The Boston Celtics have been inconsistent in each of these last three wins, that is until they get into the fourth quarter
The Boston Celtics have gone through the kind of turnaround that is rarely see in the playoffs. The team of the last three games is unrecognizable from the team in the first two games, but they have been far from perfect. The Celtics continue to be inconsistent and continue to allow the Chicago Bulls to stay in game. The difference is that the Celtics are saving their best quarter for the last and are closing out the Bulls properly
All season long the Celtics drove fans mad, building up what should have been insurmountable leads, only to see the points slowly fall out of their grasp. The Celtics constantly found themselves in close situations in the clutch, and all that experience in the regular season is paying off.
The Celtics have to accept a certain degree of inconsistency. It appears that the runs they give up are inevitable, but playing well in the clutch is the ultimate way to neutralize that issue. In each of the last three games, the Celtics have relied on that experience in the clutch, and they have turned that in to double digit wins every time.
Game five was the first time that the Celtics did not give up a 20 point lead in one of their victories, but they landed in a similar spot when the fourth quarter started. In game three it was the bench having a phenomenal first six minutes of the fourth that put the game out of reach. In game five, Isaiah Thomas was on the court to start, and they never gave the Bulls a chance to get a hold on the game.
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One of the best things about these three winning fourth quarters, which were highlighted by a 13 point margin of victory in game five, is that Thomas is not having to do things by himself. In the regular season. Thomas was scoring a lot more and shooting better in those clutch situations. Instead, the Celtics are getting complete and balanced team efforts when it matters most.
Avery Bradley played near perfect defense on Jimmy Butler to close game five, it was Terry Rozier and Jonas Jerebko that helped put game three out of reach, Marcus Smart is not only making plays on defense, but he is contributing on offense too. Then there is Al Horford, who has been the best player on the court for Boston in this series, and who is setting the tone as they close games.
The Celtics are giving Thomas the support in the fourth that everyone has been saying he desperately needs, and it is the biggest reason why they have taken their first lead in this series, and have an opportunity to close it out in six.
The Celtics are making sure they maintain control in the fourth quarter, and that is making things too difficult for Butler and Wade. The two of them are dealing with Smart, Bradley and Crowder that that is not a matchup they can exploit on a regular basis.
The Celtics are making sure they are functioning at a high level in the fourth, and the Bulls are collapsing under the pressure that creates. Butler and Wade have had their moments in this series, and have proven that they can go on big runs. The difference is that the Celtics are making it even more difficult, on offense and on defense, in the fourth quarter, and they have not proven they can overcome that.
The one downside is the habit this kind of play could create. Hopefully the Celtics have learned better form the regular season, but it could be considered that the Celtics will try to rely on the fourth quarter too much. The Celtics cannot let their better play in the fourth be an excuse to play any differently at any point in the game.
The Celtics need to put together a complete game, and if they do that they know the Bulls will not be able to keep is close. The Celtics did not give up any kind of huge run in game five, but they were a different team in the fourth. A lot of it is just timing with shot making, but the Celtics do not let themselves fall into bad habits in the fourth.
It is the disciple and control that the Celtics are playing with, limiting their mistakes while exploiting that pressure on the Bulls.
Next: Celtics Pull Away and Win Game Five
Playing well in the fourth is something that could take the Celtics far in these playoffs, but everyone knows eventually that wont be enough. The Celtics have now proven that they can close games in the playoffs, but it is time for them to prove that they can play a complete game in the playoffs.