Boston Celtics: Perimeter game swing changes momentum of series

The Boston Celtics dropped their last two games against the Toronto Raptors, with the series now level at 2-2. 3-point shots have changed the series’ course

The Boston Celtics looked in cruise control after the first two games of this Eastern Conference second-round matchup with the Toronto Raptors. But, this is the NBA playoffs and it’s never as straightforward as it could’ve been, especially when you’re going up against the defending world champions.

Two strong Celtics games to open the series, which included Boston shooting the 3-ball ever so well, while shutting out Toronto’s perimeter game on the opposite end were major factors in them being able to pick up that crucial 2-0 lead in the series. Game 3 saw a bit of a drop off from the Celtics with their hot-hands from beyond the arc, especially when the Raptors came out with their zone defense in the third quarter, while the Raptors started to pick up the pace and get into a rhythm.

They picked up what seemed like an impossible win after Daniel Theis jammed one in to put the Boston Celtics up by two with 0.5 seconds left on the clock, only for Kyle Lowry to lob the inbounds pass over a towering Tacko Fall finding an open OG Anunoby for the Hail Mary win – completely changing the course of this series.

Fast forward a few days later, what seemed like it was going to be way easier than first anticipated for Boston is now anyone’s series, effectively a best-of-three. And the momentum is with Toronto following Saturday’s Game 4. This is the game that really underlined the 180-degree flip that this series has done.

The Celtics shot a feeble 20.0 percent from 3-point land in Game 4, making just seven triples. The Raptors, one the other hand, were completely locked-in, flipping the narrative again from the first two games, where they looked as weak as can be shooting from the perimeter.

Toronto shot 17-of-44 from 3-point range on Saturday, as they took their opportunities. The Celtics’ percentage from there wasn’t the most worrying thing either. It was the shot selection that ultimately left them tailing off in this one. Down six points entering the fourth quarter, after another poor start to the second half, in a third that mirrored Game 3, the Boston Celtics needed to be at their best to beat on red hot Raptors offense.

They didn’t do this, they actually crumbled in possession to the point where 19 fourth-quarter points from the Raptors were enough to win this one comfortably. In that fourth, the Celtics made just six field goals, turning the ball over five times. Something you definitely can’t afford against a team that is so good in transition and were in the zone during this one.

The 3-point shot is something you can rely on a lot to get separation when you have players like Kemba Walker and Jayson Tatum on your team, but the amount of contested shots that the Celtics are shooting right now is very worrying. Brad Stevens knows this was the case and it can’t be in Game Five and beyond.

Whether it’s using their pick and roll game to get inside or simply feeding the post, the Celtics offense needs to adapt quickly to counter the momentum swing that happened in this series due to the 3-point battle favoring the Raptors. Since the start of Game 3’s third quarter, the Celtics have looked like a completely different team. A lack of good looks, a lack of awareness guarding Toronto’s 3-point attempts, and carelessness in possession has all added up and allowed the Raptors to become the favorites in this series.

We know this Celtics defense is great, currently second in the playoffs allowing 103.0 points per game, but it can be much better very easily. Perimeter problems are the most obvious and this needs to be clamped down going forward. Offensively, adjustments must come and the Boston Celtics need to be patient and make sure that they take their chances when they appear, otherwise this series could really become a nightmare.