Three keys to a Boston Celtics trip to the 2022 NBA Finals
At the time of this writing, the Eastern Conference finals is knotted up 2-2 following the Boston Celtics‘ big bounce-back win over the Miami Heat. The series heads back to South Beach, where the Celtics will need to grab at least one road victory in order to punch a ticket to the 2022 NBA Finals.
At times Boston has looked like the far superior team in the series. Just the same, though, there are moments where the Celtics look more like they did in December than any sort of contender. The ups and downs have been a consistent theme during this postseason. If head coach Ime Udoka can help iron out some of his club’s bigger issues, Boston has a real chance at returning to the NBA world series for the first time since 2010.
Here’s what the Celtics need to do to eliminate the Heat from contention and move on to the Finals.
Limit turnovers
May 19, 2022; Miami, Florida, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) passes as Miami Heat forward P.J. Tucker (17) defends during the first half of game two of the 2022 eastern conference finals at FTX Arena. Mandatory Credit: Jim Rassol-USA TODAY Sports
The Miami Heat are led by one of the league’s top coaches in Erik Spoelstra. The team’s veteran leaders Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry are no-nonsense guys. The role players are hungry, sharp, and disciplined. The Heat make few unforced errors but know how to take advantage of an opponent’s mistakes.
During the regular season, Miami committed the third-fewest turnovers of any team in the NBA. At the same time, the Heat also ranked third in points scored off of opponent giveaways. It’s no mystery why turnovers have been such a big challenge for the Celtics during these playoffs.
During the Eastern Conference finals, Boston has committed just 10.5 turnovers per game in their two wins. During losses, however, that number jumps to 20.0. That’s a huge delta against a team poised to expose sloppy play. It really may be that simple.
Jayson Tatum is averaging 4.75 turnovers per game so far this series. Jaylen Brown has had his issues here as well. These two in particular need to limit unforced errors and put an emphasis on possession. (This also means getting back on defense, rather than having a conversation with the refs.)
Get the bench going
May 21, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics guard Payton Pritchard (11) battles for the ball against Miami Heat guard Gabe Vincent (2) and forward Caleb Martin (16) in the second quarter during game three of the 2022 eastern conference finals at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports
The NBA postseason is where stars become superstars, and where the game’s greatest players go out and grab greatness. We saw that with Giannis Antetokounmpo last season. We’ve seen flashes of it from Tatum, Butler, Steph Curry, and Luka Doncic during the 2022 conference finals.
The playoffs are also where role players step into glory. Think PJ Brown or Kelly Olynyk. Boston has a few critical utility guys who could make or break the series.
The obvious answer here is Grant Williams. We saw his heroics on display in the previous round, and his unique 3-D offerings are an essential compliment to Boston’s stars. Payton Pritchard, meanwhile has offered impressive shooting and grit during this series against the Heat, while Derrick White has been an unsung hero all along.
It seems the Celtics have more depth and flexibility than Miami — if the bench guys can step up and stay in gear, the C’s have a huge advantage here. For coach Udoka, that means deploying and empowering his bench guys strategically. So far this has been done with reasonable success.
Avoid the injury bug
BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS – MAY 23: Marcus Smart #36 of the Boston Celtics looks on from the bench against the Miami Heat during the second quarter in Game Four of the 2022 NBA Playoffs Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden on May 23, 2022, in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
Boston’s largest barrier to entry for a return to the Finals may in fact be team health. This has plenty to do with luck but is also a proactive concern as well.
Marcus Smart missed Game 4 with swelling in his sprained right ankle. Jayson Tatum and Robert Williams III are dealing with nagging injuries. Derrick White appeared to tweak his hamstring at the end of Monday’s game. Every team is banged up at this point in the postseason.
Ime Udoka and co. need to be very careful in potentially aggravating any existing injuries. That might mean playing Daniel Theis just a little bit more, more finding extra moments of rest for the Jays. Even with the incredibly high stakes that will come with a Game 5 and 6 (or 7), the Celtics need to proceed with caution, utilizing their depth as an insurance policy before it becomes an imperative.
This post originally appeared on Celtics Wire. Follow us on Facebook!
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