First things first: Boston held serve. Game scores don't matter. It takes 4 wins to win. A series doesn't really get started until a road team wins a game.
Tidbits from last night . . .
- For those that don't follow the Celtics, last night was a textbook game on how they play. They shoot a lot of threes, they make a lot of threes, they get up by 20 points in literally almost half their games, they rotate who scores from game to game, and they win a lot.
- I know a lot of analysts and media talking heads have tried to make Boston out to be the Jay's and a bunch of role players, but the C's are really 6 main guys. The only real role players are Pritchard and Hauser (and Kornet if they need him). Their starters are 3 guys who have been 1's or 1A's (counting KP as a starter) and Holiday and White who were 2's before they came to Boston. The point being, they have 5 guys that can shoot and score on the court at once. They're not really role players. You can't slack off on any of them, and you can't guard the entire front court.
- White, Holiday, and Tatum had meh nights, going 15 for 36 combined for 43 points. They averaged 55 ppg in the regular season and 56 ppg in the playoffs . . . those guys are candidates to turn it on in Game 2.
- Dallas made a point to try to switch and hunt Al Horford. Horford allowed Mavs players to only shoot 1 for 13 last night. I know Porzingis gets the wow factor, but there's a reason why the Celtics won at a high rate without KP in the lineup.
- Porzingis is a cheat code for Boston. The offense went nuts when he came into the game . . . but the Boston offense was ordinary the last 3 quarters (meaning, lots of guys could play better offensively). No team can defend a 7'3" player shooting 30 feet from the basket. The best option is to let him shoot and get in position for a rebound. You can't contest the shot anyway.
- Horford and KP combined put up 30 / 13 / 3 with 5 blocks and +20. That can't happen if the Mavs expect to win.
- As I expected, Boston took away corner threes and lobs for the Mavs. That's the strategy for the Celtics. If the Mavs are looking at things like that was a fluke and keep looking for those plays, they will have a tough road moving forward.
- In close to 1,000 times that Boston faced pick and rolls this season, the Celtics only double teamed off of switches 11 times. They switch and they will continue to switch. That's how they play. They hardly ever double team or blitz. In other series, Dallas and Luka excelled on ball movement out of double teams to get other guys good looks. That is not going to happen against Boston.
- Kyrie does not fare well against BOS (lost 11 in a row). He will shoot better than he did last night (6 for 19) and Dallas will should better than 26% on 3P. However, they need to have a different plan offensively other than make more shots. Teams will struggle when Boston has a +9 3PM advantage.
- Let's see what adjustments the Mavs make and see what they scheme up for a counterpunch. IMO, 1) they need a different plan, and 2) they need to get more out of other guys besides LD and KI, Irving will play better, but Jones, Gafford, Lively, Green, and Kleber combined for 20 points. Hardy had 11 points in garbage time . . . maybe he plays more meaningful minutes?
