The Cavs lose their first game of the season, the Celtics win at the TD Garden in Boston led by an extraordinary Jayson Tatum.
It was the match of the night. The match pitted the best roster in the league, as well as the reigning champion team, against the one in best form, capable of winning the first fifteen games of the season and threatening Golden State’s record of 24-0. In the end no surprises: they won Boston Celtics. For two and a half quarters it was a real test of strength, Mazzulla’s boys limited their opponents’ three-point attempts very well and even reached +21. THE Cleveland Cavaliersfrom here, they managed to turn the game around and recover that enormous deficit, with the Celtics once again showing those limits of concentration that have characterized previous seasons so much. With the Cavs you can’t let your guard down, they have an explosive attack full of solutions and Boston experienced it first hand tonight. It was then an intense fourth period, but in the end the Celtics prevailed, inflicting their first defeat of the season on Cleveland and winning the second game of the season.NBA Cup.
There is only one MVP of the match: he was born in St. Louis, Missouri and bears the name Jayson Christopher Tatum. Nothing can really be said about his match, perhaps just a note on the four turnovers, but for the rest you can only admire it in fascination. A beautiful performance on both sides of the parquet performed thanks to his immense offensive talent and his defensive skills. He shoots and scores three-pointers as if he were uniquely simple and also limits opposing wingers very well when coupled with them. The Duke product scored 33 points (60% from beyond the arc and 50% from the field), 12 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 steals, giving continuity to his great start to the season. In these first 15 games he is averaging 30 points (46% from the field, 39% from three and 81% from the free throw line), 8.1 rebounds, 6 assists and just under 2 stocks (steals+blocks) per game. Are these MVP averages? Probably yes, but to say so we will obviously have to wait to see how it continues.
Support Sportellate: associates
Our work is based on the commitment and passion of a young editorial team. Through the association you help us grow and always improve the quality of the content.
Join now!
Mid third quarter, the turning point of the match. Boston is leading by +21 and Cleveland, the team with the highest three-point percentage in the entire league, is shooting less than 30%. Kenny AtkinsonHowever, he immediately demonstrates why he is one of the best offensive coaches in the NBA and changes his game plan. From that moment on, the Cavaliers always manage to pair Pritchard (or sometimes Holiday) with one of Mobley or Allen in order to take advantage of the difference in height to close at the rim with great ease. Donovan Mitchellhowever, always looks for Queta, who never manages to limit his explosiveness. Cleveland recovers the deficit and comes close to Boston, who is forced to roll up their sleeves and not let their guard down until the last second. In the end Mitchell finishes with 35 points and Mobley with 22, but the surprising fact is that the Cavaliers completely dominated in the paint, scoring 60 points of their 117 total.
Long live Al Horford. On a night in which the Celtics’ big men had great difficulty in limiting the Cavs players, it was up to the Dominican center to work overtime and play more than usual in order to ensure the victory. Horford ends the match with 20 points (4/5 three-pointers), but above all 3 decisive and important blocks. Very good too Derrick White e Jrue Holiday who together score 30 points and demonstrate why they are the best defensive backcourt in the entire league. Jaylen Brown he remains in the shadows throughout the match: he makes several errors and is inaccurate at shooting, but in the last minute and a half of the match he scores 5 points which are vital for Boston’s victory.
It is Cleveland’s first defeat of the season, coming in the sixteenth game. The Cavs still managed to stay in the game and recover the 21-point deficit despite the absences of their best 3&D, so they leave the TD Garden in Boston with their heads held high and aware of their abilities. The Celtics win, but with some regrets due to the large squandered advantage that could have been useful for the points difference for the purposes of the NBA Cup group standings. Tonight’s match, however, also demonstrated that Kristaps Porzingis serves as the air to this team and until it returns, the big men on the bench need to take that further step that was not seen tonight. Clearly it is important that the Latvian is present in April, when the playoffs arrive.
