BOSTON — If we’ve learned anything from the three Eastern Conference finals matchups between Miami and Boston in the last four years, it’s that the Heat never give up. However, in a close game with 18 seconds left on their second night of the new NBA season, Miami had little choice but to fight until the end against the revamped Celtics.
Derrick White, the leading scorer in a lineup featuring four All-Stars, drew defenders Tyler Herro and Kyle Lowry away from the basket. White passed to Jrue Holiday, who attracted the attention of Bam Adebayo and Kevin Love near the free-throw line. With Boston’s fourth and fifth options occupied, Jaylen Brown was left wide open and Holiday swung the ball to him. Brown’s 3-pointer sealed a 119-111 victory for the Celtics at TD Garden.
This Celtics team is not the same as the one that failed to overcome a 3-0 deficit against Miami in the conference finals. Boston has added Holiday and Kristaps Porzingis to their roster. The Heat have also changed, losing two playoff starters and dealing with the disappointment of a failed Damian Lillard trade. Heat head coach Erik Spoelstra acknowledged the differences between the teams and is already plotting revenge for the loss.
The Celtics looked stacked in their victory, with all five starters scoring in double figures. White led the team with 28 points, and he and Brown combined for 26 of Boston’s 32 fourth-quarter points. White’s late chase-down block on Miami’s Jimmy Butler exemplified the Celtics’ defensive effort, holding the Heat to just 4-for-19 shooting in the quarter.
Second-year Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla acknowledged that their fourth-quarter performance wasn’t perfect but considered it a good start for the team’s goals. Boston has yet to face adversity this season, which has been their downfall in recent years. However, the additions of Holiday and Porzingis have alleviated some of that pressure.
The Celtics have been playing with poise and attacking favorable matchups on offense. They have been balanced, shooting open 3-pointers, getting to the free-throw line, and exploiting mismatches in the post. Defensively, they have made key stops, starting with White and Holiday, who both contributed defensively with four blocks.
Jayson Tatum, a two-time All-NBA first-team forward, emphasized the team’s focus on not being the weak link and trying to be the best player on both ends of the court. The Celtics’ success will rely on each player being at their best and making sacrifices for the team’s benefit.
The Celtics have shown versatility in their scoring options. Against the New York Knicks, Tatum and Porzingis combined for 64 points, but against the Heat, White and Brown stepped up with 55 points. Brown acknowledged that teams will guard them differently, but they trust each other to make the right reads and play together as a team.
The addition of Holiday has been instrumental for the Celtics, bringing his unselfish play and making winning plays that don’t always show up on the stat sheet. The ripple effect of his impact is hoped to extend to the Celtics’ bench, which has been lacking in production so far.
Despite the bench’s struggles, the Celtics’ starters have been carrying the scoring load, averaging over 100 points per game. This allows the bench players to focus on their specific roles. Boston’s dominance on the glass, including 16 offensive rebounds that led to 23 second-chance points, was a significant factor in their victory over the Heat.
The Celtics are a team that knows they can dictate the terms of their title pursuit when they are at their best. They have learned from their past disappointments in the NBA Finals and conference finals and are not getting ahead of themselves. They understand that there is still a lot of work to be done.
Next up for the undefeated Celtics is a game against the winless Washington Wizards on Monday.