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Post by Admin on May 21, 2022 15:37:06 GMT -5
Celtics’ Marcus Smart, Robert Williams make NBA’s All-Defensive teams
(AP Photo/Charles Krupa) By Souichi Terada | sterada@masslive.com
As expected, the league’s Defensive Player of the Year in Marcus Smart was officially named to the All-Defensive first team. But Smart wasn’t the lone Celtic to get some love in the voting as big man Robert Williams III was an All-Defensive second team selection.
The Celtics had the league’s best defense during the regular season, and it’s a huge reason why they’re in the Eastern Conference Finals against the Heat. Smart was the Celtics’ emotional and defensive leader during the season, but Williams was a huge piece for Boston. The Celtics’ defense ramped up their production this season when Williams moved to a more off-ball role, where he could play some free safety and create chaos.
Smart earned the most points among vote-getters, earning 99 first-place votes for 198 points. The Suns’ Mikal Bridges, the Jazz’s Rudy Gobert, the Bucks’ Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Grizzlies’ Jaren Jackson Jr. rounded out the All-Defensive first-team.
Williams earned 70 points through three first-place votes and 64 second-place votes. He was joined on the second team with the Heat’s Bam Adebayo, the Bucks’ Jrue Holiday, the 76ers’ Matisse Thybulle and the Warriors’ Draymond Green.
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Post by Admin on May 21, 2022 16:00:51 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on May 21, 2022 16:43:54 GMT -5
Celtics injury report: Rob Williams questionable for Game 3 with knee soreness
(AP Photo/Mary Schwalm) By Brian Robb | brobb@masslive.com
The Boston Celtics made a late addition to their injury report just hours ahead of Game 3 by listing big man Rob Williams as questionable for the Saturday night matchup with knee soreness.
Williams has played regular minutes in his first two games of the Heat series after missing the final four games of Boston’s second-round series with a bone bruise in his knee. He also missed the start of the postseason while recovering from knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus.
Williams has averaged 7.7 points and 5.3 rebounds in seven postseason games, including five starts, averaging 21.3 minutes per game.
While Williams is questionable, Derrick White will be back in action for Game 3 after missing Boston’s win on Thursday for the birth of his son. The Heat could be getting reinforcements as well with Kyle Lowry and P.J. Tucker warming up with the intent to play for the key matchup. It would be the first appearance of the series for Lowry.
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Post by petey62 on May 21, 2022 17:38:20 GMT -5
Rob Williams is OUT. You know, I'm getting really tired of his in and out of the lineup.
He's obviously not healed so sit him till he is. This is ridiculous.
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Post by Admin on May 21, 2022 17:46:11 GMT -5
Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
3 keys to taking series lead vs. Miami Heat in Game 3
by Austin DeCouta
After a disappointing Game 1 loss, the Boston Celtics needed to have a strong bounce-back performance in Game 2. As the C’s took the floor for the second of two in Miami, Marcus Smart and Al Horford returned. The duo had missed the first game as Smart had an injured foot, and Horford was in Health and Safety protocols.
With their full starting five for the first time since early in the Bucks series, Boston had a real chance to tie things up.
It was clear from the start that a fully healthy Celtics starting five is a problem. Unfortunately, the Celtics were without Derrick White as he flew home to Boston for the birth of his first child. Without White, Payton Pritchard stepped up once again and gobbled up rebounds and drop 3-pointers with efficiency. The former Oregon Duck was a historically good +39 when things were all said and done.
As Game 3 approaches and the Celtics return home, momentum is on their side. At one point in the third quarter, Boston held a 30-point lead over the heat. They were able to finish strong and defeat the South Beach boys by a final score of 127 to 102.
The only player listed on the Boston injury report ahead of their home matchup is Sam Hauser, who has been ruled out. Otherwise, the Cs are fully healthy and ready for Miami to enter the T.D. Garden.
The Celtics have a true chance to jump ahead in the series, especially with Kyle Lowry expected to remain out for the third game. At the time of this writing, the green and white are the favorite as they are -6.5 on the spread.
If the Boston Celtics hope to hold onto the momentum and take the series lead, they must hone in on these 3 keys.
(Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics key to Victory No. 1: Defend the 3-point lineIn order to take the lead, the Celtics must first focus on defending the 3-point line. They have done this incredibly well to start the series on the road. Miami shot just 10-34 from long range on Thursday night, good for just 29 percent. It was clear that having Marcus Smart back in the lineup helps Boston match up perfectly with Miami’s offense. The switch everything defense that head coach Ime Udoka deploys puts them in situations where the point guard ends up on Jimmy Butler. Having Smart back means that it would be the Defensive Player of the Year switching onto Butler oftentimes. The Celtics also threw Al Horford on Butler and Bam, and he responded by putting up one of the best defensive performances of the season. At 35-years-old Horford is not only an integral part of the Celtic’s paint defense, but his ability to guard the three is incredibly important. Opponents are shooting 10% worse when guarded by the vet this postseason. Having Derrick White back in the lineup for Game Three should also give a boost to the Celtics’ already stellar perimeter defense. Gabe Vincent and Max Strus are two of Miami’s best three-point shooters in the Celtics Moschino on them to get the win. As evident in Game Two, Jimmy Butler cannot do it all by himself. Stopping the 3-point shooting from the ancillary players is what could help the C’s snatch a win.
(Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports) Boston Celtics key to victory No. 2: Win the turnover battleAfter an abysmal series opener in which the Celtics turned the ball over 20 times, they bounced back in Game 2. Boston was the ones clogging the passing lanes and not allowing Miami to set up their offense. The Cs committed just nine turnovers on the night, which is approximately four below their season average. On the other hand, the Heat carelessly turned the rock over 14 times. Miami’s offense had trouble getting going all night long, partially due to the fact that they had minimal transition baskets. As Boston continues to stifle the Heat, they should be able to prevent the red and white from getting out and running. In their victory on Tuesday Thursday night the Celtics passing notably improved. Not only that but Jayson Tatum in Jaylen brown took better care of the ball. This was thanks in part to Marcus Smart returning to his role in commanding the office. Smart was sensational around including dropping 10 dimes. Boston’s best bet to win this one is with Smart commanding the offense and helping keep the turnovers in check They were more notably active in the passing lanes on defense which led to transition buckets. In order to get the win in Game 3, they must continue what they started in Game 2. (Photo by Eric Espada/Getty Images)
Boston Celtics key to victory No. 3: Stopping Bam Adebayo
It is no secret that Bam Adebayo has struggled as the playoffs have progressed. As evident by this breakdown by the team at StatMuse, the Celtic’s defense has caused Adebayo career-low numbers.
The game plan for Ime Udoka has been to move a variety of guys on the former first-round pick. Al Horford saw significant time guarding Miami’s star big man, and zero points on 17 possessions. They also switched Grant Williams over to Bam, and that seemed to work in favor of the C’s as well. Robert Williams proved to be too much for Adebayo to overcome, as the center finished Game Two with just six points.
With the Celtics at full strength in their frontcourt, Ime Udoka opted to stay away from Daniel Theis on Adebayo. That may be for the better as the Theis vs Bam battle goes in favor of the Heat on most occasions.
It will be interesting to see what the game plan is for Game 3. Less of Theis and more of Williams is likely, but which Williams could it be?
In Game 2, Rob saw just 19 minutes, while Grant logged 32, likely due to the fact that Boston wanted to space the floor more and were comfortable with Horford at the 5. Rob will likely see an uptick in minutes, especially if Game 3 is a closer contest, but expect to see a healthy dose of attention to keeping Bam in check once again.
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Post by Admin on May 21, 2022 18:00:16 GMT -5
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Post by Admin on May 21, 2022 18:19:18 GMT -5
UPDATE: Robert Williams a game-time decision for Game 3Despite an earlier report, The Time Lord could still suit up tonight against the Heat.
By wjsy | May 21, 2022, 6:36pm EDT | UPDATE: Per head coach Ime Udoka, Williams is experiencing soreness and swelling in his knee, but will test it out shortly. There is still no determination on his availability.If Robert Williams is unable to go, Daniel Theis will start in his place with Grant Williams remaining as the first big off the bench. “This keeps Grant in his regular role. And we can also have Al play the way we want him to play and keep his same role to start,” Udoka said.
Admin Comment: After being listed as "questionable," Woj reported Rob was out tonight on ESPN but the Celtics just countered that report with an announcement from Udoka indicating that a decision won't be made until game time. So there's still a chance rob will be available tonight though in my opinion it would be either on a minutes restriction or in a "as needed" situation.
