Boston Celtics guard Jaylen Brown (7) drives to the basket towards the Cleveland Cavaliers through the second half of Recreation 5 of an NBA basketball second-round playoff sequence Wednesday, Could 15, 2024, in Boston. The Celtics superior to the Japanese Convention finals (AP Photograph/Charles Krupa)
BOSTON — A lot in regards to the journey the Boston Celtics and Indiana Pacers have taken to the NBA Japanese Convention finals has been about what – or particularly who – they haven’t needed to face to get to right here.
Prime-seeded Boston principally coasted to a 4-1 first-round sequence win over a Miami Warmth staff that performed with out Jimmy Butler, the participant who’d tormented and damaged the center of the Celtics in Recreation 7 of final season’s convention finals. They then posted one other 4-1 sequence victory within the second spherical over an injury-ravaged Cleveland Cavaliers staff that didn’t have All-Star Donovan Mitchell for the ultimate two video games.
The route for sixth-seeded Indiana has additionally had some notable hurdles eliminated.
The Pacers wanted six video games to earn a first-round win over a Milwaukee staff lacking Giannis Antetokounmpo. They then outlasted a New York Knicks staff that was main the sequence 3-2 earlier than tripping over a rash of accidents that included star Jalen Brunson breaking his hand within the Pacers’ lopsided Recreation 7 victory.
However neither Boston nor Indiana is concentrated on the narratives surrounding the paths they took to get so far. They’re right here. And starting with Recreation 1 on Tuesday evening in Boston, it’s now NBA Finals or bust for each.
READ: NBA: Celtics in good headspace forward of third straight East finals
For the Celtics, which means blocking out reminders of the championship expectations which have hovered over them all through the season.
“You simply acquired to deal with what issues most,” Celtics ahead Jaylen Brown stated. “That’s your staff. That’s every possession in entrance of you. That’s no matter your job is. … Simply have the ability to focus the thoughts on what issues as a result of it’s simple to get distracted or eluded from what the general objective and what the goal is while you begin to entertain sort of all the things that’s going round you.”
Indiana guard Tyrese Haliburton stated the expectations they’ve had internally had been at all times excessive.
“We had preseason camp in Nashville – simply gamers, no coaches. That’s what we communicated from the bounce. That we anticipated to be right here. This ain’t a shock to us,” he stated. “It’s not a fluke. We anticipate this from our group. As soon as we added (Pascal Siakam) we knew we might actually take off.”
Pacers coach Rick Carlisle is absolutely embracing the concept his staff is the “uninvited visitor” among the many NBA’s ultimate 4 groups.
“We had some success to get to this second,” he stated. “However our guys did the work to place us able to be right here.”
OFFENSIVE SHOWDOWN
Indiana Pacers ahead Pascal Siakam (43) and guard Tyrese Haliburton (0) have fun following Recreation 7 in an NBA basketball second-round playoff sequence towards the New York Knicks, Sunday, Could 19, 2024, in New York. (AP Photograph/Julia Nikhinson)
The Pacers reached their first convention finals since 2014 with an offense that has continued to place up historic numbers by pushing the tempo.
Indiana topped the NBA with 123.3 factors per sport through the common season, the sixth-highest common in league historical past. That was on prime of it scoring 140 factors a file 11 occasions.
The Pacers’ regular-season offensive ranking of 120.5 was second solely to the Celtics (122.5). That flipped through the playoffs, with Indiana’s rating bettering to No. 1 at 121.7, adopted by Boston at 118.9.
READ: Excessive-octane Pacers again in NBA Japanese Convention finals
Haliburton and Siakam drove the Pacers’ assault towards the Knicks. Haliburton averaged 21.3 factors, shot 53.8% from the sector and 43.9% from 3 within the sequence. Siakam averaged 20 factors, was 52.8% from the sector and 40% from 3. It made them the primary duo to common 20-plus factors, shoot above 50% from the sector and above 40% from the 3-point line in a convention finals.
Whereas Celtics All-Star Jayson Tatum has proven bouts of inconsistency this postseason, he’s nonetheless averaging 24.3 factors and 10.4 rebounds. He’s additionally getting loads of help from fellow All-Star Brown (23.1 factors, 6.9 rebounds per sport) and Derrick White, who’s seen each his scoring (18.2 factors) and 3-point share (43.5%) bounce this postseason.
“It’s going to be a problem,” White stated. “They stand up and down and we wish to as nicely. It’s going to be enjoyable.”
INJURY UPDATE
Celtics heart Kristaps Porzingis will likely be out for Recreation 1 on Tuesday as he continues to get well from a strained proper calf.
The 7-footer sustained his damage in Recreation 5 of Boston’s first-round sequence with Miami. He then sat out the second-round matchup with Cleveland.
He has but to take part in a full follow, however coach Joe Mazzulla stated he’s making progress.
“He’s on the market finding out, studying, movie, doing all the things he can to come back again as quick as he can,” Mazzulla stated
HISTORY LESSON
This would be the seventh playoff assembly between the Celtics and Pacers.
All six of the earlier matchups (2019, 2005, 2004, 2003, 1992 and 1991) have been within the first spherical, with Boston successful 4 of the sequence.
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The newest matchup was in 2019, a 4-0 sweep by the Celtics.
