Apart from a stretch within the fourth quarter, Recreation 1 couldn’t have gone significantly better for the Celtics, who got here away with a dominant 114-94 win and led by double-digits for many of the afternoon.
However Joe Mazzulla instructed reporters at follow on Tuesday he is aware of that a greater Warmth workforce awaits his squad in Recreation 2.
“If you happen to suppose you’re not going to see a distinct model of Miami, then you definitely’re kidding your self,” Mazzulla mentioned.
So, the Celtics, whereas definitely glad to return away with a win within the opening recreation of the sequence, know to keep away from complacency. Jaylen Brown mentioned the workforce wants to return out with the identical urgency they did in Recreation 1, once they jumped out to a 17-2 lead.
“We obtained to return out with the identical mentality, virtually like we’re down 1-0 as a substitute of we’re up,” Brown mentioned. “We obtained to return able to play, able to combat, as a result of we will’t anticipate them to return out and do nothing much less. They’re well-coached. They’re organized. They’re disciplined. They’re gonna have a superb recreation plan of assault. We obtained to be sure that we take them out of it.”
One potential adjustment the Warmth could make is limiting the Celtics’ three-point makes an attempt. On Sunday, the Celtics have been red-hot towards the Miami zone protection. They tied their postseason franchise file for made threes in a recreation (22), powered by a Jayson Tatum triple-double and double-digit scoring performances from six gamers. The workforce shot 44.9% from downtown, with Sam Hauser hitting 4 of 6 makes an attempt, and Derrick White and Kristaps Porzingis every hitting 4 of 8 from past the arc.
Miami rookie Jaime Jaquez Jr., who had 16 factors on Sunday, mentioned he’s assured the Warmth might be lots higher subsequent recreation. Although Miami will nonetheless be with out Jimmy Butler and Terry Rozier, the Warmth teaching employees could have had the chance to dive into movie from Sunday’s loss.
“I feel two days to arrange – that’s numerous time to get mentally and bodily prepared,” Jaquez Jr. mentioned postgame. “I do know the teaching employees goes to work actually arduous to determine a recreation plan. Us as gamers, we’re going to get able to execute it.”
“I feel 2 days to arrange – that is numerous time to get mentally & bodily prepared. I do know the teaching employees goes to work actually arduous to determine a gameplan. Us as gamers we’ll get able to execute it.”
“We will be lots higher subsequent recreation.”
– Jaquez pic.twitter.com/ZCeboFZB7E
— Naveen Ganglani (@naveenganglani) April 22, 2024
For Joe Mazzulla’s workforce, it’s about upping the depth fairly than making any main adjustments.
“‘Higher’ is simply doing what we did with increased depth and better physicality – I feel that’s what Recreation 2s name for,” he mentioned. “The primary adjustment is to do what you probably did with a better stage of depth and a better stage of physicality.”
Payton Pritchard acknowledged that Miami may go to remove a few of the Celtics’ three-pointers – the Celtics have led the league in three-point makes an attempt (42) and makes (16.5) this season, and generated dozens of high-quality appears towards the Warmth on Sunday. However he additionally mentioned the workforce is comfy with taking completely different appears relying on what defensive changes Miami makes.
“We attempt to satisfaction ourselves on taking what the protection provides us,” Pritchard mentioned. “So, in the event that they find yourself taking away extra three-balls, we now have the power to go inside. Guys are able to hitting these mid-ranges. If that’s what they wish to give us, we’ve obtained to take them, and be assured taking them. However we now have numerous completely different choices – it’s what makes us arduous to protect.”
Joe Mazzulla famous that staying versatile with the game-plan is essential. All 12 months, he’s praised the Celtics for his or her open-mindedness and willingness to regulate on the fly.
“There’s a recreation plan, however we simply can’t have an expectation of how that recreation plan goes to go,” Mazzulla mentioned. “The sport might name for one thing completely different. It might name for going small, it might name for double bigs, it might name for zone, various things. So, it’s simply having an open thoughts, being able to execute, and giving that specific recreation what it wants.”
Jaylen Brown on what he expects the Warmth to be in like in Recreation 2:
“They’re going to be hungry. Much more aggressive… Be bodily, knocking us to the bottom. Simply making an attempt to win that bodily match anyway they’ll… we’ll be able to do the identical factor.” pic.twitter.com/9HHK2uYaQA
— Justin Turpin (@JustinmTurpin) April 23, 2024
Miami stays the workforce that despatched the Celtics residence final season, and Jaylen Brown shouldn’t be taking the result of tomorrow’s recreation as a right.
“They’re going to be hungry,” Brown mentioned. “Determined. They’re going to return out quick, much more aggressive. Making an attempt to show us over. Simply making an attempt to crash the glass arduous, be bodily – knocking us to the bottom. Simply making an attempt to win that bodily match anyway they’ll. That’s what I foresee. However, we’ll be able to do the identical factor.”
