Shaq & GameTime Crew React to Celtics Win vs. Mavs in Game 2 of the NBA Finals

Shaq & GameTime Crew React to Celtics Win vs. Mavs in Game 2 of the NBA Finals

game time live at the finals presented by YouTube TV great to have you with us Grant Hill Steve Smith Shaquille O’Neal I’m Matt wner uh this was a much more interesting game tactically for both teams the Mavericks came out played much better got into their offense a little earlier took Luca off the ball in the back court maybe to save his legs he was great most of the night still didn’t get tons of easy buckets along the way but Boston wasn’t knocking down threes and that was a leveler to to some extent in this game Smitty in your mind what was the difference ultimately you know I I think the difference was like you said is uh the Mavericks didn’t get easy buckets also they didn’t knock down threes but I got to give a lot of credit to just the overall defense of the Boston Celtics started off with Drew holiday Derek white and and their entire team they are locked in on making them take tough twos and also contested threes and that’s been the difference without fouling you know I I agree I mean you know it was a night for Boston where it was not pretty yeah you know they they didn’t shoot the ball well their Superstar Jason Tatum struggled mightily on the offensive end porzingis uh particularly there down the stretch we don’t know the status of his situation but appeared to be limping after a fall there in the fourth quarter so every reason an excuse every reason to lose this game if you’re Boston but defensively getting stopped making plays uh taking the challenge with Kyrie Luca was great but he had the work to be great uh and work on both ends of the floor um and then just make it play that block at the end of the game by the PJ Washington just little things of steal that led to a three by Drew holiday just making winning plays when your team needed it even when you’re struggling uh was the difference and the point on por zinkus is well taken game three will happen on Wednesday in Dallas he appeared to be laboring there late in the fourth quarter looked like maybe he was limping a little bit and if you had forgotten remember he hadn’t played since April 29th because of a right cap strain before game one sha to you what was the difference tonight for Boston well I want to shout out the others for the Boston Derek white 18 Drew holiday 26 porzingis 12 once again the Boston Stars play good enough didn’t play great you know usually in the finals the one two punch have you know marvelous historical games but you know Charles Barkley said something he’s been saying it all year the two stars for the Boston Celtics do not need to play well for the Boston to win and if the other play like this he’s absolutely correct they play well they’re at home listen it was a it was a different sort of game it was a back and forth game nobody shot the ball well but listen the others stepped up and this is why I’m always so high on the others you know I’m quick to brag about how many championships I goty but it wasn’t for the big shot BS you know the B Shaws and the horse Grant and guys of that nature I wouldn’t have four championships so again Tatum Brown didn’t have two great games it does not matter two more wins and you’ll be National Champion so they just need to let this one go and then the next game it’s going to be difficult down there in Dallas one thing I know about Dallas they’re never going to quit they’re never going to give up and they saw a lot of things that they could do positively today so uh weird game though you know the atmosphere was weird you know the game was just weird and then Mr Mr Kyrie Irving did not step up one again yeah we got a lot to talk about here and I might argue that although Jason Tatum didn’t shoot the ball well this this game might have represented some growth for him in terms of the playmaking and some of the other things he did he had what 12 assists on the night only three turnovers and for the most part this entire Boston team has gotten really good at just making plays for each other listen they’re very unselfish with the ball you know all this stuff about whose team is and who’s a man it doesn’t matter this kid right here Mr White he’s been playing fabulous all play they definitely move move the ball take high percentage shot and I agree with you even though he didn’t have a a monster scoring game he you know did made the right play every time listen he’s a superstar he could take those shots but he made the right play made the easy play and his guys made him look good at times they really didn’t shoot the ball well from you know three they were 10 for 39 25% but they hit timely shots and that’s all that matters they were 10 for 39 Dallas was 6 of 26 and the non luucas in this game were two of 17 from outside the three-point line let’s be honest the Mavericks have no chance of winning this series or competing in this series if they don’t get more efficient shooting from others yeah it is I mean and those others Matt they get open shots because of the breakdown of Luca donic and Kyrie Irving give the Boston Celtics defense Luca’s not been able to blow by and get easy shots of everybody else he’s making shots himself yeah but Shaq said it they they’re not getting that contribution and that force and that play from Kyrie Irving you have one guy going and the Boston Celtics they have multiple guys going it’s going to be hard for Dallas to win if you don’t get another guy going offensively yeah I mean look the other guys outside of Kyrie Irving I mean Derrick Jones 11 points 47 from the field PJ Washington 17 points didn’t shoot the three ball well Gafford was pretty e efficient 13 points on the interior but seven of 18 for Kyrie Irving like he’s just got to be a little bit more efficient than that and thing is we’ve seen that we’ve seen that this postseason we’ve seen him take over we’ve seen him uh you know sort of reminded of his postseason greatness during this run but we haven’t seen it yet here in Boston in these two games and maybe going back to Dallas you know back in your familiar surroundings you get away from the the the booing and and all the emotion being here in this building will help him but he’s he’s got to play better I mean he’s got to be better and he can play better and uh but the other guys I thought thought they didn’t shoot the three ball well but they played with greater toughness uh they were more efficient and they were more engaged and involved in this game than they were game one you think he was affected by all the chance you I don’t know I really don’t know but I I just think two games in a row where he struggled offensively and looked indecisive and you know give credit the defense of Boston is special and multiple guys uh taking the challenge uh doing a good job sliding their feet uh really contesting everything and making life miserable for Kyrie Irving usually Kyrie Irving makes life miserable for the defender but you know Drew holiday Derek white Jaylen BR all these guys stepping up taking a challenge and doing a great job for all his willingness to engage with the crowd here and he did again tonight kind of egged them on when they were chanting his name and saying mean things about him uh he’ll be more comfortable in Dallas obviously and we’ll see if that’s reflected in his performance on the floor you mentioned PJ Washington I thought maybe there was some growth look it’s the finals there’s not a lot of time to grow but there was some growth in terms of taking what the defense gave him and being a little more aggressive and going to the rim tonight I totally agree with you mat he had a good game I mean but that good game has to be that third guy I mean right now he’s the second guy and they’re not getting anything off their bench they’re not really getting anything off their bench where Boston is doing a nice job of different guys stepping up but I also think yes Kyrie didn’t play well here in Boston but you can’t be that guy that has to be that second score I think also for me Shaq and Grant he’s playing off the ball too much more like a spot up shooter he’s not involved enough and Kyrie at a stand still is easy to guard

NBA TV’s GameTime crew Shaq, Steve Smith, and Grant Hill break down the Celtics win over the Mavericks in Game 2 of the 2024 NBA Finals.

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