Final: Celtics 107, Magic 98 - Tatum's 37 helps put Magic away late

(1) BOSTON CELTICS vs. (7) ORLANDO MAGIC

First Round, Game 4 (BOS leads 2-1)

Kia Center, 7 p.m. - TNT/NBCS Boston

Line: Celtics -7.5

INJURIES

BOSTON

OUT: Jrue Holiday (hamstring) 

QUESTIONABLE: Jaylen Brown (knee)

ORLANDO

OUT: Jalen Suggs (knee), Mo Wagner (knee)

THREE THINGS I’M LOOKING FOR

1. Poise: Enough is enough. The Magic are provoking the Celtics and they're giving in. 

Jaylen Brown saying “there might be a fight break out or something because it’s starting to feel like it’s not even basketball and the refs are not controlling their environment,” is a huge sign of frustration. And you can see the lack of poise in their turnovers. Let’s take a look at all of them from Game 3. 

I think Orlando forced a handful of those turnovers. A vast majority of them are just uncharacteristically bad plays by Boston. The Celtics need to keep their heads on straight and not fall into the trap the Magic are setting. Everyone on the outside is taking an “eye for an eye” approach where Boston needs to stay focused and poised and play at a pace that doesn’t allow for Orlando to set their defense. 

Which brings me to … 

2. Running their offense: The Magic have taken away what the Celtics want to do. The Celtics are dead last in the playoffs in passes made per game, now averaging about 40 fewer than they did in the regular season, because their drive-and-kick opportunities aren’t there. 

“They're denying off-ball and kind of allowing guys to play more one-on-one ball on an island,” Payton Pritchard said at the team’s shoot around before Game 4. “So that means we probably got to take it to the rim and be efficient in that area.”

The Celtics are averaging 22 catch and shoot attempts in this series against Orlando. They averaged 31.7 per game in the regular season. The difference is entirely coming from 3, where they've gone from  30.7 to 21.3. 

“They're very big, they're long, they're good in half court,” Pritchard said. “Even on makes, we got to get it out quick and push the pace. Obviously, that's where I like to play. But I think a majority of our team, we're very efficient when we get it down the court quick, rather than walking it up.”

Look at these two shots by Jayson Tatum. Watch what everyone else on the floor is doing.

How about Brown and Derrick White running some kind of off-ball pick for each other to try to create an opening in the first clip? How about a cut by Al Horford or White in the second one? Or maybe Luke Kornet setting a back pick so Horford could cut baseline? 

Something. Do SOMETHING off the ball. 

If I was coaching the team, I’d tell them I’m fining everyone $100 every time the offense starts later than 16 on the shot clock. The Celtics need to run something, even some off-ball actions, to occupy the Magic defense and get them moving. 

The more the Magic play a set, half-court defense, the more things tilt in their favor. 

3. Forcing turnovers, especially without Jrue Holiday: Holiday was the catalyst for both of Boston's wins in this series, so missing him is a big deal. The Celtics have to duplicate his tenacity on the ball, especially jumping Paolo Banchero to force some live-ball turnovers. 

The Celtics scored just eight points off 14 Orlando turnovers. Losing that battle by 18 is a recipe for disaster. Some poise by the Celtics, along with some added transition off steals, will make a big difference. 

The numbers from Game 3 suggest the Celtics got blown out, but they only lost by two. That's a testament to how bad the Orlando offense really is. Shore up some simple little things like protecing the ball, forcing a couple more turnovers, and working in some off-ball actions and Boston can win Game 4 going away. 

Follow along with my thoughts as the game goes on. They’ll show up below and in the comments section, so hop in and share your opinion as well.