I wrote recently on the low combined number of assists (4) by the Jay Team in the Game-2 loss to Miami - in addition to the need for improved focus on the offensive glass by the entire Celtics team.
Well, in Boston's convincing 104-84 win over the Heat last night in Game-3, there is little doubt that improvement in both categories helped get the win. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown combined for nine assists (6 for Tatum, 3 for Brown), and 10 of the Celtics 43 rebounds were off the offensive glass.
One of Jayson's assists stood out for me. At the 6:58 mark of the second quarter, Tatum whipped a pass to a cutting Sam Hauser under the hoop for the score. It brought back memories of Dennis Johnson repeatedly making the same pass to a cutting Larry Bird under the hoop.
Derrick White led the way with three offensive boards. That guy never takes a play off. Al Horford, Jaylen Brown and Payton Pritchard followed with two offensive rebounds each. Opponents never seem to notice Pritchard when trying to collect a defensive board, and the little guy takes full advantage.
So Celtics lead the series 2-1. This being my 64th Celtics post-season, I also wrote on "mental discipline" by the Guys in Green being the key to Banner 18. For the most part, they exhibited that last night. They need to keep it up - every game.
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