Boston Celtics: 3 keys to a Game 3 road win over Brooklyn

Apr 20, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jayson Tatum (0) is congratulated by teammates during the third quarter of game two of the first round of the 2022 NBA playoffs against the Brooklyn Nets at TD Garden. Mandatory Credit: Winslow Townson-USA TODAY Sports /

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Boston Celtics (David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports) /

Boston Celtics key to Victory No.1) Ime Udoka

The 2x Coach of the Month award winner Ime Udoka has been nothing short of sensational in his first season as an NBA head coach. From day one, Ime has preached defense and created a system that has allowed the Boston Celtics to flourish.

Even with their early-season struggles, Udoka stayed the course, and the team bought in.

The playoffs are all about adjustments, not only just on a game-to-game basis, but in-game adjusting is crucial.

The former Spurs assistant coach has adjusted tremendously to fend off the star-studded Nets. After trailing 65-55 at the half, Udoka shook things up in the second half, helping his team outscore Brooklyn 59-42 in the final 24 minutes.

Udoka went smaller and deployed a lineup that played just six minutes together throughout the entire regular season, as Payton Pritchard, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Grant Williams, and Al Horford held it down and helped this team turn the corner in the fourth.

As Horford fouled out, Marcus Smart tagged in and the C’s surged ahead. Udoka put his trust in PP and Grant Willaims and it certainly paid off.

If Ime can adjust as he did in Game 1 and Game 2, the C’s should continue to see success, as he’s seemingly outcoached Steve Nash by miles.

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