Two very different things happened. NBA Finals Games at Chase Center are over. The series moves to TD Garden where the host Boston Celtics Golden State Warriors Each one tries to take control.
Two keys have emerged for the Celtics through the first two games. Jayson Tatum Their ongoing struggle against the turnover bug and the difference between facilitator and scorer. The former has had huge implications in Boston’s defeat by Golden State in three quarters.
The Warriors are the ones who bear the weight Klay Thompson Jordan Poole Finals MVP favourite to be presented Stephen Curry with some offensive support. It doesn’t really matter what it is. Thompson hitting YouTube for inspiration Poole finds a spark after his half-court buzzer-beater In Game 2, both Golden State stars must find their game.
What is the future of Wednesday’s Game 3 (?9 p.m. ET, ABC(between the Celtics and Warriors) What are the trends that have emerged from the previous two games? Our NBA experts discuss what is most important in Game 3 and the rest.
MORE: NBA Finals news, schedules and stats
Celtics believe that one stat is the best.
You can predict the outcome of any playoffs game by a single stat: turnovers.
Boston holds the record for having 15 turnovers, or less: 13-2 Record for Boston when it has 16 turnovers and more: 0-5.
This trend continues into the NBA Finals. The Celtics made 12 turnovers in Game 1 and lost 19 of their Game 2 games.
Ime Udoka, Celtics coach said that this has been a consistent theme throughout the playoffs.
A team that doesn’t commit turnovers will get better results. This has been devastating for Boston. They are extremely difficult to score against in halfcourt offensive sets when the Celtics have an opportunity to set their defense.
Boston’s biggest strength is to not give teams the opportunity to transition because of turnovers. Curry and the Finals are the perfect opportunity to do this. Golden State Warriors It is dangerous to take advantage of fast-break opportunities.
Boston had to learn this lesson in Game 2 when the Celtics’ 19 turnovers became a staggering 33 points for Golden State. In Game 2, Boston converted 12 turnovers to 15 points, a swing of 18 points in Golden State’s favor in a game that the Warriors won by 19.
Celtics big man said, “I know we have the ability to prevent a lot more of those.” Al Horford said. “In order to enable us to [have] To increase your chances of winning, you need to reduce them.”
These turnovers have also contributed to Boston’s other problem in these playoffs — terrible third quarters. Golden State has won the third quarters by 73 to 38 in two games against the Warriors. These lapses of focus against the Warriors will be more severe than those in previous rounds. Milwaukee Bucks team missing Khris Middleton And a bad-un Miami Heat squad.
Watch out for Boston’s turnovers Game 3. You’ll be able to predict where the game will go by knowing exactly where this number ends up.
— Tim Bontemps
Beantown welcomes the Draymond Show
To Draymond GreenThe playoffs are a series of best-of-7 chess matches, which he describes as “a thinker’s game”.
Green said, “If I think better than you, I can win.” The playoffs are more physically demanding. They allow you to hit during the playoffs. They allow you to be hit during the playoffs. If I can hit, I’m fine with being hit. The playoffs are an entirely different style of basketball.
“The playoffs are a new beast. This is when I have to be my best.
In Game 1, the Warriors didn’t have Green at his best. In the Celtics’ series opening win, Al Horford outplayed Green by scoring nine 3-pointers in Boston.
Game 2 was a reminder of why Green’s mentality and energy are unmistakeable when it is about Golden State’s ability this week to achieve what it did in an NBA-record 26 postseason series: Win at least one game on the road.
Golden State’s rebellious leader pledged to rebound after Game 1, and made the Celtics feel their presence defensively and listen to his trash talk in a Warriors’ Game 2 loss.
Curry’s offense is important, but Green’s attitude-adjusting spirit is what the Warriors need to win Game 3. Green’s best moments are when he is flying high on the court. He is also a world-class agitator, or, as Charlie Murphy famously put it, a “habitual line-stepper”.
Green pushes the boundaries of what he is allowed to do — towards officials and opponents — even though he has a technical under his belt as was the case with Game 2. Green doesn’t just want to outthink his opponents, he also wants to be inside their heads.
It will be a nice nine-point, seven assists, five-rebound performance on Sunday, but it will be the other things that make Golden State live.
Mike Brown, assistant to the Warriors, likens Green’s unpredictability and freelancing on defense to Curry’s deflating effect Curry’s 3-point heaves can have on an opponent.
