NBA, Celtics Twitter react to Boston’s 118-107 Game 1 loss in East finals
The Boston Celtics came out swinging in the first half of their Game 1 matchup with the Miami Heat in the East semis, jumping out to a big early lead. Then, the Celtics got punched in the mouth right back by Miami, who upped their physicality considerably in the second half, holding Boston scoreless for much of the third frame.
The chess match seems a solvable one for the Celtics, but the rollercoaster ride of the game kept NBA and Celtics Twitter engaged throughout the contest, with fans and analysts both riding the highs and lows of a very grimy first installment of what already looks like will be a tough series on both ends for Boston and Miami both.
Let’s take a look at what was percolating on the league’s unofficial social media Tuesday night on the way to the Celtics’ 118-107 Game 1 loss.
Pregame
https://t.co/pyqP71I32w pic.twitter.com/0caIeYyns0
— Mike Dynon ☘️🏀 (@MikeDynon) May 17, 2022
You've got to be kidding me
— Dr. Daniel fromSport, Esq. (@DanielfromSport) May 17, 2022
Wow. Huge losses for Boston. https://t.co/tQeElvnF75
— Chris Mannix (@SIChrisMannix) May 17, 2022
— Cameron Tabatabaie (@CTabatabaie) May 17, 2022
The Celtics have historically been very good when they have players out, but not having Al Horford and Marcus Smart is testing those limits more than is reasonable.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 17, 2022
Calling it now. Tonight will forever be known as "The Nesmith Game."
— John Zannis (@John_Zannis) May 17, 2022
His time is now. pic.twitter.com/12DSzpl2nX
— Celtics Lab Podcast (@CelticsLab) May 18, 2022
First quarter
Offense connected, Rob bouncy — I am panicking less.
— Dr. Justin Quinn (@justinquinnn) May 18, 2022
Only 30 seconds in to the ECF and Grant Williams drains his first 3
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) May 18, 2022
#Celtics starting off with energy and strong defense. #Heat
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) May 18, 2022
Celtics dominating early on, getting everything they want on offense and shutting down Miami on the other end. Only MIA stop was Jaylen faking out Bam in the paint and then just butching the layup, but Boston looks great without their two heart and soul guys so far.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) May 18, 2022
That was an impressive stop by Derrick White #BOSvsMIA
— 𝕂𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕚 𝔸. 𝕃𝕦𝕟𝕚𝕤 (@KwaniALunis) May 18, 2022
The Heat are finding out very quickly that the Celtics ain’t the Sixers
— Ky Carlin (@Ky_Carlin) May 18, 2022
Is it a white out in Miami? Cause it’s a Derrick White out right now
— Topher Lane (@Topher_L) May 18, 2022
Boston is being very mean to the former Celtic Strus.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 18, 2022
Boston is being very mean to the former Celtic Strus.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 18, 2022
These guys looked LOCKED IN
— ITS ALL NICE ON THEIS ALRIGHT (@designer_smarf) May 18, 2022
The Celtics' defense looks like a shock to Miami's system.
— Tom Westerholm (@Tom_NBA) May 18, 2022
Rob Williams returning back to his regular season form is a pretty big development.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) May 18, 2022
Rob is huffing and puffing, which is to be expected. Key for Boston will be spotting Theis minutes. Ideally when Adebayo sits.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 18, 2022
Herro coming in to kick the Heat into transition gear changed this up quite a bit.
— Yaya Dubin (@JADubin5) May 18, 2022
You could really see the loss of playmaking from the Smart and Horford absences once Tatum hit the bench.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) May 18, 2022
Rough start for Jaylen Brown on both ends.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) May 18, 2022
Second quarter
Aaron Nesmith starting Q2. First meaningful minutes he played in more than a month.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 18, 2022
Aaron Nesmith finally gets a chance and stops a 4 on 1 fast break all on his own wtf
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) May 18, 2022
Seeing Time Lord getting alley oops ike that again is a great sign.
