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Weak closeouts doom Celtics perimeter defense against Heat in Game 2

During the regular season, the Celtics averaged 42.5 three point attempts per game, good for first in the NBA by a wide margin. The Heat only shot 33.7 threes per game, a below average mark in the league.

But in Game 2 of the teams’ first round series, Boston and Miami switched roles. The C’s only shot 32 threes, while Spoelstra’s boys got up 43 of them. The Heat hit 53.5% of those shots – the unequivocal reason why they won the game.

How did they get off so many threes, though?

Well, inferring from Joe Mazzulla’s post game comments, it appears as though allowing Miami to fire away from deep was a focus of Boston’s gameplan.