Celtics vs. Pacers: Five things to watch in Game 2, including how Boston handles Al Horford's pursuit

Game 1 of the 2024 NBA Eastern Conference Finals might best be described as chaotic, but there are a few things to note as the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers meet for Game 2 at TD Garden on Thursday.

Indiana coach Rick Carlisle had the Pacers repeatedly attack Al Horford in Game 1, especially in the second half, using screeners to draw the Boston center out to the perimeter and force him into the action.

The first to take notice was Myles Turner, who is shooting 47.3 percent from 3-point range in the postseason and can abuse opponents in drop coverage by alternating between pick-and-pop launches and hard rolls to the rim.

Then, after Celtics head coach Joe Mazzula adjusted the matchup to have superstar forward Jayson Tatum guarding Turner, he shot 55% from floaters and 48% from long midrange in the playoffs. Pascal Siakam, a dangerous one-on-one scorer and playmaker, was used.

And at times, it was about which Pacer the 37-year-old Celtic was trying to hide behind after pre-switching from one Pacer running toward Tyrese Haliburton for an interception.

Whoever was responsible for putting Horford in space and putting him under a microscope, Indiana reveled in the opportunities that were created once he was there. Pull-up threes on drops, practice jumpers from the foul line, ankle-trembling step-backs and calm drives all the way to the rim — the Pacers produced one great look after another against a Celtics defense that finished the game third in points per possession during the regular season and third in the postseason, entering Tuesday.

horford can He maintained the lead, sliding on the perimeter with Indiana's drivers and proving it with several blocks, including a big one against Andrew Nembhard with 2:31 left in overtime.

But whether he can hold up more consistently under such repeated pressure, and for that matter, what Mazula and company can do to alleviate it, is a very open question. .

In the absence of injured center Kristaps Porzingis, the oldest player left in the postseason has an enormous responsibility. Horford, who averaged a career-low 26.8 minutes per game during the regular season, has increased his playing time to 31.8 minutes since Porzingis was injured, while the 39:35 he logged in Game 1 It was his longest appearance in 16 months. Given that Horford plays a pivotal role in Boston's offensive spacing and defensive alignment in Porzingis' absence, the Pacers should keep Horford in the game and do more than Boston showed in Game 1. I'll try to see if I have the answer.

Slow and steady?

Boston began Game 1 with clear opportunistic intent to push the ball as far as they could. Steals led to dunks and layups. Missed runoffs led to more layups. Runoffs led to, you guessed it, layups.

A 12-0 early run put Indiana firmly in their comfort zone, and the tempo was great because it suited how the Pacers like to run their offense. in Boston generates more offensive power than pace, which has been the best team in basketball all season.

On a related note, after missing their first six shots as they settled into the game, the Pacers scored on seven of their next eight possessions, expending 64 points on 67.5 percent shooting over the next 20.5 minutes to erase that scare. God bless every Celtics-loving soul in the grandstands at TD Garden.

When Boston regained control in the third quarter, they did so by playing through Tatum and Jrue Holiday, playing mismatch ball against Indiana's guards and forcing the Pacers to navigate screens and size.

Those isolations, post-ups, pick-and-rolls, and free throws Indiana generated as it tried to get physical to counter Boston's advantage in that arena were the driving force behind a 14-2 run over the Celtics. It became. In double digits. Of course, the Pacers will fight back, as they did throughout the close Game 1. However, I felt that the growth was worth noting. It's a reminder that playing free games with ups and downs can be just as fun. It's a flowing style that Indiana prefers, but Boston's best bet to maintain its edge in this series may be to embrace the grind.

Holiday Party

Jrue Holiday made a sacrifice. Ton In his first season in Boston, he hit a career low. His touches per game, field goal attempts, average possession time, and usage rate were all at or near career lows. He handles the ball in pick-and-rolls and attacks fewer isolation attacks than ever before, and has significantly more time to hit catch-and-shoot 3-point shots. Because that's the role Mazzula wanted him to play in building one of the most efficient offenses in NBA history. He eventually moved into a more diverse defensive role as well. A back-footed offense that often saw Porzingis, Horford, or Luke Cornette guard the center so they could stay close to the basket for rim protection, and at times only saw drop covers or switches. He sometimes defended the middle of the matchup zone, which served as a breaking ball against the opponent.

The 15-year veteran handled the adjustment and played well in a more limited role throughout the season, helping turn the Celtics into a regular-season powerhouse and a surefire championship contender. But in Game 1, with the emphasis on offense and the Celtics needing bucket-getters to match the Pacers' firepower, Holiday delivered:

Holiday's postseason resume is a bit checkered. He shot 40 percent from the field and 30 percent from 3-point range in three playoff games with the Bucks. In Game 1 against Miami, he shot 35% from the floor. In Boston's Game 2 loss to the Cavaliers, he had a quiet performance with four points on 2-of-7 shooting. However, he started to regain his form in the last three wins against Cleveland and had his best performance this postseason. — 28 points on 10-of-16 shooting, 7 rebounds, 8 assists, 3 steals, 7 points in 48 minutes — Jrue is a trick-or-treater at times, but also a 2-pointer It reminded me that I am also a great contributor. time All-Stars are capable of much more than just standing in the corner.

Enjoy Archie Bell & the Drells

Hey, Celtics? Hey, Pacers? Come on, man:

It's the Eastern Conference finals. If we win four games here, we will be fighting for the championship. I understand that you are one of the best offensive lines I have ever seen, and I don't want to discount the defensive effort that led to these mistakes. But these turnovers are… just awful. Let's tighten things up before the second match.

emotional burden

Like the first game, the opponent is losing by a large margin. Very close The hosts, who are big favorites, kick the game out of the park, aiming for victory. Very close To watch that dream turn to ashes, only to be saved by an act of God, or at least by God temporarily disguised as Jaylen Brown, is something rare and wild. (I loved this line from longtime friend Tom Ziller of the program: “It's like the Nicene Creed of broken hearts.”)

The Pacers could be forgiven for feeling like they missed their best chance to defeat Goliath after Game 1. They could also be forgiven for feeling emboldened to push even harder, having proven themselves capable of pushing a championship contender to their absolute limits.

Likewise, the Celtics could be forgiven for feeling a little braced after watching their lives flash before their eyes like this, but they could also be forgiven for feeling confident that they proved their mettle by taking their opponent's best shot head on, weathering it, landing the big blow of their own that they needed, and then finishing with a win.

They are highly competitive professional athletes who would not have gotten this far in their respective careers without their incredible self-confidence. Most of them are also young people who, like the rest of us, are subject to bouts of self-doubt, anxiety, nervousness, and big uncomfortable emotions. How quickly each team can process the weight of the emotions that started this series, or if they can't, at least tuck it away near the bottom of the bench, clear minds, content hearts. Depending on whether you approach the match with a sharply-honed intention, the match may end in the end. As much as the X and O adjustments that either Mazzula or Carlisle can make will play a big role in how that continues. After all, it's a game played by humans.