— Nick Friar (@Nick_Friar) May 18, 2022
Nesmith: pic.twitter.com/lFDru9TnMR
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 18, 2022
Pritchard, Nesmith with some big minutes to put the Celtics up by double digits in the East Finals
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) May 18, 2022
Heat called a timeout and PJ Tucker limped right to the locker room.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) May 18, 2022
Marcus Smart is giving Nesmith a pep talk during the Celtics' timeout…
A lot of positive energy flowing through that talk, as Marcus has been pretty animated
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) May 18, 2022
That’s perfect defense but Butler is going to get some calls along the way
— Ryan Bernardoni (@dangercart) May 18, 2022
Tatum blew the crowd a kiss after that last 3, he's feeling it now.
Tatum's got 19 points on 9/14 attempts, 5 assists & four rebounds
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) May 18, 2022
The Celtics just scored 42 points in the paint – in the 1st half – against a team with the best defensive rating of the 4 remaining Playoffs teams
— Ryan McDonough (@McDNBA) May 18, 2022
Third quarter
PJ Tucker is back on the floor to start second half. #Celtics #Heat
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) May 18, 2022
the robert williams close on that PJ Tucker three was incredible
— Rohan Nadkarni (@RohanNadkarni) May 18, 2022
Celtics need to block out. This is a very low energy start to the half.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 18, 2022
Too much one-on-one from the C’s in the second half
— Cameron Tabatabaie (@CTabatabaie) May 18, 2022
Celtics have fallen back to Earth here in the third quarter, Heat have the lead
— Hunter Felt (@HunterFelt) May 18, 2022
Miami’s defense has finally arrived to the party
— Rohan Nadkarni (@RohanNadkarni) May 18, 2022
18-2 Heat run in the first 6 minutes out of the locker room. Just humiliating the Celtics right now.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) May 18, 2022
Boston has scored two points over the first 5:44 of the second half. Miami’s defense took that first half personally.
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) May 18, 2022
Just lazy offense from the Celtics and Jimmy Butler is taking full advantage. This place is very loud right now.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) May 18, 2022
Despite all that, Boston is down just three. If you just turned on the game, you would assume things are going great for the Celtics.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 18, 2022
A brief heated exchange between Ime Udoka & Grant Williams after Grant subbed out.
He made his way to the bench peacefully as the two walked away from one another
— Josue Pavón (@Joe_Sway) May 18, 2022
If you like free throws boy do i have a third quarter for you
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) May 18, 2022
Nesmith giveth, Nesmith taketh away.
At least he's playing hard though.
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) May 18, 2022
Gotta take care of the ball. All these mistakes are avoidable and when you do make them, move on!! No complaints, just keep pushing.
— Anna Horford (@AnnaHorford) May 18, 2022
Fourth quarter
Jayson Tatum had 6(!) turnovers in the third quarter.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) May 18, 2022
Jaylen Brown is elite at overdribbling into unforced turnovers.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) May 18, 2022
https://twitter.com/RohanNadkarni/status/1526757246155100160?s=20&t=zBVL2bJdsfbsydSg60tjHg
Jaylen definitely needs to work on his FT shooting this summer. #Celtics #Heat
— gary washburn (@GwashburnGlobe) May 18, 2022
Some chirping between Payton Pritchard and Tyler Herro as the Celtics cut lead to 10 with a 10-0 run.
— Brian Robb (@BrianTRobb) May 18, 2022
Grant Williams is rubbing Robert Williams' knee. I might have a trainer handle that. He's limping off now.
— Adam Himmelsbach (@AdamHimmelsbach) May 18, 2022
Rob Williams is limping, dragging his left knee again, but he is waving the trainer off and seems to be ok. He's flexing the knee on the bench right now and grabbing a resistance band to stretch it out.
— Jared Weiss (@JaredWeissNBA) May 18, 2022
lol jimmy is in such a zone tonight
— Michael Pina (@MichaelVPina) May 18, 2022
I hope Jayson Tatum learned something from Jimmy Butler tonight.
— John Zannis (@John_Zannis) May 18, 2022
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
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