Very clever would now be the one capable of imagining the continuation in this final that Boston, guided by an excellent Jaylen Brown (21 points), has long given the impression of dominating. “We can play better than that”, Curry immediately claimed. That’s probably true, even if Golden State has at least fixed the rebound problem seen in Game 3. But at this hour, the only certainty is that both teams will return to Boston on Thursday for Game 6 following Monday’s 5 in San Francisco.
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Boston Celtics (USA)
Ime Udoka (Boston) after Game 3 won against Golden State: “Imposing our will and our size”
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
Ime Udoka, Boston coach, following the victory in game 3 of the final once morest Golden State (116-100): “We bounced back well. I told the group that we do it following losses and that it would be good to do it following a win now. During the last match, I found that we might have attacked the basket better. Our occupation of space was much better this (Wednesday) evening. The guys stayed patient and found their way to the basket. The points following offensive rebounds counted a lot.
On a strictly physical level, we responded better to their intensity than during the last game. They took some tough shots in the third quarter, but this time we didn’t crack offensively. We continued to score and there was this big fourth quarter. Robert Williams? Not only did he block shots – four I think – but there were also those he deflected and his presence deterred some guys from entering. We want to impose our will and our size in this series. When we have parties like that from him or from Al (Horford), it pays. »
Jayson Tatum, Boston guard (26 points, 6 rebounds, 9 assists): “During the play-offs, we weren’t good enough at home. We feel a little guilty vis-à-vis the fans because they give us energy. We felt this energy even before the start of the match. It’s the first final since 2010 or 2012, I don’t know. They were excited, that’s for sure. We’ll need them on Friday too. Warming up in the final is a bit tough with all the media attention. The routines are a little different. We train at the Garden. Everyone knows that I can score but in the play-offs and, in the final, I especially want to do what helps the team to win. Find the right move. It won’t be perfect every time, but the mindset is still to succeed or find someone open. »
Jaylen Brown, Boston guard (27 points, 9 rebounds, 5 assists): “We had to take better care of the ball. Details matter. Putting down the right screens is key in a match like this. The little things make you win. Today, we created some very good screens and open shots. We will have to continue to do these little things. This (Wednesday) evening was a great victory. When you win as a team, you feel even better. Playing at home is an advantage, with the energy in the room and certain actions that go in your direction, but we also lost matches at home during these play-offs. First you have to be there, in Boston, San Francisco or Alaska. »
Marcus Smart, Boston point guard (24 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists): “Jaylen (Brown) and Jayson (Tatum) are always going to come up once morest the other team’s best defensemen. It is my role as a leader to relieve them. These two guys are being hunted 24 hours a day. Their jobs are tough enough as it is. No need to tire them out by letting them carry the ball. I must remain calm. Otherwise, it’s a snowball effect. Golden State is a very good team. They will have good times but so will we. In game 2, they put pressure on us and it left a bitter taste in our mouths because we consider ourselves a physical team, strong in defense. So that kinda woke us up. »
Jayson Tatum (Boston Celtics): “Fight and be on the same wavelength” against Golden State
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
Jayson Tatum (Boston), following Game 3 won once morest Golden State: “I think that’s where we play at our best. When we react to difficult situations, when we react to teams running errands and things like that, we call a time out, we regroup and we pull ourselves together. I think that’s where we are the best. I think we did that a few times this (Wednesday) night, and I think as a result we ended up winning the game. The fact of being focused, impervious to the rest, all fighting and being on the same wavelength. We’re going to need that to get to the end. »
Al Horford (Boston) : “I think our team remained calm in those moments. As you know, earlier in the year it might have escalated quickly. The other thing is that the energy of our fans was just contagious. I felt it when shooting an hour and a half before the match, and as soon as I saw that, I thought it was going to be different tonight. They stuck with us through the tough times, because sometimes things can be unstable. But we stayed on our positions, without panicking and continuing to play. »
Jayson Tatum (Boston): “I don’t expect to shoot so badly again” against Golden State
written by Alexandra Hartman Editor-in-Chief
Al Horford, Boston Interior
It was your first NBA Finals game, at 35 (he turns 36 this Thursday), how did you approach it?
AH: I was just grateful for this opportunity. In the end, we just have to play basketball, that’s all (he smiles). I’m excited to be here, to share this scene with this group of guys. This group has really bought into what we’re trying to do here. It’s really nice to see our efforts pay off.
How might you get all those 3 points at the end (26 points including 11 in the 4th quarter, 6/8 behind the arc, 6 rebounds and 3 assists)?
Thanks to our ball movement in attack, I just found myself in the right positions. They found me several times in a row. Take the shooting positions, return them, period. Derrick White (21 points off the bench) made difficult baskets too… And the way Jaylen Brown (24 points, 7 rebounds, 5 assists) started the 4th quarter, his energy, his shots… That’s where it all started.
You were in the group when Jayson Tatum (just 12 points at 3/17, but 13 assists to make up for it) started his career. Did he already have this ability to organize the game?
Only at times. It’s a challenge for guys like him, at the top of the NBA (he was elected in the five-type) to do it all: score, pass, defend…and Jayson does it all. His ability to organize the game has increased. This (Thursday) night he was just brilliant. He didn’t really score, but he read the defense and found the assists. This shows his maturity (he is only 24 years old). Even compared to the start of the season, you can see his progress. We ask a lot of him, but he delivers. And he always finds a way.
Boston fullback Jayson Tatum
How have you progressed in passing since the arrival of Ime Udoka on the bench?
JT: That was his message from day one. We watched a lot of videos, to see where I might improve, and that was a major aspect. He did a great job giving me this challenge.
You don’t score in the 4th quarter but the team puts 40 points… what is the feeling at the final whistle?
Ecstasy! 40 points in the last quarter? Jaylen Brown assured, Al (Horford), Derrick White, Payton (Pritchard)… they took in big, crucial shots. And we won! I was bad at shooting, so I tried to do something else. We are in the final… All I wanted was to win. I don’t expect to shoot so badly once more, but if that means we win, I take it.
Ime Udoka, coach of Boston
Despite nervousness in the first half, your team recovered. What lesson do you draw from this?
IU: It gives us confidence. We weren’t playing our best basketball at all. But at the end of the first quarter, 32-28. At half-time, still only 4 points behind… But we hadn’t played well at all. We knew they still have a big third quarter, so there we are at 92-80. Behind, we made a huge last quarter (40-16). Knowing our defense, we just had to take away the nervousness of this first match in the final (no Boston player had played, once morest 123 cumulative for those of Golden State), and this is what we observed at the end.
We don’t expect Jayson to shoot so badly once more. It might be the defense he faced too, from the “box”, some areas… But it proved who we are, that is to say a team. We saw Brooklyn focus around Kevin Durant, Milwaukee with Giannis Antetokounmpo, Miami with Jimmy Butler… We take pride in being able to respond on both sides of the field together.
Jaylen Brown, ailier de Boston
Jaylen, you often talk regarding resilience regarding this group…
JB: Clearly. In this locker room, we went through a lot of battles. We have experienced a lot of defeats and we know what it takes to win. I give credit to the whole band. Here, everyone comes to work, every day. Not just the players, but also the coaches, the medical staff, the physical preparation, everyone! It is a collective effort. We knew what to expect at halftime. »