As the event is getting competitive, Boston’s only job should be to protect the home court. They need to improve their weaker side of ball protection. The Celtics’ tendency for squandering turnovers impacted negatively once again. It has been a reoccurring theme throughout their playoff run. In a 107-88 defeat to the Golden State Warriors in Game 2 of the NBA Finals on Sunday night, Boston threw it away 19 times, tying the series at one game each.
Veteran Jayson Tatum said: “It’s just kind of as simple as we’ve just got to take care of the ball. We’ve done it, and we’re a really good team when we take care of the ball. But we have those lapses where we, snowball effect, we pile on turnovers and dig ourselves into a hole.”
To stick close to the Warriors in Game 2, the Celtics decided to shoot their way out of their turnovers in the first half by hitting 10 of 19 3-pointers. The turnovers were enough to recover when the shots started dropping in the third quarter, returning the Celtics back unhappy amid a Game 1 triumph.
In their defeats, the Celtics have averaged roughly four turnovers per game than in their victories, resulting in more points for the opposition.
The issues began on Sunday, when Boston turned the ball over seven times in the opening quarter, allowing Golden State to score 13 points to counterbalance the Celtics’ hot shooting start.
In the second half, there were four additional turnovers, followed by five in the third, which resulted in more scores as Golden State defeated Boston 35-14. The Celtics scored fewer baskets than turnovers, but coach Ime Udoka blamed the recklessness in the first half for the loss.
During these finals, turnovers haven’t been Boston’s lone issue; the Celtics also have battled to defend home court. However, they overcame setbacks in Games 1 and 5 against the Bucks in the second round by winning Game 6.
They now confront a Warriors squad that has won at least one away game in each of the NBA’s 26 final games during Stephen Curry’s tenure.
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