Raptors Beat Celtics 104-103: Notes On A Brutal Loss From A Sad Celtics Fan

In what may have been the worse loss of the bubble, the Celtics dropped game three to the Raptors on Thursday night 104-103 when Raptors forward OG Anunoby hit a game-winning three with 0.5 seconds left. Disclaimer: I am a Celtics fan and I am upset.

In what looked like the perfect capstone to an amazing performance by Celtics guard Kemba Walker, he sent a dart of a no-look pass to Daniel Theis for a dunk to put the Celtics up two with 0.5 seconds to go. But what appeared to be a baffling defensive play by the Celtics at first glance ended up being a stroke of genius by Nick Nurse and the Raptors. Originally, it appeared to be Jaylen Brown‘s fault who was just a hair late closing out on Anunoby, but when breaking down the play, it is clear that the Raptors used the Celtics defensive principles that have made them a top-five defense, against them.

The Celtics’ go-to defense in last second situations is a sort of matchup zone that is meant to prevent easy entry passes and drives to the rims. So the best way to beat a zone is to overload it and that is exactly what the Raptors did. By sending every Raptor towards the ball and having Anunoby drift to the corner it caused just enough confusion and miscommunication to get an open shot. It seemed like Marcus Smart was the one who should have shot to the corner with Brown occupied and Theis picking up his original assignment but he was so far from the play the Anunoby probably would have gotten the same shot anyways. The Raptors claim that Anunoby was the last choice for the play and while it may not have been the first choice I do not believe that. His sideline to sideline run away from the action is a classic zone beater and Kyle Lowry delivered a fantastic pass over 7’7″ Tacko Fall.

Losing games like these is a brutal blow. The Celtics were one-stop away from going up 3-0 in the series and effectively ending Toronto’s time in the bubble. Now, game four on Saturday night feels like a must-win. If they allow the series to get to 2-2 the Raptors are too tough and experienced to make the closeout games anything less than a war.  In his postgame comments Brown characterized the last possession as a “f—ing disgrace”–I agree Jaylen.