Celtics show cracks in Game 4 win
The Celtics have more to worry than celebrate about following their uneven Game 4 win over the Cavaliers.
Without Donovan Mitchell (calf) and Jarrett Allen (rib), arguably Cleveland's two best players, the Cavaliers battled toe-to-toe with the Celtics in Boston's 109-102 win.
This was a game the Celtics should have turned into a laugher the same way the Pacers did Game 4 of their best-of-seven series with the injury-plagued Knicks on Sunday. Instead, Boston allowed Cleveland to stay in the game and have a chance to pull off the upset late.
Boston was outscored 24-21 in the fourth quarter as the offense stalled, which is a feature, not a bug, of its season.
The Celtics finished second in scoring (120.6 points per game) during the regular season but were just 14th in scoring in the fourth quarter (27.8 points per game), according to StatMuse.
The offense devolves into stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown bailing the team out with attempts late in the shot clock, which doesn't bode well for the team's championship aspirations.
Tatum and Brown should have enough to close out the Cavaliers, while a one-legged Knicks team or inexperienced Pacers squad await in a potential Eastern Conference Finals matchup.
As The Ringer's Kevin O'Connor noted before Game 4, the red carpet couldn't be laid out nicer for the Celtics to get to the NBA Finals.Â
But it's easy to see how their offensive inconsistencies—particularly late in games—could ultimately keep the franchise from winning an 18th NBA championship.
The Nuggets, which have seemingly gained control of their second-round series with the Timberwolves, especially would be a bad potential finals matchup for the Celtics considering their championship pedigree and steadiness down the stretch.
Other potential finals foes could be just as daunting. Per NBA.com, since the All-Star break, the Thunder (8-3) and Mavericks (6-3) were among the best in the league in clutch moments, which are defined as the final five minutes of the fourth quarter (or overtime) when the score is within five points.
The Timberwolves defensive tenacity has been a full display this postseason, and they would likely easily snuff out the Celtics' unimaginative late-game offense in a best-of-seven series.
Boston technically got closer to the NBA Finals on Monday, but its performance was a greater reminder of how far it still must go.
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