Celtics rack up win in Game Five despite poor markmanship
You just know there was something different about this game when you find out Marcus Smart was the top Celtics marksman in the 96-83 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
It helped that the Cavaliers didn't fare much better than the Celtics, shooting 41.9% from the field. The play of the Cavaliers often looked lackluster, and Lebron James looked just plain tired.
Boston won the rebounding battle 45-39. They had only eight turnovers to Cleveland's 15. And the Celtics had 10 steals to Cleveland's three. It just looked like the energy of this injury-plagued Celtics crew simply wore down Lebron and his troops.
The last time before tonight a team shot less than 37 percent from the field while winning a conference finals game? June 1, 2004, when the Pistons beat the Pacers 69-65.
— Jay King (@ByJayKing) May 24, 2018
The two main culpripts in Boston's poor marksmanship were Terry Rozier and Jaylen Brown. Terry shot 20.0% from the field and Jaylen hit on 26.7%. Marcus Morris was an accessory to the problem with 38.5% from the floor.
That was the 4th time this year, in 99 games, the Celtics shot below 37% from the floor.
— Sean Grande (@SeanGrandePBP) May 24, 2018
They won 3 of the 4.
.329 - VS. GOLDEN STATE – NOVEMBER 16, 2017 (W)
.333 - @ TORONTO – APRIL 4, 2018
.357 - VS. CHARLOTTE – NOVEMBER 10, 2017 (W)
.365 - VS. CLEVELAND - MAY 23, 2018 (W)
Cleveland, with LeBron James at the helm, scored this many fast-break points tonight: 2⃣
— Marc D'Amico (@Marc_DAmico) May 24, 2018
We hope not to see Brown and Rozier shoot a combined 7-of-30 (including 3-of-15 on 3's) anytime soon. But Jaylen did total 17 points for the game thanks to his shooting 7-of-8 from the free throw line. It was a strange game all around, but it ended well with the Celtics leading the series, three games to two.
Follow Tom at @TomLaneHC
Photo via Mark J. Ribelas/USA TODAY Sports
