The Boston Celtics shocked everyone with a spectacular fourth-quarter performance in game one of the NBA Finals, taking a 1-0 series lead on the Golden State Warriors. They seemed content to lose the first game in enemy territory through three quarters but suddenly turned everything around in one of the best 12-minute stretches of Celtics basketball in recent history.
This victory sets up a pivotal game two on Sunday night, in which, if Boston comes away with another win, puts them in a prime position to win their first championship since 2008. Obviously, Golden State will come out desperate, as going down 0-2 and having to go back to Boston for two more contests is quite the tall task.
However, Celtics fans have to be extremely encouraged with the C’s play, managing to come back from multiple double-digit deficits. They aren’t backing down from anyone, and have proven themselves throughout this long playoff run.
Ime Udoka and his coaching staff made impressive adjustments along the way to help Boston come back into this game. Let’s go through 3 of them that directly led to the win:
Boston Celtics adjustment No. 1: Abandoning the drop coverage
In the first quarter, the Celtics opened their defensive scheme in a drop coverage. Essentially, off of a simple pick-and-roll or dribble handoff involving Stephen Curry or Klay Thompson, the big man involved in the action, usually Robert Williams, would allow the ball-handler to step into a three, rather than contesting his air space.
