The Boston Celtics won Game 1 of the NBA Finals with a sensational comeback in the fourth quarter. The guests demonstrate their greatest strength, although the best player is supposedly little. The Warriors have to be annoyed about one area in particular.
1. Boston Celtics weather culture shock
There’s a big difference between defending the Warriors and defending any other team. The first quarter demonstrated this very well: Boston had a lot of success with drop defense of its bigs, especially against the limited shooting teams Milwaukee and Miami, in the first quarter this led directly to a finals record.
Stephen Curry sank six threes, the ball circulated, the movement was there – the Celtics lost track several times and allowed wide-open shots. It was the culture shock that Dallas suffered in the previous series. Marcus Smart analyzed it aptly during the game when he told his team: “We don’t play Miami here anymore!”
But Golden State isn’t playing against Dallas anymore. The Celtics changed their defense accordingly and subsequently made it much more difficult for Curry to get deals. Especially in the fourth quarter they switched more and more and took away any rhythm from the dubs.
Partly with small lineups, partly also with Robert Williams, who nominally defended Andre Iguodala and could in reality complicate everything close to the basket. Boston’s defensive versatility is this team’s greatest asset. This was seen again and again in Game 1, it will now be exciting to see how the Warriors react.
“It’s been a lot of fun since I’ve been here. All the defensive coverage we have, the way we can do different things during a game,” said Derrick White, who is a big part of the Warriors- Guards had after the first quarter. “We have so many players who can defend different positions. That’s what sets us apart.”
2. The baby bump is real (and shotmaking is great)
What was already apparent at the end of the Miami series was confirmed in game 1: White has regained his offensive self-confidence, above all the throw is finally back. Since the birth of his son that caused him to miss game two against Miami, White has hit 43 percent of his three-pointers. Boston had been waiting for this for a long time, after all White had scored below career level (31 percent) since his trade.
In Game 1 there was no hesitation, no passivity. White was prepared for the Warriors not necessarily chasing him off the three-point line, and punished them for it: five of his eight triples found the net, two of them midway through the fourth-quarter turnaround. And he wasn’t the only one making it rain, on the contrary.
The Celtics sunk 21 threes in total. On a day when the best scorer missed a goal, that rain of three gave the Celtics victory, although Golden State also sunk 19 triples.
Immediately after the game, Draymond Green expressed doubts that White, Al Horford and Marcus Smart could repeat this shooting performance again – not incomprehensible. But with White in particular, it is striking how much his entire body language has changed on the offensive, how aggressive he is.
This component alone makes him incredibly valuable, even if the roll is not as outstanding as in this game. Because Boston can use him well in all other facets anyway: He can speed up the game and has the drive, he is also an outstanding defender and, due to his strong screen navigation, is indispensable against the small Warriors guards Curry and Poole.
If the throw then falls, it is a game changer. “Derrick White is a baller,” enthused Jaylen Brown. “He’s one of those players who loves the moment and who can always improve. No matter what the scouting report says.” The lesson: make babies so underrated.
NBA Finals: Warriors vs. Celtics – The Series at a Glance (0-1)
| Spiel | Datum | time | Heim | away | result |
| 1 | June 3 | 3 o’clock | Golden State Warriors | Boston Celtics | 108:120 |
| 2 | June the 6th | 2 O ‘clock | Golden State Warriors | Boston Celtics | – |
| 3 | 9. June | 3 o’clock | Boston Celtics | Golden State Warriors | – |
| 4 | June 11 | 3 o’clock | Boston Celtics | Golden State Warriors | – |
| 5* | 14th of June | 3 o’clock | Golden State Warriors | Boston Celtics | – |
| 6* | June 17 | 3 o’clock | Boston Celtics | Golden State Warriors | – |
| 7* | 20. June | 2 O ‘clock | Golden State Warriors | Boston Celtics | – |
*if necessary