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2024 NBA Finals: Why depth has been the difference for Celtics this postseason



Forwards Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown have been one of the better perimeter duos in the NBA since first paired in 2017-18, but they have not been enough to win the Boston Celtics another championship in years past, regardless of how well they have played in certain moments.

They could not get it done in the 2021-22 NBA Finals, the first championship appearance for both, falling to the Golden State Warriors in six games. And the Celtics failed to return to the Finals last season, even though they were heavy favorites to do so, as the Miami Heat beat them by 19 points in Game 7 of the Eastern Conference Finals at TD Garden.

Despite questions about whether Tatum and Brown could truly play together following another disappointing playoff defeat, the Celtics ignored outside criticism and did the smart thing, extending the contracts of both All-Star wings. Tatum, commonly viewed as Boston’s best all-around player, had already signed a rookie scale max extension in 2020. Then Brown signed the richest deal in league history last offseason, which guaranteed that the Celtics’ two best players would remain with the franchise that drafted them, for now.

This season was one of dominance for the Celtics, as they finished with a league-best 64-18 record. Tatum and Brown returned to the All-Star Game in February. Boston captured the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, has suffered just two losses since the postseason began, and now finds themselves two wins away from raising their 18th championship banner.

But the Celtics’ 2-0 series advantage against Luka Doncic, Kyrie Irving and the Dallas Mavericks was not forged through elite offensive play from Tatum and Brown, although both have had highlight-worthy moments in these Finals. Tatum is averaging just 17.0 points per game so far in the series. Brown, who was named Eastern Conference Finals MVP, is averaging 21.5 points per game.

Boston has had Dallas’ number through two games because it has proved to be the deeper team, with role players such as Jrue Holiday, Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White stepping up when Tatum and Brown have not been at their best. And that has been the difference for Boston compared to years past: a better supporting cast around Tatum and Brown.

Tatum and Brown have not been the most impactful at times this postseason, but they are no longer feeling the pressure that accompanies their star status, because President of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens finally built a roster capable of picking up the slack.

Many entered the Finals thinking the better-performing star due would ultimately determine the outcome. But the truth is, it will probably come down to everyone else, and that is where Boston has a considerable edge.

“I’m really tired of hearing about one guy or this guy or that guy and everybody trying to make it out to be anything other than Celtic basketball,” Celtics head coach Joe Mazzulla said following the team’s 105-98 defeat of Dallas in Game 2. “Everybody that stepped on that court today made winning plays on both ends of the floor, is the most important thing.”

While Brown scored a team-high 22 points in Game 1, Tatum struggled from a scoring standpoint, finishing with just 16 points on 6-of-16 shooting. No other Celtics starter outside of Brown eclipsed 20 points, but Boston still won Game 1 by 18 points because of the production it got from its reserves, namely Porzingis, who returned from a 38-day absence because of a calf injury and scored 20 points on 8-of-13 shooting off the bench.

Porzingis’ length, physicality and shot-making gave Boston the boost it needed to separate on the scoreboard early and overcome what would be a 30-point eruption from Doncic. Dallas’ bench had just 20 points combined in Game 1 and Irving struggled mightily, scoring just 12 points on 6-for-19 shooting. Boston had the depth to overcome a poor scoring night from one of its best starters and the Mavericks simply did not. Also, each of the Celtics’ starters made at least two 3-pointers in Game 1, while Tatum and White both made three.

Offensive balance matters in the Finals. It does not get much better than that.

However, Game 2 was a much different story for the Celtics in terms of shooting the ball from distance. They hoisted 39 treys and made just 10 of them (25.6%) and Tatum struggled again, shooting 6-for-22 from the field. But, again, Boston went on to win because of everyone else. White chipped in an efficient 18 points. Porzingis added 12 more points off the bench.

However, Holiday, who was acquired by Boston just before the start of the regular season, was undoubtedly the biggest contributor Sunday night. In addition to the smothering perimeter defense that has made him a household name throughout his NBA career, he tallied a team-high 26 points on 11-of-14 shooting. With the team unable to convert on many of its outside attempts, Holiday lived at the rim and converted on easy scoring opportunities. He went 9-of-9 in the paint and 7-of-7 in the restricted area, evolving into exactly what the team needed in that moment.

“He was unbelievable,” Celtics forward Al Horford said. “His effort defensively and everything he brings on that end. And then on offense, making reads, making the game easy, making the right decisions. He’s so poised and you can tell that he has been in these types of moments. Just very composed and just out there getting the job done.”

Even if Irving can turn around what has been a poor Finals run so far to compliment Doncic’s scoring magic, it still may not be enough to keep pace with a Celtics team that can attack them from so many different ways, with players who can adjust to whatever a specific game demands.

The scary thing is, Tatum and Brown have yet to have defining games in these Finals. But as long as their supporting cast continues to contribute the way they have, they will not have to. Doncic, Irving and the Mavericks do not have that luxury, and it shows.

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