Inside The Celtics

Here's What Stood Out in Game 4 Win vs. Heat: Celtics Get Back to Defensive Identity to Save Their Season

Lockdown defense and 34 points from Jayson Tatum propel Celtics to a Game 5 in Boston.

Bobby Krivitsky

Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
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The Celtics talked about needing to get back to a defensive identity. They warned the Heat, "Don't let us get one." But Boston's talked the talk before. Once the game tips off, that's when the true test takes place.

Reminding everyone what they're capable of, after an up-and-down first half, it was the defending Eastern Conference champions' turn to land a third-quarter haymaker, much like Miami had done in Games 1 and 2.

Locking in on defense and providing more resistance to stay out of the scrambling rotations the Heat have kept them in much of this series led to limiting the hosts to 23 points on 36.4 percent shooting.

Those stops, including five Miami turnovers, allowed the Celtics to play with pace. Between that and effective ball movement, the visitors consistently created quality, in-rhythm shots, putting 38 points on the board.

And in the final frame, Boston didn't take its foot off the gas, sticking with the formula that best suits it, as it outscored the hosts 66-43 in the second half, with Jayson Tatum delivering 25 of his game-high 33 points, helping put the finishing touches on a 116-99 win.

Now, for a deep dive into what stood out throughout the matchup as the Celtics extended their season, forcing a Game 5 at TD Garden.

1. The Celtics showed fight to start and made their first four shots, but their defense continued to betray them. A lack of resistance made it too easy for the Heat to get into the gaps, relentlessly keeping the visitors in rotation and generating quality shots.

Then came the turnovers, including two in a row by Jayson Tatum, an ominous sign for the outcome. Boston finished the first frame with five turnovers -- matching their total assists -- leading to five points for Miami.

Even when the Celtics took care of the rock, there wasn't enough attacking off the catch or off-ball activity, making it difficult for anyone to find a rhythm.

Tatum and Jaylen Brown registered five points each in the period, and Boston missed nine of its last 11 threes.

At the other end, while the Celtics' defense struggled to cool off the Heat, who shot 50 percent from the field, including 4/10 from beyond the arc, limiting the hosts, who had three giveaways, to one offensive rebound, helped keep them under 30.

But trailing 29-23 after 12 minutes, for Boston to extend its season, the visitors must play much better at both ends.

2. But the visitors demonstrated a resiliency they've lacked in this year's Eastern Conference Finals, starting with Al Horford knocking down a pair of threes to wake up their offense.

From there, the Celtics finally strung together stops, leading to points at the other end, including a layup by Tatum and a three from Grant Williams in transition. That was part of a 16-5 run that got Boston the lead back, pulling ahead 39-36 at the 6:42 mark in the second quarter.

3. After giving up 16 points in the paint in the second frame, double what they surrendered in the first 12 minutes, the Celtics entered halftime trailing 56-50.

While Derrick White led the defending Eastern Conference champions with 11 points and Horford had nine on 3/5 shooting from three-point range, Tatum registered eight on seven shots and had four turnovers, leading all participants. Brown had seven points, went 3/6 from the field, dished out four assists, and had no giveaways. 

But Boston's star duo went a combined 1/4 from the free-throw line, leaving points on the table.

4. Caleb Martin paced all scorers with 14 points, continuing to make a significant impact off the bench. Gabe Vincent registered 11 and four assists, remaining a handful out of the pick-and-roll.

Bam Adebayo chipped in ten points, and his screening and facilitating, plus the threat of him rolling to the rim, which repeatedly pulled his defender away from helping stop dribble penetration, resulting in layups, helped spur Miami's offense. Jimmy Butler quietly had nine points on seven shots and distributed three assists.

At halftime, there's a sense from this author that the Heat are about to level up, looking to deliver another third-quarter haymaker, as they have in two of the first three games, trying to get the Celtics to tap out for the second time in three days.

5. Despite that being the feeling at the break, Boston quieted the arena, staging an 18-0 run to take a 70-61 advantage. The defending Eastern Conference champions held the hosts scoreless for nearly 4:30, forced three turnovers and a charge, played with pace, moved the ball effectively, and created in-rhythm threes, translating to knocking down four of their first six long-range attempts.

While Butler scored 15 points in the period, keeping Miami close, the Celtics stayed the course, remaining locked in defensively, limiting the Heat to 36.4 percent shooting, including 2/8 (25 percent) from three-point range.

Those stops, which included converting five turnovers into ten points, helped the visitors stay in rhythm and protect their lead, taking an 88-79 edge into the fourth quarter.

In a frame where Boston outscored Miami 38-23, Tatum came to life, generating 14 points. Collectively, the Celtics shot a scorching 60.9 percent from the field, including 7/12 (58.3 percent) from beyond the arc.

6. Grant Williams, who drilled two of those threes, gave the visitors excellent minutes at both ends of the floor, displaying his defensive versatility and playing with considerable energy.

The former Tennessee Volunteer also stood up, then stuffed Butler early in the final frame.

He's typically played well when called on this postseason, demonstrating his value to the team that drafted him and has a choice to make about how much it's willing to spend to re-sign the restricted free agent this summer.

7. Boston kept its foot on the gas to start the fourth quarter, ripping off a 12-0 run, extending their lead to 100-83 after a Marcus Smart three with 7:25 remaining.

Ahead 107-89 with 3:26 on the game clock, the visitors had shot 8/16 while limiting Miami to 3/12 from the field.

And with the defense continuing to stifle the Heat and Tatum providing 11 of his game-high 33 points in the final frame, the Celtics extended their season, forcing a Game 5 with a 116-99 win.

Up Next

Game 5 between the Celtics and Heat is Thursday night at TD Garden; tip-off is at 8:30 ET. Inside The Celtics will have content related to the matchup before, during, and afterward. And follow @BobbyKrivitsky on Twitter for updates and analysis from pregame to post.

Further Reading

Celtics Address Report Ime Udoka's Exit Bred Disconnect: 'We're Off Right Now'

Looking to do the Impossible, Celtics Channel Kevin Millar: 'Don't Let Us Get One'

Malcolm Brogdon Gives Brutally Honest Assessment of Celtics

Trading Jaylen Brown is a Gamble the Celtics are Better Off Not Making

Joe Mazzulla Takes Blame for Celtics' Getting Blown Out in Game 3 of Eastern Conference Finals: 'I Have to be Better'

Here's What Stood Out in Game 3 Loss to Heat: Celtics on Brink of Elimination After Worst Performance This Postseason

Celtics React to Letting 12-Point Lead Slip in Fourth Quarter of Game 2 Loss to Heat: 'We Let Everybody Down'

Grant Williams Reacts to Heated Altercation with Jimmy Butler

Here's What Stood Out in Game 2 Loss: Celtics Blow 12-Point Fourth-Quarter Lead, Go to Miami Down 0-2

Celtics Address 'Letting Go of the Rope' After Game 1 Loss to Heat

Here's What Stood Out in Celtics' Game 1 Loss: Heat's Third-Quarter Haymaker Propels Them to 1-0 Lead

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Bobby Krivitsky
BOBBY KRIVITSKY

Bobby Krivitsky's experiences include covering the NBA as a credentialed reporter for Basketball Insiders. He's also a national sports talk host for SportsMap Radio, a network airing on 96 radio stations throughout the country. Additionally, he was a major-market host, update anchor, and producer for IMG Audio, and he worked for Bleacher Report as an NFL and NBA columnist.

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