In Game 4 against the Boston Celtics, the Toronto Raptors made sure they didn’t need any endgame magic.
After winning Game 3 by the slimmest of margins to get back in the series, the defending champions had a more convincing 100-93 win in Game 4 to even their series at two games apiece. After being on the verge of taking a commanding 3-0 lead in the series, Boston now finds itself back to square one against a Raptors team that is brimming with confidence and now has momentum on their side.
While the Raptors won Game 3 thanks to an incredible game-winning shot (set up by an incredible pass by Kyle Lowry) that no one will soon forget, the Game 4 loss exposed other cracks in the Celtics’ armor that will need to be addressed for them to retake the series lead in Game 5. Some of their struggles can be blamed on poor shooting, with Jayson Tatum as the only player who shot well (10-of-18, 24 points). Brad Stevens’ other key players like Kemba Walker (4-of-9), Marcus Smart (2-of-8), and Jaylen Brown (4-of-18) all struggled from the field, with Boston as a team making just seven of their 35 3-pointers, their worst shooting performance in the playoffs.
The Celtics aren't always going to shoot at an abysmal rate as the series goes on, but there are other areas that they need to address and adjustments that they have to make if they hope to get the victory in what has come down to a thrilling best-of-three situation.
1. Slow down Pascal Siakam
Last year’s Most Improved Player was expected to be the Raptors’ next star after Kawhi Leonard’s departure in the offseason, and Siakam has done that for most of the season, even earning his first All-Star selection. The 26-year-old, however, has had his struggles in the playoffs. While the Raptors were still able to easily dispatch the Brooklyn Nets in the first round despite his inconsistent performances, the defending champions sorely missed him in the first three games of this second-round series.
Siakam finally played to his potential in Game 4, which was easily his best game of the series. After averaging just 15.3 points on 36.2% shooting to go with 6.0 rebounds and 3.3 assists in the first three games, Siakam dropped 23 points while making 10 of 23 shots in Game 4. He also pulled down 11 rebounds and dished out a couple of assists in the Raptors' win, with zero turnovers to boot.
The Celtics were largely able to keep the 27th overall pick of the 2016 NBA Draft Draft in check for the first three games, but he found his groove in Game 4. Siakam gaining more confidence as the series drags on could spell trouble for Boston. Stopping the young big man was always going to be difficult, but if they can limit his production and impact like they did in the first three games, it could go a long way for the Celtics to regain control of the series.
2. Limit the Raptors’ 3-point shooting
The Raptors were one of the most accurate teams from beyond the arc during the regular season, making 37.4% of their 3-pointers, the fifth-best mark in the league. They shot even better during their four-game sweep of the Nets in the first round, making 43.3% of their attempts.
The Celtics, however, were largely able to limit their 3-point shooting in the first three games of the series, as Toronto shot a combined 34-of-120 (28.3%) from long distance. One of those 34 triples, however, turned out to be OG Anunoby’s game-winner in Game 3 that allowed the Raptors to eke out a win and avoid a crushing 3-0 deficit.
That seemed to have opened the floodgates for the defending champions, as they made 17 of their 44 3-pointers in Game 4 for a 38.6% shooting clip, easily their best mark in the series. Lowry, Fred VanVleet, Serge Ibaka, Siakam, and Anunoby all made multiple triples for the Raptors, with VanVleet making five and Ibaka draining all four of his attempts to finish with 18 points off the bench.
Boston, as mentioned, made just seven of 35 attempts from long distance. The Celtics aren’t always going to make just 20% of their 3-pointers, but for them to stop the Raptors’ momentum and wrest control of the series again, they need to neutralize their hot shooting from downtown.
3. Come out of halftime with the proper energy
Game 4 was tied at halftime, but the Raptors took control by winning the third quarter, 32-24. This has been a major trend throughout this series. Toronto hasn't lost a third quarter yet, even in the first two games, outscoring Boston by a total of 26 points in that frame over these four games. Game 3 saw the Celtics squander a 10-point halftime lead thanks in part to a poor third quarter.
It's obviously important to start the game with the proper energy, but Boston also needs to not let up in the third quarter. It has cost them two games already and almost cost them Game 2. If the Celtics aren't focused to start the second half, they could be in trouble.
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