It really has not been the smoothest season for Marcus Good. The Celtics guard, by his private admission, has not carried out as a lot as his regular on safety. He’s been hampered by accidents, which included an 11-game absence earlier this yr on account of a correct ankle injury.
However as a result of the playoffs begin, Good may be returning to type on the superb time.
Good declared earlier this week that he’s feeling close to 100% bodily, which is one factor he hasn’t been able to say in years. In Saturday’s Sport 1 victory over the Hawks, that meant the Celtics obtained their reigning Defensive Participant of the 12 months’s most interesting in one amongst their strongest defensive performances of the season.
“It permits me to have the ability to field out the bigs,” Good said of being close to full nicely being. “To have the ability to go get rebounds. To have the ability to assist Al (Horford) and Rob (Williams). To have the ability to assist D-White, Jaylen (Brown) and Jayson (Tatum) on that finish. To have the ability to run the present defensively and get the fellows the place they’re presupposed to be.”
Williams is a defensive X-factor for the Celtics, which he confirmed in one amongst his most interesting performances of the yr on Saturday. Derrick White has emerged as a robust All-Defensive employees this season. However no one is further essential to the success of the Celtics’ safety than Good, as he confirmed Saturday.
“He was bodily,” Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla said. “His pick-up factors have been nice. He has the presence to be the quarterback on the defensive finish the place it places us, we’re in a position to change coverages, change matchups, and when he’s doing that, our protection is particular, and it begins with him. I feel he introduced it each bodily and mentally on the defensive finish tonight. I assumed that was an enormous key for us.”
Along with organizing the Celtics’ safety, Good was flying spherical on the defensive end all by the night. Within the main half, he made a improbable study to interrupt up an alley-oop. As the game winded down, he had his most interesting defensive sequence of the game. Brown threw away a cross – considered one of many Celtics’ 17 turnovers – that put DeAndre Hunter on a fast break, nevertheless Good hustled once more and made a well-timed block. On the next play, he picked off Bogdan Bogdanovic to strain a turnover.
“He sort of simply does issues randomly that appears loopy however work,” White said. “He made two — the transition block, the steal — some large performs for us. And he appears to simply be in the best place on the proper time his complete profession and possibly his complete life.”
It was traditional Good, and a mannequin of him that hasn’t been seen continuously this season. The Celtics will certainly welcome that once more as they pursue a championship.
“I suppose generally you are taking it as a right,” Tatum said. “However among the best, if not the very best defender that we’ve got on this league. Simply extraordinarily particular on that facet of the ball and he reveals it evening in and evening out.”
Brown fights by means of ache
In his first sport once more after slicing his correct finger, Brown pushed by means of discomfort to realize a game-high 29 elements in Sport 1. However it wasn’t with out some additional administration. Brown said that the decrease – which initially required 5 stitches – reopened in the middle of the game.
“I feel it’s going to be alright,” Brown said. “They’ll check out it (Sunday).”
Brown wore security on his finger. It didn’t seem to impact his aggressiveness – he set the tone with a steal and score on the first play of the game – or his scoring potential, nevertheless he moreover devoted six turnovers.
“It’s a relentless adjustment,” Brown said. “Making sure I get an excellent grip on the ball. I had six turnovers tonight so I’ve undoubtedly gotta clear that up. That’s really it. …
“It’s advantageous. Particularly with the adrenaline of the sport, you sort of simply get it going. At instances all through the sport I needed to readjust it and stuff like that. Had lots of padding on it so it’s a distinct really feel capturing the ball. Simply adjusting and adapting to the sport, that’s it.”
Fixed emphasis
The Celtics are properly aware that considered one of many Hawks’ largest strengths is rebounding. Atlanta had 21 offensive rebounds in its play-in victory over the Warmth, and Mazzulla was harping on that house all week.
“Rebounding is the important thing to this sequence in order that’s been a degree of emphasis for us in each observe, attempt to maintain these guys off the glass,” Brown said. “They’re younger, they’re athletic they usually crash exhausting and that’s going to proceed to be our problem on this sequence, maintaining these guys off the glass which is hard. They’ve bought some nice rebounders on their group.”
The Celtics outrebounded the Hawks, 61-52, in Sport 1 and gave up 14 offensive rebounds. The Hawks solely reworked these into 12 second-chance elements, nevertheless the C’s understand that ought to maintain a highlight as a collective unit or it would haunt them.
“It’s a degree of emphasis,” Tatum said. “They crash the glass, they’re lively, they bought some lengthy, athletic guys. So it’s one thing we speak about on a regular basis. All people – bigs boxing out so the guards can are available in and seize the ball. Discover any person, hit him. And everyone – no leak outs. All people has to rebound and also you attempt to restrict them to 1 shot per possession.”