efficiency. Holders of the best offense in the league, both in points scored average (121.3 points per game on average) and in evaluation (121.5 on 100 possessions), the Celtics exploded those totals against the Heat defense. : 134 points scored at 55% on shots, including 49% at 3-pts (22/45), with 32 assists and six players at 10 or more points, including Jayson Tatum at 49 points! In short, the Celtics’ attack is incredibly effective this season, and the craziest thing is that we have the feeling that Joe Mazzulla’s men can do even better, every game. In this case, it would have been by losing fewer balls. Their leeway is frightening.
– Jayson Tatum is the leader in the MVP race. It was briefly mentioned above, but it obviously deserves its own paragraph. Leader, along with Giannis Antetokounmpo, of the MVP race since the start of the season, the Celtics winger can clearly stand out with the kind of performance he has just put out, especially as his team has the best record in the league. . The “JT” stat sheet against Miami: 49 points at 15/25 on shots (8/12 from behind the arc), including 28 in the first half, 11 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, for a single loss of ball. When the Heat got hopeful late in the game, the former Dukie said no, scoring three game-winning shots in a row. He signs one of his most successful performances in his career, which probably places him in the lead, alone, at the top of the ranking of the best player of the season at the time of these lines.
TOPS/FLOPS
✅ Jaylen Brown. He remains in the shadow of his friend who came close to 50 points, but the second “Jay” released a huge match, without making any noise. In 28 minutes, he indeed compiled 28 points (10/18), 7 rebounds and 5 assists. A big snag however: 6 balls lost, when Jayson Tatum only lost one.
✅ Malcolm Brogdon. Who made Malcolm Brogdon in the text: 21 points almost without waste on shots (7/10, including 5/7 behind the arc), and 6 rebounds. One of the best substitutes in the entire league, in the deadliest offense in the league. Life is unfair, for the other 29 teams.
✅ The good surprise Haywood Highsmith. Discreet this season (3.1 points in 18 minutes), the 25-year-old winger came out of the woodwork for the Heat, in this very offensive game. Preferred to Duncan Robinson as a substitute winger because his physical profile was more interesting to (try to) defend on the “Jay’s”, and taking advantage of the absence of Jimmy Butler, the native of Maryland notably stood out with a good exterior address, with a 4/6 in this exercise for 16 points in total, and generous activity on the rebound (8 holds). He also added 2 assists and 2 blocks. The kind of complete match, in a disputed duel, which should catch the eye of Erik Spoelstra.
✅⛔️ Tyler Herro & Bam Adebayo. Even if the double technical fault received by Bam Adebayo, synonymous with expulsion, spoils everything a little in the last moments, the two former Kentucky were able to join the locker room with their heads held high as they fought well. The first, despite 4 ball losses, is close to double-double with 22 points and 9 assists, but also 6 rebounds. The second, despite his expulsion and 5 ball losses, also managed his match with 23 points, 6 rebounds and 5 assists. One on the outside, the other rather mid-range, they orchestrated the Heat’s attack throughout the game.
THE FOLLOWING
Same poster, still in Boston, on the night of Friday to Saturday (01:00).
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
