Cardiac Celtics Part III: first ‘clutch time’ playoff game wasn’t fun

After virtually three weeks, we’re formally again on the “Cardiac Celtics” practice. Boston was capable of take a 3-1 collection lead over the Cleveland Cavaliers on Monday, but it surely was removed from fairly.

Spectators needed to strap in for what turned out to be an absolute rollercoaster of a sport, regardless of Donovan Mitchell being out for the Cavs with a calf pressure.

Fortunately, there hasn’t been a complete lot of tomfoolery since Recreation 2 of the Miami collection (sure, Recreation 2 towards Cleveland was unhealthy, but it surely was extra like ripping a band-aid off), so we haven’t needed to sweat an excessive amount of.

Now, chances are you’ll be saying, “Sam, why had been you so fearful about this sport? Even when that they had misplaced, they nonetheless ought to’ve been capable of simply deal with the Cavs.”

Properly, this felt like a big-time “can’t lose” spot for Boston. With Mitchell out, Cleveland was with out what had been their solely supply of offense all through this collection. Had they managed to win this, then it might’ve been as a result of a number of the “different guys” had gotten going.

Is that basically a scenario that anybody desires to observe, particularly if Mitchell comes again?

It will’ve had me feeling like Jaylen Brown after he received a TOUGH slap on the chest from Jayson Tatum.

Let’s check out the heart beat (wink) of Recreation 4.

Getting into this sport, I used to be fairly calm contemplating the efficiency the Celtics had in Recreation 3. My resting coronary heart price was 52 beats per minute. As soon as issues received rolling, I shot as much as 56 bpm as Cleveland opened the sport on an 8-2 run.

Boston didn’t actually waver and punched again with a 19-2 run of their very own. I used to be capable of relax a bit and clocked in at 54 bpm. Although the Celtics turned the ball over prefer it was the “season of giving,” they nonetheless managed to wrap the primary quarter with a seven-point lead and had me chilling at 52 bpm.

They even began the second quarter on the suitable foot. Boston constructed the lead as much as 13 early. From that time on, they simply constantly left the door open for the hosts. Cleveland chipped away and received the lead right down to only one within the closing minutes of the half. I jumped as much as a crisp 64 bpm, however then the Cs determined to shut issues proper.

Sadly, the Celtics began the second half with a Tatum turnover, adopted by an Evan Mobley dunk on the opposite finish. Later within the quarter, Derrick White rolled his ankle and made a rapid journey to the locker room. Whereas he was getting checked out, Mobley transformed an and-1 and despatched me as much as 69 (not good) bpm.

Boston was capable of curb the momentum of the Cavs, due to Payton Pritchard — essentially the most assured man on the planet. Pritchard scored 5 straight to finish the quarter, together with this sick stepback three.

The momentum carried over to the fourth for the Cs. Jrue Vacation received rolling and helped stretch the result in 13 factors, whereas my coronary heart caught a breather at 63 bpm.

Nevertheless, watching the Cs go over 5 minutes with out making a area aim within the fourth quarter will do one thing to your coronary heart price.

First, all of us received a pleasant dose of Dean Wade PTSD, because the sharpshooter drilled a 3 to chop the lead right down to single digits. His snipe despatched me again as much as 73 bpm.

Cleveland was finally capable of minimize the result in simply 5 and gave us all the primary have a look at playoff “clutch time” for Boston. Brown responded by taking a troublesome pull-up mid-range jumper. He received bailed out with a phantom foul, which was swiftly overturned, leading to a swift 83 bpm for me.

I hit my game-high 88 bpm because the Celtics secured a key cease, after which Max Strus fouled out when he whacked Tatum on the rebound.

Seconds later, Brown’s dagger three, assisted by Tatum, calmed me right down to 83 bpm and despatched LeBron James house for the evening.

Hopefully, you all don’t must see one other Cardiac Celtics article till a minimum of the subsequent spherical.

I’ve been rolling with the guts monitor threads over on Twitter all through the playoffs. So, in case you thought this was humorous, observe me over there @SamLaFranceNBA for the newest on my ticker.