INSTANT REACTION: Celtics "played like a team down 0-2" in the playoffs

Anyway, Tom J is here with the Celtics after the game, the live Celtics got the 104-84 win here in game three of this first round playoff series, so I was able to get back in front in this series , Edie, but it all goes back to the first half. We talked at halftime that the Celtics were able to build a 24-point lead and then it almost felt like it was storm weather there in the second half and uh, just Pro, you know, Miami couldn't really mess with them and were doing what had to be done to get this victory right.

I thought it all started with their intensity and their intentionality, as Joe Moula likes to say all the time, everything they did was with a purpose, it was forceful and it was with intention, and then the other. One thing I talked about about this game was let's not get involved in talking about the refs and bad calls or not getting these calls and just play and I didn't think we'd talk to the refs too much today, I thought tonight. I thought what they did was play physical basketball. Miami got extremely physical with him on the perimeter, we got just as physical with them, we didn't complain about anything, we just went out and

played

like a fallen

team

. 02 in a playoff game, I felt like every shot Miami took was extremely contested and we worked, we worked very hard on the defensive end and that's why I feel like we were able to build that lead because it started on the defensive end. and that is what we will have to preserve for us to win this series and all series in the future, yes, defensively, Miami had 12 points in that first quarter, then the 39 points they had in the first half were the fewest they had in one half.

In any game this season, including the entire regular season, Eddie, so what was it about the defense there in those first 24 minutes that set the tone and gave the Celtics such a big lead as the number one effort? It was an effort to get everyone on the same page. the communication was perfect, you could see everyone was talking and then just making sure that whatever the game plan was, we made sure we contested every shot they had and if we have to do the extra rotation, I'm not mad at two guys running towards the ball at the same time, if we're trying to take someone out of the three and then if they kick that ball, someone runs towards it and we'll get out of it.

I just felt like I like this

team

, I felt like they were really committed today, so again 104 to 84, your final score went down in Miami and you saw Jason Tatum score 22 points. Jaylen Brown also had 22. The Celtics had four guys in double figures. Porzingis with 18. Good comeback game for him and 16 for Derek White as well and you also got some good contributions off the bench, but the Celtics, in a game where, you know, they were 11 for 37 from three, so, by far, I mean that's their worst three point shot uh night of this series, but they can win this game easily as they can do it in other areas, Eddie, and you know, you look at him 39 of 82 from uh from Overall, you saw Jason Tatum take over there, what do you think of his game, especially down the stretch?

I thought he had another phenomenal ground game. Look at the numbers he put up, he almost made a mistake and had another triple. the double he made, he didn't blow up the scoreboard with his points, but everything else he did, he rebounded the basketball, he had 11 rebounds, he made all the right plays, um, he didn't make H or number, and this is the key more important. he has the ball in his hands a lot and he's going to score or try to make a play for himself or make plays for others. He didn't have any turnovers so he took care of the basketball.

I think the team took care of the basketball relatively well. In this game today, what I see is that Jason Tatum is understanding that I don't have to go out and score 50 points to win, if that's what the game dictates, then I feel like he goes out. and he's capable of doing that, but the game forced him to play the way he

played

and I think it starts on the defensive end, you don't have as much pressure on you if you're able to build a lead, it all starts with defense. and I will never doubt that.

I think this team, when they're locked in defensively, they can play with the number one pace and if they want to play a slower game, once they get up and just say "hello." I know we don't have to rush, we could play through Porzingis or JT, they have the ability to do that, but it all starts with defense, when that team is committed like that, they were crafty, they got deflections, they were contesting shots fighting for them. Screens I'm not even mad about the little fight between Sam Hower uh when he fouled Tyler hero Tyler hero there the ball I like that because the heat have been the big bad bullies against us no, no, no, it's not going to not happen anymore, you know at some point you have to draw the line in the sand and I think they drew it in this game, yeah, and you also saw Jason Tatum, that little hit on that changeup right on Caleb Martin, that was a little bit too And pleasant. moment there, meanwhile send him back to South Beach Abby chins got Jaylen Brown Jaylen the last time you spoke to us you were determined to avoid a repeat performance in the second game, what did you think about the way they went out, did you take the control?

Today I think we came out and did what we were supposed to do, we executed on defense, I still think we could play better on offense, but I think we did a good job tonight, how much did you put on your shoulders to match the physicality of the heat ? really just get on that glass, I mean, it's been a challenge, make sure we get the rebounds, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds, you know, that's where the game is won and lost, so that's the challenge, right? How important was it to catch the great friend? and chrisop porzingis going early yeah it's very important to get him going you know he's a key component of our team they want to change and tonight he took an advantage from their matchup such a big reason why we were able to win tonight what type of impulse provided pton?

Off the bench, Peyton is a dog man who came in, made high energy plays, made timely baskets and you just know, space the floor for that, so P's been doing what he's been doing all year, no expectations, but what positive aspects do you get from this? fourth game um, we run it. I still think we could play much better. We're still getting a feel for the

playoffs

along with this unit. um so we should hope to max out the next game. Thank you, congratulations. Okay, thank you very much Abby. Alright, let's take a look now and look at this game and Celtic are getting the 20 point win in Miami.

What did you like most about the adjustments they made in the second game? I mean, the adjustments are just They were more in Miami airspace. I thought their pickup points were a lot higher, they were a lot more physical. I just think those little things really get taken care of offensively. We don't force anything. You didn't say, "Okay, I have a faceoff and I have to shoot, the ball went in a lot, I thought we handled the ball and made the right play and, I'm going to be honest, Miami played very tough defense today, they were a group very skilled and they contested almost every game. one of our shots, but I think our game plan depends on our patience and I thought: if you could watch pton Pritchard from the moment he signed up and how the game happened defensively. at a different level.

I think that was It was a big moment for us, yeah, I really thought it all starts with our defenseman We can't play with Pace if we get the ball out of the net and let the team get ready, whether that. they want to run a uh, press a checker and then get into a zone or whatever, they can set their defense, you know, they're not crossover games, but when we can make stops, we can get out in the open court and it doesn't necessarily mean that let's look for counterattack points, but what it does do is that we are starting our offensive from the beginning, the collection points are a little deeper instead of being on our heels from behind. towards the middle of the field for the collection points of the opposing teams, it is totally different, we are getting to our place where we want to start our offense and I think that is the difference in this game, we were more physical, we were more aggressive and you I know sometimes when you meet bullies you have a bully to bully and I felt like we did that sometimes you know they were still slick and they would get away but I like the Scout scrum.

I don't know about you, you were right. There is so much energy in the building when Tyler Herro threw the ball to Sam Hower. He wasn't angry about what Sam did. I mean, I know it wasn't intentional, but it was just one of those physical plays and then Python came in. Tyler Hero's face and then that persistence I like things like that because it shows that we're not going to back down, we're not going to back down from you right here, okay, yeah, they beat me, I pushed them all right now, they want to do this now, all. more comes to my defense now we're talking about what we do because G you know this, the words about the Celtics have been that you could Punk them if you get physical with them if you change that narrative since the Boston Celtics there is nothing that any team in this league you could do with changing that narrative, yeah, I mean, I think that's when you know we talked to me and Eddie talked to guys around the league, if the Celtics have a weakness that they think it is, it's like that. you can get under them, you can push it, you can Punk it, but I like the way this team has responded since then, remember that incident in the first game like that, they respond very well and I thought that, uh, I just thought today.

Our defense was physical, it was prepared and if we do that and share the ball, take care of the ball, we'll be fine.