Just like that, the Celtics find themselves in an 0-2 hole in the Eastern Conference Finals as the series heads from Boston to Miami. The team that was the projected favorite to come out of the East and even win the title now finds itself on the ropes.
It hasn’t been just one thing that’s ailed the Celtics, either. From extended slumps to odd coaching decisions and more, they have a lot they’ll need to get right if they want to extend their season. In order to do that, they’ll need to turn to the teams’ biggest names.
Jayson Tatum
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 19: Jayson Tatum #0 of the Boston Celtics dives for a lose ball against the Miami Heat during the fourth quarter in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 19, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
This has been an odd series for Tatum. Objectively, his strong play at times is the only reason the first two games were even close. Through three quarters in Game 2 he scored 34 points on 10-of-17 shooting, while adding 13 rebounds and five assists.
Yet, as the team’s superstar he shouldn’t be just keeping them in games but getting them over the hump. And that’s where he’s come up short.
After not attempting a shot in the fourth quarter of Game 1, Tatum went 0-for-3 from the floor in the fourth quarter of Game 2. Although he added five points from the free throw line, he also turned the ball over twice and had a couple of costly fouls.
The Heat play a tough, grind-it-out style of basketball that usually leads to close games. If the Celtics are going to win games in this series, they’re going to need to be able to go punch-for-punch down the stretch. That should fall on Tatum, as the team’s best player. To this point, he’s yet to answer the bell. Can he do so once they get to Miami.
One impressive thing about Tatum in this series has been his ability to win outside of his normal play-style. Instead of letting loose from three, he’s made his biggest impact attacking the basket and either finishing at the rim or finding cutters and kicking out to shooters when the defense collapses in on him. That approach hasn’t been as prevalent in the fourth quarter as it has been early in games, which would be an easy adjustment to make.
Jaylen Brown
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 19: Jaylen Brown #7 of the Boston Celtics looks on against the Miami Heat during the first quarter in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 19, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
During the regular season, when Tatum had an off night it was Brown that would pick up the slack. That hasn’t been the case in this series.
Brown is shooting 38.6 percent from the floor in this series, compared to the 54.1 percent he shot during the first two series. He’s particularly struggled shooting from three, where he’s 2-for-13. Sloppy play on both ends of the floor has also been a problem. In Game 1 it was on offense with six turnovers, followed by a minus-24 showing in Game 2. He was also held scoreless in the fourth quarter of Friday night’s game.
It’s gotten to the point where Brown is pressing at times, trying to work his way out of this slump. That seems to only be compounding the issues. Perhaps a change in setting will help as the series shifts to Miami, but it’s going to be tough for the Celtics to win games if he keeps playing this way.
Secondary defense
May 17, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Miami Heat forward Caleb Martin (16) shoots against Boston Celtics guard Marcus Smart (36) during the second half in game one of the Eastern Conference Finals for the 2023 NBA playoffs at TD Garden. Credit: Paul Rutherford-USA TODAY Sports
Following Game 2, there was a lot of talk about how the Celtics can better defend Jimmy Butler. There’s good reason for that. Butler has been the best offensive player in this series, scoring 35 points in Game 1 followed by 31 in Game 2. He’s been at his best with the game on the line, and is arguably the biggest reason the Heat are up 2-0.
That all being said, Butler is a fantastic player. He’s going to get his. What may be hurting the Celtics more is their ability to force Butler to win these games single-handedly. Miami’s secondary scoring has played a major role in this series, which is much more unexpected than what Butler is doing – especially after the Heat ranked dead last in the NBA in scoring in the regular season, averaging 109.5 points per game.
Coming into this series, Butler was averaging 31.1 points per game in the playoffs. The next closest player on the Heat was Bam Adebayo at 18.1, then Gabe Vincent at 11.5 points per game. Through the first two rounds, it really was Butler carrying the Heat.
Now, he has help. Adebayo has hit the 20-point mark in both games. Caleb Martin gave the Heat 15 points in Game 1, and then 25 in Game 2 after averaging 10.8 points per game in the first two rounds. Max Struss has already gotten into double-figures twice.
These are players the Celtics should be able to stop simply with one-on-one defense. By doing so, it would allow them to pay Butler the right amount of focus and squeeze the offense through him. Instead, they’ve let the Heat run often in transition due to excessive turnovers, get second chances off offensive rebounds (Miami has 18 through the first two games), and simply over-rotated on defense too often. That all needs to be tightened up.
Joe Mazzulla
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 19: The Boston Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla looks on against the Miami Heat during the first quarter in game two of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 19, 2023 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Adam Glanzman/Getty Images)
You had to know Mazzulla was going to appear on this list. Erik Spoelstra has won their head-to-head matchup convincingly through two games.
Timeouts were the biggest issue for Mazzulla in Game 1. Not only when he did and didn’t call them, but how he failed to regularly use the opportunities to make the nessesary adjustments. That’s something we detailed before Game 2.
In Game 2, the bigger issue was his rotations. Particularly, how he managed the end of the game. Mazzulla elected to stick with Al Horford – who was having another rough night – rather that go with Robert Williams who was playing one of this best games of the playoffs. After the game, Mazzulla defended the decision by pointing out that “Al has finished every game he’s played.”
Celtics fans may roll their eyes at that comment, but there’s something to be said for continuity. Sticking with a group that is used to playing together in high-pressure situations has its advantages.
That being said, if that’s the plan that needs to be the plan. Despite preaching continuity in sticking with Horford, Mazzulla elected to go with the hot hand in Grant Williams, keeping him on the floor late over the extra guard – either Malcolm Brogdon or Derrick White.
Williams was playing well, but a season of watching these Celtics made it apparent that those stretches can go to his head. That’s exactly what happened, as he ended up getting in the face of Jimmy Butler late in the game, sparking the Heat run that clinched the outcome. Mazzulla stuck with Williams too long, got greedy, and it burned him.
Mazzulla’s matchup with Spoelstra is a tough one no matter what. The Celtics may never have an outright coaching advantage in this series, but Mazzulla needs to take command of his team and try to close that gap.