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Post by sfbosfan on May 21, 2022 18:54:55 GMT -5
Whew! As you know the site was down for quite a while.
Double My Spearment Double My Fun(loved than Gum ad)...looking for double Boston teams victory today. Red Sox down 0-4 came back to win 6-5 their 4th in a row and, would you believe, they are still 4 games under .500. Darn...Yankees have the best record in the league.
As are most Celtic fans I’m sure I am more confident entering game 3 than I was game 2. But, I am still anxious as I studied the stats from our previous commanding victory. It may be difficult to repeat those stats. We shot 51% and 50% on 3s. We had 20-40 and they 10-34 so the +10 was 30 more points in 3s. Rebs were almost even they 42 to our 41(-1) and their TOs were 14 to our 9 (+5) so we had a +4 net possessions.
Here’s the concern if we do not shoot as well. We need more points in the paint as theirs were 42 to our 30. But we had to be fouled a lot driving to the basket as we shot 21-23 foul shots to their 16-22 and picked up + 5 points here.
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Post by fierce on May 21, 2022 19:03:28 GMT -5
RWill is out for Game 3.
Theis will start.
Bam must be so happy.
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Post by Admin on May 21, 2022 19:07:03 GMT -5
Yes, it's official:
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Post by sfbosfan on May 21, 2022 19:19:28 GMT -5
RWill is out for Game 3. Theis will start. Bam must be so happy. I’m not happy to learn this! |
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Post by petey62 on May 21, 2022 19:27:15 GMT -5
I cannot understand why we keep playing Rob Williams if his knee isn't healthy.
It makes no sense to play two, take off one (or more).
We really need to attack them tonight. From the start.
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Post by Admin on May 21, 2022 19:28:45 GMT -5
“We like our size always and we’ve done that well this year,” Udoka said of why Theis will start. “Kind of puts Grant back in his role, even though he’s done both this year, as well. And matchup-wise and scheme and schematically, what we want to do and the way we want to start, Daniel benefits us, and we let Al kind of keep his role that he would with Rob.” |
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Post by Admin on May 21, 2022 19:31:39 GMT -5
Saturday’s night’s game will air on TV via ESPN. Fans can also live stream, the game with services like fuboTV, which has a free trial.
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Post by cole on May 21, 2022 19:36:53 GMT -5
Let's go Celtics!
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Post by kivancb on May 21, 2022 19:46:29 GMT -5
Another bad start
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Post by Admin on May 21, 2022 19:46:53 GMT -5
Q1:
Celtics lineup change (Al Horford, Daniel Theis, Jayson Tatum, Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown) Theis wins jump ball Tatum misses layup Strus a 3 Theis a TOV Lowry TOV JB a missed 3 Bam a layup JB a fadeaway Tucker a 3 Al a layup from Theis Butler a J JB fouls Butler TIME OUT CELTICS (10-4 HEAT)
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Post by jdm894g on May 21, 2022 19:47:05 GMT -5
Good time out!!!
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Post by sfbosfan on May 21, 2022 19:49:50 GMT -5
Deja Vu Game 1
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Post by Admin on May 21, 2022 19:51:21 GMT -5
Butler makes the +1 off JB
JT runner won't go
Lowry a 3
JT TOV
Bam a turnaround J
JB draws a foul on Lowry ... makes 2-2 ... 16-6 Heat
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Post by elvissurfs on May 21, 2022 19:52:11 GMT -5
Rough start...nothing like digging a hole at home...what the heck?...
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Post by jdm894g on May 21, 2022 19:56:24 GMT -5
How do they not come out prepared?
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Post by Admin on May 21, 2022 19:56:43 GMT -5
Bam a J
JB misses a 3
Bam a reverse layup
Smart draws a foul on Bam ... Smarts elbow hits Bam in jaw (under review) as normal function in shooting ... review confirms no intent
Smart makes 1-2 FTs ... 20-7
Al a PF vs Bam
Bam a J
Al a TOV
Strus a layup
Grant misses a driving layup
TIME OUT HEAT (24-7 Heat)
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Post by kivancb on May 21, 2022 19:57:30 GMT -5
Bad start turning to an awful game
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Post by cole on May 21, 2022 19:57:40 GMT -5
Huge burst of emotion to start.
The tide will turn. And if the heat win this game they'll dump the next
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