For the second straight collection, the Boston Celtics are heading right into a do-or-die Recreation 7 situation.

After ousting the Milwaukee Bucks on their residence courtroom in Recreation 7 of the Jap Convention semifinals, they may now have to move all the way down to Florida to attempt to punch their ticket to the NBA Finals in opposition to the Miami Warmth.

In fact, this all might have been averted had Boston received Recreation 6 at TD Backyard, however in fact, this crew by no means likes to do issues the simple approach.

However lets deal with the positives; the season just isn’t over but, opposite to what many of us have mentioned, and the Celtics nonetheless have an ideal alternative in entrance of them with Recreation 7 tonight.

It’s clear, although, that some work must be finished in the event that they intend on sending the Warmth residence for the offseason tonight. The Celtics frustratingly reverted again to their sloppy habits from earlier on this collection, and that was all Miami wanted to stave off elimination in Recreation 6.

Boston hasn’t misplaced two video games in a row all through this postseason, and their behavior of bouncing again after robust losses has been an instance of their resiliency, but it surely’s being put to the last word take a look at proper now. There’s a fast repair, nevertheless, that would assist make issues simpler for them on an evening the place they’re going to should earn each basket they’ll get.

The Boston Celtics must have Jayson Tatum guard Jimmy Butler always

Simply essentially the most irritating a part of Recreation 6 for Boston Celtics followers was Jimmy Butler. He obtained some assist alongside the best way, however with out his 47 level, 9 rebound, eight help masterpiece on Friday evening, the Warmth would already be on trip.

Boston didn’t actually make his life too arduous; actually, they spent many of the evening treating Butler like a standard participant. He admittedly appeared fairly pedestrian within the earlier three video games of the collection, throughout which he solely mixed for 27 factors, however he got here out a totally completely different participant along with his season on the road.

The Boston Celtics started slacking off on Butler in Recreation 5 when it was clear his knee damage was hampering his play. He was struggling to hit his jumpers, and simply couldn’t discover his solution to the rim. Boston applied the identical plan on Butler in Recreation 6, and he made them pay early and infrequently.

Ime Udoka additionally couldn’t appear to determine who he needed to protect Butler all through the sport. It was a rotating forged of gamers, and no person actually appeared to have a lot success.

Al Horford and Grant Williams are unbelievable defenders, however Butler is simply too elusive for each of them as soon as he reaches the paint. Marcus Sensible just isn’t one hundred pc wholesome proper now, and that’s making it troublesome for him to remain on Butler. And Jaylen Brown usually ended up committing some form of foul every time he discovered himself on Butler.

The one man who has had success guarding Butler is none aside from Jayson Tatum. Tatum has spent most of this collection guarding Kyle Lowry for no matter motive, and Lowry lastly began hitting open jumpers in Recreation 6. Tatum isn’t actually minimize out for sticking with Lowry round Bam Adebayo screens on the perimeter, and Lowry turned it into 18 factors.

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Tatum has the mix of energy and velocity that Butler is utilizing to get no matter seems to be he desires proper now. Butler is cooking whoever is on him, and if assist slides into the paint, he’s simply kicking it out to the perimeter for threes. Generally it really works (Recreation 6), generally it doesn’t (Recreation 5). The time for taking possibilities is over although; this can be a win or go residence state of affairs now.

If Tatum can stick to Butler in half-court settings, that takes away the one supply of offense Miami has that isn’t fastbreak or transition scoring. Butler knew Boston would assist if he obtained by his defender, so if he didn’t have the look, he knew another person would. If Tatum sticks with Butler although, there’s no motive to assist, and Butler goes to should discover a new solution to rating.

Butler can win video games on his personal, but it surely feels prefer it’s virtually extra vital to restrict his supporting forged at this level. The simplest approach to try this, although, is to decelerate Butler, as a result of he’s Miami’s lone supply of offense on this collection since Adebayo has actually solely been used as a screener on the perimeter.

The Boston Celtics have finished an ideal job of limiting Adebayo within the paint, however they want to determine their perimeter sport at this level. Placing Sensible on an equally injured Lowry to begin the sport makes essentially the most sense. Even when he struggles, Derrick White, who has been phenomenal as of late, is greater than able to sticking with Lowry or any of Miami’s different perimeter gamers.

Miami wanted rather a lot to go proper for them in Recreation 6 after just about every little thing went unsuitable for them in Recreation 5. Likelihood is Butler isn’t going to attain 47 factors once more (fingers crossed). It additionally wouldn’t be smart to financial institution on Miami capturing over 40 p.c on threes after they failed to take action in any of the earlier 5 video games of this collection.

However in Recreation 7s, all playing cards are on the desk, and that’s essentially the most nerve-racking piece of the puzzle. There’s nothing ruling out a stable Miami efficiency, and if it occurs, it in all probability means Boston’s title hopes will come crashing down in entrance of them.

Sticking Tatum on Butler defensively helps lower the potential for such a situation. Tatum spent many of the first two collection clamping Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo; now it’s time to let him and Butler battle for an opportunity to make it to the Finals. If he can restrict Butler offensively, Boston can have a shot at successful this monumental Recreation 7.