I know- Game 5 was an ugly win. However, at this stage of the playoffs, it is all about getting that W. The game was a tough watch, the offenses of both teams looked broken against the other’s defensive scheme. After the first quarter, it was 19-17, and 42-37 at the half which some Western Conference teams get in 5 to12 minutes on a nightly basis. Yes, it was brutal. Then, came the third quarter when the Celtics finally started to attack quicker, move the ball faster, and be more aggressive resulting in a 24-2 run that ended the Heat’s chances of winning the game. In this article, we discuss the main talking points from the matchup and preview Game 6.
1. Al Horford is on a title mission-at 35 years old, Horford is enjoying a renaissance playoff run with the Celtics. After leaving the Celtics and taking the bigger deal in 2019 to join the Sixers, things did not work out in the city of Brotherly love playing alongside Joel Embiid as a forward. Horford was exiled to the Oklahoma City Thunder, where he got paid and got rest as the franchise prioritized playing younger guys and losing to get higher draft picks. Horford has played this season on a mission and has been the consistent cog the team can rely on in the playoffs. Game 5 indicated how vital his contribution is to the team scoring 16 points, seven rebounds, and five assists. Horford’s contribution at times is understated because it does not show up in the box score. In his 15th season in the league, the Celtics need to dig in to get Al his first title.
2. The Heat look like a team banged up -the Heat do not look like the team that was the number one seed in the Eastern Conference. The Heat pride themselves on playing hard and executing on both ends of the floor. Jimmy Butler has played the last two games but it is clear that the injury is affecting him. Butler looked like he did not want to shoot the ball or be the primary scorer for the team. The falloff is clear from scoring 70 points in games 1 and 2 to 19 points in Games 4 and 5. Kyle Lowry scored zero points and went 0 for six from the field, and only injury can explain his lack of production. In the absence of the injured Tyler Herro, the Heat do not have enough to score against an aggressive Celtics defense.
3. Derrick White was a tone setter-Derrick White has struggled on the offensive end in the playoffs. White made an early entry in the first quarter of Game 5 after Marcus Smart received two early personal fouls. White set the tone in the game by being aggressive and attacking the paint with floaters and layups. White scored 14 points, was 6 of 8 from the field, and had five assists. Derrick missed his only two 3-pointers but that is not his strength, it is to lock down his opponent and attack the paint on offense, and he did his job.
4. Tatum and Brown did just enough-Derrick White and Al Horford held the Celtics together in the first half but the All-Star duo took the team to victory. In the second, Tatum and Brown answered the bell. The duo spearheaded the massive run in the third quarter to push the game beyond the Heat. Jayson finished with 22 points, 12 rebounds, and nine assists for a near triple-double. However, Jaylen had 25 points including a highlight-reel dunk to stun the home crowd. The Heat tried to fluster Tatum and Brown by trying to strip them as they made their move, but the duo made the adjustments by shooting over the smaller defender and making the pass to a teammate quicker.
5. Game 6 Preview and Prediction-there is a sense of unpredictability in the 2022 NBA playoffs. As we head into Game 6, I think the Heat will not go away quietly and make the Celtics have a coronation to the NBA Finals. The Heat culture of being tough will push them to give the Celtics a battle in Game 6. However, the Celtics must see the urgency of ending this series and getting five full days of rest to start the NBA finals. Ime will preach this message, and I think his players will respond to the home crowd.
Celtics 105-Heat 96.
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