Will Boston Survive? My Keys to Victory for Game 5
Matt Hylen- 4 days ago
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
After the devastating injury to Boston Celtics' franchise player Jayson Tatum, who suffered an Achilles rupture in Game 4, it is easy to feel like hope is lost for a Celtics team that finds itself down 3-1 to the New York Knicks. The gravity of Tatum's absence will loom large going forward, which will not only affect the Celtics' overall strategy but also could have a profound emotional impact on the team. However, amidst this seemingly insurmountable challenge, I think we may be forgetting just how resilient and determined this team truly is.
The Boston Celtics have a storied history of overcoming adversity, and this situation is no different. The franchise has faced numerous challenges in the past, and their ability to rally together in the face of adversity is a hallmark of their identity. This series isn't over just yet; there are still games to be played, and if anyone can dig themselves out of a hole this big, it's the Boston Celtics.
First off, despite the offensive struggles they have shown in this series, Boston's depth, experience, and overall talent should not be underestimated, even without Tatum. If Boston is to win Game 5 and put themselves back in the series, it needs to start with Jaylen Brown and Derrick White. This does not mean one of them needs to play Tatum's role—no one can do that—but rather take on more of the offensive touches efficiently. The two of them have been crucial parts of the team's success all season long and will need to step up and take on a larger role in order to fill the hole Tatum leaves on both ends of the floor. This is a huge career-defining moment for Brown, who will get his wish of being a number one option. His performance in Game 4 was unacceptable. He needs to limit the turnovers, be smarter with the ball, and be the playmaker this team is going to need now that Tatum is out. Tatum's injury also creates an opportunity for White to step up and show the world he can be more than just a role player. You're going to need at least 20 points from both these guys if Boston wants any shot in Game 5.
Next, the coaching needs to be better. Head Coach Joe Mazzulla, in all honesty, has not done his job so far in this series. He has failed to truly make the right adjustments when the team is not making shots and has not responded quickly enough when a lineup on the floor isn't working. Boston cannot have another situation like in Game 4 when New York went on a 14-0 run by attacking Kristaps Porziņģis. Mazzulla needs to get out of his own way, accept the fact that his Mazzulla-ball style of play is not working, and create a game plan that will not only create higher-percentage shots in the paint but also create more open opportunities along the three-point line. Instead of hunting for threes, Boston needs to let the three-point shots come to them. They have been at their best when the first instinct is to drive to the basket and either take a high-percentage shot or kick it back out to an open man at the three-point line. We saw this work in Game 3, as well as the four victories they had against the Knicks in the regular season.
The rotation also needs to change. In my eyes, that means playing Payton Pritchard more and giving Kristaps Porziņģis a shorter leash. Starting with Pritchard, Tatum's absence, as we all know, is going to create a huge hole offensively. New York will be expecting the offense to run through guys like Brown and White, which is how it should be. However, Boston will, of course, need more than that, and I think it needs to come from Pritchard. He needs to not only play more than the 20 minutes he played in Game 4 but have a solidified involvement within the offense. Mazzulla needs to figure out what they did in Game 3 that allowed Pritchard to get the open shots that were there for him and apply that metric tonight. This team reaches another level when Pritchard is used often within the offense, which makes it confusing sometimes as to why Mazzulla does not play him. As for Porziņģis, as much as I hate to say it, he cannot be playing in crucial moments if he isn't contributing. Of course, this mystery illness has clearly affected his stamina and lowered his abilities significantly, but if he is not going to give you any sort of production, he cannot be out there. He's not himself right now, unfortunately, and with Game 5 being an elimination game, Mazzulla cannot afford to keep him out there if New York starts to take advantage of him again.
Boston could not be facing more adversity than they are right now. Their star is out for these playoffs and likely all of next season, they're down 3-1 to a team they did not lose to once in the regular season, and are on the brink of what will be considered one of the biggest upsets in the history of the sport. Momentum could not be less on their side right now. However, like I said before, if any team is equipped with the mentality to overcome this adversity and leave it all out there on the court, it's this Boston Celtics team. They have a lot more to play for now, making me believe this series is not over just yet. The home crowd will be rocking, the fuel to the fire is set, and I think the "do it for Jayson" mentality will shine bright tonight at the TD Garden.
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