With the Boston Celtics down 58-51 at halftime against the Miami Heat, the team were in real danger of seeing their season come to an end if they did not come out in the second half with a better mindset. The C's did exactly that, and it was thanks in large part to an inspirational rally cry from Celtics point guard Kemba Walker.
Jaylen Brown opened up about Walker's halftime pep talk after the game. According to Brown, his veteran teammate had an important reminder for the entire squad during the break:
Jaylen Brown on what was said at halftime: "I just remember Kemba (Walker) saying 'We just need to settle down a little bit.' That's what I remember and that's what we did."
— Keith Smith (@KeithSmithNBA) September 26, 2020
It wasn't as if Boston was down a huge deficit at halftime, and Walker came out to remind his guys to just play their game. True enough, the Celtics were able to come out firing in the second half, outscoring the Heat 41-25 in the third period.
Brown also said after the game that the Celtics got a bit ahead of themselves in the first half:
Jaylen Brown on the difference between how Boston played in the first and second halves: "We were trying to win the game in the first half."
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) September 26, 2020
These are the types of moments that prove Walker's significance for this team. He may not come out with a superstar performance night in and night out, but he has served as an excellent veteran leader for this young squad.
Thanks to a concerted team effort, Boston emerged with a season-saving 121-108 victory on Friday. They have now forced a Game 6 in the series, which is scheduled to take place on Sunday. Walker will certainly play a huge role for his team in that one, both on and off the court.
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