Chapter 187: Error 187
"Good evening, gentlemen and ladies. This is the G3 of the NBA Finals!"
"The Boston Celtics play the Sacramento Kings at home!"
"The first two games ended with a win for Sacramento. It's a matter of life and death for Boston, who must win at home, at TD Garden! »
"Hector Herrera scored 30 points and 10 rebounds in the first two games. Do the Celtics have the weapons to stop him?"
"The biggest basketball scene in the world, at the highest level, the G3 starts now!"
The Kings come home with boos from TD Garden. Don't expect to be applauded by opposing fans in the NBA Finals. In a playoff series, it is possible, but not in finals. Fortunately, they got used to the hustle and bustle, and the boos didn't make waves to hearts.
They are rookies in the Finals, but they grow by cultivating the aura of victory. Hector's Kings players at the last two-way contract have different situations. But they have the confidence of the strong, not to say the champion's temperament.
Jason Tatum is determined. He has not interacted with the public. Eyes inflamed, this flame advances in the courtyard and spreads to his teammates. He wants to win, and he has to win this game!
The Celtics' fighting spirit is high today. He did not look at Hector first but Harrison Barnes. As predicted, the Kings' pair of forwards is very problematic for Boston. Harrison Barnes and Keegan Murray are good defenders, but Barnes is the problem Tatum has to solve.
With a decrease in offense responsibility, he focuses on his direct opponent without thinking about his duties on the other side, which makes him 100% invested in defense. In truth, he is a less good defender than Murray, who is one of the best defender on the wing of the league, but Murray is vital to the spacing of the Kings.
Every NBA head coach does his homework, and Joe Mazzulla is no exception. He has studied the Kings' offensive system and adapted his systems to the Kings. Now, the strategy is completely different from the first games.
Prevent Hector from receiving the ball comfortably! The Kings have no weaknesses, so Mazzulla is betting on reducing a strong point! If the gamble is won, the Kings' offense will be difficult to put in place.
Herrera does not receive the ball and loses time to control the ball, which scratches a few seconds on the clock the time to reposition. Don't underestimate those few seconds in an NBA game. Converting a 24- to 20-second offensive possession can ruin an offensive system.
The Kings shot clock turned!
Tatum and Brown are dealing with the Celtics' offense, and the Kings must adapt.
"Jason Tatum is hot at the beginning of the match! He has been criticized since the beginning of the series, but tonight seems to be his evening! Since 8 points for him! »
"The Celtics players were irritated by the Kings, and their performances are completely different than the previous ones."
"The Celtics' transition offenses hurt the Kings. If Sacramento can't adapt, it will be very difficult to win! »
The Kings arrived confident. It's not that confidence is lost, but they took a cold shower. Hector gets complicated balls, and the Celtics' changes of pace cause Coach Ewing headaches.
Despite ending the first quarter 25-28, the Kings were uncomfortable.
The duo of Jaylen Brown and Jason Tatum scored 17 points, and Hector did not have the opportunity to score because he was too badly served. It's not that Hector can't create a shot for himself, but it's not worth breaking a game plan in the first quarter.
The plan is to go through Fox tonight. Ewing had predicted that Hector would be taken out in this game, but the concern is that Porzingis is not defending Hector. Porzingis takes advantage of his size to make passes for Hector complicated.
Robert Williams takes care of Hector. It is a rabid dog that fights a deficit of considerable size with rage and a warrior mentality. This kind of opponent is embarrassing for all but not insoluble. But he has to have the ball, which is not the case now.
So the Fox-Hector connection is being blocked, the Kings' offense is struggling to set up, and Keegan Murray is not returning his shots either.
Hector scored only 6 points in the second quarter, while, unlike the first quarter, Jaylen Brown led the Celtics, but the score at the end of the second quarter was 50-59 for the Celtics!
Mazzulla's plan is paying off!
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone