For the Boston Celtics, the first half of Game 5 of the Eastern Conference finals was a tractor pull. They shot 25 percent from the field in the first quarter. Coming off a simple pick-and-pop with Jayson Tatum, Kemba Walker sent the pass into the hands of assistant coach Scott Morrison on the bench. On offense, the ball didn't move, drivers were stuck in idle, and the Celtics were slow to loose balls. But it wasn't just a lack of rhythm or execution; Boston looked like a team broken by frustration.
Over the next three quarters, the Celtics rebuilt their spirit piece by piece.