Like a summer storm. Brief but with such intensity that it can ruin a whole day. This was the third quarter of the seventh game between the Celtics and the Sixers. A deluge (33-10) that decided the classification of the ‘proud greens’ for the Conference final, where they will face the Heat again. Like last year and the 19/20 pandemic.
A storm with its own name, of course. Jayson.
Tatum sustained the Celtics with 25 points in a first where the Sixers showed their faces (55-52), despite the poor performance of James Harden (9 points, with 3 of 11 shots from the field) and Joel Embiid (15 , with 5 of 18). And he finished off the job in the third quarter, signing half plus one of his team’s points.
A third quarter that started with a three pointer from visiting Tobias Harris (19 points and 5 rebounds). And good bye.
First it was a 10-0 run, cut short by a triple – the only one he rolled – by Harden. And then an 18-0, with the Jays in front and 4 triples without a miss. The Sixers saw the hoop again after a drought of almost 7 minutes. And when the game was already virtually lost (83-58).
Some Sixers that at this stage appeared to be an uncoordinated, individualistic team and incapable of launching comfortably even once. Before, yes, a superlative defense. Joe Mazzulla’s men reached everything, as if instead of five there were seven on the track. Reciprocated perfection on the other side of the court: 4 of 4 on three-pointers at the start of the period and a fantastic 8 of 11 at the end of it.
With the fish already sold, there was only one unknown: how far Tatum would go after closing the first 36 minutes with 42 points in his locker. He reached 51, just enough to snatch the record in a seventh game that Stephen Curry had achieved on April 30 against the Kings. With 3:23 to go he gave up his place to Grant Williams to chants of “MVP! MVP!”. It was not for less. He lay down to rest going 11-for-18 on 2-point shots, 6-for-10 from the arc, 11-for-14 free throws, 13 rebounds, 5 assists, 2 steals and one turnover.
His partner Brown seconded him with 25 goals, 6 captures, 2 lethal passes, 2 recovered balls and 2 blocks. And Malcolm Brogdon (12 points) was important again starting from the bench.
For his part, Philly returned to stay where ‘always’. Third consecutive KO in the Conference semifinals, the fifth in the last six seasons. Doc Rivers’ continuity on the bench could be in serious jeopardy. Monty Williams, runner-up two years ago with the Suns, and Mike Budenholzer, his Bucks counterpart in those 20/21 Finals, have already fallen.
Last season the Celtics also needed Game 7 to get rid of the Heat, against whom they have a 2-2 record this season, with a win at home and one away from each other.
2023-05-15 08:20:37
#Storm #Jayson #sweeps #Philadelphia