“Steph does some crazy —,” Brown said. “Those shots are so dangerous that if they’re in, it’s going break the spirit and will do serious damage to your opponent. Draymond is a similar player. Draymond’s anticipation and feel are unmatched, so when he decides that he’s going make a play it will impact the offense of our opponents.
Public enemy No. One in Boston this week doesn’t plan to be shy. Golden State cannot afford Green to be timid.
Green stated on Tuesday that “I wouldn’t be able live with myself if i was going on about my Summer and we lost the NBA Finals due to force with force.” “That’s my department.”
— Ohm Youngmisuk
Tatum walks the line between facilitator and scorer
After the Celtics won Game 1 of the Finals behind Tatum’s career-high — regular season or playoffs — 13 assists, ESPN Stats & Information research noted something fascinating: The victory brought Boston to 17-2 (.895) this season when Tatum hands out at least seven assists, the best record in such games among all players with at least 15 of them.
After the Celtics lost Game 2, Tatum gave only three assists to the team, which was tied for the lowest number of assists in a playoff game. This led to the conclusion that Tatum might have been a better distributor than a scorer.
It is worth noting, however, that assists are a poor measure of playmaking on an individual game-by-game basis. Tatum was able to get so many assists in game 1 due to his teammates shooting so well off his passes (13 of 19, per Second Spectrum tracking of assist opportunities).
Second Spectrum said that Tatum was able to facilitate 19 assist opportunities in Game 4 against the Reds. However, Second Spectrum stated that it could have produced a lot more assists. Tatum was able to facilitate 18 assist opportunities in Round 4 against the Brooklyn NetsHowever, the team’s teammates made just 5-of-18 shots on those shots. The game therefore doesn’t qualify. (The Celtics won.
When we look at Tatum’s 16 top games by Second Spectrum assist chances, which have a minimum number of 13, Boston still plays well (12-4 during the regular season) and playoffs but is no longer unbeatable. You can also see the small relationship between Tatum’s assist and Tatum. opportunities The team’s differential in a game isn’t nearly as strong as its relationship with assists. Tatum’s assist numbers also reflect how well his teammates shoot on his passes.
Tatum’s decision between scoring aggressively and looking to distribute would also be wrong. It is not an either/or choice. Tatum’s shots attempts and free throws are slightly lower in games that have at least seven assists. Tatum also finishes 21.5 plays per period, down from 22.8 per 36-minutes in low-assist leagues. But the difference between assists per 36-minute (from 3.8 to 7.8) is significantly greater.
Boston doesn’t want Tatum going out to facilitate. Tatum should take advantage of the opportunities presented by the Warriors to defend Tatum and allow him to create teammates for open shots. Tatum’s willingness and ability to score should make it easier for him to pass.
— Kevin Pelton
Curry’s co-stars need to make a bigger splash for Warriors
Curry has delivered everything the Warriors wanted through the first two Finals games. Curry scored 21 points within the first 12 minute of Game 1. In Game 2, he had 29 points, six boards, four assists, and three steals.
His argument is strong for him to be his first Finals MVP. But, barring that, a Jerry West momentCurry will have to win the championship to make it big. Curry will need to get more offensive help from Thompson or Poole if he wants Golden State to win the championship. Golden State is 8-1 in these playoffs when each player scores at least 25.
Thompson has scored 13 points per game on 10-of33 shooting, including 4 of 15 from deep. Boston’s defense did a great job against Thompson. He shot 1-of-13 on contested shoots in Game 2.
Thompson’s 30.3% shot is his worst in the first two playoff series of any career. His 21.1% performance in Game 2 was his worst in any of his 141 career playoff games.
Poole, like Thompson, averages 13 points on 8-of-21 shooting. This includes 6-of-14 from 3.
Poole also appeared rushed and overwhelmed by the Celtics, not having the space to unlock the most dangerous parts his game.
Poole had seven turnovers during the first two rounds, which is the highest number of players in the Finals. When his jumper isn’t falling, Poole has been 0-for-5 with paint attempts.
He might have found his game again in Game 2, where he scored 17 points, and made two pivotal 3-pointers to cap off the Warriors’ third quarter. Thompson is also likely to turn the corner on his series.
Thompson averaged 15.4 point per game on 39% shooting during Games 1 and 2. Thompson has averaged 15.4 points per game on 39% shooting in Games 1 and 2. In the subsequent games, however, he is averaging 22 point per game on 50% shooting.
To be present in Boston on Wednesday, the Warriors will need Thompson’s version and Poole’s Game 2 performance.
— Kendra Andrews