BSJ ECF Game 4 Report: Celtics 102, Heat 82 - Derrick White gives C's early boost in blowout of Miami

Everything you need to know about the Boston Celtics' win over the Miami Heat in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, with BSJ insight and analysis. 

IN A NUTSHELL

In a complete opposite from Game 3, it was Boston that came out hot and Miami stumbling all over themselves. The C’s stormed out to an 18-1 run and won the quarter by 18 as Miami shot 3-20 from the field. Despite Victor Oladipo’s best efforts (18 halftime points), Boston tacked onto their lead behind Jayson Tatum’s big second quarter to go into the half with a 24-point lead. The lead stayed there after a mostly mediocre third and the fourth was basically all garbage time.

Box Score

HEADLINES

Script, flipped: This was basically the opposite of the Game 3, with Boston coming out hot and playing physical and Miami on their heels and cold. The only difference is that unlike Game 3, there was no comeback to be had. Miami never challenged in this game. Not once. 

Script, followed: In Game 4 of the Bucks series, Tatum followed up a 10 point on 21% shooting stinker by dropping 30 points, 13 rebounds, and 5 assists. He shot 46% overall, but 30% from deep. 

In Game 4 of the Heat series, Tatum followed up a 10-point on 21% shooting stinker by dropping 31 points, 8 rebounds, and 5 assists. He shot 50% overall, but 14% from deep. 

He scored 34 in Game 5 but Boston lost in the last round. That was the blown fourth-quarter lead game. I’m sure Boston would like half that result in the next game. 

Dad power: Derrick White’s start was enough of a boost to start this snowball down the hill. His shot abandoned him later, but White’s constant ball movement and cutting was a big reason for Boston getting good looks early. 

“Wanted him to be confident, aggressive, and he picked his spots well early on,” Ime Udoka said after the game. “They guard him a certain way. Told him look for the shot but also get downhill and facilitate, and he does that extremely well. Just happened that he got the right looks, took the shots that were there and then started to find the other guys.”

TURNING POINT

I can’t really go with much else but the 18-1 run to start the game. Miami never had it in this one, and it was clear from the beginning. They never got on track, they never put together any kind of extended run, and they never truly threatened. 

FIVE UP 

Derrick White: Things went downhill as the game went on, but his 4-8 first quarter where he dropped 10 points, 2 rebounds, 2 steals and an assist was where this game was won. 

He said he was going to be aggressive after the morning shootaround, and he followed through. 

“I said this morning, if I was going to fail, I was going to do it aggressively and just try to get back to how I play,” he said. “Obviously got off to a good start, and just tried to just keep it going for 48 minutes.”

Udoka has been trying to draw some level of aggression out of him since the trade. 

“With him it was just a matter of understanding who we are here, the difference from San Antonio where (Gregg Popovich)is on him about not fouling, I want us to be a little more aggressive and don't mind taking a foul or two,” the coach said. “So he's had to shift his mindset as far as that. I've tried to get him up to speed with what everybody else is doing. It's going to take some time, but couldn't more happy with him being here and what he brings to our team.”

Jayson Tatum: He got to the line 16 times, making 14, both of which were playoff highs. Miami tends to foul a lot as it is, so pushing the pace and getting to the rim will lead to big free throw nights like this for Tatum. 

Al Horford: His defense was awesome in this game. He only scored 5 points, but he had 4 blocks, 13 rebounds, and 3 assists all while doing a great job keeping Bam Adebayo from getting going. 

Robert Williams: He’s a difference-maker in this series. He keeps possessions alive and gives guys outlets for lobs when they get into trouble or when the Heat defense overreacts. He had 5 offensive rebounds (one of which was a putback) and his other 3 makes were alley oops.

Payton Pritchard: He shot 5-8 overall, 3-6 from 3, and a few of his late shots were timely in that they were able to keep Boston’s lead in the 20’s. 

TWO DOWN

Grant Williams: Struggled a lot with his shot, going 1-8 from the field, 1-5 from 3. He just doesn’t look comfortable shooting right now against the hard Miami closeouts. It’s almost as if he’s in between shooting and driving sometimes. 

Jaylen Brown: I’m not sure how he finished with only 1 turnover because it felt like he got stripped a lot. He also struggled shooting, and he still likes to go iso a little too much sometimes.

TOP PLAYS 

TWO TAKES KARALIS WILL PROBABLY REGRET LATER

- Miami missed a lot of easy looks, so don’t expect a repeat of this game

Both teams are generally complicit in blowouts of this magnitude, but the Heat were especially complicit in this game. They missed a lot of makeable shots, and that 18-1 run to start the quarter and 29-11 overall first quarter could have been much different if the Heat made a few shots. 

The Celtics weren’t exactly lighting it up either, which ultimately made for a bit of an ugly game, so it’s certainly possible Boston would have won by a lot if they just made their open shots too. But I’m just saying this was not exactly a case of the Celtics just coming out and curb-stomping the Heat. 

This game was was won by White coming out hot, Tatum’s big second quarter, and Miami being absolutely atrocious offensively. 

- That said, the Celtics defense gets a bunch of the credit

The C’s defense was able to contain Jimmy Butler and Bam Adebayo, which is a giant reason why they won this game and that Miami’s offense was so bad. 

Butler may not be 100%, so he never had any kind of takeover burst. Adebayo was covered very well by Horford, and was also hurt by the absence of Tyler Herro. Victor Oladipo had 18 first half points, but finished with 23, and a lot of that was Boston not giving him the passing lanes to find Adebayo. They dared Oladipo to beat them, and he couldn't quite do it. 

"We said that it wasn't our best offensive night, but defensively we were obviously elite tonight for the most part, guarded their three-point shooters very well," Udoka said. "18 points from their starters, so we came out with the right focus on that end. And we got room to grow still, and that's the thing with us. We can always rely on our defense. We've won several games this year doing that when our shots aren't falling, and to hold them to in the 30s for basically three quarters, high-level defense, and we can do that even if our shots are not falling. It's just mainly taking care of the ball, not letting them get anything easy and kind of wearing on them mentally."