2024 NBA Finals Game 5 Notes

Game 5 of the NBA Finals is in the books, and the Celtics won 106-88 to win the series, 4-1.  This was another game that wasn’t that close in the end, though it was close for a good chunk of the first quarter.

 

 

1^st Quarter

• I thought it was interesting the amount of screens set on the first play for Boston.  That’s a lot more than they usually have on a play on the ball.
• I thought the shot by Luka Doncic was going down.
• There isn’t enough attention drawn to the fact that Boston hasn’t been shooting that well throughout this series.  I think I heard that going into tonight they were shooting around 33% from 3, which is a far cry from what they have done all season and playoffs.
• On Brown’s shot that was contested by Daniel Gafford, a help defender needs to come to the ball.
• Boston’s offense has appeared pretty stagnant so far when off the ball.  There hasn’t been a lot of off-ball movement, which is not good.
• Having Al Horford on Derrick Jones Jr. instead of Gafford is really beneficial when Gafford has good position; Horford was able to leave Jones to double Gafford, where he had to pass it out.
• When Gafford sets a screen for Luka, you can’t have both players focus on Doncic.  While Horford didn’t officially switch, he dropped back, but totally lost focus on Gafford.  That gave Gafford a clear pass to the rim, which is what Dallas’s specialty is offensively.
• That was an amazing pass by Luka.  Too bad for them that Jones is a streaky shooter.
• It feels like it’s been a low scoring game so far.  I feel like both teams are feeling out their offense and aren’t resorting to their strength.  While the defenses have done well so far, neither offense has made it that difficult for their opponent.
• I’m so inspired by the mic’d up segment, especially hearing them say “here we go”.  Obviously, I’m being facetious; I find it all to be a bit of a waste.
• I’m not surprised to see Josh Green subbed in for Jones already; Green is a better shooter, though he’s not quite the defender that Jones is (though he’s still a good defender).
• I’m stunned that Kristaps Porzingis can enter the game.  My fiancé, Victoria, had an injury to the same muscle and she was down for the count…because she’s not an athlete, which makes her more sane with her body.
• I find it interesting that Brown targeted Josh Green in transition; while part of that was that Green wasn’t set, it’s interesting to see.
• Already it has shown what Green is able to do instead of Jones in this matchup.  Boston is a difficult matchup for Jones offensively.
• Porzingis does look like he’s limping a bit already.  I expect he won’t play too much.
• This is another play where Boston totally ignored the big man, resulting in a clean alley-oop.  That’s literally a massive threat of Dallas’s offense, and it one of the key aspects in their scouting report (at least it should be).
• Boston’s offense has often been stagnant.  It’s almost as if they want to lose this game.
• I didn’t even feel like Sam Hauser played that poorly defensively against Doncic; Luka is just so strong that he can create contact easily.
• Both Boston and Dallas have reverted to some bad habits offensively.  Boston is just playing isolation offense and not passing, which they are poor at, and Dallas’s offense has largely been Luka targeting a player in a screen.  It really has been difficult to watch.
• Boston is on a 9-0 run where their last 3 baskets were a quick shot by Hauser off a screen and two transition baskets.  This is what they need.
• I know the theory is to hold onto the ball to get the final shot, but I knew Boston wouldn’t get a basket when they held the ball, especially once Tatum attempted a step-back 3.
• I think Boston’s run at the end of the quarter made the game look a bit more lopsided than the game actually is, but the game has been pretty close while neither team looks like their trying to win this on offense.  I hope they wake up a bit, though that’s tougher to do that in quarter 2, especially since Boston has a lead.

 

