Every morning, we compile the links of the day and dump them here… highlighting the big story line. Because there’s nothing quite as satisfying as a good morning dump.
When Stevens looks ahead to Game 5, he will need to remember a few things:
1. Millsap obliterated the Celtics, absolutely ruined them for most of regulation. With the amount of force he showed, Jonas Jerebko didn’t stand much chance as the primary defender and neither did anyone else (until Smart’s absurd final quarter-plus — and who knows if that matchup is sustainable).
2. Regardless of what the Celtics do, Millsap may never play that well again in his entire life — and that’s no slight on him.
3. The Hawks still shot just 37 percent as a team. They missed some open looks, but the Celtics still kept them uncomfortable enough to allow 95 points in an overtime game. Stevens will need to balance the desire to make adjustments on Millsap with the knowledge that Atlanta owns a miserable 94.1 offensive rating for the series, and was actually worse than that in Game 4.
“Even during the game, that was a really hard call with Millsap because the one thing that you don’t want to do is get those other guys going,” Stevens said. “If you put too much emphasis on doubling the post or rotating or whatever the case may be, now (Kent) Bazemore gets a wide-open 3 in the corner or a layup on a cut, or (Jeff) Teague hits an open 3, Korver gets an open 3. Those are bad things as well. It’s a tough call in the heat of the moment, you just kinda go with what you’re feeling at that moment, go with what you’re seeing. Then go with any numbers that might back up your decision.”
We’re at the point in a best of seven series where as a fan you almost forget that the Celtics have played any other opponent this year besides Atlanta. Each playoff series (hoping there’s more than one for the Celts this season) feels like its own mini season. As both teams fly back and forth up the east coast and take the court for another 48-minute chess match, you as a fan start to anticipate the moves of the opponent before they happen. “Don’t give Al Horford any space on his set-shot from 18 feet out” “If Millsap goes one-on-one with Sullinger, we’re screwed” “Please stick with Kyle Korver as he runs around two screens.” Seven game series allow for heels and heroes to develop: If you had Dennis Schroder and Jonas Jerebko as fits for each of those archetypes before last Saturday night, kudos to you.
The chess match we play out as fans in front of our TVs is a dumbed-down version of the ones played by Brad Stevens and Mike Budenholzer. Jay King hones in on a few of the moves that Stevens may need to anticipate in Atlanta tonight. What to make of Paul Millsap’s game four performance? Can he live with a similar performance tonight if it means the rest of the Hawks struggle to find their groove? The Hawks have put up a few straight offensive duds, so do the Cs stick to what’s worked thus far, or make anticipatory adjustments?
If the playoffs are a season within a season, then a 2-2 series headed to a best of three is a series within a series. Currently, this match-up is taking on an eerie resemblance to Celtics-Hawks in 2008, where a seemingly over-matched team rode its home crowd to two surprising wins in games three and four after being soundly beat in games one and two. That underdog was never able to take its momentum and win a road game. In order for this year’s Celtics to avoid ending up like the 07-08 Hawks, they’ll likely need to win tonight.
On page 2, Brad sounds like he’s putting KO in mothballs for the series
Brad Stevens on utilizing Kelly Olynyk moving forward. pic.twitter.com/vvgIofSSOj
— Chris Forsberg (@ESPNForsberg) April 25, 2016
One thing is for certain about Kelly Olynyk: He’s a player that thrives on being in rhythm. Losing him in February was a huge blow, because it seemed as though he was turning the corner as a reliable offensive weapon in the Cs arsenal. When Olynyk came back off the injury in March, it wasn’t surprising to see him both rusty and tentative on the offensive end. In the playoffs, rusty and tentative don’t really work, and Stevens’ comments aren’t exactly a ringing endorsement for giving KO more time.
It’s a shame, really, because Olynyk at his best could be spacing the floor for Boston to allow Isaiah Thomas to operate more freely in the paint. With Jared Sullinger a lost soul, plugging in Olynyk would seem like a perfect alternative, but unless the Cs make a deeper playoff run, it doesn’t seem like we’ll see him for more than a few quick, first half bursts anytime soon.
And finally, LeGarrette Blount was worth signing just to watch him morph into a Celtics fan
Someone needs to get @LG_Blount to Atlanta for Tuesday pic.twitter.com/YpdwXG3Mhs
— Albert Breer (@AlbertBreer) April 25, 2016
I’m not naive – Boston isn’t the only city in which other local athletes cheer on a local team in the playoffs, but the ensemble of Patriots that showed up to games three and four, chief among them LeGarrette Blount, is pretty cool. Boston is a marquee sports city and many of these players feel that bond and responsibility to wear a Boston jersey with pride. Blount and Isaiah Thomas (did they just become best friends? yup!) are somewhat new to Boston and yet they are two guys who have embraced the city and the responsibility with open arms.
Lastly, I can’t get over just how popular IT is with current and past athletes. He’s tight with Floyd Mayweather, exchanges texts with the other Isaiah and Allen Iverson and now has a seemingly blossoming friendship with Blount. Maybe this becomes a free agency factor this season given the attractiveness of the Celtics’ situation.
The rest of the links:
Herald – Celtics rally to even series with overtime victory | Dominique Wilkins not surprised by Celtics | CSNNE – Boston Celtics resiliency on display in series with Atlanta Hawks | ESPN – Bundle of energy: Jonas Jerebko gives Boston Celtics a jolt
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