Led by the inevitable greatness of Al Horford, the Boston Celtics wrapped up their Spherical 2 collection in opposition to the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday evening with a 113-93 victory in Recreation 5. Horford stole the present, going forwards and backwards with an electrical TD Backyard crowd all evening.
Listed below are three stuff you might need missed from the sport.
1. Jaylen Brown’s decision-making
For as nice as Horford was, and he was wonderful, Jaylen Brown and the remainder of the Celtics stepped up when it mattered most, too.
Brown solely took 9 pictures in Recreation 5, however that was a product of his elite decision-making, which is completely embodied by this candy dump-off to Horford below the basket.
So many occasions prior to now, Brown would have risen up for a contested layup. And possibly he would have made it. However to have the composure to decelerate, see Horford, and make the learn reveals how a lot he’s grown over time.
2. Joe Mazzulla’s perspective on profitable
After the victory, I requested Mazzulla about his concept of “no matter it takes,” that each recreation and each collection would require one thing totally different from the Celtics in the event that they need to earn a victory, and the way they have to be able to embrace that.
His response was good.
“Everyone desires to win till it’s actually time to win as a result of then you definately received to nut up and do a bunch of s*** that you simply don’t need to do,” Mazzulla mentioned. “So, the fellows, credit score to them. They constantly do this. And we simply must preserve that up.
“Each recreation’s gonna be totally different. Each collection is gonna be totally different, no matter who we play, it’s gonna be totally different. Sub patterns, totally different matchups, totally different lineups. Simply gotta do it. And the fellows get it, so credit score to them.”
3. Loudest TD Backyard crowd of the playoffs
By the primary two rounds of the postseason, the crowds at TD Backyard has been fairly underwhelming. It felt like their hearts weren’t absolutely in it.
However Recreation 5 was totally different.
Because of Horford, the group was absolutely engaged. It was the loudest the constructing has been all through the playoffs, and hopefully, for the Celtics’ sake, they solely construct on it from right here on out.