Quarter 2

• While it was a great possession to start the possession, Brown was totally lost by the end of it.  He was in no man’s land which gave Jones amazing position.
• Hauser is Boston’s best shooter; you really can’t lose him on a fake screen.
• I’m stunned that Kyrie Irving hadn’t scored yet.  I knew he had been quiet, but it’s wild that it took so long.
• Boston’s offense appears to be feeling it a bit now.  What do you know, ball movement can help the Celtics.
• I really hope that P.J. Washington will do more than just shoot 3’s.  I’ve criticized him a lot for his 3-point shooting, but I haven’t given him enough credit for his ability to drive and create looks inside the arc with his movement and athleticism.  He really is a skilled player who fits well with a great passer like Luka, but the fact that he can’t shoot well gives him some trouble against Boston.
• I didn’t think Washington’s foul was anything that egregious.  It was a stupid foul, but I didn’t think it was a flagrant or tech.
• I believe that Irving has as many fouls as points.  Oof, that’s brutal.
• I’m stunned that was the first 3 that Jones made; I thought that was the hardest one that he attempted.
• That was a difficult shot by Tatum at the rim.  All I could focus on during the replay in particular was that the offense has again been stagnant.  There was a little movement off the ball in the corner after Tatum drove in, but they’ve just stood there.
• I really like how much Tatum has driven to the paint.  Even if the passing isn’t as consistent, attacking the rim is going to be a crucial aspect of pressuring the defense.  It also is a massive benefit of the playing 5-out, as the paint can’t be too heavily defended.
• I’m stunned when a star like Luka misses both free throws.  He’s not an elite shooter, but he’s good.
• Irving has really been atrocious.  He’s had a few good shoots that were wide open, but he bricked them.
• I was about to write about how I was intrigued by the small ball lineup and was about to write about how they need multiple players keeping an eye on the big.  Instantly, Tatum left Gafford and looked stunned when Horford didn’t help; he’s on the bench, bud.
• Boston’s rim protection without a big has been atrocious.  I’m surprised Mazzulla let it go as long as he did.  I know what he’s doing with limiting minutes, but you clearly can’t do that if Tatum is making all the wrong decisions and reads.
• Hauser has done a nice job with keeping a few offensive plays alive with tipped rebounds or saving loose balls.  When Tommy Heinsohn was alive and doing the Celtics broadcast, he would give “Tommy Points” for hustle plays; Hauser would have so many of them today.
• Even if Horford had the layup against Gafford, I still think they’ve done more isolation than I would like.  That said, I love them driving to the rim.
• They’ve talked a lot about Al Horford and his potential to win a title.  I would love it if he won.  He’s had an amazing career.
• I haven’t talked much about Jrue Holiday, but he just had an awesome finish.  He is so good from the dunker spot.
• I’m in pain watching Derrick White’s face hitting the floor.  It looked like it was quick to recover (Victoria said probably a small cut in his lip), but still, I have sympathy for him.
• I really think that Tatum and Brown have improved their games with each other.  They look so good together now.
• Boston is now clicking at both ends of the court.  The ball movement and tempo are both amazing and beautiful to watch.
• Roger, my dog, is so annoyed that I haven’t brought him outside yet.  I keep telling him we’ll bring him out soon, but he’s not having it; he’s tired and wants to go to bed.
• Washington has had a few plays where he drove in and created chaos or open looks, but I’m so disheartened when he ends up taking a 3 like the one he just did.
• Luka really has had a quiet night tonight.  I keep forgetting that until I see his stats…and see him miss free throws.
• Payton Pritchard is so good at these heaves.  I think that’s his second basket of the series, and his second heave.
• Well, Boston’s offense has come alive, so Celtics fans are happy.  I’m curious to see how Dallas responds, especially with what matchups they try.  Of course, the most important thing is that Roger can go outside and then go to bed.

 

3^rd Quarter

• I really love the 2-man game of Holiday and Tatum.  Holiday is one of the easiest players to pair with.
• Could we take a second to acknowledge how much White has improved offensively?  Even when the Celtics acquired him, he was hesitant to shoot; now, he can’t be left open.
• I’m surprised to see that the Celtics and Mavericks have attempted almost the same number of 3’s; maybe that’s why Boston has such a big lead now; Dallas really needs to dominate the paint if they’re going to win.
• That was a nice play by White to get the rebound off the missed free throw.  He is such a valuable player to this team.  Also necessary to shout out Holiday’s basket on the drive.
• I’m at the point where I hope Boston wins so the series is over, but I really hope that it ends up being closer.
• Irving can’t hit anything.  It’s interesting that he can’t seem to hit his shots in Boston.
• Green has had an amazing game.  That putback after the rebound was a massive play; I honestly think he’s one of the few bright spots for Dallas tonight.
• Luka seems to be totally dispirited and has not been aggressive this quarter.  He’s attempted several step back jumpers that were not good looks.
• I’m genuinely wondering who would be the series MVP if Boston wins.  They probably just have to ignore Game 4 in that one; in that case, it would probably still end up being Brown.
• I’m honestly glad that Josh Green has been playing so well this game.  He’s a good player who has often been overlooked because he was drafted ahead of some really good players during the 2020 Draft (look at that one when you get the chance; there are a bunch of players who were drafted in the 20’s that are better role players than those drafted in the top-10).
• That was an explosive block by Lively.  He really is a terrific defender, which is rare to see from a rookie.  Porzingis also had a nice block at the other end.
• I believe that Doncic is at his best when he’s driving.  He had a few plays where he drove recently, so Dallas has to feel like there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
• I love puns more than anything, and I rolled my eyes when they said “Boston Three Party”.  Now admittedly I might have laughed if I had said it instead and others had groans since I live for groans.
• That offensive rebound by White is a big part of why Boston is winning; the effort isn’t close.  That said, their shots have been inconsistent at points, so it is worth monitoring if Dallas can stay in the game by chipping away slowly.
• I don’t get why Luka is still taking difficult 3’s when he’s cold; I don’t want to tell a superstar what to do to get out of a funk, but he is often at his best when he’s also getting inside.
• That was a great block by Tatum.  He was beat on Green’s drive, but he stayed with it.
• I’m surprised that Maxi Kleber passed up the putback; I thought he would have scored.
• That was a bad job with execution and shot clock management at the end of the quarter by Brown.  I don’t like holding the ball at the end for Boston; I don’t love it in general, but I think Boston struggles with it more.
• Boston has absolutely figured it out in this game and appear to be outplaying them on both ends, as well as out-efforting Dallas.  I’m curious to see if Boston’s shots have inconsistencies and Dallas can slowly chip away at it.  In order to get back into the game, Dallas needs to really buckle down and focus on one play at a time on both ends, as well as pray.

