Sunday’s thriller says extra in regards to the Thunder than it does in regards to the Celtics

Should you watch the Celtics as a lot as I do, you understand that there are some nights the place they, fairly merely, “have it” and are an unstoppable basketball wagon.

You understand it while you see it. Function. Vitality. Conviction. Fluidity. Toughness. When these attributes are on show, they nearly by no means lose. Their ceiling is the best within the NBA, and it exhibits when the whole lot is clicking.

Within the first half Sunday evening, the Celtics had been on a type of prolonged heaters. They attacked the basket relentlessly, performed for each other and exceeded Oklahoma Metropolis’s physicality. It appeared like they had been about to make a significant assertion on the highway.

Then, there was a shift. It began slowly, then all of the sudden, it advanced into an avalanche. The Thunder held Boston to 27 second-half factors, incomes an especially spectacular 105-92 win over a Celtics workforce enjoying at full power and hungry to say its dominance. Boston fell utterly out of its factor within the second half after dazzling within the first.

“They took benefit of our poor spacing and our poor screening,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla advised reporters. “I feel these are the 2 greatest issues.”

Let these numbers sink in for a second. The Celtics scored 65 (!) factors within the first half, then 27 (!) within the second half — fifteen within the third and 12 within the fourth. Sure, the 3-point taking pictures (19.6 p.c for the sport) was putrid. Sure, the offense turned stagnant. Sure, the protection misplaced its edge.

All these issues are true, however to me, this sport says a heck of much more in regards to the Thunder than it does in regards to the Celtics. Boston will probably be simply tremendous. It’s sport three of a grueling four-game highway journey, they’ve already notched two strong wins they usually, frankly, ran out of steam. These aren’t excuses; they’re simply details.

However what I did not see coming was simply how a lot the Thunder took the life out of the Celtics within the fourth quarter. It was a type of video games the place you felt such as you had been watching it unfold in sluggish movement. You knew what was occurring, however you couldn’t cease it. I think about the Celtics had an analogous expertise enjoying within the sport.

“I’d say we didn’t play as much as our stage in any respect offensively within the second half,” Kristaps Porzingis advised reporters.

They knew what they had been presupposed to do, however they couldn’t do it. That doesn’t imply OKC would essentially win if these groups meet within the NBA Finals. I’d nonetheless most likely take the Celtics in six. But it surely does present that it’s anybody’s sport in the event that they match up in June.

The Thunder have one of the best participant on the ground (sorry, Jayson), insane size, elite on-ball defenders and taking pictures throughout. Sound acquainted? The explanation this matchup is so engaging is as a result of these groups mirror one another in some ways. You’ll be able to inform the Thunder entrance workplace people and coach Mark Daigneault have New England roots. It’s a gritty, resilient, fearless workforce on the rise.

When the Thunder trailed at halftime, there was no panic in anyway. I suppose that’s what occurs while you win 15 straight. A workforce usually mirrors its greatest participant, and that’s what’s unfolding right here. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander isn’t in a rush. He performs with outstanding poise and doesn’t get flustered. His Thunder teammates see that and replicate it. On this explicit evening, the Celtics couldn’t seize the second, whereas Gilgeous-Alexander and Co. did.

“OKC is rolling proper now,” Jaylen Brown advised reporters. “We had a chance to sort of come on their house ground and get a W. Thought within the first half we executed properly. Second half, simply not adequate.”

Whereas this was a troublesome setback for the Celtics quick time period, it’s not the top of the world massive image. It can solely make them higher.

So, as you digest this one, I encourage you to tip your cap to Oklahoma Metropolis. The Thunder are legit, they usually’re going to be an issue for a protracted, very long time. Having stated that, the Celtics love a problem.

They’ve met their match, and subsequent time, I think they’ll end the job when OKC makes its run. That’s what championship groups do.

“This sort of win is simply going to provide them extra confidence,” Porzingis stated. “So, it’s not good, however we can have one other alternative later within the season.”