The Brown/Tatum/Smart trio at the top, Robert Williams III precious, “Chef Curry” at the level unlike Draymond Green… The tops and flops after the 116-100 success of the C’s in Game 3 of the NBA Finals.
TOPS
Brown, Tatum, Smart: Boston stars assume their status
A trio with more than 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists in the NBA Finals, like Jaylen Brown (27 pts, 9 rbs, 5 wt), Jayson Tatum (26 pts, 5 rbs, 9 wt) and Marcus Smart (24 pts, 7 rbs, 5 pds)? We hadn’t seen that since Magic Johnson, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Michael Cooper in 1984, with the Lakers. The Boston stars therefore assumed their status on Wednesday evening at TD Garden, to beat the Warriors pawn in the third round (116-100). Brown put his team on the right track with 22 points in the first period. Tatum initially shone with his selflessness before catching fire and finishing the job, Smart doing his part on defense – the Warriors 0/9 on shots when he was on defense on a shooter – and by putting important points throughout the meeting.
The (very) valuable Williams
If he is not 100% physically, Robert Williams III did a lot of good for the Celtics on Wednesday night. 8 points, 10 rebounds, 3 steals and 4 blocks in 26 minutes for the pivot of Boston, very precious throughout the meeting. The numbers are not enough to fully appreciate how much he brought for his team in this encounter. Strong. His namesake Grant Williams also did well, in his style, all in energy, with 10 points and 5 rebounds to his credit off the bench. The Williams on top in this game.
Read alsoNBA Finals: solid and biting, the Celtics of Tatum, Brown and Smart regain the advantage
Curry’s recital in the third quarter
Quickly embarrassed by faults, Stephen Curry made Stephen Curry at TD Garden, with a match at 31 points (12/22 on shots, 6/11 at 3 pts). He notably caught fire in the third quarter, won 33-25 by the Warriors, with 15 points, including a four-point action with possession to follow due to a flagrant foul by Al Horford. His comrade in the back line, Klay Thompson, also regained his splendor after having shone with his clumsiness during the first two sets: 25 points and 5/13 from a distance. Not enough. Note that “Chef Curry” seemed to be in pain at the end of the match, after contact with the ground. Steve Kerr, coach of the Warriors, did not want to talk too much about the state of health of his star at a press conference. The main interested party promises that he will be present next Friday, at the start of Game 4, while waiting for the exams.
TOPS
Draymond Green passed
2 points to 1 of 4, 4 rebounds, 3 assists and 1 against: the statistics are enough to understand that Draymond Green did not play a great game. In addition, the interested party finished with six faults, watching the last minutes of the meeting from the bench. Discreet is an understatement. We did not recognize him in this meeting. More fouls than points or shots attempted, it’s not brilliant…”I played like shit“, he summarizes, regretting not”never having found (his) rhythm, on both sides of the pitch.” One thing is certain: Golden State will need a Draymond Green at its best to meet the physical challenge of Boston and win these Finals.
The Warriors a notch below in intensity
Bitten from the start, the Warriors never seemed able to respond to the physical challenge offered by their hosts on Wednesday night, except in the third quarter, their favorite moment as we have known for many years. many years now. They were for example devoured on rebounds (47-31) and the Celtics did about what they wanted in the racket (52 points to 26), losing 17 balls (to 12). Green’s bankruptcy is obviously not for nothing in this observation, but that does not explain everything… “We were out of gas in the fourth quarter“As for him analyzed coach Kerr. We will have to find fuel before Game 4.
