6 takeaways from the Boston Celtics win vs. the Miami Heat

MiamiHerald.com

In what was easily their best game of the season, the Boston Celtics took down the Miami Heat last night, 95-78. It was the second game in a row where they were able to hold their opponent to under 80 points. They played the best defense they have all year, but of course, the night had to be spoiled by an injury scare. What were some of the key takeaways from the contest?

Takeaways from the Boston Celtics win vs. the Miami Heat

1. Hope Jaylen Brown is okay

Jaylen Brown left the game vs. the Miami Heat after tweaking his hamstring on a drive. It was announced that he would not return due to “right hamstring tightness.” Hamstring injuries are always scary, but them diagnosing it as simply tightness sounds like a good thing. The Celtics need Brown for this season, as he’s been their best player by far. Hopefully, this injury doesn’t keep him out for too long.

2. Spectacular defensive effort

The Miami Heat are not a juggernaut on the offensive end of the floor. However, the Celtics played some of the best defense they have played all season long. Whenever the Heat tried driving to the basket they were met with a wall of Celtics players ready to meet them there. In addition, their energy on that end of the floor was incredible. Players were diving for loose balls, fighting for rebounds, and putting their bodies on the line to make a play. Going into the game, the C’s were never going to beat the Heat with an amazing offensive attack. The key was to beat them at their own game (playing elite defense), and they did just that.

3. Jayson Tatum showing signs of life

Jayson Tatum had yet another rough outing shooting-wise. He finished the game shooting 3-13 from the field and 2-5 from deep. However, the effort was there for the entire game. He was hustling and trying his best to make the right plays. Then, towards the end of the night, Boston got a sneak peek at the Tatum they know and love. He nailed a couple of shots in the fourth quarter that were reminiscent of the Tatum who was putting up 60 points in a game last season. If the Boston Celtics can get that version of Tatum back moving forward, they could turn into a very scary team.

4. The bench looked phenomenal

Boston’s bench led the way in this game, weirdly enough. Three different players ended in double figures and their ben outscored Miami’s 45-20. They put on a beautiful display and allowed Ime Udoka to give both Jaylen Brown and Jayson Tatum some rest. It was truly a beautiful sight to see.

Dennis Schroder looked great, finishing with 14 points, five rebounds, and six assists. His ability to get to the paint played a huge role in Boston’s offensive attack. Romeo Langford also played a huge part in the Celtics’ offense. He put up 12 points on 4-8 shooting from the field and 2-5 shooting from deep. Lastly, Aaron Nesmith was able to steal the show last night. So much so, that he gets a takeaway all to himself.

5. Aaron Nesmith took Josh Richardson’s job

Aaron Nesmith stepped onto the court last night with a purpose. He had been in Ime Udoka’s dog house and was desperate to find a way out. Well, last night he found it. The second-year wing ended the game with 13 points, three rebounds, and an assist while shooting 5-8 from the field and 3-5 from deep. Fans also got to see some of that patented “Nesmith hustle” that they grew to love last year. He was fighting for boards and diving everywhere once again. With the way Josh Richardson has been playing, there’s no real argument for Nesmith not to take at least some of his minutes.

6. This is the turning point

This is Boston’s second win in a row, but this one means a lot more than their win vs. the Orlando Magic. The Miami Heat were arguably the best team in basketball before last night. To be honest, they still might be. One bad game doesn’t change that. Despite that, the Boston Celtics were able to go in there and get things done. Their offense was still a bit shaky, but their defense was on point. If they can defend like that every game, this could be the beginning of a new chapter for this current Boston Celtics team.

The next game for the Boston Celtics will be tomorrow night vs. Luka Doncic and the Dallas Mavericks. That one will tip-off at 8:30 p.m. (EST) and can be streamed on NBC Sports Boston and NBA League Pass.