The Boston Celtics have been incredibly clutch, even without Kyrie Irving. How far can late game execution take them in the playoffs?
Following yet another dramatic win against the Milwaukee Bucks in Game 1 of their first round playoff series, I have come to the conclusion that the Boston Celtics are the most clutch team in professional basketball, and maybe all of sports. I did not take this decision lightly.
Though they hardly needed any late-game magic in Game 2, the amount of amazing clutch plays the Celtics pulled off in the last two minutes of regulation in Game 1 is something you might not see for months of basketball at a time. And yet, there was more to come in the overtime period.
With 1:45 remaining in the final frame, Marcus Morris found himself in the typical Celtics predicament – possession of the ball on the perimeter after about 20 seconds of fruitless ball movement. Morris then tried to spin off Khris Middleton, promptly almost lost the ball, and hit a fade-away jump shot with his foot on the 3-point line with less than a second to spare. Just as planned.
I hate to be the guy to discredit the Celtics’ offense, but a lot of mistakes are covered up by clutch shots like this one, although the Bucks deserve credit too for bringing their defense to another level for a stretch late in the game. At least, until this happened:
Feel free to pause at 1:48 and take in the scenery for a moment. Terry Rozier is completely behind the 3-point line while Eric Bledsoe has one foot in the paint. Yikes.
Executing on plays like that have become the norm for Boston, even without Kyrie Irving closing out games. Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Al Horford, Morris and Rozier have all hit devastating, game-ending shots this season, not to mention the fourth quarter heroics of Shane Larkin early in the season.
Per NBA.com, the Celtics totaled the third-most clutch points in the regular season with 421 points while ahead or behind by five in the last five minutes. Per Basketball-Reference, the Celtics are tied for first in field goals made along the following criteria:
- Shots to take the lead
- In the last three seconds of a game
- Resulting in a victory
Both the Celtics and Oklahoma City Thunder have done this six times. Horford and Rozier have done it twice, while Brown and Morris have one apiece. Russell Westbrook has four out of his team’s six.
Boston’s incredible play in tight situations comes largely in part to a surge of added talent, mostly in the way of Rozier, Brown and Tatum’s exponential growth. But the Celtics are developing the “it” factor, as some would call it. It’s unclear sometimes what makes them so good, but whatever “it” is, they have a lot of it. It’s the difference between a team being good, and a team being special. With full health next season, this team could be really special.
The confidence and steadfast trust in the system coach Brad Stevens has built has empowered the team to take matters into its own hands with the game on the line. The Celtics don’t take desperation shots and hope for the best. They take tough shots because they know they’ll go in the basket.
This, of course, is how I rationalize what appears to be a heaping pile of dumb luck. For every bit of credit I give the coaches and players for surviving so much adversity, I am equally confused as to how they can survive with injuries to four key rotation players.
Next: Full two-round 2018 NBA Mock Draft
How far can clutchness with a bit of luck take the Celtics? My money is on the second round. Some would say the Finals. I have no complaints either way.