Celtics need to go for the jugular
How cold-blooded are these Celtics?
Thats the biggest question heading into Game 3. Are they cold adequate to endure a likely rallying cry from the Raptors and still find a way to impose their will on the series? Or, will we see them take the foot off the gas and let the protecting champs back in the series with newly found hope.
Any quantity of hope in a playoff series is a dangerous thing. The Raptors know what it takes to get rid of hardship and win an NBA champion. So they arent simply going to put down the rest of the way, even with the chances stacked versus them. A punch-back moment is inevitable in any series trending in this direction, however the terrific groups roll with it and still find out a way to finish the job. How good are these Celtics?
Its time to learn.
One thing is specific: Theyre great enough to lock out the Raptors on the perimeter. They suffocated groups to the point where they were just balancing 33.4 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Tatum is literally budding into a super star before our very eyes. The Celtics will be a legitimate risk to win the NBA championship this year if he continues to play at a superstar level and Gordon Hayward returns. He dropped a career playoff-high 34 points and six assists in Game 2, however the Celtics as a whole didnt play fantastic offensively. Thats a scary discovery for the Raptors heading into a critical game on Thursday.
They came into the series ranked 13th in offensive performance. Somebody has to step up in Game 3, or this series is cooked to done like my moms T-bone steaks (God rest her soul).
Losing Game 2 has to be a lot more discouraging thinking about how the Raptors actually set up a sufficient fight defensively to win that game. They have the protective capabilities to give the Celtics fits, but they lack their own scoring presence that can stand toe-to-toe with Celtics forward Jayson Tatum, who has actually clearly been the finest player on the flooring.
A sense of desperation should be sinking in for the Toronto Raptors as they try to avoid certain doom in Thursdays Game 3 of their NBA playoffs series with the Boston Celtics. No team has actually ever returned after being down 3-0 in a series, and the Raptors are one loss away from being put in that scenario. Theyll have a mountain to climb up versus a Celtics group that seems to be peaking at the right time.
Stick a fork in the Raptors?
Another
crushing defeat at the hands of the Celtics had Raptors fans scratching their heads on Tuesday night. What happened to the team that was shooting 37.4 percent from 3-pointer during the regular season?
They have not even shot above 27.5 percent in back-to-back championship game against the Celtics. Their shooters are getting swarmed at the border, and the confidence is slowly fading from existence.
This series may already be over.
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How good are these Celtics?
If he continues to play at a super star level and Gordon Hayward returns, the Celtics will be a genuine hazard to win the NBA champion this year. He dropped a profession playoff-high 34 points and six helps in Game 2, but the Celtics as a whole didnt play great offensively.
A sense of desperation must be sinking in for the Toronto Raptors as they attempt to avoid specific doom in Thursdays Game 3 of their NBA playoffs series with the Boston Celtics. Theyll have a mountain to climb against a Celtics team that seems to be peaking at the best time.