 

4^th Quarter

• Geez, that block by White was unreal!  I know that people talk about how great of a shot blocker he is, but Lively has 8 inches in height on him, as well as additional length in wingspan; that was a great play.
• Even though the shot missed, I liked how Boston was able to bring Lively outside the paint; while he is a good shot blocker at the arc too,
• That was a great defensive play by Porzingis on Jones; Jones is an impressive athlete and it is difficult to stick with him.
• As Dallas has continued to miss their 3’s, including open ones, I start questioning what the right thing to do is offensively.  Boston has defended the paint well, so it makes it difficult to find anything to go.
• That was an amazing pass by Brown to Porzingis, as well as a great cut and dunk by Porzingis.  The two of them developed really nice chemistry over the year.
• I really liked the play that was drawn up coming out of the timeout for Dallas.  In particular, Boston didn’t appear to be ready for Doncic to move immediately after getting off the ball; he doesn’t usually move off it so quickly.
• That was a great finish by Tatum.  Lively outside the paint makes the paint so open, which then puts Doncic in a difficult situation because he was lost between helping and still defending Holiday in the dunker spot.
• It’s funny that Kyrie can’t hit open 3’s today, but just drilled a motion 3.
• I liked Brown’s aggressiveness to push the ball after they got the rebound.  Dallas was getting ready to jog back on defense for a second, but he still wanted to finish off the game.
• Even though he’s made a couple, I don’t love the step back 3’s that he keeps taking.  Dallas’s offense has not consistently been at its best when he takes those, especially not tonight.  Boston also is good at defending in isolation, which doesn’t help.
• Tatum has had a really good game, especially this quarter.  I know he has gotten a lot of criticism this series, but his ability as a finisher and passer, along with his size, strength, and aggressiveness, has made him so difficult to defend the entire series.
• I love how they’re saying it’s “Commercial-Free Crunch Time” for this game; how much do you want to bet that they were banking on it being a closer game when the sponsor paid for that one?
• Wow, that’s rotten luck with Brown and Doncic both slipping on the play.  I’m sure Doncic is okay and that it is more of an initial pain type thing (what I mean by that is that naturally pain appears to be worse at first than it ends up being; not sure if it’s a shock type thing, but I’ve had several times where something like this has happened).
• I like Boston’s aggressiveness even while being up by so much.  Boston has sometimes let the game slip from them, so it is refreshing to see them still want to win.
• My dad just texted me asking if I was glad that I didn’t have Game 7 tickets.
• I find it funny that Al Horford is complaining to the refs about an out of bounds call with 2:37 left in a 21-point game and that the Celtics are challenging it.  The playoffs really take a new meaning.
• I know Irving is public enemy #1 in Boston, but I am happy to see him congratulating the Celtics.  While he continuously did and said all the wrong things, he wasn’t the only problem in 2019; he just became the scapegoat.
• Now that the benches have totally emptied, I think it’s safe to say that Boston has won the championship.  Now we have to deal with the media of them winning on Boston Day (Victoria informed me that 6/17 is Boston day since 617 is the area code).
• I’m honestly so happy seeing the players who are happy about winning.  Of course they’re ecstatic about winning since this was their goal, but it does make me so happy to see the joy that comes over them.  I also love seeing Tatum celebrating with his son, Deuce; that really is such a touching moment.
• That’s the series!  Ultimately, Boston was the better team and a difficult matchup for Boston, but that still doesn’t take away from the fact that Dallas is a great team who had an amazing season.  Still, Boston completed an incredible season with a result that showcased how amazing of a team they were all year.

 

What did you think of the game and series?  Let me know in the comments!