Very interesting. NBA basketball is so cerebral.
For the first few minutes of Game 2 of the Eastern Conference finals, it appeared the Boston Celtics could be in some trouble.
They left Miami's shooters open for three quick 3-pointers. They allowed the Heat to get multiple second-chance opportunities. Robert Williams looked uncomfortable defending in space, and Miami kept making him -- and Boston -- pay.
But then, at the 5 minute, 14 second mark of the first quarter, Grant Williams checked into the game. And, from that point forward, this game -- and this series--- fundamentally changed.
…Williams never left the floor [for the rest of the first half] en route to a 127-102 victory in front of a shell-shocked, sellout crowd at FTX Arena.
…
They…got back a pair of starters in Marcus Smart and Al Horford…
But things didn't truly click into place for the Celtics until Boston went away from the starting five that had been a dominant five-man unit all season midway through the first quarter. The Celtics had begun to climb back into things following a quick timeout by Celtics coach Ime Udoka, but it was Williams -- who had started the prior four games -- arriving on the scene that dumped rocket fuel into Boston's play at both ends of the court.
…
Suddenly, the Celtics were flying around at both ends of the court. They were spacing the floor offensively, hitting 9 of 11 shots from 3-point range in the first quarter alone. They scrambled to Miami's shooters, forcing them to go 2-for-8 over the final few minutes of the first and 3-for-15 over the final 20 minutes of the first half.
Truly insightful article by Tim Bontemps. Brilliant move by Ime Udoka. Could Spo not have countered in some way?
